Digital Commons Network^™

Developing A Web-Based Assessment Instrument, Robin L. Galloway

Graduate Research Papers

Public demand for affordable and quality higher education continues to pressure institutions to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning experiences. Traditional paper surveys have been utilized to gather data in the past. The World Wide Web can provide many of the same benefits in delivering a survey instrument while offering more convenience, lower costs, and a more flexible data set.

This report of the graduate project documents the process employed when developing a web-based assessment instrument. It outlines a method and procedure for connecting a web site with a FileMaker Pro database. In addition, it provides documentation for the implementation …

From Idol To Add-On To Indispensable Tool : Iowa's One-Computer Classroom, Laura M. Mcdermott

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers who ponder over past experiences can examine the revisions made in order to offer the best possible education to the children entrusted to their care. With the advent of computers in the classrooms, undeniable problems arise and further revisions must be made. When both the teacher and students share one computer, issues that must be addressed include time management, curriculum integration, and effective use of the computer.

With everyday demands of the classroom, it is difficult for teachers to spend time adding to a curriculum already filled to the brim. Time is needed for the teacher to understand how …

Eastview High School Media Center Web Page : A Graduate Project, Connie J. O'Sullivan

Graduate Research Papers

This creative project was undertaken for the purpose of constructing a web site for Eastview High School Media Center that would meet the needs of users while adhering to the highest qualities of web design. As creator of the web site, I started from the beginning. I had not designed a web page before undertaking this project. I researched the tenets of good web design, especially those particular to the field of library science. I identified my audiences and their needs. I identified and selected the best and most relevant content. I familiarized myself with Microsoft FrontPage, Eastview's standard Web …

Integrating Technology Into The Mathematics Curriculum, Jolonda Parrett

Graduate Research Papers

This is a Graduate Review of the actual work being implemented by a group of six math teachers at Lakeview Elementary. The initiative began because of an on-going problem of students receiving low-test scores in mathematics. Students also had a difficult time retaining the mathematics concepts and skills being taught. Through discussions and surveys, a possible solution was found . A Literacy Technology Challenge Grant from the Department of Education was awarded to help teachers learn to integrate technology within the math curriculum. Teachers are also learning new strategies that will allow students to actually grasp the concept and meaning …

What Is The Significance Of Online Technology As A Training Tool, Thomas Clifton Peterson

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the current directions and future trends of using online sources and activities as a tool for learning. It concentrates on the developmental progress of the most powerful force shaping the evolution of this technology: the Internet. As we enter the 21st Century, online training is becoming the dominant educational technology. The Internet has succeeded in removing the time and space barriers to online multimedia instruction.

Circles Of Literary Learning In The Kindergarten Classroom, Jayne Purdy

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the effects of literature circles on literary learning for kindergarten students. Fourteen children were divided into groups for the purpose of reading and discussing several different fictional stories over a 6-month period. A wide variety of literature was used that reflected the units of study for each month. The children met in literature circles weekly to discuss a story with their peers. Anecdotal records and observations indicated that the students were demonstrating an increased interest in literature. A comparison of pre- and post-tests showed growth in the students' abilities to analyze and interpret stories. (Real names of …

Learning Technology Policies In Action : Where Do The States Stand?, Evie Charles Pugh

Graduate Research Papers

In states with technology plans, there is a common belief that technology has the power to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning environment of the classroom. Many states' technology policies and plans reflect a demand for information about student learning outcomes and the cost and benefits of education programs. The eight states in the North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NCRTEC) are: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The need for district spending in education technology, such as computer training, professional development, service/support networking, supplies, and hardware, has become a major issue …

Design And Implementation Of A University Department Website, Margaret M. Rick

Graduate Research Papers

The website design cycle consists of four important components: (1) planning, (2) production, (3) implementation, and (4) operation. Within these components are a variety of vital tasks ranging from defining the objective and audience to conceptualizing the site, determining content, and creating, testing, and revising the site. Numerous rules or accepted principles guide the design process from color and font selection, to graphic creation, to site navigation layout. Once created, a website must be maintained: content should be updated and outside links verified on a regular basis. A site that is not maintained or kept current is of no benefit …

Portfolios--From Traditional To Digital : Research For Understanding And Implementation In The Art Classroom, Deb Ann Richmann

Graduate Research Papers

Portfolios are a method in which educators assess student work. The traditional portfolio is generally a collection of papers stored for an intended purpose. There are many types and purposes for portfolios. Technology, however, has yielded some inventive methods for managing the many papers in the portfolio in a digital format. This term, digital portfolio, represents a technological presentation of student work. The differences in hardware, software, and peripherals have been investigated in this review. Along with the tools for management, the implementation in an art classroom is explored. The sustaining impact of the digital portfolio in the art classroom …

Reading Comprehension Through Technology : The Accelerated Reader Program, Janette Schmidt

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to research the Accelerated Reader program, a computerized reading program, to see if it did improve reading skills. The Accelerated Reader program has received a lot of attention because of the belief that students are not learning to read. This is a program that has been marketed well and promises to produce results in reading skill performance. Some educators have questioned the Accelerated Reader program because of the expense and the method of motivation. Both sides of this issue will be discussed in this paper.

Building An Instructional Model For The High School Of The 21st Century, Cindy Winckler

Graduate Research Papers

High schools are the last frontier of change in the K-12 educational setting. In order to meet the needs of today's students, teachers must create systemic change. This research studied ways to build an instructional model for high schools of the 21 st century. The sources were selected from published literature about brain research, lesson design. school reform and studies of education systems between countries. The design of an instructional model for high schools was developed, using the research from literature reviews. Teaching methods, not teachers are at the heart of this reform.

Motivating Students With Accelerated Reader, Kirsten J. Wrieden

Graduate Research Papers

Excitement was obvious at Wells-Carey Elementary that day. If you did not know better, you might think it was picture day, the day of a field trip or maybe even the day of the Halloween parties. The students were busy as bees going about their daily morning routines. Smiles proliferated and nary a squabble could be seen. What was happening? What could be the reason for the excitement and unusually well-behaved students? Why, it was the opening day for the Accelerated Reader incentive store!

Diversity In The College Curriculum : Overview Of The Literature, Ruben J. Carrion

Graduate Research Papers

The colleges and universities in the United States that have adopted a proactive commitment to diversity in the curriculum have done so because they understand how their central mission is linked with the future of a diverse society. They are aware that, in the new millennium, most new jobs in the economy require a postsecondary education, and women and racial/ethnic minorities compose a majority of the workforce. One result of this awareness is the transformation taking place at many institutions that links diversity in the curriculum with the development of new teaching practices and learning practices.

This review of the …

Preschoolers And Technology : Effects Of Computer Use On The Preschool Child, Amy M. Clymer

Graduate Research Papers

Computer technology was investigated to examine technology's role in the education of preschool children. A comprehensive review of published literature was performed to determine the effects technology has on the social, cognitive, and emotional development of preschoolers and the guidelines for using computer technology with young children. Computer technology, implemented into preexisting educational activities and curricula, can assist in developing social and cognitive skills in preschool-age children. Computers assist in a child's ability to scaffold information. Appropriate computer software encourages preschoolers to think and act independently. Software that focuses on drill-and-practice skills can be detrimental to the mental growth of …

Does Peer Technology Training Work?, Kim Foley-Sharp

Graduate Research Papers

This research project contains lessons that were developed as a staff development tool for North High School in the Davenport Community School District. The goal of this project was to implement the use of new technology into the school building by providing the staff of the building with immediate access to trainers who would help if there were a problem or to answer questions. The other responsibilities of the trainers were to facilitate staff development sessions during the school day and on in-service days. The ultimate goal of the project was to make staff comfortable in the use of technology …

Invented Spelling : The Role Of Developmental Spelling In Early Childhood Classrooms, Cynthia L. Ford

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of literature relative to the importance of Invented Spelling in early childhood classrooms. The primary focus of this paper was to develop guidelines which should be used to implement a model program. The literature examined included the features of Invented Spelling and the stages of Invented Spelling. Also, the advantage and disadvantages of Invented Spelling were discussed.

The conclusion of this paper offers suggestions to educators on how to implement a model Invented Spelling program. Recommendations for further research in the area are stated.

Case Study : The Kjef Student Video News, John Kennedy Wickham

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact and effectiveness of a student video news project that was initiated in the fall of 1998 as the result of receiving a McElroy Trust Fund grant. A secondary purpose was to determine whether the student video news production was more effective than the traditional approach where the principal used the public address system. Three questionnaires were used to solicit input from school staff and students. The staff was surveyed in the spring of 1999 and 2000 whereas students were surveyed in December 1999 after one year of production. Results were …

Developing And Assessing Integrated Technology Curriculum, Kelly Baier

Graduate Research Papers

This project is a technology curriculum development plan for 2nd graders for the Johnston Community School District. It involves the development of district standards and benchmarks, lesson plans integrating technology into other curricular areas, and assessments. This curriculum plan was developed at each grade level and used to improve teacher accountability, enhance students' problem-solving skills, keep consistency across the grade levels, and to have a district-wide technology plan for our students. The paper, which accompanies the project, includes an introduction to the project, its methodology, a description of the project in full detail, and conclusions and recommendations for future work.

The Effects Of Computers And The Internet On Small Town America, Judith L. Clefisch

Graduate Research Papers

Computers and the Internet have changed the way small town America operates. The infusion of technology has allowed rural areas to be competitive with residents in urban areas in education, business, and personal fulfillment. Computerized systems have made the workplace more efficient and effective. The Internet connects rural areas to the rest of the country, even the world. Just because a small town atmosphere appears to be in a different era with its quiet streets and friendly people, this does not necessarily indicate that the small town has not kept up with the technology era. A small town can have …

An Integrated Science Unit : Ants, Julia Dillehay

Graduate Research Papers

This instructional development project integrated language arts and the science areas. A print-rich environment extended content and offered models of language, thus energizing children to become actively involved in the study. Many literature genres and.related expressive activities provided children with many options for learning experiences. The focus for this science unit for grade two was on ants. A print-rich environment was provided along with computer software and access to information on the internet.

The Impact Of Technology Integration On The Elementary Classroom With Reading Disabled Students, Donna Heying

Graduate Research Papers

The content of this paper will discuss and review the current literature in the area of technology integration in the elementary classroom, especially those classrooms with learning disabled students. The areas to be covered in this paper include technology's impact on student learning, legal reasons to use technology in the classroom, effective integration principles for technology integration, software and equipment for learning disabled students, Internet integration, and web-based instruction. All of these areas have an influence on how technology is integrated into the elementary classrooms and how effective that technology can be.

Literature-Based Language Arts Extended To The Science Area : Flight And Space, Thomas F. Ryan

Graduate Research Papers

This instructional project is an integration of the language arts and science areas. A fertile learning environment was established with a literature base that included different genres and related expressive activities. This extensive literature base provided an in-depth study of flight and space, a unit that is part of the third-fourth grade science curriculum.

The goal of this project was to present quality literature, representative of many genres, to integrate study across the curriculum. As the learners progressed through the activities that were student-initiated as well as teacher-directed, they displayed an increased appreciation of literature as well as a working …

Pembangunan Dan Penilaian Formatif Perisian Kursus (Courseware) Bagi Matapelajaran Aplikasi Komputer Di Kolej Islam Darul Ehsan (Kisdar), Noor Azli Mohamed

Student Works (2000-2009)

"How Computer Execute Instruction" is a topic in the syllabus of Computer Application subject for trainee teacher in Darul Ehsan Islamic College. Previously this subject was taught using only the whiteboard and sometimes diagrams are used. But it is difficult to employ this method as this is an abstract topic. Therefore computer aided learning courseware was designed to aid students in studying this topic. The development process went through several stages such as analysis, design, development and evaluation. This paper will therefore focus on the formative evaluation phase of the development of the courseware. The outcome of the formative evaluation …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Standardized Tests On Curricular And Instructional Practices, Jennifer Joy Davis Fox

Masters Theses

Does a student's performance on a standardized test measure the quality of education he/she is receiving? Many students today are being bombarded with standardized assessments mandated by state and district policies. The pressure to perform well on these assessments causes teachers to focus their classroom instructional time on test preparation even at the expense of the non-tested topics and curricular areas. A written survey was designed to determine teachers' perceptions of the influence of standardized tests on curricular and instructional practices. Participating in this study were third and fourth grade teachers (n=67) who administer the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). …

The Integrated Expressive Arts And Humanities : Coping With Curriculum Change, Linley Campbell

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The concept of curriculum integration in education has recently received increased attention. This has been largely due to the introduction of Learning Area Profiles, Statements and Outcomes, and most recently the Curriculum Framework. 'Integration, breadth and balance' is one of the seven key principles underlying The Curriculum Framework for Western Australian Schools. (Curriculum Council of Western Australia, 1998). Collectively, these documents emphasise the integration of knowledge, skills and values in the eight key learning areas of the curriculum. Such a holistic view of the curriculum is considered to be fundamental to sound educational practice.

Elements Of Writers Workshops In A Third Grade Classroom, Gale L. Nagunst

Graduate Research Papers

The act of writing is a natural process and should be treated as such. For children seven years and older, writing usually is not a linear act that follows a prescribed set of steps in a particular order, but a recursive process in which writers move forward and back through the different components of writing to make meaning. A classroom that includes writers workshops, or groups of children working together to interact about writing, must incorporate several important elements to allow this recursive, natural process to happen. These elements include classroom organization, ample writing time, models of writing, teacher instruction …

Senior Project: A Paradox In Critical Pedagogy, Mark Allen Winters

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

High school education is currently based upon technicist pedagogy, transforming education into mere technical training for the workforce. The regimen of testing in schools standardizes experiences and fails to provide a complete view of what students know and are able to do. Students need freedom to question and to insert their own interests into what they are studying. Such freedom provides more than preparation for graduation; it provides emancipatory education. I focused on a single curricular program—Senior Project. My research questioned, "Can Senior Project provide high school students with the freedom to study topics of personal interest and the freedom …

Assessing Moral Reasoning Development Through Values Education Within A Western Australian Independent School, Kelvin Fairclough

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The relationship between Values Education and corresponding moral reasoning development has been explored within a group of forty-six year eight students (twelve and thirteen years old). Participants were tested with a Sociomoral Reflection Objective Measure instrument to index their moral reasoning stage development (reported as a Moral Maturity Score). Randomly dividing the group into two equal proportions they were assigned to an Experimental or Control group. The Experimental group was presented with Values Education through exposure to age relevant moral dilemmas which envelope a societal value drawn from the Core Shared Values (Curriculum Council of Western Australia, 1998). Within each …

Visual Communication And Entertainment Through Animation, James T. Hamrock

Graduate Research Papers

Virtual animation is used today for everything including entertainment in motion pictures and video games, advertising on television and the internet, virtual animated videos used for industrial teaching aids, and project approvals for major building construction. Many modem companies are now insisting that new products are created using 3-D modeling and occasionally animation before approving funds for further development.

The research question in this work centers around thoughts and visions being effectively communicated so others can comprehend and share in the same perspective. This research will show the use of technology in answering this important question: Exploration of the literature …

How Telecommunications Is Assisting The United States In Adult Educational Distance Learning Programs, Telemedicine, And Future Applications, Minna Ann Harrison

Graduate Research Papers

The future of telecommunications becomes more unpredictable every passing day. Products and services that were just dreamed of in the past, only six months to a year ago, are here and ready to be used in everyday life. Wireless service has been affected by PCS providers who are offering services to customers that are considerably cheaper. Voice recognition programs/applications were only being bounced around in 1997, but currently are being used at work places and homes. At the 1998 Comdex technology trade show six major software companies were promoting their voice recognition programs.

There are some glitches still. But as …