Effectively integrating technology into the educational system is paramount to the continued success of the U.S. educational system. Not meeting the needs of students can be detrimental to the continued growth and competitiveness of the United States. Educational systems must reflect the rapid changes in society and the way students communicate,…

For decades, urban public schools have been plagued by systemic and structural challenges that continue today. Scholars, policymakers, and the general public have pointed to problems of learning in urban schools and to low expectations for urban students' learning, but little attention has been given to how urban students themselves conceptualize…

Higher education in the United States has a unique opportunity to educate students to practice leadership to address complex problems. A limited number of universities bear the label "elite" as a result of highly selective admissions criteria, cost, age, and position in popular national rankings. Additional scrutiny of these institutions…

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the possible impact of project-based learning on student learning perspective and achievement in a social studies classroom. American schools are in an era of standardized testing based on standards-driven curricula that only teaches basic recall and recognition. School curriculum should be focused on…

Students are incomplete note takers who routinely record just one third of a lesson's important information in their notes. This is unfortunate, because the number of lesson points recorded in notes is positively correlated with student achievement. Moreover, both the activity of recording notes and the subsequent review of notes are advantageous.…

For students performing below grade level, additional support may be required beyond the general classroom instruction. Response to Intervention is a three-tiered process that enables schools to support students performing below grade level. Individuals that need more support are placed in either Tier II or III for intervention support (McDaniel,…

Based on McREL International's research and experience, this white paper suggests that student curiosity is a powerful driver of student success and engagement. The most powerful changes that can be made within schools must come from the inside out, from the natural curiosity and intrinsic motivation that everyone shares to experience the joy of…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand the perceived impact of Illinois' "Performance Evaluation Reform Act" (PERA) on principal evaluation, principal leadership practice, and principal professional development through surveying Illinois' public school principals and principal evaluators. This study used quantitative…

This exploratory phenomenological research study describes the experiences of U.S. Army soldiers going through the mandated Structured Self Development (SSD) online courseware. Multiple findings are presented covering soldier participants' experiences with the process, content, and culture/environment of SSD. Additionally, findings dealing with…

Little examination exists regarding if and how teachers are employing culturally responsive practices in the classroom and if so, how they are accomplishing this. While educators cannot control all of the factors that contribute to academic achievement, they can control instructional practices that occur in their own classrooms that create…

To identify a possible relationship between cyberbullying in the elementary school setting with increasing feelings of empathy and prosocial behaviors a mixed-method, quasi-experimental study was conducted. Lessons centered on prosocial behaviors, feelings of empathy and cyberbullying were conducted weekly in the classroom's morning meetings. The…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the differences, if any, in the perceived importance and the level of integration of high-impact practices in traditional versus online courses/programs by faculty and administrators of institutions in the Appalachian College Association. The study further identifies the perceptions of faculty…

Despite reform efforts, police misconduct continues to be a recurring issue in the news media and law enforcement departments. Police misconduct produces financial loss and devastating effects on community relations. Law enforcement agencies have implemented several strategies to minimize the occurrence of deviate behavior; however, with minimal…

In this 2nd edition of "Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning," Mike Schmoker extends and updates the case that our schools could be on the cusp of swift, unparalleled improvements. But we are stymied by a systemwide failure to simplify and prioritize; we have yet to focus our limited time and energy on…

This study examines the effects of a longitudinal patient experience on the enhancement of empathy in first and second year students attending Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC). The Longitudinal Educational Experience Advancing Patient Partnerships (LEAP) is a new required program at WCMC. Entering Medical students are matched with chronically…