by Lejla Mušić
Original Research
The debate over the changes in climate system and greenhouse effect has reached its top during the transition from modern to postmodern age. The authors/ess argued that the ecological problems are more important than the national problems. Therefore the regionalization and formation of Unions formed in order to achieve better quality of life are necessary. Why should we accept the ecological nationalism idea? K. Sivaramakrishnan founded that ecological nationality represents the idea that is hard to be defined and his definition involves personal insight such as intersection of cosmopolitanism and nativism in devotion towards the nature. Barbara Adam, eminent sociologist developed the concept of global time, as time that involves web of people living in contemporary are to which the same ideas, news and inventions are transmitted at the same time. Globally, we can say that global time involves the society of contemporaries who share the same idea of the most important societal changes and inventions. Changes of climate are problems that had raised interest in all fields of human knowledge, biology, physics, sociology, philosophy, law, chemistry, politics etc. Environmentalist nationalism represents superior form of nationalism that is based on bioregionalism and together with an idea of cosmopolitan democracy, offers an alternative perspective for global future societies.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 234-240. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-21
Pub. Date: February 27, 2017
9051 Views2788 Downloads
by Rita Coombs-Richardson and Freddie W. Litton
Special Issue
Universal Design for Learning is a concept which liberates people from labels that separates them from the norm. It proposes teaching methods that compensates a need, similar to pushing a door opener when hands are occupied, a ramp for pushing a stroller or using an elevator instead of stairs. In the classroom, universal design for learning (UDL) incorporates numerous methods to differentiate instruction. Students are given multiple ways to express their understanding and mastery of what is taught. The multiple opportunities for engagement is the most important UDL principle. The ultimate goal of UDL is to vary approaches and strategies that differentiate and maximize learning.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 231-233. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-20
Pub. Date: February 25, 2017
6447 Views2335 Downloads
by Freddie W. Litton, Anthony R. Rotatori, Rita Coombs-Richardson and Rachel Martinez
Special Issue
This paper describes and documents the need for an increase in both the quantity and quality of training programs for one of the rapidly expanding areas of special education – children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Challenges and barriers to teacher preparation efforts are described along with program research based strategies and emerging concepts that should be included in a teacher preparation program in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 225-230. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-19
Pub. Date: February 25, 2017
8615 Views3754 Downloads
by Jane Devick Fry and Carol Klages
Special Issue
The purpose of this paper is to describe the significance of mindfulness as a teaching disposition that should be incorporated into educator preparation program curriculum. In addition, this paper includes guidelines to engage faculty in this process. Mindfulness in teaching creates a state of mind that encourages creativity, flexible use of information, improvement in student/teacher collaborations and identification of effective instructional strategies. Mindfulness as a teaching disposition has the potential to increase teacher retention, decrease student stress and promote an enriched classroom environment.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 221-224. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-18
Pub. Date: February 25, 2017
6824 Views2669 Downloads1 Likes
by Carol Klages and Jane Devick Fry
Special Issue
The purpose of this investigation is to establish a snapshot of the extent one teacher educator program is preparing its teacher candidates to be ready, knowledgeable, and empowered to use technological components in their future classroom. A self-assessment inventory, online course discussion boards, and a specific audio/visual media product were used to determine teacher candidate perceptions of efficacy and preparedness for technological components in their future classrooms. This investigation is meant to stimulate a teacher educator program to evaluate its curriculum in regards to technological components taught to future teachers.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 214-220. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-17
Pub. Date: February 25, 2017
7074 Views2922 Downloads
by Amy Barnhill and Rachel Martinez
Special Issue
Reading fluency has been identified as an essential skill in early readers. The technological boom to which students in the iGeneration have been exposed, has produced many potential tools for developing reading fluency. This study investigated reading fluency and technology. The design of the study presented here allowed the researchers to ask two questions related to the development of reading fluency in 2ndgraders. First, did the use of MP3 players as an at-home tool increase reading fluency in 2nd graders? Second, did teacher experience increase the reading fluency of these 2nd graders? The results indicated that the use of MP3 players as an at-home tool did not have a statistically significant impact on reading fluency. However, teacher experience did have a statistically significant impact on reading fluency. Several explanations for these results are discussed including the, perhaps, outdated choice of the MP3 player as the technological tool utilized in the study. In addition, questions are raised about the efficacy of using the MP3 player as a homework-type of assignment. While the importance of establishing a solid home-school connection is noted, schools may need to rethink the most beneficial methods for building that connection with ALL parents/families. Teacher experience is, not surprisingly, connected to student achievement. This result highlighted the need for schools to develop an environment for beginning teachers to grow and find support. Keeping teachers in the classroom is of utmost importance to student achievement.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 207-213. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-16
Pub. Date: February 25, 2017
7597 Views2934 Downloads
by Darwin Nelson, Gary Low and Rick Hammett
Special Issue
Living and working successfully in the 21st Century require skill sets and competencies of transformative emotional intelligence. More and more evidence and research zero in on the need to learn and gain the positive contributions of the emotional mind to support and balance traditional learning. The purpose of this article is to provide a research based learning model of emotional intelligence. The five key learning skills dimensions include (a) Interpersonal and Communication, (b) Personal Leadership, (c) Self-Management, (d) Intrapersonal Development, and (e) Recognizing and Reducing Potential Problem Areas are presented. Original research by the authors, more than sixty doctoral dissertations, colleague research, and institutional studies have guided the development of an education and learning model of transformative emotional intelligence to meet work, career, and life skills needed to experience more health and effectiveness in a complex world.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 197-206. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-15
Pub. Date: February 25, 2017
8555 Views3244 Downloads
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American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 196-196. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-14
Pub. Date: February 25, 2017
6020 Views2058 Downloads
by Takekuni Yamaoka, Kimihito Takeno, Shinichi Okino and Shinji Matsumoto
Original Research
The purpose of this study was to create and evaluate an educational magnetic top. The experiment was conducted with elementary school children at the Youngsters’ Science Festival in Matsuyama, Japan. In order to evaluate the study, an open-ended questionnaire was created. Upon receiving permission from parents, 139 elementary school children were surveyed, which included 56 students from the lower grades, 54 students from the middle grades, and 29 students from the upper grades. The survey was analyzed using the text mining technique. As a result, three important results were gathered: 1) it became clear that most students in the middle grades stop feeling like they were bad at the screw tightening; and 2) Most students in the upper grades that had experience in motor learning, students tended to be able to adequately explain the principle of screw tightening; and 3) As long as students learn about the principles of motors, the teaching materials that are proposed in this study can be used to describe complex principles to students in all elementary school grade levels.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 189-195. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-13
Pub. Date: February 23, 2017
12366 Views2147 Downloads
by Jamal Raiyn and Oleg Tilchin
Original Research
In this paper, we propose a dynamic model for building a framework for the adaptive, complex assessment of developing the higher-order thinking (HOT) skills in students. Adaptability is provided by the dynamics of instructor assessment taking into account the development of HOT skills and providing a flexible choice of instructional problems for students. The complexity of the assessment is provided by initial, formative, adaptive and summative assessments of HOT skills. The proposed coefficients for HOT skill development serve as a constructive means of evaluating developing HOT skills in students. The creation of the model includes the elaboration and integration of interconnected model components. The dynamics of the model are provided by changes in its parameters, which express the dynamic process of assessment. The model involves the following assessment components: initial, formative, adaptive, and summative (SIFA). It fosters the development of HOT skills by adapting the assessment of HOT skills to the dynamics of the problem solving process.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 184-188. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-12
Pub. Date: February 22, 2017
9783 Views2145 Downloads
by Sahyar and Rika Yulia Fitri
Original Research
This study aimed to analyze whether the result of students’ problem-solving ability with using problem-based learning model better than conventional learning, to analyze the results of problem-solving ability of students who have high average of adversity quotient better than students who have low average of adversity quotient, to find out interaction between problem-based learning model mapping and adversity quotient of students' problem-solving ability. Two class of students namely; problem-based learning class and conventional learning class were investigated on student’s problem-solving ability. The results showed that: problem-solving ability of students used problem-based learning model better than conventional learning, problem-solving ability of students who have high average of adversity quotient better than students who have the low average of adversity quotient, and there was interaction between the problem-based learning model and conventional learning with adversity quotient to improve students' problem-solving ability.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 179-183. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-11
Pub. Date: February 22, 2017
11957 Views5085 Downloads
by Murad Alkhalaileh, Abd Al-Hadi Hasan and Omar Al-Rawajfah
Original Research
Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of instructional video training method of teaching about CPR in comparison with conventional format.Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted with 210 students. Students were randomly assigned to receive instructional video training (n = 111) or conventional format of teaching (n = 90). The primary outcome measure was the baseline to endpoint change in knowledge level. Results: A significantly higher overall post-test score was observed for instructional video training group as compared to lecture.Conclusions:instructional video training is as effective as conventional format of teaching in teaching and learning basic emergency skills.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 172-178. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-10
Pub. Date: February 21, 2017
8375 Views2936 Downloads
by Andrew C. Bugbee, Annette Louviere, Jo R. Smith, Cynthia R. Ward and Kate E. Creevy
Original Research
The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing student motivation for learning and performance on a small animal internal medicine (SAIM) rotation, with a particular emphasis on the impact of the type of grade reporting system utilized. Veterinary students rotating through 3-week SAIM rotations at the University of Georgia between March 4, 2013 and May 1, 2014 were randomized to receive either conventional pass/fail (CONV) or proxy discriminating letter grades (PROX) as their interim and final individual performance evaluations. Additionally, each student was asked to complete a motivation self-assessment questionnaire on the last day of the rotation to determine which factors contributed to their performance accomplishments and learning strategies during the rotation. A total of 157 students completed the SAIM rotation during the 14-month period, and 107 students completed the questionnaire. There was no difference in scores on interim or final performance evaluations between CONV and PROX groups. Results of questionnaire responses suggested that the type of grade reporting system utilized infrequently impacted student motivation to exceed performance standards and did not influence specific learning techniques employed during their clinical rotation. Ultimately, the value placed on patient care, client relations, and future professional success were the most commonly reported motivating factors by the clinical students.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 161-171. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-9
Pub. Date: February 21, 2017
11486 Views3561 Downloads
by Cristy R. Malonzo and Maria Teresa M. Fajardo
Original Research
In the absence of readily available teaching resources and laboratories, science teachers are often challenged to improvise instructional tools and materials. This study is aimed to design and evaluate indigenous toy carts intended for teaching Newton’s Law of Motion. Fifteen science teachers from two public high schools were asked to evaluate the developed indigenous toy carts using an evaluation form. A randomly selected intact class of Grade 8 students was also asked to perform a physics activity using the instructional tools developed by the researchers and evaluate the experience using an adopted Intrinsic Motivation Inventory. The demonstration tools were rated at most as acceptable by science teachers on constructional appearance and economy; ease of construction and scientific rigor and usability. Majority of the Grade 8 students found the activity with the indigenous carts interesting and enjoyable. It is recommended that science teachers be given more training and workshops on instructional tools and materials development to enhance the science experience of students.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 155-160. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-8
Pub. Date: February 20, 2017
11097 Views2874 Downloads6 Likes
by Benjamin T.K. Boison and Clement Dzidonu
Review Article
The paper provides a renewed framework for framing technology user environments among higher educational institutions. We propose the need to explore and understand the appropriate technology user environment as a prerequisite to deploying technologies in institutions of higher learning. The proposed framework developed from the perspective of the bioecological theory. The use of technologies for teaching and learning naturally takes place in a bio-ecological environment. It is now acceptable that the academic environments in which technologies are deployed and used have primary features associated with the bioecological theory. Some writers and researchers have therefore related the deployment of technologies in tertiary institutions to the bio-ecological theory. Some of these studies lack emphases on users of technology in an academic environment. Moreover, some individual conceptual studies have failed to recognize some important arms of the natural framework. We also consider the body of evidence on the subject subtle. We, therefore, want to uphold the need to know and understand the appropriate technology user environment as a prerequisite to deploying technologies in higher institutions by revealing a renewed framework for framing it. In this paper, we use conceptual and theoretical studies that employ the bio-ecological theory in forming frameworks relating to technology user environments. The studies used are largely from peer-reviewed journals, but we also used to work and white papers written on the subject. The typical technology user environment has essential features of the bioecological theory. A resounding attribute of this environment is the links or harmony between its subjects (users) and how these relationships extend to choices of technologies, user characteristics and the specific uses of technologies for students, faculty members and institutional management. Management of higher academic institutions can frame their technology user environments by considering the dimensions of the bio-ecological theory (i.e. microsystem factors, mesosystem factors, exosystem factors, and macrosystem factors) along the lines of choices of technologies, user characteristics (such as skills and ability to use technologies) and the specific uses of technologies for students, faculty members and institutional management.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 150-154. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-7
Pub. Date: February 17, 2017
7597 Views2655 Downloads2 Likes
by Maria Euleen Z. Pastor and Maria Teresa M. Fajardo
Original Research
The study aimed to determine the effects of Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Movies on students’ achievement and attitude towards chemistry. A total of 233 students from the BS Criminology and BSED Education programs enrolled in a general chemistry course were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The findings of an ANCOVA analysis indicated that students exposed first to CSI movies before the lecture performed better in the achievement test than students who belong to the control group and students exposed to CSI movies after the lecture. Attitude towards chemistry is found to be very positive. However, the attitude of the students did not vary significantly. Properly selected CSI movies may have served as motivation to learn the chemistry concepts. The study recommends the use of well-selected movies and videos to expose students to the application of chemistry concepts in the real world. Moreover, classroom experience must be varied and focused on the latest updates in chemistry and in chemistry education to motivate students for chemistry.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 144-149. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-6
Pub. Date: February 10, 2017
10210 Views3089 Downloads1 Likes
by Ileana M. Petra Micu, Zoraida García Castillo, Ana M. Sosa Reyes, Mariana Fouilloux Morales, Gabriela Hernández Cárdenas and Patricia M. Herrera Saint Leu
Original Research
The School of Forensic Science of the Universidad National Autonomous of Mexico was created in 2013. Internationally, no publications were found in which the students respond to experiences posed by certain activities during their forensic practice. A Likert style instrument was developed and was validated with 269 medical students, and subject to analysis of reliability to determine the alpha de Cronbach and Varimax factor analysis, then it was applied 56 forensic science students. Results: an Alpha of.732 and it explained 47.7% of the total variance in six components: motivation, negative reactions, anxiety somatization, perceptions, aversion, and professional profile. Over 70% regarded their practice in a positive way leaving 20 to 30% with doubts and conflicts. Conclusions. While the group under study is small, the results open an important field to explore the personality that these future professionals have and if necessary to offer appropriate help to overcome these problems.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 138-143. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-5
Pub. Date: February 09, 2017
7141 Views2607 Downloads
by Stavrou P.D. and Kourkoutas E.
Original Research
Contemporary research and the ecosystemic psychological approach both underline the role of school community in promoting psychological resilience and well-being of students, especially in case of students with socio-emotional difficulties. The aim of this study is to provide a description and evaluation of school based programs for prevention or intervention in case of students with socio-emotional difficulties, as well as school based programs that promote resilience and psychosocial well-being for the general student population. Overall, effective school based programs seem to be characterized by a holistic approach of students¡¯ symptoms, interpreting them as a reaction to problematic relationships between children with difficulties and their teachers, family and school. Under this scope, interventions are collaboratively implemented by the educational staff, mental health professionals and family, and aim at the development of a supportive school climate that promotes resilience and cultivates students¡¯ sense of belonging to their school, especially in case of students with socio-emotional difficulties, to create a system of social-emotional support for students, teachers and parents in need that could form the foundation of resilient schools and classrooms.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 131-137. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-4
Pub. Date: February 08, 2017
9395 Views3950 Downloads1 Likes
by Kourkoutas E., Stavrou P.-D and Loizidou N.
Original Research
As the model of inclusive education gains ground over the approach of special classrooms and special schools, the percentage of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) attending regular classes along with their typically developed peers gradually increases. Under this scope, teachers and school psychologists are required to broaden the spectrum of their knowledge and skills in order to provide a supportive classroom environment that could foster the academic and social inclusion of students with SEN. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore, through semi-structured interviewing, the views of 30 Greek teachers, working with SEN students aged from 7-12 years old, on inclusive education. The content analysis of the data revealed that, according to teachers, the factors favoring inclusion revolve around building a strong relationship with the child, family and professionals working in the school context, as well as adequate information and training concerning SEN. On the contrary, factors hindering inclusion mostly concerned practical difficulties, such as overcrowded classrooms, delayed diagnoses and lack of reliable measures of evaluation. Overall, although Greek teachers appeared to be favorable towards inclusive education, they seemed to underestimate some aspects of inclusion practice regarded as key elements by the contemporary literature. What emerged from this study, was the need for additional training, psychosocial support and psychoeducation of Greek teachers working in the field of inclusive education.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 124-130. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-3
Pub. Date: February 08, 2017
8496 Views3467 Downloads
by Malamatenia Tsirika, Domna – Mika Kakana and Aikaterinh Michalopoulou
Original Research
The purpose of this work is to develop, implement and evaluate e-portfolio as an alternative method of assessment in a kindergarten classroom. This research follows the methodology of qualitative research and specifically action research. Particularly, the e-portfolio was designed by the teacher-researcher as a website using state-of-the-art technology in order to present to the parents the best works of their children in the classroom. The participants of this survey were students of a small kindergarten classroom in a private school in Trikala, Greece, during the school year 2014-2015. Initially, a portfolio tool was implemented within the classroom in a paper format at the start of the school year and after three months, a fully functional implementation of an e-portfolio was used throughout the rest of the school year. The evaluation of the utility of the e-portfolio was conducted by the teacher-researcher in several layers, including participant observation on a daily basis (calendar), semi-structured individual interviews with children and open-ended questionnaire combined with semi-structured interviews with the parents. The data collected throughout this procedure, were processed and categorized using thematic content analysis. The thematic areas that emerged from this analysis concerned the application of the e-portfolio, the attitude of the children, the children’s emotions, emotions of their family environment, the frequency the e-portfolio was used, peer relationships, child - family interaction and general feedback about the e-portfolio. The results reveal a positive attitude towards the promotion of self assessment and peer assessment through the use of the e-portfolio. Furthermore, the parents showed great interest for the e-portfolio tool and reacted positively in using it. As a result, the e-portfolio was proved to be successfully implemented in a kindergarten classroom, and its application revealed that the peer assessment among the classmates helped the children to develop the process of self assessment at a high level.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 114-123. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-2
Pub. Date: February 05, 2017
9595 Views3948 Downloads
by Michael Gr. Voskoglou
Original Research
Student group total possibilistic uncertainty and probabilistic uncertainty are calculated for evaluating the student acquisition of the van Hiele levels of geometric reasoning and an example is presented illustrating our results.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2017, 5(2), 109-113. DOI: 10.12691/education-5-2-1
Pub. Date: February 04, 2017
8051 Views3406 Downloads1 Likes