Education Commons^™

It's A Black-White Thing, Donna Bryson

The Journal of Traditions & Beliefs

No abstract provided.

Hanban Teachers’ Culture Shock And Adaptation In The U.S.: A Mixed Method Study, Yufei Guo, Huiwen Li, Hui Pang

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

When entering into the United States, Hanban teachers will face a totally different cultural environment. The different culture may lead to culture shock. This research, by employing mixed methods, investigated the culture shock the Hanban teachers in the United States have experienced. By looking at the teachers’ personal characteristics and the happenings to the teachers in the culture shock period, it also identified the main factors that significantly predict the culture shock. In addition, practical ways were suggested to help the teachers cope with cultural shock effectively.

Keywords: Hanban teachers, culture shock, predictive factors, culture adaptation

American K-12 Cfl Teachers’ Expected Competence, Actual Qualifications, And Needs For Professional Training: A Concurrent Mixed-Method Study, Xiongyi Liu, Ying Feng, Shunqin Li, Xiaocong Ding

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

In recent years, there has been a growing demand in the global labor market for proficiency in Chinese as a foreign or second language. Yet not much is known regarding how Chinese language education is provided by the U.S. schools in order to meet this demand. The present study investigated the competence that a Chinese teacher is expected to have as well as the qualification that currently in-service K-12 teachers of Chinese are actually possess. In addition, this research explored teaching philosophies, attitudes, pedagogy, challenges and needs for professional training among the Chinese teachers who are currently hired by U.S. …

Developing Effective Exercise Forms In Chinese Newspaper And Periodical Reading Class, Haiyan Liu

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

Applying good exercises in extensive reading class is an indispensable measure for Chinese language learners. By employing newspaper and periodical extensive reading course as an example, this paper introduces technology-based reading techniques developed from the teaching practice, including rhythmic spacing, speed-reading, news-telling, and English video translation. Suggestions are also made on teaching resource identification and future research. The aim of this pedagogical report is to help extensive reading teachers learn how to develop systematic teaching methodology.

The Past And Present Of Chinese Language Teaching In Ireland, Caitríona Osborne, Qi Zhang, Yongbin Xia

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

China’s booming economy is indeed one of the main reasons for the popularity of learning Chinese as a foreign language (henceforth CFL). With this growing interest in CFL, Ireland is likely to be behind global trends as Chinese is not yet included as a State-examined subject at any level in the Irish schooling system. Chinese language teaching (henceforth CLT) began to develop significantly in formal UK schooling during 2004-2005 (Zhang & Li, 2010), whereas the earliest occurrence of CLT seen in the Irish education system was in 2006-2007 when two Confucius Institutes were set up in Ireland. During this time, …

New Approach To Chinese Writing: An Exploratory Study Of Writing Performance On Social Q&A Online Community, Lin Zhu

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

Many studies have investigated how the online community has informed language acquisition and teaching. In the scholarship of Computer-Mediated Communication Theory (CMC), while most of the studies have emphasized second language English writing using the CMC framework, evidence is shown to support CMC in foreign language instruction. However, there is a lack of research on how feedback from native speakers of Chinese influences Chinese learners’ writing in a web environment. In response to the research gap, drawing on sociocultural and CMC, the current exploratory study probes the nature of feedback on Zhihu, the largest Chinese social question-and-answer website, and how …

Challenges Of Employing Voicethread To Enhance U.S. Collegiate Chinese Language Learners’ Oral Proficiency, Guangyan Chen, Junyu Zhang

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

The digital age in education inspires Chinese teachers to integrate Web 2.0 technologies into Chinese as a second language (CSL) curricula to enhance teaching effects. However, few studies examine the challenges that teachers face when integrating Web 2.0 technologies to improve student oral proficiency in Chinese. This study aims to investigate students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the Web 2.0 technology VoiceThread (VT). It examines the challenges of integrating VT to enhance student oral proficiency. The authors conducted two studies with 31 students responding to a questionnaire in Study 1 and 48 students responding to the same questionnaire in Study …

Techniques And Methods Change, Methodology Remains The Same: Web Technology Use As Cosmetic Change In Cfl Classrooms, Justin Olmanson, Xianquan Liu, Nannan Wang, Christopher Heselton

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

Technology has been a staple in the language classroom for more than fifty years. From audio cassettes, to video tapes, to multimedia CD-ROMs, to static and interactive web technologies, language teachers have taken the time to learn these tools and integrate them into the classroom experience. Each new technology, each new app, creates an opportunity to alter the experience of teaching and learning—often supporting increased authentic interactions with the Chinese language. This potential however can go unrealized when the ways the technologies are used align with more traditional grammar and vocabulary-focused teaching methodologies and promote efficiency over communication. In this …

A Study Of Cfl Teacher Competency In The U.S.: An Overview Of Professional Guidelines, Resources, And Standards, Haixia Wang, Gang Liu, Shunqin Li, Lingjing Luo

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) is a critical language in the United States, and the importance to have competent CFL teachers has been more and more realized. However, the literature does not show sufficient research on CFL teacher competency. To fill the gap, a series of exploratory research studies are initiated. As a part of the initiation, this study overviews the professional guidelines, resources, standards and requirements for CFL education in the U.S. at the national and state level. The findings will be useful for designing teacher education program and teacher training program. In addition, students teachers, pre-service teachers, …

Chinese Language Teacher Competency: A Literature Review For A Study Series, Huiwen Li, Hui Pang, Zhenzhen Hu

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

This literature study reviews the definition and the most significant research studies of teacher competency. A chronological order, from the 20th to the 21st century, is followed to introduce the development of the teacher competency. The current status of the Chinese (as a foreign language) teacher competency research is also revealed, which shows a big gap that needs to be filled.

Using Thinking Maps In Chinese Novel Analysis And Instruction, Qiuping Yuan

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

The technique of Thinking Maps created by Hyerle proves effective in helping comprehending complex information. This paper employs Hyerle’s eight thinking maps to illustrate how to analyze a novel, for the purpose to help CFL students better understand the elements of a novel and improve students’ Chinese language reading comprehension skill. The novel “Charlotte’s Web” is used as an example.

First Language Transfer In Mandarin Compositions Written By Learners With English As Mother Tongue, Rui Liu

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

To help Mandarin learners express their ideas in compositions is one of the toughest jobs for teachers of Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) who frequently find that their students’ works are rife with inappropriate expressions as well as grammatical errors. Mother tongue transfer, which is an important part of second language acquisition study, has always been used to account for the various problems occurring in second language learners’ study process. This study carries out both quantitative and qualitative analyses on the errors in compositions made by Mandarin learners with English as their mother tongue. Four categories of errors are …

Motivating Students To Talk: Ted Conference In University-Based Chinese Language Classrooms, Danping Wang

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

This paper presents an innovative teaching method that uses TED conference to stimulate and support learners of Chinese in improving their speaking skills. In non-target language countries, students are often reluctant to use Chinese in real life. This study overviews a case where TED conferences were integrated into a university-based Chinese language course in New Zealand. It also discusses the major findings emerging from implementing this innovative pedagogy as well as the recommendations for future research. While motivating students to use Chinese in public setting, the approach has also enhanced critical thinking skills and co-learning in language classrooms. This paper …

Serving The Needs Of International Students: A Qualitative Study, Mandi Goodsett, Michael Baumgartner

Michael Schwartz Library Publications

This study attempts to discover the barriers that international music students encounter when using the library and conducting research at North American academic institutions. To these ends we implemented multiple semi-structured interviews. Most studies that have been conducted about international students and information literacy employ a survey, but other qualitative means of study reveal important insights into the needs of this population. In-depth qualitative research that explores the experiences of international music students has the potential to cultivate better understanding of this phenomenon so that music librarians and faculty can more effectively serve this distinct population.

The Effect Of The I-Ready Reading Program On Student Scores On The Northwest Evaluation Association (Nwea®) Measures Of Academic Progress (Map) Reading Assessment, Ricardo A. Torres

ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect on student scores on the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA®) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Reading Assessment when students are engaged with on-line adaptive diagnostics and instruction via the Curriculum Associates (CA) i-Ready Reading on-line platform. Outcomes were explored based on usage of the i-Ready program, ethnicity (Hispanic, or Non-Hispanic), and sex (male, or female) of the participant. Participants were students in a K-8 environment in an urban setting in the Mid-West United States. There were two groups of students: one group who used the i-Ready Reading program by CA, and …

Religious Music In Public School Choir: Attitudes, Practices, And Experiences, Landon R. Lamontagne

ETD Archive

A large portion of the choral music canon is sacred or religious in nature because the history of choral singing is in large part due to its importance in the development of the Christian church. Many public school choir teachers include sacred or religious music as a part of their repertoire because of its historic, musical and educational value. The fact that religious songs and sacred texts are often included in public school choir curricula has raised numerous philosophical and legal questions over the past several decades, although research regarding public school choir curriculum and religion is limited. The purpose …

Acculturation Experiences Of Asian Indian Immigrant Math And Science Teachers In A K-12 Urban School District In Ohio, Loveleen Sharma-Chopra

ETD Archive

The study examined the acculturation experiences of Asian Indian immigrant math and science teachers in a K-12 urban school district. The study was preceded by a pilot study in 2008 to develop a protocol for dissertation, which examined the acculturation experiences of professional Asian Indian females and cultural values conflict in the United States. The current research investigated if being a math or science teacher in an urban school district has influenced the participants’ acculturation process in the United States. Framed in social constructivism theory, the researcher used the phenomenological approach to investigate the meaning-making process of immigrant professional teachers …

A Grounded Theory Investigation Of Supervisors’ Perspectives On Multicultural Strength-Based Supervision, Erica D. Wiley

ETD Archive

This study addressed an area of supervision that is important to the identity of Counseling Psychologists: multicultural strength-based clinical supervision. Clinical supervision is instrumental to the development of psychological skills and knowledge and is an essential component of masters and doctoral training in psychology. This research explored the ways that clinical supervisors attempt to incorporate strength-based clinical supervision in conjunction with multicultural supervision strategies and concepts into their work with students, which has not previously been done. This study was a qualitative investigation using grounded theory and adapted consensual qualitative research methodology and analysis. Participants included 14 diverse licensed psychologists …

High School Discipline Policies And The Teacher-Student Relationship, Sara Elizabeth Nardone

ETD Archive

Relationships play a central role of human development by fostering connection and growth in individuals (Josselson, 1992). Adolescence is a stage of development in which relationships are perhaps most integral because they help youth navigate the changes that come with this developmental phase. Teacher-student relationships are one of the most influential relationships for youth because teacher-student relationships impact students’ academic achievement and educational experience (Ellerbrock et al., 2015; Wilkins, 2014). There are many factors that contribute to positive teacher-student relationships. An area of research that has not gained as much attention regarding teacher-student relationships is discipline in schools. High schools …

Experiences Of Music Therapy Junior Faculty Members: A Narrative Exploration, Carol A. Olszewski

ETD Archive

Very few music therapists have educational background or training to be proficient at teaching at institutions of higher education. With only minimal (if any) training in andragogy and in research methodology, music therapy junior faculty (MTJF) members find themselves novice academics in the highly structured, competitive environment of the academy. In order for music therapists to be successful in their career change from clinical work to the academy, improvements and modifications to the education of future music therapy professors are likely, but data are necessary to intimate and to guide those changes. This narrative research study explored the lived experiences …

Teacher Perceptions Of An International Baccalaureate Diploma Program In A Mid-Western Inner-Ring Suburban High School During The First Seven Years, Charles E. Kelly

ETD Archive

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) has grown exponentially around the world and particularly within the United States over the past decade, and numerous studies have been conducted on a wide range of issues related to the IBDP and the other three IB Programs—the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Career-related Programs. Much of the research, naturally, focuses on student achievement within the IBDP and the ways in which the Program benefits students who participate. Fewer studies have been done on teacher perceptions of the IBDP. Typically, when teacher perceptions are investigated, the focus is on their perceptions of student achievement, …

Factors That Influence The Implementation Of Restorative Practices In An Urban District: The Role Of Forgiveness And Endorsement, Wanda L. Lash

ETD Archive

In spite of extant research on the impact of zero-tolerance policies on racial disparity and negative academic outcomes, exclusionary discipline still abounds, which urges the need for alternatives to this policy. Current research suggests approaches like restorative justice and restorative practices as a promising alternative to zero-tolerance policies where, through its use, students can find acceptance for who they are and learn how to handle conflict, accept responsibility, repair relationships, exercise forgiveness, and belong to a community. The specific problem becomes identifying the factors that make implementation of restorative justice programs in the educational setting impactful. The purpose of this …

Latina Educators Testimonios On Their Journeys Through The Teaching Pipeline: What Can Be Learned, Adriana E. Trombetta

ETD Archive

There is ample evidence of a leaky teaching pipeline, from attending high school, college, and teacher preparation programs to teaching in urban schools, which puts forth barriers for the success of the Hispanic population in a systemic way (Epstein, 2005; Irizarry & Donaldson, 2012; Sleeter, 2017; Téllez, 1999). This qualitative study, analyzed through a lens of Latino Critical Race Theory and Latina Feminism, focused on gathering information about urban Midwestern Latina teachers’ journeys through the pipeline and suggestions to clear the path for future Latina teachers based on testimonios obtained in interviews and a focus group. The inclusion of the …

Exploring The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Academic Success And Persistence For Adult Undergraduate Students In Urban Universities, Debra Jean Fenty

ETD Archive

Persistence to graduation for adult undergraduate students has been challenging for decades. Many adult learners enroll into the university with numerous sociodemographic characteristics that can hinder their success. Adult students must manage multiple roles and balance their personal, professional and student roles in order to succeed. Twenty-eight percent of first year undergraduate students will not return to college in their second year (American College Testing, 2012). The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between self-efficacy, academic success and persistence for undergraduate students through the lens of Donaldson & Graham’s (1999) model of college outcomes for adult learners. …

Implementing And Sustaining Trauma-Informed Care: An Exploration Of Staff Attitudes, Beliefs, And Experiences, Aaron Muttillo

ETD Archive

There is optimism that the effects of childhood adversity can be mitigated through trauma-informed care (TIC) practices in school settings. This study investigated a nonprofit child-serving organization’s experience with implementing and sustaining TIC. At both the organizational and individual level, factors exist that complicate the application ofTIC principles. This case study utilized a mixed methods approach to better understand staff’s conceptualization of TIC, their attitudes concerning TIC, and their experiences using TIC practices. After nearly a decade since TIC was first implemented, the study found that staff continue to maintain favorable attitudes toward TIC while their articulation ofTIC practices varied. …

The Transformative Learning Experience Of City Year Participants, Elizabeth Sekerak

ETD Archive

Every year, over 3,000 City Year corps members volunteer in 325 schools, working with over 200,000 students in 29 cities across the United States. In several quantitative studies individuals reported positive, life-changing experiences as result of their service. However, none of these studies examined what these life changing experiences were, or how or why these experiences occurred. Using a phenomenological approach, this study examined the essence of the experience when young adults participated in this specific, life-changing program. Semi structured interviews explored how the City Year experience resulted in transformation. The principal research question for this study was: What is …

Gender Differences In Mate Preferences Among Single Heterosexual Romanians Residing In The United States, Monica A. Naininger

ETD Archive

This study sought to discover whether single heterosexual mate preference differences between men and women who were born in Romania would have fluctuated as one became more acculturated to American way of life and if these sex differences may have been moderated by other variables such as SES and age. This study was based on the premises of evolutionary, social role and cultural theories, the former which stated that men tended to look for characteristics that signified reproductive value like good looks whereas women sought out men that evidenced characteristics of cultural success like having been financially independent. It was …

An Examination Of High School Student Success In Online Learning, Gina A. Eaton

ETD Archive

Online learning education in K-12 districts across the United States has continually grown in the United States (Barbour & Kennedy, 2014). Research from online course studies of adult learners suggests several factors influence successful course completion. However, discrepancies exist as to whether the findings can be generalized to 9-12 E-learning students. Literature exploring the learner characteristics associated with successful secondary students in online studies is limited. The research on online education identifies students who are highly motivated, high-achieving, and self-starting as those that are most likely to complete online courses successfully (Barbour & Reeves, 2009). High schools across Ohio employ …

Which Of The Following Is True: We Can Write Better Multiple Choice Questions, Emily Rauschert, Suann Yang, Rachel M. Pigg

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

In August of 2018, we held a workshop for ecological educators on best practices for writing multiple-choice questions at the annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) meeting. Here, we summarize the highlights from the pedagogical literature and our own experiences that we shared with workshop participants, along with their insights. The feedback we received at the end of the workshop suggested a need for more pedagogical training opportunities at future conferences.