A major rationale for study abroad (SA) from the perspective of second language acquisition is the presumed opportunity available to sojourners for naturalistic second language (L2) "immersion". However, such opportunities are affected by variations in the linguistic, institutional and social affordances of SA, in different settings.…

The construction industry plays a critical role in economic growth, social progress, and environmental protection of communities worldwide to foster sustainable development. Although the construction industry has made significant improvements in environmental and economic sustainability in terms of promoting the adoption of renewable resources,…

This dissertation examined the experiences of women of color (WOC), defined as African American and Latina women for this study, as they pursued a degree in a criminal justice program at a Midwest community college. Utilizing Schlossberg's transition theory, the qualitative case study sought to learn how WOC experience the transition to being…

Models of giftedness in the 21st century tend to describe talent as a social construct. Research now indicates that certain talented populations that are composed of multiple exceptional individuals are excluded from talent development programmes. Recognizing how well the environment best fits individual needs at particular key developmental…

Social network analysis (SNA) has been used in many educational studies in the past decade, but what these studies have in common is that the populations in question in most cases are defined and known to the researchers studying the networks. Snowball sampling is an SNA methodology most often used to study hidden populations, for example, groups…

Large-scale education reforms have increased accountability for districts and schools and pressure on educational leaders to improve student outcomes. Data show, however, that school improvement is not universal. Research suggests that these reforms have failed because of the fragmented approach to reform and the limited attention given to…

Pinterest is a social media platform that allows users to "pin" resources from the Internet and includes hundreds of connections to education sites. Pinterest is a popular and trusted resource for many teachers, making it a potential way to share evidence-based practices. This column describes how teachers can use Pinterest to share…

The development of e-learning has caused a growing interest in learning models that may have the best results. We believe that it is good practice to implement social learning models in the field of online education. In this case, the implementation of complex instruction in online training courses for teachers, on "Social Networks in…

This study used social network analysis to evaluate whether sex heterophily, the degree to which peers are different in sex, between 126 children with autism (ages 5-12 years) and their peers affected social network connectivity. Results indicate that: (1) the quantity and sex of friends were more important in predicting social network…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate the representation of African American female community college executive leaders in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Factors that played a role in the growth and development of these leaders on their professional journey were identified. The study also explored initiatives…

Blended learning is a pedagogical approach where students have agency over what they are learning and how they are learning. It allows teachers to embed the participatory, collaborative practices many students use outside school while--when paired with literature and nonfiction readings that challenge dominant narratives--allowing students to be…

The purpose of this study was to investigate international Chinese students' (ICS) English learning experiences at a rural Midwestern university. The study explored how ICS acculturated to a new learning environment which is dominated by English. The study also examined how ICS's investment in English was influenced by their (re)constructed…

The purpose of the study was to develop tailored messages for improving mental health and adjustment of Asian international students (AISs) in the United States. The PEN-3 cultural model was used to contextualize the role of culture in mental health needs of AISs. Applying a mixed method approach, the study developed messages through a multistep…

This study aimed at studying gender transformational changes taking place in the modern multilingual world. The integrative approach of the study revealed a close relationship between the processes taking place in the field of language, culture, society and reflected in the formation of a personal identity as self-identification with the norms,…

A geographic information system (GIS) can be defined as a computer-based system that enables the collection, management, analysis, visualization, and sharing of spatial data. As this technology is a fundamental and fast-growing part of the global economy, there is a growing global demand for a skilled workforce that can use it to address an array…