Higher Education Commons^™

Who's Talking About (And Citing) Me? Tracking Your Work Using Databases, Google, Web Of Knowledge, And Altmetrics Tools, Julia Lovett, Andrée Rathemacher, Amanda Izenstark

Julia Lovett

Slides and handouts from a presentation, "Who's Talking About (and Citing) Me? Tracking Your Work using Databases, Google, Web of Knowledge, and Altmetrics Tools," offered at the University of Rhode Island Libraries on April 9 and April 10, 2014.

"Stop using the impact factor as a measure of the value of your research. There are better ways. In this hands-on session find out about tools that can help you learn how your work is being received, used, and disseminated across scholarly platforms and social media networks."

Part of the University Libraries' Search Savvy Seminar series.

Constructive Alignment And The Curriculum: A Call For Improved Pedagogical Practices In Higher Education, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

From the turn of the century, there have been fervent calls to reform the curriculum in such a way that all students benefit. In light of heated debates, ‘constructivism’ was embraced as the new learning theory that would cause an improvement in student learning outcomes. Much later, ‘constructive alignment’ emerged, which sought to revolutionise the curriculum, significantly modifying pedagogical practices. Consequently, this article seeks to address constructive alignment in the curriculum and the urgent need to improve didactic practices in higher education. To this end, a discussion ensues on the curriculum and its necessity in pedagogy. The different approaches to …

Student-Centered Transformative Learning In Leadership Education: An Examination Of The Teaching And Learning Process, Paige Haber-Curran, Daniel Tillapaugh

Daniel Tillapaugh

Innovative and learner-centered approaches to teaching and learning are vital for the applied field of leadership education, yet little research exists on such pedagogical approaches within the field. Using a phenomenological approach in analyzing 26 students’ reflective narratives, the authors explore students’ experiences of and process of learning within a student-centered and inquiry-focused leadership capstone course. The process of this transformative learning experience is represented in five themes, which include the following: (1) challenging mental models of learning, (2) building trust, (3) finding freedom and empowerment, (4) deepening commitment to learning, and (5) reframing learning and self. Additionally, the students’ …

Goats, Crayons And Bananas – Creative Ways To Fight Student Stress, Conny Liegl

Conny Liegl

More than 80% of US college students report feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, almost half of whom describe their academic experience as traumatic or very difficult to handle. Stress, sleep difficulties and anxiety are just some of the symptoms that manifest in college students. Undergraduates seem particularly susceptible to these stressors, but only one in five seeks medical consultation for their issues. (American College Health Association [ACHA], 2013)

To help students react to external and internal stressors, California Polytechnic State University’s Robert E. Kennedy Library initiated a program to support students during the most stressful times of the academic quarter. With …

Global Graduate Employability Research: A Report To The Business20 Human Capital Taskforce (Draft)., Shelley Kinash, Linda Crane, Cecily Knight, David Dowling, Kristy Mitchell, Matthew Mclean, Mark Schulz

Professor Shelley Kinash

Improving Curriculum Design And Development: A Case Study From The University Of Guyana, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

The curriculum is a very important document which details how learning and teaching is to be done. Since this document is a guide for learning, it must be properly planned, designed and developed, if it is to achieve success in its implementation stage. Bearing this in mind, this case study centres its attention on the analysis and evaluation of a Spanish course curriculum document from the University of Guyana. The aim of this paper is to highlight those areas that are deficient in the current course curriculum, analyse and revise them, and make recommendations for improvements. Information about the University …

Studying Overseas: Factors Impacting Intention Of Female Students In Mainland China, Yi Zhang, Jie Sun, Linda Serra Hagedorn

Linda Serra Hagedorn

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that impact Chinese female students’ intention to study overseas. This study also aimed to understand how these factors impact female students’ decision making process. Using a survey questionnaire, data were collected from 96 female undergraduates who enrolled in a 4-year public university in North Central China fall 2010. Descriptive analyses, exploratory factor analyses, and structural equations modeling were utilized to answer the research questions. The results of the study indicated that students’ satisfaction with campus experience, English proficiency, and only child status had significant direct effects on their intention to …

Curriculum Review: Analysis Of A Spanish Translation Course Curriculum From The University Of Guyana, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

This curriculum review report centres its attention on the analysis of a Spanish course curriculum document from the University of Guyana. The aim of this report is to highlight those areas that are deficient in the current course curriculum, analyse and revise them, and make recommendations for improvements. Information about the University of Guyana, along with its vision, mission and value statements are presented. Then, a discussion ensues on curriculum planning, designing and development, paying specific attention what curriculum entails. An analysis is conducted of the course curriculum, highlighting both the positives and the negatives. Subsequently, recommendations are made for …

An Exercise In Institutional Reflection: The Learning Analytics Readiness Instrument (Lari), Kimberly E. Arnold, Steven Lonn, Matthew Pistilli

Matthew Pistilli

Doing The Ppp: A Skeptical Perspective, Leo Groarke, Beverley Hamilton

Beverley Hamilton

No abstract provided.

When Social Class Meets Ethnicity: College-Going Experiences Of Chinese And Korean Immigrant Students, Eunyoung Kim

Eunyoung Kim

No abstract provided.

Redefining Pedagogy: Dialogues On Transformative Immersion, Praxis, And Reflection, William H. Robertson, Judith Munter

William H. Robertson

This article examines transformative teaching and learning in higher education today, with a focus on faculty member as change agent. Developed from fourteen months of ongoing, critical dialogue, the article describes and deconstructs faculty members’ lived experiences as scholars-practitioners in three nations and their corresponding roles in institutions of higher learning in the U.S. As multi-culturally situated practitioners, each one describes the role of diverse international/intercultural lived experiences, including Fulbright exchanges, community based research, and service-learning in and with diverse communities. The voice of an emerging scholar, (graduate student) as discussant is interspersed throughout the dialogue, connecting faculty members’ experiences …

The Ucf Research Data Management Survey Report, Penny Beile

Penny Beile

Students As Catalysts For Large Landscape Conservation, Philip J. Nyhus

Philip J. Nyhus

Colleges, universities, and research institutions are important innovators and partners in many large landscape conservation initiatives. Students are essential but often under-recognized constituents in these endeavors. A conference on Students as Catalysts for Large landscape Conservation was held in 2013 at Colby College to explore this topic. Participants came from 12 states, 3 countries, and 19 institutions. This paper summarizes insights from the conference and associated meetings of the Conservation Catalyst Network, including how and why students engage in large landscape conservation, benefits to students and practitioners, and remaining challenges. Land conservation and policy is replete with legacies of innovative …

In Search Of Progressive Black Masculinities, Keon M. Mcguire, Jonathan Berhanu, Charles H.F. Davis Iii, Shaun R. Harper Phd

Charles H.F. Davis III

During the last several decades, research concerning the developmental trajectories, experiences, and behaviors of college men as ‘‘gendered’’ persons has emerged. In this article, we first critically review literature on Black men’s gender development and expressions within college contexts to highlight certain knowledge gaps. We then conceptualize and discuss progressive Black masculinities by relying on Mutua’s germinal work on the subject. Further, we engage Black feminist scholarship, both to firmly situate our more pressing argument for conceptual innovation and to address knowledge gaps in the literature on Black men’s gender experiences. It is our belief that scholars who study gender …

The Leap Model: Perceptions Of Emergency Service Leaders Of Legitimacy, R. Jeffery Maxfield

R. Jeffery Maxfield

This study adds to the qualitative data showing how leaders in the emergency services perceive legitimacy and the bases of power. The study examines the perception of leaders and their perspective on why subordinates view their leader as legitimate and/or authentic. Two definitions of legitimacy are presented: the traditional viewpoint of French and Raven (1959) associating legitimate power “with having status or formal job authority” and the other proposed by Maxfield (2012) in the LEAP leadership model basing legitimacy or authenticity more on the characteristics and skills leaders bring to their positions. Emergency service students interviewed leaders in their career …

Using Critical Race Theory And Intersectionality To Explore A Black Lesbian’S Life In College: An Analysis Of Skye’S Narrative, Christa J. Porter, Candace E. Maddox

Dr. Christa J Porter

“But I’M Oppressed Too”: White Male College Students Framing Racial Emotions As Facts And Recreating Racism, Nolan L. Cabrera

Nolan L. Cabrera

Most analyses of racism focus on what people think about issues of race and how this relates to racial stratification. This research applies Feagin’s white racial frame to analyze how White male college students at two universities feel about racism. Students at the academically non-selective and less diverse university tended to be apathetic while those attending the academically selective and more racially diverse campus tended to be angry. This study highlights the interconnectedness of affective and cognitive responses to race: two areas integral to both the maintenance and dismantling of systemic racism. It also highlights how men frequently frame emotions …

Supported Student Success: Communities Of Practice In Higher Education, Aimee Dechambeau

Aimée L. deChambeau

This research tells a story about how students form communities of practice that help them succeed in graduate school. Told within the context of individual and collective experiences, it holds valuable lessons for how student success can be supported across the higher education landscape. Communities of practice can develop spontaneously when individuals involved in a common activity or with a sense of shared identity come together to deal with organizational complexities or establish a forum for continued learning. The practice of becoming an accomplished and successful student who is able to develop scholarly abilities and deepen disciplinary understanding, experience personal …

Using Critical Race Theory And Intersectionality To Explore A Black Lesbian's Life In College: An Analysis Of Skye's Narrative, Christa J. Porter, Candace E. Maddox

Dr. Christa J. Porter

No abstract provided.

Beyond Bad Behaving Brothers: Productive Performances Of Masculinities Among College Fraternity Men, Frank Harris Iii, Shaun R. Harper

Frank Harris III

Research on fraternity men focuses almost exclusively on problematic behaviors such as homophobia and sexism, alcohol abuse, violence against women, sexual promiscuity, and the overrepresentation of members among campus judicial offenders. Consequently, little is known about those who perform masculinities in healthy and productive ways. Presented in this article are findings from a qualitative study of productive masculinities and behaviors among 50 undergraduate fraternity men from 44 chapters across the US and Canada. Findings offer insights into participants’ steadfast commitments to the fraternity’s espoused values; their acceptance and appreciation of members from a range of diverse backgrounds; strategies they employed …

An Intersectional Social Capital Analysis Of The Influence Of Historically Black Sororities On African American Women’S College Experiences At A Predominantly White Institution, Lindsay A. Greyerbiehl, Donald Mitchell Jr.

Donald Mitchell Jr., Ph.D.

Advancing Grounded Theory: Using Theoretical Frameworks Within Grounded Theory Studies, Donald Mitchell Jr.

Donald Mitchell Jr., Ph.D.

Learning Styles And Satisfaction In Distance Education, Darren C. Wu

Darren Wu

Assessing The Need For Graduate Global Education Programs In The United States, Krishna Bista, Amany Saleh

Krishna Bista

Global education plays an increasingly important role in enriching students’ learning experiences in US institutions of higher education. Students are connected to the world through global culture, economics, politics, technology and immigration. This paper examines the perceptions of 305 graduate students and alumni concerning the need for global education programs in the United States. Participants shared their views of the importance of global education in understanding today’s economy, culture, and environment, while addressing our future needs and challenges. There were no significant statistical differences between the perceptions of graduate students and alumni or between those of international and American students …

Rethinking Intelligence: The Role Of Mindset In Promoting Success For Academically High-Risk Students, Rishi Sriram

Rishi Sriram, Ph.D.

The Education Doctorate- A Degree For Our Times, Jill A. Perry

Jill A Perry

Special Edited Issue of Planning and Changing Journal

Critical Travel And Work-Mekong: Ho Chi Minh To Phnom Penh, Shelby Elizabeth Doyle

Shelby Elizabeth Doyle