Education Commons^™

A Closer Look At One Elementary School's Use Of Informational Text In Classroom Instruction, Marjean Sorensen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to explore the use of informational text in kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms in one elementary school. The research was based on analyzing responses given by teachers on a self-report survey; which addressed various aspects of their use of informational texts. The survey included questions about the sources teachers used to find informational texts, the criteria used in selection of such texts, and the frequency and purposes for informational text use. These data were then compared according to teachers' years of teaching experience and grade level taught to see the influence of …

The Language Of Mathematics: Virginia Standards Of Learning Mathematical Pictionary For Grades K-3., Amanda Rashelle Collins-Browning

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My experience teaching in Virginia schools, pacing and aligning instruction to the Virginia Standards of Learning, caused me to recognize the need for a mathematics tool to simplify and transition K-3 mathematics vocabulary usage and instruction. The language of mathematics uses three linguistic tools: words, symbols, and diagrams. Within this thesis I developed an instructional tool, a "Mathematics Pictionary", to accommodate primary grades K-3 and transition mathematical language and vocabulary skills between the primary grades aligned to the instruction and guidelines of the Virginia Standards of Learning. The Pictionary may be used coherently with lesson plans, available from the Virginia …

Planning Their First Language Lesson: Applying Constructivist Values To The Design Of Objective Training For Part-Time Teachers At The Missionary Training Center, Chandler Scott Rudd

Theses and Dissertations

The newly hired teachers at the Missionary Training Center are expected to learn to teach foreign language well enough to prepare students to communicate functionally in that language within 2-3 months. These teachers have very little to no language teaching experience and must tend to the responsibilities of this part-time job while juggling the demands of full-time school work and social lives. This report details the design and development of a prototype training program aimed to initiate young teachers into the culture of methods and tools employed at the MTC by walking them through the process of planning their first …

The Effect Of An Ambient Olfactory Intervention On Time-On-Task And Performance During Participant Interaction With An Electronic Flashcard System, Aaron J. Loewer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to measure the influence of an ambient peppermint aroma on participants' time-on-task and performance while using FACTOR, an open-source e-Learning application. I proposed time-on-task was moderating between olfactory stimulation and performance.

A 2x2 research design measured interaction of group (nonscented, scented) and gender of participants (N = 65). The learning content consisted of 28 African countries. Two methods for measuring time-on-task were employed: participant self-report at six learning intervals, and second, video recordings captured by, and stored on each participant's computer.

Independent samples t tests were used to measure group and gender differences …

The Design Of A Blended Approach For Teaching The Tpck Framework In A Technology Integrated Course, Andrea Velasquez

Theses and Dissertations

This report describes the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a web-based unit that was designed to enable blended learning in a course for pre-service teachers learning about technology integration. The unit aims to teach students about the TPCK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) framework and how to incorporate it in their teaching designs to make their instruction more effective. The report describes the process of design and development using the rapid prototyping technique. The evaluation section describes the results of the implementation of the design. Finally, the conclusion provides a critique of the project's strengths and weaknesses.

Assessment Practice And Perception Of Social Science Instructors In Afghanistan, Delawar Darmal

Master's Capstone Projects

This thesis has been prepared with three objectives in mind. First, investigating and identifying the problems and challenge of assessment is essential to the quality of education as well as to the reform of education in Afghanistan. Any reforms and the improvement of education are greatly based on the findings of research. Therefore, this project is targeting to facilitate this process.

Second, this research project is aiming to explain the assessment that is practiced in Higher Education of Afghanistan. This is essential to two critical issues. It is useful not just to Afghan instructors to know about the assessment practices …

Mixing And Matching: Assessing Information Literacy, Carol Mcculley

Faculty & Staff Publications

Authentic assessment of student learning outcomes is much in demand. This paper reviews a variety of assessment methods that measure cognitive, behavioral, and affective levels of learning that can be used to design library class instruction and assessments to improve student learning and teaching of information literacy concepts. The intentional use of these methods to assess undergraduate student learning in many disciplines through working collaboratively with faculty and integrating the assessments in a learner-centered environment is discussed.

The Pedagopticon: Other Eyes In The 21 St Century Classroom, Robert W. Sweeny

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

The Pedagopticon is a revolutionary new technology that allows educators to do away with outdated methods of discipline and punishment. Fusing traditional optical equipment (eye, camera lens) with the latest in high-tech gear (digital camera, web linked connectivity), the 'Pedagopticon' is the future of teaching. It was once said that seasoned teachers had 'eyes in the back of their head.' Well, the scientists at 'technology is the devil' have taken this adage and made it real. Now, you can have eyes everywhere! No corner of your classroom is out of your gaze. The 'Pedagopticon' offers a full 360 degrees of …

Quality Instruction Creates Higher Student Learning, Kelly Jan Austin

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Many agree that science education is in need of reform, due to the fact that America is falling behind other industrialized nations in measures of science performance. In order to revolutionize the direction of this discipline is it up to the educators to implement changes in their classroom. It seems that our educational settings know what needs to be done in order to reach higher standards of achievement, however it is concerning that schools aren’t taking the steps necessary to reach these levels. In trying to enhance student learning, there are several methods in science education that are targeted at …

Common Strategies Used By Kindergarten Teachers To Instruct Reading To English-As-A-Second-Language Students, Emma Kaye Penn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research was designed to describe, analyze, and interpret what reading strategies experienced kindergarten teachers believe are essential to instruct English-as-a-Second-Language learners how to read. Through in-depth interviews, experienced kindergarten teachers were given a voice to describe what they consider essential reading strategies to instruct English-as-a-Second-Language learners to learn how to read.

The participants were four licensed, non-probationary kindergarten teachers instructing reading in English to a minimum of 51% English-as-a-Second-Language population. Selected kindergarten programs were consistent in program design. Processes were influenced by the gateway approach. The stories teachers told about their experiences in teaching ELLs how to read was …

Student Perceptions Of Streaming-Media Effectiveness, Sara Floyd Baber

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate cognitive-load theory as applied to the design of streaming media. In this study, student learning preferences and cognitive style were measured on a visualizer-verbalizer scale to determine the perceived importance of visual and audio components of streaming media used to supplement classroom instruction. Additionally, this study investigated cognitive-load theory by assessing attitudes regarding the importance of learner control when accessing streaming media files. The writer used 4 existing visualizer-verbalizer instruments in combination with 1 original survey that was designed to gather student perceptions and attitudes regarding the effectiveness of streaming media …

Reading Strategies For Middle And High School Students: A Review Of Literature, William Muth

MERC Publications

This review targets “best practices” in adolescent reading instruction. While writing is inextricably related to reading, this review did not explicitly target studies of writing. However, where writing studies informed reading instruction, they were cited in this review. The first step in this search for empirical data was the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Science’s What Works Clearinghouse. From the reports listed there, I followed major references to identify other key and current publications that targeted educators and stakeholders at the classroom, school, system, and state levels. Though its findings are still emerging and we are still learning …