This research reports on the effectiveness of Polya Problem-Solving and Target-Task collaborative learning approaches in electricity amongst high school physics students. It also includes a gender focus. It was an experimental research with a pre-test post-test control group design. The experimental groups were exposed to Polya Problem-Solving…

Investigating a "problem of practice" is a signature feature of the EdD dissertation. Yet, little is known about how doctoral students derive their problems, the nature of the problems they study, and the impact studying problems of practice has on students' local contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate EdD students'…

The field of learning analytics holds considerable promise for higher education, with reports of successful uses now emerging in selected institutions. At the same time, critics have expressed concerns regarding privacy, ethics, and intrusions into teachers' pedagogy. Without attentive planning, higher-education professionals applying learning…

This book answers key questions about Carol Dweck's theory of Mindset--What is a 'growth mindset' and what difference can it make? Why are growth mindset interventions not working in schools (yet) and what can be done to change this? What is a 'failure mindset' and why is it more influential than an adult's fixed or growth mindset? Drawing on…

Prior research recognizes police academy education as being predominately teacher-centered, with a strong focus on the transmission of information. The research also calls for increased student-centered police education that engages students in critically analyzing and apply their learning. The literature suggests that this gap--between…

The Teaching Factory is an emerging paradigm aiming to enforce skills and competencies of engineers and operators working in the field of manufacturing, through an alignment of the teaching and training activities to the needs of modern factories. In this research work, the Teaching Factory principles are applied to envision ManuLearning, a new…

The overall aim of this chapter is to problematise the contemporary transnational discourse about learning and pupil-centred learning which during recent decades have become givens or, perhaps it could be said, have become established as dogmas in the conversations, writings and thinking about ourselves, others, education, work and society. The…

This chapter addresses challenges of educating beginning teachers to respond to 'twenty-first century' learning imperatives. These include rethinking purposes for learning in response to the addition of new curriculum elements such as competencies or capabilities; using a wider range of pedagogies that respond more appropriately to diversity,…

Open Educational Resources (OER) have the potential to bridge the gap for community college students not only because they are more affordable or provide access but also because they have the potential to make learning more meaningful for these same students. Although issues related to access and affordability have been extensively researched,…

A healthy, engaged community depends on people achieving to the best of their potential, contributing actively to the economy and public well-being, and helping the next generation to thrive. A complex set of intertwined social and biological factors influences people's motivation to participate actively and productively in schools, jobs, and…

The overarching objective of this dissertation is helping people to make a better use of digital information. This dissertation studies the cognitive abilities that are important for positive eLearner experience with digital devices and virtual environments. Institutions of higher education are increasingly incorporating new technology into their…

This research study investigated the use of action learning teams to improve collaborative professional development in the writing center setting. The study utilized a mixed methods design, with data collected through a quantitative 5-point Likert-type survey and focus group interviews. Participants were university writing tutors. Nine tutors were…

Higher-order thinking makes teaching and learning more engaging and intentional, adds intellectual rigor to any curriculum, and aids the development of some important life skills in young learners. Higher order thinking skills are key for success in school and life. Dr. Saifer provides numerous strategies for promoting higher-order thinking…

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has recently gained wider importance in the European Union (EU) as an emergent framework informing the governance of science. While a growing body of literature describing RRI and its main conceptual dimensions has appeared in the last seven years or so and in several policy documents, the European…

The theme of this year was educate to liberate. A reminder to the literacy community that education, and literacy extend beyond the content and courses we teach. As Freire puts it, "Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people--they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are…