The Benefits Of Creative Abilities In Education For 21st Century Learners,
2017
Bethel University
The Benefits Of Creative Abilities In Education For 21st Century Learners, Emily E. Natrop
All Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Creativity is defined as the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work. Creative abilities, while less defined, include abilities such as independent or divergent thinking, problem solving, curiosity, adaptability and self-awareness. Creativity has long been seen in education and learning as a skill linked to artistic endeavors. However, moving beyond this link, researchers have begun to pursue creativity’s role in academics outside of artistic content. It is this link and a lack of realization of the importance creativity plays in the overall success of students that calls to be looked at closely. This …
Stimulating Creativity, Originality, & Divergent Thinking,
2017
Bethel University
Stimulating Creativity, Originality, & Divergent Thinking, Julia Ohmann
All Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This thesis explores research relating to the growth and promotion of creative uniqueness and original ideation in the visual arts classroom. The research reveals a number of strategies that teachers can put into practice to increase students’ creativity. These include: teaching skills in brainstorming and having original ideas through divergent thinking; using physical movement as a method of stimulating creative ideas; teaching metacognition of the creative thinking process; allowing freedom of exploration and experimentation with materials and concepts to promote discovery and trial-and-error; using copying- and imitation-based lessons as tools to teach basic skills; and others. The application materials include …
Game-Based Learning’S Effectiveness In The Middle School,
2017
Bethel University
Game-Based Learning’S Effectiveness In The Middle School, Bradly Gene Scherer
All Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This project offers an overview of GBL and an example of GBL curriculum created for middle school math students. The study explores the question: What effects do GBL practices within curriculum have on middle school (grades 5-8) students to increase student motivation and academic success? The research suggests a positive correlation between GBL and motivation. Students who are allowed to participate in GBL are more excited and motivated to learn, as well as more confident in the skills they learn. GBL allows students to be more in control over their learning, creative, empowered, and describe learning as fun. Students also …
Parental Involvement: Importance, Reality And Application,
2017
Bethel University
Parental Involvement: Importance, Reality And Application, Paul Stiles
All Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Parents have always been actively involved in their child’s education. As researchers continue to explore factors that drive academic success, parental involvement has emerged as a factor that promotes positive outcomes. Just how they are involved and why they become involved is something that researchers continue to examine. However, regardless of the research conclusions on parental involvement, parental involvement initiatives continue to be implemented at a surprisingly low rate. This paper examines modes of parental involvement, barriers to parental involvement implementation and ways to minimize barriers while maximizing parental involvement effectiveness.
Lessons Learned From A Faculty-Led Project: Using Learning Analytics For Course Design,
2017
Fanshawe College
Lessons Learned From A Faculty-Led Project: Using Learning Analytics For Course Design, Matt Farrell
Faculty & Staff Publications - Language & Liberal Studies
This showcase describes a project that used student activity data from the Learning Management System (LMS) to inform course design decisions in a blended learning context. Two blended courses were offered in the General Education curriculum at a community college, with each course employing a different design configuration. Student activity was tracked and compared across both classes to determine whether one design resulted in more engagement with the online course materials. The two courses shared similar subject matter, and were taught by the same instructor. Initial results indicated that student engagement and performance were higher in the frontloaded configuration compared …
Defining And Measuring Excellence In The Changing World Of Higher Education: Case Stories From Five Colleges Of Education,
2017
Sam Houston State University
Defining And Measuring Excellence In The Changing World Of Higher Education: Case Stories From Five Colleges Of Education, Jannah Nerren, Christina Sinclair, Nan Barker, Mark J. Reid, Gina Anderson
Faculty Publications
This paper presents a collection of case stories from five Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) within colleges of education, four from institutions in Texas and one from California, to present a micro cross-sectional narrative interpretation of what constitutes excellence in educator preparation. The broad framework utilized in this interpretation focuses on the individual approaches used by each institution for creating and sustaining positive cultures of data-informed decision-making, with the ultimate objective of continuous program improvement, while also meeting the accreditation expectations of each institution.
Lumberjack Construction: Job-Order Costing & Manufacturing Simulation,
2017
Stephen F Austin State University
Lumberjack Construction: Job-Order Costing & Manufacturing Simulation, Marie Kelly, Nikki Shoemaker
Faculty Publications
This paper describes a classroom Job-Order Costing and manufacturing simulation called Lumberjack Construction. This simulation is used in introductory managerial accounting and cost accounting courses to help students understand the various parts of the manufacturing process and the application of Job-Order Costing principles. For this simulation, students are placed into manufacturing groups. Each group is responsible for manufacturing a building and calculating the cost of that building using job-order costing.
Giving Voice To Our Lakota People,
2017
Stephen F Austin State University
Giving Voice To Our Lakota People, Gina Fe Causin, Shelby Gull Laird, Chay Runnels, Judy A. Abbott, Sara Ross
School of Human Sciences Research Showcase
Researchers at two universities worked with project partners to develop indigenous interpretive curriculum that provided the tools for indigenous students to tell their own stories and market their own heritage to visitors seeking an authentic experience. Project partners sought to identify elements that exemplify a culturally grounded approach to indigenous interpretation. It is assumed that indigenous interpretation will provide opportunities for non-native visitors to have meaningful experiences of native culture. It is also assumed that indigenous interpretation will foster a deeper understanding of the sacredness of native homelands, the resiliency and vulnerability of natural and cultural systems, and the beauty …
Impacts Of Student Financial Education Outcomes,
2017
Stephen F Austin State University
Impacts Of Student Financial Education Outcomes, Jennifer Newquist, Nancy Shepherd
School of Human Sciences Research Showcase
Many young people are worried about financial matters and want more knowledge about personal finance. States who mandate financial education suggest students exhibit positive behaviors and are more likely to save and manage money. The study (N=606) showed that college students who completed high school in Texas did not recall courses they learned about financial education, but were very confident (27%) or somewhat confident (43%) when managing finances. Of the 30% who completed courses, 97% wanted to know more about personal financial management. Economics (74%), Government (64%), U.S. History (43%), and Social Studies (30%) were the primary courses where these …
A Summer Camp In Engineering Physics For Incoming Freshman To Improve Retention And Student Success,
2017
Stephen F Austin State University
A Summer Camp In Engineering Physics For Incoming Freshman To Improve Retention And Student Success, Hector A. Ochoa, Christopher J. Aul, Dan Bruton, Collin J. Timmons
Faculty Publications
Summer camps have proven to be a valuable tool to attract and recruit students interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field. They have been also used to spark their curiosity in areas like mathematics. However, these camps do not help with issues that appear after the student has been admitted at the university. It is well known that many students are shocked when they transition from high-school to college. Many of them do not know how to handle their academic freedom; they start without any friends, and they do not know the campus and the resources available. By …
Math Is More Than Numbers: Beginning Bilingual Teachers’ Mathematics Teaching Practices And Their Opportunities To Learn,
2017
Chapman University
Math Is More Than Numbers: Beginning Bilingual Teachers’ Mathematics Teaching Practices And Their Opportunities To Learn, Cathery Yeh
Education Faculty Articles and Research
In this article, the author provides results from a 3-year, longitudinal study that examined two novice bilingual teachers’ mathematics teaching practices and their professional opportunities to learn to teach. Primary data sources included videotaped mathematics lessons, teacher interviews, and field notes of their teacher preparation methods courses. Findings revealed that the teachers were oriented toward differing views of learning that shaped how they organized students’ learning of language and mathematics during classroom instruction. While both teachers used similar teaching strategies to support students’ development of mathematics specific literacies, there were variances in how the learners were positioned within the classroom …
A Learning Model Of Community Collaboration In West Virginia,
2017
Marshall University
A Learning Model Of Community Collaboration In West Virginia, Tracy L. Bradley
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
This study tested a grounded theory model, Getting it Together: A Learning Model of Community Collaboration, developed during a six-year study (2004-2010) of a statewide substance abuse prevention program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). The model features the perceptions and experiences of those who were active in community-based collaborative and educational work in West Virginia focused on substance abuse prevention. The study revisited community coalitions from three counties that were part of the original ethnographic research used to develop the community collaboration theory. The grounded theory …
Designing A Course For Peer Educators In Undergraduate Engineering Design Courses,
2017
University of Maryland at College Park
Designing A Course For Peer Educators In Undergraduate Engineering Design Courses, Gina Quan, Chandra Turpen, Ayush Gupta, Emilia Tanu
Faculty Publications
Learning Assistants (LAs) are undergraduate peer educators who participate in weekly pedagogyseminars and work alongside faculty instructors in active-learning based undergraduate courses.While LA programs were initially developed for science and math courses, many LA programssupport LAs in a wide range of disciplines. This paper describes a pilot adaptation of the LAprogram for engineering design courses that we have developed at the University of Maryland,College Park Campus. All LAs assist in 14 separate sections of University of Maryland’sengineering design course for first-year undergraduate students. Our seminar integrates topicsfrom the discipline-general LA pedagogy seminar (cognitive science of learning, facilitation ofclassroom discourse, collaboration, …
Writing Focused Professional Development For Content-Area Teachers: The Effects Of Writing Instruction On Content-Area Student Achievement,
2017
Gardner-Webb University
Writing Focused Professional Development For Content-Area Teachers: The Effects Of Writing Instruction On Content-Area Student Achievement, Amanda Edwards Whatley
Education Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of writing on the content areas when coupled with ongoing professional development and support for content-area teachers. Research shows that writing is an essential skill for success in and beyond the school setting. Research further indicates that writing plays an important role in student learning through its development of cognitive processes; however, in general, writing as a mode of learning is not a focus of either pre or in-service teacher training. As such, writing beyond note-taking and fill-in-the-blank activities is not necessarily a strategy utilized in content-area teacher classrooms. This …
Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Instructional Coaching, Factored By Experience And Levels Of Education,
2017
Gardner-Webb University
Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Instructional Coaching, Factored By Experience And Levels Of Education, Tina Hicks Whitten
Education Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate elementary teachers’ perceptions of instructional coaching compared to their years of experience and their levels of education. This researcher worked cooperatively with one rural school district in north, central North Carolina and used an online survey instrument with both open- and closed-ended questions to gather data. Two hundred sixty-three elementary classroom teachers were asked to complete the survey; 131 teachers did so with a response rate of 49.8%. Chi square statistical tests were run for the Likert responses on the quantitative portion, and open-ended coding was used for the qualitative piece. …
What Do Parents Really Want? Parent Perspectives On Gifted Education,
2017
Gardner-Webb University
What Do Parents Really Want? Parent Perspectives On Gifted Education, Ryan Mccreary
Education Dissertations and Projects
In this research study, the correlation between the strategies that previous research had indicated as effective for gifted education and the programming sought by parents of gifted children was examined. Survey results and interviews with parents revealed several strategies that parents wanted to be implemented in gifted education as well as powerful practices that would enhance gifted education if implemented by school leaders. The problem of underachievement among gifted students is also discussed as well as strategies to reverse it.
The Left- Handed Leader: Educational Experiences And Leadership Practices,
2017
Gardner-Webb University
The Left- Handed Leader: Educational Experiences And Leadership Practices, Rebecca L. Huffstetler
Education Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of left-handed school leaders during their elementary and secondary school years. Further, this study examined the impact of these experiences on leadership practices exhibited by left-handed school leaders. The researcher used a mixed methods approach to conduct this study. For the quantitative portion of the study, left-handed and right-handed school leaders completed Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practice Inventory (LPI) Self, Fourth Edition. To obtain qualitative data, left-handed school leaders also participated in an open-ended question interview where information was collected on their educational experiences in elementary school and secondary school …
Creating Tomorrow’S Leaders: Examining Teacher Perceptions Of A Systems Approach Framework To Continuous Classroom Improvement,
2017
Gardner-Webb University
Creating Tomorrow’S Leaders: Examining Teacher Perceptions Of A Systems Approach Framework To Continuous Classroom Improvement, Pascale Glenn
Education Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of teachers using a systems approach in two rural schools in a district in North Carolina using a qualitative approach. In this district, a systems approach is also referred to as Continuous Classroom Improvement (CCI). The theoretical framework within which the study was grounded revolved around three constructs. The first construct was school culture; the second construct was the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM); and the third construct was the use of Plan, Do, Study, Act. Information was collected in a natural setting. The qualitative data gathered from the …
Place-Based Education: A Program Evaluation,
2017
Gardner-Webb University
Place-Based Education: A Program Evaluation, Hannah S. Moody
Education Dissertations and Projects
The researcher designed and conducted a program evaluation on the place-based education component at Summit Charter School. Specifically, the researcher wanted to know how the place-based education program at Summit aligned with national standards of a successful place-based education program, as outlined by the Place-based Education Evaluation Collaborative. Observations, document analysis, and survey data were collected by the researcher and analyzed using Horsch’s (2008) Logic Model. This program evaluation revealed that Summit Charter School is emerging as a place-based education institute. Recommendations include place-based education leadership training for Summit’s administration, ongoing staff development in the area of place-based education, and …
A Program Evaluation Of An Apprenticeship Program Using Stufflebeam’S Cipp Model,
2017
Gardner-Webb University
A Program Evaluation Of An Apprenticeship Program Using Stufflebeam’S Cipp Model, Oai C. To
Education Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation is a program evaluation of an apprenticeship program operated by Siemens Energy, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina. The evaluation was based on Stufflebeam’s CIPP model of context (C), input (I), process (P), and product (P). The CIPP sought to evaluate (C) current and future objectives, (I) various strategies use to achieve the objectives, (P) the implementation of the strategies, and (P) the outcome of the program. The entire model provided insight into the effectiveness of the program and provided feedback for decision making and accountability toward current and future improvement of the program (Stufflebeam, 1971). Four questions were …
