Education Commons^™

3c1. The Role Of Community Support In Navigating The Superintendency For African American Women, Francemise Kingsberry

Education Summit

African American women are underrepresented in the superintendency (Angel, Killacky, & Johnson, 2013; Bynum & Young, 2015; Grogan, 2014; Kowalski, McCord, Petersen, Young, & Ellerson, 2011; Liang, Sottile, & Peters, 2016; Robicheau & Krull, 2016). In their journeys, they face barriers such as discrimination based on race and gender, negative stereotypes, and a lack of opportunity (Angel et al., 2013; Grogan, 2014; Kowalski et al., 2011; Liang et al., 2016). This phenomenological study (Glesne, 1999; Moustakas, 1994; van Manen, 1990) examines the barriers experienced by four African American women superintendents in a Southern state as well as the resiliency (Henderson …

3s2. Filling The Gap For English Language Learning From Underrepresented Language Students (Ell-Ul), Milan M'Enesti

Education Summit

Multicultural K-12 education in the U.S. is facing more cultural competence challenges. Even though, in the last decade, there is an increase of bicultural programs in public schools, a population of students coming from immigrated families are invisible to such programs: English Language Learners from locally Underrepresented Languages (ELL-UL). These students cannot be part of bilingual programs because there are not funds allocated for hiring bilingual teachers to cover a small number of students. Research shows that ELL students have either a high dropout rate or unsuccessful academic performance: ELL-ULs are the underserved part of this population of students. This …

2d1. “You Can Be A Bridge”: Toward Cultural Citizenship In Elementary Classrooms, Noreen Naseem Rodriguez

Education Summit

This paper examines how three Asian American elementary teachers' pedagogical decisions regarding the teaching of Asian American history were influenced by their understandings of citizenship and reveals how broader understandings of citizenship can result in more inclusive cultural citizenship education. The theoretical frame of Asian Critical Race Theory (AsianCrit) was essential to this examination as it centered the Asian American experience in the teachers' decision-making processes, asserting the significance of their common identity as Asian Americans in spite of their personal and professional differences. Through their work, the teachers (re)defined what it meant to be Asian American, to be American …

2x1. Uni Teacher Preparation: Iowa Principals’ Perceptions, Victoria Robinson, Mary Losch

Education Summit

In Fall 2015, UNI researchers, teacher educators and College of Education leaders met to design an in-depth interview process to help teacher educators better understand what Iowa principals believe is important for teachers to know, be able to do and be like. This study is an example of how educators in pK-12 settings and higher education are looking for ways to support relationships between educators at all levels. The results of this study provide a variety of principals’ current thoughts about what should be important features of teacher education programs. Seven major themes emerged: Pedagogy­­­­­; Content Knowledge; Relationships; Classroom Management; …

2s1. Re-Framing Master Narratives Of Dis/Ability Through An Emotion Lens: Sophia Cruz’S Ld Story At Her Intersections, David Hernandez-Saca

Education Summit

Learning disabilities (LD) researchers have produced a knowledge base about the academic side of LD. A gap exists concerning the experiences of individuals with LD, particularly their feeling-meaning-making about having LD. Based on a three-year qualitative study using critical ethnographic methods, I center Sophia Cruz's experiences with LD and the label. Sophia experienced the hegemony of smartness and disability micro-aggressions and voiced the idea that LD is a complex multifaceted construct. I discuss implications for the LD field. In addition, I provide tools for participants to improve their ability to work with historically marginalized team members and populations such as …

1c1. Students With An Edge: Community Partnerships That Support All Learners, Jill Janes, Kris Byam

Education Summit

Today’s pK-12 students are preparing for a future workplace that is being written while they inhabit our classrooms. Educators, employers, and policymakers each have a stake in creating a global-ready workforce, yet each entity alone cannot effectively reach all learners. This session highlights an exemplar model for pK-12 work-based learning that engages all stakeholders in ongoing development of community- and industry-relevant learning experiences. The model encourages community-based career awareness and exploration in elementary grades with more advanced preparation and training in high school. A continuum of structure for accessing work-based learning experiences at the high school provides a culminating learning …

Culturally Competent Communication, Tara Thomas, Stephanie Mohorne

Ethics Conference

Culturally-competent communication is necessary to engage all community stakeholders. Tara Thomas and Stephanie Mohorne will explain in a one-hour, interactive session how Waterloo Schools applies this strategy to effectively reach its audience—students, staff, families and the community in the 7th largest, and one of the most diverse, school districts in Iowa. Thomas, a former television news anchor and reporter, will give specific examples of how sharing messages with the media and, in turn, the public needs to be a carefully-guided process based on factors like race and socio-economic status. Mohorne, a longtime educational leader and bi-racial daughter of a single …

Addressing Wicked Problems In Practical Ways: Empowering Ethical Action In Higher Ed And Beyond, Cara B. Stone, Anne Marie Gruber

Ethics Conference

This discussion-based workshop will engage faculty and students alike in identifying problem areas related to social responsibility and action. Using a “Wicked Problems” framework, the presenters will provide examples of and opportunities for participants to reflect on challenges they observe in their disciplines/professional lives and on their campuses. Wicked Problems are complex and multifaceted, do not have a simple description or solution, and “are different because traditional processes can’t resolve them” (Camillus, 2008). In a higher education context, faculty and students can address these problems but this will require “new ways of learning, new ways of working together, and new …

Current Practices Of Co-Teaching In An Elementary Inclusive School: Moving Toward Effective Co-Teaching Relationship, Mona Al Nassir

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Co-teaching has become more prevalent in schools. The purpose of this study is to explore how general and special education teachers build successful co-teaching relationships to provide special education services to students with disabilities. This case study specifically described how two pairs of co-teachers including one special education teacher and two general education teachers interact, collaborate, and build and promote their co-teaching relationships.

The observation and interviews with two first grade co-teaching pairs provided data that told the story of how their co-teaching relationships developed and were promoted through working together in an inclusive classroom. Research data for this qualitative …

A Qualitative Comparison Of General Chemistry And Advanced Placement Chemistry Students’ Misconceptions Regarding Solution Chemistry, Megan Vandersee

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

There has been much research on student misconceptions regarding the particulate nature of matter and its relation to solution chemistry (e.g. Adadan & Savasci, 2012; Calik & Ayas, 2005; Calik, Ayas, & Coll, 2009; Pinarbasi & Canpolat, 2003; K. J. Smith & Metz, 1996). However, there is a lack of information regarding student misconceptions in areas of solution chemistry such as factors affecting solubility, polarity & molecular interactions and colligative properties. This research compared the misconceptions in solution chemistry held by students who are approaching the end of an Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry course in the high school setting with …

A Literature Review: Pre-Service Teachers’ Self-Efficacy To Deal With Student With Special Needs, Pujaningsih Pujaningsih

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This review offered a detailed analysis of 18 studies that focused on self-efficacy of preservice teachers in inclusive classrooms. There were two focuses: the research methodology and results of the study that cover influential factors and the changes of self-efficacy levels of preservice teachers teaching in inclusive classrooms. The methodological concerns that need to be addressed by future researchers, as well as some research agendas for future studies, are suggested based on the findings of this paper. Only 26% (n=5) of the studies offered some alternative strategies that can be applied to enhance high self-efficacy levels of the preservice teachers. …

Making Inventions Using Scamper And Animal Adaptation Ideas With Elementary Students, Mahjabeen Hussain

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This study explores to what extent the SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Rearrange) technique combined with animal adaptation ideas learned through form and function analogy activities can help fourth graders generate creative ideas while augmenting their inventiveness. The sample consisted of 24 fourth grade students (14 female, 10 male) ages 9-10 at a suburban Midwestern elementary school. A repeated-measures design involving all participants alternately in the two conditions measured students under each treatment condition. In the experimental condition, students used SCAMPER charts with animal adaptation ideas to generate ideas to improve a product using …

Mindfulness And Power Posing Interventions To Decrease Emotional Distress, Lydia Carlson, Cori Bohnenblust, Jacklyn Johnson

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

While mindfulness interventions have gained acceptance, power posing as an intervention is more controversial. It became of interest with the release of Amy Cuddy’s 2012 TED talk, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are. Those who attend this presentation will learn about mindfulness and power posing interventions and their effect on reducing emotional distress in late adolescents.

Exploring Technology Through The Integration Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And Issues Of Social Justice, Courtney Clausen

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

As classrooms become more racially/ethnically, economically, and linguistically diverse in the United States it is important for teachers to integrate pedagogy and methodology in the classroom that challenges existing inequities in education and assist all students in being successful in the classroom. Integrating culturally relevant pedagogy and culturally responsive teaching into one’s teaching and learning with diverse students can assist with creating an equitable learning environment. The purpose of this poster presentation is to share the findings of an action research project exploring the integration of culturally relevant pedagogy and culturally responsive teaching in a summer enrichment program for a …

Effects Of Role-Goal Methods On Student Engagement: A Case Study [Poster], Zachariah John Lillquist, Benjamin Forsyth, Ben Olsen

Research in the Capitol

The purpose of this study is to explore how classroom contexts and instructional methods influence student participation and engagement through the “Role-Goal” model. This model gives students a “role” to take on to meet an end “goal,” or a desired outcome of a given classroom activity. In the case study, students will be given the role of a roller coaster engineer and are tasked to build a paper roller coaster for an amusement park coming to the Cedar Valley area. Students will be interviewed after the unit to determine their engagement and excitement levels. The overall goal of this study …

Factors Affecting Student Graduation Rates, Kaleb Luse

Research in the Capitol

Over the past few years, colleges and the United States government have become increasingly interested in raising graduation rates. This paper uses data from a survey given to students during their freshman year to analyze factors specific to an individual student that makes them more or less likely to graduate. Previous research shows that high school GPA and SAT scores are the two most statistically significant factors. In my study, I use a logit regression model to determine which factors are significant to a student’s likelihood of graduating. As with previous research I found high school GPA to be the …