<p> Engagement with global children's literature is an effective way to introduce multiple perspectives into the classroom dialogue. Yet teachers are often unfamiliar with ways of helping students understand diverse cultural practices and beliefs. The result is that global children's literature continues to be an underused resource. </p><p> This action research study looked at 25 highly diverse educator study groups as they used global literature with pre-K - 12 students. The goal was to support the development of intercultural understanding. The study groups received $1,000 grants from Worlds of Words (wowlit.org) to fund their yearlong inquiry. The groups met face-to-face throughout the year to reflect on the interactions taking place in their classrooms. All groups met online on a members-only site. Data collected included proposals, reports, teacher vignettes, and interviews. The data was used to document range of study group structures and interactions with global literature. The study groups and online forum were supported by a grant from the Longview Foundation. </p><p> Through constant comparative analysis, new transformative understandings were identified. Key elements in the development of intercultural understanding included open inquiry, recognition of complexity and multiple perspectives, thinking about culture at a conceptual level, and engaging in open dialogue. Teachers reported an increased understanding of their competence as professionals, their student's competence as problem-posers and thinkers, and the parents' competence as important contributors to intercultural understanding. </p><p> The study concludes with implications for practitioners wanting to engage in classroom inquiries using global literature to support developing intercultural understanding. A second set of implications suggests ways in which the study group process can be made more effective. New questions are proposed for future research related to the use of global literature in various contexts, including classrooms, online professional development, and libraries.</p>

<p> The purpose of the study was to explore pre-service teachers' integration of tablet technology in reading, comprehension and writing instruction. As global technological use continues to soar, a large absence in the availability of tablet technology in the public schools continues, and reflects a glaring disparity between the technological uses inside and outside of education. </p><p> Within a qualitative paradigm, two theoretical frameworks guided this study -- phenomenology and transformative learning (TL) theory. The researcher conducted three sets of interviews of 14 pre-service teachers. This study was guided by four research questions regarding pre-service teachers' descriptions of using technology integration in delivering reading, comprehension, and writing instruction using tutorials. The study explored the extent to which pre-service teachers employed tablet technology during learning activities. Data collected included an interview of the interpretive researcher, tutoring lesson plans, cadre conferencing blogs, and final case study reflections. Data was analyzed using Saldana's (2013) holistic coding methods and Giorgi's (1994) four-step analysis process. </p><p> From the four research questions, ten essential themes emerged from pre-service teachers' lived experiences of integration of tablet technology: (a) generational learning shift, (b) cognitive disassociation with learning, (c) paradox of gaming, (d) technological disinclination, (e) critical thinking and problem solving, (f) self-generated learning, (g) collective brain and partnership, (h) collaborative creativity, (i) reluctance in integration of technology with writing, and (j) academic and recreational convenience. These themes revealed both positive shifts in the processing of innovative technology and literacy instruction, and challenges that must be overcome if pre-service teachers are to help students reach their full potential in the 21st century. An analysis of transformative learning theory (Mezirow, 1978, 1991, 2000), revealed five pre-service teachers who experienced the ten stages while another nine who experienced partial transformative learning stages. </p><p> The findings have implications for the restructuring of teacher education programs. Pre-service teachers require continued increases of their technological, pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK), as well as greater development of their writing skills. An increase in the transformation of pre-service teachers' skillsets and mindsets can be facilitated with explicit technological integration of literacy instruction to prepare them to improve student learning outcomes.</p>

<p> Students today are spending a significant amount of time engaged in media activity, yet even with an increase of e-reader compatible smart devices, reading has not increased in popularity among elementary school age children. It is critical that students spend time engaged in meaningful reading activities to become proficient readers. Thus, as educators of these 21^st century learners, we must find a way to increase reader motivation and bridge the gap between home leisure activities and school activities. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of reading enhanced e-books on the iPad vs. traditional storybooks with regard to motivation to read, reading comprehension and fluency. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used, over a period of four weeks with 22 first grade student participants. The results of this study suggested that e-books are more appealing than traditional print books and as equally appealing, if not more appealing to students than educational apps. By the end of the study, all students were fluently reading books at least one guided reading level higher. The results from this study showed that students benefited from the combination of e-books and traditional storybooks, with this method resulting in increased fluency and comprehension among readers.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Language Education, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-09, Section: A, page: 3786. Adviser: Jerome C. Harste. Title from dissertation home page (viewed May 8, 2008).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Education, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Dec. 2, 2008), Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-02, Section: A, page: 0497. Chair: Jerome C. Harste.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1988. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-05, Section: A, page: 1005. Adviser: Francis X. Sutman.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction, 2005. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-08, Section: A, page: 2890. Chairperson: Genevieve Manset Williamson. Title from dissertation home page (viewed Oct. 5, 2006).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: A, page: 2514. Adviser: Mark Dressman. Vita. Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 235-243) Available on microfilm from ProQuest Information and Learning.

The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore the nature of the impact that a tutoring program, which featured preservice teachers as tutors, had on participating fifth grade at-risk students’ literacy behaviors in the classroom.The researcher served in the role of passive participant observer during the scheduled language arts period three days per week in the participating students’ classroom for a period of twenty-three weeks. Field notes were made in the classroom and coded, and audio tapes were recorded and transcribed of the tutoring sessions. Formal and informal interviews with the teacher, tutors, and participating students were conducted, transcribed, and coded. Lesson plans and reflections developed and written by the tutors were gathered and coded. Observations indicated that there were four types of reading required on a daily basis in the classroom. Assigned readings made by the teacher included narrative and expository texts. Pleasure readings were materials chosen by the students, but at certain times were teacher initiated and at other times, student initiated. The four types of reading found in the classroom were mirrored by the tutoring sessions. Students observed in the classroom could be divided into two types and four categories. Those with positive attitudes were called eager readers. Eager readers were made up of good readers and struggling readers, who lacked some of the reading skills possessed by good readers. Reluctant readers were the second type and had either ambiguous or explicitly negative attitudes toward reading. The type of reader, together with the type of reading required, determined the success of the tutoring sessions. The results of the data analysis show that student motivation toward reading was a key factor in determining the success of the tutoring program. Two of the three student participants in the study reported learning skills in the tutoring program that they used in other contexts.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of background knowledge on Thai teachers-college students' reading comprehension in relation to topic familiarity, reading ability in English as a Foreign Language, and the amount of time required for reading familiar and unfamiliar passages.