Education Commons^™

Textbook Affordability Open Course: Facilitator Guide And D2l Course Materials, Carrie Lewis Miller, Adeyemi Adelakun, Jen Cucurullo

IT Solutions Publications

This guide will help facilitators of the Textbook Affordability Open Course organize and implement the content in their own learning environment. The designers of the course have included items that need to be updated and personalized for each implementation of the course as well as helpful tips for successful implementation.

This course is an introduction to textbook affordability, open educational resources, and other open practices that impact equity in our classrooms. While it is geared towards higher education faculty, the concepts and practices covered here can be used in any teaching and learning scenario. This course will explore concepts tied …

Iron Range Engineering - An Overview Of Design And Open-Ended Problem Solving Activities In An Interdisciplinary, Project-Based Learning Program, Elizabeth Pluskwik

Integrated Engineering Department Publications

Project-based learning (PBL) in engineering education is growing at a rapid pace. The Iron Range Engineering (IRE) Program of Minnesota State University Mankato, is an upper division (3rd and 4th year) undergraduate engineering education program based on the Aalborg, Denmark PBL model. Students work in teams to solve industry-sourced projects each semester. The learning of engineering is accomplished in three domains - technical learning of engineering concepts, professionalism, and design, which we call the “three-legged stool” of engineering education. The program promotes entrepreneurial mindset and innovative open-ended problem-solving in context. Fifty students are enrolled in 3rd and 4th-year studies at …

Intercultural Competencies Among Undergraduates In The College Of Arts & Humanities At Minnesota State University, Mankato, Jonathon Arndt, Olivia Thomas

Education Presentations at National and International Conferences

This study examined the impact of an intercultural communication course in arts and humanities on the intercultural competency (ICC) among a group of university students. ICC was defined as “the capability to accurately understand and adapt behavior to cultural difference and commonality.” Globalization has led to increased contact between different cultures, so individuals must know how to communicate between one another and to understand the culture behind the communication (Melles & Frey, 2017). Students must strive for acceptance and understanding of religion, language, communication style, music, or any other aspect of culture. The research questions were: (1) What is the …

Impact Of Service Learning On The Inter-Cultural Competency Of Pre-Service Teachers, Andrea Faye Gangoso-Aguila, Jonathon Arndt, Yuseina Brito-Lino, Chandler Gooding, Alyssa Harter, Sean O'Rourke, Amanda Rousemiller, David Edwards, Tori Smith

Education Presentations at National and International Conferences

The population of the U.S. is becoming increasingly diverse in language and culture. And, the population of students in elementary and secondary schools is becoming more diverse, as well. Therefore, it is critical that pre-service teachers (PSTs) experience and understand other cultures. Teachers will need to become more inter-culturally competent (ICC). According to Hammer & Bennett (2010), ICC is "the capability to accurately understand and adapt behavior to cultural differences and commonality.” One way to do this is for PSTs to participate in Service Learning. According to the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC), service learning is “a teaching and learning strategy …

Developing A Senior Capstone And Portfolio Course, Nanette Johnson-Curiskis, Daniel Cronn-Mills, Warren Sandmann

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Our purpose in this essay is to explain how the Speech Communication Department at Minnesota State University, Mankato developed a senior capstone and portfolio course. We describe how this course helped the department improve its curriculum and teaching, and helped its students enhance their learning of the discipline.

An Investigation Of Student Perspectives On Classroom Resource Usefulness, Joshua Randall, Lindsey Thompson

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Central to the post-secondary education is the textbook, and central to complaints regarding post-secondary education is also the textbook. Textbook use and price are a serious issue at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and at other colleges and universities around the country. Concern regarding textbooks inspires students to become very vocal, filing complaint after complaint regarding the price, the quality, and the utilization of textbooks in the status quo. This is an issue that inflames the hearts (and empties the wallets) of many students, and therefore should be an issue of concern with the university. In two separate studies surveying students …

"Real Life Solutions To Real Life Problems:" Collaborating With A Non-Profit Foundation To Engage Honors Students In Applied Research, Emily Stark

Psychology Department Publications

Colleges and universities have long emphasized undergraduate research experiences as valuable activities for students. The National Science Foundation (NSF) echoed this focus in 2003, recommending that all students get involved in undergraduate research as early as possible in their college careers (NSF). Collegiate honors programs in particular have embraced the role of student research as an integral experience for high-ability students, leading the way in developing the thesis-based model of undergraduate research that is increasingly common in institutions of higher learning. However, one difficulty in getting honors students involved in research, particularly early in their years at college, is that …

Impact Of A Cultural Partnership On Intercultural Competence Of Undergraduates, Camille Mcnabb, Samantha Tupy, Erika Koenig, Sadie Leidall

Education Presentations at National and International Conferences

This study compared changes in the intercultural competency of two groups of undergraduate students in several sections of a course, Human Relations in a Multicultural Society. The hypothesis for this study was that the intentional, cross-cultural experiences of students have an impact on the cultural competency of each student. The course in this study was designed as a response to the increasingly diverse population in the United States in terms of race, ethnicity, and culture. Diversity may also refer to behaviors, gender identity, and sexual orientation (IMDiversity, 2010). This course is taught each semester at a Midwestern public university. The …

Using John Grisham's The Innocent Man To Create A Significant Learning Experience For Undergraduate Students In A Psychology And The Law Course, Emily Stark

Psychology Department Publications

Imagine a man, suffering from alcoholism and schizophrenia, drifting through his small town, known mostly for getting thrown out of bars. When a graphic murder occurs, this man’s name gets linked to the victim, and police focus on him as a suspect. Although there is no evidence against him, a combination of poor police work and a town’s desire for closure lead to this innocent man being convicted of the crime and sentenced to death. Down to his last appeal, after spending 12 years on death row, a fair and honest judge is finally convinced to take a closer look …

Exploring Best Practices For Identification, Assessment, Course Placement, Support Services, And Academic Monitoring Of First Year Students Whose Act Writing Scores Indicate Needs For Skill Building, Kellian Clink, Amy Mukamuri

Library Services Publications

The authors share some of the research about Generation 1.5 students as well as other students whose academic writing skills may need development. We relate some data from MSU, from state of Minnesota reports, and from federal studies and discuss some of the reading and writing issues for these students. We describe the possible roles of Adult Basic Education (ABE), community colleges, and MSU in developmental writing coursework and explore assessment tools utilized. We describe some models of writing development around the state and the nation, and finally describe some consequences of doing nothing, piloting project(s), and implementing a program …

Adventure Education And Learning Communities: Linking Classroom Learning With Everyday Life, Andrew J. Bobilya, Lynn D. Akey

Academic Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.