Education Commons^™

Priming Middle School Females’ Engagement In Engineering And Technology, Mary Bonk Isaac

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to validate data collected between 2009-2013 via an instrument used to assess middle school girls’ identification with and interest in engineering and technology following the Society of Women Engineers’ WOW events. Recognizing the importance of measuring the impact of such mentored E & T activities on young females’ attitudes about and interest in STEM, and more specifically, engineering and technology, SWE outreach experts developed a participant survey based on event objectives and domain knowledge, but never rigorously examined whether it produced statistically valid data that could be used to draw inferences about girls’ propensity …

Middle School Parents' Perceptions Of Career And Technical Education, Virginia R. Powers Jones

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

This study explored middle school parents' perceptions of the contributions career and technical education could make to their child's educational or workforce plans. It also examined what actions parents undertake to influence their child's plans, specifically the impact of the career exploration tool, Coin Career Community©, on their actions. Last, the study explored the correlation between the course choices students made in ninth grade relative to their parents' perceptions.

This study took place at Halifax County Middle School, located in South Boston, Virginia, in spring 2009. This school was the only middle school in the county with a student population …

The Relationship Between Rural Middle School Student Mathematics Achievement And Classroom Sense Of Community, John E. Donlan

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

This study addressed the need for more information about academic growth and achievement in mathematics, and how it relates to sense of community in middle school settings. This was accomplished by applying the Classroom and School Community Inventory (CSCI) construct (Rovai, Wighting, & Lucking, 2004) to all three middle schools in one rural county. The CSCI was utilized to measure sense of community in mathematics classes to determine if differences existed between grades six, seven, and eight, including gender subgroups, among the three middle schools in the same rural county. This study examined academic growth in the subject of mathematics …

The Influence Of Teacher Preparation Programs On Student Achievement And The Use Of Nctm Standards And Principles In Middle School And High School Algebra I Classrooms, Denelle L. Wallace

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

The impact of traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs on student achievement and the instructional delivery methods used in middle school and high school Algebra I classrooms was explored through a mixed method comparative design. The data analysis revealed that alternative teacher preparation programs are a viable avenue to explore in meeting the needs of public schools for providing qualified teachers in mathematics classrooms at the middle school and high school levels. Data from the standardized state test and district level quarterly assessments revealed no significant differences between groups on half of the achievement measures, but there was a significant …

The Effects Of School Uniforms On Student Behavior And Perceptions In An Urban Middle School, Jacqueline M. Mccarty

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

Public opinion polls have consistently highlighted the prevalence of violence in America's schools. Specifically, school personnel have witnessed increased assault and theft related to the wearing of expensive clothing. Concomitantly, administrators have noted decreased attendance rates triggered by clothing issues. Given the gravity of these problems, school officials nationwide have enacted uniform policies in hopes of improving school safety and student behavior. However, current research establishing the effectiveness of these policies is largely anecdotal. The few studies utilizing empirical measures mainly highlight short-term outcomes and often fail to address student perceptions regarding clothing-related problems.

By contrast, this study investigated the …

A Study To Determine Why Middle School Students Enrolled In Technology Education Classes, David Jr. Locklear

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To answer this problem, the following goals were developed; 1. Determine why students take technology classes as an elective; 2. Determine what specific reasons attracted students to technology education.

Virginia Beach Middle School Technology Education Teachers Reinforcing Academic Standards, Stephen L. Baird

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The following objectives were established to address this problem: 1. Determine Virginia Beach Middle School Technology Education teachers involvement in assisting students to master Virginia Standards of Learning competencies; 2. Determine the types of assistance that the Virginia Beach Public School system provides to help align the SOL of the academic curriculum with instruction in the curriculum of Technology Education; 3. Determine specific means that teachers have used to integrate the academic curriculum with instruction in the Technology Education curriculum.

A Study Comparing The Technical Problem Solving Abilities Of Middle School Students Who Have Participated In One Or More Technology Education Courses To Those Of Students Having No Course Work In Technology Education, Anthony A. Cardoza

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem in this study was to compare the technical problem solving capabilities of middle school students that have had one or more nine-week courses in technology education with the technical problem solving capabilities of middle school students that had no course work in technology education.

A Study Of First And Second Nine-Week Inter-Marking Period Grade Shifts In A Suburban Middle School, Rudolph J. Roethel

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The primary goal of this research is to explore the statistical relationship, if any, in grade drops between the first and second nine-week grading periods. Furthermore, the goal of this statistical analysis may provide: 1. A mechanism which may prove further the theoretical importance of social and psychological changes inherent in the adolescent as well as the teacher as accounting for such grade shifts; 2. A measurable indicator of possible changes in the intellectual, social, psychological and emotional climate of the classroom; 3. A subtle, valid observation which may allow teachers to adjust their teaching methods to enhance or suit …

A Study To Determine The Preferences Of 8th Grade Middle School Students For Modular Programmed Instruction Or Laboratory Instruction, Donald B. Todd

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The objectives of this study were established to determine: 1. If eighth grade Newport News Dozier Middle School students preferred technology education classes using programmed instruction of the Synergistic Systems modules to other academic classes; 2. If programmed instruction using Synergistic Systems modules motivated the eighth grade Newport News Dozier Middle School student to prefer this instructional method over traditional technology teacher-directed laboratory instruction.

A Study To Determine If The Major Virginia School Systems Are Teaching Middle School Technology Using Modular Or Traditional Laboratory Arrangements, John R. Begley

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The goals of this research project were to: 1. Determine if the major Virginia school systems are teaching middle school technology education using modular or traditional laboratory arrangements; 2. Determine which major Virginia middle schools are teaching technology education using modular or traditional laboratory arrangements.

A Study To Determine The Relationships Between A Local School Division's Middle School System's Technology, Science, And Mathematics Course Curricula And The Accommodation Of State And National Goals, Standards Or Objectives, William C. Reed

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The goals of the study were to determine if: A state's learning standards, for this study the Virginia Standards of Learning, acknowledged, accommendations for technology, science, and mathematics curricula at the middle school level as set forth in a published, national level coordination/integration standard; A local school division's curricula, for this study the Virginia Beach City public School's middle school technology, science and mathematics curricula, complied with the established state standards; and The Virginia Beach City Public School's middle school technology, science and mathematics curricula were related, associated, coordinated or integrated in any fashion.

The Implementation Of "Lab 2000" And "Synergistic Systems" In Middle School Laboratories In Virginia, Patricia M. Ways

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To solve this problem, the following goals were developed: 1. Determine the effectiveness of the "high tech" laboratories with regard to implementing the middle school curriculum; 2. Make recommendations for facility and curriculum changes based upon the observations of the practicing middle school teachers.

Effects Of Positive Praise On The Classroom Behavior Of Middle School Technology Education Students, Samuel E. Benson Jr.

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

This study was designed to determine whether students who receive positive praise would exhibit a more acceptable level of classroom behavior than students who receive no positive praise. This study compared the classroom behavior of students receiving teacher perceived positive feedback with the classroom conduct of students receiving normal feedback to determine if any correlation exist between positive feedback and acceptable classroom behavior.