Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Minerva 2008, The Honors College

Minerva

This issue of Minerva includes an article on the completion of the restoration of Colvin Hall; a reflection by Ruth Nadelhaft, former UMaine Honors program director; and an article on Honors alumnus and Nobel Peace Prize winner Bernard Lown and his 2008 Rezendes Visiting Scholar in Ethics Lecture/Distinguished Honors Graduate Lecture.

Toward Understanding International Students: A Study Conducted At Middle Tennessee State University, Jiannan Wang

The Southeastern Librarian

The number of international students in American universities has increased over the years and has drawn great attention from librarians, library staff, and researchers. In order to serve this particular patron group more effectively, a number of studies have been conducted to understand their difficulties in using American library systems. In consequence, different approaches have been taken to try to help them. As each university or college may have its own library instruction system, and as the composition and features of international students at different universities may vary, it is difficult to apply available strategies without a thorough understanding of …

Social Policy And Constructivism: Using Constructivist Learning Theory In Teaching Social Work Students Research Skills, Linda Sizemore, Brad Marcum

The Southeastern Librarian

Principles of constructivist learning theory were used in developing a process-oriented approach to research skills instruction as applied to real world social problems and social policy responses. Building upon past experiences in establishing collaborative relationships with social work faculty, the theories of constructivism, Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process, and collaborative learning were incorporated into the framework of efforts to provide library instruction at important developmental phases, also known as “zones of intervention”, in student coursework involving three successive social work classes. This article will attempt to describe the above concepts and articulate how these concepts were employed in efforts to improve …

Coweta Encourages 'Reading Olympians'

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article presents information on the 29th Summer Olympiad program of Coweta County Library in Georgia from August 8 to 23, 2008. The public library system has presented two multicultural programs to stimulate interest in cultural diversity, the Olympics and sportsmanship. Its objective of the program is to encourage students to read. The library's other Olympics-themed event was the premiere of its new virtual travel program.

Eames Scholarship Fund Set Up At Waycross College

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article presents information on the Eames Scholarship Fund created for students of Waycross College in Ware County, Georgia. The scholarship fund was established by Charles B. Eames Jr, former director of the Okefenokee Regional Library System (ORLS), to honor the memory of his parents and to benefit students majoring in library science, information studies or related fields. Students experiencing financial difficulties are also eligible to benefit from the scholarship. James Willis, president of the Waycross College Foundation, is looking forward to seeing many students of its institution benefit from the scholarship.

Public Libraries 'Just Buggy' For 2008 Summer Reading Program

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article presents information on the highlights of the 2008 Summer Reading Program, entitled "Catch the Reading Bug," for public libraries in Georgia. The objective of the Worth County Library System (WCLS) is to increase the participation of teenagers. The Houston County Public Library System (HOUPL) has added teenagers as a new component to its Summer Reading Program. Information is given on the reading programs of the Southwest Georgia Regional Library system.

Coweta Public Library Partners With University Of West Georgia

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article reports on the partnership formed by the Coweta Public Library--Central Library with the Carrollton-based University of West Georgia's Ingram Library and Newnan Campus to enhance educational services within the community. The objective of the Central Library is to reflect on the importance of educating children and of providing access to materials and programs to people of all ages in support of lifelong learning. Its Book Bundles are another aspect of the public library of allowing its customers to be independent but provide the library staff an avenue of virtual engagement. It also focuses on the key areas when …

Atlanta-Fulton Hosts Children's Festival

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article reports on the Ashley Bryan Children's Literary Festival hosted by Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System's Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American History and Culture presented on April 25 and 26, 2008. The children's literacy program celebrated the contribution of Ashley Brayan to children's literature with interactive and educational programs and events that introduced children of all ages to culturally relevant art, literature and poetry. The conference was attended by teachers, librarians and parents and many children.

Initiating A New Information Systems Course: A Case Study In Educational Innovation, Michael Eccles, June Pym, Kevin Johnston

The African Journal of Information Systems

If South Africa is to transform its educational landscape, access to higher education is crucial. However, if equity of access is not coupled with equity of success, participation, and relevance, access can become problematic.

The Information Systems Department at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, has been concerned for a number of years about both the relevance and coherence of its first year Information Systems course. In 2007, the Department re-conceptualized this course. This case study looks at the background to the problems and motivation for the change and the proposed changes and course redesign, as well as the …

An African Phd Program In Information Systems: The Case Of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Solomon Negash, Richard T. Watson, Detmar W. Straub

The African Journal of Information Systems

This case study is about the first Information Systems PhD program in Ethiopia and the region, a collaborative effort of thirteen universities around the globe. Fifteen faculty members traveled to Ethiopia to launch the program for classes, which will start in 2009. This paper depicts the program design and program development and an outline of the overall program. The authors share their personal experience in the development of this unique IS PhD program.

Building Teacher Capital In Pre-Service Teachers: Reflections On A New Teacher-Education Initiative., Tania Ferfolja

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This discussion considers a new pre-service teacher education initiative at the University of Western Sydney, called Classmates. Classmates aims to prepare pre-service teachers to work in diverse and challenging schools. The paper argues that the neo-liberal industrial model of mass teacher education may be limited in its capacity to adequately prepare pre-service teachers for the difficulties they may encounter in a society where socio-cultural inequality is growing. It points out that pre-service teacher-education needs to build teacher capital to better prepare graduates and to buffer the transition from tertiary student to beginning teacher. Classmates offers one way that this may …

Promoting Literacy Initiatives Abroad Through Rotary Partnerships, Carol Walker Jordan

The Southeastern Librarian

In the Spring of 2005, on a trip to Atlanta, an article in the US Airways Magazine, August 2005, p. 75, caught my attention, "Universal Literacy: And How Room to Read Contributes To That Goal," by Michael Ybarra. Michael described how John Wood in 1998 quit his job as a marketing director at Microsoft to go trekking in Nepal. Invited by a local teacher to visit a classroom of a village school at Bahundanda, Wood described the conditions to be appalling--80 kids in one grade with 20 books described as backpacker castoffs-for example. Danielle Steel and Lonely Planet's guide to …

Addressing Challenges Encountered By Leadership Teams In Five Mentoring Programs, Gary M. Kilburg, Eloise Hockett

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This study is the third stage in a continuation of research by Kilburg and Hancock (2006) that investigated 149 mentoring teams in four school districts over a two year period. The current study is differentiated from the published study in that it identifies challenges encountered by mentoring program planning committees, coordinators, and administrators from five school districts over a six-year period. In the last two years of this present study, Critical Friends Group Coaches were added to one school district’s leadership team.

Faculty Hiring Criteria In Hospitality Education Programs, Robert H. Woods, Seonghee Cho, Raymond S. Schmidgall

Hospitality Review

This study examined criteria used in selecting faculty at I-CHRIE hospitality-management education programs in the United States. Results provide a baseline for consideration of faculty at all ranks. The three most important hiring criteria for assistant professors were a PhD or equivalent terminal degree, publication/research, and hospitality-industry work experience. For associate and full professors, the three most important factors were a PhD or equivalent terminal degree, publication/research, and college teaching experience. Results indicated that most programs use similar criteria in evaluating faculty applicants. This study also found that leadership ability is the most important factor in hiring department heads/directors. Results …

Is Speech Intelligibility Of Deaf And Hard Of Hearing People A Barrier For Occupational Competence?, Tova Most, Amatzia Weisel, Rachel Gali-Cinamon

JADARA

The goal of the study was to evaluate the relationships between Speech Intelligibility (SI) and Occupational Competence (OC) of young deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) adults. Thnty six young adults completed SI and 00 self-report questionnaires. The results indicated that occupations requiring less communication were considered to be more suitable than those requiring more communication. The level of prestige did not have a significant influence upon the ratings. SI was not found to be related to OC. The results suggest that D/HH young adults did not consider SI to be a barrier in the vocational domain.

The Career Experiences Of Deaf Supervisors In Education And Social Service Professions: Choices, Mobility And Networking A Qualitative Study, Denise Kavin, Kim Brown-Kurz,

JADARA

In this qualitative study, the researchers interviewed eleven deaf and hard of hearing

professionals holding supervisory positions in educational and social service professions regarding factors that have affected their career experiences, specifically regarding choices, mobility, and networking. The respondents shared their experiences navigating the career ladder, including strategies used to move forward in the workplace such as networking and the use of technologies. Common threads such as tokenism and merit, communication access, and self-imposed limitations related to career choices, mobility, and networking were identified and discussed.

Survey Of Leadership Programs: Valued Characteristics Of Leadership Within The Deaf Community, Deborah Kamm-Larew, Marcia Lamkin

JADARA

This study surveyed leadership programs operating for and by the Deaf community through questionnaire and interview data. Three categories of leadership development were identified as currently operating in the United States for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: youth leadership programs, special interest mentoring groups, and formal leadership training programs focused on professional development and leadership skills. In addition, this study identified common leadership traits and training methods within these programs. Using a randomized list of leadership traits, valued characteristics were identified. The traits chosen most often were empowerment, advocacy, and decision making skills.

International Perspective Of Aquatic Instructors’ Attitudes Toward Teaching Swimming To Children With Disabilities, Phillip Conatser

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes of aquatic instructors (N = 23) toward teaching swimming to children with mild and severe disabilities in an inclusive setting. Aquatic instructors from 23 cities in 7 countries participated in the study. Data were collected by mail survey using the Aquatic Instructors Attitudes Toward Teaching Swimming to Individuals With Disabilities questionnaire (Conatser, Block, & Lapore, 2000). A correlated t test showed that aquatic instructors were significantly more favorable toward teaching aquatics to children with mild disabilities than children with severe disabilities. Instructors agreed they should include children with mild disabilities and …

Race And Resistance In The Communication Classroom, Paul Fotsch

Basic Communication Course Annual

Teaching diversity is no longer segregated to ethnic studies departments or to intercultural communication courses. Consequently, many students have become resistant to the idea of spending time--"yet again"--on the issue of race. Communication scholars have described a kind of resistance found frequently in the basic communication classroom and likewise proposed various responses to this resistance. Through a review of the literature and drawing on my ten years of experience teaching diversity in the university, this essay assesses these responses. One source of white student discomfort comes from the increasing visibility of whiteness, so two strategies used to address this discomfort …

Submission Guidelines

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Redesigning Public Speaking: A Case Study In The Use Of Instructional Design To Create The Interchange Model, Marlene M. Preston, J. Matt Giglio, Kristin N. English

Basic Communication Course Annual

This case study describes the redesign of Public Speaking at a Research I institution. An instructional analysis revealed strengths of and concerns about the existing model--large lecture with small lab sections. Criteria for a new model emerged from that analysis, all of which hinged on an overarching goal: The course should incorporate learning theory and disciplinary theory and should result in student learning, student skill development, and enhanced satisfaction among stakeholders. The Interchange Model, which included some online delivery, was developed to meet identified needs and was fleshed out with course materials and semester plans. The model was piloted and …

Assessing Classroom Management Training For Basic Course Instructors, Kevin R. Meyer, Stephen K. Hunt, Mark E. Comadena, Cheri J. Simonds, Brent K. Simonds, John R. Baldwin

Basic Communication Course Annual

Extant research demonstrates that graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) experience student misbehaviors in the classroom and that basic course administrators should be proactive in preparing GTAs for classroom management issues (Meyer et al., 2007). Following the recommendation for the development of classroom management training (CMT) by Meyer et al. (2007), the present study sought to assess the implementation of CMT. Specifically, a group of GTAs completed the same survey instrument twice following the completion of CMT, once early in the semester and again at the end of the semester.

Results of the present study indicate that GTA reports of student misbehavior …

Pedagogy Of Relevance: A Critical Communication Pedagogy Agenda For The 'Basic' Course, Deanna L. Fassett, John T. Warren

Basic Communication Course Annual

In this article, we envision how a critical communication pedagogy approach might lend narrative coherence, intellectual rigor, and a focused agenda to the introductory course. Such a paradigm shift is not only consistent with the trajectory of work in our discipline, but it will likely result in ourselves and others assigning more value and respect to our work with the introductory course. Specifically, we advocate four changes with respect to the introductory course: Challenge “teacher-proof” textbooks and curricula, engage diversity, embrace pedagogy as teaching and research, and recover and reinvigorate communication education research.

Contents And Abstracts

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Editorial Board

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

'Classic Rock Cares' At Parks Memorial.

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article announces that Parks Memorial Library in Richland, Georgia has received musical instruments from the John Entwistle Foundation for a program to promote music education among children. As part of its Check-Out Music program, the library now has an electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and amplifiers. The foundation launched an eight city tour known as Classic Rock Cares which was to be the first concert tour designed specifically to raise funds for the foundation's mission of free music education and instruments through the public library system.

The Need For Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification For Open-Water Lifeguards At Huntington Beach, Ca, Daniel Jerome, Peter R. Chambers, Steve Reuter, John Porcari

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The number of people visiting U.S. beaches increased in 2007 to more than 240 million people. This increase in activities does not come without danger. Lifeguards maintain beach safety, but little research is available to assist us in determining appropriate certification levels for lifeguards. The authors analyzed various injuries that occurred in the open-water environment of Huntington Beach, CA. Based on the nature of the injuries, they attempted to determine the level of training lifeguards needed. The vast majority of injuries (99%) were soft-tissue injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, or environmental injuries. It was felt that lifeguards with first-aid and basic-life-support (BLS) …

The Instructor’S Role In Aquatic Education: Some Personal Observations, Leland Yarger, Steven P. Dalcher

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

No abstract provided.

Motivations And Reasons For Exercising In Water: Gender And Age Differences In A Sample Of Spanish Exercisers, Juan Antonio Moreno Murcia, Celestina Martínez Galindo, Pablo Marcos Pardo

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purposes of this study were, on the one hand, to relate the reasons for exercising with self-determination and, on the other, to check gender and age differences with a sample of 311 exercisers in water. The data were collected using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire–2 and Motives for Physical Activities Measure–Revised. A positive and significant correlation was seen between self-determination and the reasons for exercise, with self-determination predicting 22% by enjoyment and 8% by fitness/health reasons. Similarly, the multivariate analysis showed that the women had more self-determination than the men and that they also rated fitness/health, social, enjoyment, …

The Influence Of Biological Sex, Previous Experience, And Preparation Time On Classroom Public Speaking Grades, Judy C. Pearson, Jeffrey T. Child

Basic Communication Course Annual

How does biological sex affect public speaking grades? Students completed journal entries over the course of the semester. Hierarchical multiple regression incrementally examined competency measures (previous experience and overall preparation time) then biological sex on public speaking grade averages. Competency measures predicted higher speech grade averages, but women still earned higher speech grades even after the effects of competency had been removed. Among the explanations offered are that women may be more competent than men, a combination of competence and compliance explains women’s higher grades, or public speaking classrooms perpetuate a female competency bias.