Education Commons^™

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: An Understanding Of How To Educate Black And Latinx Students, Darius Jackson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This case study examined culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) with a primary focus on students and their culturally responsive perspectives through qualitative interviews and focus groups with students and teachers at an alternative high school in Chicago. Using an engaged scholar and insider researcher approach, I was able to have deep and meaningful conversations with the participants that supplied a rich bond and foundation for data analysis. The overarching purpose of this study was to supply an understanding of how students and teachers understand cultural responsiveness to find cultural curriculum changes. A series of interviews, focus groups, and analysis of artifacts …

Competency-Based Social Work Education: 25 Years Of Innovation & Leadership, Zoë Breen Wood, Marjorie N. Edguer, David L. Hussey, Mark Chupp, Grover C. Gilmore, Paul M. Kubek

Faculty Scholarship

The white paper chronicles the 25-year history of one graduate school of social work’s efforts in competency-based curriculum innovation. The authors argue that curriculum change is organizational change and share their experiences with a variety of curriculum assessment, design, and delivery efforts. Beginning with the development of the first social work competencies (labeled Abilities), pioneering efforts in assessment and holistic curricular design and delivery are reviewed. A new, one-semester, social work generalist curriculum is introduced. Emphasis is placed on the importance of developing a competency-based curriculum that is integrated both horizontally and vertically and that engages the social work student …

Radical (Re)Positioning Of Students As Cocreators Of Curriculum: A Participatory Action Research Study Of Undergraduate Student-Instructor Partnerships In Online Learning Environments, Kari Eleana Goin

Dissertations and Theses

Undergraduate curriculum is not representative of all students. Course content, language, images, and textbooks often reinforce societal power relations and hierarchies that tend to center white, male, hetero, middle-class, able-bodied identities. When students' varied cultural and linguistic identities are not represented in the curriculum, inadequately represented students are less likely to actively participate, persist, and continue their education. Emerging scholarship indicates that student-instructor cocreation of course syllabi, materials, and/or classroom experiences is a promising practice for increasing representation and responsiveness to student voices, although researchers do not know how the process of cocreation unfolds in asynchronous spaces. Enrollment in undergraduate …

Are Student Teachers Ready To Teach? What Do Different Stakeholders Think?, Erdem Aksoy, Belgin Aydin

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Teaching practice is one of the most important components of teacher education programs, yet (it) has been frequently criticized for including various problems. The curriculum change in 2018 included significant changes improving the applications in Turkey. These changes - ranging from limiting the number of student teachers to having a centralized evaluation system - had significant effects. Yet, how the system change impacted the applications and how this is perceived by the stakeholders have not been studied much. This study aims to identify the perspectives of three stakeholders. Opinions of 63 academics, 24 mentor teachers and 56 student teachers stated …

A Student Led Assessment Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Environmental Science And Management Department At Portland State University, Aneesha Gharpurey

University Honors Theses

In the summer of 2020, the world watched as Black communities and allies responded to the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. An intensification of social and racial justice awareness provoked many entities like higher education institutions (HEI) to evaluate how they support marginalized people and update their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plans. In an attempt to maintain excellence, many HEIs implement DEI plans through top-down methods where high-level administrators target recruitment and retention, campus climate, community engagement, and curriculum. These plans rarely incorporate students as co-collaborators and administer DEI changes that have little effect on students' self-belonging, …

An Investigation Of Early Childhood Staff And Their Transition To The New Western Australian Humanities And Social Sciences Curriculum, Jane Loxton, Christine Cunningham, Marianne J. Knaus

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

In 2017, a new Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) curriculum was introduced into all of Western Australia’s classrooms. The aim of this study was to investigate how teachers transitioned to that new HASS curriculum. Using case study methodology, the experiences, opportunities and challenges faced by the early childhood (EC) staff in two Perth schools were investigated as they prepared for and implemented a new HASS Curriculum. The results suggested the need for strong leadership in times of change. The results also indicated that these small, independent schools needed good resources and professional development to help understand the changes. The research …

Medical Faculty Engagement In Curricular Revisions: An Inquiry Into Individual And Organizational Factors That Support Participation, Tomoko Tanikawa

Dissertations and Theses

In efforts to facilitate the education of highly qualified and best-prepared medical professionals, many medical schools are either planning for or engaging in curriculum revisions including a complete overhaul of the curricular structure, academic and medical content, and pedagogical delivery modalities. To be effective, such changes require faculty buy-in, participation, engagement, and innovation. Unfortunately, despite medical schools' efforts to support faculty involvement in curricular revision, a range of reactions exist, including resistance. Thus, understanding the interactions between individual faculty attitudes and behaviors toward organizational initiatives and structural support is critical in advancing the educational mission of medical schools. Based on …

Managing Science Teachers’ Adoption Of The 2005 Tanzanian Inquiry And Student-Centred Curriculum: Revealing Schoolbased Leaders’ Practices And Achievements, Noel Mark Makwinya

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Many countries have made considerable changes to their education systems in response to the forces of globalisation. Tanzania is no exception. The most recent educational change attempt in Tanzania relates to the introduction of the 2005 Tanzanian Inquiry and Student- Centred Curriculum.

Sound change-leadership is a necessary condition for the realisation of change, particularly in influencing its adoption. Within the descriptive qualitative research paradigm, this study employed a Type IV (embedded and multiple) case-study design to examine and describe science teachers’ lived experiences in dealing with this latest Tanzanian curriculum and the role played by school-based leaders in influencing such …

Becoming An International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program: Perspectives Of Teachers, Students, And Administrators., Mark Storz

2018 Faculty Bibliography

As an urban middle school begins to implement the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, this study explores the process of experiencing a curricular change from the perspective of the teachers and students themselves. Through the use of a mixed methods approach, key administrators, teachers, and students were interviewed in the first year of implementation. During the second year, teachers were surveyed as a means of tracking the change over time that teachers may have been experiencing. Themes emerged in the areas of instructional practice, professional experiences, and student experiences. Most interestingly and not expected was a theme related to whether …

The Perceptions Of Recently Assigned Secondary Religious Education Teachers, Chris Hackett

Chris Hackett

This article focuses on survey responses from newly appointed secondary Religious Education teachers from the first phase of a longitudinal study. The study was conducted in Catholic schools in three dioceses of Western Australia over two school years, from 1998 to 1999. The study focused on the teachers’ perceptions of implementing the Perth Archdiocesan Religious Education Units of Work. The article outlines briefly the demographic and professional backgrounds of recently appointed RE (RARE) teachers. Next, it reports upon how these teachers perceived their use of the instructional resources and teaching approach in the RE Units. The article then describes what …

Integrating Geoscience Into Undergraduate Education About Environment, Society, And Sustainability Using Place-Based Learning: Three Examples, David Gosselin, Steven Burian, Tim Lutz, Julie Maxson

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

From water to energy, and from climate change to natural hazards, the geosciences (marine, Earth, and atmospheric science) have an important role to play in addressing a wide range of societal issues, with particular relevance to how humans can live sustainably on Earth. Although arguably important to developing solutions for many societal issues, more often than not, students have limited exposure to the geosciences in high school or college. To address this geoscience literacy problem, the Interdisciplinary Teaching of Geoscience for a Sustainable Future (InTeGrate) Talent Expansion Center has engaged members of the geoscience community and their colleagues in allied …

I See A Spark And Blow On It: Drama Practice In Year 1 And The New Australian Curriculum In The Arts, Christine Lovering

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

New educational directives have an effect on the practice of teachers in schools. This study is propelled by the introduction of a national Australian Curriculum and subsequent changes to the Arts curriculum. As one of the five arts subjects, drama has been included in the primary school curriculum in Western Australia since 1997, however, its inclusion and the teaching of drama has not been consistently realised.

Teacher perspectives and beliefs about specific Learning Areas influence their planning and practice; often this is related to past experiences. This study aims to determine Year 1 teachers’ perspectives of, and practices in, drama. …

Integration Of Sustainability In Higher Education: Three Case Studies Of Curricular Implementation, David Gosselin, Rod Parnell, Nicholas J. Smith-Sebasto, Shirley Vincent

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The integration of sustainability into higher education academic programs is occurring at an accelerated pace in response to international and national imperatives to rethink the way it serves the needs of society. Three case studies from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Northern Arizona University, and Kean University (NJ) outlines the academic structure, program, resources, the motivation and mechanisms for curricular change, key sustainability-learning outcomes and program goals, curricular changes, and assessment strategies these institutions used to integrate sustainability into their undergraduate curriculum. These three case studies exhibit several commonalities. They emphasize systems thinking and explicitly link human behavior and ecological …

Teachers’ Perceptions On The Changes In The Curriculum And Exit Examinations For Biology And Human Biology, Mirko Krüger, Mihye Won, David F. Treagust

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

In the age of educational accountability, national and state-wide measures are assumed to secure and improve the educational quality. However, educators often wonder how much a new accountability measure may improve the actual teaching and learning practices when the agents of change (teachers) are not active participants of such educational reform. Nevertheless, in Australia, the National Curriculum is rolling in for the first time for K-10 school education in 2012-13. In Western Australia, the new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) system with new compulsory exit examination requirements has been implemented recently for Years 11-12. In this study, using the …

Exploring The Impact Of Program Structure On Student And Faculty Scholarly Communities In Interdisciplinary Ph. D. Programs, Lenore G. Horowitz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Information Science doctoral program at the University at Albany, State University of New York, faces many of the same challenges found in highly interdisciplinary programs across educational institutions worldwide such as complex curricula development, abundant discipline languages and cultures, and stakeholders clinging to the traditional, single-discipline university system. In 2006, the University at Albany Information Science Ph.D. program faculty redefined the program's structure in hopes of addressing the challenges it was facing. Program structure is a social process shaped by community participation and is influenced by many factors including students, faculty members, and both informal and formal knowledge production.

Alignment Of Intended Learning Outcomes, Curriculum And Assessment In A Middle School Science Program, Reid J. Smith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study focused on the intended learning outcomes, curriculum and assessment in the science curriculum offered at a regional independent Middle School in the state of Victoria, Australia. In-school assessment has indicated that the current science curriculum of this Middle School may not develop students' skills in scientific literacy as effectively as intended. One hypothesis to explain this deficit is that there is a misalignment of intended outcomes, curriculum materials and assessment. This study aimed to determine the extent to which the intended curriculum and assessment in this Victorian middle years' science program is aligned to its stated goals and …

Rural And Small Community Educator Responses To State Academic Standards, Carolyn Babione

The Rural Educator

Rural and smalltown schoolsare in the midst of revising curriculum to meet state national mandates. This article presents information gained from a two-year grant funded training program for rural teachers focusing on Indian state-mandated curriculum chane. The context in wich teachers teach and their prevailing attitudes and beliefs about students and learning shape how they respond to the state standards in their classrooms. Teachers respond to state standards through a "customized approach" based on personal philosophical orientations to teaching and learning.

Teaching Strategies For Increasing Computational Fluency In Middle School Students, Alejandra Rios Blakeslee

All Graduate Projects

In light of the new Washington State K-12 Mathematics Learning Standards, it has become a priority to help struggling students close the gap in academic achievement. Therefore, in an effort to remediate the lack of computation and rigor currently being taught in middle school mathematics using an investigational approach curriculum a complimentary curriculum has been evaluated, compiled, and aligned to supplement the curriculum. The purpose of this project is to compile a set of Groundworks mini-lessons, a series of tiered lessons that targets specific mathematical skills, to be used with correlating parts of the CMP2 curriculum with the aim of …

Transforming Education For Next Generation Learners, Patricia A. Iannuzzi

Library Faculty Presentations

Students improve much less than they should in: writing, critical thinking, quantitative skills, and moral reasoning…

Large majorities of college seniors do not feel that they have made substantial progress in: ...learning what they need to know to become active and informed citizens…

Overall, despite their vastly increased resources, more powerful technology, and hundreds of new courses, colleges cannot be confident that students are learning more than they did fifty years ago…

Teacher Empowerment Through Collaborative Action Research: Concepts, Possibilities And Challenges, Anjum Halai, Sherwin Rodrigues, Tauseef Akhlaq

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

This paper focuses on the process of collaborative action research (CAR) as an approach to teacher empowerment, and on issues and questions that emerged as a result of experience with CAR in Pakistan. This is part of a cross-national five year CAR project in selected schools in Pakistan, Rwanda and South Africa, Implementing curriculum change for reducing poverty and improving gender equity, which is studying the process of implementation of curriculum change in science and mathematics classrooms in disadvantaged settings, so that understandings of, and approaches to, poverty alleviation may be developed. A CAR approach has been adopted in this …

The Perceptions Of Recently Assigned Secondary Religious Education Teachers, Chris Hackett

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This article focuses on survey responses from newly appointed secondary Religious Education teachers from the first phase of a longitudinal study. The study was conducted in Catholic schools in three dioceses of Western Australia over two school years, from 1998 to 1999. The study focused on the teachers’ perceptions of implementing the Perth Archdiocesan Religious Education Units of Work. The article outlines briefly the demographic and professional backgrounds of recently appointed RE (RARE) teachers. Next, it reports upon how these teachers perceived their use of the instructional resources and teaching approach in the RE Units. The article then describes what …

Revamping The Classroom: Improving The Education Of Students With Disabilities, Kathryn M. Lynn

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

A teacher in-service presentation was developed that sought to improve the education of students with disabilities through teacher communication and education about pertinent strategies. The program presented is titled "Agreed To Succeed". The "Agreed To Succeed" program is based upon the three I's: (a) initiating communication, (b) integrating learning, and (c) incorporating strategies. In the presentation, teachers were offered an approach to opening communication among teachers, students, and staff. Additionally, strategies were presented to encourage teachers to modify curriculum for their students with disabilities in their classrooms.

Challenges To Education In Tajikistan: The Need For Research-Based Solutions, Sarfaroz Niyozov, Stephen Bahry

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

Education in Tajikistan today is acknowledged by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Tajikistan and by international agencies as facing many challenges. Infrastructure and materials need replacement or repair; curriculum needs to be adapted to changing conditions; professional development for teachers is required, while means to retain experienced teachers and attract new ones need to be found. At the same time, children's' meaningful access to education has been threatened by various factors that reduce their attendance and participation in education, keeping some youth out of school altogether. This chapter argues that research in education in Tajikistan and the …

21st Century Literacies: Transforming Education For Next Generation Learners, Patricia A. Iannuzzi

Library Faculty Presentations

- 21st Century Literacies

- Millennials as Learners

- Engaging the Digital Native

- A Vegas Perspective

The Libraries Role In The Reinvention Of Undergraduate Education, Patricia A. Iannuzzi

Library Faculty Presentations

Shifting Library Culture:

- Traditional Model
- New Model

Some In-house Strategies:

- focus on instruction as related to collections
- redefine role of liaison
- clarify expectations — link to performance review
- provide professional development
- build prestige (rewards) around instruction
- emphasize faculty voices

Project-Based Learning For Independent Study Students With Technology Integration, Laura Sturman

Theses Digitization Project

This project developed criteria for evaluating projects for independent study students through a review of the literature and a survey of teachers. The criteria are largely student directed and multi-disciplinary, they engage higher level thinking skills and incorporates a variety of resources including technology.

Using Computer Technology To Enhance Science Education, Cynthia Lynn Peterson

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to determine if using computer technology as a tool for conceptual change would be an effective pedagogical strategy in replacing science misconceptions.

Management Of Curriculum Changes: A Case Study Of United Kingdom And Pakistan, Muhammad Memon

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

The Cognitive Connection: Contextual Learning Through The Integration Of Community College Vocational And Academic Curricula, Richard Betancourt

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Factors Related To The Integration Of Vocational And Academic Curricula In Selected California Counties, Yi-Chuan Wu

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.