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Full-Text Articles in Education

Supporting The Intrinsically Motivated Learner, Alison Attura Loud Jan 2016

Supporting The Intrinsically Motivated Learner, Alison Attura Loud

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

This study investigated the use of student-led goal setting, and the use of student-choice with assessments, in a 4th grade mathematics classroom. Specifically, this study analyzed how the goal setting and assessment choice of students impacted their intrinsic motivation with regard to learning mathematics skills. The research was conducted using a mixed methods approach. Results found that these implemented strategies increased student intrinsic motivation in regards to meeting their goals and their ability to prove mastery of math standards. Recommendations for classroom teachers included providing guidance for students in goal setting and increase student autonomy in the classroom.


Factors In School Choice And Parent Satisfaction At Cornville Regional Charter School, Philip Estabrook Jan 2016

Factors In School Choice And Parent Satisfaction At Cornville Regional Charter School, Philip Estabrook

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

Charter schools are in their earliest days in the state of Maine. The first charter school in Maine offering elementary services opened in Cornville in 2012. Parents sending students to the school have a variety of reasons for choosing an alternate model for educating their students. First, parents felt the agricultural focus of the CRCS was a strong foundation for their students. Second, parents were very happy with the smaller classroom populations. Finally, the impression that the administrators at CRCS more quickly responded to the needs of the parents and student were noted as being especially important.


Using Twitter To Promote Civic Education, Katelyn Ross Jan 2016

Using Twitter To Promote Civic Education, Katelyn Ross

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Twitter could be used to support civic education in a rural, low-income school district in Maine. Twitter was used in the classroom to supplement and enrich a unit on the Civil Rights Movement and also to inform students about the political process. Findings indicate that Twitter can effectively be used to engage students, inform about the political process, and enrich content when used with purposeful instruction. Recommendations for educators include long-term implementation of the tool, on-going feedback from students, and purposeful implementation into curriculum.


Making Lexia® Work: A Backward Design Approach To Helping Teachers Utilize Technology, Matthew Mcgreevy Jan 2016

Making Lexia® Work: A Backward Design Approach To Helping Teachers Utilize Technology, Matthew Mcgreevy

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

This action research investigation applied data driven teaching practices to the task of improving the delivery of Lexia® reading software, a computer aided instruction (CAI) program, in middle and secondary special education classes. Special educators need the opportunity to utilize technology with the potential to make their practices more efficient and effective. This investigation used qualitative and quantitative data to give teachers the technological ability to allow their students efficient use of Lexia® software and improved teacher understanding of how computer aided instruction (CAI) fits with their academic and classroom management goals.


Educator’S Perceptions Of Effective Professional Learning Communities, Sandra Jamison Jan 2016

Educator’S Perceptions Of Effective Professional Learning Communities, Sandra Jamison

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

This research explored the experiences of educators with a professional learning community (PLC) and focused on their perceptions of what constituted essential elements for an effective PLC. This mixed methods study sought to understand more completely the group dynamics of various PLC teams in a Maine rural school with an emphasis on defining key components of those communities. This study revealed that if key elements such as trust, respect and collaboration were in place, then PLCs were often able to fulfill its designated purpose. Findings determined that PLCs at the school had the prerequisite key elements and thus could be …


Engagement Through Brain Breaks In The Secondary Classroom, Sheryl F. Morton Jan 2016

Engagement Through Brain Breaks In The Secondary Classroom, Sheryl F. Morton

M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects

This study was implemented to investigate the theory of using brain breaks with secondary students to maximize their engagement during an 80 minute course. Educators are faced with the substantial task of promoting classroom environments conducive to student engagement. Relevant to such engagement is the retention of information and improved educational performance. Findings indicated that if given a five minute break, a majority of students reported an improvement in their ability to remain engaged. Students also responded that continued brain breaks would be beneficial to their learning. This study recommends that teachers implement these breaks to ultimately increase student engagement.