Digital Commons Network^™

Introducing Sustainable Development Goals In College Curricula: A Way Forward, Christy Ashley, Jason D. Oliver, Hillary Leonard

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The commentary proposes a blueprint to help guide curriculum innovations, partnerships, and teaching interventions that incorporate the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) into the curriculum. It suggests the utilization of AACSB’s Societal Impact Canvas with Ancona et al.’s (2007) Leadership Capabilities (Sensemaking, Relating, Visioning, Inventing) to provide a blueprint for mission-aligned SDG integration at a local level. It provides an illustrative example from the University of Rhode Island (USA), where the focus is on the Blue Economy. It aims to provide practical guidance for how a college or university can efficiently organize to gain stakeholder input that helps enhance …

Strategies For Success: Developing The Hero Within To Increase Persistence Of Community College Students Returning From Academic Dismissal, Angela Cavazos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students are enrolling in college at a higher rate than ever before, yet retention rates continue to be problematic for higher education institutions across the United States. Many students fail to persist beyond their first year and are often forced out due to academic difficulties. Students who return from academic dismissal are likely to be dismissed again. This quasi-experimental quantitative action research study aimed to evaluate the impact that a student success intervention course designed through an asset-based positive self-leadership framework and focused on the development of psychological capital constructs of hope, efficacy, resilience, and self-efficacy (HERO) had on the …

1 Of 84 The Discursive Tactics Of Perpetuating White Normativity In Public Education: A Critical Policy Discourse Analysis Of Anti-Crt Policies Across 18 States, Alison Wilson, Alissa Blair, Jason L. Endacott, Christopher Giller, Christian Z. Goering

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

In recent years, state policies banning "divisive concepts" have proliferated as part of a coordinated effort to undermine racial justice by framing critical discussions of race as "indoctrination" and imposing ideological restrictions on curriculum and pedagogy. Using critical policy discourse analysis informed by a critical study of whiteness, this paper examines how 22 policy documents from 18 states operate discursively to shape the parameters of race-related discourse in public education. Our findings suggest that these policies employ three primary discursive maneuvers: (1) constructing false equivalencies that equate white discomfort with racial oppression, (2) appealing to "universal" values to obscure systemic …

Taiwanese Elementary School Teachers’ Mindset Of Content And Language Integrated Learning (Clil) Instruction, Chin-Wen Chien

Journal of English Learner Education

Teachers need to undergo a mindset shift in language learning and teaching. This study used both qualitative and quantitative data to explore seven Taiwanese Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) teachers’ mindsets and led to the following major findings. First, the CLIL teachers had a stronger mindset regarding their instructional strategies, lesson preparations, and efficacy, compared to their more moderate mindset regarding their CLIL training and preparation. Secondly, the CLIL teachers had a different mindset regarding language use in their CLIL instruction due to their learners’ English proficiency levels. Finally, their lesson designs were lacking a 4Cs culture. Based on …

Digital Stories Of Resilience: A Case Study Of Urban Community College English Learners, Patricia George Hunter

Journal of English Learner Education

This study utilizes a qualitative case study approach to learn how project-based, digital storytelling (DST) voices the resilience of post-secondary English language learners (ELLs) attending a minority-serving, open-access, community college in New York City. Along with many studies that have examined the usefulness of DST in oral production, this research investigates whether project-based digital storytelling enhances students’ understanding of academic content related to resilience and conventional composition. Narrative inquiry (NI) research technique is the basis of the digital story project in an English as a Second Language (ESL) course. In this case, the study relies on observations and artifacts to …

Now I See: Video Supports For English Language Learners, Joanna C. Zimmerle, Hanrui He, Tara Hill

Journal of English Learner Education

General education teachers are often unprepared by teacher preparation programs and limited professional development opportunities to support English Language Learners (ELLs), despite the increasing number of ELLs entering US schools and the trend towards placing them in mainstream classrooms. Video resources offer one viable approach to supporting the language learning of ELLs, drawing upon theoretical frameworks such as dual-coding, constructivist theory, and sociocultural perspectives. This paper describes the use of video resources to assist general education teachers in effectively leveraging videos to support the language learning of ELLs in mainstream classrooms.

Literacy Instruction For English Language Learners In Indiana Elementary Schools Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Haiyan Li, Wayne E. Wright, Trish Morita-Mullaney

Journal of English Learner Education

This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on elementary school literacy instruction for multilingual learners officially classified as English Language Learners (ELLs) across 35 teachers in four Indiana school districts. Classroom lesson videos and observation rubrics for 19 teachers were collected from the beginning of 2020-2021 school year (during the pandemic) and compared with those collected pre-pandemic from 16 teachers at the beginning of school years of 2018-2019 (n=7) and 2019-2020 (n=9). Findings demonstrate schools made efforts during the pandemic to offer quality literacy instruction within socially distanced classrooms, online synchronous instruction, and hybrid learning environments. However, teachers spent …

The Shifting The Balance Duology: A Book Critique From A Teacher Education Perspective, David Wolff

Essays in Education

Reading instruction has become a critical focus in many states in the country. Both in-service and pre-service teachers are adopting innovative approaches in reading instruction embedded in the Science of Reading. However, the transition to these new methods require a shift in practice that should be differentiated for both groups. In-service teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon, while pre-service teachers because of the lack of prior knowledge of past practices in literacy that include the Balanced Literacy approach. This book critique examines the Shifted the Balance duology, offering insights to its implications to Teacher Education.

New Reader Response: An Examination Of Three High-Achieving High School Readers And Their Literacies, Minkyu Kim

Essays in Education

Since its inception, reader response theory has battled misrepresentations. It was reduced to discursive anarchy, perceived as not rigorous, and set apart from important scholarship movements like critical theory. This research argues that by expanding the definition of “reader” in “reader response” to include digital (aka “new”) literacies, the reader-text transaction can be much more inclusive, dynamic, and most importantly, true to our students’ everyday literacies. This article also includes a discussion of why it is so important for teachers to include digital platforms as sites of interrogation in a safe educative setting. By studying the out-of-school literacy behaviors of …

Mastering Russian Case: Learning Challenges, Current Textbook Approaches, And New Perspectives, Olesya Kisselev, Angelina Rubina

Russian Language Journal

Russian case morphology is recognized as a persistent challenge to second (L2) and heritage language (HL) speakers of Russian by researchers and practitioners alike. However, little classroom-based and pedagogy-oriented literature exists on the matter. In this paper, we address this research gap. First, we present a review of the literature that attempts to explain the challenging nature of mastering Russian grammatical cases from the cognitive linguistic, structural, and psycholinguistic perspectives. We then describe the general approaches to teaching and learning Russian cases found in the most commonly used Russian language textbooks in the United States. Finally, we discuss a pedagogical …

Be An Advocate For Caring Children In Pain, Rashal Rashmi Martis Ms, Mamatha Shivananda Pai

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

No abstract provided.

Pancasila As The Philosophical Foundation Of The Indonesian Curriculum, Nurbaya Pulhehe, Babang Robandi

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

The philosophical foundation of Pancasila, comprised of five principles, plays a significant role in shaping Indonesia's education system. These principles guide curriculum design, implementation, and evaluation, reflecting the nation's educational goals and desired student outcomes. This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of Pancasila, with a focus on content and graduate competence standards, examining their relationship with educational objectives and their implications for the national curriculum. Utilizing a literature review methodology, the research highlights the critical influence of Pancasila on curriculum development and educational planning in Indonesia. The findings indicate that Pancasila serves as a central philosophical framework guiding Indonesia's national …

Beyond Average Effects In Education Research Syntheses: Explaining Heterogeneity Of Concept Mapping Research In Science Education Through Meta-Regression Modeling, Aaron Wenger

Dissertations

Contemporary education research seeks causal inferences in order to guide policy and practice. Often well-controlled quasi-experimental and experimental designs are used as they are very useful for supporting and contextualizing causal inferences. Nevertheless, individual studies, even high-quality, resource-intensive randomized controlled trials, are not able to establish generalized claims. Because primary studies vary over dozens of variables (e.g., grade, subject, duration) simply conducting additional primary studies cannot change this. Furthermore, the informal assessments of primary studies common in literature reviews are unable to resolve certain challenges (e.g., publication bias) that are described in the emerging field of meta-research. These challenges require …

Tweeting Over Time: Twitter/X For Communication, Assessment, And Growth In Middle Level Teacher Education, Toni M. Williams

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This article shares how preservice Middle Level teacher candidates used social media, specifically Twitter/X as both a resource and a tool and how that tool became important in assessing student growth and knowledge building which, in turn, informed instructional planning for the teacher education classroom. This is paramount for teacher educators and the future educators they teach, as they are preparing to create a variety of engagements for learning in teacher education programs and in middle level classrooms. Creating an online community is a means in which all preservice teachers can use their voices while at the same time having …

Essential Practices And Attributes Of Integrated Stem In Elementary Education, Leah R. Cheek, Vinson Carter, Michael K. Daugherty, Christian Z. Goering

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

Throughout the 21st century, STEM education’s effectiveness remains a focal point for researchers, policymakers, and employers. Despite substantial investments, student engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics has remained essentially unchanged. Researchers persistently face challenges in expanding STEM pedagogy and improving teachers’ classroom practices, directly impacting student performance. Proposals for professional development for teachers abound, yet its success hinges on relevance and collaboration. This study utilized a three-round modified Delphi panel to identify essential P-6 integrated STEM education practices. The findings emphasize the need for dynamic, student-centered approaches coupled with continuous fine-tuning of teaching techniques. This connection is crucial for …

Beyond Fear: Opportunities And Positive Use Of Ict Among Children And Adolescents, Mariana Buenestado-Fernández, Rosa García-Ruiz, Estefanía Jiménez-Iglesias, Rosario Barba-González

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study aimed to understand the advantages of digital connectivity in children and teenagers up to 18 years. Utilizing the PRISMA protocol, a decade’s worth of literature was reviewed, analyzing 128 articles from WOS and Scopus databases. The research highlighted five key areas where digital connectivity can exert a positive impact on children: 1) Entertainment, information, and communication; 2) Emotional and social development; 3) Healthy lifestyle; 4) Citizen participation; and 5) education. Recent trends show a rise in studies related to education and training, mainly employing qualitative methods, and predominantly focusing on European adolescents (12 to 18). The research’s goal …

Exploring Critical Thinking Of Smartphone Use From Elementary School Students In Kosovo, Muhamet Jahiri, Gëzim Qerimi, Dren Gërguri

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study examined smartphone usage behaviours of elementary school students and media literacy. Data were gathered from a survey with a sample of 450 students from different schools in seven main regions of Kosovo, aged 10-15. There is no difference between males and females in smartphone access, while there is a slight difference between them in time spent using smartphones. This research clearly shows that elementary school students’ smartphone use is very high, but on the other side, it is not reflected at all in the school curriculum. There is a low level of getting advice from parents and a …

Vulnerability Profiles And Educational Demands Of Spanish University Students In The Face Of Fake News, M. Esther Del Moral Pérez, Jonathan Castañeda Fernández, Nerea López-Bouzas, M. Carmen Bellver Moreno

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study is part of the Surfing the Waves of Fake News (SURFake) project, involving 543 Spanish university students. Its purpose is to understand the variables related to potentially risky practices students engage in on social media and their educational shortcomings. An opinion questionnaire was used to establish levels of vulnerability to fake news. The results show that the most vulnerable are the youngest and those who spend more time exposed to social media, limit themselves to consuming content, read their news superficially, and lack specific education or training. Respondents who are aware of their limitations request training to recognize …

Ela And Social Studies Teachers’ Perspectives On The Importance Of Media Literacy For Student Learning, Hillary Gould, Sam Von Gillern, Matthew Korona, Alicia Haywood

Journal of Media Literacy Education

In this study, researchers aimed to develop an understanding of how English Language Arts and social studies teachers of middle- and high-school students perceive the value of media literacy skills and competencies for their students. The research team reviewed how these teachers rated various media literacy skills utilizing a set of 15 media literacy strategies categorized into three constructs, authors and audiences, messages and meaning, and representations and reality, in a survey demonstrating their perspectives on aspects of media literacy and their importance for student learning. The 860 teachers overwhelmingly recognize the importance of media literacy competencies for their students. …

Educative Leadership Of Curriculum Development Reconceptualized As Leadership Of Personal, Group, Institutional And System Learning, Reynold Js Macpherson

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

This paper reconceptualizes educative leadership as leadership of learning, integrating advancements in curriculum development, epistemological diversity, and ethical imperatives within a holistic pragmatic framework.

Leadership of learning positions leaders as facilitators of dynamic educational ecosystems that align curriculum goals with pluralistic epistemologies, practical solutions, and contextual relevance. Recent curriculum trends—such as personalized learning, competency-based education, cultural responsiveness, and socio-emotional learning—reflect an embrace of constructivist and critical approaches, emphasizing inclusivity and adaptability.

Holistic pragmatism strengthens these developments, advocating for curriculum designs that are theoretically sound and practically relevant, fostering co-construction of knowledge through active engagement.

Organizational development (OD) theory enriches this …

Full Issue - Excelsior, V17-1

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Playful Learning In Higher Education To Inspire Playful Learning In P-12 Classrooms, Norline Wild

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Playful learning has immense potential and relevance across all educational levels, from early childhood to university settings. However, play is often dismissed as an activity reserved only for young children and is ignored in higher education The purpose of this practitioner article is to share instructional strategies and insights in order to demonstrate the immense potential of play at the university level. The goal is not only to inspire teacher educators to be critical thinkers and to creatively interweave playful learning into their pedagogy but to provide concrete examples through modeling of how this can be done. Initially, a dedicated …

Invent A Kid Project: Fostering Creative Reflective Practice In Teacher Candidates, Karen Poland, Mary Ellen Bardsley, Paul Vermette

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

A primary goal of teacher education programs is to equip teacher candidates with the necessary skills to navigate the social and cultural realities and complexities of the classroom while seamlessly integrating theory and practice. As our classrooms become more socially, economically, and culturally diverse it is important for teachers to evolve into developmentally and culturally responsive individuals who can incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of each student. However, novice teachers often face challenges in meeting the individual needs of students due to their lack of experience, classroom management challenges, time constraints, the complexity of …

There Is Real Life Here: Centering The Body In Teaching And Learning, Ryan Ambuter

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Bodies have everything to do with teaching and learning, yet are often overlooked or diminished as sites of meaning-making in educational contexts. The goal of this article is to foreground the body in teaching and learning, and identify the transformative potential that embodied pedagogy opens up. Rooted in intersectional critical theory and frameworks, this article explores the importance of centering bodies in education, contextualizes the invisibility and silencing of bodies in education historically and today, and identifies the possibilities that a focus on bodies in education can offer. Action steps that teachers and teacher educators can apply to their practice …

Teaching Sociology Through Reality Tv: Understanding Society Through The Small Screen, Monica Bixby Radu

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

This article explores reality TV’s value in teaching sociological concepts and theories for a better understanding contemporary society. Reality TV serves as a rich canvas for illustrating key tenets of major sociological theories such as structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. By analyzing reality TV through a sociological lens, insights into societal dynamics emerge, revealing how individuals navigate social norms. Additionally, reality TV serves as a cultural mirror, reflecting and shaping societal values. Globally, it influences cultural attitudes and social dynamics, transcending geographical boundaries through adaptations and social media engagement. …

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 8, Issue 2, Fall 2024

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2024 issue (Volume 8, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Fall 2024 issue presents practical ideas and prompts for those who teach at colleges and universities in a variety of disciplines. Articles ways to use popular culture (in this case, reality TV) to teach higher-level concepts; strategies for adapting Lesson Study techniques for preservice teachers; and a review of McNair et al.'s 2022 book on creating student ready colleges.

Embodied Cognition And Teaching Stem: Tenets To Explain And Enhance A Middle School Science Project, Jonathan E. Roberts, Joshua L. Williams, Robert A. Hodgdon, Caroline Payne, Gabriela Ruiz Emmanuelli

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

STEM pedagogy is a popular area for research and discussion. The empirical literature on this topic supports a variety of approaches (e.g., inquiry-based) to help instructors spark student interest create an effective learning environment, and foster long-term retention and transfer of information related to STEM topics. One potential approach is to use tenets of embodied cognition, in which behavior and cognition emerge out of real-time sensorimotor behavior of the individual situated within a particular context, to implement strategies to enhance STEM pedagogy. We applied the six lessons of embodied cognition to understand the beneficial aspects of a middle-school project on …

Travel English For Japanese Third Age Learners: A Communicative Model, Yoshiko Okamura

Master's Projects and Capstones

The goal of this curriculum project is to effectively develop the English communicative skills of a small group of Japanese third age English language learners. The term, third age learners (TALs), represents learners who are generally in their mid-60s through early 80s, retired, healthy, active, and motivated to learn something new. When it comes to English language learning strategies, one size does not fit all. An effective curriculum must be built on the theories and approaches that fit the specific needs of the target learners. The first three chapters of this project report describe the theories, approaches, and methods applied …

Adapting For Accessibility: How Secondary Humanities Teachers Modify Open Educational Resources Using The Universal Design For Learning Framework, Christine Nick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how secondary humanities teachers modify Open Educational Resources (OERs) to align with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Originally developed to democratize access to educational content, OERs have become widely used across K–12 settings in the U.S., particularly following initiatives such as the Common Core standards and the U.S. Department of Education’s #GoOpen Project. Despite the growing adoption of OERs, limited research has addressed how teachers adapt these materials to meet the diverse needs of their students, especially through the lens of accessibility and inclusivity. Using the UDL framework, this descriptive …

Using Geogebra To Foster Imagination And Creativity To Build Mathematics Confidence In A Stem World, Joseph M. Furner

Transformations

Math teachers can better prepare all student for a STEM world using computer software like GeoGebra to better prepare our youth for such high-tech careers like that of which Einstein was part of while also emphasizing and fostering creativity in the learning of mathematics. It is critical we have young learners who are confident in their ability to do math and be creative. Teachers today need to check dispositions toward mathematics and address math anxiety while building math confidence in their students. In an ever-advancing world of technology, math teachers need to incorporate such emerging technologies like GeoGebra into the …