Education Commons^™

In Search Of A Useful Definition Of Mastery, Thomas R. Guskey, Eric M. Anderman

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

What way of thinking about mastery will most effectively guide curriculum and instruction?

Global Kentucky (Fall 2013), University Of Kentucky International Center

Global Kentucky

No abstract provided.

The College, Career, And Civic Life (C3) Framework For Social Studies State Standards: Guidance For Enhancing The Rigor Of K-12 Civics, Economics, Geography, And History, Kathy Swan, Keith C. Barton, Stephen Buckles, Flannery Burke, Jim Charkins, S. G. Grant, Susan W. Hardwick, John Lee, Peter Levine, Meira Levinson, Anand Marri, Chauncey Monte-Sano, Robert Morrill, Karen Thomas-Brown, Cynthia Tyson, Bruce Vansledright, Merry Wiesner-Hanks

Curriculum and Instruction Reports

No abstract provided.

The Case Against Percentage Grades, Thomas R. Guskey

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

It’s time to abandon grading scales that distort the accuracy, objectivity, and reliability of students’ grades.

Global Kentucky (Summer 2013), University Of Kentucky International Center

Global Kentucky

No abstract provided.

A Collaborative Professional Development Approach To Improving Student Outcomes, Jillian Starman, Ann Larson, Eve Proffitt, Thomas R. Guskey, Xin Ma

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to analyze the strategy used to develop a collaborative professional development process that focused on the implementation of the common core state standards. In addition, the author will report findings, and discuss the effectiveness of the initiative for postsecondary faculty. Faculty can verify that not every student comes to a two or four year college program prepared to succeed in credit bearing coursework. To facilitate improvement of student success, states across the country collaborated with teachers, researchers and leading experts to design and develop the common core state standards. The standards were developed to …

A Critical Analysis Of The Identification And Treatment Of First-Generation College Students: A Social Capital Approach, Michael Peabody

Kentucky Journal of Higher Education Policy and Practice

This paper examines institutional identification of first-generation college students and corresponding campus retention programs utilizing a Social Capital lens. Building on the theoretical foundation of Astin and Tinto this article argues that all student retention programs are based on Social Capital theory and provides recommendations for improving campus retention programs.

Does It Have To Taste Bad To Be Good? Leveraging Pleasure To Enhance Learning, Karen H. Dougherty M.D.

Kentucky Journal of Higher Education Policy and Practice

Emerging information from the field of neuroscience has illuminated the workings of the brain’s pleasure circuit as a powerful motivator of human behavior. While much of the research has been driven by an effort to uncover the roots of addiction, an understanding of the aspects of pleasure can be applied to the design of teaching strategies to engage college students and improve their retention and persistence.

Classicism In Matthew Crawford’S "Shop Class As Soulcraft", Jessica E. Horohov

Kentucky Journal of Higher Education Policy and Practice

The concept of the liberal arts, coming from the tradition of classicism, is greatly in contrast to technical education as evident throughout society, from grade school tracking to differences in prestige for degrees and jobs. This paper seeks to examine Matthew Crawford’s argument for the intellectual promise of the trades as another manifestation of the classicist’s dream of placing education as an antidote to the ills of modern life, as described by Carolyn Winterer.

Factors Community College Faculty Consider Important To Academic Leadership, Juston C. Pate, Lance R. Angell

Kentucky Journal of Higher Education Policy and Practice

Although many of the pressures leaders face come from external sources, the expertise of the faculty should not be ignored when preparing community college leaders. The current study analyzed survey data from community college faculty across the state of Kentucky to determine which attributes they considered important to academic leadership. The faculty members who responded to an online survey regarded most highly factors pertaining to communication, character, decision-making, teamwork, work ethic, and personal relationships.

Motivations For Disaffiliation From The Two-By-Two Sect, Julene L. Jones

Julene L. Jones

Disaffiliates from encapsulating sects may have many motivations for their disaffiliation. Multiple typologies exist which shed light on an individual’s motivations for disaffiliation from religious groups in general, and on motivations for disaffiliation from particular sects, though no exploration has been made of disaffiliates of the highly tense, fundamentalist Christian Two-by-Two sect. This thesis describes results from a survey of former members of the sect which points to motivations regarding the implausibility of doctrine as being the strongest motivations for these disaffiliates.

Global Kentucky (Spring 2013), University Of Kentucky International Center

Global Kentucky

No abstract provided.

Changing Strategies For Electronic Theses And Dissertations: Communication Between An Academic Library, Graduate School, Academic Departments, And Students, Lyndsey E. Calico, Cleophus V. Price, Adrian K. Ho, Jonathan Garrett

Library Presentations

Technology has long since removed the need for paper copies of theses and dissertations in the library. The latest strategy for receiving, reviewing, and archiving graduate student scholarship is the institutional repository (IR). An IR will allow online submission by a student from anywhere in the world, increasing convenience for local students and increasing global diversity.

The University of Kentucky Graduate School and the University of Kentucky Libraries have teamed to create an online submission process for all graduate student scholarship. UKnowledge, the University's IR, is now home to all digitally born graduate student scholarship. To make the student experience …

California Turnaround Schools: An Analysis Of School Improvement Grant Effectiveness, Khalil Graham

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of School Improvement Grants (SIGs) in the state of California (CA) in increasing student achievement using the turnaround implementation model. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) included educational priorities focused on fixing America’s lowest achieving schools. SIGs (i.e., up to $2 million per school annually over 3 years) to the nation’s persistently lowest achieving public schools required schools accepting these awards to implement a federally prescribed school-reform model. Of these models, the school turnaround model is the most aggressive and least used. Using data from CA, the …

Predicting Students’ Confidence: How Teacher Feedback And Other Sources Influence Self-Efficacy In Mathematics Classrooms, Megan Kleine-Kracht Thomas

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

In this two-part dissertation, the sources of self-efficacy were investigated for elementary and middle school students in mathematics classrooms. In the first study, the Sources of Middle School Mathematics Scale (Usher & Pajares, 2009) was validated with a younger sample. Participants included 367 fourth- through sixth-grade students; these participants completed two surveys investigating their beliefs regarding their capabilities to perform successfully in mathematics. This study included an examination of the psychometric properties and a confirmatory factor analysis of the Sources of Middle School Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale, and an investigation into the relative power of mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasions, …

Student-Athletes And Drug Abuse Policies: A Study Of Drug Abuse Policies Of Athletics Departments In A Major Intercollegiate Athletics Conference, Jennifer Hale

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

No executive summary.

Teacher Characteristics On Student Achievement: An Examination Of High Schools In Ohio, Angela H. Rockstroh

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Teachers are the most important school-based factor in affecting student achievement levels. Knowing what teacher characteristics influence student achievement and whether or not schools in different locations have dissimilar student achievement levels will help administrators prioritize who to hire, retain, and assign to classes. The purpose of this paper is to answer two questions. The first question is whether teacher characteristics are related to student achievement; the second is whether there are differences in student achievement based on school location. A review of teacher quality, teacher incentives, teacher background, the ability of a school to attract teachers, and differences in …

Using Simultaneous Prompting With An Ipad To Teach Choice Making To Adolescents With Disabilities, Seth Littrell

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The use of a simultaneous prompting procedure for teaching choice-making skills using an iPad to high-school students with moderate intellectual disabilities was evaluated. The Proloquo2Go application, which is designed for use with the iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone as an augmentative alternative communication system for individuals with communication support needs, was used to communicate choices made by participants during sessions. A multiple-probe design across 3 participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the simultaneous prompting instructional procedure to teach independent choice making. Results indicate the procedure was effective for teaching all participants to use an iPad to make choices …

Engaging Mothers: Self-Efficacy And Mother/Infant Interaction Among Mothers Experiencing Multiple Life Stressors, Allison E. Loftis

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this project was to interview mothers of newborns who participated in early intervention services focusing on the implementation of a tool developed at the Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP) in North Carolina. The intent was to examine the experience of mothers and home visitors employing the tool, which was designed to enhance the mother/infant relationship. However, a stronger focus on the relationship between mother and home visitor emerged throughout the interviews. Among some participants the relationship among practitioner and parent appeared to create a safe space to share, practice strategies and grow. Although characteristics of FIPP …

The Process Of Learner Centered Instruction In Adult Clientele, Shannon W. Farrell

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Using learner centered instruction (LCI), a group of beef farmers were guided to design a farm in a layout that would most effectively offer continual learning opportunities for the beef practitioners themselves. Learner centered instruction was used as the primary teaching method for the project's completion. When using LCI, coupled with the correct facilitation of programs, student empowerment, and subject interest, positive experiences are more likely to result.

Identifying Risk And Protective Factors Of Preparatory And Non-Preparatory Students In Agricultural Education Programs Of A Rural Kentucky High School, Randy J. Adams

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Today there is an increased demand for secondary agriculture education programs to prepare students to be college and career ready through a program of study. The purpose of this study was to identify risk and protective factors of preparatory and non-preparatory students within an agriculture education program at Anderson County High School in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The results of this study did not determine that there was a difference in risk and protective factors between preparatory and non-preparatory students within agriculture education courses. The study concluded that students among both categories were equally exposed to risks such as family conflict and …

Analyzing The University Of Kentucky’S Top 20 Business Plan, Kenny Blair

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to begin laying a foundation for assessing the degree of progress the University of Kentucky (UK) has made toward the goals defined in the Top 20 Business Plan. The plan was created to guide the university’s efforts in becoming a top twenty public research institution by 2020 per a mandate by the Kentucky General Assembly.

Up to two strategies and/or policy suggestions were chosen for analysis for each of the four major domains outlined in the plan (undergraduate education, graduate education, faculty recognition, and research). Academic quality indicators were then developed for these strategies …

The University Of Kentucky's Freshman Summer Program, Geoffrey L. Griggs

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The substantial growth in the University of Kentucky’s African American population since its integration in 1948 by Lyman T. Johnson and difficulties some of these students had succeeding at UK has resulted in increased spending by the university to improve retention. Programs, departments, and scholarships have been implemented to get those of African American descent to not only attend the University of Kentucky, but to leave with a degree. While this has been a pivotal issue here in Lexington as the city has hidden behind the shadow overcast which attempts to cover up the deep racial history marked in the …

Winning On The Field And Winning In The Classroom. High School Football In Rurual Kentucky: Does A School's Winning Percentage In Football Affect Average Act Scores?, Jon Samokar

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky faces many challenges in educating its children at all levels. This study focuses on elements of academic achievement of high school students. Previous studies have examined the effects of teacher training, the effects of peer influence, sorting of students and teachers across school districts, various learning interventions that have targeted specific student populations and subject areas, each in an attempt to explain or improve upon school achievement and student academic success.

Previous national studies have focused their attention on the effects of variables found within the classroom; most of these studies recognize that there are influences outside the classroom …

Global Kentucky (Winter 2013), University Of Kentucky International Center

Global Kentucky

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Augmented Reality Treatment On Learning, Cognitive Load, And Spatial Visualization Abilities, Nedim Slijepcevic

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This study investigated the effects of Augmented Reality (AR) on learning, cognitive load and spatial abilities. More specifically, it measured learning gains, perceived cognitive load, and the role spatial abilities play with students engaged in an astronomy lesson about lunar phases. Research participants were 182 students from a public university in southeastern United States, and were recruited from psychology research pool. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: (a) Augmented Reality and Text Astronomy Treatment (ARTAT); and (b) Images and Text Astronomy Treatment (ITAT). Upon entering the experimental classroom, participants were given (a) Paper Folding Test to measure their spatial …

The Use Of A Narrative Simulation In Rural Residential Fire Prevention: A Preliminary Study Of Changes In Behavioral Intention, William Clark Goetz

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

Rural Kentucky residents suffer twice as many fire residential deaths than the national average. Fire prevention programs are primarily aimed at elementary school children however these children do not make the decisions nor take the precautions necessary to alter these conditions; their adult parents do. There is little research into the development of fire safety instructional interventions that need to reach these rural at-risk adults. In this study, a well-designed story simulation Uncle Charlie’s Christmas was developed to provide an instructional intervention to prevent injury and fatality from rural residential fires.
An intervention-control repeated measure research design was conducted to …

An Examination Of Education Services For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders In Rural Areas, Melissa A. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Much research and media attention in recent years has focused on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a pervasive developmental disorder that impacts children in multiple areas of their lives. Early identification and intervention, as well as access to mental health, behavioral, and pediatric services for this population are crucial to their later outcomes and quality of life (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001; Blane & Borden, 2008; Jacobson & Mulick, 2000; Rogers & Vismara, 2008). Unfortunately, research suggests that access to educational services may be complicated for individuals living in rural areas (Applequist, 2009; Collins et al., 2005, Ludlow, Conner, & Schechter …

Experiences Of Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students: An Exploratory Phenomenological Study, Anysia J. Ensslen

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Within the past decade little research has been conducted in the United States to examine the preparedness of beginning speech-language pathologists; the seminal article used for this research study comes from the United Kingdom (Horton, Byng, Bunning, & Pring, 2004). Literature from the past few decades indicates that there may be deficiencies in the way that beginning speech-language pathologists are being trained clinically.

The review of the literature suggests that the field may lack a clear and broadly supported learning theory or framework for the clinical supervision and training of speech-language pathology graduate students. The literature further supports the importance …

Investigating The Impact Of Interactive Applets On Students’ Understanding Of Parameter Changes To Parent Functions: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Robin R. Mcclaran

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

The technology principle in the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM, 2000) states that technology plays an important role in how teachers teach mathematics and in how students learn mathematics. The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was to examine the impact of interactive applets on students’ understanding of parameter changes to parent functions. Students in the treatment classes were found to have statistically significantly higher posttest scores than students in the control classes. Although the data analysis showed a statistically significant difference between classes on procedural understanding, no statistically significant difference was found with regard to conceptual …