Educational Methods Commons^™

Through The Looking Glass: A Case Study Of Photovoice And Digital Storytelling With Fourth Grade English Learners, Judy A. Wright

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

The recent evolution of ICTs has sparked a catalyst of action that has led the way to the creation of innovative user experiences and created a climate for on demand learning anytime and anywhere. These experiences, at both the individual and collective level, have expanded student access and interaction to information in a way that would have been unconceivable years ago. Students who are learning English for the first time, better known as English learners (ELs), make up a greater proportion of the K-12 population than ever before. Georgia specifically has experienced a 291% growth of ELLs from 1995 to …

Individual Differences In Digital Badging: Do Learner Characteristics Matter?, Joey R. Fanfarelli, Thomas Rudy Mcdaniel

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Badge use has rapidly expanded in recent years and has benefited a variety of applications. However, a large portion of the research has applied a binary useful or not useful approach to badging. Few studies examine the characteristics of the user and the impact of those characteristics on the effectiveness of the badging system. This study takes preliminary steps toward that cause, examining the effectiveness of a badging system across two web-based university courses in relation to the individual differences of the learners. Individual differences are examined through the lens of Long-Dziuban reactive behavior types and traits. Results revealed differences …

Searching For Innovation, Creativity And 21st Century Skills: A Case Study Of A Suburban Elementary School District, Robert Alexander Serdar

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to seek out and identify the traits, attitudes and characteristics of innovative, creative and highly effective teachers within a suburban elementary school district. Participants included five elementary teachers who were identified by their colleagues as being exceptionally innovative, creative and fostering 21^st Century Skills. The research method for this qualitative case study consisted of teacher interviews, student interviews, and multiple classroom observations by the researcher. From this, seven themes, or practices, of highly innovative, creative teachers of 21^st Century Skills emerged: (1) See the Teacher as Lead Learner (2) Encourage Learner Reflection …

Adult Education In A Museum Setting Requires Reinforcement, Judy Ann Lowman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis addresses adult education in a museum setting and measures adult learning during and after a museum visit. While a number of studies have investigated the impact of museum visits on children’s learning, there are few studies on adult learners. This thesis is an initial effort to fill that gap. Qualitative data were gathered through interviews with 24 adult visitors at the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley, California. The objective was to determine which exhibits were found to be of greatest interest to the visitor. Follow-up interviews were conducted four weeks later to measure retention. The qualitative data …

The Use Of Polleverywhere In Engineering Technology Classes To Student Stimulate Critical Thinking And Motivation, Otilia Popescu, Laura C. Chezan, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Orlando M. Ayala

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Critical thinking is considered one of the most important aspects of the learning process at the college level, especially in the field of engineering technology. However, developing critical thinking can prove to be quite challenging. It takes a lot of instructional effort and support for undergraduate students enrolled in engineering technology programs to develop the ability to analyze, adequately synthesize conceptual knowledge, and then apply that knowledge to practical problem-solving situations. This ability is a critical component of any successful completion of job responsibilities for future engineers. In this study we examine the effectiveness of the web-based polling system Polleverywhere …

The Role Of Student Voice And Choice In Learner-Centered Competency Reform, Danielle Donnini

All Theses And Dissertations

Progressive reforms, pervasive throughout American education, are once again beginning to reshape the established traditional system to provide our students with an educational experience and learning opportunities that will better prepare them with twenty-first century skills. These reforms, rooted in constructivism and social learning, are characterized by an updated progressive vision of competency education that places students in the center of their education. Giving students authentic voice and choice has potential to engage these most important stakeholders in educational reform. This qualitative case study set in eleven upper elementary classrooms in one school, explores the opportunities for voice and choice …

How Instructional Strategies Engaged Fourth Graders In Math Learning, Ryan Wallace Patrie

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of fourth-grade learners in a math classroom, how fourth graders express their interest and desire to learn math, and how different instructional strategies influence that interest and desire. The participants for this study were all fourth graders enrolled at a rural school district in Maine that serves approximately 1,200 learners in grades pre-kindergarten through Grade 6. Fifteen fourth graders provided the data to determine student perceptions on how they engage in math instruction. The findings of this study indicate strong relationships between instructional strategies and the self-determination theory of …

The Impact Of Co-Teaching On General Education Students In Seventh Grade Math, Kenneth Lamar James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Federal legislation has mandated that all students, including students with disabilities, perform at or above a certain level on standardized tests. Students with disabilities consistently have scored below the required minimum score. Educators have begun implementing co-teaching strategies in the general education classroom in order to better serve the students with disabilities. This has caused concern among some parents and other educators as to how the inclusion of special education students in the general classroom will affect the achievement of general education students. This quantitative study is designed to gather data from the math section of the Criterion Referenced Competency …

Rural High School Faculty Perspectives On Bring Your Own Device Implementation: A Phenomenological Study, Philip Lee Arnold

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of faculty members who recently implemented Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in a rural high school in Georgia. Many students bring electronic devices to school despite policies banning or limiting their possession and use. Some schools have recently implemented BYOD guidelines that allow the use of these devices to enhance the learning environment. In-depth interviews, participant journals, and a concluding focus group discussion were used to better understand the lived experiences of the faculty members during their transition to BYOD. Themes discovered through the data indicated that …

Meditation In The Classroom: Cultivating Attention And Insight, E. James Baesler

Communication & Theatre Arts Faculty Publications

Goals: Care must be taken by the instructor not to overemphasize achieving the goal(s) of meditation. Often, when there is too much emphasis on trying to reach the goal, the benefits of meditating can be hindered. On the other hand, when the goal of meditation is held loosely, then the goal is more easily approached. For this class meditation activity, the instructor might loosely hold several interrelated goals for their students: cultivate experiences of first person attention, concentration, and awareness while simultaneously developing capacities for insight, imagination, exploration, and discernment of ideas related to class content and applications to everyday …

Group Retesting To Promote Learning Self-Awareness And Individual Accountability, Robbin Eppinga, Kayt E. Frisch, Jeff Ploegstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Allowing students to retake tests in groups provides them with the immediate opportunity to learn from their mistakes while improving their perceptions of a course. We explore Group Review Advancing Content/Concept Essentials (aka GRACE), a variation on group retesting, which creates a peer learning environment and emphasizes individual metacognition, concept articulation, and accountability. Through an interactive demonstration, we introduce the process, relate some of the literature-reported benefits of group retesting, and share our experiences using GRACE in a variety of disciplines at different course levels.

Subject-Centered Approach To Integrate Faith And Learning, Valorie L. Zonnefeld

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Effects Of The Omrit Project On Student And Alumni Participants From Macalester College, Nancy Bostrom

Capstone Collection

As participation in short-term study abroad programs increases, practitioners seek to understand the effects of these programs not just in terms of increasing participation in study abroad, but also with an emphasis on understanding the effects of these programs on student learning. Some research indicates that program design, rather than length, determines a successful experience abroad; however, the literature also reveals concern that there is not enough data to understand the impact of short-term programs on student learning and that much of the available research is too focused on immediate rather than longer lasting effects.

This paper reports on a …

Transitioning From Following To Making Your Own Path Through Critical And Creative Thinking, Cassie Tighe-Hansen

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

In my experience Critical and Creative Thinking (CCT) will work to open minds and help transition a person. It can take someone from a place of not being open to challenges and having a closed mindset to one of openness and allowance for ambiguity and new ideas. This paper shows the transitions I have made in my career by way of a tragic incident and the structure I hope to create in a new class focusing on the college freshman. Included is a sample of the CCT curriculum I hope to teach to this class- both more thorough, concrete plans …

Creative Problem Solving: A High School Curriculum Satisfying The Needs Of 21st Century Learner, Steve Guenin

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

Designing Creative Problem Solving (CPS) – A High School Curriculum Designed to Satisfy the Needs of 21st Century Learners is my answer to the driving question: “How do teachers prepare students for an uncertain future?” Several processes influenced the curriculum design:

1) I reflected on the lessons I learned during my time in CCT. I looked back on the importance of having supportive instructors to accompany you on your journey. I realized practical and useful assignments motivate students to produce their best work. I gained a greater appreciation for the power of productive teams.

2) My growth as a stained …

“Meeting Proficiency – Can Elementary Schools, With Subgroup Of Students With Disabilities, Exit Program Improvement After 2014?” “A Study To Determine If Instructional Strategies And/Or Inclusionary Practices, And Principal Support Of These Practices, Contributed To Schools Reaching Safe Harbor, Meeting Ayp Benchmarks Or Exiting Program Improvement In The 2012-2013 School Year.", Carolyn Lindstrom

Dissertations

In 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, which required all students to be proficient in English and Math by 2014. (Congress, 2002), including all subgroups. Students with disabilities were expected to meet the proficiency criteria along with all other subgroups. NCLB also required schools to report assessment scores to reflect the achievement of students as well as demonstrate all students were meeting, or at least making gains to achieve, proficiency. If students did not reach the expected benchmark the school was identified as failing and placed in Program Improvement. (CDE, 2011) Each school year, …

The Storm Still Echoes: Suspense And Ambivalence As A Way Of Life, Shailen Mishra

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is comprised of three interrelated components that inquire into two themes: the epistemological and aesthetic merit of narrative suspense, and the generative potential of constraint-based writing. In the opening chapter, titled "Doubt in Perpetuity: Rethinking Suspense as a Mode of Aesthetics, and an Epistemological Inquiry," I undertake a theoretical inquiry to prove that suspense can be a rich analytical device to study complex aesthetics of writers. I theorize suspense at its elemental level and from an epistemological standpoint to prove that suspense is not simply a plot-level concept of "what happens next." Instead, by analyzing particular scenes from …

Teaching For Diversity And Equity: Scholarship And Practice, Elizabeth Mccormack, Esther Chiang, Jancy Munguia

Blended Learning in the Liberal Arts Conference

Research has shown that factors such as race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status can have a significant impact on a student’s ability to complete a college degree. As our classrooms become more culturally and experientially diverse, what can we as faculty do to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed? There is a growing body of research that identifies issues that low-income, first-generation, underrepresented minority, and international students face and describes tested strategies for helping students overcome them. Our goal in this workshop is share these findings with faculty and empower them to adapt and integrate relevant strategies into …

Workshop: Enhancing Content For Mixed Skill Classrooms, Lesley Skousen

Blended Learning in the Liberal Arts Conference

The explosion of online learning has provided many unbelievable new options for reaching students and engaging them on a personal level. However, so many options make responsible lesson-planning a daunting task. This presentation will explore the best practices of using online platforms for both native speakers and an international audience. Dr. Skousen draws from her experience working with international students and seven years of online course design, teaching, and consulting in order to present various lesson plans that engage students personally. In addition to discussing the creation of modules to facilitate different learning styles, there will also be a practical …

From The Co-Editors, Todd Pagano

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

We continue to work diligently to improve JSESD. One of the largest challenges to the journal remains the solicitation of manuscript submissions. As such, we are asking the journal’s readership to assist us in advertising the journal. If you are familiar with individuals who might be interested in submitting a manuscript, please pass along the JSESD author link provided above. We are especially interested in articles on science education for students with varying types of disabilities and at a full range of grade levels (K-12 and postsecondary).