Digital Commons Network^™

Reflections ~ How Stem Becomes Steam, Ruth Catchen

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

Reflections from designing a STEAM class for high-risk students.

Using Fpgas As A Reconfigurable Teaching Tool Throughout Cs Systems Curriculum, D. Brian Larkins, William M. Jones, H. Erin Rickard

Computing Sciences

This paper describes the adaptation of several common computer science courses to include the use of FPGA-based systems for project and assignment work. One of the principal challenges in modern curriculum design is balancing between breadth and depth of course topics while simultaneously reinforcing the interconnections among topics in the field. To address these challenges, faculty are often forced to approximate real-world systems, sometimes at the expense of any hands-on experience. At Coastal Carolina, we have integrated FPGA systems first used in our hardware-based courses into several higher-level systems and applications courses. This allows us to leverage student familiarity with …

Introducing Computer Science In An Integrated Science Course, Barry Lawson, Doug Szajda, Lewis Barnett Iii

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

This paper describes our implementation and experience of incorporating computer science concepts into a team-taught, first-year interdisciplinary course for prospective science majors at the University of Richmond. The course integrates essential concepts from each of five STEM disciplines: biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. Including computer science in this course faces three primary challenges: few of the students have any CS background; the time devoted to CS instruction is reduced compared to a traditional introductory CS course; and the spirit of the course requires the CS material to be highly integrated with the other disciplines. Here we discuss our …

Morris Catalog 2013-15, University Of Minnesota, Morris

UMM Catalog

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Perceptions Of Students' Proficiency In Reading And Writing As Indicated By Twelfth Grade English Teachers And College English Instructors, Lara King Charbonnet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in perceptions regarding students' proficiency in reading and writing skills between 12th grade English teachers and college English Composition instructors. A purposive, nonrandom sample of 12th grade English teachers and college English Composition instructors from West Tennessee were surveyed using an instrument whose indicators were based on the Common Core Reading and Writing Standards. The high school teachers rated how proficient students are in these reading and writing skills at the end of two semesters of instruction. The college instructors identified what percent of students were proficient in these same …

Arts And Crafts In Elementary School : Blending With Curriculum, Caitlin Tungate

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Art integration in primary school classrooms has become less common in recent years due to the No Child Left Behind Act, the increased demand for standardized testing and the lack of funding present in school districts nationwide. The use of art in the classroom, whether blended into the curriculum and/or taught separately, has been proven to motivate children to use their creative minds and in turn increase student success in the academic arena. Students from two different kindergarten classrooms were observed during regular class time and assessed based on how the use of art in the classroom aided in their …

Bridgewater State University Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog 2013-2014, Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater State University Catalogs, 2010-

This 2013-2014 Bridgewater State University Catalog outlines programs of study.

The rules, regulations, policies, fees and other charges, courses of study, and academic requirements that appear in this catalog were in effect at the time of its publication. Like everything else in this catalog, they are published for informational purposes only, and they do not constitute a contract between the university and any student, applicant for admission or other person.

Whether noted elsewhere in this catalog or not, the university reserves the right to change, eliminate, and add to any existing (and to introduce additional) rules, regulations, policies, fees and …

Where Is Earth Science? Mining For Opportunities In Chemistry, Physics, And Biology, Julie Thomas, Toni Ivey, Jim Puckette

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

The Earth sciences are newly marginalized in K–12 classrooms. With few high schools offering Earth science courses, students’ exposure to the Earth sciences relies on the teacher’s ability to incorporate Earth science material into a biology, chemistry, or physics course. “G.E.T. (Geoscience Experiences for Teachers) in the Field” is an exploratory program funded by the National Science Foundation aimed to increase teachers’ geoscience interest and content knowledge. Participant teachers (n = 7) included non–Earth science teachers from underrepresented groups and/or high schools with a high percentage of students from underrepresented groups. A variety of quantitative and qualitative measures assessed …

High School Curriculum Tracks As Determinants Of Post-Secondary Outcomes: A Study Of Track Mobility And Its Effects, William Morrison

Dissertations

Despite scores of studies that have shown that tracking and ability grouping perpetuate the academic achievement gap that exists in the United States, the practice continues. The reason for this persistence is a confluence of educational, social, and political factors. As tracking will continue as practice for the foreseeable future, research must help to identify the best and worst of tracking practices so that its negative effects are minimized and positive effects maximized. Oakes (2005) has identified five common elements of tracking policies and practices: extent, pervasiveness, flexibility, mobility, and locus of control. Of these elements, it is my contention …

An Analysis Of Underlying Competencies And Computer And Information Technology Learning Objectives For Business Analysis, Ryan Thomas Quigley

Open Access Theses

This research examines whether the Computer and Information Technology (CIT) department at Purdue University should develop a business analyst concentration. The differences between system and business analysts, evolution of the business analyst profession, job demand and trends, and applicable model curricula were explored to support this research. Review of relevant literature regarding the topics suggested that a business analyst concentration should be developed. A gap analysis was performed to determine how well selected CIT courses address the skills and competencies required by today's business analysts. The primary finding, as a result of the analysis, was that CIT courses alone are …

Hidden Curriculum Of Legal Education: Toward A Holistic Model For Reform, The, David M. Moss

Journal of Dispute Resolution

The following section of this article directly addresses the notion of the hidden curriculum and why this construct is essential for legal educators to consider as they contemplate reforms. Core principles of curriculum theory will then be briefly discussed as a precursor to the subsequent section that addresses the notion of a transdisciplinary curriculum. A transdisciplinary perspective will offer a holistic lens for considering law school curriculum. Finally, such notions as curriculum mapping offer tangible solutions to addressing the challenge of preparing practice-ready graduates in the legal profession.

Exploring The Impact Of Program Structure On Student And Faculty Scholarly Communities In Interdisciplinary Ph. D. Programs, Lenore G. Horowitz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Information Science doctoral program at the University at Albany, State University of New York, faces many of the same challenges found in highly interdisciplinary programs across educational institutions worldwide such as complex curricula development, abundant discipline languages and cultures, and stakeholders clinging to the traditional, single-discipline university system. In 2006, the University at Albany Information Science Ph.D. program faculty redefined the program's structure in hopes of addressing the challenges it was facing. Program structure is a social process shaped by community participation and is influenced by many factors including students, faculty members, and both informal and formal knowledge production.

Astronomy Week: An Investigation Of The Implementation And Identity Formation Of Participants, Carl Matthew Dewitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: our society has a great need for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals and educational institutions are currently having difficulty keeping up with society's demand (Carnevale, 2011). Outreach efforts are a key strategy to encouraging young people to pursue STEM careers and evaluation methods need to be used to ensure that this outreach is efficient and effective in helping young students see themselves as prospective STEM professionals (Moskal, 2011). The purpose of this dissertation study was to investigate the implementation of an astronomy week supported by the center for mathematics and science education (CMSE) and its impact on …

A Qualitative Study Of Curriculum In A Developmental Reading At At Community College, Celina Uranga Gomez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This interpretive study examined the curriculum implemented in a developmental reading course at a community college. Approaching curriculum as a three layered construct, (Cohen, 1990; Hartell, 2012; Mendez, 2010; Page, 1991; Page, 1999), I described classroom lessons to understand how the formal curriculum was translated by students and teachers. This study offered a nuanced account of developmental education with a focus on classroom practice to garner a better understanding of how a developmental reading curriculum was enacted in daily classroom life.

This study focused on questions of culture, meaning and context (Erickson, 1986); therefore, I employed a qualitative approach to …

Aesthetics In The Classroom For Social Justice : How Do The Theories Of John Dewey, Maxine Greene, And Jane Piirto Inform Us?, Valerie Meiners Comeaux

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study asks 1) What is the relationship between art, creativity, and social justice? 2) How do the theories of John Dewey, Maxine Greene, and Jane Piirto inform our understanding of this relationship? 3) What is the role of the arts in contemporary curriculum? To answer these questions, the study chronicled the various roles of art in Western society, from Classical Greece through the present day, before exploring the aesthetic theories of Dewey, Greene, and Piirto. The findings suggest that the absence of an arts-integrated curriculum in most American public schools does not imply the absence of art programs in …

The School And Society: Secondary School Social Studies Education From 1945-1970, Kevin John Owens

Honors Papers

This thesis explores the ways in which changes to citizenship are tied to changes in the secondary school social studies curriculum from 1945 through 1970. During this time, social and political changes forced alterations to the meaning of citizenship. Schools must inherently educate for the future, and are a good measure of what a society views as the values and skills most necessary for the future. As a central inculcator of common values, the social studies class reflected these changes more so than any other school subject.

Ict In The Australian Curriculum, Christopher P. Newhouse

Research outputs 2013

The new Australian Curriculum aims to be suitable for the needs of 21st Century society and as such has explicitly defined a number of key roles to digital technologies. This should provide opportunities for schools and teachers to build on past reforms and prepare for the future. Over the past few years I have had various roles contributing to the development of sections of the Australian Curriculum, specifically the Technologies curriculum area, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) general capability, and the embedding of ICT use across some of the curriculum areas. In this paper I explain my personal understanding …

Engaging First Graders In Transformational Early Childhood Emergent Learning Themes, Amanda Daniel Pendergrass

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to encourage learners to care for others and make a difference in the world through Reggio Emilia-inspired teaching and learning practice that promoted transformational education. Students were anticipated to take an active role in helping to develop the transformational educational curriculum. Students recommended ways of making a difference in their school, neighborhood, and community while investigating a learning theme of their interest and choice. A total of 15 first grade students and nine parents participated in this study. Limited literature exists on the topic of Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood classrooms and recycling …

Advanced Spanish Language High School Students: Perceptions Of Spanish Instruction, Understanding, And Cultural Appreciation, Susan Malanche Smith

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The addition of foreign language study to high school core curriculum benefits learners, society and overlap into the success of other areas of study and critical thinking. The problem in contemporary high school curriculum is that foreign language is disappearing. High school students and educators are failing to see the benefit of foreign language and its benefit to all subjects. The purpose of this study is to identify student perceptions of the importance of foreign language study in high school. The literature review documents the disappearance of foreign language study as part of a high school curriculum. Methodology includes conversations …

A Multi-Institutional Project To Develop Discipline-Specific Data Literacy Instruction For Graduate Students, Sarah Wright, Michael Fosmire, Jon Jeffryes, Marianne Stowell Bracke, Brian Westra

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

What data stewardship skills are needed by future scientists to fulfill their professional responsibilities and take advantage of opportunities in e-science? How can academic librarians contribute their expertise in information organization, dissemination and preservation to better serve modern science? With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), four research libraries have formed a partnership to address these questions. The aims of the partnership are to identify the data stewardship skills, including data management and curation, needed by graduate students at the research discipline level, to identify trends that extend across the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) …

Preschool Curriculum: Choices That Promote Learning, Renee Curet Criddle

Dissertations

Ongoing research has shown that preschool is beneficial not only to early childhood success, but also in providing long-term benefits (Wong, Cook, Barnett, & Jung, 2008). With standards for early childhood being generated at the national level with the announcement of the common core standards nationwide and at the state level through state-mandated early learning guidelines and benchmarks, preschools are turning to specified curriculum content and mandated outcomes for early education programs. Effects of preschool programs vary (Barnett et al., 2008) due to differences in program curriculum and method of delivery. As the knowledge and understanding of how young children …

Neoliberal Teacher Preparation: Conceptualising A Response In The Us Borderlands, Michael D. Guerrero, Peter Farruggio

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

The current era of neoliberal capitalism has witnessed the domination of public education by business interests which openly promote the spirit of competition among schools, educators and students through a policy of high stakes accountability for immediately measurable educational outcomes. In the USA, this policy proposes to make teacher educator programmes accountable for the impact of their programme completers on student achievement, namely standardised test scores. Consequently, some programmes have begun to rethink their practices in an effort to avoid negative sanctions. Unfortunately, little empirical evidence of improvement is available to teacher educators, particularly those committed to the preparation of …

Artist/Teacher: Toward A More Creative Curriculum, Matthew L. Auch Moedy

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

This thesis investigates the formation of my teaching identity. It seeks language for why I orient my teaching toward artistic thinking in my preparation and content. Features of artistic thinking discussed include students have personal interests, teachers need to expose and build on what students bring to class, artistic thinking is not linear and creativity invites the unexpected, play and creativity require both time and space and are best accomplished through situated freedom, process ought not be separated from product, making process visible and valuing process will make a positive difference in a student’s future. Vignettes from my teaching experiences …

Transforming Education To Strengthen Health Systems In The Sultanate Of Oman, Gillian White

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Conspicuous gaps demonstrate a collective global failure in the world’s health systems as they struggle to manage complex and expensive demands. The Lancet Commission recently took a global interdisciplinary perspective and systematic approach to consider alliances between education for health professionals and health systems in order to address these problems. They concluded that positive outcomes require new instructional and institutional designs. Findings from the Lancet Commission have implications for the development of health professional education in Oman, particularly with regard to the call for integrative and transformative education for the next generation of health professionals. Education in the Omani health …

General Education In Health Science-Focused Institutions: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Peggy K. Rosario

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this study was to describe the structure of general education curricula at baccalaureate colleges of health science in relationship to Bergquist’s Career-Based Model of curriculum. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, the model was tested by examining whether the curricula were both prescriptive and specific. First, the researcher analyzed how prescriptive the general education curricula at 38 colleges of health science were by evaluating the institutions’ catalogs and websites. In the qualitative phase, the researcher interviewed general education leaders at six of the colleges to confirm the quantitative data and obtain information about how specific the …

A Value-Added Study Of A Federal Grant Program In Mathematics For Military Dependent Students, Jay C. Marquand Phd

Dissertations

Closing the achievement gap in public education means all students are expected to be learning at grade level. In response to federal mandates requiring schools to attain specific student achievement benchmarks, many schools are placing greater resources into support programs designed to increase student achievement. Military dependent students experience unique challenges including, ongoing parent absences, extended parental deployments, and frequent moving and relocation. In California Unified School District (CUSD) where 37% of the student population is military connected, these challenges can place military dependent students at risk of failing socially, emotionally and academically. As a result, CUSD implemented an individualized, …

Science Literacy: Exploring Middle-Level Science Curriculum Structure And Student Achievement, Sarah F. Faulkner

NERA Conference Proceedings 2012

Although national and state science curriculum standards are based on an integrated model, there is little quantitative data supporting integration. This study explored and described the relationship between middle-level science curriculum structure and student science literacy. Specifically, it compared Connecticut science curriculum specialists’ characterizations of the degree to which their school districts’ middle-level science curriculum was integrated with their school districts’ mean scale-scores on the standardized Middle School Science CMT. An Internet-based survey was developed specifically for use in this study. Overall, participants reported a moderate level of science curriculum integration, as well as significant inconsistencies in the planning, design, …

Education Program Changes 10/18/12, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Division Proposals Summary 09/21/2012, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Barriers And Supports To Curricular Innovation, James P. Klock

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Teachers and administrators frequently agree that curriculum is not suitably tailored to their specific students. Using paired interviews with teachers and administrators, this study explores how teacher/administrator and teacher/societal interactions support and impede teachers' ability to express curricular freedom.