Always Learn!

Iran, as a historically, culturally, and scientifically ancient country has had a prosperous status in the human life and worlds education. To give an example, Iranian cosmopolitan scientists and educators such as Bozorgmehr, Ferdowsi, Birooni, Razi, Avicenna, Sadie, Khayyam, Nasir-oddin-Toosi, and many others are among the great educators and scientists who have played an important role in human life. When we compare this with other main ancient countries of China, India, Egypt, and Greek, it becomes clear that only Greek scientists and educators are comparable to Iranians in the amount of influence of their science and education on international and historical basis.

But, nowadays, in terms of innovations in culture, education, and other sciences, both philosophically and methodologically, Iranian scientists and educators research products are not remarkable. Todays Iranian human sciences are academically and socially struggling with some essential problems and challenges that block the process of qualitative growth and development of sciences and education in this ancient land which was once one of the most valuable cradles of knowledge and wisdom.

Research indicates that the qualitative development of higher education in our country is much lower than its quantitative growth. During the past 25 years (1981-2005), the Iranian academic community and its institutions have expanded dramatically (Yalpani, et. al, 2006). Currently, there are more than 50 state universities, and nearly 150 non-private technical undergraduate schools, which enroll about 750,000 students. There are also about 60 official research institutions throughout the country. In addition, since 1984, an extensive country wide private university system (mostly undergraduates) was started which enrolls another 750,000 full time students.

We may ask why the qualitative development and scientific products, especially in social sciences and humanities, are not worthy to mention. According to the data provided by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology for the academic year 2003, the total numbers of master and doctoral students and available faculty were 68287, 12189, and 25723, respectively. Subtracting from the latter the 50 percent of instructors/tutors, who are not directly involved in any meaningful research activity, there still remain 12861 potentially researching faculty members.

The same source gives the total numbers of national scientific output for 2003 as 3326 counts. This means that each faculty member has produced in that year 0.23 indexed scientific publications. Should we include all those who with their daily work collect the needed scientific data, i.e., the graduate students, each year we end up with a publication per scientific worker ratio of only 0.034. This number is the resultant when we include all academic disciplines. When we now focus our attention to the Social Sciences and Humanities group, the situation seems to be significantly worse (op. cited). In a research conducted by the present author himself, it has been found out that there are only seven research-based scientific journals of education. in our country with maximum publication volume of 10 thousands for about one million teachers and about one hundred thousand educational experts. All these mean that we are confronting huge problems and challenges with regard to the educational research products and publications.

The question is why there is such a shortage in scientific review articles, especially in education, in our country. Our understanding is that there are different problems confronting scientists in Iran. These problems are tremendously larger and much more complicated for researches in social sciences and humanities than natural and pure experimental sciences. Ideological problems are the most difficult ones in human sciences and education as well. The more brilliant the scientists of human sciences, the more frustrated they are from scientific institutions. Medium-range researchers seem to be much happier with the scientific institution to which they belong compared to the brighter scholars. These institutions seem not to play a positive role in the case of the best scientists. Shortage of facilities provided by institutions are one other major problem for research. Another is the tenuous cooperation among scientists.

In such a situation, the Quarterly Journal of Educational Innovations aims to focus on most significant preoccupations and questions concerning educational issues and then to answer them. The articles of this journal explain some problems and challenges of education and try to show the main roots and factors of the problems that the education system is encountered with. As well, it seeks to reach an understanding and offering of the specific and applied ways through which the educational sciences can be grown and developed. In this special issue of the Quarterly Journal of Educational Innovations, nineteen articles are presented in English language to follow its six years of publication in Persian language. We welcome the researchers and scientists of education and psychology to send their articles in English language to be considered and reviewed for publication. As a prospective aim, we are looking forward to publishing the journal in both English and Persian in parallel form to reach the international scientific society as well as the one inside Iran as we have done in the past time.

History
On June 30, 1929, the Cabinet ratified that the government print and edit the primary textbooks exclusively. The responsibility was transferred to the office of Examinations and Programs.
.The activity began in 1967 at the General Office of Studies and Programs under the supervision and management of five foreign advisors.
.The Organization for Research and Educational Innovation was established under the law passed by the Consultative Assembly and the Senate on July 8, 1976.
.In 1977, the Organization for Text-books and the Organization for Research and Educational Innovation joined to form a new organization.
. On March 3, 1979, under the ratification of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution, the new organization was named the Organization for Educational Research and Planning (OERP).
Objectives:
.To research and survey on the quality issues of the education
.To develop educational programs
.To write and edit text-books
.To support Schools and educational institutes in using new tools and methods
All of these objectives support the major aim of increasing the quality of the educational system
OERP Responsibilities :
1. To research on the content of the educational
2. To study and develop simple methods for examinations and educational assessments
3. To write, edit and print text-books.
4. To identify and provide educational tools and the list of standards for educational tools and equipments
5. To run pure research on improving the quality and quantity of education
6. To perform other responsibilities issued by the OERO Council

NATIONAL FORUM OF APPLIED EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL

Volume 23, Numbers 1&2, 2009-2010

FOREWORD

STRATEGIC PLANNING USING THE WAYS OF KNOWING THROUGH THE REALMS OF MEANING By Queinnise Miller, PhD Student in Educational Leadership, Cohort 5 – PVAMU – The Texas A&M University System

About the Issue

The year 2004 marked the inception of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education at Prairie View A&M University.  Since then over 32 educational professionals have graduated and joined the academy of Doctors of Philosophy in Educational Leadership.  As the program grows each year new cohorts of educational professionals are established, and the future of research becomes brighter.  This special issue contains the thoughts and theories based on research  of  Cohort  5, as  it  relates  to  strategic  planning as a theoretical framework by utilizing  the Ways  of  Knowing Through  the Realms of  Meaning (2007) by Dr. William Allan Kritsonis.  These articles were a partial requirement for a course in the doctoral program taught by Professor Kritsonis.

In the first article, Queinnise Miller explores professional learning communities while taking a look at how they impact school improvement and their place in strategic planning in education.  In the second article, Rosnisha Stevenson discusses ways school districts can meet one of their goals on their campus improvement plan and increase their standardized test scores by using the six realms of meaning in the classrooms.  In the third article, Carmelita Thompson discusses ways in which strategic planning implemented by utilizing the Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (Kritsonis, 2007) creates a high performing educational organization.  In the fourth article, Barbara Thompson discusses significant aspects of the six realms of meaning as it relates to strategic planning in instructional leadership.  In the fifth article, Kashan Ishaq discusses how school leaders’ understanding of the six realms of meaning can be strategically integrated in solving the educational problems of today and improving the schools of tomorrow.  The sixth article, Christine Lewis discusses ways our educational leaders in public schools can incorporate the Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (Kritsonis 2007) to take strategic planning from the modernism age to postmodernism age to improve our nation’s educational system.   In the seventh article, Tyrus Doctor discusses strategies used within our current school environment, while implementing postmodern thinking. In the eight article, David Palmer shows the linkage between the realms of meaning and strategic planning and to show how symbolics, empirics, esthetics, synnoetics, ethics and synoptics has an under pinning value to the planning that is required for successful schools.  In the ninth article, Sheri Miller-Williams introduces the concept of systems thinking and suggest two frameworks that could work to support comprehensive school reform. In the tenth article, Simone Gardiner discusses how postmodernism and the realms of meaning can be implemented in students’ learning with the use of strategic planning.  In the eleventh and final article, Demetria Diggs apprises educators of how incorporating the six realms from the Ways of Knowing Tthrough the Realms of Meaning (Kritsonis, 2007), into school improvement and strategic plans to yield avant-garde results for all educational stakeholders.            (Over)…

Cohort 5 at PVAMU sincerely appreciates the opportunity to publish in the National FORUM of Applied Educational Research Journal. We thank the National Policy Board representing all National FORUM Journals for their confidence in our work. To be published as doctoral students in a national refereed journal is professionally rewarding. We thank our professor Dr. William Allan Kritsonis for providing outstanding mentorship in guiding us in our writing pursuits.

Queinnise Miller

PhD Student in Educational Leadership – Cohort 5

Prairie View A&M University

Teacher

Alief Independent School District

National FORUM of Applied Educational Research Journal

Volume 23, Numbers 1&2 2009-2010

Issue Distribution and Circulation (Approximations)

Issue Distribution Libraries……………………………..    948

Association of College and Research Libraries……   383

Deans, College of Education …………………………….   396

NCATE Accredited Institutions…………………………     632

Selected Professors……………………………………….  1,289

State Superintendents……………………………………        52

Editors of National, Regional, State Journals………….  95

School Superintendents/Principals/Supervisors…2,005

Bureaus of Educational Research Services……………243

Conference Distribution…………………………………       279

National Organizations………………………………….       104

International Distribution/Worldwide…………………  641

2,839 Circulation

(CHICAGO – September 6, 2005) Argosy University announced today
that it will assist students from universities in New Orleans,
southern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama universities, which
have been closed for the foreseeable future due to the
devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Argosy University will make available both on-campus and online
courses that might be able to permit dislocated students to
progress in their academic careers during this semester of
disruption. Students at a university forced to close by
Hurricane Katrina may register at any of Argosy University’s 13
campuses across the nation for courses, on a space-available
basis, for the fall terms.

Argosy University will waive tuition for dislocated students
who have already registered and paid tuition at their home
institution for the fall 2005 semester. If dislocated students
have not yet paid their tuition at their home institution, they
will be assessed the lesser of the current published tuition and
fees at the home institution, or Argosy University’s published
tuition and fees, as determined by the Argosy University campus
president.

“Argosy University acted today by offering educational
assistance to college students impacted by Hurricane Katrina,”
says Dr. Gregory O’Brien, president of Argosy University.
“Argosy University is concerned for the well-being of these
students, and this initiative is our way of reaching out with
compassion and benevolence to those affected. We pledge to do
all that we can to assist college students in the Gulf Coast
region to continue their education and continue in their lives.”

According to the American Council on Education, more than 30
colleges and universities in the Gulf Coast region have been
severely damaged by the hurricane, and possibly 100,000 students
have been displaced from their schools.

Argosy University offers doctoral, masters, and undergraduate
degree programs in psychology, counseling, education, business,
information technology, and organizational leadership. Doctoral
degree programs in clinical psychology (accredited by the
American Psychological Association), are available at several
Argosy University’s campuses. Argosy University will assist
dislocated Ph.D. and Psy.D. students on an individual basis.
Select associate’s degree programs in several health sciences
fields are available at Argosy University/Twin Cities, located
in Eagan, MN.

Argosy University has campuses in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas,
Honolulu, Orange County (Santa Ana, CA), Phoenix, San Francisco
Bay Area (Port Richmond, CA), Sarasota, Schaumburg (IL),
Seattle, Tampa, Twin Cities (Eagan, MN), and Washington DC
(Arlington, VA).

Students seeking information about Argosy University’s
initiative can visit the university’s website (www.argosyu.edu)
or call National Admissions Information at 1-800-377-0617.

With 13 campuses across the nation, Argosy University
(www.argosyu.edu) offers undergraduate, graduate, and
postgraduate degrees in the disciplines of business, education,
health sciences, and psychology and behavioral sciences. Argosy
University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and
is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 North
LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, 1.312.263.0456,
www.ncahlc.org). The parent company of Argosy University,
Education Management Corporation (www.edmc.com), is among the
largest providers of private post-secondary education in North
America, based on student enrollment and revenue. Student
enrollment exceeded 66,000 as of fall 2004. EDMC has 71 primary
campus locations in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. EDMC’s
education institutions offer a broad range of academic programs
concentrated in the media arts, design, fashion, culinary arts,
behavioral sciences, health sciences, education, information
technology, legal studies, and business fields, culminating in
the award of associate’s through doctoral degrees. EDMC has
provided career-oriented education for over 40 years. ###

History

On June 30, 1929, the Cabinet ratified that the government print and edit the primary textbooks exclusively. The responsibility was transferred to the office of Examinations and Programs.

.The activity began in 1967 at the General Office of Studies and Programs under the supervision and management of five foreign advisors.

.The Organization for Research and Educational Innovation was established under the law passed by the Consultative Assembly and the Senate on July 8, 1976.

.In 1977, the Organization for Text-books and the Organization for Research and Educational Innovation joined to form a new organization.

. On March 3, 1979, under the ratification of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution, the new organization was named the Organization for Educational Research and Planning (OERP).

Objectives

.To research and survey on the quality issues of the education

.To develop educational programs

.To write and edit text-books

.To support Schools and educational institutes in using new tools and methods

All of these objectives support the major aim of increasing the quality of the educational system

OERP Responsibilities:

1. To research on the content of the educational

2. To study and develop simple methods for examinations and educational assessments

3. To write, edit and print text-books.

4. To identify and provide educational tools and the list of standards for educational tools and equipments

5. To run pure research on improving the quality and quantity of education

6. To perform other responsibilities issued by

the OERO Council

OERP Vision:

OERP is a scientific, learning and growing organization with qualitative and knowledge- based curricula consistent with the scientific and research findings, technological, national identity, Islamic and cultural values that through constructive interaction with similar organizations at national, regional and global levels tries to prepare the situation for the education of the knowledgeable, strong and religious students who are ready for active participation as dignified citizens