347 research outputs found
Sort by
Walking the Talk : Signature Pedagogies and Metateaching in Graduate-Level Education Courses
Get PDFMany M.Ed. programs claim to incorporate signature pedagogies in their programs, which often include approaches such as inquiry-based, case-based, and problem-based learning, communities of learners, and more.
Teacher education is unique among disciplines in that we are doing what we are teaching. Metateaching has been defined as thinking about teaching (Timpson 1999), but if metacognition is thinking about thinking, and a meta-language is a language about languages, then metateaching is in fact teaching about teaching. If we combine this with notions of signature pedagogies and the idea that we should be modeling what we are teaching, then what does this mean at the graduate level?
It means that graduate instructors should themselves be modeling what they are teaching. Wouldn’t signature pedagogy in education be one that actually implements the theories and models being studied in order to teach those same theories and models? Shouldn’t it be one that employs experimental designs and invites the students (most of who are teachers) to examine the course design as it’s being taught? Wouldn’t it make sense to have the students have input into the design and/or teaching?
This presentation will examine the common approach to teaching graduate level education courses - the seminar - and suggest an alternate approach that uses the theories and models being taught and where the teaching methodology matches the kind of work the participants will do when they graduate
Editors View the Continuous Publication Model as a Satisfactory Alternative for Open Access LIS Journals [Evidence Summary]
No full textA Review of:
Cirasella, J., & Bowdoin, S. (2013). Just roll with it? Rolling volumes vs. discrete issues in open access library and information science journals. Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication, 1(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/2162-3309.1086
Abstract
Objective – To understand the prevalence of, motivations for, and satisfaction with using a rolling-volume publishing model, as opposed to publishing discrete issues, across open access academic journals in library and information science.
Design – A 12 question survey questionnaire.
Setting – English-language, open access library and information science (LIS) journals published in the United States of America.
Subjects – A total of 21 open access LIS journals identified via the Directory of Open Access Journals that were actively publishing, and that also met the authors’ standard of scholarliness, which they established by identifying a journal’s peer-review process or other evidence of rigorous review. Based on responses, 12 journals published using discrete issues, while 9 published as rolling volumes or as rolling volumes with some discrete issues.
Methods – In late 2011, the study’s authors invited lead editors or primary journal contacts to complete the survey. Survey participants were asked to identify whether their journal published in discrete issues, rolling volumes, or rolling volumes with occasional discrete issues, with the latter two categories combined as one for ease of results analysis. Survey logic split respondents into two groups, either discrete-issue or rolling-volume. Respondents in both categories were posed similar sets of questions, with the key difference being that the questions directed at each category accounted for the publication model the journals themselves identified as using. Editors from both groups were asked about the reasons for using the publication model they identified for their journal: within the survey tool, authors provided 16 potential reasons for using a discrete-issue model, and 13 potential reasons for using a rolling-volume model. Respondents from both groups were asked to mark all reasons that applied for their respective journals. The survey also included questions about whether the journal had ever used the alternate publishing model, the editor’s satisfaction with their current model, and the likelihood of the journal switching to the alternate publishing model in the foreseeable future.
Main Results – The authors collected complete responses from 21 of the original 29 journals invited to participate in the study, a response rate of 72%. For the 12 journals that identified as using discrete issues, ease of production workflow (91.7%), clear production deadlines (75.0%), and journal publicity and promotion (75.0%) were the three most common reasons for using a discrete-issue model. For the nine journals using rolling volumes, improved production workflow (77.8%), decreased dependence on production deadlines (77.8%), and increased speed of research dissemination (66.7%) were the three most common reasons cited for using a rolling-volume model.
Findings show that overall satisfaction with a journal’s particular publication model was a common factor regardless of publishing model in use, though only the rolling-volume editors unanimously reported being very satisfied with their model. This high satisfaction rate is reflected in editors’ positions that they were very unlikely to switch away from the rolling-volume method. While a majority of editors of discrete-issue journals also reported being very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their current model, the mixed responses to whether they would contemplate switching to the alternate model suggests that awareness of the benefits of rolling-volume publishing is increasing.
Conclusion – Researchers discovered a greater incidence of rolling-volume model journals with open access LIS journals than anticipated, suggesting that this is an area where additional research is necessary. The relative newness of the rolling-volume model may be a contributing factor to the high satisfaction rate among editors of journals using this model, as journal editors are likely to be more deliberate in selecting this model over the traditional discrete-issue publishing model. Workflow and production practices were identified as key characteristics for selecting a publishing model regardless of the model selected, and therefore this is another area in need of further investigation
Using Grounded theory as a method of inquiry : advantages and disadvantages
Get PDFThere are many challenges and criticisms attached to the conduct of research, none the least of which is a notion that much of the research undertaken in professional disciplines such as nursing may not have clinical and/or practical relevance. While there are a plethora of qualitative research methods that individuals must consider when designing research studies, one method stands out - Grounded Theory (GT). Grounded theory was developed in the early 1960’s by Glaser and Strauss. With its theoretical orientation based in sociology, GT strives to understand and explain human behavior through inductive reasoning processes (Elliott & Lazenbatt, 2005). Because of its emphasis on the utilization of a variety of data sources that are grounded in particular contexts, GT provides a natural theoretical fit when designing nursing research studies. In this article, the authors provide an overview of GT and then describe the appropriateness, advantages, and disadvantages of applying it as part of the research design process. Additionally, the authors highlight the importance of taking a reflexive position to stay engaged while interacting with the data, and explore how to apply GT theory to particular research questions and studies. Finally, the strengths and limitations of this method of inquiry as applied to nursing research using a brief case study approach is presented
Gene Rummy: A Card Game About Mendelian Genetics
Get PDFMany people struggle with the fundamental concepts underlying Mendelian genetics. As soon as we involve more than two traits things get complicated. The classic examples are fine, but additional resources can be helpful. Besides, playing with blood isn't all it's cracked up to be, and rabbits are cuter. Here's a visual way to learn the jargon and the basic principles of Mendelian inheritance while playing a fast-paced card game using rabbit coat color genetics. Coat color in rabbits demonstrates dominance/recessive traits, differences in pheno- vs genotypes, epistatis, and multiple alleles - all of which blend together to form the color we see. Gene Rummy is a variation of Gin Rummy. Players can try their hand at breeding rabbits - without the mess, smell, or expense. This workshop is a demonstration of our prototype card game and participants will have an opportunity to examine the cards, see how the games are played, and try a few hands themselves. Two variants exist: “Families”: attempt to form families from the rabbits in their hands by choosing a sire and dam and the babies that this mating could produce. 2) “Production”: pick a rabbit from the “Gene Pool” and try to find two parents who could produce it
Gamification: A Different Paradigm of Pedagogy
No full textIn a recent online presentation Charles M. Reigeluth, he said that the future of Ed Tech would require a change of paradigm of pedagogy. Gamification is one such new pedagogy that can be implemented without the need for institutional systemic change.
‘Gamification’ is the use of game elements in non-game contexts and since the term’s first appearance in 2006, it has become a trending topic on many education forums. This presentation reports on the gamification of 2 university courses: one a grad-level education course and the other a freshman computer course.
While many aspects of gamification are *not* new, some are, and when taken together create a pedagogy that could be one of Reigeluth’s different paradigms. His requirements for a new paradigm includes a requirement for attainment-based, continuous student progress that is learner-centered, personalized, and self-directed. Gamification, done right, is all those things.
The Gamification Paradigm includes:
1. Strict cumulative grading.
2. More tasks to choose from than needed for a perfect score.
3. Flexible path through content to demonstrate objectives.
4. Attainment-base student progress.
5. Criterion-referenced assessment.
The presentation will explain the structure of the courses that were taught, highlight successes and failures, and conclude with strategies that can be used to incorporate meaningful gamification into existing courses
It was like a mirror : a reflection on filmed role play simulation
Get PDF“What brings you here today?” is a familiar question in a health clinic in Canada, but it may not be one that comes immediately to the mind of an internationally educated health professional. The way health professionals communicate with patients in their cultures can sound overly direct in Canadian clinics. “Why are you here?” would be typically asked to patients in settings such as the Ukraine and Egypt. A stepping stone that supports the understanding of linguistic appropriacy and the Canadian health care context is offered at the Languages Institute of Mount Royal University, Calgary. The Communication Skills for Health Professionals (CSHP) project teaches language and communication skills through a performance based approach. Our scholarship of teaching and learning inquiry explored how students in this project value filmed role play simulations as a learning tool for developing communication skills and knowledge. This article describes the instructional context of our study, its methodology, four key findings and implications for the role of the English language instructor, for student learning and for program implementation. The impact of filmed role play simulation on learning, acculturation into the Canadian health care context, professional identity formation, and the integration of communication skills within various contexts are discussed
Evidence Summary: Hands on Digital Information Literacy Training from Peers is Preferred by Public Service Library Staff
Get PDFAbstract
A Review of:
Robertson, R. (2014). Reframing ourselves: Digital information literacy skills of frontline public library staff. New Zealand Library and Information Management Journal, 53(3). doi:10.1080/00048623.2011.10722203
Abstract
Objective – To explore how and where public library employees acquire digital information literacy (DIL) skills.
Design – Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
Setting – Two public libraries in New Zealand.
Subjects – Nine front line public library staff members.
Methods – A convenience sample of nine library employees was interviewed about their existing DIL skills, how and where they learned them, any barriers to this learning, and how they defined DIL in others. Interviewees ranged in age from 40 to 64 and included both those new to libraries and those with over 25 years in the profession. The interview transcripts were analyzed for key themes and placed in the theoretical framework of Kolb’s experiential learning cycle (Robertson, 2014).
Main Results – Five participants described their own DIL skills as average or below average. The remaining participants classified their skills as above average. Participants recounted acquiring DIL skills in the course of their work through formal workplace training sessions, peer support, or individual exploration; through personal exploration of tools on their own time; or through a mix of work and personal learning opportunities. The barriers they identified to their learning included insufficient time to train and practice the skills learned and the lack of access to relevant technologies. Participants noted problems such as accessing key hardware and insufficient Internet connectivity at work because of issues with organizational infrastructure and at home due to personal financial constraints. Participants largely preferred informal hands-on training by peers to formal training sessions, which were described by some as too general or held too far in advance of the implementation of new technology. The data suggested participants largely fell into Kolb’s accommodating or diverging learning styles because of their preference for “concrete experience” (Robertson, 2014).
Conclusion – Libraries may improve staff acquisition of DIL skills by increasing hands on learning opportunities and providing dedicated time to review and practice skills learned. Other suggestions included identifying potential digital peer mentors among staff and providing them with the necessary resources (time, money, and a defined role) to support their colleagues, breaking training into parts allowing time for practice, creating training plans tied to performance evaluation, and using incentives to encourage staff to participate in self-directed training
From Passive Consumers to Passionate Creators: Undergraduate students and the research process.
No full textPresentation at International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference
Great Expectations: results from a faculty survey of students’ information literacy proficiency
Get PDFIn the fall of 2012, our library surveyed teaching faculty to gauge their expectations around students’ use of information. We asked instructors what they thought was important for students to know in each year of study, how proficient they felt students were in performing tasks associated with research, how they expected students to acquire that proficiency, and how they assessed students’ skills. The survey also polled faculty on the types of resources they felt were important for each year of study. The results of the study are informing the development of the library’s strategic plan and the inclusion of information literacy outcomes in program reviews and assessments.
The good news is that faculty perceived that students’ information skills developed over time. Other patterns in the data suggest areas for improvement, both in raising awareness of some information resources and in developing instruction around key skills. Few faculty placed much importance on students’ use of subject encyclopedias, the mainstay of many reference collections. Faculty also felt that students, particularly in first and second year, were not skilled in determining what information they needed, a step we may often skip in the struggle to include yet more resources in our instruction. The data also suggest where the library might intervene to address areas where faculty consider that students lack proficiency
The Search for Meaningful e-Learning at Canadian Universities: A Multi-Institutional Research Study
Get PDFWhile e-learning is now characterized by a past and trends within that past, there continues to be uncertainty about how e-learning is defined and conceptualized, whether or not we like e-learning, and whether or not it is as meaningful to us as face to face learning. The purpose of this study was to document the e-learning perceptions of students at three Canadian post-secondary institutions. Key components of e-learning courses including ease of navigation, course design, resource availability, and adequacy of e-learning supports and their impact on the student learning experience were also evaluated.
Based on a survey of students (n = 1,377) as well as their participation in focus groups, the following are presented as important findings: the majority of students studying in e-learning courses at the three institutions represented in the study were women; ease of navigation, course design, and previous experience with e-learning consistently demonstrated a statistically significant predictive capacity for positive e-learning experiences; and students expressed less preference for e-learning instructional strategies than their faculty.
Study findings hold implications for e-learning faculty, instructional designers, and administrators at institutions of higher education in Canada and elsewhere where e-learning is part of the institutional mandate. Additionally, further research into student perceptions of and experiences with e-learning is recommended