Digital Commons Network^™

Using Wisconsin Fast Plants To Incorporate Inquiry Into The General Biology Curriculum At Linn-Mar High School, Steven R. Meeker

Graduate Research Papers

This creative component is a culmination of what has been learned throughout the coursework of the Masters of Arts in Science Education Degree at the University of Northern Iowa. The curriculum that has been developed for this project is a series of three learning cycles that allow long-term inquiry labs to be incorporated directly into the existing General Biology curriculum at Linn-Mar High School. The inquiry lab use Wisconsin Fast Plants™ to teach about plant life cycles, ecology and the scientific method. It is expected that the inclusion of these learning cycles will infuse a constructivist framework into the curriculum …

A Working Conference On Students With Disabilities In Stem Coursework And Careers, Audrey C. Rule, Greg P. Stefanich, Charlotte W. Haselhuhn, Belinda Peiffer

Faculty Publications

Background: Few teachers and special education specialists are aware of the materials and resources available to support science; technology; engineering; and mathematics instruction for the scattered and isolated 3000 students with sensory and motor disabilities in Iowa's K-12 schools. Additionally; faculty at many community colleges and regent institutions are not aware of possible accommodations for their students with disabilities who have interests in pursuing STEM careers. Unfortunately; this often leads to discouragement and lack of success for students with motor or sensory disabilities. This conference brings together experts and conference attendees involved in instruction; support; or transitions for these students …

Curriculum Development Project: Water Quality Unit, Keith Weber

Graduate Research Papers

As a cumulation of my studies and to satisfy the non-thesis option for my graduate program at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), I designed this Water Quality Unit to be used for 9th and 10th grade students. It uses both learning cycles and a constructivist approach to satisfy Dubuque Community School District and Iowa Core Curriculum Standards. Each learning cycle applies the 3-E approach [Explore, Explain and Extend]. The unit contains seven separate learning cycles and ends with a final project in which students analyze the runoff from their school's watershed for various pollutants to determine what steps can …

An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Functional Behavioral Assessment For Students With Emotional Behavioral Disabilities, Megan Kale Brose

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is defined as "a set of assessment procedures used to identify variables that promote and maintain challenging behavior and based upon this assessment, interventions are selected that alter one or more of these variables" (Stichter & Conroy, 2005, pp. 19-20). FBA has received a great deal of attention since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)l997 amendments, which require the use of FBA for all special education students upon referral of alternative educational placements due to behavior resulting in disciplinary action. There has also been considerable questioning of and need for research in …

Assessment Of Sustainability Of Rural Tourism Villages In Southeastern China Using Sustainable Tourism Development Indicators, Tang Chen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess sustainability of rural tourism practices in heritage, ecological, and ethnic communities in southeastern China, using sustainable tourism development indicators. The rural tourism communities selected for this study were Tengtou Village in Fenghua, Zhuge Bagua County in Lanxi, and She Minority Village in E Shan Tonglu, representing examples of domestic rural tourism initiatives in China. This study applied the 2004 WTO sustainability indicator model to develop appropriate indicators for assessing sustainability of rural tourism practices in the selected communities, and aimed at answering the following research questions. First, what indicators would be most …

Factors That Influence Student Motivation, Abbie Petsche

Graduate Research Papers

This paper discusses different factors in a student's education that can affect motivation and overall learning. It focuses on extrinsic and intrinsic strategies, social-cognitive processes, and the classroom environment. There have been many studies done on motivation and achievement. This paper will focus on the findings of studies done on strategies used to enhance students' beliefs about ability and emotions as well as environmental strategies used by teachers.

Gender Segregation And The Physical Education Classroom, Amanda Kopplin-Rodgers

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to address the issue of single sex classrooms and student learning through an examination of the research on how females and males learn and the effects of gender segregation in the general education classroom. The discussion will also include the impact of Title IX on physical education classrooms and the effects of segregation in physical education classrooms. Limited research has been conducted to investigate the relationship among several variables affecting learning including: hearing, brain development, student gender, age, body image, self-esteem, teacher gender, and which type of classroom is most conducive to student learning. …

The Portrayal Of Attention Deficit Disorder In Children's And Young Adult Literature, Ambri Refer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine if characters with attention deficit disorder in children's and young adult literature possess the same traits as patients diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. This research examined books that contained at least one character with attention deficit disorder.

A content analysis methodology was used, and a book analysis form was completed for each book examined. The form was used to record the gender of the character with attention deficit disorder and characteristics associated with the disorder including inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The researcher predicted that the majority of the books would have male …

Leisure Programming For Alzheimer’S Clients In Long-Term Care, Timothy D. Doyle

Graduate Research Papers

Leisure programming continues to become more specialized due to the increased needs of special populations of leisure consumers. To meet the needs of the targeted population leisure programmers are required to gather increased information regarding potential clients to stay abreast of current trends. Data gathered regarding more diverse populations, such as persons with disabilities or specific disease, has long been the focus of therapeutic recreation but was often overlooked by other leisure professionals.

The purpose of this paper is to provide information to leisure professionals regarding the use of leisure activities for Alzheimer's clients in long-term care. Research has found …

The Third Space: The Use Of Self-Study To Examine The Culture Of A Science Classroom, Dashia M. Magee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Science educators are in the position to create bridges between their students and the world of science (Aikenhead, 1996, 1999). This connection has often been described as the third space (Bhabha, 1994; Moje, Collazo, Carrillo, & Marx, 2001; Wallace, 2004), which is represented as a combination or a meeting of the students' world and the world of science. In this study, I examined my role in creating the third space through the use of self-study. Self-study is a form of research, educators use to understand their practice (Austin & Senese, 2004; Loughran, 2004; Northfield & Loughran, 1996). It is a …

Sign Language And Gestures In Young Early Childhood, Donna Uhlenberg

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature and research review is to understand better the use of sign language and the importance of gestures to children in young early childhood. Children, even at the earliest ages, begin the process of effectively communicating with people and the environment around them. The beginning forms of communication originate in the form of body movements, also known as gestures. Sign language has been present in recorded history since the 16th century, and the first written records of it began in the 17th century. Sign language is most widely used with individuals who have hearing or speech …

Reading Is For Girls: Examining Gender Differences In Reading Attitudes, Molly Jo Mcallister

Honors Program Theses

Recent research across the nation suggests that boys across the country view reading more negatively than girls. To investigate these trends on a more local level, a reading attitudes survey was conducted at two Eastern Iowa high schools to determine whether boys in this area do in fact view reading more pessimistically than girls. This survey was performed in ninth grade English classrooms at the two schools asking students to respond to various belief statements about reading. Students then rated their own feelings on a scale from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree," and designated whether they were male or female …

Pollution Swapping: The Effect Of Phosphorus Sequestration On Denitrification In Wetland Sediments, Nathaniel Femi Adegboyega

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Surface water quality is currently one of the most important environmental issues facing the state of Iowa since the ecological and recreational health of water bodies are threatened by non-point pollution. Most of Iowa's lakes are polluted because of their high concentration of nutrients, often phosphorus (P), which leads to excessive algal growth (eutrophication). To prevent eutrophication, it is necessary to prevent P from entering surface waters or to sequester (make unavailable to algae) the P that is already in the water body. One method to achieve this is to introduce substances that can tightly fix P (sorption).

Previous studies …

A Speech Motor Programming Investigation Using Inhibition, Alison Michele Corbett

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Motor learning and its applications have been extensively studied, particularly in the area of sports physiology and kinesiology. From these fields, many theories of movement and its control mechanisms have evolved. Previous research has drawn upon these theatrical principles to investigate the specific parameters of skilled movements, specifically the time required to complete an action. In particular, a finger-lift task has been used to study the refractory period during which a motor program can not be inhibited when trained to occur at a particular temporal target (Slater-Hammel, 1959). The current study applies key methodological concepts from Slater-Hammel's work to examine …

The Effectiveness Of Colored Overlays On Reading Achievement And Attitudes Toward Reading For Students With Scotopic Sensitive Syndrome, Hanan Ali Bagabas

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigated the effects on students identified with Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) or Irlen Syndrome (IS) when using colored overlays as an intervention (immediately and over time) to assess reading performance (rate, accuracy, and comprehension); to measure visual-motor integration; and to assess attitude toward reading. SSS/IS is a visual perceptual problem related to a collection of symptoms that affects an individual's performance when reading. Three participants, all males (one 3rd -grade student, one 4th -grade student, and one 5th -grade student), were identified as having SSS/IS and other learning disabilities.

The study involved five test instruments (Irlen Reading Perceptual …

The Effects Of Anonymity On Self Reports Of Depression And Alcohol Consumption, Yolanda Latrice Evans

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research examined the impact of anonymity on self reports of alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms. Participants (N=363) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) Non anonymous or (2) Anonymous. All participants were administered the BDI and the MAST. Compared to the non anonymous group, those in the anonymous groups had significantly different higher means on the depression inventories. Women yielded significantly higher depression score means than men, but no significant differences were found between mean and women for alcohol use or between anonymous and non anonymous conditions. The level of alcohol use by both college men and …

Gender Based Strategies For Increased Student Achievement, Mary Louise Bryant-Wilder

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will present information based on various instructional strategies used in the single gender classrooms. These strategies are researched based, and have been know to help support gender specific classrooms. Chapter two will discuss the history of traditional classroom setting and the introduction of the single gender learning classroom. Chapter three will discuss the results of the current research and findings of experts in the study of gender classrooms and the affect such classrooms have on boys. It will also compare the advantages and disadvantages of gender classrooms for boys. Chapter four is an analysis of the findings presenting …

Resistance To And Virulence Of Fusarium Verticillioides, Tracy Lynn Bruns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The filamentous fungus Fusarium verticillioides is plant pathogen that is responsible for billions of dollars in crop loss world wide. Fusarium verticillioides is of concern as it causes serious infections in maize and other agronomically important crop plants worldwide. Toxins produced by this fungus make grains from infected crops unusable. Plant resistance (or lack thereof) to disease is and has been for centuries a problem in agricultural productivity. Recent advances in the understanding of plant disease resistance promises to allow us to discover ways to counter the invasive properties of Fusarium verticillioides. Currently, very little is known about the virulence …

Instructional Strategies Within Single-Gender Learning Environments, Rachelle Sarrah Grandon

Graduate Research Papers

Various instructional strategies can be beneficial in both gender-specific classrooms, as well as co-educational environments. When developing age-appropriate, individualized instruction, it is crucial to consider gender-specific needs that may assist according to certain learning styles. In order to better relate to students of each gender, these practices must be given thoughtful consideration. There are many methods, found in both types of classroom settings have been explored based on practical, research-based experiences from the real-world setting.

Cooking : Mixing And Measuring With Young Children, Aimee Marie Klostermann

Graduate Research Papers

Cooking with young children is a rewarding experience as an educator. Not only are the children enjoying themselves, but you are too. Cooking allows children to be in touch with their senses, and is a hands-on approach to learning. Of course cooking can be messy, which is what young children love most. Incorporating science, math, literacy, and social studies into one activity is easily done through cooking.

Whether you are a novice or a veteran when it comes to cooking, the skills children gain are immense when you incorporate cooking into the early childhood curriculum. I believe there are some …

Program Design Consideration For A 8-Week Ymca Youth Fitness Program, Cody Bisher

Graduate Research Papers

It is known that obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that the amount of physical activity (PA) from adolescence to adulthood does impact adult obesity (Laitinen et. al., 2004). Laitinen found that low levels of physical activity in adolescence increased the prevalence of obesity in adulthood. Therefore it is critical that youths are active in early childhood through adulthood. Barbeau et al (2004) reviewed interventions designed to prevent obesity in youths. Their review found that physical training, with no dietary aide, has positive effects on total body mass fat and visceral fat, …

Using Project-Based Learning To Build An Environmental Science Ii Course, Molly Crock

Graduate Research Papers

The main goals for teaching science in the 21 st Century have not changed drastically over the last 40 years. Science educators still aim to prepare their students to thrive in a changing world. Our goals are to instill curiosity, have students think in complex ways, and be creative problem solvers. Teachers still want students to critically analyze data and predict how these results will influence factors.

National Board Of Professional Teaching Standards (Nbts) Portfolio Option, Steven Aaron Hester

Graduate Research Papers

My non-thesis option for the Master's in Science Education program was to complete a portion of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Portfolio in the category of Science/ Adolescence and Young Adulthood. The NBPTS Portfolio has a set of standards that must be followed and as a teacher you must be proficient in all of them. The first standard is to prepare the way for productive student learning. To be proficient in this area one must show that they understand students, science, and science teaching. The second standard asks the teacher to establish a favorable context for student …

Curriculum Development: New Geology Course For Grades 10-12, Kyle N. Hoffman

Graduate Research Papers

At Linn-Mar High School, the science requirements for graduation are three years of science: Biology, a physical science and a science elective.

“Atmosphere And Climate”: A Curricular Guide For High School Environmental Science A Creative Component, Kari M. Schmidt

Graduate Research Papers

The unit examines different facets of atmosphere and climate as part of the Environmental Science curriculum. In cooperative learning groups, the students work on group and independent hands-on activities with math connections. A culminating assessment project conducted in cooperative learning groups utilizes student technology skills. Information for this unit was taken from various books and classes that I have studied throughout this Master's program. My intent when creating this unit was to help students understand the importance of asking the correct questions and thinking for themselves to solve problems.

A Phylogeographic Analysis Of Fiddler Crabs, Uca Longisignalis And U. Pugnax, Cydney Brooks

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Uca pugnax and U. longisignalis are fiddler crabs commonly found in the southeastern United States. These sibling species occupy distinct regions. Uca pugnax is found on the Atlantic and U. longisignalis on the Gulf coasts. Their distributions are separated by the Florida peninsula. Many different taxa with similar distributions in this region have been the focus of phylogeographic studies. In these studies, it appears there is no simple pattern to explain genetic variability. Previous studies of Uca pugnax and U. longisignalis reveal no significant morphological or physiological differences within either species across its respective region. The purpose of this study …

Problem-Based Learning In The Middle School Science Classroom, Lesley Taylorson

Graduate Research Papers

In 1995, US 12th graders performed below the international average for 21 countries on a test of general knowledge in mathematics and science. (National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 1998). In 2000, 93% of students in grades '5-9 were taught physical science by a teacher lacking a major or certification in the physical sciences (National Center for Education Statistics, 2002). U.S. 15-year-olds ranked 24th out of 40 countries that participated in a 2003 administration of the Program for International Student assessment (PISA) examination, which assessed students' ability to apply mathematical concepts to real world problems (National Center for Education Statistics, …

Positions Of Power, Abjection And Constraint: Evaluating Discursive Attempts To Save An Other, Ruth Janet Beerman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Beginning from the presumption that questions of agency are important, this thesis interrogates notions of who can speak, how to speak, and what constitutes agency. Feminist rhetorical theory operates as a key avenue to evaluate negotiating positions of power and privilege when examining how to liberate oppressed groups. By utilizing feminist conceptions of the body as well as theories of performance and personae, I examine how rhetorical theory contributes to such understandings where one speaks about an other. Finally, the war in Iraq serves as a case study to illustrate my theory.

Characteristics Of Highly Effective Teachers: A Perspective From Students With Disabilities, David J. Smith

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Teacher quality is a widely discussed topic in education. States, districts, schools, parents, and other stakeholders want to know how to measure, improve, and reward teacher quality. A major factor in the rise in interest about teacher quality is clear evidence that individual teachers are able to positively affect student achievement, specifically in relationship to students' standardized test scores (No Child Left Behind Legislation). Even a cursory look at statewide student achievement data reveals that students with disabilities are achieving at lower levels in comparison to their peers without disabilities.

While several researchers have asked students to identify characteristics of …

The Effect Of Learning Styles And Attitude On Preservice Elementary Teachers' Conceptual Understanding Of Chemistry And The Nature Of Matter In A Simulation-Based Learning Environment, Mo H. Al-Jaroudi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This causal-comparative descriptive study investigated the achievement of pre-service elementary teachers taking an introductory physical science course that integrates inquiry-based instruction with computer simulations. The study was intended to explore if pre-service elementary teachers with different attitudes towards science as well as students with different learning styles would benefit differentially. Four research questions including four hypotheses were developed. The first major question consist of four specific hypothesis that addressed preservice elementary teachers' learning styles (Active/Reflective, Sensing/Intuitive, Visual/Verbal, and Sequential/Global) and their conceptual understanding of chemistry and the particulate nature of matter in a science class which use hands-on learning integrated …