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Using Cooperative Learning To Meet The Diverse Needs Of The Mainstreamed Classroom, Keith W. Feldmann

Graduate Research Papers

Considerable debate among educators has centered on what kinds of academic structures can best accommodate mildly academically handicapped students, considering their particular needs in terms of self esteem, academic progress, and interpersonal relationships with nonhandicapped students. This paper examines the effects of mainstreaming compared to separate, special classes for academically handicapped students and address the question of what kinds of regular class structures can best provide for the needs of mainstreamed mildly academically handicapped students, while, at the same time, meeting the needs of normal and high ability students. In particular, this paper will examine how one structure, cooperative learning, …

Gifted Underachievement: Causes And Curriculum Implications, Carol Mattox

Graduate Research Papers

One of the major concerns ln gifted education has been how to meet the needs of the underachieving gifted. This concern probably stems from the perception that when dealing with the gifted label as applied to students educators are dealing with potential. And when giftedness ls viewed as potential, both educators and parents tend to feel they have an obligation to develop that potential to its fullest (Seeley, 1985). Many factors in gifted students 1 lives can Interrupt that development of their giftedness.

Designing An Effective Identification Model For Preschool Gifted And Talented Students, Jeanne Schoeller

Graduate Research Papers

Even though a case for the early identification of the gifted has been discussed for many years, little progress has been made in the development of a model to accomplish such a goal. In the 1950s professionals were still holding to the concept that intelligence was fixed. Hunt (1961) challenged the thinking of these professionals by stating that perhaps 50 percent of intelligence is due to genes and 50 percent to experience. He stressed the importance of providing young children with experiences that would foster their optimal development. It was made clear that if children were not provided with nurturing …

Andragogy And Community College Education: An Analysis Of The Importance Of Enhancing Self-Concept/Self-Esteem In The Nontraditional Student, Nancy Billings Meyer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research paper was to explore the characteristics and needs of the nontraditional, American adult students attending community colleges. The paper argues that enhancing the self-concept and self-esteem of the nontraditional, adult student fosters and increases his/her academic success and life chances. The literature review first focused on the history, description, philosophy, purpose, and mission of community colleges. In order to adequately explore issues with the nontraditional student, a review of the literature on adult development was incorporated. Then, the paper described the unique characteristics of the nontraditional, adult student, who tends to enroll in community colleges. …

Gifted Identification Practices In Five Southwest Iowa Public Elementary Schools: Their Impact On The Gifted Underachiever, Lauren E. O'Bradovich

Graduate Research Papers

In 1988 the State of Iowa mandated every school district to have a program to meet the needs of gifted and talented students. In addition, the new standards provided that the program would include "valid and systematic procedures employing multiple criteria for identifying gifted and talented students" (Iowa Department of Education, 1988). The subsequent new wave of TAG programs in the state has resulted in the necessity to build nomination and screening strategies for the selection of students for the various programs.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Young Children: A Review Of Literature, Jenny A. Parkin-Werth

Graduate Research Papers

Four-year-old John walks into the classroom on a typical day of preschool. As the other children work in the various centers, he flits aimlessly from center to center creating a minor cyclone behind him. During storytime, he talks loudly. When requested to "zip lips and open ears", he complies for a few seconds, and then leaves the group activity to play with the clay in the art area. When he is brought back to the group, he touches others incessantly and blurts out frequently. John does not walk; he runs. He also climbs on the tables and has a difficult …

Egocentrism And Adolescent Development, Rodney Payne

Graduate Research Papers

The behavior of adolescents can be very challenging to parents and educators. These young people have the ability to change moods and behavior day to day, with their emotions being up or down at any given moment. Also, they are often confused and look for security in their turbulent world. Their inconsistency in behavior and emotions tests the patience and understanding of adults who try to guide and direct them through these hectic years. According to Newman (1985) adolescence has been characterized as a period of inevitable stress and conflict, with adults almost helpless to intervene productively.

Influences Associated With The Underrepresentation Of Women In Administrative Positions In Education, Judy S. Bohrofen

Graduate Research Papers

Women are greatly underrepresented in administrative positions at all levels of education. In spite of all the efforts that have been made to recruit women into, and to encourage women to seek, traditionally male-dominated careers, the statistics continue to be discouraging. Nationally, five percent of school superintendents are women, a 1989 National School Boards Association survey found. Only 10 percent of high school principals are women, 17 percent of junior high and middle school principals are women, and 32 percent of elementary school principals are women (Lanter, 1989). A September 30, 1990 fiscal year report of Iowa public universities showed …

Differentiating The Curriculum For Lower Elementary Talented And Gifted Students In The Regular Classroom, Sue Riggs

Graduate Research Papers

Gifted and talented students exist everywhere, in every community and in every classroom. The exact numbers are difficult to determine due to the many definitions of giftedness including a current trend ~o broaden those definitions to include multi-dimensional intelligences (Gardner, 1983). Such broad definitions mean that large numbers of students fall into the various categories. However, as Helmberger (1980) states, a teacher may have difficulty identifying the gifted and talented members of a class since they may not immediately stand out in the group.

Computer-Assisted Cooperative Learning, Terence C. Barschow

Graduate Research Papers

Collaborative and cooperative effort is recognized as vital to almost every kind of relationship from family to workplace. It improves communication and creates a school/work culture that fosters mutual assistance among members. Industry has increasingly turned to the "work team" method of grouping workers. A similar process is gaining ground in American schools. Cooperative small group learning is being viewed as an important alternative to whole class instruction and having individuals work alone (Adams, Carlson, & Hamm, 1990).

Improving Curriculum: An Interdisciplinar Approach To Meeting The Developmental Needs Of Children, Connie Olson Osler

Graduate Research Papers

A growing interest in cooperative learning, writing-across-the-curriculum, and Indirect, process learning shows that educators are searching for a better way of helping children learn. Educators concerned with developmentally appropriate curricula are questioning classroom teaching strategies and are beginning to revise current curriculum. What can be done to improve curriculum so it meets the developmental needs of children while providing an intellectually stimulating environment and high academic standards? One answer may be the implementation of an interdisciplinary curriculum.

The Whole Language Approach To Reading Instruction: Strategies That Enhance Comprehension, Frances J. Pleak

Graduate Research Papers

The report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education,~ Nation at Risk (1983) focused the nation's attention on problems in our educational system. One of the reactions from the publication was a concern to improve literacy in the United States by improving current practices in reading instruction. Becoming~ Nation of Readers, a widely publicized report issued in 1985 by the Commission on Reading, was an outcome of this concern about current reading practices. An important finding of this two year study was that much is already known about how children learn to read, but this knowledge is not being …

Reading Interests And Attitudes Of The Iowa Governor’S Summer Institute Participants, 1991, Rosemary Cortright Zimmerman

Graduate Research Papers

Seventy-nine talented and gifted 7th,8th, and 9th grade students were surveyed to identify their reading interests and attitudes. A majority of the students indicated a positive attitude toward reading with a large variety of reading interests. Adventure, romance, comedy, and fantasy were the most popular topics. Favorite formats for this group were magazines, comics, and novels. Students indicated they receive reading guidance from parents, teachers, school librarians, and peers. Peer recommendations were most favored by the majority of students.

A Survey And Analysis Of Potential Uses Of The Computer In The Social Studies Classroom, Mike Healy

Graduate Research Papers

The computer has become an integral tool in education. In math classes, in business education classes, in computer literacy classes, the computer is a well-accepted tool of instruction. However, computers have been slow to enter most Social Studies classrooms, including my classroom. Should the computer be used in the Social Studies classroom? What would be an effective use of computers in the classroom? Would the computer be the best tool for that unit of instruction?

Psyche Means Soul: Understanding The Role Of Spirituality In Psychotherapy, Emily R. Askew

Graduate Research Papers

Until the growth of science in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the treatment of the mind was inseparable from the treatment of the body and the spirit (Benner, 1989). Across all cultures and faiths, the individual was seen as a complex whole whose physical and emotional symptoms were considered a sign of an estrangement from a larger spiritual dimension. Shamans, priests, faith healers and witch doctors all called upon divine principals to aid in the healing of the person under their care whether the affliction be a broken arm or a broken heart. However, advancement in medicine quickly excised …

A Burkean Analysis Of The Offstage Presence In The Plays Of A.R. Gurney, Jr., Mark A. Giesler

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

WASP playwright A. R. Gurney, Jr. defies the traditional notion of realism with his use of theatrical device. One such recurring device used in his plays is an offstage presence. Critics seem to agree that the onstage action affected by this offstage presence is often contrived. This study offers a response to this critical contention through its examination of the function of the offstage presence in seven of Gurney's full-length plays: Children, The Middle Ages, What I Did Last Summer, The Perfect Party, Another Antigone, Sweet Sue, and The Cocktail Hour. The study's methodology is based on Kenneth Burke's "analysis …

The Portrayal Of Characters With Physical Disabilities In Children’S Literature, Marilyn Newhouse

Graduate Research Papers

This research study used a content analysis technique to analyze 25 fiction books which featured a character having a physical disability. All books were published between 1980-1990 and were at a fourth through sixth grade reading level. A comparison was made to determine if the portrayal of physically disabled characters has changed from their portrayal in books written prior to 1980.

In the books chosen for this study the physically disabled characters were typically juvenile, Caucasian, and male. Orthopedic disorders were most frequently portrayed. The majority of the physically disabled characters were portrayed in important family and societal roles, and …

Cooperative Learning: Is It The Approach For The Minorities, Helen E. Wright

Graduate Research Papers

Cooperative learning ls a teaching strategy whereby students work together in teams to produce a group project or master a unit of study (Slavin, 1983). The teacher acts as a facilitator of knowledge, not the direct purveyor of information. Students are responsible for their own learning under the teacher/s general guidelines. They set up time frames, assign tasks within the group, and gather their own research.

The Effects Of Curriculum Content Compacting Upon Student Achievement In Fourth Grade Mathematics, Christine Brunko Schultz

Graduate Research Papers

Council Bluffs Community Schools, in order to meet the needs of students, formally established two programs for able learners in 1986. They are called Challenge Centers and Talent Pools. The Challenge Centers are housed in four elementary schools within the district. They are available to all students who exhibit special needs in academic areas. These students comprise the upper one to two percent of the student population and are served by the Challenge Center teachers for two to three hours each day. The remainder of their day is very similar to that of other students in the school. The Challenge …

Health And Safety Practices In Three Art Classrooms, George Wade Killian

Graduate Research Papers

Each day art teachers and their students use clay, glazes. paints, solvents, aerosols, and adhesives that may be slowly poisoning their bodies. In most cases there are safe art material substitutes or alternative working methods which may be used. Unfortunately, many art teachers and their students still may not be fully aware of the dangers posed by a variety of hazardous materials and processes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of teacher concern about health and safety in the classroom.

Impact Of Cooperative Learning Strategies Upon Mathematics Achievement: An Application Of Stad In Seventh Grade Mathematics, Mary L. Scholtes

Graduate Research Papers

Cooperation is a key to success today in our work and personal relationships as adults, yet the traditional classroom, that prepares children for adulthood, has been found to be more competitive than cooperative (Johnson & Johnson, 1975). Traditionally, students have spent their day working individually or receiving instruction in large groups through lecture or class discussion with students being expected to outperform or compete with their peers (Johnson & Johnson, 1975). It has been estimated that over 85 percent of the instruction in schools consists of lectures, seat work, or competition, where students are isolated from one another (Johnson, Johnson, …

The Effects Of Sustained Silent Reading On The Reading Attitude Of Primary Students, Dena Marie Higginbotham

Graduate Research Papers

The effect of sustained silent reading on the reading attitude of primary grade school students was investigated. Data were compiled for 87 primary grade students and their eight teachers. The Elementary Heading Attitude Survey by McKenna & Kear (1990) showed no significant difference in students' reading attitude after beginning a sustained silent reading program. Parent Surveys indicated students increased the amount of time spent reading outside of school by over 25%. A relation between teachers' opinions and students' opinions about sustained silent reading was not established due to the small size of the teacher group. Results of the Teacher Questionnaire …

Response To "The Case For A Right To Reply," By Theresa Nance, Theresa Nance

Iowa Journal of Communication

Popular argument about the regulation of hate speech on today's college campuses has generated two essential positions. The first position views the issue as centered on constitutionally guaranteed free speech. The second believes the issue to be the protection of marginalized groups from public acts of bigotry and discrimination. Since debates tend to dichotomize arguable issues, resolution is dichotomized as well. From one perspective either the behaviors are limited and a constitutional right is abridged, or questionable behaviors are allowed and free speech is thus protected. From the other perspective, either human beings continue to suffer the indignities of unregulated …

Editorial Board & Iowa Academy Of Science Officers And Directors

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Annual Report Of The Iowa Academy Of Science, 1990-91, Paul E. Rider

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Starting in 1976, annual reports have served as a continuing record of the activities of the Iowa Academy of Science. These augment a 100 year history of the Academy which was written in the centennial year of 1975.

This report covers the period from July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1991. It is based on the official records of the Academy (committee reports, Board minutes, correspondence) as well as the recollections, impressions and musings of the author.

Effects Of Visual/Verbal Associations, Anna C. Martin

Faculty Publications

Different effects of instructional strategies on recall and comprehension of terms frequently used in formal analysis of art were examined. The study looked at a synthesis of three theoretical positions: dual-coding theory; schema theory; and elaboration theory. Two-hundred and fifty sixth-grade students were randomly assigned to three groups: control subjects; graphic subjects; and transformational subjects. Instruments consisted of Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) and the Art Vocabulary Test (AVT). The program consisted of three phases: (1) a 10-minute study session; (2) an interactive discussion; and (3) a drawing task. The results suggested that imagery strategies help students form and retain …

The Importance Of Theatre In Secondary Education, Monica L. Franzen

Undergraduate Student Work

With the many cutbacks in the educational system, school administrators are struggling with the decision of what co-curricular and extracurricular areas should be cut or reduced and what should remain unchanged. What should be kept or cut from the fine arts has been a controversial issue in schools for many years. It still remains a critical problem today and in the near future, faces the chance of elimination from the curriculum.

Theatre is important in the educational system. I base my argument on my own perceptions, various texts, and through personal interviews. Many of the interviewees reinforced or extended my …

A Study Of The Personality Types Of Presidential Scholars At The University Of Northern Iowa, Jennifer C. Miller

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

As a Presidential Scholar, became interested in how those people who were awaded the scholarship differed in their personality types from those equally intelligent and involved people who did not. Thus, I decided to compare the personality types of the University of Northern Iowa Presidential Scholars to those members of Omicron Delta Kappa, which is the highest academic honorary society on campus. I chose to compare Presidential Scholars to ODK members because the ODK society emphasizes many of the same qualities as the Presidential Scholars Program: academics, leadership, and service. To become a member of ODK, a student must have …

Effects Of Preshot Routine Time And Movements On Free Throw Shooting Performance, Mick G. Mack

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects that length of preshot routine and use of a set sequence of movements have on free throw shooting in basketball. Seventeen members comprising the University of Northern Iowa intercollegiate men's basketball team attempted 20 free throws in each of four different conditions: (1) normal routine, (2) normal routine with lengthened time, (3) altered routine with normal time, and (4) altered routine with lengthened time. For the altered time condition, subjects used a minimum of 200% of their normal time. For the altered routine condition, subjects used a routine provided by …

Report Comparing 1990 Summer Session With 1991 Summer Session At University Of Northern Iowa, Gerald D. Bisbey

History of Education Book Gallery

No abstract provided.