Education Commons^™

Provision Of Second-Chance Education: The Hong Kong Experience, David Lim

Prof. David Lim

Purpose – Many students do not benefit from mainstream education and are forced to leave it. Governments and non‐government organisations concerned with the social injustice and problems that such rejection could cause offer these students second‐chance education programmes. This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of such opportunities, using as a case‐study the Vocational Training Council (VTC) of Hong Kong, which offers programmes in vocational education and training (VET) but draws lessons for the offer of such programmes elsewhere. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a case‐study approach but sets it within the general literature on, and discussion of, second‐chance education. …

Understanding Children And Their Faith Formation, Barbara J. Fisher, Sandra Ludlow

Sandra Ludlow

No abstract provided.

Fostering Presence In Online Discussion, Julie A. Delello, Kathleen M. Everling, Rochell Mcwhorter, Heshium Lawrence

Julie Delello

With increased demands for online courses, instructors are challenged to facilitate discussions that promote critical thinking and mastery of content. Synchronous and asynchronous discussion forums are used to create a Community of Inquiry (COI) across four respective disciplines and areas: English as a Second Language (ESL), Teacher Education, Industrial Technology, and Human Resource Development (HRD). Understanding the benefits and limitations of each forum and their applications allows instructors to facilitate quality online discussions that foster development of social, cognitive and teaching presence.

"I 'Feel' Like I Am At University Even Though I Am Online." Exploring How Students Narrate Their Engagement With Higher Education Institutions In An Online Learning Environment, Sarah Elizabeth O'Shea, Cathy Stone, Janine Delahunty

Professor Sarah O' Shea

This article outlines a collaborative study between higher education institutions in Australia, which qualitatively explored the online learning experience for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The project adopted a narrative inquiry approach and encouraged students to story their experiences of this virtual environment, providing a snapshot of how learning is experienced by those undertaking online studies. The study explores what impacted upon students' engagement in this environment and how different facets of their learning experience made a qualitative difference to how individuals enacted engagement. Drawing upon Sharon Pittaway's engagement framework, the article seeks to foreground student voice as the learners define …

'University Wasn't Spoken About At Home, It Was Just Assumed That We Would Start Working…': First-In-Family Students, Family Capital And Higher Education Participation, Sarah Elizabeth O'Shea

Professor Sarah O' Shea

The increases in the number of students attending higher education, particularly those who are the first in their immediate family to attend university provided the impetus for the study outlined in this article. Whilst previous research has explored the qualitative experience of being a first in family student, very few studies have explicitly focussed on how attending university interacts and impacts upon the immediate family of the learner. Drawing upon in-depth semi-structured interviews, this article will detail the findings from a small-scale study conducted in an Australian university that explored the interaction of the family home place and students' enactment …

Social Justice: Choice Or Necessity?, Colleen Swain, David Edyburn

Colleen Swain

Given the power of instructional technology and the ubiquitous nature of technology in society and the workplace, what are the social implications associated with teachers' decisions to use, or not use, technology to enhance teaching and learning? Despite current U.S. educational goals and the documented effect of the achievement gap, little attention has focused on critical issues associated with the use of instructional technology as a social justice tool. This article will explore the social justice implications of instruction technology and provide educators with a framework for understanding the effects of their decisions in using instructional technology in the classroom.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love: A Duoethnographic Exploration Of The Dissertation Relationship, Robert J. Helfenbein, Susan R. Adams

Susan Adams

In the aftermath and mop-up following a successful dissertation defense, an unintended and unexpected data source remained unexplored and unanalyzed: 32 audio-recorded discussions and work sessions documenting the processes, approaches, and decisions made by a dissertation director and his doctoral candidate. What might those conversations reveal about the dissertation relationship? Taking a page from Raymond Carver’s short story, “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love,” we wondered what we might have been talking about when we were talking about dissertation writing. Inspired and shaped by Norris, Sawyer, and Lund’s (2012. Duoethnography: Dialogic methods for social, health, and educational …

Teaching Leaders, Lisa Deangelis, Sherry H. Penney

Sherry Penney

In an age of instantaneous information sharing and increased interdependence, today’s leaders must learn to work collaboratively, leveraging the strengths, skills, and experiences of those around them, in order to address the challenges they face. The Center for Collaborative Leadership is uniquely situated in the College of Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The purpose of the Center’s Emerging Leaders Program is to challenge and inspire the adult participants in the program to act collaboratively, identify and rethink boundaries, build purposeful relationships, and become better leaders and citizens. In this brief, the authors reflect on how this program is …

Victoria, The Education State?, Lawrence C. Ingvarson

Dr Lawrence Ingvarson (Consultant)

Fiat Flux: Evolving Purposes And Ideals Of The Great American Public Law School, Christopher Edley Jr

Christopher Edley

This Essay describes the changing role of American law schools throughout the twentieth century and proposes a vision for the future's Great American Law School. Since the founding of Berkeley Law, the definition of the legal profession has progressed from an interior orientation, which focused predominately on trial courts and appellate advocacy, to an exterior orientation with wide consideration of other forms of lawyering. Along a second axis, legal pedagogy has progressed from a careerist orientation, which focused on case analysis and advocacy skills, to a more academic orientation that integrates questions of theory and methodology. Analyzing these trends, this …

Implementing Growth Mindset Principles For Girls In Stem Elementary Classrooms Through The Creation Of A Children's Book, Jessica Van Westering

Jessica Van Westering

Where To Next For School Playground Interventions To Encourage Active Play? An Exploration Of Structured And Unstructured School Playground Strategies, Brendon P. Hyndman

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

An emerging public health priority is to enhance children’s opportunities for active play. Children spend a large proportion of weekdays in schools, making schools an influential and suitable setting to promote children’s active play. Rather than continually increasing the burdens placed upon busy teaching staff, the use of school playground interventions have emerged as a critical strategy within schools to facilitate and develop children’s active play via an informal curriculum. This scholarly article provides a research-based commentary on a range of school playground interventions to encourage both structured and unstructured active play opportunities. Additionally, future research directions for school playground …

The Legal Landscape Of Parental-Choice Policy, Nicole Stelle Garnett

Nicole Stelle Garnett

Private school choice programs raise important legal questions regarding students’ rights to an education, parents’ rights to choose their children’s schools, state constitutions, race and disability, and religious liberty.

Advising Doctoral Students In Education Programs, Christy M. Craft, Donna Augustine-Shaw, Amanda Fairbanks, Gayla Adams-Wright

Christy Moran Craft

Evidence-Based Behavioral Objectives, Jessica A. Rueter, J. Trice

Jessica Rueter

The purpose of this article is to inform school personnel of best practices for writing targeted behavioral objectives for student with emotional behavioral disorders (EBD). Five key elements are presented, which include: Measurable, Student-Oriented, Positive, Individualized, and Relevant. Also discussed are board characteristics and outcomes of students with EBD regarding effective supports involving programming and transitioning.

Recommendations Of Evidence-Based Strategies, Jessica A. Rueter, L. Kinnsion

Jessica Rueter

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the knowledge level and degree to which educational diagnosticians recommend evidenced-based strategies when writing full individual evaluations (FIE). The study used survey research. One hundred and ten educational diagnosticians completed the 34 question survey. Results indicate that participants possess limited knowledge of Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) strategies related to reading and storing and remembering information. Moreover, results suggest participants do not possess knowledge nor do they recommend SIM strategies related to expressing information.

Out Of "Dark Backrooms And Sheds", Marguerite Maher M.Ed

Marguerite Maher

Commitment to a single, inclusive education system has been the aspiration of reform in education in a democratic South Africa as articulated in White Paper 6: Special needs education: Building an inclusive education and training system (Department of Education, 2001, referred to hereafter as White Paper 6). Within a ‘barriers to learning’ approach to inclusive education, progress is being made with improved facilities and the implementation of AIDS awareness programmes. Managing the transition towards an inclusive education system has proved challenging in some areas, however, and the specific provision in policy documents directed towards children with disabilities is behind schedule. …

Shall We Play Us And Them Or All Together Now? Leadership Opportunities For Cohesiveness And Unity Within A Fractured Western Australian Early Childhood Education Sector, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Serena Davie

This paper presents the qualitative and quantitative findings of a research project that examines the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the Childcare sector. It presents the experience based position of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within Childcare following a ten week practicum.

It offers a contribution to the evolving body of research relevant to a recent Government decision that requires the employment of qualified teachers in all Childcare Services by 2014. This decision came about as a response to the 2006 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and …

It's Okay, I'M A...Teacher. Is Professional Status Important To Teachers?, C Mcgunnigle, D O'Connor, J Waggoner, T Treasure, L Cranley, S Davie

Tracy Treasure

Teacher accountability and the debate around teacher quality are issues of international importance. As society places increasing demands on the teaching profession, and regulatory bodies around the globe raise the ‘standards’ for teachers to adhere to, the professional status of teachers is drawn into focus. This paper reports research findings of an investigation into the perspectives of professional status of teachers, held by pre-service teachers about to embark on their teaching career. This was a comparative study whereby data were collected from an Australian university and an American university to explore professional status as an international issue. This quantitative study …

Shall We Play Us And Them Or All Together Now? Leadership Opportunities For Cohesiveness And Unity Within A Fractured Western Australian Early Childhood Education Sector, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Tracy Treasure

This paper presents the qualitative and quantitative findings of a research project that examines the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the Childcare sector. It presents the experience based position of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within Childcare following a ten week practicum.

It offers a contribution to the evolving body of research relevant to a recent Government decision that requires the employment of qualified teachers in all Childcare Services by 2014. This decision came about as a response to the 2006 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and …

It's Okay, I'M A...Teacher. Is Professional Status Important To Teachers?, C Mcgunnigle, D O'Connor, J Waggoner, T Treasure, L Cranley, S Davie

Christine McGunnigle

Teacher accountability and the debate around teacher quality are issues of international importance. As society places increasing demands on the teaching profession, and regulatory bodies around the globe raise the ‘standards’ for teachers to adhere to, the professional status of teachers is drawn into focus. This paper reports research findings of an investigation into the perspectives of professional status of teachers, held by pre-service teachers about to embark on their teaching career. This was a comparative study whereby data were collected from an Australian university and an American university to explore professional status as an international issue. This quantitative study …

Shall We Play Us And Them Or All Together Now? Leadership Opportunities For Cohesiveness And Unity Within A Fractured Western Australian Early Childhood Education Sector, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Christine McGunnigle

This paper presents the qualitative and quantitative findings of a research project that examines the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the Childcare sector. It presents the experience based position of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within Childcare following a ten week practicum.

It offers a contribution to the evolving body of research relevant to a recent Government decision that requires the employment of qualified teachers in all Childcare Services by 2014. This decision came about as a response to the 2006 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and …

It's Okay, I'M A...Teacher. Is Professional Status Important To Teachers?, C Mcgunnigle, D O'Connor, J Waggoner, T Treasure, L Cranley, S Davie

Linda Cranley

Teacher accountability and the debate around teacher quality are issues of international importance. As society places increasing demands on the teaching profession, and regulatory bodies around the globe raise the ‘standards’ for teachers to adhere to, the professional status of teachers is drawn into focus. This paper reports research findings of an investigation into the perspectives of professional status of teachers, held by pre-service teachers about to embark on their teaching career. This was a comparative study whereby data were collected from an Australian university and an American university to explore professional status as an international issue. This quantitative study …

Inclusive Education For Students With Disability: A Review Of The Best Evidence In Relation To Theory And Practice, Chris Irene Forlin, Dianne J. Chambers, Tim Loreman, Joanne Deppler, Umesh Sharma

Dianne J Chambers

This report was commissioned by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR - now DOE). Inclusive education has been identified as a focus area for investigation, toward exploring what research has found to work in improving not only school attendance but also school achievement and other learning outcomes for school students with disability. This report provides an overview of inclusive education, which will inform the work of the Schools Disability Advisory Council (SDAC). SDAC was established to provide informed advice and information to Government in relation to school …

Managing Major Educational Change: Is The Cyclical Integration Model The Answer?, Richard G. Berlach

Richard Berlach

Where minds meet, there lies the change vector. I have for a long time been fascinated by the way in which change, and specifically educational change, is managed. More often than not it seems, minds fail to meet in a crucial change-space. They either unwittingly zip past each other, deliberately avoid one another, or worse still, collide with excruciating force. This paper examines the interrelated role of government, the public service and teachers in successfully transitioning major change. It is argued that unless these bodies operate in synchrony, change negotiation is likely to be hampered. To this end, a model …

It's Okay, I'M A...Teacher. Is Professional Status Important To Teachers?, C Mcgunnigle, D O'Connor, J Waggoner, T Treasure, L Cranley, S Davie

Dee O'Connor

Teacher accountability and the debate around teacher quality are issues of international importance. As society places increasing demands on the teaching profession, and regulatory bodies around the globe raise the ‘standards’ for teachers to adhere to, the professional status of teachers is drawn into focus. This paper reports research findings of an investigation into the perspectives of professional status of teachers, held by pre-service teachers about to embark on their teaching career. This was a comparative study whereby data were collected from an Australian university and an American university to explore professional status as an international issue. This quantitative study …

Creativity In Childhood: The Role Of Education, Doireann O'Connor

Dee O'Connor

Creativity in adults is highly valued in our society. Personal creativity contributes toinventiveness, innovation, social and cultural change as well as political development andeconomic progression. The creator is an innovator, a problem solver, an entrepreneur, anartist. Creative people have rapid and effective responses that help them to achieve their life goals and allow them to enjoy the journey. Creativity is both a skill set and a unique and individual personality structure that is developed throughout childhood and fine tuned in adolescence and adulthood. Education has a key role to play in its development. Positive creativity inspiring experiences at every stage …

Shall We Play Us And Them Or All Together Now? Leadership Opportunities For Cohesiveness And Unity Within A Fractured Western Australian Early Childhood Education Sector, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Dee O'Connor

This paper presents the qualitative and quantitative findings of a research project that examines the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the Childcare sector. It presents the experience based position of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within Childcare following a ten week practicum.

It offers a contribution to the evolving body of research relevant to a recent Government decision that requires the employment of qualified teachers in all Childcare Services by 2014. This decision came about as a response to the 2006 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and …

Aboriginal Early Childhood Education: Why Attendance And True Engagement Are Equally Important, Jacynta Krakouer

Jacynta Krakouer

The Australian government has increasingly recognised the importance of quality early childhood education (ECE) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as noted in a variety of policy documents such as the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Closing the Gap targets of the Rudd government in 2008, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010-2014, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy 2015 (Tye, 2014; Dreise & Thomson, 2014; Education Council, 2015). However, the focus in Aboriginal ECE is still on improving access to, and attendance at ECE centres in Australia rather than highlighting the reasons …

Education, Emily C. Hannum, Yu Xie

Emily C. Hannum