Education Commons^™

Reflection On Best Practices In Designing Online Middle Level Learning, Holly J. Thornton

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

An increase in online learning during the pandemic has led to new thinking about online instruction that will last far beyond the pandemic. The hurried nature of instructional design as the pandemic shifted teaching and learning from the classroom to the computer may have neglected the need to design lessons using best practices online instead of focusing on content delivery and grading. Practices that are part of successful middle level education including cultivating depth of student understanding, developmental responsiveness, social emotional learning and differentiation to meet young adolescent student needs may have been neglected in pandemic online lesson design. This …

Examining Teaching And Learning Environments Among Kentucky Schools To Watch And Non-Schools To Watch Schools Using Tell Survey Data, Michael Dicicco, Ryan Alverson

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

In 2017, the state of Kentucky distributed the Teaching, Empowerment, Leading, and Learning (TELL) survey to gain an understating of the learning environments in Kentucky schools. Many of the items on the TELL survey addressed key components of the School to Watch criteria and rubric. Researchers were interested in the teaching and learning conditions in Kentucky middle schools that contributed to successful school environments as defined by the Schools to Watch criteria, and to use results from the TELL survey to see what high scoring schools were doing well according to the teachers and principals that completed the survey. Researchers …

Celebrating 25 Years Of The National Association Of Professors Of Middle Level Education, Bridget K. Coleman, Nancy B. Ruppert

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The National Association of Professors for Middle Level Education has been focused on middle grades education since 1997. This is an introduction for the CIMLE Journal in celebration of NAPOMLE's 25 anniversary in 2022.

Introduction, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Introduction

The articles in this issue of Current Issues in Middle Level Education include a celebration of the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education, a report of a research study, and a summary of best practices.

Bridget Coleman and Nancy Ruppert are current and past presidents of the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education (NAPOMLE). As this journal is the journal of NAPOMLE, we wanted to celebrate NAPOMLE’s 25^th anniversary. Coleman and Ruppert reviewed several documents related to NAPOMLE’s history and mission; they also contacted several past leaders.

Michael DiCicco and Ryan Alverson contributed an …

Self-Regulation Of Time: The Importance Of Time Estimation Accuracy, Anna C. Brady, Christopher A. Wolters, Shirley L. Yu

Department of Curriculum, Foundations, & Reading Faculty Publications

Time management is one central aspect of students’ self-regulated learning. In addition, biased time estimation seems to be central to students’ self-regulation of their time. In this study, we explored college students’ time estimation bias. In addition, we were interested in whether the activation of task beliefs influenced students’ time estimation bias and how specific beliefs about task difficulty influence time estimation bias. Findings suggested that students tended to demonstrate bias in their estimations of the time their academic tasks would take. Additionally, the activation of task beliefs did not influence students’ time estimation accuracy. Finally, both prior task difficulty …

State Of The Methods: Leveraging Design Possibilities Of Qualitatively Oriented Mixed Methods Research, Cheryl N. Poth, Peggy Shannon-Baker

Department of Curriculum, Foundations, & Reading Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Psychobiological, Clinical, And Sociocultural Factors That Influence Black Women Seeking Treatment For Infertility: A Mixed-Methods Study, Morine Cebert-Gaitors, Peggy Shannon-Baker, Susan G. Silva, Samad Jahandideh, Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Eleanor L. Stevenson

Department of Curriculum, Foundations, & Reading Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A New Way Of Learning: Student Revelations From A Sport Development Service-Learning Course, Deondra E. Johnson

Eagle Showcase: Excellence in Service-Learning

No abstract provided.

Philosophical Hermeneutics As An Interpretive Framework In The Analysis Of Colin Kaepernick’S Nfl Protest, E. Anthony Muhammad, Cynthia Thomas

Department of Curriculum, Foundations, & Reading Faculty Publications

One of the more polarizing issues that captivated society in recent years was the controversy surrounding National Football League (NFL) athletes kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem. Initiated by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick as a display of protest against police brutality, kneeling during the anthem sparked a firestorm of controversy and a national debate. In this study the controversy and the two men behind it will be analyzed through the lens of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics. Specifically, this study will highlight how Colin Kaepernick and Army veteran Nate Boyer experienced a fusion of horizons that produced the kneeling …

Preparing Middle Grades Candidates For Edtpa In Uncertain Times, Holly H. Pinter, David C. Virtue

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Teacher candidates in North Carolina must earn a passing score on the edTPA assessment to get certified. The middle grades education program at Western Carolina University integrates aspects of the edTPA assessment throughout pre-student teaching coursework and field experiences to prepare candidates for this high-stakes assessment. Some of the edTPA practice assignments serve as key assessments that help the middle grades program faculty evaluate the program and make decisions about curriculum. The pivot to remote and blended learning formats on campus and in partner middle level schools affected the implementation of the edTPA-related assignments. The authors share some of the …

Integrating Social Studies Education With Mathematics: Pre-Service Teachers’ Use Of The Pyramids Of Giza To Plan A Stem Lesson, Randa Elbih, Elyssa Miller, Grace Sheldon, Mackenzie Wilson

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Pre-service teachers (PSTs) often struggle to teach STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) content effectively due to lack of training on how to plan a STEM lesson in meaningful ways as well as which subjects to integrate. This dilemma often results in an avoidance of STEM methodology altogether. This paper describes a productive method for training PSTs to successfully teach STEM lessons by using Social Studies content to integrate with Mathematics and Science, and provide context and connection to real world applications. Along with providing a STEM lesson, the article demonstrates the critical role social studies can play as the …

Fostering And Maintaining Relationships: Teacher Education During Covid-19, Jessica Vanvalkenburgh, Aaron R. Gierhart

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This article expounds how our pedagogical practices have changed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these effects others have contended with in the education community. The authors share pedagogical strategies they have found to be effective in terms of building and supporting relationships with teacher candidates. They suggest using digitally-mediated teaching and learning strategies, staying connected with students, and badge-based assessment and feedback approaches to build and support relationships with students; examples of the instructional design and implementation strategies are described. The authors propose that when looking forward, teachers at any level may benefit from providing students …

Home Literacy Initiatives Of Middle School Families During The 2020 Quarantine Period: Transformation In Education?, Elizabeth S. Stewart, Jeasik Cho, Mellinee Lesley, Julie Smit

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The coronavirus pandemic changed everything almost overnight for students and their families. The purpose of this qualitative case study, thus, was to investigate the views of families about the sudden change in education for their middle school children, particularly literacy practices, during the pandemic. Drawing upon Bourdieu’s theoretical framework of cultural capital, coupled with socioeconomic status, funds of knowledge, and crisis management, we conducted interviews with 4 parents. Using the in vivo coding data analysis method, we identified some key preliminary findings: all-day-happy-hour, the strange disconnection between teachers and parents, and soft and hard approaches to school-home literacy. Participants revealed …

Introduction, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Introduction

The articles in this issue of Current Issues in Middle Level Education reflect different experiences of middle level educators particularly as we continue to adapt to new realities given the coronavirus pandemic.

Elizabeth Stewart, Jeasik Cho, Mellinee Lesley, and Julie Smit interviewed a small group of parents about their experiences supporting their children’s literacy learning at home in the early weeks of the pandemic in 2020. Their research provides insights and ideas from a parent perspective.

As teacher educators, Jessica VanValkenburgh and Aaron R. Gierhart adjusted their practices and approaches to teaching science methods for middle grades and elementary …

English Is Not Dead! Long Live English: Teaching The Evolution Of English And Inclusive Communication Via Online, Face To Face Or Hybrid Instruction, Teresa Marie Kelly, Stephanie Thompson, Sheryl Bone

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

When popular media and many individuals discuss changes in English, some erroneously contend that the language has always been the same and changes amount to little more than “politically correct woke liberalism” desired by only certain people. The English language continually evolves as a natural process that nothing can force nor prevent. Field-specific language also changes with increased understanding and knowledge. The variety of English taught to most students also shifts as Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)/Writing Across Disciplines (WAD) initiatives increasingly focus on Global English rather than the standard of any one country or group. Even informal interactions with …

Painless Plagiarism: Collaboration To Develop An Interdisciplinary Plagiarism Tutorial, Lauren Mcmillan

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

During the Spring and Summer of 2021, Reference & Instruction Librarians collaborated with an Instructional Designer to create a university branded plagiarism tutorial. Utilizing open access/open educational resources provided a template, while being able to customize to the institution’s needs by incorporating elements from the university’s academic dishonesty policy.

The main goals were to have an interactive tutorial where concepts like patchwriting and paraphrasing are suitably explained and students have the opportunity to test their knowledge throughout. Additionally, having a final assessment/quiz to prove students completed the tutorial was important to faculty. The tutorial is housed on the libraries’ website, …

Critical Thinking In The Age Of Misinformation: Information Literacy For Citizenship, Tamra Ortgies-Young, Jennfer Lobo Meeks, Barbara Robertson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

As recent political events across the globe have shed a light on the fragility of democratic values, the role of the University in creating a framework for civic education becomes more urgent. Informed, caring and engaged citizenry must be a goal of higher education. Students currently face the emergence of faulty types of information - such as misinformation and disinformation, which undermines the notion of collective or public inquiry, not only within universities, but also within society as a whole. This challenge must be acknowledged and addressed by academic institutions.

Session presenters will provide an overview of their work, “Critical …

Graduate Librarian Support Through The Thesis And Dissertation Journey, Henri Mondschein

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Graduate students need highly customized support as they navigate through the various stages of their thesis or dissertation journeys. Many of these students are overwhelmed by the volume of research and just need that compassionate librarian to guide them through the labyrinth of databases to those elusive but critical papers and empirical studies. At California Lutheran University I provide a personalized approach to providing thesis and dissertation support to master’s-level, Ed.D and Psy.D students during crucial milestones of their journeys. My graduate librarian support features one-on-one research consultations, guidance with searching the literature, some writing and editing support, and finally …

Misinformation And Information Literacy: Strategies For College First Year Information Literacy Instruction, Grant Hardaway, Anne Jumonville Graf

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Information literacy education encompasses a wide range of instructional strategies and content, some of which include media literacy and metaliteracy. Increasing attention to the development and spread of misinformation on social media underscores the need for information literacy instruction to address this issue. At the same time, first year college students continue to need foundational information literacy skills in order to be successful in their assigned research projects. At the presenters’ institution, most library-led instruction emphasizes strategies and resources for success in an academic context, without much focus on other information landscapes, such as social media. This presentation will share …

Faculty Co-Acting: Merging Information Literacy With Inclusive Pedagogy, Kay Coates, Beverly King Miller

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Opportunities for humanizing teaching and learning in poly-synchronous and hybrid instruction settings are undeniable blessings of having to adapt to COVID-19 predictable unpredictability. The ACRL Information Literacy Framework is one such instrument that ideally adapts to this purpose. Intentional collaborative efforts between instruction librarians and faculty could allow for information literacy praxis to be incorporated into differentiated instruction. Under the canopy of Inclusive Pedagogy this admixture could be engagingly contextualized and actively executed in desired learning spaces during times like these. Realizing the needs of students who will be entering classroom settings with learning disruptions, this partnership marries information literacy …

Strengthening Information Literacy Through (Online) Conversation, Kelly Weigand, Antonia Jameson Jordan

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

There are many controversies surrounding the use of animals for food, and we have observed that veterinary students are interested in deeper consideration of the ethical, moral, and practical implications associated with animal agriculture. Guided by the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, we developed a discussion-based course focused on the complex issue of consuming animal products to provide practice in seeking and critically evaluating sources.

The course met weekly for eight weeks. Prior to each session, students submitted a brief reflection on the assigned readings and videos, and provided citations for additional relevant materials. Class sessions were …

Information Literacy In The Covid 19 Pandemic/Post Pandemic Era: Student And Faculty Perspectives, Laura Zucca-Scott, Julia Suchan

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This phenomenological study focused on the perspectives and experiences of students and faculty as they engaged in a dialogue on the importance of information literacy and its relevance in today’s world. As a team of a graduate faculty member and a graduate student assistant, we interviewed students about their views on information literacy and its application to scholarly and everyday activities.

The purpose of our project was to investigate the needs and wants of students. With the COVID 19 Pandemic, we witnessed a profound transformation in education and a sharp increase in remote learning. Students expressed mixed feelings about the …

Universal Design For Learning To Promote A Hybrid Learning Environment, Breanne Kirsch

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Universal design for learning is a framework that can be utilized to support inclusive instructional practices in a hybrid learning environment. This presentation will discuss how UDL techniques can be used to promote information literacy learning for students in a variety of learning settings including face to face, synchronous virtual instruction, and asynchronous instructional learning objects. These techniques can be used to better support students where and when they are. Attendees will leave with practical knowledge of UDL techniques and how to use them for teaching information literacy to students in a variety of settings.

Systematically Assessing Lms-Embedded Asynchronous Information Literacy Modules For Perceived Impact And Quality At Georgetown’S School Of Continuing Studies Library, Ladislava Khailova, Emily Guhde, Matthew Bernstein

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

For the past five years, librarians at Georgetown’s (GU) School of Continuing Studies (SCS) Library have supplemented their synchronous instructional offerings with in-house video tutorials to cater to the School’s growing online and hybrid student population and to scale up information literacy efforts. The pandemic has accelerated this trend, with the SCS librarians increasingly moving away from viewing their video tutorials as primarily stand-alone digital learning objects and conceiving of them rather as a part of carefully planned out LMS-embedded, discipline-specific modules addressing high-stakes information literacy concepts. This presentation focuses on the effort to systematically assess the perceived quality and …

Leveling Up, Nearly Falling, & Getting Back On The Ladder: Differentiating Library Research, Apa & Endnote Instruction For Even More Online Students While Not Hurting Yourself In The Process, Josette M. Kubicki

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Note to reviewers: This proposal is for a presentation that builds on what I meant to present at the 2021 conference. Due to a storm, a black-out occurred, and I couldn’t get back online in time to present most of it because my computer was so slow. The GICOIL moderator kindly offered me a break-out room at the end of the day, but only two people showed up, and an informal conversation was more suited. This proposal expands on that presentation and elaborates on what I did this year. I have a much faster computer now and will log in …

Reimagine The Possibilities: Shifting A Peer-Reference Program From In-Person To Online To Hybrid, Lydia C. Gwyn

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

In 2017, the Sherrod Library at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) launched the Library Ambassador Program (LAP), a peer-reference program through which trained undergraduate students employed by the library are stationed in buildings across campus to help students with their research. Just as the LAP was gaining traction as an effective avenue of research help, our college made the quick transition to online mode due to the spread of COVID-19 in our region. This presentation will discuss the hidden value we found in shifting our program online and how the LAP functions now in a hybrid space, supporting information literacy …

“I Feel Like I’M Part Of The Conversation”: Online Annotation Tools In The Information Literacy Classroom, Piper L. Cumbo

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

If instruction librarians have learned anything in the last two years, it’s that 1. we are immensely adaptable and 2. some “fully online” technologies are worth holding onto. For this instruction librarian, online annotation tools are one of those technologies. When the opportunity appeared for this student-centered instruction librarian to teach a semester long, three-credit hour course, in-person on research methods for honors undergraduates of varying levels and skill sets, the choice to add online annotations a course requirement was made. While web-based annotation tools have been prevalent in classrooms for the last five years, they had been used sparingly …

Hyflex Primary Source Instruction For First-Year Writing Students, Crystal Goldman, Amanda Roth, Dominique Turnbow, Timothy Chu

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Teaching first-year university students to engage with and analyze primary sources can offer a number of significant challenges, including the need to protect fragile physical items in library collections and the prevalence of historical sources centering white hegemony. Add in the need for the information literacy instruction to be scalable for large groups, plus available synchronously and asynchronously, and designing a meaningful learning experience becomes exponentially more difficult.

Yet a fruitful partnership between a team of librarians and the faculty of an undergraduate writing program allowed for an innovative and hyflex approach to primary source instruction. Through the use of …

Georgia International Conference On Inforation Literacy Program, Georgia International Conference On Information Literacy

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Conference Program with information about the presenters and presentations.

Bridging Vertical Teams And Plc's To Reach Student Achievement, Melissa K. Maynard

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Vertical Teams can be established in every school K-12 to collaborate with PLC’s instead of being the competition. I will show you a framework on how to implement both school-wide. I will discuss how Vertical Teams deconstruct standards with the explicit purpose to transition students seamlessly from grade to grade and how PLC’s will look at the standard’s data to develop the curriculum, instruction, and assessment.