Digital Commons Network^™

The Domino Effect: Lessons From The Prison Walls, Trent Grundmeyer, Jamie Ross

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation is designed to provide insight to those who serve at-risk populations. Participants will explore the risk factors and statistics around at-risk youth. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from an incarcerated women who can testify to successful and unsuccessful interventions adults attempted to help her with. She is both a victim and success story that is the face of how education can indeed make a difference for kids.

After successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Build empathy for students who do not have support from parents.
2. Understand why attendance is often …

Prek–5 Teacher Views Of Professional Development Integrating Common Core Language Arts With Science And Social Studies, Janie Hubbard, Melisa Fowler, Lee Freeman

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Three preK–6 U.S. university methods instructors-researchers (literacy, science, social studies) joined 17 Title I school teachers for collaborative lesson planning and teaching within the preK–5 school setting. Each team’s goal was to create and teach interdisciplinary curriculum units using U.S. English language arts Common Core State Standards with social studies and science. A year-long instrumental case study design was used to examine (a) how teachers perceived collaborative professional development to create interdisciplinary unit plans and (b) how teachers viewed outcomes of teaching interdisciplinary units of their own design. Practice articles regarding Common Core State Standards curricula integration are plentiful; however, …

Development And Assessment Of A Continuing Education Unit In Quantitative Literacy For High School Stem Teachers, Craig P. Mcclure

Numeracy

Influencing the teaching of quantitative literacy at all levels of education can be difficult due to the many demands placed on educators. In a continuing education course, public high school science teachers participated in a pilot study of a program on quantitative literacy, involving defining quantitative literacy, how it is beneficial to students, examples of quantitative literacy education, and how it may be supported in the science classroom. Surveys administered before and after the unit indicate an improvement in the teachers’ understanding of quantitative literacy, and a follow-up survey indicates that the unit impacted classroom practice. Results support the conclusion …

Collaborating For Gender Equity In Christian Education, Stacy Sowerby, Adrienne R. Castellon

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This essay addresses the importance of teachers promoting gender equity. It explores potential causes for gender discrimination in Christian institutions including double standards, unequal representation, organizational culture and similarity attraction. Strategies to promote gender equity are described such as including positive role models, intentional group formation and linking social issues to the lack of women’s voices; gender education, resource selection, nurturing confidence and efficacy and fostering a non-stereotypical view of women’s leadership styles.

Keywords: Teacher Education, Gender Equity, Women, Leadership

The Universality Of Communication: Preparing The Next Generation Of Aviation Professionals, Patti J. Clark Ph.D., Doreen M. Mcgunagle Ph.D., Laura Zizka Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Current aviation college programs aim to prepare the next generation of aviation professionals to meet the needs of the ever-increasing global demand for air travel. Previous literature has identified gaps in competencies that employers noted in young graduates. This study attempts to narrow that gap by focusing on the curriculum of the top 20 aviation programs in the U.S. to compare the curriculum to the skills employers cited to assess whether the courses offered in the current programs reflect the actual needs of the aviation workplace. From a survey of Aerospace and Defense (A&D) employers, ten skills were cited: Team …

Analysis Of 21st Century Skills Integration As Applied In The Philippines K To 12 Program. Final Report, Claire Scoular

Curriculum development and review

An analysis of 21st Century Skills integration in the Philippines was designed to support the Philippines identify a strategy for assessment, teaching, and learning of 21st century skills (21CS). This project identified and built on a number of recent studies and country initiatives that have highlighted the need for different approaches to the integration of 21CS. This project had three overarching aims: 1. To identify best practices on the use of classroom-level teaching strategies of 21CS to support learning 2. To build in-country capacity to understand, identify, and observe the skills at classroom level 3. To develop a Strategic Road …

Becoming A System Of Professional Learning: Conceptualizing Improvement As A Throughline Of Learning, Michelle L. Forman, Tracy Fray-Oliver, Doug Knecht

Bank Street Education Center

This white paper introduces the “Throughline of Learning” (Throughline) model developed by the Bank Street Education Center. The model builds on the concept of the instructional core and demonstrates how focusing on system-wide adult learning needs can help districts successfully reimagine their approach to instructional improvement.

Supporting English Learners Through Practice-Based Research, Catherine Lammert, Erica B. Steinitz Holyoke

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Learning to use critical practice-based research as part of teaching is an important goal for preservice teachers, especially for those who plan to teach English learners in linguistically diverse settings. In this study, we examine the experiences of preservice teachers who were introduced to a framework for enacting iterative, transformative action research, and used the framework to study their own teaching in a one-on-one writing partnership with young English learners. Using an established self-efficacy survey instrument, as well as qualitative measures such as course artifacts and observations of teaching, we conducted a mixed-methods study to examine the impact of research …

Self-Efficacy And Attitudes For Vocabulary Strategies Among English Learners And Native Speakers, Qizhen Deng, Guy Trainin

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This study examined university students’ self-efficacy and attitudes for employing vocabulary strategies in four learning contexts. The contexts are characterized by input modality (reading vs. listening) and purpose (academic vs. leisure). Another goal was to compare the self-efficacy and attitudes between English learners (ELs) and native speakers. A total of 112 participants responded to four short scenarios by rating their self-efficacy and attitudes toward employing vocabulary strategies under each scenario. Among the results, students reported higher self-efficacy using morphological analysis and dictionary use when reading, and higher self-efficacy to seek help when learning for academic purpose. There were no differences …

How Teachers Understand The Curriculum And Frameworks They Use, Kristin Vanwyngaarden, Michelle Friend

Teacher Education Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

This qualitative study investigates and compares teachers’ understanding of two curricular frameworks: Next Generation Science Storylines and the 5E Model. Teachers (grades K-6) participated in a three-week summer workshop designed to introduce elementary teachers to biomechanics, the study of the body in motion and help them develop inquiry-based biomechanics lessons using the NGSS Storyline framework in order to enhance their implementation of interdisciplinary, culturally responsive, and technology-enhanced STEM education. During a follow-up session to the workshop, eleven teachers read an article about implementing biomechanics into school science (Trauth-Nare, Pavilonis, Paganucci, Ciabattoni, & Buckley, 2016); this article used the 5E framework, …

Bringing College Classes To High School, Stephanie M. Wieland

Education Dissertations

Recent education reforms have focused heavily on increasing academic rigor for secondary students attending public schools with a goal of improved academic outcomes for all students. A common practice for increasing rigor school-wide is the adoption of college-level curriculums such as dual-credit, Advanced Placement, and the International Baccalaureate in U.S public secondary schools.

This study examined the relationship between the implementation of one or more college-level curriculum(s) in a public secondary school and overall student academic achievement. Academic achievement was measured by student performance on the Washington state standardized End of Course exam in Biology and the Smarter Balanced exams …

A Study Of The Impact Of Site-Based Mathematics Professional Development On Student Mathematics Achievement, Christine Attenhofer

Dissertations

Student achievement at one suburban elementary school under study dropped notably in mathematics in one school year, as measured by the state standards assessment. The purpose of this inquiry was to determine what impact ongoing, on-demand, job-embedded, site-based professional development opportunities provided by a full-time, site-base math content area specialist had on teachers' instructional practices and students' mathematics achievement. I implemented a mixed methods approach to this inquiry. I analyzed the end of the year state mathematics standards assessments for second through fifth grade students following the implementation of full-time, site-based professional development provided by a math content area specialist …

Universal Mental Health Screening: Why Is It Needed And How To Get Started, Kevin Kusy

Professional Learning Day

Schools screen for physical and medical purposes, but less than 15% of schools in the United States screen for mental health needs. The purpose of this session is to discuss what mental health screening is, how it can help your community, and how to start the process of implementing it based on community needs.

Students In The Lead: Game Design In The Classroom, Peggy Steffen

Professional Learning Day

Game design can be woven into any science curricula, providing a way for students to learn science content and to creatively apply what they have learned. Games are increasingly used in educational settings to help inspire curiosity, creativity, collaboration, optimism, and problem-solving skills among a wide variety of audiences. Serious games address real-world challenges, compress time and space, encourage systems thinking, and promote active engagement, making them particularly well suited to conservation and science education.

Climate Change - Designer Bags, Allison Albert

Professional Learning Day

This session will focus on repurposing materials to reduce landfill debris. Participants will plan, design, and develop a new product from plastic. This fun hands on activity is great for problem centered learning.

Code Of The Wild, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

K-2 students love to create stories about their favorite animals. Using free software called ScratchJr, participants will learn to teach basic Computational Thinking skills that allow K-2 students to create animated stories about animals in their natural environments. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet.

Dna, Rna, & Proteins, Oh My!, Cassandra Wissink Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

A staple topic in any life science classroom, we will take a look at some innovative ways to not only teach these topics, but assess them using the Next Generation Science Standards.

Picture Books And Engineering: Dare To Tinker, Lindsey Herlehy

Professional Learning Day

Up for a challenge? Join us for a K-2 STEM integrated workshop based upon the picture book The Most Magnificent Thing. Connecting literature with engineering, questioning techniques and inferential reasoning strategies will focus on the trials and tribulations, frustrations, and successes achieved by the protagonist, a little girl. Participants will engage in a design challenge to construct their own magnificent thing while working within constraints. Counting, graphing, working with money, and measurement will be emphasized.

Dare to Tinker: including Teacher's Page and student resources

Analyzing Student Work, Valentina Sorescu, Christine Loos

Professional Learning Day

No abstract provided.

Stem, Not S-T-E-M! A Workshop On Integrative Teaching, Nicole Ross

Professional Learning Day

Are you tired of experiencing STEM activities that really only focus on one content area within the acronym? Join us for a workshop on integrative STEM. We will begin with a general introduction to what an Integrative activity entails, move on to some quick examples and then jump into developing an original integrative STEM activity. Be prepared to think creatively and take risks as we explore the "multi-content-verse" in which STEM lives

Inquiry Based Teaching & Learning Panel, Kelly Lofgren, Dave Devol

Professional Learning Day

In this session, IMSA students and faculty will share their experiences with using a strong inquiry model of teaching and learning. Students will share their excitement and frustrations with learning to ask questions to drive their learning. Faculty will share their successes and evidence on the power of this type of learning. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and engage in the conversation.

Applying An Equity Lense To The Danielson Framework, Comfort Akwaji-Anderson, Angela Rowley

Professional Learning Day

This session will focus on applying a lens of Equity to the Danielson Evaluation Framework. Although there are mentions of equitable practices and differentiation in the original Danielson Framework, this workshop will focus on the interpretation of that language and how districts can use the existing evaluation framework to promote Equity and Excellence for all learners.

Stress In Education: Finding Solutions To Combat Negativity And Burnout, Kevin Kusy, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Professional Learning Day

Working in education can be one of the most fulfilling jobs, but the current climate for many staff is filled with stress and frustration. With teachers feeling underappreciated and overworked, mental health issues are on the rise and the climate of many schools has had a negative turn. This session will discuss topics around compassion fatigue, negativity, not feeling connected, and overall discomfort to change.

Real-World Gps Stem Activities, Peggy Steffen

Professional Learning Day

Hands-on activities for students with no/low costs for materials include stories, videos, presentation materials, and career highlights Four modules (Earth, Life, Space, Movement) include 12 lessons designed to support the new science standards and the Common Core. Scenarios highlight STEM applications in satellites, orbital space clutter, energy grids, precision agriculture, global supply chains, aviation, weather forecasting, and conservation.

Code Of The Wild, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

K-2 students love to create stories about their favorite animals. Using free software called ScratchJr, participants will learn to teach basic Computational Thinking skills that allow K-2 students to create animated stories about animals in their natural environments. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet.

The Wright Stuff: An Integrative Approach To Stained Glass, Cassandra Wissink Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

In this session we'll explore the scientific and mathematical influences behind the artistic stained glass creations of Frank Lloyd Wright, and use them to create our own Wright-inspired stained glass designs. This is a truly integrative lesson that touches on properties of glass, linear functions, and artistic design.

Teaching With A Full Deck: Card Sorts, Lindsey Herlehy

Professional Learning Day

Card sorts tend to make students do the "thing" we value most: talk. Beyond making matches, card sorts provide opportunities for students to classify, rank, sequence, and mind map while setting a natural context for argumentation and use of the claim-evidence-reasoning framework. Join me for a series of card sorts to explore how this easy-to-prep tool will encourage your students to reason and think critically. Math and science resources will be shared.

Teacher and Student resources available for download

Science For A Brainy Day, Nicole Ross

Professional Learning Day

Interested in Brain-Based-Learning? Come for an informative and hands-on approach about the topic. We will focus not just on understanding how brain development impacts learning, but on how to utilize this knowledge to engage our students with the content we teach every day. Activities will focus less on learning styles and more on how can we ask questions or write assessments that develop executive function in our students?

Inquiry Based Instruction In Chemistry With Games, Karen Ye

Professional Learning Day

Games can be a fun and motivating way to engage students, but they are often used as a means to practice, apply, or review learned content instead of introducing a new concept. In this session, participants will explore the use of common games as a tool for an inquiry-based approach to introducing topics in high school chemistry such as atomic structure and periodic trends.

Problem Centered Teaching By Tomorrow, Cassandra Wissink Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

Problem Centered Instruction is a great way to engage students, integrate content, and inspire learning. However, true problem centered instruction requires a major shift in both teaching and learning, requiring the one thing teachers don't have: time. In today's session, we will look at some simple strategies that teachers can put to immediate use within the classroom to help start the shift towards a student-led, problem centered learning environment.