Education Commons^™

Improvisation For Agricultural Communicators: Investigating The Effect Of Paired Role-Play Discussions On Students’ Empathy Development Using A Quasi-Experiment, Jean A. Parrella, Carrie N. Baker, Holli Leggette, Deb W. Dunsford

Journal of Applied Communications

Empathy is integral to effective civil discourse because it enables people to understand others’ perspectives (cognitive) and feel concern toward others’ feelings (affective). Although no studies have empirically investigated agricultural communications students’ empathy development, scholars in other disciplines have identified improvisational role-play exercises as effective means to develop students’ empathy skills. Therefore, we sought to determine how paired role-play discussions affected agricultural communications students’ empathy development when compared to class-wide discussions during the course of one semester using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group research design. The pretest-posttest survey instrument included Reniers et al.’s (2011) Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy. …

In With The Old: Encouraging Archives Use With Innovative Faculty Outreach, Kimberly Veliz, Ronald Rozzell

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

In order to encourage archives usage, an instruction librarian and archivist at a small community college collaborated to design an interactive instruction session for faculty. The session was to use breakout boxes to demonstrate how to incorporate archival materials into classroom activities at an institution wide professional development workshop event. Plans for an in-person breakout box session were scrapped after the COVID-19 Omicron wave forced workshops online. After designing and carrying out an online archives introduction, the session was reconfigured back into an in-person session utilizing breakout boxes. Despite lower-than-expected attendance, the innovative outreach made faculty and staff aware of …

Increasing Accessibility To Academic Library Services With Alt Text, Color Contrast, Captioning, And Transcripts In Youtube Tutorials, Barbara M. Pope, Gloria F. Creed-Dikeogu

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

Accessibility of library resources and services in academic libraries is fundamental to serving the discovery and scholarship needs of students and faculty, regardless of disability status. Equitable access in higher education affects student grades and retention, and within the library, involves making library buildings, video tutorials, library instruction, the website, Libguides, and resources accessible to students. Accessibility is vital for disabled students to obtain a college degree. It complies with federal law while improving access to education for all students, such as English as a second language students, undiagnosed disabled students, and students with different learning styles. This article focuses …

Foreseen Demands For Up-And-Coming Science Communicators And Recommendations For Science Communication Training Programs, Taylorann Washburn, Ch'ree Essary, Erica Irlbeck, Courtney Gibson, Cindy Akers

Journal of Applied Communications

Citizens interact with science on a daily basis, yet their understanding and opinions of scientific issues are formed with little scientific information. Science communication literature has called for scientists to take a more active role in engaging with the public through science communication efforts. However, scientists face demands and challenges that dissuade or prevent them from engaging in genuine communication efforts with a lay audience, including a lack of training. There has been an identified need for increased training programs for science communicators and students, but only a small number of programs currently exist. The purpose of this study was …

Redesigning Field Experiences To Support Rural Schools: A Praxis Reflection, Vicki S. Sherbert

Educational Considerations

The on-going social and political climate, with polarizing stances on everything from issues of social justice to mandates for mask-wearing and vaccination, brings non-normative stressors into the lived experiences of students, families, and educators everywhere. These stressors are often magnified in rural communities and schools. Yet, in spite of these challenges, many schools in rural areas have embraced opportunities for creative collaborations which foster connections and celebrate the unique richness of their communities.

This Praxis Reflection describes one such collaboration between a teacher educator at a midwestern university and a rural junior high/senior high school 300 miles west of the …

Lessons Learned: Curriculum Map As An Assessment Tool, Paul Antonellis

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

During this session, participants will learn about the steps taken to use curriculum mapping as an assessment tool, what worked well, challenges encountered, and recommendations going forward at the graduate and undergraduate level. The program will demonstrate how the program curriculum map can be linked to the general educational outcomes and aligned with intuition outcomes (Banta, 2014; Hundley & Kahn, 2019). Curriculum mapping will reveal program strengths and weaknesses before beginning the assessment process, avoiding costly mistakes in the assessment process. The mapping process will assist in determining which outcomes are assessed, when the outcome is assessed, and in which …

Students’ Re-Imaginations Of The Future Of Higher Education In Cameroon, Etta Mercy Aki, Nguehan Simeon Boris, Echari Lisa Ebenwei

Educational Considerations

The unprecedented changes in our society are re-shaping the future of higher education; therefore, re-imagining the future of higher education is a constructive process of development. This study is aimed at exploring the re-imaginations of students in higher education from their own analysis of their previous and current experiences at three key stages: before entry, participation, and graduation. This exploratory study collected qualitative data from 68 current students through synchronous online focused group discussions. Analysis revealed that students’ experiences position higher education in Cameroon as invisible at lower levels, providing limited opportunities and promoting dependency upon graduation. However, they hope …

Fifty Definitions Of English Learner: A Proposed Solution To Inconsistent State-By-State Systems In The United States For Classifying Students Who Speak English As A Second Language, Rolf Straubhaar, Pedro R. Portes

Educational Considerations

Although nearly one in 10 U.S. students is an English Learner (or EL), the definition of the term EL varies considerably from state to state, as does the means of assessing English language proficiency and the period of time for which the label is applied to individual students. As EL populations are growing throughout the U.S., both in school systems familiar with teaching ELs and in systems that do not have such experience, it is urgent that the methods by which this population is identified and by which its needs are met in acquiring English language proficiency are backed up …

Engaging Pre-Service Teachers In Interactive Social Justice-Themed Read-Alouds, Kayln Hoppe

Educational Considerations

This qualitative case study explored how pre-service teachers responded to social justice-themed picture book read-alouds in an undergraduate literacy course. Data were collected from personal observations, semi-structured focus group interviews, and student work, and were analyzed using inductive analysis. Findings indicate how reading multicultural literature aloud plays an important role in post-secondary students’ content understanding and preparation for a career in teaching. This case study may inspire teacher educators to incorporate multicultural read-alouds into higher education coursework.

Virtual Training For Managing Emerging Zoonotic Diseases Including Covid-19, Ramjee P. Ghimire, Karim M. Maredia, Melinda J. Wilkins

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The burden of zoonotic diseases is an important global issue affecting human and animal health, food value chains, international trade, and the environment. Two-thirds of the infectious diseases affecting human health are of animal origin. Information and knowledge of zoonotic diseases and associated effects is critical for managing these diseases. The World TAP at Michigan State University offered an online course in zoonotic diseases in March 2021, which a diverse group of 42 participants from 15 countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Americas attended. Grounded on Experiential Leaning Theory this paper discusses the conceptualization, design, implementation, outcomes of, and …

Community Mapping 2.0: Using Technology To Raise Community Awareness, Chris Sclafani

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

Community mapping can be an important tool for educators who aim to freely allow students to share their own connections and experiences. During community mapping, students identify areas within their own localities that matter to them, and engage in various literacy events centered on those places. Often, classes will study foreign lands and cultures during the course of a school year. While this is a wonderful learning opportunity, do they take the time to look deeper into their own personal neighborhoods and surroundings? This study uncovers the nuances of community mapping, as a group of third grade students work through …

Factors Influencing Students' Willingness To Communicate In Korean Elementary School Efl Classrooms, Mark A. Matuzas

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

In this teacher-research study I examine factors influencing willingness to communicate (WTC) on 39 students, grades 1-6, enrolled in after-school EFL classes in Korea. Quantitative data from student surveys, was analyzed to identify student perceptions of their comfort when engaged in various types of communicative classroom activities and to identify trends occurring across gender and grade levels. Qualitative data gathered from journals recorded after each day’s lessons was coded to identify themes related to classroom WTC. Findings from these data sources were compared with observation records and self-reflection. Factors identified that influence student WTC included: familiarity with speaking tasks, class …

Significant Relationships, Suzanne Porath

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

No abstract provided.

A Model For Becoming An Inclusive Adult Educator: Designing For Disability, Tulare W. Park, Kayla D. Mohney, Erica R. Moore, Carol Rogers-Shaw

Adult Education Research Conference

This evidence-based model of inclusive teaching offers knowledge and practical applications for adult educators. It provides strategies for equitably addressing all student needs, particularly those with disabilities.

Recommendations For A Successful Implementation Of Guided Pathways Model In North Carolina Community Colleges, Somanita Kheang, Sarah Deal, Keith Street Robinson

Adult Education Research Conference

This research aims to study challenges of implementing Guided Pathways model in 17 North Carolina community colleges. The findings indicated that most colleges struggled with implementing programs for student success.

The Story Of A Broken Sofa: Adult Education Meets Activist Art To Envision The Future Of Adult Education, Cynthia Stevens, Gabriele Strohschen

Adult Education Research Conference

This AERC Symposium addressed envisioning an Adult Education structure that meets societal needs. Within an activist art project paradigm, old and new adult education theories and practices informed the discussion.