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Full-Text Articles in Education

Impact Of Freshman Transition Interventions On Ninth Grade Academic Achievement, Emily Spake Brown Apr 2010

Impact Of Freshman Transition Interventions On Ninth Grade Academic Achievement, Emily Spake Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of various freshman transition interventions on student academic achievement. Specifically, this study aimed to measure academic success by focusing upon ninth grade End of Course Test (EOCT) scores. The data were collected using a researcher-developed survey. After securing permission from all superintendents, the survey was electronically mailed to all high school principals within the state of Georgia. Among participating systems, the survey response rate was 78.4 percent. Based upon expert opinion, the twenty individual intervention items were categorized into three domains. The domain data were analyzed using analysis of variance …


The Effects Of Using Bloom's Taxonomy To Align Reading Instruction With The Virginia Standards Of Learning Framework For English, Charla Faulkner Crews Apr 2010

The Effects Of Using Bloom's Taxonomy To Align Reading Instruction With The Virginia Standards Of Learning Framework For English, Charla Faulkner Crews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effects of aligning the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) English Framework with Bloom's Taxonomy on student achievement. Changes prompted by No Child Left Behind legislation increased accountability for student success, as well as mandated testing to determine annual academic growth of all students. Documentation supported the need of fourth grade students to improve comprehension skills. The goals of this research were to determine the effects of aligning the SOL English Framework with Bloom's Taxonomy on student achievement and determine the effects of developing reading lesson plans based on the SOL English Framework aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy …


Comparing Academic Achievement Of African-American Males Who Do And Do Not Participate In High School Athletics, Thomas Victor Montgomery, Iii Apr 2010

Comparing Academic Achievement Of African-American Males Who Do And Do Not Participate In High School Athletics, Thomas Victor Montgomery, Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was conducted to investigate the impact on academic achievement that high school athletics had on African-American male students who participated in high school athletics against African-American male students who did not participate in high school athletics during the 2008-2009 school year. The results were measured by grade point averages (GPAs) and surveys developed by the researcher. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not African-American males that participated in high school athletics showed higher academic achievement than African-American males that did not participate in high school athletics. The study also assessed attitudes about the relation …


Determining Best Practices And Interventions In Special Education, Lucinda S. Spaulding Mar 2010

Determining Best Practices And Interventions In Special Education, Lucinda S. Spaulding

Faculty Publications and Presentations

A current critical issue in special education is no longer the assurance of access but the assurance of intervention effectiveness. Determining which practices and interventions are most effective and efficient for ensuring optimal student achievement is a fundamental concern of special education teachers in this era of accountability. In this discussion I examine three designs commonly used in special education research (experimental research designs, meta-analyses, and narrative research syntheses) and their utility and appropriateness for determining the efficacy of classroom practices and interventions.


Working Memory: The Reading And Math Connection, Connie Mcdonald, Steven A. Mcdonald Mar 2010

Working Memory: The Reading And Math Connection, Connie Mcdonald, Steven A. Mcdonald

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.


Service Learning At A Faith-Based Institution, Beth Ackerman Mar 2010

Service Learning At A Faith-Based Institution, Beth Ackerman

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.


Vocabulary With Character: Lessons From Newbery Books, Karen L. Parker Mar 2010

Vocabulary With Character: Lessons From Newbery Books, Karen L. Parker

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.


Teacher Perceptions Of Student Support Team And Response To Intervention, Lynn Russell Bailey Mar 2010

Teacher Perceptions Of Student Support Team And Response To Intervention, Lynn Russell Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of Student Support Team (SST) and Response to Intervention (RTI) effectiveness. While an effective, researchbased framework is certainly paramount to the success of either endeavor, the teachers involved in the process and their perceptions directly impact the effectiveness. Teacher perceptions of their familiarity with SST and RTI, adequacy of training, qualifications to implement, the effectiveness of SST and RTI, eligibility requirements for special education, weaknesses of the frameworks, and reasons for non-referral are examined in the study. The sample population for the survey consisted of teachers (n=342) from around the …


Reading Comprehension, Learning Styles, And Seventh Grade Students, Judy Lynne Williams Feb 2010

Reading Comprehension, Learning Styles, And Seventh Grade Students, Judy Lynne Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Reading is a basic life skill. Unfortunately, in 2007, only 29% of all eighth graders were able to comprehend at or above a proficient reading comprehension level. Sensory learning styles (kinesthetic, tactile, auditory, and visual) affect the way that students prefer to learn and the areas in which they will have difficulty learning. This study examined sensory learning styles as one possible factor effecting seventh grade students' reading comprehension level. The purpose of this study was to see if a relationship exists between any sensory learning style and reading comprehension levels. The subjects for this study were seventh graders from …


School Achievement For Students With Behavioral Disorders, Steven Wayne Burnett Feb 2010

School Achievement For Students With Behavioral Disorders, Steven Wayne Burnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the descriptive qualitative study was to examine the successful strategies, accommodations, and interventions utilized for students with emotional behavior disorder (EBD) and the influences they have on the students' academic achievement (GPA, passage rates of courses, passage rates of state mandated assessments, student satisfaction, attendance rates, and disciplinary infractions) and glean greater understanding of instructional strategies and environmental differences alternative schools offer to students with EBD. In addition to a parent and a student with EBD, an alternative school staff was analyzed in rich detail to glean understanding of environmental influences. Data were collected using document analysis, …


Non-Traditional Entrants To The Teaching Profession: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations, Experiences, And Reflections Of Second-Career Teachers, William Darrell Lee Feb 2010

Non-Traditional Entrants To The Teaching Profession: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations, Experiences, And Reflections Of Second-Career Teachers, William Darrell Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals entering the teaching profession from other fields have much to offer in terms of practical experience in fields such as business, private industry, law enforcement, and the military. This study examined the phenomenon of second-career teachers with specific emphasis on the motivating factors, common experiences, and reflections of the participants in this study concerning the decision to leave already established professions in order to pursue a career in teaching. The study also inquired into the process involved in professional preparation as well as in assimilating to the culture of schools. Twelve diverse second-career teachers were purposefully chosen for this …


Achievement Effects Of Sustained Silent Reading In A Middle School, Mary Pinson Sullivan Feb 2010

Achievement Effects Of Sustained Silent Reading In A Middle School, Mary Pinson Sullivan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the reading achievement effects of a school- year-long program of sustained silent reading in a middle school. Students' scores on the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition across three years (2006, 2007, and 2008) were analyzed to test eleven null hypotheses. A 3 x 3 repeated measures factorial ANOVA showed significant post treatment differences in gains for Total Reading and Reading Comprehension at each of the three grade levels (sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) and for Reading Vocabulary for seventh grade. Pretreatment gains were greater for Reading Vocabulary in sixth and eighth grades. …


The Parent And Community Connection: The Essence Of Successful Students, Shante' Moore-Austin Jan 2010

The Parent And Community Connection: The Essence Of Successful Students, Shante' Moore-Austin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

As the old saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child." This is very true within the school system, and educators must understand the importance of parental and community involvement. This presentation focuses on a number of exciting and fun strategies for both beginning and veteran teachers on effective ways to incorporate parents and the community in the overall learning process


Destination: Cia, Shante' Moore-Austin Jan 2010

Destination: Cia, Shante' Moore-Austin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Pi Sigma Chapter motivates members to Commit to service, Inspire others to be successful, and Act responsibly as educators. Service projects and programs prompt members of this ACE Award winning chapter to action-oriented involvement within the university and community environment.


Is Brain Gym An Effective Educational Intervention?, Lucinda S. Spaulding, Mark P. Mostert, Andrea Beam Jan 2010

Is Brain Gym An Effective Educational Intervention?, Lucinda S. Spaulding, Mark P. Mostert, Andrea Beam

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Brain Gym® (BG) (BGI, 2008) is a popular commercial program sold by Brain Gym® International (BGI). Making extravagant claims for improved intellectual and physical development, it used in more than 80 countries. While BGI’s claims are persuasive, to date there is little empirical evidence validating the approach. We examine some theoretical assumptions from which BGI was developed, review the efficacy literature, and provide suggestions for making informed decisions about the judiciousness of investing time and resources in this program.


Technologies That Assist In Closing The Achievement Gap: A Comparison African American And Caucasian Students’ Learning And Community In The Online Classroom, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Randall Dunn, Holder David Jan 2010

Technologies That Assist In Closing The Achievement Gap: A Comparison African American And Caucasian Students’ Learning And Community In The Online Classroom, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Randall Dunn, Holder David

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Higher Education administrators and educators seek to understand how to design and to facilitate online courses to ensure quality, culturally responsive online education for minority students, specifically African American students, and to close the academic achievement gap that exists today. This study examines online students’ using both synchronous and asynchronous technologies to determine whether students’ social presence, cognitive presence, teacher presence, and perceived learning differ based upon ethnicity. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted. Results yielded no significant difference in dependent variables based on ethnicity.


Sharepoint Collaboration: Streamlining The Dissertation Process For Online Students, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Randall Dunn, David Holder Jan 2010

Sharepoint Collaboration: Streamlining The Dissertation Process For Online Students, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Randall Dunn, David Holder

Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the era of Web 2.0, document editors and collaborative workspaces have emerged. Primary functions of online collaborative workspaces include the ability to create a documents and document libraries online for others to view and collaborate and share document resources; thus, simplifying and streamlining projects that require collaboration. SharePoint is one such collaborative workspace. SharePoint is a server that has allowed for the simplifying and streamlining of the dissertation process for online students. The use of the various features of SharePoint for collaboration on dissertations are discussed. Benefits of using SharePont are outlined.


Of Student Teachers And Avatars: Working Towards An Effective Model For Geographically Distributed Learning Communities Of Pre-Service Educators Using Virtual Worlds., Randall Dunn, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, David Holder, Deborah Hodgson Jan 2010

Of Student Teachers And Avatars: Working Towards An Effective Model For Geographically Distributed Learning Communities Of Pre-Service Educators Using Virtual Worlds., Randall Dunn, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, David Holder, Deborah Hodgson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

With greater distribution of learning communities through the expanding use of online and distance learning, researchers emphasize focus on the effective use of specific technologies on student preference and achievement. One such technology drawing significant interest in scholarly and practical circles is the use of Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE), with the more common environment being Second Life, a product of Linden Labs, This research project, having gone through a pilot stage and under current implementation, addresses preference and effectiveness through a mixed-method research endeavor, examining forming communities using Second Life’s environment for small group discussions and large group seminar presentations …


Synergizing Wikis, Vodcasts, And Podcasts For Collaborative Class Texts, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Michael Szapkiw, Justin Tiucker Jan 2010

Synergizing Wikis, Vodcasts, And Podcasts For Collaborative Class Texts, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Michael Szapkiw, Justin Tiucker

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This tech-savvy generation of students, known as digital natives, desires to learn and to interact utilizing the collaborative technologies that have always been a part of their lives. The purpose of this paper and corresponding presentation is to demonstrate how a wiki can be used by students and the instructor to create a collaborative text and demonstrate how multimedia can be integrated into the texts using podcasting and vodcasting. A description of the procedures used to design, to produce, and to publish a wiki class text with integrated podcasts will be demonstrated. The challenges and benefits of using these technologies …


Factors That Influence Teachers’ Views On Standardized Tests, Christine T. Schuette, Mervyn J. Wighting, Lucinda S. Spaulding, Michael K. Ponton, Anastasia L. Betts Jan 2010

Factors That Influence Teachers’ Views On Standardized Tests, Christine T. Schuette, Mervyn J. Wighting, Lucinda S. Spaulding, Michael K. Ponton, Anastasia L. Betts

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The central aim of this study was to explore K-12 teachers’ (N = 183) attitudes about standardized tests as a function of experience, instructional level, student population, and type of school. The Teachers’ Views on Standardized Tests Questionnaire was developed to assess teachers’ perceptions of the impact of standardized tests on practice. All survey items were intended to measure a facet of teachers’ attitudes regarding the necessity of standardized tests and their influence on best practices. Findings from this study indicated that special education and inclusion teachers viewed standardized tests as more negatively influencing instruction than general education teachers. There …


Enhancing Classroom Communication And Collaboration Via Web-Based Technologies, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Richard J. Silvey Jan 2010

Enhancing Classroom Communication And Collaboration Via Web-Based Technologies, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Richard J. Silvey

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.


The Effectiveness Of Computer-Assisted Instruction In Developmental Mathematics, Kathy Dye Spradlin, Beth Ackerman Jan 2010

The Effectiveness Of Computer-Assisted Instruction In Developmental Mathematics, Kathy Dye Spradlin, Beth Ackerman

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This quasiexperimental study compared academic performance of students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course using traditional instruction (i.e., lecture) and traditional instruction supplemented with computer-assisted instruction. In addition, gender differences in mathematical performance were also investigated. There was no statistically significant difference in the posttest scores of students receiving traditional instruction and traditional instruction supplemented with computer-assisted instruction. There was a significant difference in the posttest scores of females and males, with females outperforming males in both modes of instruction.


Using A Wiki For Collaboration And Learning In Helping Profession Education: A Pilot Study, Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw, Richard J. Silvey Jan 2010

Using A Wiki For Collaboration And Learning In Helping Profession Education: A Pilot Study, Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw, Richard J. Silvey

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.


The Effect Of Athletic Participation On Academic Achievement For High School Seniors In Eastern Tennessee, David Andrew Gorman Jan 2010

The Effect Of Athletic Participation On Academic Achievement For High School Seniors In Eastern Tennessee, David Andrew Gorman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative study with a narrative component investigated the effect athletic participation on the academic achievement of senior student-athletes and non-athletes who attended three public high schools in Eastern Tennessee. The impetus for the study was the conflicting research as it relates to the impact athletics participation had on academic success at the college and high school levels. Through student athlete and non-athlete comparisons of ACT scores and GPAs, the researcher found athletic participation did not affect academic achievement for high school seniors who graduated in 2009 from the three target high schools when compared to non-athletes. However, statistically significant …


Brain-Based Learning Theory: The Incorporation Of Movement To Increase Learning, Eva Patrice Pennington Jan 2010

Brain-Based Learning Theory: The Incorporation Of Movement To Increase Learning, Eva Patrice Pennington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the use of kinesthetic movement as a vehicle by which to teach grammar to high school students. Brain-based theorists believe that, since the anatomical parts of the brain that coordinate basic physical movement are also the physical components used to coordinate the movement of thought, movement is necessary for optimal learning to occur. While purposeful incorporation of movement in the classroom is a popular and increasingly important aspect of brain-based theory, little empirical evidence exists to support the experiences, conjectures, and evidence across multiple disciplines and neurological findings when applied to the high school student. The study …