This article analyses participant experiences and statements about perceived problems in two online conferences to identify tensions and disturbances relating to external factors, conference technology, online discussions and design choices and then considers the underlying contradictions within the conference systems which generate both positive…

A burgeoning body of literature discusses the process of being and becoming a doctoral scholar, suggesting that graduate students should move beyond performing the role of 'good student' and transform into doctoral scholars and stewards of the profession. More recently, research has been conducted to identify more commonly held competencies and…

The role of a college president is unique and challenging given the demands of the position as well as the shifting higher education landscape. Research shows presidents are expected to fill many roles in a college community including fundraiser, financial steward, problem solver and cheerleader (Selingo et al., 2017; Trombley, 2007). As the…

As people seek out more naturalistic experiences (e.g. camping, visiting National and State Parks, etc.), it is increasingly important for students to leave our classrooms with an understanding of and relationship to nature. The NGSS exposes students to environmental problems of today and works toward the EPA's description of environmental…

The lack of environmental education in many primary and secondary school systems is likely due to overloaded school curricula, lack of funds, large classroom sizes, and other contributing factors. Through the integration of hands-on activities following the training of teachers, we can improve the impact of environmental education. Our goals in…

Although there are many reasons why one could consider current manifestations of general education a disaster area, this article focuses on its ethical failures. First, I will demonstrate the central importance of moral purposes to justifications for general education. Second, I will describe how the failure to connect the moral aims that…

In this phenomenological study, seven K-8 school principals who have made measurable advances in achievement gap scores were interviewed to understand the lived experiences that informed their successful leadership practices. Annually, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) releases Ohio School Report Cards (n.d.), a statewide report that contains…

The literature on human motivation and persistence posits that to be stewards of environments that both challenge and support students requires more than cultivating grit. In this article, the author explores why a truly developmental educational experience must transcend the fostering of individuals' grit and resilience. At its best, it must lead…

Previous studies have shown that induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) induces phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) in postsynaptic neurons, but the functional significance of rpS6 phosphorylation is poorly understood. Here, we show that synaptic stimulation that induces perforant path LTP triggers phosphorylation of rpS6 (p-rpS6)…

This article reports on a project that used a game-creation tool to introduce middle-school students ages 10 to 13 to problem-solving strategies similar to those in computer science through the lens of studio-based design arts. Drawing on historic paradigms in design pedagogy and contemporary educational approaches in the digital arts to teach…

The study explores how literacy sponsorship (Brandt, 2001) is constructed in a United States rural region by focusing on the discourse of rural teachers and students. Data included interviews with teachers and students, classroom observations, an environmental print literacy scan, and analysis of community and classroom-based texts. A multi-cycle…

In December 2017, the Smithsonian unveiled a new Strategic Plan. It expands on the five "Grand Challenges"--Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe, Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet, Valuing World Cultures, Understanding the American Experience, and Magnifying the Transformative Power of Arts and Design--by setting goals…

The 2017 Thought Leaders report focuses on "Transforming Facilities to Achieve Student Success." The report makes the case that student success starts with retention and graduation, but it can expand to include factors from personal career goals to social responsibility. A key message from the report is that through strategic investment…

Half a century ago, all children played outside, many getting to know the ecosystems around them in detail, marveling at the awe and wonder of shooting stars, thick fog, the structure of snowflakes, watching bats emerge at dusk, and how spiders spin a web. Learning science, while covered in school, was much more meaningful through direct…

In 2002, "Stepping Forward as Stewards of Place" identified "public engagement" as having the essential qualities of being "place-related," "interactive," "mutually beneficial" and "integrated." The publicly engaged institution was defined as being "fully committed to direct, two-way…