Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Computer Games On The Mastery Of Multiplication Facts For Students With Exceptional Learning Needs, Kristy Peters

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of multiplication computer games on mastering multiplication facts for students with exceptional learning needs. Three students will be participating in this research study. There is one male student and two female students, in Grades 3 and 4. Each of the three students has an individualized education plan (IEP) and receives three hours of instruction outside the regular classroom in a resource room setting. Two of the students have been identified as having Specific Learning Disabilities and one as having multiple disabilities. The students were selected for the study due to …

Making Sense Of School Reform: A Case Study Of Mathematics And Science Teachers' Sensemaking With One District's Differentiation And Detracking Initiatives, Katelyn Daplyn Skinner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to examine how individual science and mathematics teachers within a particular high school made sense of a district differentiation effort. A focus on teachers' perceptions and interpretations of this effort was targeted through the theoretical framework of sensemaking. Two of the teachers were present for an initial detracking reform effort, which enabled the researcher to examine their sensemaking of both initiatives.

There were clear differences in the sense that teachers made of the differentiation initiative. Additionally, there were multiple factors that impacted teacher sensemaking; the district initiative was not one of these factors. …

The Impact Of An Elementary Algebra Course On Student Success In A College-Level Liberal Arts Math Course And Persistence In College, Lori Ann Austin

Theses and Dissertations

Many students enter community college underprepared for college-level math and are placed into developmental elementary algebra without consideration if the algebra will provide a foundation for their needed college-level math course. Large percentages of those students are unable to succeed in the developmental course and, therefore, are unable to graduate (Bahr, 2008; Bailey, Jeong, & Cho, 2010). This quasi-experimental design focused on students who are not in math-intensive majors, needing only a general liberal arts math course. The purpose was to determine the impact of the elementary algebra course on success in college-level math and persistence in college. Student performance …

Factors That Lead To The Success Of Inner City Hispanic Students In Stem Dual Enrollment: A Mixed Methods Study, Anjali C. Thanawala

Theses and Dissertations

The United States has been struggling to maintain its authority in a technological world. Every year thousands of skilled STEM workers come to the United States to take jobs that are not filled by our college graduates. In order to uplift STEM education in the United States intermediation is required from the early years and also to encourage participation of Hispanic students in STEM majors and careers.

Over the years the high school graduation rate for Hispanic youth has increased, and their enrollment in institutions of higher education have also increased, however, their participation in STEM majors has not yet …

Effectiveness Of 1:1 Technology In The Science Classroom, Courtney Tara Weiss

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were: (a) to determine if using e-text technology in a middle school resource science classroom increases student academic performance, (b) to determine if using e-text technology in a middle school science resource classroom increases student engagement/on-task behavior, and (c) to evaluate student comfort and satisfaction in using an electronic textbook or print textbook in a middle school resource science classroom. Ten middle school students, four in grade 7 and six in grade 8 participated in the study using the Discovery Education Science Techbook and the AGS General Science series. A single subject design with ABABA …

Comparing Math Fluency And Automaticity Using Explicit Timing With Students With Disabilities, Andrew Ehala

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the mathematical fluency performance of a group of students with various learning disabilities in an eighth grade classroom by implementing and intervention intensification program that incorporates an explicit timing model. Students demonstrated a wide range of progression with their mathematical fluency with all students showing progress from the start of the study to the conclusion. Analysis of the data determined that students fluency levels increased at a faster rate when provided with a consistent intensive regime of math computational facts. Implications for teaching students with disabilities mathematical fluency are discussed.

First-Year Students: Investigating The Impact Of Participating In A Mathematics Learning Community, Lindsay Barrie

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate how participating in a mathematics learning community can impact a first-year students’ experience in college. The total population in the Math Learning Community (MLC) was 40, 36 of these members participated in a survey and five volunteered to participate in an interview. The survey collected demographic information and responses to statements regarding the students’ transition to college, their connectedness to Rowan, their peer interaction, faculty interaction, and their overall satisfaction at Rowan. The interview questions asked about their most and least satisfying aspects of participating in the MLC and what recommendations they …

Do Formative Assessment Strategies Help Learners With Academic Difficulties?, Dana King

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not formative assessment strategies enhance the educational learning experience for lower level learners in a mathematics classroom setting. The selected students are supported by a Basic Skills teacher and perform below grade level. The FA group, Formative Assessment group, was given two variations of Formative Assessments to use each day. The IAL group, Instruction as Usual group, continued as is. The formative assessment strategies used were mini white boards and a mathematical graphic organizer allowing the students to determine the problem, question being asked, information provided, which operation to choose, …

The Effects Of Cognitive Strategies Paired With Hands-On Or Virtual Manipulatives On Math Instruction For Students With Mathematical Learning Disabilities To Learn Word Problem Solving Skills, Kimberly Plute

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using cognitive strategies with hands-on manipulatives, and cognitive strategies with virtual manipulatives to enhance problem solving skills of students with Mathematical Learning Disabilities (MLD), as well as their satisfaction with those strategies. Five, 5th graders with MLD participated in the study to learn word problem solving skills in a math class for 80 minutes, 5 days a week for 10 weeks. A single subject research design with ABC phases was used in the study. Results showed each student gained from 3.6 to 5.2 mean points of the weekly quizzes …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Two Verbal Problem Solving Strategies: Solve It! And Cubes, Margaret Tibbitt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to find which problem solving strategy was more effective for special education students in the general education classroom; CUBES or Solve It! The students completed a pre-test, solving five single step and five multi-step word problems. The students then received four instructional and activity sessions on the CUBES and Solve It! strategies. The results indicated that the six fourth grade special education participants increased their problem solving skills after using each strategy. The Solve It! strategy resulted in a larger increase then the CUBES strategy. The students showed a slightly larger decrease in the …

Exploring Alternate Route Science Teacher Development Of Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Kim Feltre

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how alternate route first year science teachers’ learning experiences gained from their alternate route courses translated into their classroom instruction and facilitated the development of their pedagogical content knowledge. Participants included three first year high school teachers from two alternate route program institutions. Data collection and analyses focused on semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and teacher-generated artifacts. Findings reveal patterns among participant responses that emphasized the limited translation of learned pedagogical experiences from their alternate route programs into classroom instruction. In addition, findings show that participant alternate route program learned pedagogical …

The Effects Of Using The Gomath Program On Teaching Computation Skills For Students With Learning Disabilities, Patricia Virginia Giordano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects on teaching math computation skills to students with learning disabilities (LD) using the GoMath program and to examine the teachers’ and students’ satisfaction with this program in their teaching and learning. Four, 3rd and 4th graders with LD were taught by one special education teacher in a resource room and participated in learning computation skills for 60 minutes, 5 days per week for 12 weeks, using the Go Math program. A multiple baseline research design with A B phases across students was used to evaluate their performance. The findings indicated …

The Effects Of The Ride Strategy On Teaching Word Problem Solving Skills To Students With Learning Disabilities, Sandra Kay Locke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the RIDE, a mnemonic device on solving word problems for middle school students with Learning Disabilities and to examine the teacher and student satisfaction in teaching and learning using RIDE to solve word problems. Two male 8th graders participated in this study. They were both classified as having learning disabilities and were learning mathematics at a 3rd grade level. A single subject design with ABC phases was used in this study. During the baseline, the students were given a quiz with 5 word problems each day for ten …

Strategies For Teaching Developmental Mathematics Students At The College Level, Natalie Lynn Kautz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to identify strategies used by effective instructors of developmental mathematics, and to discover the perceptions developmental mathematics students have about these strategies. While there are research projects focusing solely on developmental mathematics achievement, this study fills a need by incorporating views of teaching effectiveness from multiple viewpoints.

In this research project, college-level instructors of developmental mathematics students were recorded on video before, during, and after the teaching of an algebraic concept. Students were given a pre-lesson survey and post-lesson survey to see if there were gains in their learning. Students completed a survey about …

A Study Of The Impact Graphing Calculators Have On The Achievement In High School Pre Calculus, Marsha Brumberg

Theses and Dissertations

The use of graphing calculators in high school mathematics has long been debated. The transformation of function, in particular, parabolas, was studied and it was shown that there was no loss of achievement in Pre-Calculus classes with the use of graphing calculators. Assessments examined the impact of the graphing calculator on the conceptual knowledge of the topics by testing the students without the graphing calculator and with the graphing calculators. Five classes of pre calculus students (two classes who used graphing calculators and three who did not) were used in the study. The same students were used in the before …

A Study Of New Jersey Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Qualifications And Beliefs On Certification, Stephanie Marone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to assess New Jersey middle school mathematics teachers' qualifications and beliefs on certification. To research this topic, teachers from South Jersey middle schools were contacted and asked to respond to a survey. The survey was created by the researcher to obtain information on the qualifications of respondents and their beliefs. The survey used a Likert scale to measure teachers' beliefs on their qualifications and comfort level teaching New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. It is clear from previous research that middle school mathematics teachers should be educated specifically to teach both mathematics and young …

Professors' Perceptions Of Student Readiness For College-Level Mathematics, Tara L. Pedrick

Theses and Dissertations

Students are not performing well in their freshman year in college mathematics classes. More incoming college freshman are being required to take remedial mathematics coursework. The purpose of this research is to determine if professors feel that traditional incoming freshmen students are prepared for college-level mathematics, and what factors they feel contribute to this level of preparation. To research this topic, professors from chosen two- and four-year colleges were contacted and asked to respond to a survey. The researcher created a survey using a Likert scale to obtain information on the views of college professors pertaining the topic. The instrument …

Usage Of Plant Examples In Secondary School Biology Classes, Tamara L. Egner

Theses and Dissertations

Botanists have expressed concern over the dwindling recognition and emphasis of plants that currently exists in the fields of education and research. To ascertain if these claims pertain to high schools in the State of New Jersey, a survey on the frequency of using plant examples for teaching 10 biological principles was randomly distributed to secondary school biology teachers. Results from 80 respondents showed that on average, plants are used as examples in teaching 66% of these biological principles. The primary rationale cited by teachers for low or non-usage of plants was that they preferred animals as teaching examples. Underlying …

A Study Of Secondary Teachers' Attitudes Toward The Use Of The Graphing Calculator To Prepare For And Perform On The Hspa, Michael Dempsey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research will be to identify the effectiveness of graphing calculators as instructional tools in building the skills needed to demonstrate proficiency on the New Jersey HSPA. To research this topic, teachers from South Jersey high schools were contacted and asked to respond to a survey regarding opinions and observations about the use of the graphing calculator. The survey was created by the researcher in order to investigate how teachers feel graphing calculators influence conceptual understanding of skills tested on the HSPA. The survey will use a Likert scale to measure teacher attitudes about the effect of …

Formative Assessment: The Effect On Academic Achievement And Attitudes Toward Science, Susanne Casey

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine if the use of formative assessment in the science classroom improved academic achievement in a group of ninth grade honors level students; and (b) determine the effect of formative assessment on the attitudes these students have toward science. Data was collected from two control groups (N=24 and N=26) and the experimental, comparison group (N=28). Students were administered two Likert-type surveys, an attitude survey and a causal attribution survey. Each survey was given at the start of the experiment and again at the end of the experiment. Summative test scores were also …

Teachers' Perceptions And Curriculum Analysis For A Zoo Education Program, Ronald S. Berger

Theses and Dissertations

Study intent investigated teachers' perceptions of a zoo education program and evaluated modules. Study explored program effectiveness by evaluating teachers' motivation to participate, students' engagement, presenter performance, program effectiveness, and teachers' met expectations. Study explored if program addressed New Jersey and Pennsylvania standards, North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) guidelines, and a lesson plan format. Research investigated teachers' perceptions by questionnaire from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Teachers perceived presenters performed well, students engaged, and integrating curriculum the motivation to participate. Research to evaluate modules was subjective. Modules addressed Science and Social Studies for New Jersey, Science and Technology, …

Programmatic Assessment Of Nonformal Environmental Education Programs In Southern New Jersey, Teresa E. Andres

Theses and Dissertations

Nonformal environmental education experiences can be useful tools for teachers when the programs are connected to state standards and national guidelines. This study examined how well field trip programs at nonformal environmental education centers in southern New Jersey met the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for environmental education and the North American Association for Environmental Education's Nonformal Environmental Education Programs Guidelines for Excellence. Fourteen centers from the six southernmost counties were sent questionnaires. Of the fourteen centers, eight responded to the questionnaire. The programs offered at these centers were then evaluated using a checklist for the state standards and …

Camden City Environmental Center Site Based Curriculum And Teacher Activity Guide, Wanda D. Little

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this curriculum and teacher activity guide is to provide Camden City School District's Environmental Center Program with a curriculum for kindergarten through fourth grade students. The curriculum provides students with site-based lessons and activities that are aligned and correlated with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Science, and the Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines For Learning (K - 12). The Site-Based Curriculum and Teacher Activity Guide, upon approval by the Camden City School District Board of Education, will provide students with guided discovery experiences that introduce new ideas, dispel misconceptions and reinforce previous learning.

The scope …

The Urban/Suburban Wildlife Survey Volunteer Project, Larissa L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined attitudes of volunteers in the Urban/Suburban Volunteer Project. Volunteers for this project surveyed for bird species for the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program in Urban New Jersey areas. This project was considered unsuccessful by the Endangered and Nongame Species staff. By analyzing a volunteer project that was not as successful as hoped, volunteer managers can learn from this and apply the findings to their own projects. The purpose of this study was to find out what volunteers thought of the Urban/Suburban Volunteer Project.

Questionnaires were sent to the known population, a total of 25 questionnaires …

A Study Of Certification For The Middle Grade Mathematics Teacher, James E. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine differences and similarities among elementary and secondary certified teachers' beliefs about state certification for the middle grades mathematics teacher.

A mail-in survey was conducted among teachers at forty-eight public schools serving middle grade students in Camden County. A fourteen-item questionnaire obtained opinions from teachers teaching in the middle grades. Teachers responded to items about state certification and individual requirements for obtaining certification.

The data was analyzed, and percents calculated. Teachers did not believe that elementary certification programs adequately prepared individuals to teach middle grades mathematics. The underlying perception is that neither of …

When Human Life Begins, Susan K.P. Das

Theses and Dissertations

The moment attributed to the beginning of human life is debated not only in religious and political communities, but within the scientific community as well. Particular attention is given to this issue as advances in science make it possible to manipulate the embryo and fetus at early stages of development. This study explores these issues as they are revealed in the literature. In particular, examination of the stages of human development associated with this issue and the correlation between these stages and their influence on ethical concerns in current scientific technologies such as abortion, cloning, and embryonic stem cell experimentation.

A Survey Of Students' Attitudes On The Implementation Of An Integrated High School Mathematics Program, Lori Ann Austin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a significant difference in the attitudes of general education students toward their math education before and after the implementation of an integrated mathematics program.

The study population was comprised of students enrolled in ninth grade general education classes at Williamstown High School in Williamstown, NJ. The sample consisted of ninety-six students.

A survey was administered to students to examine their attitudes toward general math class. After a four-week implementation of the Interactive Mathematics Program, the survey was administered a second time. T-tests and an ANOVA were performed to determine …

The Awareness And Use Of Standards-Based Mathematics Curriculums In Secondary Schools Of Southern New Jersey, Nancy D. Ciandella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and usage of specific standards-based mathematics curriculums in the southern New Jersey area.

A three-part survey was developed and sent to department chairpersons in 135 secondary schools in eight southern New Jersey counties. Part one of the survey determined the population characteristics and participant information. Part two was utilized to determine currently used mathematics curriculums. In part three, mathematical philosophy was determined from responses to Likert scale questions. An analysis of the survey included tallies of currently used curriculums, knowledge of standards-based mathematics programs, and a correlation of mathematical philosophies …

The Impact Of Varying Teaching Style Techniques To Better Match Learning Styles In The Science Classroom, Karen M. Santoro

Theses and Dissertations

This paper will address the correlation between student learning styles and the mode of delivery employed for instruction, and the outcome: student test scores.

By integrating a learning style assessment with a teaching style assessment the researcher challenges the belief that science needs to be taught in a systematic, methodical fashion and varying teaching style will result in significantly higher test scores. The test scores of a class taught with traditional science teaching delivery (lecture style) and the test scores of a class taught with various teaching styles were then compared.

The method employed involved using a learning style survey …

Computers In The Classroom – Do They Really Make A Difference In Student Learning?, Colleen Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the utilization of computers in the classroom would increase student learning. The participants were eighty-two seventh grade students from Demarest Middle School in Demarest, New Jersey. The students were organized into four heterogeneously mixed classes. The study was conducted over approximately two weeks. All students received introductory instruction on amphibians and frog anatomy and physiology. Two classes then completed the traditional specimen dissection, while the other two classes completed a computer-simulated dissection. The classes then switched and performed the alternative dissection procedure. Their performance was measured by the results on the …