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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.

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 …

Measuring Teacher Effectiveness: An Examination Of Student Achievement And Teacher Influence, Timothy S. Markley

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to examine new ways to evaluate teachers. The extant North Carolina model placed primary emphasis on the ability of the teacher to demonstrate the certain key practices. These practices centered around the activity of the teacher. The extant evaluation system failed to take into account student learning. This resulted in a system in which over 95% of teachers were rated at standard or better. The high rating of teachers contrasted to the passing rate of students on the North Carolina End-of-Course test. Their passing rate was closer to 60%.

The writer developed a statistical model …

Behavior Management Classes: A Study Of Control For Students With Conduct Disorders, John W. Vernon Jr

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide methods to control anger in students who had records of inappropriate behavior. This study was conducted at Temporary Intervention Program (TIP), which is a school for students with severe behavior problems. This study showed the significant effects that a planned program of anger management had on adolescent children despite socioeconomic status, lack of parent participation, conduct disorders, or other obstacles.

The writer developed specific lesson plans to introduce methods that had proven effective in other institutions. Specific skills, such as relaxation, assertiveness, anticipation, self-instruction, self-evaluation, role playing, and problem solving, were emphasized. Students …

Molding Minds, Making Links: Mentoring And Staff Development To Reduce Suspensions For Major Offenses At The Secondary Level, Ginger W. Hamilton

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was two-fold. The first part addressed school-based administrators. They were offered opportunities for professional development programs to help them improve intervention services at the school level. The second part was a mentoring program designed to provide students who seemed to be on a path leading to serious behavior problems at school with an adult who provided daily guidance and assistance.

The writer designed and implemented a professional development program for school-based administrators. Seven sessions were held to assist with improvement of their knowledge of school discipline and intervention. In addition, fifteen students from three secondary schools were …

Effective Leadership Skills: The Development Of A Professional Improvement Plan, Maxine Woodside

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation represents a study of personal and professional leadership development. The study consists of reflective chronological accountings of influences on the writer from infancy to adulthood. The analysis highlights the opportunities in the early and formative years that support the development of a professional improvement plan.

The framework of this study was based on assessment results taken from the Florida Principal Competency Assessment (Florida Department of Education, 1995) and the Educational Leadership Appraisal (A. Ellis, 1993). More specifically, previous evaluations and reflections on previous leadership positions were used as a focus of professional growth. Based upon the results …

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 …

Development And Evaluation Of A Certified Educational Program To Insure Dental Provider Compliance With Federal And State Health And Safety Law, Cathy Turbyne

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was to design, develop, pilot test, and evaluate an educational process and product that would assist dental care providers in the state of Maine to effectively comply with federal and state health and safety laws. Dental care providers faced many types of workplace injuries in the form ofneedlesticks, dental instrument injuries, ergonomic illnesses, and latex allergy/asthma. Changing federal and state laws, lack of knowledge, interest, and/or inability to self-manage compliance implementation of OSHA and state of Maine laws increased the risk of employee workplace accidents, illnesses, and OSHA inspection. Other potential risks of non-compliance included employee disability, …

Meeting The Needs Of An Elementary School Community: Providing A Safe And Enriching Environment In An Afterschool Program, Darlene M. Moye

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to provide a high-quality afterschool program in an elementary school by providing a safe environment and enrichment activities. The afterschool program that previously existed at the elementary school was primarily day care and did not include enrichment activities. Parents, students, and program personnel were dissatisfied with the program and wanted a change.

To effect change, the writer implemented a school operated afterschool program using building-level staff for program personnel. The program included opportunities for children to complete homework with assistance and to participate in enrichment opportunities. Procedures were established to provide a safe …

Development And Evaluation Of A Prototype E-Learning Site To Train Japanese Elementary School Teachers How To Teach English To Children, Curtis H. Kelly

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide Japanese elementary school teachers assigned to teach English, the skills and tools to do so. Their training needs were assessed in order to develop a prototype e-learning site to provide that training. Seven research questions were answered: 1) What are the educational needs, both perceived and predicted, of Japanese elementary school teachers preparing to teach English to children? 2) What are appropriate systems of delivery for an educational program to satisfy these needs? 3) What are the criteria for the educational contents and format of an educational Web site to satisfy these needs? …

Improving Student Social Skills In An Elementary School Setting, Gloria Mckibbin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Teachers and administrators reported an increase in the number of school violations regarding verbal and physical assaults. This aggressive and inappropriate behavior created a negative school climate and detracted from the academic process, as teachers were spending more time redirecting students who were misbehaving rather than teaching.

A social skills program that focused on empathy, social problem solving, and anger management was developed and implemented with fourth-grade students to improve their prosocial behavior in the classroom environment. Using cognitive behavioral strategies such as modeling, roleplaying, and cuing and methods to assess their own behaviors during group lessons, discussions, and exercises, …

Improving The Academic Achievement Of Sixth-Grade Students Who Do Not Perform At Grade Level In Mathematics, Eileen M. Bond

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to assist 6th-grade students who were not performing at grade level in mathematics. Students entered the 6th grade with a great disparity of skills and abilities in mathematics and then progressed through the middle school grades unable to complete tasks appropriate to their grade level as outlined by the state-mandated mathematics curriculum. These findings were documented both by report card grades and by standardized test scores.

The writer developed a cross-age tutoring program that paired 6th-grade students with 8th-grade students who were trained as tutors. The program was executed as an extra-subject period to provide …

Attendance: The First Step Towards Success, Steven W. Green

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Student achievement is clearly the purpose of schools, and in today's world of high stakes testing, accountability has certainly been an educational buzzword. However, there are many factors that impact student achievement levels with many of these factors being out of the control of teachers and administrators. One factor on which school officials can have an impact is student attendance.

In the past at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona, student attendance was addressed in two ways: first, absences, were documented and recorded; second, punishments were applied after students accumulated too many absences. This was a cold and reactive process …

Improving The Performance Of Transfer Students In Mathematics At Jericho Christian Academy, Joyce Y. Parker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide mathematics enrichment activities for 7th-grade students who transfer to Jericho Christian Academy (JCA). The students who were continuously enrolled at JCA were outperforming the 7th-grade transfer students on daily performance and on the Stanford 9 Test. The transfer students were having difficulties adjusting to their new environment, expectations, and requirements. Attendance and behavioral referrals were higher for the transfer students than for the continuously enrolled students. The parents of the transfer students were not actively involved in their children’s education.

The writer developed a 4-part intervention to address the areas of concern. The …

Teacher Mentoring And Teacher Attrition In A Rural Georgia School System, Brenda K. James

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Teacher attrition is a critical issue. The literature suggests that schools provide professional opportunities for master teachers to mentor new teachers through the use of well-designed induction or mentor programs. These opportunities develop teaching skills, improve teaching performance, and increase teacher retention.

This applied dissertation was designed to improve teacher retention at a high school located in a rural community in South Georgia. A mentoring program was developed and implemented at a high school. The program provided training to select mentors that included nonevaluative supervision, coaching, conflict resolution, collaborative problem solving, communication, and effective feedback strategies.

Mentor teachers and protégés …

Developing A Comprehensive System Of Care For Children In Placement With Relatives: Collaboration, Organizational Culture And Family Roles In Local Service Development, Patricia Gartman Hardt

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

In this applied dissertation, the researcher addressed the problem of high retention and administrative promotion rates of 7th-grade students in a rural public school in northern Alabama. A variety of strategies were used to improve student learning, student self-esteem, homework completion, and parent involvement.

Participants selected for this applied dissertation consisted of 4 teachers, 1 counselor, and 15 seventh-grade students who did not meet the criteria for promotion to the 8th grade at the close of the 2001-2002 school year. Students were trained through direct instruction and teacher modeling to incorporate class wide peer tutoring 2 or 3 times per …

Implementation Of An Elementary In-School Suspension Program And Its Effects On School Climate, Carla K. Hall

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was focused on involving the staff at Goodyear Elementary School in fostering an orderly environment for student learning by implementing an In-School Suspension (ISS) program. This was an ethnographic study and provided a descriptive approach of the school’s culture and organizational structure. The applied dissertation included several initiatives in the implementation of the ISS program, which were a School Climate Inventory (SCI), organizational strategies, leadership structure, professional development, and student interviews.

Results of the applied dissertation indicated that the implementation of the ISS program had a positive impact on the school’s climate. The staff was involved in …

Providing Literacy Support For Unsuccessful Limited English Proficient Seventh And Eighth Grade Students By Increasing Access To Varied Support Strategies, Amanda Lynch

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide assistance to struggling limited English proficient (LEP) students at a Title I Middle School. The goal was that 25 students would have access to additional supports to improve language arts grades, reading skills, and attendance in school. Parents were invited to participate.

The solution strategies included (a) incorporating books into the homes of the target group, known as Lit Kits, (b) creating staff development for teachers, (c) providing the target group an additional hour of school each day focusing on literacy skills, homework completion, and learning strategy skills, (d) implementing a monthly family …

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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Usage Of Federally Donated Food In The School Meal Program, Sandra Shannon

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

In 1999—2000, an audit of 15 Miami Dade County Public Schools by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bureau of Food and Nutrition (VanTreese, 2000), revealed that none of the 15 were effectively utilizing federally donated commodities in the meal program. A review of quantitative data from 26 schools revealed there was an overall usage rate of 62% of federally donated food in the school meal program, 38% less than the federal government requirements that 100% of donated commodities be used. The commodity usage rate in 2000-2001 for B Elementary School was 85%, and the commodity usage rate …

Hands And Hearts For Children: A Family/School/Community Partnership Initiative, Charla C. Evans

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes the efforts of a rural, Appalachian elementary school to improve the level of collaboration for family and community involvement through the application of a systemic and systematic planning process for partnership development. An analysis of available data and survey reports indicated that the school had a history of poor family involvement and negative perception in the community.

The author implemented a plan based on Lueder’s (1998) Self-Renewing Partnership Model over the 2001-2002 school year. The implementation provided for staff, family, and community training jointly and individually. It established a building action team for improvement composed of …

Development Of A Plan At Concordia University Wisconsin To Create A Campus Where Racial And Cultural Diversity Is Valued, Teresa Wanbaugh

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to develop a plan at Concordia University Wisconsin to create a campus where racial and cultural diversity is valued. Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community dedicated to integrating faith and learning. Concordia University Wisconsin lacks an inclusive environment where racial and cultural diversity is valued. Without valuing racial and cultural diversity, Concordia University Wisconsin cannot effectively represent the communities it serves, and it cannot meet the needs of all student populations. The purpose of this study was to discover what the attributes of an inclusive campus are, discover what barriers must be …

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 …

Methods Of Improving The Reading Comprehension Skills Of Seventh-Grade Literacy Students, Mellanie L. Robinson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve the reading comprehension skills of seventh-grade students. A majority of the students in the writer’s literacy class scored poorly on the following reading comprehension instruments: the Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading (STAR), the Science Research Associates test (SRA), and a reading selection from the Jamestown Signature Reading Series. Failure to succeed on these tests can be discouraging for adolescents and can cause them to develop negative attitudes towards the concept of reading as a whole.

For several months, the writer read multitudinous pieces of educational literature from credible sources (e.g., Middle …

Development, Implementation And Evaluation Of A Minority Recruitment Plan For Faculty, Administrators And Staff At Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Annie C. Jones

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to develop a minority recruitment plan for use by NWTC. The minority recruitment plan was created to increase the number of minority candidate applicants and eventually, new hires to the campus.

The project primarily utilized the development methodology to address the research questions. Eight procedures were employed including: review of the literature; collection of data from 15 colleges regarding their plans to diversify their workforce and review their plans as to how they relate to NWTC; selection of formative and summative committee to assist in the review of the minority recruitment plan; implementation and evaluation …

A Plan To Develop, Implement, And Evaluate Online Continuing Education Courses At Nova Southeastern University College Of Optometry, N. Scott Gorman

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this project was to develop a plan to deliver online continuing education (CE) courses at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry (NSUCO) that would fulfill the mission, goals, and objectives of NSUCO as well as implement a new revenue source for the College’s institutional development. The plan addressed the development, implementation, and evaluation of the program as well as the courses.

Twelve research questions were put forward in this project. The questions asked what technologies; resources; costs; procedures; Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) requirements; state board requirements; adaptations to WebCT; and course format need to be …

The Relationship Between The Academic Achievement And Social Development Of First And Second Grade Students Identified For Participation In Early Intervention Program Classrooms, Freda Doster

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study focused on the academic and social development of elementary school children who were at-risk for academic failure due to economic and social disadvantages. The school targeted for this study had a school-wide Title I program, which served approximately 665 students in kindergarten through second grade. The targeted school served a population that was characterized by high levels of poverty and illiteracy.

The preponderance of risk-factors reflected in the targeted population, combined with the academic and social concerns reflected in the student population, suggested attention needed to be focused on identifying intervention strategies which would meet the needs of …

Reducing Male Student Discipline Referral Rates At Westview Elementary School, Virginia Glass Berry

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to determine if the use of male mentors would measurably decrease male student discipline referrals at Westview Elementary School. Referral data indicated a high number of discipline actions that impacted student and school performance. Student social records revealed that most male students attending Westview Elementary School were from homes headed by single mothers. The principal’s observations and parent conferences evidenced a lack of respect for female authority. Prior to this study, the majority of instructors at Westview Elementary School were female. The male discipline factor had created a frustration level among the faculty that had …

Improving Reading Comprehension In The High School Setting, Robert L. Harris

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The setting for this applied dissertation is Springville High School. Twenty percent of the ninth grade students at this school scored below the 30th percentile on norm referenced Stanford Achievement Test 9 in reading comprehension. The test results reflect the lack of reading instruction at the secondary level. The implementation period was for two 18-week periods, which used reading strategies from the researched-based Alabama Reading Initiative Program. An intervention was developed and utilized to improve the reading comprehension of a select group of ninth-grade students. The objectives for this project were to significantly increase the reading comprehension scores of the …

Promoting Social Emotional Intelligence In Elementary School Children, Beryl Irene Bailey

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide educators with a curriculum embedded program to prevent, curtail, or reverse the negative trajectory of poor social emotional development of elementary students. Third-grade students failed to demonstrate social emotional intelligence. They lacked discipline. They exhibited difficulty staying on task and working cooperatively with peers, repeatedly interrupted instruction, used negative language, did not return homework, and were often referred to the office for disciplinary action.

In a 5-week training session, teachers learned how to implement the writer’s Sowing SEEDS (Social Emotional and Educational Development of Students) Curriculum. This literacy-based program contained children’s literature aligned …