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Teacher Education and Professional Development

Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Final Project, Tyler Keller Jan 2016

Final Project, Tyler Keller

Service-Learning

Tyler Keller's 2016 paper on his service-learning experiences in the AVID tutoring program .


The Schema-Building Lesson Plan, Andrew P. Johnson Jan 2016

The Schema-Building Lesson Plan, Andrew P. Johnson

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

There are a variety of lesson plan forms. Different kinds of lessons call for different kinds of lesson plan formats. This article describes what I believed to be the basic elements necessary to effectively teach a schema-building lesson. A schema (plural is schemata) is an organized body of knowledge in our head. If long term memory were a file cabinet, schemata would be the individual file folders.


Impression Management Strategies Of College Professors With Disabilities, Chelsie Gaspar Jan 2016

Impression Management Strategies Of College Professors With Disabilities, Chelsie Gaspar

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This qualitative study examined how college instructors with disabilities utilize impression management strategies in order to enhance their ability to teach more effectively in the classroom. Eight instructors from mid-size universities and community colleges across the United States were interviewed. A thematic analysis approach was used to identify emergent themes pertaining to the ways in which college instructors with disabilities use impression management in the classroom. Results showed that instructors in this study use a wide variety of impression management strategies in order to influence how they are perceived in the classroom and to improve their teaching effectiveness. These strategies …


Examining Early Childhood Gender Socialization Through Children’S Picture Books, Kendra Leigh Pospisil Jan 2016

Examining Early Childhood Gender Socialization Through Children’S Picture Books, Kendra Leigh Pospisil

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This analysis examines gender representations found in children’s picture books through a symbolic interactionist perspective, employing conceptual ideas produced by West and Zimmerman (1987) and West and Fenstermaker 1995). Through a qualitative content analysis of 20 picture books from the past 15 years, I examine how gender is portrayed through both human and animal characters. I find that children’s picture books reflect our patriarchal society as they are male-centered, male-dominated, and male-identified (Johnson 2014). Children’s picture books depict patriarchal gender portrayals and provide children with examples of gender performances that satisfy patriarchal gender norms. This research has implications beyond books; …


A Phenomenological Study Of Professional And Practical Changes Experienced By Teachers Involved With Action Research In A Learning Community Master’S Program, Jay Dean Meiners Jan 2016

A Phenomenological Study Of Professional And Practical Changes Experienced By Teachers Involved With Action Research In A Learning Community Master’S Program, Jay Dean Meiners

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In the United States, the majority of teachers have a master’s degree or higher. However, there exist concerns in the literature that having an advanced degree does not make teachers better. There thus needs to be a way to improve the outcome of a master’s degree in education so that teachers do advance their practice and bring change to their classrooms as a direct result of their experience in a master’s degree program. By focusing on the use of action research in a learning community, the intent of the present phenomenological study was to discover changes that occurred in teachers …


Discovering Culture And Communication On The World Wide Web, Jin Xu Nov 2015

Discovering Culture And Communication On The World Wide Web, Jin Xu

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Discussions of intercultural communication mostly center round the interaction of culture and communication concerning differences in values, beliefs, norms and communication styles. However, cultural differences also stem from different cognitive styles, which impact intercultural communication. This article describes an activity that introduces students to cultural cognition theory. Combining research on the Internet, small group interaction, and class discussion, this exercise encourages students to apply theory to practice, to explore cultural differences on the Internet, and to develop their critical thinking skills. It also develops their awareness and skills needed to be mindful of the nuances of cultural differences. The exercise …


Gaining Knowledge: Creating Activities For Students By Students, Annie M. Clement Nov 2015

Gaining Knowledge: Creating Activities For Students By Students, Annie M. Clement

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

This article describes an activity suitable for high school and college/university communication courses. Combining outside research with in-class discussions and class interaction give students the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about interviewing in the ‘real world.’ Students research interviewing topics, find articles to support their topic, then create an activity and present this to the class. This allows more in-depth analysis of common topics discussed in an interviewing class allowing students to take control for their learning, deepening the learning process for themselves and others while decreasing common interviewing pitfalls.


Generation Me, Angie M. Seifert Anderson Nov 2015

Generation Me, Angie M. Seifert Anderson

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Book review of Generation me: Why today's young Americans are more confident, assertive, entitled-and more miserable than ever before by Jean Twenge.


Tomkat!: Linking Theory And Practice In Communication Studies Course Through The Introduction And Application Of Social Exchange Theory, Rita L. Rahoi-Gilchrest Nov 2015

Tomkat!: Linking Theory And Practice In Communication Studies Course Through The Introduction And Application Of Social Exchange Theory, Rita L. Rahoi-Gilchrest

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

This article describes an activity suitable for either high-school or university-level communication courses. Combining outside online research, small group discussion, and class interaction, this exercise uses Social Exchange Theory, applied to examples of celebrity relationships generated by students and discussed in groups, to illustrate the process by which individuals decide whether or not to initiate and sustain interpersonal relationships. Although students should be reminded that the reasons relationships do or do not survive are difficult enough to understand when we are involved in them, let alone when we view them from an outside perspective, the activity proves intriguing and involving …


Development Of Culturally Proficient Practice Across A Teacher Preparation Program, Lisa Vasquez, Elizabeth J. Sandell, Beth Beschorner, Lori Piowlski Nov 2015

Development Of Culturally Proficient Practice Across A Teacher Preparation Program, Lisa Vasquez, Elizabeth J. Sandell, Beth Beschorner, Lori Piowlski

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

No abstract provided.


The Edtpa And Pds Collide In A Culture Of Care (Coc) Model, Lori Piowlski, Elizabeth Finsness Oct 2015

The Edtpa And Pds Collide In A Culture Of Care (Coc) Model, Lori Piowlski, Elizabeth Finsness

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

No abstract provided.


Children's Picky Eating And The Role Of Family Environments, Maureen Lyons Sep 2015

Children's Picky Eating And The Role Of Family Environments, Maureen Lyons

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Picky eating is often seen as a temporary phase that children go through in the developmental process. While some children never exhibit picky eating behaviors, others seem to get stuck in the tendency of judging foods, which they have never tried, based upon a pretense that the food might not meet with their satisfaction. Learning more about children’s preferred food groups and types of foods, along with the family environmental factors experienced by these children may help to understand ways to support children who struggle with picky eating. Introducing children to new foods within a positive atmosphere, where they are …


Plunging Beneath The Surface: Uncovering Internal Dispositions, Lori Piowlski, Karen Colum Feb 2015

Plunging Beneath The Surface: Uncovering Internal Dispositions, Lori Piowlski, Karen Colum

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

Teacher preparation programs face the challenge of measuring candidates’ competencies that can be considered internal dispositions; which impact the quality of their instruction. This study delves into candidate edTPA scores in correlation with their IDI mindsets to support program development.


Early Career Principal Development: A Qualitative Case Study Of Principals' Perceptions Of Participation In The Institute Of Engaged Principal Leadership, Teri Marie Preisler Jan 2015

Early Career Principal Development: A Qualitative Case Study Of Principals' Perceptions Of Participation In The Institute Of Engaged Principal Leadership, Teri Marie Preisler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the perceptions of the participants in the Institute of Engaged Principal Leadership at the start and conclusion of their first year of sessions. The study used a single case study qualitative research approach incorporating semi-structured interviews questions, researcher observations, and review of documents throughout the 2012-2013 initial year of the Institute. The results indicate themes of growth within the participants' beliefs, confidence, focus on equity and student-centered school climate, and a need for networking within the educational leadership roles. Based upon these results, recommendations are provided for future Institutes as well as preparation programs for teachers and …


Literacy Strategies Successfully Implemented By Secondary Social Studies Teachers, Kelly Killorn Jan 2015

Literacy Strategies Successfully Implemented By Secondary Social Studies Teachers, Kelly Killorn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine which literacy strategies were used by secondary social studies teachers who were identified by their principals as having strong literacy integration skills. In addition, teachers' beliefs and purposes for utilizing said literacy strategies were examined. It was hypothesized that participants would incorporate literacy strategies into their instruction, and would utilize explicit vocabulary instructional methods and graphic organizers most frequently. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from five participants through three 50-minute behavioral observations apiece, followed by a 45-minute focus group discussion. Results indicated that these participants overwhelmingly utilized literacy strategies regularly …


The Impact Of Formative Feedback On Student Motivation To Write In Eighth Grade English Courses, Dayna Nielsen Jan 2015

The Impact Of Formative Feedback On Student Motivation To Write In Eighth Grade English Courses, Dayna Nielsen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study examined the impact of feedback on student motivation to write in eighth grade English courses, specifically during a persuasive essay unit. A literature review was conducted to determine the characteristics of effective feedback and when it should be delivered to students. The findings from the literature review were used to develop the experimental context for the study to find out how feedback can impact motivation. A mixed-method approach was used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data through the use of a survey administered after varying types and levels of feedback were provided to participating students. The study …


Providing The Fuel Needed To Blast Teacher Candidates Into Employment, Lori Piowlski, Peggy Ballard Oct 2014

Providing The Fuel Needed To Blast Teacher Candidates Into Employment, Lori Piowlski, Peggy Ballard

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

The 21st century learner has many facets that a teacher must be able to gleam and respond to, as identified in the increasing number of teaching standards that require teachers to meet the needs of all diverse learners through instruction and assessment that engage and encourage all students. The increasing diverse composition of students brings new challenges that teacher preparation programs must address to prepare effective teachers ready to embrace these students in a classroom that is responsive to the needs of all students. This study focuses on the program development of teacher candidates learning in block three courses (the …


Public Education And Teacher Understanding Of Dakota And Lakota Culture, Kiley Theede, Maggie Looft Aug 2014

Public Education And Teacher Understanding Of Dakota And Lakota Culture, Kiley Theede, Maggie Looft

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This project was designed to collect and to share information in order to better prepare teachers of Native students. This study involved five in-depth, in-person interviews with Dakota and Lakota elders between 40 and 70 years old. Elders provided reflections on experiences of past generations, on their own educational experiences, on the preferred learning methods of Native students, and on their visions for teachers‟ practices and influences on Native children. Through grounded theory, data analysis was conducted to identify themes. Stories and comments from elders were organized around those themes. Future studies might include use of the videotaped interviews in …


Surveying Teachers About The Use Of Stability Balls As An Intervention, Nicole Kafka, Raelynn Limberg Aug 2014

Surveying Teachers About The Use Of Stability Balls As An Intervention, Nicole Kafka, Raelynn Limberg

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Stability balls, which are commonly used for physical fitness, have become a recent interest among educators as a classroom intervention. Educators implement stability balls as an alternative to traditional classroom seating with the intent to improve classroom behavior and academic engagement. Little empirical support, however, exists for their use and effectiveness. For the purpose of this study, an 18-item questionnaire was administered to teachers working in school districts in Southern Minnesota that have and have not implemented stability balls as a classroom intervention. The intent of the questionnaire was to uncover motivations for implementation, perceptions regarding effectiveness, and estimate the …


Using Choice As A Writing Intervention To Investigate Gender Differences, Nicole Nohelty Apr 2014

Using Choice As A Writing Intervention To Investigate Gender Differences, Nicole Nohelty

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Writing has been specifically identified as a neglected skill within the core academic areas for elementary aged students (National Commission on Writing, 2013). Therefore, there is a need for researchers to focus on interventions that will improve students’ writing skills. Unfortunately, limited research exists with regards to interventions that have proven to increase academic productivity in the area of writing. Panahon, Hilt-Panahon, and Arbolino (2012) found that when students were given a choice of story starters, students wrote more words as opposed to when they were provided only one story starter. The current study looked to further examine the use …


Teaching The 21st Century Learner Certificate Program Report And Reflection, Bradley Coulter Mar 2014

Teaching The 21st Century Learner Certificate Program Report And Reflection, Bradley Coulter

All Resources

Report and reflection on a concluded program called Teaching the 21st Century Learner Certificate Program offered through CETL in 2014.


Training And Burnout Among Paraprofessionals Who Work With Children With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Jenna Robinson Jan 2014

Training And Burnout Among Paraprofessionals Who Work With Children With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Jenna Robinson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

To assist the Waseca school district in addressing the training and self-care needs of paraprofessionals, keeping the overall mission in mind of empowering students to succeed in the academic environment, this project examined the training received and factors related to subsequent professional burnout among paraprofessionals in Waseca schools.


Implementing Pbis In A Rural Junior High School: Reducing Negative Behaviors And Gaining Future Teacher Buy-In, Kelly T. Vourlos Jan 2014

Implementing Pbis In A Rural Junior High School: Reducing Negative Behaviors And Gaining Future Teacher Buy-In, Kelly T. Vourlos

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) improves student outcomes including higher graduation rates, improved classroom behaviors and management, less discipline referrals, increased student engagement, improved academic performance, increased faculty retention, and an overall better school experience for staff and students. Staff buy-in can be difficult to obtain, but is critically important for school-wide success of PBIS. The purpose of this project was to investigate if a short-term exposure to PBIS-like intervention would change buy-in for junior high school teachers in Belle Plaine School District and evaluate their opinions about PBIS, along with comparing student incident reports before and throughout the …


The Development Of A Teacher-Rating Measure Of Positive Behavior, Sara Ann Ebsen Jan 2014

The Development Of A Teacher-Rating Measure Of Positive Behavior, Sara Ann Ebsen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a systems-level prevention model for problem behavior in K-12 schools. As the number of schools implementing PBIS continues to increase, so does the number of evaluations of its fidelity and effectiveness. After summarizing the test construction, purpose and function, and psychometric properties of commonly used measures in PBIS, the current study examines the development of a measure of positive behavior that can be used to evaluate outcomes of PBIS implementation. Research questions focus on (a) themes of positive behavior, (b) internal consistency of the measure, (c) correlation and reliability over time, and (d) …


Implementing Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports At The Secondary Level, Sheri L. Allen Jan 2014

Implementing Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports At The Secondary Level, Sheri L. Allen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) at the secondary school level. The study used a mixed-method research approach. Concurrently, a qualitative survey about PBIS implementation with a quantitative open-ended question identifying how to improve implementation was administered to all secondary staff at one middle school. While the results affirmed that the four systems of PBIS were in place, this dissertation provides recommendations for implementation and how to improve implementation in a Midwestern middle school.


Determining Effective/Ineffective: The Barriers Facing Minnesota Teacher Remediation, Matthew John Hillmann Jan 2014

Determining Effective/Ineffective: The Barriers Facing Minnesota Teacher Remediation, Matthew John Hillmann

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This dissertation investigated the attributes of effective and ineffective teachers, the conditions that would prompt Minnesota principals to recommend an ineffective teacher for remediation, and barriers that prevent Minnesota principals from remediating ineffective teaching. The mixed methods study used the iterative Delphi technique to gain consensus of an expert panel of 16 Minnesota principals on these topics. Three surveys were administered with participants able to review raw survey data prior to the second and third round surveys. The study aligned with previous research about the barriers principals face when attempting to remediate an ineffective teacher, which has stated that time …


Writing To Learn, Kirsti Cole Nov 2013

Writing To Learn, Kirsti Cole

All Resources

CETL workshop on writing to learn by Dr. Kirsti Cole.


Time Management: Writing, Kirsti Cole Oct 2013

Time Management: Writing, Kirsti Cole

All Resources

CETL workshop on time management for writing faculty.


Assignment And Assessments: Writing, Kirsti Cole Oct 2013

Assignment And Assessments: Writing, Kirsti Cole

All Resources

CETL workshop on writing assignments and writing assessments.


Academic Language, Anne Dahlman Sep 2013

Academic Language, Anne Dahlman

All Resources

A Powerpoint presentation on academic language and how to incorporate it in the classroom.