Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Key Stakeholders’ Lived Experiences While Implementing An Aligned Curriculum: A Phenomenological Study, Pedro P. Aguas

The Qualitative Report

Furthering innovation in English as a foreign language curriculum has been a concern for the Colombian educational system for many years. Nevertheless, the major attempts at the national level continue to fail. Through this phenomenological study of 12 participants at a an urban public school in grades 6-12 I attempted to answer the phenomenological question, “What were the lived experiences of key stakeholders involved in implementing an aligned curriculum at an urban public school in a northern city in Colombia, South America? “The theoretical framework that guides this study included innovation, the theory of policy attribution, and the learner-centered philosophy. …

A Narrative Inquiry Of Associate Degree Nursing Students' Stories About Their Experiences With Academic Misconduct, Bridget Maley

Publications and Research

Academic misconduct is a growing national and global concern. There is a paucity of literature on academic misconduct in nursing. Utilizing the qualitative method of narrative inquiry, this study gives voice to students’ stories of academic misconduct and reveals intimate stories of their experience. The stories contribute to a deeper understanding of associate degree nursing students' experiences with academic misconduct. The findings of the study have implications for future research, nursing education, and practice.

Effective Instruction For Students With Dyslexia And Related Learning Struggles, Susan Keesey

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Dyslexia has received increased emphasis with recent legislation requiring universal screening, added dyslexia training in educator preparation programs, and professional development specifically addressing dyslexia. In addition, KY created the Dyslexia Toolkit to inform and support teachers. This article discusses how Structured Literacy and High-Leverage Practices can support learning for students with dyslexia and related reading struggles.

Group-Based Training On Trial-Based Functional Analysis, Christina Noel, Thomas Gross, Grant Hacherl, Meaghan Ritchie, Matthew Howerton

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

A functional behavior assessment (FBA) of challenging behavior has been identified as a High-Leverage Practice in the social/emotional/behavior area (HLPs; McLeskey et al., 2017). Despite the importance of FBAs to classroom practices, many FBAs are conducted outside of classroom settings. Evidence suggests that FBAs may be more effective when conducted in a child’s typical classroom setting. A trial-based functional assessment (TBFA) is a variant of an FBA that is conducted by practitioners in a child’s classroom environment. The purpose of this paper is to outline the important components that should be included in a TBFA group training designed for practitioners …

Lessons In A Different Language: Teaching Pre-Service Teachers To "Speak" Data, Christina Edmonds-Behrend, Stephanie Woodley, Frank Mullins

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

An undergraduate teacher education behavioral principles course focused on pre-service teachers’ accuracy of data collection using simple technology during a field-based experience is described. Pre-teachers, mostly special education majors, completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the semester regarding whether simple technology (i.e., stopwatch, tally counter, interval timer) impacted data recording and perceived effectiveness. Interrater reliability was randomly assessed across two K-5 locations in which the pre-teachers tutored elementary-aged students in an after-school program. On-campus and on-site data collection interrater reliability results were promising, demonstrating pre-teacher ability to collect data accurately. Conclusions and recommendations for future practices are provided.

Normalizing Struggle, Catherine Martin Christopher

Arkansas Law Review

A person who is effective in law school, on the bar exam, and in practice utilizes the same set of skills in each of those scenarios: close, critical reading; synthesis of multiple sources of law into a coherent rule or schema; appreciation of both the big picture and the fine details of a set of rules of law; analysis of a factual scenario for facts that meet or fail a legal test; assessment of the validity and strength of counterarguments; and, of course, clear, concise, thorough, organized communication. Because all these skills are useful from the first day of law …

Acer 2018-2019 Annual Report, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

ACER Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Estimating School-Level Achievement In Belize, Betty Jean Usher-Tate

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation consists of five chapters: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and discussion with final thoughts. The research design of this dissertation study attended to structures, cultures, and characteristics associated with, and specific to, the Belize education system. The processes for data collection and types of analyses were appropriate, yielded meaningful results, and served as a segue for national application. The Belize Educator Survey was developed to capture the educators’ voices and illuminate their relationship to educational achievement in Belize. The Belize Educator Survey was piloted and revised with direct input from educators and experts who work in the Belize …

A Digital Ethnography Of Teach For America: Analysis Of Counternarrative From The Truth For America Podcast, Julian Vasquez Heilig, T. Jameson Brewer, Amber K. Kim, Miguel Sanchez

Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation Faculty Publications

To analyze the counternarrative in the public discourse surrounding Teach For America (TFA), this paper represents the first digital ethnography in education policy. We conduct a qualitative analysis of Truth For America, an education policy podcast. We found four overarching themes that arose from conversations with respondents: (1) problematic practice, preparation, and pedagogy; (2) concerns linked to critiquing TFA and the organization’s responses to that critique; (3) issues related to race and diversity; and (4) disconcerting funding practices and political power. We conclude by discussing the implications of how individual-level stakeholder experiences inform the public discourse about TFA.

School Libraries In South Australia 2019 Census, Katherine Dix, Rachel Felgate, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Shani Sniedze

School and system improvement

This report presents the results of a survey census and website review of school libraries, taken across all South Australian schools in Term 3, 2019. The census collected data on school library staffing, facilities, funding, and support. Results reveal that schools with a qualified teacher librarian are more likely to have improved student literacy outcomes. While 94 per cent of South Australian schools have someone to manage the library collection and to select resources, less than a quarter (23 per cent) are managed by a qualified teacher librarian. Questions about the nature of library provision in schools uncovered eight main …

Assessment Of Social Media Use On Study Habits Among Nursing Students: A Case Study Of Babcock University, Sussan Udoaku Ogbuiyi Phd, Chuks Daniel Oriogu, Folashade Munirat Lawal, Chukwuemeka Anthony Onyebuchi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Objective- The main objective of the study is to investigate the assessment of social media use on study habits among nursing students in Babcock University ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods- The study adopted survey research design. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analysis. Specifically, data collected were analyzed using charts, graphs, percentages and frequency were used to answer the research questions. The Analysis of Variance were used to test hypotheses at 0.05 significant level.

Results- The results and findings revealed that 66 (68.8%) of the respondents use the social …

Leveraging Local Resources And Contexts For Inclusive Computer Science Classrooms: Reflections From Experienced High School Teachers Implementing Electronic Textiles, Mia S. Shaw, Deborah A. Fields, Yasmin B. Kafai

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Background and context

Promoting open-ended projects presents new opportunities and challenges for inclusive teaching in CS classrooms. While efforts have been made to develop inclusive curricula, little research has focused on ways teachers apply curricula in their classrooms to promote inclusion.

Objective

To understand the challenges faced in facilitating an open-ended unit and the pedagogical strategies enacted to address those challenges, we analyze the self-reported teaching practices that experienced teachers developed in their implementation of a constructionist electronic textiles unit in Exploring Computer Science.

Method

We inductively analyzed and coded 17 experienced teachers’ weekly surveys and post-interviews.

Findings

Teachers …

Computer Science Teacher Survey, Josh B. Mcgee, Sarah C. Mckenzie

Arkansas Education Reports

In April/May of 2020, the University of Arkansas’ Office for Education Policy (OEP), in partnership with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson's Computer Science and Cyber Security Task Force, fielded a survey with the 400+ Arkansas educators who at that time held a computer science endorsement (528), computer science approval code (5016), or computer science technical permit (5014) on their educator’s license. The survey received 153 responses, a nearly 40 percent response rate.

Faculty Perceptions Of Online Teaching At A Midsized Liberal Arts University, Dana L. Shreaves, Yu-Hui Ching, Lida Uribe-Florez, Jesús Trespalacios

Educational Technology Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this mixed-methods study, faculty perceptions of online teaching at a midsized liberal arts university were examined to better understand faculty acceptance and participation in online teaching at the university. Seventy-nine participants responded to a survey that collected qualitative and quantitative data. Content analysis of faculty perceptions of online teaching was employed and resulted in the identification of six themes. An examination of 21 quantitative factors identified 17 factors reported by more than 50% of respondents to influence their decision to teach or not teach online. Study participants perceived online learning as attractive to students but they wanted any online …

Academic Librarians Examination Of University Students’ And Faculty’S Perceptions Of Open Educational Resources, Lane Fischer, Olga Belikov, Tarah K. Ikahihifo, John Hilton, David Wiley, M. Troy Martin

Entrepreneurship Faculty Research

A survey of 2,574 students and 1,157 faculty members across ten institutions of postsecondary education in the state of Utah was conducted by the Utah Academic Libraries Consortium. Survey items were created to understand the influence of textbook costs on student academic behavior and the viability of faculty adopting open educational resources (OER) as a solution to the cost of textbooks and the possible need for librarian support of OER. Two-year and four-year institutions were compared to identify differences that might exist between them. Most students felt that their academic success was negatively impacted by textbook cost, particularly at two-year …

Service-Learning In Catholic Higher Education And Alternative Approaches Facing The Covid-19 Pandemic, Qianhui Tian, Thomas Noel Jr.

COVID-19 and Catholic Schools

Drawing on a review of the literature on service-learning in Catholic higher education and the development of online service-learning, as well as an empirical case study of 2020 Vincentian Service Day at DePaul University, this article examines an alternative way to develop service-learning in Catholic schools in response to the reality and needs of the world in front of us. Service-learning is widely practiced in higher education institutions and plays an essential role in Catholic schools as it integrates students’ faith, morals, and spiritual growth with social justice commitments. School closures due to COVID-19 significantly impede service-learning. However, a successful …

Service-Learning In Catholic Higher Education And Alternative Approaches Facing The Covid-19 Pandemic, Qianhui Tian, Thomas Noel Jr.

Journal of Catholic Education

Drawing on a review of the literature on service-learning in Catholic higher education and the development of online service-learning, as well as an empirical case study of 2020 Vincentian Service Day at DePaul University, this article examines an alternative way to develop service-learning in Catholic schools in response to the reality and needs of the world in front of us. Service-learning is widely practiced in higher education institutions and plays an essential role in Catholic schools as it integrates students’ faith, morals, and spiritual growth with social justice commitments. School closures due to COVID-19 significantly impede service-learning. However, a successful …

Remote Learning Rapid Literature Review, Gill Cowden, Pru Mitchell, Pauline Taylor-Guy

Student learning processes

This rapid literature review identifies effective practice in remote learning and synthesises key evidence relevant to education in Australia during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. It draws upon bodies of literature about education in emergencies, access and equity, distance education, blended learning, and quality teaching and learning using technology. The focus is primarily on Kindergarten to Year 12 schooling in Australia. The literature firstly examines education in emergencies, as this underpins the initial crisis approaches and preparedness for the shift to remote learning. The research in this area has a strong focus on implications for wellbeing. The review is then organised …

Overcoming Challenges In The Assessment And Treatment Of Problem Behavior In Adults With Autism, Julia A. Iannaccone

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Problematic behaviors, such as self-injurious behavior or aggression, demonstrated by adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), create many significant life complications, some life-threatening. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is established as an evidence-based approach to treat problem behavior for children with ASD and shows promise as an effective treatment for adults, yet little research has been conducted within the adult population. Assessment and treatment of problem behavior with adults is often challenging due to funding limitations, increased severity and complexity of problem behavior, and underqualified staff. The purpose of the present study was to overcome these challenges by (1) identifying a …

The Influence Of Distributed Leadership On Effective School Governance And Improved School Performance A Study Conducted In Two Private Schools In The Uae, Rima Al Hassanieh, Solomon Arulraj David

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The purpose of this research is to identify the impact of Distributed Leadership (DL) on school governance, leading to an improvement in the overall school performance. This study was conducted in two private schools in the UAE. The review of related literature helped to understand the concept of distributed leadership and its impact on governance, school performance, and organizational hierarchy. The data was collected using a mixed method using surveys and interviews. The data was analyzed using descriptive analysis and moderated regression analysis. The conclusion reached was that DL has a positive impact on the relationship between governance and performance. …

Quality Control And Teacher Effectiveness In State Public Senior Secondary Schools, Nigeria, Stephen Olufemi Alfolabi, Abdulrasaq Ayuba

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The study investigated the relationship between quality control and teacher effectiveness in Nigerian Public Senior Secondary Schools using Kwara State as a case study. Forty Public Senior Secondary Schools out of 305 representing 36% were randomly selected while 440 teachers out of 1,207 representing 37% were proportionally selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The instruments titled “Quality Control Questionnaire” (QCQ) and “Students Academic Performance Profoma” (SAPP) were adopted to elicit data required. Three research questions and operational hypotheses each were generated and analyzed using percentage and regression statistic at 0.05 significant level. Findings of this study revealed that there was a …

Issues And Challenges Facing Supervision Of Secondary Education In Nigeria In The 21st Century, Yusuf Suleiman, Nike Yetunde Sidikat Ijaya, Mustapha Adam Ishola, Okwara Uche Joshua

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Supervision of secondary education in the 21st century has raised deep concern among relevant stakeholders in educational industry as decline in the quality of education in the nation’s school system could be attributed to ineffective supervision. Thus, the paper examined issues and challenges associated with supervision of secondary education in the 21^st century. The concept of supervision was examined taking into cognizance the basic principles, types, purpose and supervision process consecutively. Specifically, various models such as integrative model, discrimination model and systems approach model of supervision were used to justify the importance of supervision. Issues and challenges facing the …

Preparing Aspiring School Principals: One Field-Based Approach, Maria De Lourdes Viloria, Lori Leyendecker, Graciela Brondo, Michael Salinas

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

In the United States, principals play a vital role in leading educational institutions. School principals are responsible for creating safe and supportive learning environments for all students. Previous studies have emphasized that all principals share one challenge, which is to identify effective instructional strategies that help decrease student achievement gaps. Studies of novice school principals are well-documented; it is also well-acknowledged that the acclimatization process for novice school principals is characterized with a high level of stress related to the organizational structures that influence the school’s culture and climate and student achievement. This study addresses the implementation of a field-based …

The Leadership Of The Marginalized: A Literature Review, Bertrand Tchoumi

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This article presents a comprehensive literature review of relevant literature examining the position of minority school leaders on the educational landscape. The point of departure is the underrepresentation and invisibility of Black immigrants in school leadership. The review examines the advocacy discourse addressing the minority leadership gap and advocating for their equitable representation in school leadership. The literature that discusses how minority leaders interpret their roles and purposes as well as the meaning they assign to them was also reviewed. The review then moves into the written discourse about the professional boundaries that minority educators cross to become school leaders …

Why Principals Hire Recent Graduates From A Teacher Preparation Program, Laurie James, Joy Mahaiko, Jonathan Schwartz

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Principals want to hire the most qualified teacher when positions are open at their schools. Oftentimes a preservice teacher, who recently earned their teaching certificate is their first choice. The purpose of this research was to look at the satisfaction level of elementary, middle-level, and high school principals who hired graduates from a local teacher preparation program at a nationally accredited 4-year baccalaureate-granting university in Leeward O‘ahu. The methodology utilized in the study includes four individual face-to-face interviews. Questions were asked to determine 1) desired qualities principals look for when hiring a new teacher and 2) what a local teacher …

Applying The Rasch Model To Evaluate The Self-Directed Online Learning Scale (Sdols) For Graduate Students, Hongwei Yang, Jian Su, Kelly D. Bradley

Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation Faculty Publications

With the rapid growth of online learning and the increased attention paid to student attrition in online programs, much research has been aimed at studying the effectiveness of online education to improve students’ online learning experience and student retention. Utilizing the online learning literature as a multi-faceted theoretical framework, the study developed and employed a new survey instrument. The Self-Directed Online Learning Scale (SDOLS) was used to examine graduate student perceptions of effectiveness of online learning environments as demonstrated by their ability to take charge of their own learning, and to identify key factors in instructional design for effective improvements. …

Understanding Gender Differences In Traditional And Cyberbullying: An Evaluation Of Construct Validity Of The 2013 School Crime Supplement To The National Crime Victimization Survey, Anthony Betancourt

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Few measures assess cyberbullying and traditional bullying simultaneously while also reporting standards of reliability and validity. As a result, it remains unclear whether cyberbullying should be considered a separate type of bullying. This dissertation advances the literature by examining data from the 2013 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS-SCS) to provide psychometric information about the factor structure of the 2013 NCVS-SCS traditional and cyberbullying scales. Furthermore, the dissertation uses that information to evaluate if cyberbullying emerges as a unique factor. Finally, measurement invariance will determine if bullying holds the same meaning for boys and girls (e.g. …

Designing Analog Learning Games: Genre Affordances, Limitations And Multi-Game Approaches, Owen Gottlieb, Ian Schreiber

Articles

This chapter explores what the authors discovered about analog games and game design during the many iterative processes that have led to the Lost & Found series, and how they found certain constraints and affordances (that which an artifact assists, promotes or allows) provided by the boardgame genre. Some findings were counter-intuitive. What choices would allow for the modeling of complex systems, such as legal and economic systems? What choices would allow for gameplay within the time of a class-period? What mechanics could promote discussions of tradeoff decisions? If players are expending too much cognition on arithmetic strategizing, could that …

Challenges Of Remote Teaching For K-12 Teachers During Covid-19, Nancy L. Leech, Sophie Gullett, Miriam Howland Cummings, Carolyn Haug

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

During the Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) remote learning presented many new challenges for K-12 teachers, and likely presented unique challenges for different content areas and grade levels. To investigate this problem, a survey-based quantitative study was conducted. A total of 831 teachers in a midwestern state completed a survey on the challenges of remote teaching. Results found (1) areas expected to present challenges that did not, (2) challenges that surfaced for teachers regardless of the grade level or content they taught, and (3) challenges that were experienced differently by teachers within educational levels and/or content areas. Continued exploration of how …

An Administrator's Perspective On The Novel Coronavirus, Jane Beese, Melissa Mlakar

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

In our current situation, of COVID 19, many school administrators feel helpless and powerless. Bringing students back into the classroom puts leaders in a position where they cannot guarantee everyone’s safety. Leaders are under pressure to keep faculty, staff, and students safe and that responsibility can be overwhelming (National Association of Secondary School Principals, 2020a). Administrators have an obligation to provide an education to students. It is what educators, do, after all. However, school leaders also have an obligation as an employer to make sure our staff is supported and safe. It is hard to believe that leaders can do …