The Effects Of Activity-Based And Inquiry-Based Teaching Methods On Student Attitude And Perception Toward Geometry, Wade Hukriede

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This quantitative action research project evaluated high school students’ attitude and perceptions toward geometry before and after two units that were taught. The first unit was taught using a more traditional style of teaching while the second method incorporated activity-based and inquiry-based lessons into a traditional method of teaching. The students were surveyed by using a modified version of Bauer’s (2008) Attitude Toward the Subject of Chemistry Inventory. The survey was changed to focus on the students’ attitudes and perceptions toward geometry. Survey scores in the subscales: interest and utility, anxiety, intellectual accessibility, fear and emotional satisfaction were compared through …

The Effect Of Virtual Labs On High School Student Attitudes Towards Chemistry, Emily Koehler

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This mixed-methods action research project evaluated high school chemistry student attitudes towards chemistry before and after the students completed a virtual laboratory. Students were surveyed by utilizing the Attitude Toward the Subject of Chemistry Inventory (Bauer, 2008) and a random sample of students were interviewed by the author. Survey scores in five subscales (emotional satisfaction, anxiety, intellectual accessibility, interest and utility, and fear) were compared through statistical analysis of mean, standard deviation, and t-test. Student attitudes were not significantly different before and after the virtual laboratory experience but did show a general decrease in perceptions of interest and utility of …

Building Confidence Of Academic Library Staff In The Selection Of Culturally Authentic Native American Picture Books, Cassondra Leeport

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study aimed to explore the confidence and ability of library staff to select and identify culturally authentic Native American picture books. The researcher, a self-identified Native American, developed a tool designed to assist in library staff in identifying key elements of a picture book that lend themselves to a work being culturally authentic. Assisting patrons in selecting materials is a key element in the library profession. The setting of this research is a university with a large Professional Education Program as well as a documented dedication to serving Native students and surrounding tribal communities and the participants of the …

Positive Influences On Why They Stay: A Qualitative Study On The Contributing Factors To Teacher Retention In Rural North Dakota, Jennifer A. Jung

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

An alarming number of educators are leaving the field within the first five years of employment. Midwestern rural schools experience a slightly higher percentage of turnover than do their urban counterparts. Due to this shortage of teachers, many districts across the nation have employed strategies to recruit and retain competent teachers. This qualitative study employs a phenomenological approach seeking to identify common themes among teachers who are long-staying teachers in a rural district (those with 1000 or fewer students). Both the social constructivism and teacher career cycle theoretical frameworks have been utilized to support the researcher’s understanding of rural teachers' …

Consumer Purchasing Decisions Based On A Company's Sustainability Efforts And Marketing Initiatives, Brooke Kopperud

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this research is to look at what factors lead to consumers purchasing green or environmentally friendly products and services. Based on these factors, we are further researching how a business can improve their sustainability efforts, and then learn what marketing techniques will be effective in relaying these efforts to consumers. We will first examine the history of the green movement to understand what has led to today’s demand for businesses to increase their sustainability efforts. We will analyze current consumer demographics to find out who is responding to green marketing and showing interest in current environmental issues. …

Renewable Energy Group, Inc. Financial Analysis, Nomin Baasandavaa

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This analysis and evaluation of Renewable Energy Group, Inc. are based on quantitative and qualitative data. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NasdaqGS: REGI) is a provider of lower-carbon transportation fuels in the United States as well as internationally. Their primary business activities involve production, distribution, and a logistics system to convert natural fats, oils, and greases into advanced biofuels. They mainly produce biomass-based diesel from various low-carbon feedstocks, including distillers corn, used cooking oils, inedible animal fats, soybean oil, and canola oils. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Ames, Iowa.

Disciplinary Measures In Primary Classrooms, Anna Willems

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

The experiment done by the researcher analyzed the effectiveness of each of the research-based disciplinary strategies commonly used in elementary classrooms. These strategies include positive reinforcement, increased movement in the classroom during instructional time, increased parent communication, and reinforcement of the classroom rules/expectations. The strategies’ effectiveness were tracked through behavioral charts kept by each of the students and marked by the classroom teacher throughout the day. Comprehensive data was sent back to parents on a weekly basis to update them on student behavior. The effectiveness on the charts were proven by the number of interruptions throughout each class period. …

Student Success While Incorporating Cooperative Learning In The 6th Grade Classroom, Jacob Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the positive impacts of cooperative learning in the classroom. I will be intentionally teaching skills to enhance cooperative learning throughout the duration of the study. The methods of cooperative learning that will be used will be as follows: positive interdependence, individual accountability, interpersonal skills, face to face promotive interaction, and processing out. This study took place within a 6th grade classroom with three different sections of students. The data that was collected showed that students who learned in the cooperative learning setting had a higher percentage of students fully understanding the material, …

Literature Circles And The Use Of Comprehension Strategies Within A Fifth Grade Classroom, Allison Mrak

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to research the effect of literature circles on the use of comprehension strategies during reading discussions. Example comprehension strategies that students used are based on visualizing, questioning, connections, and summarizing. The participants were 25 fifth graders within a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Three types of data sets were used which consisted of observations, student work, and a final survey. Students formed literature circles using a book of their choice from a given list provided by the researcher. Students had four weeks to read their novel and hold weekly discussions. During the literature circle discussions, …

The Impact Of Repeated Reading Interventions On Second Grade Readers, Katelyn Schmitz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

Reading is a lifelong skill that is used in many other subject areas. When students aren’t meeting the academic standards set before them in reading, often times, reading interventions take place. Repeated reading is an intervention that targets improving students’ oral reading fluency. This study took place during a second grade classroom’s reading intervention time. The study included four students from my class that were reading below a second grade reading level. I worked one-on-one with these students to conduct the intervention. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the intervention of repeated reading in …

The Effect Of Direct Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Instruction And Small Group Literacy Interventions On Kindergarten Students’ Reading Growth, Brianna Elizabeth Wierschke

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study focuses on the impact of the implementation of Heggerty Phonemic Awareness and Literacy Footprints guided reading system curriculum in a kindergarten classroom. Adding these interventions are to determine if a focus on phonemic awareness skills is essential for students to learn when beginning to learn how to read. Students were tested at the beginning of the school year for a base score, then tracked at every month, and then a final benchmarking in December. The study took place in a North Dakota elementary school, 23 kindergarten students was monitored for data purposes. The data and results demonstrate a …

Professional Role Of Paraprofessionals: A Literature Review, Emily Martin Thompson, Karli Kirkwood

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Paraprofessionals are an integral component to the learning and growth of students with unique needs. While paraprofessionals are heavily relied upon to provide guidance, communication, instruction, and behavior management amongst other things, studies have found that many individuals working within this field feel underprepared expressing lack of training necessary to carry out the duties to which they are assigned. Professional development for paraprofessionals is limited, and the acknowledgement of such training lacks attention. Research shows that the roles, duties, and responsibilities of paraprofessionals are blurred and often overlooked. This literature review aids in defining the needs of paraprofessionals to …

Preschool Whole Group Circle Time: Does More Comfortable Seating Give Rise To Preschooler Engagement?, Roberta Kopel

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Flexible and alternative seating in the classroom has been a topic of research and implementation in the classroom in recent years. At this time, much of the research discovered looked at inflatable cushions, therapy balls, or even low tables using pillows as seats. It has been observed in practice by this researcher that many times what is sometimes labeled as flexible seating is just something that is “cute” and not a regular chair with a back and legs or flexible seating as noted in research findings such as a therapy ball. Thus far, it has been difficult to determine the …

In This Together- A Collaborative Family Support Group Project, Gena Dempsey

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

According to a recent United Nations report, “the COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 percent of the world’s student population, up to 99 percent in low and lower-middle-income countries” (United Nations Policy Brief, 2020). The closing of schools and distance learning has disrupted the communication and collaboration between families and school staff in our local communities, causing damage to parent and teacher partnerships. The need is great to re-establish connections …

Challenging Behavior In The Classroom: Effective Strategies To Implement To Support The Needs Of All Learners In The Early Childhood Special Education Setting, Kassandra Otto

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

When examining how to meet the needs of children in the Early Childhood Special Education classroom with challenging behaviors, an essential component is addressing the behavior at an early age and preventing challenging behavior in young children. Setting up a classroom environment conductive to learning is essential (Alter & Conroy, 2005). Creating a positive teacher-student relationship creates mutual respect (McGuire, 2017). How educators respond to challenging behavior reflects the overall classroom environment (Strain, 2017). Literature was reviewed in two disability categories, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Emotional Behavioral Disorder (EBD), focusing on challenging behaviors in the Early Childhood Special Education …

Cognitive Processing Therapy: Training For College Counseling Centers Treating Victims Of Sexual Assault, Kari O'Keeffe

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Sexual assault has been known to lead to subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in many of its victims, which can be extremely debilitating. One of the populations that is most at risk for experiencing sexual assault is college students. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a known treatment for PTSD and has been shown to be efficacious in its outcomes; however little research has been done on how those outcomes stand the test of time. Due its flexible nature CPT can be delivered via group or individual therapy and the number of sessions can be modified, which makes CPT not only …

An Educator’S Guide To Tier 2 And Tier 3 Evidence-Based Interventions For Students With Emotional And/Or Behavioral Needs, Sara Schmidt

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Students with an emotional and behavioral disorder or emotional/behavioral needs can be impacted in many different areas that are critical to school success. These impacts not only affect student success within schools, but also drastically affect post-school success and can result in negative long-term outcomes. Fortunately, many school-based models have been identified to be effective in addressing these impacts for students with and at-risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. A distinctive feature within all these models includes the implementation of tiered evidence-based interventions. However, from personal experience and from literature reviewed, there seems to be a lack of implementation of …

Cyclical And Intentional Activity Selection In Inquiry-Based Learning Improved By 5e Learning, Mitchell Miller

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The researcher investigated the attitudes toward inquiry-based learning and grades of students in middle school science as well as the significance of rubric based classroom discussion. The literature showed the researcher inquiry-based learning has been shown to increase engagement and understanding. The literature also showed classroom discussions were made more meaningful by implementation of expectations and a rubric. The researcher provided evidence of a significant improvement of classroom discussion, attitudes toward inquiry-based learning, and grades due to implementation of the actions taken by the researcher. The researcher used Kristine Bruss’s discussion rubric and expectations. The researcher also used Paul Anderson’s …

Engagement In Music Education In The Upper Elementary Grades, Abigail Jirik

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The research was based on observations from the researcher’s time in the elementary music classroom and addresses the decline of willingness to participate in students in the upper elementary grades. The research addresses the following two research questions; how do family and student attitudes and dynamics towards singing affect student participation in singing in elementary music class? And in what ways could singing be presented and included in instruction to better engage the older elementary learner? The researcher selected fourth and fifth grade students as the participants in the study. Students were given surveys asking questions about participation and attitudes …

Strategies To Overcome Special Education Teacher Burnout, Amber Eastwood

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Special education teacher burnout has been a topic of concern dating back to the 1970s when it was first identified and conceptualized and has since been a growing trend in the field of education (Embse, 2019). With the everchanging world of education, the demands of a special education teacher have grown and are causing new triggers that are contributing to their burnout. Research is showing that 40% of new teachers are leaving the profession within the first five years of teaching with stress and burnout at the top of the list contributing to their departure (Herman, 2020). Since researching about …

Professional Role Of Paraprofessionals: A Literature Review, Karli Kirkwood

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Paraprofessionals are an integral component to the learning and growth of students with unique needs. While paraprofessionals are heavily relied upon to provide guidance, communication, instruction, and behavior management amongst other things, studies have found that many individuals working within this field feel underprepared expressing lack of training necessary to carry out the duties to which they are assigned. Professional development for paraprofessionals is limited, and the acknowledgement of such training lacks attention. Research shows that the roles, duties, and responsibilities of paraprofessionals are blurred and often overlooked. This literature review aids in defining the needs of paraprofessionals to …

Recovery Network Awareness: A Training Guide To Help Clients Choose An Aftercare Program For Sobriety, Thomas Bosek

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Recovery environments are a crucial role in any individual’s journey to achieve sobriety. A safe environment will allow people who have a history of substance use to work their program effectively and decrease their relapse potential. The purpose of this paper is to identify multiple recovery-based programs for new professionals and providers entering the field of substance abuse treatment that allow their clients to have the best opportunity to succeed with their personal goals. The main programs discussed in this paper include 12 step programs, SMART Recovery, Harm reduction, and Medication Assisted Therapy. Choosing the right program for clients …

Yoga As A Positive Behavior Intervention, Kristen Kadrie

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study explored teaching preschool age students how to use yoga strategies to calm their bodies, reducing the number of times a student demonstrates negative behavior. The fifteen participants were three through five year olds from one of the preschool classrooms at the Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) Early Learning Center. Baseline data was collected for five days, resulting in a determination that four of the students would be considered the subjects for the study, one who received special education services. Additional baseline data was collected for these students for ten days. All fifteen participants and the classroom teachers were …

Improving Fluency Rates Through Repeated Reading, Sara Van Erp

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Learning how to read fluently was a goal the researcher had which led to the research question; How does the intervention of repeated reading impact oral reading fluency rates in students who are reading below a 2^nd grade level? The purpose of the action research was to implement the intervention of repeating reading to see if the oral reading fluency rates in struggling students increased. Struggling readers were identified through the Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills assessment (DIBELS). Struggling readers were considered to be reading below 52 words per minute, which was the 2^nd grade benchmark …

Expanding Occupations Through Community College Registered Apprenticeships, Anne Hoeltke

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

Registered apprenticeships remain a key workforce strategy as an affordable pathway to secure high paying jobs and meet the changing labor market demands. Individuals who have gone through a registered apprenticeship program receive substantially higher earnings, have higher completion rates, most graduate debt free and have very high job placement rates upon completion. Yet most apprentice programs have not advanced beyond the traditional occupations (construction and advanced manufacturing), and a majority of apprentices are white males.

Community colleges have existing relationships with industry and are already central to the nation’s career and technical education which required applied learning that …

Impacts Of Social-Emotional Learning Via A Daily Writing Reflection In The Secondary Classroom, Angie Peterson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine a time effective and subject area friendly way to address students’ social-emotional needs as a means to alleviate stress, communicate with teachers, and improve their overall wellbeing. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been many unforeseen or unaddressed repercussions that educators will continue to be dealing with as schools return to traditional formats or as they adjust to new ones. What impact can the use of daily journal writing have for high school students as an immediate and potentially long-term social-emotional learning or competency technique?

This study was …

The Effects Not Grading Formative Assessments Has On Summative Assessments, Luke Saunders

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This 2021 study focused on the relationship between not grading formative assessments and summative assessments. The focus was on whether students will do their formative assessments if they know they would not be graded. Furthermore, if they decided to complete or not complete their formative assessments, this study would show the effects on their summative scores. The study lasted for one chapter in their curriculum. The research took place in a North Dakota school, specifically 52 geometry students. Data showed that majority of students will not do their homework if not held accountable. The data also suggests that not grading …

Extinguishing The Fuse Of Teacher Burnout, Elizabeth Pfeifle

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In the 1970’s, Herbert Freudenberger, defined teacher burnout as being a state of exhaustion or displeasure brought on by professional relationships that failed to generate predictable rewards. Teacher burnout is defined by three themes, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment.

Some indications of teacher burnout consist of sleeping and fatigue issues, constantly neglecting or having difficulties with focusing, weight and appetite concerns, and depression and anxiety (Tapp, 2021). In 2021, an evaluation was given to teachers highlighting how they are feeling and if they feel like leaving or are planning to leave the education world. They found that …

The Impact Of Small Group Direct Instruction On The Vocabulary Development Of Fourth Grade Students, Rachel Solum

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This 2021 study focused on the impact that small group vocabulary instruction had on the vocabulary development of 4th grade students. I wanted to see the effect that small group instruction had on students’ vocabulary growth. Students were pulled into a small group every day for four straight weeks. There was four groups of four students involved. During this small group time the teacher pulled vocabulary words from the word wall. The words on the word wall were tier two vocabulary words that had been pulled from various interactive read alouds. The teacher followed Marzano’s Six Step Approach to teaching …

Strategies For Teaching Based On Autism Research (Star Program) Curriculum Review And Implementation, Cassidy Harrington

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is becoming more prevalent in school systems. Researchers began tracking the prevalence of ASD in the year 2000. It is estimated that 1 in 68 children have ASD in the United States of America (1 in 42 prevalence for boys and 1 in 189 prevalence for girls) (Landa, 2018). Medically a child can be diagnosed with ASD but school systems themselves are not able to formally diagnose ASD in children. (ECTA, 2012). ASD can be hard to diagnose as some cases are more severe than others and the earlier that a child is found to have …