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Developing A Topic-Centered Fy Seminar With A Renewed Focus On Information Literacy, Lisa P. Smith, Wendy L. Chambers

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

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Collaborating With Faculty: Give Them What They Want Or Give Them What They Need?, Michele Santamaría

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Michele Santamaría, Delaware County Community Despite greater academic commitment to information literacy, professors frequently request content in an information literacy session without fully understanding the types of skills librarians are trying to teach. Should librarians use the customer service model and teach what professors want or should they teach the information literacy skills which they know students need? This paper will not argue for a simple solution to this question, but instead explore the underlying variables and assumptions influencing this dilemma. As such, this paper will address how both parties are operating under different pedagogical models, with librarians frequently prioritizing …

Collaborating At A Distance, Linda E. Kern, Cynthia L. Smith

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

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Information Literacy Is Going To The Dogs, Kathy Albertson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

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Rhetoric And The Research Guide, Reba Leiding

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

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Learning Style And The Information Search Process, Mary Jane Rootes

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Dr. Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process theory (ISP) asserts that there are six stages within the quest for information: initiation, selection, exploration, formulation and collection. A successful search for information will entail each of these stages. In each of these stages, a person experiences thoughts, feelings and actions unique to the stage. Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory asserts that those with different predominant learning styles will experience thoughts, feelings and perceptions differently. If this is correct, it would follow that students with different predominant learning styles will experience the thoughts, feelings and actions within each of these stages differently. It is the …

Action Items, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Overview of action items handled by the Graduate Council.

Center For Academic Excellence: Annual Report 2008-2009, Patrice Hudson, Leslie G. Mcbride, Kevin Kecskes, Amy Spring, Janelle De Carrico Voegele, Michael Chamberlain, Vincent Schreck

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Since its inception in 1994, the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) has provided a comprehensive array of cross-disciplinary and discipline-specific development activities in support of the educational function of the university. The Center has a dual mission of faculty development in teaching, learning, and assessment and in the development of community-university partnerships. Th e Center is a place of innovation, a gathering place for idea generation and testing, and a place where faculty may turn for individual consultation and professional advice. Increasingly, CAE supports faculty interested in community-engaged research.

We are proud to present the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the …

Inside Unlv, Diane Russell, Shane Bevell, Cate Weeks, Mamie Peers

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Adding Value For Students And Faculty With A Master's Degree In Professional Writing, Susan M. Hunter, Elizabeth Giddens, Margaret B. Walters

Faculty Articles

This article describes an interdisciplinary professional writing program and its benefits for students (in terms of knowledge, habits of mind, and developing careers). The authors present qualitative research findings about habits of mind and knowledge domains of successful students, which may prove valuable for faculty teaching in similar programs as they consider curriculum design, or for faculty pondering issues of career development for master's degree graduates.

(De)Composing A Garden For Children's Play, Debra Jean Deverell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kindergarten has been a part of the educational landscape of the United States since 1856, when the first kindergarten opened in Watertown, Wisconsin. If we fast-forward more than a century and a half to the present, it is clear that the landscape composition of the garden-ideologically, culturally, socially, and politically for children's play has drastically changed.

The purpose of this study, (De)Composing a Garden for Children's Play, is to examine kindergartners' play set against changing school polices and practices of recent years in one Colorado school district. Four research questions guided this inquiry:

1. What does kindergarten look like …

Manipulatives In Mathematics Instruction, Jessica Strom

Mathematics Graduate Theses

This paper is a review of research pertaining to the use of manipulatives in middle and secondary school mathematics instruction. It covers the research on the rationale for using manipulatives, the psychology behind learning with manipulatives, the common mistakes when teaching with manipulatives, and the suggested process to follow when using manipulatives in the classroom. There is a large amount of research and information on manipulatives in the classroom. One of the most prevalent topics addresses that the concrete characteristics of manipulatives allow students to progress through a natural learning process on their way to an abstract understanding of mathematical …

A Guidebook, Based On One School’S Journey In Implementing Response To Intervention, Pearl Mckenzie

All Graduate Projects

Many districts across the United States are considering, or have already implemented a system called Response to Intervention (RTI). This is a research-proven instructional method that will benefit many children who are challenged by the academic content. RTI uses a schoolwide structural system to support students and staff. This project documents steps taken by one school during an academic year in the form of a guidebook.

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Strategy Based Reading Instruction For Reading Comprehension, Katherine D. Gibson

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Strategy based reading instruction helps teachers differentiate the teaching of reading. It also supports many types of readers by explicitly teaching and modeling reading comprehension strategies. The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of strategy based reading instruction for improving student reading comprehension. Additionally, it examines teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of this approach. The review of the literature supports the idea that strategy based reading instruction is an effective way to improve reading comprehension. Teachers in kindergarten through eighth grade were surveyed on their perceptions of strategy based reading instruction's effectiveness for improving reading comprehension. Results …

Predictors Of Student Achievement In Grade 7: The Correlations Between The Stanford Achievement Test, Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, And Performance On The Texas Assessment Of Knowledge And Skills (Taks) Math And Reading Tests, Kristen Karrh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

State-mandated testing programs are more prevalent and have greater implications for public school systems since the passing of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 and the implementation of standards-based reform practices. The 331 grade 7 students involved in this correlation research endeavor all attended a public middle school in Texas. One evaluated and analyzed fall 2007 Stanford 10 Achievement Test and Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (8th edition) results, and spring 2008 Math and Reading Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scale scores to determine the statistical significance and strength of the relationship and whether or not …

No Child Left Behind Act: The Impact On The Performance Levels Of Gifted Students Relative To Those Of Non-Gifted Students, Rochelle Lenea Hopson-Lamar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal comparative study was to determine the impact of the implementation of NCLB on the performance levels of gifted students relative to those of non-gifted students. The study involved the 2001, 2002, 2008, and 2009 Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) results of 1,978 middle grades students from a school in rural Northwest Georgia. The analysis included comparing the Mann-Whitney statistics, two-sample independent z-test statistics, and the percentage of improvement in performance levels of the gifted and non-gifted students, as measured by the CRCT in reading, language arts, and mathematics. The findings revealed that, since the implementation …

The Effects Of Reading Apprenticeship On Junior College Students' Metacognitive Awareness And Comprehension Of Academic Texts, Patti Rasberry Smith

Dissertations

This descriptive quantitative research study explored if a focus on Reading Apprenticeship strategies and routines in a college level composition class would affect students' metacognitive awareness and comprehension of academic text. Participants included 141 students from one junior college in a southeastern state. The 141 participants were enrolled by choice in six sections of composition taught by three instructors who had all received extensive training in implementing the Reading Apprenticeship framework in their classes. The participants were administered the Revised-Curriculum Embedded Reading Assessment (CERA) twice (pre and post intervention) during the fall semester of the 2008-2009 school year. Participants read …

Does Change In Timbre Alter Stereotypy Movements Exhibited By Three Persons With Diagnoses Of Mental Retardation And Autism Spectrum Disorder: Three Case Studies, Kathy Wade Webb

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe and collect data while monitoring the responses of three individuals to recorded presentations of four folk songs. The individuals, or participants, were all residents of a state-run facility in the southern region of the United States. The participants were females diagnosed with mental retardation and autism spectrum disorder, and they all exhibited one or more stereotypy behaviors in some form or another. The primary purpose of the study was to see if change in timbre of the songs would alter the stereotypy movements exhibited by these participants as the songs were presented …

Agent And Subject Of Discipline: How The Novice Teacher Experiences The Techniques Of Power, Lynn Anne Murray-Chandler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This phenomenological study explored how five elementary school teachers experienced their first year of teaching as both the subject and agent of discipline. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s conceptualizations of power, discipline, and resistance, the investigator analyzed interview data that focused on questions concerning how novice teachers establish their own classroom management techniques, what norms they followed and resisted, as well as how and when they complied (or did not) in order to gain membership into their school/teacher community. Analysis indicated that, although novice teachers expressed many concerns, they largely complied with the norms established institutionally for managing student behavior, and …

Online Course Delivery Standards: Defining Quality, Carine Ullom

SIDLIT Conference Proceedings

As a result of training in the Quality Matters course quality process, Ottawa University adopted "Standards for Online Course Design and Development" in October of 2006. However, we felt the need for a separate set of standards that outline institutional expectations for instructor engagement while an online course is in session. In March 2008 Ottawa University, Ottawa Online adopted its first "Standards for Online Course Delivery." The presenter will share the standards and discuss the results following over a year of implementation.

Meeting The Challenges Of International Online Teaching, Tim Murphy

SIDLIT Conference Proceedings

Online courses serving international students present a number of distinct challenges. Instructors must address significant cultural differences, cope with the language barrier, and educate students about unfamiliar disciplinary standards. This presentation will demonstrate common technologies that are helpful in dealing with these challenges and discuss recent scholarship regarding other methods and tools that address the unique needs of the international online student. Attendees will also be invited to participate in a discussion of these issues.

Learning, Identity And Agency : Secondary Mathematics Professional Developers' Lived Experiences Of Participation And Collaborative Inquiry In Professional Learning Communities, Susan Stein

Dissertations and Theses

This study of professional development for professional developers used a narrative inquiry design to understand the lived experience of two professional developers as they participated in professional learning communities (inquiry groups), and learned to improve their practice as inquiry group facilitators. The study's purposes included: investigating professional developers' experience and practice in inquiry groups; amplifying professional developers' voices in the professional development field; and suggesting recommendations for educational leadership.

A literature review developed a framework grounded in social, situated learning theory. It revealed that professional development needed to provide teachers with opportunities to collaborate in inquiry groups to solve problems …

“The Negro Speaks Of Rivers” An African Centered Historical Study Of The Selfethnic Liberatory Education Nature And Goals Of The Poetry Of Langston Hughes: The Impact On Adult Education, Sarah E. Howard

Dissertations

The purposes of this historical study were to 1) document the Selfethnic Liberatory adult education nature and goals of the poetry of Langston Hughes (from 1921 to 1933); and 2) to document the impact this poetry had on members of the African Diaspora. In addition, the goal of this research was to expand the historical knowledge base of the adult education field, so that it is more inclusive of the contributions of African Americans.

This study addressed the problem that the historical and philosophical literature of the field does not to any significant degree include the intellectual and adult education …

Strategies To Encourage And Support The Reluctant Middle School Male Reader, Wendy L. Poppema

Master of Education Program Theses

Studies (Lee, Grigg, & Donahue, 2007) show that girls outperform boys on reading tests and that boys, especially older boys, are less likely to read for enjoyment in and out of school (Scholastic, 2008). Societal pressure, lack of literacy skills, and lack of motivation are all obstacles that contribute to these findings. In order to raise test scores and the level of reading engagement, teachers, parents, and librarians need to connect these reluctant male readers with books and other reading material that they want to read. Boys prefer non-traditional texts, and though fiction is not a preference, boys crave certain …

Student Perceptions Of An Effective Learning Environment Across The Dimensions Of Synchronous, Asynchronous, And Face-To-Face Instruction, Jarrett Landor-Ngemi

Dissertations

Prior to the implementation of computer technology in the classroom, the traditional classroom dynamic consisted of a chalkboard, a lectern, a teacher handout, and the occasional group assignments. However, as technology continues to evolve, so has the restructuring of the educational system (Woods & Baker, 2004). This evolution, which began as correspondence courses by mail, has resulted in a Web-based learning community characterized by its rich learner-centered environment where both student and instructor collaborate and engage in constructivist practices (Conrad & Donaldson, 2004).

This study sought to expand the existing body of knowledge on distance learning and employed quantitative techniques …

An Assessment Of The Impact Of A Science Outreach Program, Science In Motion, On Student Achievement, Teacher Efficacy, And Teacher Perception, Phillip Allen Herring

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to analyze the science outreach program, Science In Motion (SIM), located in Mobile, Alabama. This research investigated what impact the SIM program has on student cognitive functioning and teacher efficacy and also investigated teacher perceptions and attitudes regarding the program.

To investigate student cognitive functioning, data were collected from the Mobile County Public School System based upon student performance on Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT's), consisting of the students' average score, percent of students passing the test (students scoring 60 percent or above), and the percent of students who were considered proficient, (students scoring 70 …

Does A Co-Learner Delivery Model In Professional Development Affect Teachers’ Self-Efficacy In Teaching Mathematics, John J. Ribeiro, Denise Demagistris

Teacher Education

A mixed method study is reported examining teacher efficacy regarding professional development in mathematics instruction for two groups of teachers: in building with peers (N=17) and MAT student co-learners in the classroom (N=14). An end-of-course survey, focus group interviews and pre-post data for the Teacher Self Efficacy Scale were used to investigate:1. What is the difference in teachers’ efficacy regarding mathematics instruction based on the professional development delivery system they experienced? 2. What are teachers’ perceptions of their professional development with peers conducted onsite in district compared with professional development with peers and preservice teachers at a university setting? Descriptive …

Expectations For Career And Social Support By Mentors And Mentees Participating In Formal Elementary And Secondary School Mentoring Programs, Monique Jacob, Robert K. Gable

Teacher Education

Teacher shortages are a nationwide concern, attributable primarily to high attrition rates among new teachers (Ingersoll, 2003; Ingersoll & Kralik, 2004; Ingersol & Smith, 2004). Ingersoll and Kralik (2004) claimed that an estimated 50% of new teachers left the profession within their first 5 years. Reasons for leaving include: isolating and non-supportive teaching environments, poor working conditions and overwhelming teaching assignments (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2005). To support beginning teachers, Rhode Island passed legislation requiring districts to develop a mentoring process (Law 16-7.1-2 Accountability for Student Performance). One variable measuring mentoring success is how closely participants’ expectations for the relationship …

A Resource Guide For Embedding Multicultural Capital Into The Secondary Science Classrooms Of Central Washington, Theresa Susan Bell

All Graduate Projects

The multiple aspects of multicultural education were researched and are here-in compared and discussed. Through research it was found that although much research exists on multicultural education, little or no multicultural resources are available for secondary science specific to Central Washington. Implications for multicultural education, science education and the integration of the two are discussed. A collection of lessons, websites and teacher tools were merged into a resource guide that can be used for local lesson planning. Practical ideas are offered to the inexperienced multicultural science educator.

Exploring Web 2.0 Technologies To Internationalize The Teaching Of Psychology, Richard Velayo

Cornerstone 3 Reports : Interdisciplinary Informatics

This project aims to explore effective ways in which instructors in psychology through the use of Web 2.0 technologies in teaching help with this “internationalization” initiative. Though the focus of this pilot project is the psychology curriculum, an investigation of the ways in which Internet-based technologies are used to internationalize curriculum in other disciplines will also be explored.