Education Commons^™

Problem-Based Learning: A Practical Process For A More Promising Future, Angie Ryken

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

A perpetual issue m American society is that of the comprehensive goal of its educational system. A prevailing conviction among researchers, teachers, lawmakers, and parents is that the purpose of this country's schools is to cultivate effective thinking in students. In a society that exhibits complex and threatening problems, noted Raymond Nickerson , we cannot afford not to develop good thinking (Baron & Sternberg, 1987).

Computer Mediated Communication: Elements Impacting Sustained Usage By Iowa Elementary And Middle School Teachers, Philip M. Hibbard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to examine, using a case study methodology, interactions among a group of Iowa teachers involved in a computer mediated communication project, to better understand those elements which may impact sustained usage of computer mediated communication. The study involved examination of one year's worth of on-line journal postings and interactive conferences, and interviews with the 22 teachers involved in the project.

The multiple sources of data collected were analyzed using a methodology known as constant comparative, and the analysis presented according to the following themes:

1. What topics did the participants discuss while using computer mediated …

The Women Superintendents Of Iowa: A 1990'S Analysis, Joen M. Rottler

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Historically, Iowa has had few women superintendents of K-12 public schools. Societal changes, political changes, and legislation, such as affirmative action, have had no impact on gender balance in the superintendency in Iowa. The number of women superintendents in Iowa remains low. Of 397 superintendents in Iowa, during 1993-94, only 14 were women. This qualitative study examines the characteristics of current women superintendents of Iowa. Specifically, the following aspects of career development were examined: childhood and adolescent characteristics, personal and professional characteristics, and career path. The experience of being a woman superintendent and gender related aspects of leadership were also …

A Sociometric Analysis Of The Informal Networking Patterns Of Iowa's Public School Superintendents, Thomas M. Hoover

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to describe the informal communication network of public school superintendents in the state of Iowa. This investigation was initiated because the literature on the superintendency remains silent to the topic of communication relationships among superintendents. For purposes of this study, networking was defined as activities leading to the formation of peer relationships resulting in the acquisition of useful information, advice, moral support, or socializing and mentoring opportunities.

The collection of data was made possible by means of a self-reporting survey mailed to all public school superintendents in Iowa. The survey reflected the standard approach …

The Need For Incorporating Course Work In Cultural Diversity In Radiologic Technology Programs, Doreen Marie Towsley

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There is an ever growing diversity in the radiologic patient population. This diversity is recognized by hospital accreditation agencies and described by a consensus of radiologic technology educators. It places upon Iowa's radiologic student a responsibility to be better prepared for increased multicultural patient interactions. Thus, developing a student directed encounter dealing with issues of multiculturalism and diversity might prove to be an effective method of enhancing the students' self-discovery, recognition of the differences among themselves, and the development of an appreciation for the needs of patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. This thesis contains two descriptive studies. Study A, involved …

Teacher Efficacy: A Construct Validation With Alternative High School Teachers: A Replication, Lisa Marie Bries

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to replicate phase one of Gibson and Dembo's (1984) construct validation study of the Teacher Efficacy Scale with alternative high school instructors. Replication of Gibson and Dembo's factor analytic structure of this instrument with alternative educators would provide a basis upon which to make comparisons between regular and alternative educators' self efficacy.

Subjects for the study were 77 alternative educators in a rural midwestern state. Each alternative teacher taught in the continuation school model of alternative education which addressed the needs of dropout youth and students identified as being in danger of dropping out. …

Passages: A Case Study Of An Iowa Female Secondary Principal, Victoria L. Robinson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to identify and describe one female Iowa secondary principal's career path to the principalship in an Iowa public high school. Several factors were considered in the selection of the participant including: demographics, administrative experience, and her willingness to spend time in the interview process. To provide semi-structure to the interviews and in turn suggest the conceptual frame for analyzing the data, the following questions were formulated:

1. What were the experiences which served as perceived barriers in the career path to the high school principalship for one Iowa female high school principal? …

Early Childhood Teachers' Beliefs And Practices Related To Promoting Children's Conflict Resolution In Constructivist Classrooms: A Study Of Two Teachers, Yuko Hashimoto

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study involved six weeks of classroom observations and in-depth interviews with two teachers, kindergarten and first grade, who are currently engaging in an on-going process of implementing constructivist education in a public school in Missouri and whose teaching practices are considered to be exemplary. The purpose of the study was twofold: (a) to describe and analyze the teachers’ practical approaches in promoting children’s conflict resolution in the classrooms and (b) to examine how the teachers’ beliefs and practices related to conflict resolution reflect the theoretical framework o f the constructivist program.

The results of the data collection were analyzed …

Acceptability Across Disciplines Of Attribution Retraining Alone And Combined With Learning Strategy Instruction, Melody A. Reeder

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Attribution theory has been reformulated repeatedly over the past 40 years. Seven of the major theories of attribution are discussed in this paper, as well as five attribution assessment instruments. A brief overview of learning strategy instruction is provided also. Based on a review of eleven major school psychology training textbooks and the past five and one half years of major school psychology journals, it was hypothesized that educational professionals have little knowledge, experience, and skills in attribution assessment and intervention. The purpose of the current study was to investigate educational professionals' (i.e., regular education teachers, educational consultants, school psychologists) …

Direct And Television-Mediated Observation Of Verbal Interaction In The Classroom, Terri Mcdonald

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to investigate differences in preservice teachers' ability to identify and report verbal interaction in the classroom during direct observation as compared to television-mediated observation, and (b) to examine the advantages and disadvantages of direct and television-mediated classroom observation as perceived by preservice teachers.

Subjects in this study were preservice teacher education majors (N = 96) from four university class sections enrolled in professional sequence courses prior to student teaching. The data were analyzed using a 2 x 2 ANOVA (mode of observation x tally type). The independent variable of mode of observation …

Technology In The Mathematics Classroom: "Glorified Toys" Or Educational Tools?, Jason W. Perry

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Teachers today are faced with an ever-changing and growing group of challenges when teaching their students. A continued trend toward the mainstreaming and inclusion of students with special needs into general education classroom, along with the increasing number of students being labeled "At-Risk" have created a demand and necessity for innovative and creative teaching strategies. A somewhat recent phenomenon has been an increased emphasis on the implementation and utilization of "technology" in classroom instruction. Teachers at all levels and all subjects are facing this "push" toward technology, but this project focuses on the teaching of mathematics, particularly at the secondary …

An Investigation Of The Energy And Transportation Component For Junior High School Technology Education Programs In Taiwan, Chang-Cheng Chen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to identify the appropriate content of the Energy and Transportation (E&T) unit for use in instruction in the junior high school Technology Education (TE) programs in Taiwan. Another purpose was to provide the Taiwanese higher education program administrators and educational planners with practical information for use in effectively designing and implementing preservice and in-service teacher preparation programs.

Survey instruments were developed through a literature review and validated by nine experts in E&T. The samples included 400 stratified and randomly selected TE teachers from four geographic parts of Taiwan, 200 stratified and randomly selected industrial …