Education Commons^™

The Fingerprint Of Denominational Secondary Schools - Sector Specific Features Among Graduating Students In Universities And Colleges, Gabriella Pusztai

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Postmodernism And Children’S Literature, Adel Atken

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

All four of my own children clamored for the Sesame Street book titled, The Monster at the End of This Book. On each double page spread, Grover begged them, “Please don’t turn the page because there’s a monster at the end of this book and I am so scared of monsters.” Of course, they loved to tease Grover, so they kept turning pages. The book ends with a smiling Grover, announcing, “I, furry, lovable old Grover am the monster at the end of this book and you were so scared” (Stone, 1971). Despite the silliness of the whole book, it …

Being And Becoming: The Heart Of Teacher Education, Bev Norsworthy

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Teacher education is of critical concern to a nation’s well-being. Scripture clearly identifies that the predominant narratives in a nation’s education are directly linked to its citizen’s behaviour (e.g., see Psalm 78, Judges 2). Literature which claims that teacher education has little influence on beliefs that pre-service teachers bring to their initial teacher education may unnerve Christian teacher educators who seek to equip teachers to make a difference in the lives of children and parents in a nation (Berry, 2004; Fletcher, 1997; Hatton & Smith, 1995; Lowery, 2003). For example, Berry (2004, p. 1302) observes that:

There is little doubt …

Multicultural Considerations For Building Learning Communities, Cher N. Edwards, Scott Edwards

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Educational policies call for inclusion and attention to cultural differences in our schools. Administrators, classroom educators, counselors, and other support staff attempt to attend to students through a cooperative effort of connecting with the community beyond the school building, as well as the families represented within it. As Christians, there is a higher calling to truly embrace those often underserved in our learning communities. This paper will address multicultural issues important for United States and United Kingdom school system staff to be mindful of when focusing on students and their families.

Preparing Teachers For Their Prophetic Role To Serve With Heart, Head, And Hands, Cindy Harvel, Martine Audeoud

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

As teacher preparation programs seek to diversify their pre-service teachers’ exposure to teaching situations, Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Education Department has discovered how to maximize its freshman’s educational technology field experiences through meaningful cross-cultural community service. A plan has been implemented since the spring of 2004 where candidates taking educational technology classes are required to give 8 hours of technology tutoring as a community service to populations in cross-cultural situations. Based on the Spring 2004 successes, the cross-cultural tutoring opportunities have been expanded, leading to renewed vision in candidates’ perspectives on education and job placements. At a freshman level, this …

From The Editor: Volume 3, Issue 1, Scot Headley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Colleagues, this issue marks the beginning of the third year of publication for the ICCTE Journal. I am pleased to inform you that in this issue we begin two new features. David Robinson, consulting editor to the Journal, provides a review of the book, Religion, Education, and Academic Success by William Jeynes. Our hope is that this review will be the first of many, as we desire to make this a regular feature of the Journal. If you have interest in submitting a review for an upcoming issue, let us know. We seek reviews of books important to Christians involved …

Book Review: William Jeynes. Religion, Education, And Academic Success, David W. Robinson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

In this provocative work, Dr. William Jeynes of California State University at Long Beach addresses a vital educational question: is there a statistically verifiable relationship between religious belief and academic achievement? For the non- Christian, it is a question of the social utility of religion; does a demonstrable and significant correlation between a religious mindset and measurable academic outcomes exist? Or is a secular outlook equally capable of superior educational success? For the Christian thinker, it is a question of the relationship between the root of faith and the fruit of the “strong mind” (II Tim. 1:7) promised in the …

Educational Technology: Beyond The Basics, John Shimer

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This paper addresses classroom technology as a much deeper concept than many would like to believe. It is not something to be taken lightly by only looking at what is currently available, but rather examined through a brief history, in-depth tests, and the consequences as well as the benefits of new developing technology. Furthermore it is not an issue only important for educators and administrators but requires involvement from parents and more importantly Christians to ensure that students are given the greatest opportunity possible for their future. Since technology is the future of children’s education, it is imperative that it …

Intercultural Music Education: The Moral Ethics Of Cultural Educational Exchange, Mary Cummings

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

It is important when considering a position as a music educator within a non-Western society to examine the political, social and religious influences that are present in music in order to assist in alleviating the tensions and dangers that such an introduction may create within a culture. Once these issues are understood, it is clear to see that a system of intercultural exchange instead of Western globalization would benefit both teacher and student while still maintaining cultural integrity. The advantage of such an approach would break down cultural barriers, preserve the existing culture, and provide a Christian educator with a …

The Cost Of Conformity: Education Reform, Information, And Ethical Leadership, Steve Loomis, Erik Ellefsen

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Like Janus, conformity has two faces. On one face, conformity allows social cohesion to accomplish mission-specific activities. On the other face, conformity in educational leadership can entail a three-part cost against human development. First, education leaders may lose the capacity to ground ethics in objectively valuable sources. This is an effect of formal and informal institutional incentive structures and pressures leaders of virtue to become managers of demand. Second, conformity signals to institutional actors that authentic reform might be too costly to one’s professional career. Third, conformity signals that bureaucracies are not merely locations of special interests, but they are …

Building A Christian Worldview Through Response To Literature, Pam Adams

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Research has shown that what one reads can be an important factor in developing one’s worldview. This paper will report my thoughts about experiences I had while reading aloud-challenging texts in two Christian school classrooms. My goal for the read alouds was to have students think about issues related to justice, love, and commitment as they apply to both the family and the larger community. Various types of response methodologies (written, art, drama, discussion) were used to encourage students to build connections between what they learned, to what is the appropriate response and action.

Education: The Key To Africa’S Future, Heather Bixby

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Africa, a continent full of abundance and potential, is ironically hindered in desolation, deprivation, and chaos. The growth, future, and potential success of Africa is solely dependent on the education of its children. After identifying a number of educational barriers, defining the need for educational improvement, and documenting the efficiency of Western aid, this paper concludes that the West needs to recognize that it is the Africans who must ultimately save their own countries. However, Western programs and aid can help restore Africa when used thoughtfully and effectively. National programs and foreign funding must promote education that places value on …

Undergraduates’ Perceptions Of Ideal Learning Environments, June Hetzel, Keith Walters

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Four hundred and fifty three undergraduate students were surveyed at one CCCU institution regarding perceptions of what “exists” and what they “value” related to university pedagogy, learning activities, assessments, and learning relationships. Researchers ranked students’ values and examined gaps in students’ perceptions of what students say exists at the university as compared to what they value. The highest ranked values primarily related to learning relationships, including “demonstrates Christian ethics in interactions with others” and “integrates Christian worldview in the teaching of course content.” The factor that most explained satisfaction with teaching practices was the “Methods Factor” and the single item …

Head And Heart And Hands: Necessary Elements Of Inclusive Praxis, Ken Pudlas

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

When David called for the physically disabled grandson of Saul, Mephibosheth, to dine at the king’s table, he was demonstrating an extraordinary level of inclusion. This paper reports data gathered as part of a programme of inquiry into the efficacy of the Full Inclusion model of special education; discusses how educators might progress from a mere head-knowledge of what is right, to a heart conviction of what should be done; and then explores a hands-on approach of how educators might more effectively do the right thing. Additional phenomenological data are reported from practicing teachers regarding their experience with the inclusion …

Assisting Learning And Success In Adhd Children, Katie Burns

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become the center of controversy as Americans diagnosis children with ADHD at an ever increasing rate. Yet it seems at times that little is actually known about the disease beyond the accepted truth that a distinct disorder marked by inattention and hyperactivity does, in fact, exist. This disorder causes numerous problems within the classroom including classroom management and jeopardizing the education of all children in the class. One option to overcome these challenges is to place all ADHD children in a separate classroom, however this only serves to isolate the child and entirely exhaust the teacher. …

Volume 2, Number 2: From The Editor: Greetings On The New Year!, Scot Headley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

We are pleased to publish this issue of the Journal. Several key events have occurred for the ICCTE Journal over the last few months. At about the same time that our summer issue was released, our colleagues at Regent University hosted us at Virginia Beach for our biennial conference. At a business meeting at that conference, a steering committee was appointed with the task of strengthening ICCTE. That committee has been functioning, and it is our hope that a progress report will be published in next summer’s issue of the Journal. The Journal also launched a series of live webcasts …