Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Infographic: Preparing Teachers For The Classroom, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

In the experience of Australian Principals, how well prepared are recent teacher graduates in relation to areas such as dealing with difficult student behaviour, making effective use of ICT, and subject content knowledge? Find out in today's infographic.

Use Of A Game-Based App As A Learning Tool For Students With Mathematics Learning Disabilities To Increase Fraction Knowledge/Skill, Orhan Simsek

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a game-based app (Motion Math: Fraction) to help students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities (MLD) to gain fraction skills including comparison, estimation, and word problem solving in an after school program. The researcher used multiple baseline design by extending with follow-up phase to determine whether students retained the knowledge they learned while engaging with the app. Even though six students participated to the study, the researcher withdrew two of them and analyzed data came from four students. The result o the study showed that all of the students …

Self-Efficacy Of Students With Visual Impairments Before And After Participation In An Inquiry-Based Camp, Kathleen Farrand, Tiffany Wild, Margilee P. Hilson

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine students’ self-efficacy level prior to participation and after participation in an inquiry-based science camp to determine if self-efficacy levels changed as a result of participation. A validated instrument, the 30 item Morgan-Jinks Student Self-Efficacy Scale (MJSES) (Jinks & Morgan, 1996) was used to identify the constructs of self-efficacy before and after the weeklong summer camp. The results suggest that the inquiry-based science camp had a positive impact on junior participants’ academic self-efficacy and did not increase senior participants’ academic self-efficacy.

Making Room For Play: Preschool Center Choices, Hailey S. Morelos

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the learning center choices of preschool students who received special education services and preschool students who did not receive special education services in order to identify the preference of teacher-led vs. student-led learning centers. Both children who receive special education services and children who do not receive services displayed a wide range of choosing student led and teacher led centers. It is hypothesized that there will be a difference between the student led center vs. teacher led center between children who receive special education services and children who do not. The study …

Stemming On Stem: A Stem Education Framework For Students With Disabilities, Jiwon Hwang, Jonte C. Taylor

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

There has been increased attention paid to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics also known as STEM. The focus on STEM has been both educational and occupational. Unfortunately, students with disabilities perform below their peers without disabilities in math and science. The authors discuss issues related to STEM and students with disabilities. These issues include (1) traditional views of STEM education, (2) the importance of STEM education, and (3) students with disabilities performance in STEM. The authors posit a framework for STEM education for students with disabilities and promote the incorporation of the arts to increase students’ STEM knowledge and achievement.

Making Science Accessible To Students With Significant Cognitive Disabilities, Lori Andersen, Brooke Nash

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

The publication of A Framework for K-12 Science Education (National Research Council, 2012) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013) have created a need for new alternate content standards and alternate assessments in science that are linked to the new general education science standards. This article describes how a consortium of four states used Evidence-Centered Design (Mislevy, Steinberg, & Almond, 2003) and Universal Design for Learning (CAST, 2012) to develop alternate science content standards and assessments. A set of 43 alternate science content standards was created and an alternate assessment at each of three grade spans. Evidence …

Self-Monitoring For Students With Disabilities, Lauren Beth Serebransky

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought out answers to the questions: Are students who are taught self-management skills better able to monitor their own learning then students who are not taught the skill? Does the use of self-monitoring applications improve a student’s chance of becoming a better self-monitor? Do high or low-tech strategies help students manage their learning and behavior the best?

For this study three seventh grade students were observed. Two of the students were observed in a self-contained English Language Arts class while the last was in an inclusive English Language Arts class. Each student had varying disabilities that affected his …

Fathers Speak: The Lived Experiences Of Fathers Of Adolescents With Autism Regarding Transition Planning For Their Children, Stathene Varvisotis

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

This phenomenological interview study was an examination of the lived experiences of seven fathers of adolescent sons with autism spectrum disorders as they transitioned out of school and into the postsecondary environment. The study was not created to deal only with fathers of sons; this population was coincidental. The purpose of the study was to gain insight into the fathers’ experiences and to determine whether commonalities existed within each father’s unique circumstances. A survey was considered, but discounted because of the need for more personal information from the participants. Data were collected through interviews with the participants. Analysis of the …

Use Of Student Perceptions To Measure Voice Disorders Course Impact On Learning, Amy Wilson Teten, Shari L. Deveney, Mary J. Friehe

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

Speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate programs offer coursework and clinical training experiences for a wide variety of communication disorder areas. Voice disorders are one area in which many practicing clinicians, particularly school-based practicing clinicians, reportedly feel a lack of professional competency. Many SLP graduate programs offer only limited coursework in voice disorders and limited or no clinical practicum experiences prior to degree completion. The purpose of the present study was to compare the self-perceptions of 45 graduate students majoring in speech-language pathology at the beginning and end of a 3-credit voice disorders course. The Voice Disorders Competency Checklist (Teten, DeVeney, Friehe, …

The Effects Of Social Skill Training In A Simulated Community Environment For Adolescents With Cognitive Impairments, Jessica Harrison

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this investigation were to (a) evaluate the impact of school and classroom-based social skills instruction on student’s social capabilities, and (b) determine if the skills learned in classroom-based instruction can be generated to the school store. Three 9th grade students aged 15-16 participated in the study. They were learning lessons adopted from Talkabout for Teenagers, taught 30 minutes a day, once a week for 12 weeks during social skill training/instruction. An observation chart was used before and after social skill instruction and a total was calculated at the end of each observation session to measure their social …

Connection Between Effort And Academic Success In Learning Disabled Students Identified With Learned Helplessness, Nancy D. Braunwell

Theses and Dissertations

This research was conducted with high school students eligible for special education services that have also been identified with learned helplessness. Students were given the intervention of study activity and exposure to success via assessments to determine if they would make a connection between their effort and their academic success. This connection is typically absent in learned helpless students. The data indicated that these students did make that connection and would continue the study activity on their own time after the intervention period to continue to experience success.

Enhancing Teacher Learning From Guided Video Analysis Of Literacy Instruction: An Interdisciplinary And Collaborative Approach, Carrie Eunyoung Hong, Irene Van Riper

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

The technological infrastructure for the use of instructional and professional videos is common in today’s educational venues. However, there has been a dearth of awareness and training to help teachers critically analyze and effectively utilize video recordings of authentic classroom instruction for their professional development. This self-study examined the teaching and learning process, particularly knowledge and lessons that we, as teacher educators, learned from commentary regarding video analysis and pre- and post- surveys completed by the candidates in a graduate level special education course. The investigation explored the extent to which the guided video analysis process facilitated the candidates’ learning …

The Effects Of Cognitive Strategies Paired With Hands-On Or Virtual Manipulatives On Math Instruction For Students With Mathematical Learning Disabilities To Learn Word Problem Solving Skills, Kimberly Plute

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using cognitive strategies with hands-on manipulatives, and cognitive strategies with virtual manipulatives to enhance problem solving skills of students with Mathematical Learning Disabilities (MLD), as well as their satisfaction with those strategies. Five, 5th graders with MLD participated in the study to learn word problem solving skills in a math class for 80 minutes, 5 days a week for 10 weeks. A single subject research design with ABC phases was used in the study. Results showed each student gained from 3.6 to 5.2 mean points of the weekly quizzes …

The Effects Of Google Classroom On Teaching Social Studies For Students With Learning Disabilities, Kathleen M. Dicicco

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of Google Classroom on teaching social studies for students with learning disabilities. Six 7th graders with learning disabilities, attending a resource classroom participated in the study. A single subject design with ABC phases was used to evaluate their learning outcomes in both areas of knowledge of content and vocabulary words. During the baseline, students were taught with the traditional way of using textbooks. During the intervention, students were required to complete various assignments using Google Classroom daily for 9 weeks and were assessed by unit tests and vocabulary quizzes using …

The Effects Of Self-Monitoring Using An Ipad To Increase On-Task Behaviors Of High School Students With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Christina Bamford

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of using an iPad to increase on-task behaviors of high school students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Four students attending a Resource Center during the class of United States’ History II participated in the study. A single subject design with ABAB phases was used. During the baseline, students were observed for 20 minutes in class, and their behaviors were recorded with a checklist. During the intervention, each student was taught to identify one to two on-task behaviors as a goal and to use an iPad with Choiceworks App for self-monitoring for 8 days. The iPad …

Tier 1 Intervention: Classroom Management, Ana M. Damme, Elisabeth J. Kane, Amber Olson, Reece L. Peterson

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Conclusion

Classroom management is an important skill for effective teachers; it is linked to a decrease in teacher burnout and an increase in teacher self-efficacy and improved academic outcomes for students. Teachers, regardless of grade taught or geographic area, report the need for better training in classroom management skills. There are a huge number of potential specific skills and activities which may represent effective classroom management, although these may be clustered into several useful groups. There is also a huge array of literature describing classroom management skills, and many of these have demonstrated effectiveness in research studies.

An Examination Of School Readiness: How Is The Construct Defined For Children Who Are Blind?, Lisa Joann Mcconachie

Dissertations and Theses

An increased focus on school readiness exists as students enter public school for the first time. Given unique challenges for students who are blind and use braille, school readiness in the transition to and preparation for kindergarten is even more critical to their future academic success. If children who are blind and use braille as their primary learning medium have the necessary school readiness skills entering kindergarten, they will be better prepared to participate in the academic classroom. There is a need for additional research to illuminate the skills needed for school readiness for children who are blind and use …

Training Paraprofessionals For Enhanced Iep Goal Achievement In Special Education, Mark P. Mclain

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

This research study involved training paraprofessionals in one special education classroom to implement student IEP in a variety of different settings. Three paraprofessionals participated in this training and with the assistance of the researcher, they determined if the current program at the school site was effective, what some of the reasons were for students not achieving a higher rate of IEP goal success, and if the implementation of a new pilot program helped students become more successful in achieving their IEP goals and benchmarks during a nine-week research period. Through research conducted on the history of paraprofessionals in classrooms and …

Effects Of Professional Development On Co-Teaching On 5th Grade Students With Exceptional Learning Needs, Wade J. Chilmonik

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of professional development in co-teaching to see if it can improve teaching relationships and the classroom achievement of 5th grade students with exceptional learning needs. This study included eight educators with experience levels from two to thirty five years. All of the educators in the study were teachers of students with and without disabilities who worked in co-teaching classrooms in the middle school subject areas of language arts, social studies, math and science. The participants consisted of 6 white females and 2 white males, ages 26-62. There were ten middle school students that also participated …

Demo: Wearable Application To Manage Problem Behavior In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Camellia Zakaria, Richard C. Davis

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Managing problem behaviors in children with neurodevelopmental disorders can be challenging. Such behaviors may discourage social participation and learning. Many of these behaviors warrant intervention, however, are challenging for caregivers to constantly supervise. Previous work focused on developing recognition systems for stereotypical and aggressive behaviors. Researchers also developed visualization interface for caregivers to better understand their child’s needs. Our goal however, is to design an independent behavior management application to help children manage problem behaviors with minimal supervision.We conducted a field study at a school for children with special needs in Singapore, and interviewed ten teachers. This study helped us …