DEVELOPING ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIO SOFTWARE FOR PROGRAM ASSESSMENT

This paper describes how user-centered design methodologies were employed to create a software prototype used for outcomes assessment of e-portfolios. Designed to be used by faculty, university administrators and accreditation users, the prototype standardizes, aggregates and displays e-portfolio data in novel ways. Results of evaluating the prototype indicate that e-portfolios can be an effective means of outcomes assessment at the program level

PRACTICES AND PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA AMONG LEADERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY

This quantitative dissertation study explored the social media practices and perceptions of 452 leaders of 142 public and private non-profit four-year degree granting institutions in the western United States. Descriptive statistics were calculated for gender, position title, age, social media use, and attitudes regarding themes revealed in a review of current literature. Then, a Spearman Rho analysis was used to measure the strength of correlation between hours using social media and rank scores of social media attitudes. The study revealed that about 85% of leaders use social media for an average of 4.54 hours per week (SD=5.59, N=452). Social media use was higher among younger leaders, and social media use among the participants was higher compared to the general population

Pax5 maintains cellular identity by repressing gene expression throughout B cell differentiation.

The transcription factor Pax5 is required for many aspects of B-lymphopoiesis including lineage commitment, immunoglobulin rearrangement, pre-BCR signalling and mature B cell survival. Pax5 regulates B cell lineage commitment by concurrently activating B cell specific gene expression as well as suppressing the expression of genes associated with non-B cell fates. The identity of the molecular targets of Pax5-mediated gene repression is the subject of much current interest. Recent studies have documented the essential nature of the Pax5 repression of the stem cell transcriptional program, as well as the silencing of lineage inappropriate gene expression, for B cell development. Surprisingly the repression of genes by Pax5 continues throughout lymphopoiesis, with the loss of Pax5 in mature B cell resulting in the reactivation of the same Pax5 targets during plasma cell differentiation. These recent insights into the mechanism of action of Pax5 in controlling B cell identity will be discussed

From Remediation to Acceleration: Recruiting, Retaining, and Graduating Future Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Educators

This ethnographic case study explores one mid-western state university’s response to the challenge of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD), especially Latino/a, student recruitment and retention. BESITOS (Bilingual/ Bicultural Education Students Interacting To Obtain Success) is an integrated teacher preparation program implemented at a predominantly White university that seeks to both increase Latino/a students’ initial access to higher education and provide institutional support to facilitate a high rate of graduation. The researchers consider key elements of the BESITOS program model as they relate to and support the sociocultural, linguistic, academic, and cognitive dimensions of the CLD student biography. For each dimension, the program model is first placed in the context of existing literature on CLD student education. The key elements and strategies of the program model used to successfully meet recruitment and retention goals are then discussed

Vanessa Siddle Walker: Honoring Keepers of Knowledge by Using Their Stories to Improve Education

Dr. Vanessa Siddle Walker, a renowned historical researcher in the field of education, is a leading voice in the history of school desegregation in the United States. In this interview, she discusses positioning black educators as significant agents of change in the collective narrative of schools and highlights how their organized action and strategic advocacy has led to social justice and equity for black students. Her research informs how our schools have worked in the past, and how lessons from our past can serve to mobilize resources for the equitable education of all children today

Creating equitable spaces for all learners: Leveraging community expertise through situationally responsive instructional conversations

Doctor of PhilosophyCurriculum and Instruction ProgramsSocorro G HerreraThis qualitative study utilized positive discourse analysis (PDA) to explore the classroom discourse practices of three grade-level teachers at a highly diverse school. The purpose of the study was to investigate ways elementary teachers who employ biography-driven instruction (BDI) (e.g., Herrera, 2016) use discourse to invite and nurture student willingness to share about and maximize the sociocultural and linguistic dimensions of their biographies. The research questions guided investigation of (1) formal text properties of instructional conversation (ICs), (2) ways the social practices of the classroom influenced the discourse, and (3) institutional factors that challenged and supported use of culturally responsive/sustaining discourse practices. Two primary sources of data included video of classroom instruction and two-part individual interviews. The interviews included video elicitation, which supported analysis of IC texts created from eleven selected episodes of IC. They also incorporated use of a semi-structured interview protocol to support exploration of institutional factors that influenced the three participants’ use of culturally responsive/sustaining discourse. Additional sources of data (e.g., documents, questionnaire, analytic memos) provided context regarding the members of the classroom learning communities and supported data analysis. This study employed Fairclough’s (1989) three-part analysis progression of description (exploring aspects of the text itself), interpretation (focusing on the relationship between the situational context and the text), and explanation (making connections to broader institutional and societal contexts). Findings and conclusions revealed that culturally responsive/sustaining discourse (a) fostered relationships among members of the classroom community, (b) positioned students as knowledgeable and capable, (c) created a risk-free space for sharing knowledge and ideas, and (d) fostered equitable participation of all students. Social practices of the classroom influenced the discourse in multiple ways and indicated that (a) use of mediation tools scaffolded engagement and language use, (b) use of multiple grouping structures fostered student talk, and (c) situationally attending to what students produced created opportunities to elicit and leverage assets. Building-level leadership was the most influential factor on the teachers’ use of culturally responsive/sustaining discourse. The explanation phase of analysis (Fairclough, 1989) also included exploration of social determinants that influenced the discourse as well as the effects of the discourse in relation to ongoing struggles at situational, institutional, and societal levels. Many of the social determinants reflected hegemonic influences (e.g., cultural, linguistic) and deficit perspectives. Others were related to typical interaction patters found in U.S. classrooms. Transformative influences of the IC discourse often revealed aspects of an asset perspective on culturally and linguistically students and emphasized pluralism (e.g., linguistic, epistemological). The teachers’ ICs illustrated how educators can create educational spaces that foster students’ sense of belonging and positive self-concept. The episodes further highlighted ways teachers can collaborate with students to leverage the expertise of all members of the classroom community toward collective learning and success. Processes that ensured equitable participation among all members of the community also were identified as transformative influences