Education Commons^™

New Public Management And The New Professionalism In Education: Framing The Issue, Gary Anderson, Kathryn Herr

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

This article provides an introductory frame for this special issue dedicated to New Public Management and the New Professional Educator. We will intoduce the five articles and how they analyze the characteristics of NPM and this emerging new professional as well as forms of educator resistance and advocacy.

Technology In Rural And Urban Schools: A Comparison Study, Jesse M. Yentes

Undergraduate Research Journal

This article examines the availability, use, and integration of technology in rural schools versus urban schools in Nebraska. Data were gathered through interviews with eleven schools in central and eastern Nebraska, seven rural and four urban. Representatives from schools were excited about implementing technology in the classroom but acknowledged a variety of problems ranging from insufficient funding to unwilling teachers. Though several significant differences were noted among availability and training opportunities, much of the data were similar between rural and urban schools. The key similarity found was the passion of educators, administrators, and specialists for the engagement and the individual …

Talking Less But Saying More: Teaching Us History Online, Carolyn J. Lawes

History Faculty Publications

After years of teaching in person at a large public university in Virginia, I decided to move my undergraduate U.S. history courses for that school online. I did so for one reason: the online format allows me to off er a better history class.

Exploring Time-Lapse Photography As A Means For Qualitative Data Collection, Lindsay Persohn

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Collecting information via time-lapse photography is nothing new. Scientists and artists have been using this kind of data since the late 1800s. However, my research and experiments with time-lapse have shown that great potential may lie in its application to educational and social scientific research methods. This article is part history, part research method, and part methodology. As I uncover the science and art of time-lapse and sort through theory and practice from a number of fields, I share these findings, collect my own time-lapse data, and pose new queries into the use of time-lapse data collection for qualitative and …

Increasing Student Outcomes Through Effective Feedback, Julie Conn, Michelle Bennett, Cari Maneen, Terree Andrew

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

This module explores descriptive purposeful feedback and its use as a strategy for differentiation and as a formative assessment tool. This module explores in detail research integral to understanding what effective and purposeful feedback is and the importance of providing specific and descriptive feedback. This module provides an evaluator the understanding and tools for how to use purposeful feedback to determine if a student is meeting the established performance criteria or if more intensive intervention is needed.

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Library Instruction And Themed Composition Courses: An Investigation Of Factors That Impact Student Learning, Erin E. Rinto, Elisa I. Cogbill-Seiders

Library Faculty Research

Many academic libraries partner with English composition in order to teach first year students skills related to academic research and writing. Due to the partnership between information literacy and first-year writing programs, it is important to evaluate how these programs can best support one another. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of two factors on student information literacy skill development: library instruction and section theme—defined here as class sections of the English 102 (ENG 102) program developed around a central topic selected by the instructor. A random sample of annotated bibliographies from 95 sections of ENG …

Grown Unschoolers’ Evaluations Of Their Unschooling Experiences: Report I On A Survey Of 75 Unschooled Adults, Peter Gray, Gina Riley

Publications and Research

Seventy-five adults, who had been unschooled for at least the years that would have been their last two years of high school, responded to a survey about their experiences. Their responses indicated that their parents generally played supportive, not directive roles in their education and played bigger supportive roles for those who started their unschooling early than for those who started later. The great majority of respondents reported that they were very happy with their unschooling. Nearly all of them valued the freedom it gave them to pursue their own interests in their own ways, and many reported that unschooling …

Teacher Effectiveness And Student Achievement On Staar: Implications For School Leaders, Yanira Oliveras Ortiz

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dr. Oliveras-Ortiz conducted a correlational study to examine the relationship between teacher effectiveness and student achievement in a north Texas school district. Results show that the issues school administrators face are much deeper than instructional practices and test preparation. Implications for practice are discussed.

Considering An Overhaul To The New Principal Preparation Program, Vance Vaughn, Yanira Oliveras Ortiz

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Vance Vaughn and Yanira Oliveras-Ortiz provide suggestions for university faculty and administration preparing principals in their article, Considering an Overhaul to the New Principal Preparation Program. They recommended the importance of understanding accountability and reconstitution in the new age of accountability. In their case study research they examined three school districts over a five year span. From this research, they determined that universities need to include training on walkthroughs and appraisal systems, the correct use of data, and an understanding of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

From Building Blocks To Cell Blocks: An Analysis Of The Effect Of Public School Funding On Juvenile Delinquency, Chandrika Gupta

CMC Senior Theses

In this study, the primary question that is addressed is that of whether there exists a relationship between juvenile arrest rates and public school funding. Using publically available FBI arrest data, data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), and Census data, I used two OLS models to answer this question. The first model suggested that there was no statistically significant correlation between school spending per child and juvenile arrest rates. However, it indicated that juvenile arrest rates were correlated with median income, percentage of children below the poverty line, percentage of Black, Hispanic, and Mixed children in the state. The …

Increasing The High School Graduation Rate Of Native American Students In Public Schools, Sierra M. Gibson

CMC Senior Theses

Native American students obtain the lowest on-time high school graduation rate among all races and ethnicities in the United States. Through an analysis of previously published literature and seven interviews conducted by the author, this paper sets out to identify the key barriers Native students face when working toward their high school diploma. This paper will argue that, together, a history of abusive educational tactics and an institutionally racist policies and practices adopted by the U.S. Department of Education have made it challenging for Native students to complete high school on time.

Examining The Relationship Between Received Remittances And Education In Malawi, Kasvi Malik

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between received remittances and education using random samples from panel survey data from households in rural Malawi collected between 2008 and 2010. Past research as well as that conducted in this paper point to the fact that remittances and education share an important correlation. The results of this study indicate that on a microeconomic level, remittances have a highly significant and positive impact on household education. Other remittance-related factors such as the distance from agent, the remittance amount, and the type of account held by an individual also have a significant impact on the highest …

What's In A Name? Effects Of The "Mentally Ill" Label On Autonomy, Miriam E. Cruz

CMC Senior Theses

Over the past years, mental health has attracted increased attention throughout the world, in the form of initiatives, programs, support groups, etc. all with goals to increase awareness and support of mental health. The stark discrepancy between the vision driving this mental health movement and our reality comes from a basic misunderstanding. While there are both legislative and cultural efforts in place to reform our mental health system, the two must work hand in hand in order to affect substantial change. Rather than producing a collaborative effort, our legislators and society tend to ignore each other, resulting in isolated attempts …

Architechture: Rebuilding The Traditional University For The 21st Century, Sarah E. Shearer

CMC Senior Theses

This senior thesis is an examination of the major complexities and considerations encountered in developing an e-learning program. In light of the changing landscape of higher education resulting from technological advancement, combined with changing pedagogies and financial pressures, traditional institutions are under heightened scrutiny and most in need of innovation. Online learning as been proposed as a solution to many of these issues, but creating a successful program is no small feat. Furthermore, experimental research on specific course designs and delivery often fails upon real-world implementation. Looking through the lens of Design-Base-Implementation Research (DBIR), an emerging research model that seeks …

Re-Imaginando La Educación Intercultural Bilingüe (Eib) En Chile: Reflexiones En Torno Al Fracaso De Los Programas De Eib Para El Pueblo Mapuche, Juetzinia A. Kazmer

CMC Senior Theses

Este trabajo propone un análisis de los programas de Educación Intercultural Bilingüe (EIB) en Chile para la comunidad mapuche. A través de la historia de Chile, las relaciones entre las comunidades originarias y el Estado han sido desiguales—sesgando instituciones, sistemas de poder y estructuras sociales a favor de la cultura dominante. Al responder a estas injusticias, durante de los 1990s hasta hoy en día, la cuestión de lo indígena se ha convertido en un tema importante dentro el contexto sociopolítico de Chile, especialmente en torno al sistema escolar. Esta tesis discute el valor de la EIB para los pueblos indígenas …

The Use Of An Ipad To Support Mathematics Instruction For Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Telea Davis

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Columbus State University's Servant Leadership Program: A Phenomenological Study, Wendi Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of various participants of the Columbus State University Servant Leadership Program. The primary data collection method was in-depth focus groups with supplemental interviews. The perception data were coded and analyzed according to the research questions. The research resulted in three major categories, along with several themes under each category, which emerged out of the experiences shared by the participants: 1) there was a high level of importance placed on relationships within and among the program; 2) numerous overarching program aspects such as sense of personal growth and skills sets for success were recognized by …

Veterans In Higher Education: A Qualitative Examination Of Student Veterans At Peach University, Debra Wales

Theses and Dissertations

With the passage of the Veterans Educational Assistance Act in 2008, better known as the Post 9/11 GI Bill and with the downsizing of military forces (2011-2015) many veterans were given the incentive to start college. Since the implantation of the veterans’ educational benefits, little research had been conducted to identify if documents and policies espoused by institutions of higher education, created barriers for veterans as they transition on to campuses. This qualitative study explored student veterans’ perceptions of Peach University, analyzed the printed documents and policies pertaining to student veterans, and examined to what extent there were differences between …

Students' Perceptions Of Life Skill Development In Project-Based Learning Schools, Kimberly Ann Meyer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research aimed to examine students’ perceptions of their life skills while attending project-based learning (PBL) schools. The study focused on three questions including: 1) What are students’ perceptions of their development of life skills in project-based learning schools? 2) In what ways, if any, do students perceive an increase in their life skill development over a one-year period of time? 3) What relationship, if any, is there between grade level and students’ perceptions of their life skills? The subjects were 275 6-12 students from 2 project-based learning charter schools in Minnesota. One school was located in a rural location; …

Ethnically Diverse Students And K-12 Teacher Preparation Programs: An Analytical Study Of Effective Recruitment And Retention Strategies In Select Midwest Colleges And Universities, Mymique Y. Baxter

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In the years following the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the shrinking numbers of ethnically diverse teachers in U.S. public schools has been the focal point of public opinion, community leaders, educators and policymakers. To address the scarcity of the nation’s teachers in our teacher workforce, a variety of creative and innovative initiatives, which focused on recruitment, retention, and graduation of students of color have been implemented throughout the years. The purpose of this dissertation was to analyze effective recruitment and retention strategies used at a selection of predominantly white Midwest colleges …

Cultural Capital In The Classroom: The Significance Of Debriefing As A Pedagogical Tool In Simulation-Based Learning, Bedelia N. Richards, Lauren Camuso

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Although social inequality is critical to the study of sociology, it is particularly challenging to teach about race, class and gender inequality to students who belong to privileged social groups. Simulation games are often used successfully to address this pedagogical challenge. While debriefing is a critical component of simulation exercises that focus on teaching about social inequality, empirical assessments of the significance and effectiveness of this tool is virtually nonexistent in sociology and other social sciences. This paper analyzes the significance of debriefing in a simulation game called “Cultural Capital in the Classroom” in order to address this lacunae in …

Sustainability Lesson Evaluation, Alison Stemczynski

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Assessing Predictors Of Work Engagement In Full-Time Undergraduate Students With Part-Time Jobs, Megan Wertheimer

Honors Projects

Past research has shown that work engagement is beneficial for employees and employers. It is linked with performance, job satisfaction, motivation, employee health, and well-being. We tested whether social-support, conscientiousness, generalized self-efficacy, and work/school congruency would be predictive of work engagement of full-time undergraduate students at Grand Valley State University. Findings showed that work/school congruency and perceived organizational support significantly predict work engagement. These results have implications for how student workers and their employers should seek to increase engagement.

Writing In Motion: Using Kinetic Texts In The Writing Classroom, Larissa Babak

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Student Achievement, Spending, And Accountability In Charter Schools, Virtual Schools, And Traditional Schools, Kimberly Osbeck

Honors Projects

This paper explores the student achievement, spending, and accountability in charter schools and virtual schools across the nation, as well as Michigan-specific information. The articles vary in their approaches to assessing student achievement, but most utilized state assessments to compare charter and virtual schools to traditional schools and state reports to measure spending. A review of the current literature found that charter schools, on average, perform at a similar level to their traditional school counterparts. Virtual schools, specifically K-12 Inc., are performing significantly below traditional schools. In terms of spending, the current literature found that charter schools and virtual schools …

The Connection Between Reading And Writing In The Writing Center Environment, Alaina Moreau

Honors Projects

The connection between reading confidence and writing ability is heavily supported by the broader framework of pedagogical research, allowing it to be applied to a context specific to the writing center environment. However, writing tutoring through writing center consultations often focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the writer, which treats writing as an individual, isolated process rather than as a process interconnected with the experience of reading. Specific to the Fredrick Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors, whose mission statement explicitly relies on the crafting of confident and self-sufficient writers, special focus should be placed on the importance …

Education Energy, Stephine Deeren, Stephanie Snook, Dustin Vandervest

LIB 322: Wicked Problems of Sustainability

Team Education Energy formed at Grand Valley State University’s Traverse City campus in the winter of 2015 through a course called “Wicked Problems in Sustainability” (LIB 322). For their project Team Education Energy reached out to Traverse City West Middle School with the idea to create an energy fair. The mission of the project was to help promote ideas of environmental stewardship and to engage and utilize student’s creativity in contributing to the solution of energy efficiency and energy use. The middle school students formed teams and used these concepts to determine what energy efficiency improvements could be made within …

Boardman Lake Trail, Kelsey Stephenson, Earl Whitney, Sarah Carden, Blase Masserant

LIB 322: Wicked Problems of Sustainability

Today in the United States, a significant portion of energy use is devoted to transportation needs. To address sustainable energy use in transportation, Team Wicked Awesome formed in the class LIB 322: “Wicked Problems in Sustainability” at Grand Valley State University in the winter of 2015. Looking to wicked problem solving methods, we examined Traverse City’s need for alternative options for transportation (other than single occupant vehicles). As an alternative mode of transportation, we looked into a number of ways to promote bicycle ridership and came to discover there was a tentative plan to complete a portion of the Traverse …

Team Earthship, Alaina Maceachern, Katie Riling, Mandy Thompson

LIB 322: Wicked Problems of Sustainability

Through a Grand Valley State University course on “Wicked Problems in Sustainability”, our team was formed focusing on energy efficiency. Inefficient energy within our homes is one of the biggest culprits in unsustainable energy use; “The amount of energy wasted by 75,000 average American homes in a single year is equal to the waste that occurred in the 2010 BP Oil Spill” (erc-co.org). Looking at more energy efficient ways of living, we explored Earthships. “The Earthship is the epitome of sustainable design and construction. No part of sustainable living has been ignored in this ingenious building” (earthship.com). As a design …

Restore: Bringing Awareness To Food Insecurity And Food Justice At Grand Valley State University, Amanda Anderson, Jenna Hielkema, Skyelar Lenderink, Ryan Marshall

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

As food insecurity is becoming a factor among many college students, campus food pantries are opening across the country. ReStore is a food pantry at Grand Valley State University, created in April 2009 to help students who are not able to afford food or are unable to get to the local supermarket. The number of these students is alarming. Statistics show 25 percent of students, at the University of California at San Diego, skip meals due to not having money to buy food. ReStore is an asset to GVSU where it helps reduce food insecurity on campus. Campus food pantries …