Education Commons^™

Qualitative Assessment Of The Writing Process, Laura L. Behrends

Graduate Research Papers

A strong trend in the language arts is the emphasis placed on the involvement of-students in the language processes to extend their thinking and language abilities. Thus, their involvement needs to be described by qualitative means. Qualitative assessment is necessary in writing because there is a great deal that cannot be measured (Field, 1992). Assessment needs to be continuous and inseparable from instruction, therefore authentic (Tierney, Carter, & Desai, 1991; Valencia, 1990; Barclay & Breheny, 1994; Stone, 1995). Assessment must be an integral part of each day in order for teachers to plan instruction and communicate with parents and the …

A Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Denise R. Aalderks

Graduate Research Papers

When I first entered the administration program, I remember thinking that when I finished classes, I would be prepared to become a successful administrator with the wealth of knowledge I had gained. As the time draws nearer, I see that experience, talking to other professionals, and the knowledge that has been afforded me, all balance out as guides for the near future. The knowledge I will have gained from this program will be only a part of my knowledge base. By this I mean, it is important that one does not see oneself as having all of the answers, but …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Floyd Athay

Graduate Research Papers

I believe in being a proactive administrator. I do not want to be recognized simply as the authority figure in the school that is rarely seen. My door will always be open, and I will be seen in the classrooms as well as throughout the school. I want to be active in the teaching process.

My first year as a principal will be a time for me to become familiar with the school environment. I will not make any major changes the first year unless I am forced to do so. I believe that this time should be spent becoming …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Steven D. Goodall

Graduate Research Papers

The role of an educational leader is constantly changing. The techniques of top-down leadership in schools today seem to have outlived their effectiveness. Bonstingl (1992), suggests that the Industrial Model (established by Frederick Winslow Taylor), in which management worries about quotas and quality while subservient workers fulfilled management's request without questioning the overall plan involved in process, has stagnated school effectiveness and proven to be a barrier to school reform. In order for leadership to be effective in today's society it is essential that a paradigm shift is made from top-down strategies to strategies which involve more collaboration between the …

How To Build And Maintain A Strong Technology Program, Brian Horn

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will deal with the issues of developing and maintaining an educational technology program, and explain the creation of a technology program from its beginnings to a strong, but never final, state. This paper will also give ideas on the seldom-thought-about things all schools should know about technology and its implementation in the schools. We will attempt to answer the question: How do schools put together a good technology program, keep it strong and prepare for the future in educational technology?

Writing A Defensible Personal Education Plan : Rationale And Design, Mary Kay Desenberg Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

Iowa requires documentation of qualitatively differentiated curriculum for identified talented and gifted students by schools using allowable growth funding. In response to this directive, a local special education Individual Education Plan (IEP) documentation format was modified to a Personal Education Plan (PEP) format for gifted learners.

Construction and refinement of the format continued over a seven year period. The use of the familiar IEP process seemed to afford credibility and was readily accepted by staff, parents, and administration. The PEP format held the program for gifted and talented to a high standard of accountability, and a six step model evolved …

Strategies For Sprinkling Spice On An Elementary Physical Education Program: Thematic Instruction Comes To The Gym!, Kristine Lee Whitcher

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to identify curriculum design strategies that would assist elementary physical education teachers in producing thematic units for elementary physical education classes. Strategies for integrating curriculum were identified in the literature then used to create and implement a thematic physical education project. Specific strategies were explained in detail through examples associated with the project. The strategies demonstrate that thematic instruction can successfully meet the needs of many children, invite new learning, and will assist teachers in coordinating themes with elementary physical education classes. A school-wide Olympic Fest was the culminating event of this project. There …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Richard E. Wulf-Mcgrath

Graduate Research Papers

I embrace change. I think back to when I lived in Massachusetts with my parents during high school. I looked into colleges that I might want to attend. inquired into business colleges. ln the northeast region of the country there were plenty of them. But for some reason I applied to one school out west; The University of Denver. I did not know any friends in Denver. l did not have any relatives close-by. I wanted an adventure. I was accepted and I decided to attend. This decision changed my life.

Self-Monitoring : An Efficient And Effective Intervention For Academic And Behavioral Targets In The School, Stacy S. Huisinga

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper will review current research concerning the use of self-monitoring as an intervention technique for academic and behavioral targets in the school. The history and theory will be described, as well as the elements and implementation of self-monitoring as an intervention technique. Classroom applications with academic and behavioral targets are reviewed, as well as caveats on the use of self-monitoring as a classroom intervention technique. Recommendations concerning the need for additional research on the applicability of self-monitoring as an intervention technique are also described.

A Multiuniversity Internet Course Collaboration Using Case Methodology : The University Of Northern Iowa Experience, Richard Gorman

Graduate Research Papers

One professor at the University of Northern Iowa decided to use a unique approach to teach her section of Elementary Curriculum. While five or six sections were taught in the traditional manner, one section, taught by Dr. Bonnie Johnson, and assisted by Dr. Dale Johnson, used an Internet-based, case methodology approach. In the Johnson class, students addressed issues that are facing teachers today; using technology, and communicating with students and faculty on other campuses. To accomplish this, students participated in an Internet course collaboration centered at the University of Virginia.

In evaluating the Johnson course, three questions were addressed. They …

Gender Differences In Science, David Harbaugh

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examines the research that was available about the trends and the status of gender differences in science. The major factors identified by researchers and educators that contribute to this gender difference are discussed. Suggestions are presented which may minimize the gender differences and provide specific practices that can help improve the situation. The results of this review indicate that although a difference exists, there are ways that educators, parents, and students can make changes to decrease the difference.

Block Scheduling : Effects On The Visual Arts At The Secondary Level, Laura J. Angove

Graduate Research Papers

As block scheduling sweeps the educational forefront in many American secondary schools, questions have been raised regarding the effect of "block" on the overall curriculum and the school's sense of community. Arts in general, and the visual arts in particular, have always been easy areas to cut in budgets due to downsizing and many art educators get fearful when they hear of a new educational trend coming to their school. How will block affect the stability and quality of visual art programs in schools once it has been implemented?

To explore this question, a survey was conducted of art educators …

Why It Is Important To Keep Recess In Schools, Mary Lou Mcgee Cushing

Graduate Research Papers

Recess is a common part of most elementary school schedules yet its benefits are often not clearly articulated. As a result recess may be thought to be expendable from school curricula as school districts adjust already full schedules in an attempt to accommodate every necessary component.

This research review explores the relationship of recess to school schedules, time allotments, activities commonly observed at recess, and developmental (social, cognitive, and psychomotor) aspects of recess in schools. Also addressed are common criticisms of recess in schools.

Understanding And Treating Selective Mutism In Children : A Guide For Counselors, Chelsea R. Carter

Graduate Research Papers

Selective mutism is a clinical disorder in which a child remains silent in chosen situations despite the ability for speech. Though there are cases of selective mutism in adults, the major population in which this disorder is diagnosed is in children. This paper will focus on these children who meet the criteria for a diagnosis of selective mutism.

There are three major theoretical schools of thought regarding selective mutism. The first deals with hostility and control; the second, anxiety and social phobia; and the third, family communication in regard to the onset and maintenance of this disorder. This paper explores …

Factors That Influence Independent Reading Habits, Janice Rose Rosauer

Graduate Research Papers

As our society begins to look for ways to raise the literacy level in the United States the focus is centered on our schools and helping students become life long readers. Questions have arisen about why some students have developed an aversion to reading at early ages and why some students who have strong reading skills choose not to read on a regular basis. The purpose of this research was to explore upper elementary students' attitudes about reading and explore different factors that influence these students to develop the motivation to engage in independent reading.

Parents as well as the …

A Summary Of Assessment Strategies For A Multi-Age Classroom, Tamera Frost

Graduate Research Papers

Many schools are implementing multi-age programs. This non-traditional teaching approach calls for methods of assessing students' learning that are consistent with the ways in which they are taught. The traditional methods of assessment require teachers to use the same assessment tool with every child. This is not consistent with the individualized approach to pedagogy that is fundamental in multi-age classrooms. Furthermore standardized assessment does not challenge some students, it frustrates other students, and does not provide the kinds of information needed for formative evaluation.

The author of this project has developed a summary of assessment tools to implement in eight-to …

How Can E-Mail Be Used To Facilitate Communication Betweeen Teachers And Students, Nathaniel Anthony Moultrie

Graduate Research Papers

Electronic mail, e-mail, or Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) is an electronic communication medium that is starting to emerge in the educational system. The use of e-mail between students and teachers is growing steadily and rapidly. In just a few years, the number of K-12 students involved in networking has grown close to one million with a rate of increase of over 10% per year. With the sudden burst of technology within the school system, a transition period of experimenting with innovative ways of communication is before us. This research paper will address the use of e-mail as a viable means …

Multiage Classrooms : Setting Up A Quality Program, Jan Lindeman

Graduate Research Papers

This study reviews the literature on multiage classrooms for setting up a quality multiage program. Both benefits and disadvantages of multiage classrooms are discussed. Benefits of multiage classrooms are the following: children work at their own levels, children work collaboratively with other students, and children learn to work with students of different ages. Disadvantages of multiage classrooms include the following: extra workload for teachers, parents suspicious about the effectiveness, and students compare themselves with older students.

Implementing a multiage classroom takes time and patience. Educators need to take time to examine the best way of implementing a quality program.

Technology Training In Preservice Education Programs : A Review Of The Literature, Catherine A. Gersema

Graduate Research Papers

Education is radically changing with the dawn of the information age, where the ability to access, analyze, and manipulate information is a basic survival skill. To become more technologically adept, elementary and secondary schools must provide technical training to their students. However, trained students are the result of trained professionals. Recognizing the burgeoning need to provide skilled professionals, institutions of teacher education are integrating educational technology programs in preservice education.

This review of the literature reports on technology implementation at teacher training institutions where educational technology is being infused into the preservice curriculum through adherence to guidelines from ISTE and …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Kathleen F. Hartzler

Graduate Research Papers

As a future principal, there are four areas that I feel I will be doing the most work. Those four areas are: parental involvement, community involvement, leadership style and technology. The bottom line in all of this is student learning. We always ask, whether a teacher or administrator, what is best for children? I will reflect on leadership style, parent involvement, community involvement and technology all as part of improving our school system to achieve the best education our students can get.

User Disorientation Related To Instructional Hypermedia Programs, Sandy S. Sutterer

Graduate Research Papers

Instructional hypennedia programs seem to define the current trend in today's educational institutions. These multimedia programs, most often found on CD-Roms (compact disks, which can be read, but not written to), make use of the computer to coordinate and present text, graphics, audio, animation, and video within a single document. They are classified as "hype1media" because of the way in which the various elements can be accessed. Rather than being limited to a linear presentation, in which each element is dispensed in a predetermined sequence to all users, Yang and Moore (1995) define hypermedia as a "non-linear association of information …

Increasing The Participation Of Minorities In Talented And Gifted Programs, Denice Nickole Young

Graduate Research Papers

The talented and gifted programs throughout the United States have become a vital part of curriculum instruction for many children. Unfortunately, minority children are underrepresented in the talented and gifted programs. The underrepresentation of minority children resulted in an examination of the current identification processes and the discovery of new procedures that would identify more minority children for participation in the talented and -gifted programs. · The literature review focused on the use of a multifaceted screening process and alternative forms of assessment for the identification and admittance of minority children for talented and gifted programs. As a result, options …

Story Retelling In The Elementary Classroom, Kathy J. Struck

Graduate Research Papers

Story retelling is a natural approach to teaching language, for it centers on whole units of language. As an instructional strategy, story retelling can promote children's sense of story and oral and written language abilities. This paper describes procedures for fostering story retelling, accompanied by different means of story retelling and suggested pieces of quality literature.

A Technology Survey Of Teachers In A Midwestern School District, Richard Vettraino

Graduate Research Papers

The number of computers in schools are growing daily. Today there are over 2.1 million computers in use in our nation's elementary, middle, and high schools, one computer for every thirty students (Henry, 1993). In 1988 $550 million was spent for computer hardware and $130 million for software in our nation's school systems (Schultz, Morrison, and Pruit, 1989). There is no longer a question of whether computers play an important role in our society; that is a known fact. The question now becomes how will educators react to the changing role of computers. What will they teach about technology and …

Personal Learning Preferences, Perceptions, And Multiple Intelligence Profiles : Affect On Educators' Attitudes About Computer Usage, Mary J. Dove

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between teachers' learning preferences, self-perceptions of multiple intelligence profiles, and attitudes toward computer usage, including the incorporation of computer technology into their classrooms. Data for this survey were obtained from a population of teaching and administrative faculty from a small, Midwest, rural public school district. Access and education that results in higher levels of experience were found to be critical variables, in agreement with professional literature to date. These factors, however, did appear to influence personal learning preferences in some instances and the multiple intelligence profiles provided valuable insight into …

Integrating The Research Process In The Early Primary Curriculum, Laurie Jean Hazel

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to design a developmentally appropriate curriculum that provides primary teachers with the rationale, planning, procedures, and guidance needed to incorporate research projects into their primary grade curriculum. This program is not limited to talented and gifted students; it is recommended for all students.

The literature review consists of profiling the work of teachers and authors in the field of education who incorporate research techniques into their teaching practice. The literature builds a foundation for the importance and benefits of research skills and projects for students of all ages and ability levels.

When primary students …

Peer Relations Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Joan Elizabeth Licari

Graduate Research Papers

This paper's main focus is on the peer relations of children with ADHD. Many interventions are used with children who have ADHD. One of the most widely used intervention is medication. The drug that is most associated with ADHD is methylphenidate or Ritalin. Medication, which can reduce some problematic behaviors associated with ADHD, has not been found to be very beneficial in peer relations.

Children who have ADHD are at risk for later psychopathology (mental disorders), among other problems, and thus early interventions are critical to reduce the onset of later pathologies.

This paper is intended to provide an overview …

Backpacking To Reading Success : Parents And Teachers Working Together To Promote Literacy Development, Anita M. Ott

Graduate Research Papers

Literature has stressed the importance of reading at home to guide achievement in reading (Paul, 1996, Nichols, 1991, Anderson, Wilson & Fielding, 1988, Henderson, 1988, and Hewison and Tizard, 1980). However the pace of society in the United States today has made it difficult for families to make time for reading at home. In addition some families do not know the importance of reading at home, or have not made reading a priority.

This project provides a suggested home reading program to foster literacy development in elementary-aged students. Four major components are addressed: a) identifying a continuum of literacy development, …

Information Literacy: Its Implications For Education, Lisabeth Underhill

Graduate Research Papers

This paper explores the concept of information literacy and its implications for education. Discussion begins with a look at the shift in America's economy toward information services. The skills necessary to function productively in this Information Age are examined to demonstrate the critical nature of information literacy. In the context of information literacy, educational reform such as resource-based learning and a process approach to information skills instruction are discussed. This discussion leads to recommendations for best preparing students for the 21st century.

Reading The Writing Of A Five-Year-Old Through Three Perspectives About Early Literacy, Deena M. Tauber

Graduate Research Papers

By evaluating a five-year-old's writing through three perspectives about early literacy, the researcher determined that examining and understanding one's own beliefs on how children learn to read and write offer insight on learning.