Education Commons^™

Gender Disparity In Mathematical Performance Revisited: Can Training In Problem Solving Bring Difference Between Boys And Girls?, M.A. Adeleke

Essays in Education

This study examined the problem solving performance of male and female students’ mathematical problem-solving performances using Conceptual Learning Strategy (CLS) and Procedural Learning Strategy PLS). A sample of 124 science students assigned into CLS, PLS and Conventional Method (CM) groups were involved in the study making use of pretest, post test control group design. The sample was drawn from three intact Senior Secondary School Two (SSII) classes from three local government Areas of Osun State in Nigeria and were taught for a period of eight weeks. Findings of the study showed a non significant difference in the performance of boys …

Using Emerging Technologies To Serve The Underserved, Andree' Robinson-Neal

Essays in Education

Community colleges in America developed out of a need to fill the gap between high school or technical education and university-level study. The two-year postsecondary experience which is typically offered at locations that are “community friendly” has attracted persons of color and those with more conservative economic means in ever-increasing numbers. Historically, these marginalized populations have experienced educational inequalities in larger numbers than other groups. As statistics show increasing enrollments from members of these groups, community colleges must provide and improve services that appropriately address both student need and societal demand. Students who are able to successfully obtain transfer to …

Instructional Integration Of Computers To Improve Learning: Student Perception, Jared Keengwe

Essays in Education

No abstract provided.

University’S Transformations: Episteme, Mission And Ethos In The Contemporary World, Martha Abrahão Saad Lucchesi, Eliana Branco Malanga

Essays in Education

The Cartesian principle was put forward by the philosopher as a strategy for research in greater depth. However, it turned out to be a way of understanding reality as if it were actually divided into disciplines. This segmented view of scientific knowledge clashes with the needs of today’s world, where communication is fast and allows for a quick exchange of information between producers of knowledge, making collaborative work easier, even at a distance. A significant increase in the production of scientific knowledge leads to a demand of new paradigms to understand reality. Transdisciplinarity does not invalidate disciplines, rather, by surpassing …

Professional Learning Communities To Increase Student Achievement, James R. Norwood

Essays in Education

Professional learning communities have long been used in many academic settings to improve student achievement and to help a diverse staff become a team. At the school being researched, a professional learning community will be developed whose specific purpose is to work on the problem of flagging student achievement and bring together the educational staff for the purpose of raising achievement and finding success in a hard to teach area.

Relationships Of Emotional Intelligence And Self-Efficacy To Work Attitudes Among Secondary School Teachers In Southwestern Nigeria, Samuel O. Salami

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy to work attitudes of secondary school teachers in southwestern Nigeria. The sample consists of 475 secondary school teachers (males = 230, females = 245) randomly selected from southwestern Nigeria. Measures of demographic data form, career commitment, organizational commitment, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy and work-family conflict were administered to the teachers. Data collected were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results of the study indicate that emotional intelligence and self-efficacy had significant relationships with work attitudes. However, age, sex and work experience had none. The implications of …

Teachers’ Perception Of Teaching As Correlates Of Students’ Academic Performance In Oyo State, Nigeria, E.O. Adu, S.O. Olatundun

Essays in Education

It needs to be pointed out that the role of the teacher is of paramount importance in the education system. He is the custodian of knowledge and instructor of instruction. It is often said that the standard of education can not grow beyond the level or standard of the teachers. Therefore this study examined the Teachers’ perception of teaching as correlate of students’ academic performance in Oyo state, Nigeria. The results showed that, the relationship between teachers’ perceptions and students’ performance is positive and significant that is, the perceptions of teachers have effect on students’ performance. (r = 0.372, P …

Computer Use Differences As A Function Of High Or Low Minority Enrollment: A National Comparison, Manny Juarez, John R. Slate

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of technology usage in public schools having high minority student enrollment and in public schools having low minority student enrollment. Specifically, our interest was in determining the extent to which technology usage differed by region of the country for minority enrollment. Three statistical differences were reported for percent minority and region in computer use to read, write, and spell, to learn math, and for science concepts. Computer use to read, write, and spell had the highest frequency among schools having 50% or more minority student enrollment, but less than 75% …

The Delphi Technique, Muhammad Imran Yousuf

Essays in Education

The Delphi technique is a group process used to survey and collect the opinions of experts on a particular subject. Delphi may be characterized as a method for structuring a group communication process so that the process is effective in allowing a group of individuals, as a whole, to deal with a complex problem. It has application whenever policies, plans, or ideas have to be based on informed judgment. This technique is useful where the opinions and judgments of experts and practitioners are needed but time, distance, and other factors make it unlikely or impossible for the panel to work …

A Comparison Of The Universal Basic Education (Ube) Programme In Nigeria And The Grundskola Of Sweden, Esther A. Oduolowu

Essays in Education

The Universal Basic Education Programme in Nigeria and the “Grundskola” Education Programme of Sweden are situated within the large context of a global quest for Education for All (EFA). Both programmes have a fundamental principle in common, that is everybody must have access to equivalent education and both are comprehensive and co-educational. Consequently, this paper compared the UBE with the Grundskola by examining the similarities and differences, the unique features of each programme and the extent that the Nigeria UBE can benefit from the Sweden’s Grundskola proclaimed as one of the best primary education in the world. The paper discusses …

Standardized Testing: A Case Study Of Preparation For College & Work?, Dawn Camacho, Vickie Cook

Essays in Education

The following is a case study one Illinois high school’s test results using the EXPLORE® and PLAN® tests in correlation with the students’ academic history. Juniors were administered the PLAN test in tenth grade and three years of academic history were reviewed. Seniors were administered the EXPLORE test in ninth grade, the PLAN test in tenth grade, and two years of academic history were reviewed. The results of this case study analysis have lead to recommendations regarding curriculum and its correlation to these specific standardized tests.

Transforming A University Into A Learning Organization In The Era Of Globalization: Challenges For The School System Leaders, Luu Nguyen Quoc Hung

Essays in Education

Learning organization is not a new concept and has been considered as the key for many organizations, both entrepreneurial and academic, to adapt to the world of changes in this era of globalization. The focus of this article is to examine crucial roles of leaders in the process of transforming a university into a learning organization. The paper begins with interpretation of the concepts of learning organization and identifies forces and challenges influencing higher education organizations to become global learning organizations, particularly in the Vietnamese context. Important steps in the process of transformation are also presented.

The Impact Of External, Socially Synthetic Forces, Such As Mass Media, Video Games, And The Internet On Human Behavior, George Stanley Reeley Jr.

Essays in Education

This essay explores the controversial hypothesis of reciprocal determinism, a subset of the Social Cognitive Theory developed by Albert Bandura, Ph.D. The hypothesis suggests that external forces likely influence the behavior of an individual, and in turn, the individual reshapes (reciprocally) society in an escalading cycle of manipulation and modification. Diverse perspectives are gathered from seminal books and peer-reviewed journals in an attempt to substantiate or conceivably refute the notion that mass media, the Internet, video games, and other forms of one-way and interactive technology may be stirring aggressive behavior (by way of modeling), as well as desensitizing children and …

Educational Reform In Texas Through Alternative Education: A Successful Case Study, Barbara Pevoto, Erin Yvonne Brown

Essays in Education

This article traces the development of high-stakes assessments in public education in Texas, with the focus primarily on the exit examination required for graduation in grades K-12. The article also traces the results of that exit exam as we look at the alterative education settings that have been developed to assure that at-risk, economically disadvantaged students meet the requirements of the exit examination in order to receive their high school diploma. A case study approach is included as we visit one alternative high school setting which was established to assure that these students are well served by their teachers, staff …

The Socio-Economic Implications Of Teachers Supply Patterns On The Teaching Profession In Nigeria, S. V. Kobiowu

Essays in Education

Various scholars and researches have identified a number of traditions guiding the development of teacher education programmes. These include “the academic” tradition, “the social efficiency” tradition, “the developmentalist” tradition, otherwise referred to as the “personalist” or “humanist” tradition, and “the social reconstructionist” tradition. Education is the pivot of development in all countries, (Nigeria is no exception), and the availability of well-trained and highly qualified teachers is central to the supply of human capital needed to promote qualitative education. The training of teachers in Nigeria, which started in 1859 with the establishment of “The Training Institute”, at Abeokuta, has metamorphosed into …

Differentiated Instruction: Flexibility Without Breaking, Shellie Hipsky

Essays in Education

Teachers are often challenged by the wide variety of student’s ability levels and backgrounds. This essay reflects on the practical strategies for classroom teachers to differentiate lessons to meet the needs of all students. Suggestions and approaches include: tiered instruction, flexible grouping, anchor activities, and learning contracts.

Educational Change And Challenges: Constructivist, Collaborative Ideals In Teacher Preparation, Miguel Licona, Timothy G. Cashman

Essays in Education

The following study details the collaboration of a university’s secondary education faculty on the United States and Mexico border. Calls for improved test scores, better preparation and retention of teachers, and improved graduation rates of teacher candidates were imminent concerns. The faculty responded to these demands by developing an integrated teacher preparation program based on shared activities, readings, technology, electronic journals, and shared epistemological values. The context for the reform efforts included a consideration for learning theory. Furthermore, secondary education faculty facilitated constructivist, collaborative pedagogies as integral to teacher preparation. A new focus was placed on learner-centered praxis rather than …

Quiet, Do Not Disturb: Prying Open The Door To Examine Our Worlds Of Testing And Assessment, Amma Akrofi, Carole Janisch, Mellinee Lesley, Robin Griffith, Xiaoming Liu

Essays in Education

Teacher educators recount their personal experiences related to testing and assessment. Through the examination of these experiences stemming from collegial conversations, the individuals have come to better understand the issues and challenges their university students, preservice and inservice teachers, will face in their classroom settings. Along with theory and research, the realities encountered by these individuals become “course capital.” The content of their current and future university literacy courses and assessment courses reflects their renewed emphasis on responsive and child-centered instruction as opposed to the untoward focus on testing.

The Importance Of Symbolic Play As A Component Of The Early Childhood Curriculum, Sheila Reed

Essays in Education

Educational research has linked the quality of early childhood education programs to a reduction in special education enrollment and later academic success (Smith, 2004). High quality programs offer curriculums with academics and socialization. Russian developmental psychologist and social constructivist, Lev Vygotsky, believed culture and social interaction guide cognitive development. He, also, suggested that play stimulates the development of abstract thought (Santrock, 2006). The purpose of this literature review was to determine the importance of Symbolic play as an early childhood curriculum component for the development of cognitive and social skills.

Rubin (as cited in Umek & Musek, 2001) identified role …

Student Teachers’ Experiences With Math Education, Joakim Samuelsson

Essays in Education

Student teachers who are studying to teach math in early elementary school in Sweden today have studied less math in secondary school than student teachers in the late 1980´s and the 1990´s. To be able to address the problems of this new group of students, we need to understand and analyze their experiences. The instruments of inquiry were students’ letters about their experiences in school math. The starting point of the analysis was to find the student teachers’ experiences of certain subtopics aspects of school math. In the second step, relationships between different aspects of school math were identified. These …

Effects Of Stress Management Training Of Self-Image Perception Of The Visually Impaired Individuals, Mike Eniola, A.O. Busari

Essays in Education

This study investigates the effects of stress management training on self-image perception of the visually impaired individuals. The participants were thirty-three (33) purposively selected visually impaired students of Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, Nigeria with age ranging between 18 and 27 years. The research instrument used for data collection was visually impaired stress Questionnaire (VISQ). ANCOVA was the method of data analysis employed. The results of the treatment indicates that there was significant difference between the subjects exposed to treatment and the control group. The results also confirmed that there was significant difference in the level of stress experienced …

The Role Of Mentors/Advisors In The Doctoral Training Of African American Students At Predominately White Universities: Implications For Doctoral Training, James T. Kador, Chance W. Lewis

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship and the importance of connecting the African American doctoral students and their advisors in the mentor roles. More specifically, this study brings to the forefront the importance as well as the impact of mentors/advisors and their roles in facilitating academic success for African American doctoral students. Many African American doctoral students are typically misunderstood and misdirected in the types of support that they may need to succeed in graduate school (Gallien & Peterson, 2005). Mentors/advisors and the roles that they have are essential to the success of African American doctoral …

The Sudbury School And Influences Of Psychoanalytic Theory On Student-Controlled Education, Mary Peramas

Essays in Education

We have come to expect high degrees of authority from administrators, teachers, parents, school boards, even government, yet only a few schools have embraced the notion of total and absolute freedom of choice for the students themselves. The history of educational reforms suggests that there are three factors within the course of traditional forms of education that have served to create a model for a school on the fringe of society which has quietly endured for nearly a century. Founded upon the same principles as A.S. Neill’s Summerhill School of England, over 80 Sudbury Schools worldwide operate upon three fundamental …

The Expert Ceiling In Epistemological Beliefs, Lucy Barnard

Essays in Education

Paulsen and Wells (1998) stated that, “it seems unlikely that substantial differences in epistemological beliefs across domains would persist in studies of faculty or other more advanced experts,” (p. 380). This statement implies the existence of an upper limit or ceiling effect in the epistemological beliefs among experts. Faculty members are ostensibly considered experts in their fields of study. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the epistemological beliefs of faculty members as a matter of gender and academic discipline while controlling for years of experience in higher education so as to discern whether the hypothesis that …

Parental Involvement Unlocks Children’S Educational Potential, Christine Seda

Essays in Education

To succeed in any profession, one must thoroughly research the nature of the profession itself as well as its interactions with other components of society. A decision to enter the teaching profession must also follow this methodology. One question that deserves further investigation can be phrased as, “Is parental involvement in the schools positively correlated to student achievement, and if so, then what can be done to facilitate this involvement?”

Throughout the history of the United States, the positive and negative impacts of parental involvement in the schools have been widely debated. In the twentieth century, however, this debate entered …