Education Commons^™

Dei Curriculur Initiatives: Transformational Change Or Mere Performance?, Karen Lybeck, Jessica Schomberg, Kristin Scott

Library Services Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the understanding and experiences that MSU-Mankato faculty have had with developing the recently mandated diversity, equity, and inclusion outcomes for new and revised program proposals. These outcomes are part of the Equity 2030 initiative. The research is broken up into two sections, which will be published as separate papers. Project 1: Using critical discourse analysis, we problematize and critique both the stated goals and the implementation of this initiative. Using the lens of critical race theory (CRT), we work to unmask language that maintains Whiteness as a neutral default by asking these …

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program Learning Outcomes Considerations, Karen Lybeck, Jessica Schomberg, Kristin Scott

Library Services Publications

Based on an analysis of 2020-2021 submissions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program learning outcome (PLOs) and feedback from curriculum developers, we developed this handout in order to facilitate the development of future impactful outcomes (K. Lybeck, J. Schomberg, K. Scott, May 2021). We hope that our advice for conceptualizing, writing, and reviewing DEI PLOs is useful to faculty. This advice will not resolve DEI problems in the curriculum, but it may help us work toward change.

Innovations And Critical Issues In Teaching And Learning, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2020

Innovations and Critical Issues in Teaching and Learning

Complete text of Innovations and Critical Issues In Teaching and Learning, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2020.

Seventh-Grade Students' Use Of Heat Transfer Conceptions During An Engineering Design-Based Stem Integration Curriculum, Emilie A. Siverling, Tamara J. Moore

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

As the integration of STEM becomes increasingly important in pre-college education, it is important to study models of STEM integration. One model, engineering design-based STEM integration, has shown promising results in terms of student science content learning. This study’s purpose was to explore one student team’s use of heat transfer conceptions as they participated in an engineering design-based STEM integration curriculum. A case study research design, along with procedures from qualitative content analysis, were used to identify scientific and alternative conceptions that the seventh-grade students communicated during the unit. The main result is that the students spoke and wrote about …

Teaching Writing: Genre Lessons For Teaching Writing In The Homeschool High School Classroom And Beyond, Teagan R. Knoblich

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Most high schoolers in America operate with basic writing skills at best (U.S. Department of Education, 2012). Students who are educated at home, or homeschoolers, may be only marginally better in their writing skills, if at all. A review of materials available to home educators for the instruction of their homeschool students revealed that available writing curricula does not do a good job covering more than a few basic writing forms, such as research and narrative. This creative project aimed to create writing instruction materials that could be used by home educators to teach their high school students how to …

Leading Large-Scale Change In An Engineering Program, Cheryl Allendoerfer, Rebecca Bates, Jennifer Karlin, Ron Ulseth, Dan Ewert

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

While many efforts have been made to improve technical and professional skills in engineering graduates, there has been little comprehensive change in the pedagogy of most engineering education institutions in the U.S. Many of these efforts involve changing only one or two aspects of the curriculum, and therefore are less likely to make significant changes in the student learning outcomes. For better success, engineering curricular changes will need to address the entire education system. In order to see real, sustainable improvement in engineering education practice, both the behaviors of the participants and the systems within which these participants act must …

Outdoor Education Integrated Curriculum Program Impact On Adolescent Self-Authorship, Amanda Lee Mcgowan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

One of the challenges currently faced by secondary schools is to teach 21st century skills, such as self-authorship. Self-authorship is the command of one’s life, or the capacity to invent one’s beliefs, identity, and relationships with others. This study investigated the impact a one-semester outdoor education program has on adolescents’ perceived self-authorship development, as measured by the 27-item self-report Self-Authorship Questionnaire (SAQ). The sample population (n=26) for this study was made up of 10th and 12th grade students from two classes of one-semester outdoor education programs at a public secondary school in Ontario, Canada. Analysis of paired t-tests of the …

Ethical Reasoning Development In Project-Based Learning, Elizabeth Pluskwik, Puteri S. Megat Hamari

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

This paper will describe the method of ethics instruction in a specific project-based learning program with the aim to improve the current level of moral reasoning skills in the engineering students enrolled in the program. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) have endorsed efforts to improve the teaching of ethics in the engineering curriculum. Criterion 3-f of the ABET outcomes,specifically calls for student attainment of an understanding of ethical and professional responsibility. In response, engineering educators seek to develop curriculum to improve moral reasoning skills, which should lead to increased …

Best Practice Resource Manual For New Social Workers At District 77, Shelby Lenzen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

When starting a new job many places of employment have new employee orientation. During this process many employers educate the new employee on the background of the company or organization, policies and procedures, what their job entails and the employers expectations of the new social work employee. However, currently in the Mankato School District 77 there is no orientation specific for incoming school social workers or interns to help guide them in their job. This would also benefit MSW practicum students as they enter the school district. Also, when the social worker or intern starts with District 77 they do …

A Comparison Study Of Project-Based-Learning In Upper-Division Engineering Education, Ron Ulseth, Bart Johnson, Rebecca Bates

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

A new model for engineering education was launched in January 2010 in northeastern Minnesota. The Iron Range Engineering (IRE) model is a project-based-learning (PBL) methodology that focuses on producing graduates with integrated technical and professional knowledge and competencies. A unique and important element of the IRE model has 100% of IRE student learning taking place in the context of industry projects. Students at IRE are upper-division engineering students who transferred from Minnesota community college lower-division engineering programs. To understand the impact that IRE methodology may have on preparing engineers with the competencies needed for the future workplace, a comparison study …

The Iron Range Engineering Pbl Curriculum: How Students Adapt To And Function Within Pbl, Rose M. Marra, Betsy Palmer, Ron Ulseth, Bart Johnson

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

Iron Range Engineering is a unique complete-PBL curriculum for upper division students. Rather than studying about engineering in traditional engineering courses, IRE students solve complex and ill-structured industry problems in mining, milling, and manufacturing industries. To support students’ transition to PBL and to facilitate deep approaches to learning technical and professional competencies required for the engineers of the future, faculty have created a variety of structures. This paper describes IRE’s PBL implementation and reports the results of a qualitative study of their students.

Entrepreneurship In The Iron Range Engineering (Ire) Model, Dan Ewert, Ron Ulseth, Bart Johnson, Jeff Wandler, Andrew Lillesve

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

The aim of this paper is to describe a new model for engineering education that has entrepreneurship, in its many form, as a focus. Issues involved with integrating student-based entrepreneurship into the educational process are also described.

An Experiential Curriculum For Elementary School In Japan, Tomoko Seki

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: To promote a curriculum encouraging experiential education in a safe environment for learners in Japan.

Method: This study discusses the history and background of experiential learning, its practical examples from Western countries, the Japanese education system, problems in schools, the current status of experiential learning in Japan, and strategies for its introduction into schools. In addition to the discussion, concrete lessons designed for public elementary schools are presented.

Results: Prior to the initiation of comprehensive learning, student-driven approaches like inquiry-based learning were not prevalent, and issues such as student apathy were observed. Therefore, methods to enhance their engagement were …

Meld Special Curriculum: Blending Information And Support For Parents Of Children With Special Needs, Elizabeth J. Sandell, Deborah Weiland, Ranae Hanson, Mary Nelson, Meld

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

No abstract provided.

Creative Learning: A Curriculum For Preprimary Children. Unit 8, Dinosaur Era And Fossils, Marjorie L. Oelerich, Jean Peterson, Elizabeth J. Sandell

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

DINOSAUR ERA AND FOSSILS is one resource unit. It is hoped to serve as a resource to others as they guide the learning of young children. It is not a cut-and-dried, how-to-do-it book. But it is a collection of numerous learning experiences within the context of a unit setting. The various disciplines are not, and cannot, be separated; learning overlaps. With a central theme, young children will have many opportunities to examine, investigate, explore, experience and discover concepts of meaning. As the children approach the same concept from a number of experiences, they will have opportunities to formulate ideas, to …

Creative Learning: A Curriculum For Preprimary Children: Unit 6: The Five Senses, Marjorie L. Oelerich, Jean Peterson, Meredith S. Ring

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

THE FIVE SENSES is one resource unit. It is hoped to serve as a resource to others as they guide the learning of young children. It is not a cut-and-dried,how-to-do-it book. But it is a collection of numerous learning experiences within the context of a unit setting. The various disciplines are not, and cannot, be separated; learning overlaps. With a central theme, young children will have many opportunities to examine, investigate, explore, experience and discover concepts of meaning. As the children approach the same concept from a number of experiences, they will have opportunities to formulate ideas, to test these …

Creative Learning: A Curriculum For Preprimary Children: Volume 1, Marjorie L. Oelerich, Jean Peterson, Meredith S. Ring

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

CREATIVE LEARNING: A CURRICULUM FOR PREPRIMARY CHILDREN Is the beginning. It is hoped that this curriculum may serve as a resource to others as they guide the learning of young children. It is not a cut and dried, how-to-do-it book. But it is a collection of numerous learning experiences within the context of a unit setting. The various disciplines are not, and cannot, be separated;learning overlaps. With a central theme, young children will have many opportunities to examine, investigate, explore, experience and discover concepts of meaning. As the children approach the same concept from a number of experiences, they will …