Education Commons^™

Resilience Within And Resilience Without: Mindfulness And Sustainability Programming Using An Embedded Engineering Librarian Approach, Catherine Wong, Cynthia Carlson

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Students are facing an increasingly chaotic world in part due to global climate change and environmental degradation, causing rising levels of stress and anxiety. Mindfulness and sustainability programs were initiated over three years by a faculty-librarian collaborative team to assist first-year engineering students in building environmental literacy and personal resilience skills. The faculty-librarian team established in class and out of class themes, games, assignments, and programming using an embedded librarian approach. Sustainability programming included environmental movie nights with curricular links and conversations about climate change using the World Café methodology. These activities allowed students time outside of class to engage …

If Engineers Solve Problems, Why Are There Still So Many Problems To Solve?: Getting Beyond Technical “Solutions” In The Classroom, Cynthia Carlson, Catherine Wong

Librarian Publications

This Evidence-Based Practice Paper describes implementation and assessment of an exercise bringing international perspectives, liberal arts, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into a first-year engineering program - challenging the arbitrary boundary between engineering and the liberal arts. First-year engineering students (Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical) participated in a role-playing game recreating the 2009 United Nations Climate Talks in Copenhagen, Denmark. The exercise is part of a series of published games called Reacting to the Past (RTTP), with the purpose of engaging students to enhance their understanding of a given event or topic, while improving their research and communication skills. …

Resilience Within And Resilience Without: Mindfulness And Sustainability Programming Using An Embedded Engineering Librarian Approach, Catherine Wong, Cynthia Carlson

Librarian Publications

Students are facing an increasingly chaotic world in part due to global climate change and environmental degradation, causing rising levels of stress and anxiety. Mindfulness and sustainability programs were initiated over three years by a faculty-librarian collaborative team to assist first-year engineering students in building environmental literacy and personal resilience skills. The faculty-librarian team established in class and out of class themes, games, assignments, and programming using an embedded librarian approach. Sustainability programming included environmental movie nights with curricular links and conversations about climate change using the World Café methodology. These activities allowed students time outside of class to engage …

Integrating Lecture And Laboratory In Anatomy And Physiology: Student Perceptions And Performance, Jessica L. Peacock, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Kevin E. Finn

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

The authors determined whether positive perceptions of integrating lecture and lab in Anatomy and Physiology courses persisted from 2015-2018. Students (843) and instructors (56) completed the Student Assessment of Their Learning Gains survey; perceptions were positive and consistent between both groups. Participant narratives identified the ability to immediately apply theoretical knowledge in lab as an important positive attribute in improving student learning. The authors also determined whether student performance rates, including unsatisfactory grades (C-, D, F, W), improved during integrated years. Results showed that unsatisfactory grades fell in the integrated years, while results for quiz and exam grades, compared between …

“I Never Thought I Could Accomplish Something Like This”: The Success And Struggle Of Teaching College Courses In Jail, Brittnie L. Aiello, Emma Duffy-Comparone

Criminology Faculty Publications

In this article, we discuss the challenges and potential benefits of teaching in the “revolving-door” of the criminal justice system: county jails. Massachusetts jails hold pre-trial offenders as well as those serving sentences of up to 2.5 years. Over four semesters, we have learned that flexibility and creativity are necessary to navigate the challenges this heterogeneous population presents, not the least of which is a class in constant flux. In spite of many challenges of teaching in a jail, the classes we teach give students a recovered or newfound belief in their own self-worth and ability, opportunities for intellectual engagement, …

Me And The Devil Was Walkin' Side-By-Side: Demythologizing (And Reviewing) The Cambridge Handbook Of Service Learning And Community Engagement, Dan W. Sarofian-Butin

Education Faculty Publications

Review essay of The Cambridge Handbook of Service Learning and Community Engagement, Corey W. Dolgon, Tania D. Mitchell, & Timothy K. Eatman (Eds.)
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2017.

Democracy Dies In Dualisms. A Response To “Dewey And Democracy”, Dan W. Sarofian-Butin

Education Faculty Publications

This essay reviews Atkinson’s article “Countering the Neos: Dewey and a Democratic Ethos in Teacher Education” and argues that while Dewey and the social foundations classroom may indeed be important for teacher preparation, it is not in the way Atkinson suggests. Namely, I argue that Atkinson’s essay has three distinct (yet interrelated) issues: his problematic oversimplifications, what I term as “Dewey doesn’t do dualisms”; his misreading of Dewey, where I point out that “Dewey doesn’t do debate”; and his unexamined positionality, where I make clear that “Dewey doesn’t do Descartes.” I conclude this essay with a different perspective of a …

Integrating Lecture And Laboratory In Health Sciences Courses Improves Student Satisfaction And Performance, Kevin E. Finn, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Zi Yan

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Students often struggle in introductory health sciences courses; some students have difficulty in upper level classes. To address this, we converted three lecture/lab courses, traditional firstyear Anatomy and Physiology (A&P I), upper level Biomechanics, and upper level Microbiology to an integrated studio model. We used the Student Assessment of Learning Gains perceptual survey to assess student and instructor reactions to the change and analyzed rates of unsatisfactory grades and quiz performance. Reaction (220 students, 15 instructors) to the new model was highly positive, and performance improvement was seen. Student perceptions were consistent across courses and agreed closely with instructor perceptions. …

Active Science® Pilot Study: Promoting Physical Activity And Science Learning Among Children, Kevin E. Finn, Zi Yan, Edward Martin, Kyle Mcinnis

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Afterschool programs (ASPs) have been identified as ideal settings where children can accumulate a significant portion of their total daily physical activity (PA). The purpose of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of the Active Science program in promoting PA and science learning in different site locations across the U.S. Methods: Participants were 72 children (35 females, mean age = 9.2 years, standard deviation [SD] = 0.9) from five YMCA afterschool childcare sites located in five states. The 6-week Active Science program was implemented twice/week for 60 min at a site. The participants completed 30 min of …

Teaching The History Of U.S. Higher Education: A Critical Duoethnography, Z. Nicolazzo, Susan B. Marine

Education Faculty Publications

In this duoethnography, we interrogate our roles as critical pedagogues in designing and teaching a graduate level course focused on the history of U.S. higher education. Throughout this dialogue, we surface tensions around what it means to enact critical pedagogy. Rather than just espousing a critical stance, we wrestle with how external pressures such as limited time, the need and desire to convey certain information to students, and neoliberalism influence the doing of critical pedagogy. We also discuss how our social identities, as well as those of the students alongside whom we teach and learn, affect the learning process. We …

Administrators' And Faculty's Perceived Online Education Barriers And The Role Of Transformational Leadership At A U.S. University In Lebanon, Sahar El Turk, Isabelle D. Cherney

Education Faculty Publications

The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify the perceived barriers obstructing the implementation of online education by administrators and faculty at the School of Arts and Sciences of a U.S. university located in Lebanon. The aim of this study was to offer a solution to the most important perceived barriers to online education that informs administrative decisions concerning the appropriate modalities of online instruction that may be implemented at the university. The exploratory factor analysis identified 8 factors out of 35 possible perceived barriers to online education. Faculty and administrators perceived the structural barriers and the pedagogical barriers …

Enhancing Team Learning Experiences In The Classroom, Jane D. Parent, Kathi J. Lovelace, Christina Hardway, Allison Seitchik

Organization Studies and Analytics Faculty Publications

There are many different and effective ways to introduce teams and team learning into the management classroom. This paper discusses different ways we incorporated group and team learning in the classroom using a variety of activities. From our initial student survey, we developed a measure of teamwork and independent learning. Our findings indicate that when students perceive a fair work distribution in their teams, they are also more team oriented than students who perceive an unfair work distribution. Suggestions for enhancements to team learning, and future ideas for research are discussed.

Phoning It In? Examining Pre-Employment Phone Interview Procedure In Higher Education, Paul J. Antonellis Jr., Danielle Flam

Organization Studies and Analytics Faculty Publications

In the United States, the employment screening process for hiring full-time faculty in higher education involves the vetting of curricula vitae, phone interview(s), and/or campus visits (Cardeiro, 2010; Shively, Woodward, & Stanly, 1999). The purpose of this research was to examine the phone interview procedure at one institute of higher education, and from there, formulate a systematic phone interviewing procedure that could be put to use at this particular university.

After conducting a review of relevant literature, the researchers engaged in action research that utilized qualitative data of 10 participants who took part in the pre-interview, professional development intervention, and …

High-Impact Practices: An Analysis Of Select University And Business School Programs, Patricia Sendall, Kristin Stowe, Lisa Schwartz, Jane D. Parent

Organization Studies and Analytics Faculty Publications

Colleges and universities are finding new ways to enhance the academic environment with high-impact programs such as student-based research, internships and international study abroad programs. Research has shown that students learn most when they are more engaged in the experience rather than passive participants. This exploratory study examines high-impact opportunities for undergraduate university students in the U.S. Web sites and other materials from 90 randomly selected AACSB and ACBSP member schools were reviewed to determine how each incorporates high-impact educational practices into their overall university programs and in their business school programs. Three high-impact programs were examined: undergraduate research, internships …

Teaching Domestic Violence In The New Millennium: Intersectionality As A Framework For Social Change, Krista Mcqueeney

Criminology Faculty Publications

This article describes an intersectional approach to teaching about domestic violence (DV), which aims to empower students as critical thinkers and agents of change by merging theory, service learning, self-reflection, and activism. Three intersectional strategies and techniques for teaching about DV are discussed: promoting difference-consciousness, complicating gender-only power frameworks, and organizing for change. The author argues that to empower future generations to end violence, educators should put intersectionality into action through their use of scholarship, teaching methods, and pedagogical authority. Finally, the benefits and challenges of intersectional pedagogy for social justice education are considered.

First Year Experience: How We Can Better Assist First-Year International Students In Higher Education?, Zi Yan, Patricia Sendall

Organization Studies and Analytics Faculty Publications

While many American colleges and universities are providing a First Year Experience (FYE) course or program for their first year students, those programs are not often customized to take into account international students’ (IS) unique challenges. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study evaluated a FYE course that was customized for IS in a college setting. Nineteen IS and eight domestic students (DS) who attended FYE classes completed a survey; 18 of the 19 IS were interviewed. Overall, the FYE class was successful in terms of helping IS to familiarize themselves with academic resources and expectations, understanding American culture, making …

Engaging Today’S Students: Current Topics 2.0, Kathi Lovelace, Jane D. Parent

Organization Studies and Analytics Faculty Publications

In this session we share a new version of a Current Topics assignment geared toward millennial students’ preferences for structure and hands-on learning. Participants will try-out the assignment by reading a short article and answering the three assignment prompts: 1) What are the main points of the article? 2) What points are the most interesting and/or useful to you? 3) What course concepts are illustrated in the article? Connections to student learning outcomes are discussed as well as ways to adapt this assignment. Article citations, grading practices and student feedback are shared.

Impact Of The Siena College Tech Valley Scholars Program On Student Outcomes, Larry Medsker, Lee Allard, Lucas J. Tucker, Jodi L. O’Donnell, Rachel Sterne-Marr, Jon Bannon, Rose Finn, Allan T. Weatherwax

Physics Faculty Publications

The experimental group for this study included 38 students who entered the Tech Valley Scholars (TVS) program over the course of three academic years, from 2009-10 through 2011-12. Two groups of controls were used: a randomly selected sample of STEM students who matriculated in the same time frame; and a matched sample. The TVS students and controls were compared on two primary outcome variables: graduation (or retention to senior year), and final cumulative GPA. The major findings of this study are that (1) the TVS students had better outcomes than both the randomly selected comparison group and the matched control …

Public Debate Format For The Development Of Soft Skill Competency In Computer Science Curricula, Christopher S. Stuetzle

Computer Science Faculty Publications

We present a method for incorporating soft skill development into a traditional computer science curriculum through the use of a public debate format. The debate format forces participants to practice public speaking, active listening, teamwork, research and preparation, and critical thinking, as well as having the less obvious benefit of contextualizing the material taught in the classroom by introducing contemporary, real-world debate topics. This work presents an example of the incorporation of public debates in an upper-level human-computer interaction class, including a discussion of student feedback, and suggestions for adopting the debate format to other upper-level courses and its perceived …

Helping The Adult Learner Succeed: How Community College Libraries In Massachusetts Are Serving This Growing Population, Katherine A. Turcotte

Librarian Publications

Education is something that is valued more each and every day. A growing number of people in today’s society realize the importance of education and the increasing need to return to school. As the number of adult learners continues to rise, so too does the need to reach out to this population to make sure they are being presented with the appropriate tools and resources needed to succeed. Because it is theorized that adults (those age 25+) who return to school are likely to enroll in a community college, rather than a four year university, this study looks specifically at …

How To Launch An Interdisciplinary Leadership Program, Barbara L. Brock, Isabelle D. Cherney, James R. Martin, Jennifer Moss Breen, Gretchen Oltman

Education Faculty Publications

Building a doctoral program in leadership is never an easy task, and building an interdisciplinary doctoral program is even more difficult. Yet, it is the interdisciplinary approach that differentiates typical leadership programs from others and offers learners an integrated view of leadership theories and practices. This special report presents an example of designing and implementing an interdisciplinary doctoral program that promotes social justice leadership. Drawing from firsthand experiences of program faculty, staff, and administration, we share lessons learned and the logic behind adopting an interdisciplinary approach for those creating programs that seeks to promote social justice. We found that by …

A Longitudinal Study Of Cis Students, Course Performance And Mbti Personality Types, Patricia Sendall, Alan Peslak, Wendy Ceccucci, S.E. Kruck

Organization Studies and Analytics Faculty Publications

This research is a longitudinal study of Jungian personality traits and academic success of students enrolled in Computer Information Systems (CIS) courses. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) measurement scale was self-analyzed by students in CIS courses from fall 2001 through spring 2013. The results of this study indicate that both Extroverts and Judgers have increased as percentage of enrollment between 2001-2003 and 2012-2013. There was no change in academic success, as measured by grades achieved, by personality type from 2001-2003 and 2012-2013.

Media Review: The Lives Of Transgender People, Susan Marine

Education Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Disrupting Islamophobia: Teaching The Social Construction Of Terrorism In The Mass Media, Krista Mcqueeney

Criminology Faculty Publications

This article presents a critical media literacy technique for teaching about the social construction of terrorism. In a post-9/11 context where the human rights of Arabs and Muslims in the United States and overseas are threatened by drone attacks, profiling, detentions, and hate crimes, educators must not shy away from this issue. I use visual media to engage students with three questions: (1) How do everyday Americans define “terrorism” and perceive “terrorists”? (2) Where do these images come from? (3) What are the consequences for domestic and foreign policy? Using students’ own socialization as a starting point, I challenge them …

Does Personality Play A Role In Computer Information Systems Performance?, S.E. Kruck, Patricia Sendall, Wendy Ceccucci, Alan Peslak, Scott Hunsinger

Organization Studies and Analytics Faculty Publications

This study represents an analysis of student performance in computer information systems (CIS) courses and the potential influence of Jungian personality traits on academic success in CIS courses. For this study, academic success is measured by grades achieved. The MBTI measurement scale was self-analyzed by students in CIS courses from fall 2008 through spring 2013. The data showed a statistically significant correlation between various personality dichotomies of the type (Extraversion-Introversion, Sensing-Intuition, Thinking-Feeling, and JudgingPerceiving) and higher grades scores. The results of this study indicate that course performance of groups of students are different relative to their personality type. In this …

Beyond Dependency: Strategies For Saving Foundations, Aaron Schutz, Dan W. Butin

Education Faculty Publications

We have generally tried to depend on the force of argument to win the day against the structural forces that have driven this decline. Yet foundations generally operates from a position of relative weakness in schools of education: we provide service to programs but generally do not have our own strong programs. We “take” enrollment from other departments, but do not “give” enrollment to them or bring independent enrollment to the school. This leaves foundations in a position of dependency. The core argument of this paper is that we need to move beyond dependency toward a vision of foundations as, …

Pushing Back The Rhetoric: A Review Of What Community Engagement Can Do, Dan W. Butin, Daniyal Saud

Education Faculty Publications

A review essay exploring university-school-community partnerships as described in the works:

Pushing Back the Gates: Neighborhood Perspectives on University-Driven Revitalization in West Philadelphia by Harley F. Etienne Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2012.

College: What It Was, Is, and Should Be by Andrew Delbanco Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2012.

Service Learning Students’ Perceptions Of Citizenship, Audrey Falk

Education Faculty Publications

This study examines the conceptions of citizenship held by students engaged in a service learning course. Open-ended responses to instructor-developed surveys were analyzed. Results indicated that students primarily viewed good citizenship in terms of community service; however, their ideas about service were limited to passive kinds of service such as helping others and volunteering, rather than active kinds of service such as community organizing. Results were compared with conceptions of citizenship held by students engaged in another course with a smaller volunteering component. Opportunities for broadening service learning students’ understanding of citizenship are discussed.

Integrating Movement And Science To Promote Physical Activity And Academic Performance In Middle School Children, Kevin E. Finn, Kyle Mcinnis

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Recommendations from leading U.S. health agencies concerned with reducing childhood obesity call for increased physical activity during school and afterschool environments. Methods: We developed the Active Science curriculum, which is a variety of activity-based lessons (e.g., nature hike, dance class, walk at local park, treadmill at local YMCA) and incorporated them into traditional science classes and after school programs for middle school children in a low-income, ethnically diverse community. Following the activity experiments, students and teachers uploaded data from devices to an interactive website that provided inquiry-based exploratory learning of science content. Results: Physical activity results showed that the …

Core Competencies In Civic Engagement, Leila Brammer, Rebecca Dumlao, Audrey Falk, Elizabeth Hollander, Ellen Knutson, Jeremy Poehnert, Andrea Politano, Valerie Werner

Center for Engaged Democracy Publications

A review and synthesis of key competencies contained in national-level reports on Civic Engagement, academic programs engaged in community-based models of teaching, learning and research, including a review of the literature and almost 30 academic civic engagement programs around the country.