Education Commons^™

School Principals As Leaders Of Educational Environments In School Settings: Recontextualization Of American Educational Practices In China, Wei Zhang

Dissertations

Chinese principals play a significant role in recontextualizing the U.S. principals’ practices in leading their school reform and student outcomes in Chinese social, cultural, and educational contexts. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is twofold: (1) to describe and interpret how Chinese principals make meaning of their experiences as active democratic leaders and (2) to identify the challenges they are going through in creating an educational environment based on the creative use of U.S. research and theory supporting best practices for principals. The study has a total of 50 participants (n=50) across the United States (n=32) and China (n=18). …

The Acquisition Of Dental Competencies And Clinical Skills: Perceptions From Students, Faculty, Practicing Dentists And Industry Professionals In The Dominican Republic, Laura Virginia Reyes Alardo

Dissertations

The Dominican healthcare system faces many challenges, and dental education is not an exception. The lack of competencies established for dentistry is one of the most critical challenges that dentistry faces. There is no way to guarantee that all dentists receive the same quality education with no standards and lack of competencies. Previous research has revealed that the competencies achieved by dental students determine the way such students develop their professional practice in the future as dental graduates (Alcota, De Gauna, & González, 2016). However, there is a lack of shared language observed in dental education around the world. Not …

International Occupational Therapy Faculty Perceptions Regarding Doctoral Level Education, Bernadette Mineo, Beth Hathaway, Monali Kadkade

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Over the past decade a debate has ensued in the US regarding the clinical doctorate in occupational therapy (OT) and whether to require a doctorate to become an occupational therapist. Little discussion has occurred regarding the potential implications on the global community of occupational therapists, and there have been no attempts to ascertain the views of international OT faculty and practitioners. This study surveyed international OT faculty regarding their perceived need for and value of graduate education, particularly at the doctoral level, for OT faculty and practitioners in their countries. Fifty-three OT faculty from WFOT approved programs in eight countries …

Factors Associated With Academic Performance Among Second-Year Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students, Tore Bonsaksen, Brian J. Ellingham, Tove Carstensen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Research into occupational therapy education and its outcomes for students is growing. More research is needed to determine the factors of importance for occupational therapy students’ academic outcomes. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with academic performance among second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students in Norway.

Methods: Occupational therapy students (n = 111) from two education programs completed questionnaires asking for sociodemographic, work-related, and education-related information. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to examine factors independently associated with the students’ academic performance.

Results: A higher age was associated with better average academic performance among the students, whereas having …

Cultivating Cultural Exchange: Improving University Study Abroad Programs, Katherine Crawford

Honors Theses

My affinity for culture, both foreign and domestic, has greatly shaped my life and future career path. As I have been frequently reminded, I did not take the “typical” exchange route. However, I accredit this atypical experience to my passion towards the subject. My first immersive cultural experience occurred during a yearlong, high school, Rotary led exchange to Bourges, France. Simply put, it changed my life. I encountered the culture first hand, accepting a new normal: bisous greetings, daily baguettes, and a well-structured hierarchy. Within six months, I considered myself fluent in the language. I lived with French families, was …

Somos Y Estamos, 2016, Department Of Spanish

Somos y Estamos

Samos y Estamos 2016 Year in Review contents:

• Study Abroad Program in Buenos Aires
• Study Abroad Program in Quito
• Study Abroad Program in Santander
• Study Abroad Program in Burgos
• Spanish with Internship or Service Learning
• College of Arts and Sciences Awards:
• Professor Michael Braun, 2015-16 CAS Faculty Achievement Award in Teaching
• Hedy Habra and Lis Torres, 2015-16 CAS Part-time Instructor Excellence in Teaching
• Department News:
• Dr. Kristina Wirtz Joins the Department, 2016 CAS Faculty Achievement Award in Teaching
• News from Dr. Bob Felkel
• Dr. Natalio Ohanna Pens the First Scholarly Edition of Los cautivos de Argel, by Lope de Vega …

Wmu International News Fall 2015, Haenicke Institute

WMU International News

• Internationalizing the arts
• Friends from Kurdistan find musical home at Western
• 5 Music lessons from South Vietnam
• Note taken on this WMU trombonist on an international stage
• Flutist composer coins new genre, Universal Americanism
• Music WMU professor takes worldly approach in researching the healing power of music
• Dominican Republic art calloborative brings interactive exhibit to WMU
• Cross-cultural graphic designer and artist conjoins east and west technology and creativity
• Coupling art and architecture opens doors to China for WMU professor
• Book Arts in Venice study abroad program
• Engineering alumnus masters theater in India
• Dancer becomes vehicle for social change in Panama

Wmu International News Summer 2015, Haenicke Institute

WMU International News

• Bronco Athletics and Hall of Famers
• World Cup play preps Colombian for Bronco pitch
• Midfielder from Seville finds home on Bronco pitch
• Top-ranking Chilean a pro on and off the courtX
• Champion is the name and aim for this Bronco golfer
• Former NHL coach and international hall of famer leads Bronco Hockey
• Coaches worldwide keeping an eye on this German
• Freshman forward already signed to NHL’s Oilers
• Canadian gold medalist now a Bronco V-baller
• European standout takes the court at WMU
• Nationally ranked Croatian chooses WMU for education and athletics
• Seven-foot Senegalese center ready to dominate Bronco basketball

Uganda Science Teacher Educator: A Concurrent Mixed Methods Investigation Of Nature Of Science, Pedagogy And Classroom Learning Environment Perspectives, Robert Elisha Musookho Kagumba

Dissertations

This study investigates the perspectives of Uganda science teacher educators on three areas foundational to science education reforms: Nature of science, preferred science pedagogy and classroom learning environment. Uganda has embraced science education reforms but classroom science teachers struggle to implement them. Could these struggles be attributed to their science teacher educators’ perspectives? Using a concurrent mixed method design, the study profiles the views of 63 science teacher educators in Uganda.

Data were collected using four instruments: Student Understanding of Science and Scientific Inquiry, Pedagogy of Science Teaching Test, Views of Nature of Science survey and Constructivist Classroom Learning Environment …

Ways In Which Community Involvement May Influence Girls’ Education In Senegal, Babou Ndiaye

Masters Theses

This study attempts to examine through the lens of social feminist theory the ways in which community involvement may influence girls’ education in Senegal. It highlights the extent to which networking, advocacy, and meaningful interactions between community and school may contribute to improving access, learning conditions, and academic achievements for girls. The paper also provides an analysis of the adverse effects of community involvement on girls’ education in Senegal. It underscores the extent to which patriarchy and class interfere to shape community involvement and undermine girls’ education, in terms of both access and quality. The paper further sketches a combination …

Parental Mediation On Children's Television Viewing In Malaysia, Diyana Kamarudin

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

The purpose of his study is to examine how Malaysian parents mediate their children's television viewing habits. This study looks at four types of mediation which are instructive, restrictive, social co-viewing and unstructured mediation. Data collection includes participants completing a daily diary over a one week period on how they mediate their children's television viewing and a one-on-one semi-structured interviews with each of the participant through web cam. In descending order the themes that were found to be the most important are religion, television is educational, parents advise children through television and television is used for families to get together.

Wmu International News Spring 2015, Haenicke Institute

WMU International News

• New sensor to monitor impacts on the gridiron
• Dominican Republic Ph.D. candidate a leader in green manufacturing at WMU
• Delivering fuel efficiency and reduced emissions key for Ford engineer
• Electrical engineer seeks new semiconductor for optoelectronics
• Improving communication systems drives computer science researcher
• CEAS alumnus improves health care commerce
• Degree research evolves into new company for WMU alumnus
• Roundabout ways to improve transportation captivate Tanzanian fellow
• Raspberry Pi focus of undergraduate research project
• Comparative learning key in WMU’s Engineering in China program
• ESL courses first step for future Congolese engineer

Translating And Adapting The Postt For Formative Assessment Of Indonesian Preservice Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Orientations, Listiani

Masters Theses

Indonesia has experienced problems in teacher quality, especially science teachers. Regarding this problem, a teacher-training program, in which preservice teachers are directed to use the most appropriate science teaching methods, is important to prepare qualified teachers. Having formative assessments for assessing Indonesian preservice science teachers’ teaching orientations is important. Therefore, the Pedagogy of Science Teaching Test (POSTT) was translated and adapted into Bahasa as a formative assessment for preservice science teachers. There were eight steps to translate and validate the POSTT into Bahasa (Indonesian language). The translation and validation processes involved eight experts in the target language and eight science …

Tatweer School Principals' Perceptions Of New Authorities Grantedin The Lnitial Steps Of Decentralization, Salah Salih Meemar

Dissertations

In 2011, the Saudi Ministry of Education (MOE) conferred 21 new authorities in addition to the previous 31 to their school principals. A main goal in conferring these authorities was to facilitate decentralization of Saudi school districts. To further facilitate decentralization, 900 schools were selected as Tatweer schools. Tatweer, also known as the King Abdullah Public Education Development Project, is a pilot program designed to match Saudi standards of education to that of other nations. To date, few studies have explored principals’ perceptions of the new authorities. A review of literature revealed just three studies on the topic (see Allheani, …

Cas Global Learning Outcomes, College Of Arts And Sciences

Global Learning Outcomes

This is a draft document for the College of Arts & Sciences at Western Michigan University, an attempt to define the knowledge skills and perspectives we would like our students to have to graduate as informed, reflective and engaged global citizens. Includes some suggested activities.

Wmu International News Fall 2014, Haenicke Institute

WMU International News

• WMU helps grow education in the Dominican Republic
• Japanese teachers of English learn U.S. methods at WMU
• For the girls: Senegalese Fulbright Fellow seeks gender equity in homeland schools
• Senior research project helps Dominican Republic banana industry go green
• Advancing education and development goal for three Pakistani doctoral candidates in political science

Framework For Comprehensive Internationalization, International Education Countil

International Education Council

Includes points on institutional culture, internationalization of the curriculum, student mobility, student affairs, international service and outreach, international research and creative activities, faculty and staff development, resources and mechanisms, assessment, alumni relations, marketing/communications/enrollment management.

A Gross National Happiness Infused Curriculum: The Promise Of A More Meaningful Education In Bhutan, Sonam Zangmo

Masters Theses

Schooling in our modern society is aimed primarily to secure a career so that individuals will find their places in the political and economic systems. However, many believe that education should be reconceived so that student skills and attributes are understood more fully in relation to their impact on the local as well as the global community. The Gross National Happiness infused curriculum aspires to facilitate the holistic education that would address some of the humanistic values we need in this era. In this paper I study the concepts of Gross National Happiness and how the Gross National Happiness infused …

Evaluating Pre-Service Teacher’S Knowledge On Teacher Codes Of Ethics: Challenge Faced By Malaysia’S Teacher Education Institute, Moi Mooi Lew, Brooks Applegate, Zek Chew Lim, Wellington Edna

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Introduction

Teachers have great responsibilities both inside and beyond the classroom. To exercise those responsibilities, they need mastery of ethical knowledge and decision-making skills (Fenstermacher, 1990). Ethical knowledge, or knowledge that enables someone to examine the foundations of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, is not culturally bound and refers to the principles applicable to diverse perspectives and interests (Ragbir Kaur, 2012). In Malaysia, the Teacher Codes of Ethics (TCEs) comprise statements articulating teacher accountability to four types of stakeholders, ie., students, parents, self, colleagues and the teaching profession. It is an ethical declaration to regulate and monitor teacher’s specific obligation to stakeholders …

An Investigation Of Teacher Response To National Science Curriculum Reforms In Turkey, Ridvan Elmas, Nilay Öztürk, Meltem Irmak, William W. Cobern

Scientific Literacy and Cultural Studies Project

Major science education curriculum reform is taking place in Turkey involving a substantial break with past science curricula. Such reform has significant implications for teachers but to date there has been little research on teacher response to these reforms. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the impact on the teachers who are charged with implementing reforms. Semi-structured interviews with 18 elementary science teachers were conducted and additional observational data was recorded. The interview schedule comprised 23 questions in 9 themes. According to the data analysis, the main problem for teachers is that curriculum reforms involve overly big …

Wmu International News Spring 2014, Haenicke Institute

WMU International News

In this Issue

• Second-year nursing students review skills during a CHHS pre-fall refresher session.
• Demand high for WMU’s College of Health and Human Services nationally recognized academic programs
• Alumna helps China advance services for people with vision disabilities
• Sudanese “Lost Boy” finds home in WMU occupational therapy program
• International researcher honored by American Speech- Language-Hearing Association
• WMU, Fetzer Institute collaborative program responds to Latino demographics
• Sabbatical work in Bangladesh widens perspectives for OT professor
• Nigerian nursing major finds way to Kalamazoo through WMU TNE program
• Former Croatian National Team basketball player takes the court at WMU

Wmu International News Fall 2013, Haenicke Institute

WMU International News

In this issue:

• Empowering global engagement across the arts and sciences
• Employees abroad: Spanish immersion program expands understanding of international education
• Excelling in public relations key goal for Chinese twinning student
• WMU cultural anthropologist examines migration and lupus in Ecuador
• Ambiguity of borders continues to intrigue alumna from Berlin
• Visits to 35 countries complements global studies major
• Veteran administrator tapped to lead University’s international initiatives
• Future Iraqi engineer discovers the world at WMU
• WMU alumna coach points Japanese tennis player to Kalamazoo

Cultural Adaptations Of American Teachers In International Schools, David J. Alban

Dissertations

Global competition of academic aptitude between countries has sparked policymakers’ concerns with the performance of the United States educational system leading to many educational reforms that direct educators to diversify their instruction to meet the needs of all students. Advances in technology and travel allow people to interact with other cultures creating more globalized societies. These two converging issues place a greater significance on educators to understand the interplay between culture and their teaching practices.

Literature reveals that the influence of home and community cultures affects the learning behaviors of students (Davis-Kean, 2005: Wang, Beras, & Eberhard, 2005; Sigel, Stinson, …

Wmu International News Summer 2013, Haenicke Institute For Global Education

WMU International News

In this issue of WMU International News we are featuring the global engagement efforts of the faculty, students and staff of Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business. Under the direction of Dean Kay Palan, the college is a campus internationalization leader through a faculty dedicated to ensuring its graduates are real-world ready. The founding of a Global Business Center in spring of 2010 provided a focal point to support ongoing and expanded efforts to internationalize the curriculum, faculty and students through a broad range of opportunities, including research support, international internships, study abroad programs and scholarships, conferences, partnerships and …

Modification And Adaptation Of The Program Evaluation Standards In Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Alyami

Dissertations

The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation’s Program Evaluation Standards is probably the most recognized and applied set of evaluation standards globally. The most recent edition of The Program Evaluation Standards includes five categories and 30 standards. The five categories are Utility, Feasibility, Propriety, Accuracy, and Evaluation Accountability. In recent years, evaluation has grown into a global practice with more than sixty national evaluation associations around the world. Examples include Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Russia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Niger, and New Zealand. Because countries differ from one another in context and culture, they may need …

Experiences Of Male Saudi Arabian International Students In The United States, Molly Elizabeth Heyn

Dissertations

Despite the increasing presence of Saudi Arabian international college students in American higher education, the literature regarding the experience of Saudi students in the United States is limited. This qualitative study explored and described the lived experiences of 9 male Saudi Arabian international college students studying in the United States. All the participants had studied in the United States for at least 2 years and were regularly admitted international students at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Moustakas’s (1994) phenomenological data analysis approach guided the data collection and analysis. The participants shared their lived experiences and the meaning of those …

Value Of U.S. Higher Education For International Students In The Context Of Higher Education Internationalization, Ewa L. Urban

Dissertations

This study used a cross-sectional survey to examine the perceptions of undergraduate and graduate international students enrolled at a public university in the Midwest, regarding the personal and professional value they receive from their higher education experience. In addition, the study explored international students’ perceptions of the level of engagement they experience as cultural resources at their institution.

Results indicated that international students’ decisions to come to the U.S. were mostly driven by professional motivations, such as getting quality education, developing a better understanding of their fields of study, and gaining practical skills and experiences. Yet, international students’ professional outcomes …

Wmu International News Fall 2012, Haenicke Institute For Global Education

WMU International News

In this issue, read about a WMU professor and international researcher who backpacks two-and-a-half weeks in the Himalayas to reach a cliff cave research site for a project partially funded by the National Geographic Society; our new Buddy Abroad program that welcomes incoming exchange and Study Abroad @ WMU students; our full-service Immigration Services team; and much more.

Wmu International News Spring 2012, Haenicke Institute For Global Education

WMU International News

In this issue:

• Globally engaged aviation program helps developing countries spread wings
• Homeland development key outcome for Afghan degree-seeker
• German-born American new CELCIS activities coordinator
• Growing global programs is key mission for WMU international administrator
• Georgian tennis ace scores on and off the court
• International activity converges in Global Business Center

Wmu International News Fall 2011, Haenicke Institute For Global Education

WMU International News

Longing for American food streamlines career paths for four alumni

American-style teaching covered in CELCIS graduate assistant training program

Fifty years later: Tragic loss of Japanese alumna continues to give life to WMU’s strongest exchange program

Japanese language and literature capture attention of WMU researcher

Engineering college draws Kenyan to Kalamazoo

International volunteerism leads to global studies major