Academic Exchange Quarterly articles from September 2005

Academic Exchange Quarterly archives from September 2005

Editorial.(George E. Marsh II, professor, modern education, math education)(Editorial)(Obituary)
September 22, 2005... In Memory of George E. Marsh II, 1942-2005. Dr. George E. Marsh II passed away on June 15, 2005. Dr. Marsh had been a professor at the University of Alabama since 1989. He had also been a professor at the University of Miami (1987-89) and the...

Math--that four-letter word!
September 22, 2005... Abstract Math anxiety is extremely prevalent in the general population, but tends to have gender and age as key aspects to occurrence. A factor in this may be that many elementary teachers tend to be math phobic. This paper looks at two...

High school students' attitudes toward mathematics.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Longitudinal data from four high schools over two school years indicate that students did not want a job using mathematics, even when they viewed mathematics as important. About half were willing to work a long time to understand...

Curriculum ideas for part time PhD students.
September 22, 2005... Abstract In this paper, we discuss the theory and practice behind the creation and implementation of a new integrated doctoral program approach that requires students to begin the dissertation process at the beginning, rather than the end,...

An after-school cultural arts program.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article focuses on an after-school cultural arts program as an oasis in a test-preparation environment. It explains the school and program, defines culture, and includes a discussion of methods and program evaluation. ...

Comparing online and traditional classes.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This study compared the experiences of students in online and traditional statistics classes. A two-condition quasi-experiment with a pretest and a post-test was employed to compare performance, attitudes and satisfaction between...

Introduction to regression using NBA statistics.(National Basketball Association)
September 22, 2005... Abstract This paper presents an activity that was used to introduce concepts related to the simple linear regression model using data from the National Basketball Association (NBA). Using SPSS to facilitate student understanding and...

Peer assessment and role play: a winning alliance.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Combining peer assessment and role play into one activity can produce an effective assessment method. Incorporating peer assessment into the project results in reduced faculty grading time and increased student learning. This...

Sense-making of institutionalizing assessment.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Interviews and focus groups were held with key college constituents (administrators, faculty members, program coordinators and department chairs) to better understand the process of implementing and sustaining assessment practices...

Teens share their views on technology.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article describes the results of a survey administered to nine teens concerning the use of technology in their daily lives. Some of the themes that emerge are the power of technology to link us on a global level as well as...

Using AI to learn about algorithms.(artificial intelligence)
September 22, 2005... Abstract As a course available for general education credit, one purpose of our undergraduate Introduction to Cognitive Science course is to increase students' understanding of mathematical concepts. We chose to concentrate on the concept...

Teacher candidates' literacy in assessment.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The present study investigated graduate and undergraduate teacher candidates' assessment literacy by identifying the extent to which assessment standards were met. Participants' teaching experiences were also examined for their...

Emergent literacy of bilingual kindergarteners.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This case study compares two bilingual kindergartener's emergent literacy development with the purpose of identifying possible issues and research questions concerning bilingual children's literacy development. Observational data...

Guiding teachers in conducting action research.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This paper describes how teachers in grades 3-8 analyzed their teaching by conducting action research in their mathematics classrooms. The research focused on implementing authentic assessment in which teachers followed a...

The language ecology of bilingual memory.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The present research examined language(s)-memory relations among compound bilingual children. Findings revealed the importance of language socialization with respect to language behavior exhibited by participants at recall....

A more parsimonious mathematics beliefs scales.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Beliefs are mental representations of reality that guide peoples' thoughts and behaviors. Originally the Mathematics Beliefs Scales (MBS) was hypothesized to measure tour subscales. After administering it to 123 teachers and 54...

Discovering inexpensive on-campus IT support.(information technology)
September 22, 2005... Abstract Over the past few years, U.S. higher education institutions have endured severe budget cuts which have resulted in decreased spending in the area of information technology (IT). However, the demand for IT support has continued to...

Exploring writing approaches in Chinese EFL class.(English as a foreign language)
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article discusses the strength and weakness of three most significant methodologies of teaching writing based on the writing needs of a group of Chinese university students. It is concluded that different approaches to...

"Doing Disney" Fosters media literacy in freshmen.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Media-literate citizens understand that cultural productions transmit ideologies and influence private and public life. The Disney assignment sequence uses academic and non-academic sources to engage college freshmen composition...

Stochastic misconceptions of pre-service teachers.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Analyzing explanations from 108 participants on a probability and statistics assessment, this study examined the use of two stochastic misconceptions by pre-service K-8 teachers. Representativeness heuristics were used more often...

Future early childhood teachers as EFL learners.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the process and outcomes of incorporating children's books written in English into an English Reading course designed for pre-service early childhood teachers in Taiwan. Based on a...

Medical narratives in empirical frameworks.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This paper examines the use of narrative in medical and scientific research writing by analyzing the research report and the grant proposal, genres familiar to many health care educators and practitioners. It is our intention to...

Alternative certification program analysis.(teacher certification)
September 22, 2005... Abstract A thorough review of the literature on alternative certification from 1997 to 2002 was conducted. After coding 77 articles a qualitative interpretive perspective was used. The findings indicate that improved reporting of program...

Ethnomathematics and aboriginal student anxiety.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Mathematics anxiety has been identified as a barrier to aboriginal learners who wish to enroll in post secondary education and training in Canada. We examined student beliefs about mathematics anxiety and their perceptions about...

A modeling-based approach to college algebra.(Virginia Commonwealth University's educational program)
September 22, 2005... Abstract Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is engaged in reforming college algebra, a course that is a gateway to the college experience for many students. The details of a modeling-based approach to college algebra are outlined in...

Listening to my students: the digital divide.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article reports on what a small group of students had to say about class, access, and the digital divide. Drawing on a research project composed of a survey of eight first-year composition courses and the writings of a small...

Keeping students informed of the transfer process.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article resulted from an action research project conducted to explore ways in which California community colleges could increase student awareness of the university admission and major-course requirements, encourage student...

Academic motivation profile in business classes.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The Academic Motivation Profile (AMP) was successfully developed and tested in education classes as a theoretically based tool for measuring students' attitudes about a course. The suitability of the AMP in business classes is...

Teaching the hypertext novel.
September 22, 2005... Abstract How can students learn to negotiate the non-linear structures, multiple, divergent readings, and open-ended narratives of hypertext fiction? How can they study electronic texts to understand narrative elements and their effects on...

Integrating mathematics and the language arts.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Integrating language arts into mathematics instruction has been a highly recommended instructional strategy. This study investigated elementary school teachers' (n=438) confidence in, frequency of use, and perceived usefulness of...

Media literacy in journalism education curriculum.
September 22, 2005... Abstract As a curricular initiative, media literacy presumes to go beyond base theoretical and ethical journalism courses by providing student-outcome, reflexive engagement that enables students to become active participants in an...

Social stigma and mathematical ignorance.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Although excelling in mathematics can be socially stigmatizing, is it a social stigma to be deficient in mathematics? Over 1000 undergraduate students were questioned as to the embarrassment level they would feel for various...

Tutoring graduate students in the writing center.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Graduate and professional students must learn new ways of writing, yet many of their programs offer little assistance. Writing center tutoring can help. Although pairing tutor and tutee from the same discipline works best, tutors...

Skills for succeeding in online graduate studies.
September 22, 2005... Abstract For online graduate learners, knowledge of practical skills that promote successful help seeking that go beyond simply suggesting that students ask their instructor for further direction, are invaluable. Skills for succeeding in...

High school students' math beliefs and society.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Research has pointed to schools and society as environmental influences on student beliefs about mathematics. This article highlights findings from two activities designed to elicit high school students' beliefs, particularly...

Do weekly quizzes improve student performance?
September 22, 2005... Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether quizzes in the basic statistics class influence final grades. Furthermore, it explored whether students with weekly quizzes performed better on assessment instruments. Students'...

Action research in language learning.
September 22, 2005... Abstract For many foreign and second language teachers professional development opportunities take place at once-a-year conferences and sometimes during a one day staff development. Is it any wonder these "try it out on Monday!" workshops...

Exploring leadership teaching methods.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article discusses effective instructional methods for teaching leadership in the classroom. The effective pedagogical approaches for teaching leadership discussed in this article include social learning theory, collaborative...

The promise of action research.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This study examined the perceptions pre-service teachers hold about learning and conducting action research. Results indicate that pre-service teachers can learn the process, believe that learning the process improves their...

Exploring focus groups with adolescent students.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Many educational action researchers use interviews as a method for gathering data. However, these interviews are usually on an individual basis and do not capture interactions between participants in the way focus groups can. In...

Developing good responses to students' errors.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This paper describes an activity involving pre-service elementary teachers. The exercise explored in this activity required pre-service teachers to reflect upon their own K-12 mathematics experiences and to determine what made...

Redesigning Web design.(including service-learning into online education)
September 22, 2005... Abstract Including service-learning into the Web curricular offers teachers a powerful pedagogical strategy and promotes students to take an active role within their communities. This qualitative research study conducted in 2004 with Pace...

Entwining feedback, self, and peer assessment.(impact of assessment on learning)
September 22, 2005... Abstract Assessment has frequently been used for the single purpose of measuring student success. This article suggests that assessment can help students learn and that teachers should involve students in the assessment process. A small...

Factors in learning second language and culture.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The focus of this study was to identify factors which enhance or complicate second language learners' acculturation and language acquisition processes. The researchers conducted structured interviews at a southern California high...

Teachers' efficacy in preparation and retention.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Researchers, policy makers, and university faculty continue to debate reasons for teacher attrition. By looking at dispositions and teachers' feelings of efficacy, insight can be gained into the teacher shortage issue. This...

Portfolio assessment and self-directed learning.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Portfolios have been heralded as an assessment method to enhance students' self-directed learning. This pilot study was done to better understand the nature of such issues from the perspective of four physicians who had completed...

Service learning and student academic success.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Service Learning has, in recent years, become a common requirement for graduation in many school districts across America. The question remains, how effective is Service Learning at enhancing student performance in the public...

"Expert of the Day" using PDAs in class/clinical.
September 22, 2005... Abstract A collaborative learning strategy entitled "Expert of the Day" using the technology of personal digital assistants (PDAs) improved students' perceptions of their ability to make decisions, increased their confidence and comfort...

Service learning in health administration programs.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article provides an introduction to service learning, a brief history/theoretical framework of service learning, followed by highlights of service learning projects as reported, using an electronic survey of members of the...

Constructionism: student learning and development.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess learning and development of students taught under a constructionist approach. Participants were six teachers and 12 students from a small experimental school in Thailand. Evaluation of...

Computer assisted learning for young bilinguals.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Few educational systems have been developed to specifically address the needs of young children who are acquiring two languages at the same time. In this paper, we present a prototype of a CALL (Computer Assisted Language...

Attitudes toward mathematics inventory redux.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The Attitudes Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) was initially developed using samples of high school students in a private school. An exploratory factor analysis identified four factors: self-confidence, value, enjoyment, and...

Short cuts to computing eigenvalues.
September 22, 2005... Abstract We suggest some short cuts to compute eigenvalues be incorporated into standard elementary linear algebra texts. These shortcuts, whose proofs are quite elementary, have been classroom-tested and favored by our students over the...

The role of sampling in qualitative research.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Many qualitative researchers state that sample size and sampling are not issues in qualitative research. However, we argue that making sampling and sample size considerations is central to qualitative research. First, we refute...

Can one book make a difference?
September 22, 2005... Abstract After learning how the library media center is organized through use of a call number system, students can apply this knowledge within any library setting to help them locate materials. This paper explains how a single picture...

Students' aversions to group work.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This paper describes a study in which 145 students who had recently completed a group project completed a survey assessing the students' perceptions of the project. This focus is on those aspects of group work which students found...

Assessment strategies as formative evaluation.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Writing is often misused as an assessment tool. This paper suggests faculty use evaluation strategies based in liberatory pedagogy as part of student-centered classrooms, so that assessment can be moved away from summative...

Student media texts: from the inside out.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The role of media production in media literacy programs remains a contentious issue. Some educators are concerned that students will merely reproduce dominant media paradigms and that such activities interfere with the field's...

An academic website in reproductive medicine.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This article describes how the author created an academic website in reproductive medicine, and presents data on visitor profiles. The website provides access to interactive lectures, computer-generated tests, quizzes, searchable...

Teaching research rhetorically.
September 22, 2005... Abstract At George Washington University, librarians and faculty have partnered to provide an effective introduction to information literacy to all freshmen. The structure of the new writing program promotes goals that are at the...

Empowering adult students through action research.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The purpose of this classroom study was to explore ways to empower adult students to articulate and share their work and life experiences through action research and to also explore the transferability of learning to other social...

Student perceptions of a hybrid course.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This study explores students' (n=156) perceptions towards a hybrid introductory textile science course offered at the university level. Results suggest students are satisfied with the hybrid learning model, preferring the hybrid...

Overcoming speech and library anxiety.(preparing students to use the library and to practice public speaking)
September 22, 2005... Abstract Students at higher education institutions need to learn how to use the library and to give public speaking presentations, and most will experience Speech and or Library Anxiety. We review Library and Speech Anxiety, and a...

Teachers have the power to alleviate math anxiety.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Many students suffer from math anxiety, but teachers can incorporate skills to alleviate it for their students. In order to alleviate math anxiety teachers first and foremost need to portray a positive, enthusiastic, helpful...

Evaluation of brief alcohol abuse strategies.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The purpose of the evaluation was to examine the process that two campuses went through as a result of implementing alcohol abuse strategies. Specifically, the evaluation focused on the implementation and administrative...

Integrating information literacy and writing.
September 22, 2005... Abstract Information literacy and writing instruction are a perfect fit. Both involve critical thinking, evaluation, integration, and research. Teaching information literacy in the context of a first-year writing course is often an ideal...

Reversing roles to create an online course.(online curriculum development)
September 22, 2005... Abstract A graduate student and an assistant professor forge a unique partnership utilizing experiential learning to create an online course and to find a way to attempt to answer the question of optimizing instructor time, student...

Counselors' perceptions of sexual minorities.
September 22, 2005... Abstract The needs of gay, lesbian. Bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students, perceptions of counselors, which interfere with meeting those needs and a pilot program for influencing those perceptions is discussed. Introduction ...

Student goal orientation and formative assessment.
September 22, 2005... Abstract This study examined the role of formative assessment in the development of student goal orientations. Students in one elementary school were examined over the course of a school year as they participated in a reading program using...