Higher Education Commons^™

Grounded Practical Theory To Improve Persistence-Retention Strategic Enrollment Management, Kenneth W. Borland Jr.

Journal of Research, Assessment, and Practice in Higher Education

The author introduces grounded practical theory (GPT) as a useful research approach in the field of strategic enrollment management (SEM) and its focus on persistence-retention. The GPT approach is then illustrated by engaging sample voices of persistence-retention and SEM; scientific theory (the philosophical level) and normative theory (the technical level) as observed in the literature. The scientific theory voices and normative theory voices are then positioned in relation to voices of students and practitioners (observed respondents) who have identified real world persistence-retention and SEM problems. These problems suggest implications for reconstructing the relationship between persistence-retention and SEM philosophical, theoretical, and …

Faculty Expectations Of Administrative Leaders’ Behavior Of The Department Chairs: The University Of Belize, Theodore J.M. Ogaldez, Adriel Hilton

Journal of Research Initiatives

Abstract

A new University of Belize (UB) was created through the assimilation of several smaller institutions and was only two years old at the time of this study. The authors recognized that the creation of this most-recent university would bring different expectations of leadership on the part of faculty and administrators. As higher education changes, particularly at the UB, the need for persons in leadership positions who can bring groups together in spite of differences, will be critical. According to Machiavelli (1961), there is nothing more difficult to plan, more uncertain of success, or more dangerous to manage than the …

Multilingualism And Academic Writing: A Match Made In Heaven Or A Disastrous Combination?, Roshni Paul, Ian Mcdonald

Journal of Research Initiatives

There has long been a tradition of international students studying in the United Kingdom. Despite a dip in the most recently published statistics, Indian students continue to make up a high proportion of UK’s international student population. The majority of Indian students are multilingual and this raises potential problems for them with regards to academic writing, such as grammar, structuring and vocabulary. This article presents a largely empirical study which examines the experiences of, and issues faced by, seven postgraduate research students in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University. Samples of academic writing …

To Game Or Not To Game? How Using Massively Multiplayer Online Games Helped Motivation And Performance In A College Writing Course: A Mixed Methods Study, Papia Bawa, William Watson, Sunnie L. Watson

Journal of Research Initiatives

The use of Massively Multiplayer Online Games or MMOGs is receiving attention in the educational world due to increased availability of such games, a growing consumer base, and the proven benefits of video games as engagement tools. MMOGs that have been known to possess a significantly high capacity to keep users involved over sustained periods, which gives them the potential to enhance learning experiences and performances. However, most available studies on MMOGs do not discuss relationships between MMOG use and performance outcomes in Higher Education. Additionally, majority of such studies focus on examining a single MMOG, providing limited scopes of …

The Importance Of Support Networks For At-Promise Students, Melissa Cheese, James Vines

Journal of Research Initiatives

At-promise students enter colleges and universities with various challenges including being academically underprepared and lacking those essential critical thinking skills to be successful. However, providing support mechanisms within a nurturing environment can help these students overcome academic obstacles as well as personal challenges in order to achieve academic success. This article explores the role of an educational opportunity program and its efforts to support student success.

Creating The Learning Environment For Limited English Proficient Students Online, Lisa H. Thomas, Francisco Brizuela, Michael S. Mott, Susan S. Mcclelland

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

When offering online program options for higher education students, one of the primary concerns for institutions of higher learning program administrators is achieving high quality learning experiences for students. To achieve this goal, faculty must understand how to employ new and innovative technologies in a manner that ensures all students have positive learning outcomes. Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students are not missing in this equation. Institutions offering online courses have discerned that developing these courses requires an understanding of technologies with which many faculty are unfamiliar. As a result, administrators must create "pedagogical models that enable educators to capitalize on …

The Common Core And Its Implications For The Temporal Pace And Homework Assignments For Ap Calculus, Louise Perkins

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

We collect and combine two types of assessment data for an AP Calculus course, standardized testing and student feedback. This data informs us, both directly and indirectly, about the efficacy of the existing pre-calculus high school curriculum. We apply this information to an analysis of the common core curriculum to which the school is currently transitioning. The assessment analysis is designed to focus the class examples and homework assignments in pre-requisite courses to strengthen concepts needed during the AP Calculus class, and to assist teachers in planning concepts to re-teach in follow on classes. More broadly, our approach is a …

The Readiness Is All: How Surprise Observations Improve Pre-Service Teachers' Preparation, Elise Langan, Juan Walker

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

This article discusses ways to improve the practice of pre-service teachers during their clinical experiences by bridging the gap between theory and practice. The authors emphasize the need for unannounced visits and immediate feedback by clinical supervisors during the field experience to better prepare pre-service teachers for the profession. Pre-service teachers were sent an online questionnaire asking them to respond to the pros and cons of surprise and scheduled visits by their supervisors. The participants in the study were enrolled in a state college in the Southeastern United States. Pre-service teachers’ responses indicate a preference for direct feedback and unannounced …

An Assessment Of The Business Model Paradigm Shift In Education, Richard Gardiner, Jessica O'Keeffe

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Role Of The Common Core State Standards For Mathematics In Mathematics Methods And Mathematics Content Courses For Prospective Teachers, Sarah Ives, Anne Marie Marshall, Emerald Shee

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

The reform efforts brought about by the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) necessitate inquiry into how these standards are (or are not) being addressed in teacher preparation courses. This study examines the extent that the CCSSM are emphasized in mathematics content and mathematics methods courses for prospective teachers. We implemented a web-based survey and follow-up interviews of faculty from institutions across the nation. Results indicate a moderate level of variability in opportunities that prospective teachers have to learn about the CCSSM. Additionally, results show that mathematics teacher educators have changed their courses to include discussions around the CCSSM …

Are Academically At-Risk College Students More Entitled Than Their Non-At-Risk Peers?, Rebekah Reysen, Matthew Reysen, Suzanne Degges-White

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

Academic Entitlement (AE) is a belief held by students that they deserve high grades in school despite a lack of effort put forth into their work (Chowning & Campbell, 2009). Although AE has become a major focus of conversation amongst higher education professionals, few studies have been published on this topic in relationship to student retention and success. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between academic performance and AE for two college student groups. Results included academically at-risk students scoring significantly higher on AE than the non-at-risk group, with AE being negatively correlated with GPA.

Improving Literacy Rates For Students With Dyslexia In A Rural School District, Steven W. Havens, Michael Seth Mott

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

This applied research study aimed to improve literacy rates for students identified as having dyslexic tendencies in the Lynn County School District (LCSD). The need to improve literacy rates of students with dyslexia in the Reaching Reading Success Program was identified through Mississippi K-3 Assessment Support System data. Using the two elements found in the program evaluation, accurate identification of dyslexic students and multisensory interventions the study sought to improve the literacy rates for students with dyslexia in kindergarten. Assessment, survey, and interview data were used in this applied research study to determine success. The findings indicated early identification, multi-sensory …

A Book Review Of Donelson R. Forsyth’S College Teaching: Practical Insights From The Science Of Teaching And Learning, Deidra Faye Jackson

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

As an advanced doctoral student and former college instructor for 12 years, I reviewed Forsyth’s (2016) book, College Teaching: Practical Insights from the Science of Teaching and Learning, to determine how the author created an accessible and contemporary text for novice and veteran higher education instructors, alike. In a straightforward appeal, the book offers proven college teaching recommendations and debunks what the author, an experienced social and personality psychologist, considers faulty theoretical analyses by bolstering arguments in empirical studies grounded in psychology theory and research. The book’s discussions, which are backed by ample supporting qualitative and quantitative data distributed …

Being Nomadic In A Neo World, C. Steven Page, Rebecca G. Harper

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

Teachers are often classified into groups based on performance, identity, and through the use of metaphors. This article utilizes a post structuralist lens to build on past research by posing the classification of teachers into three personas: the nematode, neo, and nomad. These personas are not always chosen by the teacher, but instead are reactions to environments, colleagues and administrators, and education mandates. Standardization and accountability, which are forced on education by neoliberal policies, affect teachers’ identities in negative ways and often cause them to be the type of teacher they never desired to be to their students. Utilizing Deleuze’s …

From Oral To Written Language: Scaffolding Literacy Development In A Kindergarten Classroom, Cynthia Leung

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

The purpose of the present study was to explore how an experienced kindergarten teacher used oral language to scaffold her students in their development of written language skills. The research design was a yearlong qualitative case study that employed prolonged engagement, persistent observation, and triangulation. Data sources included participant observation, fieldnotes, audio and video recording of classroom literacy events, informal interviews with the teacher and students, photographs, and a collection of students’ drawings/writings. This article provides examples of read-aloud and writing events where the classroom teacher made connections between oral and written language or re-accented the students’ oral productions into …

How Would Executive Functions Play A Role In Comprehending Art?, Burhanettin Keskin

Journal of Contemporary Research in Education

This study is a theoretical attempt to explain the relationship between the components of executive functions and comprehending art. Specifically, the study examined the specific executive functions’ (i.e., inhibitory control, suppressing irrelevant information, and sustained attention) role in comprehending art. Cognitive skills that rely on paying attention to relevant cues rather than prevailing yet irrelevant features and sustained attention are used in the process of comprehending artwork. Suggestions are made for early childhood teachers regarding how art can be used to improve children’s executive functions.

Pursuing A Common Goal: Measuring The Comfort Level Of Educational Diagnosticians To Manage A Caseload Of Students With Visual Impairments, Jerry Mullins M.Ed., Michael P. Munro M.Ed.

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

This study was conducted to measure the level of comfort and knowledge that educational diagnosticians possess regarding the unique learning needs, assistive technology, special accommodations, agencies, required visual impairment related Individual Educational Plan documents, and special evaluation considerations appropriate for students with a vision loss. Teachers of students with visual impairments were surveyed to gauge their perception of educational diagnosticians’ knowledge of the field of visual impairment and diagnosticians were also surveyed to determine their comfort level in the management of a caseload of students with visual impairments. Research question were based on how TVIs rated the comfort level and …

Laying The Groundwork: Implementing A New Personnel Evaluation System, Miloche Kottman, Marcella Huggard

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

The University of Kansas has implemented a new performance management system for paraprofessional staff to satisfy, in part, the “Developing Excellence in People” goal of the University’s strategic plan. The new performance management system allows supervisors and staff to establish and comment on performance goals throughout the year and, at the end of the year, provide a rating for each goal. In addition, the system requires staff and supervisors to rate and comment on nine core competencies upon which the University’s leadership determined staff should be evaluated. Due to a one-size-fits-all implementation, the definitions and examples supplied by the University …

We Did It! A Collaborative Collection Development Project At The Ku And Ksu Libraries, Lea H. Currie, Mira Greene

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

For many years, the KU and KSU Libraries have looked for a method of combining their resources to create a collaborative collection development project. When KSU joined YBP as their main book vendor, it became evident that such a project might get off the ground since KU Libraries were longtime customers of YBP. Since Proquest was the main vendor for e-books for both schools and YBP sold e-books from Proquest, KU and KSU decided to approach their e-book specialist with Proquest to find out if a collaborative demand-driven (DDA) e-book project was possible. Proquest negotiated with the publishers the two …

Making Room For Change: Rightsizing Psu’S Axe Library Serials Collection, Barbara M. Pope

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

Print serials collection development has long been a traditional role of academic librarians. However, in the last 20 years, academic libraries’ print serials ownership has declined and online access has begun to take its place, both partially due to concerns with flat or declining budgets as well as lack of space and the need to repurpose this limited space. Pittsburg State University’s Axe Library faces the challenge of balancing its print and electronic serials collections at a university whose programs sometimes do not draw enough on library resources. In an effort to create a meaningful discovery experience for the university …

The Trouble With Test Banks, Harvey Richman, Molly Hrezo

Perspectives In Learning

We compared the psychometrics of quiz questions randomly selected from a test bank with the psychometrics of quiz questions the instructor had selected from the bank for quality and modified (if necessary). On multiple psychometric indices, the instructor selected/modified questions were superior to questions randomly selected from the test bank. Most notably, when compared with instructor written/modified questions, randomly selected bank questions were nearly 6.5 times more likely to contain a distractor that drew more responses than the correct answer. Details and implications are discussed.

Design And Evaluation Of A Problem-Based Learning Environment For Teacher Training, Laura Hemker, Claudia Prescher, Susanne Narciss

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

Problem-based learning can have a great impact on the acquisition of practical knowledge, which is a central learning aim in the field of teacher education. Therefore, we implemented a problem-based learning approach in four seminars on educational assessment. In this paper, we outline our didactic design and discuss the results of the first evaluations, which explored acceptance of the approach, learning results, and expected applicability of the acquired knowledge.

The results show benefits of the problem-based learning approach, but also room for improvement. Specifically, the use of problems from multiple contexts (theoretical foundations and direct practical application) and the flexible …

How Do Former Undergraduate Mentors Evaluate Their Mentoring Experience 3-Years Post-Mentoring: A Phenomenological Study, Kari L. Nelson, Christine E. Cutucache

The Qualitative Report

This phenomenological study involves a unique, longitudinal assessment of the lived experiences of former undergraduate mentors (n=7) in light of their current experiences (i.e., career or advanced schooling). The objective of a phenomenological study is to engage in in-depth probing of a representative number of participants. Specifically, we followed up with graduates of the Nebraska STEM 4U (NE STEM 4U) intervention 3 years post-program, with the overall goal of describing the mentors’ experiences using the lens of their current experiences. This type of longitudinal perspective of mentoring is greatly lacking in the current literature. At the time of the interviews, …

University Sustainability: Assessing College Sustainability Rating Systems, James M. Albis

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

This paper seeks to assess the three major university sustainability rating systems in the United States on their ability to drive positive sustainability outcomes. Since the mid-2000s the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, the Princeton Review, and the Sierra Club have attempted to rate universities on their sustainability policies and practices. A wide range of actions are rated by these organizations, from energy usage to transportation to procurement to academic offerings in the field of sustainability. This analysis shows that each organization values sustainability in different ways – for example, academics/co-curricular activities accounted for anywhere from 16%-49% …

Preliminary Evaluation Of The Psychometric Quality Of HeightenTm Quantitative Literacy, Katrina C. Roohr, Hyesun Lee, Jun Xu, Ou Lydia Liu, Zhen Wang

Numeracy

Quantitative literacy has been identified as an important student learning outcome (SLO) by both the higher education and workforce communities. This paper aims to provide preliminary evidence of the psychometric quality of the pilot forms for HEIghten quantitative literacy, a next-generation SLO assessment for students in higher education. We evaluated the psychometric quality of the test items (e.g., item analyses), individual- and group-level reliability, the relationship with student performance and related variables (e.g., grade point average) as well as student perceptions, and differences across college-related and demographic subgroups. Our study used data from a pilot test administered to over 1,500 …

Growth Mindset In The Classroom, Luther L. Kiger

Empowering Research for Educators

This article discusses how Mindset can effect a students educational and social life.

Emphasis On Test Scores In Education, Lindsay Olson

Empowering Research for Educators

This article discusses how too much emphasis on standardized testing can affect student learning as well as teaching in the classroom. It includes a personal interview with a high school teacher as well as an article from the Washington Post regarding a study that was completed involving testing students.

Immigrant Parental Involvement In Student Academics, Charles Tebben

Empowering Research for Educators

Abstract

This study is meant to focus discussions about the importance of the involvement of immigrant parents in respect to student academics. In this study I intend to make evident a relationship between parental involvement and student academics, after which I will draw in a conclusion of the resources utilized by my community at the elementary and middle schools. I’m conducting my research study starting at elementary school and running through middle school. I’m eliminating the high school period because of their unique parental involvement complexities which share little constraints and outcomes with the lower levels. To build my study, …

The Language Of Learning In Family And Consumer Sciences: English Language Learners In Career Technical Education, Kali S. Lenhoff

Empowering Research for Educators

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) content and English as a Second Language (ESL) strategies can be organically incorporated to create a successful education for an English Language Learner (ELL). The first objective of this research project is to discover how prepared Family and Consumer Sciences teachers feel to work with English Language Learners in the classroom. The second objective is to identify practical and effective methods and strategies that are useful for Family and Consumer Sciences teachers instructing English Language Learners. The rationale for this project is that by identifying the challenges faced by English Language Learners in education, teachers …

Informal Order, Needs Analysis, And The Eap Curriculum, Faisal S. Al-Maamari

The Qualitative Report

The academic curriculum is developed through a systematic process whereby content is created through the alignment of needs to stakeholder or target group. This qualitative research study features a small-scale, English for academic purpose (EAP) needs analysis (NA) of three credit-bearing EAP programs and the corresponding departmental programs conducted at a Language Center at a higher education institution in Oman. Based on interview, observational and documentary data, the analysis showed divergences in academic literacy (writing and reading) between the EAP and content programs. Principally, the findings pointed to the presence and operation of a group of informal orders and the …