Education Commons^™

A Central Administration Internship In The Kalamazoo Public School System, James D. Arnett

Masters Theses

The Kalamazoo Public Schools serve approximately 14,000 students in 25 schools. Located in Kalamzoo County, the Kalamazoo Public Schools District is one of the largest employers in the county as they have 1,400 employees. The Kalamazoo Public School District is operated by seven member Board of Education and supported by the people that reside within the school district boundaries.

The internship involved 240 hours working with personnel in Central Administration in the areas of public relations, personnel procedures and practices, organizational structure, curriculum development and regulations in special education, financial planning, contract negotiations and federal and state programs.

The Incorporation Of Sleep And Dream Research Into The Choreography Of For A Brief Moment . . . , Melinda C. Chesney

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to design a movement concept based upon specific aspects of sleep and dream theory. First, a review of literature explored various brain wave patterns occurring during sleep and the dream process. Next, dream documentations were used to examine the more common images and symbolisms of dreams. These brain wave patterns and dream images were then utilized in the development of movement sequences and concepts for the choreographic work For a brief moment . . .. The culmination of this choreographic thesis was the presentation of For a brief moment . . . at the …

Mediation: Fact Or Fiction; Force Or Finesse? A Synopsis Of Case Studies, Charles N. Carpenter

Masters Theses

The primary objective of this study was to observe a state mediator in his role during public sector contract negotiations and relate these observations to the tenets of conflict management and power sources.

Conclusions are drawn relative to the impact of the mediation process on collective bargaining.

An Internship In A Public School System, Joann Mulder

Masters Theses

The internship project is a requirement for the Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. The intern chose to fulfill this requirement in a particular school district. The intern centered her project around the role of an elementary principal.

The school district is located just north of a city with a population of 50,000 on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is approximately 150 miles west of Detroit, Michigan, and 170 miles northeast of Chicago, Illinois. The school system serves students K-12 with a total enrollment of 3,600 students. In addition, the system serves as fiscal agent for a community education program …

A Report Of An Internship With Kalamazoo Adult Education Kalamazoo, Michigan, Charmane Walker

Masters Theses

This report summarizes a 23 week internship with the Community Education program of the Kalamazoo Public School System. It presented the opportunity to work closely with the director o f the center and to play an active role in the programs that were offered. Particular projects to work on were given in addition to the regular obligations of the Community Education Director. This paper will provide the reader with a knowledgeable awareness of how the director and supervisors of the program work hand in hand to prepare materials and resources to furnish the students with a worthwhile program. There are …

A Report Of An Internship At Western Michigan University In The Office Of Instructional Development And Project Excite, Leslie K. Scofield

Masters Theses

The objective of this internship was to develop instructional development skills with microcomputers. The Office of Instructional Development at Western Michigan University agreed to provide the following opportunities: teach inservice Project EXCITE (EXpanding with Computers and Information TEchnology) Computer Literacy workshops; develop new course materials for the Continuing Literacy workshops; develop new course materials for the Continuing Education Computer Literacy workshops; develop a computerized bulletin board, and an interactive (video and microcomputer) training program demo.

The intern worked as a teaching assistant during a fifth; developed new course materials for computer literacy workshops; reviewed computer bulletin boards that operate on …

A Cinematographical Analysis Of The Execution Of Three Types Of Pitches Using The Windmill Style Softball Delivery, Bonni L. Kinne

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to identify the specific kinematic and kinetic variables associated with a successful fast ball, drop ball, and rise ball using the windmill style softball delivery. The subjects chosen for the investigation were female pitchers who participated in the Women's National Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament held in Buffalo, New York from August 17, 1984 to August 24, 1984.

After analyzing the data obtained from these subjects, the investigator concluded that: (a) there is a great deal of variability between the fast ball pitching mechanics of elite windmill style softball pitchers; (b) the success of a drop …

The Effect Of Word Abbreviation On Decoding Speed And Accuracy, Frances Piccione

Masters Theses

An experiment was conducted to verify the existence and determine the magnitude of the human response latency differential between words and their abbreviations in a decoding task. Forty-eight Naval Officer Candidates learned a set of abbreviations obtained from operational aircraft cockpits. Abbreviations and corresponding words were divided into easy and hard difficulty levels. Subjects responded by saying the correct whole-word for both stimulus types. Response times measured by a voice key revealed a mean of 0.534 seconds for words and 0.662 seconds for abbreviations. An analysis of variance produced significant main effects (p < .05) for stimulus types and difficulty levels; the interaction effect was not significant. Also, t-tests for correlated scores revealed significant differences (p < .05) between difficulty levels within stimulus types.

The Effects Of Self-Evaluation Procedures On The Numbers And Accuracy Of Alphabet Letter Writing Behavior Of Preschool Children, Kevin R. Coleman

Masters Theses

This study assessed the effects of self-evaluation procedures on the rate and accuracy of alphabet letter writing. Three preschoolers served as subjects. During Phase I, students were given instructions, and the experimenter modeled accurate letter writing. During Phase II, instructions and modeling were again presented. Additionally, the students were given a rule statement that instructed them to use a stamper and a stamp pad to stamp their paper after first writing each of a row of four letters. The results indicated that the introduction of self-evaluation procedures was associated with immediate increases in frequency of attempts, but a decrease in …

A Summary Of Experiences In An Administrative Internship With The West Ottawa Public School System, Randal E. Busscher

Masters Theses

The objective of my internship was to become familiar with the role and duties of a K-12 school principal. I was exposed to a wide variety of experiences. Those experiences, through readings, personal interviews, and group meetings are the focus of my internship. My experiences included working with the Challenge Program, which is for the gifted and talented students, and helping to re-word some of the present job descriptions. I also assisted with the realignment of boundary lines and research on teacher evaluations. Absence policies and junior high level programs were also investigated.

Supervision Of An Elementary School Summer School Program In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Diana Lee Muller

Masters Theses

This project was undertaken so that an in-depth view of the role of an Elementary Supervisor could be experienced. While there are many facets to the role, much of the time was spent attending to paper work, solving unanticipated problems, and keeping staff on task.

It was determined that the role of an educational leader is complex and unpredictable. Each day brought with it unexpected problems which ranged from dramatic to boring. No two days were identical and no day turned out the way it had been planned. It takes a flexible person with the willingness to take risks and …

An Investigation Of The Effectiveness Of Study Aid Formats, Mary Anne Saint

Masters Theses

The effectiveness of matrix organizational format versus outline organizational format versus self-structured study notes was tested with high school subjects. Contrary to predictions, results of a multiple choice and essay question posttest revealed a nonsignificant study aid effect, F (2, 53) = 1.17, p > .05. An interaction between passage order and subject sex was significant, F (2, 53) = 4.68, p < .05. An analysis of recall, application and analysis levels of learning again revealed a nonsignificant study aid effect, F (2, 68) = 1.53, p > .05. A difference among recall, application and analysis posttest scores was significant, F (2, 4) = 93.25, p < .05. It was noted that the mean of the Matrix Group was somewhat greater than other groups across all five measures. The probability of one of three groups outscoring other groups across five analyses would result in a chance level of occurrence of .0039. It is speculated that additional experimentation will demonstrate a significant difference in the effectiveness of study aid formats.

The Effects Of A Performance-Management Procedure On High School Students With Poor Academic Achievement, Thomas R. Harwood

Masters Theses

This study evaluated the effectiveness of contracting for all classes and the contigent presentation of incentives for school work completed. fifteen high school students who earned a grade point average below 1.5 (on a 4.0 scale) volunteered for the contracting classroom. The subjects were ranked and randomly assigned to the first experimental group, the second experimental group, or the control group. The first experimental group had incentives contingent upon contracts completed, the second experimental group received the incentive noncontigent upon contract completion, and the control group did not attend the contract completion, and the control group did not attend the …

A Complete Revision Of The Union School Corporation Board Of Trustees Policy Manual, Alan H. Tasson

Masters Theses

The policy manual of the Union School Corporation had not been changed or updated since 1974. This was a concern of the Board of School Trustees, administration and the instructional staff. It was necessary to research any changes in the law, state rules, and administrative guidelines in advance of completely revising the policy manual. . The newly written manual as presented in this project will be adopted by the Union School Corporation Board of School Trustees during this school year.

Alpha English Correlation Data A Replication Study, Simin Shirzadi

Masters Theses

This study replicates an earlier (7/025,. May 1980) study in Kalamazoo (Michigan) Valley Community College investigating the factors which might influence student success or failure in Alpha English, ENG 098, a remedial English course. It also introduces the control variable of instructional method.

There were no significant changes in the relationship between the dependent variable (success/failure in ENG 098) and the independent variables (grade point average, credit hours attempted/earned, English Placement Exam score, age, sex, race and hours working) in the two studies. Subjects in the present study tended to be younger, were more likely to be male, and slightly …

The Future Of Equipment Repair In School Media Centers In Central Illinois, Connie Peters

Masters Theses

This project concerned repair of equipment in school media centers. A survey was designed and distributed to area media specialists and administrators.

The author found that media specialists, in general, view repair as a coming fact of life -- something of a necessity for the future. On the other hand, some administrators said that they didn't want their media specialists involved in repair work. The author's recommendations included:

1. Media specialists, increasingly, need to have at least minimal skills in maintenance and repair of equipment.
2. In order to acquire these skills, school districts will need to A. provide workshops (training), and …

Employment Trends And The Population Identified As Visually Impaired, Donna Mumford-Hinrichsen

Masters Theses

In an effort to obtain careers that are competitive, with advancement opportunities, persons identified as visually impaired have been blocked by attitudinal barriers of society. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of employer attitudes on employment opportunities for persons who are visually impaired in competition with individuals who are sighted. The population surveyed was a group of 200 employers of accountants field in the state of Illinois. The study was conducted using a questionnaire and a set of eight resumes of fictional individuals. Employers received packets containing the materials and were asked to review the resumes …

Administrative Field Experience, Office Of The Superintendent, Atwood-Hammond Community Unit School District No. 39, Atwood, Illinois, James E. Morgan

Masters Theses

Since the major role of superintendent of schools is to be the liaison between the board of education/community and the faculty, it is important to understand the philosophy of each group. Research reveals that the superintendent is the pivotal person in public relations for all parties involved with the schools. The superintendent relays board policy to the district employees and has the responsibility of explaining these policies to the community. One interesting factor determining the responsibilities of the superintendent is school size. In small schools the focus is directly upon the superintendent of schools, but in larger schools the superintendent …

Keyboarding: Computer-Assisted Method Of Instruction Versus The Traditional Method Of Instruction, David D. Collins

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to determine if seventh and eighth grade students could develop keyboarding on the microcomputer using the computer-assisted method of instruction with minimal teacher interaction as effectively as students on electric typewriters using the traditional method of instruction. Specifically, an effort was made to determine the following difference between the computer-assisted method of instruction group and the traditional method of instruction group: gross words typed on straight-copy timed writings per minute, number of errors made on straight-copy timed writings, and technique on straight-copy. The data were made up of gross word per minute and accuracy scores on …

An Analysis Of The Opinions Of Senior Students Of Teachers' Colleges Or University Concerning Practice Teaching In Taiwan, R.O.C., Mao-Sen Liang

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the opinions of senior students of National Kaohsiung Teachers' College in Taiwan concerning practice teaching and to provide suggestions for the authority of educational administration and teacher training institutions to emphasize the process of practice teaching.

It was hypothesized that this study may serve as a stimulation of empirical study pertaining to pracrice teaching in the future.

The related research and literature were reviewed.

A practice teaching questionnaire was developed to gain information concerning the time assignment, the senior students' feelings about the junior high schools in which they did practice teaching, …

A Study To Determine The Extent Of A Justification For A Building Bond Referendum In Mt. Zion, Illinois, Robert Herrmann

Masters Theses

The purpose of this field study was to determine the extent of a justification for a bond referendum that would provide the funds for additional facilities for the Mt. Zion High School. This study is concerned with the action taken to achieve that goal.

An overview of the community's history with regard to education was relevant to understanding the importance of education in this community. The problem that faced the community was overcrowded facilities and lack of updated curriculum. A growth in population was addressed in terms of its impact on the educational facilities at the high school.

This field …

Effect Of Sex-Biased And Sex-Fair Item Selections On Interest Inventory Results, Christine Elizabeth Franklin-Panek

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which sex-biased items on an interest inventory stereotype the occupational interests by gender. Subjects were 194 eighth through twelfth grade students in rural, central Illinois public schools. A representative sample of students were administered a survey to determine which of these selection items depicted activities and occupations most commonly associated with males, females or both genders equally. Next, the interest inventory was revised to include only sex-fair terms.

Significant differences in occupational interests were found between males and females on the pretest using sex-biased selection items, with 73.3% of …

Factors Related To Job Satisfaction Of Academic Faculty And Administrators In Higher Education, Sutin Somprakit

Masters Theses

Statement of the Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify factors which are most likely to affect job satisfaction of academic faculty and administrators in higher education. Specific recommendations were proposed for college and university administrators' application to maximize academic faculty and administrator job satisfaction. These recommendations were to improve organizational effectiveness and productivity of higher education.

Procedure

The identification of satisfaction-producing factors affecting academic faculty and administrators was accomplished by the related research and literature in the private (business and industry) and the public (higher education) sectors in relation to the motivation-hygiene theory of Herzberg. The recommendations …

A Revision Of The Board Policy Handbook For Cowden-Herrick High School District #188, David F. Walle

Masters Theses

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this field experience is to revise and update the policy handbook for the Board of Education at Cowden-Herrick High School District #188. The handbook currently available is unorganized, contains outdated policies, and is not utilized at board meetings. Thus, it is anticipated that the results of this study will aid the board members in their capacity as decision makers, and further strengthen the foundation upon which the educational program of the district is based.

Procedure

While this field study is specifically directed toward the policies of Cowden-Herrick High School District #188, the writer believes …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of The New Discipline Policy Of Danville School District 118, Danville, Illinois, Robert M. Thomas

Masters Theses

Most educators will agree that a good sound discipline policy is a necessity for a school environment in which learning can take place most effectively. Education cannot proceed effectively without good, consistent discipline.

The Public Schools of Danville have had a discipline policy for many years. After many years of updating and revising, a new policy was approved by the Board of Education. This policy entitled "Ownership in Education'' was implemented in the fall of 1982.

The researcher investigated this new policy through an administrator/teacher survey, a review and assessment of the extent of student removal from class due to …

Self Assessment Model For Local Boards Of Education To Evaluate Effectiveness, Charles N. Sutton

Masters Theses

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this field study was to develop a model self-assessment process for local boards of education. Since 1977, this researcher has served as Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools in Champaign and Ford Counties. From that experience the researcher determined that many local boards do not define and implement a formal self-evaluation process. Of the twenty-one school districts in Champaign and Ford Counties only three have planned and conducted a self-assessment program during the past four years. Since 1983, 57 per cent of the total school board membership of these districts has changed.

In 1985, the …

The Effects Of Language Processing Strategies Upon Reading Comprehension, Kathy Ann Kirby

Masters Theses

In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed providing educational services for children with exceptionalities. Learning disabilities was one of those exceptionalities whose definition used a language disorder as its major criteria for the identification and classification of a specific learning disabilities. The inclusion of language disorders within its definition brought about greater interest in language and the understanding of language development, acquisition and processing and how these aspects related with academic learning, particularly with reading.

The purpose of this study was to address the issue of language processing strategies in the remediating of language deficits and …

The Effects Of Test-Taking Instruction Upon The Test Scores Of Students Labeled As Learning Disabled, Deborah Wolfson

Masters Theses

A multiple-baseline design was used to investigate the effects of test-taking instruction upon the social studies test scores of four seventh grade students labeled as learning disabled. This two-phased (baseline and post-intervention) study ran for two semesters and included 14 test entries. All the tests were administered in the subjects' social studies class and scored by the subjects' social studies teacher. The teacher was not informed as to the nature of this study while it was in progress. The 10- day, individually instructed intervention package included activities in (a) test preparation (b) general test-taking principles (c) clue words (d) following …

An Assessment Of Communication And Service Needs To Be Provided To The Regular Education Teacher By The Resource Teacher, Jacqueline Lee Holt

Masters Theses

This study was designed to determine the types of communication and assistance that should be provided to regular education teachers by the resource teachers. This study also attempted to determine if there was any significance in the needs of regular education teachers based on the grade level, level of education, and/or sex of the respondents. An open-ended questionnaire was distributed to students enrolled in graduate level classes at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Responses obtained from the questionnaire were used to construct a second, multiple choice questionnaire. The questionnaire analyzed three main areas (a) consultation, (b) materials, and (c) …

Policies And Procedures On The Use Of Corporal Punishment In The Clay, Jasper, And Richland Educational Service Region, Clifford E. Jones

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine policies and procedures on the use of corporal punishment in public schools. Specifically, this study reviewed current literature, statute law, court decisions, agency regulations, and research to develop sound recommended policies and procedures on possible use of corporal punishment in schools. Furthermore, a needs assessment was conducted of the six public school districts in the Clay, Jasper, and Richland Educational Service Region to ascertain current policies and procedures.

A review of literature and research revealed only minimal information regarding recommended policies and procedures for physical punishment. Therefore, the field experience involved, to …