Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers Integrating Technology: Case Studies, Dawn Basinger

Essays in Education

To understand better the process by which P-12 teachers come to integrate technology into their instructional practices, the researcher undertook a yearlong investigation into technology use at two different school sites in northern Louisiana. Teachers’ stages of concern about technology, levels of technology use, perceptions about coursework impact on technology use and integration, and practices and perceptions about teaching and learning with technology were analyzed. Although all teachers perceived the coursework to be effective in facilitating their utilization and integration of technology, they perceived no single best way to integrate technology. Each teacher identified, designed and developed, and implemented his …

The Mechanics Of Microeconomic Choice: A School Option Perspective, Ikwukananne I. Udechukwu

Essays in Education

The development of this paper describes uniquely the mechanics of choice in the delivery of education services relative to the public school system and school options. Three components, which magnify choice, are consumer (parents), market (pupils), and producer (government). Macbeth (1989) notes that there are four groups of people who benefit from the education system, namely: (1) the pupil (children) (2) the parent (3) the owners of a school (government) and (4) society at large. The first three beneficiaries of the education system are appropriately linked to the three components of choice as illustrated in the model and discussed in …

The Textbook Controversies In Japan: What History Is Taught?, Aaron Cooley

Essays in Education

The controversies surrounding the content and perspective of several Japanese textbooks are examined and the impact on geo-political relations analyzed. The ways in which these battles affect perceptions of history are discussed in a regional and global context. Extrapolating from this example, a position of inclusiveness is advanced for the content of textbooks that address controversial historical issues in Japan and elsewhere.

Grounds And Perspectives Of Critical Reflection - An Educational And Philosophical Inquiry, Israel Idalovichi

Essays in Education

important tasks of modern education. Thinking reflectively about our own thoughts and practices, about education of children and adults and their personal development, has led us to believe in the value of guided reflective inquiry as an educational method. Current definitions of reflection in education assume that the concept itself has a solid base and its dynamic efficiency is self-evident.

By disclosing major definitions of reflection in different philosophical systems, i.e., J. Locke, I. Kant, J.G. Fichte, G.F. Hegel, E. Husserl, E. Cassirer, it is apparent that reflection reveals the boundaries of knowledge, anything beyond the limits of the subject …

Exploring Teacher Perceptions Of The Leadership Practices Of Middle And High School Principals, Donald W. Leech, Robert Smith, Ronnie Green, C. Ray Fulton

Essays in Education

As educators continue to restructure schools to better meet the needs of our everchanging society, the principal’s effective leadership practices become paramount as we enter the next generation of research into school effectiveness. This study of principals in a large urban school district endeavors to examine the differences in middle and high school teachers’ perceptions of the leadership practices of educational leaders. The sample consisted of 242 participants from 12 middle schools and 404 participants from 14 high schools. Each of the participants were administered Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices Inventory which identified the teachers perceptions of their principal’s leadership …

A Journey Into Cooperative Learning With Teacher Education Students, Mary Ransdell, Deborah A. Moberly

Essays in Education

The focus of this article is the journey two professors took during their implementation of cooperative learning with their teacher education students. It is the opinion of the authors that cooperative learning is a viable, yet underused, teaching and learning tool. Prospective teachers best internalize this methodology when they themselves are active participants in the techniques. The authors offer personal experience to assist in the readers’ understanding.

Preservice Professional Employment Portfolios For Middle Schools, Roberta Devlin-Scherer

Essays in Education

The thoughtful thematic presentation of artifacts or exhibits can visually represent preservice teacher candidates’ experiences as they grow into the teaching role. The literature on professional portfolios in teacher education has refined its expectations and the advent of electronic possibilities offer teacher education students varied ways to present their accomplishments. This article considers ways to incorporate the trends in middle level education to a professional portfolio and suggests guidelines and sources.

Faculty Pressures And Professional Self-Esteem: Life In Texas Teacher Education, Ron Tinsley, James C. Hardy

Essays in Education

Studies of the beliefs of teacher educators record high levels of professional self-esteem, but also document the perceived lack of professional regard from colleagues in other areas, informing and redirecting our professional needs assessment. The literature documents that a general disregard for teacher educators as professionals has become a part of the academic culture at many institutions of higher learning in the US. With all of the external pressures on teacher educators, from governmental and accrediting agencies, the public, and professional organizations, perhaps we should address the attitudes of our academic colleagues as one area in which faculty pressures might …

Teacher Shortage: Are Teachers Their Own Worst Enemy?, Sarah Worsham, Michael Arnold, Kevin Schriver, Eric Moore

Essays in Education

This article reviews some of the past research that has explored the teacher shortage, and describes a study conducted to identify reasons current educators entered the field of education and reasons why they would encourage their own children to enter that field. Additionally, this article looks at the reasons current educators would not encourage their own children to enter the field of education. By looking at the data, it is the position of the authors that a factor in the teacher shortage may be directly traced to teachers not encouraging their own children to enter the field of education.

Teaching Vs. Research: Toward The Reconciliation Of An Academic Dilemma, Mario Norbis, Angela M. Arrey-Wastavino, F. Abel Ponce De Leon

Essays in Education

A line of thought that compares two major changes in Higher Education and the societal environments surrounding them is presented. A model, currently taking place, associated with the perceived controversy between teaching and research is introduced and discussed. The need to foster appropriate procedures where university constituencies are brought together to participate in the process of reshaping the university model guaranteeing its survivability is recognized. Finally, options for teaching comparable with the scale established for research are proposed as a reconciliatory model to solve this academic dilemma.

Talking About Listening: Urban Teacher Responses To Empathetic Listening Training, Jennifer Borek

Essays in Education

Teachers in urban school districts need to learn better listening skills. The high-stakes world of parental involvement, especially with parents who have not had good school experiences themselves, necessitates that faculty and administration be able to listen with clarity and calm. Emergency-licensed teacher education students at a major urban institution of higher education were trained in empathetic listening, practiced these skills, and then were asked to use these skills in the field. While most believed they did not need the skill when they first heard of it, all discovered its complexity and utility during the course of the semester.

Higher Education Financing Policy: Mechanisms And Effects, Bryan Cheung

Essays in Education

Over the past decades, there has seen a significant and consistent worldwide reform agenda for higher education financing policy. This paper is to analyze factors that keep driving these reform; to identify the reasons why governments and higher education keep searching for funding alternatives; to show the relationship among funding sources and paths; to discuss funding mechanisms and models adopted by some Asian and Western countries; and to discuss the effects of funding policy on student access, institute autonomy, competition, stability of institutes, quality and performance of education, responsiveness to market demands and fiscal burden.

Tenure And Promotion Considerations: An Analysis Of Cultural Issues, June Ovington, Thomas Diamantes, Douglas Roby, Charles Ryan

Essays in Education

A purposive review of selected literature related to promotion and tenure in the university was conducted during the last year. From this literature review a constant comparative method of document data analysis was conducted. This method involves reviewing all documents, i.e. articles, handbooks, cases, field notes and interview data. The findings of our study suggest that the tenure and promotion process is impacted by differing values and literal interpretations after review of the candidates’ tenure file. We recommend that sustained review include senior colleagues and use of a productivity schematic to document professional activity over the tenure time frame.

Militarism Goes To School, Laura L. Finley

Essays in Education

While there are many influences that shape how schools are structured one that has been largely ignored is the influence of militarism. Militarism refers to a set of values or ideologies that include hierarchical relationships and domination. This piece discusses the ways that schools are militaristic, including their authority, physical, academic, and athletic structures, the processes used by administrators and in classrooms, and the curriculums taught.

Socioeconomic Status, Race, Gender, & Retention: Impact On Student Achievement, June Thomas, Cathy Stockton

Essays in Education

The purpose of this article is to discuss the impact of socioeconomic status, race, gender, and retention on student achievement. Increasing attention has been paid to the quality of education in the United States as international reports compare the academic achievement of students in this country with others in the world. Many states are basing promotion of students on state assessments. High stakes testing has lead to higher retention rates in several states. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that students who are retained do not drop out of school and therefore get left behind.