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Reader's Response: Learning About Learning: Moving Beyond A Teacher-Centered Approach, Lawrence M. Lesser

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Excerpt: Two articles in the January 2013 issue address the need for teachers to focus on student learning rather than on what the teacher does (Scoufis, 2013) and make learning the object of inquiry (Cerbin, 2013). A big part of making this happen is reducing or eschewing lecture that is one-directional and one-dimensional. This often means that teachers must overcome many habits, biases, or misconceptions about lecture. Like many (if not most) professors, I began my teaching career as a strictly-by-the-book lecturer and has gradually over time worked through his own limitations and prejudices to incorporate more and more …

Using Performance Tasks To Improve Quantitative Reasoning In An Introductory Mathematics Course, Gerald Kruse, David Drews

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

A full-cycle assessment of our efforts to improve quantitative reasoning in an introductory math course is described. Our initial iteration substituted more open-ended performance tasks for the active learning projects than had been used. Using a quasi-experimental design, we compared multiple sections of the same course and found non-significant gains on a pre/post, rubric-scored, measure of quantitative reasoning. Subsequent course modifications included more explicit emphasis on critical thinking as a course goal and extended experience with the rubric used to score the performance tasks. Results of the second iteration yielded stronger evidence for gains in quantitative reasoning and suggest that …

Identifying The Effects Of Specific Chc Factors On College Students’ Reading Comprehension, Gordon E. Taub, Nicholas Benson

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Reading comprehension is an important skill for college academic success. Much of the research pertaining to reading in general, and reading comprehension specifically, focuses on the success of primary and secondary school-age students. The present study goes beyond previous research by extending such investigation to the reading comprehension of college-age student participants. Using the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theoretical model, this study investigates the effects of seven broad factors on the reading comprehension of college-age students. Of the seven broad factors identified within the CHC theoretical model, only crystallized intelligence and visual-spatial thinking demonstrate statistically significant direct effects on reading comprehension. Although …

Real Life Applications In Mathematics: What Do Students Prefer?, Kirthi Premadasa, Kavita Bhatia

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

We attempt to answer the problem “When approaching word problems, do students prefer certain real life application over others?” through two studies involving classroom research. Each study involved students in four college algebra sections in two two-year campuses. Students were presented with a selection of word problems covering a spectrum of application areas and asked to select three problems to solve. Problems in study one covered quadratic functions while those in study two covered exponential and logarithmic functions. The problems were categorized in to three categories. Category R represented problems to which the students can easily relate to while category …

Using Writing Assignments With Calibrated Peer Review To Increase Engagement And Improve Learning In An Undergraduate Environmental Science Course, Dana Ruggiero, Jon Harbor

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Learning outcomes for introductory college-level science classes include content knowledge and a range of critical thinking and analysis skills. In this context, rich writing assignments that engage students in researching content, constructing arguments, and critiquing other students’ work are highly desirable but unwieldy due to large enrollment. Calibrated Peer Review (CPR) is a web-based program that engages peers in writing and in reviewing each other’s writing. The authors explored whether students saw CPR as simply a way to improve writing skills, or if they also thought the process had other educational benefits. The researchers gathered student perspectives using open-ended qualitative …

Effects Of Instructional Model On Student Attitude In An Introductory Biology Laboratory, Stephen M. Rybczynski, Elisabeth E. Schussler

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This study assessed student attitude towards reformed laboratories featuring a factorial design of inquiry (IN) and explicit / reflective (ER) pedagogy to foster nature of science understanding. Students in thirty-one lab sections responded to pre and post semester assessments of their confidence, perception of usefulness, and effectance motivation toward the laboratories. Relative change in attitude (RCA) was not significantly different (p>0.05) among the treatments or their interaction for confidence, usefulness, or effectance motivation. Student self-reports (n = 137) of factors that affected their attitude suggested that grades and TAs played a larger role in determining student attitude than the …

Preparing Elementary Educators To Teach Reading: An Exploratory Study Of Preservice Teachers’ Evolving Sense Of Reading Efficacy, Andrea M. Kent, Rebecca M. Giles, Mary Hibberts

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Teacher educators must acknowledge and consider the nature of reading efficacy and its developmental progression if they are to design and deliver programs that produce individuals moving toward being competent and confident teachers of reading. Ninety-two candidates in varying stages of a K-6 teacher education program responded to the Reading Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale. Data analysis using ANOVA and Fisher’s LSD post-hoc comparisons revealed student teachers (Tier 4) had higher overall perceived reading teacher efficacy (M = 131.96, SD = 12.45) than those in the first semester methodology courses (Tier 2) (M = 117.68, SD = 16.43), p = …

College Of Education News, College Of Education, Georgia Southern University

College of Education: News & Publications (2003-2023)

• MEP Middle School Students Enjoy Summer Enrichment

Newsroom, Georgia Southern University

Newsroom (2006-2023)

• Georgia Southern Receives $360,000 National Science Foundation Grant

Rock-Paper-Scissors In The Chemostat, James P. Braselton, Martha L. Abell, Lorraine Braselton

Mathematical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Rock-Paper-Scissors is a game played by two players to determine a single winner. Biological relationships of Rock-Paper-Scissors are documented. In this paper, we form a continuous model of Rock-Papers-Scissors in the chemostat that coincides with the biology of such relationships. The basic models that we develop coincide with the observed phenomena. Because the model involves a system of seven nonlinear differential equations, global results are difficult to obtain. We present several numerical studies that are the result of a substantial number of numerical trials to illustrate the various possibilities that might occur in the context of the problem discussed here.

Geology & Geography News, Georgia Southern University

Earth, Environment & Sustainability: News & Publications (2013-2021)

• Georgia Southern Professor studies debris flow in the Dolomite Alps

Cosm News, Georgia Southern University

College of Science & Mathematics: News & Publications (2012-2022)

• Georgia Southern Professor studies debris flow in the Dolomite Alps

Cosm News, Georgia Southern University

College of Science & Mathematics: News & Publications (2012-2022)

• Biology Professor selected as 2013 Governor’s Teaching Fellow

Cosm News, Georgia Southern University

College of Science & Mathematics: News & Publications (2012-2022)

• Georgia Southern University Professors participate in Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary expedition

Energy Flux Streamlines Versus Acoustic Rays For Modeling Interaction With Rigid Boundaries: Near Field Of Sound From A Circular Loudspeaker, Cleon Dean, James Braselton

Mathematical Sciences: Faculty Presentations (1991-2022)

Sound emitted by a circular loudspeaker can be treated as equivalent to a plane wave diffracted by a circular aperture in a rigid, sound absorbing screen. Axial symmetry leads one to expect constructive interference along the symmetry axis in the near field (the Poisson-Arago spot). An energy flux streamline model was developed to help visualize this and other features of the nearsound field. The model is used to draw out similarities and differences between energy flux streamlines and acoustic rays, particularly in the transition to the far field.

Energy Flux Streamlines Versus Acoustic Rays For Modeling Interaction With Rigid Boundaries: Near Field Of Sound From A Circular Loudspeaker, Cleon Dean, James P. Braselton

Physics & Astronomy: Faculty Publications

Sound emitted by a circular loudspeaker can be treated as equivalent to a plane wave diffracted by a circular aperture in a rigid, sound absorbing screen. Axial symmetry leads one to expect constructive interference along the symmetry axis in the near field (the Poisson-Arago spot). An energy flux streamline model was developed to help visualize this and other features of the nearsound field. The model is used to draw out similarities and differences between energy flux streamlines and acoustic rays, particularly in the transition to the far field. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America

Carving A Wheel Or Assembling A Widget? Insights Into The Management Of Advanced Analytics, Michael Mccrary

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Medieval guilds and assembly plants are unlikely metaphors in an information-based economy. My experience with advanced analytics suggests that such descriptions are nevertheless apt. This paper explores two distinct situations within a single firm. In one department, predictive models were generated through adopting a craft style approach. In another department, a production type of approach was deployed. The reasons for their adoption are explored, followed by their consequences for job satisfaction, performance, staffing, change-management, and more. Craft and production approaches have implications not just for modeling analysts and their managers but also for senior leaders, business partners, and human resources …

Southern Educator, Georgia Southern University

College of Education: News & Publications (2003-2023)

• MEP Middle School Students Enjoy Summer Enrichment
• Schools Partner with COE in Undergraduate Research Effort
• Clinical Supervisors Attend "Camp"
• Alumni News

Bipolar Quantum Logic Gates And Quantum Cellular Combinatorics – A Logical Extension To Quantum Entanglement, Wen-Ran Zhang

Computing: Faculty Publications

Based on bipolar dynamic logic (BDL) and bipolar quantum linear algebra (BQLA) this work introduces bipolar quantum logic gates and quantum cellular combinatorics with a logical interpretation to quantum entanglement. It is shown that: 1) BDL leads to logically definable causality and generic particle-antiparticle bipolar quantum entanglement; 2) BQLA makes composite atom-atom bipolar quantum entanglement reachable. Certain logical equivalence is identified between the new interpretation and established ones. A logical reversibility theorem is presented for ubiquitous quantum computing. Physical reversibility is briefly discussed. It is shown that a bipolar matrix can be either a modular generalization of a quantum logic …

President's Newsletter, Brooks Keel

President's Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Class Notes, Georgia Southern University

Arts & Humanities: News & Publications (2009-2023)

No abstract provided.

Export Control - Ri-601

Research & Economic Development Policies

The purpose of this policy is to facilitate compliance with United States (U.S.) Export Control laws and regulations, and to heighten awareness and understanding of their application across Georgia Southern University’s (University) academic, research and business activities. The policy supports compliance with federal regulations protecting information and technology to prevent the release of export-controlled items or the possibility of a deemed export by University sources in order to protect national security and other U.S. interests.

Dorothy M. Ward

African American Funeral Programs

Dorothy_M_Ward.pdf - Funeral program for Dorothy M. Ward

Shoulder Muscle Activation Of Novice And Resistance Trained Women During Variations Of Dumbbell Press Exercises, Joshua Luczak, Andy Bosak, Bryan Riemann

Health Sciences & Kinesiology: Faculty Publications

Previous research has compared the effects of trunk inclination angle on muscle activation using barbells and Smith machines in men. Whether similar effects occur with the use of dumbbells or in women remains unknown. The purpose was to compare upper extremity surface electromyographical (EMG) activity between dumbbell bench, incline, and shoulder presses. Dominate arm EMG data were recorded for collegiate-aged female resistance trained individuals (n=12) and novice female resistance trained exercisers (n=12) from which average EMG amplitude for each repetition phase (concentric, eccentric) was computed. No significant differences were found between experienced and novice resistance trained individuals. For the upper …

College Of Education News, College Of Education, Georgia Southern University

College of Education: News & Publications (2003-2023)

• Cafe Introduces Community to Value of STEM

The George-Anne, Georgia Southern University

The George-Anne

• 2012-2013 Changes GSU
• News
• Opinions
• Arts & Entertainment
• Classifieds
• Puzzles/ Comics
• Sports

Cosm News, Georgia Southern University

College of Science & Mathematics: News & Publications (2012-2022)

• Entomologist gives lesson in death scene investigations

Lessons Learned While Developing An Effective Culture Of Assessment For Library Instruction, Sonya S. Shepherd

University Libraries: Faculty Presentations

After testing and using multiple assessment surveys and tools over time to evaluate student learning after and satisfaction with library instruction, workshop attendees discussed lessons learned by an academic librarian attempting to develop a more effective culture of assessment for library instruction. The following was addressed:

• various surveys and tools used/tested
• why certain surveys and tools were selected for use and not others
• why certain surveys and tools worked better than others
• what were the lessons learned
• what assessment surveys and tools are being used after the lessons learned

Southern Educator, Georgia Southern University

College of Education: News & Publications (2003-2023)

• New Undergraduate Research Opportunities Underway in the College of Education
• Exchange Program Gives Teacher Candidates Experience in Area Schools
• Dr. Martha Tootle Cain Selected as Alumni of the Year
• COE Research Committee Awards Seed Grants
• COE Helps Establish SECME Affiliation
• Faculty News

College Of Education News, College Of Education, Georgia Southern University

College of Education: News & Publications (2003-2023)

• COE Helps Establish SECME Affiliation