Educational Methods Commons^™

Teaching Moral Literacy Through Critical Pedagogical Bricolage: A Co-Constructed Auto-Ethnography Of An Educational Leadership Program, Chetanath Gautam, Charles L. Lowery

The Qualitative Report

In this collaborative auto-ethnographical inquiry, two developing scholar–practitioner educational leaders explore the notion of moral literacy through a lens of critical pedagogical bricolage. This study aims to reveal certain experiences of two doctoral candidates engaged in an educational doctorate, contemplating their identities as emergent leaders from diverse backgrounds. By approaching this inquiry from a qualitative and strictly post-positivist understanding of research, we aim to present critical components of our program and the literature presented in that program that led to our understanding of moral literacy’s role in theoretical and pragmatic provinces of educational leadership. Our analysis is presented in three …

Probing The Enactment Of Reading Miscues: A Study Examining Reading Fluency, Edward Lehner

Publications and Research

Subsequent to the National Reading Panel’s (2000) report, more researchers have been examining the role that reading fluency plays in the development of a child’s reading skills. This study investigated the efficacy of the National Reading Panel’s research claim that a child learns reading fluency skills mainly through phonics and decoding instruction. Using a methodology to track the source of reading miscues, this paper demonstrates that a student’s cultural and semantic knowledge of text vitally influences the development of reading fluency skills. Specifically, the findings suggest that a child culturally enacts reading fluency both through graphophonic and semantic knowledge of …

Self-Regulated Learning In Engineering Labs, Presentacion Rivera

Discipline-Based Education Research Group Speaker Series

Students’ task interpretation is a critical first step in the process of self-regulated learning and a key determinant in students setting their learning goals and selecting strategies to approach assigned work. Laboratory activities improve students’ conceptual understanding because of the cognitive demand when students integrate laboratory activities and theory. The purpose of this study is to investigate how students’ interpretation of the task assigned during laboratory work may change during the task process, and how it is related to their conceptual understanding. One-hundred and forty-three students enrolled in the course of Electronics participated in this study. Instruments used to measure …

Older Adult Health: National Library Of Medicine Resources For Health Care Providers And For Patients And Families, Elizabeth Dyer, Barbara Swartzlander, Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Laura Taylor

Library Services Faculty Publications

This list of resources was designed to complement a project funded by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) New England Region (NER) entitled “Empathy Learned Through an Extended Medical Education Virtual Reality Project." The project used a virtual reality (VR) experience for 1st year medical students developed by Embodied Labs. The interactive “Alfred Lab” immerses users in the story of a 74-year-old patient who has macular degeneration and hearing loss, allowing users to experience these conditions from the patient’s perspective as he interacts with his family and doctor.

The Quantitative Reasoning For College Science (Quarcs) Assessment 2: Demographic, Academic And Attitudinal Variables As Predictors Of Quantitative Ability, Katherine Follette, Sanlyn Buxner, Erin Dokter, Donald Mccarthy, Beau Vezino, Laci Brock, Edward Prather

Numeracy

In this article, we explore the ability of demographic and attitudinal variables to predict student scores on the Quantitative Reasoning for College Science (QuaRCS) Assessment. Variables measured by the assessment include: students' academic choices and plans, attitudes and perceptions regarding mathematics, self-reported effort level, and basic demographics such as age, race/ethnicity, gender and disability status. As in previously published numeracy studies, we find significant score deviations according to gender, race/ethnicity, and disability status; however, the effect size of these correlations pale in comparison to the effect size of affective/attitudinal variables on QuaRCS score. A large number of variables with …

Using High Fidelity Simulation To Impact Occupational Therapy Student Knowledge, Comfort, And Confidence In Acute Care, Debra M. Gibbs, Mary Dietrich, Emmy Dagnan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: As the demand for occupational and physical therapists in acute care settings is increasing, students are reporting a need for increased educational preparation to handle the complexities they may face in this setting. This pretest/posttest study examines the impact of an inter-professional high fidelity simulation experience on perceived levels of knowledge, comfort, and confidence among occupational therapy doctorate students when handling an acutely ill patient in an ICU setting.

Methods: Two cohorts of occupational therapy students participated in an inter-professional acute care scenario with high fidelity simulation mannequins (Cohort 1, n = 19; Cohort 2, n = …

The Mean Value Theorem, Dave Ruch

Analysis

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Project-Based Learning As An Instructional Method In Middle And High School Education, Charise Aeikens

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Based on the theoretical framework of experiential learning, this thesis focused on whether project-based learning (PBL) is an effective instructional method for middle and high school education. This review of the literature examined the difference between project-based learning and problem-based learning as well as the difference between project-based learning and a more traditional style of learning. It also investigated the various elements needed to have a successful PBL environment, the challenges/barriers to implement PBL, the instructional methods and support used, collaboration within PBL, and the significance of PBL. The main conclusion was that PBL is an effective instructional method that …

Trauma Sensitive Schools, Maria Bowker

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has shown that an astounding number of children have faced adverse childhood experiences. Due to this fact, many of the students sitting in American classrooms have traumatic backgrounds that can cause a variety of side effects including a lack of academic focus, depression, PTSD, and low social-emotional abilities. Schools are the perfect place to implement trauma sensitive frameworks to provide these students an accessible education. Effective trauma sensitive schools are relational, empowering, and consistent. With these traits, research has shown that depression and PTSD symptoms can be reduced, behavior problems can be decreased, and attendance can increase.

Technology In The Second Language Classroom, Sylvie Carrier

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the history and effectiveness of technological tools present in a second language classroom. Comparing research from the beginning of the 20th century to today’s research shows the progression and current use of technology used in the foreign language classroom. Results demonstrate that while several technological tools could improve the teaching and learning of a foreign language, other tools need more studies with measures of outcome data to prove their capability to increase students’ learning. This study found two factors required for a successful implementation of these tools in the foreign language classroom. First, professional technology training for …

Art Education: How The Visual Arts Are Critical In Student Social-Emotional Development, Nicole Justine Dickenson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review explores the different components that make up art education and how they impact student social and emotional development and well-being. Social and emotional development is defined before going into detail about what the visual arts teach and how they can be an oasis for students that enjoy expressing themselves and have different ways of thinking, all while helping other students develop those skills. There is an overview of the Studio Habits of Mind: Develop Craft, Understand Art Worlds, Engage and Persist, Envision, Express, Observe, Reflect, and Stretch and Explore, and how these habits encourage social-emotional development in …

What Impact Does Technology Integration Have On The K-12 Classroom?, Nicole Jean Elliott

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Technology use is part of our everyday lives and as technological advances continue at a rapid pace, school districts are integrating technology into the K-12 classroom. This paper explores how technology integration may impact four areas in the K-12 classroom. These four areas are: student achievement, student motivation and engagement, the ability to differentiate instruction, and the learning of, or enhancement of, 21st Century skills. Another concept explored in this paper is the need for professional development to correspond with technology initiatives. While several studies show a positive correlation by implementing technology initiatives, opposite findings are also identified and discussed …

Determining The Optimal Amount Of Physical Activity For Promoting Academic Benefit Among School-Aged Children, Matthew Edwin Fiscus

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the relationship between physical activity and academic performance, the optimal amount of physical activity to enjoy these benefits, and the best way to measure this optimal amount of activity. Research yielding positive associations between physical activity and academic performance has increased significantly over the past 20 years. Multiple articles reviewed in this paper support the following examples of academic benefits gained from participating in physical activity: improved standardized test scores, higher grade point average, enhanced cognitive skills, and improved academic behaviors. Parents, teachers, and administrators understand these relationships to some degree but often, the implementation of physical …

Malts: Mucho Acquisition Of Language By Teaching With Songs, Matthew J. Hanson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fluency in a foreign language (FL) increases when curriculum concentrates on the most common and frequent vocabulary. The following research hypothesizes that songs in the FL can replace curriculum textbooks when combined with storytelling since they contain the most common vocabulary and grammatical structures required for FL communication. This research outlines studies documenting the use of songs in the FL classroom, and includes a 10-week curriculum demonstrating that songs have the potential to change FL curriculum when they are employed consistently and in partnership with storytelling.

The Reform And Influence Of Standards-Based Grading In Secondary Schools, Leah K. Heck

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Standards-based grading is being utilized in many secondary schools across the United States. Research shows that there are many benefits that students are afforded, such as the ability to have a more personalized learning approach, be provided accommodations and modifications to show mastery within the standards, and have the ability to show more academic achievement in a rigorous environment. As educators make the change to standards-based grading they are also met with many challenges, which include ensuring parents and students are aware of why the change is necessary, as well as putting in the time, effort to train teachers accordingly …

An Analysis On The Research In Relation To The Methodology Of Comprehensible Input, Brenna K. Hoeg

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was threefold. First, it examined what research concludes concerning the best ways to use the Comprehensive Input (CI) methodology to teach grammar, vocabulary, literacy, and culture. Second, it explored and evaluated the five benefits to teaching with CI (increases vocabulary retention, increases cultural understanding, increases motivation, personalizes learning and uses multiple modalities). Finally, this thesis assesses what research has concluded to be the drawbacks of CI (lack of substantial sample size in research, lack of resources, misconceptions associated towards CI, and inconsistent data within CI research). In alignment with research, this thesis concludes that providing …

School Start Times: Is Later Better For High School Students?, Rodney Paul Kimbler

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to answer the question: School start times: Is later better for high school students? Research for this study focuses primarily on high school start times in the United States from 1988 to 2017. Factors include changes at puberty including melanin production, circadian rhythms and homeostatic systems. High school start times of 7:30 a.m. or earlier make it difficult for students to acquire 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep on school nights. Beyond teen biology, there are community factors to consider such as part-time jobs, athletic practices, child care, and school bus schedules. In summary, there is no …

Failing Forward: How Student Failure Builds A Framework For Lifelong Learning, Andrew R. Kurkowski

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Humans have been dealing with the issue of failure since their existence. No matter the field, whether it be business, athletics, science, mathematics, etc., students and professionals are going to experience minor and major failures in their pursuits. Some may say that the main goal of the educator is to encourage students to pursue lifelong learning. With this being the case, one question that this paper aims to address is how to teach students use these inevitable life events as tools for growth in the academic environment and whether this mindset is effective in accomplishing the development of lifelong learning …

Montessori Adolescent Program Design In A Non-Farm Environment, Rhonda Michelle Lovette

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the idea of constructing a Montessori adolescent program outside of the prescribed curriculum of living in a working farm environment. There is a focus on Maria Montessori’s life and influence. The Montessori Method is briefly explained. Early adolescents, ages 12-15, have different needs than elementary children do; therefore, this thesis strives to design an early adolescent program located in a non-farm setting. Montessori is based on three tenets: the prepared environment, developmentally appropriate materials and the prepared adult. This has been very well developed and applied for pre-school and elementary age children, however, not as well in …

The Benefits Of Creative Abilities In Education For 21st Century Learners, Emily E. Natrop

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Creativity is defined as the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work. Creative abilities, while less defined, include abilities such as independent or divergent thinking, problem solving, curiosity, adaptability and self-awareness. Creativity has long been seen in education and learning as a skill linked to artistic endeavors. However, moving beyond this link, researchers have begun to pursue creativity’s role in academics outside of artistic content. It is this link and a lack of realization of the importance creativity plays in the overall success of students that calls to be looked at closely. This …

Stimulating Creativity, Originality, & Divergent Thinking, Julia Ohmann

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores research relating to the growth and promotion of creative uniqueness and original ideation in the visual arts classroom. The research reveals a number of strategies that teachers can put into practice to increase students’ creativity. These include: teaching skills in brainstorming and having original ideas through divergent thinking; using physical movement as a method of stimulating creative ideas; teaching metacognition of the creative thinking process; allowing freedom of exploration and experimentation with materials and concepts to promote discovery and trial-and-error; using copying- and imitation-based lessons as tools to teach basic skills; and others. The application materials include …

Game-Based Learning’S Effectiveness In The Middle School, Bradly Gene Scherer

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project offers an overview of GBL and an example of GBL curriculum created for middle school math students. The study explores the question: What effects do GBL practices within curriculum have on middle school (grades 5-8) students to increase student motivation and academic success? The research suggests a positive correlation between GBL and motivation. Students who are allowed to participate in GBL are more excited and motivated to learn, as well as more confident in the skills they learn. GBL allows students to be more in control over their learning, creative, empowered, and describe learning as fun. Students also …

Parental Involvement: Importance, Reality And Application, Paul Stiles

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parents have always been actively involved in their child’s education. As researchers continue to explore factors that drive academic success, parental involvement has emerged as a factor that promotes positive outcomes. Just how they are involved and why they become involved is something that researchers continue to examine. However, regardless of the research conclusions on parental involvement, parental involvement initiatives continue to be implemented at a surprisingly low rate. This paper examines modes of parental involvement, barriers to parental involvement implementation and ways to minimize barriers while maximizing parental involvement effectiveness.

Black Excellence: Fostering Intellectual Curiosity In Minority Honors Students At A Predominantly White Research Institution, Stephen C. Scott

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

As a recent alumnus of the West Virginia University Honors College, I recognize my honors experience as a multi-faceted, intellectual journey that pushed me academically, professionally, and personally to become the lifelong learner that I am today. As the only Black honors student in my graduating class, I was aware of my tokenism, especially in my honors courses, in the honors college office, in the honors learning center (testWELL Learning Center), and in university and honors college committee meetings, but I never let it bother me much. My peers misperceived me as an “Oreo”; my physical appearance was Black, yet …

Lessons Learned From A Faculty-Led Project: Using Learning Analytics For Course Design, Matt Farrell

Faculty & Staff Publications - Language & Liberal Studies

This showcase describes a project that used student activity data from the Learning Management System (LMS) to inform course design decisions in a blended learning context. Two blended courses were offered in the General Education curriculum at a community college, with each course employing a different design configuration. Student activity was tracked and compared across both classes to determine whether one design resulted in more engagement with the online course materials. The two courses shared similar subject matter, and were taught by the same instructor. Initial results indicated that student engagement and performance were higher in the frontloaded configuration compared …

Defining And Measuring Excellence In The Changing World Of Higher Education: Case Stories From Five Colleges Of Education, Jannah Nerren, Christina Sinclair, Nan Barker, Mark J. Reid, Gina Anderson

Faculty Publications

This paper presents a collection of case stories from five Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) within colleges of education, four from institutions in Texas and one from California, to present a micro cross-sectional narrative interpretation of what constitutes excellence in educator preparation. The broad framework utilized in this interpretation focuses on the individual approaches used by each institution for creating and sustaining positive cultures of data-informed decision-making, with the ultimate objective of continuous program improvement, while also meeting the accreditation expectations of each institution.

Lumberjack Construction: Job-Order Costing & Manufacturing Simulation, Marie Kelly, Nikki Shoemaker

Faculty Publications

This paper describes a classroom Job-Order Costing and manufacturing simulation called Lumberjack Construction. This simulation is used in introductory managerial accounting and cost accounting courses to help students understand the various parts of the manufacturing process and the application of Job-Order Costing principles. For this simulation, students are placed into manufacturing groups. Each group is responsible for manufacturing a building and calculating the cost of that building using job-order costing.

Giving Voice To Our Lakota People, Gina Fe Causin, Shelby Gull Laird, Chay Runnels, Judy A. Abbott, Sara Ross

School of Human Sciences Research Showcase

Researchers at two universities worked with project partners to develop indigenous interpretive curriculum that provided the tools for indigenous students to tell their own stories and market their own heritage to visitors seeking an authentic experience. Project partners sought to identify elements that exemplify a culturally grounded approach to indigenous interpretation. It is assumed that indigenous interpretation will provide opportunities for non-native visitors to have meaningful experiences of native culture. It is also assumed that indigenous interpretation will foster a deeper understanding of the sacredness of native homelands, the resiliency and vulnerability of natural and cultural systems, and the beauty …

Impacts Of Student Financial Education Outcomes, Jennifer Newquist, Nancy Shepherd

School of Human Sciences Research Showcase

Many young people are worried about financial matters and want more knowledge about personal finance. States who mandate financial education suggest students exhibit positive behaviors and are more likely to save and manage money. The study (N=606) showed that college students who completed high school in Texas did not recall courses they learned about financial education, but were very confident (27%) or somewhat confident (43%) when managing finances. Of the 30% who completed courses, 97% wanted to know more about personal financial management. Economics (74%), Government (64%), U.S. History (43%), and Social Studies (30%) were the primary courses where these …

A Summer Camp In Engineering Physics For Incoming Freshman To Improve Retention And Student Success, Hector A. Ochoa, Christopher J. Aul, Dan Bruton, Collin J. Timmons

Faculty Publications

Summer camps have proven to be a valuable tool to attract and recruit students interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field. They have been also used to spark their curiosity in areas like mathematics. However, these camps do not help with issues that appear after the student has been admitted at the university. It is well known that many students are shocked when they transition from high-school to college. Many of them do not know how to handle their academic freedom; they start without any friends, and they do not know the campus and the resources available. By …