Digital Commons Network^™

Library And Information Science Education And Escience: The Current State Of Ala Accredited Mls/Mlis Programs In Preparing Librarians And Information Professionals For Escience Needs, Hanna Schmillen

Library and Information Science: Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is multifaceted: 1) to describe eScience research in acomprehensive way; 2) to help library and information specialists understand the realm of eScience research and the information needs of the community and demonstrate the importance of LIS professionals within the eScience domain; 3) and to explore the current state of curricular content of ALA accredited MLS/MLIS programs to understand the extent to which they prepare new professionals within eScience librarianship. The literature review focuses heavily on eScientists and other data-driven researchers’ information service needs in addition to demonstrating how and why librarians and information specialists can …

Exit Tickets' Effect On Engagement And Concept Attainment In High School Science, Amy Mastromonaco

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Many high school students struggle to stay engaged in their science class. As a result, student learning often suffers. The purpose of this study was to implement one additional strategy (Exit Tickets) to the teacher’s pedagogy in order to help better engage students and promote student learning. The teacher then evaluated the efficacy of the strategy by: comparing both participant behavioral engagement and assessment results prior to and during/after the implementation of the Exit Tickets. The data was disaggregated to compare students who were typically behaviorally disengaged to those who were consistently behaviorally engaged so as to better determine the …

A Qualitative Historiographical Case Study Of The Educative Properties Of Eugene V. Debs And John Dewey: 21st Century Implications For Education, Bradley Countermine

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to shed light on the current state of educational reform rhetoric through an analysis of previous attempts to shape public education for the benefit of all. Analyzing Eugene V. Debs’s and John Dewey’s views on democracy and education during the Progressive Era promotes a version and vision of education that inspires people to think critically, to navigate contemporary society, and to acknowledge current issues within public education and United States society at large. Because education both reflects society and has the power to transform it, the struggle for fair, equitable, and enlightening education is paramount to the …

Economic Growth And Development In Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, And Latin America: The Impact Of Human Capital, Angui D. Macham

Applied Economics Theses

My thesis is that human capital has been important to growth, but has had differential impact in three areas: Sub-Sahara Africa; Asia; and Latin America. I estimated three regional models to determine the impact of human capital on the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Each model was estimated using the pooled OLS approach with a sample of 10 countries within each region. I make use of data from the Penn World Table- international comparisons of production data bank. I found that only the African region had statistically significant coefficients for both physical and human capital. For the …

The Relationship Between Middle School Students' Mathematical Vocabulary And Their Achievements In Mathematics: A Mixed Method Study, Alanna L. Bowie

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

In 2000, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) included communication in the standards encouraging students to develop their mathematical language to sufficiently and accurately explain their ideas through discourse. For years, there has been a growing movement for students to attain abilities to articulate problem solving methods utilizing mathematics vocabulary (Pierce & Fontaine, 2009).

In this study, a mixed method design was utilized to examine the relationship between middle school students’ understanding of mathematics vocabulary and their success in mathematics. The quantitative study was conducted to determine if there is a correlation between eighth grade mathematics vocabulary acquisition and …

An Analysis Of Afterschool Programs In The United States, Caroline Jeter

Senior Theses

This study shows the effectiveness of afterschool programs in the United States. The beginning of this paper shows why afterschool programs have not been effective in academic improvement. It then leads to the conclusion that now we know what our goals are to achieve better results in academics. This is proven through multiple specific examples of improving academic achievement, establishing positive relationships, and exploring individual goals. My project describes specific afterschool programs and how they may achieve these goals in an effective way. In addition, my research cites statistics and quotes from teachers and students who have been a part …

Ways In Which Community Involvement May Influence Girls’ Education In Senegal, Babou Ndiaye

Masters Theses

This study attempts to examine through the lens of social feminist theory the ways in which community involvement may influence girls’ education in Senegal. It highlights the extent to which networking, advocacy, and meaningful interactions between community and school may contribute to improving access, learning conditions, and academic achievements for girls. The paper also provides an analysis of the adverse effects of community involvement on girls’ education in Senegal. It underscores the extent to which patriarchy and class interfere to shape community involvement and undermine girls’ education, in terms of both access and quality. The paper further sketches a combination …

The Square Of Opposition: Innovations In Teaching Logic, Marc R. Dimartino

Senior Honors Projects

Teaching classical logic can often be challenging, especially when working with students who lack any prior experience with the more technical aspects of critical thinking. The abstraction of statements into logical symbols and the implementation of various diagramming methods can be enough to frustrate novice logicians, leading to a lack of hope and sometimes failure of mastery. The unique difficulties in teaching classical logic can, in addition, exacerbate tricky pedagogical issues that arise on a day to day basis in the critical thinking classroom. For example, it can be challenging to convey complex information in a meaningful way when dealing …

Teaching Algebra: A Comparison Of Scottish And American Perspectives, Brittany Munro

Undergraduate Honors Theses

A variety of factors influence what teaching strategies an educator uses. I analyze survey responses from algebra teachers in Scotland and Appalachia America to discover how a teacher's perception of these factors, particularly their view of mathematics itself, determines the pedagogical strategies employed in the classroom.

The Use Of Technology In Secondary Mathematics Classrooms: The Case Of One School District, Cononiah Latrece Watson

Master's Theses

Integration of technology into secondary education mathematics classes has been shown to increase student motivation and performance. In order for technology to be a component of students’ education, teachers must have training on various technologies available for their subjects of study. This research study surveys thirty-one 6-12^th grade teachers in the Lamar County School District in southern Mississippi regarding availability of technologies, use of technologies, and professional development needs concerning technology use.

Dynamics Of Efficacy For Teachers In Formal Leadership Roles: A Case Study, Kelly M. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective leadership has a positive impact upon schools and student achievement. Teacher inclusion in leadership efforts has grown during a time of school reform. In order to sustain and define teacher leader responsibilities, efficacious teachers need to be supported by school and district administrators. A case study was used to understand the dynamics of self-efficacy as it pertains to teacher leaders in the Oak Ridge School District in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Purposive sampling was used to select 5 teacher leaders and 2 district administrators for the case study. Interviews along with observations of meetings facilitated by teacher leaders allowed for …

Creative Concentrations: A Secondary Design Curriculum, Linnea Roberta Gustafson

Masters Theses

Design education, as distinct from art education, has been overlooked as an area of student learning, creative expression, and career potential. This thesis explores the benefits of design education for students at the secondary level, when identities are being formed and areas of future study and work are considered. Guided by the newly published National Core Arts Standards, this paper provides a model design curriculum that introduces secondary students to a design-oriented view of the world, explores design principles through real-world applications, and calls attention to professional career options.

All lessons in the curriculum encourage creative approaches to solving design …

Knowledge And Self-Esteem In Individuals With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (Nf1), Kayla Vaughn

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a progressive genetic disorder characterized mainly by café-au-lait macules, Lisch nodules, as well as cutaneous and subcutaneous neurofibromas among other traits. Due to the physical manifestations of the condition, it has been observed that individuals with NF1 have lower self-esteem (SE) when compared to the general population. Additionally, a study published over 20 years ago found that overall knowledge of NF1 was poor in individuals affected with the condition. The goal of our study was to reassess knowledge in this population and investigate whether it is related to SE. A survey comprised of knowledge-based questions …

The Essence Of Instructional Coaching With Elementary Teacher Candidates: Reflections Of Practice, Abigail J. Burke

Student Work

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the essence of instructional coaching between teacher candidates and an instructional coach as it relates to reflection of practice. Reflection has increasingly been recognized as a central element of professional growth during teacher preparation (Barnett, 2009; Cochran, et al, 2009; Hiebert, Morris, Berk, & Jansen, 2007; Parkinson, 2009). There is limited understanding of the process of learning with the support of an instructional coach within the context of field experience during teacher preparation. The limited research regarding the reflective practices alongside an instructional coach, during field experience led me to analyze …

Reading And Math Outcomes Of Randomly Selected Majority Culture Students Participating In An Elective, Parent Choice, Full Academic Content Area Spanish Immersion Program, Matt K. Rega

Student Work

The purpose of this study is to determine the reading and math outcomes of randomly selected majority culture students participating in an elective, parent choice, full academic content area Spanish Immersion Program kindergarten through fifth-grade compared to randomly selected same school control majority culture students participating in a traditional academic content area English only program kindergarten through fifth-grade. Study results indicate that posttest ending third-grade NWEA MAP-Reading Test Scores M = 196.02 (SD = 46.18) compared to post-posttest ending fifth-grade NWEA MAP-Reading Test Scores M = 227.07 (SD = 9.58) following kindergarten through fifth-grade participation in an elective, parent choice, …

Analytical Comparison Of Contrasting Approaches To Estimating Competing Risks Models, Brian Stephen Rickard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Survival analysis is a commonly used tool in many fields but has seen little use in education research despite a common number of research questions for which it is well suited. Researchers often use logistic regression instead; however, this omits useful information. In research on retention and graduation for example, the timing of the event is an important piece of information omitted when using logistic regression. A simulation study was conducted to evaluate four methods of analyzing competing risks survival data, Cox proportional hazards regression, Weibull regression, Fine and Gray's Method, and Cox proportional hazards regression with frailty. College student …

Defining Primary And Academic Discourse Through Instructional Methods In A Single Junior High Classroom, Ashley Nicole Gerhardson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I examine the use of academic discourse in the school setting and discuss the relation of the primary discourse to academic discourse. I focus on the verbal exchanges between a teacher and her students as these students acquire the academic discourse of the English classroom. The study focuses on the ideas of primary discourse and secondary or academic discourse as presented by Gee (1996) and focuses on his idea of Social languages.

Using a microethnographic study, I develop the idea of how the teacher related to her students and how a single educator felt about the purpose …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Snap Challenge On University Participant Attitudes Toward Poverty, Susan Tyler Wallace Harding

Graduate Theses

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a week-long SNAP Challenge completed by university participants influenced perceptions about poverty. Design: Pretest and posttest questionnaires measured changes in attitudes toward poverty after the SNAP Challenge using the Attitude Toward Poverty Short Form scale comprised of three factors: Personal Deficiency, Stigma, and Structural Perspective. Dispositional empathy was measured with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and analyzed as a potential mediating variable of attitude change. Subjects: Student and non-student subjects were recruited from Winthrop University. Four hundred forty-six pretest questionnaires were initiated, 363 were completed, and 363 were eligible for …

A Phenomenological Study Of National Distinguished Elementary And Middle School Principals From The Class Of 2010, Michael John Dawson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the leadership experiences and perspectives of five National Distinguished Elementary Principals (NDPs) from the Class of 2010 serving in the Midwest region of the United States. Specifically, the study investigated the application and selection process of recognition as an NDP, their views of school leadership, and their perception of best professional practices. Using a phenomenological approach, the researcher used semistructured phone interviews and analyzed National Distinguished Principal application essays. The required essays focused on balancing leadership and management, promoting parent involvement, supporting and challenging learners, and advancing a positive culture. The …

Community College Student Achievement In Web Based Software-Enhanced Developmental Mathematics Courses, Andrew Mark Aberle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to compare the performance of students receiving web based software-enhanced instruction with the performance of students receiving lecture only instruction in terms of retention rates, success rates, test grades, and final exam scores for developmental mathematics courses at Ozarks Technical Community College. The researcher randomly selected 250 participants from the population of students experiencing software-enhanced instruction during the 2012-2013 academic year and 250 participants from the population of students experiencing lecture only instruction during the 2010-2011 academic year. Several demographic variables were compared to control for intervening variables. The sample data was tested …

Leadership Behaviors Used By Principals Of Large High Schools Compared To Principals Of Small High Schools: A Comparative Multiple-Case Study, Kimberly Lynn Baker Garrett

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this multi-case study was to examine if there may be a perceived relationship between the size of the school and the leadership behaviors of the four principals. This purpose was achieved through a qualitative inquiry of principal interviews, principal survey, observation of a principals' leadership team meeting, focus group interview with the principals' leadership team, and analysis of the extant texts: principals' time log for one week, organizational chart, and agenda for a leadership team meeting. The data were reduced through two cycles of coding which then further analyzed resulting in the identification of five major themes. …

Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy: Examining The Relationship Of Teacher Efficacy And Student Achievement, Nouf Abdullah Alrefaei

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate which teachers’ characteristics have an impact on teachers’ sense of efficacy. In addition, the relationship between mathematics and science fifth grade teachers’ sense of efficacy and student achievement was examined. Two characteristics related to teachers were examined: teachers’ years of teaching experience and teachers’ highest degree. Participants included 62 mathematics and science teachers from three school districts in Northwest Arkansas. When comparing fifth grade mathematics and science teachers’ efficacy beliefs based on their highest degree, a significant difference in teachers’ efficacy beliefs was found based on their degrees. Teachers with a Bachelor …

A Book Review Of Education And Democracy In The 21st Century, Xiuying Cai

Democracy & Education

This book review recommends Nel Noddings's new exploration of Dewey's foundational work to secondary school teachers, preservice teachers, and teacher-educators as a starting point to think about the big pictures of educational aims and to explore ways of realizing them in curriculum and pedagogy.

Lift Every Voice And Sing. A Response To "Mathematics For What? High School Students Reflect On Mathematics As A Tool For Social Inquiry", Anita Bright

Democracy & Education

In this response, I applaud the work initiated in this research and underscore some of the key reasons I find it so valuable. Building from this, I also issue a call to the greater mathematics education community—particularly the large mathematics professional organizations—to consider the ways their organizations have conceptualized and framed equity work, and invite them to entertain the idea of remapping their visions in ways that are more forward thinking and less traditionally safe.

Mathematics For What? High School Students Reflect On Mathematics As A Tool For Social Inquiry, Anastasia Brelias

Democracy & Education

This study examines high school students’ views of mathematics as a tool for social inquiry in light of their classroom experiences using mathematics to explore social issues. A critical theoretical perspective on mathematics literacy is used to ascertain the ways in which their views challenge or affirm the dominant image of mathematics in society. The study concludes that mathematics applications addressing social justice issues are promising vehicles for developing students’ appreciation of mathematics as a social problem-solving tool, an awareness of its limitations, and a healthy skepticism toward its uses.

Evaluation Of Gifted Education Using A-F School Grading Accountability Systems, Daniel R. Arndt

Honors Scholar Theses

A recent trend in accountability systems in the United States has been grading schools on an A-F scale. Some of the evaluation components included in these systems are standardized test proficiency rates and student growth measures. Traditionally, these systems have not emphasized accountability for gifted education programming or services. The accountability systems of the sixteen states in the U.S. under these A-F systems were analyzed for indicators that involve gifted education, which does not yet have a federal mandate or centralized decision-making. The frequency of evaluation components were compared at the high school and elementary school levels. The only gifted …

Self-Efficacy Perceptions Of Novice And Career Teachers In Instructional Strategies, Student Engagement, And Classroom Management, Jeffrey S. Kerns

Student Work

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the body of literature that identifies where in the career cycle that teachers need the most support and they experience the greatest levels of self-efficacy in classroom management, student engagement, and instructional strategies. Teachers’ efficacy beliefs were measured using the 12-item short form version of the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES- Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001). This instrument is considered valid and reliable while demonstrating the ability to capture teachers’ efficacy beliefs in three areas: student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001). The short form …

Teaching Chemistry To Students With Disabilities: A Manual For High Schools, Colleges, And Graduate Programs - Edition 4.1, Todd Pagano, Annemarie D. Ross, Committee On Chemists With Disabilities - American Chemical Society

Open Access Books by RIT Staff and Faculty

Ever since it was first published, Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: A Manual for High Schools, Colleges, and Graduate Programs has served as a vital resource in the chemistry classroom and laboratory to students with disabilities as well as their parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. The comprehensive 4th edition was last updated in 2001, so the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (CWD) thought it prudent to update such a valuable text at this time. In a changing time of technology, rapid access to information, accessibility tools for individuals with disabilities, and publishing, Edition 4.1 …

Teaching Cybersecurity Using The Cloud, Khaled Salah, Mohammad Hammoud, Sherali Zeadally

Information Science Faculty Publications

Cloud computing platforms can be highly attractive to conduct course assignments and empower students with valuable and indispensable hands-on experience. In particular, the cloud can offer teaching staff and students (whether local or remote) on-demand, elastic, dedicated, isolated, (virtually) unlimited, and easily configurable virtual machines. As such, employing cloud-based laboratories can have clear advantages over using classical ones, which impose major hindrances against fulfilling pedagogical objectives and do not scale well when the number of students and distant university campuses grows up. We show how the cloud paradigm can be leveraged to teach a cybersecurity course. Specifically, we share our …

Fostoria Intermediate Elementary School Family Math Night, Chelsea Nye

Honors Projects

This is a Family Math Night that was planned and held at Fostoria Intermediate Elementary School in Fostoria, Ohio. It includes the Research Questions, Literature Review, Proposed Activity, Methodology, and Expected Results as well as the Annotated Bibliography and Timeline for Completion from my research and planning. Following the Proposal are 20 mathematical activity or game lesson plans and direction sheets that were planned for the Family Math Night. There are 5 different mathematical activities or games for each grade level 3-6, each meeting a different domain in the Common Core State Standards. At the end there is two general …