American Reality Shows: Bodily Agency and the “Other”

In a time when every B-list celebrity is the star of their own show, it is no secret that America is addicted to reality television. However, it may not be as widely known is that staged reality is not only a contemporary fad, but that this trend in America can be traced back as far as the frontier days – to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. I will examine the bodily agency as found by Native American performers within Buffalo Bill’s show and compare it to that of the characters on MTV’s contemporary reality show Jersey Shore. Using this methodology I propose that it is America’s fascination with the bodily agency of the “other” that is on display within staged reality that establishes this phenomenon as a staple of American pop culture. In her book The People Have Never Stopped Dancing, Jacqueline Shea Murphy proposes that the, “appeal of the ‘Wild West’ stemmed in large part from their staging of authentic Indians for non-indian audiences” (59). In other words, the staging of authentic “Indians” performing Native American dances provided an “other” that piqued early American audiences’ attention. It is this same fascination with the “other” that validates America’s obsession with the self-proclaimed, “Guido” subculture of the cast members of Jersey Shore. Central to the identity of both these “others” are their specific forms of bodily agency, including dance, dress, and speech. It is proposed by author and historian Bobby Bridger that, “arguably, the unprecedented relationship between Buffalo Bill and the American press is the genesis of modern pop culture and the coast – to – coast fascination we have with showbiz celebrities.” This would leave one to conclude that Buffalo Bill and his characters on display can be considered as America’s first reality show personas, or the so-called predecessors to the lively “Guido” crew. By examining these two ends of the spectrum for staged reality, I will discuss how the precedents set by audiences and performers in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show are still relevant to shows like Jersey Shore in pop culture today

Childcare quality improvement and assurance practices

This study set out to examine how quality assurance and quality improvement schemes are being used by Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships and childcare providers in England to improve the quality of services beyond minimum standards. Three types of early years providers took part: day nurseries, out-of-school clubs and childminding networks

An Examination of the Factors That Influence the Transfer of Learning Among K-12 Educators Participating In Professional Learning Communities

The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify the factors that either support or inhibit learning transfer among educators within K-12 professional learning communities (PLCs) as well as to obtain a better understanding of how adult education principles relate to teacher learning and job satisfaction within this environment. Although research regarding professional learning for educators within the K-12 setting is available, much of this research is not focused directly on adult education principles and often fails to examine learning transfer. The present study addresses both areas using a two-phase exploratory sequential mixed methods approach to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information about the above topics from teachers and other education professionals. Qualitative data was collected in the form a case study that included a review of artifacts, observations, and interviews with approximately six educators. An analysis of the qualitative data identified a total of 32 factors associated with the promotion of learning transfer and 11 factors related to the inhibition of learning transfer within professional learning communities. These factors were grouped into categories focusing on the individual/learner, PLC design and implementation, and school/work environment. Following the completion of the qualitative phase of the study, each of the factors was incorporated into a survey instrument that was distributed to a larger population of educators. An analysis of the obtained survey data suggested that two work/school environment factors and three individual/learner factors were most closely associated with supporting learning transfer within PLCs. A lack of time was identified as the factor most closely association with the inhibition of learning transfer by survey respondents. The knowledge gained in this study may be used to support the development of professional learning communities as well as other professional learning opportunities for educators. It may also be useful with regard to the development of a future model of K-12 teacher learning and a line of research that is grounded in adult education principles

Peace Communication

Researching peace processes and negotiations can benefit all who engage in any and all types of relationships. Unless peace messages are communicated effectively between parties, peace may not be achieved. Spending time in a traditional classroom setting having college students define, discuss, and study peace will offer students the opportunity to define peace for themselves and how they wish to live peace and harmony in the world. Research and study in peace and communication can provide tools for peace building, which will enhance interpersonal and intrapersonal communication particularly in situations of conflict. This capstone project is the creation of an undergraduate class in Peace Communication