Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Teacher Professional Development In Technology Integration, Geraldine Lee Soderquist

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project was to design, create, and produce a web site for teachers that instructs them on the creating, developing and sharing of Web Quests. Web Quests utilize the wealth of information on the internet to provide a means of moving the teacher away from lecturer and toward facilitator.

Using Problem-Based Learning To Explore Qualitative Research, Roisin Donnelly

Journal Articles

The aim of this article is to discuss an approach to deliver a component on qualitative research on a research methods module in a postgraduate diploma in third level learning and teaching using problem-based learning (PBL). The Diploma in Third Level Learning and Teaching is on offer to a variety of academic staff (lecturers) in higher education at a higher education institute in Ireland, hereafter referred to as participants. The 10-week Research Methods module is one of eight offered on the Postgraduate Diploma, all designed and delivered using the pedagogic strategy of PBL. The entire Postgraduate Diploma is voluntary, and …

Researching And Acting: Exploring And Improving The Provision Of Academic Support For Newly Appointed Staff In A Higher Education Institution In Ireland, Roisin Donnelly

Journal Articles

As an academic working for the past three years in a learning and teaching centre in a higher education institution inIreland, I have only recently asked myself if I have been living in the direction of my educational values (Whitehead, 1989). These are my ideas about what constitutes an educationally worthwhile process of teaching and learning by defining the relationship between knowledge, teachers and learners.

My professional role involves the provision of academic support for newly appointed staff at the Institute. I felt there was a discrepancy between what I felt should be happening for these new staff members and …

Examining Technology Acceptance By School Teachers: A Longitudinal Study, Paul J.H. Hu, Theodore H.K. Clark, Will W.K. Ma

Support & Other Units (THEi)

The role of information technology (IT) in education has significantly increased, but resistance to technology by public school teachers worldwide remains high. This study examined public school teachers’ technology acceptance decision-making by using a research model that is based on key findings from relevant prior research and important characteristics of the targeted user acceptance phenomenon. The model was longitudinally tested using responses from more than 130 teachers attending an intensive 4-week training program on Microsoft PowerPoint, a common but important classroom presentation technology. In addition to identifying key acceptance determinants, we examined plausible changes in acceptance drivers over the course …

Relationship Between Select Variables And Teacher Rentention, Connie Sue Greiner

Faculty Dissertations

The major purpose of this study, conducted during the spring and summer semesters of 2003, was to determine the relationship between the following variables and teacher retention: Professional Development Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (PD ExCET) scores, Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) reading scores, age at time of passing the PD ExCET, ethnicity, completion of a field-based teacher education program or emergency permit teacher education program, gender, and undergraduate grade point average.

The quantitative study identified students from a single Texas senior-level university who passed the PD ExCET between September 1, 1996 and August 30, 2000. Five …

Staff Perspectives On The Experience Of A Problem-Based Learning Staff Development Module: Impact On Their Pedagogical Stance, Una Coleman

Theses

The current shift towards problem-based learning (PBL) internationally within higher education, and the transfer of some programmes within higher education in Ireland into PBL programmes, suggests that staff development needs to be a key component in any PBL implementation strategy. PBL radically transforms the roles and functions of both staff and student and challenges teachers’ beliefs and accompanying perceptions about the teaching and learning process. This study documents the impact of a PBL staff development programme on the participants and assesses the impact on their pedagogical stance.

The approach to this study was guided by my belief in the socially …

A Christian Perspective On Mathematics – History Of Mathematics And Study Guides, Johan Deklerk

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper addresses two questions: (1) Will a study of the history of the subject serve any purpose in promoting a Christian perspective on mathematics? (2) Can the "science in context" approach be of further help in promoting such a perspective? The author answers both positively and provides specific examples of how he has done this in his own classes.

Creationism – A Viable Philosophy Of Mathematics, Jonathan Zderad

ACMS Journal 2004

In this paper, the author addresses two classical questions of the philosophy of mathematics: What, if any, of mathematics exists in the objective sense? How do humans know that our knowledge of mathematics is correct? He argues that the Christian doctrine of God as creator provides a basis for answering these questions. He also provides a critique of eight widely discussed philosophies of mathematics.

Unlearning: A Critical Element In The Learning Process, Virginia S. Lee

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Research has shown that prior knowledge is a critical determinant in learning. This essay explores the role of student misconceptions and how instructors should address them during the learning process.

Mathematics And The Love Of God: An Introduction To The Thought Of Simone Weil, Scott Taylor

ACMS Journal 2004

Simone Weil was the sister of Andre Weil, one of the twentieth century's foremost mathematicians. She is a widely read and creative writer on spiritual themes. She addressed mathematics extensively in her writings. This paper discusses her views of mathematics and beauty, her critiques of modern science, her views on truth, and her concept that mathematical ideas can serve as symbols of spiritual ideas.

"What Is All This War For Anyhow": The Battle Of Paris, Tennessee, Dieter C. Ullrich

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

No abstract provided.

Program Evaluation Of The Practicum I Summer Program From A Student’S Perspective, Matthew J. Williams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The organization, function, and value of the School Psychology Practicum I summer program at Marshall University Graduate College is examined. The perceptions of students recently completing the practicum are evaluated to determine their association with the program objectives. Data collection utilizes a questionnaire developed from the goals and objectives of the program and the criteria for evaluation of student performance. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and crosstabulation are utilized to assess the data. The students expressed an overall satisfaction with the practicum experience. The study’s limitations are explored and recommendations for program improvement are presented.

The Impact Of Raising And Exhibiting Selected 4-H Livestock Projects On The Development Of Life And Project Skills, Clinton P. Rusk, Jill M. Summerlot-Early, Krisanna L. Machtmes, B. Allen Talbert, Mark Balschweid

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

The purpose of the study was to identify perceptions of Indiana 4-H livestock members enrolled in beef, sheep and swine projects regarding their ability to perform project skills and develop life skills. A questionnaire was mailed to a sample of 420 4-H beef, sheep, and swine members, with a response rate of 41.9%. Members were able to accomplish project skills in the areas of sportsmanship, safety, animal grooming, and animal selection. Respondents are not as confident in their abilities related to animal health care. Members who exhibited at the state fair have higher skill levels in the areas of animal …

Table Of Contents - Winter 2003

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Table of Contents for the Winter 2003 issue of the Academic Leadership Journal.

Academic Politics, Leadership, And Hospitality, John B. Bennett

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

An article discussing the merits of good academic citizenship within academic departments and the destructive nature of insistent individualism and academic politics.

Remarks Delivered By James P. Evans, James P. Evans

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Remarks delivered by James P. Evans, president and chief executive officer, Best Western International Inc., April 14, 1999, AH&MA Leadership Keynote Address

Power Failure In Administrative Environments, Daniel Julius, J. Baldridge, Jeffrey Pfeffer

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Full text article unavailable.

Jim Evans On Commonsense Leadership, James P. Evans

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

A short article by James Evans listing qualities commonsense leaders have.

The National Honors Report, Volume Xxiii, Number 4, Winter 2003

The National Honors Report

ASSESSMENT

Figuring It Out

Introduction

1. "Just a Buzzword?" by Margaret Brown ... 1 In the next article by Ron Dotterer he asks if assessment will still be a hot topic in 2008-and he was writing in 1988. What is the answer?

Why Do It?

2. "Assessment: A Retrospective Look" by Ron Dotterer ... 2 In this article, Ron Dotterer, at that time honors director at Susquehanna University and a member of the NCHC Executive Committee, provides an overview of assessment, which he calls "a new and improved brand name" for evaluation. Assessment, Dotterer asserts, focuses too much on outcomes. …

The National Honors Report, Volume Xxiv, Number 1, Spring 2003

The National Honors Report

THE GEOGRAPHY OF HONORS

1. Think, Believe, Act on a Himalayan Scale by Rosalie Otero … 1 In Rosalie Otero's Presidential Speech, she reminds us that we learn through the quest for learning. Setting our sights higher is the challenge of honors: finding a new and different view of the world and getting there with groups more and more diversified and through means expanding to include virtual journeys.

2. Earl Brown: Colleague, Leader, and Friend by Bob Spurrier … 6 A tribute to former Executive Secretary Treasurer Earl Brown upon his reaching the top of his profession, thanks to the …

Faculty Consensus Leads To Creative Solutions, Kathryn Brooks

Scholarship and Professional Work – Education

The answers to many of the problems facing schools today "are in the minds of the teachers. Half our solutions are in their minds but they have to come out through open dialogue," says Gary Kruse, principal of Evans Middle School in Ottumwa, Iowa. When faced with leading a middle school that had a history of low reading scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Mr. Kruse turned to the people who knew the students and the school climate best--the teachers...

Preservice Elementary School Teachers’ Understandings Of Theory Based Science Education, Edmund A. Marek, Timothy A. Laubach, Jon Pedersen

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Undergirding the science education program examined in this study is a theoretical foundation based upon four cornerstones that reflect scientific inquiry. These four cornerstones are best represented by four key questions: (a) What is science; (b) What are the goals or standards for elementary school science education; (c) What theory describes how elementary school children construct knowledge; and (d) What teaching approach represents the discipline of science, achieves the goals of elementary school science education and accommodates to how children construct knowledge? The learning cycle (Barman & Kotar, 1989; Bentley, Ebert,& Ebert II, 2000; Lawson, Abraham, & Renner, 1989; Marek …

Constructivism: Defense Or A Continual Critical Appraisal – A Response To Gil-Pérez Et Al., Mansoor Niaz, Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, Alicia Benarroch, Liberato Cardellini, Carlos E. Laburu, NicoláS Marín, Luis A. Montes, Robert Nola, Yuri Orlik, Lawrence C. Scharmann, Chin-Chung Tsai, Georgios Tsaparlis

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Abstract. This commentary is a critical appraisal of Gil-Pérez et al.’s (2002) conceptualization of constructivism. It is argued that the following aspects of their presentation are problematic: (a) Although the role of controversy is recognized, the authors implicitly subscribe to a Kuhnian perspective of ‘normal’ science; (b) Authors fail to recognize the importance of von Glasersfeld’s contribution to the understanding of constructivism in science education; (c) The fact that it is not possible to implement a constructivist pedagogy without a constructivist epistemology has been ignored; and (d) Failure to recognize that the metaphor of the ‘student as a developing scientist’ …

The Risk Of Intelligent Design, Lawrence C. Scharmann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Alternative explanations to evolution are very popular these days. An articulate advocacy exists for the Intelligent Design (ID) theory, led nationally by the Seattle-based Discovery Institute and academicians like Michael Behe (1996), Phillip Johnson (1997), and William Dembski (1998). In many U.S. communities science teachers are besieged with requests by local boards of education to include ID and evidence against evolution. Whether national or local, those representing the latest attacks on biological evolution demand such alternatives out of fairness, for religious reasons, or to protect a basic freedom of choice. The motives of individuals making these demands notwithstanding, the consequences …

Falling Into It: Novice Tesol Teacher Thinking, Mark K. Warford, Jenelle Reeves

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

The authors conducted a qualitative study in order to understand the preconceptions novice TESOL teachers might have about teaching English language. Long interviews were conducted with nine students (six native English Speakers and three non-native speakers (NNS)) enrolled in one of two courses offered in a TESOL teacher education program. None of the participants had experience as an in-service teacher. Inductive analysis of tape transcripts suggested the presence of several conceptual themes discussed in the teacher thinking literature. Findings suggest that novice TESOL teachers, like their more experienced counterparts, have a system of metaphors to conceptualize teaching. The apprenticeship of …

Table Of Contents

Perspectives In Learning

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Beyond Diversity: An Academic Infusion Model (A.I.M.) Of Multicultural Teacher Education, Rita Mitchell, Bonita Williams, Paulina Kuforiji

Perspectives In Learning

Teacher Education Programs provide the knowledge, skills and experience that enable pre-service teachers to become effective educators. Multicultural Education should be a significant part of the academic foundation for preservice education programs. This article examines the rationale for the utilization of the Academic Infusion Model (A.I.M.) of Multicultural Education in Teacher Education Programs. Teachers are ultimately responsible for establishing and maintaining an educational environment where students are provided opportunities to develop to their full potential. Therefore teacher quality is the most important factor in considering the effectiveness of a school. Educational administrators are faced with the responsibility of hiring qualified …

Equine Assisted Therapy, Kristie Luckett, Cindy Witsell

Perspectives In Learning

Equine Assisted Therapy (EAP) is a unique, intensive, short-term approach to helping individuals with various mental health concerns. This article will explain what EAP is, what is needed in order to conduct an EAP therapy session, provide a case study to demonstrate how EAP has been and can be utilized in practice, and finally, list the strengths of EAP. The information contained in this article is based on information provided by a therapist experienced in utilizing Equine Assisted Therapy.

Understanding And Responding To The Needs Of Nontraditional College Students, Joyce Hickson

Perspectives In Learning

The statistical profile of today’s American college student indicates that this sector is overwhelmingly “nontraditional”. The nontraditional student possesses at least one or more of the following characteristics: married; a parent; 25 years or older; returning to college after having been out of school for a number of years; financially independent from parents; attending school on a part-time basis (U. S. Department of Education, 2002). According to the Columbus State University Fall, 2002 Enrollment Report (Wallman, 2002) the average age of undergraduate students is 25 years, while the graduate student mean age is 37 years. Additionally, large numbers of CSU …

An Academy For The Development Of Transformational Leaders, Roger Hatcher

Perspectives In Learning

The Summer of 2002 ushered in an important training model for aspiring local school leaders. Through a joint partnership funded by the Muscogee County School District, Columbus State University began this training with a cohort of twenty-four leadership candidates chosen by the school system. The mission of this newly formed leadership academy was to develop transformational leaders who would possess the knowledge, the performance skills and the dispositions vital to create and foster positive cultures of learning for all students.