Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

An Urban Education Study: Implementing Problem-Solving Strategies In Mathematics As A Function Of Teacher's Learning Styles, Mary Lou Meinhold Fogarty

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This qualitative research was designed to ascertain the impact of teachers' learning styles on an active teaching program. Using grounded theory procedures, the researcher explored the second-year implementation of Moretti and associates' Problem Solver Program by 67 second- through fifth-grade teachers in order to gain information on the major research question: How effective are teachers with different learning styles in implementing problem-solving strategies in mathematics that require an active teaching style? Three Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) instruments were used in this study. Two quantitative instruments were used: The Stages of Concern (CBAM) to determine the degree of program implementation …

The Effect Of Same-Sex Grouping Versus Mixed-Sex Grouping On Mathematics Achievement And Attitudes Of Academically Gifted Fourth And Fifth Grade Females In The Urban Classroom, Martha J. Tompkins

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

Reports of the neglect of gifted students in America's schools and the inadequate mathematics involvement of females have made educators aware of a crisis in public education. Attitudes and opportunities are believed to be major influences in helping females become more involved with mathematics courses and careers. The research project examined the effect of same-sex groups versus mixed-sex groups on mathematics attitudes and achievement in fourth and fifth grade females in a mathematically gifted pilot program at a magnet center. The experimental study was analyzed with Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Regression Analysis, Post-Hoc tests, and …

Behavioral Contracting: The Effects Of Metacontingency Contracting On Math Performance Of At-Risk Students, Vernard V. J. Jones

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of behavioral contracting in providing parents with a means of assisting their child with homework from school. Following the baseline condition, the subjects were introduced to the intervention [behavioral contracting including parent(s)] one at a time to provide a concurrent check between baseline and treatment conditions.

Six students from the Kentwood Public School District served as participants in the study. All participants were between eleven and thirteen years of age. Each participant was identified by the teacher as "at-risk" based on their sustained academic performance.

Four out of six participants …

Applied Science: Integrating Science And Vocational Education For Students With Mild Disabilities And Students Without Disabilities, Maurene R. Fink

All Graduate Projects

The study addresses the educational needs of students with disabilities and students without disabilities in the vocational and scientific fields while meeting the business community's needs for skilled employees. The project allows students to receive the advanced science credit as well as prepare students transitioning directly from school to work. Interviews of employers indicated that current educational systems do not adequately address the needs of the business community. Bellingham businesses are eager to participate with Bellingham High School in cooperative education programs.

An Outcome-Based Curriculum Design For Seventh Grade Earth Science, Jeffrey Scott Fields

All Graduate Projects

This project presents a curriculum design to be used for the seventh grade Earth Science course taught at Centerville School. The curriculum was created by modifying the district's student learning objectives into outcome-based objectives, lessons and units. This project was designed with the intent of enhancing the teaching of earth science and aiding other teachers in the district by giving them a possible model for their own curricula comparison and adoptions. The curriculum design was successful in meeting these intentions.

Integrating Mathematics In The Primary Classroom, Nancy Jean Baker

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Math Lessons For Fontana High School Software, Cynthia Vanderwilt Barkley

Theses Digitization Project

This paper includes 23 lessons for seven different mathematics software packages and teacher information sheets that describe reading levels, objectives, and detailed instructions about each lesson.

Conceptual Representation Of The Newtonian Model Of Motion In University Physics Students, Yannis Hadzigeorgiou

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate how undergraduate students at the University of Northern Iowa who had taken prior coursework on non-calculus general physics with a unit on mechanics understand the Newtonian model of motion. In general, the study was concerned with reasoning strategies, the preconceptions that give rise to these strategies, and the schema that might be inferred from the preconceptions. In particular, the study focused on the three fundamental notions of the Newtonian model of motion: {a) that uniform straight line motion is equivalent to rest, {b) that motion is relative to an inertial frame of …

How To Improve Students' Problem Solving Skills: K-4, Chuong Hoang Pham

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Teaching Science To English Only And Limited English Proficient Students In The Elementary Classroom, Darla Kay Cadman Stapel

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Educational Service Center #17'S Fy92 Scientific Literacy Program, Marilyn Holt

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Illinois Educational Service Center #17's Scientific Literacy Program for FY92. Objectives utilized to address this problem were:

1. To determine the effectiveness of the staff development delivered in FY92 which emphasized hands-on approaches to teaching physics concepts to students in grades K-8.

2. To determine the effectiveness of the staff development delivered in FY92 which emphasized hands-on approaches to teaching mathematic concepts to students in grades K-6.

3. To determine the effectiveness of the staff development delivered in FY92 which emphasized hands-on approaches to teaching science process concepts to students in grades …

Arguably The Scheme That Conquered The Infinite, Timothy Michael Curran

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Lessons From The Past: An Historical Analysis Of Science Education (Biology) Curriculum Reforms, 1950 To 1975, Gwetheldene Louise Holzmann

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship existed between preservice science (biology) teacher education and the reforms in secondary school biology that occurred between 1950 and 1975. Research questions were generated which dealt with the collaboration of the various sectors of education as well as if the prospective teachers were being trained to teach the reform curricula through their college science and teacher education coursework.;Content analysis of textbooks was utilized to determine the content of textbooks on the secondary and higher education level. The secondary texts contrasted were Modern Biology and the BSCS Blue and Green series. …

The Identification Of Conceptual And Strategic Difficulties Encountered By Students When Using An Electronic Spreadsheet, Craig Clapham

Theses : Honours

The call for the use of computer technology in mathematics education has been heeded by the Ministry of Education in Western Australia. The syllabus documents for the Upper Secondary mathematics courses recommend the use of computer software packages for the teaching of the concepts involved in these courses. In particular, the electronic spreadsheet is suggested as a versatile and useful tool for simulations and problem-solving by students, although very little formal study has been undertaken to support or refute such beliefs. This study involved teaching a group of four Year 12 students to operate a spreadsheet, and then examined the …

Challenging Student Alternative Frameworks Of Electrical Circuits, Lauril Jones

Theses : Honours

Student alternative frameworks were found by the researcher to be a problem when teaching the topic of electricity to Year 9 science students. It was recognised that the alternative frameworks had to be identified and a constructivist teaching strategy that would facilitate conceptual change within these students needed to be adopted. A pre-test-post-test, control group-treatment group study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a constructivist approach to instruction. The treatment group in the study received instruction based on the 'four phase model for teaching for conceptual change', a constructivist approach to teaching suggested by Cosgrove and Osborne (1985) as …

Attitudes Towards Mathematics Of Vietnamese And Non-Vietnamese Senior Secondary Female Students, Robert G. Palmer

Theses : Honours

Throughout Australia and indeed in many parts of the world, there is a growing realisation that girls tend not to achieve their full potential at school, especially with regard to higher level mathematics units. Many girls limit their post-school options by choosing not to continue with mathematics when it ceases to be compulsory in Years 11 and 12. They also choose less difficult mathematics units and participate at a level below their potential. Much of the research has focused on gender differences in attitudes towards mathematics, and on participation and achievement in mathematics, but not on ethnic differences. The purpose …

Determining The Validity And Reliability Of An Instrument Designed To Measure Metacognitive Behaviours, Anne L. Martin

Theses : Honours

This project was designed to study the role of metacognition in mathematical problem solving. More specifically, it was designed to determine the validity and reliability of an instrument proposed to identify metacognitive behaviours in Year 7 children solving problems. The instrument was used to analyse audio tapes of pairs of students working on a non-routine problem (i.e., a problem that cannot be solved solely by the direct application of the basic operations). Analysis of the audio tapes involved categorizing metacognitive decisions as: orientation, organization, execution, and verification behaviours. A "cognitive-metacognitive" framework (Garofalo & Lester, 1985) was used as a basis …

Openness Of Inquiry Of Laboratory Formats Currently Used In Lower Secondary Science, H. A. D. Bryce

Theses : Honours

Laboratory formats can range from 'recipe' type activities, in which students just verify concepts, to 'open' inquiry activities, in which students design and carry out their own experiments. There is much support in the literature for the use of 'open' inquiry formats. By way of a questionnaire secondary science teachers, sent to a sample of lower this study investigated the proportions of the different that are currently being used in laboratory formats lower secondary science in Perth schools. The study found that most of the formats used required students to follow set procedures to verify or determine a concept. Few …