Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

Examining The Meaning Of Course Evaluation, Tyesha Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teaching evaluations significantly influence faculty members’ annual evaluations and progress toward tenure and promotion within academic programs in higher education. Those with consistently strong, positive, teaching evaluations have been deemed effective instructors and often validated with increases in salary, teaching awards, and promotion and tenure. This is especially the case when strong course evaluations are received in addition to documented scholarship and research activities and positively evaluated professional service. However, questions are being raised about the meaningfulness of students' ratings of course instruction. Do these measures effectively assess competence as instructors or do they measure other unknown processes in the …

Reporting The Impact Of Student Centered Learning (Scl): Interactive Learning Experience Base On Small-Scale Study In Undergraduate Business Classes., Safaa Shaaban

Business Administration

This paper presents an examination of the student response to a small-scale experiment in Student Centred Learning (SCL) in undergraduate business classes. This experiment tests the benefits and the impact of Student Centred Learning approach. Also, this approach will help to discover and identify students at risk. This experiment examined the twelve principles of SCL in the Faculty of Business Administration, Economics & Political Science (BAEPS) as a part of teaching and learning strategy and action plans. Feedback was collected from three student groups undertaking different modules at three levels within the Business Department. Each module applied SCL for the …

Institutional Mentorship For Bridge Program Students: Fostering Meaningful Engagement, Elizabeth Hoehn Mcdermott

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study explored the relationships between at-risk, bridge program students and institutional mentors. The purpose of this dissertation was to learn more about the ways that bridge program students’ relationships with institutional mentors may (or may not) influence students’ development of academic confidence and campus engagement. Bridge programs are designed to foster student mentoring relationships with both faculty members who teach within the programs, as well the administrators and staff members (usually student affairs professionals) who run the program. Thus far, the research on bridge programs has been overly focused on predictive student attributes and quantitative outcomes (e.g. GPA or …

School Climate: A Comparison Of Teachers, Students, And Parents, James A. Jacobs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the benefits of positive school climate and to measure the perceptions of school climate for intermediate grades in a Northeast Tennessee School district. An online school climate survey was used to collect responses from participants in intermediate grades and focused on the 3 major components of school climate: school engagement, school environment, and school safety. Data were collected for 2 consecutive years in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. Response totals included 1,955 student responses, 116 teacher responses, and 210 parent responses that were analyzed and used for this study. Of the student totals, some students that …

Surviving And Thriving At A University In The United Kingdom, Roxanne S. Duvivier, Gina Oswald, Lindsey Steller, Kate Bumhoffer

Human Services Faculty Publications

While considerable research on college student surviving and thriving has been conducted in the United States, fewer studies exist that examine these phenomenon multinationally. This mixed methods study, conducted at a large multi-campus university in the United Kingdom, examines factors purported to contribute to college student retention and engagement in a British context. Data were collected and analysed in the five theme categories of belonging, student support services, academic engagement, decision-making and resilience. Significant differences were found in student engagement by metropolitan vs. suburban campus, and in levels of engagement in academic and student life by gender.

A Digital Immigrant Venture Into Teaching Online: An Autoethnographic Account Of A Classroom Teacher Transformed, Karin A. Lewis

The Qualitative Report

This paper presents an autoethnographic account of a classroom teacher’s experience transitioning to teaching online within the shifting culture of academe in the 21^st Century. After decades as a classroom teacher, the author engages in autoethnography to reflexively analyze her challenging transition to teaching online. The author examines her perspectives, beliefs, thought process, learning, and development. Findings regarding her new way of teaching, thinking, and living as an online instructor may provide insights for others in academe.

Student Misconceptions About Cybersecurity Concepts: Analysis Of Think-Aloud Interviews, Julia D. Thompson, Geoffrey L. Herman, Travis Scheponik, Linda Oliva, Alan Sherman, Ennis Golaszewski, Dhananjay Phatak, Kostantinos Patsourakos

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

We conducted an observational study to document student misconceptions about cybersecurity using thematic analysis of 25 think-aloud interviews. By understanding patterns in student misconceptions, we provide a basis for developing rigorous evidence-based recommendations for improving teaching and assessment methods in cybersecurity and inform future research. This study is the first to explore student cognition and reasoning about cybersecurity. We interviewed students from three diverse institutions. During these interviews, students grappled with security scenarios designed to probe their understanding of cybersecurity, especially adversarial thinking. We analyzed student statements using a structured qualitative method, novice-led paired thematic analysis, to document patterns in …

Mymathlab Educational Intervention To Enhance Student Performance In Calculus I At Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Sheila Duplechain Derouen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

According to the Obama Administration, we need a workforce that is going to be STEM ready because this is the only way that the U.S. will be able to compete on a global level with other nations. Louisiana will demand a total of 66,250 STEM jobs by 2018, up from 61,610 in 2008, according to Georgetown University (Carnevale, Smith, & Melton, 2014). By 2020, sixty-five percent of the nation’s jobs will require post-secondary education. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the attrition rate between first- and second-year college students is 24.5% (2017).

The purpose of this study is …

Sotl Lab: Undergraduate Student-Faculty Collaborative Research In Teaching And Learning In Csd, Lian J. Arzbecker, Ellen A. Blacklock, Ashley M. Crumb, Jordan D. Doyle, Mariana Esveld, Sophie L. Grelson, Beatrice Gretzinger, Alyse Korpela, Kayley A. Kressin, Lauren M. Pakanich, Torri L. Pulley, Nicole L. Nolte Rierdon, Kathleen A. Spreitzer, Emma L. Steines, Brittany J. Strom, Emily C. Symons, Megan Vogelsang, Olivia N. Vruwink, Kelsey L. Weberg, Ashley B. Wolosek, Erin D. Zigler, Jerry K. Hoepner, Abby L. Hemmerich, Tom W. Sather, Deborah H. Elledge

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Communication Sciences and Disorders SoTL Lab was designed to provide hands-on research experiences to undergraduate students on a large scale. Student reflections on experiences within the SoTL Lab identify the value of collaboration, development of confidence, and exposure to the entire research process as key outcomes. These experiences foster development of research skills and may lead students to consider academic careers.

Speech-Language Pathology Student Participation In Verbal Reflective Practice Groups: Perceptions Of Development, Value And Group Condition Differences., Gina D. Tillard, Kate Cook, Daniel Gerhard, Lydia Keast, Megan Mcauliffe

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The aim of this study was to determine whether significant differences in perceptions of reflective practice were present across two groups of students engaged in standard practice and experimental group conditions. Twenty-seven undergraduate speech-language pathology students participated in the study. A two-condition, non-randomised, pre-test post-test design was employed with two groups (a standard practice condition and an experimental practice condition, utilizing structured activities and prompts). Participants took part in weekly reflective practice groups over a six week period, in which discussion centered on students’ clinical experiences. Pre and post intervention, the students completed a questionnaire designed to examine perceptions of …

Impact Of Virtual Simulation And Coaching On The Interpersonal Collaborative Communication Skills Of Speech-Language Pathology Students: A Pilot Study, Jacqueline A. Towson Ph.D., Ccc-Slp, Matthew S. Taylor Ph.D., Jennifer Tucker Pt, Dpt, Pcs, Claire Paul Ph.D., Bcba, Patrick Pabian Pt, Dpt, Scs, Ocs, Richard I. Zraick Ph.D., Ccc-Slp

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Communication between clinicians, teachers, and family members is a critical skill when addressing and providing for the individual needs of patients. However, graduate students in speech-language pathology (SLP) programs often have limited opportunities to practice these skills prior to or during externship placements. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of virtual-reality based rehearsal with coaching on the interpersonal collaborative communication skills of SLP graduate students when delivering information regarding a singular patient to different stakeholders. Three graduate students completing their third semester in a SLP program participated in the study. Each participant was provided a clinical …

Item-Level Gender Fairness In The Force And Motion Conceptual Evaluation And The Conceptual Survey Of Electricity And Magnetism, Rachel Henderson, Paul Miller, John Stewart, Adrienne L. Traxler, Rebecca Lindell

Physics Faculty Publications

Gender gaps on the most widely used conceptual inventories created by physics education researchers have been extensively studied. Most of the research exploring the consistent gender gaps has been performed at the student level using the total evaluation score; less research has been performed examining these assessments at the item level and this research has been predominately restricted to the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). Many studies have identified subsets of FCI items as unfair to either men or women. An item is fair if men and women of equal ability in conceptual physics score equally on the item. This study …

A Word From The Writing Team (July 2018), Jennifer Wilson, Ms, Els, Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• From Thesis to Journal Article
• Open All Summer
• Sign Up for Our Fall Writing Retreat
• Writing Café

Project-Based Curriculum As A Guide For The Re-Sequencing Of Discipline-Specific Statistics Courses, Veronica Fruiht

Psychology | Faculty Presentations

In discipline-specific statistics courses the pedagogical challenges of providing conceptual statistics training are compounded as students lack the background in mathematics necessary for understanding probability and fail to see the applicability of statistics to their field. To address these challenges, a statistics course targeted for health and behavioral science students was redeveloped utilizing a project-based curriculum. Per the American Statistical Association’s call for increased integration of technology, real data, and conceptually-focused active learning in introductory statistics, students interacted with real data to learn concepts necessary to answer discipline related questions. Because topics in the course were re-sequenced to be more …

The Hidden Curriculum Of Starting An Open-Access Online Journal: An Editor’S Perspective, Sydney Freeman Jr.

Journal of Research Initiatives

Starting a new academic journal is a scholarly undertaking that is not taught in graduate school. However, higher education professors may well find it necessary to engage in journal work during their careers. As available literature gives little direction for prospective journal founders and editors, this article provides a Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) account of a Senior Editor-in-Chief’s journey through the process of establishing a new academic journal. Challenges inherent to the process are discussed, and recommendations are provided for prospective editors.

How Mooc Reality Informs Distance Education, Online Learning, And Connectivism, Adelina G. Hristova, Fernanda C. Bonafini, Kathryn W. Jablokow, Rebecca Y. Bayeck, Eunsung Park

Current Issues in Emerging eLearning

In this paper, we draw from our experience as designers, instructors, and researchers in the second edition of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOCs) called Creativity, Innovation, and Change (CIC) 2.0 to discuss MOOC interactions. Since the CIC 2.0 MOOC was inspired by the tenets of connectivism, we employed connectivism and its four main conceptual components (autonomy, diversity, openness, and connectedness) to discuss these empirical findings from a theoretical perspective. We build our argument on the four levels of interactions (interactions with instructors, learners, course materials, and the interface) traditionally used in the field of distance education and online learning …

Pioneering Alternative Forms Of Collaboration, Rebecca J. Hogue, Jeffrey M. Keefer, Maha Bali, Keith Hamon, Apostolos Koutropoulos, Ron Leunissen, Lenandlar Singh

Current Issues in Emerging eLearning

One key experience of human work, life, and play is people working together on a common goal. Yet this aspect of working together does not have one primary recognizable instantiation of what it means to work together. Words like collaboration and cooperation are often used to describe such instances, but even words like ‘collaboration’ don’t always have a neat formula for working through a collaboration. In this article we examine and reflect on our own collaborative experiences as a research group. We do this through an examination of past experiences, and through a method of writing that developed in our …

Of Mind Maps And Makerspaces: Technology Approach To Law Teaching, Sharon Bradley

Presentations

Mind maps and makerspaces are two potential approaches to instruction that might inject a little fun and zing into the classroom. Mind maps are a more visual or graphical tool for teaching analysis, problem solving, and decision-making. Makerspaces embrace Langdell’s model of the law library as the “laboratory” of the law school. A makerspace could allow students to experiment, create, and learn to evaluate the “benefits and risks associated with relevant technology,” as reflected in the recent change to Rule 1.1 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

Spatial Thinking In Astronomy Education Research, Merryn Cole, Cheryl Cohen, Jennifer Wilhelm, Rebecca Lindell

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

Multiple studies show that spatial thinking skills contribute to students’ performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. The study of astronomy is no different with the understanding of many astronomical phenomena requiring spatial thinking skills. This paper describes traditional and contemporary approaches to characterizing and measuring spatial thinking skills and suggests how they inform research in astronomy education. It summarizes previous literature in astronomy education research and categorizes the research approaches of astronomy education peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings that explicitly consider the role of spatial thinking. Additionally, it recommends directions and curricular approaches for astronomy education research …

How Middle Level Science Teachers Visualize And Translate Motion, Scale, And Geometric Space Of The Earth-Moon-Sun System With Their Students, Jennifer Wilhelm, Merryn Cole, Cheryl Cohen, Rebecca Lindell

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

We examined teachers’ spatial-scientific reasoning and the alternative conceptions they held regarding Earth-space content. While participating in a professional development (PD) workshop, teachers engaged in an integrated mathematics and science project-based unit designed to foster spatial reasoning and improve lunar-related conceptual understanding. The Purdue Spatial Visualization Test-Rotation (PSVT-Rot) and the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory (LPCI) were used to assess understanding. We found the teachers held similar alternative conceptions as their students. Moreover, we discovered that teachers had limited understanding of the Earth-Moon-Sun scale, motions, and geometric configurations. To determine how teachers’ spatial-scientific confidence and ability translated to their classroom practice, …

Cultural Immersion And Social Justice: The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program At St. John’S University, Judith Ryder Ph.D, Joanne Carroll Ph.D.

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

Spj Meets Cst: A Code For Journalism That Matters, Michael Rizzo

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

The Gift Of Academic Service Learning, Robert A. Mangione

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

A Vision For Catholic Higher Education In The 21st Century: Reflecting On The Boston College Roundtable, Patrick Mcquillan, Michael J. James, Timothy P. Muldoon

Journal of Catholic Education

The nucleus of any university is the intellectual life that unfolds among faculty and students. Inevitably, that intellectual life is shaped by the broader university context. Examining that process—in particular, its connection to a Catholic understanding of university mission—offers insight into pressing issues. For instance, what shifting social and academic conditions—both opportunities and challenges—set a context for campus conversations? How might Catholic institutions respond to these conditions? Can Catholic institutions provide a hospitable place for integrating faith and reason at the institutional and personal levels? Can the Catholic intellectual tradition serve as a constructive and creative lens for transforming Catholic …

Personality Types And Learning Styles Of Collegiate Aviation Students, Stephanie Fussell, Andrew R. Dattel, Kadie Mullins

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The personality types and learning styles of students have been studied across education populations, yet the research analyzing aviation students is lacking. A replication study assessed the distribution of personality types and learning styles of students enrolled in the aeronautical science baccalaureate degree program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Form M and the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (KLSI) were used to analyze the personality types and learning styles, respectively. When compared to the personality type distribution of the traditional college student sample using a selection ratio type table, a significant overrepresentation of the personality type …

Use Of Lightboard Video Technology To Address Medical Dosimetry Concepts: Field Notes, Julia Vandermolen, Kristen Vu, Justin Melick

Current Issues in Emerging eLearning

Focusing on Lightboard video technology to create online videos as a resource for Medical Dosimetry students, this field note shares perspectives and student voices on Lightboard videos that can be useful in understanding the concepts pertaining to Medical Dosimetry such as brachytherapy equations. Through the study, the instructors wanted to know students’ perceptions of how video use increased their interest and understanding of brachytherapy equations. A SurveyMonkey questionnaire collected responses from eight students and revealed that these students perceived the use of Lightboard videos provided a solid learning platform to master the concept of brachytherapy prior to performing the homework. …

Annual Report 2017-2018, Jeffrey Ashley

Annual Reports & Administrative Documents

No abstract provided.

Webinar: Firsthand Data Collection: Students Get Behind The Wheel Of Vehicle Dynamics, Roger Lindgren, Jordan Preston

TREC Webinar Series

Vehicle operating dynamics data have a fundamental impact on the design of roadways, but collecting this type of data is not part of your typical college curriculum. Instead, engineering students are handed a textbook, leaving them without a firsthand experience of how accelerations and decelerations “feel” to the driver, the ultimate consumer of their designs. Seeking to change this norm, Roger Lindgren and C.J. Riley, civil engineering professors at the Oregon Institute of Technology, undertook a NITC education project to incorporate more real-world data collection and analysis into transportation courses. This webinar will offer a detailed look at the recently …

Designing Rubrics For Authentic Assessment, Kathryn Richardson, Anne-Marie Chase

Initial Teacher education

This presentation looks at the steps in developing authentic rubrics, from determining the constructs that will be assessed; breaking down the constructs into a set of broad capabilities that need to be observed; transferring capabilities into indicative behaviours (indicators or criteria); and determining the different levels of proficiency.

Developing A Researcher Identity: Commonplace Books As Arts-Informed Reflective Process, Layal Shuman, Abigail Shabtay, Maggie Mcdonnell, Nicole Bourassa, Fauzanah El Muhammady

The Qualitative Report

This article shares the processes of five emerging researchers as they trace their journeys in becoming researchers and examine their identities through the qualitative, arts-informed method of “commonplace book” creation. It positions commonplace books as “living document” that explore the ongoing processes of identity development we experience as novice scholars in the field of education. Using this article, we extend our artistic processes, inviting readers to join the conversation and reflect on why and how they engage in academic work, as well as the potential this method has for reflection, meaning-making and dissemination. We highlight the use of commonplace books …