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An Anatomy Of An Unsuccessful School Bond Election In A Rural School District, Leigh Barrett Mobley Dec 2007

An Anatomy Of An Unsuccessful School Bond Election In A Rural School District, Leigh Barrett Mobley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the failed bond attempt of the Community School District and investigate reasons for the failure. Specifically, the role of the superintendent, the opposition, the media, and the school board during the bond election process were examined to determine how their roles influenced the outcome of the election. This qualitative case study employed purposeful sampling. Data collection techniques included document analysis, audiovisual material analysis, and personal interviews. Participants included media representatives, community members who were opposed to the bond election, members of the bond election committee, members of the board of trustees at …


Computer-Based Instruction For Engineering Education In The Developing World, Bradford G. Singley Aug 2007

Computer-Based Instruction For Engineering Education In The Developing World, Bradford G. Singley

Theses and Dissertations

Although civil engineers continually develop new ways to solve problems involving water, energy, infrastructure and environmental sustainability, these innovations can take years – or even decades – to reach developing countries. Computer-based instruction has the potential to dramatically decrease this lag time by improving engineering education in the developing world. This paper discusses the development of instructional simulations, based on the theory of model-centered instruction. These simulations can serve as self-paced learning modules, which can be accessed for free over the Internet. A pilot learning module was developed for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the …


The Relationship Between Nclb Variables And Selected Variables With High School Subject Area Test Scores, Kenyon M. Barron Aug 2007

The Relationship Between Nclb Variables And Selected Variables With High School Subject Area Test Scores, Kenyon M. Barron

Theses and Dissertations

No Child Left Behind (NCLB; 2002) requires student assessment to be reported by school districts based on certain demographic variables. Research indicated that other variables may relate to student achievement. This study calculated the relationship between average school district scores and the demographic variables required by NCLB (ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, special needs, migrant status and English language learners) as well as literature identified variables (source of district funding, pupil-to-teacher ratio, average teacher salary, per-pupil-expenditure, school district population size.) The subject area tests used for this study were Algebra I, Biology I, English II and United States History tests for …


Trust Me, I'M The Principal! A New Conceptual Model Of Trust For Educational Leaders, Bryan W. Blair Jul 2007

Trust Me, I'M The Principal! A New Conceptual Model Of Trust For Educational Leaders, Bryan W. Blair

Theses and Dissertations

The ultimate aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of how trust influences and relates to those practices that best support student development and growth as educated and productive citizens, prepared to share in our democratic society-which is the ultimate purpose of our schools (Dewey & Dewey, 1915). Specifically, this thesis investigates the role of trust in relationships between school principals and teachers. A comparative analysis of available literature was conducted using grounded theory methodologies to inform the development of a proposed conceptual model describing the role of trust in organizational processes within the school, specifically between …


The Media Production Experience: A Phenomenological Study Of Student Media Production In A Secondary Education Environment, Brian N. Saxton Jul 2007

The Media Production Experience: A Phenomenological Study Of Student Media Production In A Secondary Education Environment, Brian N. Saxton

Theses and Dissertations

Many media education researchers have pointed out the benefits of incorporating a production element into a media literacy program. In fact, the simple use of the word “literacy" alludes to both critical analysis of (“reading") media and creative expression through (“writing") media. However, many of those same researchers have found that there are serious difficulties with student media production from a practical standpoint. The lack of equipment, the lack of class time, poor educator training, and the possibility that students may produce school-inappropriate or offensive texts create doubts about whether or not the effort is worth the reward. This qualitative, …


County Level Suicide Rates And Social Integration: Urbanicity And Its Role In The Relationship, Jacob Travis Walker May 2007

County Level Suicide Rates And Social Integration: Urbanicity And Its Role In The Relationship, Jacob Travis Walker

Theses and Dissertations

This study adds to the existing research concerning ecological relationships between suicide rates, social integration, and urbanicity in the U.S. Age-sex-race adjusted five-year averaged suicide rates for 1993-1997 and various measures of urbanicity are used. Some proposed relationships held true, while others indicate that social integration and urbanicity are so intertwined in their effects on suicide that no clear, unidirectional pattern emerges. The religious affiliation measure captured unique variations in the role religion plays in this relationship; depending on how urbanicity was measured. Findings suggest closer attention needs to be paid to how both urbanicity and religious affiliation are measured. …


Extending The Reach Of Educational Research: Applying Product Commercialization Processes To Communities Of Practice, Richard Edward Culatta Mar 2007

Extending The Reach Of Educational Research: Applying Product Commercialization Processes To Communities Of Practice, Richard Edward Culatta

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to extend educational research beyond the research community could have a great impact on end-users such as teachers, students, or educational administrators. One way to extend the use of educational research is to create tangible educational products; such as virtual simulations, instructional videos, and printed materials; which can be easily and widely distributed. In order to transform research into products, members of the research community must adopt and implement certain product commercialization processes. Effective processes, if not recognized by members of the community, are not helpful for ensuring that quality end products are reached. Likewise, a supportive community …


Fostering Creativity Through A Nonlinear Approach To Teaching Technology At Wood River Middle School, Warren Edgar Hull Feb 2007

Fostering Creativity Through A Nonlinear Approach To Teaching Technology At Wood River Middle School, Warren Edgar Hull

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to address the following research questions: 1) what is the current status of creativity research in a typical classroom, and 2) how does an instance of exemplary teaching serve to encourage creativity in a technology education setting? The first research question is focused on through a thorough review of published literature on creativity in order to frame the second research question. The second research question is addressed by understanding how Mr. Brad Thode, the technology teacher at Wood River Middle School in Hailey, Idaho, encourages his students to be creative. By investigating this one …


One Problem, Two Contexts, Danielle L. Gigger Jan 2007

One Problem, Two Contexts, Danielle L. Gigger

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, a group of students were presented with two mathematically isomorphic problems but in radically different contexts. Analysis of their thinking and reasoning as they worked to solve and explain each problem demonstrates that the thinking and reasoning that emerged in each problem responded to clear purposes that the problems elicited in these students. The first problem was posed in a context that relied on experience and intuition rather than a formal mathematical description. The second problem was posed in a formal, set-theoretic context. While the analysis offered here reveals similarities in the students' final reasoning in the …


The Effects Of Concerted Cultivation On Academic Achievement, Jeremy Brandon Redford Jan 2007

The Effects Of Concerted Cultivation On Academic Achievement, Jeremy Brandon Redford

Theses and Dissertations

Anne Lareau (2003) argues that parents' child-rearing practices have a profound effect on academic and later occupational success for children, even holding constant such important factors as gender, race and school effects. She says that social class impacts these child-rearing practices and that middle-class families use a specific type of practice called concerted cultivation. Concerted cultivation involves parents organizing children's daily activities, using reasoning skills in talking with children, and teaching them how to interact with the institutions around them. Using the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) of 1988, the current study tests the theoretical validity of concerted cultivation. Results …


The Use Of Continuing Professional Education (Cpe) By Practicing Presbyterian Ministers, Steven C. Martin Jan 2007

The Use Of Continuing Professional Education (Cpe) By Practicing Presbyterian Ministers, Steven C. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed method study investigated continuing professional education practices of active Presbyterian ministers serving congregations within the United States. In the first phase, a self-developed survey instrument was mailed to a stratified random sample of 1,000 Presbyterian ministers. The survey instrument contained items relating to demographics, educational strategies, and techniques used when participating in continuing professional education. The data from 439 completed surveys was analyzed to determine if any significant relationships existed between gender, career choice and educational strategies and techniques used by Presbyterian ministers. The second phase consisted of telephone interviews with 12 Presbyterian ministers from the overall sample …


The Need For Caring Pedagogies: A Personal Look At Education In Depressed Economies, Catherine Curran Jan 2007

The Need For Caring Pedagogies: A Personal Look At Education In Depressed Economies, Catherine Curran

Theses and Dissertations

By grounding my work in this series of four essays in literary theory, but telling stories to which almost anyone can relate I hope to begin making the connection between sometimes heady academics and everyday working-class Americans. Only when learners understand their circumstances and the need for education, can they begin to take control of what they learn and how they employ that knowledge.