<p> The development of character is one of the objectives of the American educational system. This historical study examined the debate over character education in the 1920s, a decade in which Americans were especially committed to creating moral youth. Specifically, this study investigated the character education work of Edwin Milton Fairchild from 1893 to 1939 and how his work reflects the tension between conservative progressives and liberal progressives in the early twentieth century. Primary source and archived documents such as journal articles, personal correspondences, ephemera, and photographs were used to conduct this study. As a result of this study, it was determined that Edwin Milton Fairchild was a pioneer of secular moral education in America and that the current controversy surrounding how character education should be taught in schools has roots that were established a century ago. The work of Edwin Milton Fairchild during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries played an important role in the secularization of moral education and is a prism through which the debate over character education among progressives can be better understood.</p><p>

<p> Much attention has been given to &ldquo;bridging the gap&rdquo; between research and practice since neuroscience research first made claim to its potential impact in classrooms. With the inception of Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE) as a new interdisciplinary field, an unprecedented opportunity to explore the educational implications of new research coming out of neuroscience has presented itself. And yet, the gap between research and practice persists while new problems arise as education looks to brain science for answers with ongoing social and academic difficulties faced by students. A critical bicultural methodology, grounded in a decolonizing interpretive approach, is utilized to interrogate the field of MBE in order to shed light on the epistemological power dynamics and social justice issues that inform the field. By examining the historical, philosophical, economic, and ideological roots of neuroscience and education, a colonizing epistemology and hidden curriculum of inequality is revealed. The lack of awareness of how MBE, if left unexamined, will continue to fall short of the democratic and socially just goals of education is also addressed. The argument made is that there exists an abyssal divide within the field that epistemologically privileges neuroscience with its reductionist, Eurocentric, and positivist discourse. The case is made that the field must move toward an itinerant position that honors hierarchical dialogue and praxis and places the voices, scholarship, and values of educators and students at the forefront of this educational movement, in order to close the gap between research and practice in emancipatory ways.</p><p>

<p> During the past few decades, holistic education has increasingly emerged in academia. However, limited research has been conducted on how holistic education impacts instructional practices in real life situations like the well-being of cancer patients. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how a holistic education program impacts instructional practices designed to improve the well-being of cancer patients. The conceptual framework was based on transformative learning theory and learner-centered teaching. This single case study was conducted at a non-profit cancer center in the Western United States which emphasizes multiple dimensions of well-being for cancer patients, including holistic education. Participants included four instructors at the center. Data were collected from individual interviews with these instructors, reflective journals that they maintained, and documents and archival records related to the center and its education programs. Data analysis involved line-by-line coding and categorization to identify patterns and themes. Results revealed that holistic education improves the knowledge, comfort, self-efficacy, and empowerment of cancer patients. Results indicated that it would be useful to conduct more studies to explore the impact of holistic instructional practices on patients with cancer. This study contributes to social change by providing instructors and health professionals with a deeper understanding of holistic instruction and how it can be used to improve whole-person healing. </p><p>

<p> Extensive research on attitudes and beliefs relating to mathematics has been conducted over the past 30 years. Although the focus of this research has fluctuated at times, the results of this past research has often been applied to educational reform efforts, especially in the areas of curriculum planning and professional development. However, as suggested by Clements (2003), Woodward (2004), Ellis and Berry (2005), and Berry, Ellis, and Hughes (2014), the impact of this research on the implementation of mathematics education reforms may have been limited, at least in part, due to the complexities surrounding the study of attitudes and beliefs (Pajares, 1992; Richardson, 1996; Philipp, 2007), and the complexities surrounding teacher change (Ertmer, 1999; Cuban, 2013). </p><p> In an attempt to provide expanded support for the inclusion of attitudes and beliefs as a fundamental consideration addressed in the implementation of mathematics reform efforts, this study was designed to test what, if any, correlation exists between fifth-grade student performance in mathematics and the attitudes and beliefs held towards mathematics by the students and their teachers, and then to identify some elements that may contribute to the formation of these attitudes and beliefs. To achieve these goals, this study applied a mixed-methods approach as defined and supported by researchers such as Creswell and Clark (2007, 2011) and Crabtree, Magill, Scammon, Tomoaia-Cotisel, and Harrison (2013). According to this mixed-methods design, only the common findings that arose in the triangulation of the quantitative and qualitative data were identified as the results of this study. </p><p> For students, this study found a significant relationship and strong correlation between the students&rsquo; interactions with others in regard to mathematics and their enjoyment with math, and a significant relationship and moderate correlation between the students&rsquo; enjoyment with mathematics and their performance in mathematics. For teachers, this study found a significant relationship and strong correlation between the teachers&rsquo; past experiences and how the teachers think mathematics should be taught (their disposition), and a significant relationship and moderate correlation between the teachers&rsquo; confidence with mathematics and the students&rsquo; performance in mathematics. The identified results for students and for teachers were connected to past research on attitudes and beliefs.</p><p>

<p>The purpose of this research is to investigate Chickering and Reisser (1993) Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education and determine the relationship, if any, among these principles and student performance and satisfaction in the in-residence verses virtual Professional Military Education (PME) programs. Additionally, determine if there is a difference in satisfaction and performance between the virtual and in-residence PME. All Airmen (Amn) of the United States Air Force (USAF) must attend Airman Leadership School (ALS) as a part of their Professional Military Education (PME) (Air Force Instruction 36-2502, 2009; Air Force Instruction 36-2618, 2009). This training is offered via two venues: an in-residence program and a virtual learning program. The average age of students (Senior Airmen) attending ALS is 28.7 years of age (J. Geidner, personal communication, January 29, 2015), which aligns these individuals to the Millennial Generation (Koeller, 2012; Papp & Matulich, 2011). Despite a population of students well-versed in the use of computers and technology, the individuals attending the virtual learning program experience a failure rate which is 34.21% higher than for students attending in-residence (J. Geidner, personal communication, January 29, 2015; E. DeVoursney, personal communication, January 30, 2015). Research by Chickering and Reisser (1993) describes seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education that facilitate effective learning in both in-residence and virtual environments. Partridge and Hallam (2006) suggests these principles of good practice may align well with the characteristics of millennial learners. This research has determined we can support current literature (Koeller, 2012, Espinoza et al., 2010; Papp & Matulich, 2011, Coomes & Debard, 2004) which shows a relationship between Chickering and Reisser?s (1993) seven principles and the characteristics of the millennial students (Figure 1). It identified there is a statistical significant difference in student?s satisfaction and performance between the two learning programs. There is a moderate to strong positive correlation, in both in-residence and virtual ALS, between the seven principles, satisfaction and performance. The educational venue, with the inclusion of the seven principles, statistically significantly predict student satisfaction and performance. Therefore, the research has shown with the inclusion of Chickering and Reisser (1993) Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education there will be an increase in student performance and satisfaction.

<p> Student-led conferences are an alternative method of reporting progress to parents. This qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted in order to examine elementary teachers&rsquo; perceptions of student-led conferences in comparison to traditional parent-teacher conferences in Central and Southern Illinois. Additionally, the study examined what professional supports, if any, teachers would need to continue implementing student-led conferences. The focus groups included a face-to-face audio-recorded interview prior to the student-led conferences where the study participant shared resources, then concluded with a follow-up exit telephone interview. The multiple data sources that were collected provided the researcher with information to support or argue in a triangulation strategy. During the initial face-to-face site visit interview, the researcher asked the teacher fourteen questions and the teacher shared resources used before, during, and after the student-led conference process. During the exit interview, the researcher asked five questions to the participants over the telephone. Data were then generated from both the pre and post audio recordings and analysis of resources over a 22-week period. Finally, the researcher concluded that there were four major themes that emerged from the data analyses: ownership, responsibility, preparation, and family involvement. The research indicated the various styles and formats to a student-led conference but key components included the preparation for the child and teacher, the conference itself, and portfolio artifacts and/or goal-setting opportunities within the conference. Finally, the researcher concluded the need for continuous professional development and/or supports when initially implementing and sustaining the student-led conferencing process.</p><p>

<p> The primary purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation exists between teacher dispositions, grounded in Perceptual Psychology, and student results on the Kentucky Student Voice Survey (KSVS), a 25-question survey adapted from Cambridge Education&rsquo;s Tripod survey. A correlation was found between teacher dispositions and KSVS question number 25 which states &ldquo;my teacher gives us time to explain our ideas.&rdquo; Except for this question, no correlation was found between teacher dispositions and KSVS results. </p><p>

<p> Many educational researchers have advocated for the inclusion of prosocial behavior instruction and practice in K5 public schools along with rigorous academic knowledge. Empathy is considered a foundational social emotional skill, vital for school and life. There is positive correlation between the inclusion of empathy instruction and practice in the classroom with increased prosocial skills, school climate, and engagement. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore working elementary teacher perceptions of empathy instruction and practice in K5 classrooms in the Northwest United States to better understand the essence of what teachers believed to be the current situation regarding administrative support, resources, and teacher skill and knowledge related to empathy instruction and practice in the classroom. The problem was that many K5 teachers did not include explicit instruction of empathy in the classroom, even though effective empathy instruction and modeling has been shown to improve academic achievement scores, improve teacher measures of positive social emotional behaviors, and decrease negative antisocial behaviors. This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study explored practicing teacher perceptions of empathy instruction and practice in K5 classrooms in Northwestern Oregon through in-depth interviews, non-verbal communication observation notes, and researcher reflection journal. NVivo 11 software was used to analyze themes, with validation of data collection and analysis by member checking of individual data and analysis offered to participants. Study results may advance the understanding of factors that inhibit or enhance teachers&rsquo; ability to teach and practice empathy in the classroom, and aid in the development of empathy instruction and practice methods, designs, and professional development.</p><p>

<p> This applied dissertation presented a mixed method design to gain a broader perspective of the perceptions of classroom management practitioners within a particular school district. Many teachers, or practitioners, experience issues with classroom management because of their understanding of strategies they use. Because of the researcher&rsquo;s position within the education system, it was recognized practitioners are mandated to utilize specific classroom management strategies. As such, the study was designed to glean the perceptions of these practitioners in relation to the misunderstandings and mandates related to the strategies dealt with on a daily basis. </p><p> The perspectives gleaned afforded opportunities to generate statistical data. The last question presented to the study participants allowed each participant to express his or her ideas, related to the questionnaire or otherwise, in any way they saw fit. The analysis of the study took into consideration the open response comments as they pertained to the statistical data generated. </p><p> Findings revealed the most favorable, as well as most effective, strategies as perceived by actual practitioners. Practitioners also expressed their opinions indicating their displeasure regarding mandated classroom management strategies commonly referred to as Office Referrals. Practitioners indicated they perceived revoking student privileges, placing students in time-out areas, and utilizing counseling services as more effective when choosing strategies relative to managing their classrooms.</p><p>

<p>A college degree is vital to the economic and social well-being of the entire nation and its citizens. Yet, community colleges ? which serve half of all students in higher education ? have low graduation rates. Lack of academic preparation, competing personal and work demands, and economic stress make earning a degree difficult for many. As part of a national agenda, community college leaders are searching for new ways to help students succeed. Student success theories have historically provided practitioners with frameworks to understand how students navigate the educational environment. This dissertation analyzed a selection of student success theories and ritual theories to contribute to new ways of thinking about student success through ritual theory and practice. Using Critical Interpretive Synthesis, two common themes emerged: Emplacement and Passage. The concept of Emplacement reflects community college students? need for academic and social challenge while anchored in their communities of origin. The concept of Passage reflects students? need for structured guidance, including the formulation of goals and the celebration of milestones. The dissertation?s product includes a number of recommendations for practitioners in the creation of well-constructed and impactful rituals. Rituals are more likely to be successful if they involve some physical movement, build on existing traditions and calendars, utilize local geography and culture, and serve both practical as well as symbolic functions. Rituals that build community, such as festivals, are particularly important for community college students. Key words: community college, higher education, student success, persistence, retention, graduation, ritual theory, ritual studies, emplacement, passage.