Digital Commons Network^™

Center For Undergraduate Studies 2003-2004 Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Osteopathic Medical Education Program Brochure, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Treasures And Dreams_2003-1-6, Nova Southeastern University

Treasures and Dreams: The Literary Magazine of the NSU Lower School

No abstract provided.

Evaluating An Advisory Program In A Community School District, Lydia C. Alvarado

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes the results of a formative evaluation of the implementation of instructional techniques in an advisory program and the staff’s commitment to the program. The question that this study addressed was, Are the faculty members implementing instructional techniques (group dynamics techniques, group discussion techniques and critical thinking questioning techniques) during the advisor-advisee period?

To address the above concern, the advisers received staff development on instructional techniques that would assist them in conducting their advisory lessons. The instructional techniques consisted of (a) group dynamics techniques, (b) questioning techniques in discussion groups, and (c) critical thinking questioning techniques. Informal …

The Impact Of Technology Workshops And Technology Integration In An Elementary School, Jill L. Carr

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Effects of technology workshops on the implementation and integration of technology in the elementary level course curriculum was studied. The technology facilitator, who is also a member of the elementary school faculty, participated in the study as the implementer and writer. Participants completed a presurvey that measured their prior knowledge, skills, current attitudes, and expectations regarding the infusion of technology into their course curriculum. All teachers participated in a series of small group workshops given by this writer in their workplace at a time convenient to all participants.

Implementing and restructuring technology training development into an effective staff development plan …

Development Of An Applied Phd Degree Program In Hospitality Administration For Nova Southeastern University’S H. Wayne Huizenga School Of Business & Entrepreneurship, George Alexakis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem was the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship’s (SBE) programs needed a marketing edge. A PhD program was designed to fuel enrollments and improve budgetary figures. The purpose was to develop an applied hospitality administration PhD program for the SBE. The Research Questions were. (a) What are the needs of hospitality educators and administrators related to an applied PhD degree in hospitality administration? (b) What PhD program content best meets the needs of hospitality educators and administrators? (c) What is an appropriate strategy for implementing a PhD program in hospitality administration? (d) What is an appropriate …

Actitudes Del Estudiantado Ante La Incorporación De La Educación A Distancia: ¿Factores De Aceptación O Rechazo?, Marina Polo

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Esta disertación aplicada tuvo como propósito determinar las incidencias, negativas o positivas, de las actitudes de los estudiantes en la introducción de los estudios a distancia con apoyo de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, en una universidad venezolana.

Se definió la actitud como la percepción que alguien tiene de un objeto, según sus creencias. De ahí se desprenden inclinaciones que favorecen o perjudican el proyecto.

La revisión bibliográfica condujo a una investigación de campo experimental, sin manipulación de variables. La selección aleatoria y estratificación por semestre de la muestra dio a todos igual probabilidad de ser muestreados. …

Development Of A Curriculum Model For The Senior Adult Program At Paradise Valley Community College With An Implementation And Evaluation Plan, Sylvia Ong

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

In response to the growing number of senior adults attending Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC), the senior adult program (SAP) at PVCC, known as the “Senior College,” has increased its course offerings. The problem is that the Senior College is not maximizing its enrollment by offering courses needed and wanted by this growing market niche. The purpose of this study was to develop a curriculum model to identify such courses.

The five research questions used were (a) What are best practices in selected exemplary senior adult programs (SAPs), (b) What is the appropriate design of a senior adult curriculum model, …

Improving The Readiness Skills Of Kindergarten Students, Karen J. Jensen

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

At New Hope Elementary School, which included Kindergarten through Grade 8, students performed below the system average on standardized tests at every grade level. The eighth-grade students left New Hope Elementary School to attend ninth grade at New Hope High School. New Hope High School received ninth-grade students from only New Hope Elementary School. In 2001-2002, New Hope High School had the highest dropout rate in the system. The academic deficiencies at New Hope High School and New Hope Elementary School were traced to the kindergarten level. Students in kindergarten scored significantly lower than the system average on 2001 state-mandated …

Increasing Science Achievement Of Elementary Students, Beverly S. Mathis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This dissertation was designed to address low student achievement in science at an inner-city elementary school. Science achievement is assessed by standardized tests administered to the fourth grade in the Clark County School District. Kermit R. Booker Elementary School, the site of the research project, is predominantly in a low income, African American neighborhood and has an enrollment of 400 students.

Low science achievement may be due to a lack of background experience, motivation, or comprehension of non-fiction material. It could be due to a lack of exposure to quality science instruction from teachers with limited scientific expertise or confidence. …

Expressive Language And Phonological Awareness Training For At-Risk Students In Kindergarten, First, And Second Grades, Brenetta Gaye Jackson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve expressive language and phonological awareness for students in primary grades who were receiving speech-language services, and who were exhibiting significant risk factors for reading disabilities. An increasing number of students at this site were being referred for modifications to reading instruction in the regular education classroom. The solution strategies utilized for this applied dissertation included formal evaluation to measure expressive language, phonological awareness, and general reading ability for students who were already identified as having speech-language disorders, and who were receiving modifications to reading instruction through the Student Support Team. A training program …

Teaching Innovative Preventive Strategies To Minority Students With Limited English Proficiency, Joyce Wright-Evans

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The major purpose of this applied dissertation was to address the issue of minority students with limited English proficiency not meeting the educational standards necessary to graduate from high school within 4years of entry. The relationship of achievement with self-determination is described in this report. The theoretical base for this study centered on the work of R. M. Ryan and E. L. Deci (2000) in the areas of motivation and self-determination, the self-determination theory. Moreover, the social cognitive career theory (R. Lent, S. W. Brown, & G. Hackett, 1996) provided a strong theoretical base in the areas of career and …

Development Of A Web-Based Distance Education Course For Scuba Divers With An Implementation And Evaluation Plan, Drew Richardson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to identify the elements of a Web-Based distance education program and apply that knowledge to the development of an organizationally specific course plan for the PADI Worldwide organization to sanction for training scuba divers. A plan for implementation and evaluation was also developed.

The problem under investigation was that the PADI Worldwide organization wished to offer a Web-Based distance education program for one of its courses; however, the existing curriculum and related educational tools were designed for a program in which students completed all of their cognitive course work development in a non-Web-Based environment.

Development …

Improving Student Behavior And Decreasing The Rate Of Violence-Based Suspensions Through The Use Of Peer Mediation, Anthony Threets

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve student behavior and provide a reduction in violence-based suspensions through the use of peer-mediation. Students at the secondary grade levels were being removed out of their regular classroom at an alarming rate because of their disruptive behavior. School administrators had few alternatives except to suspend or place these disruptive students in “In School Suspension”.

The writer implemented a peer-mediation program to provide another alternative to allow students involved in conflicts to remain in their regular classroom These students were given the opportunity to work through their own conflicts with the assistance of other …

Evaluation Of Elementary Teachers’ Technology Skills To Enhance Curriculum Integration Through A Staff Development Model, Marie Fuller Walker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to assess elementary teachers’ current skills and abilities in technology. The problem was that there was no evidence, hard data, or documentation of any evaluation of the technology skills of the elementary teachers of the Coatesville Area School District. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the technological skills and abilities of the elementary teachers to determine whether and to what extent it hindered the desired outcomes and to facilitate planning more effective staff development to address the technology skill levels of the faculty in order to enhance curriculum integration.

This study combined the …

Increasing Elementary Teachers’ Abilities To Utilize Technology To Enhance The Curriculum And Instructional Practices For Students, Rita Thomas

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to increase elementary teachers ability to utilize technology to enhance the curriculum and instructional practices for students. Technology was available in the work setting but teachers were not trained to use and integrate technology.

Teachers actively participated in the following activities: reading and discussing professional journal articles, reading and using information provided in digital newsletters, technology training sessions, collaborative planning sessions, and made a conscious effort to include technology as a component of instruction for students.

An analysis of the data revealed that five of six outcomes were met. The following outcomes of the applied …

Poetry: An Intervention To Improve The Fluency And Comprehension Skills Of Reluctant Readers In The Primary Grades, Monica A. Boyko

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation provided third grade reading students an opportunity to develop reading fluency and comprehension skills. These students had poor literacy skills as evidenced by their scores on standardized reading proficiency exams, report card ratings and reports from their previous instructors. The fluency and comprehension instruction that students received was not effective. Students were not making an emotional connection to the material they read.

Third-grade students were taught ways to apply both comprehension and fluency enhancing strategies to their reading. This was accomplished through weekly lessons focused on the poetry genre that enabled students to practice these skills in …

The Development Of A Work Plan To Fund The Building Of A New Facility, Gayle Florence Cane

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

All schools face the substantial challenge of providing adequate facilities for the instruction of students. When a small private school met with increasing enrollment levels, administrators were faced with the challenge of planning for school expansion. Construction planning required new skills and knowledge for the president of the school and the board of directors.

This applied dissertation was designed to gather data on facilities planning and school construction financing and to organize the processes and activities into a useful planning tool. The practical and logical organization of relevant collected data into a work plan to fund a new school facility …

Developing A Comprehensive System Of Care For Children In Placement With Relatives: Collaboration, Organizational Culture And Family Roles In Local Service Development, Elan Welter Lewis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to support the development of a comprehensive system of care for grandparents and other relatives raising children, noncustodial parents, and children in out of home placement. The family constellation was changing in the community were the applied dissertation was implemented. Many children were in out of home placement with relative caregivers; there were few resources and no formal system of care designed to respond to the needs of these at risk families. This left many grandparents and other relative caregivers, children, and noncustodial parents without support or access to services.

The problem identified to be …

An Analysis Of The Developmental Education Program At Bevill State Community College, Teresa L. Johnson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to conduct a gap analysis, using a formative evaluation model, to compare the components of the developmental education program at Bevill State Community College (BSCC) to components of effective programs. The problem was that at least 40 percent of the students who complete the developmental education program at Bevill State Community College never enroll in college level courses. This analysis determined changes which could be made to increase the effectiveness of the program at BSCC. Eight procedures were completed to answer seven research questions.

The results of the study showed twenty-three areas which need to …

Reducing Elementary Students’ Violent Behaviors By Implementing A Character-Education Program, Kimi West

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

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The Role Of Homework In Relation To Student Achievement, Rita Bernard

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

St. Anna School is a small, parochial school located in Leominster, Massachusetts. Homework is an academic requirement for all students in Grades 3 through 8. At the middle school level, Grades 6 through 8, students are given between 1 and 2 hours of homework 4 nights per week. Parents expect homework. Teachers assign homework. Students should do homework. Although parents, teachers, and students are aware of the existence of homework, students still failed to complete homework. Why did students fail to complete homework? Interviews were conducted with middle school teachers, students, and parents to find out why students failed to …

Ability-Based Block Scheduling For At-Risk Special Education Students In Foster Care, Kevin Jamison

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem, addressed by this applied dissertation was 43 at-risk special education students who lived in foster care and functioned below grade level in reading and mathematics in comparison to same age peers despite exposure to various reading and mathematics interventions in self-contained classroom settings. These students also had varying levels of intellectual ability. Specifically, the problem was that pre-test (baseline) measures indicated 70% of students scored at or below the 5.4 grade level in reading and 70% of students below this level were in grades 8 through 11. In terms of mathematics, 60% of students were functioning at or …

Increasing The Information Problem-Solving Skills Of Physical Therapist And Occupational Therapy Assistant Students And The Extent Of Transfer Of The Students’ Information Problem-Solving Skills To The Clinical Environment, Nelson J. Marquez

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes how the researcher identified, developed, and implemented strategies to facilitate the acquisition and mastery of information problem-solving skills among Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students, and the investigation of the extent of transfer of these skills to the clinical environment. The deficits that the students demonstrated were affecting their overall performance in the programs. In general, these students did not demonstrate the ability to use resources beyond books and lecture notes or the Internet, extract relevant information from their selected sources, organize and sequence the information that they presented in their research …

A Comprehensive Program To Increase Reading Development Of Fifth-Grade Students At Monrovia Elementary, Cheryl R. Davis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

For the past 3 years, the cumulative reading comprehension subtest scores of 5th-grade students at Monrovia Elementary School in Huntsville, Alabama have shown a drop below the 70th percentile on the Stanford Achievement Test. At the 4th-grade level, these same students performed above the 70th percentile.

The researcher proposed the following to improve reading comprehension subtest scores at the 5th-grade level: (a) initial and ongoing staff development related to the implementation of the Accelerated Reader Program (Advantage Learning Systems, 1999) at the 5th-grade level, (b) increased staff development on the present reading program- -the Scott Foresman Reading Program (Addison-Wesley Educational …

Meeting The Psychological Needs Of School-Aged Native Students In An Extreme Geographic Region, Deborah Diette Wilson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to meet the psychological needs of a unique Native population through a continuum of services and the utilization of technological platforms. The host community has experienced significant historical events including the exclusion in full participation education and the provision of educational curricula by individuals lacking the cultural competency base to provide appropriate educational experiences sensitive to Native learning styles. Psychological services were dictated by Federal and State mandates and consisted solely of educational and ability testing for the purpose of special education eligibility determination. As a result, school-aged Native students experienced significant social and emotional …

The Effects Of Using E-Mail On Student Attitudes, S. James Whitman Jr

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation compared and measured the pre and post-course differences in college students’ attitudes toward the use of e-mail as an ancillary communications channel in an American history class.

Two groups of first-year community college students completed a pre-course survey that measured demographic information, their prior experience with computers and the Internet, and their impression of learning with e-mail as one of their communication channels. A post-course survey was administered at the end of the semester to measure student attitude with or without the intervention to determine if there were any changes. The e-mail group used the online communications …

A Professional Development Plan For Teachers Designed To Increase Student Enrollment In The Advanced Placement Program At Southwest Miami High School, Lucia Cox

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program is a curriculum initiative for students in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. In 2001, the College Board stated that students need to be exposed to pre-AP initiatives as early as elementary school and higher order thinking, reading, and writing skills need to be emphasized across the curriculum through the vertical teaming concept.

The unduplicated AP enrollment at Southwest Miami High School was 247 in 1998-99, 306 in 1990-00, 273 in 2000-01, 386 in 2001-02, and 387 in 2002-03. A professional development plan for teachers was needed to promote academic rigor and access to …

Implementing Strategies To Improve Student Behavior In An Alternative I School-Based Program, Delores D. Mcghee

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation is a descriptive study of a program designed to improve student behavior in Grades 6 through 8, an Alternative I School-Based Program, at Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, Maryland. This intervention program model was a response to teachers’ request for assistance in decreasing suspensions, exclusions, removal of students from classes, and the placement of students in Alternative II Programs.

Solution strategies included an examination of (a) referrals for inappropriate student behavior, (b) parent and teacher involvement, and (c) recommendations for early intervention strategies. To accomplish these tasks, surveys and interviews were conducted to assess the needs …

The Effects Of Individualized Recruiting On Minority Teacher Hiring In Henry County Schools, Winifred E. Johnson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Despite positional and empirical literature documenting the benefits of having sufficient representation of ethnically diverse teachers serving in schools where there are significant numbers of minority students, a gap continued to exist in Henry County Schools between these two segments of its school population. Additionally, census data indicated that Henry County’s explosive growth was having dramatic effects on the demographics of the school system.

Although traditional recruiting activities had aided the personnel department with overall staffing needs, human resource professionals in private and public domains were espousing a more individualized on-campus recruiting approach to help in critical areas. This study …