Education Commons^™

Information Literacy Instruction Services At Rural Community Colleges, Fall 2019 Through Ay 2021/22, Heather Posey Vandyne

Forsyth Library Faculty Publications

This exploratory study examines the instructional practices of two-year institutions located in rural areas during the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and the two academic years that follow. Since the virus commonly known as COVID-19 first made its way to the United States in March 2020, three classes of community college students have had an introduction to higher education unlike any other in living memory. The mixed method approach consists of a survey aimed towards rural college librarians and subsequent in-depth interviews. This study identifies attempts to retain connections with faculty and students, as well as adjustments in …

Empowering Your Students’ Agency Through Ungrading Practices, Robyn Hartman, Linda Feldstein, Janet Stramel

Forsyth Library Faculty Publications

Ungrading emphasizes formative feedback over summative judgment, promoting intrinsic motivation and student agency. While implementing ungrading requires effort, the benefit to students and teachers is significant.

Community Of Inquiry: Designing Quality Online Instruction For Special Educator Preparation, Haidee Jackson, Sohyun Yang

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

Online education programs are on the rise and institutions of higher learning are utilizing Learning Management Systems (LMS) to facilitate online learning. The Community of Inquiry (CoI; Garrison et al., 1999) framework identifies three categories of cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence to guide the development of online instruction and has been adopted by numerous institutions of higher learning. This article identifies instructional strategies conducive to the design of online presence using the CoI framework to ensure quality learning experiences in online special educator preparation programs. We address some of the features of LMS system tools present in Canvas …

A Pragmatic Approach To Investigating The Digital Existence Of Food Bank Users, Yaprak Dalat Ward, James Ward, Li-Jen Lester

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

This study investigated the digital existence of the food bank users in a university town in Texas, and subsequently, aligned with the research's pragmatic focus, the researchers designed a training model for these food bank users. Two research questions guided the study: What are the digital existence levels of the food bank users, and what training model would best serve these food bank users? Data were collected by means of a survey from 230 individual food bank users representing households. Additional data included observations and conversations with food bank staff, and documents and materials from the site which provided deeper …

From Workshop To Wind Turbines: Inspiring Middle School Stem Education, Janet Stramel, Paul Adams

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This initiative was the result of a grant provided by the Kansas NASA Space Grant Consortium (KSGC). Middle school teachers (grades 6-8) in western Kansas actively engaged in a workshop designed to broaden their understanding of wind energy, solar power, and the power grid, aiming to enhance their students' proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through the incorporation of the Next Generation Science Standards Disciplinary Core Ideas related to earth and space science, along with the integration of the Standards for Mathematical Practice, and the practical applications of science education activities developed by the NASA Science Mission Directorate, …

Reading Perceptions Of Intrinsically Motivated High School Juniors, Judy Henning, Sherry R. Crow

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

Studies show pleasure reading results in academic benefits but declines between elementary and secondary years. The question addressed is “what are the experiences in the lives of juniors (aged 16-18) that foster intrinsic motivation to read for pleasure?” Juniors from four mid-western U.S. schools with varied ethnic and socio-economic profiles were identified as highly and distinctly intrinsically motivated for pleasure reading. Interviews revealed participants excelled academically and had family members who were readers. They read to escape stress, occupy time, and investigate careers. Rarely reading for rewards, they were “opportunistic readers.” Relationships with librarians were important in finding good books …

Hammer Throwing - Countering Dynamics, Andreas Maheras

Track and Field Faculty Publications

During a hammer throw, the athlete first rotates the hammer two or three times around his body while keeping both feet on the ground. Following, the athlete attempts to increase the speed of the hammer by turning three or four times together with it, as one system, while being in double and single support alternately. During the turns, as the throw progresses and the speed of the athlete+hammer system increases, the athlete will be "countering" the hammer to maintain an optimum balance of the system. He can do this by employing two methods, a) countering with the "hips" which involves …

A Life Of Leadership, A Call To Do Better: A Hermeneutic Inquiry Into The Lived Experience Of An Educator - Raw Data, Scott F. Gregory

Teacher Education Research Data

Eliciting lived experiences, we seek to identify those experiences that have shaped the lived practice of a career and desire to answer: (1) How have experiences informed a career? (2) What does the lived educational experiences of an educator portend for the future of education? This inquiry incorporates the lived past experiences of the co-authors. Additionally, we seek to offer a path forward for the future of the profession that we love and have been grateful to experience.

This data was part of a hermeneutic inquiry research project involving myself and my father, Dr. Leonard L. Gregory. The data was …

Why Our Words Matter: Promoting A Growth Mindset In Online Graduate Courses, Elodie Jones

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

In the research concerning the growth mindset utilized when evaluating academic persistence, Yeager states, “... to achieve, we need more than inborn ability—we need the right mindset. He [Yeager] studies how students and adults feel they belong and are respected, that their work is relevant and purposeful, and that they can overcome setbacks and continue to improve” (Mills). Through Yeager's combined research with other growth mindset researchers such as Carol Dweck and Angela Duckworth, their findings point to the idea that students must be allowed to explore, reflect, and create a level of self-awareness in their abilities to flourish while …

Chapter 5 - Holding Space And Grace: The Implementation Of A Health And Wellness Statement In Graduate Courses, Elodie Jones, Betsy Crawford

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

A student's life is mentally demanding and time-consuming for any learner. U.S. culture values hard work, no excuses mantras, and discipline to achieve a graduate degree or the next promotion, and often it is a badge of honor to be overcommitted, stressed out, and exhausted. As mental and physical health issues arise, the implementation of a health and wellness statement for graduate students was utilized to open the proverbial door to hold space and grace for life's challenges and empower learners in an inclusive setting.

Constructing Written Scientific Explanations: A Conceptual Analysis Supporting Diverse And Exceptional Middle- And High-School Students In Developing Science Disciplinary Literacy, Brooke Moore, Jessica Wright

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

Constructing a written scientific explanation is a science practice that is fundamental in supporting students developing understanding of the natural world in which we live. Engaging in the practice of constructing valid scientific explanations supports students in developing science disciplinary literacy. Yet, writing a scientific explanation can be challenging for diverse and exceptional learners because it requires coordinating multiple, complex skills. This conceptual analysis explores the purpose of constructing written scientific explanations by focusing on the constituent elements and structures of a constructed scientific explanation. These findings are then integrated into a framework to assist Individual Education Program (IEP) teams …

Number Nudget: Developing Number Concepts, Kim Chappell

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

This guidebook provides sequenced activities to develop a variety of numerical concepts and to connect those concepts to number symbols using the Number Nudget tool. The aim to stress not only procedural skill but also conceptual understanding. The standards in the early grades (K-3) focus on number concepts and developing number skills. The domains of Counting & Cardinality, Operations & Algebraic Thinking, as well as Number & Operations in Base Ten can all be developed using the Number Nudget.

Chapter 10 : Developing World:Class Internationalized Universities: Double Tops Construction In China, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D., Cai Yuzhou

Management Faculty Publications

Effective higher education leadership is a movement in internationalized higher education. Moreover, incorporating principles of internationalized higher education is a contrast from traditional graduate educational practices, because new assessment methodologies are utilized to demonstrate institutional aptitude. Additionally, there has been a critical move in cutting-edge economies on how to attract students, grants, and funders. Globally, access to internationalized higher education has grown exponentially. Innovation is changing the idea of how people define internationalized higher education. Centralized leadership, information sharing, cooperation, and advancement are more prevalent than prior. Internationalized higher education has superseded traditional educational notions. Achievement lies in the capacity …

Chapter 13 : Organizational Stakeholder Management Develops Intentional Education Ethos, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D., Quinton L. Marks

Management Faculty Publications

Ethical leadership with regards to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and stakeholder management impacts institutional and departmental culture. Formalized leadership ethics and compliance initiatives improve institutional structures. The importance of graduate leadership that embraces ethics and compliance programs ensures adherence to policies set forth by institutions and mitigates bias. Stakeholder management is key because adherence allows leadership to develop strategic plans with stakeholders in mind, while decreasing quality issues. As a result, there is value to executing stakeholder management plans within graduate education.

Chapter 8 : Evaluating Intentional Education Practice In Graduate Programs, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

The purpose of this chapter was to examine whether the six variables of graduate educational quality predict intentional education practice (IEP) (teaching style) in United States graduate university programs. The issue is that graduate student engagement, student satisfaction, and matriculation diminish without IEP. Consequently, current performance measures of graduate higher educational programs illuminate issues in processes within instruction, quantity of trained instructor mentors, professional support networks, and existing programming, which may need improvement. Indeed, past researchers have noted limitations in higher educational and graduate school environments. Performance measurement variables impact long-term institutional effectiveness and remain largely unknown within educational institutions. …

Preface: Elevating Intentional Education Practice In Graduate Programs, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Educational leaders must institutionalize, implement, execute, and review initiatives to ensure graduate programs exceed performance metrics of educator quality, educational services, activities, technology, continuous improvement, and intentional education practice. Likewise, leaders must recognize that stakeholder engagement is invaluable to alleviate challenges in developing, assessing, and improving graduate program performance.

Chapter 12 : Effective Leadership Practices Transform Graduate Education, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Educational leadership requires more than designing a plan of action and persuading others to adopt the vision. Educational leadership is about encouraging others to be a part of the solutions that persist in innovative ways. Utilizing feedback communication with stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, administrators, community, policy makers) improves initiatives and legal compliance implementation, which is a value- added to organizational excellence. Principled leadership fosters transparency in daily interactions. Educational leadership requires that one consistently communicates the vision to those above and below. Educational leadership must be diligent in both stating visions clearly and following up with written documentation. Evaluation allows …

Is It Actually Reliable? Examining Statistical Methods For Inter-Rater Reliability Of A Rubric In Graduate Education, Brent J. Goertzen, Kaley Klaus

Leadership Faculty Publications

When evaluating student learning, educators often employ scoring rubrics, for which quality can be determined through evaluating validity and reliability. This article discusses the norming process utilized in a graduate organizational leadership program for a capstone scoring rubric. Concepts of validity and reliability are discussed, as is the development of a scoring rubric. Various statistical measures of inter-rater reliability are presented and effectiveness of those measures are discussed. Our findings indicated that inter-rater reliability can be achieved in graduate scoring rubrics, though the strength of reliability varies substantially based on the selected statistical measure. Recommendations for determining validity and measuring …

Chapter 1 : The Foundations Of Intentional Education Practice, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

The problem related to teaching effectiveness includes failure of institutions to identify process improvements, ascertain appropriate stakeholders to accomplish institutional goals, and implement streamlined classroom processes to ensure instructors have the appropriate professional support needed to apply intentional educational practices in graduate programs. Consequently, current performance measures of educational programs illuminate issues in processes within instruction, quantity of trained instructor mentors, professional support networks, and existing programming which may need improvement, yet is not being addressed in educational environments. Performance measurement factors impact long-term institutional effectiveness service quality of HE (educator quality, educational services, activities, technology, continuous improvement, educational leadership, …

Language For Specific Purposes: Using Hispanic Films And Current Hispanic Issues To Teach Specific Vocabulary And Context Related To The Professions Online, Chita Espino-Bravo Ph.D.

Modern Languages Faculty Publications

In this study I explain how an advanced Spanish conversation course can be created for virtual students using Spanish for Specific Purposes. The course is divided in different online homework students need to work on using four Hispanic films. This course is taught online and asynchronously. Students need to watch four films in this course, work on quizzes about the films, work on debates, and group presentations that are uploaded on VT (VoiceThread). The most important aspect of creating an advanced Spanish conversation course online is to define the goals and outcomes of the course very well and find the …

Smart Classroom Designs V. 0.1, Gordon Carlson Ph.D.

Informatics Faculty Publications

Funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (United States federal government), this document is the first version of a portion of the project report for the Smart Classroom project completed in December 2022. This document outlines materials, costs, and potential considerations for developing and executing versions of the smart classroom developed through this grant. Focusing on technical considerations, it compliments other documents in the grant report that focus on pedagogy and conceptual design.

Smart Classroom User Manual, Claire Nickerson Mlis

Forsyth Library Faculty Publications

In 2018, Fort Hays State University began building a prototype for a low-cost, portable smart classroom. This project was a collaboration between the library and the Institute for New Media Studies and was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This manual assumes that you are working with a smart classroom kit with components that have already been collected and set up, either by you or by an organization or consortium. If you are trying to create a smart classroom kit or set up the smart classroom screens, please consult the Smart Classroom Designs document. If you are …

Faculty Perceptions Of The Essential Elements Of Leadership Across Generations And Sex, Seth D. Kastle Ed.D., Haley Moon, Jeni Mcray Ph.D.

Leadership Faculty Publications

This exploratory quantitative study, whose population consisted of full-time faculty at a Midwestern state university, measures perceptions of the degree of essentiality of ten elements of effective leadership, and whether or not those perceptions were significantly different across generational cohort (baby boomer, GenX, and millennial) and/or biological sex (male, female). Current literature on generational cohort/gender and perceptions of effective leadership is equivocal at best. This study attempted to fill gaps in existing literature, as applied to faculty in higher education contexts. The essential elements of leadership identified for this study were: influence, promoting teamwork, change facilitation, authority, collaborative dialogue, risk-taking, …

Chapter 1: The Merits Of A Chief Diversity Officer (Cdo): Enterprise Training Program Strategy, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Developing an enterprise training program requires a commitment to cultivating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) organizational initiatives while providing alignment to the organizational mission, vision, and ethos. With this knowledge, enterprise training programs benefit organizations by fostering authentic cultures to resolve persistent issues of bias, implicit bias, and offenses of corporate policies. As a value, organizational leadership must lead and champion diversity initiatives to ensure stakeholders understand the importance of complying with organizational policies. The problem is that effective DEIB initiatives need implementation or an overhaul. Institutional DEIB initiatives fail because they have yet to identify the rationale for …

Chapter 12: Including The Exclusive: A Framework For Diversity And Inclusion Training In Intercollegiate Athletics, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D., Ramon Johnson

Management Faculty Publications

This research provides an analysis of Kentucky State University's (KSU) Athletic Departmental Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) training series based on Wolfe's leadership competencies. Utilizing Wolfe's competencies of leaders profile to measure DEIB training effectiveness provided a framework to evaluate the program. Wolfe's four domains are Domain 1: Vision, Values, and Culture; Domain 2: Personal Skills, Mindsets, and Values; Domain 3: Capacity Building for Innovation and Continuous Improvement; and Domain 4: Shared Responsibility and Structures for Continuous Improvement, Innovation, and Assessment. It was found that leaders must focus on the internal complexities of leadership and organizational development, as well …

Chapter 14: Strategies For Mitigating Bias In Training And Development, Quinton L. Marks, Bilal El-Amin, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

This chapter will examine the importance of mitigating bias in training and development, which provides internal and external scanning, thus mitigating bias in selection, promotion, compensation, information sharing, and implicit biases. Further, bias in training and development arises when training participants are intentionally or unintentionally targeted because of individual aspects of the “Big 8,” consisting of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, religion/spirituality, nationality, and socioeconomic status. Akin to research, information bias results from misleading training participants by providing incomplete information or showing imaging that is not representative of a diverse group of people. Additionally, DEIB training and development …

Chapter 13: Reconceptualizing Diversity Training Predictors Of Training Success, Shakoor Ward, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

The results of in-depth meta-analyses of diversity training outcomes reveal that cognitive learning is the strongest effect from diversity training, while smaller effects were behavioral and attitudinal change. Further results of the analysis suggest that successful diversity training occurs when learning is the goal, not impact from behavior or attitude changes. An adapted version of The Kirkpatrick Training and Evaluation Model is highlighted to demonstrate how to design an evaluation that measures actual learning, rather than perceived learning. In addition, the Plus/Delta feedback tool is introduced as an effective evaluation tool to identify what is going well and what needs …

Preface: Implementing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging In Educational Management Practices, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

The social and political changes of this era have created a fundamental shift in how businesses view the impact of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace. Successful businesses are now achieved by incorporating DEIB initiatives and managing inclusive workforces. Thus, it is imperative to understand how leaders implement DEIB educational change initiatives as well as how they make significant, sustainable changes by utilizing communication abilities, conflict management skills, and servant leadership. Simultaneously, educational stakeholders must vet essential change management processes and principles.

Revealing The Ideology Of Normal: Using Chat To Explore The Activity Of School, Brooke Moore Ph.D.

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

The idea of “normal” in schools is problematic. It arbitrates the way educators think about ability, achievement, and behavior. Normal implies a hierarchy of student abilities, suggesting that some can achieve and some cannot. For students who cannot achieve at the same rate as their peers, they are blamed as many assume the problem is the child. Students who deviate from normal are often characterized as different by race, language use, socioeconomic status, or perceived ability. This has historically led to educational inequities. Equating difference with deficits is problematic as US schools are growing in diversity daily. Drawing from Cultural …

Stem Teaching And Learning In Rural Communities: Exploring Challenges And Opportunities An Introduction To Volume 12, Issue 2 Of Tpre, Janet Stramel, Earl Legleiter

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This special issue of Theory & Practice in Rural Education highlights STEM Teaching and Learning in Rural Communities. The articles selected represent both theory and practice and explore the complexities, practices, challenges, and opportunities facing rural schools and universities as they design and implement STEM teaching and learning. Articles from the field have related rural school success stories of how rural districts have overcome challenges to have effective and rich STEM teaching and learning in rural schools. Article submissions crossed a variety of topics, and three main themes emerged throughout the articles: (1) making STEM teaching relevant, (2) promising practices, …