Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Strategies To Increase The Enrollment And Retention Of Female Engineering Honor Students At Purdue University With A Plan For Evaluation And Implementation, Gayle E. Hartleroad

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Purdue University Schools of Engineering committee, charged with development of a new strategic plan, set a recruitment and retention goal to “. . . increase the percentage of women undergraduates in engineering to 30 percent” (Purdue University Schools of Engineering Compton Committee, 2002).

A ten-year decline in female enrollment at Purdue University’s Schools of Engineering became a topic of true concern, especially to the Freshman Engineering Honors Program. This enrollment decline is exceedingly problematic because the Schools of Engineering has had a reputation of graduating a nationally known, large population of female engineers. The previously noted goal of 30% …

Development And Evaluation Of A Leadership Skills Curriculum For The Committee To Aid Abused Women In Northern Nevada, Susan Joy Edwards

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was that the Committee to Aid Abused Women (CAAW) recognizes that the organization does not adequately prepare clients to enter the competitive job arena. The purpose of the project was threefold. First, the project presented a leadership program specific to the needs of female domestic violence survivors. Second, the project offered the program to CAAW clients. Third, the project evaluated the perceived effectiveness by the women who attended the program entitled “Leading to Empower.”

Three research questions were addressed in this study. First, what does the review of the research reveal about effective, applied leadership skills? …

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 …

Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of An Hiv And Aids Knowledge And Peer Education Program For African American And Caribbean American Women, James Mbachiantim

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this research project was to conduct a quantitative evaluation that employed a pretest and posttest HIV and AIDS knowledge assessment and a qualitative evaluation of an HIV and AIDS peer prevention-intervention program. Quantitative data from the pretest and posttest knowledge assessment instrument were used to determine the effectiveness of the program in improving HIV and AIDS knowledge. Qualitative data from process evaluation were used to determine which aspects of the peer prevention-intervention program were working and which aspects needed changing and to provide a model for the evaluation of HIV and AIDS prevention program in other settings. …

Development Of A Weapons-Of-Mass-Destruction First-Responders Training Program For Peterson Clinic With Plans For Implementation And Evaluation, Angela M. Thompson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem was that there was no valid training program in place to provide the Peterson Clinic first responders with the training they needed to respond effectively to a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incident involving up to 300 patients. The purpose of this applied dissertation was to develop a WMD First-Responders Training Program for the Peterson Clinic with plans for implementation and evaluation.

A development methodology with a plan to implement and a plan to evaluate was used to complete this project. As a preliminary procedure, the needs assessment methodology was used to determine the training needs of the …

Evaluation Of The Averett University Leadership Minor Program, Paul A. Bryant

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Averett University Leadership Minor Program. There were four research questions for this project. First, “What are the criteria to be used to evaluate the Averett University Leadership Minor Program?” Second, “What are the criteria for effectiveness and the assessment design for the leadership minor program?” Third, “Do the benefits of the program outweigh the direct cost associated with maintaining the program?” Fourth, “What are the findings and recommendations based on the assessment information?”

Development and evaluation methodologies were used to address the problem and research questions. The …

Intervention Plan To Reduce Truancy Of Seventh-, Eighth-, And Ninth-Grade Students, Mike Stiefel

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes the attendance problems of students at Wellborn High School. Wellborn High School is 1 of 7 high schools in the Calhoun County School District. Located in a community with a high poverty rate and limited employment opportunities, the school has the highest percentage of truancy of 7th-, 8th-, and 9th-grade students in the district. Many parents of this community do not value education; therefore, they are indifferent to enforcing the attendance policy of the school district.

A review of selected literature was conducted to identify causes of truancy. After identification of many characteristics of truancy and …

The Effects Of Parental Involvement On The Homework Of Fifth-Grade Students, Chiron White-Legree

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to help students achieve better homework grades. Previous attempts at getting students to return their homework assignments had been unsuccessful. Parents did not know what the homework assignments were. Parents needed more information on grade-level standards.

The writer developed a weekly report of student progress that was sent home each week with the students. The report was to be signed by a parent and returned to the school. Students used homework logbooks to record daily assignments to inform parents of their assignments. A homework rubric was developed for students to inform their parents of the …

Personality Profiles And Leadership Styles Of University Clinical Supervisors In Speech-Language Pathology Academic Programs, Angela F. Sherman

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This dissertation was designed to collect descriptive data about personality types and leadership styles of speech-language pathology clinical supervisors who are employed in university degree-training programs. Participants completed a Demographic Data Sheet, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Form M), and the Styles of Leadership Survey. Thirty-two pre-coded completed packets were returned (56% return rate) and analyzed to determine personality profiles and leadership styles for the respondents. No significant personality type was identified among participants. However, participants’ profiles indicated sensing (46%) and judging (56%) as dominant personality traits. The results suggested that there are no significant relationships between the MBTI personality types and …

Improving The Reading And Writing Skills Of Retained Eighth Grade Students, Beverley Mckenzie

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to assist eighth grade students who were retained in improving their Reading and Writing skills. These students failed school courses and did not meet the required standards for promotion to high school. The students were previously in large classes with other low-achieving students, were not given individualized attention, were not exposed to the use of technologies, were not given adequate support services, and were not taught by experienced teachers.

The writer designed an after-school program to assist the students with Reading and Writing skills. An experienced Language Arts teacher was asked to work with the …

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 …

Ethical Decision Making In Speech-Language Pathology: What Is The Difference In Perception Between Faculty And Second Year Graduate Students?, Kerrilyn R. Phillips

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether speech-language pathology faculty perceptions of ethical behavior are different from speech-language pathology graduate students’ perceptions of ethical behavior. Participants consisted of 34 second-year speech-language pathology graduate students and 27 faculty members from Council of Academic Accreditation (CAA) training programs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. All participants completed an investigator-designed instrument consisting of ethical scenarios. Results of this study indicated that significant differences between faculty and student perceptions for ethical decision-making were indicated in two of eight scenarios. The two scenarios in which significant differences were identified related to supervision and …

The Creation Of A Diagnostic Reading Program Designed To Meet The Developmental Needs Of Primary Grade Readers, Thomas A. Baruffi

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Over a 5-year period from 1995-1996 to 1999-2000, an average of 18% of the students entering fifth grade in the Linwood Public School system were reading below grade level. This statistic clearly indicates that reading difficulties must be addressed early in the process of reading acquisition. With the understanding that learning to read is a developmental process, classroom teachers were challenged to obtain and utilize the diagnostic skills necessary to meet the individual educational needs of their students by identifying their learning strengths and weaknesses.

With the goal of developing a reading program designed around the diagnostic process, All Students …

Using The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (Idea) To Reduce Discipline Referrals, Daniel Shakespeare

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes a program to reduce disciplinary referrals of special education students at Andalusia High School (AHS) in Andalusia, Alabama. With a total student population of 557 students in Grades 9-12, the office received 878 disciplinary referrals in 1998-1999. Of this number, 244 referrals were for 32 special education students who averaged 13 referrals each. All 32 special education students had at least 2 disciplinary referrals (with a range from a high of 17 to a low of 2).

Possible causes of the problem were identified. First, the role of the regular education teacher in working with special education …

An Assessment Of Vocal Conservation/Hygiene And Vocal Exercise Treatment Programs For Middle School Teachers With Voice Problems, Jennifer H. Vinson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Nationally, over 38% of teachers are diagnosed with vocal disorders due to heavy demands placed on their vocal mechanisms with resulting abnormal laryngeal biomechanics and repeated exposure to upper respiratory infections and other airborne irritants (Smith, Kirchner, Taylor, Hoffman, & Lemke, 1998). The incidence of vocal disorders among teachers in the north Alabama area appears to be higher than the national average of 38% according to local otorhinolaryngologists interviewed and preliminary data collected from middle school teachers in the Madison County School System in Huntsville, Alabama. Preliminary data indicated a 44% voice-disordered teacher population within the targeted middle school teaching …

Improving The Representation Of Minority School Age Children In Gifted Education Programs Through A Multifaceted Referral And Evaluation Process, Magali Balado

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve the problem that teachers were unable to meet the needs of academically talented minority children. The major goals for this applied dissertation were to increase the representation of academically minority children in gifted programs, provide training to teachers in the area of identifying gifted characteristics, and to develop a multifaceted process for the referral and evaluation of academically talented minority children.

The writer developed training materials to provide in-service and training to teachers, school staff personnel, counselors, and psychologists in the areas of observing and assessing gifted characteristics in academically talented minority children. …

Designing Student Teaching Experience To Reflect Best Practice, Joanne Ferrara

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes the strategies designed by a college to improve its student teaching experience for preservice teachers enrolled in field placement during the 2001-2002 school year.

The framework for the program was based on the work of L. Darling-Hammond (1999), the Holmes Group (1990), and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE; 2000), which suggested that teacher education programs build and sustain effective field-based experiences. This program sought to improve students’ performances by implementing field experiences containing these key elements: collaboration between a college field adviser and cooperating teachers, clearly defined goals, reflection, ongoing feedback, and observations …

An Early Intervention Program To Teach Readiness Skills To At–Risk Kindergarten Students, Marcell E. Hooks

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was implemented as a developmentally appropriate total language arts program to teach readiness skills to kindergarten children at risk of failure. Assessment data for the past 2 years showed literacy deficits among kindergarten students at Bouchet.

Possible causes for early reading difficulties included (a) insufficient teacher training on how to work with children who are low achievers; (b) insufficient parental involvement in the educational process; (c) lack of early literacy experiences, exposure, and skills; and (d) lack of opportunities for collaborative student learning.

The researcher conducted workshops for three kindergarten teachers, the teacher assistant, and parents on …

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 …

Closing The Achievement Gap One School At A Time: Reading Achievement And Hispanic Children, Nereida Inocencia Santa-Cruz

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Research indicates that the importance of learning to read is critical. An inability to read stands as an enormous barrier to one’s potential knowledge and social participation. Florida’s System of School Improvement and Accountability Act (1999, F.S.) also known as Florida’s High-Quality Education System rates schools in terms of performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Reading is the focal point of this accountability system. In Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), 29 elementary schools have been designated grade category F since the inception of the Florida’s High-Quality Education System. James H. Bright Elementary School was one of the originally …

Development Of A Plan At Germanna Community College For Responding Quickly To The Training Needs Of Local Business And Industry, Kathleen P. Habel

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to develop a plan for a quick response process to provide timely adult education and training to meet the requirements of business and industry. The plan was developed to ensure that the principles and practices of adult education were included to enhance quality training.

There was no direct linkage at Germanna Community College between adult workforce training and the training requirements of business and industry. Evidence of this need came from two sources. The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce conducted focus groups in 2001. These focus groups, along with a Germanna Community College …

The Development Of Solo Performance Skills Through Participation In Adjudicated Vocal Solo Showcases, Judy P. Shoemaker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to develop and implement a solo performance contest-festival for adolescent vocal students in grades 7 through 12. The goal of the project was to foster musical excellence through positive performance evaluation and encourage the life-long pursuit of musical growth and achievement. The project addressed several issues; (a) there were few opportunities for such evaluative performance in the target area, (b) there was a need for age and vocal developmental appropriate required music lists, (c) a clear and concise rating and evaluation scale based on accepted music attributes was needed, (d) improved adjudicator consistency through training …

Implementing An In-School Suspension And Prevention Program For At-Risk Students In An Urban District, Carol F. Sam

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum report was designed to increase the effective functioning of entry-level psychologists as members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) through a redefinition and expansion of the traditional role of the school psychologist. A workshop explaining the model was designed and presented to the school psychologists of the writer’s school district, and interviews were conducted individually with both entry-level school psychologists and their members.

The writer developed guidelines to be utilized for training psychologists and providing their mentors with an evaluation technique for supervising them as effectively functioning members of the MDT. This information was also presented to the local …

Development Of A Textbook With A Plan For Its Evaluation For The Acting I Course At Austin Community College, Jamee Kennedy

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this dissertation project was two-fold. First, the purpose was to develop a textbook for the Acting I course at Austin Community College that fully supports the required standardized curriculum created in 1999. Second, an evaluation plan for the textbook was developed to help determine the text’s validity.

The effectiveness of the text will be determined by the implementation of this plan. Based on the results of the evaluation plan, the administration at Austin Community College will make a recommendation to either adopt the text as is, modify the text, or to reject the text.

There were three …

The Development Of A Plan For The Viability Of Physical Education At Calhoun Community College With A Plan For Implementation And Evaluation, Nancy Keenum

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The current economic decline in Alabama has meant that educational institutions have had to deal with serious financial shortfalls and budget cuts. The problem facing Calhoun Community College is that funding cuts have resulted in an 80% reduction of the Physical Education department at a time when the administration has an interest in future long-term growth, physical education courses remain a viable option for students, and there is an increased awareness of the concomitant health benefits. This applied dissertation was designed to provide a comprehensive plan for the Physical Education department to meet the needs of the students by remaining …

Integrating Socioemotional And Moral Education Within Early Childhood Teacher Preparation, Dianne K. Alexander

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to prepare early childhood student teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of a peacemaker to manage classroom aggression with competence and confidence. During field placements student teachers reported frustration in their ability to manage the increasingly aggressive and disruptive socioemotional behaviors of their young students. Recurring patterns of anti-social behavior became a daily challenge, exacting a toll not only on instructional time, but also on student teacher attention, patience, and, over time, efficacy. An in-depth study of the university nursery through third grade early childhood teacher preparation program revealed little or no violence prevention …

Increasing The Use Of Spatial And Musical Intelligences To Demonstrate Understanding Of Learning In Middle-School Students, Tempest Diane Booth

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was implemented to provide opportunities for nonexceptional middle-school students to demonstrate understanding of learning in the content area using the spatial and musical intelligences. The subject site emphasized more traditional learning strategies thus fewer opportunities existed for students to demonstrate content learning through the music and spatial intelligences.

An after school enrichment study was provided to give students opportunities to demonstrate understanding of learning using the spatial and musical intelligences. An effort was made to minimize traditional practices and place greater emphasis on creative teaching and learning experiences. The eight month study met twice weekly for one …

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 …

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 …