Education Commons^™

Blurring The Boundaries: Creative Collaborative Space For Excellence And Innovation, Patricia Hoffman, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

Our Center for Excellence & Innovation has brought together our Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, our Center for Excellence in Scholarship and Research, Assessment Coordinator and our Educational Technologists to serve faculty in a “one-stop shopping” venue. Through integrated marketing we inform faculty of resources and opportunities for professional development working diligently to ensure that faculty not only receive needed assistance but also experience a warm, welcoming environment. Seven principles of learning space design contribute to this collaborative, learner-centered environment: comfort, aesthetics, affordance, flow, equity, blending (a mixture of technological and face-to-face pedagogical resources.

"Real Life Solutions To Real Life Problems:" Collaborating With A Non-Profit Foundation To Engage Honors Students In Applied Research, Emily Stark

Psychology Department Publications

Colleges and universities have long emphasized undergraduate research experiences as valuable activities for students. The National Science Foundation (NSF) echoed this focus in 2003, recommending that all students get involved in undergraduate research as early as possible in their college careers (NSF). Collegiate honors programs in particular have embraced the role of student research as an integral experience for high-ability students, leading the way in developing the thesis-based model of undergraduate research that is increasingly common in institutions of higher learning. However, one difficulty in getting honors students involved in research, particularly early in their years at college, is that …

Academic Budget Prioritization In A Shared Governance University, Scott R. Olson, James A. (Jim) Grabowska, Rick Straka, Lynn D. Akey

Academic Affairs Publications

Academic program review and budget prioritization in a shared governance environment with transparency and results was critical for Minnesota State University-Mankato, in preparation for forecasted budget reductions. Using an interactive format, this session will review the development of program evaluation metrics, highlight the process and timeline used, present key lessons learned, and provide attendees an opportunity to consider application on their home campus.

A Strategic Funding Process: Emphasizing Shared Governance And Transparency, Lynn D. Akey

Academic Affairs Publications

The Purpose

Provide an opportunity and seed funding for innovative ideas to emerge from the campus community in support of the Institution’s strategic priorities.

The Process

The Strategic Priority Funding process that exists at Minnesota State University, Mankato today has roots extending back to pre-2004 as an innovation fund.

• Pre 2004 – An Innovation Fund
• 2004 – Strategic Priority Funding – Administrative
• 2006 – Strategic Priority Funding – Administrative/Planning Sub-Meet
• 2011 – Strategic Priority Funding – Joint Open Process

The process has primarily changed in ways that reflect greater shared governance, transparency, and assessment of results.

The Results

During the …

Learning From Recent British Information Literacy Models: A Report To Acrl's Information Literacy Competency Standards For Higher Education Task Force, Justine Martin

Library Services Publications

Information literacy is a fluid concept, shaped by our experiences, and changes in our information rich society. Guidelines articulating information literacy need modification to reflect the current form of this evolving concept. This report highlights the work of four groups in the United Kingdom to create innovative guidelines to assist practitioners in the promotion and teaching of information literacy.

Promoting Undergraduate Research In Minnesota: A Luoma Leadership Academy Project, Jason A. Kaufman, Marilyn Swan, Mark Johnson, Michelle Malott, James A. (Jim) Grabowska

Educational Leadership Department Publications

As participants in the 2011-2012 class of the Luoma Leadership Academy, the authors comprised an action team charged to investigate how undergraduate research is currently incorporated into collegiate studies in Minnesota. We developed a survey that was delivered to Deans at all Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) institutions using the MnSCU Deans listserv. Respondents to the survey represented all 7 universities and all 30 of the community colleges. This suggests that the findings of our action project have real generalization within the system and potentially similar public systems of higher education in other states. We offer data-driven recommendations and …

Report On Advising For Distance Students For Becky Copper Glenz, Dean Of The College Of Extended Learning, Kellian Clink

Library Services Publications

Original research involving survey of students and interviews with various advisors who help distance students.

Refreshing Information Literacy: Learning From Recent British Information Literacy Models, Justine Martin

Library Services Publications

Models play an important role in helping practitioners implement and promote information literacy. Over time models can lose relevance with the advances in technology, society, and learning theory. Practitioners and scholars often call for adaptations or transformations of these frameworks to articulate the learning needs in information literacy development. This study analyzes four recently published models from the United Kingdom. The initial findings were presented in a report for an ACRL taskforce reviewing the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. This article presents complementary, yet distinct findings from the same dataset that focus on reoccurring themes for information literacy …

A Brief Examination Of Predictors Of E-Learning Success For Novice And Expert Learners, Emily Stark, Andrea L. Lassiter, Ashley Kuemper

Psychology Department Publications

As the prevalence of e-learning continues to grow in higher education settings, so too does the need for empirical research examining the antecedents of success in this environment. Previous research has suggested some characteristics that may determine success in an online course; however, little empirical evidence exists relating potential predictors of e-learning success with actual performance outcomes, particularly for different levels of learners. Students new to college may need different kinds of support to succeed in an online course compared to students with more experience in taking college-level courses, whether online or in-class, and navigating institutional resources. A primary goal …

Testing Misconceptions And Building Excitement In A Psychology And The Law Course, Emily Stark

Psychology Department Publications

Did you know that there is no evidence that verifies that each person's fingerprints are truly unique, or that even trained dental examiners cannot accurately match bite marks to the teeth of a suspect? Thinking about our misconceptions can make us excited to learn more about a topic, so that we understand why we were wrong. This article discusses a method that I developed to address misconceptions about psychology and the legal system and to get students excited to learn more about these topics.

Organizational Culture As A Function Of Institutional Type In Higher Education, Jason Alexis Kaufman

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether organizational culture varies as a function of institutional type in higher education, and to identify whether there exists congruence between organizational culture type and leader behavior. Utilizing the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) developed by Cameron and Quinn (2011), data were collected from a sample of academic deans (n = 84) representing the colleges and universities across five states of the Upper Midwest. The results indicated a general trend toward clan cultures and congruent leader behavior for all institutional types (i.e., associate's colleges, baccalaureate colleges, master's colleges and universities, and …