Digital Commons Network^™

The Negative Impact Of Middle School Mathematics Achievement On Classical High School, William G. Frost

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ version of high stakes assessment testing that has moved to the forefront of education reform over the past decade. True accountability for students and principals is present only at the high school level because students must pass the English language arts and mathematics sections of Grade 10 MCAS to qualify for a diploma.

Archival MCAS data over 4 years of testing reveals 2 inescapable conclusions. First, regardless of level (Grades 4, 8, and 10 are MCAS benchmark years), students have performed significantly better in English language arts than mathematics, …

Establishing A Culture Of Reading At The Middle School Level To Improve Reading Achievement, Neal W. Clark

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Based on an analysis of the Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT), 30% of 6th-8th graders at Wheeler County Middle school were not meeting state reading standards. Based on evidence from questionnaires and surveys to administrators, parents, students, and teachers, students spent little time reading and have poor attitude toward reading. Students at Wheeler County Middle School simply were not reading enough to build a sufficient vocabulary or an effective level of reading comprehension. Thus, the problem on which this study focused was how to get students to read more and be more positive about reading.

The intervention for this study …

Development And Implementation Of A Plan To Reduce Aggressive And Violent Behavior Of Middle School Students During And After The Lunch Period, Carrissima W. Faust

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Aggressive and violent behavior in schools is a growing problem being debated at the national, state, and local levels. Quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used to determine staff and student perceptions regarding aggressive or violent behavior at Fitz Simons Middle School. Fifty-five teachers and staff were surveyed; 110 students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 were surveyed, and 10 students from each Small Learning Community (SLC) were also interviewed.

The results of the surveys indicated a concern about the number of incidents occurring in the afternoon. Quantitative data of reported serious incidents showed an increase of aggressive or violent …

Balanced Literacy: An Evaluation Of A Ninth Grade Literacy Program, Drew Ashley Atkinson Jr.

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes the evaluation of an existing program that uses balanced literacy in ninth grade English classrooms to accelerate the reading development of students entering high school reading below grade level. This evaluation consisted of two target goals for the program. Goal one set a target improvement standard of two full grade levels of improvement for students reading at or below the sixth grade level upon entering high school, and one full grade level of improvement for students reading at the seventh grade level. Goal two dictated a standard of statistical significance between the mean reading ability of an …

Declining Enrollment: Recruitment Efforts To Reverse This Trend, Queen A. Morrow

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to recruit high school students for enrollment in courses offered at Bibb County Career Tech Center (BCCTC) and ensure program completion by students enrolled at BCCTC. An analysis of enrollment patterns for the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 indicated that enrollment had steadily declined. Interview and survey data yielded numerous reasons for the enrollment decline, such as inadequate public relations, early release programs by the high schools, and apathy on the part of the students.

Interventions to reverse the declining enrollment trend included launching public relations enhancement programs. Brochures that clearly depicted objectives and possible job opportunities …

Hands And Hearts For Children: A Family/School/Community Partnership Initiative, Charla C. Evans

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation describes the efforts of a rural, Appalachian elementary school to improve the level of collaboration for family and community involvement through the application of a systemic and systematic planning process for partnership development. An analysis of available data and survey reports indicated that the school had a history of poor family involvement and negative perception in the community.

The author implemented a plan based on Lueder’s (1998) Self-Renewing Partnership Model over the 2001-2002 school year. The implementation provided for staff, family, and community training jointly and individually. It established a building action team for improvement composed of …

Promoting Social Emotional Intelligence In Elementary School Children, Beryl Irene Bailey

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide educators with a curriculum embedded program to prevent, curtail, or reverse the negative trajectory of poor social emotional development of elementary students. Third-grade students failed to demonstrate social emotional intelligence. They lacked discipline. They exhibited difficulty staying on task and working cooperatively with peers, repeatedly interrupted instruction, used negative language, did not return homework, and were often referred to the office for disciplinary action.

In a 5-week training session, teachers learned how to implement the writer’s Sowing SEEDS (Social Emotional and Educational Development of Students) Curriculum. This literacy-based program contained children’s literature aligned …

Improving Reading Achievement By Integrating Technology In After School Instructional Programs, Timothy L. Cliby

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This research endeavor institutes change in an after school program for elementary students of an inner city elementary school. The program seeks to improve student performance on standardized English language testing, improve student motivation and attendance. The hypothesis that a prescriptive after school program, that utilizes Web based activities as an integrated component of instruction, will lead to improved student performance through increased motivation, instructional habits and attendance. Redesigning the program will establish an environment capable of sustaining student motivation and attendance resulting in sustained instructional engagement.

The instructional design is a transformation of traditional instructional practices for this program. …

Improving The Reading Comprehension Achievement Of Third Grade Students, Delores L. Bedar

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Students at DePriest Elementary School were performing poorly on standardized assessments in reading comprehension. The possible causes of low student performance were (a) teachers’ beliefs and practices, (b) the reading curriculum, (c) students’ lack of knowledge as to how to read for meaning, and (d) the lack of parent involvement in their children’s schooling.

This dissertation examined the improvement of students’ reading comprehension performance through the use of strategic reading instruction, professional development of teachers, and parental involvement. It examined whether instructing students in the use of comprehension strategies improved their reading comprehension performance.

A reading comprehension strategies curriculum model …

Development Of An Applied Phd Degree Program In Hospitality Administration For Nova Southeastern University’S H. Wayne Huizenga School Of Business & Entrepreneurship, George Alexakis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem was the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship’s (SBE) programs needed a marketing edge. A PhD program was designed to fuel enrollments and improve budgetary figures. The purpose was to develop an applied hospitality administration PhD program for the SBE. The Research Questions were. (a) What are the needs of hospitality educators and administrators related to an applied PhD degree in hospitality administration? (b) What PhD program content best meets the needs of hospitality educators and administrators? (c) What is an appropriate strategy for implementing a PhD program in hospitality administration? (d) What is an appropriate …

Attendance: The First Step Towards Success, Steven W. Green

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Student achievement is clearly the purpose of schools, and in today's world of high stakes testing, accountability has certainly been an educational buzzword. However, there are many factors that impact student achievement levels with many of these factors being out of the control of teachers and administrators. One factor on which school officials can have an impact is student attendance.

In the past at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona, student attendance was addressed in two ways: first, absences, were documented and recorded; second, punishments were applied after students accumulated too many absences. This was a cold and reactive process …

The Design And Implementation Of Staff Development To Improve Literacy At Gulfport Elementary School, Sharon D. Mckinon Jackson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study examined the impact of a staff development program designed to enhance teacher preparation in literacy and its effect on the Pinellas Instructional Assessment Plan (PIAP) test scores for fourth- and fifth graders at Gulfport Elementary School. A readiness, planning, training, implementation, and maintenance (RPTIM) staff development model was used (Zepeda, 1999). The staff development strategies of teacher collaboration, time for training, transfer of skills, and creation of a professional learning organization were used to improve student literacy. Problems, such as high mobility rates, low socioeconomic levels, lack of student readiness when entering kindergarten, high concentrations of exceptional education …

Improving The Performance Of Transfer Students In Mathematics At Jericho Christian Academy, Joyce Y. Parker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide mathematics enrichment activities for 7th-grade students who transfer to Jericho Christian Academy (JCA). The students who were continuously enrolled at JCA were outperforming the 7th-grade transfer students on daily performance and on the Stanford 9 Test. The transfer students were having difficulties adjusting to their new environment, expectations, and requirements. Attendance and behavioral referrals were higher for the transfer students than for the continuously enrolled students. The parents of the transfer students were not actively involved in their children’s education.

The writer developed a 4-part intervention to address the areas of concern. The …

Development And Evaluation Of A Certified Educational Program To Insure Dental Provider Compliance With Federal And State Health And Safety Law, Cathy Turbyne

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was to design, develop, pilot test, and evaluate an educational process and product that would assist dental care providers in the state of Maine to effectively comply with federal and state health and safety laws. Dental care providers faced many types of workplace injuries in the form ofneedlesticks, dental instrument injuries, ergonomic illnesses, and latex allergy/asthma. Changing federal and state laws, lack of knowledge, interest, and/or inability to self-manage compliance implementation of OSHA and state of Maine laws increased the risk of employee workplace accidents, illnesses, and OSHA inspection. Other potential risks of non-compliance included employee disability, …

Development Of A Web-Based Distance Education Course For Scuba Divers With An Implementation And Evaluation Plan, Drew Richardson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to identify the elements of a Web-Based distance education program and apply that knowledge to the development of an organizationally specific course plan for the PADI Worldwide organization to sanction for training scuba divers. A plan for implementation and evaluation was also developed.

The problem under investigation was that the PADI Worldwide organization wished to offer a Web-Based distance education program for one of its courses; however, the existing curriculum and related educational tools were designed for a program in which students completed all of their cognitive course work development in a non-Web-Based environment.

Development …

Improving Student Behavior And Decreasing The Rate Of Violence-Based Suspensions Through The Use Of Peer Mediation, Anthony Threets

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve student behavior and provide a reduction in violence-based suspensions through the use of peer-mediation. Students at the secondary grade levels were being removed out of their regular classroom at an alarming rate because of their disruptive behavior. School administrators had few alternatives except to suspend or place these disruptive students in “In School Suspension”.

The writer implemented a peer-mediation program to provide another alternative to allow students involved in conflicts to remain in their regular classroom These students were given the opportunity to work through their own conflicts with the assistance of other …

Teacher Mentoring And Teacher Attrition In A Rural Georgia School System, Brenda K. James

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Teacher attrition is a critical issue. The literature suggests that schools provide professional opportunities for master teachers to mentor new teachers through the use of well-designed induction or mentor programs. These opportunities develop teaching skills, improve teaching performance, and increase teacher retention.

This applied dissertation was designed to improve teacher retention at a high school located in a rural community in South Georgia. A mentoring program was developed and implemented at a high school. The program provided training to select mentors that included nonevaluative supervision, coaching, conflict resolution, collaborative problem solving, communication, and effective feedback strategies.

Mentor teachers and protégés …

Developing A Comprehensive System Of Care For Children In Placement With Relatives: Collaboration, Organizational Culture And Family Roles In Local Service Development, Patricia Gartman Hardt

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

In this applied dissertation, the researcher addressed the problem of high retention and administrative promotion rates of 7th-grade students in a rural public school in northern Alabama. A variety of strategies were used to improve student learning, student self-esteem, homework completion, and parent involvement.

Participants selected for this applied dissertation consisted of 4 teachers, 1 counselor, and 15 seventh-grade students who did not meet the criteria for promotion to the 8th grade at the close of the 2001-2002 school year. Students were trained through direct instruction and teacher modeling to incorporate class wide peer tutoring 2 or 3 times per …

Implementation Of Measures That Establish An Atmosphere Of Safety, Order, And Discipline On School Grounds, Robert N. Baldwin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to determine the effects that specific interventions have on student behavior change regarding drug and alcohol use on school grounds. A change in leadership philosophy, drug and alcohol survey results, and school community input were the impetus for a study as to the effectiveness of interventions of behavioral indicators. The researcher was clearly interested in systematically reducing alcohol and other drug use on school grounds in order to promote an environment of high-level learning. School accountability was focused on increasing student achievement levels in English language arts and math. A review of related research substantiated …

Developing A Support-Based Program To Decrease The Complaints Of Racial Profiling In The Miami-Dade Police Department, Richard E. Holton

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to focus on the problem that African American citizens are complaining about being stopped and detained unnecessarily by police officers and treated unfairly for no apparent reason in Miami-Dade County. National police organizations, special interest groups, and local citizens have defined this action as Racial Profiling or Driving While Black (DWB). The Miami-Dade County Commission adopted a resolution prohibiting racial profiling; however this problem continues to exist. Minorities have argued in town hall meetings and filed complaints, indicating that the criminal justice system has been insensitive to what appears to be a system that supports …

Meeting The Psychological Needs Of School-Aged Native Students In An Extreme Geographic Region, Deborah Diette Wilson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to meet the psychological needs of a unique Native population through a continuum of services and the utilization of technological platforms. The host community has experienced significant historical events including the exclusion in full participation education and the provision of educational curricula by individuals lacking the cultural competency base to provide appropriate educational experiences sensitive to Native learning styles. Psychological services were dictated by Federal and State mandates and consisted solely of educational and ability testing for the purpose of special education eligibility determination. As a result, school-aged Native students experienced significant social and emotional …

Harding University Graduate Catalog 2003-2004, Harding University

Harding Academic Catalogs

Academic catalog for the graduate programs at Harding University.

An Analysis Of The Majority Report “Responsible Parenthood” And Its Recommendations On Abortion, Sterilization And Contraception, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This paper will focus on the majority report (titled “Responsible Parenthood”) of the 1966 Papal Birth Control Commission and its recommendations on abortion, sterilization, and contraception.(1) The analysis is made with the hindsight and perspective of thirty-seven years of scientific data on fertility, family planning, and family life. The analysis presented here does not concern the whole document but rather focuses on what are called the “objective criteria” that were provided in the document to help married couples make decisions on the use of contraception. While acknowledging the intellectual abilities and expertise of those who wrote the majority report, the …

Assessment Of The Acoustic Properties Of Common Tissue-Mimicking Test Phantoms, Jacinta Browne, K. Ramnarine, A. Watson, P. Hoskins

Articles

Ultrasound (US) test phantoms incorporating tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) play an important role in the quality control (QC) and performance testing of US equipment. Three commercially available TMMs (ZerdineTM from CIRS Inc.; condensed-milk-based gel from Gammex RMI; urethane-rubber-based from ATS Labs) and a noncommercial agar-based TMM, were investigated. Acoustic properties were measured over the frequency range 2.25 to 15 MHz at a range of ambient temperatures (10 to 35°C). The acoustic velocity of the TMMs remained relatively constant with increasing frequency. Only the agar-based TMM had a linear increase of attenuation with frequency, with the other materials exhibiting nonlinear responses to …

Short Unhappy Judgeship Of Thurman Arnold, The, Spencer Weber Waller

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

Keeping The Wheels On The Wagon: Observations On Issues Of Legal Ethics For Lawyers Representing Business Organizations, Irma S. Russell

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

Materiality Guidance In The Context Of Insider Trading: A Call For Action, Joan Macleod Heminway

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Misplaced Marketing Colas Big And Little: Anti‐Trust Laws, Non‐Regulation And The Disabled Marketing Of Small Brands, Joyce M. Wolburg

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Shelf access fees and cooperative merchandising agreements are tactics that clearly give power to big business, and nowhere is this more evident than in the soft drink wars. The lack of legal protection against these tactics by US regulators can squeeze small brands out of the retail environment and effectively disable the marketing strategy of small soft drink companies and other small businesses. Thus, marketing becomes not only misplaced, but irrelevant.

Subversion, Demystification, And Hegemony: Fight Club As A Postmodern Cultural Text, Matthew Ortoleva

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis questions whether the film Fight Club, as a postmodern text, reaches a rhetorical goal of critical subversion, and if so, how does it reach this goal? Using a method of postmodern critical theory, this thesis argues that Fight Club does reach a goal of critical subversion by parodically installing and subverting modern hegemonic assumptions and challenging hegemonic cultural practices.

Development Of A Simple Method To Detect And Quantify Benzoylecgonine, A Cocaine Metabolite, In Urine, Kylee E. Billings '03

Honors Projects

Benzoylecgonine (BE) is the most abundant metabolite of cocaine found in the human body. Analysis of BE in urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is the most common method currently used to detect cocaine abuse. This current method is costly and time consuming, so the investigation of an easier and more cost-effective approach is the goal of this research. Because BE is a zwitterion, it is highly soluble in water and very difficult to extract from urine. Once the pKa values of BE are determined, either the cation or anion form of BE can be formed from the zwitterion by adjusting …