Digital Commons Network^™

Induction And Peer Coaching Programs In A Middle School Setting, Shanti Ladawn Howard

Dissertations

While almost half of new teachers engage in some type of induction program, many programs only offer superficial types of assistance including district-wide orientations, periodic workshops, or instruction in classroom management (Gold, 1996). Some induction programs sponsored by the state institute an evaluation process that applies formulaic criteria for defining teaching behaviors to assess new teacher performances (Darling-Hammond et al., 1999). In the continued search for school improvement, there was a need to propose another option in staff development, e.g., peer coaching.

Peer coaching was examined because induction programs did not attend to the individual needs of alternatively certified teachers. …

Making The Implicit Explicit: Values And Morals In Queensland Teacher Education, Amanda Mergler

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Since the mid-1990s, the role of the teacher has expanded to include overseeing and intervening in the moral development of students. In Australia, this expectation of teachers was generated largely by the national coalition government, and has been continued by the Labor government. As a result, it is essential that pre-service teacher education courses skill pre-service teachers in appropriate ways to educate students about values and morals. Additionally, education degrees must provide opportunities for pre-service teachers to analyse and reflect on their own values and morals. Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers (Queensland College of Teachers, 2006) takes the view that …

International Teacher Perspectives On Using Computers To Teach Music, Jun-Ting Sun

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated how four expert teachers from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the United States integrated computers into their music classrooms. Through the use of qualitative interviewing methodology (Kvale, 1996), in-depth interviews were conducted between the participants and the researcher. The questions focused on the decision making process behind how these expert teachers chose to integrate technology in their music classes as well as the impact of various cultural, societal, and political influences (parents, teachers, students, school administrators, government officials and policy, and the community) on the development and implementation of their curriculum. Findings from this study suggest that music …

Perceived Attitude Towards Feedback In Athletic Training Clinical Education, Jessica Lynn Emlich

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the perceived mean attitudinal score towards clinical instructor feedback, of Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accredited athletic training education programs (ATEP) program directors/clinical coordinators and affiliated clinical instructors. Additionally, the investigator was interested to see if relationships between attitudes towards feedback and the respondent's age, sex, employment setting and years of professional experience existed.

There were a total of one hundred and fifty eight participants in this study that comprised the two groups. Program directors and clinical coordinators (PD/CC) comprised 59 of the responses and 99 were …

Excellent Teachers’ Thinking Model : Implications For Effective Teaching, Sahandri G. Hamzah, Hapidah Mohamad, Mohammad R. Ghorbani

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study aimed to suggest an Excellent Teacher Thinking Model that has the potential to be utilized in the development of excellent teachers. Interaction survey method using survey questions, observation, document review and interview was conducted in this study. One hundred and five excellent teachers were selected randomly as research respondents. Two sets of instrument constructed and used in this study were Teachers’ Thinking questionnaire and Teachers’ Teaching Performance observation form. Cronbach Alpha reliability value was between 0.73-0.92 for every component in each division. Multiple regression analysis (stepwise) was used to answer the research questions. R square value (R2 = …

Best Practice Or Most Practiced? Pre-Service Teachers’ Beliefs About Effective Behaviour Management Strategies And Reported Self-Efficacy, Susan Main, Lorraine Hammond

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Managing student behaviour remains one of the most daunting aspects of teaching for educators and this is particularly so when children with disabilities are included in the regular classroom. Self-efficacy has been identified as having a significant impact on a teacher’s behaviour, and pre-service training can play an important role in preparing teachers to be effective classroom managers. The purpose of this study was to identify if pre-service teachers in an Australian university held high or low self-efficacy beliefs and whether the type of strategies they identified as most effective correlated with those highlighted in the research as best practice. …

Gifted Education Exposure In Introductory Special Education Texts: Quantitative Text Content Analysis, Sandra Kay Hansen Wentworth

Dissertations

This present study was designed to examine and compare 10 introductory special education textbooks used in mandatory introductory special education courses. The percentage of text devoted to gifted education chapters in comparison to specific learning disabilities, behavior disorders, mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders, and speech/language/communication disorders was explored for statistically significant differences. Paired samples t tests were conducted to analyze the data. A statistically significant difference was found between the coverage of gifted education and autism spectrum disorders among the 10 examined texts. No other significant statistical findings were found between various exceptionalities among the 10 examined texts. The prevalence …

Enhancing Students' Science Content Knowledge Through Text Structure Awareness, Jamie Lynn Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of teaching text structure as a tool to assist first grade students' understanding of science content in a unit of study on plants. A quantitative analysis was performed to reveal any difference in mean post-test scores between a control group and a treatment group. Results indicated that the treatment group students' science content knowledge was increased significantly more than students in the control group. Usage of specific text structure keywords did not increase. However, students did use synonyms of keywords. Recommendations for further research are discussed.

Becoming A Teacher Educator: A Self-Study Of Learning And Discovery As A Mentor Teacher, Julie Anne Castro

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine what I encountered as I moved from the role of a classroom teacher into the role of a mentor teacher of student teachers. As I traveled down the path of becoming a mentor, I learned about mentoring roles, discovered my vulnerabilities, and found a community of support. The improvements and understanding I gained through engaging in this study demonstrate that self-study can be beneficial for both mentor teachers and teacher educators to inform and increase knowledge in the field of mentoring.

Themes Of Geography [9th Grade], Jessica Waltman

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

Throughout this unit students will be introduced to the five themes of geography. These themes will be brought up in future units of study to help students better organize their understandings and perceptions of the world around them. In understanding the themes of Location, Place, Region, Movement, and Human-Environment Interaction, students will be prepared to answer the essential question of “Why is the where important?” The activities and lessons of this unit are built to aid students in their understanding of how humans interact with one another and their environments and to begin to see the differences and similarities of …

The Influence Of Professional Development On Teachers' Psychosocial Perceptions Of Teaching A Health-Related Physical Education Curriculum, Pamela Hodges Kulinna, Nate Mccaughtry, Jeffrey J. Martin, Donetta Cothran, Roberta Faust

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

The impact of a yearlong professional development intervention on physical education teachers' psychosocial perceptions was investigated. Experienced mentor teachers (n = 15) were paired with inexperienced protégé teachers (n = 15) who helped them learn how to teach a health-related physical education curriculum (i.e., the Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum). Using the theory of planned behavior as the guiding theory, it was hypothesized that teachers would experience favorable increases in various psychological constructs (e.g., attitude) and variables reflecting the social culture of their schools (e.g., administrator's perceptions) as compared with control teachers (n = 17). A variety of …

New Perspectives On Academic Leadership Moving The Research Agenda, Sabine Hotho, Jim Mcgoldrick, Alastair Work

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The purpose of this paper is threefold: 1. to expand the theory base underpinning academic leadership and HRD; 2. to expand theoretical frameworks to challenge prevailing myths about the ‘unwilling academic manager’; 3. to open up new research avenues and questions which have a better chance of constructively supporting HRD practice in HE.

Student Identification Across School Levels, Roxanne Mitchell

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Failure to identify with school has been suggested as one explanation for why some students persistently fail to meet academic expectations. Identification with school has been conceptualized as involving a sense of belonging and a valuing of school and school related outcomes (Voelkl 1997). Students who fail to identify with school often experience a host of problems ranging from behavioral problems, social and emotional withdrawal, and academic failure. These students are also at-risk for delinquency and dropping out of school (Finn 1989, Finn & Voelkl 1993, Voelkl 1997). Empirical research thus far has attempted to explain this failure to identify …

The Effect Of Consolidation On Extracurricular Activity Participation, Ibrahim Duyar, David Collins

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

School reform initiatives have often included the controversial practice of school consolidation in an effort to limit the cost and improve the quality of the educational process. While there are both benefits and liabilities in consolidating schools, there are few studies that have determined the impact of consolidation on certain student behaviors such as participation in extracurricular activities (Blake, 2003; Clinchy, 1998; Eisner, 1995; Fanning, 1995; Hawkes, 1992; Hughes, 2003; Jonjak, 2003; Nelson, 1985; Reynolds, 1999; Seal & Harmon, 1995; Self, 2001a, 2001b). Findings are mixed in that some studies have indicated that consolidated schools offer a greater number and …

Expectancy Theory And Its Implications For Employee Motivation, Isaac Mathibe

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The significance of employee motivation as the panacea of productivity in organizations is illustrated by the volumes of literature on motivation and human productivity. For example, social theorists are of the view that employees are motivated by their needs and they develop through and in relationship with others (Dawson, 1993). The implication of the preceding statement is that when there is synergy between employees’ needs and organizational needs, they – employees – will be more acquiescent to productive tendencies than when their needs are not gratified. Invariably, the balancing of employees’ labour with their social needs and expectations is necessary …

An Investigation Of Assessment Practices By Teachers Business Education Subjects, Janet Adetayo

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Assessment is the process of gathering information about a student in order to make decisions about his or her education. Assessment is used for different purposes within different levels of the educational system, for example external assessment in most cases serve as accountability measures and as a result they induce teachers to devote significant amounts of instructional time to preparing students to excel in these examinations even when those examinations do not match the curricula.

State Regulation Of Homeschooling And Homeschoolers’ Sat Scores, Brian Ray, Bruce Eagleson

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The professoriate is a highly individualized endeavor where scholars work independently on projects of their choosing. High stakes issues of retentions and promotions require new faculty members to document a public expertise in scholarship. In one sense, academics are scholarly gamesmen (Maccoby 1976) who attempt to create a scholarly presence while interpreting their colleagues’ patterns of actions and motivations. Such interpretations are created in an environment of “hollowed collegiality” (Massey, Wilger, and Colbeck, 1994) where superficial evidence of active participation often masquerades as community. For many new faculty members, connecting their work to a larger community of scholars can be …

The Institutional Challenges Of Full-Time Faculty Retirement: Has The Expedition Accomplished All That It Promised And That It Should Accomplish?, Jeffrey Senese

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The retirement of full-time faculty is an issue that is currently and likely to continue to challenge many higher education institutions. It is an issue that has implications that are long-term and both positive and negative. On the positive side for institutions, faculty retirements present potential opportunities to renew the core staffing of the institution. Faculty retirements may allow institutions to add new energy and innovation through the hiring of new faculty. Not that new ideas or innovations are the exclusive realm of new or young, but fresh ideas and approaches in higher education are more typically associated with new …

Primary Sources And Their Effects On Student Interest, Kevin T. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of primary sources on the interest levels of three Honors classes during my Student Teaching. I wanted to see if my students would enjoy the ten primary sources I introduced to them. The study was conducted over a month's time. Data was collected using hundreds of surveys, over sixty questionnaires, fifteen interviews, and anecdotal notes to determine my seventy-five students' interest in the primary sources I chose for their classes. After analyzing the written data, I concluded that my students overwhelmingly enjoyed the primary sources we read and analyzed together. …

Initial Impacts Of No Child Left Behind On Elementary Science Education, George Griffith,, Lawrence C. Scharmann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

This research examines the impact of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act on elementary science education within a Midwestern state possessing strong national education measures. Elementary teachers (N = 164) responded to an online survey, which included both closed-ended and open-ended questions pertaining to science instruction and changes made in science instruction since the implementation of NCLB. More than half of these teachers indicated they have cut time from science instruction since NCLB became a law. The reason given for this decrease in science education was mainly the need to increase time for math and reading instruction.

Nsu Fischler School Of Education And Human Services (Fsehs) Catalog And Student Handbook 2008–2009, Nova Southeastern University

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice College Archive

No abstract provided.

Helping Struggling Writers Through Self-Regulated Strategy Development, Rajvi Kamdar

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this action research was to determine the effectiveness of implementing a self-regulated strategy development model to teach a story writing strategy to three 3^rd grade students at a New Jersey Elementary School. This study involved a comparison of stories written by students before and after self-regulated strategy development instruction. Students chosen to participate in the study lacked proficiency in story writing and held negative beliefs towards writing in general. All participants completed a Pre-SRSD Story Writing task, which was holistically scored to determine student ability in story writing. The Pre-SRSD Story Writing task was submitted prior …

Show Me You Care, Denise Calore

Theses and Dissertations

Although caring in the classroom has been a widely researched topic in education, the impact it has on student behavior is one aspect of caring that has been overlooked, especially at the secondary level. This study's main focus was to investigate if modeling caring behavior can correct negative student behavior, such as being disruptive in class, and reinforce caring behavior amongst classmates. Through observation and various caring activities, I was able to uncover student perspectives of caring, how students define a caring teacher, and a positive impact of my caring actions on student behavior.

How Implementing Social Programs With First Grade Students To Improve Their Existing Emotional And Behavioral Issues Affects A New Teacher's Outlook On Her Classroom And Students, Rachel Trussler

Theses and Dissertations

What effects does a "one on one" developmental program done with first grade students that are struggling with behavioral and emotional issues have on me as a teacher and inform and influence my teaching? This action research study took place in a southern New Jersey school from January 24 until May 9, 2008. Students were observed both in and out of the classroom. A better understanding of the classroom community and interactions of the students were gleamed from this process. Two students were selected based on their unique emotional situations, which influenced their ability to behave appropriately according to teacher …

Peer Tutoring In A Fourth Grade Inclusion Classroom, Kathleen Weiss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what happens in a fourth grade inclusion classroom when peer tutoring is implemented. Peer tutoring was implemented as a test review strategy for five tests. Observations were recorded based on off task behavior, on task behavior, questions asked during the reviews, and students that finished in the allotted time. These results were compared to previous observations that were taken during typical test reviews. During the peer tutoring reviews, an average of 36.4 instances of on task behavior were observed, compared to an average of 23 instances during the typical test reviews. There …

A Comparison Of Perceptions Of Knowledge And Skills Held By Primary And Secondary Teachers: From The Entry To Exit Of Their Preservice Programme, Angela F. Wong, Sylvia Chong, Doris Choy, Isabella Y. Wong, Kim C. Goh

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate if there were differences in the levels of pedagogical knowledge and skills as perceived by the student teachers who were enrolled in the Primary and the Secondary Post Graduate Diploma in Education programme at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. 170 Primary and 426 Secondary student teachers participated in the study. The results showed that there were no significant differences at the beginning of the programme between the two cohorts. However, there were significant differences between the two groups at the end of programme, with the Primary student teachers tending to …

Increasing Academic And Behavioral Success For Adhd Students In The Primary Classroom, Sandra Kay Munoz

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a teacher's handbook that provides primary classroom teachers with effective classroom interventions and strategies that would improve behavioral and academic success in students who experience ADHD. To accomplish this purpose, a review of current and relevant resources was conducted on topics that included best practices, strategies, techniques and interventions concerning classroom management of ADHD students.

Teacher Perceptions Of Multicultural Education: A Research Proposal For A Study Of The Perceptions Of Five White, Female Teachers, Katherine Waight

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The population of the United States continues to become more and more culturally diverse. Yet, white middle-class women dominate the teaching force. Because there are such great numbers of white middle-class women teaching students of color, it is important to re-examine how they perceive and use multicultural education in their classrooms. There have been numerous studies that have examined how white, pre-service teachers’ perceptions impact their pre-service experiences, but it is important to look at how practicing teachers’ perceptions of multicultural education affect their teaching. This study explores how teachers’ perceptions of multicultural education influence the way they teach.

A …

The Impact Of Mentoring On Retention, Quality, Commitment Of Graduates From One School-University Partnership, Brenda Kraber

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of mentoring on retention, quality and commitment of graduates from one school-university partnership. This project explored this issue through a review of relevant literature on effective teaching, components of quality teacher preparation programs, beginning teachers, mentoring and Professional Development Schools. How to best prepare teachers for the multi-faceted, challenging job that needs to be done has been a question that has faced universities and school districts for many years. With the growing numbers of veteran teachers now ready to retire and the increasing need for more teachers, the proportion between experienced and inexperienced teachers is …

Confronting The Pedagogical Challenge Of Cyber Safety., Ria Hanewald

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Cyber violence and the antidote of cyber safety are fast becoming a global concern for governments, educational authorities, teachers, parents and children alike. Despite substantial funding for information dissemination on preventative strategies and the development of electronic responses to hinder perpetrators, the phenomenon of cyber violence has received little attention in the educational research literature. This review paper outlines the status on existing research into cyber violence. Documenting and summarizing the facts on the nature and extend of the issue will inform future debate. It also highlights the need for pre-service and in-service teacher education programs to prepare educators to …