Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Improving Elementary American Indian Students’ Math Achievement With Inquiry-Based Mathematics And Games, Jamalee Stone, Edmund T. Hamann

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

Project Inquiry-Based Mathematics was a National Science Foundation Math-Science Partnership implemented in a Great Plains city school district with a significant K-12 Native American population. One goal of the project was to reduce the achievement gap between Native American and non-Native students enrolled in the district. This gap reduction was to be achieved using inquiry-based mathematics curricula along with cognitively guided instructional strategies, particularly at the elementary level. This study focuses on whether inquiry-based mathematics strategies were consistently implemented in three fifth-grade classrooms at K-5 elementary schools with significant Native American student populations. Test result of Native American students at …

Book Review: North Pole, South Pole: The Epic Quest To Solve The Great Mystery Of Earth’S Magnetism By Gillian Turner, Elizabeth B. Lewis

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

Gillian Turner’s first book, North Pole, South Pole: The Epic Quest to Solve the Great Mystery of Earth’s Magnetism, provides a thorough, historical accounting of scientific discovery of the earth’s magnetism, magnetic field, and its resulting effects. Turner is a senior lecturer in physics and geophysics at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and her writing possesses the voice of both a teacher and storyteller. She meticulously traces the history of our scientific understanding of magnetism, the scientists who were intrigued by the phenomena, and the innumerable research efforts to solve the puzzle of earth’s magnetism and its effects …

Contextualizing The Path To Academic Success: Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students Gaining Voice And Agency In Higher Education, Melissa Holmes, Cristina Fanning, Amanda Morales, Pedro Espinoza, Socorro Herrera

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

This ethnographic case study documents the experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) first-generation immigrant students as they developed their sense of voice and personal agency at a predominantly White, Midwestern university. The study is framed within the larger context of an ongoing, longitudinal study on the BESITOS (Bilingual/Bicultural Education Students Interacting To Obtain Success) model of recruitment and retention (Herrera & Morales, 2005; Herrera, Morales, Holmes, & Terry, 2011-2012), which was developed in 1999 to address the multifaceted assets and needs of Latina/o learners in higher education. The model takes into account literature on CLD student recruitment and retention …

Growing Effective Cld Teachers For Today’S Classrooms Of Cld Children, Gayla Lohfink, Amanda Morales, Gail Shroyer, Sally Yahnke

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

Using a case study design, this investigation examined the effective teaching characteristics of nontraditional, culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) student teachers placed in rural, elementary schools with high populations of Latino/a students. Data collected reflected high percentages of effective teaching characteristics in multiple domains with specific indicators reflective of consistent teaching over time. A discussion of these findings considered aspects within the distance-delivery model that facilitated the CLD participants’ development of effective teaching and noted (1) consistent leadership, (2) explicit teacher instruction within CLD school settings, and (3) the strong cohesive nature of the CLD participants’ cohort as positively affecting …

Asl Versus Gestures: Mothers Promotion Of Manual Communication With Their Children, Vanessa Michelle Arreola

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Using ASL and/or gestures has been found to facilitate verbal language in hearing children and has become a new area of interest among researchers. Because socioeconomic status plays a role in behaviors and language development, this study was designed to target individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds in the hopes of finding whether ASL or gestures were used more by their children, whether mothers are capable of promoting the use of ASL in the home environment, and whether ASL or gestures was preferred more by the mothers. Mothers were taught ASL signs based on the MacArthur Communicative Index and gestures in …

Mathematics And Science Integrated Instruction: With The Emphasis On The Types Of Mathematical Knowledge, Barbie A. Avila

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Internationally, American students continue to lag behind other countries in mathematics and science academic achievement. This is especially alarming due to the multi-faceted approaches taken in these areas by researchers and politicians, as well as the requisite schooling required by the American education system. The idea of integrating both content areas in order to enhance and deepen student understanding of each subject is a useful tactic in order to achieve the goal of improved mathematics and science academic achievement by American students. The emphasis should be on what the students will be doing to learn these content areas, so that …

Building A Community On The Fast Track: Eng. 09/111 At Central Virginia Community College (Cvcc) As A Tier C Model, Lana Velez, Kevin Riley

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

This author organized and taught the new ENG 09/111 classes at her college, as well as authoring the course text and workbook. In this article, she details the course structure, discusses its statistical assessment, and includes the reactions from students who have taken the class.

Medieval Day At Reynolds: An Interdisciplinary Learning Event, Nancy S. Morrison

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

A single day at this college involved faculty, staff, and students in an interdisciplinary teaching and learning experience. In this article, the primary organizer of Reynolds’s Medieval Day discusses its origin, details the schedule of events, and dispenses advice for any who might be interested in creating a similar college-wide experience.

Teaching With A Global Perspective, Dr. Percy Richardson

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

This author encourages the adoption of global thinking in the classroom, and emphasizes that the teaching of cultural literacy and foreign language skills are necessary to prepare students for job opportunities in the global market. He also discusses the prospects for travel abroad for both students and faculty.

Back Cover

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

David R. Barton (on left) painted "Gossip Tails" in acrylics while in Alice Harrington's "Painting I" course at Mountain Empire Community College.

Front Matter

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

No abstract provided.

Service Learning In Higher Education Exercise Science Programs, Wendy Bjerke

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Introduction: Service learning (SL) describes teaching methods that incorporate student service activities with specific learning objectives. SL has been applied to allied health higher education programs.

Purpose: To determine the applicability of SL to exercise science courses. SL data associated with an undergraduate course in exercise physiology serving a local fire department is examined.

Behind The Scenes: Understanding Teacher Perspectives On Technology Integration In A Suburban District Technology Initiative: A Dissertation, John Woolard

Educational Studies Dissertations

Efforts to prepare students with skills necessary to compete in a 21st Century global, digital economy require technological literacy, but many teachers are inhibited by antiquated models of education and epistemological beliefs that leave them reluctant to integrate educational technologies in their content instruction (Dunn & Rakes, 2010; Mouza & Wong, 2009). At the most basic level, apart from time constraints influenced by contradictory school improvement plans, elementary school teachers must contend with the barriers known to hinder the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) including: access, familiarity, training and support (Collins & Halverson, 2009, Levin & Wadmany, 2008). …

Testing An Instrument Using Structured Interviews To Assess Experienced Teachers’ Tpack, Judith B. Harris, Neal Grandgenett, Mark Hofer

Teacher Education Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

In 2010, the authors developed, tested, and released a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to assess the quality of inexperienced teachers’ TPACK by examining their detailed written lesson plans. In the current study, the same instrument was tested to see if it could be used to assess the TPACK evident in experienced teachers’ planning in the form of spoken responses to semi-structured interview questions. Interrater reliability was computed using both Intraclass Correlation (.870) and a score agreement (93.6%) procedure. Internal consistency (using Cronbach’s Alpha) was .895. Test-retest reliability (score agreement) was 100%. Taken together, these results demonstrate …

Urban Immersion: Working To Dispel The Myths Of Urban Schools And Preparing Teachers To Work With Diverse And Economically Disadvantaged Students, Connie Schaffer

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This descriptive research investigated the impact of a unique program that partnered an urban K-12 school district and an urban university. The goals of the program were to dispel common misperceptions of urban K-12 schools and to prepare preservice teachers to teach in diverse school settings. The program provided an authentic teaching experience for 35 preservice teachers, completely immersing them and their university instructors in urban schools, working and learning side-by-side with the K-12 teachers and students. Initial results indicated the program was successful in achieving its goals. The program assisted in reframing how preservice teachers perceived urban teaching opportunities …

Professional Identity Development In Online Christian Theological Education: A Case Study Of Preparing Pastoral Practice Through Discursive Activity, Rovina L. Hatcher

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

The purpose of this dissertation study was to explore the professional preparation of students in online classes at a Christian theological seminary. Concerns of theological education involve the capacity or incapacity of community development and somatic or embodied learning in online education. Using a theoretical framework drawn from communities of practice (Wenger, 1998), professional clergical preparation (Foster, Dahill, Golemon, & Tolentino, 2005), and Gee’s (2000-2001) dimensions of identity development, the researcher focused the analyses on students’ written texts located in the discussion board fora of the online courses. These records were examined for indications of formation of the professional identity …

Framing In Cognitive Clinical Interviews About Intuitive Science Knowledge: Dynamic Student Understandings Of The Discourse Interaction, Rosemary S. Russ, Victor R. Lee, Bruce L. Sherin

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Researchers in the science education community make extensive use of cognitive clinical interviews as windows into student knowledge and thinking. Despite our familiarity with the interviews, there has been very limited research addressing the ways that students understand these interactions. In this work we examine students’ behaviors and speech patterns in a set of clinical interviews about chemistry for evidence of their tacit understandings and underlying expectations about the activity in which they are engaged. We draw on the construct of framing from anthropology and sociolinguistics and identify clusters of behaviors that indicate that students may alternatively frame the interview …

La Elaboración De La Tesis Doctoral En Las Universidades De Habla Hispana: Dificultades Y Planteamientos De Mejora, David Sánchez-Jiménez

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Teaching Introductory Psychology In The Community College Classroom: Enhancing Student Understanding And Retention Of Essential Information, Scott M. Debb Ed.D., Sharon M. Debb M.A.

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Here the authors describe a study conducted to determine whether a “Test Yourself” procedure, administered either before or after a lecture, might improve students’ retention of the information, as well as stimulate critical thinking.

An Ex Post Facto Study Of First-Year Student Orientation As An Indicator Of Student Success At A Community College, Dr. Amanda Ellis-O’Quinn

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

New student orientation courses are one of the most popular methods used by colleges to address student attrition, but there is little research to show whether these courses are effective. This article features a study which examined the relationship between enrollment in orientation courses and increased student retention.

Enhancing Teachers’ Reading Instruction Through Professional Learning, Susan Main

Research Journeys in Education

No abstract provided.

Regulating The Boundaries Between The Public And Private Lives Of Teachers In Changing Cultural Contexts: An American Perspective, Charles J. Russo

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

Regardless of whether they wish to be regarded as such, there can be little doubt that most teachers and parents in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States agree that teachers are role models for students regardless of whether educators act in or out of schools. Yet, during this time of changing cultural contexts, the boundaries between the private and professional lives of teachers are blurred such that teachers may face liability for what they say or post in a more contemporary application of free speech, via the internet.

In light of ongoing changes, this paper examines how shifts ranging …

Producing Memorable Cloth-Bound Books In The Classroom, Karin J. Keith, A. Horton, A. Roach, J. Temaj, Edward J. Dwyer

ETSU Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Process Writing Instruction In Practice; When Revising Looks Like Editing, Emily Isaacs

Department of Writing Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

To better understand the short-term effectiveness of process-writing methodologies, a three-week qualitative study of a ninth grade integrated, untracked English class in an economically and racially diverse suburban-urban community in New Jersey was conducted. During the three week period of study focused on studying and writing a paper related to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, students were engaged in drafting, peer and expert reader review, as well as instructor feedback and guided revision practices. After blind review of first and last drafts by three independent readers, revised student drafts were deemed either "somewhat stronger" or "stronger than first drafts. Evidence …

Teacher Professional Development In An Online Learning Community : A Case Study In Indonesia, Eunice R. Sari

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Over the past decade the rapid pace of technological innovation has changed the knowledge-based society and gradually changed the way teaching and learning are conducted (Hargreaves, 2003). Teachers are increasingly viewed as not only the knowledge providers, but also the facilitators of a learning process. These changes have been difficult for teachers to adapt to, requiring substantial amounts of professional development. In Indonesia, the government has continually developed a number of strategic education policies and implemented various pathways to improve the professionalism of teachers. Nonetheless, there are still a large number of teachers who struggle to access the professional development …

Strategic Discussions For Nebraska: Opportunities For Nebraska -- Food Scarcity, Mary Garbacz

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

Strategic Discussions for Nebraska is a program in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources that produces an annual publication called Opportunities for Nebraska, focusing on a different topic each year. The publication is produced in hard copy and also is available online at www.sdn.unl.edu.

The content for each publication is produced by UNL students enrolled in a Magazine Writing course each spring semester, taught by the SDN coordinator. Students conduct interviews with UNL researchers and write stories for inclusion in the publication. The interviews are captured on video and are edited into video montages, …

Professional Development, Teacher Learning, And National Standards : A Mixed-Method Multiple-Case Study Of The Professional Learning Experiences Of Evangelical Christian School Teachers, Vincent Montoro

Dissertations

Problem. Today’s educational environment requires teachers who understand teaching and learning, have strong content knowledge, and can make connections between life experiences and the curriculum. Teachers are expected to be continually learning to improve their practice. Professional learning is essential in this process. Research on professional development practices in various school contexts shows how teachers can improve and develop better instructional practices through a variety of learning experiences. Sadly, very little research exists on professional development practices of private Christian school teachers. This study explored professional development practices of Christian school teachers in nine evangelical Christian schools in the …

A Survey Of Leadership Standards For Professional Preparation Of Public School Principals In Kuwait, Amal Eehe Alansari

Dissertations

Problem. Over the last decade, the Ministry of Education in Kuwait undertook the responsibility of reforming the Kuwaiti education system. While it noted the importance of school principals in this reform process, it has not yet focused on the development of school leaders through formal preparation. There were no standards set to guide school leadership development programs in Kuwait. The purpose of this study was to survey Kuwaiti educators to identify the professional educational program standards they believed were needed and important for public school principals. It surveyed their suggestions on which institutions would be best at providing training in …

Integration Of Learning Spaces And Modes In The Elt Class: A Case Inquiry Paper, Mariam Farooq

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Exploiting Globalization While Being Exploited By It: Insights From Post-Soviet Education Reforms In Central Asia, Sarfaroz Niyozov, Nazarkhudo Dastambuev

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Building on an examination of comparative and international literature and their research and development experiences, the authors highlight a number of continuities, changes, and issues between Soviet and post-Soviet, international and Central Asian experiences of borrowing and lending of education reforms. Even though Central Asian actors and institutions are not totally helpless victims and though international experts and NGOs appear well-meaning in these globalizing education transfers, the processes are leading toward reproducing global and local dependencies and inequalities.The trajectory of education reforms in Central Asia echo those of other developing countries. In response, the authors urge local policy makers and …