Education Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers’ Lived Experiences While Addressing Cultural Diversity In Middle Schools And High Schools, Juan Pablo Vivialdi Remy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study sought to understand and describe teachers’ lived experiences with cultural diversity in middle school and high schools using cross-cultural dimensions as lenses. A social constructivist research paradigm derived from Lev Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory urged this study’s theoretical framework. The approach of cross-cultural dimension from Geert Hofstede was applied as a lens to investigate the participants’ views about their experience with cultural diversity. Teachers from middle school and high schools participated in the research. The participants were from different social backgrounds, races, lifestyles, countries, and organizations, which made each answer unique regarding cultural diversity and cross-cultural …

Community In Culture: The Role Of Multicultural Education In Elementary School, Michaela Novack

Senior Honors Theses

Racism, bias, and discrimination plagues all areas of society, including the school systems. With the wrong perspective, diversity causes division, and it is impacting students, even in elementary schools. This thesis will examine research about the issue of racism and bias in elementary schools and suggest the solution of cultural integration experiences with practical strategies. It will demonstrate how cultural diversity in instruction encourages students to identify stereotypes, readjust their perspectives of culture, and identify and appreciate their cultural differences. This instruction can be achieved through a variety of methods including virtual field trips, diverse literature, and class activities. The …

Evaluating Services For New Mainers Community, Hibo Omer

Student and Trainee Scholarship

Mission: Sandcastle Clinical & Education Services: we decided that children with special needs would no longer be separated and that our classrooms would be composed of a mixture of children. Sandcastle’s goal was and still is to this day that children graduating from our program at age five, who had special needs, would transition directly into a regular classroom and not be segregated from their peers. We are proud to have been on the cutting edge of inclusion, and proud to be educating children to be open minded, with open hearts.

Vision: Sandcastle was the first early childhood education program …

Characteristics Of Rural Stem Clubs And Implications For Students With Disabilities, Karin M. Fisher, Peggy Shannon-Baker, Kelly Brooksher, Kania Greer

Department of Elementary and Special Education Faculty Publications

There are many benefits for students to participate in extracurricular science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities or clubs. It is also known that students with disabilities (SWD) do not participate as much as their peers without disabilities (SWOD). However, there is a lack of research on SWD and their participation in STEM clubs. This sequential explanatory mixed method study explored teachers’ perceptions of the types and characteristics of STEM clubs and their participants, and their professional development (PD) to work with SWD in their clubs. Findings suggest a variety of STEM clubs are offered with an average of 20 …

Research-Based Course Re-Design For Human Relations In A Multicultural Society, Academic Years 2010-2012, Elizabeth J. Sandell

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

Intercultural competence is one way to describe how individuals and groups understand and adapt their behavior to cultural differences. University students can increase their intercultural competence by understanding behaviors and by experiencing cultural differences. One way to do this is by participating in a course, such as Human Relations in a Multicultural Society. The course's objective was to help students in understanding their own cultural roots, as well as those of other culture groups. This study responded to questions about the impact of multicultural education on intercultural competence among undergraduates. The data set included more than 130 students who took …

Editorial: Black Bear Pride Means Protecting Students From Hate Speech, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, Rep. Lawrence Lockman arrived at the University of Maine campus to give a keynote presentation at the “Crisis at the Border; A Citizen’s Guide to Resisting Racist Immigration Policies in Maine” event, organized by the UMaine College Republicans. It did not take long for many UMaine students and alumni to condemn this visit, citing evidence of violent, discriminatory and hateful statements made by Lockman in the past. The controversy stirred up by Rep. Lockman’s visit is a perfect example for how UMaine, its students and its administration need to take a moment to reassess how …

Women's Resource Center To Undergo Name Change, Leela Stockley

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, a subsidiary office within the Division of Student Life, expects to soon change the name and administrative structure of its Women’s Resource Center (WRC). These changes are anticipated to come through a process of organizational restructuring in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which has just this year acquired administrative control over the formerly unaffiliated WRC.

Meeting The Needs Of Graduate International Students In A Mid-South University: A Descriptive Phenomenology Study, Ifeyinwa Onyeke-Onwelumadu

Dissertations

NAFSA’s economic analysis indicates that international students and their families created or supported 340,000 jobs and contributed $26.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2013-2014 academic year (NAFSA, 2014). The analysis for reveals that for every seven international students enrolled, three U.S. jobs are created or supported by spending. These occur in the following sectors: higher education, accommodation, dining, retail, transportation, telecommunications, and health insurance. By the 2017-2018 academic year, the US witnessed further significant contribution of international students to the US economy, contributing $39 billion from living expenses, tuition, and fees. Also, the contributions of international students created …

Multicultural Education Professional Development: A Review Of The Literature, Hillary Parkhouse, Virginia R. Massaro, Chu Yi Lu Qiu

Teaching and Learning Publications

When their teachers are well equipped to foster inclusive and equitable classrooms, students from marginalized communities show higher rates of academic achievement, motivation, self-confidence, and self-efficacy. However, many teachers complete preparation programs feeling underprepared to work in culturally diverse classrooms, making high-quality professional development in this area crucial. We undertook a meta-ethnographic, systematic literature review of 40 studies of multicultural-education-focused professional development programs in order to better understand the forms and features of such programs that contribute to teachers’ self-efficacy and success in working with culturally diverse students. We found a small literature base with too much variation across types …

Melbourne’S Chinatown: Continuous Chinese Enclave For 168 Years In Australia, Wendy W. Tan

Publications and Research

Melbourne’s Chinatown is the longest continuous Chinatown in the western world. Besides the long history, it is also known for having many alleys; hosting largest dragon exhibits; and showing strong characteristics of cultural diversity. The author made a journey there to witness the beauty of being a well-preserved community.

Chinese Garden Of Friendship And Sydney’S Chinatown : Friendship And Something Beyond At Darling Harbor, Wendy W. Tan

Publications and Research

Chinese Garden of Friendship was a gift from China; Sydney’ Chinatown is a Chinese Australian community, and they are adjacent to each other at Darling Harbor of Sydney, Australia. The author made visits there to witness their beauties. Besides, she also explored other connections—friendship; Feng Shui; and cultural diversity within these two famous tour sites.

Contexts Of Cultural Diversity Professional Development In Schools, Hillary Parkhouse, Jesse Senechal, Julie Gorlewski, David Naff, Zoey Lu, Ashlee Lester

MERC Publications

This report is part of a larger MERC study on Professional Development for Success in Culturally Diverse Schools.The goals of the larger study are (1) to understand the landscape of diversity within the schools in the MERC region, (2) to consider the implications for school policy and professional practice, (3) to review the current models of professional development that support teachers and other school professionals in regards to issues of cultural diversity, and (4) to develop and test models of professional development that have positive impacts on teacher practice, student outcomes and overall school success. With these goals in mind, …

A Case Study Comparison Of Self-Perception Of Latino First Year College Students And Latino Second Year College Students, Corinna Rene Cavanaugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the self-perceptions of Latino students at an institution of higher education in Eastern Pennsylvania. Specifically, first and second year Latino student’s self-perceptions of campus assimilation and involvement in campus activities were studied. Latino assimilation into Western culture has been tumultuous. Although statistics report Latino college enrollment to be the second highest in the nation, second only to Asian enrollment, degree completion rates continue to be the lowest in the nation. Subsequently, a rise in Latino population is dramatically influencing the higher education classroom, and educators are confronted with meeting the …

Using Culturally Relevant Experiential Education To Enhance Urban Children’S Knowledge And Engagement In Science, Cara Michele Djonko-Moore, Jacqueline Leonard, Quintaniay Holifield, Elsa Bailey, Sultan Almughyirah

Child and Family Studies Publications and Other Works

Background: Children living in urban areas often have limited opportunities to experience informal science environments. As a result, some do not have a deep understanding of the environment, natural resources, ecosystems, and the ways human activities affect nature. Purpose: This article examines how experiential science education supported urban children’s science knowledge and engagement through cultural relevance and eco-justice during a 1-week summer camp. Methodology/Approach: Third- through sixth-grade children from African American and Latinx urban communities in Colorado participated in a weeklong program using experiential learning opportunities including environmental and climate change lessons, activities at a local community-based site, and field …

Reconsidering "Diversity" In College Applications, Brawley Benson

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

My high school used to give out class awards. In all subjects, students were recognized for their outstanding performance during the year and presented a trophy, and usually a relevant book. During one of these annual award ceremonies, my English teacher said, “We have no way to measure intelligence, but grades are the closest we can come.” When I think about the word “diversity” in the college context, I ask myself what it means and how it is measured — much like how I questioned my teacher’s understanding of grades as the closest measure of intelligence. Diversity is obviously something …

Diversity Week And Islamic Awareness Week Bring Community Together, Allya Uteuova

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Students and members of the University of Maine community came together to celebrate the differences and similarities that make up our campus during Diversity Week and Islamic Awareness Week, March 27–31, 2017. Put on by the Office of Multicultural Student Life, Diversity Week started back in 2014. So, what exactly is diversity? When people hear this word, they often associate it with multiculturalism. Diversity is the make up of a group of people who have different characteristics. These characteristics can differ in socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, countries, races, genders and religions. Multiculturalism is the difference between cultures. It is meant to …

Diversity Week Highlights Many Walks Of Life Across Umaine Community, Josh Fabel

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

According to Director of Multicultural Student Life, Silvestre Guzman, Diversity Week has occurred on the UMaine campus for at least eight years, and has become a popular string of events within the past few years. This year, the week was comprised of many smaller events that occurred everyday such as meditation, karaoke and a couple of educational seminars on different diversity topics, such as religion. The events were put together with the assistance of the Caribbean Club, The Student Heritage Alliance Council and the Muslim Students Association as well as other heritage groups on campus.

Does Global Citizenship Education Predict Identification With All Humanity?, Alpha Amber Scott Belt

Dissertations

Scholars and leaders agree institutions of higher education must prepare students to live, work and thrive in a global community. Nevertheless, there remains much discourse and debate surrounding what it actually means to be a global citizen, and what are the appropriate learning opportunities that will best serve to achieve this goal. This quantitative study examined whether or not participation in global citizenship education opportunities predicts how a student identifies him- or herself in relation to all humanity as measured using the Identification with All Humanity (IWAH) scale (McFarland et al., 2012). Four research questions were examined 1) does participation …

Assessing And Selecting Culturally Diverse Literature For The Classroom, Helen Adam, Laurie Harper

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Articulated within the Australian Curriculum (AC) and the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) are strong principles of diversity and intercultural awareness. These principles place a responsibility on educators to make curriculum decisions that reflect inclusive goals and practices. It is important that all children have access to authentic and accurate representations and role models related to their cultural backgrounds and everyday lives, in order to gain benefits associated with developing a positive sense of identity and belonging (Gollnick and Chinn, 2006; Jones Diaz and Harvey, 2002; Morgan, 2009) with additional benefits to their academic and intellectual progress (Department …

Coming To Understand Diversity And Education: Life Experiences And Educational Opportunities, Steven Paul Chamberlain

Human Development and School Services Faculty Publications and Presentations

Coming to understand how cultural differences influence interactions between educators and students and their parents is a complex and perhaps life-long discovery. Culture helps to define groups’ belief systems and expectations for appropriate behavior, often at a hidden level. Pre-service teachers need multiple opportunities to interact with diverse populations in supervised and reflective environments. This article recounts key experiences in one White American’s life that have led to his current understanding of diversity and the role of diversity in education. These experiences occurred throughout my life; some were by chance and others were more prescribed. The article concludes with reflections …

La Preparación De Los Maestros Para Afrontar La Diversidad En La Escuela. Estudio Comparativo Entre Castilla-La Mancha Y El Estado De Nebraska / Training Teachers To Deal With Diversity In School. Comparative Study Of Castilla-La Mancha And The State Of Nebraska, Olga Elwes Aguilar, Aránzazu Bernardo Jiménez, Maria Victoria Guadamillas Gómez, Theresa Catalano, Thomas Mcgowan

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

El presente artículo, de naturaleza comparativa, pretende estudiar la preparación de los maestros para atender la diversidad lingüística y cultural en las aulas en dos contextos diferentes a simple vista, pero que presentan ciertos paralelismos (Nebraska-Lincoln, EEUU y Castilla-La Mancha, España). En primer lugar, analizaremos la literatura existente; posteriormente, propondremos una hipótesis de partida sobre dicha preparación lingüística y didáctica en el trabajo con niños inmigrantes sobre tres ejes fundamentales: la formación de los maestros a nivel universitario a través de encuestas, la práctica educativa a través de entrevistas y la revisión de los planes de estudio. Por último, y …

Increasing The Cultural Competence Of Assessment Professionals Via Online Training, Jennifer L. Schroeder, Maximino Plata, Harry Fullwood, Melanie Price, Jennifer Dyer

Faculty Publications

The preponderance of literature suggests that culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) learners demonstrate unexpected underachievement in academic areas, mainly due to educators’ inability to differentiate between students’ cultural attributes rather than demonstrable cognitive dysfunction. Thirty assessment practitioners participated in a study to investigate the effectiveness of teaching cultural information and culturally-relevant assessment practices via an online teaching platform. The Munroe Multicultural Attitude Scale Questionnaire (MASQUE) and short-answer tests were used to obtain participants’ pre- and post- training attitudes and knowledge regarding cultural diversity. Results indicated that online training improved attitudes toward multicultural issues in education. A number of suggestions for …

National Report On Social Equity In Vet 2013, Sheldon Rothman, Chandra Shah, Catherine Underwood, Julie Mcmillan, Justin Brown, Phillip Mckenzie

Transition and Post-School Education and Training

This report is the first National Report on Social Equity in VET. It has been developed by the National VET Equity Advisory Council (NVEAC) to provide baseline information on the participation, achievement and transitions from the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system for six groups in the Australian population: Indigenous Australians; people with a disability; people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background; people living in remote areas; people from low socioeconomic status backgrounds; and women. The report also provides information on the experience in VET of a further five groups who may be experiencing difficult life chances …

¡Vamos! How School Leaders Promote Equity And Excellence For Bilingual Students, Martin Scanlan, Francesca A. Lopez

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Focusing on culturally and linguistically diverse students, this article presents a narrative synthesis of empirical evidence guiding school leaders to promote educational equity and excellence.

Research Design: This study employs a tripartite theoretical model that emphasizes cultivating language proficiency, providing access to high-quality curriculum, and promoting sociocultural integration. Using this as an organizing framework, the article presents a review of 79 empirical articles published from 2000 to 2010.

Findings: The article explains how school leaders can use research literature to craft effective and integrated service delivery for their culturally and linguistically diverse students.

A Culture Of Collaboration: Meeting The Instructional Needs Of Adolescent English Language Learners, Felice Atesoglu Russell

Faculty and Research Publications

This article details a study that focused on the supports that enabled an English language learner (ELL) facilitator to contribute to a culture of collaboration between the English as a Second Language (ESL) and Language Arts Departments to more effectively meet the instructional needs of ELLs in one culturally and linguistically diverse high school. Findings emphasize the importance of (1) a supportive leadership context for inclusion of ELLs and the ELL facilitator's work, (2) schoolwide supports for ELLs, and (3) collaboration and influence of the literacy team. The article describes the contributions of the ELL facilitator to the culture of …

Social And Cultural Diversity In Distance Education, Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena, Deborah Lapointe

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

With the expansion of global telecommunication networks and the worldwide demand for higher education, distance education has the potential to reach out internationally to enhance learning for diverse learners and increase intercultural awareness and communication. By definition, distance education is borderless (Latchem, 2005), although differences in sociocultural contexts, values and expectations of diverse educational systems and learners may prove to be its greatest challenge (Hanna, 2000). While distance education programs proclaim an international focus with international content and learners, instructional design and methods frequently carry Eurocentric Western bias. Distance educators need to be sensitive to social, cultural and educational differences, …

Students' Perceptions Of Instructors' Identities: Effects And Interventions, Jeannie Ludlow, Laurie Rodgers, Mary Wrighten

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study resulted from the authors' interest in how students' perceptions of faculty identity (primarily race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, and academic rank) influence students' learning and instructors' classroom experiences. We focused on courses that fulfill the "cultural diversity" general education requirements at Bowling Green State University. The three courses that most students in the College of Arts and Sciences take to fulfill this requirement are ACS 250 Cultural Pluralism in the U.S., ETHN 101 Introduction to Ethnic Studies, and WS 200 Introduction to Women's Studies. Combined, these courses serve approximately 1400 students each semester.

Immigrants Talk About Life In Maine, Ernest J. Scheyder

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

What's it like to be an immigrant in Maine? Is it any different being a woman? These and other questions were the topic of this week's installment of the Women in the Curriculum Lunch Series entitled "Immigrant women's stories in Maine: Students present their findings from oral history." The speech was Wednesday afternoon in the Bangor Room of Memorial Union.

Perspectives In Studying Creativity And Cultural Diversity, Scott L. Hunsaker, M. M. Frasier

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Demythifying Multicultural Education: Social Semiotics As A Tool Of Critical Pedagogy, Stephanie Urso Spina

Publications and Research

This article discusses the assumptions and curricular implications of a social semiotic approach to education. Semiotics refers to the meaning we make with language as well as other objects. events, and actions. Social semiotics emphasizes the social, cultural, historic, and political contexts that shape that meaning. A social semiotic approach to education can help teachers and teacher educators to deconstruct the reproduction of class, politicize the ideology of colonialism, and overcome the inequities they engender. By providing a way to challenge selectively reproduced cultural politics, social semiotics provides a way to reconstruct and democratize schools and society.