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About This Issue

Perspectives In Learning

About this Issue

Managing Childhood Asthma In The School Environment, Amanda Hawkins, Leslie Painter, Sally Richter

Perspectives In Learning

It is often taken for granted that schools are instrumental in the spread of illness from child to child as well as from child to teacher. In addition to the nagging colds, stomach viruses and other temporary maladies, the school environment may actually contribute to some lifelong medical conditions. Many children face an unhealthy school environment on a daily basis, year after year, which may contribute to a condition called asthma. Asthma causes the airways of the lungs to swell and constrict and can often flare up without warning. Asthma is one of the top childhood disorders and is also …

Resolving The Conflict: Brain-Based Learning, Best Practices, And No Child Left Behind, Cindy Bowen

Perspectives In Learning

Research shows brain-based learning is achieved best when the students are in an active, low-stress state (Jensen, 2008), and people have unique learning styles that facilitate the assimilation of new knowledge (Gardner, 1983). However, current testing practices hinder the creation of an optimal learning environment, because teachers feel they have to build test-taking skills and spend valuable educational time teaching in ways they believe are not best practices. Changes in the brain can be seen with highly sophisticated imaging technology such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET) (Drevets & Raichle, 1998). This imaging technology …

Teaching And Helping College Students With Personal Problems During Tough Economic Times, Marcia Rossi

Perspectives In Learning

The student population today may be facing increased need for support services, due to a wide variety of potential personal problems. Reasons for this include the increased number of students in college who have learning disabilities or other disabilities, the economic downturn of 2008 driving older students to pursue college degrees, and the number of veterans in school who are returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Faculty members and academic advisors may be approached by students who are experiencing personal problems, and may not know how to offer help. Suggestions for helping and teaching such students are offered; these …

Winning The War Against Childhood Obesity: The Role Of Teachers And Schools In Early Childhood Education, Paula Walker

Perspectives In Learning

American children are at the epicenter of a global childhood obesity epidemic. Due to increased adiposity, school-aged children are being routinely diagnosed with adult illnesses like Type II diabetes, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol levels. The keys to combating these epidemiological trends are prevention and early intervention. Since the majority of American children are enrolled in school, school-based interventions offer enormous potential in teaching lifelong health habits and curbing the incidence of childhood obesity, especially when these habits are taught proactively as a component of early childhood education. Adiposity rebound is the critical period of increasing body mass index (BMI), that …

Table Of Contents

Perspectives In Learning

Table of Contents

Learning About Teaching: Redesigning Teacher Preparation, Barbara Buckner

Perspectives In Learning

Our country has not yet tackled the question, how do we best prepare teachers. Maybe because the question should be; how do we best support our candidates to learn about teaching in order for them to develop into highly qualified and effective teachers? The answer seems to lie in strategic partnerships between universities and school districts, the quality and length of clinical experiences, and state policies for teacher preparation. Reformers call for a shift towards more clinically based programs that integrate academic content and professional knowledge and skills. Some models that show promise are those that have tried to emulate …

About This Issue

Perspectives In Learning

About this Issue

Does Time-Of-Day Of Instruction Impact Class Achievement?, Amanda J. Wile, Gary A. Shouppe

Perspectives In Learning

This article explores literature related to Time-of-Day instruction and possible impact on student achievement for students. The possibility of schools as a contributing factor to the problem of low academic performance by some students due to a conflict between personal chronotype and school schedule may have research significance. In order for learning to take place, student engagement must be paramount and provide optimal opportunities for students to utilize their personal learning, for modalities may hinge on physical readiness as well. Several studies at multiple grade levels related to the investigation of circadian rhythms and biological patterns which indicate an effect …

Facilitating Online Collaboration And The Development Of Digital Communities, S. Wade Bradt, Samantha Tackett

Perspectives In Learning

This discussion focuses on the utility of two unique Web 2.0 tools designed to elicit more interaction among students and to increase learning outcomes while instructing at a distance. While Web 1.0 could be described as that iteration of the World Wide Web that focused simply on making information accessible, the philosophy of Web 2.0 applications is based upon user-centered designs and the proliferation of volunteer collaboration. Fortunately, the explosion of Web 2.0 technologies and social networking platforms have provided a wide array of applications uniquely suited to addressing distance education challenges. We discuss the application of two Web 2.0 …

Exploring Podcasting Of Required Reading In A Graduate Counseling Course, Richard Long, Dee Fabry

Perspectives In Learning

Podcasting is a relatively unexplored technology tool in education (Hew, 2009). This study explored the integration of podcasting in an onsite graduate counseling course to determine how digital students responded to the integration of podcasting and to determine if podcasting impacts student comprehension of required reading materials. The results indicated that, while students came to class better prepared to discuss the material and enjoyed the podcasts, they preferred traditional teacher-led discussions to the podcasting technology.

Key words: podcasting, technology skills

Editorial Board

Perspectives In Learning

Editorial Board

Editorial Board

Perspectives In Learning

This is the document on the editorial board

Invited Essay: Philosophy Of Teaching, Rebecca Alexander

Perspectives In Learning

No Abstract

Table Of Contents

Perspectives In Learning

This is the table of contents.

The Road To The White House: Using Experiential Learning In The Classroom, Gregory Domin

Perspectives In Learning

This case study presents a first hand account of experiential learning undertaken by the author and 16 Mercer University students during the 2008 presidential nominating season. The author was able to arrange a seminar entitled “The Road to the White House” which included an observation trip to South Carolina for the Republican Primary, 16-21 January, 2008, where students both witnessed and participated in the unfolding events of the 2008 presidential campaign

Optimistic Bias In The University Classroom, Harvey Richman Ph.D.

Perspectives In Learning

This research investigated the prevalence of “optimistic bias” (unrealistic performance expectations) among low scoring students. Possible causes and remediations are discussed. Two hundred seventy four undergraduate students were surveyed after their first course exam, and again after their second exam, to assess the effects of optimistic bias. At both survey points, each student provided (1) a performance estimate for the recently taken exam, (2) actual score for that exam after receiving it, and (3) an estimate of future exam performance. The sample was divided into quartiles based on first exam actual scores. Lowest quartile students were overly optimistic regarding their …

Taking The Lead Role In Intern Supervision: The Mentor Teacher Intern Project, Melissa Sullivan

Perspectives In Learning

Classroom teachers participate in many university teacher education programs as partners in the education of teacher candidates. The Mentor Teacher project was initiated in 2003 to allow teachers a voice in the school internship or student teaching process. This study investigated the strengths and weaknesses of the program through individual interviews and open-ended surveys. The program was perceived as very successful by the Mentor Teachers as they moved into a new level in their profession.

Using Wimba Live Classroom For Student Engagement At A Distance, Larry Moore

Perspectives In Learning

Synchronous online classes are becoming more common in education. Students are demanding quality educational opportunities outside the traditional classroom that are flexible and engaging. This article explores the virtual learning environment of Wimba Live Classroom that was incorporated into CougarView Vista at Columbus State University. Wimba Live offers the conduit that allows teachers and students to interact in a virtual classroom closely resembling the traditional face-to-face class. Students enrolled in two separate classes were surveyed to ascertain their perceptions concerning the Wimba Live experience. This article discusses the pedagogical, technical and interaction issues related to the Wimba Live classroom, and …

The Teacher’S Role In Enforcing Hand Washing Techniques Among School-Aged Children In The Midst Of The H1n1 Pandemic, Tara Redmond

Perspectives In Learning

The endeavor of increasing health literacy among school-aged children is a vital role for teachers to play during these turbulent times of pandemic viruses. This essay will address the vital role that teachers have in enforcing proper hand washing techniques in the classroom among their students in order to prevent the spread of influenza and other illness within the community. The document will also provide information related to the historical perspective of the influenza virus and findings associated with the history of hand washing as a mechanism to prevent the spread of disease and illness among human populations.

Considerations Regarding Leadership Training In A Tofflerian Era Of Change, Thomas Mccormack, Paul Hackett

Perspectives In Learning

In 1970, sociologist and futurist Alvin Toffler predicted a future characterized by experience and information overload. This overload, said Toffler, would be caused by an exponential increase in the amount of knowledge being produced and our inability to cope with both the volume of information and the rate at which knowledge was being produced. In this article, the authors make the case that we are presently living in a Tofflerian Era that includes constant change in terms of amount of knowledge and the rate at which it is transmitted and collected due to the proliferation of new technologies. In this …

Publish Or Perish: Can Scholarship And Teaching Coexist?, Jan Burcham, Kimberly Shaw

Perspectives In Learning

Faculty at institutions of higher education are experiencing constant requests to increase teaching loads and class sizes while, at the same time, continuing to meet the demands for scholarship and service. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) can serve as one way in which faculty can simultaneously focus on improving their teaching and their students’ learning as well as meeting the rigorous demands for peer review and publication. The systematic approach of asking questions about one’s teaching, designing and conducting appropriate research methodologies to investigate those questions, analyzing the results, and subjecting the entire process and findings to peer …

Multiple Intelligences: Theory And Application, Hope Phillips

Perspectives In Learning

Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences has challenged the historical view of intelligence as a fixed quantity since he first published Frames of Mind in 1983. Gardner prefers to describe cognitive ability as a set of eight intelligences. Once merely a theoretical perspective, Gardner’s view of intelligence can be seen in a new light with the advances in brain research in the field of neuroscience. The connection between how the mind is organized and the education of students suggests a need for additional classroom teaching and testing applications. A focus on traditional linguistic and logical teaching and testing strategies must …

About This Issue

Perspectives In Learning

About this Issue

Editorial Board

Perspectives In Learning

This is a listing of the members of the Editorial Board.

The Role Of Emotions In The Classroom, Miracle Underwood

Perspectives In Learning

Emotions play a large role in the classroom. However, teachers often do not consider the important role that emotions play. Student behavior is regulated by emotions. To perform effectively, students need a classroom that is safe. They need to feel free to be themselves and take risks. Students need to have a relationship with their teacher that is based on the foundation of respect and expectation. By coupling academics and emotions as the focus of a classroom, teachers will see a great improvement in both achievement and behavior.

You Are What You Eat: Healthy Practice For Young Children, Vikki K. Collins, Sallie A. Miller, H Marguerite Yates

Perspectives In Learning

All young children can benefit from proper nutrition and physical activity. Because children spend so much time in schools, teachers can play important roles in educating children about nutrition, dietary behavior, and physical activity to foster their optimal growth and health. Eating healthy, nourishing food fosters physical growth, enhances emotional stability, and improves school performance. By planning and implementing developmentally appropriate integrated lessons, teachers can help promote healthy practice for young children.

Understanding And Encouraging Student Diversity: Involving The Community, Rochelle Ripple, José A. Villavicencio

Perspectives In Learning

The Committee on Diversity in the Collegeof Educationof ColumbusStateUniversityhas been involved in several programs since 2004 to increase the diversity in the college, both with students and faculty/staff. This has been accomplished by involving the community in and around Columbus, Georgia. This article addresses the committee’s work to adapt several strategies to develop a three-pronged approach: (1) acceptance of diversity within our ranks, (2) partnering with One Columbus, a community organization to promote diversity, racial harmony, and unity in Columbus, and (3) participation with CHISPA, a Hispanic organization intended to recruit and retain Hispanic students at CSU and to build …

Support Network Involvement, Rebekah Byrd

Perspectives In Learning

Support can be derived from a variety of relationships as a way to encourage clients in therapy. It is capable of providing significant furtherance in a client’s search of becoming empowered to make autonomous decisions during therapy and after therapy is terminated. This article examines various support networks in current literary research including family, friend, and religious/spiritual/community involvement. The studies presented examine the amounts these support networks were involved with the client during and after treatment in an attempt to determine a positive effect. Research suggests that support network involvement is associated with positive outcomes for the client.

Book Review, Rochelle P. Ripple

Perspectives In Learning

Bruce, M.H., & Miller, H.B. (2007). Straight talk to beginning teachers: An instant mentor in print for secondary teachers. Willow Grove, PA: Journey Publications.