Research as a Tool for Empowerment: Theory Informing Practice is an edited volume that includes an array of research-based chapters that not only further the field of second/foreign language research, but also provide practical implications to language classrooms in international and national settings. Chapters in this volume present a bridge between methodologically sound second/foreign language research and strong pedagogical implications. This volume includes the voices of researchers, graduate students, teachers, parents, and learners exploring the second/foreign language phenomena. The multiple voices of the contributing authors reflect the diverse readership of the Research in Second Language Learning series. Unlike previous anthologies in second/foreign language research, this volume presents studies from various research paradigms. Chapters include examples of various research methods from both quantitative and qualitative paradigms. Few previous anthologies have presented research based in multiple paradigms and from multiple perspectives. Research as a Tool for Empowerment: Theory Informing Practice not only presents these various perspectives, but it also makes the link from research to classroom implications and applications. The volume is unique as it makes a connection between different types of research and research methods and empowerment and issues of empowerment.

Research as a Tool for Empowerment: Theory Informing Practice will be an edited volume that will include an array of research-based chapters that not only further the field of second/foreign language research, but that also provide practical implications to language classrooms in international and national settings. Unlike previous anthologies in second/foreign language research, this proposed volume will present studies from various research paradigms: quantitative, qualitative, teacher-research, and mixed-methods research. Each of these three sections is tied together by the overall theme of empowerment.

This Second Edition celebrates 21 years of the practice of empowerment evaluation, a term first coined by David Fetterman during his presidential address for the American Evaluation Association. Since that time, this approach has altered the landscape of evaluation and has spread to a wide range of settings in more than 16 countries. In this Second Edition of Empowerment Evaluation: Knowledge and Tools for Self-Assessment, Evaluation Capacity Building, and Accountability, an outstanding group of evaluators from academia, government, nonprofits, and foundations assess how empowerment evaluation has been used in practice since the publication of the landmark 1996 edition. The book includes 10 empowerment evaluation principles, a number of models and tools to help put empowerment evaluation into practice, reflections on the history and future of the approach, and illustrative case studies from a number of different projects in a variety of diverse settings. The Second Edition offers readers the most current insights into the practice of this stakeholder-involvement approach to evaluation. “One of the greatest evaluation innovations of the past two decades has been the development of a professional and systematic approach to self-evaluation called empowerment evaluation. This book offers you the latest, cutting-edge understanding of this powerful innovation and evaluation approach. May you be inspired and empowered as you adventure through the chapters in this outstanding volume!” —Stewart I. Donaldson, President-elect, American Evaluation Association, Claremont Graduate University “This twenty year follow-up to the original provides even better and richer stories about the versatility and utility of empowerment work in most social contexts. It expands our understanding of how empowerment evaluation is foundational to any effort to improve and measure growth in any community/social environment.” —Robert Schumer, University of Minnesota “This text brings empowerment evaluation to life, and in doing so it offers all evaluators a large body of relevant concepts and tools for designing, implementing, and assessing evaluation efforts that engage, democratize, and strengthen stakeholder’s self-determination.” —Gary J. Skolits, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

This outstanding group of evaluators from academia, government, nonprofits, and foundations explores empowerment evaluation, a method for using evaluation concepts, techniques, and findings to foster improvement and self-determination. Empowerment Evaluation begins with an in-depth examination of this type of evaluation as it has been adopted in academic and foundation settings. The book then focuses on the various contexts in which empowerment evaluation is conducted, ranging from resistant environments (in which significant effort is required to move from passive-compliance orientations) to responsive environments (that already have a tradition of self-determination and community organizing). Interesting highlights concerning the role empowerment evaluation has played in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' substance abuse prevention programs are detailed throughout the book. The contributors also provide down-to-earth tools and technical assistance needed to conduct empowerment evaluation. This volume concludes with themes that emerge from the chapters and recommendations concerning next steps. This serves to strengthen the links between empowerment evaluation and community capacity building. empow

At this juncture in the history and development of education in the digital age, constituents of education systems across the globe are challenged with revising or rediscovering the purpose of educational institutions within societies. Institutions need to retool to include digital games-based and problem-based learning, and education itself must adapt to serve the needs of a diverse student population. Stagnancy Issues and Change Initiatives for Global Education in the Digital Age is a cutting-edge research publication that explores the complex discourse of trends, shifts, and changes happening in the field of education and to understand the implications for teaching, learning, and professional development. The book helps educators understand how to make their pedagogy and andragogy relevant in the framework of constant technological shifts and changes in order to help students thrive in a global economy. Featuring a wide range of topics such as gamification, pedagogy, and intercultural learning, this book is ideal for curriculum designers, academicians, education professionals, researchers, policymakers, and students.

Global society has always been impacted by the perception of gender. While gender roles may differ in certain cultures, many cultures around the world have allowed for the disempowerment and objectification of women. Women today still struggle for gender equality whether it be professionally, socially, or even legally. To examine feminism thoroughly, however, thorough analysis must be conducted on all genders and perceptions. The Research Anthology on Feminist Studies and Gender Perceptions explores the application of feminist theory and women empowerment in the 21st century and the role that gender plays in society. This book analyzes media representation, gender performativity, and theory to present a comprehensive view of gender and society. Covering topics such as masculinity, women empowerment, and gender equality, this two-volume comprehensive major reference work is an essential resource for sociologists, community leaders, human resource managers, activists, students and professors of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

Internationally, there is growing awareness that the target of Education for All by 2015 will not be met unless more strident efforts are made to improve access for marginalized, hard-to-reach children (most often girls). For almost four decades gender equality in education has been one of the key global concerns and as a result various organizations at national and international levels along with governments have initiated programs focusing on achieving gender equality, women’s empowerment and improving girls’ access to education. By focusing on access alone (i.e. gender parity) we may not understand how education can be used to achieve empowerment and influence cultural practices that are gender insensitive. In this volume we attempt to call into question the content of gender equality as simple parity and in doing so we reflect upon the following questions: • Do the global (macro) discourses on gender equality in education lead to a focus on numbers only or to more profound sustainable changes at the national (meso) level and the school (micro) level? • To what extent have national policies been adjusted to reflect the global discourses on gender equality? • Are schools/classrooms (micro) expected to adjust to these global discourses and if so in what ways has this happened? • What are the challenges of providing access to good quality education for girls in both countries? • Is there a dichotomy between the schools/classrooms on the one hand and the community on the other in terms of gender equality/equity? • To what extent is gender equality/equity imposed upon schools and communities and does it take into account the cultural practices in traditional communities? Key words: Gender equality, education, Global vs. local concerns 3 selling points: • The volume highlights that although research has shown how global educational policies homogenize national educational policies and are therefore playing what can be termed a neo-colonial role in identifying pivotal themes and topics in education across the world such as gender equality, literacy and quality education in local contexts, they are often steeped in a Western logic which is not always culturally relevant or conducive. Making global recommendations for education across cultures and places is thus not always unproblematic. • The volume highlights that a push for girls’ schooling must navigate wisely in sensitive terrain where complex contextual aspects must be understood and taken into account. Girls’ attendance and retention in school are important first steps in the struggle for epistemic access, but must be followed by serious deliberations about what kind of school and what kind of knowledge in the schools is appropriate, and about equality and equity. • The volume attempts to understand how the global gender goals in education affect both local policies and local practice and in doing so it attempts to question the simple focus on access only.