Education Commons^™

A Partnership Between A Midwest Community College And The Highly Regulated Power Production Industry: A Case Study Regarding The Development Of An Energy Production Technology Program, Kenneth W. Flowers

Dissertations

With nearly every industry predicting severe employee shortages, the available worker pipeline, including the employed, may need to upgrade their skills. In addition, the number of jobs available will soon exceed the number of available workers, even if all the workers were skilled. This study investigated the perceptions held by key individuals within the energy industry regarding an Energy Production Technology degree program developed at one Midwest community college to help address worker pipeline issues in the energy industry.

This study discovered a void within present literature discussing the interaction between community colleges and the nuclear energy industry concerning the …

Improving Evaluation In Nonprofit Organizations: A Study Of How Evaluation Requests For Proposals Are Developed, Responded To, And Fulfilled, Nakia S. Matthews

Dissertations

It is often necessary for nonprofit organizations (NPOs) to formulate a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure essential contracted services. This is most common when seeking the services of an external evaluator. Since most NPOs do not have internal evaluation staff, developing an appropriate RFP can be quite challenging. With limited literature and resources to guide NPOs on how to prepare RFPs, the process for procuring qualified evaluators can be even more daunting. This lack of resources and supports can lead to insufficient or incomplete RFPs, subsequently narrowing the pool of qualified potential bidders and reducing the extent to which …

(Re-)Dedication Of Heritage Hall 110-Year Anniversary, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Understanding Teachers’ Perspectives On Being Researched: A Case Study Of Two Writing Teachers, Ann D. David, Melody Zoch

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

In this study, we were interested in understanding writing teachers’ perspectives on being participants in qualitative research. After conducting two independent case studies with one elementary school and one middle school writing teacher, the researchers brought the cases together to explore what it meant for the teachers to participate in research. Particularly, the researchers were interested in understanding how the teachers perceived research to influence their reflection and classroom practice. During retrospective interviews, they discussed how participating in research supported their reflective practice and the extent to which they valued a trusting relationship and philosophical alignment with the researcher. In …

One Good Lesson, Community Of Practice Model For Preparing Teachers Of Writing, Latrise P. Johnson, Elizabeth P. Eubanks

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

Many writing initiatives have been advocated as ways to improve student writing. However, in order for teachers to successfully teach writing, they must be exposed to a variety of classroom-tested approaches (National Writing Project, 2003).With this in mind, a summer teaching writing course that met at a local high school combined the study of several approaches to teaching writing and field-based teaching and then employed one classroom-tested approach. Using Wenger’s (1998, 2010) communities of practice model, the teaching and learning about writing instruction centered on “practice” within the community and emphasized that preservice teachers act as social participants--that is, meaning-making …

It’S A Matter Of Practice: Influences Of A Writing Methods Course On Inservice Teachers’ Dispositions And Self-Efficacy, Sherry Dismuke

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This mixed-methods study examined the influences of a graduate writing methods course on the dispositions and instructional practice of twelve elementary classroom teachers, six who participated in the course and six who did not, during their post-graduate education. Data from interviews, classroom observation notes, and protocols have been analyzed, compared, and integrated. Outcomes of this study link participation in this course with increased confidence and readiness to teach the complexities of writing, as well as enhanced instructional practice and student learning opportunities. Findings suggest implications for teacher professional development, literacy teacher educators, and teacher education researchers.

The Negotiation And Development Of Writing Teacher Identities In Elementary Education, Shartriya M. Collier, Suzanne Scheld, Ian Barnard, Jackie Stallcup

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

Identity development in writing is a unique process. While many studies have explored the process of developing a professional identity among future teachers, few studies have investigated how teacher candidates develop a writing teacher’s identity. This study explores the development and negotiation of writing teacher identity among 21 pre-service multiple-subject teacher candidates at a large public institution in California. More specifically, the study examines the students’ journeys as they transformed from students of writing in a university methods course to student teachers of writing in a local school district. Our findings indicate that the use of a sociocultural-based approach to …

Moving Writing Out Of The Margins In Edtpa: “Academic Language” In Writing Teacher Education, Sarah Hochstetler, Melinda J. Mcbee Orzulak

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

The edTPA, a standardized teacher performance assessment developed by Stanford University and launched by the Pearson corporation, is quickly becoming a national measure of preservice teacher effectiveness. As more states adopt this assessment as a required component of successful completion of teacher education programs and licensure, we are compelled to critique the design, implementation, and evaluation of this high-stakes testing instrument. Our goal is to articulate the effects of this assessment on writing teacher education and the teaching of writing more broadly. Specifically, we argue that programmatic or individual interpretation of the edTPA can marginalize writing instruction (and writing teacher …

Inquiry, Experience, And Exploration: Rebooting The Research Project And Making Connections Beyond The English Classroom, Trevor Thomas Stewart, Jeff Goodman

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This article describes our efforts to revitalize the research project in the English Language Arts classroom, engage students in the exploration of topics of organic interest, and create opportunities for them to share their findings with authentic audiences.

Performing Pedagogy: Negotiating The “Appropriate” And The Possible In The Writing Classroom, Lesley Erin Bartlett

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

While the field of Composition and Rhetoric has long held that “good writing” is a construct, we haven’t thoroughly examined how “good teaching” is also a construct. Drawing from work in composition studies, rhetorical theory, and feminist theory, this essay builds on questions of identity, embodiment, and privilege to enrich conversations about writing pedagogy and teacher development and to offer writing teachers an interpretive lens through which to critically examine their pedagogical performances. I begin with the assumption that all acts of writing and teaching are performances, whether they are marked as such or not. Featuring two key rhetorical concepts, …

“It Sounds Wrong” Vs. “I Would Be Curious”: Challenges In Seeing Students As Writers In A School-University Partnership, Anne Elrod Whitney, Nicole Olcese, Virginia Squier

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This article presents qualitative data and a pedagogical reflection from two teacher educators as they consider a writing partnership between preservice teachers in their methods course and a class of middle school writers. The purpose of the partnership was to help preservice teachers think about students not just for the purposes of evaluation and grading, but as writers, and, more importantly, as human beings. Authors present their inquiry and the challenges that arose as a result of the project, including reflections on the partnership from preservice teachers.

What Does College Writing Really Entail? The Ccss Connection To University Writing, Marcy Taylor, Elizabeth Marie Brockman

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This article responds to the question: What Does College Writing Really Entail? The authors showcase four university-level writing assignments and demonstrate how they collectively reflect both assessment results of study of college writing at a Midwestern University and the Common Core State Standards, especially the writing and reading anchor standards.

Western News, Nov. 19, 2015, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: WMU one of nation's leading green colleges; Lifelong learning entity gets $1 million endowment; University garners 6th consecutive 'Best for Vets' honor; On Campus with Arnold Taylor.

Wmu United Way Campaign, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

With our WMU United Way campaign up and running, I want to thank you for your support and partnership. It really makes a difference!

Updates In Academic Affairs - 11/16/15, Office Of The Provost And Vice President Of Academic Affairs

Updates in Academic Affairs

• Students can earn 'digital badges' signifying specific skills as part of pilot program
• Time to make plans for testing needs with disability services for students
• A call for papers
• Salary negotiation workshop available to students

An Opportunity To Reflect And Recommit, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

The recent events on the University of Missouri campus have attracted national attention and led many, appropriately, to stop and reflect about substantive issues that still plague our society and additional change that is needed.

Western News, Nov. 5, 2015, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Michigan earns liberal education status; WMU, Peace Corps giving students added service edge; First Lady to spotlight campus assault prevention; On Campus with Teresa Ventimiglia.

Updates In Academic Affairs - 11/03/15, Office Of The Provost And Vice President Of Academic Affairs

Updates in Academic Affairs

• Michigan Joins National Initiative Promoting Liberal Education
• WMU Students, Community Meaningfully Connect in Service Learning
• Statistics Show a Sharp Rise in Reporting pf Midterm Grades this Fall

Discovery, November 2015, Office Of Vice President For Research

Research and Discovery News

• Moving Forward on Many Fronts
• NIH Grant Goes to Psychology
• DOD Announces New Manufacturing Initiative at WMU
• Institutional Transformation Part of FITW Grant
• F&A Recovery

College Of Arts And Sciences E-News Issue 31: November 2015, College Of Arts And Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences news

• Master of Arts in Spirituality, Culture and Health
• Climate Change Studies Minor
• WMU Researches Rare Disease
• History Professor Linda Borish Mentors a SEITA Scholar
• Dr. Arthur R. McGurn Publishes Physics Book

Haworth College Of Business News (11/2015), Haworth College Of Business

Haworth College of Business News

• Career center naming gift
• Issues of the day, and of your day
• Best of both worlds
• Sustainable manufacturing

Cto Updates - November 2015, Office Of Information Technology

Tech Talk

• NextGen email project
• Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR)
• Traveling overseas?
• Software in IT computer labs
• Did you know?

Math Education Matters, November 2015, Western Michigan University

Mathematics News

• Dr. Steve Ziebarth, Chair of the Mathematics Department
• MOST Project Professional Development in Chicago
• New Mathematics Education Faculty, Dr. Mariana Levin
• Reflections on the ICUBiT Project
• About WMU and our math education programs
• Students win State and National awards
• News from Recent Graduates
• Upcoming Activities

Center For Disability Services- November 2015, College Of Health And Human Services

Center for Disability Services News

Story highlights:

• CDS adopts new EMR
• Jenny chosen for United Way campaign
• Ulster University visits CDS
• Alzheimer’s walk
• CDS staff partner with Department of Psychology

Emeriti News, November 2015, Emeriti Council

Emeriti News

Contents of Volume XXI Number 2:

• Message from the Co-Chair
• Upcoming Events
• Emeriti Past Events
• Emeriti News and Announcements
• Emeriti Council Book Scholarships
• Emeriti Medallion Scholarships
• Scholarship
• The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Western Michigan University
• In Remembrance
• Provost’s Newsletter
• Emeriti Council Website

Area High School Counselors, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Opening Of Heritage Hall, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Distinguished Alumni Dinner Remarks, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Western News, Oct. 22, 2015, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Heritage Hall grand opening details set; Numerous events scheduled to honor veterans; University getting ready to adopt next generation email system; Robotic 'temp worker' will soon be roaming corridors in Waldo Library; On Campus with Lu DeBoef.

Professor Publishes Second Edition Of Serving Military Families, College Of Education And Human Development

Family and Consumer Sciences News

Dr. Karen Blaisure, professor of family science in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, and colleagues recently published the 2nd edition of Serving Military Families: Theories, Research, and Application.