KA SID, KA Systems/Public Policy and Dissertation 3/30/08

Great week at the AERA conference in Manhattan!! I've had such a long week because I attended so many classes and found out so many areas of research that I need to investigate. I also was able to spend many hours with Yolanda Gayol working on my dissertation and also with Leonard Beckum, Professor at PGSP, who has agreed to be my external reader. We have narrowed down my dissertation and Leonard agreed to allow me to do research in his multicultural compentencies class at PGSP as part of my dissertation work (and what we need for WASC). I believe I may have sped up my dissertation by at least 6 months!

I will start with my dissertation progress. Below is my draft as of today 3/30/08:

STATEMENT OF THE TOPIC, PROBLEM, OR RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the question or problem you are addressing? (preferably one sentence)

What course work is required to teach undergraduates and graduate students about multi-culturalism so they can better function as employees of companies doing business in a diverse and international environment?

How will this dissertation contribute to the existing state of knowledge and to practice? What makes it important?

My dissertation will propose an interdisciplinary approach (business, law, sociology, religious studies) to curriculum development that would result in a new graduation requirement for all majors (similar to English and Math) in order to better prepare our undergraduates for success in the new global work environment regardless of the selected major. Skills and competencies include negotiation, conflict resolution, dialogue, facilitation, cultural competencies for major religions and cultures, and general awareness of questioning techniques and dialogic thinking.

I have also done a concept map as of today also 3/30/08:




SUNDAY
PDC08: Methodological Issues in Quantitative Research on Social
and Educational Disparities. Professional Development Training
Hilton New York, Nassau Suite A, 2nd Floor
9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Director:
Phillip J. Bowman, University of Michigan
Instructors:
Edward P. St. John, University of Michigan
William T. Trent, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Felicia LeClere, University of Michigan
Angela Ebreo, University of Michigan

MONDAY
13.060. Networking With New Technologies: Equity, Critical Thinking,
Humor, and Pedagogy. SIG-Media, Culture and Curriculum
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, Shubert Complex, Royale
Room, 6th Floor
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Chair:
H James Garrett, Michigan State University
Participants:
Social Networking Technology, NetGen Learners, and Emerging
Technology: Democratic Claims and the Mythology of Equality. Alan
R. Foley, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Rick J. Voithofer, The
Ohio State University
Constructing Meaning and Critical Thinking Through a Cross-Cultural
Blog. Hsiao-Chien Lee, University of Missouri - Columbia; Carol J.
Gilles, University of Missouri - Columbia
Digital Media and Agonistic Life: Using Hannah Arendt to Read Youth
Media Production Experiences. Stuart R. Poyntz, University of British
Columbia
YouTube's Pedagogical Possibilities. James D. Trier, University of North
Carolina - Chapel Hill
"F-Bombs" and "Your Mom" Jokes Permitted During Gameplay: The
Impact of Game Culture and Play. Michele Dickey, Miami University -
Oxford
Discussant:
Lin Lin, University of North Texas

15.061. "Us Versus Them": Depictions of Issues Related to Diversity.
SIG-Critical Perspectives on Early Childhood Education
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, Barrymore Room, 9th
Floor
2:15 pm to 3:45 pm
Chair:
Annapurna Ganesh, Mesa Community College
Participants:
Contrasting Conceptions of Multiculturalism in the Midwest and Hawaii.
Susan Matoba Adler, University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu
Illusionary Emancipation and "Total Freedom" for Minority Children: The
Myths of Modern Schooling. Kyung Eun Jahng, University of
Wisconsin - Madison
Korean English Fever and Temporary Migration: Understanding Korean
Temporary Resident Parents' Desire and Practice for Their Children's
English Education in the United States. Kayoun Chung, University of
Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Marginalized Children's Voices: An Opportunity to Listen. Lourdes Diaz
Soto, University of Texas - Austin; Janette Habashi, University of
Oklahoma; Irene Garza, University of Texas - Austin; Dolores
Godinez, University of Texas - Austin; Ruby Olmansen, University of
Texas - Austin; Guadalupe Chavez, University of Texas - Austin;
Samantha K. Driskill, University of Oklahoma
Stories of Exclusion and Inclusion: Immigrant Children's Exploration of
Peer Relationships Through Fotonovelas. Anna Kirova-Petrova,
University of Alberta; Michael Emme, University of Victoria
Discussant:
Valerie Polakow, Eastern Michigan University

17.048. International Issues in Higher-Education Policy. Division LEducational
Policy and Politics
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, Shubert Complex, Royale
Room, 6th Floor
4:05 pm to 5:35 pm
Chair:
Stephen P. Heyneman, Vanderbilt University
Participants:
Academic Entrepreneurship and the Creative Economy. Tina Besley,
California State University - San Bernardino; Michael A. Peters,
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Higher Education Funding and Welfare Regimes: International
Comparative Perspectives. Hans Pechar, University of Klagenfurt;
Lesley Andres, University of British Columbia
Universities and the Knowledge Mission: Comparing the United States and
the United Kingdom. Amy Liu, University of California, Los Angeles
Toward a New Understanding of Access and Equity Policies in Higher
Education. Christine G. Shakespeare, Sunbridge College; Anely
Gabriela Ramirez, New York University
Discussant:
Stella M. Flores, Vanderbilt University

TUESDAY

21.012. PDC19: Foregrounding Issues of Equity and Diversity in
Mathematics Education Research: Implications for Research
Methods and Teacher Development. Professional Development
Training
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Lenox Ballroom, 2nd Floor
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Directors:
Megan L. Franke, University of California - Los Angeles
Alan H. Schoenfeld, University of California - Berkeley
Instructors:
Daniel Battey, Arizona State University
Angela Grace Chan, University of California - Los Angeles
Noel D. Enyedy, University of California - Los Angeles
Frederick D. Erickson, University of California - Los Angeles
Indigo Esmonde, OISE/University of Toronto
Mary Q. Foote, Queens College - CUNY
Mara G. Landers, University of California - Berkeley
Courtney A. Koestler, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Victoria M. Hand, University of Colorado - Boulder
Kristine Michelle Ho, University of California - Los Angeles
Shiuli Mukhopadhyay, California State University - Northridge
Vanessa R. Pitts Bannister, Virginia Tech University
Joi A. Spencer, University of San Diego
Edd V. Taylor, Northwestern University
Anita A. Wager, University of Wisconsin – Madison

29.011. PDC20: Fostering Civic Responsibility Through Service-
Learning: Sharing Our Models, Research, and Resources.
Professional Development Training
Hilton New York, Nassau Suite B, 2nd Floor
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Director:
Kathleen Anne Flannery, Saint Anselm College
Instructors:
Daniel Forbes, Saint Anselm College
Maria K. McKenna, Saint Anselm College
Carol Traynor, Saint Anselm College

WEDNESDAY

36.011. PDC23: Longitudinal Surveys at the National Center for
Education Statistics: Educational Longitudinal Studies of 1988 and
2002. Professional Development Training
Hilton New York, Bryant Suite, 2nd Floor
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Directors:
Emmanuel Sikali, National Center For Education Statistics
Jeffrey A. Owings, National Center For Education Statistics
John G. Wirt, National Center for Education Statistics

41.038. Exploring the Role of Citizenship in Multiple Contexts. Division
G-Social Context of Education
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, Majestic Complex,
Majestic Room, 6th Floor
12:25 pm to 1:55 pm
Chair:
Theresa Montano, California State University - Northridge
Participants:
Adolescent Voices and Changing Perceptions: Cosmopolitanism,
Citizenship, and Global Education. Payal Shah, Indiana University -
Bloomington
Educators' Civic Responsibility: Constraints to Equitable Opportunity and
Achievement. Brenda Judith McMahon, Nipissing University; Denise
E. Armstrong, Brock University
Parents and Teachers Contest Notions of Belonging and Citizenship in
Five Nations' Preschools. Angela E. Arzubiaga, Arizona State
University; Jennifer Adair, Arizona State University; Fikriye Kurban,
Arizona State University; Joseph J. Tobin, Arizona State University
Promoting College Access for Under-Represented Minority Students
Through Civic Engagement: A Study of Reciprocal Outcomes. Kim D.
Macgregor, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge; Mark
Dochterman, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge; Marco J.
Barker, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
Raising Children for Local and Global Citizenship: A Qualitative Study.
Sirene May-Yin Lim, Teachers College, Columbia University
Discussant:
Angelina E. Castagno, Northern Arizona University

43.034. Global Cities, Neoliberalism, and the Restructuring of Urban
Education. Division G-Social Context of Education
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, Empire Complex, Chelsea
Room, 7th Floor
2:15 pm to 3:45 pm
Chairs:
Thomas C. Pedroni, Oakland University
Pauline Lipman, University of Illinois - Chicago
Participants:
From Flat Earth to Planet of Slums: The Global Implications of Neoliberal
Policies for Cities and Schools. David W. Hursh, University of
Rochester
Making Sense of Renaissance 2010 School Policy in Chicago: Race, Class,
and the Cultural Politics of Neoliberal Urban Restructuring. Pauline
Lipman, University of Illinois - Chicago
Porto Alegre As an Educative City: Producing Local/Global Alternatives
to Educational Policies. Luis Armando Gandin, Federal University of
Rio Grande do Sul
Gramsci in the Global City: Race, Identity, and Subalternity in Unsettling
Educational Times. Thomas C. Pedroni, Oakland University
Neoliberal Globalization, Education, and Social Justice in South African
Education. Leon Paul Tikly, University of Bristol
Discussant:
William H. Watkins, University of Illinois - Chicago

THURSDAY

49.012. PDC21: Getting Published: A Panel of Journal Editors and
Emerging Scholars. Professional Development Training
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Empire Ballroom, Empire East,
2nd Floor
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Directors:
Patricia B. Elmore, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Patricia A. Alexander, University of Maryland - College Park
49.013. PDC24: Multilevel and Hierarchical Linear Modeling.
Professional Development Training
Hilton New York, Sutton Complex, Beekman Parlor, 2nd Floor
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Directors:
J. Kyle Roberts, Southern Methodist University
Susan Natasha Beretvas, University of Texas - Austin

55.040. Civic Dialogue and Engagement on Campus. Division JPostsecondary
Education
Crowne Plaza Hotel Times Square, Room 1504, 15th Floor
12:25 pm to 1:55 pm
Chair:
Catherine L. Horn, University of Houston
Participants:
Building Civic Responsibility Through Global Education: Role of
International Students in the Educational Experiences of Domestic
Students. Olga Kostareva, Winona State University; Alina Slapac,
University of Missouri - St. Louis; Sangmin Kim, Winona State
University
College Student Liberalism: Considering the Effects of Normative Context
and Peer Groups on Changes in College Students' Liberal Perspectives.
Kevin Eagan, University of California - Los Angeles
Comparison of Civic Attitudes and Behaviors of Asian American Students
and White Students. Chiaki Kotori, University of Massachusetts -
Amherst; Elizabeth A. Williams, University of Massachusetts - Amherst;
Gary D. Malaney, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Taking Race Into Account: Charting Student Attitudes Toward
Affirmative Action. Julie Jinwon Park, University of California - Los
Angeles
Discussant:
Benita J. Barnes, University of Massachusetts – Amherst

57.012. International Perspectives on Conflict, Achievement, and
Learning. Division G-Social Context of Education
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, Broadway Ballroom,
Broadway North, 6th Floor
1:15 pm to 1:55 pm
Tables:
15. Challenges for Schools in Communities With In-Migration and Out-
Migration Flows. Hanife Akar, Middle East Technical University
16. Comparing Youth Identity Formations in Two Multicultural Schools in
London. Daniel Faas, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign
Policy (ELIAMEP)
17. Intergroup Conflict in a South African School: Responses From Both
Black and White South African Teachers. Jean Madsen, Texas A&M
University; Reitumetse O. Mabokela, Michigan State University
18. Language and Social Class: Linguistic Capital in Singapore. Viniti
Vaish, National Institute of Education
19. Rethinking the Learning of "Culture": A China Inquiry. Cameron S.
White, University of Houston; Sabrina Marsh, University of Houston;
Amy Denise Mulholland, University of Houston; Dustine Thomas,
University of Houston
20. Stress Sources, Coping Strategies, and Help-Seeking Beliefs: Chinese
International Students in the United States. Kun Yan, Arizona State
University

58.042. Cultural Beliefs and Situated Experiences: Preservice Teachers'
Attitudes Concerning Social Justice Pedagogy. Division K-Teaching
and Teacher Education
Hilton New York, Green Room, 4th Floor
2:15 pm to 3:45 pm
Chair:
Christine Clark, University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Participants:
Education Majors reSEARCHing and reACTing for Social Justice.
Patricia A. Whang, California State University - Monterey Bay
Examining Preservice Teachers Culturally Responsive Teaching Self
Efficacy and Cognitive Engagement Within a Case Study Module.
Tehia Venise Starker, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
That Which Divides Us? Student Resistances in Graduate Diversity
Courses With Two Diverse Faculty Members. Kenneth James
Fasching-Varner, The Ohio State University; Shirley Mthethwa
Sommers, St. John Fisher College
Toward Civic Responsibility: Charting the Attitudes of Preservice
Teachers Toward Cultural Diversity in Irish Classrooms. Aisling Leavy,
University of Limerick; Fiona A. McSorley, Mary Immaculate College
Understanding Preservice Teachers' Biases: Implications for the Well-
Being of Obese Students. Nate G. Mitchell, University of Louisville;
Amanda Jeane Wyrick, University of Louisville; Kathleen Moritz
Rudasill, University of Louisville; Jamie M. White, University of
Louisville
Discussant:
Francisco A. Rios, University of Wyoming

FRI. MORNING

67.055. Philosophical Perspectives on Globalization and
Cosmopolitanism: Educating in the 21st Century. SIG-Philosophical
Studies in Education co-sponsored with Division B-Curriculum Studies
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Executive Conference Center,
Conference Room B, Lower Lobby
12:25 pm to 1:55 pm
Chair:
Jacqueline Bach, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
Participants:
Revitalizing Education for Democracy: The Challenge of Globalization.
Kathryn A. Hytten, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Aristotle on Learning: A Contribution to Current Discussion on Scholastic
and Nonscholastic Learning. Tone Saugstad, University of Copenhagen
Teaching Ethics in a Pluralist Society. James Charles Conroy, University
of Glasgow
Cosmopolitanism in the Making. Torill Strand, University of Bergen
Discussant:
Klas Roth, Stockholm University

KA SID, Systems, Public Policy, Second Life and Dissertation 3/7/08

Well, I seemed to have gotten myself committed to 4 KA's at one time! (SID, Systems, Public Policy, Second Life).

SID: I went to the Title I meeting at El Carmelo Elementary School to pass out my survey. They had a record attendance evening so I got to talk to lots of parents and hear an old friend from elementary school days (our kids are the same age), Janet Rose, who is still a 2nd grade teacher at Palo Verde. She did a great job teaching the parents Math tips for helping the kids. We had an interpreter and about 5 of the elementary school principals showed up and I got to talk to several of them. It was really a very nice event. I think we had about 25 families - they brought all their kids. It was really nice. I passed out most of my 50 flyers - I also went to the YMCA event I missed and asked Danny Koba, Director of Youth services including the Ventura Center, to give the flyers to the 6 kids they have there.. I don't think many will come back. I will have to make another 25 for the 2nd meeting on April 5 on writing skills at Barron Park Elementary School. The principal, Catherine Howard, was very interested in my project and said she would be happy to work with me. She took about 5 of the surveys for her 5th graders. I also received the 5 Max Weber books I bought and finished the page on his work in my overview. I have not had time to start on my indepth - which is the Digital Divide survey, but I will next week.

Second Life: We had a group information meeting last week, and I have signed my contract. I also got to meet 2 people (Tina Montemer and Heidi Maston) and one faculty (Dr. Joyce Germaine-Watts) at lunch at the RRI last weekend and we discussed what we want to do in the simulations.

Public Policy/Systems: Dr. Leonard Beckum confirmed that Dr. Bernadine Chuck Fong is interested in helping me. She is currently consulting in Hawaii so I'm very excited about connections she can help me make there. I have also starting finding a date for lunch with Carolyn Wilkins-Greene and Jerry Rosenberg to discuss Math Performance Success (finally some movement there). I am also very excited about the information I got at the RRI last weekend - I interviewed Pam Luster, a fellow doctoral student who is the VP of Student Services at Los Positas Community College in Livermore. She helped me a lot with my question: California Community College System's ability to support underrepresented minorities and specifically what the Foothill-De Anza Community College District has done to support these groups. Pam said she would introduce me to Rob Johnstone, Vice President of Instruction & Institutional Research at Foothill College who knows all about the Pass the Torch program and how the budget works there. She also told me that Jeanine Hawk, Vice president of Finance and College Services at De Anza College would be able to help me with the issues they have with budgets/financing of these programs from the state. I will work on that next month probably.

Dissertation: To prepare for my lunch with Dr. Bernadine Chuck Fong, I have been reading literature I searched for last month on my dissertation problem: Cultural misunderstandings happen every day in business settings. Because global technology has made the world much smaller creating everyday situations at work and at school requiring people of different cultures to interact without leaving their countries, young people who are in college today, aged 18-26, need to learn skills and have tools when entering the workforce that previous generations did not need to have.

Here is some of the results of my reading:

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
===========================
One of the articles was written by Jeffrey Krivis, an adjunct professor at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law since 1994, Krivis teaches negotiation and mediation skills to lawyers and judges. So after reading the article called " Can We Call a Truce? Ten Tips for Negotiating Workplace Conflicts." that was published in Employment Relations Today in 2006 that I got from Wiley at Fielding, I looked up the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.



The institute looks very interesting and has a seminar in October 2008 called:

Faith-Based Facilitation and Reconciliation
Church Leaders Dialogue
FOCUS ON "Ministry"
Friday evening October 24, 2008 from 6pm till 9pm
Pepperdine School of Law, Malibu, California




The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
===========================================
I'm making my way through Dr. Eboo Patel's book "Building the interfaith youth movement : beyond dialogue to action." I am about 1/3 of the way through the book and I think it will continue to be the basis for my dissertation work.

Dr. Patel references his work with The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ).



NCCJ today has more than 55 regional offices in 32 states and the District of Columbia and has over 400 full and part-time staff members.

The National Conference of Christians and Jews, changed its name in the 1990's to better reflect its mission to build whole and inclusive communities. The historic name confused many, who believed that NCCJ was an interfaith organization. Therefore the new name is not a change in vision, but rather an affirmation of our abiding commitment to embrace the diversity of our nation.

NCCJ is the only national human relations organization that focuses on a broad range of "isms," the multiple manifestations of discrimination and oppression that are based on one's religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, bias crimes to racial profiling - the challenges ahead are real. To confront and overcome them, NCCJ maintains an abiding commitment to work with decision-makers and leaders to support their work to build an inclusive society.

I plan to buy two of their publications funded by the Ford Foundation:

Research Perspectives

Research Perspectives summarizes a cross-section of various social-scientific literatures that have examined intergroup relations: sociology, social psychology, public opinion, and public policy. The editors endeavored to present the cutting edge academic thinking and research in the country's academic sphere to those who would benefit the most such as trainers, grass roots activists, advocacy groups, local human-relations commissions, elected officials, and community leaders, among others. In addition, the report offers academics a practical understanding of methods practitioners use in their day-to-day activities and gives them an opportunity to benefit from the experiences and perspectives of those who grapple with intergroup relations every day.

Seven Promising Practices

Seven Promising Practices, the latest and most in-depth of the three book series, articulates criteria for evaluating intergroup programming and presents models for practitioners to use in improving their own work. A handful of programs across the country are examined that seek to foster multiracial, multifaith, or multiethnic collaboration through a variety of approaches. The volume highlights and provides full details about programs and organizations that utilize models and methodologies which embody many of the principles NCCJ considers to be promising practices.

World Conference of Religions for Peace: Global Youth Network
=============================================
This is a very good video and not too long (16 minutes). This is exactly the kind of experience I think that young people (undergraduates) should have the opportunity to experience as a requirement for graduation. Dr. Eboo Patel was elected the WCRP International Youth Committee chair in 1989. The group has changed the name and slightly the focus, but it is still student-led. They just had a conference in 2006 in Japan.


Global Youth Network


To view a Religions for Peace Global Youth Network informational video, click here!


Religions for Peace Global Youth Network harnesses the energy and commitment of religious youth leaders all over the world to advance the mission of multi-religious cooperation for peace.

The Global Youth Network gained full momentum in 2006 when the six regional inter-religious youth networks were launched in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean. Concrete success in mounting action programs among six regions has inspired donors to award funding to carry out similar projects around the globe. Today, the Global Youth Network is developing pilot programs to confront some of our most urgent challenges—building peace, addressing environmental issues, and coping with the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Concurrently, the youth are working to mainstream youth and youth issues into Religions for Peace programming activities at the local, regional, and global levels. This important work is led by the International Youth Committee (IYC), comprised of fifteen members representing the world's faith traditions from six continents. The IYC was first established at the Sixth World Assembly in Riva del Garde, Italy, in 1994, and the current members were elected at the Religions for Peace VIII World Assembly in Kyoto, Japan in August 2006. Currently, the Religions for Peace Global Youth Network is led by its newly elected Youth Coordinator, Ms. Stellamaris Mulaeh, who also serves as Pax Romana's national coordinator for peacebuilding in Kenya.

The Global Youth Network seeks to advance its work of mobilizing power of religious youth, building strategic partnerships with the United Nations, inter-governmental institutions, and civil society organization, and implementing action programs through national and regional inter-religious youth networks.

The Ignorant American/National Geographic -Roper study 2006
==============================================
I was reading this week's US News and World Report, and there is a new book out by Susan Jacoby, "The Age of American Unreason". I plan to get it later probably next month.



"I was particularly shocked, in a recent National Geographic -Roper study, by how many Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 don't think it's important to know a foreign language or to know the location of countries in which important news is being made. Not knowing these things is ignorance. Being proud of not knowing them is something else. It's being both antirational and anti-intellectual. To say that it's not at all important to know a foreign language is just plain stupid."

I looked up the National Geographic -Roper study and downloaded it. It is fascinating.



In the Highlights it goes on to say:

"On this survey, most young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 demonstrate a limited understanding of the world beyond their country's borders, and they place insufficient importance on the basic geographic skills that might enhance their knowledge.

Six in ten (63%) cannot find Iraq on a map of the Middle East, despite near-constant news coverage since the U.S. invasion of March 2003.

Three-quarters (75%) of young men and women do not know that a majority of Indonesia's population is Muslim (making it the largest Muslim country in the world), despite the prominence of this religion in global news today.

Three-quarters (74%) believe English is the most commonly spoken native language in the world, rather than Mandarin Chinese. Although 73% know the U.S. is the world's largest consumer of oil, nearly as many (71%) do not know the U.S. is the world's largest exporter of goods and services - half think it's China.

Taken together, these results suggest that young people in the United States - the most recent graduates of our educational system - are unprepared for an increasingly global future. Far too many lack even the most basic skills for navigating the international economy or understanding the relationships among people and places that provide critical context for world events."

This is exactly the problem I am trying to address in my dissertation.