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Full-Text Articles in Education

Effective Means Of Communication In Rural Schools, Andrew Albright May 2018

Effective Means Of Communication In Rural Schools, Andrew Albright

Master's Theses

The purpose of the research was to identify the preference of parents regarding the type of communication they receive from schools. Communication of general, negative, and positive information was considered in this study. Participants were parents of school-age children from a rural school district with a pre-kindergarten through high school level program. The quantitative research was designed using a survey with a Likert scale. The parents had the opportunity to participate in a parent and teacher conference event, which provided the best chance for input from most parents. The results were shared with district and building level administrators to help …


Including Students With Special Needs In A Mainstream Classroom In Cameroon, Elie Tcheimegni Jan 2018

Including Students With Special Needs In A Mainstream Classroom In Cameroon, Elie Tcheimegni

Master's Theses

This qualitative study used a survey research design to collect perception data from ten general educators from Northern Cameroon to examine the attitudes and instructional efficacy of the regular education teacher towards the inclusion of learning disabled students in the Northern part of Cameroon in grades 9 to 12. The findings of this study indicated that there is a need to train general education teachers for inclusion. Participants believe general education teachers need supports, logistics, professional development and training in inclusion practices. They all mentioned teachers need training, support and resources. Teachers should possess the skills that facilitate all learning …


Consolidation And Reform: Middle School Considerations -The Case Of The Lebanon R-Iii School District In Lebanon, Missouri, Janci R. Mills Jan 2017

Consolidation And Reform: Middle School Considerations -The Case Of The Lebanon R-Iii School District In Lebanon, Missouri, Janci R. Mills

Master's Theses

This case study examined the implementation of a new public middle school following intra-district consolidation in rural Missouri. Lebanon R-III saw the intradistrict consolidation of a sixth grade building, and a seventh/eighth grade building, creating a middle school. This initiative prepared students, faculty and staff to experience a middle school aiming to improve the learning experience for students in grades six through eight. The implementation of consolidation, school reform initiatives, and the current school status were discussed in this case study. Data was collected and examined regarding the perceptions of teachers about the effectiveness of implementation strategies used in the …


Examining The Relationship Of Demographic Variables, Media Exposure, And Motivation On Second Language Acquisition, Heidi Hines May 2015

Examining The Relationship Of Demographic Variables, Media Exposure, And Motivation On Second Language Acquisition, Heidi Hines

Master's Theses

Many students in higher education settings struggle with learning a new language. It’s not uncommon for international students to need additional resources in learning to speak and write in English. A pilot study funded by Fort Hays State University implemented various English software programs, such as Rosetta Stone, and Memrise at one of their Chinese partnership universities. The English programs were given as an option to help the students during an English composition course. The current study took advantage of FHSU’s pilot study and used that opportunity to investigate additional variables related to second language acquisition. The current study does …


Professional Learning Communities Enhancing Capacity For Improved Student Learning, L. Keith Adams Nov 2013

Professional Learning Communities Enhancing Capacity For Improved Student Learning, L. Keith Adams

Master's Theses

Educators continue to be challenged with improving the nation's schools. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 created an elusive moving target towards perfection as the ultimate goal. This was a mandate for every school receiving federal funds to close the achievement gap. Recently, states have been applying for waivers to help them move out of the NCLB rut of narrowly focused and unattainable goals. The pressure of school improvement and its challenges, with limited funding, continue for schools to supply efficient and effective professional development that will benefit student learning. The Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, wrote in …


Undoing The Factory Model: A Practical Field Test In Blended Learning, Adam Holden Jul 2013

Undoing The Factory Model: A Practical Field Test In Blended Learning, Adam Holden

Master's Theses

The successful implementation of e-learning strategies into the learning process is not a new idea. Education was first introduced to the concept of digital natives using technological tools to learn over a decade ago now, and yet we remain a nation struggling to come to terms with the educational potential of technology. It is true, that the past ten years has seen a significant integration of hardware into the classroom; the question must be asked however, whether this has been wastefully accomplished by many schools, without predetermined planning or the development of strategic outcomes for its use. Merely, introducing these …


The Impact Of Maturity And Parenting Style In Delinquent Behaviors, Nichole Lind May 2013

The Impact Of Maturity And Parenting Style In Delinquent Behaviors, Nichole Lind

Master's Theses

Most of the previous research about juvenile delinquency has focused on why some adolescents become delinquent. Elliott and Voss (1974) theorized that delinquent behavior occurs due to the aspiration opportunity disjunction, or goals that are beyond one’s means. Moffitt (1993) shifted the focus of research as to why most adolescents quit their delinquent behavior and others persist towards a lifetime of criminal activities. Mounts (2002) found that parents who had higher levels of parenting management practices had adolescents with lower levels of drug use and drug using friends. Moffitt (1993) proposed that it is a perceptual shift or an exit …


Factors Affecting Daily Stress In Siblings Of Children With Special Needs, Todd Blackwill May 2013

Factors Affecting Daily Stress In Siblings Of Children With Special Needs, Todd Blackwill

Master's Theses

For families who have a children with disabilities, a great amount of stress are put on not only the primary caregivers but all members of the family unit. This study examined what factors influence stress experienced by siblings of children with disabilities. These factors included severity of the children’s disabilities, gender of the siblings, how much help the siblings provide in the care of the children with disabilities, and the number of people in the families. The purpose was to raise awareness of the participants and pinpoint certain characteristics that affect how frequent and how intense stress is experienced by …


Effective School-Wide Discipline Programs Promote Student Achievement, Jeremiah Lamar Bundrage Nov 2012

Effective School-Wide Discipline Programs Promote Student Achievement, Jeremiah Lamar Bundrage

Master's Theses

Student discipline has been a concern for school districts for many years. Many district and school level administrators have made the decision to strictly enforce local and district level discipline policies. The initial logic was intended to reduce negative behavior by simply demanding responsible student interaction. The strict enforcement of such policies increased student absenteeism as well as created a communications barrier between school leaders and parents. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a school-wide discipline program. The study will explore the methods needed to implement such program as well reveal how the discipline program …


Correlating Social Media Policy To The Isllc Standards, Bret Gowin Nov 2012

Correlating Social Media Policy To The Isllc Standards, Bret Gowin

Master's Theses

The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) was a committee developed in 1996 by the Council of Chief School Officers (CSSO) that created standards to direct the training of aspirant school administrators. The objective of each of these standards also may provide guidance for administrators in their daily mission to lead their school to providing the highest quality education possible. Social media is a fairly new communication tool that school leaders must consider in the development of school policy. This communication tool has an overabundance of considerations, both positive and negative, that must be measured when developing policy on its …


Understanding How College Students' Literacy Is Affected By Texting Sms Lexicon, Katherine L. Herrman Nov 2012

Understanding How College Students' Literacy Is Affected By Texting Sms Lexicon, Katherine L. Herrman

Master's Theses

Spelling and grammar have always been taught in schools as means of proper language mechanics (U.S.D.E., 2006). Recently, the use of correct spelling and proper grammar in writing among college students has seemed to weaken (Junco & Cotton, 2011). Although there may be many factors that could contribute to this decrease in proper language use, the development of new technologies may be playing an important role. Presently, one of the newest technologies, cell phones, is in the hands of many young adults. Most of these young adults are using their cell phones to send and receive instant messages, or text …


Pre-Service Teacher Dispositions, Kevin Splichal Jul 2012

Pre-Service Teacher Dispositions, Kevin Splichal

Master's Theses

The objective of this study is to discover what other universities are doing to address pre-service teacher dispositions. Many universities have utilized assessment tools and policies directed toward student dispositions which can be very useful for institutions who have not yet begun the process of evaluating disposition traits in their candidates. This analysis can be most beneficial to departments and colleges who are looking for research based practices during their own implementation phases of policy creation geared toward assessment of pre-service teacher dispositions. The research will be most useful for any educator working with pre-service teachers. This data can be …


The Effects Of Video Self-Modeling On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Casey N. Schmidt Jul 2012

The Effects Of Video Self-Modeling On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Casey N. Schmidt

Master's Theses

Video self-modeling (VSM) is a type of intervention that has been developed to assist students in viewing themselves successfully in a wide variety of domains. Previous research regarding VSM states that it is beneficial to children with autism spectrum disorder and has helped them improve functioning in many settings. Specifically, VSM is useful to children with autism spectrum disorder because it minimizes attentional and hearing requirements, and allows the child to see themselves as they could be rather than as they currently are. Video modeling avoids reliance on social interactions or the presence of a therapist to promote learning. This …


Middle School Math Teachers' Perceptions Of Standards, Assessment Literacy, And Professional Learning: A Colorado Case Study, Michael Wayde Brom May 2012

Middle School Math Teachers' Perceptions Of Standards, Assessment Literacy, And Professional Learning: A Colorado Case Study, Michael Wayde Brom

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perceptions sixth through eighth grade middle school math teachers in Colorado had of the professional learning they had received related to implementing the Colorado Academic Math Standards (CAMS), and also determine the teachers’ level of understanding in each of the following areas: (a) state standards alignment and curriculum, and (b) assessment literacy. The study was designed to demonstrate how each area complemented the other two areas and their collective impact on instructional practices and student learning. The researcher’s hope was that the findings of this case study may be helpful, at …


Parental Quality Of Marriage And The Effects It Has On Children's Willingness To Support Married, Separated, Or Divorced Parents, Deirdre Deiter May 2012

Parental Quality Of Marriage And The Effects It Has On Children's Willingness To Support Married, Separated, Or Divorced Parents, Deirdre Deiter

Master's Theses

The purpose of the current study was to investigate how martial quality affects children’s willingness to provide support to their divorced, separated, or married parents. It was hypothesized that children would be more willing to provide support to parents with higher levels of marital quality prior to divorce or separation. One focus of the current study was to investigate the amount of support given to parents from a younger sample of adult children than typically studied. Data were collected from both the virtual and on-campus student population. One hundred and twenty-four students participated in the study (45 males and 79 …


Influence Of University Level Direct Instruction On Educators' Use Of Technology In The Classroom, Angie M. Garner May 2012

Influence Of University Level Direct Instruction On Educators' Use Of Technology In The Classroom, Angie M. Garner

Master's Theses

Previous research regarding technology integration in education has indicated that when technology is integrated into the classroom with fidelity it can enhance educational experiences ranging from academic achievement to student attitudes toward education and student self-concept. Research has also indicated, however that despite the growing presence of technology in classrooms, it is not being effectively utilized. Further research investigating this disparity between presence of technology and integration of those technologies for student-centered learning opportunities has revealed that there are several underlying factors related to effective educational technology integration. Those factors which are considered to be most influential are (a) time, …


Influence Of Friendship On Motivation And Academic Achievement, Anna Dechant Nov 2011

Influence Of Friendship On Motivation And Academic Achievement, Anna Dechant

Master's Theses

Research has shown that friendship, along with motivation, can impact the cognitive development and academic achievement of students in varying ways. As a result of the increase in attention nationwide on student achievement and the positive outcomes that result from academic success, knowing the influences of age, friendship quality, various aspects of friendship, and motivation on academic achievement can only serve to enhance student achievement outcomes, and therefore success in adulthood. The present study examined the variables of age, grade level, and friendship quality, including specific aspects such as conflict and closeness, length of friendship, and time spent with friends, …


Test Performance And Study Breaks, Lori Mcginley Nov 2011

Test Performance And Study Breaks, Lori Mcginley

Master's Theses

As the culture of American education changes, recess time is declining in favor of instruction time. An important question, however, is whether this shift is truly going to yield the best learning outcomes. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of taking a break, both mental and physical, on test performance. Seventy college students were tested on their learning of a list of phobias that they had studied in one of three conditions: no break, mental break, and physical break. It was predicted that participants would perform better on a subsequent memory task when a break …


Private Versus Public Schools: A Comparison Of The Percentage Of Third- And Fifth-Grade Students Who Meet Kansas State Proficiency Standards In Reading And Mathematics, Kyle D. Carlin Jul 2011

Private Versus Public Schools: A Comparison Of The Percentage Of Third- And Fifth-Grade Students Who Meet Kansas State Proficiency Standards In Reading And Mathematics, Kyle D. Carlin

Master's Theses

The present study examined the relationship between school sector and academic achievement as measured by the mathematics and reading portions of the Kansas State Assessments. Archival data were used to obtain the percent of third-grade and fifth-grade students who were proficient in mathematics and reading for 919 schools (813 public, 106 private) across Kansas. The data were analyzed to identify extraneous variables that affect academic achievement and to determine if attending private or public schools resulted in higher academic achievement. Results indicate that, after extraneous variables are statistically controlled for, students who attend public schools achieve equal to or higher …


Accelerated Reader: The Relation To Age Of Entry Into Formal Education, Tiffani Long Jul 2011

Accelerated Reader: The Relation To Age Of Entry Into Formal Education, Tiffani Long

Master's Theses

The current study examined the relationship between ages of entry into formal education and the effects it had on participation in the Accelerated Reader program. More specifically, the variables being compared were: the child’s age in months, gender, average number of AR points accumulated, the number of quizzes passed, and finally the number of quizzes taken. It was hypothesized that those children who are younger than their peers are going to earn fewer points than their older peers. Additionally, a gender difference was also hypothesized, predicting that female students would earn more points than their male classmates. Data was gathered …


Differences In Students' Motivation To Attend College: Large Versus Small High Schools, Brittney Horyna Jul 2011

Differences In Students' Motivation To Attend College: Large Versus Small High Schools, Brittney Horyna

Master's Theses

The current study examined the relationship between the variables: school size, motivation, and college attendance to determine if the size of a student’s high school, along with his/her motivational tendencies, influenced the student’s choice to pursue a college education. Additionally, it was hypothesized that college students who had attended smaller high schools (enrollment of < 500) would exhibit motivational tendencies more characteristic of being intrinsically motivated, while college students who had attended larger high schools (enrollment = 500+) would be more extrinsically motivated. Data was gathered from college students attending a small mid-west university (N=266) using a brief demographics survey as well as Vallerand et al.’s (1992) Academic Motivation Scale. Results of a factorial MANOVA revealed a significant main effect for sex on the motivational subscales: extrinsic motivation- identified (MMale= 5.80, MFemale= 6.16), extrinsic motivation- external regulation (MMale= 5.94, MFemale= 6.24), and motivation (MMale= 1.89, MFemale= 1.43). Additional follow-up analyses utilizing Pearson Correlations indicated the existence of significant, positive, linear relationships between approximate number of senior classmates and the following subscales: intrinsic motivation- towards accomplishment, extrinsic motivation- identified, and extrinsic motivation- introjected. Furthermore, these results indicated a significant relationship between approximate high school enrollment and intrinsic motivation- towards accomplishment and a marginally significant relationship between approximate number of senior classmates and extrinsic motivation- external regulation. Results will be discussed in light of previous research and literature regarding secondary educational institutions, the various types of motivation, and their impact on students’ academic performance.


Exposure To Mortality And Its Effects On Teen Drinking, Amber Jones May 2011

Exposure To Mortality And Its Effects On Teen Drinking, Amber Jones

Master's Theses

The topic of teen drinking is popular because it has been persistent over time and does not appear to be diminishing in today’s society. Alcohol consumption among adolescents is a major health concern for our adolescents today (Kosterman, Hawkins, Guo, Catalon, & Abbott, 2000). Besides being associated with poor health conditions (Puddey, Rakic, Dimmitt, & Beilin, 1999), adolescent drinking is also correlated with risks such as poor school performance, violence/criminal behavior, and other self-harming behaviors (Mason & Windle, 2002). Aside from these alcohol related risks, there is a higher risk of poor decision making including that of drinking and driving. …


Enhancing The Sight Word Vocabulary Of Young Adult Students With Mental Retardation Using Signing, Nancy A. Muck Jul 2010

Enhancing The Sight Word Vocabulary Of Young Adult Students With Mental Retardation Using Signing, Nancy A. Muck

Master's Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine if sign language increased the rate in which students learn to read new vocabulary words. A single subject, multiple treatment research design was implemented for use with this study. All of the Saxon Phonics 1 sight words were pre-tested to develop a list of 40 words that were unknown to both participants. These forty sight vocabulary words were then randomly separated into two groups of twenty. The first group of twenty was taught using only the Saxon Phonics 1 program, while the second group of twenty was taught using sign language of …


The Evolution Of Schools Of Phillips County, Kansas, Clarence A. Schamber Jul 1949

The Evolution Of Schools Of Phillips County, Kansas, Clarence A. Schamber

Master's Theses

The development of schools in the various counties throughout Western Kansas is often taken as a matter of course by many people. However, the growth that has taken place since the first school was conducted in a dugout or maybe in a sodhouse out on the prairie which had to be guarded against Indian attacks and buffalo herds, to our present elaborate and modern system of education is not a mere matter of incidence. Every student of political science considers the period of settlement on the western prairie as one of the most interesting and courageous in American history. Likewise, …


A Projected School-Community Relationship Program In Western Kansas., Joe J. Jellison Jul 1949

A Projected School-Community Relationship Program In Western Kansas., Joe J. Jellison

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the need for a better school-community relationship, and a suggested solution of the problems involved, if there be need for improvement of the relationship of school and community.


A Study In Achievement Of College Freshmen Using The American Council Of Education Cooperative Biology Test, Elmer B. Vecera Jul 1949

A Study In Achievement Of College Freshmen Using The American Council Of Education Cooperative Biology Test, Elmer B. Vecera

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to discover significant differences in achievement , if any, of boys and girls from the three classes of high schools in Kansas . This brings one to the statement of the problem which may be stated as follows: "A Study in Achievement of College Freshmen using the American Council of Education Cooperative Biology Test . Form P. 11 The problem was to discover: (1) significant differences , if any, between boys who had biology in high school and those who did not ; (2) significant differences, if any, between girls who had biology in …


The Relation Of Vocabulary To Intelligence And Semester Grades Of College Freshmen, Silas W. Clifton Jul 1949

The Relation Of Vocabulary To Intelligence And Semester Grades Of College Freshmen, Silas W. Clifton

Master's Theses

Much discussion has taken place concerning the value of the vocabulary as an aid in attaining knowledge. There are those who believe an individual having a large vocabulary will also rank high in intelligence. The point bas been raised, by teachers and laymen, as to whether an individual, regardless of extreme high or low intelligence, will do better work in the subjects in which his vocabulary is large than in the subjects in which his vocabulary is scant. If a higher correlation results between the vocabulary of an individual and his final semester grades in the subjects in which he …


A Study Of The Fort Hays Kansas State College Placement Test, Claud J. Bray Jul 1949

A Study Of The Fort Hays Kansas State College Placement Test, Claud J. Bray

Master's Theses

Among recent trends in education at the collegiate level is that which pertains to the use of placement tests for entering freshmen in college. Many colleges in different parts of the nation have made use of these entrance tests. Among these schools we find Fort Hays Kansas State College. The question of the value of the use of such tests might very properly be raised. Do placement tests really fulfill their function? Should freshmen be exempted from certain basic courses if they make or exceed stipulated scores on the tests? Or should freshmen be required to take the basic courses …


Proposed Qualifications For Custodians In Certain Kansas Schools, Herbert A. Barkley May 1949

Proposed Qualifications For Custodians In Certain Kansas Schools, Herbert A. Barkley

Master's Theses

In recent years there has been much improvement in the quality of school buildings, equipment, and supplies . Qualifications of administrators, supervisors, teachers, and almost all other employees have been advanced. Requirements and standards for custodians have begun to show a trend upward . In the last quarter of a century, janitor-engineer schools have been held to raise the standards of custodians in the proper maintenance of the school buildings and grounds . The position of the custodian in previous years has often been given to an aged person, to a cripple, to a political friend, to some incompetent person, …


Achievement In Physical Science In Relation To The Type Of High School Attended, Joseph A. Stremel Jul 1948

Achievement In Physical Science In Relation To The Type Of High School Attended, Joseph A. Stremel

Master's Theses

Certain standards set up oy the State Board of Education upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction must be met by a class “ A” , “ B “ or " C" school. Administrators in class "A" and "B" high schools are required to hold a Kansas administrator's certificate, and this requirement must also be met by all administrators in class "C" schools by September 1 , 1952. At the present time, teachers in class “ A” schools must have at least fifteen semester hours of preparation in a teaching field , in class "B" schools at …