Digital Commons Network^™

Differential Modes Of External Change Agent Support In Diffusion Of Innovation., Janet Gibson Stevens

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The main goal of this multiple-case exploratory study was to examine and describe the processes, perceptions and changes that occurred at the school level in ten south Louisiana middle schools, as the result of external change agent assistance given through the Louisiana School and District Accountability Program. Within this primary goal, the perception of external change agent influence on: (1) school effectiveness processes (i.e., discipline, teacher collaboration, expectations and quality of instruction); and (2) Fullan's school improvement processes were examined. This multiple case study involved five middle schools in Louisiana with two types of external change agents [i.e., the Distinguished …

Faculty Perceptions Of Communication Effectiveness In The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service., Sally Maureen Soileau

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine communication patterns and effectiveness as perceived by specialists and agents of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, and relate communication effectiveness with selected demographic characteristics. A qualitative component of the study focused on personal communication experiences of the faculty. A total of 210 agents and 106 specialists participated in the study. The survey instrument was validated by an expert panel and administered via a web site with an initial electronic mail contact and personal and electronic mail follow-ups. From a choice of 11 different methods of communication, specialists and agents used email and …

"The University Works Because We Do": Collective Bargaining Rights For Graduate Assistants, Grant M. Hayden

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

Education Policy Analysis Archives 09/01 , Arizona State University, University Of South Florida

College of Education Publications

School segregation of children who migrate to the United States from Puerto Rico / Luis M. Laosa.

A Descriptive Study Determining The Attitudes And Behaviors Of Teachers And Parents Toward Homework, Melissa Marie Kalt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Experiences And Meaning Of Urban Public School Teachers In A School Choice Environment, Reva Cardwell Cosby

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Making Connections: Compartmentalization In Pre -Calculus Students' Understanding Of Functions, Hope H. Gerson

Doctoral Dissertations

Students develop knowledge constructs that they build into concepts through their experiences. Students demonstrate compartmentalization when they understand a construct or concept within one representation, but not another, or when they do not connect mathematically related ideas. For instance, a student may understand f(x) to mean plug x into the function within a symbolic representation, but the same student may understand f(x) to mean f times x within a tabular representation. A student with these understandings has a compartmentalized understanding of function notation.

A two-month study was conducted with a class of pre-calculus students enrolled in a parochial high school. …

The Level Of Teacher Involvement In The Vermont Mathematics Portfolio Assessment Process And Instructional Practices In Grade 4 Classrooms, Carol Anne Fritz

Doctoral Dissertations

The comprehensive assessment system in Vermont includes student mathematics portfolios that are submitted to the state Department of Education for scoring. A student portfolio should include 5--7 pieces of best work selected by the student that can be scored. This alternative assessment process has been in place for ten years, but limited information has been available from classroom teachers about the instructional practices they use when teaching mathematics, or whether or not those practices have been influenced by the portfolio process.

The study was developed to answer questions about the instructional practices used by teachers. Teachers' responses were compared to …

Relational Learning For A Sustainable Future: An Eco -Spiritual Model, Mary Elizabeth Westfall

Doctoral Dissertations

We are facing unprecedented environmental challenges as we enter the new millennium as human choices and practices have repeatedly led to environmental degradation. Increasingly there are individuals and groups seeking to address this environmental crisis and move toward more sustainable patterns of living. But in order to make alternative choices it will be essential to draw upon the wealth and variety of human capabilities.

For nearly 350 years Western culture has looked to reason and rationality to provide truth and direction. The affective side of being human, feelings, intuition, love, care, wonder, mystery and hope have largely been devalued. In …

Taking A Pedagogical Turn: What Happens When The Student /Teacher Conference Moves To The Center Of The Basic Writing Course, Gregory John Bowe

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines the redesign of a basic writing course at a large, urban, majority-minority public university in Miami, Florida. In the redesigned course, there are no regular class meetings at all. Instead, small groups of five students meet with a teacher in "writing circles," where they workshop papers. The content of the course is provided by a third-party software program in a dedicated computer lab. The redesign project is examined in light of the particular institutional history of Florida International University, with special emphasis on the roles of space, time, and face-to-face interaction in the teaching of writing to …

Layering Literacies: Computers And Peer Response In The 21st Century, Christopher Warren Dean

Doctoral Dissertations

Research into peer response work has a long history in the field of composition, and the work of my dissertation is to extend that research into the newer subfield of composition, computers and writing. Specifically I focus on the way students use multiple linguistic competencies (oral, print and electronic competencies) to perform a variety of selves in peer response. Drawing on the work of Erving Goffinan, the extant literature of peer response, work done in ethnomethodology, and research done in three first year composition classrooms, I outline the contours and strategies that students use to engage in peer response while …

It's Not As Thick As It Looks: Unpacking The Rehearsal Practices Of Theatre Professionals And The Significance For The Teaching Of Reading And Writing, Dale Lorraine Wright

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of my study was to identify and describe the components of theatre rehearsal and their implications for the teaching of reading and writing. Using qualitative methods of inquiry such as direct and participant observation and group and individual interviews, I documented the rehearsal process and literacy practices of members of a professional theatre company that performs only in academic environments. In analyzing the data I used Anderson and Jack's strategies for listening and determined that there are four major components of theatre rehearsal: chunking (the breaking down of the script into smaller, more manageable pieces), repetition (the constant, …

Physics Experiences And Calculus: How Students Use Physics To Construct Meaningful Conceptualizations Of Calculus Concepts In An Interdisciplinary Calculus /Physics Course, Karen Ann Marrongelle

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the manner by which students enrolled in an integrated Calculus/Physics course use their understanding of physics to inform their conceptualizations of calculus concepts. This study utilized a multiple case study design with analysis by and across cases. The cases represent eight first year students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of New Hampshire who enrolled in an integrated calculus/physics program. Data was gathered in a three-part process: (1) Semi-structured task-based interviews, (2) Participant-observation in the calculus/physics course, and (3) Obtaining copies of students' in-class notes, in-class activities, …

The Effects Of Public School Spending For Instruction And Counseling Services On College Attendance Rates In Indiana, Timothy Lynn Ogle

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study was completed to determine what relationships existed among spending per student for instruction, student per counselor ratio, students' cognitive ability, socioeconomic status, and racial homogeneity as compared to college attendance rates for Indiana school districts in 1999. Data was collected from the Indiana Department ofEducation and a general linear model was utilized for data analysis. In simple linear regression analysis, results indicated significant relationships existed among cognitive ability and socioeconomic status when compared to college attendance rates of the districts. However, no significant relationship existed between spending per student, students per counselor, or racial homogeneity as compared to …

Ec01-2507 Safe Transport, Storage And Disposal Of Pesticides, Larry D. Schulze, Shripat T. Kamble, Clyde Ogg, Edward F. Vitzthum

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Most accidental pesticide poisonings occur when pesticides are mishandled. Young children area often the victims.

Pesticide accidents can be prevented by careful planning, using a secure storage location, adopting safe handling methods during transport and following proper disposal guidelines for both product and containers.

The Spirit Of Teaching, Michael Brady, Desi Larson

Faculty, Staff, and Alumni Books

1999-2001 Walter E. Russell Endowed Chair in Philosophy and Education at the University of Southern Maine

Edited by E. Michael Brady and Desi Larson

Retaining Teachers Across The Professional Continuum: A Review Of Literature, Jill Englebright Fox, Janine Certo

MERC Publications

Teacher induction is best understood in the larger context of teacher education. The education of teachers is a continuum of on-going activities and experiences, including pre-service preparation, induction, and in-service development.

Viewed in this context, it is clear that programs addressing the induction period (induction and mentoring programs) need to function as logical extensions of the preservice program and as entry pieces in a larger career-long professional development program. Induction programs acknowledge that beginning teachers have recently completed teacher-preparation programs. Such support enables beginning teachers to continue to develop their teaching skills while confronting the adjustment difficulties often encountered during …

Inclusion No More, Kathy Adams

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Observations made in fourth grade classrooms in a neighborhood urban school after the implementation of the Ohio Proficiency test (OPT) demonstrated the loss of one schools exemplary inclusion models. In addition, identified special education students may have been harmed and there was the possibility that the misplacement of some students occurred. Literature warns of the possibility that high stakes tests, like the OPT may increase the number of identified special education students.

Cm 740 Tutorial In Campus Ministry, Chris Kiesling

Syllabi

Beaudoin, Tom. Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1998. Holland, Thomas P. & Hester, David C. (Eds.). Faith and Governance: Building Effective Boards for Religious Organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000. Jones, E. Stanley. Mastery. Parks, Sharon. Big Questions Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Young Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000.

Bridging The North-South Divide In Teacher Education, Alan E. Wheeler

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

On Oysters And Other Life Lessons: Art Teacher’S Perceptions Of Social Class And Schooling, Kimberly Cosier

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

I had to be taught that the world was not my oyster. As a child I was quite sure that I was destined for a wondrous life of adventure and distinction. I was the first born in my family, the first child, the first grandchild, the first niece; everyone was crazy about me. My mother swears that on the day I was born my father floated across the room, so filled with joy and pride that his feet literally glided above the floor as he held me in his arms for the first time. I realize now that this is …

Excellence In Nursing Education [Complete Issue : Fourth Quarter 2001, Vol. 2, 4], Sharon A. Vinten, Marsha L. Ellett, Suzanne S. Prevost, Jennifer L. Hobbs, Melodie Ruth Daniels, Anne Hennessy, Sigma Theta Tau International

Sigma Past Publishing - Excellence Newsletters

Publishing History: Nursing Excellence published yearly in 1998 and 1999. The publication became Excellence in the first quarter 2000. It transitioned to Excellence in Nursing Education, Excellence in Nursing Administration, and Excellence in Clinical Practice in the second quarter 2000 with volume 1, number 2. Excellence in Nursing Education transitioned to Excellence in Nursing Education & Research in the first quarter 2002.

Publishing Frequency: Yearly 1998, 1999; Quarterly 2000 - 2004.

Format: Print 1999 - third quarter 2002; Online fourth quarter 2002 - first quarter 2004. Ceased publishing in 2004.

Select features in this issue:

Are two heads better than …

Ce 503 The Ministry Of Teaching, Chris Kiesling

Syllabi

Hermann Hesse, Beneath the Wheel. New York: Bantam, 1968. ISBN 0-553-20858-6 Donald M. Joy, Meaningful Learning in the Church. Indianapolis: Light and Life Press, 1969, revised 1989. ISBN 0-89367-019-7 Marlene D. LeFever, Learning Styles: Reaching Everyone God Gave You to Teach. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1995. ISBN 0-7814-5117-5 Joseph Lowman, Mastering the Techniques of Teaching (second edition). San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 1995. ISBN 0-7879-0127-X Parker Palmer, The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1998. Learning Style Inventory - Available from the bookstore as looseleaf pages

The Perceived Influence Of Selected Factors On The Decision Of Louisiana 4-H Teens And Non-4-H Teens To Volunteer., Kenneth Spoto

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the contributions Louisiana 4-H teens and Non 4-H teens make to volunteer organizations and the principal factors influencing the decision of Louisiana teens to volunteer. A random sample of 2,281 teens, ages 14--19 years (9th--12th graders), enrolled in Louisiana public secondary schools of education were the participants of this study. The data collection instrument was pre-tested for reliability and yielded a .95 Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient for 32 scale items. A total of 3,853 surveys were mailed or hand delivered in October and 2,281 usable responses returned for a response …

Multicultural Art Education: Deconstructing Images Of Social Reproduction, Donna Alden

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

Exclusionary practices along with inaccurate and incomplete information have historically been used in the classroom by the dominant White culture as a means to disempower minority youth and widen the chasm between opposite ends of the power structure. Although reproducing the existing power structure may not be a conscious motive of art teachers in the 21st century, many of their actions replicate conditions necessary for domination by the Euro-White culture. Admirably, art educators have a history of being on the cutting edge of innovative ideas and inclusionary practices. The movement to include art from many cultures in art curriculums is …

A Comparison Of Pre-Post Student Outcomes And Perceptions After An Intervention Of A Secondary Alternative Education Program For Disruptive Students, Lloyd Sain, Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of an alternative education program on the grade point averages, attendance, and suspensions of secondary school students. In order to meet this purpose, the study tested two research questions that focused on the grade point average, attendance, and suspensions of disruptive secondary school students prior to their intervention of an alternative education program and after their return to home school for two consecutive nine weeks. Length of enrollment and its impact on grade point averages, attendance, and suspensions were also examined. The study also investigated to what extent the characteristics …

A Study Of Arkansas Public School Superintendents' Knowledge Of And Attitudes Toward Charter Schools, William E. Broadnax

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore reasons why most public school superintendents have not applied for the creation of a charter school, and to ascertain whether or not public school superintendents in Arkansas plan to open a charter school in their school district. In essence, this study investigated current knowledge and attitudes of Arkansas public school superintendents toward charter schools and Act 890 legislation. A non-experimental research design was conducted using a modified survey instrument (Ogden, 1995), which included all 310 public school superintendents in the State of Arkansas. A nonprobability sample of 160 superintendents completed and returned …

A Study Of The Legislative History And Legal Administrative Impact Of The Arkansas Teacher Fair Dismissal Act, William "Dubs" Byers

Theses and Dissertations

The Arkansas Teacher Fair Dismissal Act provides the legal procedure for dismissing teachers from public schools in Arkansas. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act on the employment practices of schools in Arkansas. The study examined the legislative intent of the Act, how the courts have refined the issues of the Act, the level of knowledge about the Act among principals, and perceptions of principals relating to the effect of the Act. The study included both quantitative and qualitative research. Eight interviews were held with legislative and educational leaders. Legislative material …

The Children's School: Lessons For Inclusion, Leadership, And School Success, Beth Lief

Fordham Urban Law Journal

In recent years education has evolved into the country's number one public concern. Presidential, gubernatorial, mayoral, and legislative candidates all claim to care about educating our children. Successful schools should be used by educators and policy-makers as models. In order to reproduce the success of these schools, the reasons for their success must be identified. A school's achievement data gives important indications of why it succeeds. There are also innumerable studies and reports listing factors enabling school success. The Children's School in Brooklyn, New York is a school worthy of study. The leadership is superb; teachers know their students and …

Does School District Consolidation Cut Costs?, William Duncombe, John Yinger

Center for Policy Research

Over the last 50 years, consolidation has dramatically reduced the number of school districts in the United States, and state governments still recommend consolidation, especially in rural school districts, as a way to improve school district efficiency. However, state policies encouraging consolidation are often challenged on the grounds that they do not lead to cost savings and instead foster learning environments that harm student performance. Existing evidence on this topic comes largely from educational cost functions, which indicate that instructional and administrative costs are far lower in a district with 3,000 pupils than in a district with 100 pupils. However, …