Education Commons^™

Utilizing Case Studies To Increase Critical Thinking In An Undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology Classroom, Sarah E. Lehman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of case-based learning compared to traditional lecture in increasing critical thinking skills in an undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology I classroom. Throughout the course of one semester, five units were taught with the addition of a case study as an instructional tool while the other four units were taught utilizing only didactic (lecture) methods and did not teach content utilizing case study methodology. Two types of content-specific critical thinking data were analyzed: selected multiple-choice exam questions and End of Chapter (EOC) assignments. The Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) …

Implementing Meaningful Problem-Based Learning In A Middle School Science Classroom, Celestine Banks Pough

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to explore the impact of problem-based learning on science instruction in my eighth-grade college preparatory classroom. Constructivism was the framework for this study. Problem-based learning is based on constructivist principles, and it served as the instructional model for this study. PBL can foster the use of problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, and communication skills, which are needed in the 21st century. This research study was centered around three research questions. The first question asked about the impact PBL has on students’ science achievement. The second question asked how does PBL impact students’ …

Differentiated Experiential Learning Through Play As Supplemental Support For Prekindergarten Students, Charles S. Reed

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods action research study examined prekindergarten students in a Title I program and the impact of differentiated experiential learning though play on their attitudes and learning of mathematical skills as measured by a standardized test. The identified problem of practice involved students not being given enough differentiated experiential learning through play opportunities. The research questions that guided this study are as follows: 1) What are the attitudes/perspectives of the parents, educators, and administrators on the value of play in early childhood education? 2) How does providing experiential learning through play impact students’ attitudes toward math? 3) How does …

Using Graphic Organizers And Spreadsheets To Increase Quantitative Literacy Skills In High School History Students, Bruce Alexander Thames

Theses and Dissertations

Students are leaving high school and college with insufficient Quantitative Literacy (QL) skills to fully understand lifelong decisions about citizenship, personal finances, and healthcare. These quantitative skills are not taught consistently across the curriculum, which prevents students from making connections across multiple courses and correctly applying math skills beyond the classroom. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effectiveness of graphic organizers, spreadsheets, and authentic data on the QL skills of 11th grade students enrolled in an honors level United States History class enrolled at a suburban NJ high school (SHS).

This study focused on two overarching …

The Impact Of Blended Learning Upon Mathematics Attitudes And Academic Achievement: An Action Research Study, Aronda Yvette Frazier

Theses and Dissertations

Negative attitudes toward mathematics can adversely impact student achievement in the subject area. Successful development and implementation of blended learning in high school mathematics has the potential to positively impact student attitudes towards mathematics and towards their ability to do mathematics and their mathematics achievement. Developed out of my concern for the mathematical challenges that my students face, this convergent mix-methods action research study was conducted to determine if blended learning would positively affect my students’ attitudes toward mathematics and their mathematics achievement. Guided by the research questions, ‘What impact does learning have on students’ attitudes towards geometry, specifically two …

Math Workshop And Its Impact On Higher-Level Thinking Skills, Elizabeth Ross

Theses and Dissertations

This paper addresses the problem of students not using problem solving and critical thinking skills in high school mathematics classes. It describes an action research project that looked at the impact of Math Workshop on higher-level thinking skills, number of attempts to demonstrate proficiency, and students’ feelings/attitudes about mathematics in a high school Algebra II setting. In a small high school, 20 students enrolled in an Algebra II course were selected to complete a pre-test, post-test and tasks framed by Math Workshop. A triangulated mixed-methods design was used to compare quantitative and qualitative data to answer the research questions. Descriptive …

Can The Curse Be Reversed?: An Action Research Study Of The Effect Of Constructivist-Aligned Instructional Strategies And Practices On The Mathematical Identity Development Of Fifth- Grade Students, Jennifer J. Ledbetter

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this mixed-methods action research study was to determine how my fifth-grade students were impacted by negative mathematical identity and/or math anxiety and to uncover the impact of constructivist-aligned instructional strategies on students’ mathematical identity. Grounded in a theoretical framework based on constructivist learning theory, identity theory, and communities of practice, the study used a convergent mixed-methods action research approach to investigate the following research questions:

How does negative mathematical identity and/or math anxiety impact my students? 2) What classroom practices contribute to the development of negative mathematical identity and how can those practices be replaced? 3) How …

An Investigation Into The Use Of Escape Games In High School Social Studies Classes: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, John Heider

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study explored the potential approaches to and benefits of educational escape games in secondary school social studies classes. The problem of practice that guided this study is the lack of data on whether or how teachers should use escape games. This study was based on a constructivist theoretical framework and explored the following research questions:

1. To what extent can playing and designing educational escape games advance students' affective development, including engagement, resilience, and intrinsic motivation?

2. To what extent can escape games advance students' cognitive development, including content mastery and critical thinking skills?

3. To what …

Impact Of A Steam Lab On Science Achievement And Attitudes For Girls, Barbara Cifaldi

Theses and Dissertations

This research identifies a problem of practice with standardized science test scores declining over the last eight years. The Sea Turtle Elementary School for the Creative Arts (STESCA; pseudonym) schedule allowed 150 minutes per week for science instruction, compared with 450 minutes per week for mathematics instruction. Science instruction has been implemented primarily through direct instruction and the use of textbooks and videos. In addition to the limited instructional time for science and predominant use of direct instructional methods, there is a lack of racially diverse and female role models evident in the curriculum. With STESCA’s standardized science test scores …

Improving Scientific Literacy Through Reading Strategies: An Action Research Study, Myra L. Finneran

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative action research study is to examine a Scientific Reading Intervention Model (SRIM) with students enrolled in Honors Chemistry at a private high school in South Carolina. Students were given a pre-test prior to the intervention. The research took place over a six-week period in the spring of 2017. A teacher-participant worked with the researcher-participant to implement the intervention that consisted of three reading activities—pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading. These three activities were designed to enable the low-level science readers to better comprehend their chemistry texts by activating prior knowledge with an anticipation guide, identifying key concepts …

Identifying And Encouraging Math In Children's Out-Of-School Activities In The Rural Lowcountry Of South Carolina, Sherry Carillon Hyatt

Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that children of different backgrounds and cultures learn and perform differently in mathematics despite similar intelligence levels and mathematics instruction (Alvarez & Bali, 2004). Ethnomathematics strives to explore and explain such phenomena in terms of the complex role culture plays in one's background experiences and perceptions that influence cognition and how school is experienced (Ascher, 1991; Barton, 1996; Bishop, 1994; D'Ambrosio, 1994). The importance of recognizing and utilizing the mathematical concepts imbedded in students' everyday activities is stressed in the field of ethnomathematics (Ascher, 1991; Bishop, 1994; Presmeg, 1998). In order to relate students' out-of-school experiences to content …