Digital Commons Network^™

Visitors Center [Environmental Center: Scheme A-200dpi: Supporting Materials: Hand Renderings], 2003, Anne Elrod, Ryan Fitzsimmons, David Means, Juliet Strouse, Tim Wilson

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

No abstract provided.

Scenario Planning-Los Llanos And Cañitas [Powerpoint], 2003, Kathleen Wilson, Brian Gillette, Hannah Robinson, Adam Linton

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

No abstract provided.

Enlace Verde Plano Catastro--Supporting Materials--Data, 2003, Monteverde Institute

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

No abstract provided.

Monteverde Environmental Center-Design Proposals [Powerpoint], 2003, Mario Arena, Yelias Bender, Anne Elrod, Garrett Feddersen, Ryan Fitzsimmons, Jane Padelford, Juliet Strauss

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

No abstract provided.

Scenario Planning Los Llanos And Cañitas: Current Situation--Supporting Materials--Maps, 2003, Kathleen Wilson, Brian Gillette, Hannah Robinson, Adam Linton

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

No abstract provided.

Finca Las Americas Conservation Management Program, 2003, Monteverde Institute, Juan Criado

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

No abstract provided.

Scenario Planning-Los Llanos And Cañitas [Powerpoint], 2003, Kathleen Wilson, Brian Gillette, Hannah Robinson, Adam Linton

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

No abstract provided.

Workplace Health Hazard Surveillance [Powerpoint], 2003, Linda Forst

Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

How to initiate and organize an occupational surveillance program.

Self-Perceptions, Peer Influence, Social Information Processing And Bullying Behavior, Jaime Strickler

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on self-perceptions of bullies, · peer influence on bullying behavior, and social information processes of bullies. These three variables were chosen in an attempt to understand some of the potential causes of bullying behavior and to examine their effects during bullying episodes. While self-perceptions of bullies may be positive or negative, it is unclear as to the direction of influence between self-perceptions and bullying. Peer influence on bullying can vary from situation to situation; but it is clear. that peers do have an influence in bullying episodes. The social information …

Differentiating Instruction Using Authentic, Performance Assessments And Technology Integration, Cynthia Seberg

Graduate Research Papers

A major challenge in education today is to be able to reach and teach all learners. Methodologies and strategies come and go. The philosophy of differentiated instruction, while not new, is being bandied about as the answer to working with all students of all abilities. The beliefs associated with differentiated instruction envelope methodologies and strategies associated with authentic assessment, performance-based assessment, and technology integration.

A common bond inherent within these philosophies is the growing emphasis on assessing students based on their ability to perform real-life tasks, and technology integration is the connecting link. Educators must become facilitators of meaningful learning …

What Keeps Inclusion Working? : An Examination Of Current Ideas, Kevin Mcrae

Graduate Research Papers

Inclusion, which began as an implication in Public Law 94-142, now draws the attention of many authors, teachers and parents. The "least restrictive environment" phrase from that legislation leads to the following simple conclusion: Many of the strategies mentioned in the research of this paper produce real results.

Classwide peer tutoring, thoughtful reading strategies that can be individually tailored and mnemonics for remembering those strategies do work. Still, the weight of their worth comes down to how well the teacher does his job everyday. In fact, all successes and failures of teaching come down to that basic fact. If a …

Females And Computer-Mediated Communication : New Technologies, New Challenges, Kelly Coleman

Graduate Research Papers

Advanced technologies are changing the face of higher learning by creating opportunities for those who wish to continue their education. On-line education, currently the most common mode of education delivery, has revolutionized the way in which learning takes place. Adult females appear to benefit greatly from computer-mediated communication distance learning due to its flexibility. However, there has been a general lack of research and focus on the females as distance learners and their success in on-line learning. This literature review examines the reasons why females comprise the majority of computer-mediated students and also looks at those barriers that keep women …

Choosing Quality Multicultural Literature For Use In A General Classroom, Jill M. Dykstra

Graduate Research Papers

The history of multicultural education has changed from the conception of it in the 1960's until now. It emerged primarily in the 1960's, initially in response to cultural deprivation theory. Today, however, multicultural education is linked to cultural diversity. Most teachers use multicultural education and literature only if they have a diverse population; however, the belief is that all students need to experience diversity. Multicultural literature may help not only students to broaden their knowledge and information about others, but may also provide teachers with new ideas and perspectives.

Motivating Students With Digital Portfolios, Rochelle Christine Duwa

Graduate Research Papers

As the drop out rates of high schools across the country reach 30 percent, the need for teachers to be able to motivate students becomes increasingly important. Alternative assessments (especially performance based) have become a popular trend in schools and have proven to give a more accurate display of students' skills and knowledge than standardized tests. This paper investigates the different kinds of digital or electronic portfolios, and the process of creating and implementing digital portfolios in order to help determine the role they could play as a method of alternative assessment as well as motivating students.

Putting The Best Possible Teacher In The Classroom : Through Reflection And Self-Evaluation, Renee Fisher

Graduate Research Papers

Over the span of five months, an elementary school teacher uses reflection and self-evaluation methods to review her teaching. The process encourages improvement in areas concurrent with the Iowa Teaching Standards. Including a current portfolio, the teacher uses the medium of videotape to self-evaluate her teaching style and the evaluation by building administrator. Current research in teacher evaluation lends support to the need for self-evaluation. The completed portfolio becomes a working document chronicling the teacher's work in the classroom and career field. The results show the improvement that has occurred, along with areas to advance in.

Orchestrating A Student's Reading Fluency In The Elementary Classroom, Sarah A. Yoder

Graduate Research Papers

As you listen to a piece of music, you hear the sound of instruments blending together to create a harmonious sound, to create a mood, or tell a story. With that same sense of coordination and ease a successful, fluent reader quietly orchestrates his/her reading to derive meaning from a text. It is common for teachers to have the goal of developing fluent, young readers in the elementary classroom, but it is often unclear how to go about obtaining this goal. This article is written for elementary teachers who want to foster fluent reading, but are unsure how to direct …

Parents As Partners : The School-Home Connection, Jennifer Burkhart

Graduate Research Papers

Family literacy programs engage parents in small groups, help parents capitalize upon what they already do with literacy in the home while teaching new skills for parents to work with their children, and provide children with time to read together. Parents' attitudes have lifelong effects on a child's literacy (Morrow, 1995). Getting parents involved in emergent literacy activities has a positive effect on the child's own literacy and is associated with higher achievement and stronger cognitive skills (Anderson, 2000; de Jong and Leseman, 2001; Morrow, 2001 ). A family literacy program can better reinforce the internal motivation that parents and …

Training : What Is Training, Identifying The Need For Training, Methods Of Training, And How Can Trainings Effectiveness Be Evaluated?, Michael Johnson Jr.

Graduate Research Papers

This review involves aspects and elements of preparing effective training programs. In this review the researcher addresses the design and development stages of training programs. This review will provide valuable information for practitioners in the field of training and staff development. Definitions, needs assessment methods, evaluating effectiveness, methods of conducting evaluations, and building a rational for training programs are the areas covered by this review.

This review is written in the perspective for novice trainers and staff developers. The information provided can assist novice trainers build a knowledge base to enhance their ability to provide effective training. This review is …

Best Practices In Reading Instruction, Becky Jean Jones

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of literature pertaining to the best practices in reading instruction. There are many methods and approaches to the teaching of reading not only in the curriculum, but in the instructional procedures as well. This paper studies the changes that have occurred in reading curricula, as well as in the methods of instruction. Thirdly, this paper provides the reader with statistics that provide a factual basis for the support of the many instructional approaches. Finally, this paper will give the reader a conclusion that provides recommendations as to how to teach reading using the best practices …

Constructivism In Online Learning : A Literature Review, Zishan Hong

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to look at the interaction of constructivist-based approaches, adult learning characteristics and six online learning issues. Constructivist learning environments allow learners to build their own meaning and understanding from learning resources and circumstances. Constructivists claim that learners accumulate new knowledge by themselves and use this to pile up previous knowledge and experiences. The learner is the learning focus, and the instructors act as facilitators or guides, which provide appropriate and enriching supplies. This theory supports well the adult style of learning. Based on constructivism, the online instructor is a facilitator to monitor and provide …

Combining Science And Reading Materials To Teach Comprehension Strategies, Melena Haskovec

Graduate Research Papers

This paper describes a curriculum development project in which science and reading were combined to teach reading comprehension strategies to kindergarten and first grade children. Nonfiction science texts were purchased. The teachers collaboratively created and implemented lesson plans for three science units and one social studies unit. The combined classes met once every six days from January to May.

The children were paired across grade levels to read the texts, participate in the strategy instruction and complete the guided practice activities. Pre and post project measures of first graders' growth in reading comprehension showed that all the first grade students …

The Need For Handheld Computers In The Classroom, Joseph Nichols

Graduate Research Papers

The handheld computer has become a viable tool for education. It costs less, weighs less, and takes less space in the classroom than a desktop computer. This review of literature shows the merits of using handheld computers in the classroom. In order to appreciate the handheld computers, one needs to research the history of computers and how the handheld computer is being used in the corporate world, as well as by educators. By researching handheld computers past use and current trends, it should be possible to evaluate their impact in the classroom.

Factors Motivating Children To Read, Tanya Marie Ossman

Graduate Research Papers

Reading is the most important skill learned by children during their educational careers. The ability to read is mastered by children through the careful guidance from teachers and parents. Adults tend to assume that providing children with the skills to read will foster a desire to read. Whether or not children pick up books and read them from front to back is dependent upon their motivation to read. The results of this review will provide insight into what factors are involved in reading motivation and what programs are available for children who lack the motivation for reading.

Developmental Spelling Instruction Through Word Study, Elizabeth Ann Overstake

Graduate Research Papers

This article is an overview of word sorts and word study that has evolved from research in developmental spelling. The five stages of developmental spelling are described. Analysis of four students' writing samples from a second grade classroom was utilized in this study. Spelling inventories from Words Their Way were used three times throughout the year to evaluate developmental stages of spelling. This alternative approach to spelling instruction, including word sorting, writing sorts, speed sorts, and word hunts is discussed in this article.

Active Learning Techniques To Teach Spanish Vocabulary, Sara E. Janssen

Graduate Research Papers

The journal article, "Pictures, John Travolta moves, and Sign Language: Active Learning Techniques to Teach Spanish Vocabulary," discusses the experiences 8th grade Spanish students had while using three instructional practices for learning vocabulary. Active learning strategies are a popular method for educators, especially those at the middle level. Educators can get their students active in learning by doing many different things. Pictures, "silly signs," and sign language were used to engage my students in learning fourteen Spanish vocabulary words.

Three groups of Spanish exploratory classes were the subjects in this study. Each of the three groups received instruction using one …

Effective Models As Instructional Designs To Build Student Motivation In Learning, Karla S. Lammers

Graduate Research Papers

Effective Models As Instructional Designs to Build Student Motivation in Learning: A Review of Literature examines some of the research and academic literature related to successful designs/models that educators can use to build motivation in learners. Views of different motivations, extrinsic and intrinsic, as a learner are also discussed. Examples of designs/models are examined that integrate technology. The author concludes by presenting a technology-assisted, literature-based curriculum product that integrates these models to enhance learners' motivation.

Laptop Computers In The K-12 Setting : The Effect On Instructional Strategies And Student Learning, Sarah Merriam

Graduate Research Papers

Research has shown the benefits of computers. But mobile computing by the use of laptop computers has only recently been studied in K-12 classrooms. This review paper discusses various research studies that focus on how laptop computers affect student learning, how laptops affect instruction, teachers' perceptions about using laptop computers, and specific school districts that have implemented laptop computers into their curriculum. Overall, the research shows that laptops are more convenient and meet educational objectives once teachers and students adapt to the new technological way of learning.

Integrating Technology Into The Classroom Through Online Projects : A Fairy Tale Unit, Luann K. Langel

Graduate Research Papers

The integration of technology and the Internet have brought new opportunities to today's educators. When technology is utilized correctly, effective teaching in the classroom is promoted. The project focuses on online projects than can be incorporated into the elementary classroom. The project designed and utilized is a telecollaborative project focusing on the genre of fairy tales being taught in the 3rd grade. The Internet can be utilized in the classroom for interpersonal exchanges, information collection, and problem solving. A wealth of information is available to students on the Internet. Students gain control of their learning as they begin to navigate …

Increasing Transfer Of Training From Learning To Human Performance In The Corporate Management Work Environment, Patrick G. Mcbride

Graduate Research Papers

For corporate organizations to remain competitive in the global marketplace and to develop a highly skilled workforce, improving transfer of training must become corporate organizations' top priority. This literature review will attempt to answer the questions, "How does the transfer of training relate to human performance? Who are the major stakeholders, and what are their roles are in ensuring the transfer of training? What are the barriers? And how is human performance in the corporate work environment being measured?"

An Effectiveness Assessment Of The Quicktionary Reading Pen For Grades 3 Through 6, Barbara K. Waugh

Graduate Research Papers

Testing of24 students in an Iowa public school in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades was conducted to determine if the Quicktionary Reading Pen improved reading accuracy. This was done using reading scores both with and without the pen and a standard t-test with the presence of the pen being the only variable in the study. The reading pen was found to have a positive effect, most notable with students with a reading accuracy below 90%. The increase was statistically significant at an 80% confidence interval or better. The pen had little effect for initial reading accuracy in excess of …