Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Examining Researcher Identity Development Within The Context Of A Course On Par: A Layered Narrative Approach, Meagan Call-Cummings, Melissa Hauber-Özer, Giovanni Dazzo

The Qualitative Report

In this paper we explore the ways in which a group of doctoral students grapples with the epistemology of participatory action research (PAR) in relation to their own personal and professional identities and research agendas while taking a course on PAR. As a professor of research methodology and two doctoral students, we examine the entangled and often hidden processes of teaching and learning PAR in order to identify experiences or events that seem to prompt or deepen novice scholars’ understanding and foster confidence in their ability to enact the methodology themselves. Through analysis of participants’ course journals as a type …

Promoting Inclusion In A "Struggling School": Supporting Co-Teachers Through Critical Appreciative-Inquiry Based Professional Development, Louis Olander

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores the extent to which the beliefs and practices of teachers who work in a “struggling” school can be shifted towards inclusiveness through an action research based professional development program. The school was struggling in that it was charged with the education of children who are marginalized by a range of social forces while simultaneously accountable to institutional priorities. Broadly speaking, these institutional priorities preferred behaviorist punishment and technocratic approaches to meeting student needs, devaluing and decontextualizing students’ proficiencies as test scores and special education labels, in turn impeding inclusive change. Over the course of four months, an …

Beth King, Beth King, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

A native Oxonian, Beth King has never lived anywhere else. King was educated in the Oxford, Mississippi, public schools before earning multiple bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and then taking a PhD from the University of Mississippi. She worked at the J.D. Williams Library for a number of years before being recruited to move to the National Food Service Management Institute, now the Institute of Child Nutrition, where she helped develop the Institute’s computer technology.

Measuring Media Literacy Inquiry In Higher Education: Innovation In Assessment, Evelien Schilder, Theresa Redmond

Journal of Media Literacy Education

The ability to critically access, analyze, evaluate, and create media messages is crucial in the process of becoming an informed and engaged citizen throughout life. Asking critical questions is not only a valuable dimension of media literacy, but also an indispensable aspect of participating in a democracy. Yet, measuring the effectiveness of media literacy is still a major challenge for the field. It is unclear to what extent people of all ages may engage in critical questioning habits with regards to media. To address this gap, we studied the changes in critical questioning habits for college-aged students enrolled in media …

Tools Enabling A Student Who Is Blind In A Liberal Arts Chemistry Laboratory Course, Jessica Michael, H. David Wohlers

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Chemistry laboratories ordinarily involve a number of visual observations and require qualitative and quantitative explanations of these observations. A student with blindness at Truman State University successfully completed the laboratory portion of the nonmajors liberal arts chemistry course with the assistance of a senior undergraduate chemistry education major, the guidance of a chemistry professor with blindness, and a variety of alternative laboratory methods. Volumes were measured using a notched syringe or the graduated cylinder pipet technique. Changes in color were measured by a Color Analysis Laboratory Sensor (CALS) and a Submersible Audio Light Sensor (SALS). Balance and Vernier probe measurements …

Assessment Of Climate Science Knowledge And Perceptions Of Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Students, Annemarie Ross, Kyle Edenzon, Susan Smith Pagano, Randy Yerrick, Todd Pagano

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Curricula related to sustainability and climate science are being integrated into academic science courses and programs. We set out to assess the knowledge of some of these environmental concepts among a group of Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (D/d/HH) postsecondary students. A survey that attempted to gauge student understanding and perceptions of climate science was developed, administered to D/d/HH and hearing college students, and analyzed. Preliminary results showed that there could be some gaps in related knowledge among the D/d/HH group. Rasch analysis was then used to assess the quality of the survey for the intended outcomes and improved iterations of the survey were …

Wcag 2.1 Meets Stem: Application, Interpretation, And Opportunities For Further Standard Development, Jason White

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

This paper offers an overview of changes introduced in the recent Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standard that have implications for the accessibility of content in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In reviewing new provisions of WCAG 2.1, interpretive questions are raised regarding their application to mathematical and scientific materials. The paper is concluded with a brief discussion of opportunities for further enhancing accessibility of STEM materials in future revisions of the Guidelines.

The Impacts On Rural Families When Engaging In Stem Education, Kimberly Felton-Canfield

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

Family STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Nights and Family STEM Backpacks are a way for schools to provide stakeholders the opportunity to work together in a hands-on, interactive environment to learn more about STEM subjects. Students, teachers, parents and community partners learn through various activities what career choices are available that engage STEM disciplines. Through action research, qualitative data was gathered to discover the community impact of attending a Family STEM night and participating in Family STEM Backpack Projects. Participants completed pre- and post- event surveys and open-ended interview questions. The whole community was invited to participate in Family …

Impact Of Robotic Challenges On Fifth Grade Problem Solving, Julie Rankin

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

This action research project was designed to investigate the impact of educational robotics in a fifth grade rural classroom. The integration of science, technology, engineering, and math in education (STEM) has sparked an increase of robotics in the classroom. The purpose of the study was to determine if problem-solving skills can be impacted through continuing involvement with challenges using various educational robotics and programming tools. The study sought to answer two research questions: (1) How does the introduction of robotics challenges in a fifth-grade classroom impact students’ problem solving skills? (2) How do robotics in the classroom impact student interest …

Strategies That Promote Elementary Student Stem Engagement, Jennifer Bauer

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

Collaboration, creativity, persistence, and critical thinking are all skills encompassed when integrating STEM into today’s classrooms. Empowering students in STEM related areas is essential for students’ future success in the 21^st century and educators must prepare citizens for these types of creative skills (Cook & Bush, 2018). Integrating STEM disciplines through project-based learning and providing real-world situations to solve problems enhances student engagement and achievement in STEM concepts (Cook & Bush, 2018; Hall & Miro, 2016). The topic defined in this research plan focuses on instructional strategies that make STEM more meaningful to science curriculum, as well as engaging …

The Left Behind Generation: Instructional Practices To Increase The Technological Literacy Of Older Adults, Daphne Pace Phillips

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to explore the utilization and perception of best practices by community-based technology training programs when instructing older adults to become technologically literate. The target population included adults age 55 years and older of the Baby Boomer generational cohort who ranged academically from possessing a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) through a college degree and had enrolled in a local technology training program to improve their technological skill level with the goal of obtaining employment and/or to remain functionally independent. This study was conducted at three community technology training centers located in the southeast that …

Eating In America: Easing The Transition For Resettled Refugees Through An Applied Anthropological Intervention, Emily A. Holbrook

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Refugees resettled in the United States are expected to quickly become self-sufficient members of society despite the numerous challenges they face due to adaptation and integration into new systems and ways of life. Issues with dietary and nutritional adaptation persist for resettled refugee communities in the United States and are not prioritized by national, state, or local policy and practice. This research aimed to help mitigate problems with food assistance benefits and healthy eating issues faced by resettled refugees in Hillsborough County through an applied intervention in local English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes. ESOL materials designed to teach …

An Examination Of The Roles Of Classroom Quality And Approaches To Learning On The Early Academic Skills Of Latino Dual Language Learners Enrolled In Head Start, Marcela A. Galicia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the relationship between classroom quality, approaches-to-learning, and early academic skills among 384 Latino dual language learners (DLLs) enrolled in Florida Head Start programs. The children were living in low-income homes where Spanish was the primary language spoken by at least one parent. The study analyzed the extent to which approaches-to-learning behaviors moderate early literacy and numeracy skills in Head Start classrooms of varying quality. During the spring of their prek-4 year, the children were administered the English and Spanish Letter-Word Identification and Applied Problems subtests of the WJ-III (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2001) and the Batería III …

“Be A Liberation Whatever”: Social Justice Literacy In A Living-Learning Community, Faith Kurtyka

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This article describes an assessment of a living-learning community— part residence life, part community service, and part academics—to understand how students learn “social justice literacy.”

Jaepl, Vol. 24, 2018-2019, Wendy Ryden, Peter H. Khost

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

ESSAYS

“Be a Liberation Whatever”: Social Justice Literacy in a Living-Learning Community, Faith Kurtyka

Racial Literacy Is Literacy: Locating Racial Literacy in the College Composition Classroom, Mara Lee Grayson

SPECIAL SECTION: ENCOUNTERING THE NATURAL WORLD: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Swamps, Flat Earthers, and Boughs of Holly: “Encountering” the Natural World and the Poetics of Environmental Literacy, Wendy Ryden

Containing the Jeremiad: Understanding Paradigms of Anxiety in Global Climate Change Experience, Brian Glaser

Seeking a Language that Heals: Teaching and Writing from a Ruined Landscape, Amy Nolan

Teaching Animals in the Post-Anthropocene: Zoopedagogy as a Challenge to Logocentrism, …

Swamps, Flat Earthers, And Boughs Of Holly: “Encountering” The Natural World And The Poetics Of Environmental Literacy, Wendy Ryden

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

"Encountering” the Natural World and the Poetics of Environmental Literacy

Containing The Jeremiad: Understanding Paradigms Of Anxiety In Global Climate Change Experience, Brian Glaser

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This essay uses Bion’s concept of “containing” to read the psychological dynamics of jeremiads about global climate change, arguing that their structure reveals a strategy of communication that may be useful for more broadly raising awareness about this challenging state of the planet. More specifically, I argue that contemporary global climate change jeremiads have a structure that first elicits alarm and then moves to discuss solutions, and that this structure may be beneficial to those who are awakening to the reality of global climate change by rendering anxiety bearable and therefore open to purposive and creative response.

Teaching Animals In The Post-Anthropocene: Zoopedagogy As A Challenge To Logocentrism, Anastassiya Andrianova

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This essay examines a theory and practice of zoopedagogy that encourages exploring non-logocentric mode(l)s of communication while promoting environmentalism, critical thinking, and empathy.

Writing About Wolves: Using Ecocomposition Pedagogy To Teach Social Justice In A Theme-Based Composition Course, Michael S. Geary

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Elements of ecocomposition are employed to construct a course that uses the relationship between wolves and humans as a social justice metaphor. Students explore how mythmaking leads to dire consequences for any population being exploited. This approach to teaching first year composition allows students to acquire new knowledge about conservationism while focusing on developing their critical reading, writing, and researching skills.

Connecting, Christy I. Wenger, Monica Mische, Kristina Fennelly, Laurence Musgrove, Lindsey Allgood

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Finding Meaning in our Work and Writing, Christy I. Wenger

Response from Beyond, Monica Mische

Reflecting on Arguing and Listening in Digital Spaces, Kristina Fennelly

Sunday Morning Before Midterms, Laurence Musgrove

Honoring Impulse, Attending to Gesture, Lindsey All-good

Front Matter, Wendy Ryden, Peter H. Khost

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Front Matter

Seeking A Language That Heals: Teaching And Writing From A Ruined Landscape, Amy Nolan

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

I first heard Iowa referred to as a "ruined landscape" when I was riding a shuttle bus from an airport to a conference... The statement led me to wonder... what does "ruined" mean?

Racial Literacy Is Literacy: Locating Racial Literacy In The College Composition Classroom, Mara Lee Grayson

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

In order to develop pedagogies around racial literacy, we must first define the goals and bounds of racial literacy as praxis. In this paper, I synthesize the findings of a year-long teacher research project to explore the significance of racial literacy in the college composition classroom. Drawing from existing scholarship and my own research into racial literacy instruction, I offer four visions of racial literacy in the English classroom, the last of which is Racial Literacy as Literacy. I conclude by arguing that a racial literacy curriculum can teach students foundational concepts of textual analysis, audience awareness, authorial choice and …

Back Matter, Wendy Ryden, Peter H. Khost

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Back Matter

Relational Literacy, W. Kurt Stavenhagen

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

In this paper, I propose literacy practices that further shift us from subject-object dichotomies and exclusive language practices to a focus on relationships and multimodality. Based in large part upon Indigenous Scholar Shawn Wilson’s concept of relationality, I define a relational literacy wherein we counter an undue abstraction of the environment by mapping interspecies relationships and placing them within kinship narratives.

Book Reviews, Irene Papoulis, Dan Mrozowski, Jacquelyne Kibler, Christy I. Wenger, Mary Leonard, Sharon Marshall

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Present and Feeling, Irene Papoulis

Newkirk, Thomas. Embarrassment and the Emotional Underlife of Learning. Heinemann, 2017, Dan Mrozowski

Young, Shinzen. The Science of Enlightenment: How Meditation Works. Sounds True, 2016, Jacquelyne Kibler

Peary, Alexandria. Prolific Moment: Theory and Practice of Mindfulness for Writing. Routledge, 2018, Christy I. Wenger

De Luca, Geraldine. Teaching toward Freedom: Supporting Voices and Silence in the English Classroom. Routledge, 2018, Mary Leonard

Cooper, Brittney. Eloquent Rage, A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower, St. Martins, 2018, Sharon Marshall

Perception Influenced By Phenomena: Identify Core-Subject Teacher Perceptions Of Career Technical Education, Sheri Lynn Tucker

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to identify the perception influenced by phenomena impacting core-subject teacher perceptions of career technical education (CTE). Studies show that CTE is highly successful at preparing California’s students for college and career (Friedman, 2006). However, some educators see “CTE maintain less value in helping to encourage student success” (Shanklin, 2014, p. 3). The phenomenological study examined the perception influencing lived experiences with focus groups and one-on-one interviews. Core-subject teachers participated in these face-to-face interviews. Findings show that core-subject teachers are biased against CTE. Analysis of the survey results determined perception influenced by phenomena experienced by …

An Evaluation Of The New Teacher Mentoring And Induction Program At A Title One Elementary School, Tamara Baker-Drayton

Dissertations

Low performing Title I schools often experience a lower teacher retention rate when compared to schools with higher academic achievement. Vacancies are typically filled with new or inexperienced teachers who leave the school within a few years. To counter this problem, West Creek Elementary (pseudonym) introduced a comprehensive New Teacher Mentoring and Induction initiative. The program evaluation was a voluntary anonymous written survey with an optional in person interview conducted with the participants and administrators. Results indicated that the New Teacher Mentoring and Induction program was effective in enhancing teacher pedagogy, not effective in enhancing teacher retention, and that greater …

Dilemma And Knowledge - Book Review Of Re-Imagining Utopias: Theory And Method For Educational Research In Post-Socialist Contexts, Jessica Zychowicz

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

No abstract provided.

Examining Efl Learners’ Reading Comprehension: The Impact Of Metacognitive Strategies Discussion And Collaborative Learning Within Multimedia E-Book Dialogic Environments, Abrar H. Alsofyani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For most English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, both reading and comprehension skills are challenging to acquire. EFL students find reading challenging due to their inability to comprehend and interpret text information, which may lead, at times, to demotivation and loss of interest. The current study intends to explore how Saudi EFL learners may better tackle reading comprehension challenges by examining the utilization of metacognitive reading strategies through discussion and extensive collaborative learning activities within a multimedia e-book dialogic environment. Accordingly, the study investigates the impact of teaching metacognitive strategy-based discussion and collaborative learning on students’ application of the …