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Developing A Handbook Of Summer Activities For The First Grade Student, Sandra S. Roser

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Authors Of Pictures, Draughtsmen Of Words, Ruth Shagoury Hubbard

Doctoral Dissertations

Human thought is unique. We have the ability to create and share meaning through the use of various kinds of symbol systems. This study explored the shared dynamics of visual and verbal symbolic thought processes and their consequences for the acquisition of literacy. In particular, the study focused on the writing, reading, and drawing processes of the children in a process-based first-grade classroom.

Research methods included participant/observations, open-ended interviews, audio-taped classroom discussions and interviews, and samples of the writing and drawing of the children in the entire class, with a special focus on five of the students. A detailed analysis …

Literacy For Living: What Literacy Means In The Lives Of Three Adults, Lorraine Ann Neilsen

Doctoral Dissertations

This research is an ethnographic study of the meaning of literacy in the lives of three adults. The two-year study, which took place in the community of Hubbards, Nova Scotia, investigated the literacy background and current literacy activities of two women and one man. The data were collected using interactive methods, such as participant observation and interviews, and non-interactive methods, such as collecting reading and writing artifacts. The results of the study described the holistic process of learning and demonstrating literate behaviours at home and at work, and illustrated the role that literacy plays in shaping the contexts of the …

Types Of Worlds: Writing And Reading Genres In A First Grade Process Classroom, Brenda Anne Miller

Doctoral Dissertations

The concept of genre has long been fundamental in both literature and literacy studies. In this qualitative study of first graders' concepts of genre, the researcher observed and interviewed Patricia McLure's class of first graders for six months. The teacher uses a process (or response-based) literacy curriculum.

The children were watched and interviewed while they wrote and read texts. As they defined their texts collectively in small and large groups, genres emerged. Many of these child-defined genres are different than adult-defined genres. The children's categories and conventions in texts reveal what the children and the teacher value in and outside …

Academic Discourse: An Ethnography Of The Public And Private Literacies Of University Students, Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater

Doctoral Dissertations

This study is about the various meanings that being literate holds for two students in an academic setting. The study begins in a description of a prose writing classroom where informants are located and then goes on to follow two students from prose writing into other settings across the curriculum to consider how talk, reading, and writing are used in these classrooms. The data was collected using a number of field methods such as participant observation and intensive interviews as well as non-interactive methods such as textual and transcript analysis. Two extensive case studies form the center of the study. …

Relative Isometric And Dynamic Endurance Curves For Different Muscle Groups Of The Upper Extremities., Seung Ho Yoon

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study analyzed the characteristics of both dynamic and isometric relative endurance curves for four different muscle groups of the upper extremities. College males (N = 56) were tested on the Cybex Isokinetic Dynamometer both isometrically and dynamically on four exercises: bench press, arm curls, shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion. In all, eight separate exercises were examined. Each dynamic and isometric exercise bout was for 80 and 60 s, respectively and data were recorded ever 4 s. Parameters examined were Maximal Strength, Total Force Output, Relative Total (RT, TFO, divided by 80s or 60s x peak force), and Relative …

Effects Of Sex And Social Influence On Perception Of Physical Effort During Light To Heavy Work By Elite Athletes., Michael Francis Sylva

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study was designed to investigate the effect of sex and social influence on perception of physical effort during light or heavy work by male and female athletes. Subjects performed three submaximal trials of 27 minutes each on a cycle ergometer at 25, 50 and 70% of maximum oxygen consumption in the presence of a male coactor, a female coactor, and just riding alone. The results indicated that subjects' ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were similar when performing at all three coactor/alone conditions. No significant sex difference in RPE was found. Thus, highly trained male and female atheletes did not …

Effect Of Cooperative Grouping On Stoichiometric Problem-Solving In High School Chemistry., Joy Bridges Tingle

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A study of stoichiometric problem solving in chemistry was conducted in three high schools in a rural school district. Students (n = 178) in grades 10-12 solved problems individually or in a cooperative group using a prescriptive problem-solving strategy. This strategy consisted of a statement of the problem, redescription that included not only extraction of the stated and implied information but picture discription, prediction, mathematical solution, and check. The main purpose of the study was to determine empirically whether there was a difference in achievement between students solving problems individually and in cooperative groups. The cooperative groups were heterogeneously based …

The Memory Representation Of Motor Skills: A Test Of Schema Theory., Craig John Chamberlin

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Currently, the pre-eminent model of central representation for motor skills is embodied in Schmidt's schema theory of discrete motor skill learning (Schmidt, 1975). Two experiments are reported here that contrast predictions from a schema abstraction model that is the basis for schema theory to those from a specific exemplar model of motor skill memory representation. In both experiments, subjects performed 300 trials per day of 3 variations of a 3-segment timing task over 4 days of acquisition. The subjects then either immediately transferred to 4 novel variations of the same task (Experiment 1) that varied in degree of environmental similarity …

The Relation Of Teacher Feedback To Student Achievement In Learning Selected Tennis Skills., Tony Eghan

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study assessed the impact of teacher feedback on student achievement in learning three tennis skills (forehand, backhand, and the serve). It also described teacher feedback patterns in teaching beginning tennis. Subjects consisted of a professional tennis instructor and 40 undergraduate male and female students enrolled in two beginning tennis classes. Fifteen 30-min instructional sessions were videotaped and audiotaped within a 10-week period. Subjects were pretested and posttested on the three tennis skills. The tapes were coded for type and frequency of teacher feedback. The mean occurrence of teacher feedback directed to individual students was about 1 (M = 1.4, …

For At-Risk Students: A Theory Based Alternative Structured School Model, Its Implementation And Evaluation., Suzan Naquin Gaston

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study has been to design, implement, and evaluate an alternative structure to traditional schools, operationalized as the Louisiana State Youth Opportunities Unlimited School. The alternative structure of the school was based on a number of theoretical concepts. The implementation of this structure intended to increase the level of coping skills in student participants who were at risk for dropping out of high school. There were two theoretical models that influenced the design of the LSYOU school. The first model suggests that the socialization of clients is most effective in organizations that are high in scope and …

Music Preference: A Comparison Of Verbal Opinions And Behavioral Intentions Of Selected High School Students., Karen O'Neal Graffius

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the study was to compare high school students' verbal opinions and behavioral intentions for musicians and their music. Subjects were high school students enrolled in a gifted and talented curriculum (N = 57) and students enrolled in the regular curriculum (N = 45). They were further categorized as students with three or more years of music training (N = 56), students with less than three years of music training (N = 46), black students (N = 39) and white students (N = 63). In part one of the study all of the subjects were given a list …

Thinking Processes, Management Routines And Student Perceptions Of Expert And Novice Physical Education Teachers., Karyn R. Nelson

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study examined thought processes including problem-solving and interpretations of instructional situations of expert and novice physical education teachers at two grade levels. Four expert and four novice teachers (two each at the third grade and two each at the seventh grade) participated in the study. Thoughts, concerns, decisions, and awarenesses of expert and novice teachers during instruction were evaluated as well as their students' perceptions of the instruction. A total of 144 students were interviewed. Class rules and management routines established during the first week of the school year by two of the expert teachers (one at each grade …

Computer Anxiety Levels Of Southern Region Cooperative Extension Service Agents., Myra Lynn Nettles Smith

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The objectives of this study were: to determine the computer anxiety levels of Cooperative Extension Service agents; to describe agents' concerning computer use, skill levels, availability and use of office computers, formal computer training, and administrative support; and to determine the variance in computer anxiety explained by selected variables. A mailed questionnaire to 544 randomly selected Southern Region agents was used with a 97.8% response rate. Computer anxiety levels were measured using Oetting's (1983) Computer Anxiety Scale (COMPAS). Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients were calculated. Stepwise multiple regression at the.05 level was used to develop a model which explained agents' …

A Longitudinal Examination Of The Structure, Membership And Benefits Of The Louisiana Association Of Principals., David Strauss

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the structure, membership, and benefits provided by the Louisiana Association of Principals. A review of related literature revealed a lack of standards whereby state-level educational organizations could be systematically examined. In this study it was hypothesized that by providing benefits to members, the Louisiana Association of Principals could increase its membership. It was also hypothesized that in order to gain new members, the Louisiana Association of Principals had to effectively deal with internal and external pressures. All of the records of the organization were reviewed. Interviews were conducted with key leaders. Ineffective …

Construction Of A Sport Specific Mental Imagery Assessment Instrument Using Item Response And Classical Test Theory Methodology., John George Tew Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Two phases are reported in the development of a sport specific Mental Imagery Assessment Instrument (MIAI). The focus in constructing this instrument was to deal with the problems identified by Hall (1985) and, at the same time, to provide a sport specific MIAI for football players that could be used for future research. In addition, it was hoped that the construction procedures for this particular MIAI could be used as a model to develop sport specific MIAIs for other sports. Thus, a secondary purpose of the study was to provide a comparative approach to test construction in the affective domain …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Agricultural Education Student Teaching In The Southern Region Of The United States., Curtis Joseph Borne

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of student teaching as perceived by first year teachers, university supervisors and cooperating classroom teachers. The objectives of the study were as follows: (1) to describe student teaching in agricultural education as perceived by first year teachers, university supervisors, and cooperating classroom teachers, (2) to determine first year teachers' self-perceived preparedness for teaching vocational agriculture,(3) to identify perceptions of first year teachers of vocational agriculture regarding sources of self-perceived preparedness, and (4) to identify significant sources of variance in perceived preparedness explained by components of the preservice program and characteristics …

Extending A Theoretical Model: Nursing Career Departure., Barbara Heil Foss

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The intention of this dissertation was to evaluate empirically the generalization of a theoretical model. The model (Tinto, 1987) studied was intended to predict departure from college. In this study the model was extended to departure from career. The basic premise of Tinto's theory is that voluntary departure from the college community is the result of a decreased integration between an individual and the institution. Concepts of the Tinto model were used to develop the career persistence model, which depicts how the preoccupational attributes of academic achievement and educational attainment are a function of precollege goal commitment. These variables plus …

An Investigation Of The Student Equity Effects Of The Public School Finance System In Louisiana., Barbara Yates Lacost

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the Louisiana school funding system on two dimensions of student equity: equality of opportunity and equal treatment of equals. This was accomplished by assessing alternate year data from 1977-78 to 1985-86 in order to document changes, if any, that occurred in the equality associated with the distribution of state and local revenue. Berne and Stiefel's (1984) conceptual framework for measuring equity was utilized to determine the variables and measures used. Of first importance was the investigation of equal opportunity. This principle was represented by the fiscal neutrality standard, which …

How Forgetting Facilitates Remembering: An Analysis Of The Contextual Interference Effect In Motor Learning., Carol Cosgrove Poto

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The experiments reported here were designed to test a hypothesis regarding why the contextual interference (CI) effect in retention of motor skills occurs. It was hypothesized that the high-CI or random group performs better on a retention test than the low-CI or blocked group because the random schedule has included practice in retrieving motor tasks from long-term memory (LTM). This is the same information-processing activity required for successful retention test performance. In essence, both groups learn the motor task to the same extent, but the random group also learns to recall the task from LTM on demand. In the first …

Effectiveness Of The Healthy Weight Workshop On Weight Management Practices Of Paraprofessional Personnel Of The Cooperative Extension Service., Elizabeth S. Reames

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study was designed to investigate the effects of participation by black female paraprofessionals in a weight management workshop on selected indices including dietary intake, nutrition knowledge, exercise practices, eating behaviors, anthropometric measurements and sick leave hours used. Nineteen subjects from one urban site were selected to participate in the workshop and 18 subjects from another urban site served as the comparison group. Data were collected from both groups one week before, one week after and six months following the workshop. Measurements obtained before the workshop showed that the two groups had similar characteristics and pretest scores. Anthropometric measurements indicated …

Relationships Among Model Performances And Performances By Piano Majors: Articulation And Dynamics In Selected Bach Fugal Excerpts., Michael Durward Sharp

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships among model performances and performances by graduate and undergraduate piano majors of three Bach fugal subjects. Twenty-five undergraduate and graduate piano majors in the School of Music at Louisiana State University participated in the study. Subjects were instructed to listen to a pre-recorded performance of three Bach fugal subjects by a concert pianist/teacher. After listening to each excerpt, they were asked to replicate the performance with particular attention to the relative dynamic level of each note and the relative duration (staccato/legato) of each note in the excerpts. Subjects' performances were digitally …

An Investigation Of The Relationships Among Supervisory Expertise Of The Principal, Teacher Autonomy And Environmental Robustness Of The School., Mary Sue Street

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among principal supervisory expertise and teacher work autonomy and the environmental robustness of the school. Social systems theory was the guiding theoretical framework in the design and interpretation of this study. Supervisory expertise refers to a concrete set of behaviors, skills, and/or knowledge reflecting a clinical supervision model that principals demonstrate to teachers. Teacher satisfaction with the supervisory program was also measured. Teacher autonomy refers to the independence teachers maintain in exercising discretion within their classrooms to make instructional decisions. Environmental robustness is conceptualized as the perceived dramatic content of …

Art Educators’ Responsibility To Cultural Diversity: Or “Where Are You Goin Wid Alla My Stuff?”, Kristen G. Congdon

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

The responsibility of art educators to recognize and study the art and context of as many populations as possible is examined in this article. Examples of how artistic expressions have been borrowed, used in different contexts and otherwise removed from their original cultural context are given, and examples of ways that art teachers can help to recognize origins and the artistic functions of many cultures are suggested. By placing art in its context and studying it as it changes, students may begin to understand the artistic source, appreciate the importance of the creative context, and begin to see multi-cultural dimensions …

Accessing A Global Language: A Comparison Of G-Telp And Toefl Performance, Paula C. Kelly Edd

Dissertations

The ESL (English as a Second Language) field has traditionally focused on foreign students who come to the United States to learn English to pursue an academic degree. Those students gain English proficiency, earn a degree, and often return home to be leaders in their countries. The author has titled these students first wave learners. As those newly trained leaders return home, they are met by a group of potential followers who do not speak English. These potential followers, or second wave learners, need to acquire English skills to join with their leaders in accessing professional and technical resources and …

On Being A Truant: A Phenomenological Study Of Students In A Comprehensive High School, Diane Berger Mcclure Edd

Dissertations

This dissertation was a phenomenological study of eight students in a comprehensive high school who exhibited symptoms of truancy. Student interviews, student journals, and field notes were examined and the content analyzed. Students who began to display a truancy pattern and who have displayed symptoms of truancy in a previous school year were selected from a stratified random sample. Students were chosen to represent the ethnic and gender percentages of their school. During the first months of truancy, behavior modification steps were applied to the students which incorporated successful elements of major exemplary truancy programs. These students having not responded …

A Study Of Shared Instructional Leadership By Mentor Teachers In Southern California, Rita M. King Edd

Dissertations

Can implementation of a mentor teacher program create instructional leadership opportunities resulting in retention of talented and dedicated educators, eliminate teacher isolation, and promote teacher empowerment, collegiality, and teacher and administrator collaboration? The purposes of this research were to determine the extent to which mentor teachers have become instructional leaders and to show activities and interactions in which mentors demonstrated instructional leadership with colleagues within one district. The research examined a sample number of formal and informal key relationships. Six research questions examined qualitative interview data and quantitative survey questionnaire data from mentor teachers, teachers who may or may not …

University Of Texas At Tyler Catalog, 1988-1990, University Of Texas At Tyler

Catalogs

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Actual Knowledge, Perceived Knowledge And Interest In Selected Health Areas Of Southeastern Louisiana University Freshmen, 1985., Peggy Ann Wax Harris

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the health knowledge of entering college freshmen for the purpose of adapting health education at the college and secondary level. The population for the study consisted of members of the freshmen class at Southeastern Louisiana University in the Fall of 1985. A thirty-five percent sample was achieved by administering the research questionnaire in a group setting. The questionnaire was built around determining actual and perceived knowledge and interest in acquiring more knowledge in six areas of health. Null hypotheses of relationships among the three knowledge dimensions were tested by the Pearson Product-Moment …

Leadership And Nonverbal Behaviors Of Hispanic Females Across School Equity Environments, Helen A. Moore, Natalie K. Porter

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Nonverbal behaviors of Hispanic elementary school students and their peers were examined in a small-group cooperative task with a total of 202 subjects. Thirty-five randomly selected groups were videotaped in ten desegregated schools, each group was gender-homogeneous, with three Hispanic and three Anglo students. Analysis of the videotapes revealed that Hispanic females used less vertical and horizontal space than Anglo females, and were also less likely to verbally interrupt or physically intrude on other group members They had similar rates of handling the group resource cards and were given similar leadership scores by multi-ethnic trained observers. Among males, Hispanics are …