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University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

2010

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Articles 1 - 21 of 21

Full-Text Articles in Education

Avid Through Student Perspectives: A Qualitative Study On Avid Students' Experiences In The Program, Aidee Vasquez Dec 2010

Avid Through Student Perspectives: A Qualitative Study On Avid Students' Experiences In The Program, Aidee Vasquez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this research was to examine how Hispanic high school students represent their experiences in one college readiness program, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), which is designed to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college. Utilizing social and cultural capital theories, I examined student perspectives on the supports AVID provided for them to gain the social and cultural capital needed for success in school and entry to college. I conducted eight forty-five minute semistructured interviews grounded in an ethnographic perspective. Eight participating AVID students came from low socioeconomic backgrounds, were Hispanics in the academic middle (GPA …


First Generation Hispanic High School Students Going To College: Experiences That Support Decisions And College Going Pathways, Norma Ibarra-Cantú Dec 2010

First Generation Hispanic High School Students Going To College: Experiences That Support Decisions And College Going Pathways, Norma Ibarra-Cantú

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In this study I examined the question: How do first generation Hispanic high school students decide to attend college? To understand how the students made college decisions and what supported their pursuit of college aspirations, I interviewed six Hispanic high school students from five different high schools in a south Texas-Mexico border town. Student participants were the first generation in their immediate family to graduate from high school and to consider going to college. I conducted qualitative open-ended interviews with each of the participants and used inductive multilayered analyses to identify how students made decisions to attend college and how …


Predicting College Student Classroom Performance With A Simple Metacomprehension Scale, Amber Lee Klein Dec 2010

Predicting College Student Classroom Performance With A Simple Metacomprehension Scale, Amber Lee Klein

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The present study investigated the relationship between college student metacomprehension and the error of predicted classroom performance. College student metacomprehension was evaluated using the Metacomprehension Scale (MCS) designed by Moore, Zabrucky, and Commander (1997a). Prior to an examination administered by a course instructor, covering course content, students predicted the percentage score he/she expected to achieve. The predicted score was subtracted from the obtained score generating an error score. It was hypothesized that error of predicted classroom performance is a function of student metacomprehension, as measured by the MCS. Results indicate the MCS was not a reliable indicator of student predicted …


An Investigation Of High School Dual Enrollment Participation And Allied Health Program Enrollment In A South Texas University, Martina Flores Dec 2010

An Investigation Of High School Dual Enrollment Participation And Allied Health Program Enrollment In A South Texas University, Martina Flores

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The shortage of allied health professionals has caught the attention of legislators and higher education institution administrators. The current study used a concurrent embedded mixed method design to investigate factors that motivated students to participate in health science technology (HST) dual enrollment courses while still in high school. It sought to identify the factors or variables students believed helped them be successful in the health science courses. Additionally, the quantitative portion of the study investigated academic achievement as a function of high school achievement (HSAch), high school performance (HSPerf), Aptitude (Apt), and ProActive measures taken by students. Two focus groups …


A Critical Analysis Of The Identification, Placement, And Assessment Policies For Achieving Educational Parity Of Bilingual Learners, Lilia Rocio Estrada Dec 2010

A Critical Analysis Of The Identification, Placement, And Assessment Policies For Achieving Educational Parity Of Bilingual Learners, Lilia Rocio Estrada

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study analyzed the process of proper identification, placement, and assessment of Bilingual Learners (BLs) by investigating the perceptions of members in the Texas Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC). The findings focused on LPAC perceptions of their decisions to identify, place, and assess BLs as well as how these compared among members with different positions. Also, the LPAC members’ perceptions from schools that followed a dual language education program were compared to those schools that followed a transitional bilingual education program. It was found that majority of LPAC members lacked the confidence in assessing BLs, LPAC members holding higher positions …


Diversity Awareness Among A Diverse Business Student Population: Insights And Curriculum Implications, Marvin Lovett, Irma S. Jones, Gerald Hollier, Dianna Blankenship Oct 2010

Diversity Awareness Among A Diverse Business Student Population: Insights And Curriculum Implications, Marvin Lovett, Irma S. Jones, Gerald Hollier, Dianna Blankenship

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper addresses insights gathered from business students enrolled in a Hispanic Serving University (HSU)and resulting curriculum implications related to the continued heritage of the United States to embrace cultures of others. Although awareness of the realities regarding past, current and future diversity within the United State is important for all citizens, such awareness is especially necessary for business students planning to participate in the United States marketplace. This paper provides a limited historical perspective regarding the evolution and promotion of diversity within the United States. Secondly, the current degree of diversity in the United States is presented through a …


A Preliminary Study On Effects Of Graphic Organizers On Reading Comprehension, Trang Phan Aug 2010

A Preliminary Study On Effects Of Graphic Organizers On Reading Comprehension, Trang Phan

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study investigates whether Graphic Organizers (GOs) are effective for various groups of undergraduate students at the University of Texas-Pan American on their reading comprehension. Thirty-five research participants were classified into groups by their language background (NSE, G 1.5 and ESLLs); levels of reading proficiency (low, middle, high); and levels of graphic skills (low, middle, high). The findings are based on between- and within-group comparisons of mean scores in the pretest and the posttest taken by the students. The GO tasks scores helped to consider correlations between students’ levels of graphic skills and their reading comprehension performance. Results revealed GOs …


Social Networks And Beliefs Of Mexican-American Parents As Predictors Of Parent Involvement, Maria Filomena Leo Aug 2010

Social Networks And Beliefs Of Mexican-American Parents As Predictors Of Parent Involvement, Maria Filomena Leo

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Parents interact with school officials as social actors, with the cultural and social capital they possess. The school as a social institution operates within given processes to deliver educational services. The needs of both the parent and the school system may not always be suited to a harmonious relationship: still, it is possible to build a system to close that gap. In such a system each can reach across to help one another. This happens when schools understand the social forces that motivate parents to become involved with schools for the sake of their children. This study surveyed Mexican-American parents …


Meeting The Challenge Of Educational Leadership: A Historical And Biographical Examination Of Minority Women Who Have Made Major Contributions To The Education Of Students In The South Texas Rio Grande Valley, Kathleen Neal Carroll Aug 2010

Meeting The Challenge Of Educational Leadership: A Historical And Biographical Examination Of Minority Women Who Have Made Major Contributions To The Education Of Students In The South Texas Rio Grande Valley, Kathleen Neal Carroll

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This paper addresses the accomplishments of Melissa Dotson Betts, Emilia Schunior Ramírez, Estella Minerva Cuéllar, and Silvina Solís Hinojosa, in the field of education in the South Texas Rio Grande Valley. The paper reflects the difficulties encountered by women rising to challenges in education from the 1930s until the present day, and examines legislative actions that served as the impetus for allowing all of these women to excel in the area of educational leadership. The salary discrepancies Melissa Dotson Betts suffered in the Edinburg CISD because she was an African American were investigated, along with her mentoring of African American …


Development And Implementation Of An Introduction To Stem Course For Dual-Enrollment Programs, Horacio Vasquez, Arturo Fuentes, Javier Macossay-Torres, Martin W. Knecht, Robert Freeman Jun 2010

Development And Implementation Of An Introduction To Stem Course For Dual-Enrollment Programs, Horacio Vasquez, Arturo Fuentes, Javier Macossay-Torres, Martin W. Knecht, Robert Freeman

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A new Introduction to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) course was developed and taught for the first time during the summer in 2009 to dual enrollment college students at South Texas College (STC). The new Introduction to STEM course was developed in collaboration between STEM Faculty members at the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) and STC, with the objective of creating, supporting and strengthening STEM pathways for students in the Dual-Enrollment Engineering Academy (DEEA) and other dual-enrollment or similar programs. The course was offered to two groups of students, at two different campuses in the DEEA program at STC. …


Teacher, Researcher, And Agent For Community Change: A South Texas High School Experience, Francisco Guajardo Jun 2010

Teacher, Researcher, And Agent For Community Change: A South Texas High School Experience, Francisco Guajardo

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.


Undergraduate Hispanic Student Response To Cooperative Learning, Bobbette M. Morgan, Graciela P. Rosenberg, Lori Wells Jun 2010

Undergraduate Hispanic Student Response To Cooperative Learning, Bobbette M. Morgan, Graciela P. Rosenberg, Lori Wells

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Three classes of undergraduate Hispanic students assigned to an ESL professor and a teaching assistant were selected to experience cooperative learning over a full semester. Pre-semester surveys were completed by 80 undergraduate students. Post-semester surveys were completed by 66 undergraduate students. Strategies used in the classes included Think-Pair-Share, Ticket Out the Door, Jigsaw and being a member of a base group. This study is based upon theories of social interdependence, cognitive development, and behavioral learning. The surveys were completed by the university students to compare and contrast knowledge about their experiences in: 1) individual learning, and 2) learning with a …


Coping Strategies Of L2 Writers During The Writing Process: Case Studies Of Non-English Dominant Students In Mainstream English Composition Courses, Petra Jakulin Baruca May 2010

Coping Strategies Of L2 Writers During The Writing Process: Case Studies Of Non-English Dominant Students In Mainstream English Composition Courses, Petra Jakulin Baruca

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This paper sheds light on the strategies L2 students use to overcome their difficulties with writing assignments in a mainstream composition class. The findings are based on the composite of data gathered by interviews with students, teachers, students' written reflections on their writing, and surveys. The first part of the findings presents the strategies L2 students employed and the in-depth analysis of each case study reveals students’ rationale. It is concluded that L2 students are, in order to be successful, prepared to put a lot of effort in their writing assignments and that they develop a variety of strategies with …


Hispanic Students' Voices In Writing, Regine Pellicer May 2010

Hispanic Students' Voices In Writing, Regine Pellicer

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study focuses on the voices expressed by Hispanic students enrolled in first-year composition classes at a Hispanic Serving Institution in South Texas. The present research highlights similarities with a study conducted in Tucson, Arizona among Hispanic households. Both studies emphasize the importance of women as active agents in the transmission of literacy practices and language ideologies, which also reflect the dilemma of families caught between tradition and modernity. Moreover, this study reveals that Hispanics tend to look for new frameworks for their lives in evangelical Christianity. This work also focuses on students' dissonances regarding the use of oral code-switching …


School Public Relations: Relating With Lep Families, Annette Serventi Garcia May 2010

School Public Relations: Relating With Lep Families, Annette Serventi Garcia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this paper was to examine newsletters disseminated by school public relations programs to their community in districts where Spanish is the primary home language. A content analysis examined district newsletters of school districts located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The examination of district-issued newsletters determined the percentage of stories written in English or Spanish to compare with the demographic make-up, specifically the percentage of the non-English speaking parents of the district and the percentage of Limited English Proficient students. Stories were also analyzed to determine whether there were recurring themes in the English versus Spanish …


Grant Writing Skill Building: A Business Administration Curriculum Proposal, Dianna Blankenship, Irma S. Jones, Marvin Lovett Mar 2010

Grant Writing Skill Building: A Business Administration Curriculum Proposal, Dianna Blankenship, Irma S. Jones, Marvin Lovett

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper reviews the need for grant writing skills within various types of organizations and the resulting proposal for including grant writing within business administration curriculum at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. An introduction precedes the results of a survey regarding current grant writing courses within AACSB schools of business and is followed with a specific grant writing curriculum proposal. To grant is to give, and thousands of government agencies, corporations, foundations and trusts disburse billions of dollars each year. Recipients of these grants include many employers of business administration program graduates including non-profit entities, educational institutions, and business organizations. …


Communication And Collaboration Among Providers, John Lowdermilk, Cheryl Fielding, Leila Flores-Torres, Alonso Andrew, Lisa Becerra Jan 2010

Communication And Collaboration Among Providers, John Lowdermilk, Cheryl Fielding, Leila Flores-Torres, Alonso Andrew, Lisa Becerra

Human Development and School Services Faculty Publications and Presentations

The current study examined the perceived communication and collaboration patterns among staff at an autism treatment center in Texas. Specifically, we believe that communication technologies provide a pivotal role in effective collaboration among direct service providers. Through the study's participant's open-ended responses, researchers identified and described potential issues of concern around communication and collaboration patterns. Implications and recommendations for practice are included.


Technology Integration In Teaching Action Research, Alcione N. Ostorga Jan 2010

Technology Integration In Teaching Action Research, Alcione N. Ostorga

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article describes an instructional model designed to teach action research to undergraduate preservice teachers, which uses technology integration to facilitate the learning process that incorporates face to face and distance learning methods. First, a theoretical overview of the instructional design is provided then the instructional model is described. The course design is analyzed through the use of Moore's levels of interaction. Finally, the author discusses the conclusions and implications for future research.


Book Review Of Preparing Educators To Engage Families: Case Studies Using An Ecological Systems Framework, Michelle H. Abrego, Jesus Abrego Jan 2010

Book Review Of Preparing Educators To Engage Families: Case Studies Using An Ecological Systems Framework, Michelle H. Abrego, Jesus Abrego

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications and Presentations

Preparing Educators to Engage Families: Case Studies Using an Ecological Systems Framework is in its second edition. The first edition was entitled Preparing Educators to Involve Families: Theory to Practice. Notable in the second edition’s title is the word change from involving families to engaging families. The change in wording is important, as involvement often implies one-way communication from the school toward the family, and engagement denotes a much richer concept in which a reciprocal and dynamic relationship exists between schools and families. Specifically, the book presents family engagement as a shared responsibility of parents, educators, and community entities. Such …


Diversity Awareness Among A Diverse Business Student Population: Insights And Curriculum Implications From An Hispanic-American Serving University, Marvin Lovett, Irma S. Jones, Gerald Hollier, Dianna Blankenship Jan 2010

Diversity Awareness Among A Diverse Business Student Population: Insights And Curriculum Implications From An Hispanic-American Serving University, Marvin Lovett, Irma S. Jones, Gerald Hollier, Dianna Blankenship

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper addresses insights gathered from business students enrolled in an Hispanic Serving University and resulting curriculum implications related to the continued heritage of the United States to embrace cultures of others. Although awareness of the realities regarding past, current and future diversity within the United States is important for all citizens, such awareness is especially necessary for individuals planning to participate in the United States marketplace: business students. A historical perspective regarding the evolution and promotion of diversity within the United States is provided. Secondly, the current degree of diversity in the United States is presented through a descriptive …


Lessons Learned While Conducting Educational Program Assessment, Olivia Rivas, Irma S. Jones, Eli E. Pena Jan 2010

Lessons Learned While Conducting Educational Program Assessment, Olivia Rivas, Irma S. Jones, Eli E. Pena

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Assessment, accountability, and strategic planning are all processes that are included in accreditation for colleges and universities. For most colleges and universities, starting the reaffirmation process means identifying current assessment practices and reports from academic units and programs. This paper discusses the lessons learned during a successful completion of the reaffirmation process with a regional accreditation entity. The authors will present a model that includes an understanding of strategic planning, inclusion of faculty at all levels and affirms continuous learning and involvement in a dynamic process. Also included in the paper are additional tips and observations found useful by the …