Education Commons^™

Camden City Environmental Center Site Based Curriculum And Teacher Activity Guide, Wanda D. Little

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this curriculum and teacher activity guide is to provide Camden City School District's Environmental Center Program with a curriculum for kindergarten through fourth grade students. The curriculum provides students with site-based lessons and activities that are aligned and correlated with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Science, and the Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines For Learning (K - 12). The Site-Based Curriculum and Teacher Activity Guide, upon approval by the Camden City School District Board of Education, will provide students with guided discovery experiences that introduce new ideas, dispel misconceptions and reinforce previous learning.

The scope …

Design And Development Of The Self-Efficacy For Musical Studies Scale, Kathryn Rae Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

Scale development in psychological studies is an area of intense growth (Clark & Watson, 1995). This report builds upon academic interest in the value of producing viable measurement tools. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate a self-efficacy measurement scale intended to determine individual music students' perceptions of capability. The areas of interest were four self-regulatory skill domains: strategy use, planning, monitoring, and evaluating in two music environments: independent practicing and performance.

This report describes the development and analysis of the Self-efficacy for Musical Studies (SEMS) scale. The report includes statistical analysis of the response data from formative …

The Considerations Of The Superintendent In The Development Of The School Budget During Times Of Fiscal Constraint: A Case Study, Jeffrey Witt

Theses and Dissertations

John Smith is the superintendent of Green Hill Public Schools. This case study follows John through the whole budget process from July 2011 to July 2012. An interpretative perspective was used to tell his story. Ten interviews were given from October 2011 to July 2012. Newspaper articles and the minutes from meetings were analyzed and used as discussion items in the interview questions. This study was an analysis of how he made his budget decisions in a time of fiscal constraint and the role values played in the budget decision making. The budget year started out normal with John doing …

An Analysis Of Improving Teacher Efficacy To Enhance Student Learning By Developing An Evaluation Instrument For Special Education Teachers, Sollie J. Pinkston-Miles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to design an evaluation instrument to reflect state standards and implementation of instructional performance criteria for special education teachers. It was designed to evaluate the performance of the specific job duties and instructional responsibilities required of special educators to determine if the instrument indicates teacher efficacy and provides adequate opportunities for feedback to improve performance. A total of 30 special education teachers from 4 different schools within the same school district participated in the study to evaluate the instrument. The respondents were categorized according to tenured or non-tenured status, and either co-teaching or self-contained …

The Urban/Suburban Wildlife Survey Volunteer Project, Larissa L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined attitudes of volunteers in the Urban/Suburban Volunteer Project. Volunteers for this project surveyed for bird species for the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program in Urban New Jersey areas. This project was considered unsuccessful by the Endangered and Nongame Species staff. By analyzing a volunteer project that was not as successful as hoped, volunteer managers can learn from this and apply the findings to their own projects. The purpose of this study was to find out what volunteers thought of the Urban/Suburban Volunteer Project.

Questionnaires were sent to the known population, a total of 25 questionnaires …

Social Studies And The Internet, Kristen Heider

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to address two primary questions: (1) to determine if students' attitudes towards using the Internet as a resource changed as a result of their applying a web evaluation guide, and (2) to determine if the quality of students' research products improved as a result of web evaluation lessons. The ninth grade, world history students' familiarity and prior use of the Internet with research projects was assessed through a pre-survey as well as the review of their prior research papers and projects. Finally, taking into consideration progress and curriculum, research projects were assigned individually, allowing class time in …

The Rise And Fall Of Programmed Instruction: Informing Instructional Technologists Through A Study Of The Past, Jason K. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

Instructional technologists have recently been called upon to examine the assumptions they hold about teaching and learning, and to consider how those assumptions can affect their practice of the discipline. This thesis is an examination of how the assumptions instructional technologists hold can result in instructional materials that do not accomplish the original goals the developers set out to achieve. I explored this issue by examining the case study of programmed instruction, an educational movement from the mid-20th century that promised to revolutionize education but never lived up to its potential. Programmed instruction was heavily influenced by the assumptions of …

From Challenge To Triumph: The Voices Of African American Male Students At Mid-Atlantic University, Ted Nicholas Ingram

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes among African American men concerning issues of retention at a predominantly white college. This study explains issues attendant to the problem of the low numbers of African American males in higher education. Furthermore, this study seeks to identify factors that are successful with keeping African American males in college. The methodology consisted of quantitative (surveys) and qualitative analyses (focus group interviews) that focused on the factors associated with the experiences of African American male college students (N=123). From this exploratory investigation, students identified advisors and counselors, faculty instructors, mentors, and …

An Exploratory Study Of Student Satisfaction Of The Rowan University Recreation Center, Joseph J. Dougherty Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to explore the extent of student satisfaction with the Rowan University Recreation Center. A convenience sample of 151 students who frequented the recreation center was used to determine students' perceptions of the facility on a number of factors. The study showed that the recreation center rated higher than all other comparable student services both in importance to the student and satisfaction with the service provided. The recreation center was also very successful in terms of getting students involved, much more so than any other campus group or activity. The results showed that the recreation …

Spelling Attitudes And Abilities Of Secondary Students, Michael C. Porter

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to a) gauge the attitudes of a group of high school seniors (n = 211) about the importance of spelling, which strategies they use to solve spelling problems, and the adequacy of spelling instruction at the high school level; b) assess the same group of seniors according to Ganske's developmental levels of spelling; and c) gauge the attitudes of high school language arts teachers in the same school (n = 16) about the importance of spelling and the adequacy of spelling instruction at the high school level, and to determine their spelling …

An Exploratory Study On The Impact Of Alternative Approaches To The Treatment Of Bullying At The Middle/High School Level In A Southern New Jersey Public School District, Lynda L. Hinkle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to explore, in two separate studies, the impact of one comprehensive treatment and one curricular treatment on bullying behaviors within the context of a southern New Jersey school district. In the first study, 1280 middle school students were surveyed in the beginning of the school year and again at the end, after comprehensive treatment methods were applied. In the second study, a single high school writing class was observed both before and after the teaching of an anti-bullying curriculum. The first study showed an increase of students reporting that they were victims of bullying …

Reducing Learning Object Inspection/Evaluation Costs In Instructional Design, Larry Lynn Seawright

Theses and Dissertations

A widely employed instructional design approach, the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model, has been one of the most popular and well documented instructional design models (Wilson, Jonassen, and Cole, 1993) for decades. Despite its widespread use, Thiagarajan, a leading instructional technologist, asserts that ADDIE, as an instructional design approach, is comparable to an outdated 1950's manufacturing model (Zemke, 2002). Since the 1950's, manufacturing has evolved, focusing initially on reducing inspection or evaluation costs and later on shifting these cost improvements throughout the organization. Just as manufacturing models and their application have evolved, service operations models such as instructional …

The Multiple Dimensions Of Negative Attitudes Toward School Among Students In An Urban High School Environment, Scott W. Revell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the sources of negative attitudes in a high school environment through interviews and journal writing as a basis for qualitative data. A sample of convenience was chosen that included six students with varied characteristics of interest for the study. Students were asked to respond to journal prompts at 3-day intervals and were interviewed for 25 minutes regarding their attitude toward school. Sources identified in this study to be contributors to a negative attitude toward school are incompatible teachers and teaching style, failure to have basic needs of the students met, and the …

Hands-On Manipulative Use In Science Instruction, Bianca Lee Domenico

Theses and Dissertations

This study tested the use of physical manipulatives during science instruction – in conjunction with the traditional, textbook-oriented approach – and determines whether manipulatives create more significant learning experiences than text generates alone. The subject sample consisted of 20 third-grade students from a suburban New Jersey elementary school classroom. All subjects functioned at least on a third-grade level in all subjects with the exception of three students, who participated in the Talented and Gifted Program. Subjects from the experimental group and the control group completed a science content pretest of thirteen open-ended cognition questions. Both groups completed assigned activities, and …

The Effects Of Grouping Fourth Grade Students Into Cooperative Learning Groups By Learning Patterns, Kelly A. Hamlet

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of fourth grade students working in cooperative learning groups. Students worked in three cooperative learning groups in order to determine whether grouping students heterogeneously into cooperative learning groups based on individual students' learning pattern would have a positive correlation with group and individual success. First students were grouped randomly and then homogeneously by learning pattern, and lastly heterogeneously by learning pattern. During each cooperative learning experience groups were expected to complete in-class group work. Students were then given a quiz and a test on the material covered during their cooperative …

The Effect Of Student Journals On Achievement In And Attitudes Toward Science, Holly Cowell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if: (a) writing in student journals affected the grades of my students, and (b) if student attitudes were affected by writing in journals and receiving teacher feedback. The research was conducted during the third semester at Triton Regional High School with a total of 49 tenth-grade students enrolled in two Laboratory Biology classes. Students in one class wrote in journals about teacher-posed topics for five minutes on average of once per week. The topics were written to encourage personalization of learning and further interaction with science. An attitude survey was …

The Effect Of Cooperative Learning And Traditional Instruction On The Spelling Performance Of Third Grade Students, Tracey Patella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of cooperative learning and traditional instruction on the spelling test performance of twenty-six third grade students from a southern New Jersey school district. It was hypothesized that students who were taught using cooperative learning strategies during spelling instruction would score significantly higher on their weekly spelling post-tests than students who were taught using traditional spelling instruction.

A one group, pretest/posttest, pre-experimental design was utilized to determine whether students who are randomly grouped in cooperative learning pairs will have higher achievement levels in spelling than students who are taught using traditional …

The Effect Of Character Education On Student Behavior, Cindy Patella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if character education addressed directly through lesson plans would have an effect on behavior of students when they are not under supervision of the classroom teacher. The researcher observed the students' social interactions in the experimental group and the control group in various settings in a pre and post observation period. Behavior was recorded on a behavior chart listing both positive and negative behaviors. There were 19 students in the experimental group and 22 students in the control group. The study found a slight positive change in behavior for those students in …

A Latter-Day Saint Perspective On Evaluation, Courtney Miriam Glenn Peck

Theses and Dissertations

Evaluation scholars argue that evaluation as a discipline has traditionally rested on the assumption that knowledge should and can be evaluated objectively. As a result, evaluation has focused too much on techniques and methods, becoming paramountly an objective and technical enterprise that disregards any personal or moral responsibility that evaluators have.

How would a Latter-day Saint perspective of evaluation reframe evaluation as a moral rather than technical enterprise? The doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides powerful insights for evaluation that place moral responsibility in the forefront of evaluation. Knowledge in an LDS perspective is not …

The Effect Of Rubrics On Second Grade Students' Abilities To Write A Personal Story, Ann Marie Germani

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (a) evaluate the effects of a student-generated instructional rubric on second grade students' (n = 21) abilities to write personal stories and their understanding of the qualities of good writing; and (b) assess student metacognitive behavior resulting from the use of a rubric. Student writing assignments prior to and after rubric instruction were assessed in order to determine the effects of rubrics in improving writing skills. Student interactions and behaviors were observed and noted in order to determine metacognitive performance. A questionnaire gauged student impressions, management, and application of a rubric while …

The Effect Of Manipulative Materials On Student Motivation, Deirdre Morrissey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to determine the effect of manipulative materials on student motivation in the subject area of social studies. The students who participated in the project were divided into control and experimental groups. Each group was comprised of twenty-one third grade students living in rural southern New Jersey. Both groups completed pre and post surveys that focused on student motivation towards social studies. The experimental group students were instructed using manipulative materials after the completion of the initial survey and in conjunction with a unit on "Community Government." The control group students received no such intervention. …

Cooperative Learning And Its Effects On Social Interactions In The Third Grade, Robin A. Keller-Vicino

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research project was to determine whether social interactions would improve when utilizing cooperative learning techniques. The social interactions observed included listening and speaking, courtesy, peaceful conflict resolution, leadership, and cooperative behaviors such as keeping one's hands to themselves.

The targeted population for this study was a class of fifteen third grade students. The researcher submitted pre- and post-treatment surveys to the students which measured the students' sense of classroom responsibility and their sense of personal responsibility within the class. The researcher also utilized journals and cooperative behavior checklists in order to compare student surveys with …

The Effect Of Cooperative Learning On The Mathematical Achievement Of Fifth Grade Students, Stefanie A. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of cooperative learning on mathematical academic achievement in fifth grade students. The design of this research also studied the extent cooperative learning has on reducing mathematics anxiety and generating mathematical interest. The sample involved one group of students (n = 21), which were drawn from a class of ten and eleven year old students. This study utilized a pretest - posttest, one group design. The subjects were exposed to two treatments, traditional instructional methods and cooperative learning instructional methods. A mean difference comparison found a significant difference in the …

The Effects Of Word Study: A Developmental And Discovery Based Approach To Spelling, Jessica Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this academic investigation was to find the effect of Word Study on the spelling abilities of third grade students; and to determine if the change in spelling abilities is greater in those third graders who receive the treatment of guided on-level instruction and interactive word activities than those third grade students who participated in a traditional spelling program. Orthographic knowledge of the treatment and control groups were measured through a series of pretests and then posttested after treatment was received. The treatment involved a variety of interactive activities that were discovery based. The positive change in the …

Transition From School To Adult Life: What Have We Done To Support Students With Disabilities?, Ann Theresa Adams

Theses and Dissertations

As a legal component of an individual's IEP, a transition plan essentially should represent and include activities to prepare individuals with disabilities for postgraduate experiences. Activities should be individualized and relevant to each individual intended post school environments. Though a legal requirement, much research reports negatively on transition planning implementation. Some negative findings listed in research are as follows: lack of collaboration among individuals involved in the transition process; lack of student involvement in planning; ineffective design of students' goals and objectives; lack of linking students with adult agency providers for post graduate support services, and overall negative post school …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Peer Mediation Program In An Elementary School Setting, Theresa M. Davidson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of a peer mediation program on students with behavioral problems and conflicts using an action research design. Further, it informed teachers, administrators, parents, and the guidance department as to the progress of the program.

All students at Mennies Elementary School in Vineland had, if needed, the opportunity to be involved in the conflict resolution program. The participants in the program were in traditional, bilingual, and special education classes. All stakeholders served as the primary data-gathering instruments in the research. To determine if peer mediation improved the climate in …

Designing, Implementing, And Determining The Effectiveness Of A Peer Coaching Program, Catherine Russo

Theses and Dissertations

Professional development is an important part of teaching, and there are a multitude of opportunities for teachers to attend workshops and seminars on a host of topics. The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of peer coaching as a valuable professional development activity for teachers. A group of twelve volunteer participants visited their partners' classrooms and provided feedback on aspects of teaching pre-determined by the teachers themselves. Participants received guidelines for deciding on a focus area during a pre-conference, recording data, and providing feedback at a post-conference. Each participant provided feedback concerning each visit and responded to …

The Effect Of Social Skills Training For Elementary Students With Learning Disabilities, Patricia M. Swenson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the social skills program "Skillstreaming the Elementary School Child" for elementary children with learning disabilities. Two first grade and two second grade students participated in the study. All students were classified as specific learning disabled and were included in the general education classroom with instructional support from a resource room. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions, using the "Skillstreaming" program 20 minutes per day, four days a week for 3 weeks, and weekly follow-up of review for 4 weeks with a total of 7 weeks.

A multiple baseline design …

Teachers' Perspectives On Grade Retention: Is It Effective?, Joseph Terch Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Grade retention has been a problem since the mid-19th century when the concept of individual grades replaced the one room schoolhouse. Extensive research was reported on grade retention, its effect, and impact on the referral of students with learning disabilities, parent and teacher perspectives. The research findings on retention are inconclusive and questionable. The purposes of this study are (a) to evaluate the teacher attitudes towards grade retention, and (b) to compare the differences of teacher attitudes at elementary, middle and high school levels. A survey was developed and approximately 150 were distributed to teachers. Of these 150, 120 were …

Effects Of A Metacognitive Think-Aloud Strategy Used To Improve Reading Comprehension In A Group Of Third Graders, Megan C. Scully

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effectiveness of a metacognitive think-aloud strategy used to improve reading comprehension in a group of third grade students. Fourteen general education students were pre-tested using an individual reading inventory to determine baseline independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels. Explicit and systematic instruction in the strategy, as well as hands-on practice with each component of the strategy, lasted for twelve consecutive weeks. Subjects were then post-tested with different forms of the initial reading inventory. Comparisons of pre-test and post-test scores indicate an average of one year's growth in the independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels for all …