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The Concept Of The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences And An Interdisciplinary, Arts Inclusive Curriculum: A Model For Teaching Whose Time Has Come, Loraine W. Cowe

Masters Theses

The biting critique of A Nation at Risk (National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983) caused the nation to initiate school reform on federal and state levels. The initiatives have defined education's deficiencies in meeting the needs of students in a rapidly changing, technological society. Students and the society in which they live are the premise and focus for the new outcome-based curriculum. Educators and researchers are developing new concepts of teaching that radically change the traditionally accepted curriculum, instructional delivery, and assessment. Many of these changes are based on new knowledge of the mind's capacity to function in several …

Productivity And Perceived Work Environment Of Work Groups In Poland, Donald L. Gusfa

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relation between levels of productivity and perceptions of autonomy among similar work groups. The analysis of data obtained did not support a tendency for perceptions of high autonomy among workers to be directly related to high levels of productivity. Data were obtained from workers at six carbide tool manufacturing plants in Poland who were administered the Work Environment Scale (WES) Form R (Moos, 1981) to measure perception of autonomy. The data were collected in February 1991. Analysis of the WES data used the Kendall tau test to investigate the relation …

An Assessment Of Vocational Technical Education Students' Literacy Levels And Awareness Of Employer Expectations, Toni Woolfork

Dissertations

This is a correlational study designed to determine the readiness of high school students to pursue employment upon graduation. The study consisted of 137 subjects in grades 10-12, enrolled in 11 vocational education classes within the Kalamazoo Public School System in Kalamazoo County. Subjects were administered both a literacy instrument designed to measure literacy levels; and a self-awareness inventory, designed to obtain demographic information and to assess each subject’s knowledge or awareness of employer expectations as well as skills necessary for the workplace. Each teacher also complemented an inventory, which allowed the researcher to determine the similarities between subject’s and …

A Study Of The Thematic Integrated Curriculum (Tic) Of The Focus 2000 Program, Sherry Collins

Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to describe how a thematic integrated curriculum (TIC) enhances the quality of education by examining three outcomes of a TIC. These outcomes are: (1) the instruction of critical thinking skills, (2) the motivation of students to be self-directed and assume responsibility for their own learning, and (3) the empowerment of teachers to become educational leaders. The underlying assumption of the study was that the more the three outcomes are used in the learning process, the better will be the quality of education.

For this study, the process of "enhancing the quality of education" …

Using Technology For Dispensing Information, Ray Hoag

Dissertations

Technology that enhances communication through the use of digitized media abounds. Yet, there is a perception that education does not use technology's full potential to communicate with its audience. This dissertation demonstrates that a technological solution can communicate relevant educational information. Extensive documentation provides a high level departure point for subsequent technology enhanced communication projects.

The planning team for the Applied Technology Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wanted an application to express the center's name-implied mission. This opportunity was fulfilled by the development of a point-of-information kiosk application, the dissertation's focal point. Methodology included using project management software to identify …

The Effect Of A Transition Class (Developmental Kindergarten) On Academic Parity, Douglas S. Mccall

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not those students who had participated in a developmental kindergarten program. Young Fives, had attained academic parity with their age mates who had not participated in the program.

The target population of this study was 245 students who were kindergarten age in 1988 and attended school in a rural school district in southwestern Michigan. The accessible population was 141 of the original 245 students.

The total battery grade equivalent test scores achieved on the California Achievement Test by the 141 students were analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of Barriers To Implementing Shared Decision-Making In Wisconsin Schools, Donald John Viegut

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate if differences exist in stakeholder perceptions of barriers to implementing shared decision-making (SDM), and (b) to investigate if differences exist in stakeholder perceptions across the following constructs of shared decision- making: empowerment, leadership, motivation, organizational culture, accountability, and learning organizations. Randomly selected members from the stakeholder categories of: parents, board of education members, superintendents, principals, and teachers, were the sample (N = 100). Stakeholder perception was compared on a composite score of the survey instrument. Perceptions were also compared across the six constructs of SDM for each of the stakeholder categories. …

An Assessment Of The Appropriateness To The Royal Australian Air Force Of A Masters Level Professional Program In Information Systems, Ralph G. L. Kettle, Joseph R. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed the appropriateness, to the Royal Australian Air Force RAAF, of a graduate professional program in Information Systems (IS) based on the Association for Computing Machinery’s ACM curriculum model. The ACM curriculum model is an archetype of graduate education in IS. Programs based on this model produce graduates with knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are required by IS practitioners. The usefulness of twenty KSAs that underlie the ACM curriculum model were evaluated by 33 incumbents of RAAF information Systems Agencies and Directorate of Communications and Information Systems - Air Force. Although uncertain about the educational background suited …

The Development Of The Parent Effectiveness Test (Pet), Sharon S. Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Not Available.

Dyadic Similarity Of The Superintendent-Principal Interpersonal Relationship, Principal’S Job Satisfaction, And Subordinate’S Performance Evaluation, Richard William Drury

Dissertations

Due to mounting school improvement demands, the role of the principal has increasingly received pressure throughout the past decade. Although frequently referred to as the catalyst for effective school change, few empirical studies exist addressing organizational variables influencing this key administrative position. It has strongly been suggested that the interpersonal relationship principals share with their superintendent may affect the principal's job satisfaction and performance evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the situational effect of dyadic similarity on the superintendent-principal interpersonal relationship. Specifically, the study explored the relationship of managerial, dyadic similarity and subordinate outcomes. According to similarity …

A Status Study Of Formal Evaluation Procedures Employed By Michigan Philanthropic Foundations, John R. Seita

Dissertations

Little is known about the degree that philanthropic foundations use formal evaluation. This study investigated and described how Michigan based foundations of different sizes and types use formal evaluation for decision making regarding the (a) funding of grant proposals and (b) determining the performance of existing projects. Further, the study provides a description of current evaluation practice and capacity in foundations and plans that foundations have for increasing the evaluation capacity for themselves and of nonprofit grantees.

This study was conducted by mail questionnaire, which was developed by the researcher. A total of 134 questionnaires out of 226 mailed were …

Preferred Motivators For Previously Incarcerated Criminals, Selma R. Massey

Dissertations

The issue of motivators has been studied by a number of researchers and practitioners in education, sociology, and psychology. Many of these studies have linked motivators to behavior (Coffey, 1987; Coleman, 1987; Gellerman, 1963; Gould & Sigall, 1977). Questions remain, however, as to which motivators are viewed by actors themselves as the most preferred influencers of behavior. The primary objective of the research was to compare the rank order of the most frequently cited motivators identified in research studies and the rank order of the most preferred motivators as perceived by previously incarcerated criminal respondents. A secondary objective was to …

Family Birth Order And Leadership Behavior Of Public School Principals In Michigan, Larry J. Corbett

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the leadership behavior patterns of principals of public schools in Michigan as related to family birth order. The 341 elementary, middle, and high school principals chosen in this study were surveyed with a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited responses from the principals to attempt to relate family birth order with concern for production and concern for people. Ninety percent of all potential subjects participated in the survey. The survey responses were applied to the Leadership Grid ® (Blake & McCanse, 1991) for comparison.

The t test for independent means was used to …

The Relationship Between Communication Skills Of First Line Nurse Managers And Stability, Sherry A. Blair

Dissertations

The relationship between communication styles of nurse managers and stability of the registered nurses in their respective departments was investigated. A random sample of first-line nurse managers (N = 83) in 10 hospitals in lower Michigan were surveyed. The communication style of the first-line nurse manager was determined by the Professional Communication Inventory (Pfaff & Busch, 1990). Stability was reported by participants through the use of an inventory designed by the researcher. Data analysis did not reveal any relationships between a managers' communication skills and the stability of registered nurses in their unit(s).

A Comparison Of Strategic Decision Task Variable Analysis Between School And Business Executives, Peter A. Behnke

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between school and business executives when making strategic decisions through a comparison of task variable analysis skills. The hypothesis for the study was: After reading a case study describing a strategic decision- making situation, business executives will have more correct responses than school executives on an author written evaluation instrument. The evaluation instrument was designed to measure the subjects' analysis skills of 10 different decision-making task variables.

Thirty Wisconsin school district superintendents and 30 business executives were randomly selected to participate in the study. The results indicated that the difference …

The Effects Of Two Motivational Factors On Accuracy And Persistence For Second Graders, Jesse D. Baker

Dissertations

Promoting and maintaining motivation in elementary students is an ongoing problem. This study hypothesized that (a) feedback has a greater motivational effect on persistence and on accuracy for second graders than does no feedback, and (b) knowledge of results feedback has a greater motivational effect than does pleasant feeling tone feedback. Evidence from the study showed mixed support for the hypotheses.

The study compared two forms of feedback and the absence of feedback. One group received praise in the form of general, positive statements—classified as feeling tone—about their work while completing mathematics computational portions of the second grade 1989 Stanford …

The Importance Of Evaluation Questions In Human Resources Development: Audience Perspectives, Fahad Al-Ruwaished

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and explore how the perception and focus of human resources development (HRD) evaluation relates to different audiences and clients, and to make recommendations to individuals and organizations involved in designing, developing, and implementing HRD evaluation. The study used the CIPP (Context, Input, Process, and Product) evaluation model to operationally define the kinds of evaluation questions as dependent variables. The study independent variable was the organizational role, operationally defined as simulated HRD audiences, i.e., CEOs, managers, trainers, and trainees.

The ' human resources evaluation questionnaire (HREQ) was developed by the researcher to measure …

Rating Intervention Strategies For Overcoming Impediments To Planned Change By Michigan Public School Administrators, Dale Kimball

Dissertations

In this study, Michigan public school principals reported their perceptions regarding differences in the degree to which nine intervention strategies helped to overcome 10 impediments to change that are often encountered by principals. The intervention strategies and impediments to change used in this study were chosen as a result of a content analysis of literature on change.

A two-part pilot study was conducted. In part one, principals were asked for comments regarding the effectiveness of the letter of introduction, clarity of instructions and questionnaire items, and ease and time of completion. In part two, information was gathered to determine whether …

The Use Of Collaboration Among General Educators And Special Educators As A Means Of Educating Students With Learning Disabilities, Joan Dooley

Theses & Honors Papers

Progress is being made toward the collaboration between general education and special education. Collaboration is a slow process, however, for it to be effective it takes time, careful planning, and programs to better train teachers. Teachers who are involved in the collaborative process report that time and careful planning are of utmost importance when using collaborative teaching methods to educate students with learning disabilities. Eighty-one percent of general educators and 91% of special educators agree that there is not adequate planning time set aside for collaborative teaching strategies and/or lesson planning. General educators and special educators also agree that there …

The Effects Of Cooperative Learning On Self-Perceived, Classroom Group Acceptance By Students In A Juvenile Correctional Facility, Lisa R. Dyson

Theses & Honors Papers

A group of 53 juveniles in a correctional facility were studied to find the effects of cooperative learning on self-percieved classroom group acceptance. A quasi­-experimental, test, re-test design was utilized. students were asked to fill out a survey, before and after treatment reflecting upon the ease with which the students shared opinions with other members of the class. The students in the experimental group, where cooperative learning was implemented for four weeks, rated their comfort levels significantly higher than those students in the control condition. The findings show that cooperative learning, when used with incarcerated youth, does have a positive …

The Effect Of Aerobic Exercise On Self-Esteem And Personal Management In Undergraduate College Students, Karen E. Watts

Theses & Honors Papers

Many students in college have poor self-management skills and poor self-esteem. Physical exercise is associated with feelings of well-being. Twenty-five undergraduate college students participated in an experiment which measured self-esteem, self-motivation, and various physical abilities and heart rate. Stu- dents in the experimental group were asked to increase their aerobic exercise frequency by at least thirty minutes per week as well as to keep a log of their physical activities. No significant increases in self­ motivation nor self-perception in either the control or the experimental group were found. Some physical improvements were found, however, and most participants reported feeling better …

Improving The Perception Students With Learning Disabilities Have Of Students With Mental Retardation Through Peer Tutoring, Sarah R. Raffetto

Theses & Honors Papers

A quasi-experimental design was used to test two hypotheses : that peer tutoring would alter the perception that students with learning disabilities held of students with mental retardation and that the peer tutoring program would improve the spelling scores of both the tutors and the tutees . Two classes of 17 students with learning disabilities and students with mental retardation served as the participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to calculate the significance of the program. The analysis of the results showed a trend towards improvement in perception that the tutors held of students with mental retardation, but because …

Comparison Study Of The Implementation Rate Of Eighteen Middle School Characteristics In Michigan And National Blue Ribbon Schools, Gregg G. Mowen

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the current amount of Implementation of the 18 middle school characteristics as reported by principals from randomly selected middle level schools In the state of Michigan and In middle level schools designated as Blue Ribbon schools (U.S. Department of Education, 1991). This study used a survey questionnaire that was initially designed by RIegle (1971) to measure the rate of Implementation of the middle school characteristics. The survey was mailed to Michigan and Blue Ribbon middle level school principals, selected randomly via a table of random numbers. The return rate for Michigan schools …

The Impact Of Test Sophistication On Tenth Grade Students’ Michigan Educational Assessment Program (Meap) Scores, Iris Williams

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether test sophistication training would result in more tenth grade students achieving performance levels on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) subtests in mathematics and reading which would entitle them to receive the state endorsed diploma.

Two groups of English II students (grade 10) from the same school participated in the study. One group received test sophistication instruction, and the other received no treatment. During the test sophistication training, students were instructed using the Ace That Test Preparation for Success Student Guide (Yarosz & Yarosz, 1991a) which was based on the …

Vocational Education: An Effective Training Program For Post-High School Employment Of Further Training, Buckley D. Evans

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if vocational training taken in secondary comprehensive high schools or skills centers in Washington State had adequately prepared students for post-high school employment or further training. The results of this study were shared with the Governor's Council on Education, Reform, and Funding, the Washington State Legislature, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The information and resulting recommendations gleaned from this study will be used in part to shape the future of secondary vocational training in Washington State.

Investigating Dynamic Assessment Implications For The Regular Classroom Teacher, Timothy Kevin Enfield

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of dynamic assessment within a regular classroom instructional setting, by a classroom teacher. The results showed that while dynamic assessment was an effective way of assessing and intervening with students and revealed relevant information about the effects of teacher expectations on student efforts, its potential value for the classroom teacher relied on the assessors knowledge of, and familiarity with the specific cognitive deficits being exhibited by the students. Implications for classroom use of dynamic assessment are discussed.

The Reading And Writing Connection: A Writer's Workshop Guide For Second Grade, Monica Louise Donovan

All Graduate Projects

The primary purpose of this project was to develop a writers' workshop curriculum guide for the second grade. The relationship between reading and writing was studied. Data was presented to support the reading and writing connection. By integrating reading and writing through the use of a directed guide, an effective educational curriculum for a writing workshop was developed. The research and results from writing samples received showed support that an integrated reading and writing program is advantageous. Implications for using a writers' workshop format are discussed.

Comparative Study Of The Extra-Curricular Activity Programs In Selected Middle And Junior High Schools In Pierce County Washington, Nancy S. Immel

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to compare the differences in extra-curricular activity programs of middle and junior high schools in Pierce County (WA). To accomplish this purpose a review of current literature and research regarding extracurricular activity programs was conducted. Thirty-nine selected middle and junior high schools were surveyed to determine which extra-curricular activities were offered at their schools.

A Study Skills Course For Sixth Grade Students, Joseph M. France

All Graduate Projects

This project was designed for the sixth grade classes at North Tapps Middle School in the Dieringer School district, Sumner Washington. It was designed as an exploratory class and will last one quarter or 45 school days. All sixth grade students will participate in this class during one quarter of the year. This course is broken into 7 units, with each unit being approximately five school days. The units are: 1) Time Management, 2) Study Habits Awareness, 3) SQ4R, 4) Skimming and Scanning, 5) Outlining and Note Taking, 6) Following Directions, Using Context Clues, and Dictionary Skills, and 7) Test …

An Inservice Training Handbook Of Parental Strategies For Enhancing Sudent Learning In Grade Three, Thora S. Michels

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design and develop an inservice training handbook detailing strategies/guidelines for use by parents to enhance student learning. To accomplish this purpose a review of current literature and research regarding parent involvement in the enhancement of student learning was conducted, and selected materials and strategies utilized by teacher practitioners have been included.