Education Commons^™

A New Generation Of Goals For Technology Education, John M. Ritz

STEMPS Faculty Publications

[Introduction, First paragraph]

To develop meaningful instructional programs for technology education, goals need to be in place to direct the outcomes of curriculum development and teaching. Goals are program terminal outcomes that focus curriculum writers or teachers who structure content for learners. Goals provide direction so content can be delivered for long-term impact to students who study the subject. They go beyond everyday teaching objectives; they are directed at long-term learning and programmatic outcomes.

Levels Of Line Graph Question Interpretation With Intermediate Elementary Students Of Varying Scientific And Mathematical Knowle, Stacy Keller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how intermediate elementary students' mathematics and science background knowledge affected their interpretation of line graphs and how their interpretations were affected by graph question levels. A purposive sample of 14 6th-grade students engaged in think aloud interviews (Ericsson & Simon, 1993) while completing an excerpted Test of Graphing in Science (TOGS) (McKenzie & Padilla, 1986). Hand gestures were video recorded. Student performance on the TOGS was assessed using an assessment rubric created from previously cited factors affecting students' graphing ability. Factors were categorized using Bertin's (1983) three graph question levels. The assessment rubric was validated by Padilla …

Reconceptualizing Mathematics Education, Melinda Ann Smith

Legacy ETDs

This dissertation is to explore theoretically mathematics education in the United States and the need for reconcepualizing mathematics education. Mathematics education needs reconceptualizing because students know very little mathematics by the time they graduate from high school. Mathematics has become a subject to be feared and dreaded for centuries. High school teachers blame middle school teachers, middle school teachers blame elementary teachers, and elementary teachers blame parents for their students' lack of preparedness in mathematics. Elementary teachers express frustration in teaching mathematics because of their own lack of content knowledge and lack of preparation for the mathematics component of their …

A Study Of Elementary Teachers' Abilities, Attitudes, And Beliefs About Problem Solving, Nancy Mullins Brown

Legacy ETDs

Problem solving has been alternately viewed as the justification for the study of mathematics or as the impetus and means for studying mathematics. This study examines characteristics—attitudes toward problem solving, beliefs about problem solving, and abilities to solve problems—of elementary teachers of grades three, four, and five that relate to problem solving.

Participants completed a two-part survey to quantify their attitudes and beliefs and a problem-solving activity which quantified their problem-solving abilities. Four participants were subsequently interviewed. Analyses showed that these teachers had generally positive attitudes toward problem solving, generally positive beliefs about problem solving, and generally poor problem-solving abilities. …

Got Math? Implementation Guide, Margo Shea, Christopher Nye

Curriculum

For many kids math is like spinach--something to be avoided if possible. This may well be because they see learning math as a rather abstract process, cut off from the real world. For many teachers, with large classes and pressure to prepare for standardized tests, opportunities to individualize math instruction and to experiment with creative group activities that bring math alive remain out of reach. As a result of these and other factors, across the nation our children's math achievement levels remain pretty disappointing.

Got Math?, an out-of-school-time mentoring program for third through fifth graders, is one model that aims …

Finding And Evaluating Curricular Resources On The Web For Teaching Junior Certificate Mathematics, Alice Mcdonnell, Ciaran Mcdonnell, Brendan Tangney

Conference papers

This study addresses the difficulties of locating quality curricular information on the WWW focussing on the Irish Junior Certificate Mathematics curriculum. In the development of efficient searching techniques, an examination of efficient search / metasearch engines, directories, education sites and the Invisible Web was undertaken. The techniques developed aim to provide an overall searching strategy for educators on the WWW. An initial selection of relevant material was located on the World Wide Web and selection criteria were applied, providing predictive ratings by one of the authors. A key element of this study is the development of an adaptive, ongoing peer …

Integrating Writing To Enhance Mathematical Skills At The Elementary Level, Kendra J. Kupp

All Graduate Projects

The recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Washington State Commission on Student Learning Essential Academic Requirements are addressed. The benefits of integrating mathematics and writing are studied. Integrated activities and materials for a first and second grade mathematics curriculum are developed. Recommendations for implementing the project are given.

Real World Mathematics Skills Within The Elementary Resource Classroom, Stacy Schilperoort

All Graduate Projects

A project, including activities, to assist elementary special education teachers in incorporating real world mathematics skills within their own resource classrooms was developed. A literature review of current research on the topic of real world math skills in schools around the country is also included as part of this project. The literature indicates that students with learning disabilities might benefit and become better prepared for the future as adult citizens by receiving an education that includes math activities that relate to the real world outside the classroom walls.

Measuring Tutoring Effectiveness By Program Delivery Model: Small Group Tutoring Compared To Tutoring In Labs In Mathematics, Physics, And Accounting, Mary A. Quinn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effectiveness of two common tutoring program delivery models by analyzing tutored and nontutored students' grades and semester grade point averages in three subject areas. The effects of gender, age (if 25 years or older), course, duration of tutoring, tutoring contacts, and contacts per week are also measured. The approach to the ex post facto study is quantitative and utilizes data from the Student Information System at Appalachian State University and from tutoring contact sheets. Areas of data presentation include analysis of covariance results for experimental group, gender, age (if 25 years or older), and course; and …

Interactive Television In The Classroom: A Comparison Of Student Math Achievement Among Three Instructional Settings, Sherri L. Hodge-Hardin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A dramatic expansion of distance learning through the use of interactive television (ITV) is allowing colleges and universities to offer students potentially unlimited access to educational and training opportunities. While the expanding information age beckons us to consider mechanisms for using communication technologies for the benefit of meeting the needs of learners in a variety of locations, the question may be raised--Is ITV an effective medium of instruction? This study examined the effectiveness of using an interactive television system to broadcast developmental algebra classes at East Tennessee State University. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were …

A Cooperative Approach To Writing A Curriculum Guide For Mathematics, Sara Nilson Bos

All Graduate Projects

This project involved writing a curriculum guide for grades kindergarten through six in the area of mathematics. This guide was developed using a cooperative approach including small groups of teachers representing several grade levels, as well as, the entire teaching staff. The process of developing the guide was important to this study as was the mathematics guide itself. Teachers were involved in selection of a mathematics curriculum, implementing the curriculum, evaluating and adapting the curriculum after one year of use, and writing the guide to accompany the program.

An Educational Mathematics Game Called Allequator, Raymond Robert Beeson

All Graduate Projects

This paper contains a brief description of the procedures involved in making the game Allequator, an educational tool capable of reinforcing basic algebra concepts for students 7th through 12th grades. With the help of the Richland Public School District #400, Allequator has been published and is now available to teachers within the district.