Education Commons^™

Understanding Esl Undergraduate Students' Beliefs About Learner-Centered Instruction, Mahjabeen Hussain

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was undertaken to determine undergraduate English as a Second Language (ESL) students’ beliefs about learner-centered teaching (LCT) practices in English classes and to understand to what extent their learner-centered learning experiences influenced their beliefs about the quality of LCT practices. The Learner-centered Battery Student Survey and focus group interviews were used to collect data. One hundred and twelve undergraduate ESL students at a Midwestern university took part in the survey, 17 of whom, subsequently took part in multiple mini focus groups. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-Tests, and one-way ANOVAs. Results indicated that …

Second Grade Students Learn About Civil Engineers And Erosion, Andrea Anderson

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The integration of art into curricula focused on teaching science is a new perspective in education designed to reach a broader range of students. The current study examined the process of second-grade students participating in science and art activities through qualitative content analysis. The subjects of science and art were not taught to the students separately, rather, students engaged in both subjects simultaneously, in an integrated manner. Participants were 23 second-grade students (11 female and 12 male; age range 7 to 8 years) who were learning about erosion through sketching and creative construction and the work of civil engineers through …

The Effectiveness Of Using A Podcast To Teach Person-First Language, Kylie Wilson

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The use of person first language when working with people with disabilities is important for building successful relationships, particularly for educators. Thus, the purposes of this investigation were to determine: (1) how a podcast intervention impacts undergraduate students’ use of person-first language when discussing people with disabilities, and (2) undergraduate students’ perceptions about podcasts as a tool for learning. Forty-three undergraduate education majors participated in this study. To participate in this study, they had to first complete a demographics survey and a pretest on person-first language. Next, they listened to a validated podcast on person-first language. Participants completed a posttest …

Transforming Professional Learning Using Self-Study In An Efl Context, Mahjabeen Hussain

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Engaging in reflective practices is important for a practitioner’s professional growth. As a doctoral student I, by profession an English as a foreign language (EFL) instructor, entered into a relationship of critical friendship with a colleague in Bangladesh. We chose to undertake the task of reflecting on written corrective feedback (WCF) on student writings that we strongly felt needed attention in EFL environment, i.e., our own teaching context. The self-study method was used as a systematic inquiry to focus on our WCF practices. Following Samaras and Roberts’ (2011) guidelines for instructors newly engaging in self-study and based on the concept …

Civic Learning Outcomes: Measuring Students' Experiences In Higher Education, Stanley Ebede

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Many colleges and universities have re-embraced the public purpose of higher education. As such, identifying and measuring civic learning outcomes for students as well as evaluating the efficacy of civic engagement programs and teaching strategies are important (Steinberg, Hatcher & Bringle, 2011). The primary purpose of this study is to assess the civic-mindedness in students by comparing students that participate in Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) student association to non –NLA students at a comprehensive Midwestern university. The development of civic-mindedness in students was assessed using a survey designed around the Civic Minded Graduate (CMG) Scale. The CMG scale accentuates the …

Piecemeal Change In Higher Education: An Example Of Curriculum Re-Conceptualization, Dessy Stoycheva

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This paper argues that, even though holistic systemic changes are considered more effective than incremental adjustments, education changes often happen at the piecemeal level. These “inside out” changes can positively impact the education process and culture, resulting in improved academic experiences. As such example, an applied curriculum analysis and re-conceptualization is performed. It offers alternative adjustments that can be made to the standard curriculum so a piecemeal change can take place at the instructional level in the efforts towards improved quality of education.

Current Practices Of Co-Teaching In An Elementary Inclusive School: Moving Toward Effective Co-Teaching Relationship, Mona Al Nassir

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Co-teaching has become more prevalent in schools. The purpose of this study is to explore how general and special education teachers build successful co-teaching relationships to provide special education services to students with disabilities. This case study specifically described how two pairs of co-teachers including one special education teacher and two general education teachers interact, collaborate, and build and promote their co-teaching relationships.

The observation and interviews with two first grade co-teaching pairs provided data that told the story of how their co-teaching relationships developed and were promoted through working together in an inclusive classroom. Research data for this qualitative …

A Qualitative Comparison Of General Chemistry And Advanced Placement Chemistry Students’ Misconceptions Regarding Solution Chemistry, Megan Vandersee

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

There has been much research on student misconceptions regarding the particulate nature of matter and its relation to solution chemistry (e.g. Adadan & Savasci, 2012; Calik & Ayas, 2005; Calik, Ayas, & Coll, 2009; Pinarbasi & Canpolat, 2003; K. J. Smith & Metz, 1996). However, there is a lack of information regarding student misconceptions in areas of solution chemistry such as factors affecting solubility, polarity & molecular interactions and colligative properties. This research compared the misconceptions in solution chemistry held by students who are approaching the end of an Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry course in the high school setting with …

Exploring Technology Through The Integration Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And Issues Of Social Justice, Courtney Clausen

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

As classrooms become more racially/ethnically, economically, and linguistically diverse in the United States it is important for teachers to integrate pedagogy and methodology in the classroom that challenges existing inequities in education and assist all students in being successful in the classroom. Integrating culturally relevant pedagogy and culturally responsive teaching into one’s teaching and learning with diverse students can assist with creating an equitable learning environment. The purpose of this poster presentation is to share the findings of an action research project exploring the integration of culturally relevant pedagogy and culturally responsive teaching in a summer enrichment program for a …

Mindfulness And Power Posing Interventions To Decrease Emotional Distress, Lydia Carlson, Cori Bohnenblust, Jacklyn Johnson

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

While mindfulness interventions have gained acceptance, power posing as an intervention is more controversial. It became of interest with the release of Amy Cuddy’s 2012 TED talk, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are. Those who attend this presentation will learn about mindfulness and power posing interventions and their effect on reducing emotional distress in late adolescents.

A Literature Review: Pre-Service Teachers’ Self-Efficacy To Deal With Student With Special Needs, Pujaningsih Pujaningsih

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This review offered a detailed analysis of 18 studies that focused on self-efficacy of preservice teachers in inclusive classrooms. There were two focuses: the research methodology and results of the study that cover influential factors and the changes of self-efficacy levels of preservice teachers teaching in inclusive classrooms. The methodological concerns that need to be addressed by future researchers, as well as some research agendas for future studies, are suggested based on the findings of this paper. Only 26% (n=5) of the studies offered some alternative strategies that can be applied to enhance high self-efficacy levels of the preservice teachers. …

Making Inventions Using Scamper And Animal Adaptation Ideas With Elementary Students, Mahjabeen Hussain

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This study explores to what extent the SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Rearrange) technique combined with animal adaptation ideas learned through form and function analogy activities can help fourth graders generate creative ideas while augmenting their inventiveness. The sample consisted of 24 fourth grade students (14 female, 10 male) ages 9-10 at a suburban Midwestern elementary school. A repeated-measures design involving all participants alternately in the two conditions measured students under each treatment condition. In the experimental condition, students used SCAMPER charts with animal adaptation ideas to generate ideas to improve a product using …

Roles And Responsibilities Of Paraprofessionals In Creating Inclusive Communities: A Three Dimensional Perspective, Shehreen Iqtadar

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

In this presentation, I explore the roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals within an inclusive classroom from three different stakeholder perspectives: 1) the general education teacher, 2) the special education teacher, and 3) three paraprofessionals. This study was carried out in a 4th grade general education classroom in the Midwest school district. Qualitative research design was used for the purpose of data collection.

Certified Nonprofit Professionals And The Influence Of College Financial Assistance On Early Work Force Choices, Kristina Kofoot

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This poster will explore whether or not financial assistance in college has an effect on the decision of Certified Nonprofit Professionals choices to enter the nonprofit field during their first years in the workforce.

Teachers’ Interaction With A Young Child With Asd To Support Language And Communication Skills Development: Comparing Ipad And Non-Ipad Use, Saeed Almalki

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study was investigating teachers’ interaction with a young child with ASD when they were using iPad to support language and communication skills development. A manipulation-free design was applied. Business-as-usual classroom interaction was analyzed. Utterances were divided into two conditions (iPad-use and non-iPad-use) to compare effectiveness on supporting the child’s engagement in teacher-child interaction. In addition, interviews with teachers were conducted to collect more information about their own perspectives regarding iPad use with the student with ASD. Results of the study indicate that child-teacher joint attention and teachers’ verbal assistance happened more frequently when iPad was not …

Adolescents And Sexting: The Various Consequences And Strategies For Schools To Respond, Scotti Hagensick

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Cell phone usage is at an all-time high among teenagers (Lenhart, 2009). As more adolescents utilize cellular devices to communicate, behaviors such as “sexting” have dramatically increased. Known as the sharing of sexually explicit photos, messages, or sexual content, students often report the motivation to sext focuses on gaining popularity or status with the opposite gender (Vanden Abeele, Campbell, Eggermont, & Roe, 2014). Unfortunately, for many teens, sexting often results in serious consequences including potentially registering as a sex offender and/or facing child pornography charges. In many cases, individual states are not clear on sexting and its legality for minors, …

Professional Development: A Key To Success In The Student Affairs Field, Lauren Wypiszynski

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of the professional development plan is to provide the Department of Residence Life staff, at the University of Northern Iowa, with a tool to help professionals meet their goals and learning outcomes. At the start of the 2014-2015 academic year, professionals in the department were asked to complete a survey designed to evaluate the developmental opportunities in the Department of Residence, at the University of Northern Iowa, and outside of the University. The survey also provided professionals with an opportunity to indicate various methods for professional development, which they believed would be effective avenues for discussing various professional …

Identification Of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo By Teachers, Rachel Meisinger

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Children with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) are characterized by a hypoactive, sluggish behavior pattern that does not fully fit the conceptualization of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as was previously believed. Interest in this topic has surged recently, perhaps due to the fact that many researchers now view SCT as a construct that exists outside of ADHD (Barkley, 2014). SCT is associated with unique etiology, impairment, and comorbidities. Unlike ADHD, SCT represents a more passive form of inattention that may not disrupt the classroom. Thus, SCT may go unnoticed despite the fact that it is related to many academic and social …

Impact Of Student Organizations On The Development Of Core Competencies, Stanley Somtochukwu Ebede

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Higher education has a significant impact on the development of critical skills that improve students’ academic outcomes. However, academic institutions have not adequately focused more on the role of student organizations in supporting and improving student outcomes. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate students' perception of the development of core competencies during their experiences at comprehensive Midwestern university, specifically examining the differences of those involved in student organizations to those not involved.

The impact of student organizations on the development of core competencies will be assessed using a survey that was designed around the core competencies outlined …

1:1 Technology Programs Impact On Iowa Schools, Kong Chen, Palmer Scott, Noor Albayat, Ghader Albayat, Danielle Stubbs

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this research is to examine school-based use and student outcomes of 1:1 technology initiative. Qualitative methodology was used to understand one district’s process implementing 1:1 technologies. Guiding this exploration was an interpretivist paradigm that facilitated understanding the district’s intent, motivation, planning, and results of 1:1 implementation.