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The Benefits Trickled Up: The Political Geography Of Water Provision In Paris, Ontario, 1882-1924, John Solomon Hagopian

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The social and political factors which affected nineteenth-century waterworks development have been relatively well researched in the United States. The few Canadian studies have found inequities in the systems of water provision. Using Paris, Ontario as a case study, an attempt is made to fill this research gap in Canada. The research centres on the identification of the social classes which paid for the Paris waterworks and which received the benefits. The spatial distribution of these social classes is determined and then compared to the spatial pattern of waterworks development. A similar comparison is done between the functional zonation of …

The Energy Crisis: The Case Of The Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas), With Special Reference To Nigeria, Ghana And Burkina Faso, Francis Bliss Lagbo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The energy crisis of West African countries has assumed major importance over the past few decades. The oil price increases of the 1970s have posed innumerable problems to these countries. But that is hardly the entire story. The vegetation cover of most places have been stripped so bare that people must walk for hours to find the day's supply of firewood, the traditional energy source. Doing something about the problem involves, first of all, understanding what the situation really is. This study provides an analysis of the spatial, sectoral and social inequalities in energy production and consumption in BCOWAS. Scrutiny …

The Role Of The Vadose Zone In The Generation Of Runoff From A Headwater Basin In The Canadian Shield, Robert Alex Maclean

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Hydrological processes occurring within the vadose zone, especially in heterogeneous soils and tills typical of the Canadian shield, are not well understood. This research investigates the importance of the vadose zone in a small headwater basin (Harp 4-21) in the Canadian shield with respect to the generation of stream runoff quantity and quality during episodic rainfall and snowmelt events. The study focused specifically on: firstly the effect of variable antecedent moisture conditions on water-table and stream response, secondly, the significance of the stored vadose water in water extracted from a rising water-table, and thirdly the significance of preferential flowpathways in …

Kitchener-Waterloo Immigrant Settlement And Adaptation Program (Isap): A Process And Outcome Evaluation (Ontario), Charity Sylvia Akotia

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research is an evaluation of the processes and outcomes of an Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP) in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. ISAP was established to facilitate quick and easy adaptation of newcomers in the region. The study utilized the stakeholder approach to evaluation, where I worked in collaboration with the program staff and a client in defining the stages of the research process. The study also explored other areas which were considered central to settlement and adaptation. These include client-counsellor relationship, family experiences, clients’ self-esteem, and moral support provided by counsellors. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, I conducted personal …

Is Conservatism An Artifact Caused By Dissimilarities Between The Laboratory And The Real World?, Stuart B. Kamenetsky

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Human revision of opinion has often been described as a list of heuristics and cognitive biases. The following study examined the possibility that one of these biases, conservatism, is a result of dissimilarities between the laboratory and the real world. In two experiments, participants ranked problems on a psychological scale of realism, solved several realistic and artificial problems and completed a questionnaire to assess their probability knowledge base. Results showed that participants classified problems into different groups according to their level of realism. Whereas their responses to the artificial problems were conservative, their responses to the realistic problems were very …

Mothers And Others Making Change: Empowerment Through Self-Help And Social Action (Ontario), Susan M. Morrison

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative research study is an evaluation of the organization, Mothers and Others Making Change (MOMC), a self-help/social action, anti-poverty organization in Kitchener-Waterloo. The research was developed a, both an action and a theoretical investigation designed to answer the questions: Is MOMC an empowering organization? and Is MOMC an empowered organization? Members of MOMC, local and provincial human service representatives and local and provincial politicians were interviewed to obtain their opinions about these questions. The results indicate that both the self-help arid the social action components of the organization are important factors in empowering the members to take control of …

An Investigation Of Complexity Of Reasoning And Transactive Dialogue Behaviour In Parents' And Adolescents' Socio-Political Discussions, Silvana Santolupo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

There has been no observational investigation of parental socialization of adolescent political thinking reported in the developmental literature to date. Following Berkowitz and Gibbs‘ (1983) work on moral development and dialogue, the techniques of integrative complexity of reasoning and transactive dialogue analysis were applied to mother-adolescent political discussions. Adolescent’s age and gender, family parenting styles, and family communication patterns were expected to affect the quality or nature of these discussions. In turn, variations in the discussions were anticipated to influence adolescents’ subsequent integrative complexity of reasoning (IC) scores on a post-test. An equal number of male and female younger adolescents …

Elaboration Strategies And Individual Differences In Academic Achievement Among Adolescent Learners, Violet Kaspar

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study investigated the relative potency of four memory strategies for learning factual information. To examine the efficacy of the strategies in relation to academic ability, students were classified as low or average achievers based on their performance on a verbal skills measure. Tenth to twelfth grade students (62 females and 48 males) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions: Elaborative Interrogation (BI, a "why" questioning strategy), Repetition of Provided Elaborations (PE), Repetition Control (RC), and Judgement/Analysis (J/A, where students evaluated provided elaborations and justified their judgement). Performance in the BI condition was greater than that in the …

Working For Work: A Program Evaluation, Rich P. Janzen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Working for Work: Intercultural Job Support Groups is a new program in the Waterloo Region of Southern Ontario providing immigrants and refugees to Canada assistance in finding employment. Having started in October of 1991, Working for Work operates within a support group setting and encourages participation from group members. The program also advocates on behalf of immigrants and refugees. This is most notably demonstrated through the organization of work placements which offer group members direct contact with Canadian employers. There are two general goals of the program: (1) to increase the employability of group members, and (2) to increase group …

Authoritarianism And Integrative Complexity, Susan Michele Alisat

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The relationship between Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and cognitive style was examined. Consistent with social learning theory, it was hypothesized that the development of authoritarian attitudes may be accompanied by the development of certain ways of thinking about the objects of these attitudes. High and low RWAs provided solutions for social conflicts which involved authoritarian and nonauthoritarian issues. After having provided their initial solutions, students were encouraged to increase the complexity of their reasoning by means of "prodding" questions. Results suggested that, instead of thinking less complexly for only authoritarian issues, high RWAs displayed lower integrative complexity scores than low RWAs …

Thesis-Making: Reflections On My Experience, Cari Michelle Patterson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this thesis I describe my personal journey to come to some understanding about how l do community-oriented research, and why I do it the way I do. I engaged in a collaborative program evaluation with a self-help group for survivors of the mental health system. I describe the research project and the ways I reflected on the project to help me uncover some of the hidden assumptions and influences that have shaped me as a researcher until now. Then I discuss issues that arose for me as I engaged in the evaluation and illustrate them drawing on both my …

Developing And Implementing A Program To Improve Math Achievement At Pepperell Middle School, Benjamin W. Desper Jr

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This final report describes the development and the implementation of a program to improve student math achievement at Pepperell Middle School. Analysis of academic records indicated 30 percent of the students received a "D" or "F" for the last semester of the 1989-1990 school year. Seventy-three percent of the students retained, were not promoted because of difficulties in math achievement. Total math scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Georgia Criterion Referenced Test declined for each grade from the 1988-1989 school year.

Probable causes for the lack of achievement in math were identified as: a possible curriculum …

Improving Reading Achievement Of Rising Ninth Grade Remedial Reading Students At Granard Junior High School, Linda C. Sellars

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes a project for improving the reading achievement of rising ninth grade remedial reading students at Granard Junior High School. The problem was noted when the standardized achievement test scores in reading at Granard Junior High School continued to fall below those of other students in the school district and in the state in 1988-89.

Analysis of the problem symptoms revealed that 54.6% of the students who took the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) in 1989-90 at Granard Junior High School in grade seven scored below the 50th national percentile. Additionally, the results of the eighth grade …

Increasing The Number Of Minority Elementary Students Found Eligible For Placement In A Gifted Program By Enhancing The Quality Of Screening Instruments And Inservice Training Provided To School Staff, Gale E. Kofsky

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum aimed to increase the number of minority elementary students in prekindergarten through Grade 5 found eligible for placement in a gifted program by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of screening instruments and by providing inservice training. The second goal was to increase the understanding of gifted characteristics and their relationship to eligibility by school staff.

Four hands-on inservice training sessions were utilized to familiarize teachers, counselors, and administrators in each of the targeted schools with a preselected group of norm referenced screening instruments and characteristics common to gifted minority and limited English proficient children. The practicum also developed …

Implementation Of A 60-15, Multi Track, Year Round Education Calendar Program To Increase School Pupil Capacity By Twenty Percent, Ralph S. Archibald Iii

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes the process used by a rapidly growing, large school district to implement a 60-15 multi track year-round education calendar program. The year-round calendar program was designed to increase the capacity of targeted elementary schools by up to 20%.

Preparations for implementation involved an extensive examination of 4 school districts having successfully implemented and maintained various year-round education calendar configurations. Additionally, a review of a pilot 60-15 program evaluation was conducted. Extensive lists of benefits and concerns were enumerated and utilized to guide the development of a plan for implementation of the 60-15 calendar.

To implement the calendar …

Improving The Motivational Level Of Disaffected Students By Utilizing Alternative Teaching Strategies To Match Learning Styles, Fanchon Brackfield-Godynick

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was proposed to improve the motivational level of disaffected students by utilizing alternative learning strategies designed to match teaching style to the individual learning style of the student. The primary goal was to elevate the test scores on periodic, cumulative, and standardized tests in order to bring students to grade level. The secondary goal was to adjust the curriculum to meet the learning style of the slow learner. Subgoals included decreasing absenteeism, detention, and suspension. Increased parental involvement in school functions and conferences, as well as peer acceptance and approval were also objectives of the practicum.

The eight …

Improving The Physical Fitness Of Fourth Grade Elementary Students, Marguerite D. Durr

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes the development of a pilot elementary school physical fitness program using six fourth graders as the targeted students. Extensive analysis of available programs was undertaken to determine the appropriate physical fitness program to use for the pilot program. The program selected was the Physical Best, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERO). Surveys were used to determine student perceptions, student knowledge, and teacher observations/perceptions of their students. The results of the surveys agreed with research and resulted in the 4th grade (147 students) being chosen to start the program.

The physical education program started …

Developing An Appropriate Methodology To Identify Minority Students For The Gifted Program, Brenda Goza George

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The goal of this practicum was to increase the number of minority students referred for the gifted program. Three broad objectives were designed to achieve this goal: (1) to increase the number of minority students classroom teachers refer for the gifted program; (2) to develop a greater sensitivity among the teachers and staff to Identify potentially gifted minority students; (3) to develop a matrix which can be used by gifted program teachers for referral of minority students to the gifted program.

During the three month practicum period a teacher checklist was designed for identifying potentially gifted minority students. Training sessions …

Improving Writing Skills Using Portfolio Assessment With 10th Grade Regular Students, Elaine L. Harrington

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The situation needing improvement was that 55% of tenth grade students were not demonstrating competence on the writing portion of the State required HSCT (High School Competency Test). This practicum's four main objectives were: (1) increasing the percentage of students who would successfully pass the writing portion of the HSCT test. (2) the expansion of peer groups to improve student writing skills and motivation for completing assignments. (3) achieving the goal of having portfolio assessment accepted by the administration as an alternative means of assessment. (4) the reduction of test anxiety by over 55% of the students. Additional aims were …

Increasing The Number Of Emotionally Disabled Students In Mainstream Classes In Elementary And Middle Schools Through A Teacher-Student Cooperative Model, Jacques P. Jamner

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was designed to increase the number of emotionally disabled students placed in the mainstream in selected elementary and middle schools. Strategies included the use of behavior management and social skills training of both regular and special education teachers, social skills training of students, peer tutoring, and an incentive program for both the students and their teachers. Students received 45 minutes of social skills training each week for 36 weeks. The special education teachers consulted with the regular education teachers to assist them with the mainstreaming process and maintenance.

This practicum had six objectives: (1) to increase the training …

Improving Intermediate Grade Level English-As-A-Second Language Students’ Attitudes Toward Recreational Reading, Debra E. Kaminsky

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was designed to address the problem of the need for improving the intermediate grade level ESL students' attitudes towards recreational reading. The students were not choosing to read during the periods of time provided for individual activity choices within the ESL classroom, and they were not choosing recreational reading as an activity at howe when they had extra time available. The goal of the practicum was to improve the intermediate grade level ESL students' attitudes towards recreational reading so that they would share their enthusiasm and interests in pleasure reading, as well as devote more time to recreational …

British Literature: Increasing Relevancy For High School Seniors Through Multicultural Augmentation. Doctoral Report Thesis, Nancy C. Kirkland

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The goal of this practicum was to Increase the relevancy of the regular senior English course In British literature and composition by expanding the curriculum to Include selections from countries, other than the United States, influenced by the British Colonial Empire. This approach would render the curriculum more germane to the ethnic diversity of the contemporary classroom.

Using a thematic approach, works were selected to include writer’s representative of African, Aslan, and Hispanic cultures. These additions were enmeshed into the regular canon of British authors. Learning styles and cooperative Learning strategies were employed to promote cooperation and understanding within the …

Implementing A Collaborative Consultation Model For Learning Disabled And At-Risk Students In Grade 9, Ester Zager Levine

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was uncertain in an effort to Improve the education of learning disabled and at-risk ninth grade students in regents level courses. The goal of this collaborative consultation was to implement the Resource Teacher Consultant Model by having individual teachers work collaboratively with a resource room teacher. The project was expected to, and did impact on two groups of students (six learning disabled and five at-risk youngsters) in tour different classrooms. Improved teaching and learning was accomplished through analysis of teaching style and learner needs and creation of strategies to meet those needs.

In addition to meeting all of …

Using Portfolios For More Authentic Assessment Of Writing Ability, Richard J. Marchesani

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum sought to improve student writing and student attitude towards writing through a performance-based assessment which featured peer and teacher conferencing, holistic grading and publication of material written by students. The practicum involved seventh and eighth grades and five teachers who instituted all aspects of the writing process from prewriting to evaluation.

The writer organized a twelve-week writing program which encompassed all four types of writing; provided folders for all students; outlined procedures for peer and teacher conferencing; conducted summative evaluations among teachers; enacted a letter-writing project among students; arranged for the collection and sealing of student folders for …

Newsletter, Florida Ornithological Society Newsletter, Volume 18, No. 3, Summer 1992, Katy Nesmith

Florida Ornithological Society - Records - Full Collection

A contingency copy of Vol. 18, No. 3 of the Florida Ornithological Society Newsletter.

Integrating High School English And Vocational Education Through Teacher Collaboration, Cross-Curricula Activities, And Applied Communications, Alexandra Penn

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The aim or this practicum was to integrate academic. Specifically language arts, and vocational education by: I) collaborating with vocational teachers; 2) developing cross-curricula activities; 3) reinforcing and evaluating communication skills in the vocational areas; 4) exploring student career direction; 5) infusing occupational relevancy into academics; 6) facilitating cooperative learning and relevant problem-solving; 7) fostering computer technology and literacy; and 8) orienting staff, counselors and administrators. Two corollary aims were to increase students’ communication skills as measured by the Stale Scholastic Aptitude Test, Part I (SSAT). and to reduce the drop-out rate u a result of participants’ goal-specific successes.

The …

Developing An Active Media Center In A Jewish Day School K-8 Through Creative Management, Rhona Singer

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was designed to develop an active media center. The primary goal was to create a dynamic, functional facility with an interdisciplinary library skills program for students in kindergarten to grade eight in a private Jewish day school. Additional goals were to incorporate volunteer service in order to organize the library collection.

Eight months of implementation at the target school integrated library skills with the development of the media center. The previously colorless facility became alive with mobiles and student artwork and projects. Chess games enlivened recess periods. Observation checklists. quizzes, questionnaires, as well as frequent statistic counts were …

Improving Positive Experiences For Middle School Minority Students Entering A Suburban Community, Through Intervention Programs Involving Staff, Parents And Students, Christine D. Piscitelli

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was designed to Increase the positive experiences of middle school minority students entering a suburban community: the problem being for racial and ethnic minorities to have full access to and participation In the educational life of the community without surrendering their language and cultural distinctiveness.

The goals of this practicum were for minority students and their parents to have positive school experiences when interacting with classroom teachers as well as when they were engaged In other school activities. In addition, classroom teachers were to become sensitive to the customs and values prevalent among these students through the acquisition …

Selecting And Developing Internship Sites For Child Development Interns Which Demonstrate Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Barbara Payne Shelton

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was designed to develop a systematic method of student selection of internship placement sites in early childhood education which demonstrate developmentally appropriate practices, students were provided guidelines on selecting an appropriate placement as well as an inventory to use in evaluating potential sites.

The writer developed the following tools for the practicum: 1) guidelines for site selection; 2) an internship handbook; 3) two workshops for cooperating teachers on developmentally appropriate practices; 4) a site evaluation form for students to complete at the end of their placement; 5) checklist for cooperating teachers; and 6) a questionnaire on the success …

Developing Schools Of Choice To Increase Learning Opportunities For Elementary School Children, Robert J. Rosado

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was designed to create schools of choice to increasing learning opportunities for elementary school students. The goals of the program were to, a) create at least four magnet school options for elementary school students, b) reduce the suspension rate at this level, c) reduce the student referral rate for special education, d) decrease the number of students requiring basic skills services and, e! develop a new means of assessing kindergarten students.

The district, with the writer directing program development and implementation, successfully installed a R-6 schools of choice program. Over a ten month period programs were developed, parents …