Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Pieces Solving A Puzzle: Emerging Roles And Cross-Field Analogies During A Distributed Epistemic Game, Jenna Matthews

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In an effort to describe why some problems can’t be solved, a character compared them to a cubic meter of platinum - a block so dense that all the people who could squeeze around it still couldn’t lift it off the ground. In the same way, these problems simply can’t have enough people gathered around and communicating about them - and so they remain unsolved.

This research looks at the first Polymath Project (2009) as an example of a distributed epistemic game to examine how groups engage with complex problems. and without a locally omniscient individual. In this setting of …

Updated Library Publishing Curriculum Policy Module: Policy Narrative, Alexandra Marcaccio, Talea Anderson, Corinne Guimont, Esther Jackson, Michelle Wilson, Perry Collins

Library Publishing Curriculum

The Policy Module covers how library publishers develop policies that guide specific areas of their work. Policy is an area where publishing programs interface with the legal and political environment, which has seen dramatic changes since the original Policy Module was written, and these units provide the up-to-date guidance that library publishers need. The units in the updated Policy Module are:

• Accessibility by Alexandra Marcaccio
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by Talea Anderson
• Preservation by Corinne Guimont
• Publishing Ethics by Esther Jackson & Michelle Wilson
• Rights & Rights Management by Perry Collins

Performing Proficiency: Ethnodrama As Arts-Based Research In An Esl Acting Classroom, Angel M. Morales

Journal of English Learner Education

This study explores the use of ethnodrama as an arts-based research method and pedagogical tool in English as a Second Language (ESL) education. Drawing on the work of Saldaña, Salvatore, and Denzin, the project examines how performance can communicate lived experiences, foster language development, and promote social justice in multicultural classrooms. Based on interviews and observations of ESL students in an Acting I course, the resulting ethnodrama, What?! Acting?!, presents verbatim narratives that reveal learners’ identities, struggles, and resilience. The findings highlight how theatrical practice enhances linguistic fluency, self-expression, and cultural understanding, demonstrating the transformative potential of performance in …

A Franco-American University Collaboration: Oral Assessment With Cefr And Star, Nadia Yassine-Diab, Christina Torres University Of Central Florida, Aimee Schoonmaker

Journal of English Learner Education

This article describes the collaboration between faculty at two international
universities, one in France and one in the U.S., who partnered their students to practice and assess oral skills. Using computer-mediated communication with both synchronous and asynchronous elements, the collaboration provided a valuable opportunity for both groups to engage in pedagogically meaningful and structured exchanges integrated into coursework that mirror their future professional situations (O’Dowd et. al., 2020). More specifically, each semester, the U.S. TESOL students interview and assess French speaking English language learners using the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and the Situation Task Action Results (STAR) interview …

Unlocking Affixes In The Esl Community College Classroom: The Language Of Law, Science, And Technology, Patricia George-Hunter Edd

Journal of English Learner Education

Since vocabulary plays a significant role in second language acquisition, expansive vocabulary targets should be set and pursued. This paper explores the results of introducing affixes to develop vocabulary and increase motivation for beginner to intermediate-level English language learners (ELLs) pursuing academic disciplines in law, science, and technology at a New York City community college. Participants included 23 ELLs with diverse linguistic, educational, and sociocultural backgrounds enrolled in an online synchronous Integrative Language Seminar (ILS) designed to develop all areas of English language proficiency. Pre‑, post‑, delayed tests, questionnaires, and post‑intervention interviews were conducted and analyzed to establish the language …

Math Language Acquisition And Improving English Language Learners’ Ability To Understand And Solve Math Word Problems, Crystal L. Gammon, Jillian Skelton

Journal of English Learner Education

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore third- through fifth-grade teachers’ perceptions of effective vocabulary instruction and collaboration practices used to support English Language Learners (ELLs) in understanding, discussing, and solving math word problems. The problem addressed was that ELL students in rural southeastern U.S. school districts were not achieving mathematics proficiency at the same rate as their native English-speaking peers, particularly when solving word problems requiring academic language comprehension. The findings revealed that teachers viewed math vocabulary instruction as essential for closing academic gaps while also identifying vocabulary as a major barrier when it was not explicitly …

Making The Implicit Explicit For Multilingual Learners: A Language-Based Framework For Literacy Development, Luciana C. De Oliveira

Journal of English Learner Education

Literacy is fundamentally an act of meaning-making that requires bridging micro-level linguistic choices with macro-level text structures across genres. Current literacy policies dominated by Science of Reading (SoR) mandates often overemphasize isolated, word-level foundational skills. This narrow focus creates a one-size-fits-all model that reduces reading to the level of individual words, not appropriate for multilingual learners (MLs) who require access to dense, specialized disciplinary discourse. This article proposes an intentional, language-based literacy framework designed to build high-challenge, high-support classrooms for MLs without lowering academic expectations. Integrating genre-based pedagogy through the Teaching and Learning Cycle (TLC) with the mode continuum, the …

From Epoché To Essence: A Methodological Chronicle Of Hybrid Phenomenological Data Analysis, Mulugeta Yayeh Worku

The Qualitative Report

This article provides a personal and procedural account of the methodological journey undertaken for a doctoral study on the lived experiences of teacher educators practicing Social Reconstructionism in Ethiopian higher education. Navigating the complex terrain of phenomenological inquiry, the author details a Hybrid Phenomenological Model that integrates the procedural rigor of Clark Moustakas's descriptive method (e.g., horizonalization and imaginative variation) as a structural scaffold, with the interpretive attitude of hermeneutical phenomenology (Max van Manen, Martin Heidegger) as the guiding lens for meaning construction. The chronicle traces a five-phase data analysis process, from the initial challenge of epoché and immersion, through …

Reflexive Accounts Of Conducting Qualitative Interviews In The Mena Region, Chaima Mennai, Sana Alzahrani

The Qualitative Report

This paper provides a reflexive account of our experiences conducting qualitative research in the contexts of two Arab countries, from our perspectives as researchers trained in a Western academic context. We explore the challenges and insights gained when recruiting and interviewing participants for qualitative Ph.D. projects within what is a predominantly quantitative research culture. Drawing on Walsh’s reflexive framework, we detail the issues that emerged during the recruitment and interview processes, identifying their potentially significant implications for Ph.D. candidates and early-career researchers who were trained in the West and are choosing to conduct research in contexts where the qualitative research …

Teaching Writing With Genai: Teacher Insights On How To Adapt Learning And Assessment Practices, Thanh Thao Le, Trut Thuy Pham, Minh Tuan Duong, Thi Diem Lan Le

The Qualitative Report

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) creates two connected challenges for English as a foreign language (EFL) writing assessment: teachers need credible evidence of learner authorship and learning, while teachers and learners need practical guidance for responsible use. We investigated how nine Vietnamese tertiary EFL teachers redesigned writing tasks and assessment and whether their pedagogical reasoning varied across career stages. We generated data through semi-structured interviews at two tertiary institutions and analyzed the accounts using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis produced four themes: (1) movement from detection to authenticity-by-design, (2) Defensive, Adaptive, and Generative response patterns, (3) integrity, equity, and feasibility as …

Strategies For Building Relationships In The Secondary English Language Arts Classroom, Emily S. Nipper

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Building positive relationships with students is at the forefront of good teaching practices. While secondary teachers in the English language arts (ELA) classroom are increasingly overwhelmed with demands to improve literacy and test scores, positive relationships can help students feel supported in the classroom and more engaged in learning, which can help prevent them from demonstrating negative behaviors. Drawing on research on developing and valuing positive relationships in secondary classrooms, this article translates research into practice by examining how teachers can use discipline-specific strategies to foster supportive and positive relationships with students.

The Reality Of Employing Artificial Intelligence Applications In Teaching Mathematics Among Male And Female Mathematics Teachers In The Second Cycle Of Basic Education In The Sultanate Of Oman, Wedad Rajab Al Mukhini, Prof. Mamoon M. Al-Shannaq

International Journal for Research in Education

This study examined the use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in mathematics teaching in the second cycle of basic education in the Sultanate of Oman. A descriptive–analytical design was employed, and the study involved 244 mathematics teachers from South Al Sharqiyah Governorate. A 46-item instrument comprising four domains was developed, and its validity and reliability were verified using appropriate statistical procedures. The findings indicated that the overall level of AI application use in mathematics teaching was moderate. The domains of perceived importance and teachers’ knowledge of AI applications showed relatively low levels, whereas the perceived level of challenges was moderate. …

Catalogue Of The State Normal School, Florence, Ala (1873-1886), State Normal School

Documents

The physical item is a bound volume consisting of the first thirteen annual catalogues of State Normal School in Florence, Alabama from 1873-1886, and is the oldest bound university catalogue in the archives' collection. The document contains information on faculty and staff, course requirements and offerings, as well as students enrolled in the institution.

Literacy Activities To Prepare Mll Students For An Art Museum Visit, Marion J. Tate

Michigan Reading Journal

This article describes how I prepared newcomer Yemeni students to visit, understand, and learn from museums while also strengthening their English language development and cultural identity. Many students had limited English proficiency; however, they brought rich personal, family, and cultural knowledge into the classroom. To build on those strengths, I used literacy-based activities before, during, and after museum visits. These activities included shared and independent reading with e-books, pre-assessment charts, vocabulary development, guided discussions, reflective writing, collage-making, and student-led decision-making. Each strategy helped students practice English in meaningful ways while connecting museum content to memory, immigration, history, culture, and identity. …

Arts-Based Experiential Learning And Human Flourishing: A Perma-Informed Case Study Of Community Mural Making, Lindsay A. Beddes, Karen Yescavage, Krista Bridgmon

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

The worsening mental health epidemic among college students is marked by significant risk for loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Given that the demand for mental health care is outpacing institutional capacity, creative solutions are needed to augment traditional reactive interventions. In this qualitative research, we used narrative case study to explore the transformative power of community mural-making as experiential learning. Drawing on Seligman’s PERMA model (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment) we investigated how creative expression can cultivate positive psychological states to help students flourish (1991; 2011; 2018). Mural making promotes the crucial skills of teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Outdoor public …

Principles, Frameworks And Challenges Underpinning Holistic Education In The 21st Century, Kumar Laxman

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Holistic education is an educational paradigm that is gaining increasing attention in educational circles due to it being eclectic and inclusive in nature. It attempts to embed a wholesome approach to life including spiritual and philosophical ideals in its pedagogical elements to foster a more fulsome development of the individual. In this paper, research literature is parsed through and content analysed to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and curricular underpinnings of the holistic education movement through a theoretical interpretive lens. The beginnings and evolution of the holistic education movement are examined in conjunction with the broad definitions of …

Open The Process, Secure The Judgement, Colin N. Webber Dr

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

Students in higher education are often uncertain about which uses of generative AI are acceptable, and that uncertainty causes stress and inadvertent breaches. Permission scales describe intended use but are hard to enforce in unsupervised work: compliance rests on honest disclosure, and enforcement rests on detection, which is unreliable. This paper proposes a structural alternative organised around one question: was AI present when the assessed work was produced? Presence is defined by opportunity, which design controls. The answer places each assessed component in one of four conditions. Prep is developmental and assessed for feedback. Closed judges unaided capability. Account judges …

Frequency And Nature Of Pedagogical Support For Grade 12 Teachers In Limpopo Province, South Africa, Dingane Peter Mkhabela Mr, Loyiso Mennon Luvalo Prof

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

This article explored the frequency and nature of pedagogical support provided by curriculum advisors to Grade 12 teachers in two districts of Limpopo Province, South Africa, and examined teachers’ perceptions of that support. Research has been conducted on the role played by curriculum advisors in the development and implementation of the curriculum, but little has been mentioned about the intensity of their interventions in ensuring that implementation is carried out to the latter. Motivated by the province’s improving National Senior Certificate performance alongside concerns about the consistency and classroom relevance of teacher support, the study employed a qualitative case study …

Untold Mourning: The Epistemology Of Naming And Grieving The Loss Of Identities, Bao Diep, Verna Wong

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

This paper explores the epistemology of mourning through the lens of two Asian American scholars pursuing doctoral degrees at a Midwestern university. We examine how racialization in Midwestern educational institutions reflects a broader historical and cultural distancing from Vietnamese immigrants and refugees, despite a shared geopolitical past. Employing critical collaborative autoethnography as both method and remedy, we engage in a dialogic process of uncovering and understanding our collective memories and lived experiences. This approach empowers us to confront hegemonic narratives and reclaim our identities as immigrant scholars navigating predominantly white academic spaces.

Illinois Model Programs Of Study Guide: Education, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

This guide is designed to support the design and implementation of high-quality programs of study in education that lead to in-demand, living-wage careers, in alignment with Illinois statute. The recommended programs of study should be customized by local K-12 and community college partners.

Illinois Model Programs Of Study Guide: Physical Health, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

This guide is designed to support the design and implementation of high-quality programs of study in physical health that lead to in-demand, living-wage careers, in alignment with Illinois statute. The recommended programs of study should be customized by local K-12 and community college partners.

Illinois Model Programs Of Study Guide: Digital Technology, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

This guide is designed to support the design and implementation of high-quality programs of study in digital technology that lead to in-demand, living-wage careers, in alignment with Illinois statute. The recommended programs of study should be customized by local K-12 and community college partners.

State Of Illinois Model Programs Of Study Overview Guide, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

This guide provides foundational information that underpins all of the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides, including their purpose, intended audiences, key terminology, the development process for identifying high-priority occupations and credentials, cross-sector competencies, the work-based learning continuum, and how to implement the guides.

Preserving Threatened Wisdom In Indigenous Houses As Living Archives: An Ethnographic Study Of Spatial, Gendered Knowledge, And Community-Based Preservation Strategies In The Philippines, Lalin Abbacan Tuguic

The Qualitative Report

This qualitative study explores how Indigenous houses function as living archives of identity, ecological wisdom, and gendered knowledge in Kalinga communities in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. Using an ethnographic design grounded in prolonged engagement and reflexive practice, the research documents how historical experience, social and cultural meanings, environmental adaptation, and community‑based preservation strategies are materially and symbolically embedded in Indigenous house construction and use. Data were generated through participant observation of everyday life and rituals in and around traditional square and octagonal houses; semi‑structured interviews with elders, women, builders, youth, and community leaders; focus group discussions in local …

Recovering And Reclaiming Black Histories: Integrating Historical Perspectives In Teaching And Research

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

(Re)Membering As Resistance: Learning From My Grandma’S Story In A Time Of Historical Erasure, Akilah K. Lyons-Moore

Occasional Paper Series

In the current moment of historical erasure—marked by book bans, curricular restrictions, and political efforts to sanitize discussions of race—(re)membering becomes a pedagogical imperative. Drawing on Morrison’s (1987) articulation of (re)membering and Black feminist theories of memory (Collins, 2000; Hartman, 2008; hooks, 1994), this paper uses narrative inquiry to trace the intergenerational educational journeys of a Black rural Southern woman born in 1914 and her granddaughter, a contemporary teacher educator. Through autobiography and lived experience, this paper examines how personal and communal histories counter disremembering (Trouillot, 1995) and the politics of being forgotten. By weaving together these two lives—rooted in …

Beyond The Chalkboard: Black Oral Traditions And The Kitchen Table As Pedagogy, Gerald D. Smith Jr

Occasional Paper Series

This article positions the kitchen table as a vital pedagogical archive within Black educational history. Drawing on the work of various Black scholars, it argues that domestic spaces—kitchen tables, living rooms, basements, and barbershops have long functioned as fugitive classrooms where Black communities cultivated knowledge, identity, and political consciousness beyond the constraints of formal schooling. Using Carrie Mae Weems’ Kitchen Table Series as a central metaphor, the article traces how oral traditions, storytelling, and community dialogue preserved Black intellectual traditions during eras of segregation, educator displacement, and systemic erasure throughout history. Highlighting Black feminist educators such as Anna Julia Cooper, …

Voices From The Atrato: Reclaiming Afrocolombian Education From The Riverbank, Siris Sulay Mena-Rivera, Karen Chaverra-Mosquera, Maure Aguirre Ortega

Occasional Paper Series

This article reconceptualizes the Atrato River as a living pedagogical archive that participates in the formation of Black education in Chocó, Colombia. Drawing on Black feminist oral methods, it centers a dialogue among Black educators to examine how educational knowledge emerges through relationships with the river, territory, memory, and community life. The analysis argues that river-based pedagogies distinct Afro-Colombian epistemologies that challenge White/Mestizo-centered and standardized models of schooling. Storytelling, river travel, intergenerational memory, and everyday territorial practices are examined as pedagogical processes through which Black communities sustain identity, historical consciousness, and collective sovereignty. The article further contends that the Atrato's …

Recovering A Gem: Melva L. Price, A New York City Teacher, Emmanuelle St. Jean

Occasional Paper Series

The paucity of research on the experiences of Black women teachers in integrated New York City schools underscores the need for further investigation. Studying Black women teachers in integrated school settings opens the door for reshaping the traditional framings of Black women teachers as revolutionary individuals who largely taught and transformed the learning experiences of Black children. This article focuses on Melva Price, a Latin language teacher at a New York City high school. Price became a teacher during a period of intense marginalization and oppression. Her journey to becoming a teacher, her pedagogical practices, and her experiences as a …

Black Pedagogical Excellence From Fugitive Classrooms To Freedom Dreams: An Endarkened Perspective, Romonda Middlebrooks-Jefferson

Occasional Paper Series

This article traces the long tradition of Black Pedagogical Excellence (BPE), a lineage spanning fugitive literacy practices, Reconstruction and Jim Crow classrooms, Black literary societies, Afrocentric schools, and contemporary Hip Hop and Afrofuturist learning spaces. Using Endarkened Feminist Epistemology as a guiding framework, I conceptualize Black educators’ stories as theory and their classrooms as sacred, intellectual, and political sites. Through historical-literary analysis and synthesis of current research, the manuscript highlights four enduring constructs of BPE—care as resistance, ideological clarity, cultural attentiveness, and humanism—while demonstrating how Hip Hop pedagogy, storywork, and speculative literacy practices extend these commitments today. In a climate …