Education Commons^™

Gaming In The Social Studies Classroom: Student Perceptions Of Learning History With Mobile Media, Amie Musselman, Michael Edward Hess, Charles L. Lowery

Journal of Research Initiatives

Mobile media is the over-arching term for handheld devices with internet capabilities such as smartphones and tablets. This multifaceted, handheld technology is common amongst teens and young adults. Specifically, individuals between ages 18 and 29 are primarily wireless internet users and owners of cell phones, 81%, and 93% respectively. This study addresses the question: what are public high school students' perceptions of mobile media in a social studies classroom? Of particular interest in this work is a better understanding of how mobile devices affect student interest and enjoyment during a World War II lesson. Traditionally, social studies instruction is heavily …

How Race And Racism Empower A School's Curriculum, Sunni Ali

Journal of Research Initiatives

Teaching students about race and racism are so multi-faceted and sophisticated, yet it remains the most crucial conversation and lesson to have with young people to empower them. One of the useful ways Americans can attempt to unravel and transform this complicated legacy is to make it a part of a school’s curriculum. Allowing race and racism to remain a hidden-aspect of a school’s curriculum reinforces its trivialization and dysfunction.

Indeed, having constructed, well-thought-out lessons about race and racism “myth-bust” any attempts for future Americans to continually embrace xenophobia and genetic inferiority. In recent years, the institution of education and …

Self-Regulation, Co-Regulation, And Feedback In The Context Of Cross-Cultural Language Acquisition In Higher Education: A Conceptual Approach, Papia Bawa

Journal of Research Initiatives

Given the exponential growth in international student populations in the United States, supporting cross cultural language learners (CCLL) in developing their self and co-regulated learning is highly important. This paper presents a conceptual framework on the value of feedback within self-regulated versus co-regulated environments, in the context of cross- cultural language learning. We use the term cross cultural language learners (CCLL) to refer to international learners, in particular from Asia. When exploring the issues of cross cultural language acquisition relating to logographic (Chinese) and alphabetic (English) languages, we examine the literature that support self and co-regulated learning within the frame …

Praxis Core: A Systemic Approach To Helping Minority Students, Terrance M. Mcadoo, Danielle A. Harrison

Journal of Research Initiatives

The purpose of this article was to provide potential solutions for teacher education programs with regard to assisting minority students with Praxis Core, a standardized test that’s mandatory for many teacher preparation students throughout the United States. The article not only examined solutions for minority students, especially African American students, but also it highlights the disparities between Caucasian and African American test takers in regard to Praxis Core. A major portion of the article discussed a three point systems that has proven to be effective in helping minority students to successfully pass Praxis Core, and the article explains the structures …

The Writer's Workbook Intervention: Promoting Writing Achievement, Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar

Journal of Research Initiatives

Research demonstrates that American high school students are not writing with proficiency, and teachers are not providing adequate writing instruction. This study examined the effectiveness of a writing intervention on achievement using pre- and post-intervention data. The instructional intervention combined self-regulated strategy development, peer and teacher feedback, reflection, and flexible writing practice to strengthen persuasive and argumentative writing in high school students. 95 ninth- and tenth-grade Delaware public school students in higher and lower-level classes participated in the instructional intervention, and twenty-five students’ writings were scored before and after the intervention to assess growth. Pre/post mean ratings of writing quality …

Reading Researchers In Search Of Common Ground: The Expert Study Revisited, Tiffany A. Flowers

Journal of Research Initiatives

The purpose of this book review was to analyze the main arguments regarding literacy instruction from various paradigms of research. The Foreword of this text was written by Dr. Patricia Edwards the Past President of the Literacy Research Association. As Dr. Edwards pointedly reveals in her endorsement of this text, “Reading researchers must find some common ground in order to provide teachers with the necessary strategies to teach children reading." Dr. Edwards takes a strong stance on the reading wars debate. This foreword leaves readers with key questions that are answered throughout the reading of this text such as, what …

Understanding “Other People’S Children” Through 21st Century Lens, Angela Farmer

Journal of Research Initiatives

Engaging in constructive discourse is perhaps one of the best ways to fully dissect a societal issue in the hopes of transforming it from what it is into what it could become. In Lisa Delpit’s 2006 version of “Other People’s Children” she does a remarkable job of leading the reader to the importance of developing the character of children. As a minority parent and educator who struggled with supporting her children amid the challenges they faced in institutionalized educational settings, the author confronts the realities of what many children still face today, as they attempt to assimilate to an environment …

A Narrative Study On High School Transition Programs And Student Attendance In Rural North Carolina, Terrie Bethea-Hampton, Linda Wilson-Jones

Journal of Research Initiatives

The move from eighth to ninth grade can be an emotional time. Students experience feelings of isolation and the fear of the unknown. In the transition, grade nine students experience a number of first times that challenge their abilities to manage their time wisely and stay focus. These first times include: (a) taking a class that counts towards graduation, (b) choosing their own classes, (c) less parental supervision, (d) increased peer influence, and (e) other freedoms that high school students enjoy (McCallumore & Sparapani, 2010).

To combat the “freshman problem” districts across the United States work in an effort to …

Technology Competency Within The Non-Traditional Preservice Teacher Candidate Population: Survey Results, Marilyn Lanier, Cynthia B. Wooten, Noran L. Moffett, Tanya M. Hudson

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study utilized action research with quantitative data analysis to investigate the personal technological skills and use of web-based applications of nontraditional teacher candidates enrolled in elementary education courses at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in the southeastern section of the USA. The goal was to gain a better understanding of the technological challenges encountered by non-traditional candidates and to determine how technology can inform instructional delivery of curriculum to improve this population’s representation, expression, and engagement of learning outcomes. Data were collected through an anonymous electronic survey distributed to each student enrolled in the elementary education courses. A total …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Collaboration Using A Professional Learning Community Model, Kimberly M. Jones-Goods

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study explored teacher collaboration in a school in North Carolina. Through data collection and analysis of teacher focus groups and interviews using a semi-structured interview protocol, the perception of teacher collaboration on student learning outcomes was investigated. The study included 22 participants. Common themes were identified and explored. Participant’s statements were provided. The findings of this qualitative study align with relevant research in that school leadership cultivates effective teacher collaboration.

A Qualitative Study: How Northeastern Illinois University’S College Of Education Program Successfully Prepares Black Males With A Previous Individualized Learning Plan To Become Teachers, Sunni Ali

Journal of Research Initiatives

As Teacher College Programs throughout the country attempt to increase their numbers of quality educators entering a classroom, one abiding concern remains: how do universities attract and successfully transition black male educators to become K-12 teachers? Such a lasting question has caused several national programs to arise, specifically an initiative consortium (N.I.C) that involved several colleges of education programs to develop and sustain strategies to increase black male teachers in the profession.

This qualitative-interview based study reviews how a teacher college program located in Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), applies N.I.C. external and internal mechanisms to engage black male students' …

Black Exceptionality In Academia: A Cultural-Historical Re-Conceptualization Of Black Male Students Identified With Learning Disabilities In Higher Education, Larry Love, Dosun Ko, Aydin Bal

Journal of Research Initiatives

The under-representation of Black male students identified with learning disabilities (LD) in higher education is a symptom of a larger social injustice, the racialization of educational opportunities and outcomes in the United States. We provided a critical review of literature to examine the structural and social barriers facing Black college students identified with LD in terms of access to adequate support services, refusal of funds of knowledge that Black students bring to higher education, and hegemonic organization of higher education. Following themes are explored: a) historical legacy of racial inequity in academia; b) systemic contradictions in institutional practices; c) absence …

Increasing The Success Of African American Males With Learning Disabilities Attending California Community Colleges, Amar I. Abbott, Windy F. Martinez

Journal of Research Initiatives

The purpose of this article is to identify strategies to increase the access, progress, and success for African-American males with Learning Disabilities (LD) attending the California Community College. California has the fifth largest population of African American people in the US, including over 1 million African American males. There is a growing body of literature discussing the barriers faced by African American males attending college, particularly in the areas of retention, persistence, and degree attainment. This journal article discusses how to ameliorate the issues regarding African-American males being successful in the community college environment. With special programs such as Umoja, …

Resilient Scholar: A High Achieving African American Male With A Learning Disability, Shawn A. Robinson

Journal of Research Initiatives

The existing literature on race/ethnicity overlooks learning disability (LD) and the latter often neglects African American males. Further, when the intersection of race/ethnicity and LD overlap, African American males are rarely discussed or viewed as high achievers within the literature. Therefore, I seek to break through the wall of silence and provide an account that explores the rich lived experiences of a high achieving African American male with LD (i.e., dyslexia) in higher education. The article begins with literature relevant to my lived experiences followed by contextualizing those experiences as a high achiever. Next, I use a conceptual framework as …