Education Commons^™

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools, Christopher Cruise

Graduate Research Papers

There are many different characteristics that contribute to being an effective administrator. I believe an administrator must have a vision for his/her school. He or she must strive to constantly improve the educational experience for students by building a strong cultural community within the school that makes every student feel welcome. An administrator must work well with many different types of people within the school and community and must be willing to serve on many different committees to open lines of communication with all of the student body.

An administrator needs to surround himself with good people who share his …

An Administrator's Vision For Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Natalie A. Franke

Graduate Research Papers

A successful educational leader must have a passion for education and be an advocate for children. A well-rounded leader exhibits traits from all six Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL). Having clear high expectations and setting clearly understood goals will help lead a school in the right direction. Clear expectations and goals will ensure that the learning climate and culture in the building will be supportive, caring, safe, and positive. Students and their families will feel a belonging and want to stay. Collaboration will be a priority for everyone. Working together as a team will create a positive learning atmosphere …

Grief Counseling With Children And Adolescents, Megan Funke

Graduate Research Papers

There are many causes for the grief children and adolescents suffer in their lives. No matter what the cause, they will need someone to help them deal with their grief and develop the necessary coping skills to live a normal live. This paper discusses how school counselors can help children and adolescents learn to deal with their grief in a healthy manner and develop strong and lasting coping skills.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Amy Josephine Moine

Graduate Research Papers

To take on the role as a leader in education will not be an easy task. Administrators will be held to high standards in visionary, instructional, organizational, ethical, political, and collaborative leadership. In order to meet and/or exceed these standards I will depend on my skills in building positive relationships with all people and taking the right steps to build a school with a reputation of excellence.

Building Effective School-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Stephanie M. Juhl

Graduate Research Papers

Substance abuse among children and adolescents has become an epidemic in our society. Therefore, it is important to be cognizant of the reasons for child and adolescent substance abuse as well as to recognize risk factors for use. Many prevention programs have not been research-based and are not appropriate for all populations. Several programs and approaches are reviewed as to whether they will reduce the use of substances. School counselors can improve efforts by combining approaches to create comprehensive and multifaceted programs, which will improve the probability of prevention. Creating school counseling programs will be fundamental in preventing early substance …

Issl Standards : Tools For An Effective Educational Leader, Kimberly R. Latusick

Graduate Research Papers

The Iowa Standards for School Leadership (ISSL) provide an educational leader with the essential tools to construct a strong educational structure. These tools are used to actively engage everyone in the building process. The six ISSL Standards: Visionary, Instructional, Organizational, Collaborative, Ethical, and Political Leadership, serve as a blueprint to gain knowledge and develop attributes appropriate to the role of a building principal.

This essay reflects on how I have incorporated the ISSL Standards into my role as educator and future administrator. The practicum experiences, course-related work, and visionary expectations have allowed me to understand the importance of being an …

Using Cooperative Games For Faculty Development, Barbara J. Millis

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Learning through games has been going on for centuries. Faculty developers, however, are only now realizing the impact of well-structured and well-planned games. They not only “educate” engaged faculty members, but they can also motivate them. This chapter discusses the educational value of games, reveals their key underlying principles, and offers two examples of successfal faculty development games (scavenger hunt and Bingo) that can be replicated on any campus.

Bibliography, Volume 21 (2003)

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Bibliography for volume 21 (2003) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development.

Establishing A Teaching Academy: Cultivation Of Teaching At A Research University Campus, Patricia Kalivoda, Jodef Broder, William K. Jackson

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

The University of Georgia (UGA) has worked hard over the last 22 years to increase the respect and reward for teaching through the faculty development programs of the office of instructional support and development and through the establishment of two campus-wide teaching awards. Looking for a means to extend a celebration of teaching beyond one-time recognition or one-time participation, the university established a campus-wide teaching academy. The purpose of this chapter is to chronicle the evolution of the teaching academy that was founded at the University of Georgia in 1999. The mission, goals, membership, funding, and programs and activities of …

Something More: Moments Of Meeting And The Teacher–Learner Relationship, Richard G. Tiberius, John Techima, Alan R. Kindler

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

The Boston Group, drawing upon developmental and clinical research, has identified special moments in human interaction that they call “moments of meeting.” These moments occur spontaneously within the context of ongoing relational interaction and can effectively restructure relationships. We think of these moments of meeting as pivotal moments because of their potentially pivotal effect on relationships. In this chapter we briefly describe the theory underlying these moments of relational change, using examples from education. Then we suggest strategies that may help teachers participate creatively in such moments. Finally, we explore the implications of this theory for the concept of authenticity.

The Essential Role Of Faculty Development In New Higher Education Models, Devorah A. Lieberman, Alan E. Guskin

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

There is a growing interest in and active discussion about new educational environments, which shift the emphasis of education from faculty and their teaching to students and their learning. This shift enables us to view the education of students in multiple educational environments beyond the traditional model of faculty teaching students in a classroom. Combining both different instructional roles and educational settings into new higher education models of undergraduate education will demand that faculty learn new roles. It also holds out the hope that reducing the demands on faculty time and increasing the availability of other institutional resources will enhance …

Preface, Volume 21 (2002), Catherine M. Wehlburg

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Preface to volume 21 (2003) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development, by Devorah Lieberman of Portland State University.

September 11, 2001, As A Teachable Moment, Edward Zlotkowski

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

The Opening Plenary at the 2001 POD Conference was given by Edward Zlotkowski. Using the reactions to the events of September 11, 2001, as an example, he urged those in higher education to search out opportunities for academically based civic engagement and to focus on Boyer’s concept of the scholarship of engagement.

Internationalizing American Higher Education: A Call To Thought And Action, Deborah Dezure

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

In the wake of the World Trade Center disaster, many faculty developers are asking themselves what they do to promote international peace and understanding. But even before these events, there has been an indication that there was a pressing need to focus on global competencies as an important part of higher education for the 21st century. The purpose of this essay is threefold: 1) to summarize the research on the status of internationalization on American campuses, 2) to make the case for the active involvement of faculty developers in internationalizing higher education, and 3) to offer strategies with which we …

Assessing And Reinvigorating A Teaching Assistant Support Program: The Intersections Of Institutional, Regional, And National Needs For Preparing Future Faculty, Kathleen S. Smith

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This article discusses an assessment of an 11-year old teaching assistant (TA) support program at a Research I institution. The TA support program was developed on the premise that professional preparation of teachers includes fundamental teaching competencies or skills that call be identified, developed, and evaluated (Simpson & Smith, 1993; Smith & Simpson, 1995). The purpose of this longitudinal study was to identify and enhance the institutional enabling factors that help graduate teaching and laboratory assistants in performing their duties and in using their graduate experience to prepare for careers at a variety of academic institutions.

Transforming Instructional Development: Online Workshops For Faculty, Laurie Bellows, Joseph R. Danos

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Two vastly different institutions, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and Delgado Community College, cooperated in the delivery of online faculty development workshops in syllabus construction. This chapter describes the experiences of a flagship university and an urban community college in employing electronic delivery of the same workshop content to their respective faculty members. It shares successful and unsuccessful strategies, nuts and bolts, and the discovery of an unexpected, pleasant irony: The technology that can separate and isolate us has the potential to bring us together, as though we were on electronic legs in a virtual Athenian agora.

Integrity In Learner–Centered Teaching, Douglas Reimondo Robertson

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Learner-centered teaching challenges teachers with inherent conflicts and can be viewed as a conflicted educational helping relationship. This chapter explores fundamental conflicts in learner-centered teaching as well as ways to handle them constructively. Learner-centered teacher integrity is seen as the degree to which contradictory demands on the teacher (e.g., facilitating learning as well as evaluating it) are brought into synergistic relationship. A process for enhancing these synergies is suggested. This discussion emerges from a line of work that attempts to further develop the learner-centered teaching role in higher education (Robertson, 1996, 1997, 1999a, 1999b, 2000a, 2000b, 2000c, 2001).

Undergraduate Students As Collaborators In Building Student Learning Communities, Candyce Reynolds

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Colleges and universities have recently used the concept of learning communities as a strategy to improve undergraduate student learning. This chapter describes a learning community approach where upper-division undergraduates serve as mentors for freshman and sophomore students and develop and sustain learning communities with faculty partners. The impact of this program is described and implications are discussed.

Improving Teaching And Learning: Students' Perspectives, X. Mara Chen, Ellen M. Lawler, Elichia A. Venso

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Despite much debate among educators over methods to improve the climate and effectiveness of teaching and learning, very limited effort has been directed toward seeking input from students. In this study. a survey of students’ opinions regarding college teaching and learning was given in six courses with 163 students completing the survey. This chapter analyzed the survey results and proposed specific strategies that professors can use to make teaching engaging as well as informative, and thus, to enhance student learning.

Accommodating Students With Disabilities: Professional Development Needs Of Faculty, Sheryl Burgstahler

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Faculty members play an important role in making academic programs accessible to postsecondary students with disabilities. However, instructors do not always possess the knowledge, experiences, and attitudes that result in the most inclusive environment for these students. A literature review was conducted to explore what faculty members need to know about accommodating students with disabilities in their courses and how they can best gain this knowledge. These results were used to develop a comprehemive set of training options that can be used with postsecondary instructors nationwide. The content of these options focuses on legal issues, accommodation strategies, and resources. Modes …

Are They Really Teachers? Problem–Based Learning And Information Professionals, Michael Anderson, Virginia Baldwin

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Traditionally, working with teaching faculty is the primary consulting role for most faculty development professionals. The boundaries, however, are not always clear regarding instructional assistance that is provided to other personnel. This chapter demonstrates how collaboration among faculty consultants and information specialists can result in enhanced library utilization and better research-related instruction. Our model uses problem-based learning (PBL) as a vehicle for teaching research and retrieval skills in either a single class experience or in multiple classroom visits with an engineering librarian.

The Day After: Faculty Behavior In Post–September 11, 2001, Classes, Michele Dipietro

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

What is the best thing to do in the classroom in the face of a tragedy like the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001? What should instructors do to help students, if anything? This article describes the results ofa faculty survey at Carnegie Mellon University. Faculty reported what actions they took in the classroom to help their students (or their rationales for not mentioning the attacks), and their degree of confidence on the effectiveness of their behaviors. Statistical techniques are used to assess the significance of some trends, and implications for faculty developers are discussed in light of cognitive, motivational, …

Introduction. Volume 21 (2003), Catherine M. Wehlburg

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Introduction to volume 21 (2003) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development, by Devorah Lieberman of Portland State University.

The Knowledge Survey: A Tool For All Reasons, Edward Nuhfer, Delores Knipp

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Knowledge surveys provide a means to assess changes in specific content learning and intellectual development. More important, they promote student learning by improving course organization and planning. For instructors, the tool establishes a high degree of instructional alignment, and, if properly used, can ensure employment of all seven best practices during the enactment of the course. Beyond increasing success of individual courses, knowledge surveys inform curriculum development to better achieve, improve, and document program success.

Ua56/1 Fact Book, Wku Institutional Research

WKU Archives Records

Statistical and demographic profile of WKU.

Reflections On Mentoring Undergraduate Research, Robin L. Cooper

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Ua1bc Final Report Of 2002-2003 Wku Technology Advisory Council Meetings, Western Kentucky University

WKU Archives Records

The WKU Technology Advisory Council was established on November 8, 2002. It is comprised of faculty, deans, department heads, directors and students. This report contains summaries of meeting minutes and list of committee members.

Ua1d We Were One And Two Teammates, Vernon Hornback

WKU Archives Records

Undated autobiographical sketch written by Ted Hornback. He includes his experiences as a Hilltopper basketball player under E. A. Diddle, work as coach at Elkhorn and experiences working as Diddle's as assistant coach.

Ua12/2/2 2003 Talisman: About Face, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Archives Records

2003 Talisman

• Miller, Jen. Taking a Stand - Unity Day
• Funke, Libby. Football Season Opens with a Bang
• Powell, Kacie. Down & Dirty - Mud Volleyball
• Hawkins, Hope. Keeping Vigil - 9/11
• Flinchum, Andrea. Students Huddle Together at Guthrie Bell Tower to Remember and Learn from Sept. 11
• Miller, Jen. Sept. II: Keeping Vigil
• Covington, Shannon. Big Red Run
• Raggard, Jennifer. Cheyenne Hohman
• Funke, Libby. Once Upon a Hill - Homecoming
• From Private to Princess - Nae' Neal
• Covington, Shannon. A Powerful Tradition - Step Show
• Raggard, Jennifer. Whistle-Blowers - Andrea Payne, Christina Valdez
• Canadian Captain - Gord Veldman
• Hightower, …

Ua3/9/1 Western Kentucky University Annual Report, Wku President's Office

WKU Archives Records

WKU's annual report includes sections on academic prominence and student success, campus construction, faculty/staff awards, finances public and private, athletics and leadership.