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Volume 26 Number 1, Eiu College Of Education

Eastern Education Journal

No abstract provided.

A Resource Document For The Development Of An Alternative Education Program For Disruptive Youth, Deborah Claunch

Masters Theses

This qualitative study developed a model for an alternative education program for disruptive students in grades 6 through 8 in Franklin and Williamson Counties in Southern Illinois. It was facilitated by the issuance of grant funds to the Regional Offices of Education by the Illinois State Board of Education under the Safe Schools Act of 1995.

The desire of the researcher was to develop a program that would lead to changes in behaviors, promote academic achievement, and return students to the regular school environment with fewer incidents of misbehavior. The outcomes of this qualitative study resulted in a comprehensive resource …

Automated Accounting: Are Computers Being Used In Accounting I?, Janet G. Johnson

Masters Theses

Continuous improvement in the accounting curriculum is needed to prepare students for the technology-based workplace of today's business world. Literature available indicated that using computers in the accounting curriculum, is one essential tool available to students. This study examined the professional opinions and teaching practices of community college and secondary educators in Illinois. A survey was used as the research instrument. There were 148 participants in the study. The purpose of the study was to determine if computers were being used by accounting instructors in Accounting I and when they felt computers should be integrated into their accounting curricula. The …

Differential Perceptions Of A Midwestern University Counseling Center, Michele A. Melvin

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine how the role of a Midwestern university Counseling Center is perceived by select university populations. The null hypothesis stated that no significant differences would exist among groups in their perceptions of the appropriateness of various student concerns for discussion at the Counseling Center. Responses were gathered through a written survey, which was a version of the Counseling Appropriateness Checklist (CACL). The instrument consisted of 60 items related to student issues and one item regarding familiarity with Counseling Center services. It was revised by this writer and three university professors of a graduate …

An Investigation Of Principled Negotiations As It Applies To Contract Negotiations In The Public Schools, Jerry L. Parker

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of principled negotiations in contract negotiations between teachers and Illinois public school district boards of education. The study examined three questions from both the union president's perspective and the superintendent's viewpoint. The first question was "If superintendents and teacher union leaders had the opportunity to become familiar with the principled negotiations model, to what extent did they perceive themselves interested in using this model for negotiations?" The second question was "Why has principled negotiations not been used as a model more often in Illinois public education contract negotiations?" The third …

An Analysis Of Parental Involvement At Iep Conferences For Students With Hearing Impairments, Kristina S. Kroeker Parker

Masters Theses

Legislation of the 1970's and 80's mandated parental involvement in the development of special education plans for children with disabilities. The literature has indicated that parents are often passive recipients of information (Goldstein, Strickland, Turnbull, & Curry, 1980) even though parent involvement in a child's education has been associated with academic success (Epstein, 1990). An observational analysis of eighteen IEP conferences for children with hearing impairments receiving services through the Eastern Illinois Area Special Education Cooperative was completed. Observers recorded the frequency of verbal participation by the parents, and parents and teachers completed questionnaires addressing satisfaction and perceptions of involvement …

The Comparison Of The Academic And Behavioral Characteristics Of Children With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Children With Learning Disabilities, Leah R. Pace

Masters Theses

This study investigated the differences of academic and behavioral characteristics of children with a suggested history of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and children with learning disabilities (LD). Parents were given a survey which asked about their child's history of any blow or hit to the head. Teachers were also given a survey which included a rating scale for specific academic and behavioral characteristics. Results indicated that the MTBI group was not different from the LD group. However, there was a significant difference between those children who had a blow or hit to the head that resulted in a loss …

Relations Of Burnout To Elementary School Teachers, Special Education Beliefs, And Referral Expectations, Nichole A. Ledermann

Masters Theses

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; Maslach, Jackson, & Schwab, 1996), a teacher survey of expectations and preferences concerning case study evaluation referral, and demographic questions were completed by regular education elementary school teachers (n=88) in a midwestern city suburb. Results suggested that symptoms of burnout were not evident among this sample of professionals according to Maslach et al. (1996) criteria. Spearman Rho correlations between the MBI subscales and expectations or preferences to have students referred, tested and placed into special education services were not significant. Significant correlations were replicated among the subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results suggested that …

Co-Opertition: Competitive Communication Behavior During A Cooperative Task, Daniel M. Hlavac

Masters Theses

A combined effort of two classes at separate universities was examined. Each class boasted six groups which were paired with another group at the other university. These teams used computer mediated communication to engage in a cooperative task. The communications between groups were analyzed using conversational analytic techniques to reveal a competitive communication pattern. The results show that a lack of communication can produce competitive behaviors even in situations intended to nurture cooperation. Future concerns should focus on teaching groups to use computer mediated communication (CMC) to its fullest potential by recognizing and accounting for the critical differences between CMC …

Use Of The Internet Connection In Selected Illinois Schools, Dean Keller

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the practice of school districts connecting to the internet within the Southern Illinois Instructional Technology Association. The research questions for this study were: (a) Should an internet connection be initiated, continued, improved, or terminated? (b) To what extent is connecting to the internet cost effective for schools? (c) To what extent do increased program expenditures increase the use of the internet connection by staff and students? (d) To what extent does the program achieve its intended objectives?

The review of literature indicated that school districts can effectively use an internet connection as …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Audiographic Distance Education In Three Central Illinois High Schools, Kenneth R. Reed

Masters Theses

Audiographic conferencing is a distance education practice being used in schools. Audiographic conferencing utilizes hardware and software to provide interactive audio and data transmission between locations. This study was conducted to assess the perceived effectiveness of the components of audiographic distance education by teachers and students in three Central Illinois High Schools involved in utilizing audiographics as a delivery system in terms of hardware, software, teaching techniques, appropriateness of course content, delivery system, and student achievement.

The study took place during the 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years utilizing a survey of a population of teachers and students involved in …

Retention Of Quality Teachers In Small School Districts, Donald E. Smith

Masters Theses

The retention of quality teachers in small school districts is a challenge for superintendents. The continual loss of quality teachers can be damaging to the overall success of the small district. In order to avert the loss, superintendents need to be made aware of strategies that will assist in retaining quality teachers. The purposes of this study were to determine the frequency of quality teachers leaving small school districts and then to identify strategies that superintendents felt were useful in averting the loss.

The study was conducted during the summer of 1997. Superintendents of unit school districts with 1000 students …

Integrating Student Expectations Into Writing Center Theory And Practice, Mary J. Bonevelle

Masters Theses

When students go to a writing center to be tutored, they expect a certain type of instruction based on their prior experiences. Many students are perplexed to find that the parameters of writing center instruction are quite different than they anticipated. The resulting conflict between student expectations and actual center methods often induces tensions which can impede the effectiveness tutorial instruction. This thesis explores the basis of student expectations, strategies for addressing student expectations in practice, and the importance of acknowledging these expectations in writing center theory.

Chapter 1 discusses the incongruous relationship between writing center theory and practice and …

Referral Biases In The Schools, Camela P. Hayes

Masters Theses

Biases influencing teachers' referral decisions for special education services were examined. Specific biases identified and addressed pertained to students' type of problem behavior, gender and socio-economic status (SES). Subjects included 120 regular elementary school teachers from the western Chicagoland area. A total of 8 vignettes describing a child with varying behavior difficulties, gender and SES, along with 2 questionnaires were utilized. An Analysis of Variance revealed that teachers are less tolerant of students who are disruptive and are more apt to refer them than students with emotional difficulties less overt in their manifestation. The effects of SES on referral decisions …

Acculturation And College Attendance In Hispanic Students, Alma D. Najera

Masters Theses

This study investigated the relationship between acculturation and college attendance of Hispanic high school students. Acculturation is mainly associated with the degree to which one experiences cultural change toward the majority culture. It was theorized that acculturation would have a postive association with college attendance. Acculturation level, socioeconomic status and college attendance were the varibles utilized. The students filled out a questionnaire that was composed of 12 questions and five-self report questions. The Twelve qestions were taken from the Short Acculturation Scale, two questions regarding socioeconomic status were taken from the Hollingshead Scocioecomic Scale, with the remaining questions inquiring about …

A Study Of Teachers' Perceptions Of Computer Usage And Staff Development Needs In Edwards County Cusd #1, Albion, Illinois, David R. Savage

Masters Theses

In recent years the integration of computer technology into the activities for students in public schools has become an important goal for educators throughout the nation. This study was designed to determine Edwards County Community Unit School District (CUSD) #1 teachers' perceptions regarding (a) use of computers at home and at school; (b) the extent that school personnel in buildings have established a technology plan; (c) availability of computer technology to students and themselves; and (d) the preferred time, method of training (e.g., workshops, one-on-one instruction, and college course), and incentives to attend computer staff development program.

The study took …

Evaluation Of Member And Non-Member Professional Growth And Development Needs For The Illinois Principals Association, Lisa L. Stewart

Masters Theses

Professional associations have been one source of continued professional growth and development for practicing school administrators since 1857. In order to maintain their viability and credibility, these professional associations must provide quality programs and services to attract and maintain membership. The effectiveness of these professional associations is measured by how well they meet their members' needs.

Changes in the role of the public school principal have been initiated as a result of the educational reform movement of the 1980s. These changes have necessitated a reexamination of the role of the professional associations which serve this population. The Illinois Principals Association …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of School Administrators Regarding The Current Condition Of Public Schools In Illinois South Of I-80, Myrtle A. Carey

Masters Theses

The intent of the study was to collect data concerning the perceptions of Illinois public school administrators in districts south of Interstate 80 in the following areas:

1. Current condition of educational facilities.

2. Funding sources available for renovation of facilities.

3. Strategies of the district to address deterioration of school buildings.

4. The impact of the current building conditions on the educational process.

Results were obtained through the use of a questionnaire sent to 170 administrators who were responsible for educational structures. One hundred and twenty-one administrators returned the questionnaire for a response rate of 71%. Respondents indicated that …