Digital Commons Network^™

Inclusion : Why? What Now?, Robert Michael Bolick

Graduate Research Papers

The delivery of education to special needs students has changed over the years. The majority of classroom teachers and special education teachers have worked in separate classrooms to deliver the educational needs of special needs students. Now they are being asked to share a classroom so the special needs students can be included in the regular education classrooms. The purpose of this paper is to present research on strategies that will change the delivery of education for special needs students.

This paper will explain why the change is occurring, how it affects teachers and students, and the best practices for …

Impact Of The Iowa Reinstatement Of The Professional Teacher Librarian Requirement On School Libraries, Kelly Schaufenbuel

Graduate Research Papers

Due to a lapse in the Iowa Code from 1995 to 2006, Iowa school districts were not required to have a certified teacher librarian as part of the faculty. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects on professional teacher librarian staffing in Iowa schools from legislation passed in 2006 which requires every Iowa school district to employ a properly licensed teacher librarian to work with students, teachers, and staff; to provide instruction; and to direct the school library program. The data used for this study was extracted from the annual State Library of Iowa School Library Survey, …

The Effect Of Technology On Primary Students' Phonemic Awareness Achievement, Joy Marie Schirmer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose for this project was to research current software programs focused on phonemic awareness and, through a process of evaluation of selected programs, determine a software program with phonemic awareness activities that would be suitable for teachers to integrate into K-2 reading instruction. Phonemic awareness is a strong indicator of future reading success (Stahl & Murrary, 1994 ). Students that used technology that incorporates phonemic awareness activities have shown an increase in reading achievement. Three software programs were picked for evaluation using Sherman, Kleiman, and Peterson's (2004) criteria. Through an evaluation process this project concludes with recommendations for the …

Measuring Youth Worker Efficacy Levels In A Not-For-Profit Youth Development Setting, Carly Jean Konecny

Graduate Research Papers

Albert Bandura's concept of self-efficacy has received much attention from researchers in a variety of fields and interests. Below is an analysis of the most prevalent research conducted using Bandura' s concept of self-efficacy. Discussed is a brief overview of the theoretical advances and various dimensions included in self-efficacy. Following this is a study based on an innovative aspect of self-efficacy in the youth development field, the concept of youth worker efficacy. This study analyzes youth workers in a not-for-profit youth development setting in Iowa. The study focuses on the variables of gender, age, experience, previous training in the field …

The Impact Of Homework On Academic Achievement Of Diverse Learners, Jed Batterson

Graduate Research Papers

Homework impacts the academic achievement of diverse learners. A student's learning disabilities, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and age affect the student and parents' perceptions of homework, as well as the efficacy of homework in improving student achievement. Politicians have placed great emphasis on the importance of the American education system staying competitive globally. This places pressure on both teachers and parents to ensure the success of students. Parents and educators struggle over the purpose of homework, what time commitment homework should require, and maintaining adequate communication between home and school. Because homework demonstrates a significant impact on student achievement, this …

Reading Instruction At The Secondary Level, Justified Or Unjustified? : Real Strategies For Content Area Reading Instruction With Applications For Social Studies, Bridgette Pohlman Andersen

Graduate Research Papers

Reading research conclusively asserts that reading is developmental in nature and requires explicit instruction beyond the elementary years. However, secondary education is dominated by content area curricula, leaving little instructional time for literacy. Standardized assessments reveal that middle and high school students' reading comprehension scores remain stagnant, yet society's literacy demands have increased. In order for students to become independent learners and productive citizens, reading comprehension strategies need to be embedded in existing classroom practices. Research-based practices for comprehension that can be used before, during and after reading are presented. A professional development session, covering two years, is included that …

Implementing Supplemental Course Material Websites For Higher Education Technology Courses, Mark W. Bromwich

Graduate Research Papers

Supplemental websites have the potential to assist students in gathering course materials, encouraging topic exploration, and increasing the ability for students to communicate in a traditional face-to-face technology college classroom. This project description presents the results of a supplemental website's development and deployment into a traditional face-to-face college technology course, and measures its success. The research focuses on successful Internet employment within traditional classrooms to ensure that the content of the supplemental website has value to the students. The methodology used to develop the website and select materials was based upon the Dick and Carey Instructional Design Method (Dick & …

Creating An Accessible Child Development Resource For Family Home Child Care Providers Focusing On Child-Initiated Play, Paula Buck

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a newsletter for family home child care providers that presented easy-to-read, research based information regarding child-initiated play and developmentally appropriate practices and their incorporation in a family child care setting. The newsletter also addressed the need for creating and maintaining a balance between offering child-initiated opportunities and providing structure in a family child care setting.

A review of the literature revealed that nearly half of family home child care providers have no specialized training in the field of child care, child development, or early childhood education. Caregiver education and training is a …

The Impact Of Differentiation Strategies On Student Achievement, Angela Naomi Hileman

Graduate Research Papers

The strategies of differentiation are of current interest to educators. With increasing pressures of No Child Left Behind educators are often left wondering if individual instruction is the best instructional practice. The extent to which these strategies impact student learning is also controversial. Differentiation can be time consuming and tedious on educators. This paper will examine existing literature on differentiation strategies and discuss what kind of impact they have on student achievement.

Technology-Enriched Learning Environments : Creating A Classroom Environment For The 21st Century, Megan Lahey

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to examine technology-enriched learning environments in order to implement proper and effective use – changing the classroom as we know it. The review provides a definition and descriptions of technology-enriched learning environments, research based evidence of how they affect-teachers and students, and three key barriers preventing institutionalization of technology-enriched learning environments. Key search terms include technology-enriched learning environments, academic achievement, curriculum, teacher role, technology infusion, and professional development.

This review concludes that with rapid developments and implementations of technology into the educational setting, educators, administrators and technology leaders need to be provided with …

Constructivist Practices That Positively Impact Literacy Development And Motivation In Young Children, Sara Pruss

Graduate Research Papers

Reading and writing achievement has been substantiated through the increased pressure on proficiency for both students and teachers as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act of 200l (United States Department of Education, 2004). Educators engage in practices that may increase literacy scores for young children; however, these same practices may have a detrimental effect on student engagement and motivation. This study examined the characteristics of instructional approaches that are developmentally appropriate and inappropriate for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade children as well as those that positively affect motivation and engagement. Research through a review of current literature …

The Iowa State Fair In Iowa's History, Leann Matlage

Graduate Research Papers

There are no Iowa history books for elementary students with a primary focus on the history and the significance of the Iowa State Fair. The purpose of this research is to provide an age-appropriate informational book to be used by teachers when teaching Iowa history to their elementary students. The book will include history of the Iowa State Fair, highlights of Iowa history and a few historical happenings of national and international note.

Counseling And Educating Deaf Individuals, Sarah Zollar

Graduate Research Papers

Counseling and educating deaf individuals involves unique and important skills that professionals need to have. This paper researches different areas of concern, including ethical dilemmas facing the deaf culture, the importance of clear communication, appropriate uses of interpreters, and the importance of confidentiality in counseling. A project was developed in conjunction with this paper, which includes flash cards with some basic signs. These flash cards could be used in a variety of settings, including a classroom. Future research areas are also discussed, including the use of new technologies and continued observation of the differences in diagnoses between hearing and deaf …

Developing A Technology Committee For The Integration Of Technology At Edison Elementary In Waterloo, Iowa, Travis Elliott

Graduate Research Papers

Everywhere you look there are new technologies springing up! People are showing other people the new and latest electronic devices they have acquired to make their lives easier and get things done quicker. Most people would say that you must get on board with technology or get left behind.

Educators often say that when students start to fall behind it is very hard for them to get caught up without extra time and support. Most educators do not realize that they themselves are already falling behind. They are falling behind in the integration of technology into their classrooms. This is …

Is Reading Recovery A Beneficial Reading Program To Have Implemented In A School District?, Carrie Langan

Graduate Research Papers

Reading Recovery is an instructional program that offers individualized reading and writing instruction to struggling first graders. This program is costly and with the limited number of first graders that can be served, it raises the question : Is Reading Recovery really beneficial in the long run?

The purpose of this paper is to explain the importance that Reading Recovery has to offer. While this program may be costly, Reading Recovery children usually complete their series of lessons within 12 - 20 weeks. After that time, other children take their place. With good classroom instruction , many children who discontinue …

Jazz And Gender : Teaching Improvisation To Girls, Valerie A. Shanley

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the reasons that girls do not pursue advanced jazz education and to suggest teaching strategies that could encourage greater female participation. I have observed that the number of female students is approximately equal to that of the male students in concert band, and in a concert band setting these girls do seem to advance more quickly than boys. Through literature review and interviews with music educators and female jazz musicians, this study will examine whether some of the teaching techniques that allow girls to succeed in concert band could be adapted to …

The Wright Message, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Inside this issue:

-- Dear Department Alumni and Friends
-- 2009 - 2010 Tenure-Stream Faculty
-- Mathematics Education Program
-- Project and Grants
-- Summer Research for UNI Math Students
-- Student Competitions
-- The Iowa Collegiate Mathematics Competition
-- TEAM News
-- Alliance Program
-- Two Endowment Funds
-- Mathematics Contribution Form
-- Mathematics Scholarship Funds
-- Applause and Congratulations!
-- Math Walk Challenge

Department Of Economics Newsletter, V15, Winter 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Economics.

Department of Economics Newsletter

Inside This Issue:
--Scholarship News
--Scholarship Fete
--Law & Graduate School Application Help
--Alumni News
--Economics Club
--Alumni-in-Residence
--Graduation
--Russia 2008
--Competitions
--UNI Team Enters Fed Challenge
--Economics and...
--Commentaries From Faculty
--Housing the Bubble Burst
--Agricultural Externalities and House Values
--Faculty Awards
--Professional Development Assignments
--From Our Emeritus Faculty
--Shortcuts
--Faculty Notes...as They Report it!
--Dave Hakes' New House: Part II
--More News From F.
--Flooding in Cedar Falls
--Our Economists
--Future Economists?

Iowa Conference On Communicative Disorders [Program, 2009], Iowa Conference On Communicative Disorders

Iowa Conference on Communicative Disorders Programs

The Iowa Conference on Communicative Disorders provides continuing education activities in speech- language pathology that are acceptable to the State of Iowa and the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Areas of emphasis include adults and pediatrics.

Cns Connections, Winter 2009-10, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Natural Sciences.

CNS Connections

Inside this issue:

-- Message from the Dean
-- CNS explores alternative energy possibilities
-- CNS News in Short
-- Green promises kept at CEEE
-- Applause
-- Transitions
-- Summer camps help middle school students to experience science firsthand
-- CNS students in the news
-- IMSEP awards grants
-- Citizen Science aims to make science accessible
-- CNS team participates in project to explore Earth's interior
-- Faculty research
-- Imagine the impact
-- South campus trail provides portal to nature
-- Internationally distinguished UNI grad establishes teaching and learning award
-- Alumni News
-- CNS advisory board

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 …

La Historia De Nuestras Vidas (The Story Of Our Lives) [Program], Onofre Macario Aguiilar, Juventino Lopez Pichia, Luis Enrique Moncada Quiroz, Javier Lopez Sajche, Oscar Mejia Santos, Victor Sis Tepaz, Aaron Junech Vega, Alex Skitolsky

Postville Project Documents

The English text of the play La Historia de Nuestras Vidas, written by seven men about their lives up to and including the Agriprocessors raid and the aftermath with an introduction in English and Spanish.

La Historia De Nuestras Vidas Theatre Program, Onofre Macario Aguilar, Juventino Lopez Pichia, Luis Enrique Moncada Quiroz, Javier Lopez Sajche, Oscar Sis Tepaz, Aaron Junech Vega

Postville Project Documents

A work-in-progress presentation of an original play detailing personal accounts of U.S. immigration, the raid in Postville, and federal detention.

Preliminary Investigation Of Metallurgical Structure And Mechanical Properties Of Cast Iron With High Aluminum Content, Pavel Bizyukov

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The problem addressed in this study analyzed various properties of cast iron with high aluminum content. This grade of cast iron was projected for use in the automotive industry. The benefits provided with high aluminum content are lower specific gravity and relatively inexpensive source materials with the potential of achieving high temperature properties.

The purpose of the study was to select suitable source materials and determine an effective melting technique, to investigate metallurgical structure and mechanical properties at given chemical composition, and, finally, to provide elaborate results.

The design of the experiment included the following steps: (a) selection and preparation …

Racial Prejudice And Political Orientation: A Test Of Dovidio And Gaertner’S Integrated Model Of Racism, Abbie Anne Chalupnik

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Although the direct expression of racial prejudice is no longer accepted in society, it has not altogether disappeared. Aversive racism is characterized by pro and anti-Black attitudes, which have been largely socialized, creating an intrapsychic conflict sometimes causing overcompensation in favor of minorities (Nail, Harton, & Decker, 2003). Modern racism stems from traditional values and the Protestant work ethic, and is expressed through attitudes about social policies yet remains fundamentally racist (Kinder & Sears, 1981; Sears & McConahay, 1973). This study extended Dovidio and Gaertner's (1998) Integrated Model of Racism, which links political liberals with the expression of aversive racism …

A Motor Speech Programming Investigation Using Inhibition: Part I, Jeffrey Thomas Backlin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The current study investigated stop/go boundaries for speech acts (i.e. saying "uh, annul, annulment") in a speech inhibition task modeled on Slater-Hammel's (1959) experiment. Specifically, the project sought to answer the following research questions: (1) Can human speakers learn to stop a sweep hand using their voice? (2) What is the absolute (100%) inhibition threshold for "uh?" (3) What is the threshold at which one half of the spoken response for "uh," can be inhibited? Two additional studies were conducted for the additional stop targets "annul" (Williams, 2009) and "annulment" (Corbett, 2009). Self-report and informal speech-language screening assessed ten adult …

A Light Unto Our Path: Toward A Mutual Understanding Of Fundamentalist Christianity And Science, Kassidy K. Lyons

Honors Program Theses

My research into the Christian fundamentalist and scientific worldviews shows that existing hostility between the two can be attributed to extremists on either side. Such polarization can be a hindrance to all involved by inhibiting scientific learning and disregarding valid methods to signify and understand one’s place in the world. I explore each worldview and its validity as well as provide examples of how each can be harmful when taken to the extreme. I then outline philosophies by Stephen Jay Gould, Michael Ruse, Marcus Borg, Karl Popper and others who deny extremism and will allow an individual to find middle …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Student Experiences In The School Environment And School Belonging, Erin E. Welsh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Researchers have worked for years to decrease rates of student dropout by identifying associated factors, and developing strategies to increase school success. Despite these efforts, dropout is a complicated phenomenon, making it difficult to effectively support students. There is a body of literature concerning the connection between students' sense of belonging and its relationship to dropout. This literature is reviewed in light of the effect teachers, parents, peers, and personal characteristics have on belonging and dropout. A second body of research concerning how the physical environment of schools as behavior settings affects student outcomes is also discussed. A survey was …

Methods For Fostering Success In The Transition To High School, Debora E. Hanna Porter

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this paper is to examine newly implemented changes in transition supports at a large high school in the Midwest. Factors that affect success include attendance, environment, student characteristics and self-efficacy, socio-economic status and family support, peer pressure, teacher and school support, and race and gender differences. To determine the success of the new transition program, data were gathered regarding achievement and attendance outcomes for transitioning students in intervention and comparison groups. In addition, differences in outcomes were investigated for socioeconomic status 'groups and gender. Student opinions of the school environment, parent/teacher support, extra-curricular involvement, and the "New …

Teacher Learning In A Tibetan School In Exile: A Community Of Practice Perspective, Pema Yangchen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Using qualitative field techniques, the researcher explored teacher learning in a small community of English language teachers in a rural Tibetan school in India. From a community of practice perspective teachers were studied in terms of what they practiced, what challenges they faced and how they interacted and learned from and with each other.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to describe practicing teachers' perception of professional development and teacher learning, and (b) to examine teacher learning from a community of practice perspective. Eight female and two male teachers who taught English participated in the study. Prolonged engagement …