Digital Commons Network^™

The Internet And Education : Uses And Issues, Ronald William Fitch

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, to provide a short overview of how the Internet, especially e-mail and the World Wide Web (WWW), is used in education for all age groups, elementary school through university and corporate training. Second, to examine current issues surrounding the use of the Internet in education. This paper will answer the question "What is the current state of the Internet in education?" Educational uses of the Internet as supplemental tools to classroom learning will be defined and discussed.

Dress For Success: Can Uniforms Enhance Learning For The Middle School Child?, Steven E. Wymore

Graduate Research Papers

The hot topic of uniforms in public schools has been of great interest in recent years. Many believe uniforms can help the middle school child learn better. Some would use it to control violence and gang activities in schools. Others would use it to promote pride and academic achievement. Some say it would cut costs for needy families, and cut competition with clothing styles. Those who oppose school uniforms contend there is a lack of firm data to support a "fad" such as this with uniforms. Instead, dress codes should be enforced and maintained. Some people feel uniforms give a …

Educational Technology And Language Teaching: Research On The Application Of Videos And Computers, Lihua Zheng

Graduate Research Papers

One of the major problems with the use of educational technology in China is the lack of qualified teachers who know their academic field and the application of instructional technology as well. This problem inhibits the improvement of the Chinese instructional environment and the development of the Chinese educational cause. The purpose of this research paper is to present some of the most current research in the effective use of educational technology in foreign language teaching with the focus on two technologies: video and computer. Concerning video technology, different learning styles and the implications for language learning are analyzed; the …

Integration Of Technology Into Science Education, Paul Zahner

Graduate Research Papers

In this paper, the importance of integrating technology into science education is discussed. The correlation between technology and science is noted and national science standards are examined. The evolution of today's learners requires a change in science education, and technology can serve as a vehicle for meaningful reform. The starting point for any change in science education lies with the teacher, who must adopt new strategies to meet the needs of all types of learners. Various examples of these teaching plans are discussed within this paper. Other important components of the change process include school administration support, especially financial. These …

Issues In Distance Education, Cynthia Jo Warner

Graduate Research Papers

The world of education has undergone many changes in the past 100 years. Education was thought of as an orderly world where individual students learned discrete facts within separate courses that were organized into disciplines. One of the major changes that is currently taking place is one of physical space. In the past, students went to school. Today, school is coming to the students.

Cluster Grouping Elementary Gifted Students In The Regular Classroom: A Teacher's Perspective, Kevin Michael Teno

Graduate Research Papers

Cluster grouping is a programming option that is receiving increased attention as a method of serving gifted students in regular heterogeneously grouped classrooms. This article provides an overview of the literature on cluster grouping and also examines the advantages and disadvantages of clustering from the perspective of conclusions obtained through actual implementation in an elementary school district. The conclusions indicate that clustering, if carefully planned and implemented, provides a viable option in meeting the needs of gifted students and improves the education of all students in the regular classroom.

Florida Social Studies Leaders' Perceptions Regarding An Afrocentric Curriculum, Vicki Kaplan Banks

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to gain insight into the perceptions Florida's leaders have regarding the inclusion of an Afrocentric curriculum. The leaders chosen for this study were the Florida Council for the Social Studies Board and the Association of Social Studies Supervisors. These leaders were sent a questionnaire that contained 57 statements about social studies curriculum content in a Likert scale format. The results of the survey were reported by using mean scores and frequency distributions.

The Likert survey statements examined respondents' viewpoints with regard to diversity, Afrocentrism, and Eurocentrism. The results of the survey were used …

The Movement Toward Authentic Assessment And The Role Of Technology, Brenda L. Clark

Graduate Research Papers

Assessment can be defined as the process of collecting evidence of what a student knows and is able to do. There are several types of assessment available for use. The list includes, but is not limited to, standardized tests, performance based assessment and portfolios. All of these have both positive and negative aspects to evaluating student learning.

Technology And Its Impact On Language Arts, Tresa Ann Dietrich

Graduate Research Papers

Language arts is a field where technology can be worked into the writing and reading fields with word processors, CD-ROMs, and other multimedia materials that focus on communication. Learning to effectively communicate is one goal of language arts education. This encompasses speaking, listening, writing, and presentation – utilizing all the available technologies and incorporating them into highly motivating and innovative units or activities.

Coordinating General Classroom Reading Instruction With Reading Recovery Instruction, Jane E. Bentley-Gadow

Graduate Research Papers

"Our Nation is at risk. Our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce, industry, science, and technological innovation is being overtaken by competitors throughout the world" (The National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983, p. 5). 3 These were the opening words published in a 1983 letter to the people of the United States entitled, A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform. In 1981, the National Commission on Excellence in Education was created under the direction of the Secretary of Education, T. H. Bell. Its purpose was to investigate issues in America's education, define problems and identify solutions (The National …

Reading Recovery : The Teacher's Perspective, Nancy A. Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

READING RECOVERY: The Teacher's Perspective presents a report of research that looks at Reading Recovery, an early intervention reading program for low-performing students, with the primary focus on the role the teacher plays. Data used was compiled from journal articles and personal interviews with three teachers randomly chosen from a Midwest school district. The basic questions were directed toward the teacher training, lack of professional input from the teachers in training, and the extensive paperwork required of the Reading Recovery teachers.

Results of the study indicated that teachers that are actively involved in the Reading Recovery program accept the program …

Effective Uses Of Technology In The Classroom, Sherrie Kopecky

Graduate Research Papers

Research Questions: How is technology being effectively used in the elementary, middle, and high schools both by the teachers and the students? What are some effective pieces of software students are utilizing in their learning? What is the best way to integrate technology into the curriculum?

Guiding Peer Conferences In The Process Of Writing, Cheryl Kremer

Graduate Research Papers

Children can only become experienced writers by learning to use the writing process through opportunities to write and through modeling of strategies by their teacher. Children will especially benefit from questions and comments that are appropriate to make during a writing conference. This instruction may first take place during all-class conferences and eventually move to conferences between students (Graves, 1983). Conferences may have many purposes, but according to Graves (1994), the most basic purpose for a conference is to give the students time to share where they are in the writing process and to figure out where they are headed.

What Does Educational Technology Mean In The Promotion Of Student Achievement : A Literature Review, Fongching Lee

Graduate Research Papers

Research indicates that educational technology has a valued status, especially in the promotion of student learning. The theory behind the study of educational technology includes the four paradigms defined by Saettler (1990): the media view, the communications and systems view, the behavioral sciences view, and the cognitive science concept. This theory serves as the basis for the implementation of educational technology by the teachers.

Implementing educational technology, in special education and regular education (k-12), has indicated positive influences on student achievement. Greater student achievement would translate to better worker-citizens for the United States, thereby allowing the country to be competitive …

Multiage Education, Wendy Edwards

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of literature relative to the practice of multiage education. The introduction consists of the background of multiage grouping, and centers on the one-room school house from centuries ago. Also, the theoretical framework is investigated to further explain the background of muliage grouping. A broad explanation of multiage is given, along with characteristics of a multiage program.

Benefits and disadvantages of multiage grouping are discussed in later chapters. Suggestions for successful implementation of a multiage program are also shared. The conclusion of the paper consists of a summary of the research and recommendations for further research.

Providing A Rich Learning Environment Through A Literature-Based Unit Across The Curriculum : Gardens And Gardening, Glenda G. Moleski

Graduate Research Papers

A literature base with related expressive activities from the language arts and graphic and performing arts can support an integrated instructional study. As a result, personal-social and thinking-language abilities can be nurtured. This specific literature base on gardens and gardening was developed for at-risk children in a multi-age classroom (grades 2-3).

Underachievement In Gifted Students, Deborah Langenderfer Nagle

Graduate Research Papers

This study reflected on literature concerning gifted students who underachieve in school. Its purpose was to review the literature to examine the various definitions of underachievement, the characteristics of gifted underachievers, the risk factors for underachievement related to gifted students and the existence of promising interventions to ameliorate underachievement. The writer concluded that underachievement is a discrepancy related to performance behaviors that can be changed. She found that positive change can best be accomplished by the use of individualized interventions involving both the school and the family.

Integrated Humanities: A Content Model For Senior High School Gifted, Jolene Kay Teske

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to develop an integrated humanities content model for senior high school gifted students. It began as a vision and has developed into a clear content model that will be piloted at the writer's school in the fall of 1999. Through the literature review and working revisions, the writer has become convinced that this type of model is one viable and defensible option for programming for intellectually gifted students at the senior high school level.

Parent As Participant Or Outsider : Establishing Positive Relations Between Schools And All Families, Amy Keller Sandvold

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review is to help elementary school educators to gain important information which may help them build positive relations with all parents. This review will not address special education teachers and programs directly, because of the particular case of federally mandated roles for parents working with educators, for which preservice special education teachers receive training. Likewise, national standards for preparation of early childhood educators provide for training in working with families of young children. This review is designed for elementary educators who do not have backgrounds in early childhood nor special education, although information cited might apply …

Breaking Tradition: One Special Educator's Journey Towards A Meaning-Based Instructional Program, Crystal L. Thurn

Graduate Research Papers

This article describes what one special educator has tried in teaching reading and found it to be successful for students with learning disabilities. It gives some helpful tips about making reading more meaningful by using authentic literature, addressing the higher order thinking skills, and letting go of time a barrier.

Barriers To Effective Programming Of Rural Gifted And Talented Students, Linda K. Moehring

Graduate Research Papers

Gifted and talented students in rural areas have barriers that are specific to them. Through a review of literature on gifted and talented students in rural schools this writer has determined five barriers to effective educational programming: (1) Anti-intellectualism as a societal attitude; (2) isolation of rural gifted students; (3) the all-encompassing role of the gifted and talented teacher; (4) inadequate curricular or programming opportunities; and (5) lack of funding.

The review and analysis of literature on the rural gifted and talented include the recommendation that much more research needs to be conducted in the area of service to rural …

An Investigation Of The Amount Of Emphasis Placed On Content And Delivery By Instructors Of Public Speaking, Paul J. Siddens Iii

Faculty Publications

A study examined how much emphasis instructors of public speaking place on content and delivery when teaching and delivering oral and written critiques. The study sought to determine whether when teaching a hybrid introduction to communication course; or public speaking course; instructors are challenged with teaching their students about issues related to the content of the speech; such as the introduction and conclusion; organization; supporting evidence; and issues related to physical and vocal delivery such as appearance; gestures; eye contact; volume; rate; and vocal variety. This was a pilot study to test the research questions; survey instrument; and methodology used …

A Study Of Integrated Learning Systems In The Public Schools, Mary N. Parker

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of an Integrated Learning System (ILS). This study focused on how public school districts in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa were using the ILS. Eighty-five surveys were sent to public school contact persons whose names were provided by Computer Curriculum Corporation (CCC) which produces an ILS called SuccessMaker. Other software providers refused to cooperate in supplying names for the study. The study also asked if the ILS were effective in producing student gains.

While this study did not statistically evaluate the effectiveness of the ILS compared to control groups, or …

The Development Of A Master Plan Of Curriculum And Instruction For A Charter School In The State Of Michigan, Thomas Gerald Kea

Dissertations

Problem. Our country stands in need of academic imperatives that will provide direction for our public school system. Highly accountable charter schools are being propagated to model quality education. The country is presently challenged to produce competent educational programs that contribute to this pioneer effort.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to develop a master plan of curriculum and instruction for a charter school in the state of Michigan by studying select schools and other documents.

Method. This was a qualitative study that sought to determine the culture of select charter, public, private, and home schools. Ten principles, drawn …

John Deere Foundry, Waterloo, Melt Operations Department : Induction Furnace Safety Operational Procedures, Edwina J. Boston

Graduate Research Papers

The use of multimedia technologies as training tools. allows businesses to reduce training time, decrease costs, increase accessibility, provide active learning experiences, and increase safety. The Induction Furnace Operational Procedures Unit is a set of eight (8) instructional modules developed for the John Deere Waterloo Works Foundry, Melt Operations Department. These modules were developed for use in the training of employees on the safety and operational procedures for using an induction furnace.

The unit was developed in the format of eight (8) Web-based modules located on the John Deere Waterloo Works intranet, Melt Operations site. Each module is designed as …

A Phenomenological Analysis Of An Instructional Systems Design Creative Project, Daniel M. Benson

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper is a phenomenological analysis of a creative project involving University of Northern Iowa undergraduate art students in the planning and creation of visual illustrations, graphic design concepts, .html documents, and imagery for a world wide web intranet/lnternet virtual space.

This analysis looks at instructional design as a creative process and the phenomenology of the UNI Art/Cat (Art Resources Technology/Computer Assisted Training) computer laboratory. The mission, goals, and objectives of the creative project, experiential and experimental philosophies of education, and the phenomenologies of the instructional design process are the main considerations. The methodology of this thesis is primarily …

Home Response Journals : Parents As Informed Contributors In The Assessment Of Their Child's Reading Development, Julie Wilson Morningstar

Graduate Research Papers

When parents are welcomed as partners in their child's "educational team," a bridge connecting the child's home and school environments is created - empowering parents as active participants in their child's reading development.

The Use Of Conflict Resolution To Reduce School Violence, Sabrina L. Taylor

Graduate Research Papers

► A St. Louis student, 14, was stabbed at school.

► An Atlanta student 12 was shot at school by a friend showing off a stolen gun.

► A 5-year-old and two 7-year-old were suspended from school in Rockville, Maryland for bringing knives to school.

► Two Denver, Colorado high school students detonated a pipe bomb outside their school. 2

► A Maryland teacher caught a student with a pistol inside a school restroom. The student shot the teacher.

► A Massachusetts high school student was knifed and clubbed to death during a government class.

► An Atlanta student opened …

Design, Development And Delivery Of Web-Based Instruction, Isabelle Cowden

Graduate Research Papers

The World Wide Web is becoming an increasingly popular medium for instructional delivery of distance education. Many colleges and universities are offering courses and complete programs of study via the web.

This Graduate Project: "Design, Development and Delivery of Web-based Instruction" includes a brief review of the literature indicating the widespread use of the web in distance education in higher education. It reflects the current practice of web-based instruction in the UNI Educational Technology program. It documents the project including the process for establishing a new section of a currently developed course. It is the intention through this project report …

Integrating Writing Across The Curriculum Enables Special Needs Students To Become Writers, Gretchen Peterson-Kobriger

Graduate Research Papers

Elementary students with language and learning disabilities became independent writers and readers after the classroom instruction changed from a teacher directed, segmented, skill deficit approach which is typically found in special education classrooms to a classroom which embraced whole language philosophies and provided students with the necessary conditions for learning written language. This paper describes the specific changes in teaching philosophy, instructional practices, methods, and strategies which were implemented in my classroom. It demonstrates how individual student challenges were met which enabled the students to increase their self-esteem and awareness of themselves as writers.