Liberal Studies Commons^™

A Multiple Case Study Of Whiteness And Critical Literacy Practices Among White Elementary Teachers In Urban Public Schools, Amanda Rose Vandehei

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether white elementary teachers' perception of Whiteness influences critical literacy practices in elementary classrooms in an urban school district in the Southwest United States. This study consists of six white elementary school teachers.

Using Hardiman's model of White Identity Development, (WID) this study specifically explores the phenomenon of Whiteness and how teachers view themselves as having white privilege and advantage in American society. Hardiman's WID model includes five stages of white racial identity development in which a white person begins with no awareness of him or herself as a racial being and …

Student-Directed Blended Learning With Facebook Groups And Streaming Media: Media In Asia At Furman University, Tami Blumenfield

Asian Studies Publications

Furman University prizes itself on being an engaged learning, liberal arts institution with extensive faculty-student interaction. 96% of students live on campus, leading some to question whether reducing face-to-face instructional time makes any sense pedagogically. Coming from a different institution that encouraged faculty to create hybrid courses, and seeing the creativity and freedom that offered, I wanted to experiment with the format in this new institutional environment. Would it still be effective? What adaptations would be necessary, and how would students react to this different course format?

In Fall 2013, I taught a carefully designed blended learning course that met …

Lawrence, Volume 95, Number 2, Summer 2014, Lawrence University

Alumni Magazines

No abstract provided.

The Role Of A University Archives In Producing A History Of A Core Curriculum, Laura M. Sinclair, Anne A. Salter

Georgia Library Quarterly

During an annual alumni weekend celebration, librarians at a liberal arts college rely heavily on the university’s archival collection to produce a robust exhibit on the university’s history. The 2014 exhibit focused on the unique academic program, known as the Core Curriculum. The history produced for this exhibit depended on documents from the 1940s to the 1990s, including university publications, papers, and project reports created by faculty members. Starting with one publication, The Oglethorpe Book, the variations on and reactions to this sole document provide a paper trail of historical significance in defining and redefining a college core program. The …

The Impact Of Urbanicity On Student Engagement At Small, Residential, Liberal Arts Colleges, Todd Clark

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study analyzed the impact of urbanicity on student engagement at small, residential, liberal arts colleges. Data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) were analyzed from 29 schools (14 rural and 15 urban) using five scalets developed by Pike (2006) and six demographic variables from the NSSE survey. This analysis determined how urbanicity impacts student engagement and which group of students is particularly affected from among the demographics studied. The effects of urbanicity were measured in three ways: aggregate student data, school level data, and within-school data. These analyses showed that urbanicity does significantly impact student engagement, though …

“Splitting Stars And Splitting Wood”: Address To New Members Of Phi Beta Kappa (Theta Of Minnesota), May 3, 2011, Erica Stonestreet

Headwaters

In recent years, there has been a widespread perception that liberal arts education in general, and humanities education in particular, are gradually being eroded away in the face of tightening budgets and an ever-growing emphasis on the practicality of education. If you’re going to college, after all, you’re supposed to end up with a so-called "good" job. And what better guarantee of a "good" job than a major in business or science, right?

Whether or not the perception about the decline of the liberal arts actually stands up to scrutiny, I tell my prospective philosophy majors when they come to …

“The Mysterious Stranger”: Address To New Members Of Phi Beta Kappa (Theta Of Minnesota), April 23, 2013, Scott Richardson

Headwaters

I used to know everything. Then I went to college. As I was about to enter college, I was pretty sure I had the world figured out. I didn’t need and certainly didn’t want my professors to do anything but reconfirm my beliefs, values, and vision of the world. I was in for a real surprise. There’s nothing innocent or comforting about a liberal arts education.

A Mixed-Methods Study Of The Variables That Influence Florida Southern Baptists' Affirmation Of The Inerrancy Of The Bible, David A. Mcgee

Faculty Dissertations

The culmination of the resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was finalized by adopting the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BFM 2000). The SBC had discovered in the 1970s and 1980s that belief in the inerrancy of the Bible was not being affirmed by their leadership, particularly within their six seminaries. After a twenty plus year battle, the SBC attempted to affirm in more precise language the inerrancy of the Bible through the BFM 2000. However, this raises the question, how has this firm commitment to the inerrancy of the Bible, as affirmed by the leadership, translated to the …

Diversity In Times Of Austerity: Documenting Resistance In The Academy, David Moscowitz, Terri Jett, Terri Carney, Tamara Leech, Ann M. Savage

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

What happens to feminism in the university is parallel to what happens to feminism in other venues under economic restructuring: while the impoverished nation is forced to cut social services and thereby send women back to the hierarchy of the family, the academy likewise reduces its footprint in interdisciplinary structures and contains academic feminists back to the hierarchy of departments and disciplines. When the family and the department become powerful arbiters of cultural values, women and feminist academics by and large suffer: they either accept a diminished role or are pushed to compete in a system they recognize as antithetical …

Creating A Successful Educational Environment For The Latino/A Community: Building Home- School Communication, Talyha Romo

Senior Theses

California has a large population of Latino/a students, and for most of them Spanish is their native language. The problem is the miscommunication between Latino/a families and educators in the school setting. Teachers often do not understand Spanish and are unable to communicate with parents or students. Latino/a families are not aware of the ways to support their children, given this lack of ability to communicate. A review of the literature reveals the cultural and language barriers that teachers face. Teachers also lack support within their school in providing appropriate instruction for Latino/a students and in communicating with Latino/a families. …

The Grizzly, May 1, 2014, Dave Muoio, Deana Harley, Jonathan Vander Lugt, Larissa Coyne, Olivia Z. Schultz, Evan Hill, Sophie Snapp, Shawn Hartigan, John Carty, Dana Feigenbaum, Giovanni Waters, Karch Connors

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Faculty Start First Creative Art Exchange at Myrin Library • UC Sustainability and Graduation Speaker Important to Upcoming Commencement • Safety and Care Remain Important RA Qualities • Bearitones and B'Naturals Will Take the Stage This Weekend for Semesterly Concerts • Ursinus Dance Company to Take the Stage This Weekend • Soccer Tournament Supports Ragball • Fulbright Winner Will Travel to Spain • Opinion: Four Loko-Type Drinks Shouldn't be Banned; Temple Cuts Cast Shadow Over Men's Gymnastics • Opinion: NFL Players Earn Every Cent • NBA Owner Accused of Making Racist Comments • Men's Lacrosse, Both Tennis Teams Finish Strong

Heritage/ Culture Preservation Model Bilingual Instruction, Heidi Samayoa

Senior Theses

Our first generation children face a loss of heritage in today’s public schools. Unfortunately, the assets that one’s bilingual ability brings into the classroom are difficult for educators to fully understand. Often this may happen because professionals in the field of education lack the knowledge about the need for children to maintain their culture heritage as a first generation or second generation child. This study addresses the benefits of the preservation of culture heritage in Latino/ Latina children. The problem is that there are very few opportunities for people to see strong bilingual education programs with culture heritage preservation as …

Understanding Social And Emotional Needs As An Approach In Developing A Positive Classroom Environment, Kristen Ozorio

Senior Theses

The classroom environment is an important aspect of classroom management that concerns many teachers. Properly engaging students in the classroom can foster a positive environment. This study examines social and emotional needs of students and its implications in developing a positive classroom. How can meeting social and emotional needs of children help teachers create an engaging and productive learning environment? This study examines aspects of social and emotional needs as they are used in creating a positive classroom environment. The problem is that teachers have difficulty controlling student behavior in the classroom. While there are many approaches to behavioral management, …

Building Academic Confidence In English Language Learners In Elementary School, Alejandra Vazquez

Senior Theses

Non-English speaking students lack the confidence and preparation to be verbally actively engaged in the classroom. Students may frequently display hesitation in learning to speak English, and may also lack a teacher’s guidance in becoming proficient English speakers. The purpose of this research is to examine how teachers build academic confidence in English language learners. This study also examines how teachers can develop active and confident English speaking students, and improve home-school communication. Research questions include the following: What are factors that contribute to confidence among ELL students in gaining English fluency? How can classroom teachers help develop selfconfidence in …

Effects Of Resource Allocation On Student Academic Achievement And Self-Perceptions Of Success In An Urban Setting, Kimberly Ann Harris

Senior Theses

Civil Rights legislation, now 50 years old, de facto segregation based on socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and ethnicity in urban areas translates into the surrounding schools, with a legacy of limited funding, reduced services, and teachers with limited training to successfully engage students in high poverty areas. This study is an examination of teacher perceptions of the effect of resource allocation on student academic achievement ands student self-perceptions of success. Within urban settings, districts have changed little to reduce de facto segregation in schools as a whole, and create equal opportunities for all children. What are the effects limited …

Enhancing Social Behavior Of Children With Autism In An Inclusive Classroom, Alexandra Akemi Rovira

Senior Theses

Though laws relating to including children on the autism spectrum and general education in public school settings are in place, inclusion of students is still not a widespread practice in all elementary classrooms. This study examines the social needs of children with autism and in an inclusive classroom. Children with autism are often placed in separate classrooms in the elementary school. This study examines the positive social behaviors that come from having children with autism in an inclusive elementary classroom. Questions for this research are as follows: What are useful methods to enhance social behavior of autistic students in an …

Middle School Student Perceptions Of Homework In Mathematics, Camille M. Thomas

Honors Scholar Theses

Homework has been a source of debate in schools for the past several decades and will continue to be an important topic in the future. It is a traditional part of education but some debate its importance in the classroom. This study explored student perception of homework and their reported performance in middle school mathematics. The research questions focused on student attitudes about homework, the relationship of students’ self-efficacy and support resources to their homework completion, and the relationship of students’ general level of achievement in mathematics to their attitudes about homework. The study involved a survey of 230 middle …

A More Perfect World, Amy Katherine Mayo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A More Perfect Worldis the story of Gabriel Garcia Levine Connolly, an intelligent, charismatic, and idealistic man who invents "Thing," which quickly becomes indispensable to virtually everyone in the world. His new-found wealth presents him with the opportunity to create a community that suits his values and his creative process, taking several friends and co-workers with him. Their search for a new home leads them to the idyllic island of Luu Saabhel; for Gabe, the opportunity to protect this small island and its indigenous people while creating "a more perfect world" for his own community is the ideal situation.

The …

The Grizzly, April 24, 2014, Dave Muoio, Larissa Coyne, Caroline Sandberg, Deana Harley, Evan Hill, Caitlin Tillson, Rachel Brown, Shawn Hartigan, Olivia Z. Schultz, Jonathan Vander Lugt, Sydney Rotman, Austin Fox

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Ursinus Conducts First Ever ISGP Conference on Pandemic Preparedness • Library Staff Planning for Big Changes • First Schellhase Ursinus Essay Prize Announced on CoSa Day • Annual Charity Art Fair to Support Camp Cranium • Political Activists to Speak at Graduation • Senior Fellows Help to Shape the Incoming Freshman Class • Alumni Weekend to be Held on Campus • Opinion: Parents Influence our Political Beliefs; Fight to Preserve Net Neutrality in the US • Balancing Act for the Ages: Senior Bryn O'Neill • Opinion: MLB Must Move on From Steroid Era • Men's Lacrosse Stays Alive, Baseball Splits …

The Grizzly, April 17, 2014, Dave Muoio, Larissa Coyne, Deana Harley, Caroline Sandberg, Evan Hill, Caitlin Tillson, Rachel Brown, Shawn Hartigan, Briana Keane, Charles Chan Hee Lee, John Carty, Ryan Adams, Karch Connors

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

U-Innovate! Winners Announced • UC to Finalize Peace Corps Agreement • Dance Class Brings Second Ricochet More Participation • Ursinus Students Attend History Conference, Two Receive Awards • Freshman Poet Wins National Award for Sonnet • UC Eats Kosher • Professor Houghton Kane to Retire This Year • Opinion: Autism Acceptance Goes Beyond Statistics; Friendly Advice for Dull Weekends at College • Bubba Watson Hits His Way Into Second Green Jacket • Opinion: Sleeved NBA Jerseys Should be Reconsidered • Many UC Teams Plagued by Close Losses