Digital Commons Network^™

Creating In A Participatory Culture: Perceptions Of Digital Tools Among Teachers, Emily Howell, Rebecca Kaminski, Sarah Hunt-Barron

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

The following embedded case study examines teachers’ perceptions of using digital and Web 2.0 tools for literacy instruction. These perceptions are important if teachers hope to enact a more participatory culture of creation rather than consumption called for by scholars such as the New London Group and the New Media Literacies scholars. Case study participants were teachers involved in a NWP site’s Invitational Summer Institute (ISI), with embedded cases of rural teachers in a high-poverty school district. The findings suggest teachers still face extrinsic barriers to enacting a participatory culture, and professional development is needed to help teachers effectively use …

Poetry Is Powerful: High School Students And Pre-Service Teachers Develop Literacy Relationships Through Poetry, Susanne L. Nobles, Amy Price Azano

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

Teaching poetry can serve as a roadblock for many English teachers who lack confidence with the genre. Likewise, high school students struggle reading poetry and creating their own poetic works. In an effort to provide an authentic learning experience for our students, we created a semester-long, collaborative poetry project between our high school and college students. This manuscript provides details about the goals, processes, and takeaways for both groups of participants. The high school students were two classes of freshman-level English students who practiced developing critical literacy skills while reading, reciting, and writing poetry. The college students were pre-service English …

Writing For An Authentic Audience – One Teacher-Writer’S Narrative Journey, Danielle L. Defauw, Melissa Smith

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

The research literature shows many universities do not require elementary pre-service and in-service teachers to take a writing methodology course, yet elementary teachers must be prepared to teach K-8 writing. This qualitative case study highlights a beginning elementary in-service teacher’s experiences enrolled in a K-8 writing methodology course designed to strengthen her teacher-writer voice for authentic purposes using the writing workshop framework. Using narrative inquiry’s critical event approach to analyze and compare the teacher’s and her peers’ data (writer’s notebook, reflections, surveys, interviews, written selections, field note journal), this research article details her case study as a critical incident to …

Feedback In Online Writing Forums: Effects On Adolescent Writers, Heather J. S. Birch

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

Adolescents are writing online. A cursory look at the web reveals that teenagers are well-represented; in blog posts, social media updates, profile pages, comments on YouTube videos, responses to news articles, and websites about their interests, teenagers are writing (Williams 2009). In the current research study, the specific kind of adolescent writing under consideration is writing posted in a social media context designed specifically for writers. This case study focuses on six young writers who are active members of an online writing community, and who post their writing in order to receive feedback. Descriptive data collected through interviews, as well …

“It’S A Two-Way Street”: Giving Feedback In A Teacher Writing Group, Lochran C. Fallon, Anne Elrod Whitney

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

Abstract: A consistent feature of teacher writing groups is the giving and receiving of feedback on writing. While there have been several studies that have explored the effects of receiving feedback on one's own writing, there have only been a few that explored the effects of providing feedback to others can have on a teacher’s own work. Drawing on interviews with teacher-writers who work together in a writing group, we conclude that giving feedback transforms the writing lives of all participants involved in the feedback process through experiences of reciprocity, involving claiming authority within a community of writers, developing …

Developing Preservice Writing Teachers’ Professional Judgment: Design Conjectures For Supporting Equitable And Rigorous Writing Instruction, Britnie Delinger Kane

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

To meet the composition demands of the future, secondary students in the United States will need more rigorous and more equitable writing instruction. They will need opportunities to inquire into and frame authentic problems. They will need to communicate for a variety of audiences and purposes, and they will need access to a variety of linguistic and literary forms. In turn, secondary teachers will need improved preparation for teaching writing. This conceptual review outlines what intellectually rigorous and equitable writing instruction looks like, arguing that teaching writing in these ways requires that teachers deploy substantial professional judgment. I then rely …

“A Course No One Wants To Teach”: A Brief History Of The Undergraduate Writing Methods Course, Christine E. Tulley

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

In this essay, I untangle two historically embedded challenges within the undergraduate writing methods course that continually reestablish divisions between theory and pedagogy (and often English and education departments by association) for preservice teachers. The two issues are:

1. The lack of status of the undergraduate writing methods course within English departments, entrenched by the historically marginalized reputations of both rhetoric and composition and English education programs; and

2. Internal disputes within the field of rhetoric and composition over a theoretical versus pedagogical emphasis for the undergraduate writing methods course, and external debates between the fields of rhetoric and composition …

Reimagining Instructional Practices: Exploring The Identity Work Of Teachers Of Writing, Melody Zoch, Joy Myers, Claire Lambert, Amy Vetter, Colleen Fairbanks

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This article provides a cross-case analysis of three teachers who participated in a two-week professional development (PD) on the teaching of writing that addressed their own identities as writers. This is an area that is commonly overlooked and how teachers view themselves as writers may play an important role in how they help their students to think of themselves as writers, may shape the conversations they have about writing, and may influence the kinds of writing opportunities they provide. Drawing on an identity perspective, the findings illustrate how the opportunity to construct and enact writing identities shaped how the teachers …

October 28, 2016: Elizabeth Wardle Next Visiting Speaker In Ellis Speaker Series, Department Of English

Gleanings: Department of English Blog Archive

The Department of English Anthony Ellis Scholarly Speakers Series featuring Elizabeth Wardle

Kalamazoo Russian Festival, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Western News, November 3, 2016, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Grant puts rare manuscript into collection, NASA fellow modeling off-world polar storms, Numerous events in November are honoring veterans, Alum working to broaden opportunities for young Dominicans, Drawings continue for campus United Way donors, On Campus with Jason Long

Enewsletter- November 2016, College Of Education And Human Development

College of Education and Human Development News

• Anonymous donor reveals himself to students who want to be teachers
• Judge Gershwin A. Drain is a 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient
• WMU alum and former trustee wins U.S. legal profession's highest award
• Faculty receive Emerging and Distinguished Scholars Awards in the field of education and human development
• CECP Faculty Continue Work with KPS
• Local WMU Alumni, including Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, honored with Golden Apple/Keystone Awards

Emeriti News, November 2016, Emeriti Council

Emeriti News

Contents from Volume XXV Number 1:

• Emeriti Council
• Message from the Chair: Andy Brogowicz
• Wednesday lls Returning to Heinig Emeriti Lounge
• Invitation to Get Involved
• Announcements and General News
• Emeriti Council VP Receives Kudos in Florida
• In Remembrance
• Medallion Scholars Contribute to Kalamazoo Life
• Emeriti Council Scholarships
• Medallion Scholarships
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Early English Poetic Culture And Meter: The Influence Of G. R. Russom, M. J. Toswell

Festschriften, Occasional Papers, and Lectures

This volume develops G. R. Russom's contributions to early English meter and style, including his fundamental reworkings and rethinkings of accepted and oft-repeated mantras, including his word-foot theory, concern for the late medieval context for alliterative meter, and the linguistics of punctuation and translation as applied to Old English texts. Ten eminent scholars from across the field take up Russom's ideas to lead readers in new and exciting directions.

Western News, October 20, 2016, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: WMU has record-breaking homecoming day, Alliance with FSW formally announced in Florida, Annual Benefits and Wellness Expo scheduled for Oct. 26, Clayton tapped to head military; veterans affairs, Trustees approve changes in campus; road names, On Campus with Tania Echavarria, WMU students; employees have complimentary access to New York Times

Jeremy Siskind, Piano, 10/14, College Of Fine Arts

School of Music Faculty Recitals

• JEREMY SISKIND, Piano

The Common Core Writing Standards: A Descriptive Study Of Content And Alignment With A Sample Of Former State Standards, Gary A. Troia, Natalie G. Olinghouse, Joshua Wilson, Kelly A. Stewart, Ya Mo, Lisa Hawkins, Rachel A. Kopke

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Many students do not meet expected standards of writing performance, despite the need for writing competence in and out of school. As policy instruments, writing content standards have an impact on what is taught and how students perform. This study reports findings from an evaluation of the content of a sample of seven diverse states’ current writing standards compared to content of the Common Core State Standards for writing and language (CCSS-WL). Standards were evaluated for breadth of content coverage (range), how often content was referenced (frequency), the degree of emphasis placed on varied content elements (balance), and the degree …

Exploring How Secondary Pre-Service Teachers’ Use Online Social Bookmarking To Envision Literacy In The Disciplines, Jamie Colwell, Kristen Gregory

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This study considers how pre-service teachers envision disciplinary literacy through an online social bookmarking project. Thirty secondary pre-service teachers participated in the project through an undergraduate literacy course. Online bookmarks and post-project reflections were collected and analyzed using a constant comparative approach to determine emergent themes. Results suggest varying levels of disciplinary knowledge among pre-service teachers, influences of pre-service teachers' envisionments on posted bookmarks, and considerations about standardized testing in disciplinary literacy instruction. Implications for teacher education are discussed in light of these results.

Western News, October 6, 2016, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: BTR Park’s Phase II garners federal grant, Portage to benefit from state funds for geological survey, University wide; ethics-related book readings underway, Cooley director to lead Michigan bar, Fall 2016 enrollment is up in some areas; down slightly overall, On Campus with Linda Poquette

October 6, 2016: "Gunpowder Percy" Reading In Ann Arbor, Department Of English

Gleanings: Department of English Blog Archive

Grace Tiffany will be reading from her novel, Gunpowder Percy, on Wed., October 19th, 7 p.m., at the Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, 124 E. Washington St.

October 6, 2016: Melody Graulich Visit Next Event In Ellis Scholarly Speakers Series, Department Of English

Gleanings: Department of English Blog Archive

The Department of English Anthony Ellis Scholarly Speakers Series featuring Melody Graulich

Knowledge Translation And Occupational Therapy: A Survey Of Canadian University Programs, Heidi Cramm, Blair Short, Catherine A. Donnelly

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

While Canadian occupational therapy recognizes knowledge translation (KT) as essential to clinical interactions, there has been little attention paid to KT activity in education and research. The objective of this study was to identify the nature of KT activities in which Canadian occupational therapy faculty engage. An electronic survey was sent to faculty at 14 Canadian occupational therapy programs to explore the nature of KT activities, including research, education, strategies, evaluation, and barriers and facilitators. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results show that faculty engage in a range of KT activities, with conferences and peer-reviewed publications being …

Goals And Expectations Of Continuation High School Students Transitioning To Postsecondary Education, Chi-Kwan Shea, Gordon Muir Giles

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Students at a continuation high school (CHS) attended an occupational therapy program to acquire life skills in preparation for their transition from secondary education. Most of the students who participated in the OT program planned to pursue a postsecondary education (PSE), but the CHS students encountered many barriers in negotiating the requirements of PSE. Discernment of these barriers encountered by the CHS students may enable the occupational therapy practitioners to better prepare the students for PSE.

Method: This was a qualitative phenomenological study based on analyses of interview data. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with eight CHS senior students …

Fitness-To-Drive Screening Measure©: Patterns And Trends For Canadian Users, Sherrilene Classen, Shabnam Medhizadah, Liliana Alvarez

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Fitness-to-Drive Screening Measure^© (FTDS) is an online screening tool that enables proxy raters (caregivers, family members, and friends) to identify at-risk older adult drivers via 54 driving-related items. This study aimed to identify areas in need of improvement for the FTDS by identifying the patterns and trends of Canadian users and providing recommendations to increase the usage, reach, and potential impact of the FTDS as a health promotion tool.

Methods: We used monthly Google Analytics reports to calculate descriptive statistics for web page and session specific variables. Variables were separated into Year 1 and Year 2 …

Perspectives Of Individuals Who Experienced Bullying During Childhood, Olivia Byjos, Jackie Dusing, Callyn Zartman, Susan M. Cahill

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The objective of the qualitative study was to describe the perspectives of adults who experienced bullying at school during childhood or adolescence.

Method: Data was collected through semi-structured interviews (n = 8) and analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Results: Three major themes emerged: (a) the school should have done something, (b) it still affects me, and (c) there needs to be prevention.

Conclusion: Based on their unique expertise, occupational therapy practitioners may be able to collaborate with interprofessional teams to address the needs of individuals who bully and those who are being bullied at school.

Western Michigan University Magazine, Fall 2016, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Magazine (1997-present)

• High Ambitions The Western Aerospace Launch Initiative hurtles toward a space-based research mission as students aim for the launch of WMU’s first satellite.
• One more for Dunn President to retire after 10th transformative year
• Master Professor Why a Michigan Professor of the Year sometimes interns
• The Right Dose Profs hope study leads to reduction in EMS pediatric drug dosing errors
• How do you build a better bone model? Get a WMU expert and engineering students involved
• Upcycled to Unmentionables Alumna’s cheeky business is serious about ‘green’ fashion
• Broncos Abroad Study abroad opportunities on the rise
• Movement Exchange WMU students, Panamanian …

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society: Raising Visibility On Campus., Kristina Wirtz

Academic Leadership Academy

WMU’s Phi Beta Kappa Chapter

• Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society, founded at the College of William & Mary in 1776.
• Western Michigan University is among 10% of American colleges and universities to host a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
• Our chapter, Theta of Michigan, was founded in 1997 after more than a decade of efforts by WMU faculty and administrators. We are a WMU “point of pride.”
• Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

The Problem: PBK’s Low Profile on Campus

1)Low student response rate:

• Students at …

Fall Convocation 2016 Program, Office Of Faculty Development

Fall Convocation

A program for the Fall 2016 convocation, giving information on programs to improve student learning, including faculty and staff awards, State of the University Address, aspects of the Teaching & Learning Bash, and Teaching with Technology and Assessment in Action.

Founding Feminisms In Medieval Studies: Essays In Honor Of E. Jane Burns, Felice Lifshitz

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Silencing Female Reason In Boccaccio’S Teseida Delle Nozze D’Emilia, Margaret Franklin

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

The legendary Amazons of antiquity threatened social institutions that relied on communal adherence to the assumption of inherent female limitations, and confrontation between these viragoes and classical heroes provided a fruitful arena for exploring gender politics. Giovanni Boccaccio contributed to this tradition with a unique restaging of Amazonomachy and its consequences in his Teseida delle nozze d’Emilia (1339-1341?). While modern critical consensus holds that Teseo’s subjugation of the Amazons redounds both to his heroism in particular and the wellbeing of society in general, I argue that his unyielding repudiation of their desires and objectives is problematized throughout the text. These …