Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Assessment Of Competencies Required For Facilities Management Of Educational Institutions, Dipthi Prakash Raavi

Open Access Theses

A facility manager of a campus, in the present times, is usually confused about the scope of his or her job as the expectations of the building owners or employees have increased. (Cotts, Roper & Payant, 2010) The expectations, along with the constant evolution of the construction industry, have created a need for people in this profession to progress along with the times and increase their understanding of the industry. The job description of a facilities manager also varies depending upon the purpose of a facility. The study focused on determining the competencies that are required to become an efficient …

How Do Moroccan Teachers Conceptualize Citizenship?, Tarik Saadi

Open Access Dissertations

Citizenship education plays a critical role in the development of civic attitudes and contributes to the appropriate delivery of a government's policy. However, there is a discrepancy in the literature in defining the meaning and understanding of citizenship concepts. This study is primarily qualitative in nature, using the method of phenomengraphy to investigate teachers' perceptions of citizenship in Morocco. The study recruited six elementary and secondary teachers from Casablanca and Rabat in Morocco to identify their understanding of citizenship. I adapted the three-phase interview approach proposed by Irving Seidman (1998) to frame the interviews with the teachers. The findings demonstrated …

Technology Use Of Online Instructors With High Self-Efficacy: A Multiple Case Study, Barbara L. Albee

Open Access Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand how online instructors with perceived high self-efficacy for online teaching use technology in the online class and how their use compares to a common list of best practices for use of technology with online instruction. One-on-one interviews with four case study participants were the main source of data collection along with direct observations of the participants' online courses. The case study participants were selected based on results from a Sense of Efficacy for Online Teaching Scale and willingness to move forward with the case study. Conventional data analysis was …

Characteristics Of An Appropriate Instructor-Student Relationship In Allied Health, Julie K. Morbach

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In most allied health educational programs, the instructors are individuals who are experts in their field, but do not have a certificate in teaching. Furthermore, these individuals may feel a sense of loneliness when transitioning from working in a department with co-workers to being the sole instructor of a discipline-specific program. Because of this sense of isolation and the amount of time spent with the same students, instructors may begin to perceive students more as friends and confidants. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of educators regarding the instructor-student relationship in allied health programs in …

Comparison Of Online Student Vs. Public Student Performance On The Act, Sarah Schultz

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study compared the ACT scores of students from an online high school and a public high school in Sioux Center, Iowa. ACT scores in Reading, Math and the Composite score were collected for both groups and then the mean was taken for each group. A t-test was performed to evaluate if there is a significant difference in student performance between online delivery and face to face educational delivery. The result shows that online students outperform public school students in the reading portion of the exam; while the public school students out-perform on the math portion showing no …

Stability Balls And Handwriting Proficiency In A Kindergarten Classroom, Megan Haan

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research project investigated the impact on handwriting by the use of stability balls as chairs. The participants were nineteen students in an experimental group and nineteen students in a control group in two different classrooms. Students in both groups were given a pre-test using the “Handwriting Without Tears Screener of Handwriting.” The students in the experimental group were taught how to use a stability ball as a chair and used a ball as a chair for twelve weeks. During this time, both classrooms taught the same amount of letters using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. All students then …

Zoom: The Changing Nature Of Middle School Shared Instructional Leadership On The Way To The Common Core, Ann M. Yanchura

Dissertations

The complexities, diversity, and nuances of schools today require the shared leadership of the best and brightest that education has to offer. All across the country, school districts are embarking on the challenging journey toward higher and better standards and performance found in the adoption of the Common Core State Standards. This dissertation describes the early CCSS implementation efforts of the middle schools in a Midwest suburban district. In particular, it examines the instructional leadership that was shared among the administrators and literacy coaches who led the adoption and implementation of the new Standards. The research was conducted during their …

Talking To Learn: A Formative Experiment On Constructing Meaning Though Collaborative Classroom Interactions, Mary L. Hoch

Dissertations

As a result of reform efforts, national standards and assessments set the stage for teaching and learning in many classrooms. This establishes a particular classroom environment and often leads to behaviorist instructional methods, such as recitation. Utilizing a formative experiment design, this research integrated constructivist modes of learning and explored how these modes could be adjusted to help six struggling readers construct meaning. This study took place in a third grade classroom during the teacher’s daily scheduled comprehension instruction time. The classroom environment, as perceived by the teacher, as well as the effects of national standards and assessments on comprehension …

Is Service-Learning The Answer? Preparing Teacher Candidates To Work With Ells Through Service-Learning Experiences, Sandra Rodriguez-Arroyo

Scholarship of Metropolitan Mission

In an effort to address the gaps in preparing teacher candidates (TCs) to work with English Language Learners (ELLs), service-learning experiences (SLE) were integrated into two courses within a teacher education program. This exploratory case study sought to explore the outcomes of teacher candidates (TCs) engaged in SLE with diverse students and families, particularly ELLs. Content analysis of students’ reflections provided insights of the impact of the SLE. Findings indicate that participating in service-learning with ELLs provides opportunities for TCs to engage in positive interactions that help to address misconceptions about students, families, and communities. TCs also began to confront …

Sexual And Reproductive Health Education For Boys In Kapchorwa, Uganda, Meredith Colleary

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study examines the systems by which adolescent boys receive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in Kapchorwa, Uganda. Teenage pregnancy and early marriage are epidemics that hinder Uganda’s development. As girls have consistently been the targets of interventions, this study considers how boys are included in these strategies. The objectives of the study are three-­‐fold: to research the ways that boys receive SRH education, to identify the successes and shortcomings of these education systems, and to seek ways for these systems to be improved.

The study was carried out over a six-­‐week period in the spring of 2015. The …

Peace Building Through Education Reforms Case Study: Objectives And Philosophy Of Jordanian Educational System, Megan Mckeown

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the field of peacebuilding, education reform is the most tangible way to propel forward and build positive change. Access to schooling is not the only factor that will eradicate structural violence and inequality in our world. This can be seen with violence and inequality increasing even though educational enrollment has reached upwards of 90% in developing areas. We must begin a movement to learn from educational systems already in place, to pinpoint their strengths and expand on them, discover possible themes to change, and suggest diverse avenues to overcome obstacles for achieving social justice and peace. The ensuing research …

Week One Introduction, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

After "speedy" introductions and a review of rules and objectives, we will create a working definition of learning-centered teaching. We will also learn how to actively engage students (a) in reviewing a course syllabus and (b) in course readings. If time permits, we will discuss a case study on problems instructors sometimes encounter when trying new teaching strategies. Information on the certificate in higher education program well also shared.

Week Two Introduction, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

After discussing how preconceptions and misconceptions interfere with students' learning, we will learn steps for planning a lesson. We will also discuss ways to uncover students' ideas using classroom assessment techniques, or CATs, and create concepts maps of Chapter 2.

Week Six Introduction, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

In addition to exchanging ideas or activities on how to overcome misconceptions and learning bottlenecks, there is a readiness assessment test or RAT, and we will learn about multiple choice tests. We will also revisit lesson planning briefly and critique a quiz.

Week Seven Introduction, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Partners provided each other with meaningful feedback on their syllabi and also exchanged lesson plans. In addition, test analysis skills were revised and we discussed common concerns related to grading. A rubric or scoring guide was also used to grade an essay test question in literature or geography.

Teaching Academy 2015: Wednesday Syllabus, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The purpose of the Teaching Academy is to help you understand how learning works so you can develop the competencies needed to create active, learning-centered courses. By the end of the Academy you will have (a) created a list of common misconception in your content area, (b) constructed and used a CAT (classroom assessment technique) to measure student learning, (c) created a lesson plan that addresses a disciplinary or course related misconception, and (d) written test or quiz questions.

Week One: Learning Journal, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Active participation and reflection are critical to learning, and are basic “essentials” in this class.

Week One: Syllabus Activity, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Directions for syllabus activity.

Silver Level Certificate Of Achievement, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Form for the Silver level Certificate of Achievement.

Gold Level Certificate Of Achievement, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Form for the Gold level Certificate of Achievement.

Week One Evaluation, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Help me make the Academy a good learning experience for you by rating today’s session. Please write a BRIEF response to the following statements.

Week Two: Planning For Active Learning, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is an overview of Planning for Active Learning.

Cat Implementation Report Form, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The CAT implementation report form allows you to identify students’ misconceptions and/or what they know, and then reflect on the CAT results so you can better target your lesson plans.

“Curse Of Knowledge” Reading Guide, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is a reading guide for the "Curse of Knowledge."

Lesson Plan With Misconception/Bottleneck Focus, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The first principle discussed in How Learning Works is “students’ prior knowledge can help or hinder learning.” There is high probability that some, or, all of the students in your target course will have misconceptions and/or inaccurate prior knowledge that will actively inhibit their ability to learn course material. Unless you identify these misconceptions—also called learning bottleneck—and address them explicitly, students may be unsuccessful in mastering disciplinary thresholds. During the Teaching Academy, you will have the opportunity to apply the principles of smart teaching by designing a lesson to address an important misconception or bottleneck in your target course.

Reflection As The Key To Intuitive Knowing, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

In The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action (1983), Schön introduced the idea of knowing-in-action or “reflection-in-action,” observing that “[w]hen we go about the spontaneous, intuitive performance of the actions in everyday life, we show ourselves to be knowledgeable in a special way. Often we cannot say what it is that we know . . . [because it is] implicit in our patterns or action and in our feel for the stuff with which we are dealing” (p. 49). According to Schön, knowing-in-action complements reflection.

Week Two: Chapter 1 Reading Guide, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is a reading guide for chapter one.

Week Three: Student Motivation, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is an overview of Student Motivation: Overcoming Obstacles to Learning.

Integrate Motivation Planning Into Lesson Planning, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Instructions on how to integrate motivation planning into lesson planning.

Perspective Activity, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is a faculty and student perspective activity.