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The Impact Of Learning Style Instruction On Academic Achievement Among Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Students In An Urban School, Felicia K. Starks Turner

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation focused on assisting 4th- and 5th-grade African American students in achieving 80% mastery on literacy assessments. Only 30 of the 60 students had regularly achieved 80% mastery on reading assessments. A review of the 2001-2002 student services team log indicated that 25 of the 35 students who were referred were African American students. Eleven of the 25 African American students were in Grades 4 and 5. This applied dissertation focused on identifying students’ reading styles and on implementing effective reading strategies to improve reading achievement and to decrease student referrals to the student services team.

Implementation of …

Increasing Cultural Awareness Among High School Teachers, Jason K. Ward

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The cultural insensitivity of the educational environment has become a primary topic of discussion recently. Many researchers have identified the lack of cultural sensitivity among high school teachers to be a leading cause of the increased dropout rate among high school students. The primary challenge of educational institutions is to provide meaningful staff development for their staff so that educators will become equipped with the necessary information to begin making educated decisions regarding all aspects of their students’ academic, emotional and sociocultural lives.

This applied dissertation addresses the problem of the lack of cultural awareness among high school teachers. The …

Analysis Of Cooperative Learning On Mathematics Achievement Of Comprehensive Program Sixth-Grade Students, Janice P. Hay

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The effect of cooperative learning instruction on mathematics achievement was the subject of this applied dissertation. Comprehensive program 6th-grade students at Glenarden Woods Elementary School in Glenarden, Maryland, were the subjects. The problem was to determine if there was a relationship between cooperative learning and mathematics achievement. The 6th-grade Comprehensive program students' national percentage rank (NPR) on the math subtests of the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills, fifth edition (CTBS/5), had fallen below the national median score. Traditional teaching and learning methods had not succeeded in bringing the mathematics learning of these students to acceptable levels. Cooperative learning and teaching …

An Alternative Staff Development Plan For An Alternative Education Setting, Vashti Moore Clayton

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to develop an intervention behavioral plan to improve special needs students’ behavior by reducing the number of discipline referrals that were received annually. This plan was implemented at a specialized residential school in a southeastern state. Implementation of interventions included suggested techniques for detecting and dealing with inappropriate behaviors. Students and staff members in a residential southeastern school were interviewed, observed, and provided with a survey for this study. A review of the literature revealed that staff development and the establishment of an alternative learning center are relevant to student learning and to the …

Evaluating A Life Skills Curriculum For Adolescent Males At New Direction, Fitzgerald B. Mcqueen

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation sought to evaluate a real-life Life Skills Curriculum for adolescent males with behavioral, emotional, and mental disabilities. The previous Life Skills curricula had not been revised since 1996. Survey and interview data obtained from counselors, current and past adolescents, teachers, and parents indicated that the previous Life Skills curricula failed to meet the adolescent’s needs, and was impractical and irrelevant.

Planned strategies included (a) evaluating the Life Skills curriculum for relevance and practicality to “here and now” issues of adolescents in an educational treatment facility, (b) evaluating the Life Skills curriculum for enhancement of adolescent’s verbal and …

The Effect Of Reading Performance Standards On Teacher Instructional Methods, Elaine H. Thurmond

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to determine if implementing America’s Choice (National Center on Education and the Economy, 1999)/Georgia’s Choice design to teach reading changed the instructional methods of 4th-grade teachers and improve 4th-grade students’ reading performance as measured by the Developmental Reading Assessment (Beavers, 2002). These changes were evidenced in lesson plans, instructional strategies, classroom observations, and teacher surveys.

This applied dissertation report describes how reading performance standards using the America’s Choice design were implemented in 4th-grade classrooms in a suburban elementary school with 5 fourth-grade teachers, 1 enhanced instruction program teacher, and 108 fourth-grade students. A …

Measuring The Prevalence And Assessing The Determinants Of Depression Among Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Implications For Treatment, Drew Edwards

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) frequently suffer from isolation and loneliness; have ineffective coping skills, poorly developed social networks and low self-esteem; and struggle with socioeconomic stressors (Dow & Mest, 1997). As a result, such people are frequently characterized in the literature as a population of chronically ill patients with a higher than normal prevalence of emotional distress (Van Ede, Yzermans & Brouwer, 1999). A study was conducted to (1) measure the prevalence of depression among clinic patients with COPD, (2) determine the demographic and clinical variables, and (3) assess the implications for treatment.

Methods: An ex post …

Improving Reading For At-Risk Sixth-, Seventh-, And Eighth-Grade Students Using A Direct Instruction Method, Kay B. Rogers

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes a program at a middle school with 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students. Students were continuing to have problems with reading decoding and comprehension even after yearly school-improvement plans were implemented. The practicum attempted to improve reading skills for all students in the author’s middle school.

A direct-instruction program using Science Research Associates material was implemented. The components of the program included teacher, student, and parent training; direct instruction by the teachers; group reading; and individual practice.

Evaluation of the program included surveys and pre- and post-testing. The program was used by all 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students …

Developing An Effective Inclusionary Model For Exceptional Education Students At M. A. Milam K-8 Center, Robert G. Valenzuela

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons why exceptional students at M. A. Milam Kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8) Center served in the resource model (i.e., pull-out) classroom received double the number of discipline (i.e., poor behavior) and academic (i.e., poor academic) referrals when compared to those served in the inclusion model. The study also investigated the time exceptional students spent with regular students during the school day. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Office of Exceptional Student for 2000-2001 indicated that improvement was needed.

The goal of this proposal was to develop an effective inclusionary program …

The Effect Of Humor On Test Anxiety And Performance In Distance Learning Students, John Briggs

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of the study was to find if humor in testing alleviates test anxiety in distance learning students. The study determined if students given a test with humor had better performance than students given a “normal” test. The study included two groups of students: an experimental group that had humor inserted into the tests and a control group that had a normal test. The humor was “content irrelevant humor”, humor not related to the subject tested. Classes that teach at a distance were used in this study. The study measured the anxiety levels of students preceding the test, the …

Project Support: A Program To Improve The Academic Achievement And Social Development Of At-Risk Ninth-Grade Students, Catherine E. Jones

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

York High is a comprehensive high school that offers a variety of programs to a diverse population. Although the school attempts to meet the needs of all students through these diverse programs, there was a group of 9th graders who were not progressing in their academic development due to poor reading skills and social development. They were failing 3 to 7 of their 7 classes. Students need to pass 5 classes to be promoted to the next grade.

Project Support was a comprehensive program designed to assist the targeted group of at-risk students to improve academically and socially. Strategies included …

Development Of An Associate Of Applied Science Degree In Digital Photography At The Community College Of Southern Nevada, Edie Chiarappa

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Since 1996, the Community College of Southern Nevada has offered the only associate of applied science degree program in commercial photography in the state. This program offered a basic introduction to digital technology in the electronic imaging class but lacked more advanced courses in digital technology with a focus on commercial photography.

The college was interested in enhancing its digital photography technology curriculum to prepare students better for the world of advertising photography. This project was designed to develop an associate of applied science degree in digital photography for the Community College of Southern Nevada.

The results of the study …

Using The Interdisciplinary Teaching Approach To Enhance The Learning Experiences Of Seventh-Grade Middle School Students Who Failed Academic Courses, Alice Rhodes Hinsley

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The academic needs of 7th-grade students were not met because 18 of 34 seventh-grade students failed 1 or more academic courses in language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Seventh-grade teachers delivered instruction by use of the traditional approach at this middle school. The 7th-grade students were failing in writing essays. The students were unable to access/retrieve print and electronic data for research purposes. It was evident that these 7th-grade students were lacking skills in expressing themselves in oral and written communication. This applied dissertation was developed to change the utilization of the instructional (traditional) approach and use the interdisciplinary …

Development Of A Peer Tutor Training Model At Fort Valley State University With A Plan For Implementation And Evaluation, Darlene H. Harper

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem was that Fort Valley State University had a low retention rate, and the mean grade point average fell over a 4-year period. As the population at Fort Valley State University became more diverse, tutors needed to be aware of cultural differences, various learning styles, and strategies necessary to promote success in students who might lack college level skills in certain academic areas.

The purpose of this project was to develop a peer tutor training model at Fort Valley State University. The use of a model enhanced tutorial services in an effort to increase the retention rate and the …

Funding Options And Issues Regarding Capital Construction Projects In Jackson County Schools, Keith S. Everson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Jackson County School System is located in a rural area just northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Adjacent to Jackson County is the Gwinnett County School System, the largest and fastest growing school district in the state. Current growth in Gwinnett County is occurring toward the northeast, along Interstate 85. Jackson County’s growth has created student enrollment issues for the school system, including the need for additional classrooms and schools at a time of decreasing state and local revenue for such projects.

This study examined the effects of various funding methods available for capital projects needed to keep up with growing …

Improving Fifth Grade Mathematics Utilizing A Three-Tiered Tutoring Program Including Peer Tutoring, After-School Tutoring, And Cross-Grade Tutoring, Terrilynn Latour

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Fifth-grade students failed to achieve grade-level standards in mathematics. This applied dissertation was designed to increase fifth-grade students’ mathematical achievement on five measures including the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scale score, FCAT level score, FCAT NRT score, Silver Burdett Ginn textbook test, and the Standardized Test for Assessment in Reading (STAR) and mathematics test.

A comprehensive mathematics program was created to meet the needs of the fifth-grade students. Teachers implemented a three-tiered mathematics-tutoring program including peer tutoring, one-on-one after-school tutoring, and cross-age tutoring. Three supplementary components to the program included weekly team meetings, mathematics instructional content and practices, and …

Perfect Attendance: A Program To Reduce Teacher Absenteeism At Marion High School, Robert L. Hennecy Jr.

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve teacher attendance at Marion High School. The goal was to reduce teacher absences to 2.0 or less per day, regardless of the reasons. The plan utilized incentives that would be of benefit and reward to teachers. Over the years teacher attendance had been a problem that affected student achievement. There had been financial rewards in place from the district office level, but never a rewards system at the school level.

A plan was developed to reduce teacher absenteeism to 2.0 or less per day at Marion High School, Marion, South Carolina. Answers were …

Increasing Mathematical Thinking Skills Of Fourth-Grade Students By Improving The Quality Of Mathematical Tasks, Joan F. Sagona

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation studied the effects of the participation of a small group of 4th-grade teachers in professional development involving the use of worthwhile mathematical tasks on teacher practices and student learning. The intervention was designed to improve students' mathematical thinking and to help teachers balance conceptual mathematical understanding with procedural fluency. The instructional and assessment practices used by the 4th-grade teachers at this school were driven by a view of mathematics as computation and procedures. Research has documented higher levels of student thinking and teacher change through use of worthwhile mathematics tasks and job-embedded professional development.

The researcher developed …

Implementation Of The Pennsylvania Academic Standards: A Case Study, Larry Palko

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation resulted from a state mandate requiring the implementation of a standards-based educational system in all public schools in Pennsylvania and the challenges faced by school districts to comply with state regulations and No Child Left Behind federal requirements. In the absence of a definitive process for successful implementation of a standards-based system, districts employed a variety of strategies to comply with state regulations and improve student performance. Districts were also subject to rewards and sanctions imposed on the basis of state assessment systems. This study explored the efforts of a typical school district to address the new …

The Development Of A Discipline And Training Plan For Teachers And Administrators At Roland Park School, Dana D. Lazzara

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Roland Park K-8 School of Choice is a school in Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida. The problem was that there had been a dramatic increase in discipline referrals and suspensions at Roland Park School from December 2001 to December 2002. This increase was apparent when the discipline logs and The School Improvement Team (SIT) plan were observed. The discipline logs and SIT plan demonstrated a sharp rise of 42% more referrals and suspensions at the school site from 2001 to 2002. Leaders needed to be on the same page when handling discipline and other behaviors across the school organization.

A …

Augmenting Student Achievement Without Coercion Through Shared Decision Making And Learning Communities, Frankie C. Hill

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation examined the effects of raising academic standards as a means of improving student achievement. Empirical data from the Georgia High School Graduation Test Scores provided validation for addressing the dropout rate in Cedar Shoals High School as well as the less-than-acceptable graduation rate. Improving student achievement by raising academic standards for all students in the State of Georgia is the result of Governor Barnes’ education initiative for reform.

Specifically, this applied dissertation scrutinized how augmenting student achievement can be accomplished without coercion through shared decision making and learning communities. This action occurred while recognizing that standards and …

Testing The Efficacy Of A Youth Development Afterschool Program For Students At A Georgia Middle School, Jacquita E. Vickers

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide a quality youth development afterschool program (YDAP) to at-risk middle school children who were otherwise unsupervised after school hours. An increase in Level 1 performance for students on the Georgia State Building Level Criterion-Referenced Competence Test (CRCT) for 2002 at Forest Park Middle School (FPMS) translated to high-risk students not meeting Georgia state-mandated minimum performance standards. Disciplinary issues at FPMS were problematic with 597 disciplinary incidents with the severest being possession of weapons and sexual battery. In addition, problems with attendance, a desire to form and retain student resiliency, and a survey showing …

Improving Third-Grade Writing Scores Through Training On The Georgia Assessment Rubric, Ruth G. Summerlin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to determine whether teacher training would result in a 60% inter-rater reliability among 14 third-grade teachers at Bascomb Elementary School during the 2002-2003 school year. The State of Georgia Writing Assessment for Grade 3 contains developmental scoring guidelines for six stages of writing using content, personal expression, and surface features as indicators of stage development.

The writer hypothesized that a professional development program would enhance teacher knowledge of the State of Georgia Writing Rubric, allowing these teachers to assess accurately and therefore more effectively teach content related to the rubric. The researcher expected that the …

Improving The Interest And Achievement Levels Of Students In Science By The Introduction Of Amateur Radio In The Classroom, Charles Lowery

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide supplemental educational opportunities to students in the Earth Science Curriculum by using an amateur radio station in the classroom during the 2001-2002 school year. Associated curriculum materials were introduced to enhance interest in the science curriculum. Materials to demonstrate many complex concepts were nonexistent in the standard Earth Science classroom in Halifax County, Virginia. The classroom teacher’s knowledge of the available material was insufficient without supplemental exposure and training. The researcher gathered materials from various sources and developed resources to fill this void.

Planned solution strategies included the development of subject area lesson …

Evaluating Conflict Resolution Efforts In Darlington County, William Mccall

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Eliminating violence in the school setting is essential in order to ensure each student a meaningful educational experience that will lead to a productive life. Is a conflict resolution program a viable means of eliminating or decreasing school violence and thus improving school environment? This study analyzed the effects of a conflict resolution program at the 4 high schools in South Carolina’s Darlington County. Changes in students and teachers as a result of said program were documented.

The 4 high schools in the Darlington County School District serve all students in Grades 9 through 12 (approximately 3,400) in this predominantly …

The Development Of A Health Care Education Specialization For Graduate Leadership Studies Of Nova Southeastern Un, Kari J. Lee

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Graduate Leadership Studies (GLS) of Fischler Graduate School has embarked upon the challenge of revising and developing new curricula due to rapidly developing technology, a changing economy, and new strides in leadership. Leadership programs must offer courses that ensure professional development and customized learning opportunities. Students must be able to choose a course of study that will promote learning and professional growth. In order to meet the learning needs of each student, program specializations must be created, tailored, and made available to doctoral students. The purpose of this project was to develop a health care education specialization for leaders in …

Middle School Students Are Engaging In School Violence, Andrean Oliver

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem addressed in this dissertation was middle school students’ engagement in school violence. The goal was to decrease middle school students’ engagement in school violence. For the purpose of this study, school violence was operationally defined as bullying, disruptive behavior problems in the classroom, harassment, and teasing. Evidence of the problem within the school environment included results from the school’s discipline referral listing, teacher rating scales, and student’s self-report of personality. The pr-test and posttest results for this study were concluded with the use of the Behavior Assessment System for Children teacher rating scale and student self-report of personality. …

Revising Professional Development To Prepare Teachers For The Early Childhood Education Classroom, Irma J. Ellington

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to develop a professional development program for teachers in an early childhood education setting. A review of teacher qualifications from 1998-2002 revealed that the percentage of teachers employed with a degree in early childhood education had decreased from 60% to 20%. Because the teachers' educational qualifications were in other areas, additional staff training was needed to ensure that, (1) they understood how young children learn, and (2) they would be able to implement effectively a curriculum designed for students ages 3-5 years old.

Pre- and post study questionnaires were given to participants, to obtain input …

Youth Participation In Municipal Government: Developing Civic Engagement In Youth, Susan A. Radway

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to increase the level of youth participation in local government. The youth in the community were not actively involved in decision-making processes within the governmental structure of the community. Except for the Civics teacher’s interest in having students observe town meetings, no effort had been made to involve youth in town government, or to establish a process whereby young people could voice their opinions about issues that effected them, and to have their opinions seriously considered. The goal of this applied dissertation was for young people to take active civic roles in their community.

The …

Positive Learning Activities In A Caring Environment: A Study Of A Student Advisory Program, Wanda Youngblood Lee

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation focused on the study of a teacher-student advisory program for 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students at Oak Hill Middle School in Milledgeville, Georgia. The population that was targeted for study was middle school students who were at risk of failure. Teachers were assigned an advisory class of 12 to 15 students at a specific grade level and mentored these students daily for a 40-minute period throughout the 2002-2003 school year.

Advisors and administrators, who were knowledgeable of the developmental characteristics of adolescents, worked together to review and select activities and materials for use during the advisory period. …