Graduate School of Education

In this conceptual paper, we address the problem that novice scholars in social sciences sometimes have in constructing conceptual or theoretical frameworks for their dissertations and papers for publication. In the first part of the paper, we discuss why the topic is important in the high pressure environment that novice scholars face, in which finishing a doctoral degree and getting published can make a difference in career success or failure, and explain our understanding of theoretical/conceptual framing, including provisionally defining some key terms. We then elucidate ten problems that novice scholars have with theoretical/conceptual framing, using our own experiences as manuscript reviewers and writers as examples. The paper concludes with ways that novice scholars can address the task of framing their scholarly work conceptually and theoretically, on the understanding that the struggles continue over the lifetime of a scholarly career.

This study focused on an experiential graduate-level qualitative research course and a practical study to understand how family-friendliness is conceptualized at an international expatriate university in Kazakhstan. Student researchers worked collaboratively to reflect and engage in a research process including developing interview protocols, transcription, coding, and analysis. From this work, students developed research capacity and uncovered four key components to family friendliness: safety, financial support, infrastructure and facilities, and sense of community. These were re-analyzed through Clark’s (2000) border theory resulting in two major themes: safe, simple life on campus (physical borders) and sense of support (psychological borders). This study provided three important outcomes: (1) engaging students within a graduate level course in creating and conducting a collaborative exploratory qualitative research study, (2) uncovering results about the importance of family-friendliness on campus for international parents/faculty, and (3) providing recommendations to develop family-friendliness to support recruitment and retention in higher education institutions. For students studying higher education leadership for future careers as administrators, academics, and researchers, understanding these experiences and results provide insights to develop equitable university environments.

As part of a graduate course on advanced research methods in higher education, our class attended the Eurasian Higher Education Leaders Forum (EHELF) in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 7-8, 2018. We were challenged to engage in both days of the conference as active participants, thinking deeply about the ways in which the presentations, discussions with individuals, and question and answer sessions intersected with our developing identities and practice as educational leaders. The organization of the conference and the opportunities provided to both listen and engage were a great chance for us learn and talk with educational leaders from different international higher institutions and organizations.
In this article, we report on the conference as a whole, discussing the major themes and topics, providing insight into the use of technology and interaction within the conference,  personal reflection on the pedagogical implication of integrating conference within a graduate course, and concluding with major “takeaways,” remaining questions for the future of higher education in Kazakhstan and beyond.

The NRC framework for science education and the NGSS have created a need for additional research on and development of curricula that involve both modern modeling tools and engineering practices. This is especially the case for biology education, which traditionally include neither. We describe a quasi-­‐ experimental design study to test the effectiveness of model-­‐based instruction focused on the concepts of natural selection and population ecology that makes use of Excel modeling tools (MBI-­‐E). The overarching storyline of the 4-­‐week curriculum unit revolves around an engineering design task of controlling an invasive species. Diverse model-­‐based activities are woven throughout the unit, beginning with storyboards and data tables, and gradually moving to graphs and equations in Excel. The study takes place in the Midwest within ten high schools teaching regular level introductory biology classes, with implementing teachers and matched schools using traditional instruction....

Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan is an emerging research higher education institution seeking to meet the world standards not only through the high quality academic programmes and teaching, but also through providing its community with an environment that enables them to balance their work and family. This paper reports on a qualitative research project conducted by graduate students within a research methods course to answer the research question, How is “family-friendly campus” contextualized at the university? The study involved semi-structured interviews with six parents living on campus, including four faculty members from across the University—faculty from the business school, medical school, and graduate school—as well as two stay at home parents. Participants had been one to three children. After receiving IRB approval, interviews were recorded and transcribed. Using open, axial, thematic coding and constant comparison, findings revealed four primary themes as key components of a campus that respects residents’ families and their values: (1) socialization/sense of community, (2) infrastructure/facilities, (3) financial support, and (4) safety. In this regard, a family-friendly campus is seen as a place where financial support, safe environment, and appropriate infrastructure are provided, allowing families to socialize and build relationships between local and international faculty and staff. The importance of the study is situated in the dual nature of creating both a friendly atmosphere for faculty members, and also for their family. The conditions created for family-friendly campuses directly affect the work readiness and satisfaction of all employees. The study demonstrates the needs of families, staying on campus, and provides insight for development in creating, or enhancing family-friendly campuses. Findings have potential implications for recruitment and retention of faculty and staff at international universities.

Participation in higher education in Latvia has
increased since 1991 and presents a case of a mass higher
education system. There were two main drivers for this
development. One was the liberalization of higher education
sector governance involving the emergence of privately
funded higher education that were able to absorb
larger numbers of students. Another one was the growing
demand for higher education among both traditional and
non-traditional student age cohorts, especially in the fields
of social sciences.