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Carrollian Language Arts & Rhetoric: Dodgson's Quest For Order & Meaning, With A Purpose, Madonna Farjado Kemp

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Lewis Carroll (Rev. Charles Dodgson) is a language specialist who has verifiably altered our lexicon and created fictional worlds that serve as commentary on our ability to effectively create meaning within our existing communicative systems. This ability to create language and illustrations of everyday language issues can be traced back to his personal quest for order and meaning; the logician and teacher has uncovered the accepted language and language practices that can result in verbal confusion and ineffective speech, as well as the accepted practices that can help us to avoid verbal confusion and social conflict—all of which reveals a …

Changes In Perceived Self-Efficacy And Attitude Toward Science And Teaching Science In Elementary School, Betsy Ann Sullivan

Dissertations

This study was developed in an effort to ascertain if a proposed biological laboratory curriculum as developed and modeled by the instructor would affect the attitudes and perceived self-efficacy towards science, science teaching and ability to learn science of pre-service elementary teachers. Self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies were incorporated as the variation. Attitudinal topics investigated were the perceived ability to learn science and to teach science.

Students in one biology for non-science majors' biology laboratory class at the University of Southern Mississippi participated in this case study. The group participated in the modified laboratory section which utilized SRL activities, including reflections …

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 …

Establishing Construct Validity Of The Biology I Subject Area Testing Program In Mississippi, Christy Michelle Hollis Philippoff

Dissertations

Science education has undergone many revisions since it was permanently embedded in the country's educational curriculum at the end of the 19th century. Some of these revisions occurred as a direct result of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). This legislation placed more accountability on schools than ever before by requiring that all students pass a series of standardized tests (USDE, 2010). High schools in Mississippi require four areas of standardized testing: English II, Algebra I, U.S. History, and Biology I (Wroten, 2008). The focus of this study is the Biology I Subject Area Test.

In an effort to …

A Quantitative Study Of Learning In The School Cafeteria Using Educational Placemats, Keshia Lasha Gaines

Dissertations

This study investigated if there was a difference in student achievement after participants were exposed to educational placemats in a school cafeteria for four days each (four different placemats). Also, the student’s gender and ability grouping was considered in relation to achievement. This study included 49 ability grouped third grade students in an elementary school in south Mississippi. Students were pre-tested with researcher-made math instruments before the educational placemats were introduced and post-tested afterwards. For research purposes, some placemats served as a control and did not relate to the pre-test and post-test content. Statistical measurements of the differences were derived …

The Effects Of Simplified Schema-Based Instruction On Elementary Students' Mathematical Word Problem Solving Performance, Houbin Lewis Fang

Dissertations

This study is an evidence-based mathematical intervention in word problem solving for elementary students. One of the purposes of teaching mathematics is to help students apply mathematics to real life situations. As we know, teaching word problem solving is a very suitable format for this purpose. Schema-based instruction (SBI) is one of the most supported methods for teaching word problem solving. In the current literature, there are four steps in SBI: identifying the problem type, applying corresponding method, determining an operation, and solving the problem. The problem with the current SBI is that there are no agreed-upon definitions for word …

A Comparative Study Of Teachers' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Homework In The Elementary, Middle, And High School Grades, Courtney Pisarich Peltier

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes and practices of elementary, middle, and high school teachers regarding homework. In addition, the study sought to find if there was a relationship between the teachers’ attitudes and practices of homework, as well as finding the differences between the grade levels.

The questionnaire used for this study consisted of 18 items focused on teachers’ attitudes toward homework using a five-point Likert scale. In addition, six questions on the survey were asked regarding demographics, and there were eight questions pertaining to teacher homework practices. A Pearson Correlation was used to examine …

Student-Centered Versus Teacher-Centered Teaching Styles In High Poverty And Low Poverty Schools And Their Impact On Language Arts And Math Mct2 Scores, Hollie Moore Parker

Dissertations

Because No child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, ensures that all students reach a specified minimum standard of academic success, teaching styles tend to be scrutinized by school leaders constantly. This research included Math and Language Art teachers from 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. This meditational study examined whether or not teaching styles mediates the relationship between on academic achievement based on Socio-Economic and School Accountability Status. Using Principals of Adult Learning Scale (PALS) respondent data was analyzed via Mediation.

The principal dissertation research questions addressed in this study were: a) Do students score higher on Language Arts Mississippi …

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 …

Closing The Gap Between Teacher Perception And Response To Intervention (Rti) Student Achievement, Melissa A. Hyatt Bouchér

Dissertations

Many communities rely on public schools to educate and properly train students who become the future members of society. So with educational groundwork constantly changing, districts are charged with excelling in various areas like Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Quality of Distribution Index (QDI). One area within that concern focuses on student behavior prevention programs by improving student achievement and increasing state test scores. Educational leaders reexamine teacher qualifications, rigor and relevance in classroom instruction, class size reduction, and providing effective professional development sessions aligning in accordance to each school’s vision and goals.

The purpose of this study was to …

Effects Of Molecular Architecture On Fluid Ingress Behavior Of Glassy Polymer Networks, Matthew Blaine Jackson

Dissertations

This manuscript demonstrates the synthesis of glassy polymer network isomers to control morphological variations and study solvent ingress behavior independent of chemical affinity. Well-controlled network architectures with varying free volume average hole-sizes have been shown to substantially influence solvent ingress within glassy polymer networks. Bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA), bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether (DGEBF), Triglycidyl p-aminophenol (pAP, MY0510), Triglycidyl maminophenol (mAP, MY0610), and tetraglydicyl-4,4’-diamino-diphenyl methane (TGDDM, MY721) were cured with 3,3’- and 4,4’-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 oxirane to amine active hydrogen to generate a series of network architectures with an average free volume hole-size (V_h) …

Free Volume Studies Of Various Polymeric Systems Using Positron Annihilation And Pvt-Eos Analyses, Mukul Kaushik

Dissertations

The glass transition phenomenon and free volume behavior below and above the glass transition temperature of various polymeric systems have been investigated. Several novel polymeric systems were considered for this study. Two generations of hyperbranched polyols, H40 and H20, were selected due to large number of hydroxyl groups on the periphery and within the bulk. The effect of hydrogen bonds and molecular weight was related with the glass transition and free volume behavior for the whole range of experimental temperature. The free volume behavior was experimentally studied using PVT and PALS to determine occupied volume, fractional free volume and number …

Leading Schools To Increased Reading Achievement: An Investigation Into Effective Reading Instruction, Patricia Anne Alford

Dissertations

This study investigated the effectiveness of two models of middle school reading instruction as measured by mean scores of middle school students on a state criterion-referenced test. Two cohorts of students were repeatedly compared over a three year period: students who received reading instruction as a core content class (Intervention A) and students who received reading instruction through content-area courses of math, social studies, science, and language arts (Intervention B). The independent variable was the reading program implemented and the dependent variables were the scale scores on the Reading portion of the CRCT test. A mixed model analysis of variance …

The Relationship Between Teacher Collaboration And Student Achievement, Sandra Reid Ervin

Dissertations

NCLB mandates have placed a strong sense of responsibility on educators to ensure that all students are performing at their optimal academic levels. The collaboration of educators is needed as the accountability for student performances increases. At the school level, collaboration and a focus on instruction influence productivity, morale, teacher retention and ultimately, student achievement. The role of the administrators is to provide a collaborative culture where teachers are empowered to analyze and work together to solve problems. Administrators should provide time and space for the teachers to collaborate.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to ascertain the relationship …

Factors Affecting Private School Choice, John Herman Hartsell Sr.

Dissertations

This study explored the underlying factors that influence parents’ choices of educational institution for their children in private schools in a southern United States coastal city. It also explored why parents chose the specific private school their child is currently enrolled in and their satisfaction level with teacher, parent and student relationships. Parental satisfaction with the overall instructional program and the services provided was also explored in this study. Data was collected from parents with students currently enrolled in one of two different private schools with input from 253 parents.

A central finding in this research is that parents who …

Design Of Covalently Dynamic Films And Coatings: Analysis Of Biocatalyzed Kinetic Behavior In Soft Condensed Matter, Pirro Cipi

Dissertations

Reversibly adjusting surface and bulk properties of materials is advantageous to many applications and will vastly expand current polymer capabilities. A novel strategy was developed to render materials capable of “smart” surface and bulk properties with the aid of embedded biocatalyst and latent functional groups that are selectively activated in the presence of biocatalyst to undergo chemical transformation. The research presented herein focused on systematically characterizing the activity of lipase catalysts embedded in poly (alkyl methacrylate)s simultaneously with functionalized components, either as diffusing within the polymeric matrix or tethered to the matrix. Lipase activity, ester forming (synthetic) or ester breaking …

Influence Of Ionic Mobile Phase Additives With Low Charge Delocation On The Retention Of Ionic Analytes In Reversed Phase Hplc, Cesar Florez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Pittsburg State University Annual Commencement, December 2011, Pittsburg State University

Commencement, 1903-Present

Program of undergraduate and graduate commencement exercises at Pittsburg State University on December of 2011

Factors Influencing Participant Perceptions Of Program Impact: Lessons From A Virtual Fieldtrip For Middle-School Students, Omolola A. Adedokun, Loran C. Parker, Jamie Loizzo, Wiella D. Burgess, Joseph P. Robinson

Journal of Extension

Participant perceptions of program effectiveness and impact are undoubtedly a popular focus of Extension program evaluations. However, the effects of participants' characteristics and contextual variables on program perceptions and how the resulting data can be used for program improvement are less explored in evaluation studies. Using data from the evaluation of an electronic fieldtrip as an exemplar case, this article describes a study that employed the method of linear regression to examine the influences of demographic variables and program contextual factors on participants' perceptions of program effectiveness. The implications for Extension evaluation and programming are also discussed.

Education For Information Professionals In Bangladesh: A Case Study Of The University Of Dhaka, A.I.M. Jakaria Rahman, Momena Khatun, Dr. Mohammed Mezbah-Ul-Islam

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Professional competence is achieved through University education. University is the place where the root of knowledge in a field of study is fabricated. It is also the forum where research and professional queries begin. As such, the curriculum is not only for the forming of knowledge but also for the forming of attitudes, academic and professional approaches. The impact of a departmental curriculum is far greater than the mere transfer of knowledge. Syllabus or courses of studies are one-dimensional document that embody the subjects and contents outline with broad time allocation. Curriculum is three-dimensional, and takes into account the needs …

Optimization Models For Patient Allocation During A Pandemic Influenza Outbreak., Li Sun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pandemic influenza has been an important public health concern. During the 20th century, three major pandemics of influenza occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968. The pandemic of 1918 caused 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide and more than 500,000 deaths in the United States. The 1957 pandemic, during a time with much less globalization than now, spread to the U.S. within 4 to 5 months of its origination in China, causing more than 70,000 deaths in the U.S., and the 1968 pandemic spread to the U.S. from Hong Kong within 2 to 3 months, causing 34,000 deaths. Pandemic influenza is …

The Relationship Between Parent Involvement And Preschool Children's Social Competence And Learning Behaviors, Amanda Dewar

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between parent involvement and preschool children’s social competence and learning behaviors. Research is emerging to suggest a positive relationship between parent involvement and preschool children’s social competence and learning behaviors among Head Start populations. The participants in this study were a volunteer sample of parents and teachers of 130 preschool students. These preschool students attended preschool as tuition-paying students, students who attended preschool in order to receive special education, or students who attended preschool at no cost through a program that identified them as being at-risk. Parent involvement was measured …

Using Geographical Information Systems To Investigate Spatial Patterns In Fossils Of Tapirus Polkenis From The Gray Fossil Site, Washington County, Tennessee, Winn Addison Ketchum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Discovered in 2000, the Gray Fossil Site provides a snapshot of the flora and fauna that lived during late Miocene to early Pliocene time in eastern Tennessee. These fossils occur in sediments consisting of fine-grained clays and sands of lacustrine origin, which were deposited after multiple sinkholes formed in the underlying Knox Group basement carbonates. Three-dimensional nearest neighbor analysis has been applied to fossils of Tapirus polkensis, characterizing the spatial patterns exhibited. These analyses determined the importance of taphonomic and depositional processes that occurred during the sites formation. Six characteristics were analyzed, four at the bone level including carnivore …

Research Productivity Among Faculty Members At Medical And Health Schools In Saudi Arabia. Prevalence, Obstacles, And Associated Factors., Saad A. Alghanim, Rashid M. Alhamali

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence, factors and obstacles affecting research productivity among academic staff at medical and health colleges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey employed self-administered questionnaires to collect data on faculty members9 profile, research activities, and obstacles impeding research productivity. The questionnaires were distributed randomly to 500 faculty members, of which 389 (77.8%) completed the questionnaire at 10 medical and health colleges during January to April 2011. The data were analyzed and presented in a descriptive fashion. RESULTS: Only 150 (38.6%) respondents reported published work in the past 2 years. Of these, 80% indicated …

The Valuation Of User-Generated Content: A Structural, Stylistic And Semantic Analysis Of Online Reviews, Noi Sian Koh

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The ability and ease for users to create and publish content has provided vast amount of online product reviews. However, the amount of data is overwhelmingly large and unstructured, making information difficult to quantify. This creates challenge in understanding how online reviews affect consumers’ purchase decisions. In my dissertation, I explore the structural, stylistic and semantic content of online reviews. Firstly, I present a measurement that quantifies sentiments with respect to a multi-point scale and conduct a systematic study on the impact of online reviews on product sales. Using the sentiment metrics generated, I estimate the weight that customers place …

Chemical, Biological, And Preliminary In Vitro Studies Of Novel Vanadium(Iv) Complexes With Schiff Bases And Thiosemicarbazone Ligands, Nerissa Abigail Lewis

Master's Theses

9-Anthraldehyde-N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone (MeATSC), potassium (E)-2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)propanoate (K[(Sal-L-tryp)] and 2-(2-hydroxybenzylamino)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)propanoic acid (the reduced Schiff base) were prepared using known synthetic procedures. Two novel thiosemicarbazone ligands, (E)-N-ethyl-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide (N-Ethhymethohcarbthio) and (E)-N-ethyl-2-(1-(thiazol-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide (acetylethTSC), were also prepared. All ligands were characterized by FT IR and electrochemistry. N-Ethhymethohcarbthio were characterized by elemental analysis whereas the reduced Schiff base and K[(Sal-L-tryp)] were characterized by ESI MS. X-ray crystallography was also used to characterize acetylethTSC. The ligands were then reacted with [VO(Sal-L-tryp)(H2O)] (1) (Sal-L-tryp = N-salicylidene-L-tryptophanate) to produce the …

Continuous Analysis Of Photocatalytic Activity In Thin-Films And Coatings, Steven Michael Allee

Master's Theses

Materials that undergo photocatalytic reactions create evolved gases due to ultraviolet light decomposition. Current methods of measuring these gases typically result in destruction of the sample. A test fixture was developed to measure evolved gases in a nondestructive manner through the utilization of a flow-through sensor array system. Preliminary testing indicates responsive measurements down to parts-per-billion sensitivity for some gases and will be compared with mass spectrometry measurements. Further development of this process could lead to the ability to measure photocatalytic reaction gases on a continuous basis without interruption of the process or destruction of materials introduced to the system.

Highly Resistive And Ultrafast Fe‐Ion Implanted Ingaas For The Applications Of Thz Photomixer And Photoconductive Switch, J. H. Shin, K. H. Park, N. Kim, C. W. Lee, Eunsup Daniel Shim, Y. C. Kim, D. S. Yee, J. O. Kim, S. J. Lee, S. K. Noh

WCBT Faculty Publications

We develop highly‐resistive (i.e. low‐carrier‐density) and ultrafast Fe‐ion implanted InGaAs layers for the applications of THz photomixer and photoconductive switch. The measured Hall mobility, sheet resistance, carrier density, and carrier lifetime of the optimized 1.2‐μm‐thick Fe‐implanted InGaAs layer are 3.4×102 cm2/Vs, 0.24 MΩ, 6.5×1014 cm−3, and 0.13ps, respectively.

Montclair Magazine (Fall/Winter 2011), Montclair State University

Montclair: The magazine of Montclair State University

Cultivating Change

• New alumni resources
• The Heights
• President's perspective

The Influence Of Peer Tutors And Technology-Actuated Reading Instruction Process On Third-Grade Students' Self-Perceptions As Readers: A Multiple Case Study, Brenda Shill Daw

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Driven by Lev Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory (1986), my study investigated the self-perceptions and interactions of seven underperforming, third-grade readers while using Technology-Actuated Reading Instruction (TARI). Partnered with same-age peer tutors, readers used digital tools to listen to, read/record, and playback oral reading passages. They practiced, peer- or self-edited, and selected their best reading products as part of the iterative process. As reading is a complex cognitive skill (Reinking, 2005), TARI incorporated higher cognitive learning activities via a synthesis of Gagné's (1985) nine conditions of learning and the Four-Component Instructional Design Model (van Merriënboer & Kester, 2005).

Much of the current …