Education Commons^™

A New University Supervisor: Their Experiences And Enrichment, Lane Andrew

Essays in Education

For various reasons, graduate students often hold the position of university supervisor. Because this population graduates every few years, first time supervisors are relatively common. In this qualitative case study, I explore the experiences of one graduate student who has just completed a supervisory assignment for the first time. Instead of focusing on the interpersonal dynamics of the supervisor’s experiences, the results of this study focus on the supervisor’s experiences of being in a position of authority, applying academic knowledge to practice, and understanding and interpreting professional standards into the context of the classroom. Another aspect that is explored is …

The U.S. Academic Profession: Some Thoughts On The Past, Present, And Future, Michael W. Simpson

Essays in Education

This essay reflects the personal and professional, the past as well as the present as they relate to the nature of college and the professors that work in them. The past is not seen nostalgically by the author, but such a romanticized view may be hindering professional empowerment by professors themselves in these times of massive administrative growth. Suggestions are given on how to possibly save the humanity of the profession and the spirit of higher education.

Problems For Teacher Education For Primary Schools In Nigeria: Beyond Curriculum Design And Implementation, Olusegun Akinbote

Essays in Education

Primary education is the core of development and progress sin modern societies. However the quality of teachers who are to ensure the realization of the aspirations we hold for our children has fallen below expectations. This study therefore investigated the entry qualifications, the mode of entry into and the reasons why students enroll in Colleges of Education. The findings showed that majority of the student teachers are not ‘good materials’ for teacher education and that only a few of them really have the genuine desire to become teachers. Recommendations are made on how to improve on the quality of entrants …

Towards Student Involvement In Essay Assessment, Aynur Yürekli, Evrim Üstünlüoğlu

Essays in Education

In language teaching, assessment is one of the most formidable challenges for both the students and the teachers. Especially, when the assessment of productive skills which are subjective by their nature are concerned, the "challenge" could very well turn into a "nightmare" for both parties. In order to avoid this undesired possibility, the attitude of the grader and the students towards the evaluation rubric is as vital as the rubric itself.

This study describes the standardization process of the writing rubric for the assessment of essays, which is accepted both by the graders and the learners who are subject to …

Visually Impaired Education: Yesterday, Today, And Tomorrow, Adebiyi A. B.

Essays in Education

The actual formal education of the visually impaired persons started in Nigeria in the 40s by the Sudan Interior Mission, that was a century after their sighted counterparts had embraced Western Education. The main aim of the Missionaries was to train persons with Visual impairment to read the Bible and learn skills which would make them to be self reliant. The establishment of the first school for the blind in Gindiri was an eye opener to the emergence of other special education institutions in Nigeria. In Nigeria, Visually impaired education has passed through different stages of educational development. despite, progresses …

Onset Of Hearing Loss, Gender And Self Concept As Determinants Of Academic Achievements In English Language Of Students With Hearing Disability In Oyo State, Nigeria, J. Abiola Ademokoya, B. A. Shittu

Essays in Education

Since every class of students with hearing disability is always a heterogeneous one, the need for establishing relationship between some intrinsic factors in these students and their academic achievements becomes very imperative. This study therefore examined the influence of onset of hearing loss, gender and self concept on their academic performance in English language. 100 Senior Secondary School class III students with hearing disability were purposively selected to participate in the study. The study also raised 3 hypotheses to ascertain relationships between onset of hearing loss, gender, and self concept and English language achievement. Instruments such as the self concept …

Teacher Candidates’ Emerging Perceptions Of Reader Response Theory, Khaled Alazzi

Essays in Education

What are the possibilities when teacher candidates participate in focused instruction in reader response theory and connected opportunities to experience response to literature, then design and implement response experiences with their elementary students? Consideration of this question led to this study that describes teacher candidates’ knowledge about reader response theory and their perceptions of the value and usefulness of reader response theory throughout a semester of focused experiences in university and elementary classrooms. Through qualitative analysis, four distinct, but related themes emerged. These themes describe teacher candidates who: 1) are at differing stages of understanding, 2) find that responding to …

Intellectually Retarded Education In Nigeria: Past, Present, And Future, Dada Olubukola

Essays in Education

Historically, the persons with intellectual retardation have been neglected in most cultures. In our African culture for instance families were concerned about their image in the society. So, they manage to hide their retarded members in the home environment. Today, the education of the intellectually retarded has recorded significant achievement despite the undeniable successes education of children with intellectual retardation is still being hindered by social prejudices and discriminations. This paper highlights the myriads of obstacles and challenges facing their education. The presenter therefore recommends way to improve the quality of their education for the future.

Complexity And Chaos Theories As Metaphoric Lenses: An Alternative In Exploring The Voices Of Marginalized Populations, Dannielle Joy Davis

Essays in Education

Through the metaphoric lenses of complexity and chaos theories, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation’s (CIC) Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) is evaluated in terms of its breadth of influence within and without institutional walls, as well as social dogma that pervades this program and its various host institutions. Application of these theories as metaphoric lenses, unveil patterns of influence and dogma at both programmatic and individual levels. Such an application promises to assist in understanding the effectiveness of the SROP program. For decades, minority enrichment programs have sought to promote equity within education through programs such as SROP. By examining …

Electromagnetic Pollution In The Computer Labs: The Effects On The Learning Environment, Yavuz Erdogan

Essays in Education

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) became increasingly a common constituent of the general and workplace environments early in the 20th century. The biological and physiological effects of EMF become a topic of considerable scientific researches during the past two decades. Also, some of scientists claim that EMF causes physiological stress, producing symptoms of tiredness and difficulty concentration. These symptoms could be able to affect the learning environment in negative way. Considering all these points, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of EMF on the learning environment of the computer laboratories. The EMF measurements were carried out in four …

Relationships More Important Than Money? A Study Of What Keeps Teachers Going When The Going Get Tough, Debi Katkus

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study was to compare two large school districts to national studies on what teachers believe is good and bad about their jobs and what affects a decision to stay at or leave a position. The study consisted of five interviews of special education teachers in varying positions, backgrounds, and years of experience. Data was collected using a series of open-ended questions and then compared to researched literature. Although several common themes were found, there were several significant differences. Implications for findings were discussed. It was suggested that fostering positive relationships among teachers in a district can …

Tell Me, Tell Me, Tell Me- Please!, Derek L. Leslie

Essays in Education

This article is a personal essay by me, Derek L. Leslie, about the frustrations that occur in teaching. I am an educator in Economics at an urban high school in Omaha, Nebraska, and I have noticed after seven years of teaching that one thing is missing in the arena of public education and that is incentives. When you study economics you realize the market place has a lot of built in incentives to do well at your job and then you are able to be quite successful and are rewarded for this success. My essay will explain how incentives that …

The Youth Urban Planning Institute, Fred Nastvogel

Essays in Education

This is a heuristic reflection on the challenge of increasing student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as a meta-discipline. A simulation at the high school level is proposed to the end of meaningful integration of divers student capacities, urban melioration, long range networking, and individual portfolio development. There is a recognized need to encourage American youth to pursue careers in engineering and related fields of technology, mathematics, and science. One helpful tack would be to engage potential high school candidates in a design event addressing the real world issues of their own day-to-day environments. The strategy is …

Study/Teach Abroad Programs For Higher Education Faculty, Osman Özturgut

Essays in Education

With all the benefits of study abroad programs for students in higher education, as suggested in the literature, this study proposes promoting study/teach abroad programs for faculty members. Through such programs, institutions will benefit from diversity and promotion of study abroad programs for students will be much more efficient with faculty members giving the account of first hand experience of their studying/teaching abroad.

Factors Affecting The Enrollment And The Retention Of Students At Primary Education In Andhra Pradesh - A Village Level Study, Ravinder Rena

Essays in Education

There is an imperative need to change the education pattern to achieve universal primary education in India. Even after 60 years of Independence, India faces obstacles in providing Education For All. This study was conducted in a primary school of Errabelly village of Karimnager district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The study revealed that children dropped out of school so as to assist in household and agricultural activities. It also reveals that the dropout rate of girls is more than that of boys. The study recommended that budgetary allocations should be increased so as to encourage the primary school participation and …

Using The Reflective Research Journal To Develop Thoughtful School Leaders, Paula Selvester, William Rich

Essays in Education

This study examined student outcomes through the use of a reflective thinking/research model (Kraus & Butler, 2000) in a collaborative research seminar designed as a pre-requisite to a comprehensive MA exam. Questionnaire and document analysis revealed improvement in students’ academic understanding and application to professional work.

University And Community Partnerships: A Full Circle Program, Richard Thurlow, Michael Ledoux, Nadine Mchenry, Michele Burns

Essays in Education

Civic engagement by universities has taken shape in a number of ways. This article describes the efforts of the Center for Education at a metropolitan university in the United States, whose outreach is to a under resourced school district in an economically distressed area. Partnerships with the Local Educational Agency (LEA), private foundations, divisions of the university, and local churches will be addressed. This is a descriptive article showing one university’s efforts at civic engagement.

The Private Rate Of Return To Schooling: Evidence From Eritrea, Temesgen Kifle

Essays in Education

The extent of links between education and earnings is a determining factor in making decisions about investment in education. The purpose of this study is to estimate the private rate of return to education in Eritrea using sample data from employees working in public and private sector of the economy. The main result obtained with the help of extended Mincerian earnings function indicates the financially rewarding effect of education. It is also found that the rates of return to education increase with the increase in levels of education. The findings imply a need for expanding access to education and the …

Email Surveys In Educational Research: Ethical Surveys In Educational Research, Chi Hong Nguyen

Essays in Education

The growth of the Internet and the increasing application of electronic mail in many aspects of business and educational research have urged researchers to reach different individuals across geographical borders with an obvious reduction of costs and time. While the use of email surveys in educational research, as this paper mainly argues, offers significant benefits to researchers in collecting data, more awareness of ethical codes of conduct and culture of net-users should be insisted throughout the research process to enhance validity and to minimize physical or mental harm that may cause to the researched participants of different ethnic and socioeconomic …

Globilization And Its Implications For Vocational Education In Nigeria, C.S. Oni

Essays in Education

The paper presents the concepts of globalization as well as vocation-technical education. It proceeds to discuss some of the implications of globalization on Vocational-technical education. The paper concludes with some of the changes that vocational education in globalization era could bring for the improvement of the economy and the technological advancement of Nigeria.

In-Service Teachers’ Knowledge Of Significant Global Events/Issues: Implications For Teacher Preparation Programs In Developing Countries, J.O. Ajiboye, Adeyinka Tella

Essays in Education

In this era of globalisation, it is imperative that teachers are adequately prepared to function effectively in a challenging global environment. The challenges of globalisation demands teachers who are competent, effective, and dynamic in their orientation. This paper presents a report of a study that examines the existing knowledge of in-service teachers in the University of Botswana, of some significant global issues/events. Five hundred in-service teachers were randomly selected from across 100-400 levels of study and across the three main teaching specializations: arts/humanities, sciences and social sciences. An instrument tagged ‘’Knowledge of Significant Global Events/Issues Test’’ with a reliability coefficient …

Interactions With Highly Qualified Teachers, Charlotte J. Boling, Jill T. White

Essays in Education

Two faculty members walked to class on a Thursday evening. As they walked, they talked about the content of their respective courses. By the time the faculty members reached their classrooms, an action research project had evolved. The focus of the project wastwofold: 1) to increase the awareness of teacher education candidates of the responsibilities of classroom teachers and 2) to apply the research and/or theory the veteran teachers had acquired in their master’s culmination class. This article provides an overview of the events which developed as a result of the interactions between the practicing teachers and the pre-service teachers …

Mathematics Makes Me Wonder, Kristine Joy E. Carpio

Essays in Education

This paper draws a picture of Mathematics education in the Philippines for Years 1 to 10. The factors included for this endeavor are the curriculum, the results of various national exams and the results of the studies undertaken by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.

Using Constructivist Teaching To Shift The Paradigm For Pre-Service Philosophy Of Education Statements, John A. Huss

Essays in Education

This article examines what the author perceives as a need to fortify the quality of philosophy of education statements submitted by pre-service teaching candidates. Because the educational philosophy is frequently viewed as “artificial,” it fails to provide a systematic, meaningful, and articulate guideline for new teachers whose underlying beliefs ultimately dominate and shape their instructional practices. Paramount is a return to the underlying premise that a teacher’s philosophy of education is, foremost, personal and reflective. Candidates must share in the decision-making process and be engaged in their own construction of a philosophy of education. Otherwise, teachers in training find it …

Conceptualizing Constituent Perceptions Of Success Towards Public Education, Sean M. Lennon

Essays in Education

The aggressive age of assessment and accountability to which the American public school system belongs, belies the dichotomy, or disparate and passionate views of how to appropriately determine growth or success of learning for our students. The differences are startling; polar opposites of conception and ideal, and controversial, with educational professionals at odds with policy makers and the general public. At issue, or the core of this debate, is the question of what is the most effective way in assessing our schools and the children within them? Is there really one way to assess or determine success and are we …

Educators, Bell Curves, And Rousseau, Annette Olsen-Fazi

Essays in Education

This essay examines the differences between two universities (neither named) that value and reward very different teaching strategies and philosophies. Whereas one has esteem for “tough” professors with high drop and fail rates, seeing them as educators with high standards and principles, the second aligns itself more closely with today’s best practices in the academy, and seeks educators who nurture the talents, abilities, and unique qualities of individual students.

Maslovian Theory Of Human Needs: Implications For Adult Education Curriculum In Nigeria, Sydney Nwanakponna Osuji

Essays in Education

The objective of this paper is to probe the relevance of the Maslovian theory of hierarchy of human needs to adult education curriculum in Nigeria. A historical sketch of adult education curriculum in the country revealed congruence between contents of programmes and students’ aspirations and vice versa. Therefore, to infest adult education curriculum in the country with the tenets of Maslow’s theory, there should be a survey to ascertain the needs and interests of different categories of adults; provision for different interests; efficient and effective delivery machinery including units for monitoring achievements; and above all, efficient professionals capable of affording …

Multicultural Teacher Education: Toward A Culturally Responsible Pedagogy, Hui-Min Chou

Essays in Education

While the student population in the United States becomes culturally diverse, it is imperative to provide an empowering and equitable education for all students in the United States. Within the context of teacher preparation, one of the highest priorities is to help prospective teachers acquire the attitudes knowledge, skills, and dispositions to work effectively with culturally diverse students. Schools, colleges, and departments of education must assume the responsibility of preparing all teachers, regardless of race, to teach in culturally diverse classrooms. While most teacher education programs acknowledge the importance of an increasing diversity among school pupils, reviews of the literature …

Drama Discovery: Setting The Stage For Students With Emotional/Behavioral Needs To Learn About Self, Shellie Hipsky

Essays in Education

The Drama Discovery Curriculum (Hipsky, 2006a) was piloted in a middle school classroom for eleven students with emotional/ behavioral disabilities and one student with delinquent behaviors at a small private alternative education school in Western Pennsylvania. Students with emotional and/or behavioral disabilities often have low selfefficacy when it comes to explaining their own disabilities, coping with the label of having a disability, and the general issues that come from having a disability. The article begins by delving into what categorizes a student as having an emotional/behavioral disability. It then explores the compounding factors that often accompany the exceptionality, which include: …

Faculty Community Under Construction: A Case Study, Patricia E. Calderwood

Essays in Education

This case study describes some of the elements of the social construction of community by faculty involved with an innovative residential and academic subgroup at a small private university in the northeast US. Examples from the case study demonstrate that the social construction of faculty community can be accomplished through both routine and marked activities and events; that it is possible to build a resilient sense of community deliberately and overtly, inadvertently, and subtly, and that it is possible to respond to potential vulnerabilities in ways that build a resilient sense of community.