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Full-Text Articles in Education

Initiating Historical Thinking In Elementary Schools, John H. Bickford Oct 2013

Initiating Historical Thinking In Elementary Schools, John H. Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

With an ever-expanding focus on reading and mathematics, many elementary schools have chosen to reduce time previously reserved for social studies. Elementary teachers who understand both the relevance of social studies content and the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teaching regularly incorporate applicable history-based children’s tradebooks in their curricula. Locating developmentally appropriate books is simple. Teaching history using children’s literature can be effective. It can be counterproductive, however, if the selected book is replete with historical misrepresentations. Teaching historical thinking in elementary school is problematic no matter what the teaching tool, and there are few methodological roadmaps for elementary teachers. Here, I …


Neoliberalism And University Education In Sub-Saharan Africa, James Ochwa-Echel Sep 2013

Neoliberalism And University Education In Sub-Saharan Africa, James Ochwa-Echel

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This article reviews the history of university development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and discusses the impact of neoliberal policies. This will be followed by an examination of the problems facing universities in the region. The following questions will be explored: (a) Are the existing universities in SSA serving the development needs of the region? (b) Are these universities up to the task of moving SSA out of the predicaments it faces such as famine, HIV/AIDS, poverty, diseases, debt, and human rights abuses? Finally, the article argues that for universities to play a role in the development of the region, a …


Examining Historical (Mis)Representations Of Christopher Columbus Within Children’S Literature, John H. Bickford Jul 2013

Examining Historical (Mis)Representations Of Christopher Columbus Within Children’S Literature, John H. Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Effective teaching, while supplemented by best practice methods and assessments, is rooted in accurate, age-appropriate, and engaging content. As a foundation for history content, elementary educators rely strongly on textbooks and children’s literature, both fiction and non-fiction. While many researchers have examined the historical accuracy of textbook content, few have rigorously scrutinized the historical accuracy of children’s literature. Those projects that carried out such examination were more descriptive than comprehensive due to significantly smaller data pools. I investigate how children’s non-fiction and fiction books depict and historicize a meaningful and frequently taught history topic: Christopher Columbus’s accomplishments and misdeeds. Results …


What Will They Say About Me When I Am Gone: A Tribute To Robert "Bob" Hussey, Scott M. Ronspies Apr 2013

What Will They Say About Me When I Am Gone: A Tribute To Robert "Bob" Hussey, Scott M. Ronspies

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.


[Malaysia] Early Education And Development In Malaysia: Issues And Challenges In Providing A Framework For A Multiethnic Society, Shamah Md-Yunus Mar 2013

[Malaysia] Early Education And Development In Malaysia: Issues And Challenges In Providing A Framework For A Multiethnic Society, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This paper provides a brief overview of early education in Malaysia with focus on the issues and challenges in providing quality early education for a multiethnic society. Conflicting interests between majority and minority ethnic groups not only cause different educational outcomes and expectations for children and families but also create challenges to the government to provide quality and equality of education to all young children. Some suggestions for a framework for early education in Malaysia are discussed.


[Malaysia] Early Education And Development In Malaysia: Issues And Challenges In Providing A Framework For A Multiethnic Society, Shamah Md-Yunus Mar 2013

[Malaysia] Early Education And Development In Malaysia: Issues And Challenges In Providing A Framework For A Multiethnic Society, Shamah Md-Yunus

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This paper provides a brief overview of early education in Malaysia with focus on the issues and challenges in providing quality early education for a multiethnic society. Conflicting interests between majority and minority ethnic groups not only cause different educational outcomes and expectations for children and families but also create challenges to the government to provide quality and equality of education to all young children. Some suggestions for a framework for early education in Malaysia are discussed.


Portfolio Assessment: Practices In Special Education Teacher Education, Amy Rosenstein, Adelle Renzaglia Jan 2013

Portfolio Assessment: Practices In Special Education Teacher Education, Amy Rosenstein, Adelle Renzaglia

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Reform in teacher education has made teacher education preparation programs re-examine their current practices and makes changes in the assessment and instruction of teacher candidates. In the search for more authentic assessments of teacher candidate knowledge and abilities, portfolios have been offered as a viable option. After more than 20 years of portfolio use in teacher preparation programs, there is little empirical information on portfolio assessment use across special education teacher candidate preparation programs. The purpose of this study was to examine, using quantitative and qualitative methods, the practices, satisfaction, and issues associated with portfolio use across multiple institutions that …


The Diversity Dialogue: Rethinking Pedagogical Practices To Provide Hope For Pre-Service Teachers, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Samantha Cantu Jan 2013

The Diversity Dialogue: Rethinking Pedagogical Practices To Provide Hope For Pre-Service Teachers, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Samantha Cantu

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This study examines how a diverse dialogue addresses cultural differences and social injustices and how cultural responsiveness helps teachers approach education more equitably. When teachers use a diverse dialogue, they are able to create a classroom curriculum that includes all voices, experiences, and activities and satisfies the needs of all learners. The study also suggests that teachers adjust their pedagogical practices to the ever-changing multicultural classrooms. Through an examination of best practices, teachers will be able to invest in more creative and diverse approaches that will not only benefit the individual student, but also the entire classroom. Applying positioning theory …


Cognitive Science: How Do Deep Approaches To Learning Promote Metacognitive Strategies To Enhance Integrated Learning?, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Daniel P. Harvey Ii Jan 2013

Cognitive Science: How Do Deep Approaches To Learning Promote Metacognitive Strategies To Enhance Integrated Learning?, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Daniel P. Harvey Ii

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This research will examine how deep approaches to learning assist students in developing meta-cognitive strategies to enhance integrative learning. Research was gathered through two surveys using mixed methods, a triangulational study. Student data consisted of questionnaires with adaptations from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) 2011. The faculty survey was a questionnaire with adaptations from the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE). Results reveals faculty measure success in promoting deep learning within and out of the classroom; the transference of new knowledge is obtained through writing intensive assignments, class projects, portfolios, collaborative discussions, undergraduate research, conference presentations, and self-reflections.


Engaging Voices Of Disconnected Learners In Urban Environments, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Agnes Virginia Williams Jan 2013

Engaging Voices Of Disconnected Learners In Urban Environments, Mildred M. Pearson Dr., Agnes Virginia Williams

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Success in school is critical for urban youth. This study reports on ten coaches effort to engage urban high school students in social action projects in a charter school that adopted the Public Achievement model of civic engagement. The coaches, who were graduate students, worked with ten groups of six to twelve students who were required to participate. This study draws from fieldnotes and interviews of each coach and examines their experiences of helping students think critically about community issues. This calls for families, communities, and schools to build social networks; providing children with social capital necessary to achieve.


Examining Historical (Mis)Representations Of Christopher Columbus Within Children’S Literature, John Bickford Jan 2013

Examining Historical (Mis)Representations Of Christopher Columbus Within Children’S Literature, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Effective teaching, while supplemented by best practice methods and assessments, is rooted in accurate, age-appropriate, and engaging content. As a foundation for history content, elementary educators rely strongly on textbooks and children’s literature, both fiction and non-fiction. While many researchers have examined the historical accuracy of textbook content, few have rigorously scrutinized the historical accuracy of children’s literature. Those projects that carried out such examination were more descriptive than comprehensive due to significantly smaller data pools. I investigate how children’s non-fiction and fiction books depict and historicize a meaningful and frequently taught history topic: Christopher Columbus’s accomplishments and misdeeds. Results …


Initiating Historical Thinking In Elementary Schools, John Bickford Jan 2013

Initiating Historical Thinking In Elementary Schools, John Bickford

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

With an ever-expanding focus on reading and mathematics, many elementary schools have chosen to reduce time previously reserved for social studies. Elementary teachers who understand both the relevance of social studies content and the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teaching regularly incorporate applicable history-based children’s tradebooks in their curricula. Locating developmentally appropriate books is simple. Teaching history using children’s literature can be effective. It can be counterproductive, however, if the selected book is replete with historical misrepresentations. Teaching historical thinking in elementary school is problematic no matter what the teaching tool, and there are few methodological roadmaps for elementary teachers. Here, I …


The Diversity Dialogue: Rethinking Pedagogical Practices To Provide Hope For Pre-Service Teachers, Mildred Pearson, Samantha Cantu Jan 2013

The Diversity Dialogue: Rethinking Pedagogical Practices To Provide Hope For Pre-Service Teachers, Mildred Pearson, Samantha Cantu

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This study examines how a diverse dialogue addresses cultural differences and social injustices and how cultural responsiveness helps teachers approach education more equitably. When teachers use a diverse dialogue, they are able to create a classroom curriculum that includes all voices, experiences, and activities and satisfies the needs of all learners. The study also suggests that teachers adjust their pedagogical practices to the ever-changing multicultural classrooms. Through an examination of best practices, teachers will be able to invest in more creative and diverse approaches that will not only benefit the individual student, but also the entire classroom. Applying positioning theory …


Cognitive Science: How Do Deep Approaches To Learning Promote Metacognitive Strategies To Enhance Integrated Learning?, Mildred Pearson, Daniel Harvey Jan 2013

Cognitive Science: How Do Deep Approaches To Learning Promote Metacognitive Strategies To Enhance Integrated Learning?, Mildred Pearson, Daniel Harvey

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This research will examine how deep approaches to learning assist students in developing meta-cognitive strategies to enhance integrative learning. Research was gathered through two surveys using mixed methods, a triangulational study. Student data consisted of questionnaires with adaptations from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) 2011. The faculty survey was a questionnaire with adaptations from the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE). Results reveals faculty measure success in promoting deep learning within and out of the classroom; the transference of new knowledge is obtained through writing intensive assignments, class projects, portfolios, collaborative discussions, undergraduate research, conference presentations, and self-reflections.


Engaging Voices Of Disconnected Learners In Urban Environments, Mildred Pearson, Agnes Williams Jan 2013

Engaging Voices Of Disconnected Learners In Urban Environments, Mildred Pearson, Agnes Williams

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Success in school is critical for urban youth. This study reports on ten coaches effort to engage urban high school students in social action projects in a charter school that adopted the Public Achievement model of civic engagement. The coaches, who were graduate students, worked with ten groups of six to twelve students who were required to participate. This study draws from fieldnotes and interviews of each coach and examines their experiences of helping students think critically about community issues. This calls for families, communities, and schools to build social networks; providing children with social capital necessary to achieve.