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Full-Text Articles in Education

Broken Promises: The Inconvenient Truth Of Apartheid In Florida's Public Schools, Sidney Moss Jan 2008

Broken Promises: The Inconvenient Truth Of Apartheid In Florida's Public Schools, Sidney Moss

HIM 1990-2015

This manuscript contains discussion and analysis of the growing number of public schools in the state of Florida that are increasingly more segregated than at the height of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Further discussion and analysis on the influence that standardized testing, like the FCAT, has on the resegregation of public schools and the economic conditions of our Florida schools are also included. Interviews, field observations, and research data are provided and illustrate the burden that high stakes testing has on Florida's K-12 public schools, its teachers, principals, and the students who attend those schools. For the …


Leadership Orientations Ofcommunity College Presidents And The Administrators Who Report To Them: A Frame Analysis, Michele Mcardle Jan 2008

Leadership Orientations Ofcommunity College Presidents And The Administrators Who Report To Them: A Frame Analysis, Michele Mcardle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Presidents of Community Colleges and the administrators who reported directly to them were the subjects for this study based on the Four Frame Leadership Theory of Bolman and Deal (1990b). The Leadership Orientation (Self) Survey (LOS) was mailed to 169 community college presidents and administrators in the presidents' direct report teams. The final usable response rate of 69.82% to the survey fell within the acceptable range for education as defined by Boser and Green (1997). In addition, the subjects were asked to write about the most difficult challenge they had faced in their current position and how they handled that …


Using Communication Techniques In The Low-Performing Mathematics Classroom: A Study Of Fractions,Decimals,Performance And Attitu, Pamela Guyton Jan 2008

Using Communication Techniques In The Low-Performing Mathematics Classroom: A Study Of Fractions,Decimals,Performance And Attitu, Pamela Guyton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within a low-performing seventh grade mathematics classroom, communication techniques including discourse, collaborative groups, listening, reading, and writing were implemented during a six week period. This study shows how the use of these techniques led to the twenty four students' conceptual understanding of fraction and decimal concepts. This research study provides insight to the deep-seeded beliefs of low-performing students. It provides a record of how the teacher used communication techniques in the classroom and had a strong positive impact on the attitudes and performance of these struggling students.


A Study Of Instructor Persona In The Online Environment, William Phillips Jan 2008

A Study Of Instructor Persona In The Online Environment, William Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Higher education continues to witness a significant increase in the demand for online courses delivered via the World Wide Web. Institutions are challenged to position and prepare faculty for successfully developing and delivering this increasing number of online courses from a distance. Becoming successful in the online classroom presents difficult and time-consuming challenges to the novice faculty member. Instructors who transition from the face-to-face classroom find that some characteristics, strategies and procedures carryover into the online classroom. The new teaching environment presents an evolving spectrum of possibilities for the online professor, a new paradigm for teaching and learning. This research …


Leadership Behaviors Gained As A Result Of Involvement In A Community College Student Leader Program, Chanda Torres Jan 2008

Leadership Behaviors Gained As A Result Of Involvement In A Community College Student Leader Program, Chanda Torres

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess whether participation in a community college student leader program had an effect on the leadership behaviors of students based on five (5) practices measured by a student leadership practices inventory. By assessing these leadership behaviors, the community college was able to determine the effectiveness of the program and ways to improve the program's curriculum. This study addressed the following: 1) whether students who participated in a student leader program in a community college showed significant growth in leadership behaviors; 2) whether the growth in leadership behaviors of students who participated in a …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions And Experiences Of Seven Urban Middle School Science Teachers Related To Retention, Lu Dunn Jan 2008

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions And Experiences Of Seven Urban Middle School Science Teachers Related To Retention, Lu Dunn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Job satisfaction is essential to retain teachers in classrooms. Increased challenges in today s classrooms discourage many teachers from reaching veteran status. Teachers with a perception that they are making a difference appear to have more resilience in the difficult times in their classrooms. Purpose: To investigate the experiences of middle school science teachers. This study explored the influence of perceptions, beliefs, and experiences on job attrition and teacher satisfaction; and helps explain the cumulative effects that contributed to teachers' dissatisfaction. This study analyzed the intensification of the teaching profession and the increased emotional stress this causes for teachers. …


The Effectiveness Of "Delivering Unfavorable News To Patients Diagnosed With Cancer" Training Program For Oncologists In Uzbekis, Gulnora Hundley Jan 2008

The Effectiveness Of "Delivering Unfavorable News To Patients Diagnosed With Cancer" Training Program For Oncologists In Uzbekis, Gulnora Hundley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective physician-patient communication is primary to successful medical consultation and encourages a collaborative interactional process between patient and doctor. Collaborative communication, rather than one-way authoritarian, physician-led medical interview, is significant in navigating difficult circumstances such as delivering "bad news" to patients diagnosed with cancer. Additionally, the potential psychological effects of breaking bad news in an abrupt and insensitive manner can be devastating and long-lasting for both the patient and his or her family. The topic of delivering unfavorable news to patients is an issue that many medical professionals find to be challenging and is now getting the attention of medical …


Co-Teaching: Using Video To Identify Current Practices And Promote Teacher Discussion In Middle School Mathematics Classrooms, Kimberly Davis Jan 2008

Co-Teaching: Using Video To Identify Current Practices And Promote Teacher Discussion In Middle School Mathematics Classrooms, Kimberly Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the co-teaching practices occurring within four middle school mathematics classrooms and the influence of video discussions on each co-teaching team. The study took place within three middle schools in central Florida. The study provides a clear picture of the current status of middle school co-taught mathematics classrooms. The research results were inconclusive in that the key components of co-teaching were not observed (co-planning, co-instructing and co-assessing) and the findings were similar to past co-teaching research indicating mixed results. Overall, concerns that emerged from the study were a lack of heterogeneous classrooms, clarity for the role of the …


Art Therapy Treatment With Incarcerated Women, Bonnie Erickson Jan 2008

Art Therapy Treatment With Incarcerated Women, Bonnie Erickson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of art therapy in decreasing symptoms of trauma and psychological distress in women who were incarcerated in county jails in the Southeastern United States. In order to protect the integrity of the study, control subjects were in different dormitories from the treatment subjects. While the dormitories were randomly assigned to treatment or control, the subjects were not. The dependent measures were paper and pencil tests, the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2) and the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI) given at pretest and posttest. A demographic questionnaire was completed in the first session to better characterize the participants. In …


The Impact Of Formal Classwide Peer Support Training On The Occurrence Of Initiated And Reciprocal Peer Interactions Of Students, Richard Reardon Jan 2008

The Impact Of Formal Classwide Peer Support Training On The Occurrence Of Initiated And Reciprocal Peer Interactions Of Students, Richard Reardon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study examined the effects of classwide peer support training on the occurrence of initiated and reciprocal peer interactions of students with significant disabilities in two inclusive physical education classes. An AB research design was used to document changes in the occurrence of initiated and reciprocal peer interactions of students with significant disabilities following the provision of peer support training to all of their classmates. Four students with significant disabilities were observed in the study and baseline and post-intervention data on the occurrence of peer interactions were collected. The peer support training was provided to classes where four students …


Investigating The Effects Of Simulation On Transfer In A High Risk Confrontational Setting, Carolyn Kinsell Jan 2008

Investigating The Effects Of Simulation On Transfer In A High Risk Confrontational Setting, Carolyn Kinsell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals, who work in high risk confrontational (HRC) settings in which a conflict exists, experience high-stress levels in their jobs and are known to have a high level of decreased performance and decreased survival. Individuals being trained to handle such conflicts should be trained effectively to accomplish the ultimate objective, staying alive. The problem is the lack of research and program evaluations examining effectiveness of training simulations in the transfer of skills under HRC settings. The purpose of my study was to test if the skill of target acquisition could be effectively transferred to a real environment (RE) after exposure …


Perspectives Of Health Information Management Faculty Use Of An E-Learning Laboratory And Technology Acceptance, Peggy Meli Jan 2008

Perspectives Of Health Information Management Faculty Use Of An E-Learning Laboratory And Technology Acceptance, Peggy Meli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the delivery of healthcare has become more sophisticated, scientific, and complex, the need for HIM (Health Information Management) professionals at all levels has increased, and the role and status of those managing these functions has increased accordingly. (AHIMA, September 24, 2007). Studies by the Institute of Medicine and others have found suboptimal technology use throughout the healthcare industry. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) developed the e-HIM Virtual Lab (V-lab) to train students in the use of new technology applications in response to IOM findings. Faculty are the gatekeepers for use of instructional technology in educational settings. Many …


Examining Instant Messaging Impact On Learning Using An Integrated Worked-Example Format, Angelique Nasah Jan 2008

Examining Instant Messaging Impact On Learning Using An Integrated Worked-Example Format, Angelique Nasah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Instant messaging with Internet-based software is a ubiquitous form of communication in industrialized nations. In fact, many educators are observing that students engage with instant messaging while simultaneously engaged in academic activity. Though this type of multitasking is pervasive, educational researchers have not examined how the practice of instant messaging impacts learning outcomes. This dissertation describes the background, empirical and theoretical foundations, methods and results of a study examining the impact of instant messaging activity on learning, where instant messaging and learning are simultaneous activities. The question posed is grounded in the related areas of instant messaging practices, the Generation …


Accepting Technology And Overcoming Resistance To Change Using The Motivation And Acceptance Model, Daniel Siegel Jan 2008

Accepting Technology And Overcoming Resistance To Change Using The Motivation And Acceptance Model, Daniel Siegel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzed why some university faculty resisted a new software program using a new model of motivation. The new model, called the motivation and acceptance model (MAM), was inspired by the technology acceptance model and the commitment and necessary effort model of motivation. This model was tested on faculty at a college in a large southeastern university who were resisting a new software program called LiveText. This research used regression analysis to determine the relationship between the variables of the MAM: perceived usefulness, perceived organizational support, perceived ease of use, and attitude toward LiveText. The research was conducted during …


Predicting The Performance Of Interpreting Instruction Based On Digital Propensity Index Score In Text And Graphic Formats, David Norman Jan 2008

Predicting The Performance Of Interpreting Instruction Based On Digital Propensity Index Score In Text And Graphic Formats, David Norman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Practitioners have proposed that Digital Natives prefer graphics while Digital Immigrants prefer text. While Instructional Design has been extensively studied and researched, the impact of the graphical emphasis in instructional designs as it relates to digital propensity has not been widely explored. Specifically, this study examined the performance of students when presented with text-only and graphic-only instructional formats. The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between Digital Propensity Index scores of individuals and their performance when interpreting online instruction. A sample of students from the population of a large metropolitan university received the Digital Propensity Index questionnaire, …


Prospective Teachers' Development Of Whole Number Concepts And Operations During A Classroom Teaching Experiment, George Roy Jan 2008

Prospective Teachers' Development Of Whole Number Concepts And Operations During A Classroom Teaching Experiment, George Roy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A classroom teaching experiment was conducted to document prospective teachers' development of whole number concepts and operations. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the collective understanding of prospective teachers in an elementary mathematics content course. Design research methodology, specifically a classroom teaching experiment was the methodology selected for this study since it allows learning to be documented in a classroom environment and is iterative in nature. A revised hypothetical learning trajectory and instructional tasks from a previous classroom teaching experiment were used in this study (Andreasen, 2006). Research about children's development of whole number concepts and operations …


The Academic Achievement Of African-American Students In Orange County Public High Schools, Athena Adams Jan 2008

The Academic Achievement Of African-American Students In Orange County Public High Schools, Athena Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study was conducted to determine the disparity between the academic achievement of African American students and the academic achievement of white American students in the state of Florida, and more specifically, in five high schools in Orange County Public Schools. The term "African American" included all students who self-identified as that race upon enrollment into an Orange County public school. The study included male and female African American students from different socio-economic levels. The term "differences in academic achievement" is most commonly referred to as "achievement gap." Additionally, this study sought to determine the relationship, if any, in the …


Case Studies Of Reading Performance Of Male Students And The Single-Sex Classroom, Eric Basilo Jan 2008

Case Studies Of Reading Performance Of Male Students And The Single-Sex Classroom, Eric Basilo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Data from standardized test scores shows boys are falling further behind in literacy each year. Thanks to countless hours of research, we can pinpoint some of the causes for this decline. The major challenge educators face is how to keep boys interested in reading while placed in classrooms not necessarily designed to meet their needs. One option being explored is the use of single-sex classrooms. For over 160 years in the United States, public school single-sex classrooms have existed. The thought is that by separating boys and girls for academic classes, certain distractions will be eliminated, the environment can be …


Closing The Achievement Gap For English Language Learners:A Comparison Of Language Arts/Esol And One-Way Developmental Bilingual, Kimberly Marlow Jan 2008

Closing The Achievement Gap For English Language Learners:A Comparison Of Language Arts/Esol And One-Way Developmental Bilingual, Kimberly Marlow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study was conducted to investigate two English Language Learner programs in one Florida county and their implications for student achievement. The literature review showed that, as students progress through the educational system, the academic content becomes more and more abstract, forcing students to rely more heavily on their oral and written communication skills in English. Significant achievement gaps, sometimes extremely large, were also identified between English-only students and English Language Learner students. One study highlighted a 46% gap on the 2005 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). The present study was designed to investigate 23 middle schools in …


Music Standards Implementation And The Relationship To Fourth Grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Scores From 2004 To 20, Neal Phillips Jan 2008

Music Standards Implementation And The Relationship To Fourth Grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Scores From 2004 To 20, Neal Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the possible relationships among the perceived implementation levels of elementary music standards and Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores for fourth graders in reading, mathematics, and writing for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006. Survey data for the study were obtained from 32 school district music supervisors from large, medium, and small districts who returned fully or partially completed questionnaires. The study was focused on the relationships, if any, between a school district's mean scale scores in reading, mathematics, and writing from 2004 to 2006 in grade 4 and (a) elementary music standards implementation, (b) the average …


Educational Handheld Video: Examining Shot Composition, Graphic Design, And Their Impact On Learning, Jason Hutchens Jan 2008

Educational Handheld Video: Examining Shot Composition, Graphic Design, And Their Impact On Learning, Jason Hutchens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Formal features of video such as shot composition and graphic design can weigh heavily on the success or failure of educational videos. Many studies have assessed the proper use of these techniques given the psychological expectations that viewers have for video programming (Hawkins et al., 2002; Kenny, 2002; Lang, Zhou, Schwardtz, Bolls, & Potter, 2000; McCain, Chilberg, & Wakshlag, 1977; McCain & Repensky, 1972; Miller, 2005; Morris, 1984; Roe, 1998; Schmitt, Anderson, & Collins, 1999; Sherman & Etling, 1991; Tannenbaum & Fosdick, 1960; Wagner, 1953). This study examined formal features within the context of the newly emerging distribution method of …


An Analysis Of Florida Public Community College Foundations' Performance Measures From 2002-2004, Karen Sanders Jan 2008

An Analysis Of Florida Public Community College Foundations' Performance Measures From 2002-2004, Karen Sanders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research was to examine the performance of Florida public community college foundations from 2002-2004 using performance ratios. The findings from this study may assist community college foundation leaders to better understand the performance of their own organizations, compare this performance to other similar organizations, establish relative performance standards, and influence the strategic initiatives to improve an existing foundation. This study was designed to research the financial performance measurement ratios for the 28 public community college foundations in Florida. Ex post facto data that were publicly available were utilized to acquire the information needed for the statistical …


The Effect Of Mathematical Manipulative Materials On Third Grade Students' Participation, Engagement, And Academic Performan, Caryn Ross Jan 2008

The Effect Of Mathematical Manipulative Materials On Third Grade Students' Participation, Engagement, And Academic Performan, Caryn Ross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is the summary of research conducted in a third grade classroom during a unit on multi-digit addition and subtraction. The classroom teacher utilized mathematical manipulative materials throughout the course of this unit as a supplement to aid in the conceptual understanding of addition and subtraction. This study showed the effects of those manipulatives on third grade students' participation, engagement, and academic performance. Data collected from teacher observations and video recordings indicated a positive relationship between manipulatives and student participation and engagement. A pre-test/post-test and student work samples were used to determine effects on academic performance. Data showed students' …


The Effects Of Problem Solving Strategy Instruction, Journal Writing And Discourse On 6th Grade Advanced Mathematics Student Per, Melissa Wittcop Jan 2008

The Effects Of Problem Solving Strategy Instruction, Journal Writing And Discourse On 6th Grade Advanced Mathematics Student Per, Melissa Wittcop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are two purposes to this study. The first was for me, as a teacher, to try something new in my instruction and grow from it. The second purpose of this study focused on the students. I wanted to see what level of performance in problem solving my students are at currently, and how the use of journaling and discourse affected the students' problem solving abilities. A problem-solving unit was taught heuristically in order to introduce students to the various strategies that could be used in problem solving. Math journals were also used for problem solving and reflection. Classroom discourse …


Impact Of Scale-Up On Science Teaching Self-Efficacy Of Students In General Education Science Courses, Mary Kay Cassani Jan 2008

Impact Of Scale-Up On Science Teaching Self-Efficacy Of Students In General Education Science Courses, Mary Kay Cassani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two pedagogical models used in general education science on non-majors' science teaching self-efficacy. Science teaching self-efficacy can be influenced by inquiry and cooperative learning, through cognitive mechanisms described by Bandura (1997). The Student Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs (SCALE-UP) model of inquiry and cooperative learning incorporates cooperative learning and inquiry-guided learning in large enrollment combined lecture-laboratory classes (Oliver-Hoyo & Beichner, 2004). SCALE-UP was adopted by a small but rapidly growing public university in the southeastern United States in three undergraduate, general education science courses for non-science majors …


The Problem Of Polysemy In The First Thousand Words Of The General Service List: A Corpus Study Of Secondary Chemistry Texts, Karina Clemmons Jan 2008

The Problem Of Polysemy In The First Thousand Words Of The General Service List: A Corpus Study Of Secondary Chemistry Texts, Karina Clemmons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vocabulary in a second language is an indispensable building block of all comprehension (Folse, 2006; Nation, 2006). Teachers in content area classes such as science, math, and social studies frequently teach content specific vocabulary, but are not aware of the obstacles that can occur when students do not know the basic words. Word lists such as the General Service List (GSL) were created to assist students and teachers (West, 1953). The GSL does not adequately take into account the high level of polysemy of many common English words, nor has it been updated by genre to reflect specific content domains …


In The Critical Tradition: An Examination Of National Board Certified Teachers In A Central Florida School District, Jacquelyn Flanigan Jan 2008

In The Critical Tradition: An Examination Of National Board Certified Teachers In A Central Florida School District, Jacquelyn Flanigan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 1986, the Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy published A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century in which it recommended that a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) be established to ascertain and institute criteria for teacher excellence (Steiner, 1995). No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) mandated that every classroom employ a "highly qualified teacher" (No Child Left Behind, 2001a); moreover, NCLB articulated the relationship between improving student achievement and higher standards for qualifying classroom teachers (Rotberg, Futrell & Lieberman, 1998). Research conducted in Miami-Dade County supports Florida's use of National Board Certification (NBC) …


Teacher Perceptions Of The Achievement Of Students With Learning Disabilities On Statewide Assessments, Maryann Gromoll Jan 2008

Teacher Perceptions Of The Achievement Of Students With Learning Disabilities On Statewide Assessments, Maryann Gromoll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Each year as a growing number of students with learning disabilities are included in statewide assessments, teacher perceptions and beliefs toward student achievement are being identified and examined. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB) and the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) raise the achievement expectations of students with disabilities and require that teachers are knowledgeable about state academic content and achievement standards (Thompson, Lazarus, Clapper, & Thurlow, 2006). State departments of education are responsible to ensure that teacher competencies and expectations are specific to the achievement of grade level content standards (Thompson, …


Developing Mathematical Practices In A Social Context:An Instructional Sequence To Support Prospective Elementary Teachers', Debra Wheeldon Jan 2008

Developing Mathematical Practices In A Social Context:An Instructional Sequence To Support Prospective Elementary Teachers', Debra Wheeldon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This teaching experiment used design-based research (DBR) to document the norms and practices that were established with respect to fractions in a mathematics content course for prospective elementary teachers. The teaching experiment resulted in an instructional theory for teaching fractions to prospective elementary teachers. The focus was on the social perspective, using an emergent framework which coordinates social and individual perspectives of development. Social norms, sociomathematical norms, and classroom mathematical practices were considered. A hypothetical learning trajectory (HLT) including learning goals, instructional tasks, tools and imagery, and possible discourse, was conjectured and implemented in the mathematics class. Video tapes of …


A View From The Field: Urban Special Education Directors' Perceptions Of Essential Competencies For Newly Appointed Special, Carolin Pratt Marrett Jan 2008

A View From The Field: Urban Special Education Directors' Perceptions Of Essential Competencies For Newly Appointed Special, Carolin Pratt Marrett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine what competencies urban directors of special education perceived to be essential for newly appointed urban special education administrators. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were generated to investigate the underlying factors in competencies perceived by urban special education directors to be essential for newly appointed special education administrators and to investigate the relationship between years of experience as a director of special education and these underlying factors. A factor analysis revealed that there were three underlying factors reported to be essential for newly appointed special education administrators. A multiple regression …