Digital Commons Network^™

Leading School Choice Staff Training Through The Development And Validation Of A Public Relations Training Program In The Age Of School Choice, Kenneth J. Gaughan

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The School District of Hillsborough County, Florida is implementing a controlled choice plan which will give parents increased opportunities to select their children’s schools. School choice has posed new challenges for public school leaders, that is, marketing their schools to the public. Thus, a new plan to train school leaders to promote their schools at a grass roots level was needed. Specifically, school leaders needed a trained cadre of faculty to serve as on-site public relations specialists to provide information relevant to parents who are making decisions about where to send their children to school. This project complemented concurrent efforts …

Problem-Based Learning In Allied Health And Medicine, Todd A. Mcloda

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

This paper reviews the applicability and procedures for the adoption of problem-based learning in allied health and medical education. A summary of PBL as a practical innovation for professional preparatory programs is included as well as an overview of the features and evaluative techniques of PBL. The paper is directed at PBL in health and medicine but those educators seeking to enhance integrative thought processes, problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, interpersonal communications, and resourcefulness among students are advised to consider PBL as an alternative approach to teaching and content delivery.

A Brand New Elementary School: Conception To Inception, W. Glenn Huggins

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide a practical model for building a new school. The basis for this model was the author’s experience as a public school principal with the responsibility of opening a new school. The context of this paper involved the initiation of organizational and operational processes for systems and structures associated with a new school. This model utilized recollections and recommendations of an experienced practitioner and might be considered a combination of a diagnostic aide and operational guide. This work provided a practical model for the development, design, construction, and initial operation of a new school. …

Improving The Nclex Passage Rate And Lowering The Attrition Rate For A Texas Community College Nursing Program, Bonnie Higgins

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to seek ways to improve the NCLEX-RN passage rate and to lower the attrition rate in a community college nursing program. The program had a significant problem because of the decrease in passage rate of the NCLEX-RN by graduating students and an increase in student attrition. Expost facto data were collected from 213 former nursing student records to compare the independent variables of preadmission test scores, academic prerequisites grades, demographic traits, HESI exit exam scores, and grades in the Nursing Skills Course to the completion of the nursing program and passage of the NCLEX-RN. A …

Declining Enrollment: Recruitment Efforts To Reverse This Trend, Queen A. Morrow

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to recruit high school students for enrollment in courses offered at Bibb County Career Tech Center (BCCTC) and ensure program completion by students enrolled at BCCTC. An analysis of enrollment patterns for the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 indicated that enrollment had steadily declined. Interview and survey data yielded numerous reasons for the enrollment decline, such as inadequate public relations, early release programs by the high schools, and apathy on the part of the students.

Interventions to reverse the declining enrollment trend included launching public relations enhancement programs. Brochures that clearly depicted objectives and possible job opportunities …

A Plan To Reduce Bullying Behaviors At Coginchaug High School, Steve Wysowski

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A survey of sophomores taken in 1999 at Coginchaug high School indicated that student harassment was above the national average as established by The Educational Excellence Alliance. Harassment is defined by the Alliance as “being insulted, teased, or made fun of to your face.” Another follow-up survey was administered a year later. The amount of student-reported harassment was greater in the freshman and sophomore years and diminished in the junior and senior years. A survey taken in October 2002 for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges’ self-study indicated that 90% of the 138 respondents do not feel respected …

Training Teachers To Meet The Developmentally Appropriate Needs Of Preschool Children, Sharon R. Brown

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Teachers were having great difficulty meeting the developmental needs of the children. This was evidenced by the teachers’ restriction of unstructured playtime, lack of interaction by the teachers with the children during outdoor play, and the children’s inability to engage in probing, exploratory dialogue.

The solution strategy combined a series of trainings for teachers to learn how to engage children actively in meaningful and age-appropriate learning activities to meet their developmental needs. There were two inservice trainings for the teachers. The topics of the trainings were The Use of Outdoor Space as a Learning Environment for Preschoool Children and How …

Improving Reading Scores In A Low-Socioeconomic Environment, Bessie Karvelas

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide a better understanding of the reasons why Von Humboldt School has had a history of low reading scores. The school has a high mobility rate, which has made it difficult for any academic continuity. The students at the school are at a 94% poverty level with 64% Hispanic, 34% African American, and 2% Caucasian. The low-socioeconomic status of the students partially contributes to the low reading scores. There are other factors as well. The training that teachers had received in teaching reading also attributed to the low scores. Not enough time spent on …

Improving Grade 6 Reading Comprehension Skills At Dvorak Academy By Implementing A Reading Program, Leonard B. Moore

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes a reading literature-based program to increase reading achievement of Grade 6 students at Dvorak Academy, public school, located in Chicago, Illinois. Based on the skills analysis report of Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) reading scores from 1999 through 2001, 64% of Grade 6 students averaged below the national 50th percentile.

Possible causes for the problem included (a) inappropriate reading instructional methods, (b) lack of student motivation in reading the required number of recreational reading books, and (c) lack of teacher preparation in teaching reading.

The goal of this applied dissertation was to improve reading by …

Reducing The Failure Rate Of English For Students Of Other Languages (Esol) In Levels Iii And Iv In The Mainstreamed Classroom, Manuel Ferrer

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The program was intended to help reduce the failure rate of English for Students of Other Languages (ESOL) III and IV students in the middle school, mainstreamed classroom. The objectives for the program were to provide both ESOL levels III and IV students and their teachers with the strategies found in the available literature that had shown to be effective.

It was anticipated that ESOL levels III and IV students would initiate a student portfolio that would be used as an alternative method of evaluation. It was further anticipated that 100% of teachers with ESOL III and IV students enrolled …

Increasing Enrollment At Community Christian School, Thomas R. Lamborn

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes a program to increase enrollment at Community Christian School (CCS). For the years 2000-2002, enrollment declined from a high of 243 to 200 students. As part of the problem, the faculty turnover was high, creating instability with the staff and concern on the part of parents. CCS had a faculty turnover rate of 48% and 45% for the same 2 years. Other possible causes included insufficient marketing of the school, weak instruction in the high school, low faculty salaries, and insufficient interaction between the administrators and the faculty.

A more definitive marketing plan was developed to be …

Examining And Influencing The School Climate And Culture Of A Medium–Sized Magnet And Choice Technical High School, Gary W. Mccutcheon

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the current climate and culture at a medium-sized high school and to influence that climate positively. The current climate was evaluated using multiple data collection instruments including the venerable National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) School Climate Survey (C. Halderson, E. A. Kelley, J. W. Keefe, & P. S. Berge, 1989), a district-created Whole School Effectiveness Survey, and a qualitative school-created survey that allowed parental input. The strong reliability and validity of the NASSP School Climate Survey is well documented with descending levels of confidence placed in the Whole School Effectiveness Survey …

A Personal Leadership Appraisal And Development Plan For A School Superintendent’S Position, Lawrence T. Rainey

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to appraise the personal leadership attributes of educators and to provide a framework to help them prepare a personal development plan toward the attainment of a public school superintendent’s position. A literature review of effective educational leadership characteristics was conducted. The review included a search for available instruments for assessment of leadership characteristics, potential, and style, and preparatory programs available to improve leadership ability. In addition, the search yielded an increased awareness of associated stressors that have been known to affect superintendent leadership and position tenure.

The literature review was comprehensive and yielded relative information. …

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 …

Development Of An Academic Assessment Plan And Evaluation Process For Devry Institute Of Technology Curricula Delivered By Devry Online, Donna Gardner Liljegren

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

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Development Of A Service-Learning Program For Scottsdale Community College, Carolyn O’Connor

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to develop a service-learning program for Scottsdale Community College (SCC) which is one of only two Maricopa Colleges that do not have a service-learning program.

Five research questions were addressed in this dissertation. Development and evaluation problem-solving methodologies were employed throughout this study. Both quantitative and qualitative research designs were used to guide the data collection, using a service learning questionnaire, faculty and agency surveys, interviews, and two case studies.

The research revealed that several factors must be in place prior to implementation in order to insure the success of the program. 1) Service-learning must …

The Implementation Of Behavior Management Strategies In An Elementary School Setting, Leary B. Adams Jr.

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Action research methods were used to examine the effects of behavior management strategies on the rate of discipline referrals at Twin Lakes Elementary School, an inner-city elementary school in Nevada. A review of archival records revealed that during the 3-year period from 1997 through 2002, the number of discipline referrals at Twin Lakes Elementary School increased from 73 to 170 referrals while enrollment showed no significant increase.

Some possible causes of the large number of discipline referrals were identified as: (a) inconsistencies in the referral process, (b) lack of support for teachers experiencing difficulty with student misbehavior, (c) lack of …

Identifying And Analyzing The Learning Styles Of Mba Students In The College Of Business And Management At Cardinal Stritch University To Improve Attrition, Kim M. Herzer

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem identified in this study is the gap that exists between graduating MBA students’ learning styles beginning at Cardinal Stritch University (CSU) and the current instructional strategies and curriculum design utilized by MBA faculty. In order to ascertain MBA students’ learning evidence, learning styles of MBA students must be taken into account. The purposes of this study were to identify and analyze beginning and graduating MBA students’ learning styles and apply that knowledge to enhance learning and teaching in the College of Business and Management (CBM) to improve attrition at CSU.

There were four research questions for this study. …

The Effect Of Incorporating Interactive Concept Maps On Non-Major Adult Students’ Attitudes And Motivation Toward A Web-Supported Biology Course, Efrain J. Venezuela

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study aimed to investigate the effect of incorporating interactive concept maps, as an instructional strategy for teaching complex biological concepts, on non-major adult students’ attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course. The author hypothesized that the incorporation of interactive concept maps would have an affect on non-major adult students' attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course. Consequently, this study attempted to answer the following question: How would the incorporation of interactive concept maps influence non-major adult students' attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course?

This study was conducted with non-major adult students enrolled in upper-level, Websupported …

Improving The Lifetime Wellness Skills Of Middle School Students With Disabilities, Rene Rodrigue Jr

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve the lifetime wellness skills of middle school students with disabilities. It was conducted in an Adapted Physical Education Program, with support visits to a local fitness facility. The lifetime wellness activities included aerobic fitness, strength training, and making healthy food choices. Students in the past program were not given the opportunities to learn the skills needed to participate in these activities. The writer believed this contributed to the high incidence of childhood obesity and poor motor skills of the population.

Several aerobic fitness and strength training activities were selected by the writer. They …

The New Cpss Standards For Accreditation: A Lens For Reflection And Continuous School Improvement, Stanley W. Thompson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation identified and endorsed an initiative to support the Commission on Public Secondary Schools’(CPSS) new Standards for Accreditation and its new decennial evaluation introduced two years ago to its membership. An analysis of the accreditation status of those member schools that had completed the decennial evaluation in 2000 and 2001 revealed that 70 schools had achieved full accreditation while 31 were either placed on warning or probation.

The researcher used two measurements to determine why certain schools of the 101 received accreditation while others did not: (a) a pre self-study assessment inventory of staff development for schools that …

Implementing Therapeutic Conflict Management Groups To Decrease Serious Incidents Of Misbehavior In A Middle School Setting, Kelvin E. Rogers

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A review of the literature indicated that there were concerns from the public and public school officials regarding too many serious acts of misbehavior being committed in our public schools, which included recent events of violence in Oregon, Colorado, and California that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries of students and staff. During the 2001-2002 school year at this writer’s site, discipline records indicated that several students were suspended off-campus for fights, verbal abuse towards their peers, weapons on campus, and gross defiance towards school authority.

In order to combat the amount of episodes of serious acts of misbehavior, 30 …

Development Of Service Learning In An Online-Learning Community For Criminal Justice Curriculum With A Plan For Implementation And Evaluation, Joyce Jakovich

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is a public undergraduate university committed to civic development and providing relevant learning experiences to students. Due to this commitment, the president of UHD joined Campus Compact, a national coalition committed to the civic development of students and to creating a supportive campus environment for the engagement in community service. The purpose of this project was to develop service learning in an online-learning community for criminal justice curriculum at UHD with a plan for implementation and evaluation.

There were four research questions for this project. First, “What is the appropriate design and content for service learning …

Development Of An Instructional Outcomes Evaluation Plan For The Information Technology Strategic Plan At Montgomery College, Mona Levine

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Montgomery College has invested substantial sums in technology improvements based upon a carefully developed strategic plan. The College has tracked how the technology has been used, but it has not assessed its impact on student learning in any systematic way. This study was designed to meet that need through development of an evaluation plan for instructional outcomes for the use of technology. The four research questions in the study focused on review and selection of conceptual approaches, components, criteria, and metrics for an instructional outcomes evaluation plan for the Information Technology Strategic Plan.

The development methodology was used in this …

The Effect Of Incorporating Interactive Concept Maps On Non-Major Adult Students’ Attitudes And Motivation Toward A Web-Supported Biology Course, Efrain J. Venezuela

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study aimed to investigate the effect of incorporating interactive concept maps, as an instructional strategy for teaching complex biological concepts, on non-major adult students’ attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course. The author hypothesized that the incorporation of interactive concept maps would have an affect on non-major adult students' attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course. Consequently, this study attempted to answer the following question: How would the incorporation of interactive concept maps influence non-major adult students' attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course?

This study was conducted with non-major adult students enrolled in upper-level, Websupported …

Improving Academic Performance Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Francis Bundukamara

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This implementation was designed to improve the academic performance of students with learning disabilities. A learning disability is described as a physical, emotional, or cognitive delay that creates a deficit in language and learning. These identified students were not excelling in the classroom. Classroom measures (grade point average, attendance records, discipline records, and Individual Education Plan goals) showed that 78% of 288 students with learning disabilities at the writer’s school site were showing deficits in areas of academic performance. A target group of 16 students was selected. The target group’s classroom measures were recorded, and it was found that their …

Improving The Spatial-Temporal Reasoning Ability Of Low-Achieving Third-Grade Students, Austin G. Buffum

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

At Viejo Elementary School in South Orange County, California, third-grade average mathematics scores on the Stanford 9 and California Mathematics Standards Test were noted to lag far behind district, county, and state averages. At Viejo Elementary School, a greater percentage of students are living at or near the poverty level--as evidenced by qualifying for the free or reduced lunch program--than the average percentage of students so qualifying in elementary schools in the district, county, and state. Analysis of probable cause data supported the hypothesis that children raised at or below the poverty level can suffer profound and enduring effects on …

An Intervention To Remediate Motivational Shortcomings Caused By Childhood Maltreatment, Glade Eggett

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

By using a program called the WhyTry Program (C. Moore, 2001), the researcher was able to change some motivation-related behaviors caused, in part, by parent maltreatment. The study took place in a school in the east Los Angeles area. Motivation was a key factor studied.

The applied dissertation utilized the theory of multiple intelligences (H. Gardener, 1987) in a counseling setting. The writer used the WhyTry Program to create a meaning modality of communication using the visual analogies, music, and interpersonal activities. Students increased positive behaviors. The study was conducted on students who were identified as being physically, sexually, or …

Improving Reading Achievement By Reviewing And Adopting A Kindergarten-Grade 6 Balanced Reading Program, Rodney L. Borger

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes a process of reviewing and adopting a kindergarten-Grade 6 reading program in a Pennsylvania suburban school district with a student population of approximately 3,800. An analysis of the district’s 5th-grade reading scores on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 1997, indicated that for the years 1997–2000, district mean scores were 50 to 70 points lower than the mean score of schools of similar community type and socioeconomic characteristics.

Planned solution strategies included (a) reviewing and evaluating recently published reading programs, (b) revising the district’s reading curriculum to be …

Providing Effective Parent Education In Early Intervention, Cathleen E. Mcclusky

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide more effective parent education in early intervention. One of the key components of early intervention is providing information to families in order to support and enhance their children’s development. Professionals who work with families and caregivers of young children with disabilities often do not have the training necessary in order to effectively and systematically disseminate such information.

The writer focused solution strategies towards both the parents/caregivers of children who received early intervention services as well as the early intervention professionals. In order to determine the individual needs of a particular family, a needs …