Education Commons^™

Effective Science Teachers’ Professional Development: A Multiple-Case Study Of District-Level Science Supervisors’ Perspectives, Chris J. Schaben

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

At its heart, science teachers’ professional development is about continual growth and improvement (Yager, 2005). Conducting research to understand what constitutes effective professional development is inherently complex (Hewson, 2007). The imperative to link research on professional development to student achievement (Fishman, Marx, Best, & Tal, 2003) increases complexity of research on the topic. These complexities require multiple research approaches and indicate that all stakeholders could provide insights to identify what constitutes effective professional development. District-level science supervisors’ voices are missing from the data on effective science teachers’ professional development and this provides a potential gap in the literature (Banilower, Heck, …

Enriching Science And Math Through Engineering, Adrienne Redmond, Julie Thomas, Karen High, Margaret Scott, Pat Jordan, Jean Dockers

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

This case study reviewed the collaborative efforts of university engineers, teacher educators, and middle school teachers to advance sixth- and seventh-grade students’ learning through a series of project-based engineering activities. This two-year project enriched regular school curricula by introducing real-world applications of science and mathematics concepts that expanded opportunities for creativity and problem-solving, introduced problem-based learning, and provided after-school programming (for girls only) led by engineering students from the local university. This engineering education initiative showed significant impact on students’ (1) confidence in science and mathematics; (2) effort toward science and mathematics; (3) awareness of engineering; and (4) interest in …

Obituary: Jerry Ronald Choate, 1943-2009, Elmer J. Finck, Hugh H. Genoways, Justin D. Hoffman, Carleton J. Phillips, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Jerry Ronald Choate (1943–2009) had just retired as Director of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Professor of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, at the time of his death. Jerry served the American Society of Mammalogists in numerous capacities, including Recording Secretary, First Vice President, and most notably as a member and chair of the Board of Trustees.

The hallmark of Jerry’s life was to turn the ordinary into something magnificent. Whether it was his photography that changed an ordinary landscape into a magnificent masterpiece, or his convincing a reluctant graduate student that they could do …

Integrating Physical Activity Data Technologies Into Elementary School Classrooms, Victor R. Lee, Jonathan M. Thomas

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper describes an iteration of a design-based research project that involved integrating commercial physical activity data (PAD) sensors, such as heart rate monitors and pedometers, as technologies that could be used in two fifth-grade classrooms. Design-based research involves the development, implementation and study of new learning interventions in real-world contexts with the goal of elaborating principles or guidelines relevant to the design of new technologies and learning experiences. The current project involved the implementation of PAD technology-supported learning activities in two fifth-grade classrooms where students pursued investigations related to the distances that they walk, the relationship between heights and …

The Unforgettable Experience Of A Workshop On Pythagoras Theorem, Salima Shahzad Arwani

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Framework For Discipline‐Based Education Research: Dber Meeting Starter “Nugget” : Series Of 6, Leilani Arthurs

DBER Speaker Series

What is Discipline‐Based Education Research (DBER)?

Who Does Discipline‐Based Education Research (DBER)?

Where and When is Discipline‐Based Education Research (DBER) Done?

How is Discipline‐Based Education Research (DBER) Conducted?

Why is Discipline‐Based Education Research (DBER) Important?

Education In The Environment: A Strategy For Continued Interagency Outdoor Education Programming: Round 6 Project Compendium, Margaret N. Rees

Reports (PLI Education)

The essence of public land stewardship lies far beyond the words, numbers, and pictures compiled in this project compendium. During the past seven years, many people have gained greater appreciation of the discovered and yetto‐ be discovered treasures held within the Southern Nevada public lands. People have had the opportunity to learn about and make a first‐time connection with nature and the community within which they live. Some participants realized dynamic and everlasting changes in their lives as a result of their new experiences and insights.

Education in the Environment was a four‐year collaborative effort of the Southern Nevada Agency …

Discipline-Based Education Research (Dber) Group Meeting — Monday, October 24, 2011, Leilani Arthurs

DBER Speaker Series

AGENDA

1. Welcome & Introductions

Name, Dept, research interest, what you hope to gain from participating in DBER Group meetings

2. Purpose & Schedule for remaining part of the semester

a. Alternate times you are available to meet this semester

Please indicate your alternate available times on the bottom of this agenda, and return to Leilani.

b. Volunteers to present their research or facilitate discussion on peer‐reviewed science education research article with relevance to, applications in, or implications for undergraduate science education

Week of Mon. Oct. 31: Dr. Marilyne Stains (CHEM Dept) on “TBA”

Week of Mon. Nov. 7: CHEM …

Excellent Adventures In Global Collaboration, Glenn W. "Max" Mcgee, Aracelys Rios

Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Primary Literature Across The Undergraduate Curriculum: Teaching Science Process Skills And Content, Emily S.J. Rauschert, Joseph Dauer, Jennifer L. Momsen, Ariana Sutton-Grier

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Cebs Magazine, The College Of Education And Behavioral Sciences At Wku, Fall 2011, Sam Evans, Dean, Michelle Kahler, College Of Education And Behavioral Sciences At Wku

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Publications

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between High School Courses Taken And Graduation From Chadron State College Within Six Years, Ann Krejci

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Chadron State College is one of three institutions in Nebraska’s State College System. Because of its mission as an open-enrollment institution, Chadron State College has no academic course requirements for admission, and any student who has completed high school or its equivalent is eligible for enrollment.

The purpose of the study was to find whether or not there was a relationship between the characteristics of a Nebraska student’s high school education and the probability of that student’s graduation from Chadron State College within six years of matriculation.

A sample of 180 high school records were retrieved from the Chadron State …

Meeting Their Fullest Potential: The Beliefs And Teaching Of A Culturally Relevant Science Teacher, Charlease P. Kelly-Jackson, Tambra O. Jackson

Faculty and Research Publications

As elementary and middle school children of color continue to score poorly on science standardized tests, culturally relevant teaching has been shown to be an effective approach to addressing the social and academic needs of students from diverse backgrounds. This article illustrates how the theory of culturally relevant pedagogy is embraced in the teaching beliefs of a sixth grade science teacher in a rural, low socioeconomic, predominantly African American school. The findings from a qualitative case study reveal beliefs and teaching practices consistent with three major tenets of culturally relevant pedagogy: conceptions of self and students; social relations; and perceptions …

Imsa’S 25th Birthday: Opening Day Commemorative Celebration, Stephanie Pace Marshall

Lectures, Speeches, and Talks

No abstract provided.

Education In The Environment: A Strategy For Continued Interagency Outdoor Education Programming: Quarterly Progress Report: Period Ending August 31, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Reports (PLI Education)

Highlights of the university’s focused efforts during the past three months include the following:

• One Families in Nature event was held, benefitting approximately 40 people.
• A media campaign has been developed for the Nevada Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights.
• A total of18 people are participating in the fourth cohort of the Nevada State Certification in Environmental Education and Interpretation.
• An RV has been purchased for the SNAP Mobile Exhibit and is in process of being retrofitted.
• Forever Earth was scheduled for 16 days and benefited 425 individuals.
• The National Park Service used Forever Earth as a mobile visitor center on …

Collaborative Research: Centers For Ocean Science Education Excellence - Oceans In The Earth-Sun System, Annette Decharon

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

This award establishes a new Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) via awards to the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (0528706), the University of Maine (0528702), and the University of New Hampshire (0528686). The main goals of this thematic Center are to broaden understanding of the oceans in the context of the earth and solar systems and to help the COSEE network reach rural and inland audiences. The PIs will pioneer a system of interfaces, tools, and resources to reach underserved and underrepresented groups, and to bring ocean sciences to inland audiences by presenting it in the context of …

Introducing Astrophysics And Cosmology As Part Of Multidisciplinary Approaches To Liberal Arts Courses Addressing “The Big Questions” Of Human Experience, Joseph C. Wesney

Physics Faculty Publications

There is an opportunity to bring college students to the exploration of the grandeur and wonder of the universe through the design and crafting of courses for the university and liberal arts curricula that would develop multidisciplinary perspectives within the frames of reference of astrophysics and cosmology. There is broad interest within colleges and universities to provide courses that examine “The Big Questions” of human experience from a variety of perspectives. The study of the history of discoveries and insights that we have gained through the development of astrophysics and cosmology provides course options for students to use to explore …

Changing Perceptions Of Science In Undergraduate Students: A Mixed Methods Case Study, Cindy S. Larson-Miller

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

The purpose of this bounded single-case study was to explore the understanding of the nature and process of science for undergraduate students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The study investigated one professor’s methodology to explicitly teach undergraduate students about the nature and process of science, and documented their understanding and perception of science, both pre- and post-course.

Using a mixed method approach, data were collected to provide a better understanding of teaching the nature and process of science. Three main types of data were analyzed: the process of science (TPOS) assessment; survey questions, and the module curriculum.

Participating students …

Matlab Based Algorithm To Find The Remaining State Of Charge, Ishrat Khatoon, Bhaskar Saha, Kai Goebe

STAR Program Research Presentations

Li-ion batteries are one of the most common rechargeable batteries used in portable electronics, electric vehicles, military operations and aerospace applications such as electric air-crafts, spacecrafts, space rovers, robots, etc. Failure of these batteries could lead to reduced performance, operational impairment and even catastrophic failure, especially in aerospace systems. Monitoring the remaining state of charge (RSOC) of these batteries would greatly improve the reliability of the systems powered by them and will ultimately lengthen their lifetimes. NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft was lost due to battery failure. Hence, it is very important to find the RSOC of the batteries in …

Incorporating Case Studies Into An Undergraduate Genetics Course, Marlene Murray

Faculty Publications

Genetics is considered one of the most challenging courses in the biology curricula at both the secondary and post secondary levels. Case based teaching has been shown to improve student perception and performance outcomes in both non-science and science courses. Thus in an effort to improve outcomes, case studies were integrated into an undergraduate genetics course as a supplement to lecture and replacement to recitation. Student perception and performance when case studies were used was compared to two previous years before the incorporation of case studies. Student course evaluations, pre and post surveys of student knowledge, and exam scores indicated …

Covariant Representations Of C*-Dynamical Systems Involving Compact Groups, Firuz Kamalov

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Given a C*-dynamical system (A, G, σ) the crossed product C*-algebra A x _σG encodes the action of G on A. By the universal property of A x _σG there exists a one to one correspondence between the set all covariant representations of the system (A, G, σ) and the set of all *-representations of A x _σG. Therefore, the study of representations of A x _σG is equivalent to that of covariant representations of (A, G, σ).

We study induced covariant representations of systems involving compact groups. We prove that every irreducible (resp. factor) covariant …

Computational Insight With Monte Carlo Simulations, Boyan Kostadinov

Publications and Research

We introduce Monte Carlo simulations for estimating areas by playing a game of "darts". We also introduce simulations of random walks. We use compact, vectorized programming, based on the R language, for all computer simulations and visualizations, aimed at high school students. This presentation is based on the Invited, prime time lecture given at the summer camp for gifted high school students at City College of New York, July 13, 2011.

Focusing A New Lens: Stem Professional Development For Early Education And Care Educators And Programs, Angi Stone-Macdonald, Vicki L. Bartolini, Anne Douglass, Marylu Love

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publication Series

The purpose of this groundbreaking grassroots report is to engage early childhood educators and policy makers in understanding the urgency and importance of early childhood educator professional development in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This report focuses on the teaching of children birth to five years old and out of school time students. STEM…Science…Technology…Engineering…Math. These are not curriculum topics that early childhood educators traditionally call to mind when planning activities. However, the evidence supporting the importance and emphasis on STEM education in early childhood is overwhelming. Children are engineers, problem solvers, and collaborators at heart- with boundless potential …

The Challenge: Magazine Of The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 27, Summer 2011), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman Editor

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

Beyond Jeopardy And Lectures: Using Microsoft Powerpoint As A Game Tool To Teach Science, Jason Paul Siko, Michael K. Barbour, Sacip Toker

Education Faculty Publications

To date, research involving homemade PowerPoint games as an instructional tool has not shown statistically significant gains in student performance. This paper examines the results of a study comparing the performance of students in a high school chemistry course who created homemade PowerPoint games as a test review with the students who used a traditional study guide on two separate unit tests. Students scored significantly higher on one of the two unit tests; however, there was no difference in performance between students who created games multiple times. This was the first time a significant difference has been reported when using …

Use Of Cognitive Artifacts In Chemistry Learning, Ilker Yengin

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

In everyday life, we interact with cognitive artifacts to receive and/or manipulate information so as to alter our thinking processes. CHEM/TEAC 869Q is a distance course that includes extensive explicit instruction in the use of a cognitive artifact. This study investigates issues related to the design of that online artifact. In order to understand design implications and how cognitive artifacts contribute to students’ thinking and learning, a qualitative research methodology was engaged that utilized think aloud sessions. Participants’ described constrained and structured cognitive models while using the artifact. The study also was informed by interviews and researcher's field notes. A …

The Effects Of A Remedial Math Intervention On Standardized Test Scores In Georgia Middle Schools, Chastity London Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Schools are looking for interventions to improve academic achievement and increase test scores due to the requirements of No Child Left Behind. One such intervention in middle schools is remedial math. This causal comparative study examined the differences in the standardized test scores for at-risk students who receive remedial math instruction and at-risk students who do not receive this intervention. In addition, this study examined gender differences for the remedial math students. The Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Test of 293 at-risk seventh-grade students was used in this study. Using the previous year's standardized math test scores as a control variable, there …

New Approach To Teach Product Design That Breaks The Disciplinary Boundaries, Iem Heng, Andy S. Zhang, Farrukh Zia

Publications and Research

This paper presents an initiative and a strategy to teach product design to students in different engineering technology fields through cross departmental collaboration and cooperation between faculty members in the Mechanical Engineering Technology and the Computer Engineering Technology Departments. The work is funded by the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Division (Award No. DUE-1003712) recently awarded to New York City College of Technology. Traditional approach to teach product design in a college setting was mostly confined by disciplinary boundaries. There were very little or no collaborations among various engineering departments. Advances in computer technology and semiconductor electronics have created …

Introduction Of Mechatronic Technology Into Cross-Department Product Design Curricula, Andy S. Zhang, Iem Heng, Sidi Berri, Farrukh Zia

Publications and Research

This paper presents the work that is currently engaged by faculty in the departments of mechanical engineering technology and computer engineering technology to introduce mechatronic technology into product design curricula of both departments. This work is funded by the National Science Foundation (Award No. DUE-1003721) recently awarded to New York City College of Technology. Advances in computer technology and semiconductor electronics have created a new product design field called mechatronics. Mechatronics treats product design as system design that requires the tight integration of mechanical components, electrical/electronic systems, industrial design ideas, computer-control systems, embedded systems, and intelligent software into the product …

Connecting Science With Engineering: Using Inquiry And Design In A Teacher Professional Development Course, Louis S. Nadelson, Patricia Pyke, Janet Callahan, Anne Hay, Joshua Pfiester, Mark A. Emmet

Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

The engineering design process has evolved over time to be the central and effective framework that engineers use to conduct their work. Logically, K-12 STEM professional development efforts have then attempted to incorporate the design process into their work. There has been little in the STEM literature, though, of the explicit measurement of the growth in design process knowledge. Our study presents findings of significant improvements in knowledge of the design process that resulted over the course of a recent summer STEM institute and professional development program among K-5 teachers.

As more emphasis is placed on integrating STEM into the …