Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Exploring Identity-Based Challenges To English Teachers’ Professional Growth, Heather C. Camp

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This study explores identity-based challenges that can hinder secondary English teachers enrolled in Master’s degree programs from experiencing professional growth. It illustrates how identity conflicts can prevent teachers from integrating a disciplinary identity into their professional sense-of-self, thereby limiting the benefits they might gain from graduate coursework. In particular, the study suggests that dissonance between discourse norms and values, concerns about community allegiances, and assumptions about language, difficulty, and power can impede teachers from appropriating disciplinary discourse and hinder them from combining it with more familiar discourses that circulate in schools and shape teachers’ identities.

The Knowing/Doing Gap: Challenges Of Effective Writing Instruction In High School, Sylvia Read, Melanie M. Landon-Hays

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This study explores the challenges of effective writing instruction in high school, specifically examining the perceptions of five new high school English teachers regarding their own experiences learning to write as students, their preparation to become teachers of writing, and how they teach and assess writing in their classrooms. In order to more fully understand their view of writing instruction, we interviewed and observed them. The findings are organized into two strands: teacher beliefs about their own formative opportunities with writing, both as students and in preparation to become teachers, and teacher reflections on best practices in writing instruction and …

Table Of Contents/Opening Editorial, Jonathan E. Bush

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

No abstract provided.

Teaching/Writing -- Summer/Fall 2013 [Full Issue]

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

No abstract provided.

September 13, 2013 - Alec Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Universities Of The Third Age In Hong Kong : An Evaluation Of Elder Academy Model For The Life Long Learning Of Older People, Ka Fai Wong

Lingnan Theses

Education aims at the development of knowledge and skills for its own sake and pleasure. People aged over 65 years currently comprise 11% of the Hong Kong population. Such aging population in Hong Kong constitutes a challenge to our society. To be adaptive to changes in the environment, especially in aging, more emphasis is placed on “lifelong learning” than on “lifelong education” for self-fulfillment Active aging is evidently supported as a solution to the impact of aging population. Lifelong learning is an important strategy for enhancing active aging. The provision and process of lifelong learning for older people can take …

An Analysis Of Literacy-Related Messages In Elementary Science Methods Textbooks, Cheryl Morris, Dr. Roni Jo Draper

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Adults in America get most of their information from mass media (Norris & Phillips, 2003). These sources keep them informed about politics, natural disasters, advances in science, etc. However, adults need to be able to understand these sources to form opinions and take an active role in society. Many people do not fully understand what they read because they did not receive enough training and experience with expository text in school. Understanding does not come naturally and needs specific instruction. Providing more instruction for literacy in content area classes (like science) will better prepare students to enter a world in …

School Equity And Non-Traditional Resources, Chris M. Wilson, Dr. E. Vance Randall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Since the landmark case of Brown v. The Board of Education (1954) there has been a continual stream of educational finance equity litigation. The focus of these court cases is the equitable allocation of resources from the state and from local sources (Larson 1990). “Equity” has conventionally been examined only by considering traditional sources of revenue (e.g., property tax, income tax, weighted pupil unit money). This study has expanded the scope of inquiry into the school equity issue by examining non-traditional sources (e.g., business partnerships, private foundations, donated services, and user fees). Analyzing non-traditional resources flowing into one urban and …

The Four Year Experience: Career Search Self-Efficacy Of New Graduates, Heather Maietta

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Abstract

The author examines the relationship between the degree of participation in a mandatory, credit-bearing, four-year career development program and career search self-efficacy of college graduates using the Career Search Efficacy Scale (CSES). Solberg, Good, & Nord (1994) define career search self-efficacy as an individuals’ efficacy expectations regarding their ability to perform important activities associated with career search and selection. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, and regression analyses were performed. Results indicated there was a relationship between participation in a career development program and career search self-efficacy. Discussion of findings and recommendations for future research are provided.

Summary Of Washington Seminar Program: Innder-City Student Teaching Experience, Dot Todman, George Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thanks to a grant from the Office of Research and Creative Activities, I was able to complete my final semester of BYU, Student Teaching in inner-city Washington D.C. through BYU’s Washington Seminar Program. I am glad to report that my experience in D.C. helped me to grow in ways I never imagined. My project proposal involved implementing a drama program at Frank W. Ballou High, and developing lesson plans geared towards inner-city students that could be down loaded on the internet for worldwide use. I will share with you my unexpected findings.

Reflective Teaching Practices: Looking Beneath The Surface And Emergent Cyclical Experiential Learning Processes And Outcomes, Mazie E. Black

MA TESOL Collection

In this professional paper, I examined the kinds of processes I experienced for English language acquisition (ELA) in practice. This journey is about my transition from a generalist to a TESOL specialist. One of my most successful lessons was not in English, but a science lesson to students who were majority users of English as a second or third language. It was about the use of reflective and refractive telescopes. My approaches were very student centered and project based. They worked in groups, chose which type of telescope to make, kept journals with notes, drawings and key vocabulary, made inferences, …

Temperament In Early Childhood And Peer Interactions In Third Grade: The Role Of Teacher–Child Relationships In Early Elementary Grades, Kathleen Moritz Rudasill, Kate Niehaus, Eric S. Buhs, Jamie M. White

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Children’s interactions with peers in early childhood have been consistently linked to their academic and social outcomes. Although both child and classroom characteristics have been implicated as contributors to children’s success, there has been scant research linking child temperament, teacher–child relationship quality, and peer interactions in the same study. The purpose of this study is to examine children’s early temperament, rated at preschool age, as a predictor of interactions with peers (i.e., aggression, relational aggression, victimization, and prosociality) in third grade while considering teacher–child relationship quality in kindergarten through second grades as a moderator and mediator of this association. The …

Can The Differentiated Math Classroom Be A Reality?, Carl Jeff Morris

Mathematics Graduate Theses

Imagine a math classroom that looked more like a Google workplace where collaboration, teamwork, and innovation are the centerpieces. Instead of just students sitting in rows passively learning about the nature of mathematics, picture a classroom of students in small circle discussing mathematics. This could range from groups working together on a problem solving strategy for a newly learned concept, students helping students using technology as an aid, another small group receiving intervention from the teacher, or individual students making or viewing instructional math videos. All of this according to research focused on classroom differentiation; specifically in middle school and …

Understanding The Language Of The Occupy Movement: A Cognitive Linguistic Analysis, Theresa Catalano, John W. Creswell

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

In the expanding area of narrative inquiry, researchers often battle with the decision of how to analyze/interpret data. The aim of this article is to propose the use of cognitive linguistics as a tool in narrative analysis using as a case illustration interviews conducted in October/November 2011 with participants in the Occupy movement (Occupy). Results expose important metaphors/metonymies that reveal much about the perception of the movement by its inceptors. Not only did the analysis present the movement as a war and a force against government corporations, oppression, and inequality, but it was also seen as a strong structure and …

Family-School Partnerships: Promoting Family Participation In K-3 Teacher Professional Development, Carolyn P. Edwards, Heidi Fleharty

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Sixty-three teachers in a K-3 mathematics specialist certificate program conducted family projects in order to improve their skills in partnering with families around mathematics. Past studies have indicated that family involvement in children's education has many positive influences on academic achievement; however, parents' discomfort with math, and teachers' discomfort of working with parents, may be obstacles. The purpose of the present study was to examine two years of teachers' mathematical family projects and describe the types of projects chosen, the risks and benefits of these projects, and the quality of the parent-child interaction. It was found that the teachers implemented …

The Fitzroy Valley Numeracy Project: Assessment Of Early Changes In Teachers’ Self-Reported Pedagogic Content Knowledge And Classroom Practice, Lorraine Jacob, Andrew Mcconney

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The Fitzroy Valley Numeracy Project (FVNP) was designed to improve numeracy outcomes for Indigenous students by developing a systematic, co-ordinated approach to teaching primary school mathematics. In this study, using early project data, we examine FVNP teachers’ self‑reported pedagogic content knowledge and classroom practice from initial and follow up questionnaires, as well as interviews from case study teachers. After the first FVNP year, teachers reported being better able to plan focused mathematics lessons and to monitor student learning. On the other hand, teachers also felt less able to make mathematics explicit to students and their confidence in providing engaging activities …

What Is The Role Of The Arts In A Primary School?: An Investigation Of Perceptions Of Pre-Service Teachers In Australia, Narelle Lemon, Susanne Garvis

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The arts are an important compulsory subject area in Australian schooling. In 2014, the Australian National Curriculum for the arts is scheduled for implementation. While the arts may be a compulsory subject area and expected to be taught in classrooms by primary school teachers, current perceptions held by teachers may be different to the view held in the Australian National Curriculum. This paper explores the views of pre-service teachers, who will be future primary school teachers. Through the use of a survey, data was collected from two Australian universities to develop an understanding of what pre-service teachers think about the …

Expanding Pedagogical Horizons: A Case Study Of Teacher Professional Development, Peter Burridge, Cathryn Carpenter

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Development of pedagogies within schools that inform adolescent learning has been an ongoing struggle within education systems. A novel approach to this issue was taken by the Non Government Organisation (NGO) 'Evolve’ based in Victoria, Australia, who worked in partnership with disadvantaged secondary schools to develop a multi-faceted curriculum. This curriculum incorporated traditional outdoor learning approaches of residential experiences and expeditionary journeys, alongside school based inquiry projects.

Data collected over three years found that the different educational settings of the program exposed teachers to a range of teaching practices. This exposure combined with the collaborative development of curriculum with Evolve …

A Content Analysis Of Early Childhood Teachers’ Theoretical And Practical Experiences With Infants And Toddlers In Australian Teacher Education Programs, Susanne Garvis, Narelle Lemon, Donna Pendergast, Bonnie Yim

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

In Australia, the growth in the provision of early childhood services for very young children aged birth to three years has placed increased demands on pre-service teachers as new policy stipulates the need for qualified early childhood teachers. While many teacher education programs offer early childhood courses, they have traditionally had a greater focus on kindergarten and the formal years of schooling. Less is known about the amount of time devoted to developing the specialist educational capacity for teaching and caring for infants and toddlers. This paper explores 55 Australian early childhood teacher undergraduate education programs to provide data regarding …

Exploring The Effects Of Classroom Culture On Primary Pre-Service Teachers’ Professional Development, Taner Altun

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study aims to examine primary student teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions about the effects of pre-formed classroom culture on their professional development. In the study, a mixed method approach was used. The study group consisted of 4^th year student teachers who attend a primary teacher education program leading to a B.Ed diploma at the Fatih Faculty of Education at Karadeniz Technical University. The data was collected during the spring semester of the 2011-2012 academic year, in which student teachers carried out their teaching practices in primary schools. The main data collection instruments included a preliminary questionnaire which was distributed to …

Changes In Pre-Service Teachers Perceptions’ Of Teacher Qualities: Development From Egocentric To Student Centric, Lynn D. Sheridan

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study looks at pre-service teachers’ developing perceptions with a view to supporting teacher education practices. In determining and guiding program structures it is the opinions of the experts that are most often heard. Absent from this debate is an understanding of the changing perceptions of the pre-service teacher as they progress through their program. The purpose of this paper is to extend our understanding of pre-service teacher belief systems’ highlighting, the relevance this has for understanding and supporting pre-service teacher development. The perceptions of valued teacher qualities changed from ego-centric beliefs to student centric practices for the participants in …

Averting Uncertainty: A Practical Guide To Physical Activity Research In Australian Schools, Jerome N. Rachele, Thomas F. Cuddihy, Tracy L. Washington, Steven M. Mcphail

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Preventative health has become central to contemporary health care, identifying youth physical activity as a key factor in determining health and functioning. Schools offer a unique research setting due to distinctive methodological circumstances. However, school-based researchers face several obstacles in their endeavour to complete successful research investigations; often confronted with complex research designs and methodological procedures that are not easily amenable to school contexts. The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical guide for teachers (both teacher educators and teaching practitioners) seeking to conduct physical activity-based research in Australian school settings, as well as discuss research practices. The …

Towards Internationalising The Curriculum: A Case Study Of Chinese Language Teacher Education Programs In China And Australia, Danping Wang, Robyn Moloney, Zhen Li

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper presents a comparative curricular inquiry of teacher education programs of Chinese as a foreign language in China and Australia. While there is an increasing demand for qualified Chinese language teachers both within China and Western countries, pre-service teacher training is regarded as one of the major factors in impeding success in effective student learning. Using an interpretative approach, this paper captures voices from teacher educators and pre-service teachers through in-depth interviews to supplement curriculum document reviews. The results identify curriculum differences in educational aims and objectives, learning content, methods of delivery and assessment. The study suggests aspects of …

Light And Enlightenment, Jan-E-Alam Khaki

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Summary Of Creative Research Grant Results, Jason P. Nance, Martin Kokol

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My intent when I sought after this scholarship was to use the funds to complete my honors thesis. After reading about many of the educational reform movements that are occurring in the United States, I decided to make educational reform the topic of my thesis. To make the paper more interesting, I wanted to personally interview someone who thought deeply about educational reform issues and someone whose ideas were well respected by educators. My advisor suggested that I interview Albert Shanker, President of the American Federation of Teachers, headquartered in Washington D.C.

A Model Approach To Early Intervention And Integration Into University Life, Elizabeth Thackeray, Dr. Stefinee Pinnegar

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Early intervention is often the key to freshman student success; however, it is often hard to uncover freshman students’ problems and difficulties until it is too late to help them adjust time schedules, develop stronger study habits, or create more balanced life-styles (DeBerard 66). The tool used in this program, the integration model (see fig. 1), shows promise for providing direction for early intervention efforts. This study explores whether this tool enables peer mentors to uncover student problems.

Fostering Culturally Responsive Teaching In An Urban Preschool: A Qualitative Case Study, Denise Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Preschool years are significantly important for students in urban districts. Early childhood helps set the foundation for learning about school culture. Students who are able to connect their home environment to the school environment tend to do better in their academic setting. Fostering a pedagogy that is culturally sensitive to students is a teaching stance that enables success with curriculum and addresses the inequities that accompany low socioeconomic students. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore four urban teachers' formal understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy within an urban preschool. The teachers' espoused and enacted practice formulated the …

Thinking Aloud In The Science Classroom: Can A Literacy Strategy Increase Student Learning In Science?, Lindsey Joan Mockel

Dissertations and Theses

This research study investigated the effect of using the think aloud protocol while reading informational text on students' ability to learn from text in a secondary science classroom. The participants in this study were high school students (n=47) in three classes of a mixed-grade Integrated Biology, Chemistry, and Physics course. The study tracked student achievement during a four-week curriculum unit on the theory of evolution and evidence for biological evolution. All students received instruction on using the think aloud protocol, and all students practiced the think aloud protocol when reading short articles related to scientific evidence for evolution. The researcher …

English Article Acquisition Of Native Russian Speakers, Jacob Burdis, Ray Graham

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For decades, researchers have explored various aspects of the development or morphology in second language learners of English. Undoubtedly, one of the most popular models describing this development is the natural order hypothesis. Stephen Krashen (1977) presents an average morphological order of acquisition for English where learners, “acquiring English as a second language also show a “natural order” for grammatical morphemes, regardless of their first language” (p. 146). Many recent studies have challenged the assertion that a learners’ native language does not influence this order, but plays a vital role in its development. This study examines an aspect of the …

Costa Rica’S Border People: Living On The Fringes Of Two Societies, Ann Marie Hinckley, Dr. David P. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Nicaraguan Revolution ended nearly fifteen years ago, however, the political, economic, and cultural effects resulting from the war continue. These effects are keenly felt in the border regions of Costa Rica. Border regions are frequently turbulent because within them 70% of the world’s smallest wars are fought. These wars bring with them many problems including drug and arms trafficking, casualties, refugees and displaced peoples . The border region between Nicaragua and Costa Rica is unique in that many aspects of the Nicaraguan Revolution carry over and continue to effect individual and general perceptions of Nicaraguans in Costa Rica.