Education Commons^™

Meaningful Distributed Instruction— Conceptual Previews For Symbolic Procedures, Edward C. Rathmell

Faculty Publications

Understanding a symbolic procedure means far more than “getting the right answer.” A mathematical symbolic procedure or written skill involves step-bystep thinking that leads from a computational problem to a solution. Memorizing this step-by-step procedure may enable a student to answer the problem, even answer it correctly. Yes, that is important, but understanding means much more.

Faculty Development In Instructional Technology: A Multiple Case Study, Robson Moura Marinho

Faculty Publications

Employing the descriptive multiple case study method, this qualitative study explores the experiences of ten faculty members involved in learning about technology at a Major Pubic University in the United States. Participants shed light on the learning process in instructional technology by sharing their personal experiences, perspectives, ideas and behaviors. This paper summarizes the results of the study, making comparisons with related literature, and then discussing its practical implications and recommendations for faculty development. The findings indicate the need of a more holistic approach to faculty development programs in instructional technology.

The Role Of Inspiration In The Helping Professions, Kari A. O'Grady, P. Scott Richards

Faculty Publications

This qualitative research study examined the ways that helping professionals experi- ence inspiration, as defined as divine guidance or influence, in their therapeutic work. It also explored their beliefs about how helping professionals can seek inspiration in their work. Open-ended survey questions from 333 respondents from a diverse range of religious and professional backgrounds were qualitatively analyzed. The themes ex- tracted give insight into the ways that these helping professionals have experienced inspiration in their work and about how helping professionals can facilitate a spiritual space in the therapeutic context.

The Need For Evidence-Based, Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapies, P. Scott Richards, Everett L. Worthington Jr.

Faculty Publications

Despite a proliferation of spiritually oriented psychotherapies during the past 2 decades in the mental health professions, outcome research is lacking. In this present article, 6 published outcome reviews that shed light on the efficacy of these psychotherapies are discussed. Although there is general support for the efficacy of spiritually oriented treatment approaches, the data base is relatively small and has methodological limitations. Spiritually oriented cognitive approaches for religious clients with depression and anxiety meet evidence- based standards of efficacy. Several other spiritually oriented approaches are probably efficacious but need additional investigation. Methodological recommendations for improving the quality of future …

Parent Involvement In School-Wide Social Skills Instruction: Practice And Perceptions Of A Home Note Program, Michael B. Adams, Sue A. Womack, Ryan H. Shatzer, Paul Caldarella

Faculty Publications

If students are to become proficient at using social skills, parents must be involved in teaching and reinforcing these skills at home. Parent involvement is associated with increased student success, especially when it includes a two-way exchange of information between home and school. As the traditional family has changed, new methods of eliciting parent involvement are needed. This article presents a description and evaluation of a school-wide home note program used to encourage generalization of social skills taught in school to home settings. Teachers (n = 20), parents (n = 107), and students (n = 383) at an elementary school …

Multiple Intelligences In The Gospel Classroom, John Hilton Iii

Faculty Publications

In a worldwide training broadcast, Elder W. Rolfe Kerr taught, “We cannot expect our students to learn all that we hope they will learn by just hearing a concept or principle one time. Multiple presentations, utilizing various approaches, often appealing to multiple senses, increase the likelihood of our students actually learning and internalizing the concepts we teach.”

Practical Approaches To Learning And Self-Managing Social Emotional Behavior In Elementary Schools, Paul Caldarella, Lynnette Christensen, K. Richard Young, Darlene Anderson

Faculty Publications

Children often acquire maladaptive coping strategies (i.e. externalizing and internalizing behaviors). Problems often persist, less treatable if not addressed early (before age 8). 20% of students have emotional or behavioral problems while only 5% receive services.

Reflections From The First Year Of A Successful Aect Conference Mentoring Program, Richard E. West, Raymond Pastore, Mengqiao Xu, Cindy S. York

Faculty Publications

This article reports on the successful first year implementation of a new graduate student mentoring program initiated at the 2009 Louisville convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. This program was developed by the 2008 ECT Intern class, but will be continued at future conventions by the Leadership Development Committee and the Graduate Student Assembly. Information is provided to potential students and mentors interested in applying for the 2010 program.

Reliability Of Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers' Coding Of Teaching Videos Using Studiocode Analysis Software, Keven Prusak, Brigham Dye, Charles R. Graham, Susan Graser

Faculty Publications

This study examines the coding reliability and accuracy of pre-service teachers in a teaching methods class using digital video (DV)-based teaching episodes and Studiocode analysis software. Student self-analysis of DV footage may offer a high tech solution to common shortfalls of traditional systematic observation and reflection practices by increasing the amount, timeliness, and accuracy of performance feedback. What is yet to be determined is whether students can reliably and accurately analyze such footage. Using Studiocode software, student analyses were compared to those of experts to determine coding reliability and content accuracy. The results of this study indicate that with less …

Improving Teacher's Self Confidence In Learning Technology Skills And Math Education Through Professional Development, Taralynn Hartsell, Sherry S. Herron, Houbin Lewis Fang, Avinash Rathod

Faculty Publications

Using technology tools in math instruction can help stimulate problem-solving skills and understanding of math concepts. However, teachers need to be confident in their abilities to use technology tools. This study investigated whether or not a four-week in-service professional development institute that addressed the use of technology in math education helped improved the teachers’ attitude and confidence in applying technology. Findings indicated that as the teachers explored and used the available technology tools relevant to math instruction during the institute, the more proactive and motivated they became to continue their professional development in using technology for classroom instruction. They realized …

Resisting Technological Gravity: Using Guiding Principles For Instructional Design, Jason K. Mcdonald

Faculty Publications

Instructional designers face tremendous pressure to abandon the essential characteristics of educational approaches, and settle instead for routine practices that do not preserve the level of quality those approaches originally expressed. Because this pressure can be strong enough to affect designers almost as gravity affects objects in the physical world, the metaphor of technological gravity has been proposed to describe why designers choose one type of practice over another. In this essay, I discuss how designers can develop guiding principles to help them resist technological gravity. I describe three types of principles, in the areas of what instruction is, …

The Spectrum Of Teaching Styles: Style F – Guided-Discovery, Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

The Guided Discovery Style (F) of teaching is a highly developed trial-and-error process that is organized by the teacher to lead, by questions or challenging tasks, the student-learner to discover a predetermined correct answer (performance response, concept application, strategy resolution or the impact of a rule on play). The teacher serves as an instructional guide by presenting a series of questions, problems and challenges that channel the student-learner to a desired performance solution. Each instructional episode is based on the prior response and readiness to move to the next challenge.

The Civil Behavior Of Students: A Survey Of School Professionals, Keely Wilkins, Paul Caldarella, Rachel Crook-Lyon, K. Richard Young

Faculty Publications

Many authors regard education as a way of increasing civility in society, and some have implemented interventions to improve civility in schools. However, very little empirical data exist on the extent and nature of students' civil behavior. The present study systematically gathered data from 251 school professionals regarding their perceptions of students' civil and uncivil behaviors. Participants perceived students' civil behaviors as occurring more frequently than uncivil behaviors; however, they also indicated a need to increase civil behavior in schools. They provided suggestions on how to accomplish this goal, which include providing direct instruction, modeling civil behavior, incorporating positive behavior …

A Student's Guide To Strengthening An Online Learning Community, Richard E. West

Faculty Publications

Students usually have plenty of experience with online social technologies, but they lack understanding about how to use these tools and methods for course learning. This article is designed to help college students who are anxious about participating in an online learning community or do not know how to build one effectively. With ideas derived from research and practice, this guide has been written to inform online students about learning communities, the benefits they offer, and how students can assist in building a successful online community.

Implications Of Civility For Children, Keely Wilkins, Paul Caldarella, Rachel Crook-Lyon, K. Richard Young

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to review the literature exploring various definitions of civility, along with reasons why civility is vital to children and adolescents in any community. The authors examine definitions and components of civility in both historical and current contexts. The need for increased civility in modern society is described. The authors also explore the relationship of civility education to character and moral education and outline civility interventions suggested in the literature. Finally, suggestions are given for methods and strategies that have been found to be successful in bringing civility into schools.

When Teachers And Parents Work Together… An Approach To Developing Critical Life Skills For All Students, Paul Caldarella, Lynnette Christensen, K. Richard Young, John Wilkinson

Faculty Publications

Problem behaviors at home and at school can be prevented or corrected. Children naturally want to please their parents or the teachers they like. Adults are seen as a trusted source of help. Children will respond more positively to modeling. Students are more willing to spend time with positive adults.

Encouraging School Planner Use To Improve The Academic Performance Of Secondary Students, Darlene Anderson, Lynnette Christensen, Paul Caldarella, K. Richard Young

Faculty Publications

Our research aim is to improve students' time management, homework completion, and academic grades as a result of using the planner and applying organizational skills.

Social And Emotional Learning In The Kindergarten Classroom: Evaluation Of The Strong Start Curriculum, Thomas J. Kramer, Paul Caldarella, Lynnette Christensen, Ryan H. Shatzer

Faculty Publications

There has been increasing interest in the promotion of social and emotional learning in schools, and research has shown positive outcomes. However, relatively few studies have been conducted in kindergarten classrooms or considered the feasibility of kindergarten implementation. This study examined the effects of Strong Start on the social and emotional competence of 67 kindergarten students, using a time-series design. Four kindergarten teachers taught the ten Strong Start lessons in their classrooms. Results indicated gains in students' prosocial behaviors and decreases in internalizing behaviors, as rated by teachers and parents. Implementation integrity and teachers' ratings of social validity were high, …

Oklahoma Elementary Classroom Teachers' Attitudes And Perspectives Of Elementary Physical Education, David C. Barney, Sarah Ehrlich

Faculty Publications

Physical education is an academic discipline that has not been given the respect it deserves both in the school setting and among the general public. As a result of the lack of respect physical education has in the educational community, it is one of the first content areas to be eliminated.

Physical educators need to gain support so they can demonstrate to administrators and parents the value of physical education on a student's overall education. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to obtain and better understand Oklahoma elementary classroom teachers' attitudes and perceptions towards elementary physical education, and thus …

Our Top 12 "Key Instructional Elements" That Help To Build An Excellent Lesson And High Quality Physical Education Program, Robert S. Christenson, David C. Barney

Faculty Publications

One of the most fundamental issues in teaching, arguably the biggest, is discovering the most effective lesson elements for each group of learners. This includes a solid curriculum, performance objectives, age-appropriate pedagogical ingredients, ability-level activities and assessments focused on measuring learning to create a great lesson. When these elements are blended artistically with a variety of classroom management skills, necessary equipment, instructional support resources, behavior management rules and high expectations in a nurturing environment, the teacher has created the best possible learning atmosphere for each individual student.

Below, the authors have identified twelve important instructional elements for teachers to incorporate …

The Effect Of Middle School Physical Education Curriculum On Student Attitudes, David C. Barney, Joe Deutsch

Faculty Publications

Middle school physical education can serve as an important tool in shaping students opinions and behaviors regarding lifelong physical activity. The curriculum in middle school physical education is one component that can positively or negatively affect a student's attitude toward physical activity throughout their life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the middle school physical education curriculum and its effect on middle school students' attitudes and perceptions towards their physical education class. It was found that middle school students do like the curriculum they participate in, mainly consisting of team sports.

The Impact Of Idea And The Jacob Javits Act, Mary Anne Prater

Faculty Publications

Information about IDEA and the Jacob Javits Act.

The Creation And Use Of Open Educational Resources In Christian Higher Education, John L. Hilton Iii, David Wiley

Faculty Publications

A significant movement in education concerns the use of open educational resources (OERs). By “open” it is generally meant that the resource is freely available to others to reuse in different contexts. These resources could include books, lesson plans, syllabi, slide shows, etc. There are several examples of individuals and institutions providing open educational resources; this openness is also specifically manifest in the field of religious education. I discuss different levels in which OERs can be “open” and the implications of these levels when creating OERs. Common motivations and obstacles to creating OERs are discussed. A particularly significant issue regarding …

Deliberation Versus Dispute: The Impact Of Argumentative Discourse Goals On Learning And Reasoning In The Science Classroom, Mark Felton, Merce Garcia-Mila, Sandra Gilabert

Faculty Publications

Researchers in science education have converged on the view that argumentation can be an effective intervention for promoting knowledge construction in science classrooms.However, the impact of such interventions may be mediated by individuals’ task goals while arguing. In argumentative discourse, one can distinguish two overlapping but distinct kinds of activity: dispute and deliberation. In dispute the goal is to defend a conclusion by undermining alternatives, whereas in deliberation the goal is to arrive at a conclusion by contrasting alternatives. In this study, we examine the impact of these discourse goals on both content learning and argument quality in science.

Open For Learning: The Cms And The Open Learning Network, Jon Mott, David Wiley

Faculty Publications

The course management system (CMS) reinforces the status quo and hinders substantial teaching and learning innovation in higher education. It does so by imposing artificial time limits on learner access to course content and other learners, privileging the role of the instructor at the expense of the learner, and limiting the power of the network effect in the learning process. The open learning network (OLN)—a hybrid of the CMS and the personal learning environment (PLE)—is proposed as an alternative learning technology environment with the potential to leverage the affordances of the Web to dramatically improve learning.

Determining Eligibility, Marie A. Lynch

Faculty Publications

This investigation examined the relationship between school-based evaluations and private-agency educational evaluation (IEEs) written reports regarding the identification of children with specific learning disabilities (SLD). Analyses included determining the level of agreement between evaluations, and the procedures used to evaluate the special educational needs of the students assessed. Satisfactory agreement between evaluations was found when a broader spectrum of disability categories was compared, while less agreement was indicated when identifying SLD. The private agency used almost twice as many assessment tools than school-based evaluators to determine eligibility. The need for definitive assessment criteria, and the importance of collaboration among evaluators …

Openness, Dynamic Specialization, And The Disaggregated Future Of Higher Education, John L. Hilton Iii, David Wiley

Faculty Publications

Openness is a fundamental value underlying significant changes in society and is a prerequisite to changes institutions of higher education need to make in order to remain relevant to the society in which they exist. There are a number of ways institutions can be more open, including programs of open sharing of educational materials. Individual faculty can also choose to be more open without waiting for institutional programs. Increasing degrees of openness in society coupled with innovations in business strategy like dynamic specialization are enabling radical experiments in higher education and exerting increasing competitive pressure on conventional higher education institutions. …

Openness, Dynamic Specialization, And The Disaggregated Future Of Higher Education, John Hilton Iii, David Wiley

Faculty Publications

Openness is a fundamental value underlying significant changes in society and is a prerequisite to changes institutions of higher education need to make in order to remain relevant to the society in which they exist. There are a number of ways institutions can be more open, including programs of open sharing of educational materials. Individual faculty can also choose to be more open without waiting for institutional programs. Increasing degrees of openness in society coupled with innovations in business strategy like dynamic specialization are enabling radical experiments in higher education and exerting increasing competitive pressure on conventional higher education institutions. …

Incorporating Civility Into Public Education: An Empirical Survey Of School Professionals, Keely Wilkins, Paul Caldarella, K. Richard Young

Faculty Publications

Those working in schools are encouraged to model and directly teach civil behaviors. There are no definitive answers for what specific behaviors should be addressed, but this research provided ideas for what might be done to increase students’ civil behaviors.

Libr 200 Fall 2009, Rob Morrison

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.