Education Commons^™

From Tutor To Teacher: For Some Peer Tutors, The Experience Can Lead To A Teaching Career, Robert L. Morgan, M. Rees

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Virtual Manipulatives Used By K-8 Teachers For Mathematics Instruction: Considering Mathematical, Cognitive, And Pedagogical Fidelity, Patricia S. Moyer-Packenham, Gwenanne Salkind, Johnna J. Bolyard

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

This study examined teachers’ uses of virtual manipulatives across grades K-8 after participating in a professional development institute in which manipulatives and technology were the major resources used throughout all of the activities. Researchers analyzed 95 lesson summaries in which classroom teachers described their uses of virtual manipulatives during school mathematics instruction. The findings indicated that the content in a majority of the lessons focused on two National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2000a) standards: Number & Operations and Geometry. Virtual geoboards, pattern blocks, base-10 blocks, and tangrams were the applets used most often by teachers. The ways teachers used …

Preparing Nebraska Teachers To See Demographic Change As An Opportunity, Jenelle Reeves, Edmund T. Hamann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

This paper reflects on an effort to support Nebraska teachers, both practicing and preservice, to become more ready for the state‘s changing demographics, notably for the growth in Latino and Spanish-speaking populations. To that end, it describes an effort funded by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln‘s Initiative on Teaching and Learning Excellence called, ―Schooling in Nebraska‘s Demographically Transitioning Communities.‖ That initiative makes mentors of practicing teachers who have enrolled in summer courses in second language acquisition. In the fall of 2006, ten such teachers mentored 44 undergraduates enrolled in TEAC 331 ―Cultural Foundation of American Education‖ or TEAC 413A ―Second Language …

Rural Superintendents: How Do Wyoming Rural Superintendents View And Respond To The Challenges Brought About By External Demands On Their Schools?, Jeanne L. Surface

Faculty Books and Monographs

Very little is known about how superintendents respond to and view the challenges brought about by increasing external performance demands on their schools. This important study uses a multi-case study format to create portraits of five rural superintendents, the challenges they face, and their responses to those challenges. The participant perceptions were organized into five themes: declining enrollment, isolation, board and community relations, celebrated accomplishments, and rural schools in contrast with urban or suburban schools. The superintendents were most proud of changes they had made to improve instruction in their districts. They spoke of challenges with bringing professional development to …

Pemberton Hydroelectric Power Station: A Teacher Resource, Les Pereira, Phil Gregory, Helen Kuehs, Amanda Draper, Jenny Staker, Rosalie Tomlinson, Christa Pereira

Research outputs pre 2011

This publication provides a resource for teachers of students in years seven to ten. Teachers are able to address a range of outcomes pertinent to the Western Australian curriculum within the context of the Pemberton Hydroelectric Power Station. The resource contains plans for four units of work, one in each of the following Learning Areas: Science, Mathematics, English, and Society and Environment.

Student Satisfaction And Performance In An Online Teacher Certification Program, Heidi Schweizer, Carrianne H. Hayslett, Sharon Katherine Kayne Chaplock

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The article presents a study which demonstrates the effectiveness of an online post baccalaureate teacher certification program developed by a Wisconsin university. The case method approach employing multiple methods and multiple data sources were used to investigate the degree to which pre-service teachers were prepared to teach. It was concluded that the study supports online delivery as an effective means of teacher preparation, but it was limited in the number of students followed into their first year of teaching.

Exploring Dialectic Tensions In Teachers' Relationships In School Settings, Griselda Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the feasibility of using dialectic theory to study of dialectic oppositions in teachers' school-based relationships. Employing relational dialectics as a theoretical framework, this study exposed several sets of dialectical forces emerging in teachers' relationships. 23 high school teachers were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire; interviews were transcribed and coded for analysis. The analysis revealed that the dialectic tensions of control vs. emancipation, empowerment vs. oppression are prevalent in teachers' relationships with administrators; the dialectic tensions of solidarity vs. autonomy and fragmentation vs. unity are common in the relationships of teachers with administrators and colleagues as well; while …

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Integration Of Technology At The School District Level In Terms Of The Technology Leadership, Management, And Policy Pyramid: A Theoretical Model Developed By Dr. John Collins, Through The Perceptions Of Technology-Using Teachers, Mark A. Connolly

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Teacher-Student Relationships In Primary Schools In Perth, Natalie C. Leitao

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study investigated teacher-student relationships at Perth metropolitan schools in Western Australia. From the literature, three key social and emotional aspects that affect teacher-student relationships, namely, Connectedness, Availability and Communication, were identified as important to good, positive teacher-student relationships. Data were collected in four parts: (1) through a teacher questionnaire; (2) through a student questionnaire; (3) through teacher interviews; and (4) through student interviews. The three relationship aspects formed the structure of a teacher questionnaire in which ten stem-items were conceptualised from easy to hard - four stem-items for Connectedness, three for Availability, and three for Communication - and answered …

Relationships More Important Than Money? A Study Of What Keeps Teachers Going When The Going Get Tough, Debi Katkus

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study was to compare two large school districts to national studies on what teachers believe is good and bad about their jobs and what affects a decision to stay at or leave a position. The study consisted of five interviews of special education teachers in varying positions, backgrounds, and years of experience. Data was collected using a series of open-ended questions and then compared to researched literature. Although several common themes were found, there were several significant differences. Implications for findings were discussed. It was suggested that fostering positive relationships among teachers in a district can …

Tell Me, Tell Me, Tell Me- Please!, Derek L. Leslie

Essays in Education

This article is a personal essay by me, Derek L. Leslie, about the frustrations that occur in teaching. I am an educator in Economics at an urban high school in Omaha, Nebraska, and I have noticed after seven years of teaching that one thing is missing in the arena of public education and that is incentives. When you study economics you realize the market place has a lot of built in incentives to do well at your job and then you are able to be quite successful and are rewarded for this success. My essay will explain how incentives that …

Elementary School Teachers' Understanding Of Essential Topics In Statistics And The Influence Of Assessment Instruments And A Reform Curriculum Upon Their Understanding, Timothy Jacobbe

All Dissertations

With the increased emphasis on statistics at the elementary school level as recommended by the GAISE document, it is important to consider the current status of teachers' understanding of statistics. This study explored teachers' understanding as they implemented new curricula materials which have ten lessons focused on statistical topics at each grade level. These curricula materials provided a medium for discussion that helped reveal whether or not elementary school teachers possess an adequate understanding of essential topics in statistics to implement the standards they are now called upon to teach.
The results of this study indicate that elementary school teachers …

Revisioning : A Theoretical Model Of Teachers' Career Choices, Wendi Bain Laurence

Dissertations and Theses

The steady flow of teachers exiting the profession continues to serve as an empirical reminder that we have not yet found ways to effectively support teachers as they proceed through their careers. This study identifies elements of teachers' career decisions. Qualitative methodologies were used to integrate research from multiple disciplines to address the need for a theoretical model of teachers' career decisions. Three perspectives for viewing the decision making process emerged from the analysis of the data set: Component, Experiential, and Integrative. These three perspectives provide a filtered approach to understanding a complex and multi-tiered decision making process. The findings …

Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention: A Comparative Analysis Of Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention Programs, Diana Howell

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

School bullying has often been tacitly minimalized as a rite of passage—an unfortunate but common experience among children. In the past few years there has been an increasing awareness of school bullying as a catalyst of school violence. Parents, school boards, and administrators are understanding and taking more seriously the negative impact that bullying has on victimized students and are actively looking for ways to reduce incidents of such violence. This research provides a discussion of bullying behavior and an examination of teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs in their schools. If teachers do not feel that …

Multicultural Training For Korean Teachers, Bokeong Cheong

Master's Capstone Projects

The main focus of this Master’s project, Multicultural Training for Korean Teachers, is to generate recommendations for multicultural training for elementary and secondary school teachers in Korea. The background is in the current circumstance that Korea is being illuminated as a newly emerging multicultural society. The two factors illustrated as the primary reasons for this shift are the increase of foreign immigrant workers and internationally married couples centered in Korean rural areas. While these foreign populations contribute to the economic development of society in both rural and urban areas, the majority of Koreans view them in negative and prejudiced ways. …

Living Among Guatemalan Mayans Is Fascinating Experience, Irene Scharf

Faculty Publications

I have just lived a dream. Five years ago I learned of a school where students of all ages could study Spanish intensively while living among the Guatemalan Mayans. Peace Accords had been signed in 1996, the government was encouraging tourism, and it was, finally, safe to visit.

Why a dream? Because, 25 years ago, when I traveled through Central and South America, I promised my family I would avoid Guatemala because of the perceived was dangers. During that trip, as I met my Europeans and other who had visited, remained safe, and found it a fascinating country, I vowed …

The Transition From Preschool To School For Children In Ireland: Teachers Views, Mary O'Kane

Articles

There is a wealth of international research on the transition from preschool to school from a range of perspectives. Following on from such research, the issue of transition is emerging as an important new construct in early childhood care and education (ECCE), with a transition-to-school framework replacing the construct of school readiness as a focus of research interest. There has been limited research into transition practices in Ireland and this study is the first comprehensive research looking at this area from an Irish perspective1. Phase I of this study involved conducting a questionnaire on the transition from preschool to formal …

Alignment Of District Assessments With The Virginia Standards Of Learning (Sol), Joan A. Rhodes

MERC Publications

Parents, teachers, and school administrators all have one common goal — student success. Teachers have been trusted to impart knowledge to students, while hopefully fostering a love of learning, then assessing how much the students know. Assessment in the classroom, whether informal, formative, or summative, has been the major source of identifying students strengths and weaknesses. Today, there is increased pressure on teachers to ensure they are accountable for what they do in the classroom. Within the educational system, students’ success has been measured inconsistently from state-to-state, district-to-district, and even classroom-to-classroom. In this age of accountability, national and state standards …

Reuse Of A Role Play For New University Teachers, Sarah Lambert, David Macdonald

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

In a paper presented at the 2006 ascilite conference it was stated that thirty six online roleplays were identified in Australian universities, of which 80% were reuse of a Learning Design (Wills & McDougall, 2006). Migrating a proven learning design is not always a simple process (Devonshire, 2006) but as this paper, addressing the conference theme of on-line role play, demonstrates it can be achieved effectively. From a pedagogical perspective, one of the main challenges is associated with the task of realigning the activity to adequately reflect the new context, delivery mode, target audience, learning process and anticipated outcomes (Devonshire, …

Engaging Early Career Teachers In 'Virtual Writing Conferences' With Grade Five Students, Lisa K. Kervin, Jessica Mantei

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The changing definition of what it means to be literate is well documented within the literature. The familiarity of many students with screen-based texts and their ability to manipulate computer-based technologies, in particular Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), is well understood. There are examples within the literature of how technology can be used to support the writing process (Turbill & Murray, 2006), provide students with control over the phases of text production (Novinger & Smith, 2003) and the need for teachers to create authentic and engaging experiences (Kervin & Mantei, 2006; Peterson, 2005). Taking such perspectives into consideration, we worked …

Using Target To Enhance Preservice Classroom Teachers' Ability To Identify And Develop A Motivational Climate In Physical Education, Dana Perlman, Grace Goc Karp

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Motivation is often a major concern for educators in all subject areas. Educational benefits associated with increased levels of student motivation have been well-documented within educational research. Improving student motivation can be affected by the educational environment (motivational climate), developed by the teacher. This study examined the development of pre service teachers' (n= 13) utilization of TARGET (a motivational intervention) in a physical education practicum setting. Data was collected through two methods, (a) scenario responses were conducted using a pretest/ posttest design and (b) self-reflection and field notes were collected during the practicum. Data revealed that a semester methods course …

Technology Use, Technology Views: Anticipating Professional Use Of Ict For Beginning Physical And Health Education Teachers, Lori Lockyer, John W. Patterson

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

In Australia, the national initiative known as Learning in an Online World, focuses school jurisdictions across the country meet the challenge of achieving the national vision of all schools “…confidently using ICT in their everyday practices to improve learning, teaching and administration” (MCEETYA, 2005, p. 3). One strategy in reaching this goal is the effective preparation of pre-service teachers to use and integrate technology in their teaching and learning practices. This article reports on a research study that aimed to explore the issue preparation for use of technology in teaching by understanding the current and anticipated technology usage for Australian …

Student Teachers And Critical Approaches To Education: Re-Imagining The 'Other' Through A Re-Imagining Of The Learning Environment, Gordon L. Brown

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports on a teacher education initiative that seeks a more effective approach to a commonly used treatment of education foundations, particularly the sociology and philosophy of education. The initiative takes as its starting points a critique of education foundation practices in at least two universities and the standpoint that the main rationale for including education foundations is to (morally) influence learning outcomes in schools. The ‘vehicle’ or ‘mechanism’ for this re-conceptualisation is a developing theory of the Learning Environment, used by the author and others, which takes the Learning Environment to be not simply the location of learning …

What Adolescents Are Reading And What Their Teachers Are Not: Between The Deformed Discourse And Disdain Of The Graphic Novel, Philip R. Fitzsimmons

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

It was only at the beginning of this year that I realised that I had spent all of my teaching and research life talking with children under the age of twelve years, and even within this group it was mostly with children under six. While I had come to understand a great deal about literacy acquisition (Geekie, Cambourne and Fitzsimmons 1999) and elementary school reading development (Harris, Turbill, Fitzsimmons and McKenzie 2001), as my own teenage daughter constantly reminded me, all I knew was ‘ankle-biter speak’. Determined to change this, I began working with a group of students in a …

In-School Professional Development: Supporting Teachers With The Inclusion Of Critical Literacy In Their Classrooms, Lisa K. Kervin, Michelle Rodwell

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The voluminous literature within the field of teacher professional development presents varied components of what constitutes meaningful professional development experiences for teachers. The case reported herein describes how components identified from an analysis of the literature have been incorporated within an inschool model of professional development to support primary teachers as they explore their literacy teaching within their own school and individual classrooms. These ongoing, in-school professional development experiences aimed to support and encourage pedagogical change as the teachers reviewed their classroom teaching and learning practices with emphasis on critical literacy. The importance of the school professional culture, the organisation …

Meeting Pre-Service Teachers Where They Are: Supporting Them As Literacy Educators, Lisa K. Kervin, Barbra Mckenzie

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Some media reports (Devine, 2005; Donnelly, 2005) have asserted that pre-service teachers often graduate without an understanding of how to teach children to read and write. In the current climate of professional milestones, national benchmarks and teaching standards for early career teachers, it is crucial that pre-service teacher education programs adequately prepare graduates for entry into the profession. This paper explores how we have tailored a final year literacy elective subject to meet the needs of our pre-service teachers and to support them in their final practicum and subsequent entry into the profession. In particular we report on the processes …

Looking For Clarity Amongst The Challenges Faced By Teachers As They Consider The Role Of Ict In Classroom Literacy Learning Experiences, Jessica Mantei, Lisa K. Kervin

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Primary school teachers today operate within a climate of great change with the rapid infusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into schools with the expectation that these be included within classroom experiences. Many schools purchased computer hardware and software and have provided professional development for teachers with the expectation that the technology will be put to use. Studies show, however, that many teachers continue to feel ill-equipped to use technology to support learning in spite of these in-service opportunities. Further studies identify the classroom teacher as the major factor in determining whether ICT are an important component of daily …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Online Modules To Promote Professional Learning Of Ict, Anthony J. Herrington, Janice A. Herrington, Garry Hoban, Doug Reid

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Online professional learning has the potential to be a cost effective, flexible approach that can reach large numbers of teachers. However, there are many factors that need to be evaluated in developing successful online approaches that impact on teaching pedagogy and student learning. This paper outlines one phase of a research study conducted on behalf of an Australian state-based Department of Education to evaluate the transfer of professional learning from online modules about the integration of ICT to the practices of K-12 classroom teachers.

Perceptions And Needs Of Rural Young People In The South-West Of Western Australia : Implications For Pedagogy, Rhonda Oliver, Lynelle Watts, Joan Strikwerda-Brown, David Hodgson, Marilyn Palmer

Research outputs pre 2011

The original purpose of this study was to investigate youth needs, specifically in the south western region (the 'South West') of Western Australia, and then to explore how these needs might be addressed in terms of current curriculum and teaching practices. The following research questions guided our investigation:

- What are the educational and occupational aspirations of young people from the South West of Western Australia?

- What do young people identify as influences on their educational and occupational aspirations and attainment?

As the data collection progressed, it was evident to all those involved that, whilst there were expressed needs, …

Primary Connections: Reforming Science Teaching In Australian Primary Schools, Mark Hackling, Shelley Peers, Vaughan Prain

Research outputs pre 2011

Concerns about the status and quality of science teaching in Australian primary schools led the Australian Academy of Science to develop Primary Connections over 2004-8 with funding from DEST and the support of states and territories. Primary Connections is a teacher professional learning program supported with curriculum resources that aims to enhance learning outcomes in science and the literacies of science by supporting both inservice and preservice primary teachers to teach science effectively. Primary Connections is a systematic, widespread and innovative reform that complements programs within states and territories. The program is based on an innovative teaching and learning approach …