Digital Commons Network^™

Using Computer Software To Enhance Instruction Of Early Literacy Skills In The Kindergarten Classroom, Janann Dostal

Graduate Research Papers

This review investigates skills vital to early literacy instruction, technology use in early childhood classrooms, and software available to enhance early literacy skills of kindergarten students. Letter naming, phonological awareness, concepts about print, and language development are early literacy skills vital to a student's future reading success. Studies have shown that technology has been used in early childhood classrooms as an effective teaching tool, to promote active student involvement, and as a tool for motivation, showing that computers can be utilized successfully with young students. Research indicates that early literacy software used to supplement teacher instruction has great potential to …

Enhancing Student Learning Styles Through The Use Of Technology, Mark A. Dugger

Graduate Research Papers

The multiple learning styles of students have in the last few years become a major topic of concern for all educators. Experience and time are valuable learning tools assisting teachers in developing an understanding of these learning styles. This review pursues the importance of considering student learning styles when incorporating technology within an existing curriculum. Research studies provide supporting evidence that a technology-rich environment promotes collaborative, project-based learning, which in tum has a positive effect on learning styles.

Developmental Process And Outcome Of Mckinley K-5 Elementary School "Portrait Of America 2001-2002" Multimedia Cd-Rom, Cheryl Edwards

Graduate Research Papers

McKinley K-5 Elementary School created and mass-produced a multi-media CDROM correlating with the Social Studies Standards and Benchmarks of Muscatine Community School District. Each grade level designed and developed lyrics and music about the related grade level curriculum. Some classes created a multimedia presentation while others gave a fine arts program. This was a student-centered, hands-on activity that was formed during the 2001-2002 school year.

Character Education Program : An Evaluation Description, Hou Chun Kuong

Graduate Research Papers

In today 's world, all children face great uncertainties in a complex and sometimes troubled society. These traits are not always readily apparent and easy to grasp or learn. Today, schools face the challenge of providing youth with the self-esteem, stamina, and support they need to survive, be successful, and develop into strong, competent, caring, and responsible citizens. To meet the challenge schools have either developed or adopted character education programs.

This paper focused on three elements common to most character education programs: (]) the school program must include parent and community outreach, planning and structure, school climate, curriculum, and …

Differentiating Instruction Using Authentic, Performance Assessments And Technology Integration, Cynthia Seberg

Graduate Research Papers

A major challenge in education today is to be able to reach and teach all learners. Methodologies and strategies come and go. The philosophy of differentiated instruction, while not new, is being bandied about as the answer to working with all students of all abilities. The beliefs associated with differentiated instruction envelope methodologies and strategies associated with authentic assessment, performance-based assessment, and technology integration.

A common bond inherent within these philosophies is the growing emphasis on assessing students based on their ability to perform real-life tasks, and technology integration is the connecting link. Educators must become facilitators of meaningful learning …

Combining Science And Reading Materials To Teach Comprehension Strategies, Melena Haskovec

Graduate Research Papers

This paper describes a curriculum development project in which science and reading were combined to teach reading comprehension strategies to kindergarten and first grade children. Nonfiction science texts were purchased. The teachers collaboratively created and implemented lesson plans for three science units and one social studies unit. The combined classes met once every six days from January to May.

The children were paired across grade levels to read the texts, participate in the strategy instruction and complete the guided practice activities. Pre and post project measures of first graders' growth in reading comprehension showed that all the first grade students …

Integrating Technology Into The Classroom Through Online Projects : A Fairy Tale Unit, Luann K. Langel

Graduate Research Papers

The integration of technology and the Internet have brought new opportunities to today's educators. When technology is utilized correctly, effective teaching in the classroom is promoted. The project focuses on online projects than can be incorporated into the elementary classroom. The project designed and utilized is a telecollaborative project focusing on the genre of fairy tales being taught in the 3rd grade. The Internet can be utilized in the classroom for interpersonal exchanges, information collection, and problem solving. A wealth of information is available to students on the Internet. Students gain control of their learning as they begin to navigate …

An Effectiveness Assessment Of The Quicktionary Reading Pen For Grades 3 Through 6, Barbara K. Waugh

Graduate Research Papers

Testing of24 students in an Iowa public school in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades was conducted to determine if the Quicktionary Reading Pen improved reading accuracy. This was done using reading scores both with and without the pen and a standard t-test with the presence of the pen being the only variable in the study. The reading pen was found to have a positive effect, most notable with students with a reading accuracy below 90%. The increase was statistically significant at an 80% confidence interval or better. The pen had little effect for initial reading accuracy in excess of …

A Professionally Cautious King And Queen: Institutional Agendas & Interactional Footings In Discourse About September 11th, Allison Christian

Iowa Journal of Communication

This paper analyzes a segment of institutional talk from a news interview between Larry King and Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan taken from "Larry King Live." The subject matter of the interview centers around the September 11th events and their impact on Americans' view of Islam. Utilizing Goffman's notions of 'footing' and 'impression management,' this paper examines how Queen Rania utilizes various identities, shifts in footing, and professional caution in the pursuit of a particular institutional agenda. This agenda can be seen as promoting a positive characterization for the Islamic religion. This analysis illustrates the way in which identities …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 35, Number 2, Fall 2003 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Caring Teachers: An Ethnography Of Effective Teacher Communication In And Out Of The College Classroom, Jason J. Teven

Iowa Journal of Communication

This ethnographic study investigated teachers' perspectives on caring and effective teaching both in and out of the college classroom. Students in a large mid-Atlantic University were asked to list instructors who they have had in either previous or present classes that they perceived to be the most "caring" and most "effective." Three university instructors were identified, observed in their respective classes, and interviewed with the purpose of exploring three broad categories relating to teacher effectiveness: (1) the definition of a "caring" teacher; (2) the definitions of "good" and "effective" teaching, and (3) how effective teachers motivate students. The findings of …

The Ideology Of The Body-Slam: A Critical Examination Of Professional Wrestling, Scott R. Stroud

Iowa Journal of Communication

"Professional" wrestling has experienced a recent surge in its popularity, both among the lower working class and among the upper middle class. Examining the World Wrestling Federation's televised event, ''Unforgiven-- In Your House," this inquiry finds that ideological issues of mythical framing, patriarchal power structures, group construction of identity, and stereotyping of bureaucracy/white-collar working groups are found within this artifact. Of particular note is the modern reversal of previous research findings that argue that wrestling identity is constructed on the individual level and the ideology enshrined in wrestling is that of an opposition to dominant ideologies. Both of these claims …

How To Teach The Eight Multiple Intelligences Developed By Howard Gardner In An Elementary Classroom, Sarah Lyle

Graduate Research Papers

This project consists of research that supports Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory. Definitions for each type of intelligence and specific examples of people who might exhibit each type of intelligence are included in the introduction. Several strategies for teachers to use on a daily basis as well as a curriculum development for early elementary aged students are included in this project.

Integrating Technology To Enhance Reading Comprehension, Ryan Thole

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review explores whether or not using technology enhances the students reading comprehension of material. Studies in this review are in support of using computers for children when it comes to learning comprehension skills. Among the list of software, Accelerated Reader is one that is used frequently for testing what students remember after they have finished a book giving them immediate feedback. This review also is in agreement with the use of using computers for children to learn at their own pace. It provides the children with a sense of achievement that they learned it on their own, yet …

Creating A Successful Online Class In An Alternative Educational Environment, Cathy L. Lewis

Graduate Research Papers

This paper's objective was to describe how creating an online class for alternative education students could benefit school districts. Alternative education is a continuing problem for school districts. Small school districts have difficulty affording alternative education environments. Online alternative programs also benefit students. Creating an online learning environment allows students to work at their own pace, stay in touch with their class, and perform at their own level. This paper's conclusions indicate alternative education programs can benefit through the creation of online classes.

Teacher Perceptions Of Iowa Workshop Model Aspects Fostering Use Of Project Wet, Marcene Seavey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

State partners of national environmental education (EE) programs contribute to professional development in EE through their program delivery. This study describes teacher perceptions of individual elements of EE workshops provided by one such program, Iowa Project WET. The study found that educators associate three types of workshop activities with successful classroom integration of Project WET activities: ( a) Experiencing activities first-hand, (b) interacting with other educators, and (c) learning about the Project WET Activity and Curriculum Guide. Almost 90% of survey respondents integrate some of the activities they experience during the workshop into their classrooms. Some of these teachers also …

Body Image, Eating Disturbance And Estrogen Levels Across The Menstrual Cycle, Mei-Chuan Wang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The principal interest of the current study was to examine estrogen levels across the menstrual cycle related to body image and eating disturbance. Participants were undergraduate female students at a medium size Midwestern university. There were two phases of this study-a between-subjects aspect (N = 119) followed by a within-subjects aspect (N = 41 ). Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCO VA) were used to analyze the first phase data. Results showed that when eating disorders were viewed as a whole. eating patterns were stable across the menstrual cycle; but if looked at separately. symptoms of anorexia were worse when estrogen …

Costume Design For Roosters By Milcha Sanchez-Scot, Theatre Uni, Spring Semester, 2003, Carmelita Tyson Guse

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to document the process of designing costumes for Theatre UNI's production of Roosters by Milcha Sanchez-Scott. It serves to document the collaboration between director and designers that is necessary to produce a quality theatrical work. This work is a compilation of the research and creative process. Charts, lists, renderings, photographs, and a journal are included to show the progression of the process, in addition to pre-production research.

Roosters was performed in the Bertha Martin Theatre February 27-March 2 and March 6-9, 2003. The play chronicles a special day in the life of the Morales …

The Effects Of Aerobic Activity On The Self-Stimulating Behaviors Of Children Diagnosed With Autism, Jason Lee Witte

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Nitrates/Nitrites On Lymphocyte Proliferation And Cytokine Production, Lu Fang

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Approximately 3 million people may be exposed to high nitrate levels(>10 ppm) in the United States, especially in Iowa and other agricultural states. The concern regarding usage of groundwater with excessive concentrations of nitrates is related to human health effects. The toxicity of nitrate to humans is due to the body's reduction of nitrate to nitrite. Nitrate/nitrite impair public health with consequences such as gastric cancer, methemoglobinemia and other diseases. Currently, based upon human case studies, the drinking water quality standard in the U.S. is 10 ppm nitrate-N (MCL). Little work has been done on the effects of nitrate/nitrite …

A Preliminary Study Of Sustainable Eco-Industrial Partnerships In The State Of Iowa, Kathleen L. Hennings

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The proliferation of industry around the globe, coupled with concerns about the dwindling supply of raw materials, has fostered the emergence of a new manufacturing ideology. In contrast to the linear manufacturing model, raw material in and finished product out, precision manufacturing takes waste material in and provides a new product out. Companies in this study who participated in precision manufacturing were identified as partners when one company sold or traded a waste product to a separate company who used the waste in their primary production. This study was initiated to determine the factors present in successful waste exchange partnerships …

Effects Of Pesticides And Their Combinations On Human Fibroblast Cells, Yijun Deng

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Pesticides are widely used in Iowa due to its primarily agricultural economy. Many studies have shown that the water sources in Iowa are contaminated by multiple pesticides. Most of the information about the adverse human health effects due to such environmental contaminants comes from studies that focus on exposure to single rather than multiple pesticides. Additionally, many of the environmental regulations regarding levels of pesticide contamination refer only to single, individual pesticides. Many questions remain about the human health effects of exposure to pesticide combinations. This study attempts to understand the effects of pesticide combinations on human cells. A cell …

Instructional Influence On Clinicians’ Performance And Attitudes In Authoring Clinical Software Using Microsoft Powerpoint, Lisa Ann Berna

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study examined the effects of instruction type on speech language pathology graduate students' (n = 10) interest, speed, and accuracy in being trained to create PowerPoint phonological awareness click-lessons. Half of the subjects (n = 5) received instruction during an in-service proceeding; while the remaining subjects (n = 5) received training via a tutorial manual written by the researcher. The clinicians involved in the study completed written questionnaires before and after reviewing click-lessons and recreating portions of a Rhyme Time program and recorded the time needed to complete ten tutorial slides in this program. Statistical analyses were completed to …

Recent Jewish Immigrants' Communication In Postville, Iowa: A Case Study, Anna I. Levina

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

For this paper the author researched Iowa's immigration history and modern day Postville, a small town that represents a tossed salad of cultural, religious, and linguistic diversities. The author analyzed the current effect of immigration as well as the process of integration and assimilation into the small town through the eyes of its immigrants. The major emphasis is placed on Postville located in northeast Iowa. For 150 years Postville was an all-white, all-Christian farming community of 1,000 souls, most of European ancestry. Today the population of Postville has doubled and of the 2,000 people who reside in Postville almost one …

Agricultural Land Evaluation In Black Hawk County Using Geospatial Technologies, Elisha Jasper Dung

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Agriculture is one of the world's most important activities supporting human life. However, the rate of agricultural land conversion to non-agricultural uses around the world, and especially in the United States is on the increase. It has been asserted that over 2,965,265 acres of U.S. agriculture lands have recently been lost per year to development, which is a rate nearly two and a half times that lost due to development in the last 10 years ( 1982-1992). This is of particular concern in Iowa which is agriculturally based because the loss of small tracts of this high-valued land may have …

The College Redeemer, V3 I3, University Of Northern Iowa

College Redeemer

The College Redeemer - An alternative publication at the University of Northern Iowa published monthly since September of 2001.

Ballast Quarterly Review, V18n1, Autumn 2002, Roy R. Behrens

Ballast Quarterly Review

A journal devoted to wit, the contents of which are intended to be insightful, amusing, or thought provoking.

The Annual Meeting Of The Iowa Academy Of Science April 19-20, 2002 [Program, 114th Meeting], Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contents:

Program Summary --- 1
General Session Speakers --- 4
Awards --- 7
Symposia Programs --- 8
Special Events --- 8
Poster Sessions --- 9
Section Programs/Special Sessions --- 9
Agricultural Sciences --- 9
Anthropology --- 10, 16
Bioterrorism Symposia --- 24
Botany --- 11
Cellular, Molecular & Microbiology --- 17
Chemical Education --- 24
Chemistry: Inorganic, Analytical & Physical --- 18
Chemistry: Organic & Biological --- 18
College Science Teaching --- 11, 19
Community College Biologists --- 20
Conservation --- 20
Earth Science Teaching --- 24
Elementary Science Teaching --- 24
Engineering --- 12
Environmental Science and Health --- …

Iowa Academy Of Science President's Banquet, 114th Session, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Banquet Program:

Awards - Distinguished Iowa Science Teaching: Dr. Gary Atchison
Awards - Distinguished Service Award: Dr. David V. McCalley
President's Address: Dr. Lynn Brant
Response: Dr. Ray Anderson, President-Elect
General Session II: Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, "Ape Communication: On the Boundaries of Science and the Borders of Scientific Critique"

Program Abstracts, 114th Session, Iowa Academy Of Science, April 19-20, 2002, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Presentation abstracts from the annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science