Education Commons^™

Resource Review – Using Parlay To Facilitate Discussions, Elizabeth C. Barrow

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

This resource review highlights a Web 2.0 tool that can be used to facilitate both in-class live discussions and online asynchronous discussions.

Peeling Away The Taken-For-Grantedness Of Research Subjectivities: Orienting To The Phenomenological, Melissa Freeman, E. Anthony Muhammad

Department of Curriculum, Foundations, & Reading Faculty Publications

Qualitative research is a multidisciplinary field of practice that acknowledges and values the situatedness and subjectivities of the researcher. Therefore, reflexively accounting for one’s subjectivities is a crucial part of a research report. Less discussed is how subjective understandings are historically, culturally, and socially mediated, often challenging researchers’ abilities to orient themselves critically to this self-reflective undertaking. Phenomenology is a philosophical approach investigating how phenomena such as subjectivity are constituted in experience. This makes phenomenology an essential resource for understanding how complex subjective responses manifest differently depending on one’s orientation to the situation. This paper aims to familiarize qualitative research …

For Black Girls, By Black Girls: Examining The Experiences Of Black Women In Historically White Learning Spaces And Reimagining Spaces With Our Needs In Mind, Florence Takeshia Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the experiences of Black women in historically white learning spaces and our needs in reimaged learning spaces developed for us. The conceptual framework for this study was Black Feminist Thought, critical geography, and Afrofuturism. Using sister circle methodology, participants discussed the simultaneous racialized and gendered experiences that Black women navigate in learning spaces and how technology and Afrofuturism could be beneficial in creating spaces for Black women. Despite our achievements in academic spaces, Black women experience microaggressive environments that have traumatic impacts on our psychological health and our overall experiences in learning environments. Our successes are acts …

Information Literacy: Literacy Across Stem Areas, Lavoris Martin

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Information Literacy: Literacy Across STEM Areas

The question of “Literacy across STEM Areas” is an area that is very important to Librarians. As the providers of information, it is imperative that libraries are an integral part in the conversation of STEM. Research have shown that today's scholars are overwhelmed with an abundant of information and data—throughout the research process. One of the ways that libraries and Librarians address this issue is through Information Literacy. Association for College and Research Libraries’ Information Literacy Standards for Science and Engineering/Technology (2012) states that information literacy has been an essential component in the core …

Literacy-Based Action Research: Strategies For Improving Student Achievement, Anne Katz Ph.D., Deborah Jaudon, Danielle Russell, Jennifer Formby

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The presentation will highlight literacy-based action research projects by three Reading Specialist M.Ed. graduate students. The topics of enhancing struggling readers’ vocabulary development using technology; effects of technology during summer school on student promotion; as well as infusion of dialogue and metacognitive strategies to promote self-efficacy and early reading success were explored. Tools for attendees to implement the process of action research in their own classroom will be outlined.

Selecting, Sequencing, And Connecting: Using Technology To Support Area Measurement Through Tasks, Strategies, And Discussion, Eryn M. Stehr, Jia He, Ha Nguyen

Proceedings of the Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching and Learning Conference (2017-2019)

This paper supports grades 3-5 mathematics teachers and considers how technology in the classroom can be used to support "low threshold, high ceiling" tasks and productive discussion. We present a description of a card-sorting task to support the “5 Practices of Productive Mathematics Discussions” focused on an online task designed to: be open to multiple levels of strategies, reveal misconceptions, and support students in developing more sophisticated conceptual understandings of area measurement. We present a sampling of strategies created by teachers (who were pretending to be elementary students) in past activities. We discuss approaches to connecting strategies for deeper understanding …

A Study On Science Achievement And Motivation Using Computer-Based Simulations Compared To Traditional Hands-On Manipulation, Stacey L. Hannel, Joshua Cuevas

Georgia Educational Researcher

This study was conducted to investigate whether or not computer-based simulations had a greater impact on science achievement compared to traditional hands-on methods for middle school students in an on-level science course. The study also sought to determine if either method had an impact on retention as well as motivation. The participants in the study were 6^th grade students attending a public middle school in suburban metro-Atlanta. A variety of statistical analyses were utilized to measure science achievement, retention, and motivation. Results indicated that there was no significant difference on science achievement between the traditional hands-on method and the …

Using Google Forms To Inform Teaching Practices, Ha Nguyen, Eryn M. Stehr, Heidi Eisenreich, Tuyin An

Proceedings of the Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching and Learning Conference (2017-2019)

Kay and LeSage (2009) conducted a literature review of research on use of student response systems in university courses (typically Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics courses) and categorized benefits into classroom environment, learning, and assessment. The objectives of the proposed session are to discuss how using Google Forms will benefit those three above categories. Examples of Google Forms used to gather data, receive in-the-moment feedback to students and instructors, engage students’ learning, and assess their learning will be shared throughout the paper. Limitations of Google Forms will also be discussed. This session can be beneficial to all K-College educators.

Supporting Rural Student Success In Higher Education, Peggy A. Lumpkin

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

Founded in the late 1880’s, this college originally served students exclusively from the surrounding Appalachian region. Faculty to student ratios average 18:1 and the number of students served average 1000-1200. Today, although the college serves a more diverse student body geographically, it still endeavors to retain the culture of personal attention and support from faculty and staff. These attributes make the college attractive to students from rural communities who often are first generation college students. Striving to survive against competition from both well-funded larger private colleges as well as from state colleges and universities, places pressure on college administration to …

Reimagining The Stacks: Classroom Technology And Library Collaboration For Writing In The Disciplines, Jossalyn Larson, Daniel C. Reardon

The Journal of Student Success in Writing

This article details the process by which one university redesigned a first year writing course to better promote discipline-specific and best-practice research techniques. The program offers experiential learning activities through scholarly collaboration, using library staff as mentors, producing an open-access peer-reviewed student journal, and emphasizing face-to-face interaction of peer research communities. It has the potential to establish for students in high school, community colleges and universities that research writing is fundamentally about joining and contributing to a conversation.

Technology And Student Achievement In Stem Subjects: Perspectives From Teachers In Grades 3rd-5th, Kayleigh D. Hunter

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to research teachers’ perspectives of their role and responsibilities of integrating technology in the classroom and the influence of technology on student achievement. The participants involved in the qualitative research process included seven in-service professional public school teachers. The thirty minute to an hour interviews were piloted using researcher created interview question constructed from previous research on teachers’ perceptions of technology. The questions used were created to specifically answer the researcher’s topic of study; some questions are regarding whether teachers believe success is technology driven and what benefits they think technology brings. The teachers …

Technology, Games And Learning In An Intermediate Spanish Class, Rosalind Arthur

South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL)

This presentation examines some theories of learning at the tertiary level of education, and tests them in a research activity involving games and learning/knowledge. Two Intermediate Spanish classes are engaged in preliminary research to measure the effectiveness of a simple game (hangman) and technology (Responseware/clickers) as practice and review tools versus traditional methods; in formative assessment.

The presentation will consist of reporting on the Quantitative results focusing on the impact of using games in learning on students in the digital age. Student attitudes based on a qualitative survey administered to the students involved will be included in the report.

Both …

The Posthuman Curriculum And The Teacher, John P. Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this document is to explore education through a posthumanist lens. More specifically, elements of posthumanism will be used to better understand today’s teachers, to provide several overarching educational goals and curricular imperatives, and to inform pedagogical practice. Several posthumanist themes in particular will serve to unify this rather broad consideration of education at varying levels. One such theme is that of blurring boundaries, calling into question distinctions that have been the source of declines in the health of our bodies, our species, and the life systems of which we are constitutive parts. Distinctions too often lead to …

Technology Integration Into Differentiated Mathematics Instruction: Teacher Attitudes, Ardyth Foster, Jackie Kim

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

Differentiated instruction (DI) is based on the idea that students differ significantly in their interests, learning styles, and readiness, and teaching strategies and decisions involving content, process, and product should vary accordingly[1]. Grimes and Stevens (2009)[2] reported a positive correlation between students’ academic success, motivation, and self-efficacy with its use. DI has also been found to result in improved test scores on district and state assessments in every subject, at every grade level. Beecher’s (2008) study supports the idea that using a DI approach and enriched learning experiences could help close the achievement gap between culturally and …

Research Express News, Georgia Southern University

Research Express News (2013-2021)

• Herty Technology Innovation Seminar Series on September 17, 2015

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Teacher Influence On Elementary School Students’ Participation In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics, Courtney Hartman

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of elementary school teachers on encouraging students’ interest and participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The researcher sought to understand what methods teachers use in their classrooms to encourage students to participate in STEM subjects and programs. This mixed methods study consisted of a questionnaire to collect quantitative data, as well as an interview of selected teachers who participated in the questionnaire to collect qualitative data. The data was analyzed to determine the overall perceptions of teachers regarding the importance of encouraging students to participate in STEM. The qualitative …

Voices From The Classroom: Elementary Students’ Perceptions Of Blogging, Ewa Mcgrail, Anne Davis

Georgia Educational Researcher

Blogging appears to be a promising instructional strategy which may provide solutions to some of the challenges in traditional writing instruction; however, few studies explore elementary students’ views on blogging. This qualitative case study gives elementary students voice as it examines their perceptions of blogging and their views of themselves as writers, readers, and learners. The researchers drew from multiple data sources, including student and teacher interviews, student and teacher blog writing, and classroom observations, to ascertain young writers’ perspectives. The findings indicate these student bloggers’ reader awareness and appreciation of the reader-writer relationship. Student bloggers also benefited from emotional …

President's Annual Report, Brooks Keel

President's Annual Report (2012-2015)

No abstract provided.

Ascension, Megan Hopkins, Jeremy Wilburn, Sandra Bennett

Ascension: Elevating Research and Scholarship (2012-2015)

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Personal Responders In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Mitzi B. Helms

Instructional Technology Education Specialist Research Papers

This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design to determine if personal responders increased students’ comprehension level in a first grade classroom. The control group was the group that was taught reading comprehension strategies using traditional teaching methods. The experimental group was taught reading comprehension strategies using personal responders. This group was instructed using the same strategies as the control group except the experimental group used personal responders in the place of pencils and worksheets. The researcher was the instructor for the experimental group, and another first grade teacher at the school was the instructor for the control group. Each group …

How Is Teacher Self-Efficacy And Attitude Toward Technology Affected By Extended Intrusive Training?, Gregg Miles

Instructional Technology Education Specialist Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that intrusive training has on teacher attitude and self-efficacy toward technology. Intrusive training was defined as making proactive steps on the part of the Instructional Technology Specialist to introduce teachers to new ideas, information and instruction through emails, social media, small groups and individual training sessions. A four and a half week intrusive training process was implemented with the treatment group and the results were compared to a control group. No statistical difference was found in the attitude and self-efficacy of the treatment group compared to the control group. Several …

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Magazine

• Changing Rural Public Health and Supporting Health Equity

Minority Women In Stem: A Valuable Resource In The Global Economy, Ezella Mcpherson, Diane R. Fuselier-Thompson

Journal of the International Association for the Study of the Global Achievement Gap

While there is an expected demographic shift of the ethnic minority population in the United States to become the majority population by 2020, few minority women successfully attain baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields. To address this gap, this article employs critical race feminism and narrative analysis methods to examine minority women’s challenges while pursuing undergraduate STEM degrees. Findings suggest that limited access to the field, isolation and alienation, and affordability create barriers that result in many minority women leaving STEM majors. Implications for practice include targeted institutional efforts to increase recruitment and retention efforts towards …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Professional Development Activities Which Result In Successful Integration Of Classroom Instructional Technologies, Lisa Blackmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent research demonstrates the expectation of the use of technology in schools. Advances in technology often require teachers to learn new methods of teaching while trying to keep up with rapidly increasing technological changes. Unfortunately, many teachers report being inadequately prepared to utilize instructional technologies in their classrooms. School leaders have the complex task of providing effective training that meets their teachers’ needs. In this quantitative study, the author sought to determine teachers’ perceptions of professional development activities which result in successful classroom integration of instructional technologies in schools. Teachers from two school districts in Georgia were surveyed. Data were …

Ascension, Mary Beth Spence, Gregory Evans, Sandra Bennett, Charles Patterson, Keely Hopkins, Megan Hopkins, Christian Flathman, Brooks Keel, Jeremy Wilburn

Ascension: Elevating Research and Scholarship (2012-2015)

No abstract provided.

Leaving In The Past: The Role History Plays In Video Games, Joseph Fordham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

How can something considered by many within academia as childish or a waste of time be potentially useful in presenting or even studying history? Not only has the video game industry grown into one of the largest forms of media in the world, but these games are also finding use as a training aid for the military and major companies, as an advertising medium, and, most importantly, as a tool for teaching. As developmental capabilities improve with new generations of graphics hardware, video games are turning towards the recreation of real-world and historical events. This drive towards realism and accuracy …

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Student Perceptions Of Wikipedia As A Learning Tool For Educational Leaders, Jason Lafrance, Daniel W. Calhoun

Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development Faculty Publications

This non-experimental qualitative study examined archival survey data collected to evaluate the e‑cacy of a research assignment utilizing Wikipedia. Respondents were 14 doctoral students enrolled in Educational Leadership coursework during Fall 2011. There is limited research available on this topic, as Wikipedia has been minimally utilized as a legitimate learning tool in the education setting. Parker and Chao (2007) noted that Wikis are one of many Web 2.0 components that could be used to enhance the learning process. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate doctoral student's perceptions of Wikipedia as an instructional tool in Educational Leadership coursework. …