Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Self-Paced Learning On Student Achievement And Motivation Within An Eighth-Grade Mathematics Classroom, Jacy Spencer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

A large mathematics achievement gap is a concern for researchers and educators alike, making effective teaching practices a main point of study for many researchers. Therefore, this action research, which used a quasi-experimental, quantitative research design, aimed to determine the effect of a self-paced learning environment on eighth-grade students’ mathematical achievement and motivation for learning. Baseline data on student motivation toward learning mathematics and mathematics achievement was collected before implementing a self-paced learning environment. After a mathematics unit was completed utilizing the self-paced learning model, data was collected on student achievement and motivation to determine effect of the learning environment. …

Native Language Attrition Among Immigrants, Fawzia Riji

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study was a literature review, and it focused on native language attrition among immigrants. For many years, immigrant families have moved to places such as the United States and Europe as well as Canada because of war, abuse, persecution, environmental degradation, and poverty in their home countries. Once immigrant families arrived in their designated country, their children were placed in school. Due to the struggle with the language barrier, kids and adults quickly started to focus extensively on learning the English language.

The research occurred due to parents' raised concerns regarding their children's inability to communicate in their first …

Music Therapy For Men With Co-Occurring Disorders, Yolana Kaml

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This project explores both quantitative and qualitive research that discusses the effectiveness of music therapy, its use in group settings, and its use in treatment of many different mental health states. This project also explores what the treatment process of music therapy looks like. Music therapy was found to be effective in lowering pain levels, anxiety, and promote better sleep in a research study done on cancer patients (Tang et al. 2021). The research done also showed that music therapies effectiveness extends to people with a variety of mental health histories and of different ages. This includes parent/child dyads (Teggelove …

Perceptions Of Rural School Superintendents Around Leading Ongoing Technology Initiatives, Randal A. Bergquist

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Technology initiatives in public schools have been an important topic of discussion as educators work on implementing various strategies to enhance student achievement/success. The improvement in technology, both hardware and software, along with wider areas of internet coverage, has allowed educators to think about implementation of technology into schools. Many school districts across the United States have already implemented technology initiatives, such as one-to-one, for students in all grades and levels. The increased pressure on school administrators to improve student achievement/success has resulted in research that comes short of ongoing technology initiatives, especially in the rural schools. This research study …

The Impacts Of Phone Use In The High School Mathematics Classroom, Kaitlin Rubash

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study investigated the impact, both academic and emotional, of phone use on tenth through twelfth grade students in a high school Advanced Algebra class. The research was carried out through comparing quizzes and the unit test scores from the second unit of the school year. The scores were compared between classes that had access to their phones and those that were required to place their phone in a holder at the start of each class period throughout the unit. The researcher also had students fill out two surveys to see how they felt the impact of not having their …

A Slice Of Teaching: Reading Comprehension Intervention, Kendra Erickson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Reading is an essential life skill that affects both learning, and life outside of school and participating in society. Reading is a complex skill that is influenced by cognitive processes, linguistic abilities, and relevant knowledge. One major component of reading and learning how to read is reading comprehension. The acquisition of reading comprehension is an individual’s ability to learn to understand writing as well as he or she understands spoken language (Perfetti et al. 2013). Reading Comprehension is a crucial component to successful learning for all students but, for some students, reading comprehension is a task that does not come …

Paraprofessionals In The School Setting: A Literature Review, Tyelyn Pearson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teachers and paraprofessionals are partners in education, working together to provide the best educational experience possible for each child. Biggs et al. state “fostering and maintaining strong collaborative relationships are critically important for paraprofessionals and special education teachers working together to provide a high-quality education for students with severe disabilities” (2016, p. 152). It is crucial that paraprofessionals are offered training and taught strategies and techniques to implement and support diverse students in the classroom (Patterson, 2016).

In the 1950’s, paraprofessionals were first added to the classroom as a way to provide teachers with more planning time and they performed …

How Well Do Students Perform On A Five-Paragraph Analysis Essay When Writing Digitally Versus Handwritten?, Brittany Coryell

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Technology use in the secondary education setting has been increasing since the early 2000s, but with the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when students learned remotely, technology use exponentially increased. Many districts provided devices for their students to continue their schoolwork. As we return to the classroom, should assignments remain technology-based or return to handwritten assignments? In this study, the researcher focused on identifying whether handwritten work or typing is more effective when developing a five-paragraph analysis essay in a ninth-grade classroom. Students were given the same curriculum throughout the study, but one group was given the curriculum through worksheets to …

Financial Analysis Of Surmodics, Inc., Denver Colgrove

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This report aims to provide a financial analysis built from qualitative and quantitative data on Surmodics, Inc., a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Eden Prairie. I will discuss how the firm is performing and compare its financial results to a competitor in the industry, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Surmodics has been awaiting approval for various new devices, none more important than the SurVeil DCB. The delays in regulatory approval for these products have delayed millions in revenue for Surmodics, and any further delay increases the company’s level of risk. Throughout the various sections of this report, it will become clear that …

The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Professional Development On Classroom Climate, Amber Lenz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

When students experience trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the home, such as substance abuse, mental illness, neglect, or violence, schools become an important place in which support, kindness, and understanding are needed the most. School can, for some students, be a place of physical safety and emotional stability. Oftentimes, the weight of what is going on at home or in the community is being miscategorized and is seen as misbehavior or laziness in a student. If teachers do not learn how to deal with the trauma in a supportive and validating way, students will stay distracted and disengaged …

The Impact Of Paired-Partner Reading On Star Reading Scores, Brianna Byer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine how effective paired-partner reading is when used in the classroom with curriculum. Within a 7th grade language arts classroom, this reading strategy focuses on student collaboration, reading comprehension, and providing the opportunity to read aloud on a regular basis. Researchers Stahl, Heubach, and Cramond (1997) stated, “Partner reading provides an opportunity for students to read connected text within a socially supportive context. This context should both motivate children to read well and provide a supportive environment to aid the development of reading skill” (p. 13). The overall goal of this study …

Northwestern Corporation Financial Statement Analysis, Dakotah Herrmann

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The main company that I chose to research and analyze is NorthWestern Corporation. NorthWestern is an energy producer and distributor that supplies both electricity and natural gas to the states of South Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska. NorthWestern was founded in 1923 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The benchmark company that I chose was MGE Energy. MGE Energy is another energy producer and distributor of electricity and natural gas in the state of Wisconsin. MGE Energy was founded in 2001 in Madison, Wisconsin. I was able to obtain the most recent six fiscal years for both firms and analyze them in …

More Time To Play? A Study On Free-Play And Its Effects On Behavior And Academics In School, Emily Edland

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Over the two-week study, the researcher collected data on how students’ academic growth and social-emotional behaviors were affected between having free-play and academic work during independent time. To study two dependent variables, the researcher asked two research questions: Research Question 1: How does free play and/or recess in schools affect students’ capacity to learn (how do test scores change when students engage in free play versus independent academic work)? Research Question 2: What effect does the amount of free play/recess have on students’ social/emotional skills and behaviors during academic lessons? The participants of the study were 5- and 6-year-olds in …

The Impact Of Student Cell Phones On Standardized Test Achievement In The High School English Classroom, Jackie Otway

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This 2022 study analyzes the impact cell phones have on secondary student’s academic performance and whether or not banning cell phones from classrooms is an effective policy for supporting student's academic success. To answer this question, two class periods of approximately 30 students in each period will be asked to adhere to two different cell phone policies; one conventional policy that allows for unstructured cell phone use during the class period and one policy that bans cell phone use for the class period. Academic performance and success will be determined by scaled scores on the standardized STAR Reading test, which …

The Impact Of Problem-Based Learning On Students Critical Thinking Skills And Peer Relationships, Rebecca Ostby

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Education is a field that is constantly in motion. It is changing and adapting as educators and researchers try new concepts or ideas. One shift is implementing mathematics curriculum's that focus on problem-based learning. Throughout researching problem-based learning, there was a theme of its impacts on 21st-century skills that students possessed. Therefore, these research questions were created: How does problem-based learning in mathematics impact the critical thinking skills of middle school students? What is the impact of increased opportunities for critical thinking on students' collaboration with each other? Learners in an 8^th-grade Algebra 1 class took a Likert …

Masculinity And Depression: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Counseling Literature’S Recommendations On Caring For Men From 2012-2021, Jean Taylor

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study examined how the counseling literature between the years of 2012-2021 addressed the diagnosis and treatment for men with depression. Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) was used to examine four publications of the American Counseling Association: Journal of Counseling and Development (JCD), Journal of Humanistic Counseling (JHC), Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development (JMCD), and Counselor Education and Supervision (CES). Four research questions guided the study: 1. How many articles in the selected counseling journals focus on men and depression between 2012 and 2021, and what percentage of the total articles do they represent? 2. What specific types of studies …

The Impact Of Flexible Seating On Academic Performance Within An Elementary Classroom, Austin Hendershot

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study examined how the implementation of flexible seating in an elementary classroom impacted academic achievement. The focus for this study was to determine if allowing students the opportunity to choose the type of seating they use is more beneficial than having every student sit in traditional seating arrangements of desks and chairs. Data was collected through pre- and post-tests via the STAR Reading and Math assessments, and analyzed in a Google Sheet. This nine-week study took place within two 3rd grade classrooms, with a total of 38 participants, in a small school in west-central Minnesota. The results of this …

Strategies For Creating An Inclusive Environment In Early Childhood Education, Jenica Boelter

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The articles reviewed in this literature review examine key strategies needed to create a positive learning environment and successfully include students with disabilities in an inclusive elementary classroom. Key strategies include relationships, collaboration, providing feedback, the use of visuals and nonverbal communication, accommodations, and understanding a students perception of school climate. The literature review concluded that creating this type of collaborative environment with strong relationships ultimately has a positive impact on student success in the classroom. Considering the current trend of inclusion in education, it is important to research and develop strategies that support children with disabilities in the classroom. …

Scope And Sequence Of Social-Emotional Learning Curricula For Preschool And Kindergarten Practitioners Based On Core Competencies, Jenessa Rothmeier

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Before students are ready to learn the academic components of kindergarten, they need to be “ready to learn” first with the social-emotional skills to follow directions, sit quietly, problem-solve, self-regulate, and organize themselves and materials. Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines social-emotional learning (SEL) as “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.” Social-emotional learning (SEL) is based on …

The Effect Of Daily Fluency On Algebraic Procedural Fluency In Students, Osman Mohamoud

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Algebra 1 students in the ninth grade struggled to follow procedural steps to answer elementary algebraic problems. An early pre-test found that the majority of pupils lacked the necessary fundamental knowledge to comprehend and investigate algebra's abstract concepts, patterns, and relationships. Fifteen students from one of the researcher's algebra one classes participated in a daily fluency skill-building intervention program to investigate whether daily fluency practice will affect students' procedural fluency skills. They engaged in 50 minutes of daily fluency practice for five weeks. During each 50-minute session, students practiced specific skills to develop procedural fluency competencies, such as solid …

Essential Components For Maximizing Paraprofessionals In The Special Education Field, Marissa Bader

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The capstone project researched how paraprofessionals are being trained and monitored within one elementary school. The research was conducted through a survey sent to 20 paraprofessionals within an elementary level school, grades Kindergarten through 4th grade. There were 10 survey questions that focused on paraprofessionals training methods, paraprofessionals ability to implement interventions, paraprofessionals ability to support a variety of student needs, and how special education teachers can improve their ability to work with paraprofessionals in order to maximize students with disabilities outcomes. The survey results suggested focus areas as improvements in training methods, collaboration among the paraprofessional and special education …

Transition Guide And Supports For Families Of Adolescents With Disabilities, Chelsey S. Traut

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Often when individuals with disabilities transitioned out of high school, there were a variety of repeated questions that teachers and administrators seemed to constantly be answering each year. The first goal of the project was to answer those questions and potentially serve as a resource for teachers and other professionals to answer the questions parents/guardians were asking them. Another goal was that even if the information was different for their district it could at the very least guide professionals and families in the right direction to find answers and support. The literature review provides information about parent/guardian and teacher collaboration …

A Discourse Analysis Of Cheers, Paul Wiesenborn

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This paper analyzes the pragmatics features of the language in an episode of the sitcom Cheers to find out what second language learners need to know about the language of the sitcom and about the background knowledge informing it for that episode to be understandable to them and for it thus to be an effective as an instruction tool. To answer this question, the researcher transcribed the speech in the episode and used a speech act theory-based approach to identify and categorize deixis, locutionary forms, illocutionary types, and instances of reduction and types of indirect speech. Categories in these areas …

The Effect Of Choice In Reading: Motivation, Engagement, And Enjoyment, Jennifer Barberg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of student choice in independent reading material. Specifically, the research focused on student motivation, engagement, and enjoyment of reading in classrooms where choice is offered versus those in which texts are assigned by the teacher. Data was collected through multiple student surveys and researcher observation of student behavior. The students in this classroom gave before and after information about their reading interest and self perceived growth. The results of this study were used to determine whether the freedom of choice in a student’s in class independent reading material fostered an …

Reducing Teacher Turnover: Factors Of Teacher Retention Success, Karrie Pederson Rage

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This post-positivist confirmatory correlational study examined four contributing factors found in the literature to influence teacher retention. The four factors were working conditions and school climate; administrative support and leadership practices; teacher self-efficacy; and the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher developed two questionnaires (i.e., Teacher Retention Questionnaire for Teachers and Teacher Retention Questionnaire for Administrators) to gather the data for the study. A total of 324 teachers (30.39% return rate) and 26 administrators (50% return rate) from an urban Midwest P-12+ public school district participated in this study and anonymity was assured. Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Self-Efficacy Theory were used …

Coeur Mining Inc. A Financial Statement Analyis, Justin Czech

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This Financial Statement Analysis of Coeur Mining Inc. looks at the firms, past, present, and future projects, trends, and financial statements in order to come to a conclusion about the firm as a whole, and the stock of the firm. In this analysis, I will discuss the firm as compared to a competitor firm; Compass Minerals Inc. Through this comparison, I will decide the strength and legitimacy of the financial statements of Coeur Mining Inc.

Diversity In Children's Books, Hala Qarini

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

This project aimed to determine whether Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) curriculum represents diversity in the books in a way that reflects the diversity of students in Fargo Public Schools (FPS). I used the green system in LLI curriculum level B-level I, which represents first grade. For this study, I analyzed eighty books total (lesson 21-lesson 100) based on the Fargo Public Schools definition of diversity. This method was a good match for my research question because it included gender/age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic, religion, disability, and culture which Fargo Public School includes in its description.

After reviewing and completing a content …

The Impact Of Utilizing Non-Permanent Workspaces As A Formative Assessment Tool On Students’ Outcomes And Attitudes Towards Mathematics In A Middle School Math Classroom, Robert Minkkinen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The present study investigated the effectiveness of utilizing non-permanent workspaces as formative assessment tools for middle school mathematics students in regards to their academic performance and feelings or attitudes towards mathematics. The researcher took two sections of eight grade basic algebra students, and implemented the practice of utilizing non-permanent workspaces as formative assessment tools with one section, and similar formative assessment strategies with the other section of students, but without the non-permanent workspaces. The participants from both sections took a pretest and post-test to determine the academic effectiveness of implementing the non-permanent workspaces. The participants from both sections also completed …

Effects Of Phonemic Awareness And Oral Reading Fluency, Melissa Vetsch-Larson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teaching students to read is a task that teachers are assigned to every school year. Many theories and theorists have given their take on the best way to teach students to read. Phonemic awareness has been in the forefront of reading instruction and currently is becoming a staple in many classrooms. This research study took a look at the correlation between phonemic awareness growth and oral reading fluency growth in a first-grade classroom working with mid-level students in a small group setting. The researcher used Path to Reading Excellence in School Sites (PRESS) phonemic intervention and curriculum-based measurement (CBM) for …

Teacher Burnout: What An Educator Needs To Know., Evelyn Blum

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Teacher burnout is the cause of the distraction of the teacher's well-being in the workforce. The teacher needs to be addressed since it profoundly affects society as it affects the teacher workforce, the students, and schools in general. The teacher's self-worth and self-efficacy also contribute to teacher burnout; the higher the self-worth feelings in teachers, the lower the rate of teacher burnout while low self-esteem is associated with increased levels of teacher burnout. The teachers' well-being contributes to reduced levels of teacher burnout and promotes teacher retention. Teacher burnout has significant implications, and high attrition levels have been linked with …