Education Commons^™

Examining Digital Innovation In K-12 Schools: Variances Related To Identified School Typologies, Savilla Banister, Rachel Reinhart

Savilla I Banister

Learning Assessments: Designing The Future, Geoff N. Masters

Prof Geoff Masters AO

Processes for assessing student learning are undergoing fundamental transformation.This presentation will consider three developments which can be expected to shape how student learning is assessed in the future. First is fundamental change in how assessment is conceptualised and approached, with a focus on monitoring learning. Second is growing interest in the assessment of a broader range of skills and attributes than those addressed in most current assessment efforts. Third is advances in technology which are opening the door to new ways of gathering information about student learning, including through records of real-time interactions in online learning environments. In ACER’s Centre …

Common Core In The Commonwealth: A Research Imperative For Kentucky Communication Scholars, Michael G. Strawser

Michael G Strawser

As Communication scholars we must sharpen our instructional focus, identify our learning outcomes, and build the argument that Communication education has significant interdisciplinary implications in K-12 curricula. The Common Core State Standards emphasize communication, specifically public speaking and listening in K-12 learner outcomes and the Commonwealth of Kentucky was the first state to adopt the Common Core Standards. This position paper establishes a broad framework for research and advocacy opportunities to develop the connection between the interdisciplinary implications surrounding K-12 Communication education, the Common Core, and relationships to current standards. This essay offers a foundation for Communication scholars seeking a …

Building Support For The Introductory Oral Communication Course: Strategies For Widespread And Enduring Support On Campus, Jon A. Hess

Jonathan A. Hess

A strong introductory course is important for many communication departments, for the discipline, and for meeting our obligation to society. This paper utilizes the example of a recent curricular reform that threatened to eliminate a required oral communication course to reflect on strategies departments can use to build widespread and lasting support for the course. The paper reviews the events that led to the challenge and details the department’s response, which offers lessons that may be useful for other institutions. Four lessons include: * Tailoring the introductory course to the institution’s needs and mission * Involvement in university work * …

Student Learning In High-Impact Practice Mass Communication Courses, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

College and university high-impact practice (HIP) courses involve students in intensive values-focused learning inside and/ or outside of the traditional classroom environment. Much research has documented that participation in HIPs increases student retention and graduation rates. At the same time, the nontraditional learning structure of an HIP course can complicate a thorough assessment of student learning. Anecdotal evidence reflects strong involvement in HIPs by mass communication programs, although communication efforts in this regard are not as well documented in the literature as efforts in other fields. This essay briefly defines HIPs and presents an appropriate theory that would guide HIPs …