Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Teaching Literacy In Kindergarten, Dawnette Diane Leslie

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined ways of teaching literacy in the kindergarten. Benefits and problems associated with teaching reading in kindergarten were discussed. Guidelines were presented for teachers implementing literacy instruction in kindergartens. Conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for teaching reading to kindergarten students.

Designing A Web Page To Facilitate Communication, Lori B. Lee

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to build a teacher-controlled web page that would facilitate communication between home, community, and school. The web site contained information about administration, athletics (including schedules), honor roll and awards, faculty and staff information, advisor/advisee programs, academic information with assignments, special events, and students of the week.

Twenty-three seventh grade parents volunteered to respond to surveys about their communication with the staff at the Nashua-Plainfield Middle School and the implementation of the middle school web site.

The response by the parents indicated that they liked the monthly news, information on assignments, and athletic …

The Effects Of A Mother's Incarceration On Her Children, Jane Elizabeth Mayer

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the effects of a mother's incarceration on her children. Benefits, as well as problems, associated with facilitating a mother-child visitation program were discussed. Guidelines were presented for parents, caregivers, children, and prison staff on a successful mother-child visitation program. Conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for the future facilitation of a mother-child visitation program.

Journal Selections: Let’S Support Our Students’ Futures, Eva Stowers, Lesley J. Johnson, Susan L. Meacham

Library Faculty Research

Dietetic educators concur that use of professional journals in the undergraduate curriculum promotes student reading skills, exposes students to current research, enhances computer skills and prepares dietetic students for the real world environment. Those of us in educational institutions are continually asked to review our university library holdings; prioritizing on the basis of department selections, cost, rate of inflation, use by faculty and students and availability through interlibrary loans and other document retrieval procedures. No doubt, those in industry and clinical and private practice are also watching their budgets and are asked to review expenses for professional publications.

Australia: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Grades 2-4, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …

Introduction. Volume 20 (2002), Devorah Lieberman

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Introduction to volume 20 (2002) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development, by Devorah Lieberman of Portland State University.

Could It Be That It Does Make Sense? A Program Review Process For Integrating Activities, Terrel Rhodes

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This chapter presents a model for a comprehensive program review process that can be used on any campus. Faculty developers maintain a critical role in a campus-wide program review initiative. This model is based upon the development of institutional priorities that guide the development of goals and objectives far academic units across the campus. The program review process is based on a core of regularly produced institutional data that can be used by all units to inform decision-making. The review process is conducted on an annual or biannual basis with periodic major review coinciding with accreditation visits. The ultimate success …

Getting Started With Faculty Development, Nadia Cordero De Figueroa, Pedro A. Sandín-Fremaint

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

As a result of an academic senate decision to reconceptualize the baccalaureate, the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico began, in late 1994, a major transformational process that has led it to rethink itself as a community of learners. One of the principal instruments of change has been our Center for Academic Excellence, created in early 1998 as a result of the transformational process. This chapter discusses the process that led to the creation of the center, as well as its structure, activities, and vision for the future. We hope that our experience will be useful to …

Mandatory Faculty Development Works, Mona B. Kreaden

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This chapter tells the story of a successful, ongoing, mandatory faculty development program. It explains the historical reasons why a business school in a large, urban Research I institution felt the need to make their program mandatory, examines how it was developed, and the university faculty development program’s role in the process. The author makes the case that mandatory programs can be successful in faculty development when they are administered by an outside credible entity, are faculty driven, and guarantee confidentiality.

What Do The Faculty Think? The Importance Of Concerns Analysis In Introducing Technological Change, Heekap Lee, Amy Lawson

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Change management strategies tend to focus on the inherent characteristics of the proposed change. However, there is a personal side to change and it is reflected in what are called perceptions or personal concerns. To manage change successfully, facilitators must take measures to understand the personal concerns had by those who are required to implement the change. Moreover, this concerns analysis should be done early in the project, ideally before the change is implemented. The purposes of this chapter are to explain the importance of conducting a concerns analysis and to propose a theoretical framework for concerns analysis. The framework …

Harnessing The Potential Of Online Faculty Development: Challenges And Opportunities, Timothy P. Shea, Pamela D. Sherer, Eric V. Kristensen

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This chapter explores several issues regarding the current state of online faculty development resources. First, it describes the breadth and depth of today’s online teaching and learning resources. Then, it explains the benefits of designing an institutional teaching and learning center portal as a means for organizing and focusing resources. Finally, it discusses the importance of the faculty developer’s role in harnessing these resources for individual and institutional advantage. The online portal provides a powerful tool for institutional change on a scale heretofore impossible for most, and puts faculty development at the center of an institution’s mission.

The Millennial Learner: Challenges And Opportunities, Suandra Y. Mcguire, Dennis A. Williams

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Students enrolled in college today are, in many respects, quite different from students enrolled a few decades ago. Learners today seem more focused on being credentialed, and less concerned with obtaining a broad-based, liberal arts education. Today’s faculty may find it challenging to provide engaging learning activities for this generation of students. Millennial educators must instill in students a desire to think critically and provide them with strategies that will make them more efficient learners. Campus learning centers and faculty development centers can work together to foster an academic climate that helps all students to realize their full academic potential.

The Evolution Of A Teacher–Professor: Applying Behavior Change Theory To Faculty Development, Fred Hebert, Marty Loy

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This chapter introduces the sage, the thinker, the builder, and the master as four evolutionary archetypes to use as identifiable characters in the process of teaching development. Once defined, behavior change theory is applied, and stage-specific strategies are used to aid these archetypes in their evolutionary process.

Overcoming Cultural Obstacles To New Ways Of Teaching: The Lilly Freshman Learning Project At Indiana University, Joan K. Middendorf, David Pace

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Evidence has been accumulating for over a decade that approaches such as collaborative and active learning have potential for creating real increases in student learning. Yet on many campuses these ideas are having little impact on what is actually happening in classes and in the formation of institutional practices. What are the cultural obstacles that are preventing the exploration of new ways of teaching and how can these be overcome? In this chapter we will describe cultural obstacles that prevent the adoption of new ways of teaching. After presenting a few opportunities created by the current sense of crisis in …

The Graphic Syllabus: Shedding A Visual Light On Course Organization, Linda B. Nilson

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Students rarely understand how a course is organized from the week-by-week topical listing in traditional syllabi. This chapter explains a teaching tool called a graphic syllabus, which elucidates (and may improve) course design/organization and increases student retention of the material. It may resemble a flow chart or diagram or be designed around a graphic metaphor with another object. Included here are materials, experiences, and graphic syllabi from a workshop conducted several times on how to compose one (involving about 115 faculty and faculty developers). Graphic representations of text-based material appeal to the visual learning preferences of today’s students and complement …

A Modified Microteaching Model: A Cross–Disciplinary Approach To Faculty Development, John P. Hertel, Barbara J. Millis, Robert K. Noyd

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Three departments at the United States Air Force Academy successfully used a microteaching model to train new faculty. Like other models, its structured approach used videotaping and peer coaching. The model also contained several unique features, including a cross-disciplinary approach to supplement feedback from department members and focused small group feedback with built-in preparation time. Thus, this model results not only in enhanced teaching performance, but also in departmental and institutional collegiality.

Bibliography, Volume 20 (2002)

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Bibliography for volume 20 (2002) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development.

Colby College Catalogue 2002 - 2003, Colby College

Colby Catalogues

Colby College Catalogue: September 2002 - August 2003

Engineering Management- The Minor Of Choice, William Peterson, Paul Kauffmann, Charles Keating, Resit Unal

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The minor in engineering management provides several real benefits to undergraduate engineering and engineering technology students, not the least of which can be a substantially larger starting salary. The other benefits it offers students are in the skill sets developed (project management, engineering economics, organization behavior / principles of management, and either statistical concepts or decision techniques), the preparation to start an engineering management graduate degree, and the bridging of the competency gaps identified in several national surveys. This paper addresses the benefits of the minor to engineering management programs.

G02-1463 Indoor Air Qualitiy: Know The Asthma Triggers In The Home, Shirley Niemeyer, Sharon Skipton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication discusses asthma triggers sometimes found in the home and possible solutions. It is intended to help manage and reduce possible indoor triggers. Medical professionals should be consulted first and their recommendations followed.

Asthma, a serious lung disease, is the leading cause of long-term illness in children. Asthma affects 112,100 Nebraskans, of whom 75,000 are adults, and 37,100 are youth (1998), and is on the rise. While the U.S. death rate has decreased since 1993, Nebraska's rate has increased to second highest in the nation. The highest death rate is among blacks, females and those 65 years of age …

Ec02-1565 Biology And Management Of Potato Insects, Robert J. Wright, Gary L. Hein, W. Wyatt Hoback, Alexander D. Pavlista

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

A variety of insects can damage potatoes in Nebraska. Insects may feed directly on the tubers and damage the harvestable crop, or they may indirectly damage the crop by feeding on leaves or stems. If severe enough, indirect damage may reduce harvestable yield and quality. Insect feeding also may be important because some insects (e.g., aphids) may transmit plant diseases such as viruses when they feed, or others (e.g., psyllids) may inject toxins. This publication reviews the identification, biology, and management of common insect pests of potatoes in Nebraska. The basis for a successful integrated pest management (IPM) program for …

Ec02-179 Managing Livestock Manure To Protect Environmental Quality, Michael A. Reynolds, Brian L. Benham, Richard B. Ferguson, Christopher G. Henry, Charles A. Shapiro, James P. Stack, Charles S. Wortmann

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This book covers the land application part of manure management. With increasing regulations, the livestock producer needs to understand the scientific principles that affect manure transformations and how to use these principles to manage the manure for maximum fertilizer value with minimal environmental impact. Improved land application of manure is one part of the solution, but we suggest that the producer evaluate the quantity of nutrients arriving on the farm as feed, animals, and fertilizer compared to the total that is exported. Achieving a nutrient balance will reduce potential environmental hazards often associated with animal agriculture.

Ec02-171 Canada Thistle, Robert G. Wilson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L) Scop.] is one of the seven species defined by Nebraska law as a noxious weed. At least 35 other states also have determined by law that Canada thistle poses a threat to the economic, social, and aesthetic well-being of the residents of their state. Canada thistle is probably the most widespread of all the thistle species and many land managers consider it the most difficult thistle to control. In Nebraska, Canada thistle is estimated to infest 460,000 acres.

Ec02-174 Leafy Spurge, Robert A. Masters, Brady F. Kappler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Leafy spurge is an invasive weed that infests over three million acres in the northern Great Plains and the prairie provinces of Canada. It is commonly found in rangelands, pastures, roadsides, rights-of-way, and woodlands. Leafy spurge can reduce rangeland and pasture carrying capacity by as much as 75 percent because it competes with forages and cattle avoid grazing areas infested with this weed. In North Dakota where leafy spurge infests about 900,000 acres, estimates of direct and indirect losses exceed $100 million each year. In Nebraska, the direct loss in forage value attributed to leafy spurge has been estimated at …

Ec02-1882 Soybean Disease Profiles, Loren J. Giesler, James P. Stack, John E. Watkins, Robert M. Harveson, Jennifer Chaky

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This 2-page, four-color extension circular covers the disease and symptoms of soybeans in the state of Nebraska. It covers such diseases as bacterial blight; phytophthora root rot; soybean cyst nematode (SCN); bacterial pustule; rhizoctonia root and cortical rot; seedling blights caused by Pythium spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora sojae; brown stem rot; schlerotinia stem rot; charcoal rot; bean pod mottle; phomopsis seed decay; pod and stem blight; purple seed stain; and sudden death syndrome.

Ec02-830 Costs Of Cattle Fencing For Grazing Areas, Roger K. Wilson, Richard T. Clark

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication is an update to an earlier version: Livestock Fencing Cost and Information. Costs for fencing have increased since that time even though the fencing technology is similar.

This publication addresses only the cost of building fences. There are other considerations that may impact the final cost of a fencing project such as site preparation, removal of old fence, building new fences, new fence boundary surveys, and installation.

Ec02-893 Basis Patterns For Selected Sites In Nebraska For Corn, Wheat, Sorghum, And Soybeans, Lynn Lutgen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The following publication contains corn basis patterns for several towns in Nebraska. The basic price information was collected through electronic media. The listing includes towns that are representative of different geographic locations in Nebraska. The amount of data varies among locations. This publication will be updated each year by adding a year's data to each location which will allow the user to observe changes in the basis patterns over time.

Ec02-106 Nebraska Grain Sorghum Hybrid Tests, 2002, Lenis Alton Nelson, Roger Wesley Elmore, Robert N. Klein, David D. Baltensperger

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This circular is a progress report of grain sorghum trials conducted to obtain yield land other information for some of the hybrids being marketed. The 2002 season was the 45th year that private hybrids were included in these trials. Seed producers supported test through fee payments. Cooperating were the Agronomy Department and the South Central, West Central and Panhandle Research and Extension Centers. Conduct of experiments and publication of results is a joint effort of the Agricultural Research Division and the Cooperative Extension Service.

Ec02-1550 Nebraska Management Guide For Arthropod Pests Of Livestock And Horses, John B. Campbell

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Understanding the differences in insecticide formulations is important to selecting the right one for the job. This publication discusses the different insecticides and ways of treating your animals. They include: dusts, emulsifiable concentrates, emulsifiable livestock insecticides, flowables (thick fluids mixed with water), soluble powders, wettable powders, and water dispersible liquids. Insecticides listed in this publication are considered safe when used according to label directions.

Ec02-174 Noxious Weeds Of Nebraska: Leafy Spurge, Robert A. Masters, Brady Kappler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Leafy spurge is an invasive weed that infests over three million acres in the northern Great Plains and the prairie provinces of Canada. It is commonly found in rangelands, pastures, roadsides, rights-of-way, and woodlands. Leafy spurge can reduce rangeland and pasture carrying capacity by as much as 75 percent because it competes with forages and cattle avoid grazing areas infested with this weed.

This Extension Circular discusses the biology, identification, distribution and control of leafy spurge.