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Newsroom, Georgia Southern University

Newsroom (2006-2023)

• Georgia Southern University expands research infrastructure
• Georgia Southern University faculty conducts a variety of research activities

A Game Approach To Teach Environmentally Benign Manufacturing In The Supply Chain, Donna M. Qualters, Jacqueline A. Isaacs, Thomas P. Cullinane, Jay Laird, Ann Mcdonald

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Multidisciplinary models of education are needed to prepare students for their role in a global work environment. Combined with this need is the reality of the new Millennial Generation entering the educational system with a different approach to learning. This paper introduces an interactive, educational engineering game designed to appeal to the Millennial Generation’s learning preferences. Shortfall is a prototype board game with a team approach and a trial and error methodology to introduce students to environmentally benign manufacturing in the supply chain using the automobile industry as a model. After playing the game, quantitative analysis showed that on average, …

The Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning: What Is It? A Personal View, Michael Prosser

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The scholarship of teaching and learning in higher education is an idea and a practice that is relatively new and still in its early stages of development. What it means, how to engage in it, what are its expected outcomes, etc. are still issues of debate. In this short essay, I argue that the scholarship of teaching and learning should be about individual and groups of academic staff within disciplines engaged collegially in working to improve student learning within the disciplines. It is not research in the traditional sense, its focus should be on better understanding our student learning experiences …

The Impact Of Grading On The Curve: A Simulation Analysis, George Kulick, Ronald Wright

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Grading on the curve is a common practice in higher education. While there are many critics of the practice it still finds wide spread acceptance particularly in science classes. Advocates believe that in large classes student ability is likely to be normally distributed. If test scores are also normally distributed instructors and students tend to believe that the test reasonably measures learning and that the grades are assigned fairly. Beyond an intuitive reaction, is there evidence that normally distributed test scores appropriately distinguish among student performance? Can we be sure that there is a significant correlation between test scores and …

Examining Roberts County Mathematics Teachers' Beliefs Regarding The Nature Of Mathematics And Their Classroom Learning Environment, Elizabeth P. Brechin-Harrison

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of mathematics teachers beliefs regarding the nature of mathematics and their classroom learning environment in Roberts County (fictional). The study investigated 165 kindergarten through twelfth grade mathematics teachers that taught at least one segment of mathematics a day. The researcher administered three surveys: the Teacher Beliefs Survey (developed by Beswick, 2005), the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (developed by Taylor, Fraser, and Fisher, 1997) and a demographics survey to mathematics teachers at 35 schools. Data analysis included calculating the sub-scale means of each survey, a Pearson correlation, and Analysis of Variance …

The Bridge Course Design: Formative Assessment And Student-Centered Learning In Cross-Course Classrooms, John Davies, Casey Welch, Jace Hargis

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This paper reports on the effectiveness of an innovative course design that bridges classes from two different disciplines. The Bridge design creates assignments in two classes: a summary class and a panel class. The design encourages students to engage in teaching and interacting with their peers within and across disciplines, and provides instructors with unique opportunities for formative assessment. Relative to control groups, students in the summary class perceived greater opportunities to teach peers, participate in class discussions, think critically, and engage in collaborative learning. Students in the panel class showed gains in critical thinking. Both classes afforded multiple opportunities …

Student Perceptions Of The Purpose And Function Of The Laboratory In Science: A Grounded Theory Study, Cianán Brooks Russell, Gabriela Weaver

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The laboratory has long been an important part of the undergraduate science experience. This paper reports on a qualitative, grounded theory study on students’ perceptions of the purpose of the laboratory. Thirteen undergraduate chemistry students were interviewed about their experiences in the science laboratory to provide data on students’ understanding of the purpose of the laboratory in science education. Results reveal that students had views that were polar opposites regarding the correlation between laboratory and lecture content material and the effectiveness of the laboratory at enhancing their learning in science. This paper also reveals the need for explicit instruction regarding …

Using Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning (Sotl) To Inquire Into Pre-Service Teachers’ Science Lesson Planning Considerations, Geeta Verma

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This paper shares my experiences with the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) framework in my university science methods course. Incorporating SoTL not only enabled me to inquire into my own teaching as a scholarly activity but also engaged my students in critical reflections. I used the principles and characteristics of SoTL to design this inquiry by; a) creating a new instructional framework for lesson planning; b) facilitating students’ reflections on their experiences with the new framework; and c) documenting and presenting this inquiry as a scholarly activity. Forty-eight pre service teachers (N = 48), 43 women and 5 men …

Effects Of Active Learning Variants On Student Performance And Learning Perceptions, Abdi-Rizak Mohamed

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This paper aims to examine the relative impacts of three different models of learning (collaborative learning, traditional lecturing and process-oriented guided inquiry learning [POGIL]) on student performance and learning perceptions. In a controlled case study, we measured the learning outcomes of 57 undergraduates in a chemistry course taught by the different learning modules, using quizzes and exams as performance measures. In one academic quarter, the collaborative learning method was used exclusively whereas all three models were used subsequently in a second quarter by dividing up lectures into 4 different modules. Student quiz and exam outcomes indicated significant difference between collaborative …

Summer 2008 Aasu Data Digest, Armstrong State University

Armstrong Office of Institutional Research: Armstrong Data Digests (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Radio And Infrared Selected Optically Invisible Sources In The Boötes Ndwfs, James L. Higdon, Sarah J.U. Higdon, Steven P. Willner, Michael J. I. Brown, D. Stern, Emeric Le Floc'h, Peter Eisenhardt

Physics & Astronomy: Faculty Publications

We have combined data from the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey in Bo¨otes and the Spitzer Space Telescope to determine basic properties for sixteen optically “invisible” MIPS 24 µm (OIMS) and thirty-five optically “invisible” radio (OIRS) sources, including their spectral energy distributions (SED) and luminosities. Most OIMSs possess steep power-law SEDs over λrest = 1 − 10 µm, indicating the presence of obscured AGN in agreement with Spitzer spectroscopy. These objects are extremely luminous at rest-frame near and mid-IR (νLν(5 µm) ≈ 1038 − 1039 W), consistent with accretion near the Eddington limit and further implying that they host buried QSOs. …

Rogers-Ramanujan-Slater Type Identities, James Mclaughlin, Andrew Sills, Peter Zimmer

Mathematical Sciences: Faculty Publications

In this survey article, we present an expanded version of Lucy Slater's famous list of identities of the Rogers-Ramanujan type, including identities of similar type, which were discovered after the publication of Slater's papers, and older identities (such as those in Ramanujan's lost notebook) which were not included in Slater's papers. We attempt to supply the earliest known reference for each identity. Also included are identities of false theta functions, along with their relationship to Rogers-Ramanujan type identities. We also describe several ways in which pairs/larger sets of identities may be related, as well as dependence relationships between identities.

Radio Continuum Imaging Of The R Cra Star-Forming Region With The Atca, Olli Miettinen, S. Kontinen, J. Harju, James L. Higdon

Physics & Astronomy: Faculty Publications

Aims. The aim of this study is to investigate the nature of radio sources associated with young stellar objects (YSOs) belonging to the R CrA cluster. By combining the centimetre radio data with the wealth of shorter wavelength data accumulated recently we wish to refine estimates of the evolutionary stages of the YSOs.

Methods. The region was imaged at 3, 6, and 20 cm using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Fluxes and spectral indices for the brightest radio sources were derived from these observations. Some of the 3 and 6 cm data were obtained simultaneously, which is useful for reliable …

Case Of Year Round Education In Two Georgia Elementary Schools, Rodney James Backman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This researcher looked at two elementary schools using a year-round education calendar and provided a descriptive account of their experience. A case study format was used. Quantitative data on standardized test scores, discipline, and attendance were collected. Interviews and focus group sessions were conducted at each site. The overarching research question for this study was: What are the experiences of stakeholders in two Georgia elementary schools that have implemented year-round education? A cross-site analysis of the major issues showed that both schools agreed on five areas in which the year round education schedule had a positive impact. These areas were: …

Earmstrong, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Armstrong News & Publications: e-Armstrong Newsletter (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Optimal And Permissible Sampling Rates For First-Order Sampling Of Two-Band Signals, Daniel Frederick Linder

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Sampling theory plays an essential role in the advancement of digital signal processing (DSP). All known DSP processors only work with digital samples of an analog signal (continuous-time signal). Therefore, reliable sampling of a signal is crucial for the successive phases of DSP. A well-known industry standard for sufficient sampling of an analog signal is that the sampling rate is at least twice the highest frequency of the signal. Obviously, the greater the highest frequency of the signal, the higher the sampling rate required, hence, more wear and tear on the sampling device. This research focuses on developing sampling methods …

Monitoring The Process Mean Of Autocorrelated Data, Jesse Dorian King

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

When modeling the stochastic behavior of a sequence { } t X of the quality measurement X on the output of a production process, it is usually assumed the measurements taken over time are independent and identically distributed. Multiple authors have pointed out that significant autocorrelation can affect the performance of traditional control charting procedures. One family of models for time series data are the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. These models are well suited to model production processes, in which the observations are autocorrelated. It is our interest to examine these models. Meaning is given to the process …

Challenges That Two Georgia Elementary Principals Face In Rasing Achievement Of At-Risk Third Garde Students, Sharonlyn Jones Reese

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Elementary principals are required to perform a variety of duties which include, but are not limited to, administrative and instructional tasks. Intense job accountability for all students to raise the achievement of at-risk third grade students has caused principals to face challenges and to use strategies to increase student achievement. The demands of the job of principal of an elementary Title I school are complex, especially when many of the students in the school are at-risk of failure. The legislative No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 mandates and obligates principals to do their best for all students enrolled …

Georgia Teachers' Perceptions Of Principals' Interpersonal Communication Skills As They Relate To Teacher Performance, Norma Vanessa Kambeya

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' perception of their principals' interpersonal communication skills in relation to teacher performance. This was a qualitative study, where an authoethnographic mode of inquiry was employed. Authoethnography describes research studies of a personal nature (Ellis & Bochner, 2000). Using an interactive interview technique, five teacher participants were asked questions in an effort to elicit teachers' perception of principals' interpersonal communication skills as they relate to teachers performance. This study is significant in determining which interpersonal communication skills as perceived by teachers were most effective and essential in increasing teaching performance. Findings revealed …

Beliefs Of Georgia Educators Regarding After-School Programs, Fran Ridgeway Oakley

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to determine middle school educators' beliefs regarding strategies that are useful for effective implementation of middle school after-school programs. The individuals most appropriate to provide the answers to the research question included middle school after-school program directors and teachers. A purposive sample of two middle schools in the Northeast Georgia (NEGA) Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) was identified on the RESA Website. A descriptive qualitative methodology was used, with open-ended questions in order to obtain detailed responses from the interview participants. Instrumentation for this study was structured interviews of selected participants. The interview …

Educators' Perceptions Of Reasons For And Strategies To Correct The Underrepresentation Of African Americans In Gifted Education Programs, Deborah Ann Dunn

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine elementary and middle school educators' perceptions of the reasons for the underrepresentation of African Americans in gifted education programs. The mixed method paradigm included a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The two instruments used were an eight-item interview questionnaire and a two page researcher-designed survey. The participants were selected based on the operation of their gifted eligibility teams from three selected elementary schools and twenty middle schools. Three elementary principals and three middle school principals were interviewed to gain an in-depth knowledge of the reasons for and strategies to …

Influence Of Principal Work Styles And Behaviors On Teacher Commitment During School Reform In Georgia, Susan Marie Mcglohon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Research was conducted to learn about the influence of leadership work styles and behavior patterns of three high school principals in northeast Georgia whose schools were undergoing reform through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The study sought to identify specific work styles and behaviors that affected teacher commitment when implementing change during school reform initiatives. A mixed methods study of collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data was used in a case study involving three different high schools. Principals and their teachers responded to interview questions and survey questions to reveal patterns of work styles and …

Exploring Teachers' Beliefs About The Underrepresentation Of Minority Students In The Gifted Program In A Mid-Sized Suburban School District In Georgia, Pamela Holt Colvin

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Over the past 30 years, the national numbers of kindergarten through 12th grade students from diverse backgrounds have nearly doubled. Based on the enrollment count in 2005, the state of Georgia experienced a similar change as minority students became the majority in Georgias public schools. Even though this has occurred, the total statewide number of minority students enrolled in the gifted program and the number of minority students enrolled in the gifted program in some school districts in Georgia is not representative of this diversity. The underrepresentation of minority students in the gifted program is a concern voiced in research …

Georgia Superintendents' Perceptions Of The Minority Achievement Gap, Thomas Watson Usry

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine Georgia superintendents' perceptions of both the possible causes of and proposed remedies for closing the Minority Achievement Gap (MAG). Using a survey instrument developed by the author, the perceptions of Georgia public school superintendents are explored. This study codifies this information so that it is available for consideration by all superintendents interested in becoming more effective leaders and in closing the MAG. As chief executive officers of school districts who play crucial roles in the education of Americas children, superintendents play a major role in addressing all aspects of the MAG, yet …

Study Of Middle School Administrators' Perceptions Of The Provisions Of Services Provided To Students With Special Needs, Veronice Gaston Felton

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the perceptions of middle school administrators from four Georgia school districts regarding three policy areas: effective strategies; support for educational change; and inclusive education. Two school districts comprised Group 1: one urban and one rural school district that met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Two school districts comprised Group 2: one urban and one rural school district that did not meet AYP. Middle school administrators' perceptions of inclusion were collected through the use of an Inclusive Education Survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to …

Career And Technical Education Curriculum: The Implementation Process In Southeast Georgia High Schools, Kenneth D. Boyd

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs have been an element of the American high school experience and are still an integral part of an overall high school curriculum (Silverberg, 2004). An academic foundation, combined with work and life skills, is essential for preparing a student for the 21st Century workplace (Wonacott, 2003). Employers require well trained employees possessing the skills and capabilities taught in CTE programs. However, employers also report difficulty recruiting when attempting to hire well trained, qualified people. The purpose of this study was to better understand the implementation process of a high school CTE curriculum in Southeast …

How Distributed School Leadership Practices Are Implemented In A Rural Northeast Georgia Elementary School, Barbara Anne Setchel

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Recent leadership literature calls for distributed leadership where the principal is not the sole leader in the building. Despite already being overloaded with classroom and other responsibilities, teachers are taking on leadership roles and school leadership is becoming distributed among many individuals. This study was an examination to discover how leadership becomes distributed in one rural Northeast Georgia elementary school recognized for its collaborative efforts to improve teaching and learning. A case study was conducted, and leadership practices were observed. Four questions guided this study: How is leadership distributed? What operational practices are in place so leadership can be extended …

Factors That Reduce The Dropout Rate In High Poverty Schools In Georgia, Michael Larinso Lewis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Georgia's dropout rate in the school year 2004-2005 was 5.0% while the nation's rate was 9.4%. Dropout statistics show that some schools have lower dropout rates than others, especially those with similar demographics. This study examined six schools with similar demographics with high, average, and low dropout rates. This study sought to find out what are the factors that can reduce the dropout rate in high poverty schools in the state of Georgia. This study sought to find out additional questions that included: Why is it that some schools have low dropout rates while others have high dropout rates? What …

Preparation For High School Mathematics Reform In The Northeast Georgia Resa District: A Stage Of Concerns Approach To Examining Professional Learning, Kay Smith Haugen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first purpose was to examine the longitudinal concerns of a cohort of high school mathematics teachers in the Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Services Agency (RESA) district about implementation of the Georgia Performance Standards. The second purpose was to explore relationships among their Stages of Concerns profiles, demographic factors, and professional learning experiences provided by institute instructors. The study examined Implementation of Georgia Performance Standards in High School Mathematics as a change innovation using the Concerns-Based Adoption Model. The study utilized a mixed methods timeseries research design. Quantitative data were collected using the …

April 14, 2008 Aasu Faculty Meeting Minutes, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Armstrong Faculty Senate: Minutes (Archived)

April 14, 2008 Armstrong Atlantic State University Faculty Meeting Minutes