Education Commons^™

Toward Student-Led Reading Discussion In The Classroom: A Teacher’S Journey With Reader Response, Judy Davis

MA TESOL Collection

This paper traces an ESL teacher’s learning curve with student-based reading discussion, both teacher-guided and student-led. It comments on her pre-teaching experience with formalist and reader response theory as a reader, student, writer, editor, and then as teacher experimenting with student-led discussion in three consecutive terms. Special attention is given to the strategies that were used to build a reading community and to facilitate the release of students’ voices in the reading discussions. The taped, transcribed discussions are summarized for their intellectual content and examined to assess the social and linguistic benefits to the students. Also evaluated are the uses …

Test-Retest Reliability Of Individual Student Acquisition And Retention Rates As Measured By Instructional Assessment, Matthew K. Burns

Dissertations

Statement of the problem. Research on Instructional Assessment is in its infancy. To date, no studies regarding its psychometric properties have been published, but the need for using technically sound assessment methods is prominent in education. Therefore, demonstrated technical adequacy is crucial. The lack of psychometric data for Instructional Assessment is especially noteworthy since it is one of the few educational assessment techniques that includes assessment of performance and cognitive learning theory, both of which have been linked to improved student achievement.

Method. Ninety-six students from Grades 1, 3, and 5 were individually taught a series ofwords from …

Technology Partnership Curriculum Initiative: A Descriptive Case Study Of Its History, Development, And Implementation, Ingrid Wright-Jones

Dissertations

Problem

Curricular reform has a pathetic history. Curriculum documents, some of the major tools of reformers, have had a minor effect on transforming education because the power of pedagogy has been ignored (Cuban, 1993). Teachers in the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) system voiced similar concerns about curriculum documents. Additionally, they felt that their 2-4-day in-service training did not adequately prepare them to implement curricular changes. This initiative, aimed at restructuring both the content and process of teaching, was to be implemented in a distance-learning pilot project in eight one-teacher schools.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to: (1) define the …

An Evaluation Of Digital Chisel 3.0 As A Multimedia Authoring Tool In A Year Seven Classroom, Robert Richardson

Theses : Honours

Most commercial interactive multimedia authoring packages are designed to be used by teachers and trainers to build commercial training or classroom teaching applications (Handler, Dana, Peters & Moor, 1995; Magel, 1997). The evolution of interactive multimedia technologies however, has made it possible for students to become actively involved in creating their own interactive multimedia projects, and in so doing, gain considerable learning benefit (Lehrer 1993). Facilitating this in the classroom and particularly at the Year Seven level, requires the use of a cost-effective, purpose-built authoring tool. Digital Chisel 3.0 (DC3), was developed by Pierian Spring Software (1997), as just such …

How Do Family Members Perceive, Understand And Explain The Experience Of Homework? : A Case Study Of Four Families, Cathryn Voak

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine family member perceptions and experiences of homework. More broadly, it seeks to illuminate the nature and social function of homework practices in families and in so doing, highlights the complex relationship between schools and family life. The study involved four families and their experiences of homework. The families were selected on the basis that the parents came from a range of socio-economic backgrounds which may impact upon their children's attitudes and experiences of homework and schooling. The approach adopted to investigate this phenomenon is that of case study. Specifically, this case …

Stories Of School : Perspectives Of The Low Literate Adult, Anne Shipway

Theses : Honours

This thesis explores the school experiences of low literate adults through their perspective recognising that the 'voice' of the low literate adult is absent from the arena of adult literacy research. Stories are co-constructed by the participant and the researcher with particular emphasis on mai1uaining the voice of the research participant. Through this thesis I argue that the inclusion of the low literate adults perspective is an essential element in gaining a deeper understanding of themes and issues which impact on literacy attainment.

A Caregiver's Perceptions And Practices In Relation To Her Speech To An Under 2-Year-Old Age Group In A Childcare Centre, Irene Wong

Theses : Honours

The objective of this study was to investigate what a caregiver sees as her role in relation to young children's oral language development. This study examines her perceptions and beliefs, as well as the various activities that she thinks facilitates language development with under 2-year-old children. The main focus of the study is her language interactions with the children while they took part in three activities. The investigation involved qualitative case study research to collect the oral language interactions between the caregiver and the young children and the activities she provides. The features of the caregiver's speech to young children …

Essential Programs And Services: Equity And Adequacy In Funding To Improve Learning For All Children, Maine State Board Of Education

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

This report has been prepared at the request of the Maine State Legislature. It is an attempt to define and quantify the resources that are necessary for each child in Maine to meet the standards set by the Learning Results. The recommendations provide an adequate and equitable amount of resources. The committee has defined "essential programs" to be the eight content areas of the Learning Results. The essential services are all those resources that would be required for each child to meet the standards.

The services deemed necessary for all students to achieve the Learning Results standards are categorized as …

Grade Equivalents: Accuracy And Certainty Of Interpretations Among Parents, Teachers, And School Psychologists, Eric R. Smith

Masters Theses

Scores on standardized tests (e.g., Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III, Wechsler Individual Achievement Test) can be represented by a number of different metrics. One of the ways scores can be represented is with grade equivalents, which tend to be popular with parents and teachers because they seem to be fairly easy to understand. However, several researchers have claimed that grade equivalents are often misinterpreted. Standard scores are viewed by many researchers as the superior type of derived score. However, standardized scores can be difficult to understand, particularly for individuals with little or no training …

Student And Teacher Perceptions Of A Season Of Sport Education In A Regional Primary School, J. G. Strikwerda-Brown

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

An interpretive case study approach was employed to examine student and teacher perceptions of the implementation of a sport education in physical education program (SEPEP) in a Western Australian regional primary school. Choi’s (1992) curriculum dimensions were used as a framework. Three year seven teachers implemented SEPEP using a team teaching approach. The focus teacher, Ms Jenson, a highly regarded classroom teacher, described herself as non-sporty and lacking confidence and expertise in PE teaching. Students in her SEPEP volleyball class were considered less popular and less athletic when compared with those in the other two SEPEP classes. A focus volleyball …

The Measurement Of Classroom Music Learning Using An Outcomes Framework In Western Australian Schools, Beverley J. Pascoe

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study addresses the problem of a lack of reliable and systematic methodology for evaluating progress in classroom music, using an outcomes framework, in primary and secondary schools in Western Australia. An innovative range of assessment tasks was developed for use at system, school or classroom level in order to develop a Music Achievement Scale, so that in the future, meaningful reporting of student outcomes in music, in relation to The Arts Student Outcome Statements (Education Department of Western Australia, 1996), can occur. Music tasks were tested with a representative sample of 2191 government primary school students from Years 3 …

Notions Of Justice Through Drama, Elvira Sammut

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This paper explores and describes the lived-experience of a group of 16-year-old girls in a drama class designed to heighten awareness of values of social justice. The students involved are experienced drama students, with a good knowledge of the theory of role-play and play-making, as well as, sound dramatic skills and techniques. The lived-experience provided the source for the research study that used film as a medium to inculcate notions of justice and equity in the classroom through self-devised drama. Phenomenological research was conducted with a group of seventeen Year II drama students. The students took part in a series …

The Qcs Test Companion : Discover Your Test-Taking Type And Take Control Of Your Learning, Gabrielle Matters

Dr Gabrielle Matters

No abstract provided.

The Psychometrics Of Longitudinal Measurements, Siek Khoo

Dr Siek Toon Khoo

No abstract provided.

Student Participation In Mathematics Courses In Australian Secondary Schools, John Ainley, Peter Daly

Dr John Ainley

Participation in advanced levels of mathematics in secondary school is ofinterest to those involved in educational policy and practice as well as those involved in research. This paper uses multilevel analyses (including a trichotomous outcome variable) of longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of Australian schools to investigate the influence of a number of factors on participation in mathematics (advanced, general, or none) in the final year of secondary school. The results suggest that the major influences on mathematics participation are gender and prior mathematics achievement. Both influences are substantial and independent of each other. Building a strong foundation …

Assessment And Reporting Of Student Achievement For Students With Specific Educational Needs Against Literacy And Numeracy Benchmarks, S Zammit, Marion Meiers, T Frigo

Marion Meiers

This report provides key information on assessment and reporting of literacy and numeracy achievement. The study indicates the critical issues for stakeholders in relation to the assessment and reporting of performance outcomes of students with specific educational needs against literacy and numeracy benchmarks. It underlines the importance of accurately assessing and reporting the performance of students with special needs so that their specific needs are not overlooked.

Can We Tell The Difference And Does It Matter? Differences In Achievement Between Girls And Boys In Australian Senior Secondary Education, Gabrielle Matters, Reg Allen, Ken Gray

Dr Gabrielle Matters

The nature and interpretation of differences between the achievements of females and males in senior secondary school studies in Australia, and the implications for policy and practice of these perceived differences, are showing signs of change. The way-s in which these issues are discussed publicly across Australia are reviewed and then matched against indications that have emerged from data in one state (Queensland) and from other, published studies. This analysis suggests that there are important notions of gendered achievement that may not be receiving due consideration by those who formulate policy or analyse practice.

Country Note: Japan: Report To The Japanese Government And The Oecd Arising From The Transition Review Visit, October 1998, Phil Mckenzie, David Raffe, Arvo Jappinen, Chon Sun Ihm

Dr Phillip McKenzie

No abstract provided.

Numeracy Gets A Guernsey Alongside Literacy, Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

This article discusses a proposed followup to the International Adult Literacy Survey called the International Life Skills Survey. This will assess performance in four skills domains - prose literacy, document literacy, numeracy and problem solving - and make behavioural reports in teamwork, practical cognition, and information and communication technology. This article looks at the numeracy aspects.

Socioeconomic Inequalities In Health-Related Behaviours: The Case Of Adult Australians' Leisure Time Physical Activity Levels, Julie Mcmillan

Julie McMillan

No abstract provided.

English Teaching In Australia, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers

In Australia, the Commonwealth and State governments play different roles in education, each of the Education Departments and Ministries of the various States and Territories having its own government school system. This chapter discusses state and national initiatives.

Gender Differences In Economics Education - Fact Or Artefact, Petra Lietz, Dieter Kotte

Dr Petra Lietz

No abstract provided.

Digital Professional Portfolios For Change, Elizabeth Hartnell-Young, M Morriss

Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young

Whether you are an administrator or a teacher, this book provides you with the conceptual framework and tools needed to effectively utilise the potential of digital portfolios. As CD-ROM and internet technology become more accessible, teachers are in a unique position to use multimedia to describe their experiences and reflect on their growth and professional development. This book shows how to construct a portfolio in the traditional sense and demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of digital interactivity

Final Report: Comparisons: Australia's Revised Draft Year 3 And Year 5 Numeracy Benchmarks And International Standards, Gayl O'Connor, Brian Doig, John Lindsey, Catherine Pern, Jan Lokan

Gayl O'Connor

No abstract provided.

Empowering Classroom Teachers For The 21st Century: Meeting The Challenge Of Advancing Children's Mathematical Development, Catherine Pearn

Catherine Pearn

In this paper, the specific concerns for literacy and numeracy as we enter a new era are addressed through a discussion of an innovative mathematics early intervention program, which the author and classroom teachers have developed and applied. 'Mathematics Intervention' is an innovative program developed by three classroom teachers to identify, then assist, children in year 1 'at risk' of not coping with the current mathematics curriculum. The program incorporates assessment tools and learning activities based on recent research about children's early numerical learning. It develops the basic concepts of number upon which children build their understanding of mathematics. All …

The Importance Of Efficient Strategies In Developing Numeracy In The Early Years, Catherine Pearn

Catherine Pearn

A mathematics intervention program has been established at Elm Primary School for children at risk of not succeeding with Grade 1 mathematics. The program is based on current research that shows that children become numerate by progressing through five counting stages. The development and results of clinical interviews used for testing are discussed along with strategies that have been used to assist children overcome common difficulties identified by the testing. The importance for classroom teachers to be able to identify each child's strategies and thus their counting stage is stressed as a starting point for numeracy teaching in early years. …

Presenting A Point Of View : Approaches To A Written Argument, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers

No abstract provided.

Assessing Principals' Interpersonal Behaviour With Their Teachers, John Cresswell, D Fisher

Dr John Cresswell

In the past 25 years much attention has been given to the development and use of instruments to assess the qualities of the classroom and school environment from the perspectives of students and teachers. This paper describes the development, validation and application of an instrument, the Principal Interaction Questionnaire, to measure principals' interpersonal behaviour in a school. The new instrument was based on the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction, first devised in The Netherlands. It contains eight scales to measure various aspects of a principal's interpersonal behaviour such as Directive behaviour, Strict/Inflexible behaviour and Understanding behaviour. The questionnaire was sent to …

America Reads Challenge, Catherine Rosemary, L. Lindemann

Catherine A. Rosemary

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of School Factors, John Ainley, Phil Mckenzie

Dr Phillip McKenzie

No abstract provided.