Education Commons^™

Black History In The Early Childhood And Elementary Classrooms: Teacher Beliefs And Practices, Shannon Mccormack

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Educators across the United States have struggled with meaningfully yet appropriately addressing race within History and Social Studies lessons at the Early Childhood and Elementary level. Previous research has revealed the importance of these conversations and the benefits that learning accurate history has for students of all racial backgrounds. The literature has also revealed the discomfort and apprehensiveness that educators may feel while confronting and teaching about our nation’s complex and often grim history. The purpose of this research was to analyze teachers’ beliefs and comfortability regarding addressing race in the classroom and how that translates to their teaching practices. …

Factors Impacting Students’ Perceptions Of Mathematics, Amber Souza

Honors Program Theses and Projects

I want to be able to present math in a positive light to all of my future students, regardless of race, gender, and math background. However, for teachers as a whole to be able to take this important step, they must first develop a deeper understanding of why math is a sore spot for many students.

Improving Academic Learning And Success Through Transparency: A Student’S Perspective, Christina Ouellette, Joanna Boeing Bratton, Ruth C. Slotnick

Core Assessment Project Reports and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Project-Based Poetry Writing Intervention On Writing Attitudes Among Students With Severe Learning Disabilities, John M. Bonanni

The Graduate Review

Writing attitudes of three learners with severe disabilities were surveyed in a substantially separate special education classroom within a public school in Massachusetts in order to determine the effect on learners’ writing attitudes after a project-based creative writing intervention in poetry. Writing skills were measured using teacher-created rubrics and attitudes were measured using pre and post survey data. Primary diagnoses of students involved included Intellectual Impairment, Autism, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Findings indicated that the intervention was most successful for the student with autism, moderately successful for the student with Traumatic Brain Injury, and not successful for the student with …

Preparing Today’S Middle School Science Students For The Real World Of Science Through Relevant And Inquiry-Based Activities, Hannah F. Walsh

Honors Program Theses and Projects

During the past several decades we have seen an increase in the demand for individuals trained in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines (Rothwell, 2013). While this is this case, according to the Bureau of Labor, the United States will see a shortage of STEM workers over the next decade, with the demand for highly trained STEM workers exceeding the minimal supply (Rothwell, 2013). In a study of bachelor and associate students in the academic year of 2003 and 2004, only 28% of bachelor students and 20% of associate students entered STEM fields (Chen & Soldner, 2013). This study …

Collecting Thoughts, Leonid Heretz

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Teaching Note - Bring Class Concepts To Life: Implementing Intensive Interview Projects For Deep Learning, Kimberly E. Fox, Norma Anderson

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Teaching Note - Bridging The Gap Between The Classroom And Business: A View From Geology, Michael Penzo

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

The Whole World In Your Hands: An Exploration Of The Benefits Diverse Literature Has On Students, Emily Wiegand

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

An Archival Study Of Grammar Instruction: Looking To The Past For Future Best Practices In Writing Instruction, Hannah Patriquin

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Horses Helping Children Grow, Louise Graham, Allison Lindsey

Counselor Education Faculty Publications

A review of Animal-Assisted Therapy and related terms such as "Animal-Assisted Activities" is presented as an introduction to the exploration of additional equine applications with children. Animal-Assisted Therapy has been studied, but Animal-Assisted Activities with children facing normal developmental struggles has not received much attention. Definitions and research for various animal activities and therapies are reviewed. Subsequent focus will be on equines helping children via Animal-Assisted Activities to meet normal developmental challenges. Creating parallels using a horse is an avenue to working with children, aiding them in the process of introspection, self-monitoring, self-efficacy, self-esteem, metacognitions, and overcoming angst associated with …

Exploring The First Encounters Of Native Americans And European Explorers/Settlers From Multiple Perspectives Through Critical Literacy Discussions In A Fifth-Grade Classroom, Kristen Merrill

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Your Story, Your History: Social Studies And History Instruction In A Nicaraguan Primary School, Nicole Akin

Honors Program Theses and Projects

In the latter half of the 20th century, the country of Nicaragua experienced major political upheaval, which not only affected political, social and economic policies, but education as a whole. Education has been a constant struggle in Nicaragua – this country is the second poorest in Latin America and has the highest dropout rate in Latin America with 52% of individuals leaving school before finishing their primary school education. The Sandinista movement rallied the country together and as a result helped to foster a rich culture and history of Nicaragua, which can be found in primary school social studies classes. …

Aligning Citylab Biotechnology Curriculum With Ngss Standards And Practices, Arianna Jefferson

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Making Math Happen: Exploring Math Ipad Games With Sixth Grade Students, Molly Bennett

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Technology is a great resource for teachers. It can enhance lessons, activities, assessment and general functions of the classroom. The use of technology in education can be beneficial, but may present challenges for pre service and in service teachers. Integrating technology in the classroom is the foundation of teaching. However, research on iPad use in the classroom is quite limited. This qualitative research study took place at a K-8 school in Southeastern, Massachusetts. A study group of five sixth grade students was chosen by the classroom teacher. The teacher selected the students by looking at their standardized test scores, class …

Core Assessment Project 2015, Results-Brief, Office Of Assessment, Bridgewater State University

Core Assessment Project Reports and Publications

No abstract provided.

Core Assessment Project 2015, Results-Expanded, Office Of Assessment, Bridgewater State University

Core Assessment Project Reports and Publications

No abstract provided.

Talking About Writing Across The Secondary And College Community, Michelle Cox, Phyllis Gimbel

Secondary Education and Professional Programs Faculty Publications

Many have commented that higher education is becoming increasingly fragmented, leading to the overspecialization of scholars, disciplinary discourses that are opaque to those outside the field, and lack of cross-pollination among disciplines (Kerr). WAC has long been seen as a movement that creates connections among disciplines. In fact, these connections are often created through the workshop, the quintessential WAC experience, as it “bring[s] faculty together around the same table”—bringing together people who may work at the same institution but, in practice, work worlds apart (Cox 317). More recently, this movement to bring people around the same table has come to …

Export To Arduino: A Tool To Teach Processor Design On Real Hardware, Michael Black

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Many computer organization courses teach digital design and processor architecture without a hardware lab or physical equipment. This paper introduces a module to allow students to export digital designs as C programs that run on an inexpensive Arduino Uno, thereby allowing students to test and observe their designs in actual hardware with minimal setup time and equipment. The module runs within Emumaker86, an open-source digital design tool previously developed by the author for teaching microprocessor architecture, and can handle designs ranging from simple combinational circuits to a complete processor. Students were given this module in an undergraduate "Systems Computing" course, …

Teaching Note - Yes, We Can Make A Difference: Bsu Alumni Light The Way For Service Learning, Marybeth Tobin

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Gateway Reads: Finding Texts That Matter To Students, Anne Smith

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Literature Of The First Encounters: Using Self-Immersion In The Scholarly Study Of First Encounter Texts To Develop A Fifth Grade Text Set, Angela Skrabec

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This interdisciplinary research project integrated training and techniques from two disciplines: English and Elementary Education. The purpose of the project was to immerse myself in the scholarly study of First Encounter (encounter between the natives and English settlers in the New World) texts in order to create a fifth grade text set, a selection of approximately 20-25 quality children’s books that represent a diverse range of reading levels and genres. My research entailed reading a variety of First Encounter literatures and using New Historicism to analyze each as part of my English scholarship. In addition, after reviewing research on literacy …

The Effects Of Elementary School Teachers’ Instructional Practices On The Self-Confidence Of College Students With Dyslexia, Christina Miceli

Honors Program Theses and Projects

When learning to cope with dyslexia, it is not uncommon for a child to develop a lack of self-confidence when falling behind academically in comparison to his or her same-aged peers. The teaching style and method of instruction in the classroom directly affects a dyslexic student’s self-confidence (Burden, 2009). Teacher responses collected through a questionnaire and voice recorded interviews were compared to college students with dyslexia’s survey and interview responses. This research determined there are discrepancies that exist among students self-identified with dyslexia, their descriptions of the impacts of elementary school teachers, and the perceptions of the strategies, attitudes, and …

Exploring Similarities Between Instruction In Grade 7 Ela And Mathematics Classrooms, And The Possible Benefits Of Interdisciplinary Instructional Comprehension Strategies, Danielle Caron

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This study took place in an English language arts (ELA) and mathematics classrooms at a suburban junior high school in southeastern Massachusetts. Surveys indicated that mathematical problems elicit nervousness more often than reading assignments do, and mathematical vocabulary is harder for students to understand than vocabulary of other subject. This research focused on integrating reading comprehension-strategies of vocabulary integration, graphic organizers, and visual aids within a mathematics curriculum to combat student apprehension. The purpose of this study was to provide evidence-based, interdisciplinary mathematics and ELA lesson plans in alignment with Common Core Standards to a seventh grade algebra class. Pre-assessment …

Bridgewater State University Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog 2015-2016, Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater State University Catalogs, 2010-

This 2015-2016 Bridgewater State University Catalog outlines programs of study.

This catalog is an official publication of Bridgewater State University. The rules, regulations, policies, fees and other charges, courses of study, and academic requirements that appear in this catalog were in effect at the time of its publication.

Whether noted elsewhere in this catalog or not, the university reserves the right to change, eliminate, and add to any existing (and to introduce additional) rules, regulations, policies, fees and other charges, courses of study and academic requirements that appear in this catalog, in the Student Handbook or on its website or …

Bridgewater State University Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog 2015-2016, Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater State University Catalogs, 2010-

This 2015-2016 Bridgewater State University Catalog outlines programs of study.

This catalog is an official publication of Bridgewater State University. The rules, regulations, policies, fees and other charges, courses of study, and academic requirements that appear in this catalog were in effect at the time of its publication.

Whether noted elsewhere in this catalog or not, the university reserves the right to change, eliminate, and add to any existing (and to introduce additional) rules, regulations, policies, fees and other charges, courses of study and academic requirements that appear in this catalog, in the Student Handbook or on its website or …

Sustainability In The Curriculum And Teaching Of Economics: Transforming Introductory Macroeconomics, Madhavi Venkatesan

Economics Faculty Publications

Present models of economic growth primarily focus on the role of expenditures as captured in the commonly cited economic indicator, gross domestic product (GDP), where GDP is defined as the sum of final goods and services sold within a country’s natural borders. Noting that a country’s expenditures are referred to as “aggregate expenditures” and that the majority of spending is specific to consumption or consumer spending, especially in the United States where this spending category is nearly two-thirds of annual GDP (other expenditure categories for GDP include investment spending, government spending and foreign spending as proxied by net exports), there …

Developing A Book Buddies Curriculum For English Language Learners, Melissa M. Cieto

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Jane Austen And The 21st-Century Classroom, Maureen Jecrois

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Across the United States, educators and administrators have been discussing whether classical literature still has a place within the high school classroom. Included in this discussion are the works of Jane Austen. And while Jane Austen’s texts have much to offer as far as discussion on gender and familial dynamics, economic and political tension, and, of course, societal norms (what our communities expect from us individually and as a whole), the texts present many challenges within the frameworks of today’s classroom. What we have come to know as “our” time is a rapidly changing environment filled with experiences and technologies …

A Statistical Analysis Of The Role Of Critical-Thinking Games In College Students' Quantitative Reasoning, Melissa Radevicz

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Improving college students' quantitative reasoning is crucial to increase STEM-field retention rates. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), results indicate that "college students don't always get exposure to activities that develop [quantitative reasoning]" (Berrett & Sander, 2013). This study aimed to engage college students in quantitative reasoning through critical-thinking games. Phase 1, conducted in summer 2014 with a university research grant, involved a correlation analysis of the work of 133 college students enrolled in Elementary Statistics I, Chemical Principles II, Elements of Calculus, Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry, Multivariable Calculus, and Differential Equations. Participants held a variety of 39 different majors, …