Education Commons^™

Engaging Students In Authentic Discussion In The Secondary English Classroom, Lisa Ann Carpenter

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Using the social constructivist lens, I frame a call for action that advocates for the use of critical literacy and a protocol for discussion in the English language arts classroom. Salon authentic discussion will present teachers with a powerful new pedagogy for critical literacy instruction in the secondary ELA classroom especially in this critical time when standards and accountability for both students and teachers is being redefined.

As a teacher-researcher, I am in the best position to investigate how students can become equipped to meet proficiency in speaking and listening a standards based era. Using grounded theory methodology, I examine …

International Teaching Assistants And The Essence Of The Development Of Intercultural Competence, Mary Jo Fletcher Larocco

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Intercultural competence is an essential, but understudied, aspect of communication for successful interactions between international teaching assistants (ITAs) and undergraduate students. This qualitative study employs transcendental phenomenology (Moustakas, 1994) to describe the essence of the development of intercultural competence from the lived experiences of Chinese ITAs studying at a mid-size university in the northeast. The result is a composite textural-structural description of intercultural competence.

Making Waves With Critical Literacy, Carolyn Fortuna

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

A qualitative study undertaken in 2007 that explores the application of critical literacy pedagogy within English language arts classes of an upper middle class public high school. Results demonstrate that when students recontextualize their own modalities, literacies, and cultures as part of their learning experience, they begin to understand the concept of social justice for all.

An Investigation Of Communication Patterns And Strategies Between International Teaching Assistants And Undergraduate Students In University-Level Science Labs, Barbara Elas Gourlay

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Investigates communication between international teaching assistants and their undergraduate students in university-level chemistry labs. Qualitative and quantitative data from observations and interviews with study participants guide the analysis of laboratory interactions, which examines patterns of conversational listening. Results reveal that successful communication depends on teaching assistant listening comprehension skills and on the coordination of verbal and visual (gestural and physical resources) sources of information.

The Incorporation Of Communicative Language Teaching Into The Elaboration Of Interactive Software For Esl/Efl Learning, Vladia Borges

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Investigates the extent to which currently available ESL/EFL software programs develop language skills according to the principles of Communicative Teaching and an interactive approach to computer use for language learning. An ESL/EFL software evaluation instrument was developed, tested for its reliability and validity, and then used to evaluate fifteen software programs. Results indicated that only two programs incorporated more than seventy percent of the technological, pedagogical, and individualization features associated with the principles of Communicative Language Teaching and an interactive approach to computer use for language learning.