Digital Commons Network^™

A Critical Analysis Of Job-Embedded Professional Learning Within A Distributed Leadership Framework, Ashley Jimerson Campoli

Dissertations

Leadership style and professional learning have been linked to student achievement. Studies have linked leadership styles such as distributed leadership to job-embedded professional learning. However, research is mixed when these two constructs are related to student achievement.

This study evaluated the relationship between distributed leadership and jobembedded professional learning. This study also evaluated relationships among jobembedded professional learning, distributed leadership, and third-grade achievement scores.

The study involved third grade mathematics teachers and school administrators in 46 elementary schools in the state of Georgia. Pearson’s bivariate correlation test was used to explore the relationship between job-embedded professional learning and distributed leadership. …

The Relationship Between Attitude And Anxiety Toward Teaching Science In Pre-Service Elementary Teachers And The Use Of Science Olympiad Events, Allison Armstrong Downing

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the anxiety and attitudes of pre-service elementary teachers toward teaching science and the use of Science Olympiad events in an elementary science methods course. The participants were 34 pre-service elementary teachers enrolled in the Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 trimesters in the course Science in the Elementary School at a private university in south Mississippi. Attitude toward teaching science was measured using the Revised Science Attitude Scale. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Data collection involved participants taking pretests for attitude and state anxiety on …

The Effects Of Changing From A Traditional Mathematics Curriculum To An Integrated Mathematics Curriculum On Student Mathematics Learning In Georgia, Catherine Lynn Mallanda

Dissertations

In 2005, the state of Georgia adopted a new integrated mathematics curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS), which included a task-based approach for instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine if the new Georgia Performance Standards for mathematics increased students’ mean mathematics Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores or induced changes in the distribution of students’ scores on the PSAT/NMSQT. In addition, it was determined whether the level of course the student took, the type of implementation of the GPS curriculum or the preparation for implementation affected the PSAT/NMSQT scores. The results of the study indicated …

Investments In Leadership And Management Succession Planning At A Department Of Defense Organization In The Southeastern United States: A Review Of Strategic Implications, Richard Allen Jeffries

Dissertations

With the impending aging workforce retirement tidal wave, targeted investments are needed in leadership and management skills for new leader growth. Some organizations currently invest in leadership and management skill development. However, the impacts of the investments remain unknown in the organizations. A Department of Defense Organization in the Southeast United States (DODSE) serves as a scientific knowledge generating organization that supports the Department of Defense. At the DODSE, investments in leadership and management skills training began in 2007 with little understanding of how an increased investment in leadership and management training would be utilized within the organization. To create …

School Leaders' Effect On Technology, Irene Amos Causey

Dissertations

Because of increasing heavy investments in technology during an era of accountability within K-12 public schools, school leaders are expected to be flexible and innovative in order to produce the most effective and efficient use of technology. School leaders in this research study included principals, assistant principals, and technology coordinators from intercoastal elementary, middle, and high public schools in South Mississippi. This causal comparative study examined whether or not a correlation existed among school leaders’ attitude toward technology use and years of technology training, confidence and comfort using technology and school accreditation level, school leaders’ preparation for technology use and …

Principals' Perceptions Of The Importance Of Classroom Walkthroughs, Shannon Anne Mcgill

Dissertations

Education reform has required school administrators to become instructional leaders that ensure teacher effectiveness and academic success for all students. Classroom walkthroughs are one way that instructional leaders can accomplish this task. This study examined the level of importance that principals place on the practice of classroom walkthroughs and on specific elements of classroom walkthroughs; it further explored the relationships among perceptions about classroom walkthroughs and student achievement, school performance levels (AYP), and socio-economic status (SES) of the school.

This was a quantitative study that utilized survey methodology, archival data and correlational analyses to identify the relationships among principals‟ perceptions …

The Impact Of The Mississippi Department Of Education's Dyslexia Grant Program On Third Grade Achievement, Cena Windham Holifield

Dissertations

Dyslexia is the most common reading disability and is non-discriminatory, affecting learners of all races and cultures (Shaywitz, 2003). Scientific data reveals dyslexia affects 70-80% of students with poor reading skills (Moats & Dakin, 2008).

The Mississippi Legislature appropriates funds yearly to support the Mississippi Department of Education, (MDE) Grant Pilot Program (MDE, 2009). The purpose of this dyslexia grant program is to support general education teachers in meeting the needs of regular education students who have been identified as having dyslexia and related disorders (MDE, 2009).

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the MDE …

Is There A Relationship Between Electronic White Boards In The Classroom And Student Success?, John Joseph Mundy

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of interactive electronic white boards, an advanced technology, on the academic performance of kindergarten through fifth grade elementary students. The participants represent seven local school districts with approximately 700 teachers instructing 16,421 students. The research gathered data from the teachers through a questionnaire designed by the researcher. Student data was also gathered as well as perceptions of trainers, teachers and administrators.

The study was designed to examine the independent variables and the impact or effect it has on students’ achievement in a Kindergarten through fifth grade elementary classroom. The independent …

Determining Content Validity For The Transition Awareness And Possibilities Scale (Taps), Melynda Burck Ross

Dissertations

The Transition Awareness & Possibilities Scale (TAPS) was crafted after an extensive review of literature was conducted to find research that examined and described specific aspects of transition programming: inputs, including supports and skill instruction; processes, including parent and support provider perceptions of the transition experience; and outcomes, including quality of life and traditional, quantitatively-measured outcomes. Once developed, the TAPS will allow a teacher or transition coordinator to know what information a family is lacking about transition planning and adult service options for students with disabilities who need extensive or pervasive supports.

In this research, content validity was used as …

Barriers And Enablers Of Interdisciplinary Research At Academic Institutions, Leslie Suzanne Thornton Butler

Dissertations

This research study examines the factors that motivate and lead to the success of faculty members who conduct interdisciplinary research. Because a comprehensive study of the research patterns of interdisciplinary researchers has not been conducted, the main intent of this research project was to create an instrument that would measure research habits and attitudes. It is important that such research be conducted using individuals who are interdisciplinary researchers as well as disciplinary researchers. One intent of the research study was to provide comparisons between disciplinary researchers and interdisciplinary researchers. Another intent was to provide university administrators with a better understanding …

In Context, Kate Felzien

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The present thesis seeks to show the influences to my artwork and describe the body of work found in my thesis exhibition, In Context. The role of family and childhood are discussed and related to the work. The feminist writers bell hooks, Jane Tompkins, and Hélène Cixous are cited as influential to the initial exploration of my content. Artists discussed include Louise Bourgeois, Kiki Smith, Annette Messager, and Robert Rauschenberg. It is further shown how poetry and prose evolve as the catalyst for content for my work and how this enforces my belief that only through examining the personal can …

A Psychoanalytic Inquiry Into Social Aggression As A Form Of Bullying Among Female Students, Tina Martin Debevec

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Bullying among children and adolescents, particularly within the school setting, has drawn much attention in recent years as a reaction to an onslaught of high profile school violence in the 1990s. While much attention and research focused upon physical violence that was prevalent among male students, very little research covered indirect, relational, and social forms of aggression. Research into the covert manners of aggression that involved the manipulation of relationships revealed them to be salient among female students, demonstrating that female students were predominantly aggressive in a different manner than their male counterparts. Psychoanalytic theories of attachment and aggression guide …

Intertwined Cultural Journeys: An Autoethnography Of Learning, Teaching, And Affirming Diversity Through Multicultural Music, Kathryn Blackmon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As our schools gain more and more children from different cultures and ethnicities, there is an increasing need to diversify curriculum to assist in cultivating tolerance and understanding. Drawing upon an eclectic group of theorists who highlight the importance of meaningful curricula and education, and using autoethnography as method, I explore aspects of reflective teaching and student empowerment through the medium of multicultural music education. Connections between my own cultural heritage and the cultures of my students were made through a critical evaluation of my current approach to multicultural music education. Using multiple information sources including student observations, lesson plans, …

Buried Treasure? Excavating Active, Meaningful, And Worthwhile Learning From An Elementary Time Capsule, Michelle Martin Gowan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study explores active, meaningful, and worthwhile learning that was discovered through a time capsule that was buried by six elementary gifted students at Springdale Elementary School in Macon, Georgia in 1980. Dan, Trevette, Bryan, Lee Ann, Stephen and Rhonda are six adults who, in seventh grade, filled a trash can with time treasured relics and promised to return and unearth their treasure in 2000, but when they grew up and moved away, they lost touch with one another and their buried treasure. In 2009, Springdale's elementary gifted students located their treasure, studied its contents, compared popular culture then and …

An Examination Of The Influence Of Socioeconomic Status And Race On End-Of-Life Treatment Level Following A Palliative Intervention, Kathleen Benton

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in treatment level at the end of life according to race and socioeconomic status and the extent a palliative intervention may change the course and cost of care. The study population included patients from the Medical Center of Central Georgia (N=2,920). The data were examined as a secondary analysis retrospectively. Data from the medical record and a unique clinical database were coded into descriptive, predictor, and outcome variables to define the population, and the patient's treatment status before and after the intervention. McNemar's test of symmetry, Chi Square, and Logistic Regression …

Credit Rating And Assignment Of Naics Codes Using Lsi Method, Jerome Ouedraogo

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The objective here is first, to improve automatic assignment of industry codes using LSI (lexical processing) by increasing the algorithm efficiency (both computationally and in term of input requirements), then quantify the lender's risk as "distance to default" (higher distance to default indicates default is less likely to occur), estimate the distance to default for each company and combine the results to obtain an estimate of the distance to default for each NAICS code.

Instructional Coaching In Elementary Schools: Perceptions Of Principals, Instructional Coaches, And Teachers, Latoya Doby-Holmes

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The political climate surrounding academic achievement and teacher accountability is more demanding than ever before. Administrators might be able to improve teacher quality and address teacher accountability with the use of instructional coaching. It is important for all stakeholders to have data on the effectiveness of instructional coaches to enhance teacher performance and student achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of instructional coaches in terms of student achievement through the perceptions of principals, instructional coaches, and teachers in Georgia elementary schools. A phenomenological research approach was designed for this purpose. In order to triangulate data, …

Academic Tenure: Defining Scholarship In The Health Professions, Kimberly Mathieu Coulton

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Higher education institutions in the United States grant academic tenure to junior faculty based on teaching, service, and scholarship. Traditionally, scholarship is defined as original research that is demonstrated by reports of scientific findings, peer-reviewed journal publications and presentations. However, workload issues, insufficient institutional support and ambiguity in tenure guidelines often hinder the scholarly endeavors of university faculty seeking tenure. The roles and responsibilities of faculty in the allied health professions are unique in that they are also involved in the provision of patient care, the development of community partnerships and the task of addressing vital workforce needs. A broader …

Evaluation Of Sponsorship Activation Strategies Employed By A Minor League Baseball Team, Velina Boteva

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

A common challenge for corporations engaging in sport sponsorship activities lies in the evaluation of these activities. Some of the struggle is in the multitude of objectives that can be pursued through developing sponsorship relationships. Typical objectives include increasing brand awareness and recognition (Cornwell, Humphreys, Maguire, Weeks, & Tellegen, 2006), increasing sales (Choi, Stotlar, & Park, 2006) accessing specific target markets (Doherty & Murray, 2007), developing goodwill (Meenaghan, 2001), and positioning the brand (Ferreira, Hall, & Bennett, 2008). With so many differing objectives, it can be difficult to identify and/or develop standard rules, measurement scales, or generally accepted techniques that …

Evaluating Restoration Potential Of An Endangered Legume, Baptisia Arachnifera: Shade & Litter Effects On Early Life Stages, Timothy John Estep

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Baptisia arachnifera, hairy rattleweed, is a federally endangered, herbaceous, legume endemic to Wayne and Brantley Counties in Georgia. The species has declined by 89% in the past 20 years. Therefore I examined the early life stages of the species for weevil predation, fungus infection, and germination; information used to help prevent the species extinction. Seed pods of Baptisia arachnifera from six sites were examined for weevil predation and fungal infestation. Germination was examined under greenhouse conditions. One site had intense weevil predation, fungal infection, and reduced germination compared to other sites. Over 62% of seeds germinated within the greenhouse. To …

Black Bear Conflicts And Safety And Utah Campgrounds, Barrie Gilbert

All Current Publications

Utah had its first black bear attack in June of 1992 when a young girl was dragged from a camper at Strawberry campground.

A Mosaic Shield: Maynard, The Fourth Amendment, And Privacy Rights In The Digital Age, Erin Smith Dennis

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

When The State Demands Disclosure, Rebecca Aviel

Cardozo Law Review

The obligation to provide certain types of information to government authorities - reporting child abuse, say, or insurance fraud - is proliferating. Are these laws enforceable against lawyers who obtain the sought-after information in the course of representing a client? This Article sets out to answer exactly that question. It begins by explaining why it is wrong to approach the question by balancing the policies that underlie attorney-client confidentiality against those underlying reporting statutes. Such an approach fails to grasp the essential nature of the question, which is one of legislative power and legislative intent. This Article is the first …

Overcharge But Don't Overestimate: Calculating Damages For Antitrust Injuries In Two-Sided Markets, Daniel M. Tracer

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ethnic Disparity In 21 Hydroxylase Gene Mutations Identified In Pakistanicongenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Patient, Aysha Habib Khan, Muniba Aban, Jamal Raza, Naeem Ul Haq, Abdul Jabbar, Tariq Moatter

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by defects in the steroid 21 hydroxylase gene (CYP21A2). We studied the spectrum of mutations in CYP21A2 gene in a multi-ethnic population in Pakistan to explore the genetics of CAH.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for the identification of mutations CYP21A2 and their phenotypic associations in CAH using ARMS-PCR assay.

Results: Overall, 29 patients were analyzed for nine different mutations. The group consisted of two major forms of CAH including 17 salt wasters and 12 simple virilizers. There were 14 phenotypic males and 15 females …

Ethnic Disparity In 21-Hydroxylase Gene Mutations Identified In Pakistani Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Patient, Aysha Habib Khan, Muniba Aban, Jamal Raza, Naeem Ul Haq, Abdul Jabbar, Tariq Moatter

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by defects in the steroid 21 hydroxylase gene (CYP21A2). We studied the spectrum of mutations in CYP21A2 gene in a multi-ethnic population in Pakistan to explore the genetics of CAH.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for the identification of mutations CYP21A2 and their phenotypic associations in CAH using ARMS-PCR assay.

Results: Overall, 29 patients were analyzed for nine different mutations. The group consisted of two major forms of CAH including 17 salt wasters and 12 simple virilizers. There were 14 phenotypic males and 15 females …

The Effect Of Organizational Learning Dimensions On Availability Of Learning Organization Dimensions In Iraqi Planning Ministry, Fadhil Jameel Taher

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The aim of this research to study. The dimensions of organizational learning have been defined(learning dynamics, individuals empowerment, knowledge management and technology application) as well as the dimensions of learning organization have been defined (culture values, knowledge transfer, communication and employee characteristics), Asset completion questionnaire was used to collect data of this research from a purposely sample represent forty employees who works in Iraqi Planning Ministry at different positions. The research divided to four parts : The first to the research methodology, the second to the theoretical review of the research, the third to analysis and discuss the empiric results …

Using The Non- Homogenous Poisson Processes With Queuing Theory In The Emergency Department In Al-Tifel Teaching Central Hospital (Al-Iskan), Khalid Dhari Al-Taee, Zeina Mueen Mohammed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

In this paper, the using of Non-Homogenous Poisson Processes, with one of the scientific and practical means in the Operations Research had been carried out, which is the Queuing Theory, as those operations are affected by time in their conduct by one function which has a cyclic behavior, called the (Sinusoidal Function). (Mt / M / S) The model was chosen, and it is Single Queue Length with multiple service Channels, and using the estimating scales (QLs, HOL, HOLr) was carried out in considering the delay occurring to the customer before his entrance to the service, with the comparison of …

Auto-Tuning Antenna, John Chen, Jennifer Tighe

Electrical Engineering

Radio transmitters and antennas have differing impedances at the output and feedpoint, depending on frequency. Modern antenna tuning methods involve manual or automatic resistance and reactance network adjustment to match transmitter and antenna impedance. This reduces power reflections to the transmitter, but introduces losses and prevents full transmitter power from being radiated at the antenna. This project utilizes a variable length antenna element to tune and match transmitter and antenna impedances, allowing efficient power transfer to the antenna. The antenna length varies from 0 to 30.5 inches. The method involves an RF signal with a maximum power of 2 watts …

The Social Media Bubble: An Examination Of Social Media User Motivations And Their Implications For Future Users And Communication Technologies, Cary A. Bryant Ms.

Research Papers

This research project focuses on examining social media user motivations and their impact on future users. Analysis of previous communication technologies is included in this paper to show how human behavior has changed in the past century. A survey was conducted among current communication students to study social media behaviors and to help new developments for social media. Populations of social media users, such as small businesses and students, were also looked at to determine the strength of their social media presences. A website, TheSocialMediaBubble.com, was developed to accompany this project to provide free tips, advice and research to small …