Education Commons^™

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 14, March 11, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Using Ubuntu As A Research Paradigm To Unpack How Ghanaian Novice Teachers And Their Collaborators Engaged Virtually In Collaborative International Qualitative Research, Adeline M. Borti, Rakesh K. Maurya, Ivy S. Jones-Mensah, Thilina I. Wickramaarachchi

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

The article details how Ubuntu was incorporated into each step of the research project, shares the authors’ experiences and key learnings, and provides recommendations for researchers utilizing Ubuntu as a research paradigm. Ubuntu is an ancient African philosophy emphasizing a way of life grounded in interdependence, collaboration, harmony, and community. In recent years, researchers have incorporated Ubuntu as a research paradigm to decolonize research in a sub-Saharan African context. The present article used international collaborative qualitative research conducted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate the application of Ubuntu as a research paradigm for conducting research in the African context. …

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 13, February 26, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 12, February 12, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present. Issue 12 is misnumbered as "Issue 11."

A Comprehensive Approach For Addressing E-Cigarette Use In High School Students, Michael Ebbert

Masters Projects

The prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among youth has increased at an alarming rate. More teenagers are falling victim to the adverse physical and mental effects of e-cigarette use despite the attempted implementation of various prevention and intervention programs. Teenagers are influenced to use e-cigarettes by their peers, social media, and e-cigarette advertisements. Schools and parents need to work together to end the teenage e-cigarette use epidemic. The comprehensive e-cigarette prevention program will seek to increase the knowledge of e-cigarettes, raise awareness of the harms of nicotine addiction, and build positive peer support influences. The overarching objective of this …

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 11, January 22, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Literacy Across The Disciplines: A Way To Re-Engage Secondary Students, Jenelle Williams

Michigan Reading Journal

In this article, the author describes the opportunities present with leveraging disciplinary literacy approaches, in terms of re-engaging teens with learning. The author also provides several cautions for literacy leaders to keep in mind.

Building A Beloved Community Of Literacy In Professional Spaces, Elizabeth Petroelje Stolle, Jennifer L. Vanderground

Michigan Reading Journal

This article shares the experiences of two literacy teacher educators who sought to create a beloved community for both themselves and the teachers with whom they work within their professional spaces. The authors emphasize the importance of fostering safe, collaborative environments that promote personal and professional growth. Drawing from the principles of the Beloved Community, popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the authors discuss the value of embracing a growth mindset when building such communities. Specifically, the article delves into two different professional development models as effective frameworks for cultivating beloved communities: Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and Learning Labs …

Prioritizing Social Emotional Learning With Interactive Read Alouds, Lindsay Stoetzel, Kelly Vigants

Michigan Reading Journal

The need for social emotional learning (SEL) in schools has never been higher. Yet, teachers need strategic support and training in order to integrate SEL into academic instruction. The literacy classroom provides a perfect venue for SEL integration with strong continuity and overlap between SEL dimensions and literacy standards. In this article, the authors explore how one high leverage literacy practice, the interactive read aloud, can be strategically adapted to intentionally target those SEL skills. The authors provide multiple examples and resources to guide teacher teams to reflect upon and prepare their own interactive read alouds to foster SEL goals …

Awareness & Access Matter: Making Professional Associations Available To Support Literacy Teachers’ Ongoing Pl, Kathleen S. Howe, Suzanne M. Tiemann

Michigan Reading Journal

Literacy professional associations offer members a wide range of support and services and historically play important roles in literacy teachers’ ongoing professional learning. Despite many benefits, membership in professional associations, including literacy groups, has declined. This article explores possible factors for decreases (changes to PL, technology, & generational mix of teaching force), before adding others: two emergent themes (awareness and access) from related survey research with K-12 literacy teachers in a midwestern state. Suggestions are offered to stakeholders for ways to raise awareness and improve access to associations for literacy teachers – an important tool for ongoing literacy professional learning.

Back To The Future: Looking At Nostalgic Practices To Conceptualize A More Inclusive Literacy Future (Part 1), Rebecca Witte, Darreth Rice

Michigan Reading Journal

In the first of two articles, the authors, two girls that “Just Want to Have Fun,” reminisce about educational literacy practices of the past, specifically one nostalgic writing practice, dialogue journaling. Using the analogy of a familiar toy from the 1980s, the View Master, they aim to revitalize an antiquated practice using modern theoretical frameworks (reels) that make current classroom practices more inclusive for today’s students. Looking to “reels” of academic (using current state standards), culturally relevant pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 1995), social emotional learning (Mussey, 2019), and humanizing instruction (Freire, 1968), we support current teachers in analyzing their practices to foster …

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 10, January 8, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present. Issue 9 is currently missing from our collection.

Strategies And Resources For Integrating Technology Into The Secondary Education World Language Classroom, Angelina M. Bauer

Masters Projects

This document is a research-based project that includes a reference manual of strategies for technology integration in the World Language curriculum, as well as an example lesson plan that implements many of the strategies. Many of the strategies and examples can be adapted to fit multiple subject areas. The theoretical framework upon which the project is constructed is a combination of TPACK and several of Stephen Krashen's Theories of Second Language Acquisition.

The Shocker, Grand Valley State University

The Shocker

Literary publication collecting writings and art from the Thomas Jefferson College "Make-It" program and via student submission.

2023-2024 Charter Schools Office Annual Report, Grand Valley State University

Annual Reports (GVSU Charter Schools Office)

No abstract provided.

2024 Portfolio Performance Report: Innovation In Learning, Grand Valley State University

Charter School Portfolio Performance Reports

No abstract provided.

Transforming Faculty Identities Within A Community Of Practice: An Academic Literacies Model, Gabriela Gui, Richard Vandermolen, Rui Niu-Cooper, Mary Bair

Peer Reviewed Articles

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21 caused faculty to struggle with remote teaching and scholarship productivity. This article examines the experiences of faculty members who participated in a professional development project focused on writing for publication during the pandemic. Through an academic literacy lens, results indicate that participation in a community of practice was a transformative experience that helped faculty members build capacity for scholarly writing, develop writer’s identities, provide and receive increased emotional support, and develop closer relationships with colleagues. Vital to this transformation were faculty commitment and a structured and supportive community.

Taiwanese Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions About And Implementation Of Formative Assessments In Teaching, Wei Gu, Chih Sheng Chen

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

The purpose of this study is to investigate Taiwanese elementary teachers’ perceptions about and their implementation of formative assessments. To address this purpose, three research questions were developed:
(1) How do Taiwanese elementary teachers view formative assessments?
(2) How often do Taiwanese elementary teachers implement different formative assessments?
(3) Is there any relationship between elementary teachers’ perceptions and implementation and their demographic and teaching conditions?

302 Taiwanese elementary teachers participated in a survey, from which the results show that: (1) Although most elementary teachers have positive perceptions about formative assessments, they do not use formative assessments frequently; (2) There is …

Gvsu Press Releases, 2024, Grand Valley State University

University Press Releases, 1961-Present

A compilation of press releases for the year 2024 submitted by University Communications (formerly News & Information Services) to news agencies concerning the people, places, and events related to Grand Valley State University.

Gvsu Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog, 2024-2025, Grand Valley State University

Course Catalogs, 1963 - Current

Grand Valley State University 2024-2025 undergraduate and graduate course catalog. Course catalogs are published annually to provide students with information and guidance for enrollment.

Making Space For Adolescents Of Refugee Background In Public Libraries, Danielle S. Dejonge

Masters Projects

Refugee adolescents go through multiple transitions that affect identity while settling in their new country of relocation. The ability to recognize the complexity of identity in a healthy way is fostered by safe spaces of belonging that encourage agency. Libraries, as spaces already effectively serving diverse populations including refugee youth, have the resources to be a safe space for these adolescents. One resource that has been trending in libraries is a makerspace. Makerspaces offer multimodal activities, whether they be arts-based or STEM-based, that not only encourage critical thought, but also allow for development of belonging and agency for healthy dynamic …

Investigating The Curricular Practices Of Social Innovation Master’S Programs In The United States, Ty M. Krueger

Masters Projects

The study of social innovation in higher education has increased as more schools add undergraduate and graduate programs on the broad topic. Discussion on what should be included as part of social innovation education has been occurring for decades, but there is little determination as to what could be considered as standards or even a baseline for curricular practices. This research aims to look at how current graduate programs for social innovation are defining the topic, what courses they include in their curriculum, what teaching methods are used in the delivery of these topics, and how the topics and teaching …

Strategic Morphology Interventions For Vocabulary Knowledge In Reading Comprehension, Danielle Marie Sharpe

Masters Projects

Many adolescent students have been shown to fall behind gradually as they reach

secondary grade levels. This has been researched as the effect of socioeconomic factors,

lack of immersive vocabulary backgrounds, and gaps in elementary years. Extensive

research has shown the benefits of morphology instruction in secondary students in

bridging vocabulary gaps, yet many schools have yet to provide them with the support to

comprehend difficult texts across content areas. This project explores the possible benefits

of offering adolescents the extra support and resources that can leverage reading

comprehension across content areas within secondary education. Through the use of

implementing …

Strategic Morphology Interventions For Vocabulary Knowledge In Reading Comprehension, Danielle Marie Sharpe

Masters Theses

Many adolescent students have been shown to fall behind gradually as they reach

secondary grade levels. This has been researched as the effect of socioeconomic factors,

lack of immersive vocabulary backgrounds, and gaps in elementary years. Extensive

research has shown the benefits of morphology instruction in secondary students in

bridging vocabulary gaps, yet many schools have yet to provide them with the support to

comprehend difficult texts across content areas. This project explores the possible benefits

of offering adolescents the extra support and resources that can leverage reading

comprehension across content areas within secondary education. Through the use of

implementing …

Sharp Stick Grasps At Autistic Women’S Liminal Vulnerability, Meaghan Krazinski

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This film analysis of Sharp Stick by Lena Dunham critically explores how the film uptakes representations of the ideas around the vulnerabilities of Autistic women in popular culture, and yet does not explicitly name them as such. This liminality is critical and plays into the intersectional analysis that the author engages around the way vulnerability and Autistic identity is interpreted and read. The author draws upon McDermott's (2022) "neurotypical gaze" in an analysis that shows how traditional tropes around Autistic women’s vulnerability are social constructions that are brought into relief by stereotypes around race, gender, and ability. The author uses …

Beyond The Bell: Rebuilding Care, Civic Learning And Creativity Within Youth Spaces, Michelle R. Haapala

Masters Projects

The purpose of this research is to investigate high school age students’ opportunities within formal classroom settings to engage in care, civic learning, and creativity within a suburban, publicly-funded charter school. This study used thematic analysis and coding methods to organize and find patterns in the qualitative data from surveys distributed to education professionals at Canton Preparatory High School in Canton, Michigan. The goal is to establish a foundation of the perception of care, civic learning, and creativity within school environments and classroom settings. Overall, education professionals rated these categories positively, but with a closer investigation, a disconnect is found. …

The Effect Of Reading Habits On Academic Success, Taylor Hicks

Masters Projects

The goal of most students is to achieve academic success. In order to be successful, students must form healthy reading habits because there is a positive correlation between academic success and reading habits. The more students read, the greater their chances of performing well academically. By participating in frequent reading, students will, not only perform well in school, they will also expand their vocabulary, improve their writing skills, and sharpen their critical thinking skills. We are in the midst of a literacy crisis, though. Students are choosing other avenues for entertainment instead of reading. This could potentially have detrimental consequences. …

An Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Disciplinary Methods, William Hewitt

Masters Projects

The practice of punitive discipline is the most common response to misbehavior in American school systems, despite having no evidence to support its continued use. However, there is research that demonstrates its active harm to students in multiple capacities. Punitive discipline has been found to only exacerbate students’ behavior issues, as well as negatively impact their academic performance. Additionally, research has pointed out that punitive discipline impacts students of minority demographics at a significantly higher rate than students belonging to majority demographics. More research in the way of alternative restorative policies, such as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), is …

Culturally Responsive Education: Creating A Safe And Inclusive Environment For Lgbtq+ Students, Kassidi M. Adams

Masters Projects

This paper explores research that discusses the impact of a culturally responsive education and lack-of for LGBTQ+ students and recommends a solution to ensure all students are safe and represented in schools. The research cited varies in their definitions and uses of the term LGBTQ+. This paper will use the term LGBTQ+, an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and more communities; however, the abbreviation used in the referenced research may be shortened to LG, LGB, LGBT, or LGBTQ to reflect only specific communities included in LGBTTTQQIAAP (VandenBos, 2015). This paper will also focus on inclusion, which refers to …

Parent Involvement In Elementary Schools, Abbey Koessel

Masters Projects

According to research, the lack of parent involvement in elementary schools can have long-term effects on things like student engagement and overall academic success. This issue becomes more prevalent in high needs, low SES schools as parents face more difficulties and obstacles when trying to be involved. This project uses Joyce Epstein’s framework and related research to develop interventions meant to increase and encourage parent involvement in different ways. There will be a focus on family-school partnerships and communication, parent workshops, and school-based involvement opportunities. Through the implementation of this project, it is hoped that parent engagement increases and student’s …