Education Commons^™

Reimagining Office Hours, Sarah Tulane, Carla Endres, Jesse Jones, Melissa Scheaffer

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Office hours are a valuable opportunity for instructors to connect with students, fostering a sense of community, building a relationship-rich educational experience, and providing support for student success. Yet, many instructors struggle with low attendance and limited student engagement with office hours. This workshop draws from insights found in Relationship-Rich Education by Felten and Lambert to explore innovative strategies for improving office hour interactions.Participants will be introduced to a range of effective practices used by instructors across various disciplines to encourage student participation and build stronger relationships outside the classroom. Presenters will review deliberate choices regarding office hour locations, such …

Whiteness: Six Stages Of Identity Development, Ann Roemer

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Multicultural inclusion cannot exist in our North American schools without educators acknowledging that many of us live like snowflakes in a white bubble. This presentation includes the social concept of race, the characteristics of whiteness, and Ruth Helms' stages of white identity. Come with curiosity and an open mind.

Embracing Where We Are: Insights Into Students' Engagement With Ai, Jennifer Grewe

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Many different opinions (with the occasional anecdotal experience thrown in) exist amongst faculty as to how the students are engaging with AI and what their perceptions and attitudes are regarding AI. Using their best judgements and these opinions, faculty make different choices about curriculum and course policies that impact how they teach and the student experience within their courses. As teaching faculty, it can feel as if we are attempting to navigate an overwhelming landscape when it comes to making these decisions about AI within courses. The current presentation will explore data collected from this last academic year with students …

The Virtue(S) Of Courage In Teaching, Michael Otteson, Mike Ashfield, Brittany Gentry, Rachel Robison-Green

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Across many traditions of thought, courage is understood as a virtue of character. But while we may default to thinking of it as a virtue of the individual, especially that of the warrior or soldier, it is an excellence that serves us well in many walks of life, including teaching, and it is a virtue of communities as well as individuals. Therefore, in this information session, USU's assistant professors of philosophy will discuss some of the more challenging or intimidating topics tackled in their classrooms and share strategies, tactics, and logistics for encouraging student success in these campaigns.

What Inclusive Instructors Do: A Book Review, Marlene Graf

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In the book, "What Inclusive Instructors Do" (published in 2021), authors Tracie Addy et el focus on principles and practices for excellence in college teaching and offer several recommendations for creating an inclusive classroom. In the preface, they explain to the reader that this book emerged as a result of changes to the educational landscape as a result of COVID and online instruction. This book was also a courageous response to the racial tension and violence that escalated during the pandemic.

The Courage To Teach: Remembering The Why, Nate Hadley, Logan Haviland, Maryann Schneider

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Teaching is a profession filled with both challenges and rewards and requires the teacher to give of their heart and soul in the effort. It's a path that can lead to a deeply fulfilling career, fostering connections with students and colleagues in the pursuit of knowledge. Yet the inherent difficulties in teaching can feel particularly painful when so much is given. These difficulties can lead to cynicism and burnout if a teacher is not firmly grounded in the understanding of their identity as a teacher and chooses to teach with integrity. Parker Palmer delves into this crucial topic in his …

Developing A Learning Community To Promote And Encourage Critical Thinking And Constructive Discourse In The Classroom, Cree Taylor

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

We are currently in a time where the value of a university education is being consistently challenged. University education is a chance for students to gain a liberal understanding of the world through engaging with multiple diverse perspectives and developing habits of mind that will help them be thoughtful and critical. We anticipate that students will use what they gain at the university to help them better their own lives and the lives of those around them as engaged citizens seeking to make the changes necessary to promote freedom, access, and democracy. But what does this look like in our …

Revisiting The "Old Ways": Re-Incorporating Oral Examinations Into Upper Division Courses, Stephen Vangeem

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

While some courses embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and even incorporate it into classwork and assignments, this presenter took the sudden prevalence of AI as an opportunity to pivot away from the traditional final term paper and revisit the European tradition of oral examinations as an end-of-semester Capstone. This presentation will outline one approach to gauging cumulative comprehension in the social sciences through oral examination

The Courage To Support Student Communication Of Assignments: Integration Of A Late Work Explanation Form Over Two Semesters, Jessie Koltz

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This session will discuss the implementation of utilizing a "Late Work Explanation Form" to support student communication between the student(s) and the instructor when unexpected events happen or when a student is not able to complete all required assignments on time. The session will discuss the integration of the "Lake Work Explanation Form," where communication to students from the instructor states: This form is intended to support communication between us for the course you are enrolled in this semester when life happens to allow you the opportunity to submit assignments late. De-identified data and results will be addressed relating to …

The Courage To Teach With Intention, Wayne Hatch

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Teaching conferences are full of ideas to help you be an amazing teacher, to help your students learn, and to help you improve your teaching portfolio. Is it all overwhelming? Is it all necessary? Will it help you teach better? Will it help your students? As teachers, we will never all teach the same way. We will never all reach the same students in the same way. Every teaching technique won't work the same for all. Because of this, self-reflection is key for us to individually become the best teacher version of ourselves. Taking time to reflect on what our …

Risks, Mistakes, And Resilience: Cultivating Student Persistence Through Class Culture, Vance Reeder

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In this workshop we will discuss how to help students develop resilience and cultivate persistence. This workshop will focus on creating a class culture where students are able to take risks, embrace the mistakes that come from taking risks, and seek feedback as they prepare to take future risks. In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to participate in a hands on learning exercise that will assist them in preparing to cultivate a growth mindset within their students.

Championing Success: Empowering Student-Athletes For Academic Excellence, Jeremiah Sievers, Cree Taylor

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

USU student-athletes are incredible in their sport, they are also amazing in the classroom and a key part of what makes us unique. As instructors seek to make USU a place where all students feel like they belong and can be successful, we need innovative, courageous instructors who are willing apply equity-minded practices into their course design. Among our student-athlete population exists the diversity of experience that will help enrich the Aggie experience for all students. Our student-athletes represent a variety of life experiences: international students, students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students who are parents, and students who are working …

Unleashing Potential: Strategies For Online Learners To Conquer Procrastination And Maximize Engagement, Maria Givler, Nikki Kendrick, Lacie Peterson

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

As the landscape of education continues to evolve, the shift towards online learning has become more prevalent. While online courses offer flexibility and accessibility, it also presents unique challenges, with one of the most common hurdles being procrastination. In the absence of traditional classroom structures and weekly deadlines, students may struggle to manage their time effectively. This session aims to address the critical issue of procrastination in online learning environments and explore innovative strategies to enhance student engagement. We will delve into the development of tools and techniques that empower learners to stay on track, maintain motivation, and successfully achieve …

Embracing The Courage To Teach: Undoing The Grade, J. C. Sheen, Gavin Munson, Julie Stevens, Sarah Tulane, Kevin Young

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In the spirit of "The Courage to Teach," our panel will discuss our experiences with alternative approaches to student assessment that challenge the standard grading practices and their impact on learning environments. We will explore our reasons behind "undoing the grade" and our approaches to student assessment that empower both educators and learners. By undoing the traditional grading paradigm, we aim to cultivate a culture of authentic learning, where students are motivated by curiosity and growth rather than fear of evaluation.

The Courage To Teach: How To Keep Showing Up In Ways That Matter, Marlene Graf, Christian Bolander, Rose Judd-Murray, Alyssa Reidhead, Lance Stott

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This workshop will ask you to think about ways that you can incorporate study strategies so that students can become more active and successful. Join us as we embark on the path toward enriched learning experiences and sustained academic success.

Study Smart: Habits Of Mind Integrations, Melanie Chambers, Jim Arnold, John Russell

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Wouldn't it be nice if students took a more active approach to learning in classes? This session will explore courageous ways that faculty members incorporated Habits of Mind into their classes to increase student engagement with content by planning and reflecting.

Instructing With Excellence: Balancing Student Support With Healthy Boundaries, Monique Rae Frazier

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This workshop-style presentation creates space for engaged and caring instructors to mindfully consider where and how they set boundaries with students as they offer excellent instruction and support. We will discuss specific and individualized ways professors can be both outstanding teachers who care AND set healthy boundaries. We will identify common unintentional mistakes that can lead to burnout and liability risks and offer suggestions. Participants will have the opportunity to intentionally consider where they want to set their boundaries and pinpoint specific behaviors to support their boundary choices. Participants will engage in exercises to consider the impact of verbal and …

Designing Engaging And Interactive Class Sessions, Michelle Clouse, Melanie Brunson, Casey Coombs, Julie Stevens, Lance Stott

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In a world of independent learning opportunities, students are intentionally choosing our real-time classes (e.g., in-person or synchronous online). As educators, we need to validate and reinforce this decision by having the courage to create innovative experiences during their education that cannot be recreated through independent student learning. Innovative strategies include those that educate the whole student by building brave classroom communities, hearing student perspectives on their experiences in and out of the classroom, making explicit connections to the real world, practicing mindfulness and reflection, and using a variety of teaching strategies beyond traditional lectures. The book Designing Engaging and …

"Dare To Know": Teaching And Mentoring In The University Honors Program, Kristine Miller, Chris Babits, Sara M. Freeman, Julia M. Gossard, Elizabeth Vargis

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This panel discussion will introduce faculty to specific ways to get involved with teaching and mentoring students in the University Honors Program. Honors is not about GPA or test scores; it is a program dedicated to supporting students with a growth mindset who want to make the most of their time in college. The program offers faculty many different ways to engage with students: you can lead an Honors Book Lab discussion for an hour a week over a month, mentor students as they complete short- or longer-term research, creative, or professional-development projects, teach a course, and more. This panel …

Courageous Student-Teacher Dialogue On Ai: Cultivating Environments Of Respect, Jared Colton, Clayton Brown, Beth Buyserie, Gabriele Ciciurkaite, Marta Halaczekiewicz, Jeannie Johnson

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This interdisciplinary panel, representing five departments from the CHaSS AI Working Group, will discuss policies and pedagogical approaches for navigating uncertainties with generative AI challenges. This informational session highlights issues in relation to USU’s academic integrity policies and procedures, as well as students' rights and educational benefits. The session also focuses on creating productive learning conversations with students in order to cultivate productive AI use, prevent AI misuse, and respond with care when AI has been possibly misused. Our panelists will discuss the following questions:How can teachers frame classes' (and my pedagogy) to establish productive expectations around AI usage? What …

Human Capital At Home: Evidence From A Randomized Evaluation In The Philippines, Noam Angrist, Sarah Kabay, Dean S. Karlan, Lincoln Lau, Kevin M. Wong

Education Division Scholarship

Children spend most of their time at home in their early years, yet efforts to promote human capital at home in many low- and middle-income settings remain limited. We conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an intervention which encourages parents and caregivers to foster human capital accumulation among their children between ages 3 and 5, with a focus on math and phonics skills. Children gain 0.52 and 0.51 standard deviations relative to the control group on math and phonics tests, respectively (p<0.001). A year later effects persist, but math gains dissipate to 0.15 (p=0.06) and phonics to 0.13 (p=0.12). Effects appear to be mediated largely through instructional support by parents and not other parent investment mechanisms, such as more positive parent-child interactions or additional time spent on education at home beyond the intervention. Our results show that parents can be effective conduits of educational instruction even in low-resource settings.

Mobile Devices As An Instructional Tool To Promote Teachers’ Metacognition: Insights From Pakistani Teachers, Zainab Shazadi Javed Ms, Fatima Javed Ms, Mehvish Mufti Ms

The Qualitative Report

The use of mobile phones as an instructional tool by teachers is not yet widespread, and there is a need to enhance the literature on how this experience affects their metacognition. While existing literature focuses on students' experiences, little is known about the experiences of teachers. This qualitative study utilized an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to examine the experiences of primary and secondary school teachers in Karachi, Pakistan, who used mobile devices for teaching online during the COVID-19 pandemic for at least 12 weeks. Nine participants were interviewed to collect data, and two themes emerged from the research: "Employed Metacognition …

Self-Regulated Learning Perceptions Of Music Education Students, Edmund Strominger

Music ETDs

I explored the self-regulated learning (SRL) perceptions and beliefs of pre-service music teachers in the United States. Through a quantitative survey, I investigated participants' SRL skills, their beliefs about students' SRL, and how these factors varied across gender, year in program, and primary area.

Pre-service music teachers possess high levels of SRL, particularly in motivation. However, their beliefs about SRL varied, with some believing it is crucial for student achievement while others downplayed its importance. Gender differences were observed, with female participants reporting lower learning dependency. Year in program and primary area had limited impact on SRL skills and beliefs. …

Proactive Behavior Strategies To Reduce Challenging Behaviors Leading To Exclusionary Discipline, Katherine A. Graves, Lindsey Mirielli, Chad Rose

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

Teachers face a persistent challenge of addressing problem behavior in schools, often leading to office disciplinary referrals (ODRs) and subsequent exclusionary discipline practices such as suspension or expulsion. Despite widespread use, these disciplinary measures have shown little effectiveness in enhancing school safety or addressing student behavior. However, teachers can play a crucial role in mitigating problem behavior by implementing proactive strategies. By adopting effective proactive approaches, teachers can reduce the frequency of ODRs and subsequently decrease reliance on exclusionary discipline, thereby minimizing the adverse immediate and long-term outcomes associated with such practices. The purpose of this paper is to provide …

Using The Revised Bloom’S Taxonomy For Advanced Graded Exercise Testing In Clinical And Sport Performance Based Courses, M. Landram

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Determining functional capacity (FC) is a critical aspect of performance and clinical measures. In this lab students will propose, complete, and evaluate the success of a graded exercise test (GXT) of their own design. This lab is intended for upper-level students who have been exposed to both maximal and submaximal exercise testing. Because of the nature of FC testing, this is an in-person activity; however, there may be ways to convert this into an online space as case studies or rely solely on submax estimations. Depending on the types of tests being performed, a 50-minute class can complete 2 tests …

2024-2025 Ursinus College Course Catalogue, Office Of The Registrar

Ursinus College Catalogues, 1869-Present

A digital copy of the 2024-2025 Ursinus College Catalog. It contains details of the curriculum, departmental requirements and courses of instruction as well as the Open Questions core requirements, experiential learning and the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE). Academic policies, special opportunities and scholarships, off-campus programs and graduation requirements are also outlined.

Publishing Mathematics Education Research In English: Amplifying Voices From The Field, Lisa Darragh, Karin Brodie, Anjum Halai, Núria Planas, Despina Potari, Manuel Santos-Trigo, Thorsten Scheiner, Janet Walkoe

Office of the Provost

In this paper we investigate the issue of representation within the Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education (JMTE) and the broader academic publishing landscape, particularly focusing on the underrepresentation of authors from various world regions. A questionnaire, distributed globally, aimed to amplify the voices of the underrepresented, exploring the constraints and affordances of publishing in English-medium mathematics education research journals. The question that guided our investigation was: What do voices from the mathematics education community raise in their responses to questions about publishing in English-medium research journals like JMTE? We used qualitative methods to review the responses and identify common themes. …

Test Optional Admissions: A Case Study On Access And Persistence For Underrepresented Students In Higher Education, Lori M. Kemmet

Student Theses and Dissertations

It is commonly accepted that primary and secondary education help maintain social and economic stability, but there is also consensus that postsecondary education contributes to social and economic mobility. While there have been improved enrollment numbers among minoritized and low socioeconomic populations over time, there is still disproportionate underrepresentation among Black, Latino(a), Native American, and less economically privileged students in higher education, the disparity is ever more apparent when considering university degree completion rates among these underserved groups. Although test-optional admissions were implemented due to the inability of high school students to take the SAT or ACT during the COVID-19 …

The Relationship Between Secondary Stem Students Motivational Perceptions, Engagement, And Academic Achievement, Cecil Kevin Belt

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of student perceptions of the classroom motivational climate on engagement and academic achievement in secondary STEM courses. Additionally, the mediating effect of students’ perceptions of the ease of the course on the relationship between engagement and academic achievement was assessed. Through an increased understanding of the relationship between student perceptions of the motivational climate and engagement in a STEM classroom, educators are better equipped to make instructional and curricular decisions to create a more engaging, inclusive, and equitable learning experience, leading to improved academic achievement. The study employed a quantitative …

Academic Presentation 'Navigating Transdisciplinary Communication: A Graduate Student’S Perspective On Collaborative Research', Sirimuvva Pathikonda, James Lipuma, Cristo Leon

STEM for Success Resources

This presentation was given at the 28th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics, and Informatics (WMSCI 2024) on September 13th, 2024.