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Full-Text Articles in Education
Editorial Introduction, Catherine F. Compton-Lilly
Editorial Introduction, Catherine F. Compton-Lilly
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
As the editor for Networks, I often get questions from authors and reviewers about what we look for in high-quality submissions. In this column, I identify some of the criteria that we consider as we make decisions about sending articles out to reviewers and contemplate publication. Networks publishes three types of peer-reviewed submissions: full-length articles, shorter articles, and book reviews.
Improving Critical Thinking Skills In History, Carl Kosta Savich
Improving Critical Thinking Skills In History, Carl Kosta Savich
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
This action research project, conducted by a classroom teacher, investigated strategies and techniques to improve critical thinking skills and engagement in a high school history classroom. The research methods involved comparing quiz, test, and essay scores as well as student surveys, interviews and teacher-created field notes from inquiry-based and lecturebased classrooms. The inquiry classroom involved role-playing, simulations, re-enactments, multiple text analysis, and oral/visual presentations. Students engaged in analyzing bias, examining different viewpoints and perspectives, and analyzing documents. The findings indicate that when critical thinking skills were emphasized and integrated in lesson planning, students achieved higher scores on tests, quizzes, and …
An Analysis Of Educational Programming For And Learning Outcomes, Abigail Marie Felber
An Analysis Of Educational Programming For And Learning Outcomes, Abigail Marie Felber
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
In order to better understand the educational outcomes of English language learners enrolled in two distinct programs at this school, the researcher, a 4th/5th grade bilingual teacher, studied leading research in the field of bilingual education, administered and analyzed assessments and interviewed participants’ families as well as colleagues. The premise of the study was to compare literacy levels of two sample groups—six students who received instruction solely in English and six students who received instruction both in English and Spanish. All students were Latino, and Spanish was the predominate language spoken in their homes. Study findings revealed that, regarding English …
Expanding The Zone Of Reflective Capacity: Taking Separate Journeys Together, Ron Tinsley, Kimberly Lebak
Expanding The Zone Of Reflective Capacity: Taking Separate Journeys Together, Ron Tinsley, Kimberly Lebak
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
The Master of Arts in Education program at our college began in 2004 and was designed to help practicing teachers become more effective and insightful teachers through developing both their content and pedagogical knowledge and helping them to incorporate this new knowledge into their daily practices. The program was designed to culminate in a capstone project. Capstone projects have been used in graduate education as a culmination to the learning experience. The capstone course has been found to be instrumental in helping graduate students “connect theory to practice in a meaningful and collaborative way” (Brown & Bensen, 2005, p. 679). …
A Starting Point For Practitioner Inquiry: A Review Of The Reflective Educator’S Guide To Classroom Research, Christopher B. Crowley
A Starting Point For Practitioner Inquiry: A Review Of The Reflective Educator’S Guide To Classroom Research, Christopher B. Crowley
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
In first part of this essay, I will introduce my discussion of The Reflective Educator’s Guide to Classroom Research by describing my general impressions of the book. Next, I will provide a brief overview of the book and its main ideas. Finally, I will discuss some critical considerations that I believe are worth considering when discussing practitioner inquiry.
Editorial Introduction, Catherine F. Compton-Lilly
Editorial Introduction, Catherine F. Compton-Lilly
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
Are you considering writing an article to describe your recent teacher research project? The editorial board at Networks is interested. While we publish discussions of teacher research and accounts of teacher research projects in higher education, we are dedicated to providing a forum for the research and findings of teachers in pre-K through 12 classrooms.
Putting Literacy Centers To Work: A Novice Teacher Utilizes Literacy Centers To Improve Literacy Instruction, Rebecca Stout
Putting Literacy Centers To Work: A Novice Teacher Utilizes Literacy Centers To Improve Literacy Instruction, Rebecca Stout
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
“Girl, you have got to do something about that reading lesson!” After observing a reading lesson, my mentor shared how most of my students were off-task. She pointed out how some students were playing with the supplies on their tables and some were playing with supplies under the table. She suggested that I make the lesson more hands-on and interactive, possibly utilizing manipulatives, to keep the students engaged. My frustration mounted as I listened to these words of advice from my mentor because the lesson that I was giving was a scripted Reading First lesson. Reading First is a grant …
Student Reports In The Digital Age: An Invitation To Classroom Inquiry On Controlled Research, Willow I. Brown, Howard A. Klein, Judith Lapadat
Student Reports In The Digital Age: An Invitation To Classroom Inquiry On Controlled Research, Willow I. Brown, Howard A. Klein, Judith Lapadat
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
The digital age provides an overwhelming amount of information and an array of modes, including text, images, and sound, for presenting student learning. Without a comprehensive strategy for teaching information processing and presentation, student reports can be overwhelming for both students and teachers. The authors present research platforms as explicit instruction with potential to scaffold students toward multimodal literacy and purposeful independent inquiry presented with a confident voice. In research platforms, teachers create multimodal text sets on topics of interest and guide students to collect information, make sense of it, and present it to peers in engaging formats. Rather than …
Review Of Creating Equitable Classrooms Through Action Research, Willow Brown
Review Of Creating Equitable Classrooms Through Action Research, Willow Brown
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
For educators frustrated by simplistic prescriptions disconnected from complex classrooms, this book is like a cool drink on a hot day. The editors have assembled ten accounts of teacher research so detailed that readers can smell the chalk dust and picture the faces of students struggling to find belonging and success at school. Each account illustrates teachers’ inquiry and action: problem framing, data collection, reflection, and instructional decisions to increase equity of opportunity and outcomes for all students. Introductory and concluding chapters situate specific initiatives within the contexts of equity pedagogy, which includes two current movements that resonate with teachers: …
Recognizing A “Different Drum” Through Close-Reading Strategies, Cindy Lassonde
Recognizing A “Different Drum” Through Close-Reading Strategies, Cindy Lassonde
Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research
Every day 7,000 high-school students drop out of school (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2005). Students reading at basic levels are more prone to drop out than those reading at higher levels. According to the latest results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress 2005 Mathematics and Reading Trial Urban District Assessment, commonly called the “Nation’s Report Card,” the percentage of students reading below the basic level is high. Based on my concern over this critical issue of students’ reading comprehension abilities, I decided to explore the development of comprehension skills through close-reading strategies by spending time in a high-school classroom …