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Articles 1 - 30 of 41
Full-Text Articles in Education
The Effect Of Enrollment In Middle School Challenge Courses On Advanced Placement Exams In Social Studies And Science, Katherine Glaude-Bolte
The Effect Of Enrollment In Middle School Challenge Courses On Advanced Placement Exams In Social Studies And Science, Katherine Glaude-Bolte
Dissertations
Educators seek to guide students through appropriate programs and courses that prepare them for future success, in more advanced coursework and in other challenges of life. Some middle schools offer Challenge, or honors, courses for students who have demonstrated high ability. High schools often offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are taught at the college level. This study examined the correlation between enrollment in middle school Challenge courses and subsequent AP exam category scores in social studies and science in a suburban school district. The independent variables were the number of years of enrollment in middle school social studies or …
Factors Influencing Teacher Job Satisfaction And Their Alignment With Current District Practices In A Rural School District, Taneal Marie Wallace
Factors Influencing Teacher Job Satisfaction And Their Alignment With Current District Practices In A Rural School District, Taneal Marie Wallace
Dissertations
School districts’ decisions across the country are influencing the satisfaction level of teachers, in both positive and negative ways. With statistics reporting as high as fifty percent of teachers leaving the profession in the first five years of experience (Ingersoll, 2003), determining the reasons for teacher dissatisfaction are important in correcting district practices to be more supportive and satisfying to teachers. The purpose of this research study was to (a) determine the satisfaction level of teachers in a specific school district, (b) determine the practices building-level administrators have put into place and how they relate to the factors identified in …
Evaluating Summer School Programs And The Effect On Student Achievement: The Correlation Between Stanford-10 Standardized Test Scores And Two Different Summer Programs, Brian J. Koop
Dissertations
School districts looking for ways to minimize summer learning loss have implemented a variety of programs to combat this problem. Since No Child Left Behind and the need for school districts to meet the goals of Adequate Yearly Progress, it is no longer enough to limit summer learning loss. Now school leaders find it necessary to use the summer months to increase student achievement and prepare students for rigorous learning in the coming school year. This collaborative, quantitative study is an examination of one district’s attempt to improve summer programming in order to meet the need for increased student achievement. …
Factors Influencing Teacher Job Satisfaction And Their Alignment With Current District Practices In A Suburban School District, Kimberly Rae Dickens
Factors Influencing Teacher Job Satisfaction And Their Alignment With Current District Practices In A Suburban School District, Kimberly Rae Dickens
Dissertations
School districts across the country make many decisions that impact teachers’ satisfaction both positively and negatively. With statistics reporting a significant number of teachers leaving the profession in the first 5 years of experience, determining the reasons for teacher dissatisfaction are important in shaping district practices to be more supportive and satisfying to teachers. The purpose of this research study was to (a) determine the satisfaction level of teachers in a specific school district, (b) determine the practices school principals have put into place and how they relate to the factors identified in the research as being contributive to teacher …
Student And Teacher Perspectives Of Technology Usage, Lori L. Elliott
Student And Teacher Perspectives Of Technology Usage, Lori L. Elliott
Dissertations
This study examined the use of technology by eighth grade students and teachers and perceptions of students and teachers toward technology use in the classroom and home. A mixed design method was selected to collect and analyze the data. Face-to-face interviews, field notes, and national survey results were used to triangulate the data. Three themes emerged from the study in response to the research questions: communication is the focus of technology use, students consider themselves more knowledgeable about technology than teachers, and technology use in the classroom is primarily a visual tool, rather than an interactive resource. Implications for educators …
School Resource Officers In Missouri Public Schools: School Safety And Academic Success, John W. Link
School Resource Officers In Missouri Public Schools: School Safety And Academic Success, John W. Link
Dissertations
This study was designed to explore the relationship between the presence of a school resource officer and a safe school climate, as well as, increased student achievement. Additionally, the perceptions of public school superintendents regarding the impact of school resource officers on safe school climate and academic success were investigated using the Correlates of Effective Schools as a framework. The research was divided into sections to observe two sets of data. Section I included an examination of Missouri school districts with a student population of 2,000 or less, comparing 20 schools with school resource officers to 20 schools without school …
Causes Of Nonattendance And Its Effect On Student Achievement At The High School Level, Kelly D. Bracht
Causes Of Nonattendance And Its Effect On Student Achievement At The High School Level, Kelly D. Bracht
Dissertations
Many high schools in America have issues with student nonattendance. The researcher designed this mixed methods study to determine the affect of nonattendance on student achievement and to ascertain whether home-related factors or school-related factors were more significant causes of nonattendance. Both the high school in this study and other similar schools may use the results to develop effective nonattendance intervention programs. The researcher used cluster sampling to determine the sample population. She then collected attendance data (the number of absences each student had during one semester) and achievement data (each student’s Grade Point Average during that same semester) about …
Exploring The Use Of Video-Teleconferencing For On-Duty Training In The St. Charles Fire Department And St. Louis Metropolitan Emergency Response Community, Robb F. Watkins
Dissertations
This study was conducted because the St. Charles Fire Department needed to identify a way to change its training delivery system to accommodate training in quarters for on-duty companies. St. Charles was experiencing: budget reductions, staffing shortages, delayed responses due to training, and increasing response times. The department identified video teleconferencing (VTC) as a possible solution to their training delivery dilemma. This study was a qualitative study including surveys and interviews that evaluated the VTC implementation process. The research question was, “How can fire department training be constructed to enhance the frequency and adequacy of training and reduce the need …
Urban Middle School Instructional Special Education: Tenured Versus Non-Tenured Teachers And The Impact On Academic Achievement, Sheryl Marie Wilson
Urban Middle School Instructional Special Education: Tenured Versus Non-Tenured Teachers And The Impact On Academic Achievement, Sheryl Marie Wilson
Dissertations
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is used in the Cahokia Unit School District No. 187 to give insight on student academic skill level in terms of years and months. Teacher strategies and expertise in the area of education are an integral part of the educational process. Tenure status, or the years of teaching experience, is plagued with the idea that it promotes or has an impact on student achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine if students receiving instruction from non-tenured special education teachers demonstrate the same gains in the areas of reading and math as …
Urban Middle School General Education: Tenured Versus Non-Tenured Teachers And The Impact On Academic Achievement, Trenese Nicole Dancy
Urban Middle School General Education: Tenured Versus Non-Tenured Teachers And The Impact On Academic Achievement, Trenese Nicole Dancy
Dissertations
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is used in the Cahokia Unit School District No. 187 to give insight on student academic skill level in terms of years and months. Teacher strategies and expertise in the area of education is an integral part of the educational process. Tenure status, or the years of experience, is plagued with the idea that it promotes or has an impact on student achievement. In this study the researchers wanted to determine if there was a significant relationship between teacher tenure status (independent variable) and student academic achievement (dependent variable). Preand post-ITBS reading and …
Green Schools: Constructing And Renovating School Facilities With The Concept Of Sustainability, Jonathan W. Oetinger
Green Schools: Constructing And Renovating School Facilities With The Concept Of Sustainability, Jonathan W. Oetinger
Dissertations
The focus of this study was to examine the benefits of constructing and renovating school facilities with the concept of sustainability. The overarching questions were: What impact does the environment have on constructing and operating school facilities? What relationship exists between the learning environment and constructing and operating school facilities? The purpose of this study was to determine the value and benefits of implementing energy efficient and sustainable design features in constructing new and renovating existing school facilities. When viewed through the lens of global warming, or the increase of greenhouse gases through the increase in the temperature of the …
Urban Middle School Teachers: Tenured Versus Non-Tenured Teachers And The Impact They Have On Academic Achievement, Rochelle Harris-Clark
Urban Middle School Teachers: Tenured Versus Non-Tenured Teachers And The Impact They Have On Academic Achievement, Rochelle Harris-Clark
Dissertations
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is used in the district of Study School No. 1 to give insight on student academic skill level in terms of years and months. Teacher strategies and expertise in the area of education is an integral part of the educational process. Tenure status, or the years of experience, is plagued with the idea that it promotes or has an impact on student achievement. Although there were a significant number of tenured special education and general education teachers at the study school during the 2005–2006, 2006–2007, and 2007–2008 school years, the school did not …
Perceived Effectiveness Of Special Reading Teacher’S Preparation Through The Reading Practicum Experience, Patricia C. Leitsch
Perceived Effectiveness Of Special Reading Teacher’S Preparation Through The Reading Practicum Experience, Patricia C. Leitsch
Dissertations
Special reading certification in the state of Missouri requires a candidate to complete coursework that involves two three hour practicum experiences. These experiences must entail working with students in kindergarten through grade 12. The practicum experiences are designed to provide significant instruction in the area of reading strategies for struggling readers. Since the advent of No Child Left Behind (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education [MODESE], 2009b) there has been an increased demand for special reading teachers. Many universities have experienced an increase in the number of students seeking special reading certification. This qualitative study focuses on the three …
Can Experiential Education Strategies Improve Elementary Science Teachers’ Perceptions Of And Practices In Science Teaching?, Kasey D. Sindel
Can Experiential Education Strategies Improve Elementary Science Teachers’ Perceptions Of And Practices In Science Teaching?, Kasey D. Sindel
Dissertations
This study was prompted by the growing amount of research that is in support of science reform and from this researcher’s personal experience and concern that science instructions is no longer a top priority in elementary schools nor are young scientists given the opportunities to act as scientists in a real world setting. This study uses experiential education strategies in a workshop format to try and affect change in the attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of elementary science teachers. Experiential education is not new, but the methods of teaching can span a wide range of topics. The main focus of the …
Process Evaluation Of The Instant Word Notebook, Jeannie Ellen Roberts
Process Evaluation Of The Instant Word Notebook, Jeannie Ellen Roberts
Dissertations
This program evaluation of The Instant Word Notebook was conducted by two educators who created an instructional tool to teach and assess the most frequently occurring words in written text, commonly known as Instant Words. In an effort to increase the reading scores of first and second grade students, teachers were instructed to teach Instant Words. It was observed that teachers exposed students to Instant Words, but had no systematic process to teach and assess Instant Words for mastery. The purpose of The Instant Word Notebook was to teach and assess mastery of Instant Words to first and second grade …
Exploring A High School Community Relations And Parent Involvement Program, Robert Corey Sink
Exploring A High School Community Relations And Parent Involvement Program, Robert Corey Sink
Dissertations
There are few issues in education that get as much attention as the need for improvement of parental and community involvement in and support for local schools. School faculties want to know how to improve the way they work with families and community members to better meet the needs of their students and parents want to find how to best communicate with the schools to help their children succeed. Even though there is extensive research and agreement about the importance of this topic, many schools continue to labor with these partnerships. This exploratory correlational research study employed a pre-test/post-test and …
Examining The Relationship Between Standard Tests, Experiential Learning Strategies, Student-Centered Teaching Attitudes, And Student Achievement In Communication Arts, Joann Clay
Dissertations
The purpose of this collaborative research study was to examine the relationship between standard tests, experiential learning strategies, student-centered teaching attitudes, and student achievement in Communication Arts. Each researcher took primary responsibility for the quantitative data (survey responses based on a Likert Scale and Missouri Assessment Program [MAP] and the qualitative data [open-ended questions, responses, and classroom observations of teachers]). This study was based on a collaborative effort in identifying the existence of teaching factors which could increase student achievement on the MAP test. The MAP test is one of several educational reforms mandated by the No Child Left Behind …
Effects Of At-Home Reading Activities And Parental Involvement On Classroom Reading Scores: Focus On The Middle School Level, Linetta Carter
Effects Of At-Home Reading Activities And Parental Involvement On Classroom Reading Scores: Focus On The Middle School Level, Linetta Carter
Dissertations
This dissertation was written collaboratively by Cynthia Warren, Linetta Carter, and George Edwards with the exception of chapter 4 which is the individual effort of the aforementioned researchers. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of athome reading activities and parental involvement on classroom reading scores with the focus on the middle school level. A total of 150 students from two inner city schools and one suburban school were chosen for the multi-method research. Students’ reading scores were evaluated and their parents were interviewed. A collaborative study involving three investigators was conducted to determine if there was …
The Effect Of Guided Reading Instruction On Reading Achievement, Vanda Lea Underwood
The Effect Of Guided Reading Instruction On Reading Achievement, Vanda Lea Underwood
Dissertations
Although reading achievement correlates highly with a student’s ability to do well in school, not all children achieve in reading. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to investigate whether reading instruction provided in small groups at the child’s own reading level, known as guided reading instruction, would result in significant improvement in the reading achievement of fourth- and fifth-grade students. Teachers’ commitment to and perception of guided reading instruction were also examined in the study district. The hypothesis was: Have student reading scores improved on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) in 2007 and 2008, after implementing guided reading …
An Adult Accelerated Degree Program: Student And Instructor Perspectives And Factors That Affect Retention, Cindy K. Manjounes
An Adult Accelerated Degree Program: Student And Instructor Perspectives And Factors That Affect Retention, Cindy K. Manjounes
Dissertations
This was a blended qualitative and quantitative study, which investigated adult student and instructor perspectives, motivators, factors and life events that have affected adult students as they pursue their degrees. This study also examined the environment, format, and course content of accelerated degree programs. This study focused solely on undergraduate degree programs. The null hypothesis of this study was that accelerated degree programs for adult students will not result in higher retention rates than traditional day programs. The null hypothesis was rejected. This study is significant because, as pointed out in Stephanie Armour’s June 12, 2003, USA Today article, adults …
Effects Of At-Home Reading Activities And Parental Involvement On Classroom Communication Arts Assessments: Focus On The High School Level, George Edwards
Effects Of At-Home Reading Activities And Parental Involvement On Classroom Communication Arts Assessments: Focus On The High School Level, George Edwards
Dissertations
This dissertation was written collaboratively by Cynthia Warren, Linetta Carter, and George Edwards with the exception of chapter 4 which is the individual effort of the aforementioned researchers. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of athome reading activities and parental involvement on classroom communication arts assessments with a focus on the high school level. A total of 150 students from two inner city schools and one suburban middle school were chosen for the multi-method research. Students’ reading scores were evaluated and their parents were interviewed. A collaborative study involving three investigators was conducted to determine if …
Investigating Efforts To Change Educator Attitudes And Teaching Strategies Through Professional Development Focused On The Use Of Backward Design Curriculum And The Principles Of Efficacy: Educator Beliefs And Attitudes, Alice Marie Jordan Aldridge
Investigating Efforts To Change Educator Attitudes And Teaching Strategies Through Professional Development Focused On The Use Of Backward Design Curriculum And The Principles Of Efficacy: Educator Beliefs And Attitudes, Alice Marie Jordan Aldridge
Dissertations
School districts continually face problems associated with student achievement. The 2001–2002 federal mandate contained in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act held schools accountable for success of all students in reading and mathematics. Standardized tests were employed to measure the success. The purpose of this study was to investigate efforts to change educator attitudes and teaching strategies through professional development focused on the use of backward design curriculum and the principles of efficacy. Participants completed a pre and post Likert survey. Three 45-minute professional development sessions were conducted incorporating discussions on the principles of efficacy and backward design curriculum. …
The Effects Of Teacher Mentoring On Teacher Retention, Camesha Nichole Hill-Carter
The Effects Of Teacher Mentoring On Teacher Retention, Camesha Nichole Hill-Carter
Dissertations
This study was conducted to determine if mentoring plays an important role on new teachers staying in the field of education at the school to which the original position was given. The targeted school is an inner-city charter school in St. Louis, Missouri, where teacher attrition is typically high. Since charter schools do not offer the same three year contracts as traditional public schools, teachers are challenged with the fire at-will clause that is in many charter school contracts. Many new teachers are not secure in the position in which they have attained and often leave the charter school for …
Effects Of At-Home Reading Activities And Parental Involvement On Classroom Reading Scores: Focus On The Elementary School Level, Cynthia Warren
Effects Of At-Home Reading Activities And Parental Involvement On Classroom Reading Scores: Focus On The Elementary School Level, Cynthia Warren
Dissertations
This dissertation was written collaboratively by Cynthia Warren, Linetta Carter, and George Edwards with the exception of chapter 4 which is the individual effort of the aforementioned researchers. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of athome reading activities and parental involvement on classroom reading scores with a focus on the elementary level. A total of 150 students from two inner city schools and one suburban school were chosen for the multi-method research. Students’ reading scores were evaluated, and their parents were interviewed. A collaborative study involving three investigators was conducted to determine if there was a …
A Summer Literacy Intervention For Struggling Readers At The Middle School Level Using Strategies In Comprehension, Fluency, Vocabulary, And Positive School Climate To Improve Reading Comprehension: An Evaluation Study, Jeffrey Joseph Haug
Dissertations
A middle school created an intervention called the Summer Literacy Program to increase reading comprehension levels. The middle school believed that by exposing students to fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies in a positive school culture, reading comprehension levels would improve. The program was created due to a high number of students reading below grade level. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the four-week Summer Literacy Program designed to provide extra interventions for struggling readers. The study is significant because it demonstrated that a four-week summer program can improve reading comprehension levels. The statistical analysis for …
Investigating Efforts To Change Educator Attitudes And Teaching Strategies Through Professional Development Focused On The Use Of Backward Design Curriculum And The Principles Of Efficacy: Student Behavior, Feedback And Assessments, Gwendolyn Grooms
Dissertations
School districts continually face problems associated with student achievement. The 2001–2002 federal mandate contained in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act held schools accountable for success of all students in reading and mathematics. Standardized tests were employed to measure the success. The purpose of this study was to investigate efforts to change educator attitudes and teaching strategies through professional development focused on the use of backward design curriculum and the principles of efficacy. Participants completed a pre and post Likert survey. Three 45-minute professional development sessions were conducted incorporating discussions on the principles of efficacy and backward design curriculum. …
Virtual Teacher Talk: Blogging With And By Pre-Service Teachers, Melanie Bishop
Virtual Teacher Talk: Blogging With And By Pre-Service Teachers, Melanie Bishop
Dissertations
This action research study investigated the use of a blog in a pre-service teacher orientation foundational course in a mid-western college. The purpose of using the blog was to integrate face-to-face instruction and virtual interactive technology throughout the course, in particular while the students were away from class for five weeks to participate in a practicum. The face-to-face and virtual interactions were designed to provide mutual support. This study was conducted in a course entitled Orientation to Education, a foundational course required of all undergraduate pre-service education students. Of the 34 students, 24 were freshmen or sophomores. The median age …
Freshman Transition And Its Effectiveness On Student Success As Measured By Improved Attendance, Improved Grades, Decreased Discipline Referrals, And Decreased Dropout Rate, Jana Lea Thornsberry
Freshman Transition And Its Effectiveness On Student Success As Measured By Improved Attendance, Improved Grades, Decreased Discipline Referrals, And Decreased Dropout Rate, Jana Lea Thornsberry
Dissertations
Research on freshman transition programs suggests the need for a transition program that assists students as they enter high school. Many freshman transition programs consist of a visit from the high school counselors or a tour of the school. These programs do not help meet the needs of many students who will need constant support throughout the school year. The study school implemented a freshman transition program to help meet the needs of students academically and emotionally. The purpose of this study was to determine if the implementation of a freshman transition program would make a difference in student success …
Act Scores As Predictors Of Success: A Correlation Study Between Act Scores And The Lindenwood University Business Capstone Course, Karolina Lapinska-Schneider
Act Scores As Predictors Of Success: A Correlation Study Between Act Scores And The Lindenwood University Business Capstone Course, Karolina Lapinska-Schneider
Dissertations
Business schools across the nation, to meet the accreditation standards of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), must incorporate results of certain outcomes assessments for evaluation of programs efficacy and continuous improvement purposes. The Educational Testing Service Major Field Test in Business Administration (ETS MFT-B) helps business institutions to evaluate their programs and to make improvements through changes in the curriculum. This study examined if the ACT scores, Cumulative Grade Point Average, and Term Grade Point Average determined the performance on the ETS MFT-B. The sample consisted of 59 business students enrolled in the Management Policy course …
Exploring Differences In Teacher Attitudes And Instructional Strategies Between Traditional And Block Schedule High Schools: A Comparison Of Two Small Schools, Timothy Leonard Reller
Exploring Differences In Teacher Attitudes And Instructional Strategies Between Traditional And Block Schedule High Schools: A Comparison Of Two Small Schools, Timothy Leonard Reller
Dissertations
As high schools have struggled to increase the academic performance of their students to meet state and national guidelines, all aspects of the schools' operations have been reviewed. This includes the type of schedule, block or traditional, used by the school. This study was a comparison of teacher attitudes and teaching strategies between two high schools with a block schedule and two high schools with a traditional schedule. Traditional schedule classes meet every day for 45–55 minutes, while block schedule classes meet every other day for 80–100 minutes. In 2007 several local school districts switched from the block schedule back …