The Ham, December 6. 2019, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2019-2020

PARODY; Satirical; Themed music every day of the week; How well do you know NW faculty?; Disney officially acquires Northwestern; Reverend Kex replaces Dark MeYounge; Cat sanctuary established at Northwestern; Northwestern to withdraw tagline; Eoudstra joins Oakland Raiders; Northwestern College Cross(word) Puzzle

The Classic, Winter 2019-2020, Public Relations

The Classic, 2010-2019

Zwemer View: Standout Courage and Faithfulness; Around the Green: Award-Winning Giving, In Box, Returning to Serve, HR MVPs, PA Program Gets Green Light, Schools for Syria, Campus Life: Dressember, Podcast for Educators, Extra! Extra!, Enrollment Sets Record, NWC Bandwidth Usage, Leaving NWC Financially Strong, Science Center Plaza, The Story Continues, Face Value: Tom Truesdell, Forever a Raider, Excellent Affirmed, Raider Nation Celebration, Bridge Builder, Comfort Keeper, Distinguished Alumni; Giving to Northwestern College in 2018-19; Red Zone: Double Threat; Looking Back: Closed Call; 1,000 Words: Making a Statement; Big Times in the Bultman: 10 of the Best Moments on the Raiders' …

The Beacon, November 22, 2019, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2019-2020

A day in the life of Michael Simmelink; Northwestern Drama Ensemble travels to Ethiopia; Horror movie reconciles conflicted lore; Pentatonix’s new Christmas album does not disappoint; Dordt and NW art show encourages unity; Crossing cultures: Maria Lopes; PA program receives accredidation; Bammer creates macramé business; PLUR mirrors the life of Jesus; The paradox of intolerance; Women’s basketball with strong performances; Raiders head to postseason with 9-1 record; Raider men beat Mt. Marty, lose to Dordt; Students anticipate 2020 election; Fall activities Northwestern students enjoy

The Beacon, November 15, 2019, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2019-2020

Professors bring light tune with band; Married housing to become graduate housing; Feig falls short on rom-com; Cold War Kids’ captivating lyrics are new each listen; I-Club to host new Chai Khana tonight; Crossing cultures: Makoto Yoshihara; A day in the life of Mark DeYounge; Freezing time and growing relationships; Studying tips to finish the semester strong; All Christians should identify as feminists; Fern’s furniture has seen better days; XC individuals qualify for national championship; Football team defeats Hastings; Wrestling faces challenges and successes at DWU; Eco-challenge prompts campus change; New dining option in Orange City

The Beacon, November 8, 2019, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2019-2020

Library Cat has found a new home; Dr. Holt exemplifies her faith to students; Live-action remakes are hopeless; “Jesus Is King” underwhelms rap fans; “Curious Incident of the Dog and the Nighttime” opens tonight; Crossing cultures: Anslemo Kim; A day in the life of a cross-country runner; Rathbun using talents nationally; Kids movies are for everyone; Is Christmas music acceptable before Thanksgiving?; The Electoral College is a failure; Raiders bounce back on weekend trip; Volleyball cleans house in Nebraska; Women’s basketball kicks off season with back-to-back wins; Polar coaster winter predicted; NED Talks focus on environment

The Beacon, October 18, 2019, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2019-2020

Firemen disguised as NW students; CenterPoint brings unity for Sioux County; Joker movie tough but necessary; Avett Brothers crossing genres in new album; Hospers Hall shows hospitality through Coffeehouse; Top movies to watch this Halloween season; SOS applications open until November 2; Gunn joins psychology department; College is more than just academics; Bring vinyl back one turn at a time; XC teams break barriers in cold; Women’s golf competes at GPAC; Men’s soccer wins against Dordt; NW donates to Amar Project; Steggy Keggy planned for October 21

The Beacon, October 4, 2019, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2019-2020

Post-grad friends reunite in new roles; Who gets called when the fire alarms go off? Gary; A new vision of humandkind’s future; Artist’s third album breaks out of typical genre; Ragtime orchestra gives fresh sound to silent classics; Art exhibit sure to keep you looking; New faces from new places join NW; Combining business and theology; Why do it today when you can do it tomorrow?; Top 6 things every freshman should know; You should pay attention to impeachment; Five NW athletes receive honors; Women’s soccer starts season; Men’s golf competes in GPAC championship; Career center receives new name; Fitness …

Suffering & Dividedness: A Journey Toward Wholeness In A Healing Profession, Tatum J. Geerdes

Faculty Tenure Papers

No abstract provided.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime: A Tenure Project, Drew Schmidt

Faculty Tenure Papers

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Physical Activity Breaks In The Classroom, Ryan Iverson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research study was to determine the relationship between physical activity breaks and their impact on student achievement and behavior. The participants included 30, eleven and twelve-year-old students, who attended a public school in the north suburbs of MN. Students participated in 5-10-minute physical active breaks in health class during a 6-week trial period. Data was collected through the use of summative assessments, student surveys, and an observational behavior chart. The study found that implementing physical activity breaks in the classroom can have a positive impact on students’ academic achievement and behavior. The researcher recommends further …

Musical Group Participation And Reading Fluency: Is There A Connection?, Kimberly Breamer

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research was to determine if there is a connection between reading fluency and sight-reading music in a music performance group. Students were given a sight-reading test during their first and second years in band. They also took the Minnesota Comprehension Assessment test in reading during their 5^th and 6^th grade years. Data collection was obtained using the test scores from students who participated in a musical group (band, choir, orchestra) and students who did not participate in a musical group. Findings indicated that students who participate in a musical group (band, choir, orchestra) …

Gamification Of The Classroom: Seeking To Improve Student Learning And Engagement, Kyle Iverson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find how gamification of the classroom would affect middle school students in a northern suburban school district in Minnesota. This work was designed to find if student proficiency would increase because of gamification and if students would become engaged with the classroom material due to its implementation. Using three classes taught in this new setting and two classes taught in the standard of past years, test scores were measured and studied to find significant changes along with a survey to the gamified classes about their experience regarding engagement. The study found that …

The Impact Of Making Reading Heavenly Instruction On Fluency And Accuracy, Hannah Sefcik

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if using the systematic phonics program Making Reading Heavenly would have an impact on student fluency and accuracy in reading. For five weeks, the researcher introduced a new phonics lesson each day, where students learn and practice a new skill. With each new lesson, students continued to practice skills learned in previous lessons. Each Monday, the teacher-researcher assessed student fluency and accuracy using reading passages from a benchmark leveling kit. Analysis of the data shows that overall, the majority of students made progress between the pre-test and post-test assessments, increasing …

Growth Mindset In Physical Education, Kyle Herber

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Growth mindset continues to be a popular topic of conversation in the field of education. The purpose of this study was to observe and analyze the impact growth mindset intervention can have on student’s performance as well as their self-efficacy in physical education. This study took place in an elementary school in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, using four different 4^th grade classes. For this study, the author collected data in the form of pre- and post- Likert scale surveys as well as pre- and post- presidential fitness tests. Classes were randomly selected to receive growth mindset intervention or …

The Use Of Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures In Music Education To Promote Rhythm Skills And Knowledge, Emily Labes

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research was to determine if Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures produced greater achievement in music education than those who did not have the opportunity to engage in Kagan structures. The participants included 114 fourth grade students attending a public school in southern Minnesota. The scores of pre and post-tests determined student growth and achievement for both the control and treatment groups. The specific music skill assessed was rhythm. Results indicated that there was a statistically significant difference on rhythm when assessed by a paper and pencil exam when Kagan Structures were used. Analysis of a performance …

The Effects Of Early Technology Use On The Development Of Young Children, Kara E. Avis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

With technology becoming a prevalent part of daily life, early childhood experts, teachers, and parents have concerns as to what is appropriate for young children to do and use. Research shows both benefits and potential risks associated with technology use. Benefits can include enhanced creativity and collaboration with peers and adults, literacy achievement gains, language and vocabulary development, and opportunities for independence. These benefits generally occur in purposeful situations with developmentally appropriate educational content alongside adult guidance and scaffolding. Risks include health factors, cognitive and behavioral challenges, displacement of traditional developmental activities, and fewer personal interactions. These risks are more …

The Use Of Learning Centers In The Kindergarten Classroom, Debra J. Hamand

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review discusses the necessity of learning centers in the kindergarten curriculum. The review first looks at pioneers in the field of education and how they feel children learn best. Learning centers is defined and tells why it should be in the kindergarten classroom and the benefits it offers. The review will discuss the legislation of why some people feel that play-based learning should be taken away from the school system and schools should only focus on academics. Today with high stakes testing and meeting state standards there is no time for learning centers. There are many challenges that …

Preschool Students Learning From Play Based Learning And Small Group Instruction, Molly Nicholson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to use two different types or learning and see which one is more effective for preschool students. It seeks to answer this question: Do preschool students learn more effectively from small group instruction or from play-based learning? Preschool is where learning really begins, it is important to have a solid foundation for an educational career, this foundation is built in the preschool setting. Students learn in a variety of ways, hopefully this study helps determine the most effective way for the majority of the students to learn. Play-based learning is a relatively newer concept …

Family/Caregiver Engagement In Early Intervention, Jessica Hawkins

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Research has shown that the early years of child development and intervention that occurs during those years has a large impact on the architecture of the brain which creates a sturdy or fragile foundation for overall developmental and success later in a child’s life (Shonkoff & Bales, 2011). For children with or at risk for disabilities, early intervention programs were developed to assist with increasing a child’s success or closing the gap if one exists. For the purposes of this literature review, the early years and early childhood are referring to children ages birth to age 3. Early intervention services …

Comparing The Use Of Book Clubs And Repeated Reading In Terms Of Gains In Fluency And Reading Attitudes In 5th Grade Struggling Readers, Erin Gaul

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This classroom action research project compares the impact of repeated reading fluency intervention and book clubs, using partner reading and listen while reading intervention strategies, to build fluency in Tier 2 5^th grade Response to Intervention (RTI) groups. The project also looks at the impact of these two reading fluency intervention strategies on the reading attitudes of 5^th grade students using McKenna and Kear’s Elementary Reading Attitude Survey (ERAS) created in 1990. While scores varied drastically between individual students, the action research project shows that the repeated reading intervention led to greater gains in fluency as compared to …

How Mindsets Impact Learning, Kari Mueller

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Students who believe that their abilities and intelligence can grow and change are able to shift their mindset (fixed vs growth). This literature review evaluates how mindsets impact both teaching and student learning. A teacher’s role in providing feedback and implementing strategies to help build a growth mindset classroom culture plays a significant part to this review. Many studies have taken place over the years that bring about some opposing viewpoints, but after significant review, most of the data from studies has indicated positive profound impacts on how mindsets impact learning. Future research suggests to continue studies on how teachers …

The Implications Of Blended Learning In Today’S Classroom: A Look Into The History, Views, Impacts, And Research, Sarah Jones

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Blended learning has transformed the landscape of classrooms over the past few years, as technology has become more readily accessible. This review of literature aims to explore this transformation by looking into the history leading up to the regular use of technology in the classroom, as well as the theoretical frameworks that support the premise of blended learning. Several significant themes in the literature are discussed, next, in addition to some of the main oppositions to the implementation of blended learning. Legislation pertaining to blended learning and technology in education is briefly described, followed by a description of the impacts …

The Beacon, September 27, 2019, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2019-2020

Earl Woudstra leaves NW after 30 years; New school year brings increase in enrollment; Original movie is refeshing after cycle of reboots; Lumineers album exceeds expectations; Homecoming concert commemorates former student; Jonah and the Giant Fish sure to make a splash; Anderson educates future leaders; New clubs offer new opportunities; Your general educations matter; Why the 2020 election matters; NW XC kicks off season with back-to-back meets; Strong start to NW football season; Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch on his 400th win; Central cuts tuition cost in half; Construction continues on campus

The Classic, Summer 2019, Public Relations

The Classic, 2010-2019

Zwemer View: A Year of Celebrating Faith and Science; Around the Green: Cause for Celebration, Dr. Prof, New Academic Leader, Transfer-Friendly, Worldwide Learning, Service with a Smile, Campus Life: Game On; Sent; Trophy Time; Top of the Class; Summer Research; Goal-Setting Profs; New Career Leader, #RaidersAllN, Face Value: Sandy Van Kley; Directing Disciples; A Real Asset; The Language of Love; MVP for CPAs; Different Roles, Same Connection; A Clean Sweep; The Face in the Window; NWC Encourager; Master's in Athletic Training; End of Watch; Standout Students; Raider Nation Success; RedZone: Beyond the Arc; Looking Back: Strong in Science; 1,000 Words: …

Movement And Action: Action-Based Learning In The Classroom, Jordan Nguyen

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this literature review is to explain what action-based learning is, how does action-based-learning fit within the classroom, and what are the effects it has on English Language learners and students who are placed in academic support programs in the classroom. The hope of this literature review is to gain more knowledge about what is action-based learning and to gain insight on how educators can effectively implement action-based learning within their classrooms. After analyzing the literature on this topic, the results of the analysis determined the effectiveness of action-based learning within the classroom on English Language Learners and …

The Impact Student Behavior Has On Learning, Ashton J. Kirkpatrick

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research project was conducted to determine if a child’s behavior can affect their learning, especially in the area of early literacy. Information from FAST Bridge and the documentation from the “Check In/Check Out” process was used to determine if certain students using this process struggled in the area of literacy. After analyzing the data, it was determined that this certain student that was followed did struggle in the area of literacy and showed signs of emotional and social concerns alongside their behaviors. After the “Check In/Check Out process was implemented, the student showed academic growth according to the …

Impacts Of Project-Based Learning On Student Engagement, Dale De Jong

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this paper is to share the results from an action research project that explored the impacts of Project-Based Learning (PBL) on in-class student engagement. This was done in a 10th grade world studies classroom that compared PBL to traditional instruction. The main patterns that emerged from this project showed that percentage of student engagement and types of higher order thinking increased when components of PBL were implemented in the classroom. This can be attributed to PBL’s learner-centered approach, where the students’ perspectives are continually taken into account and students are at the center of their learning process. …

Impacts Of Parental Involvement On Early Literacy Skills, Sara Harlan

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research was conducted to identify a correlation in high literacy skills with parental involvement and support. Baseline data was gathered from kindergarten student's winter FAST screener scores. Parental involvement began by sending homework for my students to work on with an adult in their home. A spreadsheet was kept tracking which students returned their parent signature sheet weekly and which students did not. All students were progress monitored on letter sounds weekly. The spring FAST screener data was then used to gather ending data. Growth was compared from the winter to spring data with the amount of parental …

The Effects Of Geogebra On Student Achievements, Critical Thinking/Problem-Solving Skills, And Engagement/Motivation In High School Mathematics, Zachary Schaver

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This research project explores the overall effects that GeoGebra has on students' learning in mathematics. More specifically, this research demonstrates the effects GeoGebra has on student achievement scores, students' critical thinking/problem-solving skills, and students' engagement/motivation. In this research, two groups of high school geometry students from two different years were used to determine students' achievements and understanding. Students in 2018 used traditional teaching practices while students in 2019 used GeoGebra as a means of learning mathematics. The scores were taken from teacher made assessments and reported as averages from both years. In addition, observations and a survey were used to …

Number Sense And The Effects On Students’ Mathematical Success, Macy Jean Baker

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review’s main focus discussed how number sense effect students’ mathematical achievement and what strategies teachers can use to build students’ number sense. While researching number sense, it was often found that explicit instruction, teacher knowledge, and socio-economic status impacts students’ knowledge of number sense. It has been found that the earlier students start learning simple math skills the better it will be on their math development as they go into kindergarten and get older. In knowing the importance of number sense, teachers have to know what strategies they should use to support all students build number sense. A …