Education Commons^™

Building 21st Century Business Skills In High School Business Classrooms Using Digital Games And Simulations, Stacy Marcus

Graduate Research Papers

Digital games and simulations are often seen as fun activities to reward students but their potential is much greater. This literature review examined how integrating digital games and simulations into secondary business curriculum can help students build the skills needed for the 21st century workplace in an environment that is conducive to how they learn best. The effects of digital games and simulations on student motivation are also examined as well as how to assess student learning while using these tools. The information found came from peer-reviewed journals, books, and studies from the Web. Digital games and simulations have proven …

Vocabulary Acquisition In Preschool English Language Learners, Leann Perkins

Graduate Research Papers

English-language learners are filling preschool classrooms across the country in classrooms where teachers are ill-prepared to teach them the English language. Teachers need support in knowing and understanding what current approaches are being used and what strategies are most effective to develop English vocabulary acquisition and help these learners succeed. Research articles are discussed and summarized, resulting in an analysis of how well preschool ELLs may or may not learn English vocabulary. A conclusion discusses the results and suggestions are given for classroom teachers.

The New Literacies: Transitioning The Secondary Writing Workshop Classroom, Laura Schafer

Graduate Research Papers

The New Literacies are an important aspect of education in the 21 st Century. As with any educational reform, there is some confusion surrounding the terminology of this movement. This paper will review the major components of the new literacies as well as examining the increased use of technology within the secondary writing workshop classroom. With the advancement of technology, students are incorporating more computer use both in and out of the classroom. ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) literacy skills must begin to transition into all classrooms; teaching includes the use of technology as part of instruction rather than a …

Decoding Hollywood: An Instructional Design Module For Visual Literacy Of Race, Ethnicity, & Cultural Portrayals In Hollywood Films, Derek A. Sallis

Graduate Research Papers

This is an instructional design project developed to enhance a curriculum module in Visual Literacy at the University of Northern Iowa. The module examines the content, messages, and viewer interpretation of Hollywood Cinema and issues of diversity. Hollywood reflects the current thoughts, actions, and habits of the American culture, which influences the thought process of the entire world. Students are required to view selected Hollywood films that document American history and educate in cultural diversity, trends and issues. The intention of this module is for students of diverse backgrounds to become exposed to a cultural system that they have traditionally …

Digital Gaming As A Learning Tool : A Literature Review, Seth Weylin Vickers

Graduate Research Papers

This review of literature focuses on the uses of digital gaming within learning environments. Using academic journal articles, the author reviews the advantages and disadvantages of using digital games, ways instructors are using digital games, the uses of educational as well as recreational digital games, considerations for implementing digital games, and an overview on the importance of digital security. The benefits include increased motivation, collaboration, and the increased opportunity of a learner potentially entering the flow experience. The disadvantages include health risks as well as some learners' negative attitudes towards digital gaming. The author recommends instructors to consider using digital …

Supporting English Language Learners In Today's Early Childhood Classrooms, Katie Furlong

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review is to identify the kind(s) of early childhood instruction and learning environment that best supports students whose primary language is not English. The research examined focused on which teacher strategies used in the classroom improve academic achievement for English Language Learners (ELLs). In addition, the research compared the effects of dual language, or two-way immersion (TWI) and monolingual English immersion (El) early childhood education program models on children's learning. A variety of sources were used and synthesized to provide the reader with informational data and recommendations.

Using Positive Behavior Instructional Support (Pbis) In Early Childhood, Megan Merkel

Graduate Research Papers

Challenging behaviors in early childhood education are becoming recognized as a serious barrier to social-emotional development and an indication of severe maladjustment in school and adult life. Educational professionals have been seeking to define, elaborate, and improve on existing knowledge related to the prevention and resolution of young children's challenging behaviors. The current literature review was conducted to describe the relationship between children's challenging behavior and implementing Positive Behavior Instructional Support (PBIS) and Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) in early childhood classrooms and programs. In addition, this review presents conclusions, recommendations, suggested educational policies, and needed future research.

Measuring Depth Of Understanding When Using Smartphones As Cognitive Tools In The Elementary Classroom, Lisa Westcott Schaa

Graduate Research Papers

The intent of this research was to measure how students' depth of understanding was affected by using smartphones in an elementary classroom, and what effects these cognitive tools had on students' abilities to express their level of understanding of the unit on Earth Changes. This empirical research took place for six weeks in the fall of 2011 with a class of eighteen Caucasian boys and girls of middle to low income economic status in a small town in Iowa. Students were a given a pre-test using traditional paper and pencil. Participants were split into two groups-with one group using traditional …

The Effects New Literacy And Digital Learning Have On Our Youth, Joshua L. Mitchell Sr.

Graduate Research Papers

This review explores the effects new literacy and digital learning has on our youth. It is empowering to students to be able to create while learning in the 21st century. One of the purposes of this review was to discover the greatest minds trying to understand the changing role of new media in education. A major resource used for this review was the Digital Media and Learning Research Hub supported by the MacArthur Foundation. This resource contained many articles that pertained to new literacy and digital learning. The articles led the reviewer to believe that a growing field of academics …

The Impact Of Pretend Play On Cognitive And Academic Development Of Kindergarten Students, April Marie Thelen

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to identify the cognitive and academic benefits of pretend play for kindergarten-aged children. The review will also identify ways that kindergarten teachers can integrate pretend play within their curriculum. The research reviewed enabled mathematics and literacy to be identified as related outcomes associated with pretend play. It also identified several teacher roles necessary for productive pretend play within kindergarten curriculum. The conclusion of this literature review includes recommendations for future action and education policies based on the research reviewed.

Teachers' Perceptions Of Skills Needed For Children's Entry Into Kindergarten, Jessica Blohm

Graduate Research Papers

Kindergarten readiness is an ever-increasing topic in the field of early education among educators. Research has indicated that children learn better if parents, preschool and kindergarten teachers' expectations are aligned. The purpose of this project is to understand local preschool and kindergarten teachers' perceptions of skills needed for children's entry into kindergarten. Teachers from two school districts and local preschools and daycares will be surveyed using the local Head Start Kindergarten Readiness Goals. Information gained will potentially lead to modifications in curriculum and learning goals for children, aid in professional development practices for teachers, and better prepare children in the …

Leadership Of Identified Gifted Compared To High-Potential Students Studying Iowa's Natural History, Katie E. Broeg

Graduate Research Papers

At one time, students were only considered gifted if they received a score of 140 or higher on an IQ test. Renowned gifted researcher, Joseph Renzulli, challenged this notion with his three-ring conception of giftedness; an interaction between above average ability, creativity, and task-commitment in areas of passion. Renzulli also promoted the development of leadership and social capital through Operation Houndstooth.

Today, the national definition for gifted children acknowledges academics, leadership, arts, and creative talents. Schools are beginning to expand their definitions and identification procedures to acknowledge students with creative talents and leadership abilities. How do these students compare when …

Universal Design For Learning At The University Of Northern Iowa, Marty Mark

Graduate Research Papers

Universal Design for Learning has the potential to minimize the need for assistive technologies and to maximize learning opportunities for all. Recognition of diverse learning styles is prevalent in K-12 settings, but rare in higher education, making this an area requiring additional focus. Understanding key principles and specific strategies that can be implemented in a postsecondary setting can significantly influence success in postsecondary and adult learning environments.

This review and the accompanying project defines Universal Design for Learning, explains the underlying science, identifies the three guiding principles, and discusses course design methods. Opportunities associated with implementing UDL at postsecondary …

Invented Spelling And Its Value In Kindergarten, Michelle J. Mcdonald

Graduate Research Papers

This review examined the purpose of invented spelling in kindergarten, and what invented spelling can tell us about a child's development of letter/sound knowledge, phonemic awareness skills, concepts of print, and language skills. Additional examination of literature on invented spelling in a comprehensive literacy program focused on the connection between reading and writing. Several studies included comparisons of writing instructional methods. Invented spelling has value as an assessment tool for various literacy skills. Criticisms and controversies were reviewed, as well as recommendations for the use of invented spelling to optimize its value in the kindergarten curriculum. Findings of the review …

The Role Of Teacher Belief Systems In Technology Integration, Joni M. Walvatne

Graduate Research Papers

The belief systems of teachers are strongly correlated to their planning, instructional decisions, and classroom practices concerning technology integration. This literature review examines common teacher beliefs, teacher goals and knowledge, and teacher support and barriers regarding technology integration into 21st century classrooms. The characteristics of teacher beliefs analyzed in this review include existential presumption, alternative situations, affective and evaluative loading, and episodic structure. This paper reviews peer-reviewed journal articles, published since 1992, that discuss the role of teacher belief systems in technology integration. Research indicates teachers face barriers and need additional knowledge and skills that build on, and intersect with, …

Infant Literacy, Tera Weber

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project is to share the importance of reading to infants with their caregivers and teachers. This project will highlight what the research says regarding reading, what the infants gain from reading, and ideas on how to incorporate reading into group settings with infants through a professional development project. Participants in this professional development opportunity will be able to see recorded examples of teachers reading to infants, infants interacting with text, and materials that teachers may take back to their classrooms.

Teaching Perfectionism Through Cartoons Compared To Bibliotherapy For Primary Grade Students, Miranda L. Zousel

Graduate Research Papers

Many students, especially high achievers, develop perfectionist tendencies during early childhood. It is important to teach students early to manage their perfectionism to avoid many negative consequences of neurotic perfectionism such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, procrastination , or underachievement, and to avoid entrenchment of behaviors. Traditionally, bibliotherapy and role-play have been used to help students recognize perfectionistic traits and learn strategies for ameliorating negative effects. But cartoon analysis is another potentially useful approach.

This pretest-posttest control group - experimental group design study of first, second and third graders (n = 46) compared concept acquisition and enjoyment of learning about …

Kindergarten Transition And Parent Communication, Jessica Rae Sandboth

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to clarify what a successful kindergarten transition plan is. This review focuses on the transition a child and his or her family experience when moving from preschool, home, or day care into the formal kindergarten classroom. Studies were reviewed from several countries in Europe and from the United States of America and Australia. Studies were conducted in various settings including Head Start classrooms, preschool and kindergarten classrooms, and day care centers. The studies provided information on the models of transition plans used, types of transition activities used, barriers to transition plans for teachers …

The Influence Of Digital Communication On Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, Melissa J. Dagel

Graduate Research Papers

Digital communications are profoundly influencing young adult communications; yet little is known about how novels that use digital communications such as text messages, e-mails, or blogs as the voice and point of view. The purpose of this qualitative content analysis was to analyze how select young adult novels portray digital communications themes using the following research questions: What digital communication themes are portrayed in young adult literature that use digital communication as the voice and point of view? In what ways are the digital communication themes developed in these young adult novels? In what ways might these themes inspire young …

School Library Circulation Records: What Do They Reveal About Boys' Reading Preferences?, Chelsea Sims

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine what if any patterns emerge in the library checkout habits of elementary school age boys in consecutive grades and to compare them to common assumptions of which books boys prefer to read. A quantitative bibliometric method was used to analyze and count the circulation records of forty-four students over a three year period. The circulations to the boys in the study were compared to the circulations to the girls. Records revealed that on average, boys in third grade borrowed more books than the girls in the study, but girls selected more books …

Fifth Graders' Discussions Of Graphic Novels Facilitated By De Bono Thinking Skills, Kimberly Ann Jennings

Graduate Research Papers

The effectiveness of graphic novels, heavily illustrated novels and traditional novels as a reading teaching tool has not been heavily researched. During the 5th grade school year of the 2011-2012, 24 students were required to read six novels, two in each format. During and after the reading, students were required to complete assigned assessments. The results of the study were graded based on a rubric system and by the number of responses per novel. The graphic novel received the highest scores in all categories. The graphic novel should be considered as an alternate method of teaching reading to 5th graders.

Implementing A Family Involvement Project In Early Childhood Classrooms, Elizabeth Barrett

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this family involvement project is to provide professional development to preschool teachers in the Sioux City Community School District. Through professional development, the teachers will design and implement family involvement activities in their classrooms to achieve the three goals of this project. The research reviewed focused on the benefits of family involvement and why it is important in preschool. Research studies indicated that preschool aged children do benefit from having their families involved in their education.

The Use Of Nonfiction With Early Childhood Aged Children, Lacy J. Rose

Graduate Research Papers

Many children enter upper elementary unprepared to effectively read and write nonfiction. Some researchers suggest that children's lack of developmentally appropriate experiences with nonfiction during the early childhood years is in part to blame for this later school difficulty. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the appropriateness of nonfiction for young children, as well as potential benefits and drawbacks of its inclusion in early childhood classrooms. This review of research is followed by the review of the implications current research has had on practice. In addition, suggested ways to increase early exposure to nonfiction are examined.

Social Bookmarking In The Classroom, Sara Richardson

Graduate Research Papers

The vast amount of content on the Internet causes complications when struggling to tame it. The purpose of this literature review is to uncover the viability of social bookmarking for managing Internet content for classroom learning. It also reveals how collaboration in social bookmarking can increase its effectiveness in the classroom and how social bookmarking models best facilitate learning. Sources researched were published in the last seven years, when social bookmarking started to become widely recognized. Studies in the areas of content organization, searching, collaboration, and education were reviewed. The conclusions acknowledge social bookmarking as not a replacement for, but …

Parental Perspective On Technology Integration In Pk-2 In A Rural Community School, Stephanie L. Callan

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigated parental perspectives of PK-2 classroom technology integration and parental familiarity with 21st Century Skills and their importance in their children's education and future success in a global economy. Through this descriptive study the researcher used mixed-methods of a survey and semi-structured interview to gather information from parents in a small, rural school in southeastern Iowa. The research found that parents of this age group do place value on technology integration as it relates to both their children's academic and future success. Most parents of this age group working outside of an educational setting were unaware of what …

Beyond The Dictionary : What Teachers Can Do To Help Build Struggling Readers' Vocabularies, Stefanie Van Heukelom

Graduate Research Papers

Vocabulary is well documented as a predictor of reading comprehension and school success (Cunningham & Stanovich, 1997; Davis, 1944 & 1968; Singer, 1965; Spearitt, 1972; Thurstone, 1946; Anderson & Nagy, 1991; Baker, Simmons, & Kame'enui, 1998; Becker, 1977; Cunningham & Stanovich, 1998). Through the research of the National Reading Panel (2000), vocabulary was identified as one of the five facets for improving students' reading along with phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension. Research has estimated that for every word known by a student who is able to use morphology and context, an additional one to three words should then be …

Multicultural Picture Books: Windows And Mirrors, Dawn M. Goodale

Graduate Research Papers

Multicultural children’s picture books offer readers views into far away places that can be similar or very different from that of the reader. These picture books can be used to enhance the Social Studies curriculum by offering students new perspectives on other cultures. The researcher employed the five dimensions of global perspectives developed by Robert G. Hanvey (1976) and criteria from the Iowa Core Curriculum Social Studies Standards (grades 3-5), to determine the titles that best exemplified the criteria. Review of related literature included the topics of multicultural education, multicultural literature and reader-text-relationships. The project consists of an annotated bibliography …

Teens Read Book Trailers, Jill Besler

Graduate Research Papers

The Teens Read website was developed as a tool for middle and high school students to use when making book selections. The website features award books from YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults, YALSA Teen’s Top Ten, Iowa Teen Award, and Iowa High School book lists. Book trailers are embedded on each page to promote the books as well as an embedded preview for students to get a sneak-peak of the book before selection.

Understanding And Meeting The Needs Of The Millennials In The Classroom: A Literature Review, Amanda Alexander

Graduate Research Papers

Due to unique pressure to improve student engagement and academic achievement, integrating technology has become the focus of much analysis. This paper reviews thirty peer-reviewed journal articles, which discuss the effects of integrating technology into K- 12 classrooms. This review examines the traits of Millennial students, which social media technology have an impact on student achievement and engagement, and what problems might occur with this integration of the technologies. Final discussions indicate that various technology initiatives have great potential to engage students. However, further research is needed to determine if using certain social media technology will improve student academic achievement.

Teacher Education Protocol : How Social Media Improves Connections Between Teachers And Students, Darcel Pledge

Graduate Research Papers

This review examines the importance of incorporating social media into teacher education programs to strengthen the partnership between teachers and their students in the classroom. Social media plays a big part in individuals' everyday lives. The purpose of this review is to display the benefits of social media tools in education. Peer reviewed journals were used for research. The studies examined found that social media tools can have a benefit in the classroom and strengthen the learning partnership between teachers, students, and parents. The sources reviewed also found that proper incorporation of these tools aids in a better learning partnership …