Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 8, Issue 2, Fall 2024

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2024 issue (Volume 8, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Fall 2024 issue presents practical ideas and prompts for those who teach at colleges and universities in a variety of disciplines. Articles ways to use popular culture (in this case, reality TV) to teach higher-level concepts; strategies for adapting Lesson Study techniques for preservice teachers; and a review of McNair et al.'s 2022 book on creating student ready colleges.

Geographical And Methodological Trends In Esm And Jrme From 2014–2023, Tye Campbell, Sandra Miles, Sindura Kularajan

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

The mathematics education research landscape has changed significantly over the last decade. Not only have research topics within mathematics education changed, but there have also been changes in geographic representation of research, methodologies used, and characteristics of research samples. It is important to monitor these changing trends to understand past contributions to mathematics education research and evaluate the current trajectory. In this study, we explored how the field is evolving in relation to geographic representation of research and method by analyzing articles published in Educational Studies in Mathematics (ESM) and Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (JRME) over the last …

Professional Portfolio: Assessment Of And Strategies For Improving A Middle School Student’S Mathematics Performance, Gwenyth O. Falck

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This project explores strategies to help secondary students with disabilities improve their mathematics performance. With eighth-grade math scores trending downward and algebra serving as a critical gateway to higher education, target interventions are needed. The literature review highlights two main instructional methods: the Explicit Inquiry Routine (EIR) and the Concrete-Representational-Abstract Integration (CRA-I). Both incorporate physical and virtual manipulatives. These approaches have been shown to help students grasp algebraic concepts, retain what they have learned and apply the skills to new types of problems.

In addition to the research review, this paper includes assessment and intervention reports for a seventh-grade student …

Is That Controversial Or Is It Just Me?, Joseph D. Cochran

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The purposes of this study were to explore the decision-making process behind delineating issues as controversial or not, identify the risks considered by administrators when faced with potentially controversial issues, and provide recommendations for educators to consider in their own deliberations. I interviewed seven charter school principals and used thematic analysis to explore the influence of contained risk-taking on administrator decision-making concerning controversial issues. The findings of this study suggest that administrators generally consider the same risks their teacher counterparts do but often prioritize larger-scale solutions that ensure equity for the entire school. The products of this process emphasize a …

Designing Technology-Enriched Learning Environments: The Effects Of An Agent-Based Computer Model On Biology Students' Understanding Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And The Nature Of Models In Science, April Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Science education researchers have called for increased attention to the science practice of modeling to engage students in authentic scientific inquiry. A major challenge to integrating the modeling practice into science instruction is that students tend to conceptualize models as static end-products of research rather than generative tools for theory-building. Engaging students in using computer models, specifically agent-based computer models (ABMs), to explain and predict scientific phenomena could improve students' understanding of models in science. In this design-based research project I investigate the effects of an ABM-supported learning environment on high-school biology students' understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and the …

Unlocking Stem Pathways: Revealing Stem Choices And Science Teachers Empowering Black Queer Students, Arsene Frederic Jr., Madison Fitzgerald-Russell, William Shelton, Mario I. Suárez, Jason C. Garvey

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Despite efforts to address racial disparities in STEM fields, little attention has been paid to the experiences and aspirations of queer and trans Black (QT Black) students in grades K-12. This study explored whether there were any significant differences in the choice of STEM majors between QT Black students and non-QT Black students. We found that Black QT students are less likely to choose STEM majors. Additionally, we found significant differences in science teachers’ perceptions of teaching, comparing between QT Black and non-QT Black students. Finally, we found that several factors predicted science-teacher perception of collective responsibility, perceptions of content …

Fly High! How To Create Senior Capstone Experiences Using Self-Directed Service-Learning Through Instructor Mentorship, Andreas 'Baron' Wesemann

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Glen L. Sherman, in his article on Transformative Learning and Well-Being for Emerging Adults in Higher Education, discusses the role of "well-being" and how "transformative education" can bring students to "holistic self-knowledge" (Sherman, G. L. (2020). Transformative Learning and Well-Being for Emerging Adults in Higher Education. Journal of Transformative Education, 19(1), 29-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344620935623). I will showcase how a student-created, student-centered, and student-selected experience can bring self-clarification through service-learning activities. All aviation students in the Professional Pilot and Aviation Management degrees take a class, AV 4660, Senior Project, that is an opportunity for students to develop leadership and time-management skills, through …

Self-Advocacy For Our Struggling Learners - What Does That Look Like In The College Classroom?, Ronen Sebag

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Students who struggle academically in high school, typically struggle with executive functioning skills. This is particularly the case for students who are identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and with mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Many struggling learners typically who struggle with executive functioning in general, specifically struggle with self-advocacy, flexibility, and planning, and follow through skills. And these students also often carry with them these struggles from the high school experience into the college experience. This presentation has two objectives: 1) To describe the importance of fostering self-advocacy with struggling …

A Culturally Situated Embodied Activity For Professional Development And Workshop Feedback, Jessi Lajos

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In conjunction with the USU STEAM EXPO, USU Math and Stats faculty, graduate students, collaborators, and teachers in rural Utah districts came together for a cultural-exchange event. In collaboration with Jessica Benally (UC Berkeley) and Sindura Kularajan (USU), we facilitated a two day workshop for educators as part of this event. The purpose of the workshop was to address the need for teacher supports in rural districts of Utah (Bundock, 2023), respond to Coles et al. (2024) calls to make "gestures" towards socio-ecological practices in mathematics education, and promote epistemic pluralism-multiple ways of knowing and doing mathematics. The professional development …

Having The Difficult Conversations: Tiptoeing Around Eggshells, Mehmet Soyer, Mustafa Banister

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Discussing difficult topics with care can help enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of the learning environment. This workshop/presentation explores the challenges and opportunities inherent in addressing historically marginalized topics and socially stigmatized group identities within educational settings. Drawing on contemporary research, theoretical frameworks, and instructor experience, it examines the complexities of navigating discussions around privilege, oppression, and inequality. The workshop will emphasize the importance of creating safe and brave spaces where all students, particularly those from marginalized and underrepresented groups, feel empowered to share their experiences and perspectives. Key strategies for fostering inclusivity in the classroom are proposed, including the …

Reserve Time For Your Content: Building Habits Of Mind By Embedding Time Management And Planning In Existing Course Materials, Jennifer Willmore

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

When college students are proficient in time management, planning and sequencing skills, instructors can focus more on delivering course content rather than on behavioral skills training. By embedding application of these skills in existing syllabi, assignments, and assessments, educators can dedicate class time and office hours to engaging discussions, hands-on activities, and critical analysis, enriching the overall learning experience for both students and instructors. Because these are the reasons most instructors went into education, we want to start a conversation on how we can reserve an instructor's time and energy for acts of inquiry and creativity. This interactive session will …

Reimagining Office Hours, Sarah Tulane, Carla Endres, Jesse Jones, Melissa Scheaffer

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Office hours are a valuable opportunity for instructors to connect with students, fostering a sense of community, building a relationship-rich educational experience, and providing support for student success. Yet, many instructors struggle with low attendance and limited student engagement with office hours. This workshop draws from insights found in Relationship-Rich Education by Felten and Lambert to explore innovative strategies for improving office hour interactions.Participants will be introduced to a range of effective practices used by instructors across various disciplines to encourage student participation and build stronger relationships outside the classroom. Presenters will review deliberate choices regarding office hour locations, such …

Whiteness: Six Stages Of Identity Development, Ann Roemer

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Multicultural inclusion cannot exist in our North American schools without educators acknowledging that many of us live like snowflakes in a white bubble. This presentation includes the social concept of race, the characteristics of whiteness, and Ruth Helms' stages of white identity. Come with curiosity and an open mind.

Embracing Where We Are: Insights Into Students' Engagement With Ai, Jennifer Grewe

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Many different opinions (with the occasional anecdotal experience thrown in) exist amongst faculty as to how the students are engaging with AI and what their perceptions and attitudes are regarding AI. Using their best judgements and these opinions, faculty make different choices about curriculum and course policies that impact how they teach and the student experience within their courses. As teaching faculty, it can feel as if we are attempting to navigate an overwhelming landscape when it comes to making these decisions about AI within courses. The current presentation will explore data collected from this last academic year with students …

The Virtue(S) Of Courage In Teaching, Michael Otteson, Mike Ashfield, Brittany Gentry, Rachel Robison-Green

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Across many traditions of thought, courage is understood as a virtue of character. But while we may default to thinking of it as a virtue of the individual, especially that of the warrior or soldier, it is an excellence that serves us well in many walks of life, including teaching, and it is a virtue of communities as well as individuals. Therefore, in this information session, USU's assistant professors of philosophy will discuss some of the more challenging or intimidating topics tackled in their classrooms and share strategies, tactics, and logistics for encouraging student success in these campaigns.

What Inclusive Instructors Do: A Book Review, Marlene Graf

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In the book, "What Inclusive Instructors Do" (published in 2021), authors Tracie Addy et el focus on principles and practices for excellence in college teaching and offer several recommendations for creating an inclusive classroom. In the preface, they explain to the reader that this book emerged as a result of changes to the educational landscape as a result of COVID and online instruction. This book was also a courageous response to the racial tension and violence that escalated during the pandemic.

The Courage To Teach: Remembering The Why, Nate Hadley, Logan Haviland, Maryann Schneider

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Teaching is a profession filled with both challenges and rewards and requires the teacher to give of their heart and soul in the effort. It's a path that can lead to a deeply fulfilling career, fostering connections with students and colleagues in the pursuit of knowledge. Yet the inherent difficulties in teaching can feel particularly painful when so much is given. These difficulties can lead to cynicism and burnout if a teacher is not firmly grounded in the understanding of their identity as a teacher and chooses to teach with integrity. Parker Palmer delves into this crucial topic in his …

Developing A Learning Community To Promote And Encourage Critical Thinking And Constructive Discourse In The Classroom, Cree Taylor

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

We are currently in a time where the value of a university education is being consistently challenged. University education is a chance for students to gain a liberal understanding of the world through engaging with multiple diverse perspectives and developing habits of mind that will help them be thoughtful and critical. We anticipate that students will use what they gain at the university to help them better their own lives and the lives of those around them as engaged citizens seeking to make the changes necessary to promote freedom, access, and democracy. But what does this look like in our …

Revisiting The "Old Ways": Re-Incorporating Oral Examinations Into Upper Division Courses, Stephen Vangeem

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

While some courses embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and even incorporate it into classwork and assignments, this presenter took the sudden prevalence of AI as an opportunity to pivot away from the traditional final term paper and revisit the European tradition of oral examinations as an end-of-semester Capstone. This presentation will outline one approach to gauging cumulative comprehension in the social sciences through oral examination

The Courage To Support Student Communication Of Assignments: Integration Of A Late Work Explanation Form Over Two Semesters, Jessie Koltz

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This session will discuss the implementation of utilizing a "Late Work Explanation Form" to support student communication between the student(s) and the instructor when unexpected events happen or when a student is not able to complete all required assignments on time. The session will discuss the integration of the "Lake Work Explanation Form," where communication to students from the instructor states: This form is intended to support communication between us for the course you are enrolled in this semester when life happens to allow you the opportunity to submit assignments late. De-identified data and results will be addressed relating to …

The Courage To Teach With Intention, Wayne Hatch

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Teaching conferences are full of ideas to help you be an amazing teacher, to help your students learn, and to help you improve your teaching portfolio. Is it all overwhelming? Is it all necessary? Will it help you teach better? Will it help your students? As teachers, we will never all teach the same way. We will never all reach the same students in the same way. Every teaching technique won't work the same for all. Because of this, self-reflection is key for us to individually become the best teacher version of ourselves. Taking time to reflect on what our …

Risks, Mistakes, And Resilience: Cultivating Student Persistence Through Class Culture, Vance Reeder

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In this workshop we will discuss how to help students develop resilience and cultivate persistence. This workshop will focus on creating a class culture where students are able to take risks, embrace the mistakes that come from taking risks, and seek feedback as they prepare to take future risks. In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to participate in a hands on learning exercise that will assist them in preparing to cultivate a growth mindset within their students.

Championing Success: Empowering Student-Athletes For Academic Excellence, Jeremiah Sievers, Cree Taylor

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

USU student-athletes are incredible in their sport, they are also amazing in the classroom and a key part of what makes us unique. As instructors seek to make USU a place where all students feel like they belong and can be successful, we need innovative, courageous instructors who are willing apply equity-minded practices into their course design. Among our student-athlete population exists the diversity of experience that will help enrich the Aggie experience for all students. Our student-athletes represent a variety of life experiences: international students, students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students who are parents, and students who are working …

Unleashing Potential: Strategies For Online Learners To Conquer Procrastination And Maximize Engagement, Maria Givler, Nikki Kendrick, Lacie Peterson

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

As the landscape of education continues to evolve, the shift towards online learning has become more prevalent. While online courses offer flexibility and accessibility, it also presents unique challenges, with one of the most common hurdles being procrastination. In the absence of traditional classroom structures and weekly deadlines, students may struggle to manage their time effectively. This session aims to address the critical issue of procrastination in online learning environments and explore innovative strategies to enhance student engagement. We will delve into the development of tools and techniques that empower learners to stay on track, maintain motivation, and successfully achieve …

Embracing The Courage To Teach: Undoing The Grade, J. C. Sheen, Gavin Munson, Julie Stevens, Sarah Tulane, Kevin Young

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In the spirit of "The Courage to Teach," our panel will discuss our experiences with alternative approaches to student assessment that challenge the standard grading practices and their impact on learning environments. We will explore our reasons behind "undoing the grade" and our approaches to student assessment that empower both educators and learners. By undoing the traditional grading paradigm, we aim to cultivate a culture of authentic learning, where students are motivated by curiosity and growth rather than fear of evaluation.

The Courage To Teach: How To Keep Showing Up In Ways That Matter, Marlene Graf, Christian Bolander, Rose Judd-Murray, Alyssa Reidhead, Lance Stott

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This workshop will ask you to think about ways that you can incorporate study strategies so that students can become more active and successful. Join us as we embark on the path toward enriched learning experiences and sustained academic success.

Study Smart: Habits Of Mind Integrations, Melanie Chambers, Jim Arnold, John Russell

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Wouldn't it be nice if students took a more active approach to learning in classes? This session will explore courageous ways that faculty members incorporated Habits of Mind into their classes to increase student engagement with content by planning and reflecting.

Instructing With Excellence: Balancing Student Support With Healthy Boundaries, Monique Rae Frazier

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This workshop-style presentation creates space for engaged and caring instructors to mindfully consider where and how they set boundaries with students as they offer excellent instruction and support. We will discuss specific and individualized ways professors can be both outstanding teachers who care AND set healthy boundaries. We will identify common unintentional mistakes that can lead to burnout and liability risks and offer suggestions. Participants will have the opportunity to intentionally consider where they want to set their boundaries and pinpoint specific behaviors to support their boundary choices. Participants will engage in exercises to consider the impact of verbal and …

Designing Engaging And Interactive Class Sessions, Michelle Clouse, Melanie Brunson, Casey Coombs, Julie Stevens, Lance Stott

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In a world of independent learning opportunities, students are intentionally choosing our real-time classes (e.g., in-person or synchronous online). As educators, we need to validate and reinforce this decision by having the courage to create innovative experiences during their education that cannot be recreated through independent student learning. Innovative strategies include those that educate the whole student by building brave classroom communities, hearing student perspectives on their experiences in and out of the classroom, making explicit connections to the real world, practicing mindfulness and reflection, and using a variety of teaching strategies beyond traditional lectures. The book Designing Engaging and …

"Dare To Know": Teaching And Mentoring In The University Honors Program, Kristine Miller, Chris Babits, Sara M. Freeman, Julia M. Gossard, Elizabeth Vargis

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This panel discussion will introduce faculty to specific ways to get involved with teaching and mentoring students in the University Honors Program. Honors is not about GPA or test scores; it is a program dedicated to supporting students with a growth mindset who want to make the most of their time in college. The program offers faculty many different ways to engage with students: you can lead an Honors Book Lab discussion for an hour a week over a month, mentor students as they complete short- or longer-term research, creative, or professional-development projects, teach a course, and more. This panel …