Education Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of High School Seniors In Mathematics Classrooms: Analyzing Methodologies That Increase Engagement, Andrea L. Crews-Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the methods high school seniors found engaging in mathematics classrooms at a private high school in Northern Florida. This study focused on engagement theory, which explains processes that help students learn based on attentiveness to presented content. Data collection for the phenomenological study consisted of interviews, focus groups, and journal entries as students shared their perspectives on engagement in their mathematics courses throughout upper school at a private Florida high school. Data collection took place by interviewing 15 students with the intention of students following into the other phases allowing …

The National Student Assessment 2022 In Bangladesh. Key Findings & Learnings, Directorate Of Primary Education Bangladesh

Assessment and Reporting

This fact sheet highlights the key findings of the National Student Assessment (NSA) 2022, a sample-based assessment in Bangladesh, covering 3,357,233 students in grade 3 and 3,604,586 students in grade 5. The NSA project is a partnership of the Monitoring and Evaluation Division. Directorate of Primary Education. Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, UNICEF, UKAID and Australian Council for Educational Research (India) as technical agency.

Positioning Undergraduate Learning Assistants In Instruction: A Case Study Of The La Role In Active Learning Mathematics Classrooms At The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Rachel Funk

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Research suggests learning assistant (LA) programs can be a change lever to support the institutionalization of active learning in postsecondary education. Some research suggests LAs offer unique benefits for STEM courses, independent from other change levers, but more research needs to be done to understand how LAs support active learning classrooms, specifically in mathematics. Research on mathematics instruction and the use of reform resources suggests that the successful implementation of reforms is impacted by perceptions individuals hold about that resource, such as the LA role. Yet, there is little research about the LA role in mathematics, particularly where the instructor …

Interdisciplinary Studies In General Music Education: Enhancing Learning Across Content Areas, Tara Kathleen Roof Stradley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Some perspectives of educators and community members in small rural school districts fail to see the academic benefits of music education and the importance of integrated forms of study, despite the many clear connections that can be seen between the general music curriculum and other content areas such as math and language arts. Interdisciplinary studies in general music education are essential for student growth across content areas. This study reveals the importance of music integration and interdisciplinary music studies in small rural elementary schools. It gives example lessons of mathematics and language arts in the elementary music curricula. Guided by …

Improving Math Fact Fluency In Students, Hilary Sprague

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Developing a solid math foundation is crucial for all students to ensure success. One of the foundational skills that students need to develop is the ability to find, recall and answer basic math facts accurately and effortlessly. Research has shown that students need to master their basic math facts to be successful in their math progression. Tier 2 interventions, educational math games, and computer-based math games were used to instruct, provide practice, and supplement core math instruction. The purpose of this school improvement project is to increase the proficiency scores of students with their basic math fact fluency. This school …

Engaging Students With High-Stakes Problems, Deepak Basyal

Mathematics and Statistics

Engaging students in meaningful mathematics problem-solving is the intention of many education stakeholders around the world. Research suggests that the implementation of high-stakes problems in mathematics teaching is one way to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding. Many carefully crafted open-ended problems constitute high-stakes problems, and proper use of such problems in teaching and learning not only encourages learners’ flexible thinking but also helps detect their misconceptions. However, what is less practiced and understood is: how exactly one should aim to implement such problems in a classroom setting. Teaching pre-service middle school teachers for a few years using high-stakes (mostly open-ended problems) …

The National Student Assessment 2022 In Bangladesh. Grades 3 And 5, Directorate Of Primary Education Bangladesh

Assessment and Reporting

The National Student Assessment (NSA) 2022 was a sample-based assessment in Bangladesh, measuring the learning levels of Bangladeshi students in Bangla and Mathematics covering 3,357,233 students in grade 3 and 3,604,586 students in grade 5. It was the seventh round of the national assessments in primary education in Bangladesh, conducted after five years and the most comprehensive national-level learning assessment after the global COVID-19 pandemic. The sampling method at school level was multistage stratified probability proportional to size method, and at student level was equal probability systematic random sampling derived from Annual Primary School Census (APSC) 2021 database.The report outlines …

Improving Access To General Education Via Co-Teaching In Secondary Mathematics Classrooms: An Evaluation Of Utah's Professional Development Initiative, Kaitlin Bundock, Kristen Rolf, Anna Hornberger, Chamy Halliday

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

Co-teaching may be a promising strategy to improve inclusive secondary mathematics education in rural schools. Professional development (PD) aids in special and general education teachers' co-teaching implementation, yet little empirical research examines how to effectively train and support co-teachers. In this study we describe one U.S. state's PD model for secondary mathematics co-teaching, evaluate outcomes of the PD on co-teachers' behaviors and beliefs, and examine the impact of co-teaching on students' mathematics achievement. We examined data from observations, surveys, and students' pre/post assessments across nine classes within seven U.S. school districts, including three rural school districts, over 3 years. We …

Incorporating Perspectival Elements In A Discrete Mathematics Course, Calvin Jongsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Discrete mathematics is a vast field that can be explored along many different paths. Opening with a unit on logic and proof and then taking up some additional core topics (induction, set theory, combinatorics, relations, Boolean algebra, graph theory) allows one to bring in a wealth of relevant material on history, philosophy, axiomatics, and abstraction in very natural ways. This talk looks at how my 2019 textbook on discrete mathematics, focused in this way, came to be, and it highlights the various perspectival elements the book includes.

Classroom Social Support: A Multiple Phenomenological Case Study Of Mathematics Graduate Teaching Assistants’ Decision Making In The Classroom, Brittany Johnson

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Research suggests that support offered by an instructor can have a significant impact on the student experience, both in terms of classroom performance and affective well-being. Research also suggests that there are different types of support that instructors can offer (e.g., emotional support, instrumental support, informational support, and appraisal support). Although such research suggests that students perceive and are affected by these different types of support in different ways, there does not appear to be research surrounding the decision-making process behind instructors offering the support or the extent to which social support is a priority for them in the classroom. …

A Case Study Examining The Experiences Of Middle School Teachers Who Use Manipulatives To Foster The Self-Efficacy Of Students With Math Difficulties, Krishanta Katira Butcher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine the experiences of middle school teachers who use manipulatives during math instruction to foster the self-efficacy of students with mathematics difficulties. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy was the theoretical framework for this study. The study was conducted at the Starlight School for Exceptional Children and at the Kingsway High School in The Bahamas. I recruited 15 participants for this study that included a combination of special and general education teachers who use manipulatives to provide math instruction to middle school students. To attain optimum results, I collected the data in the …

The Modern High School Learning Environment: A Study Of Differentiated Learning And Flexible Grouping Strategies, Aaron Wilken

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This research project explores the effects of differentiated learning and flexible grouping on students’ learning in high school mathematics. Specifically, the research demonstrates the effects of flexible grouping in a team-taught environment on students’ engagement and achievement. In this research study, students from two sections of team-taught Algebra 1 were used to determine changes in levels of engagement and achievement. First, students were grouped into a remediation group or an independent learning group based on their level of proficiency on an initial formative assessment. Students received instruction, practiced the necessary skills, and were assessed to conclude the study. Additionally, the …

Implementing A Multi-Tiered System Of Support For Mathematics Instruction In Preschool Classrooms, Jennifer Petty

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Early intervention in preschool mathematics instruction is key. Studies have shown that the development of early math skills may be the single most important factor for determining future school success. This school improvement plan lays out the necessary steps that the Sioux City Community School District (SCCSD) can follow to implement a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) for the Preschool Initiative classrooms that are a part of the Iowa Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Olds. This plan includes providing teachers who are a part of the Sioux City Community School District’s early childhood special education classrooms and the community partner …

Play Based Learning A School Improvement Plan, Kalee Chamberlin

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Play-based learning is a topic that is often discussed at the early childhood level. Research has shown that play-based learning can lead to success within the classroom in the areas of social-emotional skills, literacy, and mathematics. Research conducted within the Muscatine Community School District suggests that children could benefit from additional time in play-based learning opportunities. This school improvement plan describes in detail the process needed to implement a plan to increase the amount of time spent in play-based learning opportunities within the preschool classroom.

Examining The Impact Of Teachers’ Attitudes On College Students’ Attitudes In A Mathematics Classroom, Isiaka Busari, Adeola F. Oladeji, Tolulope O. Sulaimon

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

This paper discusses the relationship between teachers' attitudes and students' attitudes toward mathematics in the classroom. Through a review of more than twenty relevant pieces of literature, the paper analyzes the impact of teachers' attitudes on students' achievement, performance, confidence, and motivation in mathematics. The study concludes that positive attitudes displayed by teachers can enhance students' positive feelings toward mathematics and increase their engagement in the subject. On the other hand, negative attitudes displayed by teachers can hinder students' motivation and engagement in mathematics. The paper suggests that teacher training programs should prioritize the development of positive attitudes toward mathematics …

Using Game Theory To Model Tripolar Deterrence And Escalation Dynamics, Grace Farson

Honors Theses

The study investigated how game theory can been utilized to model multipolar escalation dynamics between Russia, China, and the United States. In addition, the study focused on analyzing various parameters that affected potential conflict outcomes to further new deterrence thought in a tripolar environment.

A preliminary game theoretic model was created to model and analyze escalation dynamics. The model was built upon framework presented by Zagare and Kilgour in their work ‘Perfect Deterrence’. The model is based on assumptions and rules set prior to game play. The model was then analyzed based upon these assumptions using a form of mathematical …

A Collection Of Calculus Lesson Plans: Deriving The 'Why' Behind Derivatives, Kasey Brabec

Honors Theses

The traditional mathematics classroom is led with a focus on procedural understanding, with deep conceptual understanding considered to be unimportant or too difficult to teach within the allotted time. Both levels of understanding are important mathematical competencies, as it is rare for either of them to function well without accessibility to the other. The disparity between conceptual understanding and procedural understanding in the mathematics classroom is no larger than in courses like Calculus. This project is a collection of fifteen lesson plans constructed with an emphasis on conceptual understanding and the connectivity of Calculus. Each lesson plan’s overview contains the …

The Difference In Geometry Achievement Between Students Who Utilize Lfm Strategies And Those Who Do Not: A Nonequivalent Control-Group Pretest/Posttest Study, Amanda Nicol

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental nonequivalent control-group pretest/posttest study was to identify whether there is a difference in Geometry achievement between students who utilize Learning for Mastery (LFM) strategies compared to those who do not at the high school level. This study provided insight into instructional and assessment strategies that may increase student achievement, understanding, and retention. Seventy-three high school mathematics students enrolled in Geometry courses, grades nine through twelve, from a suburban high school in Northwestern New Jersey were assessed in this study. Students were given a pretest, participated in daily classwork and instructional strategies for ten weeks, …

Cache Code Math: Mathematics Lesson Plans: Fractions, Kimberly Beck, Jessica F. Shumway, Aubrey Rogowski, Umar Shehzad, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Instructional resources

This document entails three 5^th grade mathematics lesson plans. The lessons are intended to be implemented in conjunction with the computer lab activities found in "Cache Code Math: Fractions, Functions, & For-Loops." The mathematics focus of these lessons is multiplying fractions, which is paired with the computer coding concepts of functions and for-loops.

Creative Learning With Music And Mathematics: Reflections On Interdisciplinary Collaborations, Graham Johnson, Alesia Mickle Moldavan

Department of Elementary and Special Education Faculty Publications

Culturally responsive content, accessible and inclusive tools, and meaningful interdisciplinary tasks can aid in developing equitable and creative learning environments. Music and mathematics are ideal disciplines for interdisciplinary creative learning. In this article, we reflect on our experiences engaging in interdisciplinary music and mathematics tasks with preservice teachers. In particular, we highlight specific efforts taken to design and implement a creative music and mathematics workshop for use in a mathematics methods course. Guided by these experiences, we offer examples of tools and practices that have helped preservice teachers collaborate, engage in inquiry, improvise, develop empathy, and take intellectual and social …

Math Department 2022-2023 Newsletter, Mathematics Department

Mathematics Newsletter

Welcome to our annual Mathematics Department Newsletter. We had an exciting year with many activities and accomplishments. Our students have received awards, attended conferences, conducted research, and have really contributed to the life of the department. Our faculty have had many accomplishments in teaching and scholarship. We conducted several events such as Alumni Night, hosted a guest speaker for the university community, had our Pi Mu Epsilon induction and awards ceremony, and much more. We have heard from several alumni and are happy to report what they are doing. Our Math Club has been becoming more active. On the curriculum …

Utilizing Markov Chains To Estimate Allele Progression Through Generations, Ronit Gandhi

Honors Theses

All populations display patterns in allele frequencies over time. Some alleles cease to exist, while some grow to become the norm. These frequencies can shift or stay constant based on the conditions the population lives in. If in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the allele frequencies stay constant. Most populations, however, have bias from environmental factors, sexual preferences, other organisms, etc. We propose a stochastic Markov chain model to study allele progression across generations. In such a model, the allele frequencies in the next generation depend only on the frequencies in the current one.

We use this model to track a recessive allele …