Learning about one's own cultures as well as other cultures is a central aspect of the cognitive dimension of intercultural understanding, focusing the individual on cultural group affiliations, belonging and questions of 'who one is'. Using a social identity lens, with a particular focus on self-categorisation theory to explore how individuals…

How people are to live together well in society, and learn to live together, have been continuously debated. These are challenging tasks, as the world changes over time, while educators aim to prepare young people for a dynamic, undetermined future. Although models and practices of civic education vary around the world, they typically have one…

A growing body of scholarship has suggested that K-12 Teachers of Color are uniquely positioned to enact instructional and institutional changes in classrooms and schools that expand educational opportunities for Students of Color; yet, a holistic understanding of the situational dynamics in which social change occurs remains insufficiently…

Theoretical and empirical research is challenging long-held assumptions about how culture shapes children's thinking, emotions, and actions. No longer is 'culture' thought to be a family-based characteristic that operates upon children's development in predictable ways. Instead, culture is considered inseparable from the developmental process, in…

The current study used a quasi-experimental design to initially test a method for teaching about rivalry and fan behavior. Results showed that people who were exposed to and learned about rivalry and fan behavior using comic strips and cartoons on www.SportRivalry.com (a) rated rival fan behavior more negatively, (b) experienced less satisfaction…

This study examines the impact of interracial/interethnic dialogue, a model of intergroup contact that highlights the salience of racial and ethnic group membership, to improve intergroup relations on college campuses. A field experiment involving 737 participants demonstrated that participants randomized to enrol in an intergroup dialogue course…

This study was designed to explore differences between instrumental music teachers' self-perceived comfort and competence ratings, using a 7-point Likert scale, on 15 choral teaching skills presented through a researcher-developed survey. Participants, identified through the National Association for Music Education membership list, were contacted…

As technology continues to shape our interactions in both personal and educational contexts, the exploration of how computer-mediated communication (CMC) may impact the development of second language writing skills has received greater interest. While a growing body of research has investigated potential applications of this technology within…

This study looked to situated learning (Lave & Wenger, 1991) in order to explore students' participation in the social practices of first-year learning communities. Wenger's (1998) elaboration on "communities of practice" provides insight into how such participation transforms learners. These perspectives frame learning as a…

In this descriptive study, researchers surveyed choristers (N = 630) from 16 mid-level collegiate choirs nationwide to investigate their perceptions and behaviors as they related to the strategies used by directors to facilitate ensemble identity. Also investigated were the factors affecting choristers' dedication to choir and their intentions…

Consistent with the aims of this special issue, we present a systems perspective on self/identity, predicated on William James's classic distinction between "I" and Me, and use this perspective to explore conceptual relations between self/identity, motivation to learn, and self-regulated learning. We define the "I" self functionally in terms of…

This document presents the proceedings of the 17th Annual Research Forum held June 29, 2012, at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Included herein are the following 25 action research papers: (1) "Reading and Writing": A Study Comparing the Strengths of Peer Review and Visible Author Writing Strategies (Elizabeth Behar); (2)…

Describes a program adding a counseling component to a developmental writing course to address students' sense of isolation through sessions on group formation, goal setting, values clarification, and strength identification. Reports that program participants outperformed nonremedial students in subsequent composition courses. (PAA)