Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

The Uses Of Uncertainty In The College Classroom, Virginia S. Lee

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Psychological research has corroborated the importance of uncertainty to learning at the psychophysiological level. Recent studies in brain dynamics have demonstrated that the brain manifests an inherent variability that increases with the presentation of new stimuli. This psychophysiological uncertainty plays a significant catalytic role in learning, It opens up the organism to experience, causing it to investigate the environment with enhanced receptivity, preparing it for different behavioral actions, and facilitating the central processing and encoding of information received from such renewed exploration. Searching, exploring, and trial-and-error behaviors indicate psychophysiological uncertainty and accompany the appearance of reorganization, stability, and progressive development …

Class In The Classroom, Lee Warren

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Class is an often invisible form of difference. Yet it is there all the time, affecting how and what students learn at every turn. It pervades the values and the purposes of colleges and universities. It contributes to determining the courses offered and the books read and discussed. Still, it is a diversity issue rarely acknowledged.

Critical Thinking Requires Critical Questioning, Karen J. Thoms

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Just what is a critical thinker? According to Richard Paul (1990), a critical thinker is someone who is able to think well and fair mindedly about his or her own beliefs and viewpoints as well as those which are diametrically opposed. The critical thinker does not just think about these beliefs and viewpoints, but explores and appreciates their adequacy, cohesion, and reasonableness. Attitudes and passions are included. To become a critical thinker is not to be the same person you are now, but only with better abilities; it is to become a different person (page iii).

Critical thinking is expected …

Interdisciplinary Teaching And Learning, Deborah Dezure

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Interdisciplinary initiatives are proliferating throughout higher education at an unprecedented rate (Edwards, 1996; Gaff and Ratcliff, 1997; Klein, 1996). They can be found in general education, replacing and augmenting distribution requirements; in emerging disciplines, such as cultural and gender studies, environmental studies, and neuroscience; in new curricular designs, such as learning communities, capstone courses, and service learning; and in the new pedagogies, such as collaborative learning, discovery and problembased learning, and the use of technology, particularly the Internet for instruction.

If we want our students to engage in complex intellectual tasks to integrate the insights of different disciplines, then lets …

Learning Outside The Box: Making Connections Between Co-Curricular Activities And The Curriculum, Myra S. Wilhite, Elizabeth A. Banset

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Students have much to gain from the integration of co-curricular activities into the curriculum. In out-of-class experiences, students tend to take greater responsibility for their own learning; they learn from one another as well as their instructors. In addition, cocurricular activities promote personal growth, physical and mental health, academic achievement, social and cultural awareness, and help students formulate short- and long-range goals.

Successful co-curricular programs encourage the development of friendships, a sense of belonging, enhanced intellectual awareness, improved academic performance, an appreciation of different perspectives, and close interaction with faculty and staff members who really care about students.

Confocal Microscopy Of Plant Cells, Carol L. Wymer, Alison F. Beven, Kurt Boudonck, Clive W. Lloyd

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The increasing availability of confocal microscopy has begun a revolution in plant biology in which microscopy has again become a powerful tool for understanding structure and function. Examples of applications include: three dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the interphase microtubule array in large vacuolated epidermal cells (1); measuring cytoplasmic free calcium changes in whole maize coleoptile segments in response to phototropic and gravitropic stimuli (2); and studying symplastic phloem connections in intact Arabidopsis roots (3). The major reason for this revolution is the ability to collect clear images in three dimensions due to the lack of image degradation caused by out-of-focus …

Some Methodological Concerns When Estimating The Size Of Organizing Activities, Eric Swank, John D. Clapp

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Researchers and organizers recognize that social movements experience periods of inception, expansion, and decline. Although the movement literature is laden with numerous theoretical formulations on this topic, there are few articles that overtly address the issue of data collection. This paper addresses this methodological issue in detail. In doing so, we use previous media research and two case studies to illustrate the problems associated with the most frequently used data sources of event size. Finally, the paper suggests several research strategies that might enhance the accuracy of those studies that try to trace the protest cycles of community organizing efforts.

Data Warehousing Failures: Case Studies And Findings, M. Dean Fenton, M. E. Haywood, Joseph Gregory Gerard, L. E. Gonzalez, Hugh J. Watson

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Eight studies of data warehousing failures are presented. They were written based on interviews with people who were associated with the projects. The extent of the failure varies with the organization, but in all cases, the project was at least a disappointment. Read the cases and prepare a one or two page discussion of the following: 1. What’s the scope of what can be considered a data warehousing failure? Discuss. 2. What generalizations apply across the cases? 3. What do you find most interesting in the failure stories? 4. Do they provide any insights about how a failure might be …

Are We Going To Cyberspace, Or Is This Just Another Trip To Abilene?, William K. Jackson

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

The costs of technology are high, and the options for its use are varied. In order to avoid arriving at a technological Abilene, we must continually ask and answer the question "what ought we do with technology?" and not "what can we do with technology?" Purpose must lead deployment. Otherwise, we risk expending great efforts and scarce resources to produce the educational equivalent of "Thank you for calling, press 1 if you. . ."

The Relationship Of Mobility To Student Achievement For Those Eighth Grade Regular Students Who Are Required To Take The New Jersey Early Warning Test (Ewt), Christine Krenicki

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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A Study Of The Relationship Among Student Achievement, Funding, Transitional Aid, Leadership, On The Presence Of Technology In "I" And "J" Secondary Schools, Gene Polles

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Effective Middle School Teachers : Becoming "Real", Rhoda C. Sommers

Dissertations

Problem. This study looks at four effective middle school teachers' stories in order to understand the experiences and beliefs which impact their choice to use developmentally responsive classroom practices. There is general agreement in the literature concerning characteristics of effective middle school teachers, but little has been done to understand what influences these teachers to teach the way they do.

Method. A qualitative case study design was used for this study. Two male and two female middle school teachers were observed and interviewed during the course of 1 school year. Each teacher's life experiences, classroom practices, and beliefs are …

The Professional Development Of Educational Managers In Sindh: Some Personal And Participants’ Reflections, Muhammad Memon

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

A Personal Reflection On The Curriculum Development Process In Pakistan, Muhammad Memon

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of The Language Assessment Battery, The Woodcock-Munoz Language Survey And The Portfolio Assessment Results Of Language Learners, Louise Langlois Chaker

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Relationship Of Reading Recovery Teachers' Efficacy To Length Of Service And School System Support, M. Louise Moon

Dissertations

Existing research results directly relate teachers’ efficacy to student outcomes and to continuing staff development and school context; however, little work has been done to investigate these relationships for Reading Recovery teachers. Reading Recovery (RR) is an early intervention program designed to assist first grade children who are having difficulty learning to read and write. This program requires ongoing staff development and an implementation plan designed to provide appropriate school context; therefore, survey data were collected from Reading Recovery teachers to study relationships between teacher efficacy and (a) their length of service in Reading Recovery and (b) support for RR …

Koinonia, Skip Trudeau, Tim Johnson, Brent D. Ellis, Mary Jayne Allen

Koinonia

In This Issue
Collaboration: Putting Student Learning Theory Into Practice, Skip Trudeau and Tim Johnson

NACE Says 'No' to Alcohol in Recruiting Students, Alumni, Spotlight reprint from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

The Paradox of Leadership, Brent D. Ellis

Around Campus
Residence Life Staff and Faculty Collaborate in the Common Curriculum, Mary Jayne Allen

Cooperative Learning Opportunities for the Campus Community, Skip Trudeau and Tim Johnson

Regular Features
President's Corner

Editor's Disk

Annual Conference: Memories of the ACSD 1998 at Calvin College

News from the Regions: Spotlight on the Northwest

Coalition of Christian College Activities (CoCAA): Hot …

Volume 12, Number 01, Don Forrester Editor

Reaching Through Teaching

Full text of Volume 12, Number 01 of Reaching Through Teaching.

Regional Disparities In Kentucky Academic Index Scores, Edward B. Reeves, Harold Harty

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Recent newspaper articles by columnist Bill Bishop in the Lexington Herald-Leader point to persistent regional disparities in achievement in Kentucky public schools. In spite of a mandate to create educational equality, the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) has not eliminated inequalities in school performance scores and the problem may even be getting worse according to Mr. Bishop. The objective of the present study is to determine what disparities exist among Kentucky’s eight Service Center Regions. The analysis uses school Academic Index scores, from 1992-93 to 1996-97, averaged by region. The regional averages (or means) are compared descriptively along with the …

Volume 11, Number 02, Lana Wachniak Editor

Reaching Through Teaching

Full text of Volume 11, Number 02 of Reaching Through Teaching.

Koinonia, Bob Reed, Damon Seacott, Skip Trudeau, Tim Johnson

Koinonia

From Happy Flies to Sour Grapes to Happy Flies: Some Thought son Guthrie's Manifesto

President's Corner

Editor's Disk & Placement Service Update

1998 ACSD Ballot

Grand Rapids--The Place to Be & ACSD Electronic Discussion Group

CoCCA: Following Jesus: Success in Developing Christian College Students & Hot Ideas

Book Review: Student Affairs Reconsidered: A Christian View of the Profession and its Context

Implications Of Changing To 4 By 4 Semester Block Scheduling For Secondary Students With Learning Disabilities, Sandra Kay Wayne

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of changing from a traditional schedule to a block schedule on selected school-related behaviors and measures of secondary students with learning disabilities and their regular education teachers. Areas of impact that were addressed included school performance measures of student success rates, attendance rates, and discipline referrals as well as affective measures of levels of students' active engagement in learning activities, the variety of teaching and learning modes used, and the amount of individualized teacher attention given to students.

The research population consisted of six high schools in south and central …

Do Contextual Effects Bias Kentucky School District Accountability Index Scores?, Edward B. Reeves

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Kentucky’s system of high-stakes accountability raises the question: Should teachers and school administrators be held accountable for student test results if the scores are influenced by external factors over which these educators have no control? The goal of the present study is to investigate if such external factors, or “contextual effects,” bias the accountability index scores. The issue is important because school districts, schools, and educators should be assessed in a fair manner. The focus of the study is on the Kentucky school district accountability index scores for the 1992-94 and 1994-96 biennia. District scores, rather than school scores, were …

Products: Assessment Resource Kit, Margaret Forster, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

Products are items which students make, usually in technology and the visual arts. Examples include items of food and clothing, pieces of artwork (drawings, paintings, sculptures) and articles made of wood, metal, plastics and ceramics. Product assessment is the assessment of students' mastery of the processes and tools required to make products (for example, design and production processes) and the assessment of the practical and/ or aesthetic qualities of the items students make. This is a guide to assessing student products in the technology and visual arts curriculum. It is an issue in the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK) magazine series …

Koinonia, David S. Guthrie, Jeff Doyle, Brad Bowser, Steven Garber

Koinonia

A Preliminary Manifesto for Christian Student Affairs Practitioners

President's Corner

Editor's Disk

Christian vs. Secular Universities: Where Should You Work?

CoCCA: Involvement through Campus Activities & Hot Ideas

ACSD Placement Update & ACSD Electronic Discussion Group

Book Review: The Fabric of Faithfulness by Steven Garber

Problem-Based Learning: Preparing Students To Succeed In The 21st Century, Barbara J. Duch, Deborah E. Allen, Harold B. White Iii

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

College graduates who can think critically, solve complex problems, communicate clearly, and work effectively in teams will be prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. Problem-based learning (PBL) helps students develop these crucial skills.

Keys To Using Learning Groups Effectively, Larry K. Michaelsen

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Irrespective of such factors as subject matter and class size, small group work can produce positive motivational and learning outcomes. The key is appropriately managing the variables discussed in this essay.

Adding Online Computer Methods To Your Repertoire Of Teaching Strategies, Nancy A. Diamond

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

On-line teaching methods offer interesting strategies for teaching whatever you already want to teach. This essay describes a broad range of on-line methods and details the elements necessary for their optimal use.

Relating Student Experience To Courses And The Curriculum, Virginia S. Lee

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

This essay offers a rationale for incorporating students’ personal experience into the curriculum and techniques for doing so to facilitate both cognitive and affective curricular objectives.

The Critical Match Between Motivation To Learn And Motivation To Teach, Ronald Teeples, Harvey Wichman

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Student motives to learn cannot be effectively understood as something independent of prevailing pedagogies, which are shaped by motives to teach. The authors discuss bringing these two aspects of motivation into closer congruence.