Education Commons^™

Determining Optimal Storage Arrangements For Open Access Data Sets, As For Nsf Data Management Plan Requirements, David B. Lowe

Published Works

Document is a proposed draft of a decision tree to be used in determining what approach to take for making data available in order to comply with open access requirements for data management, as per National Science Foundation requirements.

The Effect Of College Student Demographic Variables On Teacher Enmeshment, Mark S. Walzer, Katharyn E.K. Nottis

NERA Conference Proceedings 2009

Interactions between students and faculty outside of class appear to be linked to greater achievement during and after college (Anaya & Cole, 2001; Hathaway, Nagda, & Gregerman, 2002). However, sometimes there can be blurred personal boundaries and a lack of autonomy in relationships or what has been labeled enmeshment. The purpose of the current pilot study was to investigate the effect of race/ethnicity, gender, year in college, and college major on faculty-student relationships and teacher enmeshment. Teacher enmeshment was measured with the Teacher Enmeshment subscale of the Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence (SITA; Levine & Saintonge, 1993). A sample of 165 …

Ethical Inquiry: In And Out Of The Curriculum, Lisa Novemsky

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

In its pure form, "doing philosophy" which includes "doing ethics, inquiry and critical or rigorous thinking." The late Matthew Lipman recognized that doing philosophy entailed the cultivation of excellent thinking. His ideas have been explored and expanded within the context of Philosophy for Children, a movement that makes reasoning and judgment available to children through the discipline of philosophy. It is rare to see philosophy and/or other methods of teaching reasonable, ethical and caring thinking in institutions of learning in this country.

Teacher Quality, Content Knowledge, And Self-Efficacy In One Mathematics Teach For America Cohort, Brian R. Evans

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationships between mathematical content knowledge and perceptions of teaching self-efficacy in one cohort of Teach for America teachers. It was found that teachers had high levels of self-efficacy. It was also found that mathematics related majors had higher mathematical content knowledge than did business majors, but similar levels of self-efficacy. Liberal arts majors had similar content knowledge and levels of self-efficacy as did mathematics related majors.

Querying The Place And Shape Of Ethics In Education: Models And Methods, Victoria Nunez

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The idea of integrating an exploration of ethics and other forms of philosophical thinking into the P-12 curriculum has been defined and explored both locally and globally over the last four decades. Yet the local movements to incorporate ethics into education have stalled and need to be reinvigorated. My perspective as the discussant is shaped by my study and teaching of feminist care ethics (Noddings, 2005) and the way the notion of caring has been applied by critical Latino/a studies researchers in the study of Latino/a urban education (Valenzuela,1999; De Jesus, 2003; De Jesus & Antrop-Gonzalez , 2006; Antrop-Gonzalez & …

Construct Invariance Of The Survey Of Knowledge Of Internet Risk And Internet Behavior Knowledge Scale, Robert K. Gable, Larry H. Ludlow, Stacey L. Kite, D. Betsy Mccoach

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The wide use of the Internet has potential for students to become victims of Internet predators or other students who engage in inappropriate cyberbullying. Educational programming efforts targeted for students, teachers and parents need instrumentation that provides meaningful and reliable data assessing students' knowledge of Internet risk and their actual Internet behaviors. Construct invariance of the Survey of Knowledge of Internet Risk and Internet Behavior Knowledge scale regarding gender and grade level is examined for N=2621 middle school and N=1594 high school students using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch rating scale modeling. Implications for score interpretations are discussed.

Teacher Retention In American Schools In The East Asia Region: Salary And Leadership Are Key, Laura Roberts, Steven V. Mancuso, Ron Yoshida

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The purpose of this study was (a) to track teacher turnover in the East Asian Region Consortium of Schools (EARCOS) and (b) to create a model to explain teacher turnover. We received responses from 32 school heads and 744 teachers in EARCOS schools. The average turnover rate was 32% from 2009 to 2010. The most important correlates of turnover were satisfaction with salary and the perception of a supportive principal. Teachers’ age was also a significant predictor of turnover. Characteristics that defined teachers’ perceptions of supportive leadership were consistent with definitions of transformational and distributed leadership.

An Investigation Of The Strategies And Decision-Making Processes Used By Effective Elementary Mathematics Teachers, Rochelle Goldberg Kaplan

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This paper describes an investigation on the behavioral and cognitive decision-making processes used by effective elementary mathematics teachers in order to add to the knowledge base in that field and move toward better elementary mathematics teacher preparation, enhancement, and selection. The data collection utilized an observational and interview format for assessing teachers’ planning, implementation, and reflection on a mathematics lesson. Data were collected from 15 teachers in New Jersey and in Israel from a variety of SES and ethnic communities. The scoring systems for coding data are discussed and preliminary hypotheses generated from the data are presented.

A Waste Of Time? The Value And Promise Of Researcher Completed Qualitative Data Transcribing, Krista Lucas

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Student Study Behaviors In Post-Secondary Classes, Jess L. Gregory, Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite, Margaret Lally Queenan, Beth Pamela Skott

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The current study explored study skills utilized by students across post-secondary academic levels. One hundred and forty eight students from a private university in the Northeast completed a survey that assessed participants’ self-reported frequency of use of textbook skills, note taking, memory, test preparation, concentration, and time management. Textbook skills, p<.01 and time management skills, p<.05 were found to be positively correlated with class level. The results indicated that advanced students more frequently utilized time management and textbook skills; however students at all levels might benefit from direct instruction on other effective study skills. Implications for the study are discussed.

Retention Of Most-At-Risk Entering Students At A Four Year College, Hari P. Koirala, Marsha J. Davis, Carmen R. Cid

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The literature on retention and graduation of college students suggests that institutions that serve higher proportions of at-risk students, such as low-income, first-generation, and minority students, have generally lower four-year and six-year graduation rates. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, this study focused on the retention of students from first to second year and from second to third year at a four-year college. Consistent with the literature, it was found that a disproportionately higher percentage of the at-risk students are likely to leave college without graduating. This study adds to the literature by providing specific information about factors that …

Evaluating Programs Serving High-Risk Populations: Challenges And Recommendations, Gavrielle Levine, Peter Swerdzewski

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

Grant-supported programs, particularly those sponsored with government funds, are required to include a rigorous evaluation as part of the proposal and project implementation to demonstrate program effectiveness. Ironically, programs that serve high-risk populations are often at an inherent disadvantage with regard to conducting rigorous program evaluations since this unique population does not lend itself to accepted program evaluation standards and practices. Consequently, these programs often do not receive the funding needed to provide useful programs for high-risk populations. The New York City-based RESOLVE abstinence education program will be used as a running example to discuss challenges and recommendations that are …

Using Computer-Based Testing With Young Children, Susan K. Barnes

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of using computer-based tests (CBT) with children in preschool and kindergarten. Children were administered paper-and-pencil (PPT) and CBT versions of a rhyme awareness scale. An embedded mixed methods design was used to explore to what extent children could complete the CBT independently, how children reacted to the tests, and how the results from the CBT and the PPT compared. Findings were that children needed help with the CBT and enjoyed using the computer. Preliminary evidence indicated that test mode mattered. These results have implications for future test development and use.

The Purpose Of A College Education: Getting A Job: Narrations Of First-Generation College Students, Angela C. Thering

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This research examines the educational experiences of a group of 18 white, working-class, first-generation college students and how these experiences prepared them to be successful in college. Most participants had always intended to attend college, despite their parent’s level of education. The data set for this study is derived from quasi-life history, qualitative interviews concerning participants’ educational experiences from all levels of schooling. This research seeks to address gaps in the literature concerning the educational backgrounds and understandings of white, working-class, first-generation college students as a means to assist colleges and universities in the recruitment and retention of this particular …

The Relationship Of Personality Traits To Satisfaction With The Team: A Study Of Interdisciplinary Teacher Teams In Rhode Island Middle Schools, Michele D. Humbyrd, Robert K. Gable

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

Shared practice in schools has emerged; teachers are moving from isolation to team collaboration where personality traits could be related to quality interactions. Team personality traits and team satisfaction were examined. A survey and interview approach was used for N = 244 full-time teachers from N = 49 interdisciplinary teams at N = 7 middle schools. Descriptive, correlational, multiple regression analyses and coded themes about team members’ personalities and interactions were employed. No significant relationships were found between the BFI traits and Satisfaction with the Team. Team-level analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between Satisfaction with theTeam and Extraversion and …

Perceptions Of Doctoral Students Regarding Factors Contributing To Student Success, Felice D. Billups, Stacey L. Kite

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This third and final phase of a sequential exploratory mixed method
design sought to investigate doctoral student perspectives regarding
support services that impede or assist in the completion of an Ed.D.
program at a small, northeast university. Qualitative methods included
individual interviews and qualitative reflections to probe student
perceptions regarding support program improvements, using their
'stories' to provide rich, descriptive details. Students emphasized the
need for better pre-enrollment preparation, a comprehensive orientation
and advising program, and ongoing academic support services including
writing assistance, research skills development, and networking and
mentoring. Tinto's (1987) integration theory provides the framework for
this study, …

Are Household Income, Gender, And Race Important In Shaping Parental Involvement In Children’S Education?, Nicholas D. Hartlep, Antonio L. Ellis

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The authors used data from the National Household Education Surveys (NHES) Program 2007 Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007) (N=10,681) to examine household income, gender, and race of parents, and their importance in shaping parental involvement in children’s education. The study finds that when accounting for tutoring that: (1) Pacific Islander mothers have the highest odds of being involved in their child's homework; (2) Black fathers have the highest odds of being involved in their child's homework; and (3) Low household incomes (compared to high household incomes) have the highest odds of being …

Students As The Definitive Source Of Formative Assessment: Academic Self-Assessment And The Self-Regulation Of Learning, Heidi L. Andrade

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This paper presents a synthesis of scholarship on formative assessment, self-assessment, and self-regulated learning. It has two objectives: (1) to bridge the gap between two related but distinct areas of inquiry, (2) to illustrate how research on self-regulation can inform the study of formative assessment in general and self-assessment in particular. The paper begins by briefly reviewing and integrating the relevant literatures. It then presents a simple model, proposes general principles for supporting self-assessment and self-regulation in the classroom, and presents examples from classroom practice.

Middle And High School Mathematics Teacher Differences In Mathematics Alternative Certification, Brian R. Evans

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

his study examined the differences in content knowledge, attitudes toward mathematics, and concepts of teacher self-efficacy among several different types of teachers in the New York City Teaching Fellows program, and informs teacher education in mathematics alternative certification. Findings revealed that high school teachers had significantly higher content knowledge than middle school teachers. Mathematics Teaching Fellows had significantly higher content knowledge than Mathematics Immersion Teaching Fellows. Mathematics and science majors had significantly higher content knowledge than other majors. Teachers had the same high positive attitudes toward mathematics and same high concepts of self-efficacy regardless of content ability.

Higher Level Peer Editing: An Investigation Of The Use And Quality Of Peer Editing In An Mba Program, Joanne Crossman, Stacey L. Kite

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This mixed methods study investigated the use of peer editing to improve writing among graduate students with a high percentage of non-native speakers of English. Following a modified version of the Van den Berg et al. (2006) Optimal Model of peer critique of university coursework, statistically significant gains were realized between the initial draft and final proposal for each of the measured items: support, audience focus, writing conventions, and organization. During the qualitative phase, students were observed to identify how peer editors engaged in discovery mode (Lockhart & Ng, 1995) interactions. The modified model and pedagogical practice proved effective for …

Ethical Dilemmas For The School Counselor: Balancing Student Confidentiality And Parents’ Right To Know, Nithya N. Iyer, Julia Baxter-Macgregor

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

Professional School Counselors have a variety of roles and responsibilities to students, teachers, parents, and administrators. School counselors collaborate with both the students and other stakeholders – in this case, usually parents and teachers. Consultation and collaboration with stakeholders can be carried out through team meetings or child study teams, with all relevant parties present. Such gatherings, while beneficial to everyone involved, can potentially bring about ethical dilemmas for school counselors. This article examines the function of child study teams, the counselor’s role as consultant within the team, and what ethical issues might arise in this role. Recommendations for avoiding …

Multicultural And Multilingual Youth Projects From Turkmenistan: Developing 21st Century Skills Through Global Connections And Teaching Beyond Borders, Melda N. Yildiz

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This paper is for teacher educators and K12 teachers who would like to integrate global education, 21^st Century skills and new media in education, this paper outlines my experiences as a Fulbright Scholar teaching multicultural education, media literacy and educational technology in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; offers creative strategies for producing media with youth; and showcases their projects and digital stories from Central Asia.

The research participants deconstructed and assessed the national and local curriculum and standards; presented their curriculum projects such as video documentaries reflecting not only on their stories but also international issues and perspectives through their online contact …

Levels Of Urgency And Attitudes Toward Group Experiences, Christine Perakslis, Stacey L. Kite, Felice D. Billups

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

The freshman experience typically requires a profusion of challenging adjustments relating to a new and demanding college environment. One significant force of attrition is transition or adjustment difficulties for freshman. Successfully influencing freshman includes efforts that focus on helping students make an academic, personal , and social adjustment to college. Group work provides opportunities for patterns of interaction (Evans, Forney, & uido-DiBrito, 1998; Tinto, 2005; Upcraft, Gardner, & Associates, 1989). The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between and among personality factors relative to levels of urgency and student attitudes toward group work. The study provided an institution …

The Challenge Of Teaching Ethics In Technology, Barbara Rosenfeld

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This paper investigates some of the ethical issues related to being a good
digital citizen and keeping users safe in an online environment. Parents and
educators should teach their children about the dangers of cyberspace as
well as the beneficial aspects of being able to access many resources and
communicate with others. The trend toward using electronic communication
devices both in and out of the school environment is one that many
educators embrace, but key issues must be addressed to maintain both
physical safety and good mental health.

An Ihe/Lea Research Partnership: Closing The Achievement Gap Through Differentiated Professional Development For Preschool Educators, Maureen Mcsparran Ruby, Ann Anderberg

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This paper describes results from an Early Reading First project that is closing the gap between English and Spanish speaking preschoolers and supporting teachers through professional development and coaching. A university and school district research partnership is transforming 15 preschool classrooms serving low-income families into sites of educational excellence. After intensive classroom language and literacy interventions and professional development of teachers and support staff, improvements in both outcomes on English assessments of early literacy for both English and Spanish speaking children and on a Teacher Knowledge Test for teachers and paraprofessionals were seen.

Assessment Of Students' Knowledge Of Internet Risk And Internet Behaviors: Potential Threats To Bullying And Contact By Internet Predators, Stacey L. Kite, Robert K. Gable, Lawrence Filippelli

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

Given the serious issue of bullying, this study sought to assess middle and high school students' knowledge of appropriate use and their behaviors on the Internet and social networking sites, especially regarding behaviors that may lead to cyberbullying or contact with potential Internet predators. Three school districts (urban, suburban, and urban ring) with grades 6 - 12 are participating in this study. Differences among and between grade levels, gender, and school demographics at the dimension and item-level will be presented.

Expertise3: Outcomes Of Instructor Collaboration On Elementary Teacher Education In Mathematics, Mary P. Truxaw, Fabiana Cardetti, Cynthia A. Bushey

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This research grew from two university faculty members’ and one doctoral student’s collaboration across different academic fields (mathematics and education) to better serve elementary preservice teachers (PSTs). The collaboration resulted in shared expertise and an ongoing investigation of confidence of mathematical content knowledge (M-CK) and mathematics pedagogical content knowledge (M-PCK) of PSTs who participated in math content coursework designed for elementary teachers. Findings suggest that PSTs who take one or more of these content courses, along with a mathematics methods course, have higher M-CK and M-PCK than PSTs who take only traditional mathematics courses along with a mathematics methods course.

Building A Successful Partnership Between A University And Local School Districts., Catherine Tannahill, Jeanelle Day

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

This paper describes the use of the Collaborative/Cooperative Model of staff development as a means for providing content knowledge and pedagogical skills to middle school teachers. The study involved four sequential one-year projects to increase science (and related mathematics and literacy) content knowledge and skills. The research question addressed: What is the most effective staff development model to provide science (and related mathematics and literacy) content knowledge and skills to middle school teachers? The study involved an intensive two week workshop at the beginning with on-going electronic and formal university based follow-up activities. Using pre-and post testing, participating teachers were …

Helping Urban Teachers Help Students Read Science: A Partnership, Margaret Lally Queenan

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

Eighty percent of fourth graders in a Northeast school had not met the
NCLB reading “goal.” Research questions asked: Will comprehension
strategies move students toward proficiency, and will a
researcher-teachers collaboration support that effort? Data included
student artifacts, student interviews, discussion transcripts, researcher
lesson plans, and field notes. Data were analyzed through coding and
constant comparison. Surveys confirmed that students learned comprehension
strategies; student writing confirmed that they learned content. However,
only 38% reached “proficiency” on standardized tests. Comprehension
strategies were necessary but not sufficient for reading. Guided reading
increased intensive instructional time but reduced time for learning
content.

A Comparison Of Linear And Nonlinear Factor Analysis In Examining The Effect Of A Calculator Accommodation On Math Performance, Minji Kang Lee, Craig S. Wells, Stephen G. Sireci

NERA Conference Proceedings 2010

In a statewide achievement test, the use of a calculator is often allowed as an accommodation for students with disabilities (SWD). The purpose of the accommodation is to eliminate the disadvantage faced by SWDs relative to peers without disabilities with the same level of overall mathematics proficiency. However, it is important to determine if the accommodation has changed the construct and meaning of the test scores. One way of examining whether the construct has changed due to the accommodation is to compare performance on the assessment for SWDs to peers without disabilities, controlling for differences in proficiency. In this study, …