Personality Type and Question Preference of College Level Students

The impact of personality type on question preference is an area of new endeavor. It is the purpose of this study to determine if a relationship exists between the Sensing and Intuiting dimensions of personality as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the questioning preference of students. A Chi Square analysis of the data revealed a trend. Frequency distributions were used to determine the direction of the trend. Both the Sensing and the Intuiting subjects showed a tendency to follow type with regard to question preference. In other words those subjects showing a Sensing preference on the MBTI tended to choose questions that matched their type preference. The same trend was observed for the Intuitive subjects as well. The data seem to indicate that there is a relationship between personality type and question preference, but more research is needed to describe and define the relationship

Reflection, Growth, and Mentoring of Beginning Science and Mathematics Teachers

This is a qualitative study of beginning science and mathematics teachers involved in a comprehensive teacher induction program. The teacher induction program was striving to encourage and increase the reflection of the beginning teachers in their program. A formal reflection instrument (Plus/Delta) was used to assist the beginning science and mathematics teachers reflect on specific lessons and compare their Plus/Delta results with those of their mentors. This study compares and where appropriate, quantifies the results of both the beginning teachers and their mentors. There were six themes found in the data reported by both mentors and beginning teachers. The themes include: management, student engagement, differentiation, assessment, instruction, and preparation. The results show agreement among mentors and beginning teachers in the area identified as needing the most change. Mathematics teachers and mentors stated that student engagement was the most reported area needing change, while science mentors and beginning science teachers found management to be the most reported area needing change

What Can STEM Educators Learn from a Teacher Induction Program? A Study of Science and Mathematics Teachers’ Reflections on Teaching and Learning

Research completed to date confirms that beginning science and mathematics teachers face many challenges, and must master numerous areas of teaching skill in order to demonstrate competence in teaching. Most will face the initial year of practice with little or no access to an induction program targeting their content areas (Luft, 2009). Research further suggests that science and math teachers left without critically needed guidance, a comprehensive induction program could provide, often develop practices that do not allow their students to participate in inquiry activities (e.g. labs, simulations, problem solving, research projects ( Luft, Roehrig, & Patterson, 2003). Instead the teachers persist with teacher centered teaching strategies (e.g. lecture, presentation, recitations) that may not be effective or engage their learners in inquiry activities

Learning to Assess Student Understanding through Formative and Summative Assessment

Abstract: Following extensive discourse and observation (2015-2016) of pre-service teacher candidates’ engagement in academic field experiences in math, science, and social studies methods courses, two undergraduate methods professors noted that many of the teacher candidates struggled in the area of assessing student learning. We noted that pre-service teacher candidates struggled to differentiate between formative and summative assessment practices, struggled with knowing when and how to assess students during instruction, and lastly how to identify if student learning had occurred. This action research study reports the impact that modeling, teaching experience, and demonstrations of formative and summative assessment measures had on pre-service teacher candidates’ understanding of assessing student learning

Developing Stragic Competence in the Service of Inquiry Teaching: Assisting Pre-service Elementary Teachers to Use Inquiry to Achieve Strategic Competence in Science Learning

Abstract: This paper describes the efforts of researchers to examine the understandings of pre-service elementary teachers regarding the role and use of inquiry and strategic competence in science teaching and learning. The pre-service elementary teachers were given multiple exposures to inquiry activities, and field teaching opportunities using inquiry with opportunities to pursue strategic competence in experimentation and problem solving. The findings support the use of inquiry labs and shows how field experience is valuable in helping build an understanding of inquiry and strategic competence

The Impact of Increased Hours and Supervision in Field Experience Practicums

In recent years much has been written regarding the preparation and effects of the field experience involvement for pre-service teachers. In 2013 the Teacher Education Department (TED) faculty and Office of Field Placements at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) began an in depth review and examination of our pre-service teachers’ engagement during their field practicums in urban and suburban schools throughout the Omaha Metro area. The roundtable presentation will discuss the revisions that the TED has undergone in the last three years to improve courses that have a field practicum component, as well as the benefits and challenges of the increased hours in the field

The CADRE Project: A Retention Study

I his article describes the findings of a study of leachcr retention and the effectiveness of one induction program, the Career Advancement and Development for Recruits and Experienced teachers (CADRE) Project, in helping teachers remain in the profession. National statistics report teacher attrition rate to be 40 percent over five years. CADRE participants have a retention rule ol 89 percent over five years

The CADRE Project: Looking at the Development of Beginning Teachers

The CADRE Project is a collaborative teacher induction effort between higher education and K-12 practitioners. The Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium (MOEC), comprised of seven metropolitan Omaha public school districts and the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Education, coordinates this project. This project is a true collaborative effort involving public school superintendents, university administrators, and faculty and staff from both entities

Mentoring Teacher\u27s Stories: Caring Mentors Help Novice Teachers Stick with Teaching and Develop Expertise

The article describes the challenges being faced by novice teachers and the role of mentors for novice teachers to stay in the profession and develop expertise. Educators have gathered evidence showing the need for mentors to help novice teachers stay in teaching and develop into master teachers. Longitudinal quantitative studies have indicated that novice teachers participating in this comprehensive induction program improved their effectiveness faster than their peers not in such a program. A frequently cited reason for attrition is teacher isolation

Navigating the Roles of Leadership: Mentors Perspectives on Teacher Leadership

The qualitative study described in this paper began as a collaborative project between three Universities offering comprehensive induction programs to first year teachers. Fourteen teacher mentors were selected to participate in this case study of teacher leaders and leadership. Three of the fourteen teacher leaders were selected to participate in a special case study of their leadership development. The researchers found their leadership qualities to be exemplary and wanted to explore in more depth the three teacher leaders and how they developed and shared their skills as leaders with their mentees and colleagues. The three participants represent perspectives from three states: Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas. All three participants discuss their perspectives on leadership, the challenges they faced in their role as mentors, how they learned to navigate school culture in the role of mentor teacher leader, and their influence on their mentees