Education Commons^™

Effects Of On-Site Reading Clinical Tutoring On Children's Performance, Abha Gupta

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This research was conducted to study the effects of field-based clinical tutoring on struggling readers. Struggling readers from two grade levels, 3rd and 5th were randomly divided into two groups. One group received individualized tutoring in reading for a semester from apprentice reading clinicians (graduate students in Reading Program) and the other group did not. There were 13 sessions of one hour each per week. The reading performance of students in the two groups was compared on the two available measures in the school, (1) letter grade and (2) STAR results (a computerized diagnostic reading assessment program). Observational and anecdotal …

Instructional Technology Experiences Of Student Teachers: A Case Study Of Participants In The Stat Internship Program, Lee B. Vartanian

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

The internship experience is an important link between preservice training and inservice teaching. The STAT Internship Program is an alternative internship program that emphasizes the use of instructional technology. A case study of seven participants in the STAT Internship Program was chosen to investigate five research questions. The research questions explored five broad areas: (1) the technology applications interns used, (2) issues that arose from their use of technology, (3) intern attitudes towards technology, (4) the influence of preservice training on intern use of technology, and (5) shared experiences with technology.

The study yielded a full description of the interns' …

The Effects Of An Autobiographical Dialogue Journaling Activity On Student Teachers' Levels Of Cultural Sensitivity And Reflective Skills, Wanda G. Lastrapes

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a researcher-designed autobiographical dialogue journaling activity on student teachers' levels of cultural sensitivity and levels of reflection. Written feedback from the university supervisors and cooperating teachers was analyzed to identify differences and similarities in the structure and focus of their responses.

Data was collected from 30 student teachers assigned to urban elementary field placements following a six-week structured journaling activity. Student teachers were randomly assigned to one of three journaling conditions: autobiographical dialogue journaling with their cooperating teacher, autobiographical dialogue journaling with their university supervisor, or the traditional student …

An Examination Of Relationships Of Reading And Writing Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Standardized Placement Test Scores, And Diverse Community College Students' Perceptions Of Those Relationships, Ann Woolford-Singh

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

Social cognitive theory explains the role that one's level of confidence plays in the accomplishment of a specific task. According to Bandura (1982, 1995), self-efficacy beliefs should align with performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among reading/writing self-efficacy beliefs and reading/writing standardized placement test scores of diverse community college freshmen. Additionally, this study sought to understand the sources of these students' reading/writing self-efficacy beliefs through the descriptions of experiences they feel have influenced those beliefs.

There were three major research questions: (1) What is the strength of the relationships among reading/writing self-efficacy beliefs and reading/writing …

A Comparative Study Of American-Born Chinese And Non American-Born Chinese Students' Language Learning Motivation, Language Acquisition, And Ethnic Identity Development In Chinese Language Schools, Sarah C. Tsai

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This dissertation is a non-experimental comparative and correlational study. It compares the three variables of language learning motivation, language acquisition, and ethnic identity between American-Born Chinese (ABC) and Adopted Chinese students (Non-ABC) at Association of Chinese language schools on the East Coast of the United States. One hundred and eighty-two ABC and 70 non-ABC students enrolled in Chinese language classes in the fall semester of 2004 participated in this study. Additionally, this study identifies the teaching categories that are most commonly applied in the Chinese language school classroom.

The data were collected through a survey method. The research instruments used …

Culture Of Growth: Teacher Collaboration For The Empowerment Of All Students, Kamilla Bahbahani

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

This dissertation documents an in-depth year long qualitative case study of three elementary school teachers to address the following research question: what characterizes, and what are the major influences on, an integrated, constructivist-oriented approach to elementary math instruction? The researcher, working collaboratively with the teachers, used a combination of interviews, observations, journaling, and informal discourse to learn about what they want to do in their classes, the various pressures they feel for performance and student learning, the forces they balance in making their instructional choices, and the ways in which they make instructional choices and change their approaches over time. …

Perspectives On Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Executive Functions, Working Memory, And Language Disabilities, Carol Westby, Silvana Watson

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

The conceptualization of the nature of attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD) has changed in the last decade. ADHD is now viewed as a neurologically based condition with primary deficits in executive functions and working memory (WM). Students with ADHD have deficits in discourse organization, inferring, and monitoring that are related to their executive function and WM deficits. A large number of students with ADHD also have comorbid reading and language disabilities that exist in addition to the deficits directly associated with the ADHD. Comprehensive evaluation of students with ADHD is essential to address their specific learning needs

Hard Times And An Uncertain Future: Issues That Confront The Field Of Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Robert A. Gable

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

In this article, I examine challenges to better preparing teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD). Foremost among these challenges is the lack of agreement regarding a conceptual framework upon which to build quality prevention/intervention practices; instead, various authorities advocate disparate approaches, not all of which have empirical support. I assert that unresolved issues surrounding translating scientific research into classroom practice further hinder efforts to apply the most efficacious intervention options, as does our failure to exert control over the infrastructure of public education and the context in which we serve students with E/BD. Finally, I offer some modest proposals …

Sometimes, Practice Makes Imperfect: Overcoming The Automaticity Of Challenging Behavior By Linking Intervention To Thoughts, Feelings, And Action, Robert A. Gable, Richard Van Acker

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

In schools throughout the country, education personnel express concern over the aggressive and antisocial behavior of children and youth. The frequency and severity of these acts compel us to find more effective strategies for decreasing and eliminating these behaviors. In this article, we argue for a broader explanation of the nature and treatment of aggressive behavior, especially when it rises to what is essentially an automotive response level. We contend that both assessment and intervention must account for internal and external influences on behavior and that treatment should encompass cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of the problem. Finally, we discuss …

The Curriculum Content Of Master's Level Fashion Merchandising Programs Throughout The United States, Christine Aulicino

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The following objectives were established to answer this problem: 1. Identify the schools offering master's degrees in fashion merchandising; 2. Identify the courses offered within master's programs at the different schools; 3. Identify the requirements needed for students to graduate from schools with fashion merchandising master's programs; 4. Determine the mission of graduate programs in fashion merchandising; 5. Determine specific courses needed to be offered by Old Dominion University in order to produce a respected graduate fashion merchandising program.

A Relationship Between The Number Of Nontraditional Students Attending Athens Technical College, Elbert County Campus And The Unemployment Rate, Dennis Bryant

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

This study will answer three important questions: 1. Why are nontraditional students returning to school? 2. How long is the length of time between when the student last attended school and when they returned to school? 3. Do the nontraditional students' plans include attending another college or university after they leave ATCE?

The Success Rate Of Military Students In The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Preparation Class, Margaret A. Russo

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To determine the solution to this problem, the following hypothesis was established: 1. Military students who had taken the two week, 54-hour ASVAB Preparation Class had a better rate of success than those who exceeded the two week 54-hour class and finished using the self-paced format.

The Effectiveness Of The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Work Control Course For Inclusion Into The Navy-Wide Work Control Refresher Course, Russell E. Shiplet

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to determine the overall effectiveness of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Work Control course for use in creating a Work Control Refresher course for the U.S. Navy.

A Study To Determine If The Center For Workforce Development Provides Adequate And Affordable Training Programs For Employers In Lee, Wise, And Scott Counties And The City Of Norton, Mitzi M. Williams

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To solve this problem, the following research questions were established: 1. Does the Center for Workforce Development provide adequate training for the existing workforce? 2. Does the Center for Workforce Development provide affordable training for the existing workforce? Does the employer provide tuition reimbursement for job related training? 3. What areas of training are the most difficult to procure? Why?

The Status Of Ethics In Technology Education, Philip A. Reed, Susan Presley, Angela Hughes, Diane Irwin Stephens, Roger B. Hill (Ed.)

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Ethics is not a new concept within technology education. The inclusion of ethics evolved naturally from the progression of technological activity in the latter part of the twentieth century. During this shift to a postindustrial society, people started to look at technology from a more humanistic view than they previously had. To keep pace with these changes, a "new ethic" was suggested to help advance technological literacy by highlighting the relationship between humans, the environment, and technology (DeVore, 1980, 1991).

How far have we come? This chapter reviews the current state of ethics within technology education. In the first two …

Does Baldrige Make A Business Case For Quality?, Mark L. Dean, Cynthia L. Tomovic

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) is a widely accepted model promoting quality management as a means to business success. However, because business results are themselves part of the model, the contribution of the approach-deployment elements to results cannot be determined. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains a history of Baldrige applications and the results of their evaluations. Statistical analysis of these data could yield insight into whether the approach-deployment advocated by the Baldrige model actually produces excellent results. Although NIST does not currently allow access to the data, future empirical evaluation of the data could …

Design Optimization Module For Hierarchical Research And Learning Environment, Oktay Baysal, Mehti Koklu, Ahmed K. Noor

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The present paper describes a learning module on design optimization courses within a hierarchical research and learning network (HRLN). In this environment a knowledge organization can be created as a hierarchical learning network to link diverse inter- and trans- disciplinary teams from a consortium of universities, industry, government agencies and the providers of learning technologies. It is an approach that builds on computer-based training, intelligent tutoring systems, interactive learning, collaborative-distributed learning, and learning networks. The present design optimization module has been developed and described herein, as a demonstrator of a learning module in this environment. This module allows for the …

Project-Based Freshmen Engineering Courses In Civil Engineering Technology, Vernon W. Lewis Jr., Carol L. Considine

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Old Dominion University (ODU) has developed two fundamental courses for freshmen engineering students. The first course introduces the fundamentals of the practice of engineering including innovation, creativity, design and manufacturing, commercialization, teaming skills, environmental impact, and ethics. The second course is an exploration of engineering and engineering technology disciplines with an emphasis on projects. The purpose of these courses is to engage the students in the application of engineering early in their course of study with the hope that their interest will be reinforced and the likelihood of their being retained as students will increase. The courses are divided into …

Writing Reflective Case Studies For The Engineering Management Journal (Emj), Timothy Kotnour, Rafael Landaeta

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper's intent is to help authors write reflective case studies for the Engineering Management Journal (EMJ). We offer a process to convert an applied research project with an organization to an EMJ manuscript. Writing a reflective case study is a process of abstracting experiences into approaches, processes, tools, challenges, and "lessons" for a broad audience of engineering managers. This paper serves as a guide for authors to write reflective case studies.

The Impact Of An Urban Outreach Teaching Project: Developing Cultural Competence, Carol H. Ott, Lynn H. Doyle

Educational Foundations & Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to explore the development of cultural competence in a group of university nursing students in the context of an interactive substance abuse prevention project attached to a health promotion course with 414 racially diverse high school students. The project provided opportunities for contact, interaction, and reflection. A descriptive approach was utilized to elicit the meaning attached to the experience. Data included written content from an exit survey, field notes from onsite debriefings, transcriptions of a focus group interview, and an analysis of theoretical papers. Findings indicate that when university students participate in an urban …

Social Interaction And Reading Achievement Among Children In Poverty, Kendra M. Boykin

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference in the reading achievement of children in a Title I school between children with high social interaction and those with low social interaction after school.

Ability To Cope With The Increased Costs Of Complying With The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002, Debra B. Cline

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact on small businesses and the ability to cope with the increased costs of complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The Types Of Computer Technology Skills Needed By Graduates Of The Information Systems Technology Program, Thomas Czerwinski

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To guide the solution to this problem, the following research goals were established: 1. The researcher will identify computer skills required of entry-level technicians at Canon I.T.S.; 2. The researcher will identify the types of computer technology courses offered in the IST program at Paul D. Camp Community College; 3. The researcher will align the Canon competency needs with Paul D. Camp Community College Information Systems Technology courses.

The Equipment Needs Of The Standards For Technological Literacy, Julian B. Duffey

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

These goals were analyzed to produce a standard equipment list for CATTS to recommend for implementation in participating states. It sought to: 1. Determine the equipment needs for elementary education programs implementing the Standards for Technological Literacy; 2. Determine the equipment needs for middle school education programs implementing the Standards for Technological Literacy; 3. Determine the equipment needs for high school education programs implementing the Standard for Technological Literacy.

The Relationship Of High School Mathematics Standard Test Scores And Illustration And Design Technology Courses, Richard R. Dyer

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To guide the solution of this problem, the following hypotheses were developed: 1. Students who have taken illustration and design technology courses test better on their mathematics SOL tests than students that did not take technology courses; 2. Students who have not passed the mathematics SOL tests will do better on their retake examinations if they take an illustration and design course.

Do Distance Learning Students Taking Business And Technology Courses At Olympic College Achieve The Same Grade Point Averages As On-Campus Students In The Same Courses, Steven J. Ericson

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To guide this problem, the following hypothesis was established: 1. There will be no significant difference in the GPAs of online and on-campus students in the same Business and Technology courses at Olympic College.

Does Excessive Absence From Class Lead To Lower Levels Of Academic Achievement, Janet L. Faison

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

Based on this problem, the following hypothesis has been proposed: 1. Students who have higher records of absenteeism (absent four times or more during a given semester) will have lower academic achievement levels (GPA) while attending community college.

Performance Comparison Of Trade Readjustment Act And Traditional Students Of Wytheville Community College, Jeffrey B. Fields

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to determine how Trade Readjustment Act (TRA) students' academic performance of grade point average compared to traditional students in academic programs at Wytheville Community College. To solve this problem, the following hypothesis was established: 1. Trade Readjustment Act students earned higher grade point averages than traditional students at Wytheville Community College.

The Effectiveness Of The Freshman Academy At Oscar Smith High School In Chesapeake, Virginia, Maurice Frazier

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The goals of this study were to answer the following questions: 1. Does the completion of the Freshman Academy contribute to the reduction of negative behavior incidents by students? 2. Does the completion of the Freshman Academy contribute to higher overall class GPA? 3. Does the completion of the Freshman Academy contribute to an increase in overall school attendance? 4. Does the completion of the Freshman Academy contribute to an increase in the student's involvement in extra-curricular activities?

Determination Of Why Students Enrolled In Bluefield Regional Medical Center School Of Medical Technology Cannot Receive Government Financial Assistance, James E. Gibberson

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The goals established to guide this study were as follows: 1. Determine why students cannot receive government financial assistance while performing their clinical training at Bluefield Regional Medical Center Laboratory; 2. Determine other means in which students may obtain financial assistance in order to pay for their clinical education at Bluefield Regional Medical Center; 3. Determine how can the institutions, Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Bluefield State College and Bluefield College, work together to form a system of financial assistance for students if government financial assistance is not available.