Examination of doctoral education has gained interest in recent years as all aspects of higher education have been questioned and scrutinized by the popular media. One particular area needing additional clarity is an exploration of the motivating factors for students attempting to complete these degrees. While a handful of research across a few…

This exploratory qualitative case study investigates how graduate students in education experience, attribute, and combat academic boredom. Three areas of concern are addressed: (a) the contributing factors to boredom, (b) how attributional style (internal vs. external) relates to coping with boredom, and (c) the differences between combating…

This quantitative research study explored college students' perceptions and evaluations of the website, RateMyProfessors.com, and its impact on their course selection process. Whereas most universities do not publish course evaluations, Rate My Professors (RMP) provides a virtual space for students to read and offer each other insight on professor…

This study investigates three aspects--university major, year, and institution type--in relation to student scientific reasoning. Students from three majors (science, engineering, and education), four year levels (years 1 through 4), and two tiers of Chinese universities (tiers 1 and 2) participated in the study. A large-scale written assessment…

The purpose of this investigation was to acquire a better understanding of the decision-making process of Thai pre-service music education students and their expectations of their post-graduation professional activities. Demographic data was gathered as well as self-reported participant influences regarding choosing to major in music education. A…

Given the dearth of research on elementary education majors' experiences in middle level endorsement programs (Anderson, 2009), and the shortage of teachers aspiring to work with young adolescents, this case study examined the topic to provide insight into the experiences of preservice elementary education teachers. Specifically, this study…

When a class of future teachers rated the nation's schools, local schools received higher grades than schools nationally. A follow-up essay disclosed that 97 percent of these college seniors obtained their information from newspaper, magazine, or television coverage. If 75 percent of Gallup Poll respondents gave local schools passing grades, media…

Focusing on the pedagogy curriculum of teacher education colleges in Israel, this study examines the influences of various curriculum factors actually implemented in the classroom as compared with noncurriculum factors. Data from 269 education students affirms the positive contribution of curriculum factors. (SLD)

The effects of 15 factors on 81 students' selection of concentration areas in special education were investigated. Six factors were consistently rated high regardless of year and concentration area: ages served, prior work and volunteer experience, curriculum content, site visits provided prior to concentration area selection, job availability,…

A study of 81 experienced teachers reports that to understand and survive classroom life, a knowledge of interpersonal politics was essential. The qualitative data set disclosed seven major categories of ineffective principal influences on teacher thinking and behavior: lack of participatory decision making, lack of support, favoritism,…

Attitudes, beliefs, and practice teaching experience of one preservice elementary school teacher in her final year of studies and first year of teaching were examined to investigate constraints preventing the translation of educational theory into classroom practices in mathematics instruction. Results indicate that observed teaching practices…