Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Week Eight: Conclusion Reading Guide, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is a reading guide for the conclusion.

An Insurmountable Gap: Can We Balance Incoming And Outgoing Erasmus Exchanges Among Engineering Students?, Susan O'Shaughnessy

Stream 2: Curriculum

Because of the global power of English and being situated in an English-speaking country, Irish higher education institutions do not have to try very hard to attract Erasmus students from across Europe. However, persuading Irish students, particularly students of engineering, to undertake an Erasmus exchange in another European country is a much more difficult process. This paper outlines the recent history of Erasmus exchanges of engineering students to and from the Technological University Dublin and examines the push and pulls factors that affect these exchanges. It presents the results of a small-scale research project into the factors that encourage or …

Engaging With Industry In The Classroom Through The Use Of Online Technology, Geraldine Duignan, Ailish Breen, Mary Heneghan

Stream 2: Curriculum

A long established method of learning in Irish third level education has been the collaboration of colleges with Industry in the form of work placement. Workplaces provide a diversity of learning that is contextualised, socialised and not readily available in traditional learning contexts (Sheridan & Linehan, 2013). Because the workplace is the context of practice, learning in the workplace is considered a form of authentic learning informed by real contexts, activities, and best practice (Franz, 2008). The placement of students is often a difficult process and not always practical with large class sizes. Therefore, it is necessary to reimagine how …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Using A Hybrid Pbl Approach In The Teaching Of The Java Programming Language To First Year Third Level, James Doody

Stream 2: Curriculum

First year students on third level Computing courses find Software Development difficult: learner outcomes are poor, with high failure rates and low learner retention. A number of research studies have shown that novice programmers have low intrinsic motivation and low programming self-efficacy. One of the other possible explanations for the difficulties many learners have with Software Development is that it may be a Threshold Concept in Computing. The literature suggests that Problem-Based Learning (PBL) can improve the teaching of difficult concepts, and it has been promoted by professional and funding bodies as a teaching strategy that can improve learner outcomes …

Graduate Work-Readiness In The 21st Century, John Keogh, Theresa Maguire, John O'Donoghue

Stream 4: Enterprising University

The term ‘graduateness’ is beginning to be used, nationally and internationally, to describe a range of competences thought to match the demands of the workplace. There is no accompanying unifying definition, nor framework for formal recognition, rather it is used to imply a combination of attributes that varies between types of Higher Education Institutions across the World. In Ireland, the desirable characteristics of 21st century graduates variously include qualities of being ‘Creative and Enterprising, Solution-Orientated, Effective Communicators, and Globally Engaged Active Leaders’ (DCU 2014). Similarly, they should be engaged, enterprising, enquiry-based, effective and expert in their chosen field (DIT, 2013). …

Creating An Experiential Learning Based Multi-Disciplinary Program, Jeff Moretz, Steve Marsh, Jennifer Percival

Stream 2: Curriculum

For many years, curriculum development has considered learning outcomes at the program level largely via learning outcomes at the course level. Some programs have modified their designs to use different structures such as condensed courses or project based learning. Recently, there has been an increased interest in experiential learning as a way to facilitate student acquisition of real-world applicable capabilities while enhancing student learning of ‘soft skills’ such as professionalism, communication, and team management. Historically, such engagement including complexities of real-world problems has been accomplished through internships, co-op, capstone courses, or project based learning. In this paper we present an …

Bridging The Gap Between Engineering Workforce Needs And Student Engagement, Eileen Goold

Stream 2: Curriculum

This paper is inspired by the development of the proposed new technological university in Dublin; TU4Dublin is to become “Dublin’s Globally Engaged University” and is to be located at the nexus between learning and engagement (TU4Dublin, 2015). This study investigates engineering education in the context of career focused education. The main objective of this study is to investigate whether engineering students’ cognitive engagement benefits from bridging the gap between technical issues and the practical realities of modern engineering practice. A portfolio of engineering practice illustrating the practical realities of modern engineering practice in the context of Engineers Ireland’s competencies is …

The Tri-Party Partnership: An Investigation Into The Existing Support Structures Within A Dit Placement, Kerry Meakin, Órla Keane

Stream 2: Curriculum

The readiness of students entering the workforce upon graduating has been widely researched in Ireland, and a student work placement that is embedded in the curriculum is commonly recognised as a crucial mechanism that is key to preparing graduates for the ‘real world’. In this particular study, the voice of many key parties are captured, including the students themselves, members of the academic department who coordinate the programme, and the industry partners. Recommendations are made based on the findings that highlighted gaps or weaknesses in the existing student support structures, along with the addition of an updated academic institution-industry partnership …

Curriculum, Classroom, Culture And Connectedness, Mary O'Rawe

Stream 2: Curriculum

Curriculum and pedagogy are central to many contemporary debates on fostering a successful student experience, particularly in a massified higher education sector. These themes are evident in discussions from policy level to the staffroom in many countries. Attention has been specifically directed at the transition point from ‘second level’ to ‘higher/third level’ education, resulting in the development of many initiatives and materials around the ‘first year experience’ (‘FYE’). Central principles have been identified as curricula that engage students in their programme, modules and learning. Indeed the term ‘student engagement’ has evolved as a focal point of these debates as the …

Reflection On Integrative Project-Based Learning In Business And Information Technology Programs, Andrew Hogue, Jennifer Percival, Khalil El-Khatib, Garrett Hayes

Stream 2: Curriculum

Recently there has been an increase in demand for interdisciplinary programs that enable graduates to demonstrate a blend of technical and ‘soft skills’. As a result, many higher education organizations are developing programs that integrate areas such as management and information technology or entrepreneurship and engineering. The wide range of topics covered in these programs and the need for graduate to be able to integrate and apply of core concepts. Since 2010 we have used integrative project-based learning as a core element of our game development and entrepreneurship program. In this model, students work in project teams to create a …

The Relationship Between Social Presence, Student Satisfaction And Academic Achievement In Fully Online Asynchronous Courses, Martin Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the study was to describe the strength and direction of the relationship between social presence and student success as measured by student satisfaction and academic achievement in fully online asynchronous courses. A correlational research design was utilized to study the relationship between social presence, student satisfaction, and academic achievement. The participants in this study are a convenience sample of 104 undergraduate level students enrolled in fully online asynchronous courses at The University of Texas at Brownsville from August to December 2014. The data for the participants’ perception of social presence and student satisfaction were elicited through two …

The Effect Of Video Interviews With Stem Professionals On Stem-Subject Attitude And Stem-Career Interest Of Middle School Students In Conservative Protestant Christian Schools, Philip Alsup

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Inspiring learners toward career options available in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is important not only for economic development but also for maintaining creative thinking and innovation. Limited amounts of research in STEM education have focused on the population of students enrolled in religious and parochial schools, and given the historic conflict between religion and science, this sector of American education is worthy of examination. The purpose of this quantitative study is to extend Gottfredson's (1981) Theory of Circumscription and Compromise as it relates to occupational aspirations. Bem's (1981) Gender Schema Theory is examined as it relates to …

The Association Between Preschool Type And Children's Concentration Abilities, Jessica Jarvis

Honors Projects

The author of the study compared concentration abilities in 4-5 year-olds attending Montessori and traditional preschools in Bowling Green, Ohio. Number of errors and processing times on the Marburg concentration test were used to measure children's concentration abilities. No significant differences in concentration abilities were found for preschoolers attending Montessori and traditional schools.

Questions As A Generative Strategy For Knowledge Transfer And Problem Solving, Brett Howard Cook-Snell

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Consistent with generative learning theory, Grabowski (1996) suggests the use of questions may serve as an effective generative strategy for learning. However, the learning effects of questions have produced conflicting results (Bulu & Pedersen, 2010; Chen & Bradshaw, 2007; Choi, Land, & Turgeon, 2005; Chou & Liang, 2009; Davis & Linn, 2000; Dornisch & Sperling, 2008; Ge & Land, 2003). Similarly, there are five basic challenges inherent in question research (Andre, 1979). These include lack of intentional and consistent question design, lack of detail making it difficult to replicate studies, lack of control groups against which to measure differences, aggregation …

A Conceptual Analysis Of Perspective Taking In Support Of Socioscientific Reasoning, Sami Kahn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scientific literacy is concerned with the informed citizens' ability to negotiate scientifically-related societal issues. The suite of skills necessary to negotiate these complex issues is referred to as Socioscientific Reasoning (SSR). SSR requires, among other things, perspective-taking abilities in order to consider the multi-faceted nature of these open-ended, debatable socioscientific issues (SSI). Developing interventions and instruments to foster and measure perspective taking in support of SSR is therefore critical to the promotion of functional scientific literacy through both research and practice. Although widely studied in many disciplines, perspective taking is a particularly tangled construct that has been used to describe …

Catholic Labor Education And The Association Of Catholic Trade Unionists. Instructing Workers To Christianize The Workplace, Paul Lubienecki Ph.D.

Journal of Catholic Education

This article analyzes the effect of the American Catholic Church, through its program of specialized labor education, on the growth and development of organized labor in the twentieth century. With the proclamation of Pope Pius XI’s encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, he requested that the Church complete the work began by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 with his landmark social encyclical Rerum Novarum.

However, the American interpretation and utilization of the social encyclicals varied from their intended European meaning. The cumulative effect of these two encyclicals was support for the workers’ rights to organize and create Christian labor associations. From …

Critical Theory And Catholic Social Teaching: A Research Framework For Catholic Schools, Jill Bradley-Levine, Kari A. Carr

Journal of Catholic Education

In this article, the authors share findings from an ethnographic study drawn from an evaluation of an after-school program directed by a Catholic diocese to meet the educational needs of children attending urban Catholic schools. The authors used critical research methods within the context of Catholic social teaching (CST) as a theoretical framework for the data presented in this article. Two themes emerged during this data collection and analysis. The first theme, student interactions, describes the helpful ways that students engaged with each other during the after-school program, and also the manner in which students exhibited a need for greater …

Using Solo Drama To Make The Teaching Of Social Studies Engaging For Students, Michael Kemeh

Faculty Scholarship

Social studies is a major subject taught in schools in the United States. Research shows lack of interest in the subject by most school children. The author reflects on how he prepares teachers in a graduate drama course to use solo drama as another instructional option to address the problem. The paper also examines integrated solo drama projects by four students in their respective classrooms as case studies. The findings are synthesized to demonstrate the efficacy of this drama strategy for classroom teachers and teacher educators to adopt in making social studies meaningful and engaging for learners.

The Global Health "Interactive Curricula Experience (Ice) Platform & App": Technology That Enables Inter-Professional Innovation, Martha Langley Ankeny M.Ed., Janice M. Bogen, James Plumb Md, Mph, Lucille B. Pilling Edd, Mph, Rn, Ellen J. Plumb Md, Louis N. Hunter Pt, Dpt, Nicholas Leon Pharmd, Amy Earle Bfa

Academic Commons and Scott Memorial Library Staff Papers and Presentations

Global Health Initiatives Committee (GHIC)

Serves the Jefferson community as the premier point of engagement for students & faculty interested in medical and public health issues that transcend national boundaries

Creates an institutional focus on preparing students for public service careers in population health and public policy at local, national, and global levels

To enable all TJU faculty to:

- Deliver global health education, in a friendly, interactive format - Does not require an expert to deliver - Can be used in very small or large pieces depending on your needs

Beyond The One Shot: Creating A Course For Sustained Adult Learning, Makiba Foster, Kristine Helbling

WashU Libraries Presentations

Avoiding the one-shot instruction standard was the goal when targeting adult learners in our university’s evening degree program. We crafted a semester-long course to help returning adult learners navigate academic research. Attendees learned how we designed our course based in adult learning theory. We also discussed our strategy for persuading reluctant administrators on the importance of information literacy courses. This presentation also included feedback from students regarding their newly gained skills.

Rubrics For Easily And Accurately Assessing Speaking And Listening Proficiency From Novice Through Distinguished, Catherine T. Johnson

South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL)

Accurately assessing student performance helps instructors develop more effective classroom materials to increase proficiency in the target language. In order to facilitate this process in my classroom, I have developed rubrics for Speaking and Listening that are based on ACTFL guidelines, and that can be easily modified to suit the specific needs of any language at all levels from Novice through Distinguished. Thus, these rubrics can be very useful not only for the individual instructor, but also for language departments that wish to use a common rubric for assessing student performance.

At the end of the session, participants will be …

El Nuevo Programa De Lengua Para El Primer Ciclo En Coastal Carolina University, Yun Sil Jeon

South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL)

Siguiendo el sistema académico en los Estados Unidos, el estudio de pregrado en Coastal Carolina University se divide en dos ciclos claramente diferenciados: el primer ciclo dedicado a cursos de educación general (Core Courses) y el segundo ciclo donde el alumno completa sus cursos de especialidad (Major) y de libre elección (Electives o Minor). Este primer ciclo dedicado a cursos de educación general es característico en el sistema educativo universitario estadounidense. Durante los dos primeros años los alumnos cursan materias introductorias generales, tratando de abarcar todas las áreas del conocimiento humano, estrechamente ligadas a las áreas de conocimiento impartidas en …

Overview Of Penn State Homeland Security Programs And Its Curriculum Enhancement And Evolution Activities, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

Program mission

• “The intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security (iMPS-HLS) degree program is designed to prepare professionals and develop leaders for the field of homeland security by providing exceptional graduate education that includes an integrated curriculum, expert faculty, and student interaction.”

Facilitating Motivation In A Virtual World Within A Second Language Acquisition Classroom, Andrew Warren Gump

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

This Is Not A Fable: Using Storytelling In A College Classroom To Enhance Student Learning, Diann C. Moorman

SoTL Commons Conference

This research endorses storytelling as means to enhance student learning in the college classroom. Indeed, many of our earliest learning experiences may have involved storytelling—from Esoph’s Fables to Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Rare is the American adult who has not heard “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” or “The Ugly Duckling”. Both are childhood stories that provided reflective life messages. As such, storytelling is an enduring form of communication. Although many educators use storytelling in their classrooms, the stories are often presented spontaneously and may not be considered integral to the day’s learning and teaching activities. In fact, in many fields, the …

Turning Vision Into Action, Keturah Mazo

SoTL Commons Conference

"Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion." (Jack Welch)

Vision requires action. The course I teach, Professional Communication for Executives, has a variety of objectives:

• To develop a working knowledge of both theory and skills for effective and ethical public and persuasive communication.
• To develop individual presentation skills.
• To demonstrate awareness and practice of effective leadership skills and professional behavior.
• To create appropriate visual aids to enhance communication.

The following assignment incorporates the students' initiative with their knowledge to demonstrate both visually and orally what plans they are …

Stories Of Care In The Virtual Classroom: An Autoethnographic Narrative Inquiry, Brooke Boback Eisenbach

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since their inception in 2006, K-12 virtual classrooms have spread across the nation, reaching millions of students every day. Despite the technological changes in today's society, adolescents who lack key personal characteristics may struggle to successfully complete online coursework. A caring teacher-student relationship may assist today's virtual learners in ways that enhance motivation, learning, and online education success. Although a veteran teacher of nine years, in this autoethnographic narrative inquiry, I shared my experience as a novice, English I virtual teacher as I strived to enact relational with my virtual education students.

Toward Developing An Academic Discipline, Tim Brady, Alan J. Stolzer

Publications

It is not often in the life of an academic or of an academic institution that circumstances coalesce to bring about a new academic discipline. But it happened recently, thus a review of the circumstances may be of interest and potentially instructive. Disciplines are typically characterized as a field of study at institutions of higher learning; they have a definable body of knowledge, scholars who contribute to that body of knowledge, teachers who teach in the field, a community of people who identify with the field, a refereed journal, are often associated with a professional practice and, in many cases, …

Waking Dormant Researchers: Student Co-Research As Writing Research Methodology And Pedagogy, Angela Renee Sheets

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the ways that students took up writing researcher skills, knowledges, and identities through a teacher-student co-research investigation of writing in an online writing research course. The following questions guided this study:

* How did literate activity occur in an online Composition as Critical Inquiry Course?

* What writing research skills, knowledges, and identities did the students take up and demonstrate as they participated in a co-research project?

The study also examined the efficacy of co-research as a methodology and pedagogy.

Chapter 1 reviews literature from the relevant English studies fields. Central topics include the rationale for writing …

Watch And Learn: A Documentary Exploring The Effects Of Video-Based Pedagogy, Chris Matthew Noel

Theses and Dissertations

This 20 minute film explores the use of hybrid lesson plans, those consisting of traditional in-class teaching and interactive video outside of the classroom. Using six voluntary Graduate Teaching Assistants as participants, the documentary follows the participants as they give their ideologies on teaching, perform either a traditional lesson plan or the hybrid lesson plan, and participate in a focus group to give their opinion on the perceived benefits or drawbacks of having hybrid lesson plans in the classroom.