Education Commons^™

In Search Of Conversational Grain Size: Modelling Semantic Structure Using Moving Stanza Windows, Amanda L. Siebert-Evenstone, Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, Wesley Collier, Zachari Swiecki, David Williamson Shaffer

Publications

Analyses of learning based on student discourse need to account not only for the content of the utterances but also for the ways in which students make connections across turns of talk. This requires segmentation of discourse data to define when connections are likely to be meaningful. In this paper, we present an approach to segmenting data for the purposes of modeling connections in discourse using epistemic network analysis. Specifically, we use epistemic network analysis to model connections in student discourse using a temporal segmentation method adapted from recent work in the learning sciences. We compare the results of this …

Reading Recovery In South Carolina: 2016-2017 State Report, C. C. Bates, Maryann Mcbride, Laura Coakley, Melissa Brewer

Publications

Developed by New Zealand educator Dr. Marie M. Clay, Reading Recovery® is a short-term early intervention for first grade students who have the lowest achievement on measures of literacy outcomes. Students meet individually with a specially trained teacher for 30 minutes each day for a period of 12-20 weeks. The goal during this period is for children to develop a network of reading and writing strategies so they may independently perform within the average range of their class.

The Incompatibility Of A Daily School Pledge With A Democratic And Multicultural Education, William Mccorkle, Stephanie M. Madison

Publications

The Pledge of Allegiance has become a tradition in schools throughout the United States. The debate on this practice has often been limited due to the ideas of national pride that surround the pledge. This article addresses both the problematic history of the pledge, the protected precedence of teachers and students refusing to state the pledge, the pledge’s international abnormality, and the practical and philosophical concerns of a daily pledge in the public school setting. The article’s contention is that the pledge introduces a shallow view of national loyalty, while simultaneously endangering religious liberty, overlooking the views of marginalized and …

Supporting The Supporters: Professional Development For Science Coordinators, Brooke A. Whitworth, Randy L. Bell, Jennifer L. Maeng, Amanda L. Gonczi

Publications

We investigated changes in district science coordinators’ understandings and practices following their participation in a statewide professional development (PD). Participants included 13 male and 34 female science coordinators from 42 different school districts in Virginia. Data included presurvey, postsurvey, and delayed postsurvey responses; follow-up interviews; and observations of the PD and of science coordinators at work in their district. Results indicated that science coordinator understandings about pedagogy and job responsibilities changed following the PD and were aligned with the goals of PD. However, coordinators’ practices following PD did not fully reflect their understandings about pedagogy. Results suggest that PD aligned …

A Pilot Study Of Computerized, Tailored Intervention To Promote Hpv Vaccination In Mexican-Heritage Adolescents, Angela Chia-Chen Chen, Michael Todd, Ashish Amresh, Usha Menon, Laura Szalacha

Publications

This study examined feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a computer-tailored intervention aimed at promoting HPV vaccination in Mexican-heritage adolescents aged 11-17. Among 46 Mexican-heritage parents who had one or more eligible children who had not received HPV vaccines, 91% (n = 42) completed the intervention and assessments via touchscreen tablet computers in a vaccine clinic. Mean knowledge scores increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention. After the intervention, 95% (n = 40) of parents intended to get their children vaccinated; 50% (n=21) of them consented to vaccination immediately, resulting in 24 adolescents being vaccinated at that time. All parents reported …

Field Notes: Bursting Their Bubble: How To Have Difficult Conversations With Your Staff, Marie-Jose’ Caro, Edward F. Trombley Iii

Publications

At the summer 2017 Florida Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (FACRAO) Regional Conference, the authors shared an interactive session entitled, “Bursting their Bubble: How to Say Difficult Things to your Staff,” in which they discussed the importance of proactively addressing workplace behaviors by sharing stories, experiences and insights.

Co-Measure: Developing An Assessment For Student Collaboration In Steam Activities, Danielle Herro, Cassie F. Quigley, Jessica Andrews, Girlie Delacruz

Publications

Background

The shortage of skilled workers choosing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers in the USA and worldwide has fueled a movement towards STEAM, in which the “A” addresses the arts and humanities. STEAM education has been proposed as a way to offer relevant problems to solve while drawing on creative and collaborative skills to increase interest and engagement in these fields. Despite the interest in increasing STEAM globally, research on the efficacy of instructional approaches, including ways to assess collaborative problem solving (CPS), is lacking.

Results

This paper reports the development of a rubric, named Co-Measure, for researchers …

Out In The Field - Learning About Plant Diversity, Stephani Beyea, Brooke A. Whitworth

Publications

How do we help students understand the world they live in? How do we make the science we teach relevant and relatable to their everyday environment? One approach to making science come alive for students is to engage in place-based education opportunities. Place-based education engages students with their local culture, ecology, and landscapes (PEEC 2010). It encourages students to use the land and resources in their community to learn and to better understand the environment in which they live. Research indicates that place-based education can increase student achievement and help students develop a connection to their environment (PEEC 2010). It …

Virtual Faculty Learning Communities: Making An Impact From A Distance, Angela Atwell, Cristina Cottom, Sara Ombres

Publications

Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) are well-known effective faculty development experiences. However, how can you facilitate an FLC with a group of faculty that aren’t available at the same time or even in the same location? To solve this problem, we began facilitating virtual FLCs with remote adjunct faculty in 2016 through a grant funded research project. In this interactive session, we will share what worked well, what didn’t, what we wish we had known from the beginning, and what we plan to do moving forward. Participants will leave with a framework they can implement!

Predicting General Aviation Pilots’ Weather-Related Performance Through A Scenario-Based Assessment, Jessica Cruit, Christina Frederick, Beth Blickensderfer, Joseph Keebler, Thomas Guinn

Publications

Weather-related accidents continue to challenge the general aviation (GA) community and with the development of advanced weather technology, GA pilots need additional education and training on how to effectively use these weather products to ensure flight safety. Currently, the literature on aviation weather suggests that there is a gap in both training and assessment strategy for GA pilots. Furthermore, several studies advocate assessing GA pilots at a deeper level of learning by including weather-based, scenario/application questions on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) written exam for private pilots. After first developing a scenario-based, aviation weather assessment, we used a multiple regression …

Influence Of End Customer Exposure On Product Design Within An Epistemic Game Environment, Matthew R. Markovetz, Renee M. Clark, Zachari Swiecki, Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, Naomi C. Chesler, David W. Shaffer, Cheryl A. Bodnar

Publications

Engineering product design requires both technical aptitude and an understanding of the non-technical requirements in the marketplace, economic or otherwise. Engineering education has long focused on the technical side of product design, but there is increasing demand for market-aware engineers in industry. Market-awareness and customer-focus are also associated with entrepreneurship, which has been given increased focus in engineering education. A common tool for gauging customer interest in industry is the focus group. Herein we examine the effect of customer voice as presented in a focus group for influencing engineering product design generated by students as part of the virtual internship …

Thriving In Complexity: A Framework For Leadership Education, Daryl Watkins, Matthew Earnhardt, Linda Pittenger, Robin Roberts, Kees Rietsema, Janet Cosman-Ross

Publications

Technological advances, globalization, network complexity, and social complexity complicate almost every aspect of our organizations and environments. Leadership educators are challenged with developing leaders who can sense environmental cues, adapt to rapidly changing contexts, and thrive in uncertainty while adhering to their values systems. In a complex leadership context, inadequate leader responses can result in devastating organizational impacts akin to the butterfly effect from chaos theory. This paper advances a simple model for leadership education based on a program we designed to develop leaders who understand the nature of complex systems, reliably use their ethical value systems, are emotionally intelligent …

Thriving In Complexity: A Framework For Leadership Education, Daryl Watkins, Matthew Earnhardt, Linda Pittenger, Robin Roberts, Kees Rietsema, Janet Cosman-Ross

Publications

Technological advances, globalization, network complexity, and social complexity complicate almost every aspect of our organizations and environments. Leadership educators are challenged with developing leaders who can sense environmental cues, adapt to rapidly changing contexts, and thrive in uncertainty while adhering to their values systems. In a complex leadership context, inadequate leader responses can result in devastating organizational impacts akin to the butterfly effect from chaos theory. This paper advances a simple model for leadership education based on a program we designed to develop leaders who understand the nature of complex systems, reliably use their ethical value systems, are emotionally intelligent …

Evaluating Student Perceptions And Learning Outcomes: Differences Between Sla-Able And Non-Sla-Able Introductory Programming Courses, Christina M. Frederick, Matthew B. Pierce, Andrew Griggs, Lulu Sun

Publications

Engineering, computer science and subsequently knowledge of programming language is an increasingly vital skill in today’s workforce. First year engineering students are introduced to programming in addition to rigorous course loads in their first year. Second Language Acquisition (SLA) has been applied to programming course content delivery and has shown promise as an effective means of better educating new students. Results will be presented from a NSF funded study conducted over the past two years. SLA was applied to an introductory engineering course that teaches basic programming skills in a Blended learning environment (SLA-aBLe). This study examined four semesters worth …

Is It Engineering Or Not?, Brooke A. Whitworth, Lindsay B. Wheeler

Publications

With the widespread adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States 2013), science teachers now aspire to integrate engineering into science instruction, as the standards suggest, yet many don’t know how. The first steps are to define engineering and identify tasks that incorporate engineering, which can be difficult and confusing. This article presents a simple explanation of engineering and offers a framework to help teachers determine whether a task is based on engineering. We also offer examples of how to integrate engineering in Earth science, chemistry, biology, and physics.

Osh Certifications: Behind The Exams, Cheryl (Cheri) L. Marcham, Treasa M. Turnbeaugh, Nicola J. Wright

Publications

• The process for developing and scoring a certification exam is complicated and uses a scientific and mathematical psychometric process to achieve defendable outcomes.

• However, how much of the process is well understood by either the general public, employers or even safety and health professionals?

• The information presented is intended to help the safety and health professional understand why and how a properly developed and administered certification exam shows the mark of excellence in the field of safety and health.

Multi-Choice Questions And Their Problems When Used For Assessment Of Aircraft Engineers Education, Ian R. Mcandrew, Ken L. Witcher, Elena Navarro, Peter Foreman

Publications

Licensed aircraft engineers under the European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, undertake academic training to complement their practical and type specific studies. These exams are mainly Multi-Choice Questions, MCQ, and four 20-minute essays. The MCQ exams are as few as 16 questions to a maximum of 140 questions. A score of 75% is needed to pass each exam, and each question has three possible answers. This authors of this paper reviews the theory and design of the MCQ and asks if the assumptions are valid and that it achieves the academic level assumed for engineers who will be maintaining some of …

Quality Function Deployment And Proactive Quality Techniques Applied To University Lectures To Improve Student Feedback, Kenneth Witcher, Elena Navarro, Beverly Wood, Ian Mcandrew

Publications

Lecturing and instruction to students at university has traditionally been based on qualifications, experience and position of academics within ones department or college. The higher the level and more advanced the subject then the most experienced lecturers are traditionally selected for that task. Visiting lecturers are never asked to teach basic mathematics or science, they are to share their experience and enlighten the students from a vast knowledge and history. This paper reviews and discusses Kano’s model with Quality Function Deployment related to customer satisfaction and compares if the traditional approach is in keeping with university practice. Furthermore, it argues …

A Grounded Qualitative Analysis Of The Effect Of A Focus Group On Design Process In A Virtual Internship, Matthew R. Markovetz, Sean Sullivan, Renee M. Clark, Zachari Swiecki, Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, David W. Shaffer, Naomi C. Chesler, Cheryl A. Bodnar

Publications

A key component associated with the development of an entrepreneurial mindset is the ability to understand customerneeds and consider this when developing a product. This study sought to understand whether the inclusion of a customerfocus group as part of a virtual internship created any differences in the design processes of sophomore engineeringstudents (114 students). The Nephrotex virtual internship requires that students design a dialysis membrane by optimizinga selection of four components: membrane polymer, polymerization process, processing surfactant, and carbon nanotubepercentage. We found that sophomores who engaged in a focus group during the virtual internship Nephrotex showed(statistically) equal focus on cost …

Data‐Enabled Cognitive Modeling: Validating Student Engineers’ Fuzzy Design‐Based Decision‐Making In A Virtual Design Problem, Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, Naomi C. Chesler, Jeffrey Linderoth, David Williamson Shaffer

Publications

The ability of future engineering professionals to solve complex real‐world problems depends on their design education and training. Because engineers engage with open‐ended problems in which there are unknown parameters and multiple competing objectives, they engage in fuzzy decision‐making, a method of making decisions that takes into account inherent imprecisions and uncertainties in the real world. In the design‐based decision‐making field, few studies have applied fuzzy decision‐making models to actual decision‐making process data. Thus, in this study, we use datasets on student decision‐making processes to validate approximate fuzzy models of student decision‐making, which we call data‐enabled cognitive modeling. The results …

Creating A Virtual Community Of Practice For Online Adjunct Faculty, Angela Atwell, Cristina Cottom, Lisa Martino, Sara Ombres

Publications

ERAU-Worldwide created a Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) for online adjunct faculty. This 8-week VCoP was faculty-driven and provided participants multiple opportunities to reflect on and improve their online teaching practice. The purpose of this VCoP was to increase a sense of belonging and community with the university. While many universities offer face-to-face learning communities, this virtual faculty learning community will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding best practices for other universities seeking to facilitate such an offering.

Integrating Multimodal Arguments Into High School Writing Instruction, Emily Howell, Tracy Butler, David Reinking

Publications

We conducted a formative experiment investigating how an intervention that engaged students in constructing multimodal arguments could be integrated into high school English instruction to improve students’ argumentative writing. The intervention entailed three essential components: (a) construction of arguments defined as claims, evidence, and warrants; (b) digital tools that enabled the construction of multimodal arguments; and (c) a process approach to writing. The intervention was implemented for 11 weeks in high school English classrooms. Data included classroom observations; interviews with the teacher, students, and administrators; student reflections; and the products students created. These data, analyzed using grounded-theory coding and constant-comparison …

Utilizing Guided Simulation In Conjunction With Digital Learning Tools In Air Traffic Control Training, Allison Little, Benjamin Cook, Holly Hughes, Kyle Wilkerson, Jacqueline Luedtke, Jennah Perry

Publications

For students in an air traffic control discipline, simulated training time is limited to in - class time and is divided among the entire class. Students are required to advance and obtain knowledge, skills, and abilities in the lab because there is almost no way to practice at home. All students learn at different rates as well as through different learning styles. Swivl is a digital learning/capture tool designed to enhance student learning by allowing students to refer back to the individual classroom lab training session via an online portal.

Swivl is currently being used in two ATC Lab courses. …

A Student's Perspective On The Utilization Of Social Media For Scholarly Research, Brent D. Bowen, Jacqueline Luedtke, Timothy B. Holt, David Ehrensperger, Hunter M. Watson

Publications

The research was conducted on the continuous advancements on the Airline Quality Rating (AQR) developed by Dr . Brent Bowen, and the benefactor of research from a student perspective . The general case study focus of this research is the AQR as it relates to the utilization of social media platforms, and thus having the ability to reach out to a broader worldwide presence . Media metrics consisting of social network platforms, and news releases to assist in broadening the viewership and utilization of research in meeting individuals needs in gaining qualitative and quantified information about the AQR . As …

New Adjunct Faculty Outreach, Cristina Cottom

Publications

This causal-comparative study sought to determine if targeted communication from CTLE-W to adjunct faculty during their first term teaching would increase utilization of CTLE-W resources. Results from this study showed that new adjunct faculty are more likely to continue seeking assistance from CTLE-W if they are contacted during their first term.

Udl And What It Means For Online Instructors, Angela Atwell

Publications

While designing an inclusive online learning experience is critical for student success, so too is effective implementation. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) goes beyond the initial course design to focus on best practice for delivering content to ensure understanding, providing multiple means of student expression and encouraging active engagement. These are all components of the online classroom determined and enhanced by the instructor. In this informational session, we will explore strategies you can begin using in your online class to best meet the needs of all students.

Supporting English Learners In Your Online Courses, Cristina Cottom

Publications

Research shows that approximately a quarter of post-secondary students are enrolled in online courses (Smith, 2016). As online education continues to grow, so does the need for differentiated instruction in the online environment. Differentiating content, product, and/or processes can enable teachers to meet the language needs of English Learners (ELs) in their online course. ELs can vary from international study students to immigrant refugees students. In addition, the educational backgrounds and English proficiency can differ. Due to this variation of English skills, ELs often have increased needs in an online course because they are navigating two languages as well as …

Building A Collaborating Culture; A Need For Partnerships Among K-12 And Postsecondary Institutions, Dr. Timothy B. Holt

Publications

This presentation focused on the need for better communication and collaboration between K-12 and post-secondary institutions. As the Affiliate Director for Project Lead the Way, the author noticed a need for higher level ownership and empowerment at all levels so that students would be better served, and prepared for the next level of education. This translates to trade schools, colleges, and universities.

The Utilization Of Peer Mentorship And Its Positive Impact On Student Retention, Timothy B. Holt, Jacqueline Luedtke, Claire Schindler

Publications

In recognition of increasing rates of repeated ground schools and flight lessons, in combination with decreasing retention rates in the flight programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Department of Aeronautical Science in the College of Aviation took initiative to create a program that identified struggle students before they reached excessive failure or financial distress. The students identified in the Student Success Initiative (SSI) after being assessed would be required to attend a mediation session with their academic and flight training staff in order to create a specialized training program.

• Student Success Initiative (SSI)
• Identifies "at risk" students
• Implemented training plan …

Developing A Homeland Security Curriculum: A Case Study In Outcomes-Based Education, Daniel A. Cutrer

Publications

In 2007, I began research for my doctoral dissertation on what a curriculum in an undergraduate degree in homeland security should look like. At that time, the field of homeland security was a nascent discipline, and as such it did not have a standardized academic curriculum. There were several institutions of higher learning in the United States that were offering degrees in homeland security, but no consensus existed on what the curriculum should contain. This is what prompted me to perform a case study, gathering input from a body of subject matter experts as to what these experts felt were …