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Improving Science Literacy Using Photographic Documentation Of Laboratory Activities, Mary Radus
Improving Science Literacy Using Photographic Documentation Of Laboratory Activities, Mary Radus
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Digital photography is a valuable educational tool which has been shown to improve language acquisition and vocabulary usage. Photography can also be used to enhance hands-on laboratory activities in high school science classes. This study examined the impact of photographic documentation of lab activities on students’ literacy in science. In this convergent, mixed methods investigation, 9th grade biology students took photographs during a lab activity, which they used to create collaborative photo projects based on the activity. Changes in literacy were measured by assessing the students’ usage of scientific vocabulary terms before and after the photo project, and assessing the …
Bridging The Gap Between Language Learning, Technology & Community: The Importance And Viability Of A Language Learning Mobile Application That Will Connect Users To Each Other Based On Location To The English As A Second Language Community, Parinaz Kassemi
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this study was: what is the importance and viability of a language-learning mobile application that will connect users to each other based on location to the English as a Second Language Community. The topics explored in the review of the literature include what a mobile application is, the current language learning applications that are available, the openness to technology in education, and the future of mobile apps. Six different adults who spoke more than one language took a short survey in which I collected some feedback on the perceived usefulness of having a language learning …
Factors That Contribute To Success In The Remote English Classroom, Emily Stein
Factors That Contribute To Success In The Remote English Classroom, Emily Stein
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
in their classes? 2) Which factors do remote teachers believe contribute to success in their classes? In an increasingly technological world, remote classes are becoming more common. With this change in the modality of class also comes a change in teacher characteristics, teaching strategies, and more. Topics explored in the literature review include these changes to teaching due to the remote modality, the successes and challenges of remote teaching and learning, as well as descriptions of remote models in the elementary school language learning context. The study looks more closely at a particular remote English program located in a small, …
Exploring Multi-Sensory Curriculum Development: Grades 3-5 Science In A Virtual Environment, Terilynn Stackhouse
Exploring Multi-Sensory Curriculum Development: Grades 3-5 Science In A Virtual Environment, Terilynn Stackhouse
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The capstone thesis uses a qualitative research approach to explore the question: What are virtual tools and multi-sensory strategies that can be integrated into curriculum development to support the engagement of learners in science in grades 3-5 in virtual learning environments? The author chose this topic to find and to apply multi-sensory strategies, including technology-rich approaches, in virtual education, and developed a new curriculum unit using current sensory-rich technologies. The goal is to enhance and enrich curriculum, and thereby to increase student engagement in the sciences. Applying these tools in virtual education and using multi-sensory approaches can lead to new …
How Integrating Digital Formative Assessment Impacts The Learning Of Sixth-Grade Science Students, Sara E. Potter
How Integrating Digital Formative Assessment Impacts The Learning Of Sixth-Grade Science Students, Sara E. Potter
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in the project was, How integrating digital formative assessment impacts the learning of sixth-grade science students? The motivating factor for this capstone was the increased use of electronic devices in the classroom. In this study, qualitative and quantitative data was collected using student surveys and summative assessment results of a science unit after using either traditional or traditional and digital formative assessments. In one year, exclusively traditional formative assessment was implemented, and in the other, both traditional and digital formative assessments were used. It was found that whether traditional formative assessment or a combination of traditional …
Effective And Engaging Online Learning A Research Based Blended Curriculum In The Middle School Language Arts Classroom, Emily Eggers
Effective And Engaging Online Learning A Research Based Blended Curriculum In The Middle School Language Arts Classroom, Emily Eggers
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
As technology becomes more prominent in today’s society, teachers need to be prepared to integrate technology into their classrooms. This capstone was made to answer the question “What is the best method to facilitate student learning in the online environment?” It documents one teacher’s creation of an all encompassing unit of study that incorporates many online learning strategies. Based on the Understanding by Design method of curriculum development, the unit includes learning outcomes, forms of assessment, and daily activities to help deepen students’ understanding of the material with the integrated use of technology. The methods of technological instruction are selected …
How Teachers Of Predominantly Or Entirely Online Schools Perceive The Possibility Of Online High School For An Entire District, Alex Hillerns
How Teachers Of Predominantly Or Entirely Online Schools Perceive The Possibility Of Online High School For An Entire District, Alex Hillerns
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question for this project was: How do teachers of predominantly or entirely online schools perceive the possibility of online high school for an entire district? It documents one teacher's examination of the topic through the use of interviews and surveys conducted with current online education schools in order to illuminate the possibilities for the future. The author was interested in the possibility of an automated learning system in which the program adjusted based on response in order to efficiently educate massive amounts of students per teacher. The research delves into the early programs of student driven adaptive programs …
Interactive Videos As A Vocabulary Pre-Teaching Tool In Middle School Science, Kimberly Severson
Interactive Videos As A Vocabulary Pre-Teaching Tool In Middle School Science, Kimberly Severson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of interactive video instruction to teacher-led direct instruction for pre-teaching science vocabulary to newcomer middle school ELs. The second phase of the experiment utilized interactive videos to pre-teach science vocabulary in a flipped learning environment. This study was influenced by vocabulary experts Beck, McKeown, and Kucan, as well as R. E. Mayer, multimedia learning expert. Data collection included pre-tests and post-tests of expressive and receptive vocabulary knowledge, as well as a student survey to determine ease of use, students’ perceived learning and satisfaction with the type of instruction. Results from …
Jiji Can Talk! An Oral Language Strategy Guide For Blended Learning Math Classrooms Using St Math, William Menz
Jiji Can Talk! An Oral Language Strategy Guide For Blended Learning Math Classrooms Using St Math, William Menz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can an oral language strategy guide be created to support ELs language development in the elementary math classroom that uses ST Math. The capstone outlines strategies that can be paired with online content from ST Math to help ELs and native speakers develop oral language around the math puzzles presented in the standards based curriculum. By simultaneously addressing conceptual understanding of math content and English language development, the strategy guide works to meet the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and the Principles of Math Instruction for ELs using ST Math, …
Differentiation For All Learners: Applying Theory And Practice So All Children Reach Their Potential, Kathryn Elizabeth Kreitzer
Differentiation For All Learners: Applying Theory And Practice So All Children Reach Their Potential, Kathryn Elizabeth Kreitzer
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Teachers in classrooms today are challenged with students with a ride range of abilities necessitating differentiation in the classroom. Faced with increasingly heterogeneous populations of students, including the mainstreaming of special education students, teachers are challenged to develop curricula that is matched to students’ abilities. This project focused on how to adapt state mandated grade level content to multiple instructional levels. Included in this project is a differentiated unit on the American Revolution based on Minnesota fifth grade standards. The unit is differentiated to first grade, third grade and fifth grade reading and writing levels. This project demonstrates how teachers …
The Intersection Of Collaboration, Critical Thinking And Technology: Implications For Adult Esl Learners Using An Inquiry Approach, Mary Elizabeth Zamacona
The Intersection Of Collaboration, Critical Thinking And Technology: Implications For Adult Esl Learners Using An Inquiry Approach, Mary Elizabeth Zamacona
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The primary purpose of this study was to determine the types and critical thinking skills used by adult ESL students as they learned technology skills through an inquiry approach. The results are based on the types of critical thinking skills that were utilized by adult students working collaboratively on an Excel computer project. Critical thinking was measured by coding audio recordings using the Transitions Integration Framework’s critical thinking skills category. Data were quantified by frequency of occurrence for each sub skill of critical thinking. Results show the most prominent critical thinking skills used by students in this study are problem-solving …
How Can Obstacles To Adult English Language Learners With Low Levels Of English Proficiency Participating In Distance Learning Be Reduced?, Anne Elizabeth Fern Ryan
How Can Obstacles To Adult English Language Learners With Low Levels Of English Proficiency Participating In Distance Learning Be Reduced?, Anne Elizabeth Fern Ryan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was: How can obstacles to adult ELLs with low levels of English language proficiency participating in distance learning be reduced? Focus groups were conducted with Vietnamese and Somali students to examine their experiences with distance learning. Students spoke of issues of access, difficulty of navigation, and literacy level of online learning content as major frustrations. Translation of computer instruction and increased opportunities to receive computer instruction were among the suggestions students offered for improving distance learning. The student suggestions would be costly for ABE programs to fully implement. Possible avenues for future study …
The Potential For Using Adaptive And Assignable Instructional Technology To Increase Student Agency And Achievement, Blair Allen Mishleau
The Potential For Using Adaptive And Assignable Instructional Technology To Increase Student Agency And Achievement, Blair Allen Mishleau
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question in this capstone was: How might teachers’ use of personalized learning in elementary reading through adaptive and assignable instructional technology programs lead to accelerated student achievement and agency? This curriculum development capstone started with researching the current literature on blended learning, instructional technology and student agency/achievement. From there, a survey for teachers was created to probe their mindset on technology’s place in the classroom. Using the Design Thinking Process, a curriculum was then developed that leveraged both the literature review done along with the teacher survey. This curriculum, a prototype, will be tested after the capstone and …
Student Use Of Cell/Smartphones Integrated In A Field-Based Science Curriculum, Cynthia Ann Hougo
Student Use Of Cell/Smartphones Integrated In A Field-Based Science Curriculum, Cynthia Ann Hougo
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Cellphones are a growing concern for teachers in schools across the country. Should we ban them or use them as a technological aid in the classroom. This research explores the results of integrating cell/smartphones in a field-based curriculum in a alternative high school science class. The research focused on the question, “How many functions and/or applications do students use on their cell/smartphones when it is integrated in a field-based curriculum?” Students used their cell/smartphones to document, take pictures, research and send assignments during the course of one quarter. The study used a qualitative action research design. Data was collected using …
How Digital Formative Assessment Increases Student Achievement And Motivation, Jillian G. Morreim
How Digital Formative Assessment Increases Student Achievement And Motivation, Jillian G. Morreim
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Technology in the classroom has changed the way teachers teach and students learn. In this everchanging field, a continual examination of the most effective methods to use technology to benefit student learning is essential. The research question addressed in this project was: what is the impact of formative assessment using iPads on student achievement and motivation? The review of the literature explored formative assessment, motivation, and technology in the classroom. In this study, qualitative and quantitative data was collected using pre and posttests, student surveys, and field notes over two curriculum units; in one unit, exclusively traditional formative assessment was …
Determining The Effect Of Bring Your Own Device On Cyberbullying Incidents At A High School, Patrick William Maus
Determining The Effect Of Bring Your Own Device On Cyberbullying Incidents At A High School, Patrick William Maus
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was: How does bring your own device affect cyberbullying in a high school? It documents one teacher’s survey of his colleagues to determine whether or not cyberbullying incidents have increased due to the implementation of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) technology policy. He details the importance of the issue of cyberbullying in high schools with increasing use of student-owned devices as well as the importance of technology in the learning process. His survey results showed that behavior consistent with cyberbullying was observed by teachers and administrators at the school, though reported incidents …
The Effect Technology Has On Student Comprehension And Motivation, Paul Richard Holland
The Effect Technology Has On Student Comprehension And Motivation, Paul Richard Holland
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, why do students in a sixth grade classroom using an electronic device to read display different comprehension and motivational levels than students with printed texts? The motivating factor for this capstone was the increased use of electronic devices in the classroom. It documents the changes in students’ comprehension and motivation over a six week time period. Data was collected in a variety of ways such as surveys, student interviews, journals, and comprehension quizzes. Although there were limitations and areas to improve in future studies, results showed student choice plays a significant role …
Using Audiobooks To Promote Comprehension Of Cause-Effect Relationships In Social Studies Texts, Eric John Vernon
Using Audiobooks To Promote Comprehension Of Cause-Effect Relationships In Social Studies Texts, Eric John Vernon
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
There are many challenges for secondary ELs in their mainstream classes. Social studies texts in particular can be very difficult for students to comprehend. The cause-effect relationships play a key role in students understanding the connection of historical events. This study looks at the use of audiobooks as a scaffolding tool to improve students’ comprehension of the cause-effect relationships in social studies texts. Specifically the concurrent reading of the text along with listening to the audiobook. It was conducted in a high school intermediate ESL class, students read sections of a text without the use of the audiobook, then with …
The Use Of One-To-One Ipad Technology And Its Impact On Students Receiving Special Education Services Work Completion And Grades, Angela Jean Brumbaugh
The Use Of One-To-One Ipad Technology And Its Impact On Students Receiving Special Education Services Work Completion And Grades, Angela Jean Brumbaugh
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how does the use of one-to-one iPad technology impact students who receive special education services grades and work completion? It examines and compares the work completion rates and grades of students receiving special education services in the general education setting, both before and after the implementation of the one-to-one iPad initiative. This mixed methods study examines fifteen secondary students’ grades in English, mathematics and social studies the trimester before the iPads introduction and follows the students for the full school year after the introduction to compare their grades and work completion rates. …
Literacy And Social Skill Development: A Technology-Focused Curriculum Design, Karissa Sue Wentzel
Literacy And Social Skill Development: A Technology-Focused Curriculum Design, Karissa Sue Wentzel
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The curriculum design created in this project was centered around the concept that the integration of technology into a 6th grade classroom can facilitate the advancement of both literacy and social skill development. It documents one teacher’s use of various technological applications and reading related activities to cultivate academic conversations and see growth amongst five pre-selected and targeted social skills. The author documents the details of the unit and provides researched literature to support the foundation for the curriculum design. The key influence for the study was the author’s personal experience at a one-to-one iPad school. The author concludes the …
Graduate Students’ Perceptions Of Sense Of Community And Contributing Factors, Amy Lynn Watters
Graduate Students’ Perceptions Of Sense Of Community And Contributing Factors, Amy Lynn Watters
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Research indicates that a strong sense of community has many benefits for the learner, including increased engagement, persistence, satisfaction, and perceived learning. The growth of online learning requires that effective strategies be identified to establish a strong sense of community in a virtual environment. This mixed method study investigated the following primary and secondary question: What are graduate students’ perceptions regarding sense of community in the online graduate programs at a small, private college? What contributes to graduate students’ sense of community in the online graduate programs at a small, private college? A quantitative survey using Likert-type questions was sent …
How Can Personalized Learning Devices Be Used To Best Support English Learners In The Middle School Classroom?, Laura Jolin Franke
How Can Personalized Learning Devices Be Used To Best Support English Learners In The Middle School Classroom?, Laura Jolin Franke
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed was, how can personalized learning devices be used to best support English Language Learners in the middle school classroom? The motivation was interest in 1:1 computing and its potential for ELLs. The project involved surveying, interviewing, and observing ELLs and their teachers, in a public middle school, regarding their experiences during the initial three years of implementation of a 1:1 computing environment in which iPads were distributed to each student. The project found little quantitative data on ESL students specifically, but could confirm much of the research on computing and education. Overall quality of teachers, support …
Using Technology And Phenology To Increase Students’ Observation Skills, Sondra Tokarczyk
Using Technology And Phenology To Increase Students’ Observation Skills, Sondra Tokarczyk
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this study was, will the use of technology and phenology increase students’ observation skills? The catalysts for this capstone were research using observation as an everyday skill fundamental to all scientific disciplines, and the importance of teaching children how to observe and document their observations. The capstone describes the process of integrating phenology, knowledge of the five senses, and iPad technology to teach students the importance of observation and its relevance to their everyday lives. The author concludes that: 1) although the collected data did not show a significant increase in observations, students’ observations became …
Developing The 21st Century Skills Of Creativity, Collaboration And Information Fluency In A Kindergarten Classroom, Corrine Marie Schmidt
Developing The 21st Century Skills Of Creativity, Collaboration And Information Fluency In A Kindergarten Classroom, Corrine Marie Schmidt
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can kindergarten students develop the 21st Century Skills of creativity, collaboration and information fluency through technology integration? It documents one teacher’s creation of a literacy based curriculum unit that gives kindergarten students opportunities to grow their 21st Century Skills, using the iPad as the learning tool. Key influences for this capstone include the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s new standards for technology integration in early education classrooms, as well as the International Literacy Association’s new standards for literacy education. Richardson’s research on the change in learning and teacher’s …
The Impact Of Computer Assisted Language Learning On Language Proficiency, Shelley Lyn Sorenson
The Impact Of Computer Assisted Language Learning On Language Proficiency, Shelley Lyn Sorenson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This research study seeks to explore the effectiveness of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) for young English Learners (ELs) who are beginning to acquire English. The study looks at the role of CALL in a standards based educational environment in which students must make regular progress towards state English language proficiency and academic achievement goals. Key influences included peers, current and former students and my quest to find practical teaching tools. The positive effects of using CALL with students as demonstrated by White, Keengwe and Hussein proved to be important sources for this research. This qualitative study utilized existing standardized …
Perceptions Of Cyberbullying Within Higher Education, Julie Marie Luker
Perceptions Of Cyberbullying Within Higher Education, Julie Marie Luker
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Two methods of qualitative research informed three dissertation research questions: What are faculty and academic administrators’ perceptions of cyberbullying within higher education? How prepared do faculty and academic administrators perceive themselves to be with regard to addressing situations involving cyberbullying? How prepared do faculty and academic administrators perceive their institutions to be with regard to addressing situations involving cyberbullying? First, 384 (N = 384) participants completed a 28-item, adapted online survey (Cyberbullying Survey). Second, six (N = 6) participants participated in a semistructured interview process. Results from both methods were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Participants are reporting that cyberbullying is …