Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Child Work, Child Schooling And Educational Achievement: An Empirical Evidence For Nigeria, Afolabi Popoola, Joseph Ayodele, Isaac Ajayi

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

As a result of the growing international concern about child labour, child work and the effects on the welfare and future of these children, the practices are now being questioned in Nigeria. The recent perception of child labour and child work as a problem stems from the belief, and finding on investigations that involvement of children in economic activities outside the home is injurious to the children’s intellectual and physical growth. According to Oloko (1996) working is believed to expose children to physical danger, sexual abuse and other forms of harassment. It is also believed that work prevents children from …

Gray Hair And A Doctorate: A Prerequisite To Being A Good Education Administrator?, Elizabeth Gould

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Traditionally, from a very young age, children are taught to respect their elders. This tradition tends to carry over to their adult lives when they enter the work arena. Age means experience and knowledge, and these young pups who come in wagging their tails and jumping around, so full of excitement and new ideas, must be taught to calm down and control themselves. Let’s face it; we don’t need any messes on the carpet. Nowhere is this contrast between young energy and older experience more evident than in the world of academia.

Organizational Health At The Managerial And Institutional Levels Of Leadership: Links To Student Achievement In Middle Grades, Howard Coleman, Kathleen Roney

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

In this paper we look at the relationship between the middle school’s organizational health and student achievement as measured by math scores over a two-year period. Our research hypothesis anticipated that increases in organizational health would be related to increases in student scores on standardized tests.

The Effective Use Of Staff Governance In Academic Leadership, Michael Miller, Daniel Nadler

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Colleges and universities provide both the human capital development and often the research backbone for the economy to function at a high level. Simultaneously, institutions provide a tremendous social benefit for graduates and other stakeholders who make use of their emphasis on the arts, entertainment, and cultural development. This multi-dimensional role, one in which Clark Kerr referred to as the “multiversity” (Johnson, Kavanagh, & Mattson, 2003, p. 11), often results in a conflicting notion of purpose and management, with competition for business-like accountability with public sector intangible service. Burgess (2009) noted that the result is the perspective of the public …

Examining The Landscape Of Leadership Of Charter School Executives In Low-Performing Or Priority Schools In North Carolina, Clarence Davis, Laurell Malone

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Charter Schools in North Carolina have been serving students since 1997 in grades K-12. From their inception, charter schools in North Carolina have operated as their own Local Education Agency (LEA) and were created to serve the fundamental purpose of providing opportunities for teachers, parents, students, and community members to establish and maintain schools that operate independently of existing schools.

The Level Of Emotional Intelligence In Principals Of Recognized And Acceptable Schools, Todd Stephens, Douglas Hermond

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The future of our democratic society depends on a strong and vibrant educational system. The 90s brought us accountability and high stakes testing and our new millennium promises to demand even more sacrifices from teachers, students, and principals as expectations rise and pressures increase for educational improvements. Quality leadership from school principals will be crucial in creating schools capable of producing students who can excel and compete in today’s challenging global economy.

Reflections On Special Education, Sandra Peters

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Special Education teachers are very special people. Even though I have taught 7-12th grade English, high school speech, drama, forensics, debate, and directed a Montessori Middle School teaching all subjects, Special Education was a whole new world to me. I had been present at IEPs but never presented IEPs. I have had special education students in my class with and without paras, but never had I taught special education in a self-contained classroom. This past semester, I have been able to add teaching Special Education English grades 10-12 to my resume. I have presented IEPs, participated in FBAs and created …

What Does It Mean To Be Highly Qualified?, Diana Brannon

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) seems to be one of the most talked about and controversial educational reforms in decades. NCLB is an elementary and secondary education act signed into law January 8, 2002 designed to help close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their peers. It requires that teachers be considered “highly qualified” in the core academic subjects they teach. A highly qualified teacher according to NCLB is one who has a bachelor’s degree, full state certification and licensure, and has demonstrated competency in the subject area he or she teaches (U. S. Department of Education, 2004). However, …

The Organization And Administration Of A Deficit Curriculum: The Dominant Operating Core Curriculum Of A Hispanic Serving Educational System, James Satterfield, Lesli Gonzales, Stephanie Zelanek

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The demographic face of the United States is quickly changing as the Hispanic population approaches majority minority status. The changing demography brings with it many implications as far as the general condition and functionality of society is concerned. Especially important are educational practices and the construction of public education policies as the public schools are traditionally relied upon as an institution of socialization, as a common denominator to Americanize the young, the poor, the marginal, and the immigrant populations (Tyack and Cuban, 1995). These categorical descriptions, one could say, largely characterize the Hispanic population, which in fact represents the youngest …

Women Entrepreneurship In Science And Technology: Impetus For Female Participation In National Development In Nigeria, O.O. Kalesanwo, J.B. Bilesanmi-Awoderu

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The role of women in national development cannot be over-emphasized. Also, the place of science and technology is central to national advancement. No doubt, a country’s level of Scientific and Technological advancement dictates the life style and future of her citizenry. This assertion made Wambusu (2005) to opine that science-led development is one of the major strategies in the war against what seems to be the African region’s endless hunger, poverty and ill-health. In addition, increased focus on formal and informal education, new technology, empowerment of women, gender, and sustainable development will undoubtedly bring the developing world closer to the …

A Comparison Of The Leadership Practices Of Principals Of Making Middle Grades Work Schools As Measured By The Leadership Practices Inventory, David Knab

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Leadership of the principal in schools continues to be identified as important to the success of the school and ultimately, the achievement of its students. Leithwood, Louis, Anderson, and Wahlstrom (2004), in their research, affirm that leadership is critical if schools are to continue to improve. “Leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn at school” (p. 5). Marzano, Walters, and McNulty’s (2005) also argue for better principals stating that if a principal were to improve their leadership practices, then student achievement would increase. In their research, they have identified 21 …

Conflict In Business Organization: Ingredient For Organizational Development, Samson Adebisi, Felicia Olaniyi-Adegun

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

There is a popular assumption that conflict is so destructive that the goal of good management should be to minimize friction. According to Robert and Judy (2002), the Conflict-Positive Organization takes the opposite position and presents the argument that conflict, when well managed, adds substantial value to the organization. Effects of conflict could be destructive or constructive; it depends on the expertise that manages it in an organization, Lawrence and Jeffrey (1987). Some conflict management experts transform conflict from destructive to a constructive form, making use of opposing ideas to make decisions, negotiate their differences, and deal with anger to …

Fewer Women Than Men In Educational Leadership, Mahshid Pirouznia

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The purpose of this study is to explore the possible obstacles in women’s pathway to a principalship; and examine if these obstacles have changed over the past two decades because of women’s changing roles.

Four Leadership Theories Addressing Contemporary Leadership Issues As The Theories Relate To The Scholarship, Practice, And Leadership Model, Heidi Gregory-Mina

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast transformational, transactional, charismatic, and contingent leadership theories and to determine similarities and differences between these theories in able to determine their future effectiveness. Additionally this paper looks at four leadership styles in term of how each address the following contemporary leadership issues: knowledge management, informatics / innovations and rapid change, and ethics.

Implications And Challenges Of Nigerian Universities As Learning Organizations, E.D. Nakpodia

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

University education as a learning organization started in Europe in the eleventh century, and one of the first universities in Africa was the one in Timbuktu. Fafunwa (1971) has indicated that the 1945 reports of the Commission on Higher Education in the colonies have shown that since the world wars, Nigerians have always demonstrated an insuppressible desire for higher education because it was seen as an important weapon against the colonial masters in the quest for emancipation and national development. As early as 1944 therefore, there were already about 10 Nigerians who were studying in Sierra Leone at the Fourah …

Science Homework And Parental Involvement: Factors Influencing Behaviors And Attitudes, Dana Harwell, Kate Brown

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The purpose of this study is to understand confounding information regarding homework and school achievement. Recent research has sought to identify specific factors impacting student success as it relates to homework including parental involvement, parental education, gender, socio-economic status, computer and internet use, extra-curricular activities, and other factors. Unfortunately, the results of these studies have lacked consensus. The review of the literature shows attempts have been made to isolate co-variates along with important factors such as gender, parental involvement, and student characteristics, but the results have been unclear. This study utilized a qualitative design with interviews, observations, and collection of …

The Relationship Between The Educational Qualifications Of Chief Financial Officers And The Effectiveness Of Local District Financial Leadership In Alabama Public Schools: A Policy Analysis, Philip Westbrook

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

In the early years of 2000, Alabama experienced a series of embarrassing financial incidents in local school districts. In one of the largest districts in the state, an audit discovered the finances were in such disarray that deceased employees continued to be paid, bills went unpaid, and accounts had not been reconciled in so long that no one knew the actual financial status of the school district. In the midst of this financial fiasco, the superintendent and the school board publicly acknowledged that they were not aware of the financial condition of the school system until the situation had deteriorated …

Why Are Faculty Wary Of Assessment?, D. Haviland

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Explanations for faculty hesitancy may be practical or principled, based on experience or hearsay, emerge from more general concerns about change, or be related to assessment in particular. Ultimately the reasons fall into four main categories: worries about the new work assessment presents, a “culture gap” in the way assessment is presented, poor word of mouth about assessment systems, and concerns about academic freedom.

A Manual For Improving The Working Relationship Of Teachers Through The Implementation Of A Peer Coaching Model, Mitchell Bennett Richards

All Graduate Projects

The challenges that teachers face today with educational standards are daunting. Many teaching practices have evolved over the last several years due to the constraints of standardized testing. These constraints require students and teachers to be held accountable for their performance. Teachers are now required to do more than simply educate students based on their beliefs of best practices. Teacher professional development is paramount to provide teachers with the tools needed to face the challenges in education today. This project presents a peer coaching model to foster teacher development, reviews the related research in the field of peer coaching, and …

Scientific Literacy In Central Appalachia Through Contextually Relevant Experiences: The “Reading The River” Project, April D. Haight, Wilson J. Gonzalez-Espada

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Despite the best intentions of the United States educational system, implementing science reform efforts equitably and consistently throughout the nation is still a long-term goal. The light of scientific literacy has yet to shine brightly in many rural, isolated and economically depressed regions. Using Appalachia as a case in point, this paper provides a synopsis of the challenges of quality rural science education in the United States and the hope of new contextual and culturally relevant pedagogies aimed at engaging science students in inquiry research using their environmental surroundings as cognitive scaffoldings. The program Reading the River is showcased as …

The Effect Of Prior Knowledge In Undergraduate Performance In Chemistry: A Correlation – Prediction Study, Michael K. Seery

Theses

No abstract provided.

Discussing Vocation As A Part Of A Senior Capstone Class, Maria Zack

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Many of us in Christian higher education are seeking ways to help our students discern their own sense of call. At the 2007 ACMS meeting Greg Crow and I participated in a panel on vocation and published a related paper in the Journal of the ACMS. This current paper discusses what has been learned from incorporating some of our ideas into our department's senior capstone course. This has been very meaningful for both the students and the faculty involved.

Fire! Lessons Learned And Applied To Computer Systems, Kim P. Kihlstrom

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

A wildfire swept through Santa Barbara on November 13, 2008, burning 1940 acres and destroying 230 homes. Nine structures on the Westmont College campus were destroyed as well as fifteen faculty homes near campus. What insights can be drawn from this experience? We will examine some of the lessons that can be applied to the design of intrusion-tolerant computer systems.

Are Mathematical Entities Real?, Phillip E. Lestmann

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

This talk will introduce ontological questions related to mathematics. After surveying the views of Plato and Artistotle, other possible philosophical perspectives will be considered including realism, nominalism, conceptualism, and empiricism with their relative strengths and weaknesses. The discussion will conclude with a possible biblical foundation for mathematical ontology.

A Career Preparation Course For Students In Mathematics And Computer Science, Donna Pierce, Peter A. Tucker

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

As professors, we all want our students to succeed, and to be motivated to study. We all get questions from students that can be boiled down to, "What can I do with X degree?" Certainly, a quick answer is to point students to career websites, or to send them to the career services department on campus. However, we want to do better than that. We want students to learn how to investigate these future directions, and to have them think about their future more holistically--not just an effort to find a job. To that end, we have developed a course …

History Of Mathematics In The Service Of School Mathematics Education, Calvin Jongsma

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

This slide presentation outlines the author's use of history of mathematics in teaching a mathematics-content course to prospective middle school mathematics teachers. A pedagogical rationale for using history of mathematics is given, along with a case study illustrating its use for teaching the topic of ratio and proportion drawing upon the numerical and geometrical theories of such found in Euclid's Elements.

Galileo's Solution To Dante's Riddle, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

In Dante’s Inferno, several riddles are posed regarding the relative sizes of ordinary men versus giants versus Lucifer—all of which Galileo solves in his first public lecture—which we review herein.

Sage: Math In Your Dorm Room, From Calculus To Research, Karl-Dieter Crisman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

As computers have revolutionized math research in disciplines as disparate as number theory and bioinformatics, it is natural for us to introduce our students to technology in ways beyond mere homework-checking. However, most familiar programs are either not comprehensive enough to encompass all the math in our curriculum, or are very expensive and accessible only in a lab or with a student license. The open source software package Sage addresses all of these issues.

Sage is suitable for discovery and computation in introductory courses such as calculus or linear algebra, while also being ideal for use in upper-level courses or …

Can Critical Thinking Be Redeemed?, Jeremy Case

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

We often claim that mathematics develops critical thinking skills. Critical thinking has many different definitions, but problem solving, deduction, analyzing arguments, and identifying assumptions are all certainly a part of critical thinking. As the trend in higher education moves away from focusing exclusively on content towards assessment and learning outcomes, we can justify our endeavors since mathematics and critical thinking align themselves well.

However, when examining the ultimate purpose of critical thinking in higher education, we must take care. If there is no agreed upon content knowledge in our postmodern age, the focus of education falls elsewhere. How one thinks …

Exploring The Limits Of Computing Through Exhaustive Search, Jeffrey L. Lehman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Many computing problems can be solved by identifying all possible moves or combinations of events and then picking the best solution. Problems in this domain provide fertile ground for exploring problem representation, storage requirements, and computational complexity. The problems and solution approaches are easy to understand, yet quickly push the memory and storage limits of a personal computer. This paper describes insights from a preliminary investigating of two exhaustive search problems, the 15-puzzle and Rubik’s cube. The insights gained by looking at exhaustive search problems can be integrated into classroom discussions and projects.