Education Commons^™

Audio-Assisted Reading With Digital Audiobooks For Upper Elementary Students With Reading Disabilities, Kelli J. Esteves

Dissertations

Audio-assisted reading has been used as an effective instructional intervention for students with learning disabilities (Carbo, 1978; Gilbert, Williams, & McLaughlin, 1996) and with struggling readers (Chomsky, 1976; Hollingsworth, 1978; Hoskisson & Krohm, 1974; Koskinen, Blum, Bisson, Phillips, Creamer, & Baker, 2000; Rasinski, 1990). The strategy involves reading along while listening to an audio recording of a fluent model (Evans, 1997).

The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of audio-assisted reading with digital audiobooks against the traditional practice of sustained silent reading in terms of reading fluency rates and reading attitude scores with upper elementary students with …

Vygotsky’S Theory Of The Creative Imagination: A Study Of The Influences On Preservice Teachers’ Creative Thinking Capacities, Stephen J. Worst

Dissertations

This study investigated the effect of formal instruction in the use of creative thinking skills on preservice teachers' capacities for increased creative activity. It emerged from Vygotsky's theory of the creative imagination. Emphasizing the impact of formal schooling on the growth of creative activity, he implied that individuals who are continually adding to accumulation of knowledge develop an abundant imagination from which creativity flows.

This quantitative study used a quasi-experimental design and attempted to test Vygotsky's assumptions within a sample population of 113 preservice teachers. Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking served as the pre- and post-tests that measured the creative …

Integrating The Wasl Into The High School Algebra Curriculum, Kent Stafford Pearsons

All Graduate Projects

Most Algebra courses in Washington are supplemented with Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) material. However, in the last two years, little more than half of Washington sophomores passed the math portion of the WASL; for about half of tenth graders the extra worksheets did little to no good. Students need relevant WASL material that correlates with the current math they are studying. In this manner, even though questions may be phrased differently, the material is familiar and so answering questions are more possible. Also, since new worksheets have multiple choice, teachers can discuss how most wisely to answer this …

Building Quality And Capacity In Rural Areas, Nedra Atwell, Janice Ferguson, Judy Pierce

Kentucky Teacher Educator

This article will provide readers an overview of the program Western Kentucky University is using to promote quality training and promote professionalism in special education teachers. This program incorporates collaboration with local school districts, a cohort approach, field-based practitioners, online delivery of a research-based curriculum and demonstrated pedagogical knowledge with practical skills relevant to the targeted student population. The intent is to meet the demand for highly qualified special education teachers, not merely to decrease the shortage of teachers.

The La Aurora: New Beginnings Project Final Evaluation Summary, Steven Rogg

Steven R Rogg

Citation: Rogg, S. (November, 2007). The La Aurora: New Beginnings Project – Final Evaluation Summary. U.S. Department of Education. Office of English Language Acquisition. Bilingual Education Professional Development Career Ladder Program (CFDA #84.195E, grant #T195E010024). Submitted to: Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois.

Background: A discretionary grant of $1.1M from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Language Acquisition was awarded to Aurora University to execute a five-year Career Ladder Program with a start date of 1-September, 2001 and completion date of 31-August, 2006.1 The stated intent of the Career Ladder Program is summarized here: “The program provided discretionary grants to upgrade …

Reading Beyond The Lines, Sultana Ali Norozi

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Tune-Up In Math: A Journey To Reduce Test Anxiety, Leza Madsen, Ping-Tung Chang Professor

Leza Madsen

This paper focuses upon small group learning in mathematics and methods of overcoming classroom challenges like math anxiety and unmotivated learners. Re-testing shifts the emphasis from punitive measurement of points to an indicator of strengths and weaknesses of the students. There is also an emphasis on the practical application of the Zojonc Module dealing with the optimal division of labor and Polya’s problem -solving heuristics. Utilizing small group settings and retesting are two methods of helping learners overcome classroom challenges and their own math anxiety. This paper is intended to present methods to be used with adult learners or continuing …

Tune-Up In Math: A Journey To Reduce Test Anxiety, Leza Madsen, Ping-Tung Chang Professor

Western Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Inside Story Of A Global Research Project: Lifelong Learning And Higher Education, John A. Henschke Edd

IACE Hall of Fame Repository

This paper focuses on a process for helping a traditional higher education institution make a shift toward an orientation of lifelong learning. The sections provided are: Background of the relationship between University of Missouri and University of Western Cape; the international bridge building conferences; characteristic elements and measurable performance indicators; culture - development of new directions and related questions; impetus for the project; difficulties of bringing together the thinking from many countries; confusion that emerged, understanding communications, tensions and how they originated; differences throughout; fulfilling and contradicting expectations; comparing national and international networks; values and disappointments in international work; mosaic-stone …

Models Of Interdisciplinary Research And Service Learning At Hope College, Aaron A. Best, Matthew Dejongh, Amanda J. Barton, Jeff R. Brown, Christopher C. Barney

Publications

"Children love to explore the world around them. In doing so they are not aware of disciplinary boundaries or even of disciplines. They move freely from watching ants (biology) to building structures (engineering) to counting rocks (mathematics and geology) to seeing what things dissolve in water (chemistry). Only as they go to school do they learn that humans divide up the way we learn about the universe and start to think within disciplinary boundaries. In doing so, those children, who are now us, lose the ability to think broadly and use the insights of various ways of thinking to solve …

Evaluation Of An Adult Education Technology Program, Iwasan D. Kejawa Ed.D

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adult education technology program at a chartered alternative adult education center in Florida. The adult education center had a low rate of students passing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This study examined the impact of the use of computer technology in an effort to improve student learning in mathematics, reading, and science. Computers at the institution were used by all students for tutorials to prepare them for the FCAT and to obtain a high school diploma. The research questions for this study were as follows: 1. Is the education technology …

College Students’ Perceptions Of Their "Best" And "Worst" Courses And Instructors, Debra S. Emmelman, Michael Decesare

Sociology Faculty Publications

This paper presents results from a content analysis of college students' descriptions of their "best" and " worst " courses and instructors. We were interested primarily in two issues: how college students evaluate their courses , and the extent to which they emphasize various dimensions in their evaluations. We found that students evaluated their course experiences along seven interrelated dimensions: factors external to the course, level of tedium, classroom activities, classroom atmosphere, instructor's comportment, workload/assignments/grading issues, and acquisition of knowledge and skills. These dimensions were emphasized to different degrees and tended to vary in oppositional manners according to the type …

Two Educator Perspectives On Legal Research Methods, Ellen Boegel, Marissa Moran

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Breaking The Math Barrier, Bilqees Patel

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Functional Diversity Training, Using The Mbti Instrument, On Workgroup Performance, Dale S. Sugerman

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Little empirical research has focused on the personality and behavioral differences of individuals assigned to work together in workgroups. This study found that providing functional diversity training to a workgroup, using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator' (MBTI), positively impacted workgroup performance when compared with the workgroup performance of those who did not receive the same training.

Over the last few decades, organizations have shown great interest in the concept of using teams in the workplace. Employees who work side-by-side in the same unit are routinely referred to as being part of a team. Often, organizations put groups of individuals together in …

Presenting Science And Engineering Careers In A Unique And Appealing Way., Nihad E. Daidzic, Vojin R. Nikolic

Aviation Department Publications

An original summer camp activity in the areas of aerospace/aeronautical engineering and aviation has been developed. A pilot version of the program was completed successfully in June 2007 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The main objective of the program was to increase the awareness and interest among high school students for science and engineering careers. Through a series of short lectures and extensive hands-on demonstrations the attending students have been familiarized with the fundamental concepts and relationships of science and engineering in general, and of aerospace engineering and aviation, in particular. Two major team projects have been completed and tested. …

Leadership In The Classroom: Closing The Achievement Gap Through Motivation, Janis Estrella

Honors College Theses

Implementing motivation strategies in elementary urban public schools can be challenging because of contextual factors such as socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, culture, physical and emotional health, and prior learning experiences. This thesis focuses on 1) how urban public school teachers can effectively motivate their students in spite of these factors, and 2)whether their motivation efforts really influence students' desire to achieve. Interview protocols and a survey instrument will be probed, and data will be collected from New York City public school teachers and from their general education elementary school students. The results of the study can be used to customize motivational …

Differentiating Art Curriculum For Students With Learning And Emotional Disabilities, Susan Ackerman

MALS Final Projects, 1995-2019

Participation in the visual arts should be a pleasurable, vital learning experience for students with special needs. Art teachers without formal training are challenged by differentiating curricula for these special education students due to current teacher certification requirements. Art teachers of special education students strive to provide the most creative atmosphere possible while struggling to balance the demands of behavior management these children require. To understand this dilemma, this paper begins with an exploration of disability's integration into our education system and the impact of federal legislation on society's desire to teach everyone equally. It presents theories of creativity that …

Cognitive Retention Of Generation Y Students Through The Use Of Games And Simulations, Melanie A. Hicks

Faculty Dissertations

A new generation of students has begun to proliferate colleges and universities. Unlike previous generations, Generation Y students have been exposed to a variety of technological advancements, have different behaviors towards learning, and have been raised in a different environment. These differences may be causing conflict with traditional pedagogy in educational institutions, thereby creating, while it may be unintentional, an inability for Generation Y students to learn under the standard educational method of lecture presented to previous generations. The literature supports the position that additional teaching methods are needed in order to effectively educate Generation Y students (Prensky, 2001; Brozik …

An Investigation Of Successful And Unsuccessful Students’ Problem Solving In Stoichiometry, Ozcan Gulacar

Dissertations

In this study, I investigated how successful and unsuccessful students solve stoichiometry problems. I focus on three research questions: (1) To what extent do the difficulties in solving stoichiometry problems stem from poor understanding of pieces (domain-specific knowledge) versus students' inability to link those pieces together (conceptual knowledge)? (2) What are the differences between successful and unsuccessful students in knowledge, ability, and practice? (3) Is there a connection between students' (a) cognitive development levels, (b) formal (proportional) reasoning abilities, (c) working memory capacities, (d) conceptual understanding of particle nature of matter, (e) understanding of the mole concept, and their problem-solving …

Recycle Please: Teach Your School To Recycle, To Care, And To Help Solve The Climate Crisis, Ted Wells

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This Independent Study offers one developmentally-appropriate way in which the elementary school teacher can help alleviate the current global warming crisis by leading students to organize a school-wide recycling program carried out in the spirit of service learning. The reader will learn that this recycling work is two-pronged: the physical labor of recycling and the educational outreach to the school community through marketing, using posters, assemblies, videos, and more. A philosophy of education underlying this work is described in detail, as is the journey of the author in discovering this pedagogy that includes tapping into a personal environmental activism for …

A Poetry Unit For Middle School Students, Dana Louise Longmire

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review the available research on using poetry as a method for teaching literary terms, enhancing comprehension, and developing creative writing skills. The results of the research show that there is a need for poetry instruction and that including this instruction in the middle school provides remarkable benefits for students. Poetry is suitable for the varying levels of ability found within the classroom. The project includes a guide providing teachers with activities to implement a poetry unit.

Phonemic Awareness: The Nature And Role In Reading Acquisition, Toni Michelle Paganelli

All Graduate Projects

Phonemic awareness and its link to reading are a current topic in education. Research has shown that the two are interrelated and those students lacking in phonemic awareness are at a higher risk for reading failure. The terms phonemic awareness and phonics tend to be used simultaneously, but phonemic awareness is not the same as phonics. Children can naturally acquire phonemic awareness through their environment. However, children who are lacking phonemic awareness can be taught using many different methods and materials in the classroom. Within phonemic awareness there are many different skills. These skills can be tested using commercially produced …

A Guidebook Of Resources And Interactive Literacy Activities For Use By Parents With Primary Students, Cheryl Ann Youngblood

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a home Literacy Guidebook to increase children's reading and writing skills. By encouraging parental support at home through the use of children's literature and relevant activities, the lessons are intended to make learning fun and meaningful for children and their parents. Research reviewed supported the significance of the parents' role in literacy development at home and at school. Parents who read to their children and practice related activities contribute to their children's success in school. The guidebook includes children's literature selections, book lists for future readings, step-by-step instructions to guide parents through …

Expansion Of Experiential Learning Opportunities Through Medication Reconciliation Participation, Jane M. Gervasio, Julie M. Koehler, Kevin M. Tuohy, Julie L. Williams, Mary H. Andritz

Scholarship and Professional Work – COPHS

Abstract from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, July 12-18, 2007.

Understanding The Parents V. Seattle Decision And Its Effects On Arkansas Schools, Sarah C. Mckenzie, Gary W. Ritter

Policy Briefs

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 28th that school districts may no longer use a student’s race as a deciding factor for school assignment, as a way of attempting to maintain or achieve integration. This decision came in response to a court case in which it was found that two school districts, Seattle and Jefferson County, KY, violated the 14 th Amendment, due to the fact that they were using race as a deciding factor to achieve diversity in individual schools. Schools in Jefferson County, which include the city of Louisville, were operating under a plan that was adopted …

Proctored Vs. Un-Proctored Exams In A Hybrid Course: A Brief Comparison Of Student Results, Kimberly Hollister

Department of Information Management and Business Analytics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The research aims to examine whether there is a difference in undergraduate student performance on skill-based exams in an introductory computer literacy course at a state comprehensive university when exams are administered in-class vs. online. Two samples, each consisting of approximately 107 students, are considered for this study. A comparison of exam scores will be used to identify differences in exam performance between the two groups.

A Comparison Of Anonymous Versus Identifiable E-Peer Review On College Student Writing Performance And The Extent Of Critical Feedback, Ruiling Lu, Linda Bol

Educational Foundations & Leadership Faculty Publications

Peer review has become commonplace in composition courses and is increasingly employed in the context of telecommunication technology. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the effects of anonymous and identifiable electronic peer (e-peer) review on college student writing performance and the extent of critical peer feedback. Participants were 92 undergraduate freshmen in four English composition classes enrolled in the fall semesters of 2003 and 2004. The same instructor taught all four classes, and in each semester, one class was assigned to the anonymous e-peer review group and the other to the identifiable e-peer review group. All other elements—course …

Problem-Based Versus Conventional Curricula: Influence On Knowledge And Attitudes Of Medical Students Towards Health Research, Hassan Khan, Ather M. Taqui, Muhammad Rizwanulhaq Khawaja, Zafar Fatmi

Community Health Sciences

Background

Medical education curricula in developing countries should emphasize training in health research. This study compares the knowledge and attitudes towards health research between undergraduate medical students undertaking Problem Based Learning (PBL) versus conventional Lecture Based Learning (LBL).

Methods

Two groups comprising 66 (LBL) and 84 (PBL) 4th and 5th year students from the medical college of Aga Khan University were administered a structured and validated questionnaire. Knowledge and attitudes of the two groups were recorded on a scale (graduated in percentages) and compared for statistical difference.

Results

PBL students scored 54.0% while LBL students scored 55.5% on the knowledge …

The Effects Of The Fast Start Program On The Reading Achievement Of Emergent And Beginning Readers: A Replication And Extension, Pamela R. Mears

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study replicated the Stevenson (2001) study to determine the effectiveness of the Fast Start parent tutoring program on student success in reading achievement. The current study attempted to enlarge the original study's sample size, include kindergarten students in the program, and determine the optimal length of training time for parents needed. Additionally, data gathered from the parent participants were analyzed including parent's perceptions of the program, their confidence level in tutoring their child, and the parents' level of mastery of the concepts of tutoring before working with their child. At the beginning of the school year, 36 kindergarten parent-student …