Education Commons^™

Effect Of Direct Instruction Programs On Teaching Reading Comprehension To Students With Learning Disabilities, Jennifer Parker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quasi experimental research study was to examine the effects of two direct instruction programs, SRA Reading Mastery Signature and SRA Reading Success on reading comprehension skill acquisition of middle school students who qualify as a student with a specific learning disability. Furthermore, the study was used to compare the reading comprehension achievement of students who participated in SRA Reading Mastery Signature and students who participated in SRA Reading Success using the reading portion of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The treatment groups were located in a moderate size school district in the Upstate region …

Impact Of The Young Athletes Program On Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders In Quincy Public Schools, Christopher B. Denning, Kathleen Ghio

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The Center for Social Development and Education (CSDE) and the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) are supporting the implementation of the Young Athletes (YA) program for preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Quincy Public Schools.

50-73% of children with ASD have significant motor delays compared to normative peers. Concerns include:

Delays in overall gross motor skills, including manual dexterity, balance, gait, motor coordination, and ball handling skills.
• Motor development appears to slow for two- and three-year-old children with ASD.

Young Athletes is a theoretically-based program designed to improve the motor development of children with disabilities (ages …

Camp Shriver – A Free Inclusive Summer Sports Camp For Children With And Without Disabilities, Mark Spolidoro, Barbara Gildea, Kathleen Ghio, Gary N. Siperstein

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

Camp Shriver at UMass Boston is in its 9th year, providing a free and fully inclusive summer recreational program for children in the communities of Boston and Quincy.

Having served almost 1,000 campers, Camp Shriver at UMass Boston reaches out to children and families who have few opportunities, particularly families of children with disabilities.

Pacific Visual Impairment Project, School For Global Inclusion And Social Development, University Of Massachusetts Boston, College Of Education And Human Development, University Of Massachusetts Boston, University Of Guam - Center For Excellence In Developmental Disabilities Education, Research & Service

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The primary goal of the Pacific Vision Impairment Project (VIP) is to increase the pool of fully credentialed, effective personnel educating students who are blind or have a Vision Impairment in remote areas where services either do not exist or need additional support.

Assessment And Curriculum Modification For Grade 1 Students With Disabilities In Tanzania: A Pilot Study, Angi Stone-Macdonald

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The purpose of this study was: 1) to analyze aggregated student assessment data from grade 1 students at a public government primary school in Northern Tanzania to determine the efficacy of a curriculum based screen tool, and 2)to examine current practices of inclusion for Tanzanian children in the early grades.

Massachusetts Hospital School Program Evaluation Enhancing Transition To The Community, Russell Schutt

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

Throughout the years, MHS has responded to the changing medical needs of children and young adults in MA and continues to be a model program nationally. Currently, MHS educates approximately 87 students from 58 MA communities. Since 2003, about 10-17 students have graduated each year. At age 22, young adults with disabilities transition from students to emergent adults living in the community. Students graduating from the Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) are faced with opportunities and choices with respect to how and where they will live, work, study, socialize and receive ongoing medical care. In order to understand how well current …

Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Partnership, Aimee D'Avignon, Laura Vanderberg, Felicia Wilczenski

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The Inclusive Concurrent Education Partnership (ICE) has enrolled students with disabilities from local public high schools for the past 4 semesters, since the Fall of 2012. These students audit courses that match their personal interests in order to experience a fully inclusive higher educational setting. A total of 32 students have participated across the two years of program implementation.

An Appraisal Of Quality Basic Education In Ashanti Farming Communities Of Ghana, Sophia Larsen

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Methodology: I lived in two Ashanti farming villages, Senchi and Okaikrom, for a total of eight days with four additional day trips. I also commuted to two other rural communities in the Sekyere East district. In these villages I conducted a total of 28 formal interviews of three headmasters, four primary teachers, 10 JHS teachers, nine JHS students, and two nurses. Within the schools I conducted a few group interviews and polls to gain quantitative data about student interest and education aspiration. I visited the regional and district offices of education where I spoke with five administration officials within various …

Desigualdad En El Contexto Público: El Rol De Neoliberalismo En La Educación, Harper Cleves

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este estudio analiza los factores que contribuyen a la desigualdad en el contexto público de educación en Chile. El trabajo de campo de esta investigación enfoco en las escuelas Liceo Miguel Cervantes y Saavedra y El Instituto Nacional José Miguel Carrera para analizar cuales factores que contribuyen a diferencias en calidad, y desigualdad en el contexto público. Esta muestra de estas dos escuelas revelo que los dos factores que contribuyen más a la desigualdad entre escuelas en el contexto público son recursos, y procesos de selección. El término “recursos” incluye variables variadas, como el número de docentes, aulas, libros, etc. …

The Vicious Circle Of Data Gaps, Lack Of Prioritization And Low Capacity: A Study On Post-Conflict Education In Sierra Leone, Meixi Guo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper is meant to present the findings and analysis of a one-month independent study project on the topic of post-conflict education in Sierra Leone. By using databases and institutional reports, the study examines the issue of data availability of Sierra Leone’s education sector and the data collection process. Through analysis of documents and interviews with experts, the study identified the importance of education reconstruction and the role of ministry of education. In the case of Sierra Leone, low capacity of ministry of education was shown as well the lack of prioritization from the government and international community. By analyzing …

Logrando Educación Democrática Para Un Chile Democrático: Una Mirada A La Formación De Ciudadanos A Través De La Educación De Historia, Samantha J. Stevens

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este ensayo se base en una investigación que fue conducida con el objetivo de conocer la forma única que la democracia ha tomado en Chile como resulto de su historia y contexto social, cultural y político. Porque la democracia se defina en parte por la participación activa de todos los ciudadanos, este ensayo Intenta conocer la relación entre el sistema de educación y la sociedad para determinar la medida en que el sistema prepara estudiantes para esta participación. A través de las experiencias y opiniones personales de profesores de historia, este ensayo pretende presentar una vista de todos los factores …

Comparing The Perceptions Of Inclusion Between General Education And Special Education Teachers, Debra Bruster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative, quantitative study compared the perceptions of inclusion of students with disabilities in the mainstream classroom that are held by high school general education teachers and high school special education teachers that teach in inclusive settings. The study determined there is a difference between the perceptions of inclusive education between teachers with different teaching assignments. Special education teachers were clearly more positive than general education teachers about the inclusion of students with disabilities, the influence of students with disabilities on the general education classroom and its students, and the management of behavior in the inclusive classroom. There was no …

The Relationships Between Knowledge Of Literacy Instruction, Demographic Factors And The Classroom Management Orientation Of Teachers Of Students With Emotional Disorders, Emily Kleintop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational study was to test the theory that relates the teachers' knowledge of literacy instruction to the classroom foci for classroom management of the teachers of students with emotional behavioral disorders. The problem of the study is that students with emotional behavioral disorders continue to present high levels of unemployment and social adjustment problems in adulthood. The literature suggests a need for improved preparation of special educators for provision of literacy instruction as well as a shift towards academic priorities for students with emotional behavioral disorders. The study examined whether there is an effect from the …

Experiences Of General Education Elementary Inclusion Co-Teachers In Successful Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Sherrie Robbins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of general education elementary school inclusion co-teachers in schools that are successful with their special education population as defined by Adequate Yearly Progress and most recently, the College and Career Ready Performance Index. The participants were employed in a district in the metro Atlanta area. The primary research question was, "What are the experiences of general education teachers in inclusion and co-teaching classrooms in schools that have met Adequate Yearly Progress and College and Career Ready Performance Index for students with disabilities?" The three sub-questions addressed the self-efficacy, motivation, …

A Phenomenological Study Of Online Learning For Deaf Students In Postsecondary Education: A Deaf Perspective, Patricia Wooten

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study investigated the effects of online learning for deaf college students as opposed to the mainstream classroom setting. This study specifically analyzed the writing and reading skills of deaf students in general and the development of English literacy of prelingually deaf students and those from non-English speaking countries. The use of online teaching tools had significantly improved postsecondary education for deaf students in the United States, particularly in these three categories. A phenomenological study was conducted to express the perspectives of deaf college students regarding the topic. Participants of this research were sixteen deaf online college students …

Janet K. Poley Biography/Cv - March, 2014, Janet K. Poley

IACE Hall of Fame Repository

No abstract provided.

Finding The Gemss In Schools., Ann Dillon

Institute on Disability

Are you the parent of a child who has a genetic condition such as Down syndrome, Fragile X, or Marfan syndrome? Have you searched for a base of knowledge that is comprehensive and reliable? Do you spend energy wondering HOW your child should be included in typical school programs, not questioning IF he/she should be included? You may be surprised to know that there is a new website receiving national and international attention! It is called GEMSS – Genetics Education materials for School Success www.gemssforschools.org

A Phenomenological Study Of Inclusive Environments From The Perspective Of Rural Middle School General Education Teachers Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, James Barr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the shared experience of rural middle school general education teachers of students diagnosed with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in inclusive classrooms. The study began by examining related issues associated with inclusive environments. Data analysis was structured around phenomenological organizational methods: that there exists within the phenomenon a descriptive experience, and within that experience there are voids of possible explanation and interpretation. The research incorporated observations, interviews, and documents as forms of data collection. This inquiry sought to uncover the ways in which general education teachers who serve students diagnosed with emotional and behavioral disabilities find …

Aac Intervention As An Immersion Model, Janet L. Dodd, Megan Gorey

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) based interventions support individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) in becoming effective and efficient communicators. However, there is often a disconnect between language models, communication opportunities, and desired intervention outcomes in the intervention process. This paper outlines a service delivery model that unites these elements of intervention. The social theory of language acquisition provides the foundation of this immersion model (Paul & Norbury, 2012; Pence & Justice, 2013) while adaptations of indirect language stimulation strategies create (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013; Paul & Norbury, 2012) the support system necessary to develop an independent and functional communicator. …

The Effectiveness Of Independent Reading And Self-Selected Texts On Adolescent Reading Comprehension: A Quantitative Study, Sarah Horne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Striving adolescent readers often find themselves with little or no support once they enter high school. The success of independent reading programs that target students' reading levels and accommodate student interest at the elementary level is well-documented. As students progress throughout their school years, such freedom is traditionally replaced with a strict adherence to lists of canonical classics of literature, most of which are well above a struggling reader's independent reading level. This study explored the value of such an independent reading program that addresses both student interest as well as student reading ability at the secondary level and sought …

Student Retention In Stem: Exploration Of The Gender Gap, Olha Ketsman, Carolina C. Ilie

DBER Speaker Series

Prior research indicates that there are small numbers of women in STEM areas and in physics in particular; the latter may suggest that women who have potential to contribute to physics choose other careers. This presentation examines the gender gap in STEM with a focus on physics. We discuss a that was survey administered to undergraduate science students at one primarily undergraduate college in the United States, the factors that impacted student decisions in physics, and recommendations to increase student retention.

Perceptions Of Health Educators And Supervisors About Their Preparation In Alexandria, Egypt (How Well They Believe Their Training And Preparation Prepared Them To Work As Health Educators), Elshaymaa Ahmed

Master's Capstone Projects

Health educators have many responsibilities, including community education, assessment program development, evaluation, research, health policy and grant writing. Health educators in Egypt do not participate in all these activities, but they mostly do participate in essential activities such as community education. The health educators in Egypt get training and preparation on topics such as addiction, women’s health, chronic diseases, and the skills needed for teaching.

This study investigated the perceptions of health educators and their supervisors about how well they believe their training and preparation has prepared them to work with health clients in Alexandria, Egypt. The study includes interviews …

Negotiating Invisibility: Addressing Lgbt Prejudice In China, Hong Kong, And Thailand, Hunter Gray

Master's Capstone Projects

This research serves as a consolidation of information regarding the global response to LGBT prejudice, and in particular, the response of organizations situated in China, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Interviews with activists and researchers from organizations that address LGBT prejudice served as the main form of data. Findings and subsequent analysis point to the ways in which organizations respond to the lack of visibility of the LGBT community, and how this invisibility is related to various manifestations of LGBT prejudice. Strategies that organizations have developed to respond to LGBT prejudice reveal how organizations negotiate contextual variables in their attempts to …

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act Of 2014, Kassandra Mores

Policy Analysis

On May 9, 2014, Representative Smith (R-NJ) and Representative Doyle (D-PA) introduced a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act (H.R. 4631) for five years. Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Enzi (R-WY) are planning to introduce a Senate bill of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act. The Combating Autism Act of 2011, due to sunset September 30, 2014, provides federal funding for autism research, public education, and early detection and intervention in Maine. We are hoping that you will consider voting in support of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act.

Growing Ideas - Caring For Young Children - Business Matters, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Caregivers or business owners? Family child care providers are both. Paying attention to the business aspects of running a family child care home is an important component to having the income and working environment needed for program success.

Growing Ideas - Building Belonging: Providing Guidance For Social Skill Development, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

As young children with and without disabilities grow, they are learning how to develop relationships with others and to be members of a community. All children need support to learn and achieve these important life skills. The process adults use to teach and support this learning is known as guidance. Effective guidance assumes the following conditions: Respect, understanding, and appreciation for every child’s unique qualities; Knowledge that children’s mistaken behaviors provide learning opportunities; An encouraging community where every child belongs and feels safe; and a developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive setting.

Growing Ideas - Daily Transitions - Time For A Change, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Young children with and without disabilities experience many changes during their day. Daily transitions in early care and education programs take place during an activity, or when children move from one activity to another or one location to another. Transitions include the following: Arriving at or departing from a program; Exchanging toys; Entering or leaving a play area during free choice time; Cleaning up after morning activities and starting a group circle time; Getting dressed to go outside to play; and Shifting from playing with friends to working with a teacher/therapist on a particular skill. Thoughtful planning is needed so …

Growing Ideas - Whack! Slam! Bang! - Aggression, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Aggressive behavior - hitting, pinching, biting, and other acts through which children may hurt themselves or others - is a way children communicate by using their bodies. Children behave aggressively for a variety of reasons.

Growing Ideas - Partnering With An Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) is a collaborative relationship between a mental health consultant and families, care and education professionals, and/or early care and education teachers. ECMHC strives to improve the ability of families, teachers, and care and education professionals to promote, sustain and restore healthy social and emotional development for all children. Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation approaches challenging situations with children from a problem solving perspective. ECMHC is not a therapeutic intervention: it occurs in the children's natural settings - child care, home, and school.

Growing Ideas - Admissions Policies And Practices That Build Inclusive Child Care Communities (For Providers), University Of Maine Center For Community Inclusion And Disability Studies

Early Childhood Resources

Quality inclusive child care settings include children with disabilities and health, behavioral or mental health concerns. Admissions policies that clearly state eligibility criteria, practices, program and parent and/or guardian responsibilities, can help families evaluate if the program will be a good match for their child. Providers may want to obtain legal advice to be sure their policy and procedures align with relevant federal and state laws and regulations.