Education Commons^™

Six Considerations For First-Year Superintendents, T. Mattocks

T. C. Mattocks

No abstract provided.

Fresh From The Farm... And Into The Classroom, Margaret Haase, Andrea Azuma, Robert Gottlieb, Mark Vallianatos

Mark Vallianatos

No abstract provided.

Systematically Controlling For The Influence Of Age, Sex, Hertz And Time Post-Whole-Body Vibration Exposure On Four Measures Of Physical Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Cross-Over Study, Harold Merriman, C. Brahler, Kurt Jackson

C. Jayne Brahler

Though popular, there is little agreement on what whole-body vibration (WBV) parameters will optimize performance. This study aimed to clarify the effects of age, sex, hertz, and time on four physical function indicators in community-dwelling older adults (N = 32). Participants were exposed to 2 minutes WBV per session at either 2 Hz or 26 Hz, and outcome measures were recorded at 2-, 20-, and 40-minute post-WBV. Timed get-up-and-go and chair sit-and-reach performances improved post-WBV for both sexes, were significantly different between 2 Hz and 26 Hz treatments (P ≤ 0.05), and showed statistically significant interactions between age and gender …

African-American Principals In The Midwest: Voices Of The Sojourner Principal, David Brown

David C. Brown

In an era of accountability and high standards for public schools, some African American principals decided to work in predominantly white schools. Their experiences were challenging because they were racial newcomers in schools with students different from their own race. In this case study, 12 African-American principals and assistant principals in one Midwestern state described their experiences working in schools with fewer than 20 percent African-American students. In semi-structured interviews, participants discussed motivations, perceptions, and experiences serving as principals in predominantly white schools. Three primary research questions were investigated: How do African-American principals in predominantly white schools describe their daily …

Food Access, Availability, And Affordability In 3 Los Angeles Communities, Project Cafe, 2004-2006, Andrea Azuma, Susan Gilliland, Mark Vallianatos, Robert Gottlieb

Mark Vallianatos

Introduction Racial/ethnic minority communities are at increasingly high risk for chronic diseases related to obesity. Access to stores that sell affordable, nutritious food is a prerequisite for adopting a healthful diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate food access, availability, and affordability in 3 nonoverlapping but similar low-income communities in urban Los Angeles, California. Methods Using a community-based participatory research approach, we trained community members to conduct a food assessment to 1) map the number and type of retail food outlets in a defined area and 2) survey a sample of stores to determine whether they sold selected …

Plenary 4: Engaged Student Learning Across Disciplines: Reflection Within And Beyond The Classroom, Michelle Mamberg, Margaret Lowe, David O'Malley, Laura Mcalinden

Margaret Lowe

Contemplative pedagogy introduces a range of methods into our courses which aim to explore various mindfulness-based practices which have been shown to improve engaged student learning. By incorporating reflection on one's own immediate experience, faculty and students can better explore such analytic categories as objectivity, bias, point-of-view, acquired knowledge, and argumentation. In addition, supporting BSU's social justice initiative, recent research has demonstrated that training in reflective practices fosters development of self-knowledge, compassion (for oneself, others and the planet), and community-building. Based on the enthusiastic response to our 2010 roundtable, we plan to provide attendees further examples of such pedagogical techniques. …

Looking Back, Looking Forward: How The Economic Downturn Continues To Impact School Districts, Robert Mccord, Noelle Ellerson, K. Jordan, Teresa Jordan, Richard Lemons, T. Mattocks, Margaret Orr

T. C. Mattocks

This study is the fourth in a series of studies conducted by the American Association of School Administrators on the impact of the economic downturn on schools. Collectively, the findings of the AASA Economic Impact Study series demonstrate that school districts in every part of the country are subject to the realities of the economic downturn. While this benchmark data cannot predict a trend, it is difficult to deny that the financial crisis is increasingly threatening the progress schools have obtained and the stability they have enjoyed in the past. This latest study, “Looking Back, Looking Forward: How the Economic …

A Case Study: Data Management In Biomedical Engineering, Glenn Gaudette, Donna Kafel

Glenn R. Gaudette

In a biomedical engineering lab at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, co-author Dr. Glenn R. Gaudette and his research team are investigating the effects of stem cell therapy on the regeneration of function in damaged cardiac tissue in laboratory rats. Each instance of stem cell experimentation on a rat yields hundreds of data sets that must be carefully captured, documented and securely stored so that the data will be easily accessed and retrieved for papers, reports, further research, and validation of findings, while meeting NIH guidelines for data sharing. After a brief introduction to the bioengineering field and stem cell research, this …

Success In Reading: Four Characteristics Of Strategic Readers, David Brown, L.D. Briggs

David C. Brown

Reading is a complex process which involves the coordination of a multitude of skills. Strategic readers can be distinguished from the less-skilled readers by their methods of interacting with text. The mental processes of good readers must be understood in order to make assumptions concerning the nature of reading.

Becoming Literate: The Acquisition Of Story Discourse, David Brown, L.D. Briggs

David C. Brown

Educators and researchers are focusing their attention on children's knowledge of reading and writing acquired prior to formal instruction. Many research projects have described the parallel between children's acquisition of spoken and written language. As a result of extensive research during the last twenty years, educators' understanding of how children learn to read and write has changed drastically.

The Effect Of Yoga Postures On Balance, Flexibility, And Strength In Healthy High School Females, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Brahler, Mary Fisher, Kelly Beasley

C. Jayne Brahler

Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the effects of yoga interventions on balance, flexibility, and strength in adolescent girls 14 to 18 years. Study Design: Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized. Background: Research on the effects of yoga on balance, flexibility, and strength has focused on adults, although yoga is being marketed to all ages. Methods and Measures: A convenience sample of 33 female adolescents participated in yoga training 2 times per week and a walking program 3 times per week, for 7 weeks. The instructor-led group received instruction from a registered yoga therapist in person, while the video-led group watched …

The Manifest Unwisdom Of The Aaup As A Collective Bargaining Agency: A Dissenting View, Sanford Kadish, William Van Alstyne, Robert Webb

Sanford Kadish

This Article addresses the current proposal for the American Association of University Professors to enforce the collective bargaining rights of its individuals. This paper advocates that the AAUP's principle resources and focus has always been centered in academia, and the organization is better equipped to advise other entities employing collective bargaining, rather than affect such change on its own.

Assessing Your Assessments: A Hands-On Test Evaluation Workshop, Brendan Morse

Brendan J. Morse

Appropriate test design and evaluation are key components of effective pedagogy. However, the rigorous statistical analysis of exams and other learning assessments is often underrepresented in professors’ teaching repertoires due to statistical apprehension and a lack of access to analysis programs. The purpose of this workshop will be to demonstrate how to easily overcome both of these hurdles. Basic statistical evaluation techniques for multiple-choice exams using classical test theory and item response theory will be discussed with an emphasis on practical applications of test-level (e.g., reliability) and item-level (e.g., difficulty, discrimination, and bias) analyses. Workshop participants will engage in an …

A Historical Perspective Of Employee Engagement: An Emerging Definition, Michael Schuck, Karen Wollard

Michael Schuck

This paper explores the development of employee engagement through a historical perspective lens. Using a structured literature review, seminal works are identified and reviewed. A working definition is proposed.

Dewitt Wallace Library Annual Report 2013-2014, Teresa Fishel, Aaron Albertson, Jacquelyn Betsworth, Dave Collins, Angi Faiks, Katy Gabrio, Virginia Heinrich, Beth Hillemann, Ron Joslin, Jesse Sawyer

Angi Faiks

Summary of library and media services activities for 2013-2014

A Peer Review Model For The Altc Exchange: Contributing To The Landscape Of Shared Learning And Teaching Resources, Robyn Philip, Geraldine Lefoe, Meg O'Reilly, Dominique Parrish

Geraldine Lefoe

The ALTC Exchange (formerly the Carrick Exchange), is a national repository and networking service for Australian higher education. The Exchange was designed to provide access to a repository of shared learning and teaching resources, work spaces for team members engaged in collaborative projects, and communication and networking services. The Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) established the Exchange for those who teach, manage and lead learning and teaching in higher education. As part of the research conducted to inform the development of the Exchange, models for peer review of educational resources were evaluated. For this, a design-based research approach was …

Staff In Australia’S Schools 2013: Main Report On The Survey, Phillip Mckenzie, Paul R. Weldon, Glenn Rowley, Martin Murphy, Julie Mcmillan

Dr Glenn Rowley (retired)

This report provides an overview of the results obtained from the Staff in Australia’s Schools (SiAS) 2013 survey commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education and conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). The work was supported by an Advisory Committee of government and non-government school authorities and other stakeholder groups. The survey was intended to provide a detailed picture of the Australian teacher workforce, and to gather information to assist in future planning of the workforce. It was also designed to provide comparative and updated data following on from the previous SiAS surveys conducted in 2006-07 …

Revised Plan For Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research At Kenyon College, Kerry Rouhier, Dan Hartnett, Jan Kmetko, Joe Murphy

Jan Kmetko

No abstract provided.

The Anticanonical Lesson Of Huckleberry Finn, Sharon E. Rush

Sharon E. Rush

Some books included in the canon of American literature no longer belong there, because they presently lack normative approval. Adapting concepts found in constitutional law, an anticanon of American literature functions the way the anticanon of constitutional law would operate and explicitly removes books from the canon. In law, the anticanon identifies outdated interpretations of the constitution. In education, it is time to consider removing from the canon and placing in an anticanon books that are inconsistent with multicultural education. One such book is Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, which is part of the canon of American literature and viewed as …

The Anticanonical Lesson Of Huckleberry Finn, Sharon E. Rush

Sharon E. Rush

Some books included in the canon of American literature no longer belong there, because they presently lack normative approval. Adapting concepts found in constitutional law, an anticanon of American literature functions the way the anticanon of constitutional law would operate and explicitly removes books from the canon. In law, the anticanon identifies outdated interpretations of the constitution. In education, it is time to consider removing from the canon and placing in an anticanon books that are inconsistent with multicultural education. One such book is Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, which is part of the canon of American literature and viewed as …

Pathways To Teaching: A Curriculum Innovation Enhancing Recognition Of Students’ Career Aspirations And Expectations: Redesigning Curriculum To Acknowledge Diversity, Tess Boyle, Renata Phelps

Dr Renata Phelps

Teacher education courses have traditionally focused on preparing students for a career of full-time permanent employment. While this is in some ways a necessary assumption, it also overlooks the employment realities of many future graduates who do not move into such positions. Though teacher accreditation processes in Australia have, to some degree, acknowledged the need for alternative pathways into the profession for those who do not find themselves with full time appointments, more can be done within teacher education to prepare students for alternative careers in the profession. The paper suggests that better understanding the career aspirations and expectations of …

Pathways To Teaching: A Curriculum Innovation Enhancing Recognition Of Students’ Career Aspirations And Expectations: Redesigning Curriculum To Acknowledge Diversity, Tess Boyle, Renata Phelps

Dr Renata Phelps

Teacher education courses have traditionally focused on preparing students for a career of full-time permanent employment. While this is in some ways a necessary assumption, it also overlooks the employment realities of many future graduates who do not move into such positions. Though teacher accreditation processes in Australia have, to some degree, acknowledged the need for alternative pathways into the profession for those who do not find themselves with full time appointments, more can be done within teacher education to prepare students for alternative careers in the profession. The paper suggests that better understanding the career aspirations and expectations of …

Measuring The Reader Self-Perceptions Of Adolescents: Introducing The Rsps2, Bill Henk, Barbara A. Marinak, Steven A. Melnick

William A. Henk

This paper introduces a new affective instrument for assessing the reader self-perceptions of students in grades seven through ten. The Reader Self-Perception Scale 2 (RSPS2) builds upon its predecessor, the RSPS, a tool that measures the reading efficacy beliefs of children in grades four through six. New items were created for the RSPS2 to reflect differences in the expectations for adolescent reading. The instrument was piloted on 488 students, revised, and then validates with an additional 2,542 students in the target grades. Factor analytic procedures revealed four factors emerging on the RSPS2. Items for Progress, Observational Comparison, Social Feedback, and …

Measuring The Reader Self-Perceptions Of Adolescents: Introducing The Rsps2, Bill Henk, Barbara A. Marinak, Steven A. Melnick

William A. Henk

This paper introduces a new affective instrument for assessing the reader self-perceptions of students in grades seven through ten. The Reader Self-Perception Scale 2 (RSPS2) builds upon its predecessor, the RSPS, a tool that measures the reading efficacy beliefs of children in grades four through six. New items were created for the RSPS2 to reflect differences in the expectations for adolescent reading. The instrument was piloted on 488 students, revised, and then validates with an additional 2,542 students in the target grades. Factor analytic procedures revealed four factors emerging on the RSPS2. Items for Progress, Observational Comparison, Social Feedback, and …

Use Of Wikis In Second/Foreign Language Classes: A Literature Review, Mimi Li

Mimi Li

Wikis, as emerging Web 2.0 tools, have been increasingly implemented in language classrooms. To explore the current state of research and inform future studies, this article reviews the past research on the use of wikis in second/foreign language classes. Using Google Scholar and the ERIC database, the researcher examines twenty-one empirical studies published in fourteen peer-reviewed journals from 2008 to 2011. Specifically, the researcher takes a holistic review of this body of literature, including theoretical frameworks, research goals, contexts and participants, tasks and wiki applications, and research methods and instruments. The researcher identifies four main research themes investigated in the …

Report On The Collaborative Research Initiative: Investigation Of The Effect Of A Metacognitive And Reflective Approach To The Professional Development Of Teachers In Information And Communication Technology (Ict), Anne Graham, Renata Phelps

Dr Renata Phelps

ICT professional development is currently a major priority at local, state and national level. It has become a particular imperative for secondary teachers given the full implementation of state-wide computer skills assessments for all Year 10 students in 2004. The metacognitive and reflective approach to professional development that forms the basis of this report is a response to the limitations of directive approaches to ICT learning within a context of rapid technological change. It challenges often employed competency-based approaches, instead proposing a capability-based approach which strives to develop lifelong computer learning strategies. The metacognitive and reflective approach focuses on teachers’ …

Report On The Collaborative Research Initiative: Investigation Of The Effect Of A Metacognitive And Reflective Approach To The Professional Development Of Teachers In Information And Communication Technology (Ict), Anne Graham, Renata Phelps

Dr Renata Phelps

ICT professional development is currently a major priority at local, state and national level. It has become a particular imperative for secondary teachers given the full implementation of state-wide computer skills assessments for all Year 10 students in 2004. The metacognitive and reflective approach to professional development that forms the basis of this report is a response to the limitations of directive approaches to ICT learning within a context of rapid technological change. It challenges often employed competency-based approaches, instead proposing a capability-based approach which strives to develop lifelong computer learning strategies. The metacognitive and reflective approach focuses on teachers’ …

Redesigning Web-Based Courses For Nurse Educators. Fully Online? Hybrid?, Elaine Barber Parker, Maureen E. Wassef, Judith Abbate

Elaine Parker

Background: Schools of nursing are experiencing faculty shortages which limit student admissions. The additional time and effort needed to gain competency as an academic nurse educator is one reason for this shortage. Nurse educator web-based courses offer increased flexibility in time management as well as reduced commuting time, however not all nurses embrace the online learning environment. Aim: Expand access to two web-based nurse educator courses at the University of Massachusetts Worcester by offering nurses the choice, within a single course, of completing either a hybrid or fully online course. N620: Teaching and Curriculum DevelopmentN623: Identifying and Measuring Outcomes Research …

Redesigning Web-Based Courses For Nurse Educators. Fully Online? Hybrid?, Elaine Barber Parker, Maureen E. Wassef, Judith Abbate

Elaine Parker

Background:
Schools of nursing are experiencing faculty shortages which limit student admissions. The additional time and effort needed to gain competency as an academic nurse educator is one reason for this shortage. Nurse educator web-based courses offer increased flexibility in time management as well as reduced commuting time, however not all nurses embrace the online learning environment.

Aim:
Expand access to two web-based nurse educator courses at the University of Massachusetts Worcester by offering nurses the choice, within a single course, of completing either a hybrid or fully online course.

N620: Teaching and Curriculum Development
N623: Identifying and Measuring Outcomes …

Designing And Implementing Jd/Llm Programs, Diane Edelman, Toni M. Fine, Matthew Wladyka, Emily Miletello

Diane Penneys Edelman

Designing and Implementing JD/LLM Programs Diane Penneys Edelman, Director of International Programs & Professor of Legal Writing, Villanova University School of Law Toni M. Fine, Assistant Dean, Fordham Law School Matthew Wladyka, Associate, Hunton & Williams, Washington, DC (J.D. Villanova ’11, LLM Commercial Law, University of Edinburgh ’11) Emily Miletello, Analyst, National Pollution Funds Center, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, DC (J.D. Villanova ’10, LLM Public International Law, University of Leiden ’10)