Education Commons^™

Using The Principal Performance Improvement Tool, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

School and system improvement

The Principal Performance Improvement Tool (PPIT) has been developed to assist school principals and others who aspire to this role to reflect on their current leadership practices. The tool is informed by international research into the kinds of leadership that result in improved teaching and learning. It also draws heavily on the lived experiences of practicing school principals. This booklet is a brief introduction to the PPIT.

Development And Transfer Of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (Tpack) Of Special Education Teachers, Aleksandra A. Kaplon-Schilis

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation presents findings of three studies investigating the development and transfer of TPACK of pre-service and in-service elementary school special education teachers. The dissertation is presented in a non-traditional format including an introduction, three manuscripts submitted for journal publication, and a summary chapter. The purpose of the first study was to analyze development of TPACK of pre-service elementary special education teachers enrolled in a graduate level pedagogy course Integrating Technology in Mathematics and Science Instruction in Special Education and Inclusive Classrooms in a New York City public college. The study’s research question was to find out whether the TPACK- …

Game-Based Teaching Methodology And Empathy In Ethics Education, Angel Krause, Scot Headley, Danielle Bryant, Alicia Watkin, Charity-Mika Woodard, Sherri Sinicki

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This article describes the experience of a group of educators participating in a graduate course in ethics. Playing role playing games and the work accompanying that play were the predominate methodology employed in the course. An accompanying research study investigated the lived experiences of the course participants. Themes that emerged from interview data included student engagement, participants’ applications, empathy development, and reactions to professor modeling.

Dispositions: Real-Time Active Practice, Michelle C. Hughes

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This longitudinal case study followed new teachers from one small undergraduate pre-service program into the first years of teaching. The researcher’s initial study (Hughes, 2014) examined dispositional awareness and development of participants using personal interview data from program graduates, interview data from program faculty, and archived course artifacts. The current study extends the research and shines a light on dispositional development from pre-service through the fourth year of teaching. Using personal interviews, a focus group meeting, and archived course artifacts, the study affirms the significance of dispositions in pre-service preparation and professional practice. The study validates that participants carry dispositional …

The Necessary Conversation: Faith To Sustain Teaching Practices, Stephanie Talley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

In this essay, the author raises critical questions about the need for faith-based teacher preparation programs to consider engaging pre-service teachers in conversations about the connection between faith and the ability to persist in the work of teaching. Grounded in the ethic of care, the author suggests educators must begin with caring for self in order to maintain the ability of caring for students. Suggestions for Christian teacher education programs are explored.

Caring For New Teachers Once They Leave Campus, Elaine Tinholt

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This essay explores one teacher educator’s motivation and ideas about how to advocate for induction support for new teachers beyond the teacher preparation program. During the undergraduate preparation process, teacher candidates are given multiple opportunities to receive support from mentor teachers and college supervisors. This support system functions through formal observations, on-going communication, and feedback concerning progression throughout the clinical practice experience. While induction programs abound across the country, students who leave small, faith-based universities often disperse to a variety of settings and support levels. The school based support offered during the first year of teaching can be insufficient or …

Self-Efficacy Of Early Childhood Teachers In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics, Ariella Rachel Donnelley Smith

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the self-efficacy of early childhood teachers toward STEM subjects as measured on the Teacher Efficacy and Attitudes toward STEM Survey (T-STEM) and to explore factors that influence this confidence.

Methodology. A quantitative approach with two open-ended items was selected for this study, seeking to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data from participants. This approach allowed for multiple viewpoints to be expressed, with the qualitative data collected simultaneously with the quantitative data, and the former designed to illuminate reasons influencing the latter in a complimentary approach. The population for the study included …

School Shouldn’T End When The Bell Rings: An Exploratory Homeschooling Study, Mackenzie Dukelow

MA Research Paper

Homeschooling has experienced significant growth over the last several decades, yet little to no research has explored the relationship between homeschoolers and the public education system. Being the first to explore this relationship, the current study collected and examined data from 3 semi-structured interviews and 15 online homeschooling blogs in order to understand the growth of homeschooling in Ontario and the relationship between homeschooling and the public education system. The results of this study reveal the relationship between homeschoolers and the public education system varies significantly over time and locale, the challenges within each system and the difficulty of transitioning …

Pre-Service Teachers' Science And Web 2.0 Affect And Aspiration: A Survey Study, Yu Song

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Teachers’ affect and aptitude towards science and technology influence their students through their teaching, other activities, and informal interactions. The study explored and understand Ontario pre-service teachers’ affects toward science and Web 2.0 by designing and validating a questionnaire that includes demographic, usage, and scale questions; and by surveying 134 B.Ed. students. The science part of the survey was validated and analyzed, the Web 2.0 scale items were excluded because of low correlation.

The results indicate that: (1) Pre-service teachers have overall high motivation, high self-efficacy, a positive attitude, and medium aspiration towards science. (2) Science motivation, self-efficacy, attitude, and …

Reforming Initial Teacher Education: A Call For Innovation, Tony Yeigh, David Lynch

Dr Tony Yeigh

A variety of public critiques, reports and government reviews into Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Australia and globally have called for a rethink on teacher education. Similarly, key researchers such as Hattie (2011), Smith and Lynch (2010) and Ingvarson et al. (2014) have argued for new, innovative approaches to ITE that are able to provide alternative pathways to the training of teachers. From this perspective the current article examines several models and features of ITE in terms of innovation. This examination provides clarification concerning the nature and role of ITE reform, as well as a series of arguments highlighting the …

Analysis Of Grade Variances In Multisection Calculus Classes, S. Paul Shaffer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore grade variances associated with multisection calculus grades. The method for the project was quantitative examining grade distribution patterns that existed between calculus sections at a public university void of an over-arching grading policy during the case study. Results showed that different grade distribution patterns by different instructors were primarily due to student-centric characteristics. The significant findings suggest that student grades are firmly in control of students. Only when course grade averages were at the extreme did evidence suggest that instructor-centric characteristics played meaningful role in student grade determination.

Teaching To Assess: An Evaluation Of Assessment Education For Secondary Teacher Candidates, Daniel M. Frederking

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the assessment instruction of a four-year undergraduate secondary education program and its alignment to the teaching standards and the summative teacher licensure assessment. Document analyses were conducted on the program’s syllabi as well as the assessment portions of the InTASC standards and the handbook of the edTPA. Results highlighted several areas of misalignment in the areas of categorical concurrence, depth of knowledge, and range of knowledge. Also of note, preservice teachers in different secondary subject areas are receiving different amounts of assessment instruction. Additionally, local edTPA data was examined to highlight areas of strength and weakness. Students …

Latina/O Students In K-12 Schools: A Synthesis Of Empirical Research On Factors Influencing Academic Achievement, Amanda Taggart

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis and analysis of the empirical evidence to date on the factors related to Latina/o student academic achievement in the country’s increasingly Latina/o K-12 schools. Factors found to be related to academic achievement outcomes (e.g., grades, test scores, high school completion, college enrollment) for Latina/o students include a combination of (1) demographic variables, (2) sociocultural variables, (3) academic experiences, (4) psychological variables, and (5) school/institutional variables. In addition, this research synthesis identified several methodological trends in the research on Latina/o student success.

Collection Development Tips And Tricks, Melissa Cast-Brede

Teacher Education Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Finding the best works for your library doesn’t have to involve expensive subscriptions to book review journals. This presentation will focus on strategies to hunt and find quality works without breaking the bank or monopolizing your time.

Best Practices For Teaching Teenagers And Young Adults, Lisa Lyne, Nick Elder, Sarah Grison

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Workshops

This workshop from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Parkland College deals with the unique challenges that come with teaching teens and young adults and provides practical ideas for helping young college students succeed

Writing, Developing, And Publishing Your Aviation Book, Suzanne K. Kearns Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

As the aviation industry faces a projected shortage of aviation professionals internationally, it is increasingly important to guide and support the next generation on their path towards competence. Part of this support will require skilled teachers and researchers to contribute to aviation education through the publication of their knowledge and expertise within books.

A challenge is that, through their educational journey, most aviation academics are taught the process of writing and publishing their research within academic journals. Very little direct guidance on the process, types, and publication venues of books is available.

The purpose of this presentation is to outline …

Teaching Quality: Core Content Implemented Through Evidence-Based Methods With Structure, Support And Challenge, Eckhard Klieme

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Educational research aims to replace traditional notions of ‘good teaching’ with evidence-based theories of ‘successful teaching’ and develop concepts and measures of teaching quality that can inform teacher training, professional development and evaluation. Scholars have presented various conceptualisations, including constructivist as well as direct instruction models, Western and Eastern approaches, comprehensive paradigms (e.g. ‘mastery learning’ or ‘inquiry-based science education’) as well as discrete teaching practices such as scaffolding, peer tutoring or formative assessment. Content coverage and the quality of the subject matter taught (also called ‘opportunity to learn’) have been identified as strong factors. This keynote presentation will attempt to …

Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment: An Intervention Project At The Intersection Of Standards, Professional Knowledge And Assessment, Claire Wyatt-Smith

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

The benchmarking of education systems has been accompanied by an increasing policy interest in the evidence base for initial teacher education and the related claims about graduate quality. In some countries, this has also fuelled the move to install standards that seek to specify competence on entry to teaching and at stages of career progression. In Australia, referents for these efforts include the Australian professional standards for teachers: Graduate teachers (AITSL, 2011), and National Program Standards (AITSL, 2015). It was in the context of policy-driven reform in Australian initial teacher education (ITE) that a consortium of 13 ITE providers from …

Assessing Accomplished Teaching With Reliability And Validity: The Acer Portfolio Project, Lawrence Ingvarson

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

We know that good teachers are worth their weight in gold. But if good teaching is to be truly valued, the teaching profession must be able to demonstrate that it can evaluate itself in ways that are reliable, valid and fair. This capacity is central to any profession. It is also central to lifting the status of teaching, rewarding accomplished teaching and enabling teaching to complete with other professions for our ablest graduates. Recent OECD reports emphasise the necessity of strengthening the teaching profession, which depends upon widespread use of evidence-based teaching practices. Building the capacity for evaluation is the …

Making A Difference Through Quality Teaching Rounds: Evidence From A Sustained Program Of Research, Jennifer Gore

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Through rigorous forms of research, including a randomised controlled trial, Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR) has been shown to make a positive difference to the quality of teaching, teacher morale and school culture. This presentation will draw on both quantitative and qualitative evidence to demonstrate the impact of QTR, outlining its effects across a range of NSW primary and secondary schools and for teachers at very different stages of their careers. The essential components of QTR will be elaborated with analysis of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the effectiveness of this form of professional development in improving teaching practice. As …

Friends With Benefits: Collaboration Between A State University And A School District Designed To Improve Teaching And Learning For Bilingual Students, Elizabeth A. Skinner, Pauline Williams

Journal of Multilingual Education Research

This article describes a long-term collaborative effort between a college of education and a public school district in Illinois. As both the district and the Bilingual-Bicultural Education Program at the university sought to improve the teaching and learning for emergent bilingual students, the relationship between the two institutions evolved. The result is a pipeline of teacher candidates, specifically prepared to work in the district’s dual language schools. The article describes the implementation of the federally funded program as well as the challenges encountered over the course of the collaboration.

Transforming Learning With Information And Communication Technologies: Insights From Three Decades Of Research, Romina Jamieson-Proctor

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Since computers first appeared in classrooms, educators have sought to integrate information communication technologies (ICT) into teaching and learning. In Australia, as elsewhere, ICT are widely regarded as critical facilitators of student learning. The ability to use ICT effectively is specified in Australia’s national curriculum as a required general capability. However, despite the educational environment being replete with ICT related programs, our understanding of how students use ICT for learning is still limited. This paper presents insights from the past 30 years of research, which suggest that even though the current ‘climate’ in Australian schools is favourable, teacher confidence and …

Acer Research Conference Proceedings (2018), Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

There is no shortage of opinion about more and less effective ways of teaching. Schools are continually presented with strategies, programs and approaches that claim to be ‘research-based’, ‘evidence-based’ or even ‘brainbased’. Vocal advocates of particular teaching methods promote their proposed solutions in the media. But how many of these programs and methods have solid foundations in research? And how can teachers and school leaders distinguish exaggerated marketing claims from teaching strategies shown through research to be effective in improving student outcomes? Research Conference 2018 examines research evidence around teaching practices that make a difference. It brings together leading international …

The Power Of Pictures: Drawing On Visual Sign-Systems To Teach Inference In Gerstein’S The Man Between Two Towers, Shannon Howrey

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

The ability to infer while reading is a critical part of meaning-making. Readers who infer go beyond the literal words on the page by adding information to the text and making implicit connections between the text and their prior knowledge (Barr, Blacowicz, Bates, Katz, & Kaufman, 2013). This skill allows them to establish causal relationships between story events, connect the events to their personal experiences, and determine relationships, motivations, and emotions within and between characters. Drawing on dual coding theory and visual literacy principles, the author demonstrates how the lines in the illustrations of The Man Between Two Towers assist …

Action To Awareness: Surfacing Dysconscious Racism Through Focused Professional Development, Dorry Altman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing critical race theory (Ladson-Billings and Tate, 1995) and King’s (1991) theory of dysconscious racism, this dissertation aims to explore the beliefs and actions of teachers operating within an inherently racist society. Teachers struggle with many disadvantages from inadequate funding to lacking support structures. Yet these teachers continue to work hard to support their students. One external disadvantage these teachers may face and not even be aware of is dysconscious racism. Through a qualitative pilot study of journals and discussions of two middle school English Language Arts teachers, this research intends to explore how intentional classroom changes to encourage and …

Teacher Professional Development: The Impact Of Delivery Structure, Student Physical Presence, And Technology-Enhanced Instruction, Rebecca Durbin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an ever-changing labyrinth of standards, accountability, and standardized testing, educators seek ways to improve instruction. Teachers need learning experiences that help them navigate an environment in which a growing list of student performance standards and standardized tests determine their success in teacher evaluations (Crawford, 2015; Terehoff, 2002). In this same pursuit, many administrators are challenged in their efforts to provide meaningful professional development to support teachers (Terehoff, 2002).

The goal of this study is to gain insight into which TPD delivery types and which levels of student presence create the most meaningful and applicable learning for educators and to …

Case Study Of The Accommodation Readiness Spiral As An Evaluative Framework For Action Research Plans, Stephanie Mccutcheon, Erica Sponberg, Judith Mena Pazmiño, Kevin Murry, Socorro Herrera

Prairie Journal of Educational Research

This study utilized qualitative research to examine student work for evidence of language exemplifying the progressive levels of the Accommodation Readiness Spiral (ARS). The goal of this research is was to consider how the ARS could be utilized as a purposive framework for the assessment of professional, capacity building potential as related to a teacher’s readiness for the accommodation of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students. Thus, we intended to explore the question, what examples of text within ECM participants’ action research plans appear to correspond to levels of the ARS if used as a framework of evaluation for professional …

Utilizing Project-Based Learning To Increase Engagement And Performance In The High School Classroom, Alan English

Prairie Journal of Educational Research

Abstract

Project-based learning was incorporated into a high school American History course unit where students were expected to write an original history of the Vietnam War based exclusively on primary sources. Throughout the school year, students working as a collective unit worked to raise funds at school events for the purpose of surprising a class guest speaker, a Vietnam veteran, with a sponsored flight to Washington D.C. through Kansas Honor Flights. In addition to creating an experience of civic participation, student engagement (as measured by rate of completion of the project) and performance (as measured by average grade on the …

Assessing Accomplished Teaching With Reliability And Validity: The Acer Portfolio Project, Lawrence Ingvarson

Dr Lawrence Ingvarson (Consultant)

We know that good teachers are worth their weight in gold. But if good teaching is to be truly valued, the teaching profession must be able to demonstrate that it can evaluate itself in ways that are reliable, valid and fair. This capacity is central to any profession. It is also central to lifting the status of teaching, rewarding accomplished teaching and enabling teaching to complete with other professions for our ablest graduates. Recent OECD reports emphasise the necessity of strengthening the teaching profession, which depends upon widespread use of evidence-based teaching practices. Building the capacity for evaluation is the …

Capturing Aesthetic Experiences With Installation Art: An Empirical Assessment Of Emotion, Evaluations, And Mobile Eye Tracking In Olafur Eliasson’S “Baroque, Baroque!”, Matthew Pelowski, Helmut Leder, Vanessa Mitschke, Eva Specker, Gernot Gerger, Pablo Tinio, Elena Vaporova, Till Bieg, Agnes Husslein-Arco

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

Installation art is one of the most important and provocative developments in the visual arts during the last half century and has become a key focus of artists and of contemporary museums. It is also seen as particularly challenging or even disliked by many viewers, and-due to its unique in situ, immersive setting-is equally regarded as difficult or even beyond the grasp of present methods in empirical aesthetic psychology. In this paper, we introduce an exploratory study with installation art, utilizing a collection of techniques to capture the eclectic, the embodied, and often the emotionally-charged viewing experience. We present results …