Many institutions of higher education offer first-year seminars; academic courses designed to help new college students successfully transition to the rigors and demands of life inside and outside the classroom. There is a substantial body of research that validates first-year seminars as successful in accomplishing this goal. There are also numerous studies that have investigated what in the literature is termed a “sense of belonging.” This research demonstrates that college students who experience a sense of belonging feel welcomed, included, connected, and part of the community. These students are more likely to succeed and be retained at their institution. While there is extensive literature examining both of these areas separately, there is limited literature that connects them. This dissertation aimed to fill that gap in the literature by investigating synergies between first-year seminars and sense of belonging at a 4-year, private, liberal arts university. Results of the study showed that first-year students experienced sense of belonging through developing relationships with peers and faculty, through being informed about institutional resources and policies, and by feeling part of a supportive community. The first-year seminar program did have a positive effect on first-year students’ desire to graduate from the institution. An implication for practice includes faculty development centered on fostering a sense of belonging, facilitating opportunities for students to form relationships with their peers and faculty, ensuring that classrooms and institutional environments are inclusive and welcoming, and by informing first-year students about the resources and supports available to aid in their transition and retention. / Educational Administration

Faculty who teach at the college level are often responsible for their own pedagogical training and development, and leading a short-term study abroad program may be one strategy for helping faculty with this development. This study explores the experiences of faculty who have led short-term study abroad programs and provides insight into how the experiences align with experiential learning models and ways that they can lead to pedagogical development. Nine faculty members were interviewed and asked questions about their teaching backgrounds, their introduction to study abroad, and their experiences related to teaching and learning while abroad. The findings show that faculty have opportunities for learning while leading programs abroad and that the learning opportunities could spur pedagogical change and improvement. To ensure that faculty learn from their experiences, they should progress through a formal experiential learning process that requires them to reflect on and conceptualize their experiences and then plan to implement changes. A model for guiding faculty through this process is proposed. Recognizing and reflecting on experiences leading programs abroad has the potential to impact faculty teaching, and a formalized experiential learning process will ensure that faculty fully realize the benefits of these experiences through improvements in their teaching.

Aim: The aim of the study is to report an analysis of the concept of approachability of the instructor within the context of nursing clinical education. Background: Approachability of the instructor within the context of a nursing clinical education is a concept that is obscure and immature. Design: Concept Analysis Data Sources: A literature search between the years 1985 to present yielded 18 articles that were analyzed. Method: Rodger’s Evolutionary Method was used for the concept analysis. Results: The concept analysis identified the antecedents, attributes and consequences of approachability of the clinical nursing instructor. The antecedent was a student centered teaching philosophy. Based on the analysis, the attributes were divided in active and subtle behaviors of approachability. The active behaviors were encouraging questions, not belittling the students, showing an interest in students and being flexible. The subtle behaviors were identified as non-verbal communication and being available. The consequences include building an interpersonal relationship and creating a positive clinical experience. Using the antecedents, attributes and consequences, a theoretical definition was developed. Conclusion: The implications for future development include development of a tool that measures approachability, relational quantitative studies using the instrument and dissemination new knowledge.

<p>The attached thesis consists of a literature review of inquiry-based learning levels and two studies examining the impact of inquiry-based learning levels on student engagement, interest, and motivation in an animal science context. </p>

Students enrolled in accounting courses often struggle because of the complexity of the topic. Accounting instructors have searched for effective means of fostering student success, but the learning process continues to change. Critical thinking and problem solving abilities are vital for students and future professionals. Thus, teaching should not be limited to the transmission of information. By moving the dissemination of basic knowledge outside the classroom inversed learning allows class time for deep dives into complex topics and hands-on activities. Students who are actively involved in learning tend to be more successful in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to determine how undergraduate students in an intermediate accounting course respond to an inversed classroom structure as it relates to financial accounting. A quasi-experimental, quantitative approach was used to investigate whether the academic performance of students who received instruction in a flipped classroom significantly differed from students who received instruction in a traditional classroom. Subgroups of students within the treatment group were examined to determine their response to the intervention. The study was completed over 2 semesters. Participants were determined by pre-existing groups. Students enrolled in an intermediate accounting course during the spring 2018 semester received instruction in a traditional manner. Students enrolled in the same course during the fall 2018 semester were taught using the inversed model. The researcher for this study also served as the instructor for both groups. Academic achievement was measured by student performance on four exams administered during each semester. Six research questions were addressed using MANOVA, ANOVA, and multiple regression analyses. The results indicated students generally perform better in the inversed learning environment than in the traditionally formatted classroom. Although the comparisons were not statistically significant, students in the flipped classroom did achieve higher scores on 3 of the 4 exams. No significant interaction was found between the classroom environment and gender or learning style. Both college GPA and gender were found to be significant predictors of academic performance. The findings from this study may support faculty in the enrichment of college curriculum by promoting active learning.

The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of mid-course evaluations on teaching and student learning. A mixed methods approach was used, combining faculty and student surveys, faculty interviews, debriefing sessions, and a comparison of mid-course evaluations scores with end-of-semester scores. Out of 510 section mean scores (128 sections) from faculty members who participated in the study, 352 section mean scores (88 sections, 69%) showed students' perceptions of their own learning improved between the time they completed the mid-course evaluation and the time they completed the end-of-course student rating survey. Results showed when faculty administered a mid-course evaluation, students' perceptions of their own learning improved. Faculty members saw more improvement if they conducted a mid-course evaluation, read the feedback, and discussed this input with their students. Faculty members saw the most improvement in their ratings when they also made changes based upon student feedback. The results of this study should be encouraging to all faculty members and administrators who may feel they want to improve their teaching and increase student learning but have limited time to devote to course revisions.

[pt] Dentro da temática Design ambiental como favorecedor de Linguagens dialógicas para o ensino-aprendizagem, a presente pesquisa reside em locais de ensino-aprendizagem que carecem de espaços em sintonia com demandas de ressignificação contínua e autonomia dos sujeitos inscritos no século XXI. O objetivo deste trabalho é valorizar o Design como potencializador de relações dialógicas nos espaços de ensino-aprendizagem. Para isso, sua intenção é levantar reflexões sobre as relações nesses espaços, a fim de compreendê-las, localizá-las e distingui-las, tomando por base a capacidade de promoção de ressignificação contínua dos sujeitos inscritos nesses espaços de ensino-aprendizagem. O embasamento teórico obtido foi por meio de revisão bibliográfica de autores como Paulo Freire, Milton Santos e Mikhail Bakhtin. Por meio de pesquisa qualitativa-interpretativa, como percurso metodológico, este estudo dialoga com agentes escolares e pesquisadores por meio de técnicas operacionais como entrevistas, grupos focais entre outras dinâmicas gerais. Como resultado, reflete e propõe contribuições do Design na ressignificação desses espaços. / [en] Within the theme of Spacial Design as a proponent of dialogical languages for teaching-learning, the present research resides in places of teaching-learning that lack spaces in line with the demands of continuous resignification and autonomy of people enrolled in the 21st century. The objective is to value Design as an enhancer of dialogical relationships in teaching-learning spaces, for this purpose, the intention is to raise reflections on the relationships in these spaces, in order to understand, locate and distinguish them based on the ability to promote of continuous resignification of the subjects enrolled in these teaching-learning spaces. The theoretical basis was obtained through a bibliographic review of authors such as Paulo Freire, Milton Santos and Mikhail Bakhtin, and by school agents and researchers through operational techniques such as interviews, focus groups and other general dynamics. As a result, we reflected and proposed contributions from Design in the resignification of these spaces.

Online education has received excessive attention in recent decades as its characteristics and potential have undergone intense debate and scrutiny. Similar debate and scrutiny surround the content of first-year composition (FYC) courses. As we continue to define what composition studies entails, we redefine what we study in FYC. Yet discussions of blended delivery mode---using both online and on-ground teaching methods---get lost amid these debates. This dissertation addresses the dearth of research on blended online writing instruction by asserting the essential nature of connections between the content and the delivery of FYC courses. Through case studies of two experienced instructors teaching FYC in a blended environment for the first time, this dissertation evaluates the composition--both as a noun and as a verb-of FYC courses in light of the technology involved. Through an analysis of interviews with instructors, students, and faculty involved with FYC, I highlight the points of contact--the interfaces-that themselves create the experience of a class. This analysis applies interface theory from rhetoric and composition to the pedagogical acts of teaching FYC and reveals how attention to classroom interfaces can benefit our pedagogy. This project also incorporates student performance data (in the form of portfolio evaluations), student perception data (in the form of surveys), and comparative institutional data (in the form of website analysis) to better understand the varied causes, effects, and implementations of blended learning. By looking outside the classroom environment, I show how schools influence the way blended courses are perceived by those who create them. The differences in student and instructor expectations for this kind of class emerged as particularly influential in determining how successful a blended course can be. The perspective taken by an instructor in terms of experience and expertise also emerged as a significant determinant of perceived success, particularly for instructors themselves. This dissertation reveals the delicate balance instructors must navigate between relying on expertise in the field and exploring the course delivery as a novice. This balance allows instructors to be responsive, flexible, and dynamic in their classes while also assisting students in their efforts to better understand FYC course content. Overall, this dissertation defines and advocates for a hybrid approach to FYC instruction as an essential evolution of our pedagogical praxis. Students lead increasingly hybrid lives and learn in increasingly hybrid ways. Instructors must adopt hybridity in their classes to accommodate not only students' changing learning styles but also the changing nature of composition as a field and writing as its subject matter. And finally, institutions must consistently define and implement principles of hybridity to help reduce confusion and frustration across the disciplines. Suggestions for educators and institutions alike are provided to help meet the needs of today's students.

This paper reports the results of a two-phase study examining the effectiveness of a set of five online learning modules in increasing student understanding of information literacy topics. The modules were deployed within the foundational class of an online Master of Library Science program. Using Qualtrics-based surveys, Phase 1 assessed 15 students for their possible knowledge gains as well as their perceptions of their experiences with the instructional content. Through a combination of statistical and qualitative analysis, the researchers found modest knowledge gains as well as positive student perceptions of their instruction. Based upon the moderate success of Phase 1, the online learning modules were retained in subsequent offerings of the course. Three years after the Phase 1 study, a Phase 2 study was conducted with 30 students over two semesters to examine student knowledge and perception changes possibly occurring after utilization of the modules. Through the analysis of student reflection writings, the researchers found that all students presented with a minimum desired level of competency postinstruction. Furthermore, the researchers found that knowledge gains were reported primarily within the area of information search strategies. Findings suggest that online learning modules on information literacy topics can be a welcome addition to the first course in a Master of Library Science program sequence and can help instill confidence in new students who are studying to become library science professionals.

Teaching and learning online is an increasingly important aspect of higher education, especially post-Covid-19. Previous studies have shown a relationship between Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and teaching efficacy and teaching efficacy and student success. However, the contextual factors impacting TPACK have not been adequately explored. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if the contextual factor of institutional culture impacts TPACK among online higher education faculty at institutions in the Southeastern United States as well as to what extent specific dimensions of institutional culture effect TPACK levels. Data were collected using an anonymous online survey that was shared with potential participants through email and social media. Data were analyzed through SPSS software using a multiple linear regression model to determine significance between the independent variables, the seven dimensions of institutional culture, and the dependent variable, TPACK. Results indicated that there is no significant relationship between overall institutional culture and TPACK. However, significance was found between two individual elements of institutional culture, 1) collaboration and team learning and 2) connection between the organization and its environment, and TPACK. These findings indicate that higher education administrators should focus efforts creating opportunities for faculty to engage in professional development opportunities and move beyond siloed work to more collaborative projects. Administrators should also ensure that the institution is connected to the local, regional, and global community through aligned institutional goals with the needs of the community and establishing opportunities for faculty to connect globally. Future research should be conducted to confirm the findings in this study and should continue to explore the relationship between the varied aspects of institutional culture and the complex elements that constitute quality online teaching.