Education Commons^™

Growing Epidemic Of Videogame Addiction, Christopher S. Hager

Graduate Research Papers

Videogames are rapidly becoming more popular with children and adults alike. Ever since the mid 1980s, videogames have been a major part of pop culture and a widely accepted form of entertainment. With more advances of technology and internet, online gaming has also evolved. Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games such as Everquest and World of Warcraft have become a topic of addiction (msnbc.com, 2008). Some individuals have neglected jobs, families, and personal well-being to continue to play these games, with signs of addiction mimicking substance addiction. The American Psychiatric Association is even considering involving videogame addiction as a compulsive …

Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Craig D. Murray

Graduate Research Papers

The role of a leader is invaluable in setting the tone of the environment and the vision for the school. There are so many parts to leadership, that continual learning will be necessary for any successful school leader. A school leader plays many roles including: a reflective practitioner, a change agent, an educational improvement specialist, and a servant leader who remembers the people who make the system work.

A Preferred Vision Of Educational Leadership In Schools : A Reflective Essay, Melinda A. Orris

Graduate Research Papers

The state of Iowa has laid the framework for leadership in education through the development of the six Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL). Each one of the six standards details a different aspect of the role needed for successful leadership within the school and the school community. Through these six standards and outside resources, I have found that there are core beliefs and characteristics required to have and maintain success in leadership in education. This paper will cover the essential beliefs and characteristics in educational leadership needed, and their importance for success within the school.

The Psychosocial Effects Of Pediatric Cancer On Young Adult Cancer Survivors, Jacob D. Schaefer

Graduate Research Papers

Childhood cancer is a current problem in our society. Today survivor rates are increasing. There are increased numbers of childhood survivors dealing with the after affects of cancer as they move into adulthood. Research correlations between childhood problems and adulthood problems have emerged. Issues of psychological, social, and physical concerns have created difficulties for childhood cancer survivors. However, there have been mixed results as some researches show healthy adaptation while others indicate abnormal daily functioning of children and young adults. Future research areas should focus on individual coping methods, social function of young adult survivors, and the human developmental process …

Lgb Students And The School Environment, Molly C. Juhl

Graduate Research Papers

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) students often face negative school environments. This literature review examines the current school environments encountered by LGB students and the risk factors associated with these experiences. These risk factors include suicide, substance abuse, academic issues, and struggles with identity development. After examining these risk factors, recommendations for improving the school environment are explored. Further recommendations for school counselors working with LGB students are then discussed. This literature review examines the use of client-centered therapy, bibliotherapy, group counseling, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy as approaches to working with LGB youth.

Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Erik J. Smith

Graduate Research Papers

My principle belief about education relates to the importance of students. Without the students, what we as educators are doing would not mean anything. As educators, we must do everything that we can to ensure that we keep our students engaged and learning. I believe that educators often lose sight of what is important and instead get caught up in trivial happenings (e.g., whether we should have the school buses pick the students up on the north or the east side of the school). If educators continue to stay focused on the students and do what is best for them, …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Schools : A Reflective Essay, Sarah E. Willenborg

Graduate Research Papers

In order to be a strong leader, one must be able to implement change effectively, link curriculum to instruction, and be called to service. These three components are vital in order to be an effective administrator. Through out my paper, I have reflected on the ways I feel I can most effectively implement each criterion, and create life long learners in my teachers and students.

How Poverty Affects Social Development, Behavior, And Academics Of Children : How Can School Personnel Help?, Jessica Holm-Blackburn

Graduate Research Papers

This paper discusses how poverty affects the social development, behavior, and academics of children. It also provides information to professionals who work with children to explain how children in poverty may demonstrate increased behavioral and emotional problems. Additionally, it explores what school personnel can do to help improve outcomes for students in poverty. A case example of a partnership created in Georgia is utilized to help articulate these concepts. The sources cited are all from recent published literature.

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Stephanie Renee Dougherty

Graduate Research Papers

A principal leads educational change. Schools are called to continually change to fit society's demands. Schools that remain stagnant are places where students are not being served in their best interests. Schools need to upgrade in order for students to be ready for the workforce. Principals need to continually scan for ways to encourage growth, improvement, and empowerment.

Play Therapy With Adults, Lisa E. Heiden

Graduate Research Papers

Play therapy is a type of therapy that utilizes play as the method for communication instead of the traditional talk therapy. It is most often used with children, but it can also be used with adults regardless of age, ethnicity, or background. Play allows people to experiment with different roles, learn and try new skills, and create or recreate events from life.

Play therapy has been adapted to fit different theoretical orientations and multicultural considerations, and it can be demonstrated through a variety of mediums and formats. There is a lack of adequate information and research concerning play therapy. The.purpose …

Understanding Gender Stereotypes And Their Impact On Clients, Stacey Hurt

Graduate Research Papers

Gender stereotyping has a complex and enduring history in our society, and it is an underlying factor in many issues – clients bring to counseling, including – among other things-women's and men's experience of depression (Nugent & Jones, 2005). A complicating aspect of gender stereotyping is that both males and females in our culture have been socially conditioned to fulfill many of the stereotypes imposed on them, and following stereotypical gender roles excessively can be harmful to their mental health, self-image, and interpersonal relationships (Nugent & Jones).

Counselors can use gender-role analysis and other interventions to help clients gain insight …

Online Counseling : Risks, Benefits, And Future Development, Lindsey J. Kenison-Severson

Graduate Research Papers

Online counseling started becoming popular in the mid-1990's and is a popular source of debate right now. There are a number of risks and benefits that need to be evaluated by both the counselor and client when determining the appropriateness of online counseling. There seems to be a lack of research regarding how effective online counseling is, but preliminary research seems positive in supporting the argument that relationships can be formed when using online counseling. Some individuals may be more appropriate for online counseling and some problems may be helped more effectively. Clients and counselors need to be educated about …

What I Believe About Leadership And Education : A Reflective Essay, Christine A. Mangrich

Graduate Research Papers

Educators are more than just teachers. Effective teachers are more than simply instructors, and instructional leaders are more than just administrators. Servant leadership is more than a method of managing a school or an office. It is something that encompasses the essence of a person. A servant leader is one whose foundational beliefs begin with the notion to serve first. This leadership persona is not something that one turns on while at work; it is generally part of the guiding principles a person has, and affects all aspects of a person's life.

A leader of service encompasses all facets of …

My Philosophy Of Educational Leadership, David A. Clark

Graduate Research Papers

Early leaders in civilization knew that to keep a country free of tyranny and social depredation it was imperative that the citizens within that culture became educated. Modem leaders of education can be found at the forefront of public education in the form of superintendents and principals. In this paper I will define the role of leadership in education, how it has affected my life, what makes a great principal, the principals role in educational change, a reflective practitioner as a leader, and how a principal can use professional development to enhance the effectiveness of his/her staff.

Grief And Loss : The Effects On Children And The School Counselor's Role, Hope Nicole Bleckwehl

Graduate Research Papers

School counselors may play a major role in the lives of grieving children. It is inevitable counselors will work with children having grieving issues. Children do grieve and their grieving process may look the same or different than adults. Children's experiences with death, developmental level, and individual differences all effect how a child will react to the loss of a loved one or a pet. The grieving process, developmental considerations, gender differences and common sources of loss are discussed in the following paper. Interventions a school counselor may use with children in classroom guidance, group counseling, and individual counseling are …

Character Counts! Incentive Program : Implementation And Evaluation, Julie A. Rouse

Graduate Research Papers

In order to better serve the school population, the school counselor is often called upon to deliver the counseling curriculum to all students. Data often drives the curriculum the counselor will present to the students. As a result of a program audit and perception data, a school counselor at West Elementary chose to implement a character education piece to the curriculum. Furthermore, an incentive program was added to encourage positive behavior and to recognize student achievement. Due to the age of accountability, the school counselor created a survey to assess the program. In addition to the survey, other sources of …

Technology Integration Within The Elementary Classroom Setting, Krista K. Krebsbach

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to examine technology integration in the elementary classroom setting. Technology is now considered to be an important part of a child's educational experience. Research has determined that students do not learn the same way they did years ago, thus schools are changing their methodologies on how to best serve the 21st century student. However, technology integration can not happen all at once; there are many barriers to technology integration. Some examples would be environmental barriers, curriculum issues, and the personal beliefs of the teachers.

School districts are addressing these problems to ensure that their …

Counselor-Client Connection, Sarah Larsen-Kos

Graduate Research Papers

In counseling profession, numerous techniques exist to assist counselors in helping clients with challenges. Although several types of strategies can be implemented by counselors, few strategies exist that are useful for majority of clients. Discussed in this text is one possible strategy that can be used with numerous types of clients and circumstances. This tool is the development of a supportive counselor-client connection, specifically used in a school setting. Benefits of this strategy include clients' feelings of support and encouragement, easing of student transitions and difficulties, increased self-esteem and general well-being, and academic and social progress. Additional considerations also noted …

A Vision For Leading Schools : A Reflective Essay, Melissa A. Margretz

Graduate Research Papers

The role of a leader is comparable to a circle. There are so many sides, they seem to run together with no definition of where one ends and another begins. What I believe about leadership and the roles of being a reflective practitioner, a leader in educational change, a leader in improvement of learning for students and adults, and a leader of service all share importance in a well-rounded, successful, educational leader.

In order to lead a school with success the leader must be able to play many roles at the same time. Not only do leaders need to be …

Self-Mutilating Behaviors, Patience Niemoth-Coleman

Graduate Research Papers

Treating self-mutilating behaviors (SMB) is complex. Since people are continuing to engage in the behaviors, counselors need to be informed of the various techniques that are used with SMB as well as to be informed about common myths around self-mutilating behaviors. This paper will explore the methods of SMB, the common myths surrounding SMB, and the theories that explain and inform treatment of.

My Philosophy Of Educational Leadership, Jody L. Fink

Graduate Research Papers

What is the true role of the principal? The principal has to be a reflective leader of learning, a leader of educational change, a leader for the improvement of learning for both students and adults, and the leader of service. The principal is the main educational leader of the learning community. As Wilmore (2002) states, "The primary emphasis has shifted from one in which the principal truly was a master teacher, a recognized leader in instruction, to one in which the principal is a manager of the school facility." Wilmore continues, "The role of the principal has transitioned again, from …

Accountability For Comprehensive School Counseling Programs In Iowa, Emily N. Janssen

Graduate Research Papers

This paper reports on the increasing trend for school counselors across the country to provide accountability for their comprehensive counseling programs. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) enacted in 2002 provides a rational for this trend. This paper examines related literature and describes implications for counselors, particularly for those practicing in the state of Iowa. A working definition of accountability within the context of education is offered. In an effort to inform professional school counselors of their newly defined responsibilities, the National Model developed by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is explored in detail and suggestions for practicing …

Importance Of Teaching Reading Comprehension With Nonfiction Texts, Valeria Jo Frey

Graduate Research Papers

Can comprehension strategies be taught as a learning skill for expository text reading in content area? What strategies in combination best benefit the reading comprehension of students who struggle with reading? How can reading comprehension strategies be taught so that skills are maintained and transferred across settings? In her book Exploring the Literature of Fact, Barbara Moss (2003) suggests that the items needed to be successful in reading nonfiction include accessing quality literature, learning reading strategies, understanding the use of text structure, and responding to the literature.

The following literature review will define reading comprehension using nonfiction material. The research …

Bullying In America's Middle Schools : Identifying Factors That Affect School Environment, Marnie M. L. Leiferman

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to explore bullying, and to examine how school environment can affect it. Bullying can (a) place a student at harm or fear of harm, (b) have a detrimental effect on a student's physical or mental health, (c) interfere with a student's academic performance, and/or (d) interfere in the student's ability to participate or benefit from activities at school. Many experts think that a positive school environment can reduce the incidences of bullying at school.

Barriers Of Technology Integration In Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade, Theressa Northouse

Graduate Research Papers

Many teachers understand the benefits of integrating technology in K through 5th grade classrooms, however, technology is not being effectively integrated. The purpose of this review is to identify the barriers of technology integration in kindergarten through 5th grade and discuss ways in which to remove those barriers. This review includes many research articles, books, websites, a blog, and an interview.

For the purposes of this review, the barriers to integration have been divided into two categories: first and second-order barriers. First-order barriers are extrinsic to the teacher and include issues such as lack of time, money, and technical support. …

The Relationship Of Preservice Teachers' And Faculty Members' Perceptions Of Critical Thinking And Their Epistemological Beliefs, Meskerem Debele

Graduate Research Papers

The term "critical thinking" has recently been used in the Ethiopian educational policy documents as well as in its teacher education curricula. Even though the concept has been given a central importance by being the central goal of education at all levels, a well established understanding and practice of nurturing critical thinking at school level, as well as at teacher education and training curriculum has not been achieved yet. From the personal experience both as pre-service teacher and then as teacher educator in Bahir Dar university, one of the teacher education institutions in the country, I have observed, especially during …

A Vision For Leading And Learning : A Reflective Essay, Todd M. Werner

Graduate Research Papers

It was my junior year of high school when I first started thinking about becoming a teacher. That year Williamsburg High School had hired a new Government teacher who was also the assistant boy's basketball coach. He was a first year teacher but he came out and really tried to make a difference from the start. I vividly remember how he tried to consistently challenge us in the classroom and in the gym. He worked hard at what he did and he expected the same in return. Even when he was pushing and challenging, he treated everyone with respect and …

Alcohol Use Among Adolescents, Malynda R. Zuck

Graduate Research Papers

Alcohol is the most frequently used drug among adolescents today. Alcohol use among adolescents has been linked to many probable consequences and risks including: motor vehicle crashes, risky sexual behavior and an increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, suicide, poor physical and mental health, lower social competence, and decreases in school achievement (Brown et al., 2007; Diego, Field, & Sanders, 2003; Wallace & Fisher, 2006). Research has shown that the earlier an adolescent initiates with the use of alcohol, the more likely that person will experience alcohol dependence in his or her life, with the onset of dependence occurring quickly …

Going Beyond Cookbook Labs : Computer-Based Laboratory Tools In The High School Physics Classroom, Jennifer A. Strohbehn

Graduate Research Papers

Physics education is currently undergoing a face lift. The lecture should no longer be the primary mode of instruction because students are not actively participating. For effective learning to occur, the students need to be engaged, not passive listeners (Knight, 2005). Student-centered classrooms are becoming more common, but there is still work to be done. For a student-centered classroom to be effective, the students must construct their own understanding with the teacher acting as a 'guide. Physics instructors are responsible .for .making the classroom a user friendly environment for students to explore the basic concepts of physics and to develop …

The Role Of Writing: Increasing Higher Level Thinking For All Students, Caroline Elser

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers can use writing in three important ways to increase higher level thinking skills for all students. First, they must increase writing proficiency for struggling writers; second, writing can increase higher-level thinking, and third, writing can be used across content areas to increase writing fluency while fostering higher-level thinking.