Education Commons^™

Vietnam’S Human Capital Development Processes, Chi Hong Nguyen

Essays in Education

This article describes the historical evolvement of human capacity building in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. While current research has focused on investigating the motives of international students, skilled migrants and effects of skill migration policies, this article uses a historical approach to unpacking key political documents mostly published in Vietnamese to explore how human capital has been trained, used and retained. Eight successive phases for human capital development projects are analyzed through key publications by the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Central Government and related literature. It argues that human capital is not solely an individual’s …

Book Review: Paradoxes Of The Public School By James Schul, George Morrow

Essays in Education

Preparing teachers is critical to the health of American schools, communities, and our working democracy. This textbook introduces future teachers to the rich and complex world of the public-school educator. Using fourteen social, pedagogical, and political paradoxes the book reveals the historical events, personalities, and theories which have crafted today’s schools as well as the many issues surrounding the daily life of the teacher. This book engages future teachers in their critical role as meaningful players in the social context of an evolving world.

Should Reading Be A Core Class In Middle School?, Irica R. Dunkley

Essays in Education

This article discusses the value of reading as a core class in middle school. Research has shown that Language Arts, tasked with reading instruction, is insufficient for the development of the reading ability of middle students. Students are also expected to develop their reading skills through other core classes, such as Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics, but the development of reading ability is secondary in these classes. On the contrary, reading as a core class could improve reading achievement as it would be mandatory and provide all middle school students with explicit reading instruction by trained reading teachers.

Extension - A Novel Approach To Inquiry Learning With The 5e'S, Timothy C. Indahl, Megan Planchard, Madeleine E. M. Hammerlund, Chris Pierret

Essays in Education

The present article describes the employment of a unique element to inquiry-based science learning in k-12 classrooms, and in particular the 5E model. Extension is a process that emerged from the elaboration phase of the 5E model that is fundamentally composed of two elements: novel scientific research and scientific partnership. Extension is a phase that allows students to extend learning from an inquiry-based science curricular unit into novelty, which is essentially a research question for which there is currently no scientific answer. This process is supported through partnership with a practicing scientist from the local community, if at all possible. …

The Research Landscape Of Current Vietnamese Skilled Migration, Chi Hong Nguyen

Essays in Education

Although research on labour migration from Vietnam seems to be solid, that on skilled migration is paid scant attention to. Aiming to contribute further understandings to this gap, this article outlines basic streams of research on Vietnam’s migration and points out weaknesses in current research on Vietnamese skilled migration. In addressing this deficit, this paper identifies six limitations: (1) a discrete nationalism outlook, (2) a limited use of relevant conceptual frameworks, (3) a lack of empirical evidence on migrants’ transnational practices, (4) the absence of migrants’ voices, (5) the inclusion of Vietnamese migrants in Asian migrant groups, and (6) a …

No One Size Fits All: Key Debates In Transnationalism Research, Chi Hong Nguyen

Essays in Education

Migration is often examined through different theories and approaches such as cultural theories, policy and economic frameworks and transnationalism. Most of these approaches unpack the key components of migration that include effects of social structures on agency, influences of transnational ties, migrants’ successes and lives in limbo as well as cultural norms and gender roles. These have succeeded in offering a well-informed understanding of migration as embodied processes that are formed by migrants’ interactions with the surrounding world. As an embodied approach, transnationalism looks into various aspects of migrants’ lives across space and time. It entails various units of analysis. …

Spreading The Good Word: What Student Affairs Can Learn From The Jehovah's Witnesses, Z. W. Taylor

Essays in Education

Although institutions of higher education are thoroughly polylingual, evidenced by the linguistic diversity thriving on college campuses all over the United States and beyond, postsecondary communication is primarily in English. As a result, this conceptual essay introduces the translation and equity work performed by the Jehovah's Witnesses and how that work may translate into student affairs and higher education work.

Propelling Schools Forward: Five Initiatives To Improve American Public Education, James E. Schul

Essays in Education

American public education has long been a pivotal institution for shaping our society. With that said, it is paramount that American public education shapes our society in a progressive and forward manner. This article proposes five initiatives that have promise to propel American public education in such a progressive manner. These initiatives include replacing high stakes testing with a comprehensive accountability program; empowering teachers to develop the macro-curriculum; increase social services; include exceptional learners in the general curriculum; and take civic education seriously. The nature of these initiatives is explained in detail.

Reframing Solutions To Mental Health In Higher Education, Alan Cromlish

Essays in Education

Universities in the U.S. have seen their students’ experience an increase in mental health issues that relate to their personal development and academic performance. The development of non-profit organizations that specifically address the issue of mental health in higher education and recent trends of improving wellness and well-being have seen universities increase professionals to treat mental health issues as well as programs that develop wellness in students. The continued increase of mental health issues in conjunction with the increase of supportive measures for students suggests that universities need to reframe solutions to the issues that students experience. Finland and Aalto …

Developmental Achievement Versus Standardized Growth: Common Curricula & The Not So Common Student, Robert J. Howman, Corey Livieri

Essays in Education

Challenged is the presumed value of standardization in public education, especially the notion that student achievement is synonymous with performance on summative criteria insensitive to the unique characteristics of every child. This research was initially conducted during the 2010-11 regular academic year. It has since been replicated with similar results.

The overarching question driving the study: “How do educators effectively meet the individual needs of highly diverse students in this era of standardization?” In other words, how do we maintain the human element of teaching, which is so critical for positive child and adolescent development?

Examined are two team-taught 10 …

Special Education In Juvenile Residential Facilities: Can Animals Help?, Sally E. Thigpen, Stephanie K. Ellis, Rebecca G. Smith

Essays in Education

Children with emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD) are arguably one of the highest at-risk groups for dropping out before graduating high school. They are the group of students with disabilities who are most likely to be educated in residential facilities. Residential facilities such as Green Chimneys have incorporated animals into the treatment milieu with success. Animals have been used in various settings to improve the quality of life as well as the emotional and physical needs of people served by these facilities. This article describes the requirements for using animals in residential treatment, the limitations of such programs, and the research findings …

Development And Current Status Of Science Education Research In Turkey, Mustafa Sozbilir, Hulya Kutu

Essays in Education

The aim of this study is to determine the status and the trends of subject matters investigated, research methods/design and data analyses procedures used in science education research papers published in Turkey. Data were obtained from 413 papers concerning science education from 28 different journals publishing educational research in Turkey. Each paper was subjected to a content analysis in terms of the subject studied, the research design/method and data analysis methods used according to the Paper Classification Form (PCF) developed by the first author. This document analysis has showed that although the science education research is a new research enterprise …

Trends In Turkish Science Education, Muammer Calik, Suat Unal, Bayram Costu, Faik Ozgur Karatas

Essays in Education

The aim of the study is to determine the trends in Turkish Science Education on the basis of both master and doctoral theses involved. The researchers reviewed the online databases of the Higher Education Council and Proquest as well as the web page of graduate school of each university in Turkey which presents thesis archieve and investigated 444 graduate theses abstracts/fulltexts in regard to their created matrix (Year, Research Interest, Research Methodology and Sample). The document analysis has pointed out that in terms of research interest two general trends are apparent in Turkish science education research: (1) introducing science education …

Turkish Prospective Teachers Perspective Of Different Types Of Exams: Multiple Choice, Essay And Computerized-Type Testing, Neset Demirci

Essays in Education

The major aim of this study was to compare prospective teachers’ attitudes and natures toward teacher-made essay, multiple-choice type versus computerized-type exams. The primary study was conducted on a sample of 393 prospective teachers (specifically, students from 33 physics education, 93 science education, 66 computer education, and 201 elementary education departments) at Necatibey Faculty of Education, in Balıkesir, Turkey who were administered a test attitude inventory specifically designed to assess prospective teachers’ attitudes toward essay, multiple choice versus computerized type formats on a variety of critical dimensions. The data from study was pointing to more favorable prospective teachers’ attitudes towards …

Teaching Of Newton's Laws: Force And Motion: The Effectiveness Of Demonstrations, Refik Dilber

Essays in Education

In this study, we investigated effects of demonstrations on teaching of force and motion concepts compared with traditional instruction. The participants of this study consisted of 68 undergraduate students who taking the course in two different classes from the same teacher. One of the classes was assigned randomly to the control group, and the other class was assigned randomly to the experimental group. During teaching the topic of force and motion concepts in the physics curriculum, demonstrations were applied in the experimental group whereas in the control group traditional instruction was followed for the period of four weeks. As a …

Reflections Of The Understanding Of Assessment Adopted In The 4th And 5th Grade Science And Technology Curriculum In Textbooks, Zekeriya Nartgun

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent the understanding of assessment adopted in the renewed Primary Education 4th and 5th grade Science and Technology Curriculum is reflected in textbooks – student course books, student workbooks and teachers’ books- prepared by the related publishers and approved for use by the Turkish Republic of Ministry of National Education. The research is a qualitative study based on a document analysis. The analysis in the curriculum revealed that the understanding of assessment of the curriculum focused on “diversity in measurement techniques”, “multi-purpose use of measurement results” and “continuity in measurement …

An Investigation Of Some Factors Affecting Attitudes Toward Chemistry In University Education, Mustafa Ozden

Essays in Education

This is a study that explores university student attitudes toward chemistry who were taking an introductory chemistry course. Participants included freshmen enrolled in either a science teacher training program, an elementary school teacher training program or a mathematics teacher training program. 627 students were chosen from four different Education Faculties of Adıyaman, İnönü, Anadolu and Gazi University in Turkey. 348 subjects were male and 279 subjects were female students. The research instrument used 20 statements measuring students’ attitudes toward chemistry. Gender and study specialization differences in students’ attitudes toward chemistry were examined. It was found male students have more positive …

A Cross-Cultural Study: Middle School Students' Beliefs About Matter, Mary B. Nakhleh, Ala Samarapungavan, Yilmaz Saglam, Erdine Duru

Essays in Education

Turkish middle school students’ understanding of the nature of matter was examined and compared to those of US counterparts. Sixteen Turkish middle school students were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview explored students’ understanding of the particulate nature of matter in three areas: (1) the composition of the substances; (2) the relationship between particulate structure and macroscopic properties; (3) the relationship between particulate structure and processes. The results indicated that many of the middle school students interviewed could state that matter was composed of atoms. However, the majority of them were not able to use this understanding to …

The Effects Of A Laboratory Approaches On The Development Of University Students' Science Process Skills And Conceptual Achievement, Uygar Kanli, Rahmi Yagbasan

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects a laboratory based on the 7E learning cycle model with verification laboratory approach on university students’ development of science process skills and conceptual achievement.

In this study the sample consisted of 81 freshman university students who were taking the General Physics Laboratory-I- course at the university in Türkiye. In this study pretest-posttest design with control group was used. The night class students (43) who took lower weighted standard points from university entrance exam (UEE) than day class students were selected as experimental group. Day class students (38) were selected as …

Editorial, Mehmet Bahar, Huseyin Bag

Essays in Education

Editors' Note

Review Panel, Essays In Education

Essays in Education

Science and Science Education in Turkey Review Panel

Perceptions Of Primary School Teachers Regarding New Science And Technology Curriculum Of Turkey In Terms Of Teaching And Assessment Methods, Pinar Ozdemir, Sibel Guneysu

Essays in Education

The purpose of this study was to explore and investigate perceptions of the primary school teachers’ in 4th and 5th grade public schools on new science and technology curriculum in science and technology classes in Turkey. Whether primary school teachers familiar with the improvements in science and technology curriculum and whether they feel themselves adequate in terms of theoretical knowledge and application of the new approaches in science and technology lessons were also investigated.

The research type of this study includes survey and qualitative research in nature which are non-experimental research methods. The quantitative part of this study includes questionnaire …

Towards A Futuristic Educational Development In Nigeria, Charles Ayo, A. Ayodele Adebiyi

Essays in Education

Majority of the nations of t e world were colonized and went through wars at various times, but had turned around their fo unes through economic and educational reforms. In Nigeria however, there had been series of ed􀀍cational reforms from: 7/6-5-4 to 6-3-3-4 and now 9-3-4 system. Similarly, the recent reform in the higher education sector which has resulted into the conversion of the nation's higher techtjical educational institutions to degree awarding universities, which arose largely from the disphrity between the graduates of the two institutions in the labor market and the fallen standard of education. This paper presents a …

The Silent Crisis: Redefining Theoretical Approaches In Early Childhood Intervention Research With American Indians, Michael D. Niles, Lisa Byers, Elizabeth Krueger

Essays in Education

This article discusses the theoretical context of the education of American Indian children. The unique needs of American Indian children and the lack of ECI provided, as well as the major theoretical approaches used by the dominant society in ECI program development are discussed. The linear model of time and human development – the view that the dominant society traditionally holds; and the nonlinear perspective of most American Indian communities is presented.

Context, Process And Change: The Status Of Prospective Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Process, Abdurrahman Sahin, Hulusi Cokadar, Muhammet Usak

Essays in Education

Teacher candidates come to teacher education programs with beliefs shaped out of traditional contexts in their earlier lives. Those beliefs influence their new learning outcomes. It is therefore important for teacher education programs to identify the degree of perceptions that entry- and exit-level candidates hold. The purpose of this study is to identify and compare entry- and exit-level candidates’ degree of perceptions about teaching process and to understand if their perceptions relate to their personal variables. This is a descriptive study. The data were gathered by 28-item Teaching Process Perception Scale developed by the researchers. Collected from 267 teacher candidates …

Towards Student Involvement In Essay Assessment, Aynur Yürekli, Evrim Üstünlüoğlu

Essays in Education

In language teaching, assessment is one of the most formidable challenges for both the students and the teachers. Especially, when the assessment of productive skills which are subjective by their nature are concerned, the "challenge" could very well turn into a "nightmare" for both parties. In order to avoid this undesired possibility, the attitude of the grader and the students towards the evaluation rubric is as vital as the rubric itself.

This study describes the standardization process of the writing rubric for the assessment of essays, which is accepted both by the graders and the learners who are subject to …

Visually Impaired Education: Yesterday, Today, And Tomorrow, Adebiyi A. B.

Essays in Education

The actual formal education of the visually impaired persons started in Nigeria in the 40s by the Sudan Interior Mission, that was a century after their sighted counterparts had embraced Western Education. The main aim of the Missionaries was to train persons with Visual impairment to read the Bible and learn skills which would make them to be self reliant. The establishment of the first school for the blind in Gindiri was an eye opener to the emergence of other special education institutions in Nigeria. In Nigeria, Visually impaired education has passed through different stages of educational development. despite, progresses …

Onset Of Hearing Loss, Gender And Self Concept As Determinants Of Academic Achievements In English Language Of Students With Hearing Disability In Oyo State, Nigeria, J. Abiola Ademokoya, B. A. Shittu

Essays in Education

Since every class of students with hearing disability is always a heterogeneous one, the need for establishing relationship between some intrinsic factors in these students and their academic achievements becomes very imperative. This study therefore examined the influence of onset of hearing loss, gender and self concept on their academic performance in English language. 100 Senior Secondary School class III students with hearing disability were purposively selected to participate in the study. The study also raised 3 hypotheses to ascertain relationships between onset of hearing loss, gender, and self concept and English language achievement. Instruments such as the self concept …

Problems For Teacher Education For Primary Schools In Nigeria: Beyond Curriculum Design And Implementation, Olusegun Akinbote

Essays in Education

Primary education is the core of development and progress sin modern societies. However the quality of teachers who are to ensure the realization of the aspirations we hold for our children has fallen below expectations. This study therefore investigated the entry qualifications, the mode of entry into and the reasons why students enroll in Colleges of Education. The findings showed that majority of the student teachers are not ‘good materials’ for teacher education and that only a few of them really have the genuine desire to become teachers. Recommendations are made on how to improve on the quality of entrants …

Teacher Candidates’ Emerging Perceptions Of Reader Response Theory, Khaled Alazzi

Essays in Education

What are the possibilities when teacher candidates participate in focused instruction in reader response theory and connected opportunities to experience response to literature, then design and implement response experiences with their elementary students? Consideration of this question led to this study that describes teacher candidates’ knowledge about reader response theory and their perceptions of the value and usefulness of reader response theory throughout a semester of focused experiences in university and elementary classrooms. Through qualitative analysis, four distinct, but related themes emerged. These themes describe teacher candidates who: 1) are at differing stages of understanding, 2) find that responding to …