No description available.

<p> This document analysis examined the academic library and the changing role of the academic librarian in higher education. A comparison of the trends and issues reported by prominent librarians in the 20th century was made to those reported in the 21st century. Emphasis was placed on the following decades: 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s in the 20th century and 2000s (through 2013) in the 21st century. Initial topics from the 20th century were selected from the cornerstone article, "College Libraries and the Teaching/Learning Process: A 25-Year Reflection" by Farber (1999). Farber, who was well known for research regarding bibliographic instruction at Earlham College, observed, reported, and predicted for the future many changes in the field of librarianship. His cornerstone article presented an historical view of bibliographic instruction, the development and oversight of the Ohio College Library Century, the rise of the use of microfilm and microfiche, the drastic change in processes for establishing and maintaining the card catalog, and an overview of technological changes as they relate to the academic library located in institutions of higher learning. The issues Farber discussed were compared to discussion by prominent librarians from the 21st century. An overview of the similarities, differences, and topics which have almost disappeared, as discussed by Farber, were reviewed. Also examined were current academic library topics Farber discussed which have changed immensely in the early years of the 21st century. The changing role of the academic librarian, motivated by changing media and technology availability was reviewed by decade.</p>

<p> As a critical race ethnography, this dissertation attempts to foreground the richness of Black urban youth culture during and around science classroom instruction. Ironically, during an era of much diversity rhetoric in the United States, the culture of urban Black youth is rarely reflected in mainstream public school culture. I attempt to explicate such a worldview compassionately and authentically for both insiders and outsiders of the lived experiences of Black America. Education in the United States can be damning for Black youth who do not fit the mainstream mold, and several authors have provided detailed critique of mechanisms that shape, direct, and marginalize outliers to the successful academic cultural model. The U.S. through this lens is experiencing an opportunity gap, not an achievement gap&mdash;one which equitable educational experience can best be viewed through the richness of critical ethnographic methods. This methodical approach allowed me as a researcher to listen to marginalized voices and to incorporate lived interactions with youth, their parents, and community stakeholders all committed to provide support for the today&rsquo;s youth. As a Black female science educator, I explore the evidence for reform impact as I examine in school experiences and science teaching of culturally relevant pedagogies for urban, working-class and poor families of color in grades six-eight who participated in a Western New York academic enrichment program. Findings suggest that skepticism of reform efforts and new pedagogical approaches existed for all stakeholders aforementioned, but that students were the most amenable and responsive to alternative educational approaches. Specific recommendations for engaging students in inquiry processes are given for teachers, institutions, parents and students on the basis of videotaped lessons, interviews, and instructional artifacts. Implications include the recommendations that educators working with youth of color need to be prepared to discuss the ethnic and racial identities of students and jointly construct a sense of activism and empowerment in the face of existing systemic oppression that can and should be eliminated if we are to reach the national goal (AAAS, 1986) of &ldquo;Science for All Americans,&rdquo; professed as many as three decades ago.</p>

<p> The purpose of this mixed method research study was to examine the constructivist beliefs and instructional practices of secondary science teachers. The research also explored situations that impacted whether or not student centered instruction occurred. The study revealed science teachers held constructive beliefs pertaining to student questioning of the learning process and student autonomy in interacting with other learners. Teachers held the least constructivist beliefs pertaining to student teacher collaboration on lesson design. Additionally, teacher beliefs and practice were not congruent due to instructional practices being deemed less constructivist than reported. The study found that curricular demands, teacher perceptions about students, inadequate laboratory resources, and the lack of teacher understanding about the components of constructivist instruction inhibited student centered instruction. The results of this study led to six recommendations that can be implemented by school districts in collaboration with science teachers to promote constructivist instruction. </p>

<p> The purpose of this mixed-methods action research study was to examine to what extent entomological research can promote students&rsquo; hands-on learning in a high-poverty, urban, secondary setting.</p><p> In reviewing the literature, the researcher was not able to find a specific study that investigated how entomological research could promote the hands-on learning of students. The researcher did find evidence that research on learning in a secondary setting was important to student growth. It should also be noted that support was established for the implementation of hands-on science inquiry in the classroom setting.</p><p> The study&rsquo;s purpose was to aid educators in their instruction by combining research-based strategies and hands-on science inquiry. The surveys asked 30 students to rate their understanding of three basic ideas. These core ideas were entomological research, hands-on science inquiry, and urban studies. These core ideas provided the foundation for the study. The questionnaires were based on follow-up ideas from the surveys. Two interview sessions were used to facilitate this one-on-one focus.</p><p> Because the study included only 30 student participants, its findings may not be totally replicable. Further study investigating the links between entomological research and hands-on science learning in an urban environment is needed.</p>

The research reported in this study is based on a detailed observation study of pupils carrying out investigative work in primary and secondary schools. The thesis examines the question of the type and level of understanding of scientific evidence which is employed in a number of different types of tasks associated with two underlying substantive concepts. The results suggest that the characteristics of each task make different demands on pupils of different ages and show that some pupils, in both primary and secondary schools, are capable of applying and synthesising ideas about evidence effectively in a problem-solving situation. Most pupils, however, even in Year 9, show a weak understanding of the application of many of these ideas, such as repeatability, range and interval or the most appropriate type of graph. It is argued that if pupils are to understand scientific evidence, then these ideas need to be taught and their synthesis in investigative work regularly reinforced. The procedural understanding demonstrated by pupils in practical investigations is compared with the understanding revealed orally in an interview situation and in written tasks. While some pupils appear to use tacit understanding in practical tasks which cannot be accessed readily in other ways, the results also show that most pupils who can express ideas about evidence explicitly are more likely to apply and synthesise them in a problem-solving situation. It is likely that if ideas about evidence were taught explicitly, then the ability of pupils to apply and synthesise them in a problem-solving situation would improve. It is also argued that, because problem-solving skills are required by employers in science-based industry and because understanding evidence is important in everyday life, then these ideas need to be formally taught and assessed within science education.

<p> This manual was written specifically as a guide for the beginner dissector to complete a prosected cadaver that will serve as an effective teaching and learning tool. The dissections are written in a manner that facilitates the preservation of more superfi- cial structures on the right side of the cadaver and deeper structures that otherwise would have been concealed on the left side of the cadaver. This format is ideal for students learning anatomy for the first time, as multiple planes can be compared on the same cadaver. The level of structures dissected and identified in these chapters was established with the understanding that the dissector&rsquo;s knowledge of human anatomy is at the level of completion of a general undergraduate anatomy survey course. </p>

<p> This study focused on the development of specific aspect of beginning teacher Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) in an Alternative Certification Program (ACP). Data was collected over a period of over two years and included lesson plans, interviews with the participants and their mentors as well as classroom observations and participant reflections. Four participants were purposefully selected to represent one cohort in the ACP. Individual profiles constructed for each case and the subsequent cross-case analysis revealed that the participants shifted their beliefs about students as learners and assessment based on the influence of the context under which they were developing at each point in time. These shifts, while dependent on their views of the context, were strongly influenced by their initial views as they relate to these aspects of PCK. Participants would resolve any conflict arising with new views presented to them in a subjective manner, prioritizing coherence with their prior knowledge on the specific aspect of PCK and with the other aspects of their PCK. These findings provide an alternative perspective on the nature of the shift in knowledge that occurs during teacher preparation and the initial years of teaching. It allows us to provide a different angle on the dynamics among PCK components based on the interaction among them as they develop over time. Moreover they allow us to see that this development is neither linear nor unidirectional. Additionally it shows us that teachers constantly revalue their views of students as learners and assessment based on the experiences provided by both their academic and professional context. </p>

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Educational reform has been perceived as a process whereby the Thai Government expects to increase the national competitiveness and stimulate literacy across the country. Its crucial concept was to implement the student-centred learning approach (SCL). This study presents an analysis of classroom observation focusing on lower secondary (Mattayom 1-3) science classrooms in 14 schools located in a rural area in Thailand and discusses the implementation of the current science curriculum. Additionally, a thematic analysis of interviews with lower secondary school science teachers and focus group interviews of students are presented. Based on the thematic analysis, perceptions of 22 science teachers on the current science curriculum implementation and prospective factors which tend to deteriorate the effectiveness of curriculum implementation are addressed. Like the teachers' interviews, students' perceptions regarding science and benefit of studying science are obtained from 30 groups of students, using the thematic analysis and are presented in this study. Based on the observations of 22 science classrooms, teachers' practices in implementing the current science curriculum in the rural context can be categorised, based on their inclination towards particular learning approaches, into three groups; namely combination of the student-centred learning (SCL) approach and the teacher-centred learning (TCL) approach with a tendency towards SCL, combination of SCL and TCL with a tendency towards TCL ,and the teacher-centred learning (TCL).The teachers' perceptions could be described into two perspectives; namely on the reform and on implementation, and each perspective can be classified into several themes, and the major issues emerged are discussed. The students' perceptions can be categorised into eight themes such as attitudes regarding learning/studying science, future plans, etc. The study is expected to contribute to the understanding of current science teaching and improving its practices for the science teachers in Thailand. Eventually, these experiences could be an example for other transitional countries in the wider context.