Education Commons^™

An Elective Mathematics Course For College-Bound Students, Carol D. Daraskevich

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this project was to research and analyze the changes in college mathematics curricula and to establish the need for a change in the current college-preparatory mathematics program. The research indicates that colleges are emphasizing computer applications, statistics, and discrete mathematics.

A Manual For Child-Created Video Production For Use By Classroom Teachers, Jean M. Hogan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We are living in an information based society that has resulted in the availability of new technology for use by students and teachers. The video camera is an ideal tool for disseminating information and teaching skills; it is easy to use, produces immediate results and feedback, and catches the students' attention in an instant. Yet, many teachers shy away from incorporating the video camera as a part of their classroom curriculum. Some are wary of the camera itself. Others fail to see its potential as a part of their classroom curriculum since there are already many skills to be taught …

A Survey Of Computer Anxiety Among Secondary English Teachers In St. Johns County, Michael J. Mullan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As a result, in part, of computer anxiety, many educators are not utilizing available computer technology, even though its innovations extend to the classroom. Forty-four secondary English teachers from st. Johns County, Florida were given the Computer Attitude Rating Survey (CARS) along with a follow-up questionnaire, to identify anxiety levels and possible correlations with gender, education level, computer experience, and in-service training for this sample. Results indicate that men have less computer anxiety than women, that computer experience and in-service training decrease anxiety, and that Masters degree students have lower anxiety scores than do Baccalaureate degree students. These findings mirror …

Life Science For Elementary Teachers, Catherine Devine

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Science is taught at all grade levels, yet there exists a deficiency in the amount of emphasis placed on science training for elementary teachers. As a result, teachers often feel inadequate in their knowledge of scientific areas and in their ability to develop science process skills in their students. As a result in this lack of training, a need exists to provide programs to increase skill and confidence of elementary teachers not only in teaching science concepts but science process skills as well.

One means of meeting this need was the development of an activity-based, process-oriented inservice curriculum designed specifically …

Non-Sexist Language Curriculum Guidebook, Maureen Parrella Steiner

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Included is a skills development curriculum unit for secondary English students which encourages the use of non-sexist language with creativity within the content area. The study contains lists of objectives, writing, reading and group activities, an attitude survey for students and an evaluation checklist for teachers. Classroom discussions, films, fairy tales and skills development exercises are used to help students recognize and find alternatives to sexist language. The rationale for the teaching of non-sexist language is based on the theory that how we speak stems from how we think, and visa-versa. If sexism in reading and writing is identified and …

A Model For The Integration Of Art Criticism Into The Secondary Art Classroom, Dorienne B. Rogers

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study identifies, explains, and develops a practical model of teaching art criticism within a traditional secondary art curriculum. The approach to teaching art criticism uses the discipline-based art education format described in the Getty publication of 1985, a composite art critical format including B. Bloom, E. Feldman, K. Hamblen, and E. Kaelin, is accomplished through a process model curriculum developed by L. Stenhouse, and uses K. Gentle's curriculum design as the basis of the Curriculum Model Diagram.

The project provides lessons that are intended to help junior high school, and senior high school art students develop the necessary skills …

A Process Writing Curriculum For Kindergarten Through Third Grade, Patricia P. Dukes

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The curriculum that has been developed for this project is designed to promote the implementation of process writing in kindergarten through third grade classrooms. Writing activities are planned within the content areas and present writing as a natural way to communicate throughout daily activities.

The review of research reflects over fifteen years of work that has predominantly been carried out in classroom settings with elementary school students and teachers. Patterns of writing development have been identified that indicate a positive correlation between the students skills attainment and purposeful reading and writing experiences.

The plan incorporates individualized instructional strategies that have …

Teaching Disadvantaged Children Through Literature, Melinda Meek Ranney

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper concentrated on the teaching of economically disadvantaged children and the importance of reading aloud to these children. The traditional language program was found to be ineffective for disadvantaged first-grade children. A modified language plan was implemented in a classroom of disadvantaged first-grade students. This plan consisted of two units and involved the reading aloud of literature and language-related activities. Results indicated these students learned more effectively from units of study centered around literature.

A Comparison Study Of Kindergarten Retention Rate And Implementation Of Developmental Kindergarten, Toni Lane Dorsett Tennent

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In an attempt to help developmentally young children experience success, many schools have established developmental kindergarten programs. An ex post facto study of a developmental kindergarten program in a Florida elementary school examined 598 student records covering five school years. Overall kindergarten retention rates before and after the implementation of the developmental kindergarten program were compared. Entry age, gender, and class size as factors in retention were also analyzed. A comparison of the entry age, gender, and kindergarten retentions before and after implementation of developmental kindergarten was also undertaken. Results of chi-square analyses showed no significant effects upon kindergarten retentions …