Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Evaluation Of Motivation And Professional Development Of Curriculum For Agricultural Science Education (Case) Lead And Master Teachers, Miranda Rose Chaplin

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education™ (CASE) is an instructional system of support that provides professional development, curriculum, and assessments to agricultural educators. Through the CASE model, two CASE Lead or Master Teachers facilitate professional development, known as a CASE Institute. This study utilizes three sets of surveys to describe the motivation for CASE certified teachers applying to become CASE Lead and Master Teachers, determine the effectiveness of the professional development provided to Lead and Master Teachers during the Lead Teacher Orientation, and determine the Lead and Master Teachers’ demographic information.

The Relations Among School Status Variables, Teacher Academic And Arts Curricular Emphases, And Student Academic Achievement In Grades 1, 3, And 5, Browning Michael Neddeau

Doctoral Dissertations

The National Center of Education Statistics' Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K) data were used to explore the curricular emphasis in schools of varying socioeconomic status in both public and private schools. Data collected between 1998 and 2003 were used in the secondary analyses of curricular emphasis in nine curriculum areas identified in the Teacher Questionnaire were grouped into academic, arts, or physical education.

The results from descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regressions at each grade indicated differences in academic, arts, and physical education emphases based on public or private schools and school socioeconomic status (SES). Although …

Shaping The Journey Of Emerging Adults: Life-Giving Rhythms For Spiritual Transformation, Jeff Strietzel

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Variable Appropriation Of An Online Resource Discovery And Sharing Tool, Victor R. Lee, Mimi Recker, Tamara Sumner

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Even when following best practices for participatory design, the appropriation of tools in formal education settings can be hampered by a number of factors. Drawing from a case of a web tool built to help teachers in five school districts find and share free resources in an educational digital library, we describe patterns of tool use and provide some explanations for variability in tool appropriation. We also suggest that future research consider school districts as complex systems of professionals whose interactions and inter-relationships may yield unexpected technology adoption behaviors.

The Evolving Role Of Department Chair: Leading Faculty Through Times Of Change, Domenick Pinto

School of Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Publications

How does one manage conflict and change in a very volatile economic climate where academia is experiencing greater accountability, increased emphasis on outcome assessment, declining enrollment and great uncertainty for the future? The role of department chair has, in many cases, become one entrenched in conflict between the role of faculty and administrator and has experienced a tremendous evolution over the last 25 years.

The role of department chair has changed as economic, social and student climates have changed. This paper will summarize collected data from chairs of departments of various sizes and types in order to discuss and understand …

Changes In Perceived Teacher Self-Efficacy And Burnout As A Result Of Facilitated Discussion And Self-Reflection In An Online Course Designed To Prepare Teachers To Work With Students With Autism, Monica Boomgard

Doctoral Dissertations

A growing number of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who display complex learning needs present challenges to educators who struggle to meet their educational needs. Teaching is stressful and additional instructional challenges may increase teacher vulnerability to burnout, leading to a greater likelihood of attrition. Increasing teachers' knowledge of strategies specific to students with ASD within online professional development may create needed support networks increasing self-efficacy and decreasing perceived stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes special and general education teachers' perceived self-efficacy and burnout as a result of facilitated discussion and self-reflection embedded in …

The Effect Of Dynamic Assessment On Adult Learners Of Arabic: A Mixed-Method Study At The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Mohsen Mahmoud Fahmy

Doctoral Dissertations

Dynamic assessment (DA) is based on Vygotsky's (1978) sociocultural theory and his Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). ZPD is the range of abilities bordered by the learner's assisted and independent performances. Previous studies showed promising results for DA in tutoring settings. However, they did not use proficiency-based rubrics to measure students' progress and did not mention the method of using DA practically in classrooms. The literature showed that task-based language instruction (TBLI) is effective in adult classrooms. This study combined DA with TBLI to answer four questions. What is the change in the structural control of Arabic speaking based on …

Front Matter

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Cover art: “Mennonite 2” by Ana Maria Mendez Ritchie, a student at Blue Ridge Community College.

Discussing Gender And Sexuality In The Community College Classroom, Jason Barr

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

This author’s reading selection for his class provoked an unexpected response: when one of the main characters in the reading “came out of the closet,” the students divided themselves into those who were willing to discuss the issues, and those who weren’t.

Putting Theatre Arts To The Test: Student Performance That Goes Beyond Stem And Steam, Lisa Nanni-Messegee, Teresa B. Murphy

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” initiative emphasizes training in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). More recently, arts have been added to STEM, resulting in the acronym STEAM: Science and Technology interpreted through Engineering and the Arts, based in the Mathematical elements. However, should the arts be used only to cultivate better scientists? Or might the arts be valued apart from of their service to math and science?

Back Cover

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Ana Maria Mendez Ritchie photographed “Mennonite 2” while enrolled in Adjunct Art Instructor Ben Wyrick’s “Digital Photography” course at Blue Ridge Community College. Here, they examine a prop for photography.

Integrating Movement And Science To Promote Physical Activity And Academic Performance In Middle School Children, Kevin E. Finn, Kyle Mcinnis

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Recommendations from leading U.S. health agencies concerned with reducing childhood obesity call for increased physical activity during school and afterschool environments. Methods: We developed the Active Science curriculum, which is a variety of activity-based lessons (e.g., nature hike, dance class, walk at local park, treadmill at local YMCA) and incorporated them into traditional science classes and after school programs for middle school children in a low-income, ethnically diverse community. Following the activity experiments, students and teachers uploaded data from devices to an interactive website that provided inquiry-based exploratory learning of science content. Results: Physical activity results showed that the …

The Use Of Applets For Developing Understanding In Mathematics: A Case Study Using Maplets For Calculus With Continuity Concepts., Raymond Ellis Patenaude

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) are founded on a long history of mathematics education research emphasizing the importance of teaching mathematics for understanding. The CCSSM along with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recommend the use of technology in the teaching of mathematics. New mobile technologies in society facilitate use in mathematics classrooms, and these technologies rely on software applications called applets. Certain applets have been developed for use in teaching mathematics.

This study investigated the questions: Is it possible to determine the characteristics of applets that lead students toward greater understanding of mathematical concepts? …

Teacher Characteristics On Student Achievement: An Examination Of High Schools In Ohio, Angela H. Rockstroh

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Teachers are the most important school-based factor in affecting student achievement levels. Knowing what teacher characteristics influence student achievement and whether or not schools in different locations have dissimilar student achievement levels will help administrators prioritize who to hire, retain, and assign to classes. The purpose of this paper is to answer two questions. The first question is whether teacher characteristics are related to student achievement; the second is whether there are differences in student achievement based on school location. A review of teacher quality, teacher incentives, teacher background, the ability of a school to attract teachers, and differences in …

Acreditación De La Universidad Privada ¿Es Un Sinónimo De Calidad?, Gus Gregorutti, María Bon Pereira

Faculty Publications

This is a qualitative study done in a private university in the city of Monterrey, Northern Mexico. With a sample of 50 professors, department directors, students, and employees, within communication and journalism programs, this paper sought to unveil perceptions regarding the impact self-assessments and accreditations had on these two programs. Particularly, it was researched whether they believed these processes impacted their quality. Although accreditation was regarded as important, faculty members and employers believed that certified assessments did not produce significant changes over the way teaching and classes are conducted. Students showed high levels of misinformation about benefits and purposes of …

Spreading The Word: Reading, Journaling, And Social Engagement, M. Owens, Cynthia R. Chambers

ETSU Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Teachers' Perceptions Of Professional Development Activities Which Result In Successful Integration Of Classroom Instructional Technologies, Lisa Blackmon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Recent research demonstrates the expectation of the use of technology in schools. Advances in technology often require teachers to learn new methods of teaching while trying to keep up with rapidly increasing technological changes. Unfortunately, many teachers report being inadequately prepared to utilize instructional technologies in their classrooms. School leaders have the complex task of providing effective training that meets their teachers’ needs. In this quantitative study, the author sought to determine teachers’ perceptions of professional development activities which result in successful classroom integration of instructional technologies in schools. Teachers from two school districts in Georgia were surveyed. Data were …

Competencies And Experiences Needed By Pre–Service Agricultural Educators To Teach Globalized Curricula: A Modified Delphi Study, Nathan W. Conner, T. Grady Roberts

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

The 21st century graduate must be able to interact with people from all over the world and must also be knowledgeable about the world (Longview Foundation, 2008). In order to produce graduates that are globally competent, The National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers (NCATE, 1982) has mandated that multi–cultural education be incorporated as part of the teacher–preparation curricula. The purpose of this study was to identify competencies and experiences needed by agricultural pre–service teachers in order to teach globalized curricula. A modified Delphi method was used and the panel consisted of 13 (n = 13) experts in the field …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Availability And Need Of A Support Program For Students With Learning Difficulties Attending Elementary Schools In The Atlantic Union Conference, Lileth Althea Coke

Dissertations

Purpose of the Study. Support programs have been known to be very effective in helping students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of the availability and need of a support program for students with learning difficulties who attend elementary schools operated by the Atlantic Union (AU) Conference. The study also identified elements of a support program that teachers perceived as both available and necessary for the academic growth and development of these students.

Method. This study employed a survey research methodology in which survey questionnaires were used to gather information …

Impact Of An Activity Mini-Schedule On The Inattention Of Preschoolers With Cochlear Implants During A Group Activity, Sharon A. Raver, Peggy Hester, Anne M.P. Michalek, Dana Cho, Nicole Anthony

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of using an activity mini-schedule which divided a circle time activity into four sub-activities with four preschoolers who were deaf and had received cochlear implants. Often preschoolers with cochlear implants display difficulty directing attention to appropriate stimuli during large group activities (Chute & Nevins, 2003). It was hypothesized that the use of an activity mini-schedule would decrease inattention. Using a multiple baseline design across participants, an activity mini-schedule was introduced to each participant sequentially by a paraeducator who sat behind the children during circle time. Participants' behaviors were videotaped and coded. The introduction of …