Digital Commons Network^™

Experiencing Science, An Introduction To "Real" Methods Of Science For The Preservice Teacher, D. L. Neely-Fisher, D. B. Hagan

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The "scientific method" presented in the middle school classroom introduces the experimental approach of science in a way that may actually bear little resemblance to the processes actually used by working scientists. Teachers equipped with an insight into the motivations, philosophy, tools, and culture of science will better convey an accurate and positive picture of science as a critically important human endeavor. The Experiencing Science course was designed to answer the challenge of giving the pre-service teacher and decision-maker better insight into actual processes used by scientists, in the context of each of the major disciplines.

Rapporteur's Report, W. E. Haver

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The agenda for the Statewide Conference places a number of important challenges for Virginia’s colleges and universities on the table. The new licensure requirements in the areas of mathematics and science for prospective K-8 teachers represent a major, and very much needed, change in current practice. It will be extremely difficult for those of us in the science, mathematics, and education departments to make the necessary changes to respond to this challenge. This report will attempt to measure the magnitude of the changes needed to produce the requisite numbers of adequately prepared teachers, the extent to which individual colleges and …

Aims & Scope

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

Virginia Commonwealth University's Program For K-6 And 6-8 Teachers: The Interdisciplinary B.S. In Science, R. W. Farley

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has very recently revised its requirements for the K-6 Certification to include a total of 21 hours in mathematics and science as well as a three credit hour methods course in mathematics and science. This requirement includes a physical science and a biological science course, each with a laboratory component, a contemporary mathematics course with extensive student projects, collaborative work and applications, a statistics course and interdisciplinary science and mathematics course. We believe that as students complete these requirements they will meet the new State K-6 licensure requirements in all areas, with the exception of geometry. …

A Model For Faculty Collaboration In Preparing Virginia's K-8 Teachers, B. F. Risacher

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The overall goals of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) [1] are for students to become good problem solvers and communicators about mathematics, to reason logically and to make connections within mathematics and to other disciplines such as in solving science problems. Unfortunately, the beliefs about teaching of many preservice teachers are not consistent with these goals. Furthermore, the college mathematics courses experienced by preservice teachers are generally in contrast to these goals. This study outlines a collaborative effort of three colleges to encourage faculty to adopt a more student-investigative style of instruction A planning team offered a semester of …

Using Technology As A Vehicle To Appropriately Integrate Mathematics And Science Instruction For The Middle School, M. M. Mason, R. N. Giese

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

At the College of William and Mary, pre-service middle school science and mathematics teachers enroll in their respective methods courses taught in the same time period. Both instructors emphasize the importance of the content pedagogy unique to their disciplines in their individual courses such as strategies for teaching problem solving, computation, proportional reasoning, algebraic and geometric thinking in mathematics, and strategies for teaching students how to "investigate" or design and conduct experiments in science. However, the two classes come together for sessions in which they examine the relationship of the two disciplines and the proper role of technology, both graphing …

Title Page, Editor's Note

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

Addressing Prospective Elementary Teachers' Beliefs About The Nature Of Mathematics: A Case For Exploring Students' Conceptions Of Mathematics In A Math Education Course, K. Dorgan

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

Our challenge in preparing Virginia’s K-8 teachers in mathematics is a complex one. Additional requirements, including more challenging math content courses or more innovative pedagogical courses, may provide part of the solution. It is the premise of this paper, however, that additional knowledge and skills are not enough. In order to prepare teachers who will engage in current best practice pedagogy, we must also address teachers’ attitudes and dispositions, their beliefs and conceptions of mathematics itself. This paper will attempt to justify this position. It will also describe strategies used in the Inquiry in Mathematics course in Mary Baldwin’s MAT …

Scientists And The Science Educators: Collaborating To Develop Conceptual Change Teaching Strategies, G. E. Glasson

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

Research in science education has identified conceptual change teaching strategies that may enhance pre-service teachers’ understanding of scientific concepts and processes. These strategies, supported by constructivist learning theory in the social and cognitive sciences, include the use of discrepant events to engage students’ prior knowledge, the learning cycle, and collaborative learning. Science educators have used these strategies to challenge alternative conceptions of pre-service K-8 teachers in methods courses in an effort to facilitate learning scientific concepts. Pre-service K-8 teachers, motivated to explore scientific phenomena and clarify their own understandings, gain confidence in their ability to learn science and are better …

Edis 788 Mathematics/Science/Education Field Project As A Capstone Experience In Five Year Ba/Mt Teacher Education Program, S. P. Plaskon

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

As a culminating experience, students in the Elementary Education Program Area at the University of Virginia are expected to engage in a field project/thesis experience in the final semester of their program of study. This session will provide an overview of the Field Project/Thesis Experience as it currently exists and will discuss possible variations to encourage more math and science collaborations.

Data Visualization Tools For Science And Math, B. Kolvoord

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

As the computers available in schools become more powerful, more and more exciting tools are available to science and math students and teachers. Visualization tools, such as image processing, geographic information systems, modeling, and simulation software, are a class of tools with particular promise. These tools are being used in schools across the country to integrate computer use with the curriculum and to bring more hands-on inquiry to the students. A primary goal of using these computer-based tools is to aid students in developing a deeper understanding of the science and math (not the computers) and to help make difficult …

Multi-User Domain Object Oriented (Moo) As A High School Procedure For Foreign Language Acquisition, James A. Backer

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Foreign language students experience added difficulty when they are isolated from native speakers and from the culture of the target language. It has been posited that MOOs (Multiuser domain Object Oriented) may help to overcome the geographical isolation of these students. MOOs are Internet-based virtual worlds in which people from all over the real world meet for synchronous textual conversations and can interact with asynchronous textual objects found there. Students who enjoy a MOO site may identify with its virtual target language community and find integrative motivation which the literature suggests is necessary for advanced language acquisition.

This study focused …

The Use Of Cooperative Groups In Learning How To Use New Software Programs, James R. Grunwald

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Many teachers lament the fact that they often need to spend too much classroom time training students how to use a particular software program before their students can use it effectively as a tool to complete other course work. Also, after completing the training process, too many students still have not mastered the basics of how to use the program effectively. The purpose of this research was to increase understanding of how the use of cooperative groups during new software training affects both the mastery of the basics of program use, as well as the amount of time needed to …

International Usability, Design Guidelines And Effectiveness Of A World Wide Web-Based Instructional Program For High School Students In A Cross-Culture Learning Environment, Hajime Hayakawa

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The recent growth of the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) has resulted in a vast array of on-line courseware and educational Web sites. Unfortunately, as a large percentage of this information is written in English, non-English speakers are unable to access it. Information written in other languages is likewise unavailable to many native English speakers. Therefore, in order to maximize the usefulness of educational material on the Web, it is necessary to design and implement cross-cultural, bilingual or multilingual Web sites and instructional programs.

This study was designed to contribute to the area of bilingual learning on the …

A Theoretical Model For A Prescription Drug Public Key Cryptographic System, Donald R. Lemma

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

A critical component of a physician's duties is prescribing medication to his or her patients. This process is handled by the physician writing a prescription for a medication and having the medication dispensed to the named patient. A review of federal law reveals no requirement that the prescription be issued on any type of specific written instrument such as safety paper, multi-part forms, or other standardized documents.

Because of the lack of adequate controls, there is a serious problem with false and altered prescriptions being issued within the United States. A 1994 study by the White House Office of National …

Faith And Understanding: The Reforms Of Nikolaus Cusanus, Joseph Eric Sych

Master's Theses

This paper explores the reform ideas of Nikolaus Cusanus, Bishop of Brixen, and Cardinal of St. Peter in Chains. It demonstrates the centrality of reform to the life of Cusanus, and traces the development of his reform ideas. To accomplish this, several of Cusanus' works are utilized, including De concordantia catholica, De dicta ignorant, De quaerendo Deum, several of his sermons, as well as Reformatio genera/is, which contains his reform ideas in their most mature stage of development. The paper argues that Cusanus' reform concept was formulated early, but was later influenced by the emergence of mystical and nominalistic forces.

A Study Of The Computerized Reading Management Program, Accelerated Reader, And Its Effect On Reading Among Primary Grade Students, Mitchell O. Pratt

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the computerized reading management program, Accelerated Reader and its effect on primary grade students. The purpose of the study was to test Accelerated Reader's effect on reading comprehension among two student populations that were demographically similar. Two schools were chosen, Orem Elementary, School A, where the researcher is employed, and School B, another elementary school in Alpine School District. An ex post facto, non-randomized control group design was used. Data from the Utah Core Assessment Series End-of-Level, Reading, Level 3 Form A, (1989) and the Stanford Achievement Test (1990) was used. Students who attended either School A …

Policy And Science: A Review Essay Of Wilson’S Consilience: The Unity Of Knowledge, Thomas E. Geu

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Self-Esteem In Stepfather And Nuclear Family Children, Nancy Briggs Collins

Theses

Not available.

The Design And Implementation Of A Business Plan For An Internet Service Company, Gia K. Reynolds

Theses

The lntrnet today consists of many networks that can transfer data via many routes over a vast network. Change in the telecommunication industry and the attractiveness of the lnternet as a distribution channel have resulted in an expansion of service furnished by content providers. This dynamic growth of services impacts the prices and profits of service providers and the customers' net benefit.

This project will focus on the study of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry. Information was gathered for the purpose of constructing a business plan for G-net.

Research has indicated that an entrepreneur is one who manages, organizes …

Press Releases - January-March 1999, Northeastern Illinois University University Relations

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Rapd Analysis Of Genetic Variation In Barley, Gülruh Albayrak, Nermi̇n Gözükirmizi

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The variation between wild barley lines ( Hordeum murinum, Hordeum bulbosumand Hordeum vulgare spontaneum) orig-inated from Turkey were investigated comparatively at the molecular level with the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Leaf DNAs extracted from different barley lines were amplified with randomly chosen primers in a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Rates of polymorphisms between the 23 lines were determined in pairwise comparisons. The lowest value of poly-morphism was determined to be 0.3% between wild barley lines numbered 50327 and 50354, and between 48101 and 50365 while the highest polymorphism value was determined to be 60% between wild barley lines …

Leaf Area Prediction Models ( Uzçelik-I) For Different Horticultural Plants, Sezgi̇n Uzun, Hüseyi̇n Çeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

A total of 343 leaves were selected randomly from fifteen different horticultural plants, that are widely grown under Samsun ecological conditions. Lamina width, length and leaf area were measured. The plants were divided into three groups according to lamina shape, plants with similar shapes being put into the same group for developing an equation to predict their leaf areas. The first group of plants included avocado species [1], lotus plum used as persimmon rootstock [2], 52 ÜN 13 selected persimmon type [3], Hayward kiwifruit cultivar [4], Bonica F1 aubergine [5] and Yalova F1 pepper [6]. The second group included GAP …

Planning Of Allowable Cut In Working Forest Groups Of Calabrian Pine For Timber Production, Altay Uğur Gül

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Linear programming models were developed and solved according to different interest rates and rotation periods for the planning of allowable cut using data obtained from working forest groups of calabrian pine in the Gazipaşa Forest Enterprise in Antalya. Then, the most suitable rotation period; regeneration and afforestation area; total and annual allowable cut; and present net value were determined.

Evaluation Of The Greenhouse Tomato Growth Model Tomgro Under Çukurova Protected Cultivation Conditions, Sevi̇lay Topçu, A. Nafi̇ Baytorun

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In recent years, models of the greenhouse environment and of crops have been used to determine optimal strategies for environment control in regions where new greenhouse industries are developing. In this study, the tomato crop growth model TOMGRO, which was developed to describe the growth and yield of an indeterminate tomato variety under controlled conditions of greenhouse cultivation in Israel, was evaluated under Çukurova conditions. The input parameters for the model were observed from a greenhouse experiment conducted during 1995-1996 growing season. There was good agreement between the simulated and observed number of nodes. The simulated number of leaves and …

1998-1999 Faculty Senate Annual Report, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

The primary file includes the 1998-1999 Committee on Academic Responsibility Annual Report. Additional annual reports are attached.

Measurement Activities For Increasing Student Curiosity For Animal And Space Topics, Audrey C. Rule

Open Educational Resources

These materials are intended for use by classroom teachers to generate student curiosity during an anticipatory set of a lesson or at the beginning exploration phase of a learning cycle lesson. Several different animal and solar system topics are presented.

Elefantastic Bingo: A Bingo Game For Teaching Science Concepts And Vocabulary Associated With Elephants, Audrey C. Rule

Open Educational Resources

This game allows students to learn new science vocabulary and relevant facts about elephants. This bingo game is a valuable curriculum resource for any teacher who is teaching about elephants or other endangered animals. Directions for play, calling cards (six to a page), and play cards (four to a page), are included.

Crystal Shape Bingo: A Bingo Game For Teaching Recognition Of Three-Dimensional Crystal Shapes And Planar Geometric Shapes Of Crystal Faces, Audrey C. Rule

Open Educational Resources

This document describes a game that provides students with practice in recognizing three dimensional crystal shapes and planar geometric shapes of crystal faces. It contains information on the objective of the game, game preparation, and rules for playing. Play cards are included (four to a page).

Symmetry Bingo: A Bingo Game For Teaching Recognition Of The Point Symmetry Of Designs, Audrey C. Rule

Open Educational Resources

This document describes a game that provides students with practice in recognizing the point symmetry of designs. It contains information on the objective of the game, game preparation, and rules for playing. Play cards are included (four to a page).