Cooperating teachers as models of best practice: Student teachers\u27 perceptions

The selection of expert, effective cooperating teachers who can foster successful student teacher experiences and serve as primary role models for teacher candidates is central to the success of student teaching. However, a lack of consensus exists among education professionals on a standardized definition of effective cooperating teachers. The purpose of this dissertation study was to determine if student teachers\u27 perceptions of cooperating teachers\u27 modeled actions of professional standards differed across four certification grade bands: (a) early childhood certification (grades PK-3), (b) elementary certification (grades 1-5), (c) secondary content (grades 6-12) certification in English, mathematics, science, and social studies, and (d) K-12 certification in art, special education, music education, and health and physical education. The researcher collected data using the Ohio Student Teachers\u27 Perceptions of Cooperating Teachers\u27 Enactment of National Board Core Propositions and Teacher Educator Standards to Promote Student Teacher Learning. Findings revealed significant differences existed between elementary and K-12 certification student teachers\u27 perceptions of cooperating teachers\u27 modeling of professional standards. Recommendations included development of cooperating teachers\u27 identity as teacher educators and intentional collaboration between university faculty and cooperating teachers. The need for collaboration and professional development, especially in K-12 certification areas, was indicated to address expectations unique to the disciplines and to promote improvements and alignment with programmatic efforts

Profiles in local glass transition temperature near and across polymer interfaces in nanostructured blends

Small domain sizes and adhesion between interfaces are the cornerstones of creating high performance multicomponent materials. Combined with an optimized morphology, the strategic use of interfacial interactions to perturb local properties is a promising avenue for creating designer materials where the desired global properties are obtained from an amalgam of local property changes. To achieve this grand goal, a detailed understanding of how interfaces perturb local properties are needed, along with knowledge of how the global macroscopic characteristics result from these local effects. This presentation will discuss our efforts to understand how various interfaces perturb local material properties and how different experimental techniques contribute to this picture. Our group has employed a localized fluorescence method to measure the profile in local glass transition temperature Tg(z) across a glassy-rubbery polymer interface between polystyrene (PS) and poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA) [1]. For a single interface between two semi-infinite domains, the local Tg(z) profile was found to be extremely broad and asymmetric, spanning 350-400 nm in extent as the local Tg(z) value transitioned the 80 K difference in bulk Tgs far from the interface from one side to another. Subsequent studies found this profile to be common to a range of weakly immiscible systems where the stiffer polymer domain with higher bulk Tg consistently showed a longer-ranged Tg(z) perturbation extending further from the interface [2]. The observed Tg(z) profiles were found to be strongly dependent on the interface formed between the two polymer domains during thermal annealing [2] and on the finite size of domains [3]. This difference between hard vs. soft interfaces, along with theoretical studies in the literature, has led us to investigate the Tg(z) profile in PS next to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with varying crosslink density to systematically change the modulus of the neighboring domain without also changing the chemistry of the interface. We find the local Tg(z) in PS at a distance of z = 50 nm away from the PS/PDMS interface can vary by 45 K when the PDMS modulus changes from ~1 to 3 MPa. These broad Tg(z) profiles demonstrating strong coupling of dynamics across the interface appear to only occur when the dissimilar polymer-polymer interface is well formed by annealing [2]. This suggests that some aspect during polymer interface formation (broadening of interface, chain interpenetration, or interfacial roughening) may be significant in controlling the observed behavior. Efforts to separate these different factors have led us to investigate silica substrates with rough interfaces and with end-tethered chains. We have observed similar long range Tg(z) profiles near PS end-grafted silica substrates, with the largest Tg(z) increase of 50 K next to the substrate corresponding to a low grafting density coinciding with the “mushroom-to-brush” crossover regime [4]. The Tg(z) profile is comparable to that observed near a polymer-polymer interface for a lower Tg polymer next to one with a much higher Tg, suggesting that chain connectivity across the interface is key to long range coupling of dynamics. References: 1. R.R. Baglay C.B. Roth, J Chem. Phys. 2015, 143, 111101. Communication: Experimentally determined profile of local glass transition temperature across a glassy-rubbery polymer interface with a Tg difference of 80 K. 2. R.R. Baglay C.B. Roth, J Chem. Phys. 2017, 146, 203307. Local glass transition temperature Tg(z) of polystyrene next to different polymers: Hard vs. soft Confinement. 3. R.R. Baglay C.B. Roth, ACS Macro Letters 2017, 6, 887-891. Experimental study of the influence of periodic boundary conditions: effects of finite size and faster cooling rates on dissimilar polymer-polymer interfaces. 4. X. Huang X, C.B. Roth, ACS Macro Letters 2018, 7, 269-274. Optimizing the grafting density of tethered chains to alter the local glass transition temperature of polystyrene near silica substrates: The advantage of mushrooms over brushes

Strategic Stress Intervention In The Academic Environment

Adding activities to employee agendas without simultaneously decreasing other activities tends to increase stress.  Stress is an ever-present problem in the work environment.  The academic work environment is no different from that of industry, in that employees potentially face the draining and sometimes ravaging effects that stress can impose on the human condition.  A study was conducted to determine whether certain teaming activities and social events would reduce stress among the faculty in an academic department at a university in the south.  The desire to reduce stress among members of the department was a commendable goal.  However, despite the best of intentions, stress levels rose

Developing Crisis Management Skills Through A Realistic Case Scenario

Increasingly, managers and public relations officials seem to be at the forefront of newscasts as a variety of organizational crises develop.  Business educators attempting to teach appropriate crises management knowledge and develop skills needed to address such a crises should incorporate realistic case scenarios to challenge students.  Such realistic cases should appropriately address communication and management needs related to crises that may develop.  This paper presents a realistic case that has been used to instill crisis management skills in a business public relations class

A Look At An Implementation Of The Quality Matters Program In A Collegiate Environment: Benefits And Challenges

As traditional universities grapple with an onslaught of demand for distance education a recurring call to ensure quality in such offerings arises.  The Quality Matters Program intends to guarantee such quality through a peer-centered process and offers a certification process to help assure quality in online and blended courses.  This report is a preliminary look at perceived benefits and challenges that implementing the process entails

Developing Crisis Management Skills Through A Realistic Case Involving A Chemical Spill

Increasingly, managers and public relations officials seem to be at the forefront of newscasts as a variety of organizational crises develop.  Business educators attempting to teach appropriate crises management knowledge and develop skills needed to address such a crises should incorporate realistic case scenarios to challenge students.  Such realistic cases should appropriately address communication and management needs related to crises that may develop.  This paper presents a realistic case that has been used to instill crisis management skills in a business public relations class

Preface to special edition on learner discipline problems in schools

No abstract available

Management Implications Of A Czech National Identity In The European Union

The unique Czech identity played a role in the country’s joining the European Union.  There are a number of distinct characteristics of the Czech identity that are actually quite compatible to membership in the Union.  The history of the Czech nation which has a significant impact on the national identity of the country is discussed along with an explanation or definition of national identity.  The Czech identity and the European identity are compared and contrasted.  Finally, management implications of the Czech identity are discussed