Education Commons^™

T-Shirts For College Bound Students: A School-University Service-Learning Project, Kathryn Wallert, Beth Walizer

The Advocate

This paper explores how service-learning projects provide university students experiential learning opportunities to participate in innovative activities. While educating and fostering development through mentoring and teamwork, university students enhanced critical thinking and interpersonal skills, gained background knowledge of the elementary school, implemented the project, reflected on their experiences, and evaluated the project. The project encouraged elementary students to achieve their goals by instilling the expectation of furthering a higher education after secondary school. In addition to providing a service to the children, university students identified through their reflections the connection between their service and what they have acquired academically.

Mosaic: Teaching Cultural Competence, Douglas P. Smith, Sonja Ezell, Jason Brooks

The Advocate

Emporia State University sponsors a weekend, off-site program, MOSAIC, where participants explore issues of identity development, privilege, social inequality, and discrimination - the tenants of cultural competency. MOSAIC helps participants enhance their worldview and a greater appreciation of cultural competence through a series of large and small group activities. By creating these experiences and opportunities, participants are more apt to work effectively in a variety of situations, with a mix of culturally diverse people such as those found on a college campus. By leveraging these skills the university community can be benefited to have better outcomes.

Electronic Observation: 21st Century Model For Excellence In Teaching And Learning, Peggy Forsberg, Sue Jenkins, Kelly Gillespie

The Advocate

Assessing effective instruction, in support of student achievement is a requirement for institutional accreditation. Simultaneously, considering overall student success, “among school-related factors, teachers matter most” (Teachers Matter, n.a.). If education was a jigsaw puzzle, a missing piece is a strategic method of observing teachers to support institutional effectiveness. A system to monitor practice and expected outcomes; to generate dynamic data that drive decision-making; and to ensure program standards are met in a continuous improvement model (Cervone & Martinez-Miller, 2007; Downey et al., 2004). Walk-through observation is that system, a powerful and intentional missing puzzle piece (Glasgow, et.al., 2014)

Staff Development Modifications Necessary To Increase Teacher Readiness For Change To Common Core State Standards, Kirsten Limpert

The Advocate

Staff development is a crucial piece for successful implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). A complete plan must be developed that focuses on implementation of the Common Core State Standards. The focus for this plan should be on teacher needs with an aim to improve student learning. If teacher needs are considered and they see the value for their students, teachers will be more likely to not only accept this change but become actively involved in planning for implementation of CCSS.

Educational Considerations, Vol. 42(2) Full Issue, David C. Thompson

Educational Considerations

Educational Considerations, vol. 42(2)-Spring 2015-Full issue

Table Of Contents And Introductory Materials For Vol. 42, No. 2, Spring 2015, David C. Thompson

Educational Considerations

Table of contents, editorial information and publication information for volume 42, no. 2 (spring 2015) of Educational Considerations.

Literacy Applications For Today's Learner, Vickie Johnston, Michael Lancellot

The Advocate

Common Core English Language Arts Standards and changing technologies have shifted the ways students and teachers select and read text. Reasons for the lack of digital literacy implementation in instruction are due to the large amount of choices available without sufficient background information on how to critically evaluate literacy applications. This article presents the framework of the Common Core English Language Arts Standards and how they are used to enhance literacy instruction through implementation of literacy technology applications. Limitations and advantages of digital applications are explored, descriptions of the applications are provided, and strategies for implementation in the English/Language Arts …

Understanding The Role And Challenges Of Ell Departments At Public Schools: An Inquiry From Pre-Service Teachers’ Perspectives, Nilufer Guler, Jessica Christman, Jenna Larson, Ariane Smith

The Advocate

Number of English Language Learners (ELLs) at U.S. public schools is increasing each year, and putting more and more mainstream teachers in need of teaching to this student group. ELLs are a vulnerable group with low academic success level and high drop-out rate. Preparing in-service and pre-service teachers to teach these students is crucial since ELLs need special accommodations and scaffolding to be more successful academically. In addition, research on mainstream teachers and ELL students have uncovered that mainstream teachers may have some wrong and unwelcoming perceptions of ELLs. This study investigates how taking a class on ELL education affects …

Leading The Newly Merged High School: Exciting Opportunity Or Overwhelming Challenge?, Lance E. Thurman, Donald G. Hackmann

Educational Considerations

In the current economic times, school personnel are regularly challenged to reduce the costs of operating the nation’s school systems. School district consolidations often are proposed as a mechanism to realize fiscal savings for local communities; indeed, the number of U.S. school districts has declined dramatically over the past 70 years, decreasing from 117,108 in 1939-40 to 13,809 in 2008-2009.

Education Funding And Student Outcomes: A Conceptual Framework For Measurement Of The Alignment Of State Education Finance And Academic Accountability Policies, Robert C. Knoeppel, Matthew R. Della Sala

Educational Considerations

The conceptualization and measurement of education finance equity and adequacy has engaged researchers for more than three decades. At the same time, calls for increased academic accountability and higher student achievement in K-12 public education have reached new levels at both the national and state levels.

Perspectives On Online Education: A Snapshot Of State Regulatory Framework Development In Elementary And Secondary Online Education, Luke J. Stedrak, Amanda L. Rose

Educational Considerations

With the advent and growth of elementary and secondary online education in the United States, teaching and learning has undergone radical change with heretofore unimagined alternatives to traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms.

Challenge Accepted; Heartland Plant Innovations, Center For Outcomes Research And Education; Confucius Institute, Stephanie Jacques, Jennifer Tidball

Seek

This sections features business strategies and Kansas State University partnerships with a variety of companies. And "quick bits" on The Heartland Plant Innovations, the Center for Outcomes Research and Education and Confucius Institute.

Built To Work, Greg Tammen

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How the Electronics Design Laboratory moves ideas by researchers and entrepreneurs into the marketplace

A Smart Laboratory, Jennifer Tidball

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The Burns & McDonnell Smart Grid Lab is boosting education, research and recruitment in the College of Engineering.

Eye In The Sky, Megan Saunders

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Brian McCornack, associate professor of entomology, is exploring unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, as an efficient method to detect pest insects and diseases — including invasive species — in food crops such as wheat before outbreaks occur.

Notable Achievement, Bethany Bohn

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Kansas State University’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance is designated as an All-Steinway School. The designation strikes right chord to be the best, the best is needed.

Introduction And Table Of Contents, Kirk Schulz, Karen Burg

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Message from President Kirk Schulz and Vice President for Research Karen Burg; and Table of Contents for the winter/spring 2015 issue

Quality Assurance, Stephanie Jacques

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Substantial discoveries at Kansas State University are sparking innovation for the private sector, economic growth in the state.

Focusing On The Future, Greg Tammen

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Four federal research laboratories at Kansas State University are helping solve the world’s looming food crisis

“Kansas State University is internationally recognized in sorghum, millet and wheat — from the plants’ genetics and genomics, to how they’re grown, to applications such as baking with the produced raw material.”

2015 Winter/Spring - Perspectives - Full Issue (Pdf)

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The winter/spring issue of Perspectives showcases Kansas State University's range of research, scholarly, and creative activity and discovery.

Getting Down To Business, Angela Cummins, Jennifer Tidball

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K-State Olathe, a successful hub for company collaborations. And "quick bits" on the Microbial Surveillance Lab and the Veterinary and Biomedical Research Center

A New Energy, Jennifer Tidball

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Electrical Power Affiliates Program empowers engineering faculty, students

As the world’s population increases and the demand on our power grids grows, how will we keep the lights on?