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Full-Text Articles in Education
Teaching Place-Based Science In Kindergarten, Lucy Atkins
Teaching Place-Based Science In Kindergarten, Lucy Atkins
Capstones, Research Projects, and Curricula
This action research explores how kindergarten students learn about forces and motion through inquiry-based, place-based methods. The learning took place as part of an existing day spent learning outdoors, known as Forest Monday, that includes extended time for free play. The three sub-questions addressed 1) science content learning, 2) science practice application, and 3) the incorporation of science content and practices into free play time outdoors. It was a mixed-methods study, with science assessment data supporting observations and interviews. The participants were 12 kindergarten students in a rural elementary school. All students were assessed and interviewed but observations were focused …
Impact Of Literacy On Student Readiness In Math And Science Classroom, Mackenzie Alexandra Rittner
Impact Of Literacy On Student Readiness In Math And Science Classroom, Mackenzie Alexandra Rittner
Honors Projects
Lack of literacy, specifically disciplinary literacy, is an epidemic in education today. Here, I will illustrate how this problem presents itself in our student’s reading every day in every class. Within a literature review, many accounts are detailed about the impact literacy has on a student’s educational career. From the outset, literacy is a key factor in a student’s success in school. A research study was conducted that asked students to give varied definitions of the word ‘volume’ based on prior experience. These results showed that direct instruction in how a word can change based on its context had an …
Action Research: Using Engaging Vocabulary Instruction In A Science Classroom, Madison Pittman
Action Research: Using Engaging Vocabulary Instruction In A Science Classroom, Madison Pittman
Honors Projects
The focus of this study is to look at vocabulary instruction and how certain techniques affect student learning. This paper evaluates the work that has already been completed within this field of study of vocabulary instruction, focusing on its impact on students and educators. This paper also provides the phases of an action research project focusing on students using interactive activities for implementing vocabulary instruction into a fourth grade math and science classroom. The data collected from this study determined vocabulary instruction improved the students’ final test scores at the end of the unit in my classroom.
Teacher Interventions Used To Reduce Test Anxiety: Does Free-Writing Before A Test Help Reduce Anxiety?, Kimberly E. Lentz
Teacher Interventions Used To Reduce Test Anxiety: Does Free-Writing Before A Test Help Reduce Anxiety?, Kimberly E. Lentz
Honors Projects
The focus of this study is to look at how common testing anxiety is among students and how teachers can work with their students to reduce this anxiety. The study examines and discusses past research to see what causes test anxiety and what methods have been effective in the past in reducing this anxiety. Then, based on past research, a similar study is completed in my high school honors geometry classroom to determine whether the suggestions given by past researchers will decrease reported test anxiety in my students.
An Investigation Into The Accessibility Of Ap Calculus, Brian Austin Dodge
An Investigation Into The Accessibility Of Ap Calculus, Brian Austin Dodge
Capstones, Research Projects, and Curricula
This is a mixed methods ethnographic study conducted to determine what obstacles students face when approaching AP Calculus. I focused my study on home economics, peer pressure, ELL status and home support. Overall, I found that being a student who is ELL (hereafter defined as a student who was or currently is required to take ACCESS testing) had the most negative effect of the previously listed factors. Home economics and peer pressure were inconclusive or often had no effect. Finally, having a supportive home life in the form of parents who value education, encourage goal-setting, and set high expectations had …
Using Relevance To Inspire Engagement In Disengaged Secondary Mathematics Students, Cherie Lynn Burkett
Using Relevance To Inspire Engagement In Disengaged Secondary Mathematics Students, Cherie Lynn Burkett
MSU Graduate Theses
With the advances being made in technology, our nation is in dire need of a work force degreed with mathematics and science. In the past few decades, the United States has seen a decline in the proportion of college graduates who majored in mathematics-intensive subjects. If our demand is high, why is our supply decreasing? Research suggests that traditional teaching methods using skills-based curricula make it difficult for students to take an interest in a confusing topic like mathematics in which they see no immediate relevance. I have spent a semester engaged in action research taking steps to increase student …
Isn’T Citizen Science A Hoot? A Case-Study Exploring The Effectiveness Of Citizen Science As An Instrument To Teach The Nature Of Science Through A Local Nocturnal Owl-Monitoring Project, Tess Marie Kreofsky
Isn’T Citizen Science A Hoot? A Case-Study Exploring The Effectiveness Of Citizen Science As An Instrument To Teach The Nature Of Science Through A Local Nocturnal Owl-Monitoring Project, Tess Marie Kreofsky
Dissertations and Theses
Citizen science projects present a distinctive opportunity for professional and volunteer scientists to coordinate their efforts to gather unique sets of data that can benefit the scientific and local communities. These projects are assumed to be an effective educational tool to teach nature of science (NOS) to participants (Brossard, Lewenstein, Bonney, 2005). This case study evaluates the effectiveness of participation in a citizen science project as a way to learn about NOS. Through enhancement of the Tryon Creek Owl Monitoring Project the researcher reviewed the characteristics of a citizen science project that were thought to be necessary to impact the …
It's All About The Teachers: Bank Street's Math For Teachers As Professional Development, Robin Hummel
It's All About The Teachers: Bank Street's Math For Teachers As Professional Development, Robin Hummel
Graduate Student Independent Studies
This work describes a professional development initiative that was based on the graduate course, Mathematics for Teachers in Diverse and Inclusive Educational Settings (K-6), taught by Linda Metnetsky at Bank Street College of Education. The author wrote and implemented this professional development initiative for teachers in her former district: a large, middle class, suburban school district outside of Philadelphia. It consisted of six full day sessions, held from October through April during the 2004-05 school year. Eleven teachers from third, fourth, and fifth grades participated, and the impact of this professional development on two participants is the focus of this …
The Main Challenges That A Teacher-In-Transition Faces When Teaching A High School Geometry Class, Greg Brough Henry
The Main Challenges That A Teacher-In-Transition Faces When Teaching A High School Geometry Class, Greg Brough Henry
Theses and Dissertations
During a semester-long action research study, the author attempted to implement a standards-based approach to teaching mathematics in a high school geometry class. Having previously taught according to a more traditional manner, there were many challenges involved as he made this transition. Some of the challenges were related to Geometry and others were related to the standards-based approach in general. The main challenges that the author encountered are identified and discussed. A plan of action for possible solutions to these challenges is then described.
What Teachers Want To Know: A Systematic Review Of Action Research Theses Related To K-8 Mathematics And Science, Bridget Steele
What Teachers Want To Know: A Systematic Review Of Action Research Theses Related To K-8 Mathematics And Science, Bridget Steele
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The research conducted was a systemic review of 88 action research masters theses from a teacher enhancement program for K-8 mathematics and science at the University of Central Florida and the teachers that performed the studies. The purpose of this study is to synthesize existing research results of a collection of master's theses from a teacher enhancement program for K-8 mathematics and science teachers in order to arrive at meaningful conclusions regarding teachers' research interests and classroom practices. Also, the study will help teacher educators who deliver the teacher enhancement program to improve the effectiveness of the program. A summary …
Effects Of A Mathematics Curriculum Rich In Spatial Reasoning Activities On Fifth Grade Students' Abilities To Spatially Reason: An Action Research Project, Theresa Varn
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to describe the effect of a curriculum rich in spatial reasoning activities and experiences on the ability of my fifth grade students to spatially reason. The study was conducted to examine 1) the effects of my practice of incorporating spatial reasoning lessons and activities in my fifth-grade mathematics classroom on the students' ability to spatially reason and 2) the effects of my practice of incorporating spatial reasoning lessons and activities on my students' ability to problem solve. Data were collected over a ten-week period through the use of student interviews, anecdotal records, photos of …
An Action Research Study Involving Fifth-Grade Students Learning Fractions Through A Situative Perspective With Story Problems, Colleen Allen
An Action Research Study Involving Fifth-Grade Students Learning Fractions Through A Situative Perspective With Story Problems, Colleen Allen
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this action research study was to investigate the affects of teaching through a situative perspective with story problems on students' understanding of fraction concepts and operations in my fifth-grade mathematics classroom. Students participated in twelve weeks of instruction. Data was collected in the form of pre and post tests, audiotaped and videotaped recordings of instructional sessions, and student work samples. Data analysis revealed that my students constructed their own knowledge about various fraction concepts and operations because students engaged in discussions, after solving story problems, that developed, extended and restructured their knowledge. One example of this occurred …
Effects Of Integrating Writing Activities On Students' Attitudes And Achievement In Problem Solving: An Action Research Study, Kelly Culbert
Effects Of Integrating Writing Activities On Students' Attitudes And Achievement In Problem Solving: An Action Research Study, Kelly Culbert
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This action research study investigated my practice of using writing activities in the mathematics classroom. The study was conducted to determine the effect of integrating writing with mathematics on students' achievement in, and attitudes towards problem solving, and the relationship between students' attitudes and their achievement in problem solving. The study was conducted over a six-week period. Students participated in daily problem solving activities. Data were collected using a problem solving themed writing rubric for evaluating student journal responses, anecdotal records, and using a pre- and posttest problem solving attitude inventory. In this study, students demonstrated overall increased mathematical knowledge, …
Coherence Properties Of Optical Near-Fields, Debbie Arthur
Coherence Properties Of Optical Near-Fields, Debbie Arthur
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The National Science Education Standards (1996) support inquiry-based instruction. According to the National Science Education Standards. When children or scientists inquire into the natural world they: ask questions, plan investigations and collect relevant data, and organize and analyze collected data. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inquiry-based instruction on third-grade students' attitudes and participation in an elementary science classroom. Students were encouraged to ask and answer their own questions. In this study, analysis of data gathered form: pre and post survey, student journals, teacher field notes, and student interviews were triangulated to provide the support …