Digital Commons Network^™

Telling The Stars: A Quantitative Approach To Assessing The Use Of Folk Tales In Science Education., Margaret B. Meyers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the impact of paired folk tales and science explanations on students in third through sixth grades who viewed program modules from the SkyTeller Project of Lynn Moroney and the Lunar and Planetary Institute of Houston, Texas. The audience consisted of over 3500 students in eight locations in the United States. Because few quantitative studies have been conducted to examine the use of stories in science education, the development of an instrument to assess students' attitudes toward science and stories forms a major part of this research. During the final stage of testing, the revised instrument and methods …

Elementary School Principals' Perceptions Of Their Needs For Professional Development In Instructional Leadership, Michael N. Smith Jr.

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to assess Nebraska elementary principals' perceptions of their need for further instructional leadership professional development. Relationships were examined between the Nebraska elementary principals' perceptions and various demographic variables. The independent variables were defined as (1) the principal's personal characteristics—age, gender, years of teaching experience, highest degree earned, age at first administrative appointment, years of experience as a principal, years in current position, and (2) the individual elementary school's characteristics—school size, district size, grades embraced by the school, and the school's socio-economic status.

Strategies Nurse Educators Use To Integrate Computer -Assisted Instruction Into Their Courses To Teach Clinical Decision-Making, Beverly J. Schaefer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The strategies nurse educators' use to integrate computer-assisted instruction (CAI) designed to teach clinical decision-making into their courses were investigated to determine their frequency of use and effectiveness. The "Integration of CAI Questionnaire," an on-line electronic survey designed by the investigator, was used to collect data. A stratified randomly-selected group of 109 schools of nursing that was a statistically representative mix of baccalaureate (BSN), associate (AD) and diploma schools from each of six geographic regions of the United States comprised the sample.;The study questions were as follows: (1) What integration strategies have nurse educators used to integrate CAI? (2) How …

How Optional Usage Of The Web Affects Reading Comprehension, Jocelyn K. Tenorio

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this investigation is to consider whether using web-enhanced material improves proportionally students' reading comprehension skills. In addition student attitudes are considered. Two groups of students at the University of Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico were chosen as a census: a group of nursing students taking a course on reading comprehension of nursing articles in English and a group of students studying to be teachers of English as a foreign language. Reading selections were uploaded on the internet using the WebCT platform. The students were to read the selections and answer quizzes. The students took a pre- and post-test …

From “Separate But Equal,” To Tracking To “Choice”: Perceptions Of Different Stakeholders On The Impact Of Magnet Schools On High School Students, Minerva Medrano Villarreal

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this research was to examine and compare the impact of magnet-vocational high schools on the perceptions of seniors from the magnet schools and on those from the comprehensive/host schools. Additionally, the study examined the perceptions that several stakeholders of those schools and of the services and opportunities presented to the students were also investigated. Finally, the perceptions or parents were also investigated.

The Mixed-Methods Design study used several instruments as the primary sources of self-reported data: school district course listing guides, annual progress reports, official district Web sites and literature about district magnet schools. The second component …

The Effects Of A Redirecting Strategy On Self Injurious Behavior Manifested By A Subject With Multiple Disabilities, Maria Estevanes Strickland

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a strategy involving redirection would reduce or extinguish self-injurious behavior (SIB). The subject, a ten-year-old girl, diagnosed with a seizure disorder, functioned at as eight month old level is confined to a wheel chair and is completely dependent on others for transportation and self-care needs. A single subject, ABAB design was used. The study was aimed at measuring SIB episodes during the baseline and treatment phases. A communication board was used during the treatment phases. The results indicate that the use of the communication board successfully reduced the episodes of self-injurious …

Exploring Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Preparedness For Culturally Responsive Teaching, Mary T. Brauch Petersen

Student Work

This study sought to examine how teachers perceived they were prepared for culturally responsive teaching (CRT). CRT refers to the ability of a teacher to use prior knowledge or experience to either teach children of diversity certain content topics or to teach all children in the classroom cultural topics. Culturally responsive teaching is demonstrated by teachers' possessing" (a) knowledge and sensitivity about cultural influences, (b) ability to provide a supportive learning context, (c) appropriate instruction and assessment, and (d) facilitation of parental involvement" (Daunic, Correa, & Reyes-Blanes, 2004, p. 106).

Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Resource Guide For Teachers, John S. Brockway

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Resource Guide for Teachers The purpose of this project was to bring to the attention of educators the need to become culturally responsive in their teaching practices. Given the changing demographics within schools in the United States, educators must improve and enhance the learning conditions for their students by understanding the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of all students. A one-day teacher in-service was developed to address the need for educators to develop the practices of culturally responsive teaching while providing this audience with practical examples, information, and strategies to help them more successfully engage their diverse …

Investigating The Hispanic/Latino Male Dropout Phenomenon: Using Logistic Regression And Survival Analysis, Dorian Charles Vizcain

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the factors associated with dropping out of middle school and high school among Hispanic/Latino male students. Predictor variables investigated were: age, home language, retention history, SES, program of studies, suspensions, and GPA. Data were from a large urban school district in the state of Florida. A sample of 865 Hispanic/Latino male Latino students in the 8th grade in 1995-96 was followed longitudinally every year to the year 2000-01. Survival analysis and logistic regression were used to examine the data.

The research questions were: 1) What is the relation between age, home language, retention history, SES, program of …

A Motivational Strategy That Accommodates Middle School Special Education Students: Achieving Academic Success, Susan J. Koempel

All Graduate Projects

The project provides middle school teachers with a handbook for clarifying academic targets in the general education U. S. history classroom. This strategy clearly defines, in a pictorial manner, the interconnectedness that exists between report cards, progress reports, and quarterly curriculum assignments. The intervention of this organizational strategy will assist students in decisions, regarding the timely completion and turn in of assignments, by creating an overall awareness of the progress of time and assignment due dates during the quarter. Originally, the production of the intervention was done by the special education staff so that there would be minimal time energy …

A Motivational Strategy That Accommodates Middle School Special Education Students: Achieving Academic Success, Susan J. Koempel

All Graduate Projects

The project provides middle school teachers with a handbook for clarifying academic targets in the general education U. S. history classroom. This strategy clearly defines, in a pictorial manner, the interconnectedness that exists between report cards, progress reports, and quarterly curriculum assignments. The intervention of this organizational strategy will assist students in decisions, regarding the timely completion and turn in of assignments, by creating an overall awareness of the progress of time and assignment due dates during the quarter. Originally, the production of the intervention was done by the special education staff so that there would be minimal time energy …

Enhancing Motivation Using The Constructs Of Flow In Museum Education Activities, Maria C. Grant Edd

Dissertations

While many extol the general value of museum fieldtrips, few can describe the specific parameters needed to make the excursion an educational benefit. Oftentimes, a day at the Museum of Natural History or time spent at the local art gallery is casually put into place with little forethought or attention to activity details. This research intended to utilize the parameters of flow theory and children's interest to investigate the phenomenon of student motivation while viewing an exhibit. Informal learning environments offer educators the opportunity to look beyond the halls of their campus in a manner that allows augmentation of curriculum …

Field Force Dynamics, Policy Adoption, And Educational Change: Formulating A Heuristic Model, Timothy E. Jordan

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This research investigated factors that influence secondary teacher decisions on policy adoption. Adoption, as used in this study, is defined to include both the decision to adopt a policy and the action of implementing the policy, a process that requires changes in teacher behavior as well as classroom and school culture. One of the major difficulties with policy implementation is the failure to achieve effective behavioral changes in school sites and actual classrooms. It is anticipated that the results of this research will be useful to teachers as well as developers and administrators of future policies. The theoretical foundation for …

Research On Minority-Girl Education In China: Critique And Recommendations, Jiesu Luo

Theses and Dissertations

Minority-girl education in China is a new field of research. This study seeks to explore into this field through reviewing and analyzing the available studies that have been done. This literature has been collected through searching library holdings, Computer Assisted Research Search, and online searching. The criteria against which the literature is to be reviewed and analyzed are in the form of questions and are divided into six categories of introduction, theoretical framework, method, results, discussion (conclusion/recommendations), and abstract or summary; so that all the aspects of a study can be examined. The research filed of minority-girl education in China …

Physiological Profile Of Olympic Style Tae Kwon Do Match, Georgios C. Korellis

Student Work

Olympic style Tae Kwon Do training may achieve accepted training intensity threshold for effective aerobic capacity training, energy expenditure thresholds and elevation in excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. Little work regarding the acute metabolic demands during Olympic style Tae Kwon Do competition has been done before. The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological demands of a match in Olympic style Tae Kwon Do. Physiological assessment included measurement of oxygen uptake (V 02), heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BL), rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and body temperature (BT). A total of 7 subjects between the ages of 19 …

Bioenergetics And Time-Motion Analysis Of Competitive Basketball, Kenji Narazaki

Student Work

Basketball has been considered to require players to employ extensive amount of energy throughout games. However, research findings regarding bioenergetic traits and demands of actual basketball performance has been considerably limited. The purpose of this study was to describe and assess bioenergetic traits of actual basketball performance in collegiate female and male players by measuring oxygen consumption (V02), heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLC), as well as rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and performing a time-motion analysis in team scrimmages. Six female and six male collegiate basketball players (20,0 ±1.2 and 20.8 ± 0.9 years old, respectively) were asked …

An Empirical Study Of High School Principals' Data -Driven Decision-Making Practices And Their Relationships To Contextual Variables, Mingchu (Neal) Luo

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which Nebraska high school principals practiced data-driven decision-making and to determine the relationships between principals' data-driven decision-making and the contextual factors. The following leadership dimensions were surveyed: school vision, school instruction, school organization, collaborative partnerships, moral perspective, and larger-context politics. Three categories of contextual variables were included for study: principal characteristics as people factors, leadership dimensions as problem factors, and school setting as organization factors.

Private Odyssey: Responsibilities, Challenges, And Needs Of The Beginning Catholic School Principal, Dorothy A. Ostrowski

Student Work

This dissertation describes a multi-case, qualitative study involving six participants from a Midwestern, Catholic diocese and explores the responsibilities, challenges, and needs of the beginning Catholic school principal. The dissertation contains an extensive review of the literature and describes the design and procedures of the study with a summary of the methods and analysis strategies. Job descriptions, interviews, and written responses to provided reflection questions are the primary data sources.

The Introduction Of Human Rights Education To Two Secondary Schools In Sudan, Siham Taha Elmugammar

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of The No Child Left Behind Act Of 2001 On The Current Educational System, Morahima Villanueva

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This research study presents a historical view of the United States Federal Government's initial involvement in the country's educational systems and the motives behind these educational reforms. It explores the impact these reforms have had in the country's schools and how the implementations lead to the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) under President George W. Bush. It discusses the role of the four pillars under NCLB and the changes that it has brought about in the current educational system. This study also focuses on the impact that NCLB has had on a small rural …

Efficacy Of A Nutrition Education Program Designed For Grades K-3 Piloted In Johnson County Schools., Allison Nicole Lowry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to increase the nutrition knowledge of elementary school students by implementing nutrition education lessons. The subjects included 49 kindergarten through third grade students in Johnson County, Tennessee during the fall of 2004. Knowledge increase was measured by pretest and posttest scores. The tests were analyzed by paired t-tests. While all students showed an increase in mean score, kindergarten and first grade students did not show a significant increase in posttest scores. However, second and third grade students showed a significant increase in posttest scores, indicating an increase in nutrition knowledge.

Women In Leadership Positions In Tennessee Public Schools: A Qualitative Study Of Female Directors Of Schools., Joy O'Dell Yates

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine the best methods for achieving key leadership roles in education. The problem was to define the qualities that are important in leadership positions and to determine how those qualities relate to the top-level positions in school systems across Tennessee.

Nineteen female directors of schools were interviewed. Directors also completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (5X-Short). Characteristics of transformational and transactional leadership styles were included in the study. Most of the directors scored high on using the transformational factors (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration) of leadership and on using …

Acute Physiological Responses And Psychological Perceptions Of Various Resistance Training Regimens, William J. Vincent

Student Work

The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of four different resistance training protocols associated with periodization of resistance training on the biological signals that are associated with exercise regimens to increase muscle hypertrophy. A secondary purpose was to compare the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in the four weight training regimens. A total of eight male resistance trainers within the ages of 23-35 served as subjects for this study. On the first visit all had a baseline blood assay drawn to measure human growth hormone (hGH) and testosterone (T) and their 5 repetition maximum (RM) strength …

Dibels And Cbm: Using These Measures To Promote Big Ideas In Beginning Reading In Kindergarten Through First-Grade, Eva M. Denton

Student Work

An overview of phonological awareness, the alphabetic principle, and fluency with text is provided. Focusing on these 3 big ideas, a literacy program at a local school was evaluated. Kindergarteners were administered the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) 3 times a year to indicate their skills related to phonological awareness and the alphabetic principle. Students needing intensive instructional support received 40 to 70 minutes of small group instruction per week. As first-graders, all students read curriculum-based measurement (CBM) reading probes to assess their fluency with text. Of primary concern was the extent to which the different interventions …

The Relationships Between Secondary Language Teachers' Multiple Intelligence Preferences And Their Choice Of Mi-Inspired Teaching Strategies In The Classroom, Wenmin (Mindy) Huang

Student Work

The purpose of the study was to examine ESL teachers' perceived multiple intelligences (MI), their choice of MI-inspired teaching strategies in the classroom, and the relationship between teachers' perceived MI preferences and their selection of strategies or activities that reflect or do not reflect their MI preference in the classroom. Two survey instruments were used to collect data for this study: the Intelligence Survey (IS), and the MI-Inspired Teaching Strategy Index (MITSI). This study was delimited to ESL teachers who had been enrolled in the ESL endorsement program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Results indicated that the …

Differences In The Quality Of Written Evaluation Recommendations Of Master And Marginal Teachers, Michele L. Gehringer

Student Work

The purposes of this study were to identify the elements of quality written feedback given by an evaluator and to determine if there was a difference between the quality of feedback given to master teachers and marginal teachers in their summative appraisal evaluations in a large, Midwestern, suburban public school. A holistic rating instrument was used to determine the quality of feedback on final recommendations given to teachers. The design of the rating instrument measured the quality of written feedbac in four areas (specific, clear, achievable, student-centered). Administrators from outside of the school district were asked to rate the feedback …

Effectiveness Of A Continuous Vs. Traditional Learning Calendar And The Impact On Reading For Students Receiving Special Education, Molly B. Dotson

Student Work

Education has been, and certainly will always be, a topic of heightened interest for parents, educators, politicians, and community members, who want the best for their children. The desire for optimal student learning and progress has led to continued debate regarding the efficacy of year-round education and its proposed benefits when compared with traditional education.

Nebraska Public School Superintendents' Perceptions Of Nebraska's Assessment/Accountability System's Effect On High Schools, Wanda M. Clark

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to determine superintendents' perceptions of the Nebraska assessment/accountability reporting system (STARS) as they effect high schools. Data measuring the superintendents' perceptions of the STARS program included how they perceived the STARS program's effect on teachers, instructional practices, students, building principals, and resources. Demographic information was collected to determine if differences existed between subgroups based on the superintendents' district size, superintendents' years of experience, the district's free/reduced lunch percentage, the district's 11th grade portfolio rating on communication, the amount of STARS funding, and the financial support required from the district.

The Real And Perceived Social And Economic Impact Of School Consolidation On Host And Vacated Communities In Nebraska, Ken Heinz

Student Work

Opponents of school consolidation often argue that when a community loses a high school the community dies a slow death. This paper compares the actual effects of losing or retaining a high school through consolidation to the perceived effects. The actual effects were measured by gathering data on seven indicators. These indicators were: (a) population, (b) per capita income, (c) retail sales, (d) number of retail businesses, (e) pull factor, (f) property taxes, and (g) property valuations. Perceived effects were measured by gathering information from 180 phone surveys conducted with people in nine Nebraska communities that had recently consolidated These …

Between Theory And Practice: Student Teachers' Espoused And Observed Dispositions, Kay A. Keiser

Student Work

The purpose of this research was to determine to what extent, if any, student teachers' self-perceptions of teaching dispositions were congruent with their cooperating teachers' perceptions of the dispositions the student teachers actually exhibited while teaching. To compare perceptions of dispositions, 79 teaching pairs of student teachers and cooperating teachers of an urban Midwestern university completed the Teacher Disposition Index (Schulte, Edick, Edwards, & Mackiel, 2004).