Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Faculty Learning Communities: Change Agents For Transforming Institutions Into Learning Organizations, Milton D. Cox

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

In my 20 years of faculty development, I have found faculty learning communities to be the most effective programs for achieving faculty learning and development. In addition, these communities build communication across disciplines, increase faculty interest in teaching and learning, initiate excursions into the scholarship of teaching, and foster civic responsibility. They provide a multifaceted, flexible, and holistic approach to faculty development. They change individuals, and, over time, they change institutional culture. Faculty learning communities and their “graduates” are change agents who can enable an institution to become a learning organization. In this article I introduce faculty learning communities and …

Doing Faculty Development As If We Value Learning Most: Transformative Guidelines From Research To Practice, Thomas Anthony Angelo

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

If producing high-quality student learning is American higher education’s defining goal, how can faculty development best contribute to its realization? In response to that question, this essay synthesizes theories, findings, and strategies from a variety of literatures into seven transformative ideas which, taken together, have the potential to make our mental models of and approaches to faculty development more effective. It also offers seven guidelines based on these ideas, as well as related, practical strategies for doing faculty development as if student learning matters most.

Clarity In Teaching In Higher Education: Dimensions And Classroom Strategies, Nira Hativa

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This essay presents research knowledge regarding the main dimensions of effective teaching in higher education, concentrating on clarity in teaching and its components—classroom behaviors and strategies that promote clear teaching. On this basis, I suggest arranging all dimensions and classroom strategies of effective teaching within a logical structure of interconnected teaching behaviors whose contribution to student learning is based on theory and research. The model organizes all dimensions and strategies of effective teaching in three hierarchical levels and is illustrated by successively breaking down clarity in teaching into intermediate dimensions and classroom behaviors and strategies. The model may help faculty …

Preparing Today's Faculty For Tomorrow's Students: One College's Faculty Development Solution, Patrick Nellis, Helen Clarke, Jacalyn Dimartino, David K. Hosman

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, has created a faculty development program underwritten for the past five years by a US Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant. Our program rose from a deliberate desire to build active, collaborative faculty teams that would, in turn, build active, collaborative classrooms; our results demonstrate that faculty development programs based on observable and measurable outcomes can positively affect student academic performance and persistence. This essay details this faculty development project.

The Role Of A Teaching Center In Curricular Reform, Constance Ewing Cook

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Instructional consultants can play a crucial role in curricular reform. They gather evaluation and assessment data about the current curriculum so that faculty decisions about improvements are based on empirical evidence. They organize and facilitate meetings and retreats at which faculty make curricular decisions, and they provide pedagogical expertise and resources to help with course design and enhancement. They also provide ongoing data for formative evaluation of the new curriculum. Examples from the University of Michigan’s Center for Research on Learning and Teaching illustrate instructional consultants’ contributions to the curricular reform process.

Technology And The Culture Of Teaching And Learning, Sean Courtney

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Faculty development professionals in postsecondary institutions face many challenges helping faculty adapt to the new forms of information technology. Chief among them is understanding how technology is forcing us to rethink current classroom practices. To aid this effort, this essay identifies and analyzes six key dimensions of traditional cultures of teaching and learning and attempts to show how technology, particularly computer-mediated forms, is transforming their meaning and potential impact.

Developing New Faculty: An Evolving Program, Gloria Pierce

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This essay describes the evolution of a program for the development of new faculty at a public teaching university. The year-long process of orienting the newest professors to the campus and assisting them with their scholarship and teaching results in additional (albeit unplanned and unexpected) benefits, such as professional renewal of senior faculty who serve as advisors and enhanced functioning of the university itself. Vital to the program’s success is the productive involvement of key campus constituencies and responsiveness to feedback.

Strengthening Collegiality To Enhance Teaching, Research, And Scholarly Practice: An Untapped Resource For Faculty Development, Gerlese S. Åkerlind, Kathleen M. Quinlan

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Collegiality lies at the intersection of various aspects of academic practice, including teaching as well as research. As such, assisting junior faculty in learning to build their collegial networks becomes a powerful point of intervention for faculty developers, even for those who focus on teaching development. Data from interviews with faculty engaged in both teaching and research, plus our experiences in conducting a series of career building initiatives are analyzed to identify junior faculty perceptions of the role of collegiality and barriers to establishing collegial ties. Two main barriers are identified: 1) knowing that collegiality and networking is important, and …

Faculty Quality Of Life, Sally S. Atkins, Kathleen T. Brinko, Jeffrey A. Butts, Charles S. Claxton, Glenda T. Hubbard

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

An interdisciplinary research team conducted a formal assessment of campus culture and faculty quality of life at Appalachian State University. Interviews with a stratified random sample of full-time, tenure-track faculty revealed five themes: 1) the importance of human relationships, 2) the deep commitment of faculty to student learning, 3)general satisfaction with academic life, 4) the personal sacrifice of faculty members for their work, and 5) perceptions of incongruence between institutional rhetoric and action. Recommendations are offered for readers to apply to their own universities to help faculty, staff, students, and administrators work together toward becoming an institution that is a …

Webquest : Using Internet Resources For Cooperative Inquiry, Andrew J. Milson, Portia Downey

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications - Archive

No abstract provided.

World-Class Sounds: Music, Social Studies, And The Internet, Andrew J. Milson, Shari Lacomb

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications - Archive

No abstract provided.

Leadership Styles Of Park And Recreation Professionals In Grpa, Chris Bryant, Trannie Carter, Larry Coates, Robert Dwyer, Kelly Folden, Gary Mccormick, Trevor Mccarthney, Michaell K. Taylor

Perspectives In Learning

Undergraduates in the Park and Recreation program at Columbus State University conducted a temperament survey using the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II to identify the temperaments/leadership styles of 50 randomly chosen Park and Recreation professionals within GRPA (Georgia Recreation and Park Association). The Keirsey divides individuals into four main temperaments: Guardian, Artisan, Idealist, and Rational. It is the duty of every leader to evaluate himself or herself in recognizing strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and limitations. Of the 33 respondents, 73% tested as Guardians, 12% as Artisans, 6% as Idealists, and 3% as Rational. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are more specifically described as Guardian …

Focus On Writing: Collaborative Action Research In The Classroom, Carol Marchel, Dianne Whitaker

Perspectives In Learning

In higher education, professors are expected to provide quality instruction, although rewards are often based on research activities. For those who value teaching for its own sake, it is difficult to balance the competing demands of life within academe with the demands of teaching. As teachers, we seek to understand student needs to improve our classroom practice. More importantly, we want to show students how to improve their own skills. This article describes how we combined both research and instruction to improve the quality of instruction while providing students with a way to improve their skills. We utilized this approach …

Assumptions Of Qualitative Research Methods, Craig H. Walters

Perspectives In Learning

Many characteristics make up the collective term of qualitative research, Methods used specify a certain framework in which researchers operate, Within this framework, there are two major assumptions in which I believe take precedence, Inductive reasoning and topic specificity are the two characteristics that I believe define qualitative research, Inductive reasoning is the epitome of qualitative research design. Researchers seek information out of the data that is gathered; they do not proceed to a project looking for specific findings, Maxwell (1996) states that qualitative research allows researchers to examine explanations and data - not to prove a self-fulfilling prophecy, Inductive …

Nf01-451 Consumer Responsibility In Health Care: Improving Communication With Your Provider, Mary Ellen Rider, Paul Flack

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The U.S. health care system continues to undergo reform. The direction of change places more emphasis on the patient to be a responsible partner in his/her own care and for those for whom they are responsible (family members) for care. One of the most important skills consumers have to exercise in this partnership is communication skills.

Nf01-452 Bacterial Blight On Geranium, Loren J. Giesler, Jay B. Fitzgerald

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The focus of this Nebfact is to help producers diagnose suspected bacterial blight problems and appropriately manage the situation.

Nf01-462 Turf Disease Fact Sheet No. 2: Management Program For Dollar Spot, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about turf disease and includes information about managing Dollar Spot.

Nf01-461 Turf Disease Fact Sheet No. 1: Management Program For Necrotic Ring Spot And Summer Patch, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about turf disease and includes information about managing Necrotic Ring Spot and Summer Patch.

Nf01-469 Turf Disease Fact Sheet No. 9: Management Program For Pink And Gray Snow Molds, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about turf diseases and includes information about managing pink and gray snow molds.

Nf01-467 Turf Disease Fact Sheet No. 7: Management Program For Anthracnose, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about turf disease and includes information about managing anthracnose.

Nf01-465 Turf Disease Fact Sheet No. 5: Management Program For Pythium Blight, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about turf disease and includes information on managing pythium blight.

Nf01-464 Turf Disease Fact Sheet No. 4: Management Program For Leaf Spot And Melting Out, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about turf disease and includes information on managing leaf spot and melting out.

Nf01-495 Creating A Strong Family: The Chinese Symbol For Crisis, John Defrain

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about how a family should reframe in a time of crisis.

Nf01-497 Creating A Strong Family: Universal Values, Family Strengths And The Quest For A Peaceful World, John Defrain

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about the universal values, family strengths and the quest for a peaceful world.

Nf01-491 The Corn Stalk Nitrate Test, Charles A. Shapiro, Richard L. Deloughery

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact is about several soil and plant nitrogen tests that have been developed for use, before planting or mid-season, to help farmers decide how much nitrogen to apply to their corn.

Nf01-473 Stewart's Wilt Of Corn, Jim Stack, Jennifer Chaky, Loren J. Giesler, Robert J. Wright

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact has information on Stewart's Wilt of corn.

Ec01-2507 Safe Transport, Storage And Disposal Of Pesticides, Larry D. Schulze, Shripat T. Kamble, Clyde Ogg, Edward F. Vitzthum

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Most accidental pesticide poisonings occur when pesticides are mishandled. Young children area often the victims.

Pesticide accidents can be prevented by careful planning, using a secure storage location, adopting safe handling methods during transport and following proper disposal guidelines for both product and containers.

Ec01-798 Residential On-Site Wastewater Treatment: An Overview, Janet R. Hygnstrom, Wayne Woldt, Sharon Skipton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication will answer many questions that homeowners or potential homeowners, realtors and lenders may have about residential on-site wastewater treatment systems. Information is based on Title 124: Rules and Regulations for the Design, Operation and Maintenance of On-site WastewaterTreatment Systems of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ), which requires that a dwelling or establishment that generates wastewater have an on-site wastewater treatment system in accordance with those regulations, or be connected to a public wastewater treatment system. An establishment is a house, building, structure, or place that generates more than 1,000 gallons of wastewater per day, generates non-domestic …

Ec01-883 Crop And Livestock Prices For Nebraska Producers, Roger Selley, Dillon Feuz, Tina Barrett

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This report contains historical price data for the major crops and livestock classes produced in Nebraska. Prices received by producers are reported for 1960-2000 or for the period listed in each table heading.

The data was compiled from Nebraska Agricultural Statistics, Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service and Agricultural Prices, USDA; Livestock, Meat and Wool Market News, Livestock and Grain Market News, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA; and from Agricultural Statistics Board, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Each table indicates the price source.

Cc01-371 Estimated Irrigation Costs, 2001, Roger Selley

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This extension circular consists of a series of tables to help the operator estimate irrigation costs for the year 2001. Costs were calculated at four well depths for a gravity system which has an output of 1,000 gpm and irrigates 100 acres.

Irrigation costs were estimated with the aid of the Irrigation System Cost Analysis computer program. Energy prices used in the cost computations are those which were expected to occur in 2001. Irrigation equipment and well drilling costs were collected by a telephone survey from selected dealers. These costs do not include sales tax, personal property tax, insurnace, or …