Education Commons^™

Working Together To Cultivate Learning: Transcending Individual Differences And Inspiring Change, Regan A.R. Gurung

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Workshops

In his keynote address to the faculty of Parkland College, Dr. Gurung provides a new way to think about learning, as a lifelong change that takes into account all types of students who are in the process of learning, and explicitly focuses on the diverse characteristics of the students, outlines the main factors influencing traditional and lifelong learning, and offers pragmatic methods to motivate learners. This document is the slide presentation of his address.

The Utility Of Table-Top Exercises In Teaching Nuclear Security, Christopher Hobbs, Luca Lentini, Matthew Moran

International Journal of Nuclear Security

In the emerging field of nuclear security, those responsible for education and training are constantly seeking to identify and engage with tools and approaches that provide for a constructive learning environment. In this context, this paper explores the nature and value of Tabletop exercises (TTX) and how they can be applied in the nuclear security context. On the one hand, the paper dissects the key components of the TTX and considers the broader pedagogical benefits of this teaching method. On the other hand, the paper draws lessons from the authors’ experience of running TTXs as part of nuclear security professional …

Matl 260/360: Elements Of Materials Science—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Bai Cui

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The goal of MATL 260/360 Elements of Materials Science is to make undergraduate students understand the fundamental concepts of the microstructure-property relationship of materials. This course portfolio addresses several key questions in teaching, such as how to teach new knowledge more effectively, how to increase student engagement, how to promote students’ interests and motivations, and how to use this course to improve students’ analysis and critical thinking skills.

To address each of key questions, the course activities include: relating the new knowledge with daily-life and industry examples; giving PPT slides for after- class study; assigning homework questions after each lecture; …

A Primer For Mathematical Modeling, Marla A. Sole

Publications and Research

With the implementation of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics recommendations and the adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, modeling has moved to the forefront of K-12 education. Modeling activities not only reinforce purposeful problem-solving skills, they also connect the mathematics students learn in school with the mathematics they will use outside of school. Instructors have found mathematical modeling difficult to teach. To successfully incorporate modeling activities I believe that curricular changes should be accompanied by professional development for curriculum developers, classroom teachers, and higher education professionals. This article serves as an introduction to modeling by …

Assessing The Effect Of Simulation Models On Systems Learning In An Introductory Environmental Science Course, Heather J. Skaza

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence within the systems dynamics community supporting the use of systems simulations in the classroom to improve student understanding, there is little published, controlled, experimental research. This paper describes the results of a paired experiment testing the effect of using system dynamics simulations to increase systems understanding in an introductory environmental science course. We believed that the students using the systems simulations would demonstrate a greater systemic understanding of environmental issues than those who did not.

We conducted an experiment during the fall semester of 2009, with 304 students enrolled in four sections of …

Who Will Teach The Teachers?: Collaboration Between Liberal Arts And Education In Teacher Training At Bsc, William C. Levin

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

The Analysis Of Methods Of Instruction In College Algebra And Trigonometry Courses In The Langston University Department Of Mathematics, Cristie L. Bostic

McCabe Thesis Collection

In 1978, a recurring effort was made to remedy the constant decline of test scores in the area of mathematics around the country (Milhalko, 1978). At this time educational methods of "back-to-basics" and "competency-based" programs were seen as the solutions to the drastic decline in test scores and the decrease in interest among students in mathematics courses. Seventeen years later, teachers of mathematics in both the secondary schools and universities (entry level courses) are confronted daily with students who possess a fear of mathematics, students who are unwilling, uninterested, and unable to learn the concepts in mathematics, and students who …