Education Commons^™

Shooting Fish In A Barrel: A Demonstration Of The Refraction Of Light, Walter Trikosko

Faculty Publications

This is not a treatise on optics or the index of refraction. It is merely a demonstration that will surprise and engage many of your students. We have all put a pencil in a beaker of water and observed how it appears to bend.1 Not so much fun or engaging, is it? Why not illustrate this optical effect by taking your students spearfishing? Simulated spearfishing, to avoid the financial and legal ramifications. I intercepted a quiver of 30-in long aluminum shaft arrows that were on their way to the dumpster because, if for no other reason, my office could …

Student Characteristics And Achievements In Online And On-Campus Fcs Courses, Paula Tripp, Mary Olle, Michelle Jones

Faculty Publications

With a growth in online course offering in recent years, there is much research focusing on student performance and student learning outcomes. However, research focusing on characteristics and achievement in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) higher education courses was not found. The purpose of this study was to compare student characteristics and achievements in online and oncampus FCS courses. The original study collected data from students enrolled in either the online or face-to-face section of the same junior-level course so variables were consistent. The study was later extended to another university using the same research set-up, but with a freshman-level …

Survival Strategies: Doctoral Students’ Perceptions Of Challenges And Coping Methods, Shirley H. Dickerson, Valerie Tharp Byers, Rachel N. Smith, Eunjin Hwang, Kay E. Angrove, Jason I. Chandler, Kelsey M. Christian, Leah Mcalistar-Shields, Stephen P. Thompson, Magdalena A. Denhem, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie

Librarian and Staff Publications

The purpose of this collective case study was to use a critical dialectical pluralistic (CDP) philosophical lens to investigate select doctoral students’ perceptions about the challenges that they encountered while in a doctorate program and the coping strategies that they found effective in mitigating these challenges. A major goal of CDP is to empower research participants maximally by giving them the role of participant-researchers. Participants were 10 doctoral students enrolled at a Tier-II university in the United States, who were selected via convenience sampling. Each student participated in a face-to-face interview with a member of the research team—consistent with a …

Utilization Of Social Media In Marketing Classes, Charlotte Allen

Faculty Publications

The goal of this paper is to highlight how instructors may integrate the different social media into various marketing classes. The paper will address the major social networks, and then follow with discussions of microblogging, media sites, and social gaming. Given that there is a great deal of research highlighting the effectiveness of utilizing social media in academic classes, this paper focuses on providing practical guidance as to how social media could be integrated into the classroom, homework, and project experience.

Violence Prevention In Middle School: A Preliminary Study, Wendy K. Killam, Catherine B. Roland, Bill Weber

Faculty Publications

Violence in schools continues reflecting violence within society. There is a growing need for violence prevention programs within the schools that provide students with the skills needed to cope with interpersonal and relationship is-sues effectively. This study was conducted at a middle school and there were 345 middle school students (6th to 8th grade) who participated in the study. The students participated in a violence prevention program. In this study, the researchers used a pre-test/post-test design and the results indicated that there were some changes in attitudes towards violence that occurred after the intervention.

Female-Only Classes In A Rural Context: Self-Concept, Achievement, And Discourse, Hope E. Wilson, Gloria J. Gresham Dr., Michelle Williams, Claudia Whitley, James G. Partin

Faculty Publications

Two middle schools in rural east Texas implemented an optional, single-sex program. Although previous studies have documented the effects of single-sex instruction, and recent educational innovations have focused on its benefits, little research has investigated its effects in rural contexts. This study found that for rural populations, patterns of discourse differ between female-only and coeducational classes, with all-female classes participating in higher levels of thinking and engaging in more discourse overall. However, girls in single-sex classes had significantly lower levels of general self-concept than girls in coeducational classes. There were no statistically significant differences in the achievement test scores between …

Transforming Training In Orientation And Mobility: Examining The Effect Using An Audio-Link On The Distance Between Trainer And Trainee, Michael P. Munro, Barry H. Stafford

Faculty Publications

Increased distances between instructor and trainee during orientation and mobility (O&M) training is purported to be associated with improved outcomes of heightened independence, self-efficacy, and preparation for real-world experience as a traveller. However, there is currently no research that identifies standard or optimal instructor-trainee distances or effoctive strategies to increase distances that enhance training outcomes. This exploratory, qualitative study compared the distance between two instructor-trainee dyads over ten 1.5-hour lessons. The first jive lessons were conducted without an Audio-link device, and the second jive occurred using the device. Results indicated that use of an Audio-link system significantly increased training distances …

Disaster And Preservation Planning Workshops, Kyle Ainsworth

Librarian and Staff Presentations

PowerPoint Abstract

This presentation elaborates on a 4-day regional disaster and preservation planning workshop held at the R. W. Steen Library May 14-17, 2012. It was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and brought 23 people from 11 different organizations together to learn about disaster and preservation planning from a Northeast Document and Conservation Center consultant. The PowerPoint explains the program director's thinking at all stages of the grant process—conceptualization, implementation and assessment.

Presented at the Society of American Archivist's Annual Meeting "Beyond Borders: San Diego," August 11, 2012. Session 605 - Inside and Out: NEH Preservation Assistance …

Final Performance Report, Neh Grant No. Pg-51734-12, Disaster And Preservation Planning Workshops, May 14-17, 2012, Kyle Ainsworth

Librarian and Staff Publications

Report on the strengths and weaknesses and successes and failures of the 4-day Disaster and Preservation Planning Workshops held at the R.W. Steen Library May 14-17, 2012.

Testing The Effectiveness Of Lecture Capture Technology Using Prior Gpa As A Performance Indicator, Michael D. Stroup, Michael M. Pickard, Korey E. Kahler

Faculty Publications

This empirical study examines whether making lecture capture technology available in a face-to-face lecture environment can improve students’ ability to learn the course material. We examine student performance in undergraduate principles courses in computer science and economics. However, rather than simply comparing average course grades between lecture capture and non-lecture capture classes, we use student grade point average (GPA) as a predictor of course grades earned in non-lecture capture classes and lecture capture classes taught by the same professors using the same course materials. Our results imply that making lecture capture technology available in face-to-face lectures does not appear to …

First Opinion: Bon Appétit, Readers!, Chris Woodworth

Faculty Publications

Book Review: Reich, Susanna. Minette’s Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat. Illus. Amy Bates. New York: Abrams, 2012.

Examining Leadership As Public Pedagogy For Social Justice, Patrick M. Jenlink, Karen Embry-Jenlink

Faculty Publications

The authors’ purpose in this study was to report on research that examined the meaning of leadership as a public pedagogy of socially just practice. Drawing on practitioners’ voices, the authors’ focused on what social justice means in the world of schools, what socially just practice is from a practitioner’s perspective, and the role that educational leaders play in connecting social justice and democracy in the educational setting. The authors engaged in an analysis of the narrative discourse related to social justice practices of practicing school leaders. As example, political issues that work to de-democratize social practice affect socially just …

Interstate Distance Education Partnerships: Case Study Of Challenges And Accomplishment, Michael P. Munro, Janet L. Kamps

Faculty Publications

Abstract

This paper chronicles the challenges in development of a partnership to deliver specialized teacher training across state lines. The authors present a framework of needed steps and use information from their experiences in a case study format to support and explain the progression of a proposed partnership to train teachers of the visually impaired between the Training Program for Professional in Visual Impairment at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX, and the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock, AR. The authors discuss the initial concept and need, the development commitment between the two parties, the …

Financially Sustaining University Lab Schools: One University’S Story, Gloria J. Gresham Dr.

Faculty Publications

University lab schools connected to teacher preparation programs are based on the clinical teaching model. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education encourage teacher preparation programs to extend the hours required in clinical settings for teacher candidates. For years, some teacher preparation programs have championed the clinical teaching model. The university that was the focus of this study has implemented the clinical teaching model for over 87 years. Sustaining this model was not easy but through perseverance, this university did just that. The intent of this study was to determine …

A Pillar For Successful Business School Accreditation: Conducting The Curriculum Review Process A Systematic Approach, David E. Gundersen, Susan Evans Jennings, Deborah Dunn, Warren Fisher, Mikhail Kouliavtsev, Violet Rogers

Faculty Publications

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) describes their accreditation as the hallmark of business education. According to information at BestBizSchools.com (n.d.), AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Being AACSB accredited means a business school is able to continuously pass a strict set of standards that ensure quality. As of December 2010, only 5%, or 607, of the academic business programs globally were accredited by AACSB. This number represents schools in 38 countries where the majority of programs incorporate both undergraduate and graduate education covering business, accounting, or both. An institution must …

Book Review: Rti With Differentiated Instruction, Grades 6 - 8: A Classroom Teacher's Guide, By J. O'Meara (2011), Hope E. Wilson

Faculty Publications

As school districts across the country move toward Response to Intervention (RTI) as a standardized way to meet the diverse needs of students in the classroom, Jodi O’Meara’s book provides practical and relevant information for middle level (grades 6 through 8) teachers on best practices for incorporating RTI and differentiation into their instruction, assessment, and pedagogy.

The Changing Roles Of Natural Resource Professionals: Providing Tools To Students To Teach The Public About Fire, Pat Stephens Williams, Brian Oswald, Karen Stafford, Justice Jones, David Kulhavy

Faculty Publications

The Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (ATCOFA) at Stephen F. Austin State University is taking a proactive stance toward preparing forestry students to work closely with the public on fire planning in wildland-urban interface areas. ATCOFA's incorporation of the "Changing Roles" curriculum provides lessons on how natural resource managers' roles are (1) different than they used to be, and (2) ever-evolving. The undergraduate Forestry Field Station summer program at the University's Piney Woods Conservation Center now emphasizes the importance and challenges of working with the public. The program brings practicing professionals from the Texas Forest Service to describe …

Apparatus For Demonstrating Longitudinal Wave Pulses, Walter L. Trikosko, Thomas O. Callaway

Faculty Publications

For live classroom demonstrations there are a number of devices that have been used to simulate waves. Some are based upon a design produced by E. S. Ritchie & Sons1 and consist of rods and cams that are activated by turning a crank.2,3 These devices show what transverse and longitudinal waves look like, but they do not allow for the free manipulation of wave parameters and observations of the changes that take place. A simple device can be constructed using elastic bands and straws4 to demonstrate properties of transverse waves.

Using Video Feedback To Measure Self-Efficacy, Linda Bobo, Amanda Andrews

Faculty Publications

When a student has a high sense of self-efficacy, foreseeing success and providing positive guides and supports for performing the skill will usually occur. A low self-efficacy tends to predict failure and anticipation of what could go wrong. Videotape feedback provided to students has reported favorable outcomes. Self-efficacy could alter performance in learning a psychomotor competency skill (PCS). The purpose of this study was a) to assess the self-efficacy of athletic training students in learning to perform a PCS; and b) to measure the impact on self-efficacy by implementing an educational intervention of video feedback in learning to perform a …

Google Earth: Cool Toy Or Cool Tool?, R Philip Reynolds

Librarian and Staff Presentations

No abstract provided.

Achievement Differences Between Large And Small Schools In Texas, Lee Stewart

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there exists a relationship between student achievement in Texas, as measured by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test, and the size of the high school at different socioeconomic levels. This study compared five size categories of Texas high schools to determine which size high school had the highest percentage of eleventh grade students passing all four sections (reading, writing, math, and science) of the TAKS test. Data were examined for statistical significance using an ANOVA and a post hoc Scheffé test. The findings indicate that smaller rural schools …

Rural School Principals’ Perception Of The School Counselor's Role, Gerta Bardhoshi, Kelly Duncan

Faculty Publications

Responding to the lack of clarity related to the defined role of the school counselor, the authors investigated school principals (n = 538), in a rural Midwest state, and their perceptions of the role of the school counselor. The survey utilized was developed based on professional standards of service delivery for professional school counselors as identified by the American School Counselor Association and a listing of identified appropriate and inappropriate school counselor tasks. Results indicate that school principals see responsive service provision as an essential task of the school counselor. School principals also perceive a number of ASCA identified inappropriate …

Boosting Students’ Tq (Thinking Quality) Via Quality Work [Abstract], Gloria J. Gresham Dr., Kimberly Welsh, H. Zawlocki

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Accounting Majors' Ethical Decisions Before And After An Ethics Course Requirement, Violet Rogers, Aileen Smith

Faculty Publications

The increased focus on ethical decision making in the accounting profession has resulted in greater attention being paid to the education of future accountants. Texas is one of the states that requires a State Board approved university course in Accounting Ethics to be on the transcript of prospective CPA candidates. This study reports on research using senior/graduate level accounting majors at a Texas state university before the university course requirement and after the requirement. The survey presented four vignettes for the students to consider (i.e., 2 describe an ethical decision and 2 describe an unethical decision). Students were requested to …

Becoming A Reading Specialist: Surveying The Possibilities, Judy A. Abbott, Cari R. Williams, Allison Swan-Dagen, Steven D. Rinehart

Faculty Publications

The terrain of graduate programs is changing, especially in light of preparing highly qualified teachers (NCLB, 2001) and standards-based accreditation (IRA, 2004a, NCATE, 2008). This changing terrain is noticed as many institutions of higher learning undergo program reviews through self-studies required by the institution, by state departments of education, by specialized professional associations, or by national accreditation entities. This project sought to explore the nature of reading specialists master’s programs by examining their websites in light of the shift towards standards-based accreditation of programs and the influence of federal legislation. Specific objectives for this descriptive study included: (a) reviewing master’s …

A Geowall With Physics And Astronomy Applications, Phillip Dukes, Dan Bruton

Faculty Publications

A GeoWall is a passive stereoscopic projection system that can be used by students, teachers, and researchers for visualization of the structure and dynamics of three-dimensional systems and data. The type of system described here adequately provides 3-D visualization in natural color for large or small groups of viewers. The name “GeoWall” derives from its initial development to visualize data in the geosciences.1 An early GeoWall system was developed by Paul Morin at the electronic visualization laboratory at the University of Minnesota and was applied in an introductory geology course in spring of 2001. Since that time, several stereoscopic media, …

Appropriate Physical Education Service For All Students, Ron French, Lisa Silliman-French, Deborah Buswell

Faculty Publications

All students, including those with disabilities, deserve appropriate, safe, and meaningful physical education instructional programs as identified by Texas Education Agency (2006) and that are reflected in the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE, 2005) standards.

U.S. And Romanian Executive Mba Students: A Cross-Cultural Comparison, Ernest A. Capozzoli, David E. Gundersen, Marcel Duhaneanu

Faculty Publications

Currently, there are over 260 EMBA programs worldwide with approximately 180 programs resident in the United States. The number of programs available for EMBA students has increased competition for those students. One characteristic of this increased competition between EMBA programs is the addition of global initiatives to expose students to other cultures. Part of this global initiative has resulted in alliances and the establishment of working relationships between educational institutions. To facilitate and enhance the learning experience while in an EMBA program these alliances should consider the impact culture plays in shaping student expectations. This paper addresses the question of …

Expectations Of Executive Mbas, Ernest A. Capozzoli, David E. Gundersen

Faculty Publications

Currently there are over 200 EMBA programs worldwide. These programs have grown in popularity and have increased by over a third in the last three years. Overall, schools are aggressively marketing their EMBA programs, and, as a consequence, prospective EMBA participants have numerous options for EMBA program enrollment. To successfully compete in the current environment, EMBA programs must understand and market to the expectations of prospective EMBAs. This paper explores the suitability of using the Teaching Goals Inventory (TGI) developed by Angelo and Cross (1993) as an instrument to analyze the expectations of EMBA candidates in the United States and …

The Curry/Samara Model And The Model Classrooms Project Background And Research Foundations, Gloria J. Gresham Dr., Ronnie Porter

Faculty Publications

The Curry/Samara Model(CSM) is an integrated, standards based approach to curriculum development that addresses differentiation from three dimensions (content, process & product). CSM is comprised of strategies related to curriculum, instruction and assessment that helps teachers to: (1) complement factual subject matter with rich, global concepts; (2) foster basic and abstract levels of thinking as related to core content; and (3) engage and assess students through traditional as well as innovative, authentic products.