Digital Commons Network^™

Database Development And Intranet Based Image Included Database Management System For Ballistic Firearm Identification System, Toni C. Jiao

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The process of imaging, collecting and searching a cartridge case to identifying its suspected firearm is a time consuming procedure. Within this study, a cartridge case identification database management system in an Intranet environment is designed and implemented, thus enabling firearm examiners from different forensic laboratories to engage firearm identification without the constraints of time and location. Specifically, the study investigates appropriate database management system for image involved and Intranet secured ballistics firearm identification database. The results demonstrated that a computerized firearm identification system could be implemented in Intranet with a secure, scalable, performable Intranet database management system.

The Service Delivery Process : An Examination Of How Consumers Evaluate Technology-Assisted Service Encounters In The Retail Banking Industry, Catherine W. Munene

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examined consumers' perceptions post-adoption of technology and how these perceptions affect their levels of dis/satisfaction and their continued use of technology·assisted service encounters. To this end, this study investigated the criteria that consumers in Western Australia's retail banking industry are likely to use when evaluating banking transactions involving EFTPOS, ATM, telephone, and Online banking modes. II examined whether these criteria changed with the mode of electronic banking in use and whether the significance of the criteria changed with

consumers' demographic characteristics. In addition, this study explored whether consumers who use these modes of electronic banking experience the paradoxes …

Development, Implementation And Evaluation Of An Interactive Multimedia Instructional Model : A Teaching And Learning Programming Approach, Kacha Chansilp

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study sought to explore the outcomes from the use of a dynamic interactive visualisation tool among novice programmers in an introductory computer programming course. The proposed model, Dynamic Interactive Visualisation Tool in Teaching C (DIVTIC), was designed to use multimedia and visual imagery to provide learners with a step-by-step representation of program execution in the C language as a means of enhancing their understanding of programming structures and concepts. DIVTIC was designed to support constructivist learning principles and combined collaborative and visualisation learning strategies with use of the Internet and the World Wide Web to support the learning of …

Occupational Hazards And Radiation Safety In Veterinary Practice Including Zoo Veterinary Practice In Australia, Joseph S. Jeyaretnam

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis contains reviews and research on the occupational hazards of zoo veterinary practitioners in Australia. Although occupational hazards have long been recognised in the veterinary profession, little information is available on the number and magnitude of injuries to veterinarians in Australia, the United Kingdom or the United States. Apart from anecdotal accounts and some limited data, most of the available information is on occupational zoonoses, generally well recognized by veterinarians. Other occupational hazards to which veterinarians are exposed have received scant attention. The veterinary practitioner in a zoo environment has to treat a range of captive wild species which …

Pulling Down Their Breaches : An Analysis Of Centrelink Breach And Appeal Numbers From 1996 To 2001 Using A Case Study Of A Single Centrelink Office, Lyndal Sleep

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis is about current Centrelink breach and appeal figures. It is also about the current conservative neo-liberalising climate of Australian social policy reforms, with which they are inextricably connected. It shows that while Centrelink breach numbers have increased more than three fold since 1996, formal appeals against Centrelink decisions have not increased similarly. This thesis asks: what might this mean? It answers this question through a single case study of a Centrelink office. Data was collected using individual focused interviews, documents collected from the site, and direct observation (including a map of the office drawn by the researcher). Various …

Reading Comprehension, And Attitude And Behaviour, Of Students Taught Esl By Cooperative Learning In Prathom (Grade)6 Classrooms In Thailand, Sutaporn Chayarathee

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

A system-wide educational change has been implemented in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Thailand. One major aspect of the change was the requirement for all students from grade I onwards to study English as a second language (ESL). The change requires new methods of teaching and learning, such as cooperative learning, to be introduced in Thai ESL classrooms. This study aims to determine if cooperative learning improves English reading comprehension, and attitude and behaviour to learning ESL, compared to a Thai communicative methodology. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 involved creating a linear scale of English …

Fall Risk Assessment : A Prospective Investigation Of Nurses' Clinical Judgement And Risk Assessment Tools In Predicting Patient Falls In An Acute Care Setting, Helen Myers

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Falls are a significant problem in acute care, hospital settings, and can have serious consequences, especially for older patients. Fall prevention has therefore been recognised as an important area for research and intervention. In order to target interventions and use resources effectively, a major strategy of many fall prevention programmes has been the development and/or use of risk assessment tools to identify patients who are at high risk of falling. Although many tools have been developed, few have been rigorously tested, and there is currently no evidence to support the clinical utility of fall risk assessment tools. There is a …

Systematic Theology I, Steelman Library, Paul N. Van Der Laan Dr.

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Caves And Karsts Of Northeast Africa, William R. Halliday

International Journal of Speleology

At least potentially karstifiable rocks cover much of the surface of Egypt and northern Libya. Study of caves and other karstic features of this region has been hampered by lack of roads, rapid disintegration of the surface of friable, poorly consolidated limestone, wind-blown sand and other factors. Interbedding with marly aquicludes hampers speleogenesis locally. Calcareous and evaporite karsts are present, however, and their waters are important albeit generally limited resources. Large quantities of fresh water are lost through submarine springs downslope from Libya’s Gebel al Akhdar range; the caves and karst of that range may be among the world’s greatest. …

Implementing A Plan For Prekindergarten Teachers To Use Developmentally Appropriate Practices Consistently In The Classroom, Luisa P. Martin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to establish a method to increase the transfer of learning from on-site training to the classroom in order to increase the use of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). The major goal was to have teachers consistently use DAP in the classroom, which would lead to establishing higher quality services to children at the writer’s work site.

The writer developed strategies to work with two prekindergarten teachers and one assistant teacher. On-site training, classroom observations, a system of daily communication, and a revised school budget were strategies used to address the problem. Monthly meetings were used to …

Resiliency Training Of Sixth-Grade Students In An Educational Setting, Matthew K. Boggan

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study was designed to investigate the effects that resiliency training had upon a selected group of students in a rural school with a student population of approximately 600. Planned solution strategies included staff development training and implementing activities to establish the school climate and student readiness.

Resiliency Skills and Abilities Scale was used as a pretest, a 45-item survey to determine resiliency scores, before implementing resiliency skills. Training from The Resiliency Training Program, a Training of Trainers by Nan Henderson, M.S.W. was used as an intervention strategy. The intervention strategies involved a section of sixth-grade students, teachers, counselor, administrators, …

Closing The Achievement Gap One School At A Time: Reading Achievement And Hispanic Children, Nereida Inocencia Santa-Cruz

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Research indicates that the importance of learning to read is critical. An inability to read stands as an enormous barrier to one’s potential knowledge and social participation. Florida’s System of School Improvement and Accountability Act (1999, F.S.) also known as Florida’s High-Quality Education System rates schools in terms of performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Reading is the focal point of this accountability system. In Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), 29 elementary schools have been designated grade category F since the inception of the Florida’s High-Quality Education System. James H. Bright Elementary School was one of the originally …

Increasing Elementary Teachers’ Abilities To Utilize Technology To Enhance The Curriculum And Instructional Practices For Students, Rita Thomas

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to increase elementary teachers ability to utilize technology to enhance the curriculum and instructional practices for students. Technology was available in the work setting but teachers were not trained to use and integrate technology.

Teachers actively participated in the following activities: reading and discussing professional journal articles, reading and using information provided in digital newsletters, technology training sessions, collaborative planning sessions, and made a conscious effort to include technology as a component of instruction for students.

An analysis of the data revealed that five of six outcomes were met. The following outcomes of the applied …

The Effect Of Three Variables On The Academic Performance Of Elementary Students, Teresa F. Mccorry

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The major purpose of this study was to determine the extent that 3 variables influence the student achievement of 3rd-grade students in this elementary school setting. More specifically, the researcher was concerned with the extent to which the independent and combined effects of the variables parental involvement, attendance, and reduced class size had on the academic performance of 3rd-grade students on the reading and mathematics section of the Ohio Off-Year Proficiency Test (Ohio Department of Education, 1997).

The design that was most conducive for this applied research is a descriptive design. An experimental design was not feasible because control groups …

Implementing An In-School Suspension And Prevention Program For At-Risk Students In An Urban District, Carol F. Sam

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum report was designed to increase the effective functioning of entry-level psychologists as members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) through a redefinition and expansion of the traditional role of the school psychologist. A workshop explaining the model was designed and presented to the school psychologists of the writer’s school district, and interviews were conducted individually with both entry-level school psychologists and their members.

The writer developed guidelines to be utilized for training psychologists and providing their mentors with an evaluation technique for supervising them as effectively functioning members of the MDT. This information was also presented to the local …

School Resource Officers: Effective Or Ineffective In Reducing Discipline Referrals And Increasing School Safety?, Cornelius B. Leach

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes a program for reducing the number of discipline referrals for fighting, threats, and possession or use of weapons. The total school population was involved in this intervention program. All middle schools in the school district had 2 School Resource Officers (SRO) on campus to produce a safer school environment. The problem with the discipline referrals was documented through the archival data of discipline referrals from the 2000-2001 school year.

An analysis of probable cause data gathered indicated that low or moderate supervision, lack of parental involvement, and lack of knowledge about writing discipline referrals were factors leading …

Is Enrollment In Algebra An Effective Strategy For Helping African American Students Pass The Mathematics Section Of The California High School Exit Exam?, Deborah Bradshaw

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Beginning with the class of 2004, all students in the state of California must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to graduate from high school with a diploma. This study sought to determine if a statistically significant difference existed between the mean score of 10th-grade African American students who took an algebra class prior to taking the CAHSEE and the mean score of a matched group of their peers who did not take algebra prior to taking the exam.

Results provided by the California Department of Education showed that at both the state and district level, passing the …

Achieving School Literacy: The Davis Elementary School Reading Initiative, Emily Walker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation focused on a schoolwide program of reading interventions that was implemented to increase the reading ability of elementary school students at Edward T. Davis Elementary School in Montgomery, Alabama. These interventions included (a) teacher training in research based reading instruction; (b) the implementation of Direct Instruction (Englemann, 1996); (c) the implementation of additional reading time, (d) a student reward program, and (e) a home-school literacy connection.

The school is a public school with a population of 697 students in Grades Kindergarten through 6. An analysis of formal and informal data such as the Stanford Achievement Test (American …

Improving Behavior And Academic Achievement For Students At Sandersville Elementary School, Fate R. Simmons

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve discipline and academic achievement at Sandersville Elementary School. This school, located in the Washington County School System, serves students in Grades 3-5. An analysis of data collected in the 2001-2002 school year revealed that 53% of the teachers were dissatisfied with student discipline, and 55% were dissatisfied with the academic climate at Sandersville Elementary School.

Planned solution strategies included a 2-part discipline and academic achievement improvement program. The program focused on helping teachers to understand and address the needs of Early Intervention Program students. The program included in-service training for teachers on specific …

Improving Student Social Skills In An Elementary School Setting, Gloria Mckibbin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Teachers and administrators reported an increase in the number of school violations regarding verbal and physical assaults. This aggressive and inappropriate behavior created a negative school climate and detracted from the academic process, as teachers were spending more time redirecting students who were misbehaving rather than teaching.

A social skills program that focused on empathy, social problem solving, and anger management was developed and implemented with fourth-grade students to improve their prosocial behavior in the classroom environment. Using cognitive behavioral strategies such as modeling, roleplaying, and cuing and methods to assess their own behaviors during group lessons, discussions, and exercises, …

Effects Of The Phoenix Program On Behavior And Academic Performance Of Participants, Grace Y. Wyatt

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report is a formative evaluation of the Phoenix Program, an alternative program for high school students who are at risk of dropping out of school. A 1-year follow-up study of 75 of its participants indicated that the program had positive effects on students’ behavior and attendance. The study indicated that the greatest positive impact of the program was on students’ behavior. The program had minimal but positive effects on students’ academic performance.

A time series analysis was used to examine program impact. Data were collected from students, teachers, counselors, and administrators. Data that described attendance, discipline, and grades were …

Development Of A Web-Based Community For The Business Internship Program At Franklin Pierce College, Jason C. Little

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem is that up-to-date and efficient communication and information sharing among stakeholders including students, faculty advisors, employer supervisors, and alumni are necessary for the internship program to meet its goals.

The following six research questions were included in this study:

1. What are the characteristics of a successful web-based learning community?

2. What specific content should be included in the internship web-based learning community?

3. What are the appropriate design elements for an internship web-based learning community?

4. What specific elements should guide the development of an internship webbased learning community?

5. What elements should be included in the …

Desarrollo De Un Ambiente Virtual De Aprendizaje En Salud Pública, Mariano Fernández Silano

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Esta disertación aplicada fue diseñada para evaluar la contribución de los ambientes virtuales de aprendizaje, basados en la web, en la enseñanza de la salud pública. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de la implementación de una asignatura del Curso de Ampliación de Conocimientos en Salud Pública. Este estudio aportó información relevante para la implementación y optimización de los cursos en la enseñanza de la Salud Pública. La Escuela de Salud Pública, dicta cursos de capacitación bajo la modalidad semi-presencial en el interior del país, con gran éxito. La alta demanda de cursos, la disponibilidad limitada de recursos humanos y financieros …

A Parental Involvement Initiative At Fews Alternative School, Lorenzo Harrison

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The major purpose of this study was to improve parental involvement at an alternative school in Montgomery, AL. Eighty-nine percent of the students indicated prior to the intervention that they believed their parents were not involved in their schooling. The intervention consisted of launching a media campaign to target and invite parents to the school and hiring a parent coordinator.

The design that was most conducive for this applied research is a descriptive design. Pre and post survey data was compared to determine if the students perception regarding their parents involvement improved. Logs of all parents contacted and how many …

Assessing The Kids’ Breakfast Club Nutrition Program At John Muir Elementary School, Marlena E. Uhrik

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to assess The Kids’ Breakfast Club nutrition program and how it has impacted the lives of participating families. The results of a parent survey were used to help guide The Kids’ Breakfast Club in evaluating the effectiveness of the program and to assist the organization in providing the most appropriate educational experiences for the participants.

The Kids’ Breakfast Club is a nonprofit organization designed to improve the quality of life for children and their families. The organization is dedicated to the empowerment of young children and their families through nutrition, education, positive educational and social …

Transition Of Ninth-Grade Students To Tenth Grade Using A Mentorship Program, Maryann Joanna Giacchino

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Falcon Family was a peer mentoring project implemented at Dunedin High School in the 2001-2002 school year as one method of improving academic performance by ninth-grade students. The project was based, in part, on research showing that ninth-grade students are frequently unprepared for high school and that teachers generally prefer not to teach ninth-grade classes. The literature showed that peer mentorship can act as a deterrent that might result in reducing the retention rate.

As part of the Falcon Family project, an upper-class student was assigned to a ninth grader to assist in developing strategies for completing the ninth grade …

Improving Science Education For Middle-School Students By Integrating Mathematics Into The Scientific Method Process, Robert L. Wells

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve student success in science by integrating mathematics into the scientific method process. Students were routinely asked to perform experiments that required mathematical computations in measurement, numeration, geometry, and statistics; however, they were largely unable to perform these calculations because of their inability to apply mathematical concepts outside the mathematics classroom. The mathematics curriculum did not afford the student the opportunity to apply mathematics to real-life situations, nor did the science curriculum consistently apply mathematics to experiments.

The writer developed a series of science experiments that incorporated these four mathematical concepts into earth science …

An Evaluation Of The Failure Free Reading Program Used With Learning-Disabled Students, Shelia M. Martin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study examined the effect of using Failure Free Reading (Lockavitch, 1995) as a supplemental intervention reading program with fourth- and fifth-grade LD students at Howard Elementary School. The reading achievement and reading perceptions of 16 LD students were studied. An overview of the assessments for determining the perceptions and achievement of the students is discussed. Although an analysis of the data indicated some gain in pre- and posttests scores on the Standardized Test of Assessment of Reading (STAR) for some of the students, positive perceptions of reading were noted by all of the LD students in the study.

Implications …

Principal Evaluation: Development Of A Collaborative Tool For School Improvement, Stephen W. Elrod

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to construct an administrator evaluation instrument that provides collaboration among principal and evaluator, data collection, individual reflection, and goal setting for future school improvement. High turnover in the superintendent and principal positions in the past 7 years created a void in the area of effective leadership evaluation. Principals, new and experienced, were not provided feedback in terms of their leadership capabilities, influence on student achievement, specific school improvement practices, and self-improvement through professional development. This applied dissertation consisted of the creation of a collaborative portfolio assessment tool that was researched, developed, and implemented. …

Development, Implementation And Evaluation Of A Minority Recruitment Plan For Faculty, Administrators And Staff At Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Annie C. Jones

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to develop a minority recruitment plan for use by NWTC. The minority recruitment plan was created to increase the number of minority candidate applicants and eventually, new hires to the campus.

The project primarily utilized the development methodology to address the research questions. Eight procedures were employed including: review of the literature; collection of data from 15 colleges regarding their plans to diversify their workforce and review their plans as to how they relate to NWTC; selection of formative and summative committee to assist in the review of the minority recruitment plan; implementation and evaluation …