The other half of international teaching assistant training: Classroom communication workshops for international students

ITAs often experience particular difficulty balancing their roles as teachers with their roles as students. Student communication skills training is warranted for ITAs because it may be more motivating than instructional skills training, because it captures an otherwise elusive segment of the clientele, and because learning can transfer to ITAs' own teaching repertoires. Such a program can begin with a focus on naming and social identity. The bulk of the program focuses on communication practices for participative learning such as small group problem solving and whole-group responding. A typical workshop concludes with a forum for student concerns, often focusing upon how to interact with one's academic advisor.He obtained his Ph.D. in 1978 at the University of Minnesota. Among the courses he teaches are offerings in intercultural communication, applied linguistics, and composition research. He has also conducted research pertaining to perceptions of international instructors.     

Instructional Design as a Professional Development Tool-of-Choice for Graduate Teaching Assistants

Institutions need effective and efficient methods of professional development for preparing graduate students to teach. These skills are important both for their immediate roles as teaching assistants (TAs) and for their eventual roles in the professoriate. An iterative process model from instructional design can function as a cognitive organizational framework for the development of teaching expertise. It facilitates expertise by supporting TAs in connecting new and existing knowledge about teaching and learning in meaningful ways that reflect the cognitive processes of expert teachers. Thus, it can support both the current and future development of teaching expertise and facilitate the application of knowledge in the form of teaching strategies. Patricia L. Hardré earned her Ph.D. in Education at the University of Iowa. She specializes in Instructional Design and Technology with emphases on cognition and instruction, human motivation, and educational assessment. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. Her current research pursuits include K-12 teacher education, TA training and development, high school students' motivation to learn and persist in school, and the effects of computer-based administration of research instruments.     

The three Rs of conflict management for department chairs and faculty

This article presents an introduction to understanding and addressing conflict in academic departments. Current philosophies toward conflict in organizations include a principled approach encouraging the positive benefits that conflict may bring to institutions. To utilize this approach it is important to understand the nature of conflict, identify effective response options, and develop skills in principled conflict resolution. This paper identifies the structures within organizations which inherently cause conflict. In addition, various strategies for dealing with conflict are outlined based on the Thomas/Killman response modes. Finally, Fisher and Ury's foundation for principled conflict resolution is applied to departments in higher education.Walter H. Gmelch received an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in the Educational Executive Program from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is currently professor and chair of the Educational Administration Department at Washington State University and directs the University Council for Educational Administration Center for the Study of Department Chair. His area of interest is in leadership development, managerial stress and academic department chairs. James B. Carroll received his Ph.D. in educational administration from Washington State University. He is currently the associate director of the Center for the Study of the Department Chair, Washington State University. His area of interest is in investigating role orientations and careers of department chairs.     

An Empirical Study of College of Education Faculty’s Perceptions, Beliefs, and Commitment to the Teaching of Diversity in Teacher Education Programs at Four Urban Universities

This study used empirical data to investigate College of Education faculty’s perceptions, beliefs, and commitment to diversity. A 44-item survey composed of Likert scale-type questions about characteristics, experiences, perspectives, and personal commitments to addressing diversity issues together with demographic questions, was administered to 116 COE faculty from four urban universities. A MANOVA where the independent variables were the demographic data and the dependent variables were five subscales (importance of diversity, training for pre-service teachers, college support, teaching diversity in courses, and issues of racial sensitivity) identified four statistically significant factors in faculty’s beliefs regarding the importance of diversity. The study found no support for a relationship between the faculty’s beliefs about the importance of teaching diversity and their teaching practices.Lynn A. Smolen is a Professor in the Department of Curricular and Instructional Studies, The University of Akron and has received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in reading, ESL methods, and diversity issues. Her areas of interest in research are diversity issues, multicultural literature, and the reading development of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Susan Colville-Hall, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curricular and Instructional Studies, The University of Akron and has received her Ph.D. from the Ohio State University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on Diversity/Multicultural Education, Instructional and Management Practices and Techniques for Teaching Foreign Languages. Her research areas are foreign language acquisition, teacher education, and diversity issues. She is also involved in international education. Xin Liang is an Assistant professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership, The University of Akron and has received her Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota. She teaches research methods, statistics, classroom assessment and program evaluation. Her research interests are school effectiveness, research methods and evaluation. Suzanne Mac Donald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership, The University of Akron and has received her Ed.D. from the University of Hawaii. Suzanne Mac Donald’s specialty is Social Foundations of Education with emphasis in Educational Anthropology. She teaches social foundations, diversity issues, and qualitative research. Her research interests currently focus on teacher education and its role in addressing urban and cultural/multicultural issues in schooling, and in the context of international knowledge dissemination of pedagogy.     

Demographic,Academic and Psychological Profile of Students Attending Counseling Services at the University of Granada (Spain)

The Spanish educational system, in general, and particularly at the university level, is characterized by the lack of systematic and quantitative evaluative research. This lack of data based research is particularly problematic due to the significant reforms that are currently taking place. Decisions are being made at political, administrative, and educational levels that are not substantiated by meaningful research. To address these concerns, this study focuses upon providing empirical data from students who attend the University of Granada and who have sought services from Counseling Services. This paper provides data concerning the demographic, academic and psychological characteristics that impact students adaptation to the Universitys academic and personal challenges.Ph.D. student at the University of Granada in the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology.Received her degree in Psychology from the University of Asucion (Paraguay). She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Granada and has received a grant to work in Counseling Services.Ph.D. student at the University of Granada in the Educational Intervention in Educational and Developmental Contexts program, offered through the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology.     

Research Circles: Supporting the Scholarship of Junior Faculty

This article describes and assesses “Research Circles” as a mechanism for enhancing faculty collegiality and research. Recently established on our campus, these circles, composed of three to four faculty members, have had a particularly powerful effect on the new faculty members' adjustment to their tenure track positions, especially since they entered a context that might otherwise have been challenging: a new interdisciplinary upper-division campus with high expectations for teaching excellence. Based on the end-of-year evaluations, journals, and focus groups, the co-authors described themes that emerged from their participation in these circles. Circle participation not only facilitated faculty writing throughout their first year, but it also fostered the development of an interdisciplinary community which nurtured creativity and risk taking in writing. All authors are currently teaching in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (IAS) at The University of Washington, Bothell (UWB). Except for Diane Gillespie, Professor and Associate Director of IAS, all other authors are Assistant Professors in IAS. Diane Gillespie received her Ph.D. in cultural and psychological studies in education from The University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Her interests include critical pedagogy, narrative psychology, and cultural diversity. Nives Dolšak received a joint Ph.D. in public policy and political science from Indiana University. Her interests include public policy, environmental policy, and international relations. Bruce Kochis, received his Ph.D. in Slavic languages & literatures at the University of Michigan. He focuses on global human rights policy, discourse analysis, and political theory. Ron Krabill received his Ph.D. in sociology and historical studies from New School for Social Research. His interests include comparative media, politics and social movements with a special emphasis on South Africa, as well as the study of peace, conflict, social justice, and human rights. Kari Lerum received her Ph.D. in sociology from The University of Washington. Her interests include culture, organizations, sexuality, qualitative methods, and visual studies. Anne Peterson received her Ph.D. from Washington University. Her interests include urban politics and policy and the distribution of natural resources at the local level. Elizabeth Thomas received her Ph.D. in psychology from The University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign. Her interests include community-based resources for adolescent development, cultural psychology, and the social context of learning.     

Designing a program to prepare graduate students for careers as college teachers

Graduate students have few opportunities to gain experience in the full range of teaching and to become aware of the issues related to a career of teaching in higher education. A program designed to provide these opportunities must accommodate both the variation within the institution's graduate programs and the complexities of graduate student life to be successful. The University of California, Davis, developed the Program in College Teaching in which participants develop and then fulfill contractual agreements for a faculty guided investigation into teaching in the discipline and supporting individualized activities focused on the practice and issues of teaching in higher education. This article notes five factors and assumptions of program development, discusses how they impact a program for training graduate students to be college teachers, describes the current Program and evaluates its pilot year.William E. Davis is Program Coordinator of the Teaching Resources Center at the University of California, Davis. He obtained his Ph.D. in Ecology in 1990 at the University of California, Davis. He focuses on providing opportunities for GTAs to improve their teaching skills. Douglas L. Minnis is Senior Lecturer, emeritus, in the Division of Education at the University of California, Davis. He obtained his Ed.D. in Higher Education in 1963 at the University of California, Berkeley. He has been actively involved in GTA training since 1970.     

The status of training and performance research in the AECT journals

“HPT has had a significant impact on the instructional design and technology field.” Cynthia Conn is working on her Ph.D. in educational technology at the University of Northern Colorado Jacqueline Gitonga is currently working on her Ph.D. in human resource education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests are in training and development, instructional design and human performance technology.     

Broadening the scope of scholarship: A suggested framework

Recent work by Ernest Boyer and others has prompted some colleges and universities to reexamine the nature of scholarship among faculty members. Using Boyer's categories of scholarly activity, the authors have developed a framework for scholarly contribution that is currently being implemented by faculty at DePaul University's School for New Learning. The proposed framework includes assumptions regarding scholarship, expectations for faculty relative to scholarly activity, and definitions and criteria for the four forms of scholarship. The authors offer the framework in the hope that it will stimulate a reexamination of the nature of scholarship at other institutions as well.The authors are a group of academic professionals comprised of faculty and academic advisors from the School for New Learning, DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Morris Fiddler is an Associate Professor and received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. His primary research interests include adult learning and medical genetics. Susan McGury obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Reading and is an Assistant Professor with special research interests in art history and literature. Catherine Marienau is an Associate Professor and received her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. Her primary research interests are adult learning and women's development. Russell Rogers received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and is an Associate Professor as well as serving as the Director of the M.A. Program in Integrated Professional Studies. His research specialties include higher education and organizational behavior. Warren Scheideman has an M.A. from DePaul University, and he serves as a Senior Academic Advisor. His research interests include pedagogy and adult learning.     

The cost of academic leadership: Department Chair Stress

Department chairs find themselves trapped between the stresses of performing not only as an administrator but faculty member as well. Over eight hundred chairs from 101 doctorate-granting and research universities were surveyed using the Department Chair Stress Index to assess (1) their most stressful situations, (2) emergent themes from these Stressors, and (3) the differences between chair and faculty Stressors. Chairs experienced most stress from their heavy workload and the general stresses of time pressures, confrontation with colleagues, organizational constraints and their faculty duties. Chairs were found to be in a paradoxical situation; feeling double pressure to be an effective leader and productive faculty member. Suggested actions for the institution and individual are provided.Walter H. Gmelch is professor and chair of the Educational Administration Department at Washington State University where he also serves as Director of the National Center for the Study of Department Chair. He earned his MBA from the University of California (Berkeley) and a Ph.D. in the Educational Executive program from the University of California (Santa Barbara). Dr. Gmelch conducts research on the topics of leadership, team development, conflict, stress and time management. His extensive writings include a co-authored book entitled,Strategic Leadership Skills for Department Chairs. John S. Burns is associate director of the Center for the Study of the Department Chair at Washington State University. He obtained a Master's in Counseling Psychology and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Washington State University. The Center's research agenda focuses on collecting data about the position of department chair with the goal of developing research-based recommendations for the restructuring of the administration of higher education.     

Professional development in international schools; issues of inclusion identified by a group of international school teaching assistants

With the growth in numbers of teaching assistants (TAs) in the UK, it has been identified through research carried out on behalf of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) research that TAs in British international schools have specific and unmet training needs. Following the development of a course for TAs in international contexts, COBIS and the University of Northampton provided a Professional Development Programme for TAs working in British international schools. The 2‐day event took place in a European city, with participants from three further European cities. The impact of this training on subsequent professional practice was investigated. An initial questionnaire was completed at the conference, and follow‐up questionnaires were distributed at 6 weeks, post‐event. Responses came from participants and from head teachers of the British international schools in which they worked. This paper focuses upon issues of inclusion, which arose from the feedback received, both during the event and afterwards. Group discussions during the event revealed concern among the group that they had insufficient knowledge to provide the level of inclusion support that they felt should be available. Data from the questionnaires provided more detail about these issues and allowed some first conclusions to be drawn, providing further focus and direction for subsequent training for international school TAs.     

TA training: From the TA's point of view

Teaching assistants (TAs) at a major university were surveyed about the annual campus-wide and departmental TA training programs in which they had participated. Responses from these TAs differ markedly from reports based on surveys conducted with the administrators of such training programs. Current training practices can be improved by considering more seriously the TA's point of view.Janet Lee Jones received her B. A. from Pomona College in 1984, concentrating in psychology and Chinese language. Her Ph.D. was awarded in 1989 in the area of cognitive science, with a specialization in psycholinguistics. She has supervised undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants for the past five years. Dr. Jones now teaches a wide variety of psychology courses and interdisciplinary seminars at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.     

The effect of using a systematic cooperative learning approach to help preservice teachers learn informal reading inventory procedures

This study examined the effect of using a systematic cooperative learning approach to help preservice teachers learn Informal Reading Inventory (IRI) concepts and procedures. Participants (N = 77) were enrolled in two different sections of a required reading methods course. Group 1 (n = 47) received instruction using a systematic cooperative learning approach and Group 2 (n = 30) received instruction using a direct instruction approach. Two instruments were designed for this study and administered as posttests. One instrument measured learning outcomes related to IRI concepts and procedures. The second instrument examined Group 1's perceptions toward the systematic cooperative learning approach. Treatment occurred during a three week unit and consisted of lecture, examples, guided practice, independent practice accomplished in cooperative groups, and specific feedback. Analysis included computing a one-way ANOVA, frequencies, and percentages. Results indicated that significant differences existed between Group 1 and Group 2 learning outcome scores. In addition, Group 1 perceived lectures, working in groups, and feedback as helping them learn IRI concepts and procedures.Judy Wedman obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in reading education. Currently, she is an associate professor in elementary education at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her research interests are in preservice teacher training in reading methodology.Julie Hughes obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Higher Education and Administration. She currently is an assistant professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the Higher and Adult Education and Foundations area. Her research focus is on cooperative learning at the post-secondary level.Richard Robinson is currently professor of education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Missouri-Columbia. A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in reading education, his current research focus is reading comprehension with particular interest in the readability of medical information for patients.     

Choices with clients with profound hearing impairments

Kurt L. Johnson, Ph.D., and E. Jane Burkhead, Ph.D., are Assistant Professors with the Program in Counseling Psychology and Human Systems, Department of Human Services and Studies, at the Florida State University. D. Anthony Clark, M.S. is a Doctoral Candidate at the Florida State University.     

Weaving Together Undergraduate Research, Mentoring of Junior Faculty, and Assessment: The Case of an Interdisciplinary Program

Scholars in teaching and learning value student research and program assessment as strategies to promote excellence in undergraduate education. Yet, in practice, each can be complex and difficult to sustain. This case study demonstrates how undergraduate research, mentoring of junior faculty, and assessment can be integrated in ways that enrich the educational experiences of students and the professional development of faculty and improve research on teaching and learning. The authors describe a lively undergraduate research project that became tied to the mentoring of assistant professors and then to program assessment. We conclude with recommendations for implementing such a project in other academic settings. Elizabeth Thomas is Assistant Professor in the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington Bothell. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and teaches courses on inquiry in the social sciences, community psychology, and psychology and the arts. Her research examines sociocultural contexts for learning and development with a particular focus on the role of the arts and the potential of participatory action research strategies. Diane Gillespie is Professor and Associate Director of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (IAS) at The University of Washington, Bothell, received her Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln in Cultural and Psychological Studies in Education. She teaches multicultural social science courses and qualitative research. Her recent publications explore the importance of narrative for reflective teaching and learning, learning in small groups, and the role of human rights in nonformal education.     

Using structured study questions as a teaching method in social work education: Initial validation studies

The use of study questions to guide student learning and in-class discussion is presented as an alternative to the traditional methods of instruction in social work which rely upon formal lectures, and mid-term and final examinations and term papers to motivate studying. The positive results of two separate investigations on the value of study questions is described, and the instructional technique is suggested as worthy of consideration by social work educators.Bruce A. Thyer, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Social Work with the University of Georgia, and an Associate Clinical Professor with the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Thyer's research interests involve applied behavior analysis within social work practice.Richard Sutphen, M.S.W., received his masters degree from the University of Georgia in 1989. Mr. Sutphen is currently the Research Project Coordinator for a study on the treatment of black offenders in the Georgia Juvenile Justice System, conducted through the University of Georgia School of Social Work.Karen M. Sowers-Hoag, Ph.D., received her doctorate in social work from Florida State University in 1987. She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Social Work at Florida International University, where her research interests are divided between the fields of child welfare, and social work education.     

Multiculturalism Incorporated: Student Perceptions

Multicultural education has transformed higher education both in terms of research and in terms of student experiences. Given the complexity of our institutions, the overall effects of these transformations are mixed. Building on the successes and strengths of multicultural education as it is currently incorporated in institutions and programs will involve better understanding how it is perceived, positively and negatively, by those who are experiencing it first hand. In this article we seek to contribute to this reflection through a discussion of a survey of students’ perceptions of multiculturalism in a large first-year program in a research university. Patrick Bruch is Associate Professor of Writing Studies in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He received a B.A. in English from Western Michigan University and a Ph.D. in English from Wayne State University. His teaching and research focus on struggles for equality within and through higher education. Jeanne L. Higbee received her B.S. in Sociology from Iowa State University and earned both her M.S. in Counseling and Guidance and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently serves as Professor and Senior Advisor to the Center for Research on Developmental Education and Urban Literacy, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota. Her research interests are related to student development and the access and retention of student populations that traditionally have been underserved in postsecondary educational institutions. Kwabena Siaka is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration at the University of Minnesota.     

Peer review of teaching: External review of course content

External peer review of course content is described. Content is an important component of courses that most peer review models exclude. General suggestions on the development of models are provided to assist in creating a local model. A detailed content review model developed at the author's institution is included.David J. Malik received his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from the University of California at San Diego and both an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a B.S. in Chemistry from California State University at Hayward. He is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. His research interests are theoretical chemistry and chemical physics. In recent years, he has been actively developing programs in teaching evaluation and improvement and has published work in developing techniques and practices for effective departmental administration.     

Fostering Faculty Collaboration in Learning Communities: A Developmental Approach

Colleges and universities are adopting learning communities to increase student learning and build cohesion. As learning communities grow in popularity, institutions need to invest in faculty development (Oates, 2001) and understand faculty experiences (Mullen, 2001). The University of Hartford created a program that prepared faculty for collaborative teaching in first-year learning communities. Faculty learned to engage in collaborative behaviors, to think outside disciplinary borders, and to employ a specific template as a heuristic for course development. Results of focus group research about the faculty experience and the impact of the experience on their pedagogy are summarized.Catherine B. Stevenson, whose M.A. and Ph.D. are from New York University, is currently an Associate Professor of English and Drama and Academic Dean of International and Honors Programs. She and her coauthors are affiliated with the University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT. Her special interests include nineteenth and twentieth century literature, curriculum reform, pedagogy, and international education. Robert L. Duran, Professor in the School of Communication, who earned his M.A. at West Virginia University and Ph.D. at Bowling Green State University, is a specialist in program evaluation, evaluation research, and research methods. Karen A. Barrett, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, has an M.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her special interests include interdisciplinary general education curriculum, higher education administration, and diagnostic hematology and microbiology. Guy C. Colarulli, earned an M.A. at the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. at The American University. He is the Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, whose special interests include Higher Education Administration, First-Year Experience, as well as American Government, and Politics     

Undergraduates Leading Undergraduates: Peer Facilitation in a Science Workshop Program

This article presents the results of a study investigating the experiences of undergraduatesacting as peer leaders in an extensive peer-led team learning program in introductory undergraduate sciences and engineering courses. In an effort to understand the facilitator experience in the program better and to report initial findings on the benefits derived through a peer-facilitation experience, the study identified multiple areas in which peer facilitators reported experiences ofgrowth and the ways in which they understood and responded to this growth. Marina Micari, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, is Associate Researcher, Gateway Science Workshop Program, Northwestern University. Her interests include adult continuing education and cross-cultural communication. Bernhard Streitwieser, Ph.D. Columbia University, is Associate Director, Searle Center for Teaching Excellence, Northwestern University, and Lecturer, German Department, Northwestern University. His interests include comparative education and contemporary German society; European Education and systemic reform. Gregory Light, Ph.D., University of London, is Director, Searle Center for Teaching Excellence, Northwestern University. His interests include the theory and practice of learning and teaching in higher and professional education.