Education Commons^™

Telling The Stars: A Quantitative Approach To Assessing The Use Of Folk Tales In Science Education., Margaret B. Meyers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the impact of paired folk tales and science explanations on students in third through sixth grades who viewed program modules from the SkyTeller Project of Lynn Moroney and the Lunar and Planetary Institute of Houston, Texas. The audience consisted of over 3500 students in eight locations in the United States. Because few quantitative studies have been conducted to examine the use of stories in science education, the development of an instrument to assess students' attitudes toward science and stories forms a major part of this research. During the final stage of testing, the revised instrument and methods …

Stop The Presses: Representations Of Women's Progress In Corporate America Reported Through Popular News Media., Suzanne Marie Cloyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the following key areas: women in the public sphere, women in the private sphere, and how media portrayals in these areas portray women's progress in obtaining executive positions in corporate America.

Topics of interest include wage differences between genders, executive placement, and attainment in board positions throughout Corporate America.

Honoring And Utilizing The Preoperational Thinkers' Artistic Processes In Art Education, J. B. Paquette

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Examines the relationship between thought processes and artmaking in preoperational learners (children from about two to seven years of age). Suggests that these children learn and communicate in the art room in a natural, revelatory, and quite ephemeral, way. Includes a sample art lesson plan for preoperational learners and investigates ways to connect with children's youthful thought processes in elementary art instruction.

Relationship Between Traditional Grammar Terminology And Metacognitive Application Of Grammar Concepts, Annalisa M. Buerke

Master of Education Program Theses

This literature review revisits the debate of whether grammar instruction can improve adherence to written English conventions. However, the paper focuses on the role of traditional definitions rather than on delivery methods. Two questions guide this paper: I. Do traditional terms and definitions hinder students' understanding of grammar concepts? 2. How can teachers define grammar terms in a clearer, more accurate manner? The paper uses prominent grammarians such as C. Weaver, R. Noguchi and M. Kolin and provides a history of methodology, noting researchers' observations of traditional terms and definitions. The paper concludes that secondary teachers can supplement traditional definitions …

To See Her Face, To Hear Her Voice: Profiling The Place Of Women In Early Upper East Tennessee, 1773-1810., Sσndra Lee Allen Henson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Following the Proclamation Act of 1763 growing numbers of colonists arrived in upper East Tennessee to settle and build wherever they could make arrangements with local groups of Cherokee. While these first families were occupied with survival, the British colonies continued to thrive. Concurrent with growing prosperity was the increasing determination of colonists to exercise control over their property and economic interests. Frontier exigencies affected family strategies for dividing labor and creating economic endeavors. A commonly held view asserts that where women were scarce and needed, rigid sex-role distinctions could not prevail. This thesis will present research of the earliest …

Cross-Cultural Studies Of Implicit Theories Of Creativity: A Comparative Analysis Between The United States And The Main Ethnic Groups In Singapore, Suzanna J. Ramos

Creative Studies Graduate Student Master's Theses

This thesis explored the extent of influence of culture on implicit theories of creativity among laypeople from the United States and Singapore, as well as the ethnic groups in Singapore - the Chinese, the Malays, and the Indians, in regard to adaptive and innovative styles of creativity as well as their own conceptions of creativity. A total of 523 participants were involved in this study. They comprised 139 participants from the United States and 199 participants from Singapore, 84 Chinese, 54 Malays, and 47 Indians. The participants completed the first part of a questionnaire that consisted of a ten-point scale …

Storytelling And Story Reading: A Comparison Of Effects On Children's Memory And Story Comprehension., Matthew P. Gallets

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For years, storytellers have been going to schools to share stories with children. However, to date only limited research has been done on the effects of storytelling on children’s learning. This project was part of an ongoing study involving several researchers. In this portion of the project, the effects of storytelling and story reading were compared. The population studied consisted of kindergarten, first, and second grade students. Half the students were read stories aloud, the other half were told the same stories by a storyteller. Data were collected regarding students ability to recall facts they had heard, as well as …

A Study Of The Southern Appalachian Granny-Woman Related To Childbirth Prevention Measures., Harriet P. Masters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Documented as serving in the midwife capacity from the 1880s to the 1930s, the “granny-woman,” often was the only line of defense regarding childbirth support practices for many childbearing age women living in the region during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The early twentieth century saw the granny-women discredited and subject to elimination as a result of a purposeful campaign conducted by the male-dominated medical profession. Using knowledge of herbal remedies, the granny-woman played an integral part in the survival of the inhabitants of the region, especially related to childbirth. These centuries-old, herbal-based ministrations have been explored to …

A Comparison Of Anonymous E-Peer Review Versus Identifiable E-Peer Review On College Student Writing Performance And Learning Satisfaction, Ruiling Lu

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of anonymous e-peer review with identifiable e-peer review on student writing performance and learning satisfaction. It also investigated whether anonymous e-peer review facilitated a greater amount of critical peer feedback.

Quasi-experimental design was used to test group differences on the dependent variables. Participants were 48 freshmen enrolled in two English Composition classes at Old Dominion University in the fall semester of 2003. The two intact classes taught by the same instructor were randomly assigned to the anonymous e-peer review group and the identifiable e-peer review group.

The results showed that …

Over State Lines: Somewhere Between, Melodie Past

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Humanities at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Melodie Past on January 20, 2005.

Developing Technical Communication Pedagogy For Nonnative Technical Graduate Students, David Sepulveda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to develop a pedagogy for teaching academic writing to nonnative graduate students of technical disciplines in order to give them the skills they need to write papers that they can submit to academic journals and conferences, thereby advancing their careers and gaining recognition for their academic institutions. The work draws on research from the fields of technical communication and second-language acquisition in order to develop pedagogical principles for a class in which nonnative technical graduate students write an academic paper that they can submit for publication. The thesis proposes an approach that incorporates content-based instruction, certain plain …

Aesthetics Of Listening: Creating Spaces Of Learning, Lisa Donovan

Educational Studies Dissertations

In this study with 9th-12th grade students in an urban Massachusetts school, I consider the question 'How can theater education develop a sense of voice and identity in adolescents?' Students in a drama class engaged in a variety of performance techniques including: interview theater, improvisation, and pantomime while considering the concept of voice/identity development. They then created an interview based script focused on an issue of their choice: the rules of the school and how they were enforced.... Data collection included video-taped class sessions, interviews with the drama classroom teacher, student peer interviews, and a final focus group session six …

Using Music As A Classroom Tool, Gail Foreman

All Graduate Projects

The main focus of the project was to develop resources that will use music as a tool to improve literacy and support learning in third grade self contained classrooms. Research provides strong data connecting the relationship of music to academic achievement, language arts and improved test scores. This project provides prototype lesson plans that support grade level expectations and uses t4e Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements as a basis for the concepts being taught. A unit of lesson plans was developed that integrates music into the language arts. Worksheets, graphic organizers and a music book list were developed as …

"Make It Real": A Guide To Implementing And Connecting State Madated Classroom-Based Assessments With The National History Day Curriculum At The Middle School Level, Richard Reuther

All Graduate Projects

This manuscript is intended to provide a framework for teachers to use the National History Day curriculum as a qualifying classroom-based assessment which will be required for all Washington State gth Grade Social Studies classes in 2008. A review of the literature of National History Day as well as classroom-based assessments is included. A plan for a preliminary assessment of available resources is explored, as well as a sequential topic-bytopic plan for implementing National History Day. Possible variations of student-centered activities are included; student roles in the research process and self-assessment are discussed. Alignment with Washington State Essential Academic Learning …

Assisting Students With Concept Acquisition In Basic Skills Reading Through The Use Of An Interactive Website, Michele Barbara Laveaux

Theses Digitization Project

This project creates an interactive website on the literature surrounding reading and concept acquisition skills in adult learners. This website used in conjunction with the Basic Skills English 10A course given in community colleges will enhance reading and concept acquisitions skills enabling student the self cofidence, encouragement and motivation to complete the course.

"Is It Really A Natural Fit?": The Construction Of "Technology" In Composition Studies, Irina Fealy

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis analyzes two popular computer assisted instruction teaching platforms: Daedalus Integrated Writing Environment (DIWE) and Blackboard (BB). The major focus of the exploration is to find out whether or not these programs are really a "natural fit" with the high expectations of new rhetoric compositionists.

Successful Strategies For Expository Writing, Bonnie Dee Reed

Theses Digitization Project

This study focused on creating an Integrated Expository Writing model to improve fifth and sixth grade students' abilities to write well constructed expository essays. It was developed through researching Step Up to Writing, the Six-Traits, interactive writing, play / realia, paired / shared writing, and writers' workshop.

Comparison Of Effectiveness Between Merit Software And Traditional Grammar Instruction For Ninth Grade Students, Cynthia Joann Furr

Theses Digitization Project

Purpose of the project is to determine whether Merit Software program, "Write it right" could be effective in a whole class setting (using one computer) rather than in a computer lab. The further purpose was to identify if this strategy was more effective than the use of the traditional textbook method of grammar study in the ninth grade. Lesson plans and a software description are included.

The Most Effective Way To Teach Spelling, Mandy Lea Strange

Theses Digitization Project

The research in this project shows that spelling needs to be taught through patterns, rhymes and the use of analogies. Weekly spelling tests are effective to assess spelling patterns, instead of useing a pre-determined collection of random words. Additionally, spelling needs to be taught within writing, not as a completely separate subject.

Tell Me A Story About Feathers: Teaching Discipline Through Literature, Carol Tripoli Rondeau

Theses Digitization Project

This project contends that the instructional time given to language arts is the appropriate time to teach discipline. Sample lesson plans incorporating the teaching of discipline into California's third grade curriculum are offered to inspire and inform educators to become teachers of self-discipline.

Circles And Letters: I Do; I Understand, Thomas Kitchen

MA TESOL Collection

How do we writing teachers respond to our students’ writing? How does our response affect both us and the students? Is it irresponsible to mark only a few recurring errors? Or is irresponsible to mark every error? Do students learn better when the errors are labeled or not? What about positive feedback?

This thesis explains an action research project I conducted with my reading/writing students. In the project, I explored many methods of responding to student writing, and I documented how one of those techniques affected me and my students. That technique called the reduced grammar technique focuses on recurring …

Integrating Writing Within The Foreign Language Classroom: Shifting Dynamics, Not The Task, Patricia Ann Evans

MA TESOL Collection

This classroom based research project considers the following questions: Why should my foreign language students write? From Pedagogy to Purpose; what happens when students use technology with their writing; what transitions take place with regard to the role as teacher when integrating writing into the Spanish language classroom? This project follows the shift from writing , disconnected activities to writing. How a student-centered writing process and technology support the shift away from the perception that good writing is voiceless and mechanical. It traces the shift from learning to write to writing to learn. The project studies the shift that occurs …

Using Music To Create Effective Curriculum For English Language Development, Steven John Schulz

Theses Digitization Project

Research supporting the viability of music to promote language and literacy development as well as the theory of multiple intelligences suggests that any sound educational program employ a multifaceted approach to teaching and learning. This project created a thematically based multiple intelligence curriculum for first grade English language learners that emphasized the use of song.

Use Of A Video Based Instruction Program To Enhance English Literature And Writing Concepts, Jeffrey Christian Pitcher

Theses Digitization Project

In this project an educational DVD about the life and writing styles of John Steinbeck was developed for use in high school freshman classrooms at Yucaipa High School. Additional activities to stimulate students' writing and composition in the style of Steinbeck were created to match educational theory and state standards.

Electronic Dictionaries In The Esl Composition Class, Rebecca Lynn Rudd

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis examines the use of electronic dictionaries by ESL students. In particular, it considers how, when and why students use electronic dictionaries in their writing processes. It also explores the extent to which students use words found in an electronic dictionary appropriately in their texts and whether electronic dictionary use influences their long-term acquisition of vocabulary.

When English As A Second Language Students Meet Text-Responsible Writing, Miso Jung

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis follows two international freshman students in an English composition class at California State University, San Bernardino. The results indicate that the students generally experienced feeling challenged and overwhelmed about the unfamiliar topic, but detailed assignment guidelines played a key role for students to progress in understanding the assignment.

College-Level Reading And Writing: Considering Curriculum From A Postmodern Perspective, Brenda Jean Littleton

Theses Digitization Project

This project presents qualitative investigations into the relation of science systems to education systems, and suggests post modern constructs as models of systemic change, with application toward reading and writing literacy for the college-level adult learning.

Teaching Vocabulary Through Integrated Curriculum Improves Reading Comprehension, Linda Carol Cox

Theses Digitization Project

This investigation was designed to determine if teaching vocabulary through integrating English and Social Studies curricula would provide tenth grade students who are poor readers with strategies to improve their reading comprehension. The strategies used were designed to support struggling readers and English language development students to connect denotative and connotative meanings of words found in the novel Animal Farm to their social studies class' content.

A Culturally Relevant Approach: Introducing Third Graders To The Injustices Of Migrant Farm Work, CéSar CháVez, And Social Action, Beatriz Barajas GonzáLez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to provide educators with substantial background information on the unjust history of the Mexican migrant farm worker in the United States and the life of César Chávez. The final goal is to include multiple websites and resources teachers can independently access in order to gain valuable information on migrant farm workers, César Chávez, and social action.

Embodied Knowing And Effective Communication In The Development Of A Choreography Curriculum, Michele Lynn Jenkins

Theses Digitization Project

Develops a choreography course curriculum to be implemented and evaluated for inclusion in the Chaffey College (a community college in San Bernardino County, California) dance program. Identifies and evaluates four core developmental areas of a well-designed choreography class: (1) communicative skill development through dance composition; (2) group problem-solving creative work; (3) integration of other arts with dance; and, (4) critical evaluation skills.