Digital Commons Network^™

Teacher Training, Beliefs, And Use Of A Constructivist Learning Environment Supported By Instructional Technology, Rachel Mercer

Dissertations

This study examined teacher training and beliefs in relation to the development of instructional technology-driven constructivist learning environments. The goal was to discover any existing gaps in theoretical beliefs and praxis, and develop recommendations that provide methods of merging theory into practice for both new and veteran teachers. Bruner’s Constructivist Learning Theory was the theoretical framework that was the basis for this study. Buttressing Bruner, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Montessori’s influences on the development of constructivism as a theoretical lens were also used. The target sample of the intended study was sixth through twelfth grade teachers, both new (0-4 years of …

An Investigation Of The Impacts Of Traditional, Virtual, And Hybrid Biological Laboratories On College Students’ Achievement And Motivation To Learn Biology, Shavonda Jackson

Dissertations

Virtual courses function in a different manner than traditional courses, therefore they require teaching methods and assessment techniques geared specifically to maximize this learning experience. Internet-based learning and distance-education are no longer new concepts in the science field. Because of this, many collegiate biology programs have created courses that can be taken virtual or hybrid. A number of experimental studies have had great influence in terms of the effects and impacts of educational technology in relation to virtual laboratories.

However, not many studies emphasize the impact of hybrid laboratories on student achievement or assess students’ motivation to learn in a …

The Incorporation And Effect Of Movement In The Elementary Classroom, Caroline L. Rhett

Honors Theses

The main purpose of this thesis project was to examine the incorporation of movement in preschool and elementary classrooms and identify its effects. A review of methodology from musicians/educators such as Zoltán Kodály, Carl Orff, and Emile Jacques-Dalcroze provided a foundation for the research topic. Other factors surrounding music and movement included the physical, mental, and developmental aspects. These factors were studied through the lens of authors and researchers such as Howard Gardner.

The practice used was primarily observation, which took place in local music classrooms as well as at a Carl Orff Workshop. Observation led to the conclusion that …