Digital Commons Network^™

Mathematics Achievement With Digital Game-Based Learning In High School Algebra 1 Classes, Terri Ferguson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of digital game-based learning (DGBL) on mathematics achievement in a rural high school setting in North Carolina. A causal comparative research design was used in this study to collect data to determine the effectiveness of DGBL in high school Algebra 1 classes. Data were collected from the North Carolina End-of-Course (EOC) Test for high school Algebra 1. The data collection was broken down by comparison groups based on academic achievement as measured by the North Carolina EOC Test for Algebra 1. The comparison groups were student participants who received digital game-based instruction and tradition instruction …

The Social Construction Of Sexuality In Primary School Classrooms, Anna Spengen

Sociology Major Research Papers

Through qualitative interviews with primary school teachers, this research sought to uncover how heterosexual privilege is maintained in talk about sexuality. More specifically, this research sought to identify the strategies used by teachers in talking to their students about sexuality. These strategies took shape in the following: a reliance on scientific explanations, deferring to others, a reliance on faith and religion, and the presumption that children are innocent and asexual. This research determined that these strategies were used to produce, reproduce, and maintain heterosexism and heteronormativity. The implications of this research are that schools are missing an important opportunity to …

A Five-Step Process For Interactive Parent–Adolescent Communication About Hiv Prevention: Advice From Parents Living With Hiv/Aids, Laura L. Edwards, Janet S. Reis

University Author Recognition Bibliography: 2014

The authors investigated how parents living with HIV/AIDS communicate about HIV prevention with their 10- to 18-year-old children. Semistructured interviews with 76 mothers and fathers were analyzed for (a) their experiences discussing HIV prevention with adolescents and (b) advice for other parents about how to best broach HIV-related topics. Interactive conversations were regarded as particularly effective. A five-step process for interactive communication emerged as a result of these discussions. Parents emphasized that adolescents should have a “voice” and a “choice” in HIV-related talks. Health care professionals can facilitate adolescent sexual health by encouraging parents to actively involve their children in …

The Relationship Between Mclass Reading 3d Assessment And The North Carolina End-Of-Grade Assessment Of Reading Comprehension In An Elementary School, Amy S. Bowles

Education Dissertations and Projects

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) instituted the Reading Diagnostic Initiative in 2009 in which select elementary schools across the state were piloting the reading diagnostic tool mClass Reading 3D. This study investigated the relationship between results from the North Carolina End-of-Grade (NCEOG) Assessment of Reading Comprehension and the results from the mClass Reading 3D assessment in a North Carolina elementary school's third, fourth, and fifth grades, especially examining the degree to which mClass Reading 3D predicts scores on the reading comprehension measures of the NCEOG.

The quantitative, correlational study utilized a predictive design to determine if the …

Building Investigative Skills And Critical Thinking For Middle School Students Through Inquiry Based Science Lessons, Kelly L. Hatteberg

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This research analyzes the results of implementing inquiry based science lessons in a middle school classroom to determine if students build critical thinking and inquiry skills. Additionally, the impact of inquiry lessons on my own teaching methods and on student attitude towards science learning was measured. Conclusions have been drawn through analysis of data from pre and post intervention student questionnaires, rubric scoring of student work, as well as analysis of the inquiry lesson plans and impact on teaching methods. Through implementation of specifically designed inquiry based activities requiring students to build upon previous knowledge and providing opportunities to actively …

There's Still Time To Get Your Feet Wet!, Valerie Cournoyer

Wrack Lines

Marine and aquatic field experiences provide a rich context for inquiry-based teaching and learning designed around standards.

Lack Of Quantitative Training Among Early-Career Ecologists: A Survey Of The Problem And Potential Solutions, F. Barraquand, T. G. Ezard, P. Søgaard Jørgensen, Naupaka B. Zimmerman, S. Chamberlain, R. Salguero-Gómez, T. J. Curran, T. Poisot

Biology Faculty Publications

Proficiency in mathematics and statistics is essential to modern ecological science, yet few studies have assessed the level of quantitative training received by ecologists. To do so, we conducted an online survey. The 937 respondents were mostly early-career scientists who studied biology as undergraduates. We found a clear self-perceived lack of quantitative training: 75% were not satisfied with their understanding of mathematical models; 75% felt that the level of mathematics was “too low” in their ecology classes; 90% wanted more mathematics classes for ecologists; and 95% more statistics classes. Respondents thought that 30% of classes in ecology-related degrees should be …

Measuring The Effects Of An American Physiological Society's Phun Week Activity On 2Nd Grade Students, James Edelman

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last few years the United States has been on the decline in the fields of science and technology. The American Physiological Society (APS) has developed a program to engage young minds with scientists. Physiology Understanding Week (PhUn) is the APS initiative to use interactive experiments to engage school-age children with science and physiology. Even though PhUn Week has been going on since 2005, systematic assessment of the activities effects is rare. Here, we sought to assess if an APS PhUn Week activity enhances physiology understanding and interest in science in second grade children form a rural area. The …

A Study Of Effective Characteristics Most Valued In Superintendents By Principals, Camille Goldman

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effective characteristics of superintendents through the principal's perception. The perceptions of principals were compared to those of superintendents. A one-way ANOVA was used to interpret and analyze the data for this study. All superintendents and principals in public schools in Indiana were invited to participate in this study. This study was conducted by administering a survey to public school district superintendents and principals in Indiana. The Effective Characteristics of Superintendents survey was developed by me to quantitatively measure the perceptions of superintendents and principals with research from the ISLLC standards, theorists,Educational …

Hot Yoga Establishments In Local Communities Serving Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study On The Health Implications Of Its Practice And Environmental Conditions, Viann N. Nguyen-Feng, Steven L. Feng, Shilpa Babbar, Nicole Calloway Rankins, James D. Blando

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Hot yoga establishments have been increasing in popularity in local communities. Studios may support participation among pregnant women though no clinical studies currently exist that examine prenatal hot yoga effects. The pilot study described in this article aimed to assess the spread of prenatal hot yoga and to provide information on the environmental conditions and practices of those who engage in hot yoga within a local community. A thermal environment meter was used to measure ambient air conditions during three 90-minute hot yoga classes. Mothers who practiced prenatal hot yoga were more likely than non-hot yoga practitioners to have someone …

I Be Goin Places: Sociolinguistic Assimilation In A Baltimore Boarding School, Kade Doyle Needham

Theses & ETDs

I performed sociolinguistic ethnographic research at The SEED School of Maryland, a statewide public boarding school targeting students whose socioeconomic status hinders their academic potential. During the participant observation, I interviewed staff, teachers and students while collecting written and spontaneous speech samples from the classroom, dorms and cafeteria. The situationally-specific frequencies of AAVE-marked and AAVE-unmarked English measures assimilation into both academic and boarding school culture, offering a nuanced insight into the dimorphic social world of the students. In the end, I relate behavioral and linguistic developments to teaching styles, motivational tactics and the discipline system.

Perceived Barriers To Technology Integration, Adam J. Hartley

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed-methods study explores the potential barriers to change related to the integration of technology among elementary teachers. Data were collected through the use of a survey, interviews, and focus groups. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) developed by Hall and Hord (2001) was used to capture teacher perceptions of the technology integration. Additional qualitative data were gathered through an open-ended questionnaire, and followed up with interviews and a focus group with eight teachers from the district studied. Two teachers, from each of the four elementary buildings within the school district, were chosen. The population of this study consisted of approximately …

Interaction Between Climatic, Environmental, And Demographic Factors On Cholera Outbreaks In Kenya, James D. Stoltzfus, Jane Y. Carter, Muge Akpinar-Elci, Martin Matu, Victoria Kimotho, Mark J. Giganti, Daniel Langat, Omur C. Elsi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background:

Cholera remains an important public health concern in developing countries including Kenya where 11,769 cases and 274 deaths were reported in 2009 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This ecological study investigates the impact of various climatic, environmental, and demographic variables on the spatial distribution of cholera cases in Kenya.

Methods:

District-level data was gathered from Kenya’s Division of Disease Surveillance and Response, the Meteorological Department, and the National Bureau of Statistics. The data included the entire population of Kenya from 1999 to 2009.

Results:

Multivariate analyses showed that districts had an increased risk of cholera outbreaks when …

The Education Lorenz Curve: Exploring Education And Social Mobility In A Lorenz Curve Framework, Nichole D. Alexander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within any society the level of social mobility, the distribution of income, and equality of opportunity work together to determine the ease with which a child born into poverty can make it to the middle class during his or her lifetime. Education plays a large part, if not the largest part, in the analysis of these areas within a given society. Therefore, an equal distribution of education among those born into all income levels is one key ingredient to ensuring that all children who are born into poverty get the same chance of succeeding in the workforce as their more …

Waldorf Kindergarten And Reggio-Inspired Kindergarten: Documenting Value And Effectiveness Of Two Arts-Based Approaches, Daria Stowell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Waldorf kindergarten and Reggio-inspired kindergarten are two arts-based approaches to early childhood education that are viewed as strong educational alternatives to traditional education and serve as sources of inspiration for progressive educational reform. This study describes, interprets, and appraises the intentions and operations of two Waldorf kindergartens and two Reggio-inspired kindergartens in the United States in order to uncover the aims, practices, and values of both.

Five questions guide this study: (1) What are the intentions of Waldorf kindergarten and Reggio-inspired kindergarten? (2) What do Waldorf kindergarten and Reggio-inspired kindergarten look like in practice? (3) What do the children have …

The Experiences Of Gay And Lesbian College Athletes, Channell Barbour

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of gay and lesbian college student athletes. Participants of the study were given an opportunity to share their stories about their lived experiences on college campuses as gay or lesbian student athletes. The primary research question explored was, What are the experiences of gay and lesbian college student athletes on college campuses? Other questions that guided this study included, What impact does self-disclosing as gay or lesbian have on student athletes' sport participation? How does the larger campus environment impact gay and lesbian student athletes' overall collegiate experiences? Furthermore, this …

Obesity Among Young American Indian Adults In North Dakota, Abby Omahen

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity among American Indian young adults is a significant health problem. There is an increase in the prevalence rate of diseases associated with obesity which tend to have high medical costs and high mortality rates. Fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise, gender andEducation are factors which could affect obesity among American Indians. Therefore, the primary purpose of the current study was to determine if there was an association between certain factors (fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise, gender andEducation level) and obesity among young American Indian adults in North Dakota. The secondary purpose was to determine if there was a statistically significant …

An Examination Of The Effectiveness Of The Louisiana Gear Up Program In Promoting Self-Efficacy, Improving Academic Achievement And Increasing Teachers' Aspirations For Their Students, Candi Hill

Doctoral Dissertations

Students are likely to avoid academic pursuits if they lack academic self-efficacy (Bandura, 2000). Furthermore, past poor academic performance contributes to the development of low academic self-efficacy. Students who participate in extracurricular activities, like LA GEAR UP, demonstrate better academic achievement and less risk-taking behaviors than non-participating students (Barber, Stone, & Hunt, 2003). Research supports the notion that LA GEAR UP is an effective way to improve students' academic performance and to reduce the number of disciplinary referrals students receive (Beer, 2009). Additionally, within the academic literature research has demonstrated that teachers' attributions about students are based upon their perceptions …

“Why Are There No Black Kids At Southside And No White Kids At Booker?”: Teachers’ Opinions On The Educational Achievement Gap In The City Of Sarasota, Grace Fisher

Theses & ETDs

In our current society, the work of teachers has often been criticized and devalued. So much so that much of the existing literature on the educational achievement gap fails to include their opinions on the matter. Therefore, my work examined Sarasota teachers’ opinions on the educational achievement gap. I used semi-structured interviews of eight elementary school teachers to show the teachers’ understanding of the cause of the gap and to explain these voices in relation to the existing literature. I find that teachers believe the achievement gap is influenced more by social class than preconceived beliefs of race. Social class, …

Sickle Cell Pain And The Care And Support Of Children, Adolescents, And Teens With Sickle Cell Disease (Scd) At Therapeutic Recreation Summer Camps, Jacob Arthur Albanese

Theses & ETDs

Therapeutic recreation summer camp programs can benefit individuals undergoing treatment for chronic and/or life-threatening illness in a number of ways, as they provide a break for caregivers, interaction with other campers facing similar difficulties, and an opportunity for physical activity. While current therapeutic recreation programs are beneficial, there are ways in which the staff/volunteers of therapeutic recreation summer camps can be better educated regarding the physical, psychological, social, and economic pain in order to best support campers with sickle cell disease (SCD). In this thesis I explore the social construction of sickle cell disease as a racial disease in the …

Exploring Anthropology’S Potential As A Catalyst For Reformation In American Pedagogy, Nicole A. Ouellette

Theses & ETDs

In this thesis, I analyze the current state of public education in the United States. I argue that heritage and food are both successful vehicles for learning, and I question why no combination of this sort has been offered to American pedagogy. I explain how I created a series of lesson plans that use this “novel combination” with the intention of teaching fourth grade students in a Florida public school about heritage and preservation. I describe the difficulties that teachers and administration are facing with the adoption of the Common Core State Standards in bringing creativity into the classroom. I …

Gardens As Educational Tools In Urban Public Schools, Michelle Diane Wheat

Theses & ETDs

Urban public school education has become increasingly decontextualized from the natural world over time. This causes a division within students that impacts how they learn, what they learn, and their mental health. Children's knowledge is increasingly devoid of environmental awareness. In addition ADHD, depression, and obesity have been linked to this separation. These problems are exacerbated by a culture of standardized tests motivated by financial concerns, and the gearing of education toward career preparation. Children learn to fear nature and reap none of the benefits that immersion in nature can foster. School gardens, especially in urban areas, can provide a …

An Examination Of Principals In Effective High-Poverty Middle Schools With High Achievement, Rhonda J. Mull

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, multi-site case study was to observe and examine the strategies, techniques, and leadership styles of principals in effective middle schools with high poverty and high achievement. This study focused on defining a core of specific strategies utilized by staff members in these schools. Two high-poverty middle schools in Indiana that have done an exemplary job of attaining high scores on the state's standardized test were examined. Data for this research was collected via interviews of the school's principal, leadership team, and teachers. Classroom observations and teacher department meetings were also conducted. After the staff interviews …

Are College Student Success Courses Effective Corequisites To Developmental Mathematics In Community Colleges?, Karen L. Reilly

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the achievement rates of developmental mathematics students when a student success course was taken in combination with mathematics. The study investigated changes that occurred in the developmental mathematics completion rates of the learners by examining age and the course sequence of mathematics in conjunction with a student success course at a large community college in central Florida. Age was of interest as it related to the time lapsed from high school graduation and potential for mathematics atrophy. Course sequence was valued to determine if taking a student success course …

Beyond The Content And Pedagogy : A Step Forward Towards Value Based Teacher’S Professional Development, Sharifullah Baig

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

This paper reviews the contemporary literature of human values and valuation processes, and proposes a re-conceptualized model of a teacher’s professional development. This paper suggests a thorough analysis of the teacher’s personality and devises alternative, well thought-out strategies and approaches to alter self-knowledge, values, valuation processes, and beliefs to imbed the desired impact on their teaching practices. This paper supports the use of deliberate attempts to alter the basic motivation level of teachers and to deliberately expose them to available knowledge to modify their values, attitudes, and actions in their respective professions, organizations, and formal associations. Hence, such professional development …

Online Experiences Of Adolescents With Asperger's Syndrome And High-Functioning Autism, Shin Ruu Ko

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the online experiences of 10 adolescents with Asperger's Disorder (AD). This study was exploratory in nature and employed a qualitative approach. Three research questions guided this study: (a) What are the positive and negative online experiences of youth with ASD?, (b) What are the perceptions of online interactions in comparison to offline interactions held by youth with ASD?, and (c) What experiences with social connectedness and cyberbullying do youth with ASD have as a result of Internet usage? Four themes and 14 subthemes emerged during the process of analyzing the data: (a) Benefits of Internet Usage (Social, …

The Effects Of Instructional Schedule Type On Student Achievement, Attendance, And Graduation At The High School Level, Andrew S. Freeman

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to analyze the effects of instructional scheduling type on student achievement and school outcomes. This study specifically analyzed the differences between traditional schedules and block schedules on the six dependent variables of Algebra I End-of-Course Assessment scores, English 10 End-of-Course Assessment scores, Biology I End-of-Course Assessment scores, attendance rates, graduation rates, and college and career readiness rates and controlling for socioeconomic status, school size, and average years of experience of faculty. Data from all Indiana public high schools from the 2012-2013 school year were obtained from the Indiana Department ofEducation. A sample …

Measuring The Playfulness Of Children With Special Needs In Occupational Therapist Led, Caregiver-Included Community Playgroups, Sarah Fabrizi

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of community playgroups on the playfulness of children ages 15 months to 3 years with special needs. In addition to playfulness of the child, the sensitivity and responsiveness of the caregiver were examined. A quasi-experimental, pretest-and-posttest, repeated measures design was used to follow eight children and their caregivers receiving early intervention services and taking part in a community playgroup. The children and their caregivers were measured during a 4-week standard-of-care baseline, before and after an 8-week intervention period, and 4 week post-intervention. The Test of Playfulness (ToP) was utilized to …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Paramedic Student Performance Under Simulated Stress, Nicholas Franklin Miller

Online Theses and Dissertations

The paramedic profession is an inherently difficult, dangerous and stressful profession. The paramedic is constantly barraged with acute stressors during the performance of his duties. These stressors have predictable, documented, negative effects on performance. The acute and chronic exposure to stress can negatively impact the safety and the well being of the paramedic. These stressors, if not successfully managed, can also result in negative effects to patients. Despite the overwhelming presence of stress in the paramedic environment, most paramedics receive little or no training to successfully perform under stress. One exception was a program called Trauma Lanes that was held …

Use Of Social Media By Indiana Principals And Superintendents, Robert Stephen Griffin Jr.

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of social media by Indiana K-12 principals and superintendents. The use of social media has become prevalent both as a social and professional tool. The social media movement has evolved quickly over the past five years; however, schools and school districts have been slow to effectively utilize this tool out of fear, apprehension, and ignorance. The opportunity to explore social media as a professional tool byEducational leaders was opportune and timely as this tool becomes a multi-purpose tool in today's society. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t test, and one-way ANOVAs …