Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

A Watershed Moment: Implementing State Environmental Literacy Policy Into A Central Virginia School District, Melinda J. Vandevelder

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

A WATERSHED MOMENT: IMPLEMENTING STATE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY POLICY INTO A CENTRAL VIRGINIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

By Melinda J. VanDevelder, Ph.D.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018

Director: Charol Shakeshaft, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Educational Leadership

Policy goals may be impossible to achieve at the classroom level (Ravitch, 2014), as policy depends on those who implement it (Lipsky, 1980). The purpose of this research was to investigate how the voluntary environmental educational executive order, EO42, was implemented and executed in a Central Virginia …

Examining The Variability In General Education Placements For Students With Intellectual Disability, Meghan Cosier, Julia M. White, Qiu Wang

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Despite the overwhelming body of research suggesting that students with intellectual disability benefit from access to general education placements, students with intellectual disability continue to be educated primarily in segregated settings. Furthermore, the percentage of students with intellectual disability included in general education classrooms varies greatly among and within states across the United States. In an effort to explore such variability in New York State, we examined trends in general education placement rates of students with intellectual disability across districts and possible predictors of placement in regular classes. Results suggest that although descriptive patterns of placement exist, a more definitive …

Assessment Brief: Transfer Student Unst Enrollment, Portland State University. University Studies Program

University Studies Assessment Research

The large majority of PSU students do not experience UNST as a four-year curriculum. Instead, some enter at the sophomore level and the majority enter as juniors, meaning they experience only three or two years of our curriculum, respectively, and often miss out on the introduction to the program that Freshman or Sophomore Inquiry can provide. A group of faculty convened to try to better understand the experiences and challenges of transfer students as they enter the UNST program. We reviewed enrollment data for transfer students to determine whether new students enroll in the appropriate UNST course and if they …

Athletic Training Students Demonstrate Supplemental Oxygen Administration Skill Decay, But Retain Knowledge Over Six Months, David C. Berry, Jennifer K. Popp

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Research suggests skill decay occurs with emergency skills, such as supplemental oxygen administration (OA), since the frequency of medical emergencies in clinical settings is low. Identifying the presence and timeline for skill decay allows educators to employ strategies to prevent this occurrence. Therefore, this study evaluated retention of knowledge and clinical skills associated with supplemental oxygen administration, specifically nasal cannula (NC) and non-rebreather mask (NrM) usage in professional athletic training students.

Methods: Cross-sectional study. Twenty-nine athletic training students (males=11, females=18; age=21.03+1.38) enrolled in a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)-accredited professional athletic training programs. Participants’ …

Applying An Infomation Literacy Rubric To First-Year Health Sciences Student Research Posters, Xan Goodman, John Watts, Rogelio A. Arenas, Rachelle Weigel, Tony Terrell

Library Faculty Research

Objective: This article describes the collection and analysis of annotated bibliographies created by first-year health sciences students to support their final poster projects. The authors examined the students’ abilities to select relevant and authoritative sources, summarize the content of those sources, and correctly cite those sources. Methods: We collected images of 1,253 posters, of which 120 were sampled for analysis, and scored the posters using a 4-point rubric to evaluate students’ information literacy skills. Results: We found that 52% of students were proficient at selecting relevant sources that directly contributed to the theme, topic, or debate presented in their final …

Design Considerations For Education Scholars Interested In Complex Systems Research, Gwen C. Marchand, Jonathan C. Hilpert

Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education Faculty Research

As complex systems approaches to research gain a foothold in educational research, educational researchers may be faced with unique study design challenges. Studies that do not target appropriate levels of analysis or do not capture variable change over time at a fine enough granularity run the risk of missing complex, dynamic, and emergent properties that are the hallmark of complex system behavior. By taking into account context, multiple levels of analysis, and change over time complex systems approaches generate evidence for dynamic processes in education. This paper draws upon three example areas from educational psychology to illustrate important design considerations …

2018-2019 Common Data, Morehead State University. Institutional Research & Analysis.

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis Publication Archive

2018-2019 issue of the Common Data.

2014-2018 General Education Data, Morehead State University. Institutional Research & Analysis.

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis Publication Archive

General Education Data for 2014-2015 through 2017-2018.

2017-2018 Profile, Morehead State University. Institutional Research & Analysis.

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis Publication Archive

2017-2018 issue of the Profile Website.

The Restaurant Study, Jessica Charles

All Faculty and Staff Papers and Presentations

Bank Street faculty and staff regularly work in partnership with public schools to support teachers and leaders sustain and strengthen their progressive educational practice. At Midtown West, a public elementary school founded in 1992 as a collaboration between parents in New York City’s District 2 and Bank Street faculty, Peggy McNamara has worked as a coach and thought partner with teachers across every grade.

Over the course of developing and teaching one signature Midtown West curriculum unit called The Restaurant, we followed Peggy and the teachers as they made teaching decisions to engage and educate students through a study of …

An Inquiry Into Creating And Supporting Engagement In Online Courses, Robin Hummel, Genevieve Lowry, Troy Pinkney, Laura Zadoff

All Faculty and Staff Papers and Presentations

In this chapter, authors offer what they have discovered about creating and facilitating structures that support active engagement that promote social construction of knowledge in online interactions.

A Simple Low-Cost Institutional Learning-Outcomes Assessment Process, Andrea A. Curcio

Faculty Publications By Year

Law school institutional learning outcomes require measuring nuanced skills that develop over time. Rather than look at achievement just in our own courses, institutional outcome-measures assessment requires collective faculty engagement and critical thinking about our students’ overall acquisition of the skills, knowledge, and qualities that ensure they graduate with the competencies necessary to begin life as professionals. Even for those who believe outcomes assessment is a positive move in legal education, in an era of limited budgets and already over-burdened faculty, the new mandated outcomes assessment process raises cost and workload concerns. This essay addresses those concerns. It describes a …

College Choice In Distance-Based Nursing Programs, Jill Lansing

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The expansion and diversification of postsecondary education in the United States has led to greater options for students and prospective students for pursuing a college degree. An important trend in higher education today is distance education. Despite the growing prevalence of distance learning opportunities and the expanding body of research on distance education, research on the college-going decisions of distance learners is sparse. As more students enroll in distance-based higher education programs, it is increasingly important to understand how and why students make the decision to enroll in collegiate degree-granting programs. This study bridges the college choice and distance education …

An Intervention For School Refusal Behavior : An Evaluation Of An Alternative High School Program, Kelly Ann Teufel

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Missing school is linked to a plethora of negative outcomes for students. Absences and school nonattendance pose significant concerns for a myriad of youth. Students miss school for a variety of reasons, thus this heterogeneous sample of pupils is broadly considered exhibiting school refusal behavior. Many studies have investigated this phenomenon, with contemporary research advocating for implementing a variety of interventions aligned to the function(s) of the school refusal behavior, and the use of a multidisciplinary intervention team (Kearney & Silverman, 1990; Suldo & Ogg, 2014; Wimmer, 2004). Few empirical studies, however, have investigated such recommendations. The need for thorough …

Laptop Versus Longhand Note Taking In A Professional Doctorate Course: Student Performance, Attitudes, And Behaviors, Shane P. Desselle, Patricia A. Shane

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective: To determine the relationship between longhand note taking versus laptop note taking on pharmacy students’ examination performance and identify differences in attitudes and behaviors as it relates to the note taking process.

Methods: A small group of students consented voluntarily to take longhand notes, doing away with their laptops during portions of the course administered by study investigators. Analyses were conducted on block examination performance, with each student’s score on the first examination serving as a performance benchmark to assess change. Laptop and longhand note takers completed a survey regarding various aspects of their note taking attitudes …

A Campus Model For Student Development: Program Review And Prioritization, C. Skip Trudeau, Britney Graber

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The current financial climate for higher education is one of constrained and declining resources, causing many institutions to turn towards a retrenchment strategy that often includes reducing expenses and, in more extreme cases, eliminating programs. A review of existing literature reveals few models colleges can utilize in conducting comprehensive analyses of programs to determine how to proceed with these cost cutting measures. Additionally, the authors could not find any existing approaches focused on student development or other nonacademic programs. In this article, the authors provide a review of relevant literature, a review of the Dickeson Model (2010), and build the …

Diversity Matters: Race, Ethnicity, And The Future Of Christian Higher Education, Cassie Isaacson

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

The Undergraduate Experience: Focusing Institutions On What Matters Most, David M. Johnstone

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Growth No. 17 (2018) - Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The full issue of the seventeenth edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.

A Redeeming Obligation For Christian Administrators: Advocating For Student Affairs-Academic Affairs Collaborations, Ryan W. Erck

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The larger purpose of a Christian college education is to guide students towards developing a love for God and neighbor. One way to articulate such a vision is to focus on the development of the whole person as student. A practical method for this holistic education is to promote and practice student affairs-academic affairs collaborations. As such, Christian administrators have a unique obligation to promote a culture of collaboration on their campuses. While partnerships are healthy for student success, they serve an additional purpose in Christian higher education: a redeeming purpose. This paper will address this redemptive opportunity for administrators …

Tradition With A Captial "T": The Value Of Campus Traditions, Morgan K. Morris

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Tradition with a Capital “T” explores the value of campus traditions in higher education. Literature regarding tradition and campus traditions answers the question “what is tradition?” and investigates the role of tradition in higher education. Original research sought to survey student, personnel, and general perceptions of the value of campus traditions in higher education through a qualitative, phenomenological approach focused on a single campus tradition. In order to obtain a holistic perspective, the researcher conducted a review of archival resources and interviews with students, faculty, staff, and administrators connected to the campus tradition. Three themes surfaced from the archival research …

"It Feels A Bit Like Imposter Syndrome": Examining The Issue Of Masculinity And Depression In Male College Students, Wildon Story

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This research seeks to examine the intersectional relationship between depression and identity development of male students at a liberal arts institution. The present study focused on the statistics of male students attending the university counseling center alongside multiple conversations with three counselors who help depressed male students and two students whose personal accounts detailed the interaction between their depression and male gender identity. The findings suggest male students’ depression may be rooted in the incongruence between students’ self-perceived identity and the culturally-demanding narratives of male behaviors and thought patterns. Students detailed their experience navigating shame, loneliness, comparison, and their hesitancy …

The Motivation Of Students Of Color For Pursuing Leadership Positions At Faith-Based Universities, Grant Burns, Jenny Elsey, David M. Johnstone

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

As faith-based universities increasingly diversify the culture of their student body, student leadership roles also diversify. While there is literature on barriers and challenges students of color experience in these roles, there is little to help understand their motivation in pursuing these roles. Using conversations, interviews, and surveys this research was conducted to start such a conversation. The researchers’ goal was to go beyond conventional wisdom and begin gathering data reflecting the experiences of students of color on our campuses. While compensation is definitely a motivation, this research suggested there might be a variety of reasons to pursue these roles.

Impact Of Monastic Practices And Spiritual Disciplines On Student Leader Development, Haley B. Williamson

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The purpose of this study is to understand if practicing monasticism and spiritual disciplines impact the development of student leaders. The research was conducted through grounded theory qualitative interviews with eight student leaders who participated in a monastic trip for the duration of January 2016. Therefore, the present study seeks to answer the question:

What impact does monasticism and spiritual disciplines have on the development of student leaders at a private Christian liberal arts institution?

The eight students were interviewed before and after their monastic trip, answering questions about monasticism and spiritual disciplines, student leadership, and trip expectations/ experiences. Themes …

The Slow Professor: Challenging The Culture Of Speed In The Academy, Kirsten D. Riedel, Joshua P. Riedel

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Exploring Teachers’ Assessment Literacy: Impact On Learners’ Writing Achievements And Implications For Teacher Development, Morteza Mellati, Marzieh Khademi

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teacher-mediated classroom assessment might have significant impacts on learners’ academic achievements and teachers’ development. The current study investigated teachers’ assessment literacy and its impact on their current assessment practices and learners’ writing outcomes. The study sought to gain an understanding of the extent to which teachers’ assessment literacy affects their practices and their learners’ outcomes. To conduct the study and gather the required data, the researchers employed teachers’ assessment literacy inventory, semi-structured interview, non-participatory observation, and Writing Competence Rating Scale (WCRS). Ten male EFL instructors and 75 male sophomores from Iranian EFL contexts were selected from four language schools in …

Australian Teacher Education Policy In Action: The Case Of Pre-Service Internships., Susan Ledger, Lesley Vidovich

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Studies on internships within initial teacher education have existed in literature since the early 1900s, they have espoused the benefits of experiential learning or critiqued the variance available in terms of structure, length of time and purpose. However, little research on teacher internships has been reported within a policy context. This study employs a modified ‘policy trajectory’ framework to capture the impact of teacher internship models emerging from policy reform in Australia driven by the National Partnership Agreement on Improving Teacher Quality Program (NPTQ). It highlights how policy contexts and practices are inextricably interconnected and influenced by key policy ‘threads’ …

Is It Worth The Effort? Evaluating A Third Generation Research Method For A Third Generation Approach To The First Year Experience In Higher Education, Trevor S. Black, Romina Jamieson-Proctor

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

: The first year experience of students studying at higher education institutions has been intensively studied over the past forty years (Nelson & Clarke, 2014). Much has been learnt, but institutions are continuing to face unacceptable levels of student withdrawal. Concerns have been raised that the constructs on which previous studies have been based may be restricting researchers’ efforts to develop a deeper understanding of the first year phenomena (Kahu, 2013). There is strong support for new and creative ways to investigate the lived experience of first year students across their full first year of study. This paper details and …

'Nobody Is Watching But Everything I Do Is Measured': Teacher Accountability, Learner Agency And The Crisis Of Control., Joanne Dargusch, Jennifer Charteris

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

It is widely acknowledged that there is systemic pressure on teachers to enact assessment practices that raise student achievement. In this article assessment related discourses that influence teacher and student classroom practices are examined in relation to initial teacher education. In Australia, preservice teachers (PSTs) are required to demonstrate assessment capability, promote student agency and monitor their practice impact on student learning whilst working in schooling ecologies that are marked by high stakes accountability measures. Processes that bridge university and in-school PST teacher preparation are an important consideration in developing assessment capability. It is argued that there are tensions in …

Education For Sustainability Policies: Ramifications For Practice, Deborah Moore, Sylvia Christine Almeida, Melissa M. Barnes

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

While it is well understood there is an urgent need to address global environmental problems, there is less understanding around how these problems can be addressed. At each level of government, policy is initiated as a response to a perceived problem. However, research has shown governmental policies are overly generalised which creates a universal approach, with little regard for contextual difference. This paper seeks to push back against unspoken assumptions surrounding Education for Sustainability (EfS) policy processes from development to implementation, showing that context is important in the interpretation of policy. Through a mixed method survey, the findings illustrate how …