Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of A Supplemental Instruction Model On The Mathematics Skills Of College Students, Cara S. Harrell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The applied dissertation was designed to determine if a supplemental tool would improve the achievement of students enrolled in an introductory college mathematics course. The study was conducted to determine if students who were exposed to a mathematical model would learn information at a more significant level than those students who did not use the mathematical model.

Four research questions were investigated. During this study, 53 students were members of the experimental group and control groups. Eight individuals were part of the evaluation committee. The experimental group consisted of 26 participants who were exposed to the mathematical model, and the …

Estrategia Instruccional Para La Comprensión De Textos En Un Entorno Virtual, En Una Universidad Del Noreste De México, María Gregoria Benítez Lima

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar el efecto de la aplicación de la Estrategia Instruccional Integradora para la Comprensión de la Lectura (EIICL), diseñada para desarrollar habilidades para la comprensión de textos en ciencias sociales y administración en los estudiantes del segundo semestre de las licenciaturas en Contaduría y Administración de la UNM, la cual fue implementada en línea en el CMS-Dokeos. Los resultados de esta investigación permitirán tomar la decisión, por parte de la institución, de aplicar la estrategia a todos los estudiantes del segundo semestre de las Licenciaturas en Contaduría y Administración durante cada ciclo escolar.

La …

El Webquest Como Generador Del Aprendizaje, Marilia Villafañe

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Esta investigación cualitativa utilizó la técnica de estudio de caso con el propósito de describir cómo los maestros integran el WebQuest en su curso y determinar si actuó como generador de aprendizaje. El WebQuest es una herramienta tecnológica cuya meta es conducir al estudiante a una actividad de aprendizaje que facilite la solución de problemas y el aprendizaje significativo. Las preguntas de este estudio fueron las siguientes: ¿Cómo los maestros utilizan el WebQuest como herramienta de enseñanza en el curso?, ¿En qué medida los maestros perciben el WebQuest como generador de aprendizaje constructivista y colaborativo?, ¿En qué medida están los …

An Analysis Of Kindergarten Through Grade 5 Teacher Efficacy And Character Education, Timothy J. Tierney

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This quantitative study examined teacher efficacy in implementing character education in the classroom. The construct of efficacy is paramount to successful performance. The research demonstrated that the construct of efficacy as it related to teaching character education could be the major contributing factor in the success of the district character education.

This study was conducted in an urban southern school district with a diverse population. The study examined both general teacher efficacy and personal teacher efficacy as measured by the Character Education Efficacy Belief Instrument (CEEBI). The CEEBI was distributed to 30 elementary schools and approximately 1,400 district teachers of …

The Effect Of Principal Leadership On New Teacher Retention Rates, James A. Avila

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide increased knowledge of the effect of principal leadership on new teacher retention. When compared to other mobility rates, the new teacher attrition rate is higher; new teachers leave the school systems at faster rates than they can be replaced (Darling-Hammond & Sykes, 2003; Ingersoll & Smith, 2003; “NEA Study,” 2005; “Support new teachers and keep them teaching,” 2005; Watkins, 2005). The failure to retain new teachers often results in fewer quality teachers and poorer levels of instruction (Brown & Wynn, 2009). This study speculates that principal leadership, specifically instructional leadership, directly affects new …

Students’ Perceptions Of Bullying And The Impact Of Lessons On Pro-Social Behaviors And Bullying Prevention, Jia Borror

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to increase fifth-grade students’ perceptions and knowledge of bullying, adult assistance, and bystander behaviors. The researcher developed a survey to assess students’ perceptions and knowledge of bullying prior to 3 months of interventions, which included lessons and activities on pro-social behaviors and bullying prevention. The goals of the intervention were to increase knowledge of bullying, enhance students’ interpersonal skills through character education, and increase the seeking of adult assistance and bystander responses. The research site was an urban, public elementary school in southeast Florida. The study focused on the following research questions:

1. What …

Effects Of Participative Leadership On Teacher Job Satisfaction, Rachaniphorn Ngotngamwong

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

With the astronomical rates of teacher turnover caused mainly by teacher dissatisfaction, school administrators are currently faced with the big challenge of retaining teachers. This problem is faced worldwide, and one of the main factors of teacher dissatisfaction is the lack of their participation in school decisions. The purpose of this study was to examine if a relationship existed between participative decision-making processes and teacher job satisfaction. A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was used to examine two research questions: 1. To what degree is the practice of participative leadership perceived by schoolteachers in private schools in Bangkok, Thailand? 2. …

An Evaluation Of A 21st Century After-School Tutoring Program At A Rural County Middle School, Jimmy H. Ramey

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this research was to evaluate a 21st century after-school tutoring program at a rural middle school. The program was designed to improve achievement, attendance, and behavior.

The evaluation sought to determine if the components were implemented as designed. It also sought to determine what components should be sustained and any unanticipated effects. The evaluation was guided by Stufflebeam’s (2003) CIPP evaluation model. Only the process and product evaluation types were used. Empirical, interview, and survey data were gathered to answer the research questions. In addition, there was a review of various archival documents. Results from the evaluation …

Effects Of A Middle Grade Family-School Partnership Program At A Southeastern Charter School, Fayette Nick

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a middle grade family-school partnership program at a southeastern charter school that served students in kindergarten through Grade 12. In 2009, the state charter school advisory board surveyed parents of students in kindergarten through Grade 8 and found that parental involvement decreased drastically after Grade 5. The state board advised the school to develop a plan of action to increase parental involvement in Grades 6 through 8. It was decided to implement a family-school partnership program in the middle grades. The program was guided by Lueder’s (2011) self-renewing partnership …

Effects Of Teacher Training On Implementation Of Research-Based, Reading-Comprehension Strategies With Students With Autism, Katie Roggie

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Mastering reading comprehension is vital to an individual’s long-term success. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) typically struggle with developing reading-comprehension skills. Adequate teacher training in research-based, reading-comprehension strategies is necessary for developing students’ skills in implementation of the strategies. This applied dissertation addressed the lack of training teachers in the research setting received to adequately teach reading-comprehension strategies to students with ASD.

Teachers of students with ASD received in-service, workshop-style training sessions and individualized mentoring sessions. The content was developed and delivered by the researcher based on current literature on reading-comprehension strategies for students with ASD and effective teacher-training …

Does The Current Inclusion Program Provide Skills Needed By Students With Disabilities To Meet Standards On The Georgia High School Graduation Test?, Kathy Lynes-Jordan

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation proposal was designed to evaluate whether the current inclusion program contributed to the development of skills needed by 11th-grade students with disabilities (SWD) in meeting the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) by the time they graduated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the present inclusion model had any impact on SWD achievement in English Language Arts (ELA). This study had 2 foci: (a) to explore affects of inclusion on special education students at the 1st administration of the GHSGT and (b) to explore the effects of inclusion on SWD passing the GHSGT by …

The Impact Of Social Work Services On Students With Disabilities, Bridgette D. Webster Wade

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study assessed the impact of social work services on middle school students with disabilities at a selected district in Louisiana. Students with disabilities who received multiple office discipline referrals and suspensions were referred for social work services assessment. Many had a mental health diagnosis. The majority of infractions were disrespect to authority, willful disobedience, class or school disruption, fighting, dangerous substance, and profanity. The goal of the study was to determine whether social workers adhered to the district’s benchmarks of quality guidelines during the assessment and intervention processes and to ascertain whether there was a decrease in office discipline …

Preparation, Development, And Transition Of Learning-Disabled Students For Workforce Success, Donna Elizabeth Williams

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study examined the preferences of career choice and personality topology of students with learning disabilities (SWD) in a public school setting located in the southeastern region of the United States. One purpose of the study was to increase participants’ awareness of the kind of work they are most compatible to do. Another purpose was to define the means by which participants develop, prepare for, identify, and obtain employment. The study consisted of a sample population of 50 SWD and another 50 students without learning disabilities (SWOD). The participants were given 2 self-assessments that provided awareness of personality and vocational …

Educating Parents Concerning Age-Appropriate Practices In A Private School Setting, Joseph T. Picarella

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This dissertation was designed to increase parent awareness of age-appropriate practices in a Grade 2 private school setting. Grade 2 students were experiencing difficulty with transitioning from the home environment to the school environment. There was no program in place to help parents understand the problems with transition and age-appropriate activities to help their children.

The subjects involved in this study attended a series of workshops designed to increase their knowledge, comprehension, and approval of developmentally appropriate practices. Research-based information was shared during the workshops and communication was maintained between the researcher and participants in the study. Subjects observed teachers …

Examining The Effects Of Extracurricular Activities On Grade Point Averages And Discipline Referrals, Jessica Keaton

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide information for school administrators, school board members, instructional staff, parents, and students. Expectations for student achievement continue to increase due to many federal, state, and local initiatives. Many schools are analyzing current programs to determine what programs have the most effect on students‘ achievement. Additionally, schools are faced with reduced budgets, so it is imperative that the most effective programs are maintained while less effective programs are discontinued in order to spend funding in the areas that most directly impacts student achievement.

This causal comparative study compared Grade Point Averages (GPA) and discipline …

A Preliminary Examination Of A Program That Provides Free Blood Glucose Testing Meters, And Subsidies On Test-Strips To Adult Diabetics, Cecil White

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to conduct a preliminary examination of the effects of the provision of free glucose testing meters, and test-strips subsidies on blood glucose control among diabetics. The study examined whether there was any impact on the frequency of testing, and whether there was a correlation between the frequency of testing and blood sugar control, as measured by HbA1c tests.

The researcher conducted a study of the program using a quasi-experimental design, and used the Glucose Monitoring Patient Questionnaire to compare the results between a test group and a control group of participants. Independent t tests were …

The Effectiveness Of A Ninth-Grade Mentorship Program For Increasing Reading Comprehension, Yolanda M. Tucker

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation compared 50 Grade 9 students’ reading and English language arts performance before and after a mentoring program focused on reading. There were no instructional support programs at this high school that could assist struggling students in the area of reading and English language arts. This high school mentoring program was implemented during the 2008–2009 school year to help students in areas such as oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension in response to a growing number of Grade 9 students failing the state’s annual reading assessment. Foundational reading skills are needed to succeed in all subject areas. …

Evaluation Of An Early Intervention Program In A Rural County, Andrea Thomas

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an early intervention program (EIP) in the southeastern United States. The program was adopted in 2000 by the state’s assembly and implemented in 2001. The goal of the program was to help students in kindergarten through fifth grade to perform on grade level in reading and mathematics. Students were identified and placed in the program based on standardized test scores and teachers’ checklists. Once placed in the program, students were given individualized programs targeted to help them perform better in reading and mathematics.

The research questions focused on the student achievement of …

Examining Associations Between Classroom Environment And Processes And Early Mathematics Performance From Pre-Kindergarten To Kindergarten., Victoria J. Molfese, Todd Brown, Jill L. Adelson, Jennifer Beswick, Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Lana Thomas, Melissa Ferguson, Brittany Culver

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

One benefit of the No Child Left Behind legislation (2001) has been the increasing attention on the importance of the skills learned in the pre-kindergarten period for later academic achievement. There is a growing awareness that mathematics skills in kindergarten and beyond are influenced by the formal and informal mathematics skills acquired in the pre-kindergarten classroom. In recent years, a body of research has emerged pointing to the contributions to children’s learning from pre-kindergarten program quality as indexed by structure and process elements in the classroom. Results from this study point to three major findings. First, the growth of mathematics …

Commercial Space, Diane Howard

Publications

This chapter assesses space security indicators and developments in the commercial space sector, which includes manufacturers of space hardware such as rockets and satellite components, providers of space-based information such as telecommunications and remote sensing, and service operators for space launches. Also covered in this chapter are the developments related to the nascent space tourism industry, as well as the interactions between commercial operators and the public sector.

Using Problem-Based Learning To Foster Student Development, Shannon Chance

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

At the University of Michigan, professors Marshall, Shtein, and Daubmann (2011)have developed a “multidisciplinary hands-on think tank” (p. 1). Their SmartSurfaces course is offered to students majoring in engineering, art, and architecture as part of the university’s Multidisciplinary Learning Team Teaching Initiative (MLTT). The course provides insight into the efficacy of hands-on, Problem-Based Learning (PBL). A follow-up survey conducted by Bierwert, Olds, and Barber (2010) on behalf of the university’s Center for Research on Learningand Teaching (CRLT) revealed high levels of student learning through this course. Students reported developing strong skills related to critical thinking, oral communication, and creative thinking. …

Effects Of Activated Carbon Surface Chemistry Modification On The Adsorption Of Mercury From Aqueous Solution, Emily K. Faulconer

Publications

Mercury (Hg), a naturally occurring element, is toxic and can lead to negative health impacts for humans and ecosystems. Activated carbon adsorption is effective in treating Hg-laden aqueous effluent for safe discharge. Two modifications of commercially available activated carbon were investigated: iron impregnation to allow for magnetic sorbent recapture and wet chemical oxidation to enhance aqueous Hg capture. The modified carbons were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption, XRD, pHpzc, vibrating sample magnetometry, elemental analysis, and total acidity titration. The 3:1 C:Fe magnetic powdered activated carbon (MPAC) retained a high surface area of 790 m2 /g and was 95% magnetically recoverable, with …

Perceptions Of The Motivational Climate, Athletic Identity, And Sport Ethic In Relation To Athletic Injury, Katie Lynn Luzum

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Context: A mastery motivational climate is created when coaches create an environment high in individualized challenges, help is encouraged and given often, athletes help each other learn new skills, and improvement is based on self-referenced goals. In contrast, a performance motivational climate is created when coaches emphasize out performing others, promoting competitiveness, and high ability rather than high effort. Athletes with higher perceptions of a performance climate believe that their teammates are sources of distress and tend to participate in sport for competition while relying solely on ability and high rewards status. Objective: To explore the differences in perceptions of …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs About Hiv/Aids Among Central African Immigrants Who Live In Cedar Rapids, Ia, Natalie M. Sugira

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to elucidate and understand the HIV/ AIDS knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes among selected Central African immigrants who live in Cedar Rapids, IA. Included in the study was the identification, availability, and accessibility of HIV/AIDS health services tailored to meet the needs of the African immigrants. A convenience sample of20 (10 males and 10 females) African immigrants originally from Burundi and Rwanda were individually interviewed at their homes. The interview instrument was modeled after and utilized questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) of the Center for Disease Control (CDC),which were adjusted to …

Space, History And Law: Rethinking Canadian Territorial Claims In The Arctic, Michael Graham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The aim of this thesis is to assess the Canadian territorial claims in the Arctic in relation to the UNCLOS III, by linking this contemporary legal framework for managing change in the Arctic region with historical processes pertaining to the "use" of the Arctic space by the Canadian society. Canada has a long history of association with its Arctic territory and recent Russian claims over the rights to extract resources of the North Pole area have stirred new tensions around the region. The receding Arctic ice pack has opened up the possibility of the Northwest Passage becoming a viable trading …

Time To Sever The Dead Hand: Fisk University And The Cost Of The Cy Pres Doctrine, Melanie B. Leslie

Articles

No abstract provided.

Process Evaluation Of The Bully Proofing Your School Program, Donna D. Wilkes

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to evaluate the Bully Proofing Your School curriculum and safe-school initiatives, at the researcher’s school site. School bullying is an international problem that can have negative social, emotional, and academic consequences in the life of a child. The writer developed a logic model, as an analytical framework, for evaluating the bullying prevention curriculum. The objective of the study was to develop a process evaluation, utilizing the model to review staff training, student behavior initiatives, survey results, and security measures.

An analysis of the data included survey results from 2003 in comparison to student survey results …

Relación Entre La Auto-Eficacia En Estudiantes De Bajo Aprovechamiento Académico Y La Percepción Sobre La Efectividad De Las Modalidades De Instrucción En Su Aprendizaje, Esther A. Rubio Negrón

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Esta disertación aplicada, se diseñó para determinar si la autoeficacia, en la materia de los cursos nivelatorios, modera las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre la efectividad de la instrucción en línea, híbrida y tradicional. Guiados por el interés de los estudiantes en las tecnologías y el uso de las redes sociales, la administración de la universidad donde se efectuó el estudio, autoriza la incorporación de una variedad de modalidades instruccionales en los procesos de enseñanza aprendizaje. Estos ofrecimientos pretendían servir a todos los estudiantes universitarios, incluyendo los de primer año que toman cursos nivelatorios.

El estudio se basó en la …

An Evaluation Of Teaching Strategies Using Computer Technology, Anthony Griffin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The push to integrate technology into teachers’ daily practices has met with many forms of resistance. A common approach to increasing technology integration has been to provide teachers with professional development. This applied dissertation was designed to investigate the impact of a peer-led professional development program on teachers’ ability and confidence to integrate computer technology in daily classroom practices.

The writer prepared and facilitated a peer-led professional development program on the use of computer technology for volunteer English and social studies teachers. The program was presented as a 6-hour training. At the conclusion of the training, the participants evaluated the …

Claysburg Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, M. Mccoy, J. Vick, S. Bourassa, M. Enyeart, C. Norton, S. Scroggins, A. Smith, Lauren Heberle

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This Claysburg Neighborhood Revitalization Plan was developed as a joint effort of the City Solutions Center (CSC) and the Center for Environmental Policy and Management (CEPM) at the University of Louisville in cooperation with and supported by the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association (JUEA). The intention of the project was to create a set of strategies for improving the quality of life in the neighborhood by identifying the existing strengths and weaknesses of Claysburg and generating recommendations to optimize opportunities for improvements to its social, environmental, economic and physical infrastructure. The project’s process aimed to develop a community-based vision, with input, …