Education Commons^™

Never Going Back: Lessons To Carry Forward In Online Instruction, Howard Pitler, Amanda Lickteig, Seth Lickteig

The Advocate

Research has long demonstrated that students thrive best in an online learning community when some basic tenants are followed. These tenants include establishing a peer community, module supports, studying while balancing life commitments, confidence, and the approach to learning (Farrell & Brunton, 2020; Kahn, Egbue, Palkie, & Madden, 2017; Dixson, 2010). Cultivating active engagement in online communities is a purposeful and deliberate practice that requires educators to bring together an assortment of innovative instructional techniques to foster the establishment of Communities of Practice (COP). Wenger, Trayner, and de Laat (2011) define a CoP as a “learning partnership among people who …

Improving K-12 Classroom Literacy Instruction With The Model Of The Complete, Literate Student: Shared Perspectives By Msed Reading Program Graduates, Johannah Baugher

The Advocate

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an instructional model, used in a Master of Science in Education in Reading (MSEd) Reading program, on K-12 classroom literacy instruction. Recent, MSEd Reading program graduates had an opportunity to share their perspectives on The Model of the Complete, Literate Student. Findings from this research study will be utilized to better understand the impact of this instructional model on K-12 classroom literacy instruction, as well as current practitioners’ professional growth as literacy leaders.

Effects Of State-Level Funding Systems On Identification Rates Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Michelle Powers, Brad Uhing

The Advocate

Identification rates of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been increasing since the year 2000, while federal special education funding has remained stagnant. Researchers gathered data from states related to individual state funding systems, per pupil spending and identification rates of students with ASD to determine if state spending or special education funding methods affected identification rates of students with ASD. While specific funding methodology did not predict rates of identification or PPS, a correlational analysis of individual state PPS and ASD identification rates did have significant results. Spending amounts per pupil corresponded to rates of identification for ASD.

A Letter From The President Of Ate-K

The Advocate

This is an introductory letter from Gary Andersen, Ph.D. the current President of ATE_K and Co-Editor of The Advocate.

The Advocate, Laurie Curtis

The Advocate

Information regarding The Advocate

A Wedge Issue For The 21st Century: The Conditional Effect Of Party Identification For Predicting Feelings Towards Immigrants And Refugees In A Higher Ed Setting, Nicholas Bauroth, Kjersten Nelson

Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy

The issue of immigration played an important role in recent U.S. elections. How did the salience of immigration and refugees in the 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections play out amongst young voters? Did increased opportunities to interact with immigrants and refugees affect respondents’ feelings towards these groups, as social contact theory might predict? The analyses here focus on a sample of college students, given that the higher education experience presents conditions for social contact theory to play out. We find that party identification is a key piece of the puzzle – measures of social contact theory operate differently for Democratic …

Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (And What To Do Instead), Lori M. Costello

Journal of Applied Communications

Book review of Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead), edited by Susan D. Blum with a foreword by Alfie Kohn

Developing Writing Self-Efficacy: Perspectives From Agricultural Communications Students, Haley M. Banwart, Shuyang Qu

Journal of Applied Communications

While there is mounting consensus writing is an essential skill required of agricultural communications graduates, there are opposing views as to what educators can do to improve students’ writing education and performance. Self-efficacy research provides one perspective for exploring the relationship between students’ performance and their beliefs in their writing abilities. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore how agricultural communications students perceive their writing self-efficacy and what underlying sources shape their self-efficacy beliefs. The findings confirmed agricultural communications students use a variety of sources to inform their self-efficacy beliefs including their interpretations of their writing performance and …

Farmer-Centered Pesticide Risk Reduction Education In Senegal: A Novel, Participatory Approach, Mary L. Halbleib, Berit Dinsdale

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

As pest pressures continue to intensify across Sub-Saharan Africa, many smallholder farmers are increasing their use of pesticides, including highly hazardous options, to meet the market demands for high-quality fresh produce. Many of these farmers, however, have not had access to pesticide risk reduction training or have participated in programs that have not enabled them to protect themselves and their families. Given the risks posed by dried and invisible though still toxic pesticide residues, new forms of information and realistic learning strategies are required. This study combined the innovative Adaptive Learner-Centered Education (ALCE) approach with the Farmer Field School (FFS) …

Introduction And Table Of Contents, Mary Rodriguez

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education is the official refereed publication of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE). Its purpose is to enhance the research and knowledge base of agricultural and extension education from an international perspective.

A Phenomenological Pre- And Post-Reflective Comparison Of Graduate Student Intercultural Competence From Agricultural Service-Learning Experiences, Kim E. Dooley, Catherine E. Sanders, Leslie Edgar

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The purpose of this study was to determine growth in intercultural competence after graduate students participated in an international service learning (ISL) experience. One method for developing intercultural competence is service learning, where students apply learning in real-world settings through a cycle of action and reflection. This study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis related to the lived experience of eight graduate students who participated in two intensive ISL projects in Timor-Leste or Guatemala. Results included the student point of view (emic) narrative as an ethnographic crafted profile for each participant to demonstrate the process of intercultural competence development across individual …

The Intersection Of Gender, Media, And Policy: A Qualitative Analysis On Thai Newspaper Coverage Of Women In Agriculture, Morgan A. Richardson Gilley, Richie Roberts, J. Joey Blackburn, Kristin Stair

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Women empowerment and gender equality have been found to be statistically significant and positive predictors of global agricultural development. Therefore, reducing gender disparities can encourage economic progress and growth in developing nations. As such, determining effective ways to stimulate social progress and women’s empowerment has emerged as a critical need. One strategy used to raise the public’s consciousness about gendered issues in Thailand has been through mass media. In response, this study aimed to (1) determine to what extent Thailand’s newspaper coverage focused on topics related to women and the agricultural industry; and (2) describe how women in agriculture …

Going The Distance: Examining The Impact Of A Long-Term International Fellowship, Meikah Dado, Jessica R. Spence, Jack Elliot

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

AgriCorps, an American organization, created a fellowship program to connect agricultural professionals to school-based agricultural education in developing countries. Previous scholars researched the impacts of international experiences on learners, usually through the lens of short-term study abroad. This study seeks to examine the impact of long-term international fellowship experiences in education and provide recommendations for future like-programs by analyzing the experiences of previous AgriCorps fellows. Fellows lived and taught school-based agricultural education in a community in Ghana or Liberia. Eighteen previous AgriCorps fellows participated in a semi-structured interview through a virtual meeting platform. The interviews were used to collect data …

A Cross-Platform Exploratory Study Of International And Domestic Scholar Post Engagement On Social Media, Allison R. Byrd, Catherine E. Sanders, Alexa Lamm

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Social media use varies globally across cultures, even within extension services. Recognition of the contributions of international scholars at the universities where they serve also varies. Social media use in international scholars’ countries of origin may differ from that of their institution’s country, affecting social media engagement with a university’s posts featuring international scholars. Using the conceptual framework of audience segmentation, this study explored the differences in social media audience engagement between research themes and international and domestic scholars on Instagram and Twitter. Using a causal-comparative design, this study created Instagram and Twitter posts highlighting peer-reviewed research conducted by both …

Manuscript Submission Guidelines, Mary Rodriguez

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Updated guidelines for submitting manuscripts to JIAEE.

The Relationship Between Academic Supplies And Academic Performance, Malissa Harris, Celia Suarez, Rylei Jaramillo, Ebony Hall, Felicia L. Murray

Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences

Many students attending college lack the resources for academic supplies to help them achieve academic success. This study was informed by Walberg’s Theory of Educational Productivity and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to aid in the understanding of how access to academic supplies affects academic achievement as well as graduation and retention rates. This research focused on the access to academic supplies and a student’s academic performance. The research was a mixed methods approach with a randomized sample of 75 participants. A hard copy survey was distributed in the highest trafficked areas on a college campus. In addition to the demographic …

The Relationship Between Academic Supplies And Academic Performance, Malissa Harris, Celia Suarez, Rylei Jaramillo, Ebony Hall, Felicia L. Murray

Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences

Many students attending college lack the resources for academic supplies to help them achieve academic success. This study was informed by Walberg’s Theory of Educational Productivity and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to aid in the understanding of how access to academic supplies affects academic achievement as well as graduation and retention rates. This research focused on the access to academic supplies and a student’s academic performance. The research was a mixed methods approach with a randomized sample of 75 participants. A hard copy survey was distributed in the highest trafficked areas on a college campus. In addition to the demographic …

Elementary Preservice Mathematics Teachers Fraction Knowledge: An Integrative Review Of Research, Cody J. Perry

Educational Considerations

Elementary preservice teachers struggle with fractions and explaining them despite taking numerous mathematics courses. Therefore, they may have issues when they teach fractions and related concepts. Since fractions underlie many concepts like algebra, improving teachers’ fraction knowledge is imperative. This integrative review of research synthesized findings about teachers’ fractions knowledge to provide potential strategies educator preparation programs (EPPs) can use to improve fraction mastery. The literature shows teachers lacked conceptual knowledge, used incorrect strategies and too few representations, and misunderstood magnitude and manipulatives. However, number lines and teaching conceptually helped improve mastery of fractions. Resolving issues with fraction mastery may …

The Effect Of Task-Based Writing Instruction On Iranian Pre-Intermediate Efl Learners’ Self-Efficacy And Epistemic Beliefs, Nooshin Iravani

Educational Considerations

Generally, writing—and second-language (L2) writing in particular—causes a lot of challenges. Indeed, many L2 students who are very proficient in speaking and reading may encounter many difficulties while composing a letter or a biography. They suffer from a low level of self-efficacy and confidence in this respect. Therefore, this research was aimed at shedding light on the effects of task-based writing instruction on improving English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' self-efficacy and epistemic beliefs associated with writing skills. To this end, a sample of 36 Iranian male and female pre-intermediate learners took part in this research. They formed two …

The Pandemic And Teachers: How Teachers’ Daily Life In The Classroom Has Been Impacted, Bailey Mahoney

Educational Considerations

This study explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected educators during the end of the 2019-2020 school year and throughout the 2020-2021 school year. During a time with so much uncertainty, the focus has been on how best to approach the school year for students. Little conversation has happened concerning the impact on teachers. While research on this topic is limited to the short time span of the pandemic so far, teachers have shifted their instructional strategies, assessment strategies, and homework policies to match the needs of students. The following study seeks to highlight these changes and provide a voice …

Action Research In The Time Of Covid-19, Victoria Seeger, Troy Fredde, Brianna O'Neal, Johnna Stewart

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

This study provides a picture of the impact the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) had on action research performed by graduate students at a small Midwest university. A qualitative case study was conducted to examine how the participants’ abilities to implement their research, gather data, and analyze the results was impacted by COVID-19. Participants were asked a series of questions regarding modifications made, the impact to the research that was done, the impact to their findings, and implications for future research. Based on the responses to these surveys, researchers determined four prominent themes; altered timelines, limited access to data and materials, quality …

Teacher Inquiry: A Catalyst For Professional Development, Divonna Stebick, Jonathan Hart, Lauren Glick, Jaime Kindervatter, Jenna Nagel, Cathy Patrick

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Teachers seek and require meaningful professional development opportunities to truly grow in the profession. Teacher inquiry, or teacher research, is one way to accomplish professional development goals. Teacher inquiry is thought of as individualized, personalized, and meaningful professional development (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 1999). In this paper we articulate the learning of a cohort of certificated professionals engaged in a year-long project that included asking research questions, designing data collection tools, and developing an independent study to examine their questions. Nine certificated professionals participated in the year-long project representing various grade levels and experiences. Data was collected through teacher reflections and …

Self-Study In A Pandemic: Process, Pedagogy, People, And Publishing, David M. Schmid, Shelley Price-Williams, Morgan Anderson, Matt Townsley

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Since its inclusion as a qualitative research approach in 1993, self-study has offered an opportunity for faculty members to merge two components of their position involved in tenure and promotion decisions: scholarship and teaching. This paper portrays a yearlong self-study of four probationary faculty members, in the same college of education department at a comprehensive regional university, all completed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings include the incorporation of engaging pedagogy in coursework, the impacts of COVID-19 on faculty and students, the importance of relationships with faculty colleagues and students, the incorporation of observation, feedback, and reflection as an avenue to …

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Reading And Music: A Natural Pedagogical Collaboration, Jarrett D. Moore, Kathryn Simonyak, Kelsey Ruzicka

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Reading and music instruction can form a symbiotic relationship to positively impact lower-elementary literacy and increase student engagement. In this action research study, cross-curricular instruction between reading and music at the 2nd grade elementary level was taught by both the reading and music teacher. This study employed reading, rhythm, rhyme, instrumentation, writing, physical movement, and song to benefit students’ phonemic awareness while reading. Developmental Reading Assessments (DRAs) were used to measure student growth from the start of the study to its conclusion. These DRAs were used as pre- and posttests and were bookended around instruction using reading, rhythm, rhyme, instrumentation, …

Differentiated Spelling: Using Small Group Instruction, Sara Broughton

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Spelling instruction is often overlooked by many teachers during reading and language arts. The purpose of this study was to implement a manageable differentiated word study instruction program, drawn from the Words Their Way (WTW) program, to determine how it affected students’ spelling accuracy and how the participants perceived its effect on students’ daily journal writing time in a fourth-grade self-contained classroom. Students were placed into small groups based on their spelling pre-test scores. Data was collected through field notes, student and teacher interviews, a pre- and post-test, and a survey. Qualitative data was analyzed using the constant …

Editorial Introduction: Better Together, Suzanne Porath

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

This issue of Network touches on both topics – the continued impact of COVID on teaching and learning and the importance of collaboration during educator inquiry projects. Adult learning theory, also known as andragogy (Knowles, 1980) is an approach to learning that is problem-based and collaborative. Each of the articles in this issue highlight the importance of educators guiding their own professional learning in collaboration with others.

Therapist, Intermediary Or Garbage Can? Examining Professional Challenges For School Social Work In Swedish Elementary Schools, Maria Kjellgren, Sara Lilliehorn, Urban Markström

International Journal of School Social Work

The overall aim of this article is to describe and analyse critical components that influence the role and performance of school social workers in the Swedish elementary school. Special attention will be paid to aspects related to formal regulations, professional self-understanding, and SSWs’ role in the interplay between professional domains involved in elementary school.

The data collection was conducted through four semi-structured qualitative focus group interviews with a total of 22 School Social Workers (SSWs) in four different regions in Sweden during the latter part of 2019.

The results reveal three main challenges for the SSW: 1. To …

Modernizing High School Agricultural Communications Competencies: A National Delphi Study, Mackenzie Atkins, Kati Lawson, Ricky Telg

Journal of Applied Communications

The purpose of this study was to identify current competencies needed for high school students to succeed in their agricultural communication courses. This study also identified an ideal introduction level for each competency and provides up-to-date consensus on the most important agricultural communication competencies for high school students as determined by university faculty. Twenty years have passed since secondary agricultural communication competencies have been evaluated at a national level (Akers, 2000). Since then, industry standards have changed, including the emergence of social media, which is reflected in the results of this study. This study was conducted through a two-round Delphi …

An Application Of The Ccsr Noncognitive Framework: Bringing Together Typical And Exceptional Student Research, Sara E. Taylor

Educational Considerations

The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research (CCSR) published a report in 2012 entitled Teaching Adolescents to Become Learners. The Role of Noncognitive Factors in Shaping School Performance: A Critical Literature Review in which they drew together research from fields such as psychology, economics, and education to present noncognitive factors as a malleable means to improve student performance in school. According to the framework derived by CCSR, noncognitive factors include academic mindsets, academic perseverance, academic behaviors, learning strategies, and social skills, which interact to influence academic performance. Researchers often focus on either typically developing or exceptional student populations. This …

Editorial Board

Educational Considerations

Editorial Board