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A Phenomenological Study on Reflective Teaching Practice
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of teachers who engage in reflective teaching practice. This study was conducted at two elementary urban charter schools in New York City (NYC). A phenomenological research design was used to investigate the perspectives of twenty-one elementary school teachers who use reflective practice to enhance teaching effectiveness and promote students’ learning. Purposeful sampling was used in the selection of the participants. Recommended participants were identified as reflective practitioners by their principal. Data was gathered using semistructured interviews, which were conducted in the fall of 2016. The data collection and analysis followed Moustakas (1994) outlined procedures. After each interview was transcribed significant statements were extracted, the analyzed statements generated six key themes and eighteen sub-themes. Data analysis and results revealed that teachers use reflective teaching practice to create meaning from their classroom experiences and enact necessary steps toward improvement. Through reflective teaching practice, participants were able to examine their teaching, assess students’ learning, seek new ideas, and test theories to gain new perspectives on their classroom experiences. This research study is insightful because it adds to the body of knowledge about ways in which reflective practice supports teaching effectiveness and promotes students’ learning
First Generation College Students in a TRiO Program
No full textThis research study was completed to explore how a specific population of college students strive to reach their educational goals. The purpose of the study concentrated on how TRiO first-generation college students (FGCs) at a community college perceived their success in accomplishing goals in a college educational setting with the assistance of the TRiO program. Theories guiding the study include Astin’s I-E-O model and Bean’s model. The research utilized interviews and a focus group with TRiO FGCs. Thirteen students participated in an interview and two students participated in a focus group. During the interviews and focus group, participants provided insight into how their status as TRiO FGCs effected their pursuit of academic goals and how the TRiO program assisted TRiO FGCs to reach their academic goals. Transcripts of the interviews and focus group were typed into a word document. These documents were coded using posting and NVivo software. Results indicated the perception of TRiO FGCs on their status as TRiO FGCs and how the TRiO program helped them attain the goals they hoped to reach as a college student. The common themes shared by students indicate implications for practitioners, higher education institutions, considerations for the future and indications of what may benefit all college students
The Evaluation of a Chinese-Language Teacher-Certification Program in an East-Coast State
No full textThe purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Chinese-language teacher-certification program offered by the Center for Chinese Language Teacher Certification and Development (CCLTCD). Since 2000, more and more students have chosen Chinese as their second language and Chinese-language programs have been growing rapidly in American K-12 schools. However, lack of highly qualified Chinese-language teachers hinders the development of Chinese language programs. It requires educational researchers to find an effective means to train potential Chinese-language teachers and help them establish a standards-based and student-centered classroom. Qualitative data were collected from stakeholder participants related to this program to answer three research questions. Through questionnaires and phone interviews, three faculty members, nine current students at the time of study, and ten alumni provided their perspectives on program strength, program challenges, and suggestions for improvements. The ACTFL Program Standards for the Preparation of Foreign Language Teachers (ACTFL, 2013) and Vygotsky’s constructivism theory (Vygotsky, 1978) were frameworks for identifying the components of the effectiveness of this program. Results showed that the Chinese-language teacher-certification program of the CCLTCD was a successful program to prepare potential Chinese-language teachers for American K-12 schools, while its courses and network opportunities addressed potential Chinese-language teachers’ needs and helped them develop a standards-based and student-centered classroom. Suggestions were provided to improve this program and potential Chinese-language teacher education programs. Future research is recommended to follow up on this program’s graduates, which may add more insight to Chinese-language teaching and Chinese-language teacher preparation
The Peripheral Factors of Inclusive Education and Teacher Self-Efficacy
No full textExisting literature has indicated that self-reported challenges of general-education (GenEd) teachers often involve the experiences and views of these educators surrounding the peripheral factors of inclusive education (Caskey, 2008; Fuchs, 2010). Bandura (2012) asserted that most sources of hindrance to shaping the dynamics between self-efficacy (SE) and subsequent action are not knowledge-based, but rather, originate from such peripheral factors. The purpose of this current study was to explore the perceptions of GenEd high-school teachers in terms of how the peripheral factors of inclusive education shape their SE with regard to effective instruction within the inclusive classroom. A qualitative case study was conducted at a single metropolitan early college high school in central Texas. A sample of six GenEd teachers from core academic inclusive classrooms participated in this research. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and face-to-face, semistructured interviews. Data analysis revealed that the participating GenEd teachers considered the prevailing peripheral factor negatively shaping their SE regarding successful inclusive instruction to be time constraints. Conversely, school administrative support was perceived by the participants as having the most positive impact to their inclusive teaching. Based upon these findings, the following recommendations for future study could extend the results of this current research: (a) investigate strategies related to how school administration achieves the positive perceptions of GenEd teachers, and (b) examine solutions to time constraints by implementing a plan developed from teacher insights drawn from this study
Post-mortem Semen Retrieval: A Normative Prescription for Legislation in the United States
No full textPost-mortem semen retrieval (PMSR) is an increasingly common medical procedure in which sperm is extracted from a corpse and stored for potential reproductive use in the future. PMSR raises dozens of legal and ethical issues. Should it be legal to extract sperm from a corpse? Under what circumstances?
The law in the United States is silent on PMSR. The first report of a successful request for PMSR was made in 1980. Since then, many countries have passed legislation banning or regulating PMSR. To date, however, the United States has no laws on PMSR. Pre-existing laws on tissue donation, inheritance, and parentage incidentally address some of the legal issues raised by PMSR, but both the federal and state governments in the United States have failed to pass any laws either banning or regulating PMSR.[excerpt
Food Date Labels and Hunger in America
No full textMillions of Americans go hungry, while 40% of the food in the United States is wasted. Research has shown that 43% of the waste occurs in homes and that consumers are making decisions about purchasing and throwing away food without understanding the meaning of the food date labels. One of the most cost-effective ways to begin to effect a change is to eliminate the myriad of confusing food date labels so that individuals do not throw away good food. In May 2016, the Food Date Labeling Act of 2016 was proposed in both houses of Congress. This bicameral bill was drafted with the assistance of food industry experts and would provide federal oversight of food date labeling, reducing the number of labels allowed and removing state regulations prohibiting food banks’ use of food with expired quality dates. This Comment evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed legislation in light of reducing food waste. While the Act includes many positive attributes, arguably its effectiveness would be enhanced if it allowed only for safety-based food labels and eliminated quality-based labels
