A Study Of Kentucky School District Websites: They’Re Colorful And Informative….But Are They Ada Compliant?, John A. Huss, Shannon Eastep

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

An often-overlooked component of a school district website is the necessity for that website to be accessible to those with disabilities, while following the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Workforce Rehabilitation Act. This study investigated the accessibility of school district websites in Kentucky by selecting a random sample of 50 school districts and analyzing their home pages using WAVE (Web Accessibility Versatile Evaluator), which reports accessibility violations by annotating a copy of the page that was evaluated and presenting embedded icons and indicators to disclose breaches with ADA. Out of 50 districts, …

The Efficacy Of Teacher Made Special Education Referrals In Appalachian And Non-Appalachian Schools Of Kentucky, John T. Elliott

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This quantitative study utilized a causal-comparative research design to determine the difference in efficacy between teacher made special education referrals in Appalachian and non-Appalachian schools of Kentucky. Data were provided from the 2014-2015 academic year. A total of 109 Kentucky schools provided data for the study. This study will help educators better understand multi-disciplinary referrals for special education as they relate to referral efficacy as based upon student qualification rates. This quantitative study determined the difference between special education qualification rates for teacher made referrals in Appalachian and non-Appalachian schools in the state of Kentucky.

Addressing Reading Fluency Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities Using A Multiple Probe Design, Sarah N. Merimee

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Despite making up less than one percent of the student population, students with significant intellectual disabilities have the same rights to receive the best education possible as their typical peers. There is currently a paucity of research regarding effective reading instruction within a comprehensive approach, particularly in the area of reading fluency. The purpose of this study was to investigate if there was a functional relation between repeated reading and choral reading and the words correct per minute of six high school students with significantintellectual disabilities. Additionally, the extent to which fluency impacts reading comprehension was also examined. Five of …

Oral History In A Journalism Course: Sharing Stories And Reporting News About Public Education In Kentucky, Rochele Rosa

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Oral history as a method of gathering information is nothing new. However, in journalism, the method is gaining acceptance as a new, enriching way to report news, showing how issues and topics impact people.

The Murray State University JMC 397 Reporting for Print Media class recorded community oral history as part of an intensive focus on education reporting in fall 2017. Although many facets of the education “beat” were explored, students devoted much of the semester investigating and reporting the issues and challenges facing public education in Kentucky, from the K-12 to higher education levels. For the project to become …

Paws-Abilities, Taylor Davis, Madelyn Day, Kendall Dulaney, Jordanne Howard, Cierra Monroe, Jordan Tapp

GSP at Murray State University

PAWS-abilities is our non-profit business idea. Our goal for PAWS-abilities is to provide a safe environment for local stray dogs and rehabilitate them to become service or therapy dogs in the future. The trainers will be local inmates who have passed a strict screening process to ensure the safety of all who are involved. The inmates will be supervised by licensed, professional dog trainers who specialize in service and therapy training. We plan to partner with several local organizations, businesses, and veterinarians to place the service dogs with their new families and to promote the health of the dogs at …

Guardians Of Knowledge: Redefining Libraries, Carlee Cash, Libby Hagan, Maddie Klumb, Heyna Suit, Spencer Thompson, Crystal Williams

GSP at Murray State University

Since their founding in ancient times, libraries have been a cornerstone of society, playing a key role in creating informed citizens that participate in and uphold societal values. In Kentucky, libraries serve to increase literacy rates, strengthen community ties, and provide resources to the public. However the traditional library is facing difficulties staying relevant in the modern, technological age. In order to survive, libraries in the future need to evolve and return to their beginnings as centers of learning and innovation.

The Future Of Libraries, Eli Best, Lauren Cravens, Mia Derks, Lillian Eells, Kelly Mattingly, Johnathan Tobbe

GSP at Murray State University

In the past decade, research has repeatedly shown a decrease in state funding for libraries and consequently a lowered interest in preserving libraries as a part of society. This has caused a lack of emphasis on community outreach and education as a whole. In order to remedy these problems, our class has spent the past few weeks brainstorming multiple ideas such as programs that should be included in libraries, more appealing library decor, and an architectural design that would enhance the opportunity for growth and discussion while still preserving the sense peace and tranquility that a library should provide. To …

Technical Training And Readiness University For The Disabled, Wyatt Wells, Robby Draper, Claire Kleum, Zach Farrell, Dahra Lambert, Vishaal Balamurugan

GSP at Murray State University

Technical Training and Readiness University (TTRUD) is a school for the disabled that would equip them with the 21st century skills needed for them to excel in the workforce. Skills include those such as technical skills, how to handle social encounters in the workplace, and basic training to be prepared to function for the job field they want to enter. To qualify, the applicant must be on disability, and would go through a thorough application process. TTRUD would be a non-profit organization and would rely mostly on donations, grants, and other government funding. We also plan to collaborate with any …

Inside Research: An Interview With Ashley Munie, Erin Wallace

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Inside Research: An interview with Ashley Munie

Conducted by Erin Wallace, co-editor, Steeplechase

Date recorded: Monday, February 13, 2017

Recording Location: Department of Music Recording Studio

2nd floor Doyle Fine Arts, Murray State University, Murray, KY

Inside Research: An Interview With Shannon Wood, Laura Guebert

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Inside Research: An interview with Shannon Wood

Conducted by Laura Guebert, co-editor, Steeplechase

Date recorded: Friday, February 10, 2017

Recording Location: Department of Music Recording Studio

2nd floor Doyle Fine Arts, Murray State University, Murray, KY

Cover, Bentley Utgaard, Rachel L. Wood

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Cover page for Steeplechase Vol. 1, Issue 1

Engaging Rural Students In A Community Project, Jennie B. Cottrell

Scholars Week

eaching art that is relevant to the students and the area one finds themselves working in can sometimes prove to be a challenge. Students and their interests in subject matter can vary depending upon their surroundings. I will share ways teachers can cater instruction towards rural students. Sometimes students in rural areas are in need of a better understanding of art and the importance it holds within the world today. Art is a cultural experience. It is an eye opener to social situations and has functions in fashion, dance and even food. I will conclude with sharing a unit plan, …

Implementation Of A Flipped Classroom In A Non-Majors’ Biology Course, Leah Good

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Changes to teaching practices have been requested in almost every field of science and mathematics but their implementation can be daunting. The flipped classroom has become a popular method in K-16 education for integrating active learning in the classroom. Research on the implementation of flipped classrooms has been met with mixed results, however. I sought to determine the effectiveness of the flipped classroom while addressing methodology needs cited by past studies including: using both faculty and student demographic variables, addressing assessment performance using concept inventories, and studying faculty who are not experts in education. I found that flipped and non-flipped …

Libraries Of The Future, Caleb Hodges, Andrew Littlefield, Emma Mitmesser, Deborah Myers, Sydney Rogers, Colleen Scott

GSP at Murray State University

Libraries have been the source of innovation throughout human history. People today do not understand the importance of libraries and the resources they can provide to a community or society. This causes libraries to not receive the appropriate funding to support both their programs and new literary materials. The inspiration for libraries of the future is derived from the trends that will attract the citizens of tomorrow. Libraries will be more involved in the community and provide the public with accessible technology. Our ideas to improve libraries will gain the public’s interest and keep the fire of knowledge alive. Some …

Red Alert, Jake Breunig, Priyadashini Chandrashekhar, Trey Gilliland, Landon Hammons, Jeff Mollman, Emma Topp

GSP at Murray State University

Red Alert is an app using voice recogni3on so people can call for help. The app is similar to “Hey Siri” present in iPhones and the Cortana feature in Androids. When a person uses his or her first preset keyword, the phone’s voice recogniton software accesses the app, which starts an audio recording, and when the second keyword is used, the app alerts the police. The primary consumer for Red Alert is high school to middle-aged women, with a secondary focus on those who live in urban areas. The technology exists, so the only needed recourse is programming. The risks …

P-20 Alignment For Small Towns And Rural Communities, Donald Shively

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine if there is a difference between current workforce skill levels and employer expectations within the Paducah micropolitan area. College and career readiness and cohort graduation rate data were collected for school systems in Kentucky from 2013 to 2016. Using both the college and career readiness data and the cohort graduation data as the dependent variables, the independent-sample t-tests were performed to compare the college and career readiness rates and cohort graduation rates of the pK-12 public schools in the Paducah micropolitan area (N = 12) versus the remaining pK-12 public …

The Relative Effectiveness Of Course Delivery Methodology On Student Success, Retention, And Persistence In Remedial Mathematics, John P. Eveland

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

There are a substantial number of studies that consider the effectiveness of online instructional methodologies in general, but there is sparse previous work specifically targeting developmental mathematics students in community colleges. This study examines the relative effectiveness of online versus traditionally delivered developmental mathematics courses at Somerset Community College (SCC) in Somerset, Kentucky. At SCC, developmental mathematics is divided into three consecutive courses, MAT 055, MAT 065, and MAT 085, and this study considered each of these courses separately.

For this study, each student enrollment in any of SCC’s developmental mathematics courses was obtained for students in the Fall 2011 …

Persistence To Graduation Of Students In The Teacher Preparation Program At Murray State University, David Meinschein

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on persistence, and graduation rates of traditional students attending four-year public institutions. The study highlighted the complexity of persistence and degree completion by examining risk factors that impact persistence and degree completion. The purpose of this study was two-fold. First, the study sought consensus from a group of stakeholders, graduates from Murray State University’s (MSU) Teacher Education Program (TEP), to determine a list of specific expectations of a postsecondary institution in persisting to degree completion. Secondly, the study gathered data from the stakeholder of how each expectation was met while enrolled in the TEP at MSU.

This …

Effects Of Personal Technology Devices On Instruction And Learning In High School Biology, Susan P. Beatty, Teresa Clark Ed.D., Dusty Reed, Yuejin Xu

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of personal technology devices during classroom instruction as learning tools by high school biology students. The study sought to determine how a classroom environment with a Bring Your Own Device instructional method in place affected student achievement and student perceptions about biology, as well as viewpoints about their devices as tools for learning. Technology in the hands of teenagers today is nearly ubiquitous and often distracting in the traditional classroom. As the literature indicates, different views exist about the efficacy of using personal technology for learning. This study intended to …

Impacts Of Mentoring Program On At-Risk Students, Melissa Marie Judd

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Many middle school students are considered at-risk due to attendance, lower levels of academic achievement, and behavior referrals. Mentoring programs have been in effect for decades and continue to yield positive results. The purpose of the study is to determine if fourth and fifth grade at-risk students are impacted by mentoring. The researcher seeks to determine if mentoring increases students’ attendance, increases math and reading test scores, and decreases the amount of behavior referrals. Participants were compared to their own data using a pre-tests and post-tests. Attendance comparisons were made between Spring 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters. Math and reading …

Equitable Identification Of Frl-Eligible Gifted And Talented Students, Leann Pickerill

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research study was the equitable identification of Kentucky students in the general intellectual gifted and talented category. A quantitative study was used to identify relationships between a student’s socioeconomic status and identification. Statistical methods were used to examine statistical relationships between identification methods and socioeconomic status. A policy review was completed to determine if policies of highly equitable districts were comparable to low-equity districts.

Why Are Soft Skills Missing In Today's Applicants, Robert Schooley

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The employers in our country are claiming students are graduating high school and college without the soft skills to succeed in this country’s workforce. This study examined what are soft skills and why are they missing from recent graduates. The study took an historical approach to trace how soft skills have been used and ignored in our nation’s educational history to the point where employers are claiming they are missing in today’s job applicants. The study then conducted focus groups with elementary, middle and high school teachers to assess they ideas on why soft skills are missing or if …

The Influence Of Rti Upon Special Education Eligibility, Kasandra Raben

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

In 2004, the federal government gave states the option of using Response to Intervention as a prerequisite to referring children for special education eligibility for learning disabilities (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004). Research has generally supported this model although anecdotal evidence has suggested that the decrease in eligibility for learning disabilities is due to the reluctance of schools to refer children for learning disability eligibility because of the time required to implement the interventions prior to referral. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence that this model has had upon eligibility numbers in a large special …

The Impact Of Kinderquest On Reading And Math In Early And Intermediate Elementary Students, Stephanie Sullivan

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This paper explored the history of education, including how the focus has evolved into the current demand for a qualified workforce, and the practices of retention and social promotion. Grade level retention research examined the positive and negative impacts on students, as well as alternative intervention approaches. An in-depth study of an early intervention program, KinderQuest, was conducted to determine the relationship between students’ reading and math achievement. Data was analyzed by comparing students that participated in the KinderQuest program and students that progressed through the traditional progression of kindergarten through Grade 6. Additionally, reading and math scores of KinderQuest …

Educating Collegiate Journalists To Cover And Cope With Traumatic Events, Stephanie Elder Anderson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

STEPHANIE LYNN ELDER ANDERSON. How to Educate Collegiate Journalists to Cover and Cope with Traumatic Events (under the direction of DR. TERESA CLARK.)

This research study applied the qualitative method of open coding of data from professional journalists and journalism faculty members to determine whether trauma journalism should be incorporated into existing journalism curriculum. Trauma journalism emerged in the early 1990s but has not been integrated in most journalism programs. Prior research indicated the reasons trauma journalism is not included in most curriculum is because it is not an ACEJMC accreditation standard, there’s limited qualified faculty members to teach such …

Superintendent Effect On Student Outcomes: Leadership Style, Educational Attainment, And Experience, Casey Allen

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Superintendents with five years of experience (n=48) were surveyed on Full Range Leadership style, educational attainment, and years of experience to determine whether Kentucky school superintendents had an effect on student outcomes. Data was collected on each superintendent’s district Overall Accountability Score (OAS) to determine student performance. Using the district OAS as the dependent variable, independent t-tests were performed to compare high transformational leaders to low transformational leaders, high transactional leaders to low transactional leaders, and high laissez-faire leaders to low laissez-faire leaders. Again, using district OAS as the dependent variable, a t-test was performed to compare superintendents with Kentucky …

Occupationally Based Career And Technical Education (Cte) Teachers' Perceived Need For Student-To-Student Interaction In Distance Coursework To Gain Teaching Certification, Tina C. Barger

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to contribute to the body of literature regarding occupationally based career and technical education (CTE) teachers’ perceived need for student-to-student interaction in distance education coursework. The study was based on a previous study by Moore, Warner, and Jones (2016). Student perceptions on the topic of student-to-student interaction were gathered. Participants in the study were CTE teachers who had entered the teaching profession from industry. Participants were pursuing or had previously pursued coursework in online/distance education formats. Findings of the study indicated that, overall, survey respondents did not have high expectations or particularly positive feelings …

Measuring Health And Wellness Of International Students, Jennifer Cosby, Jennifer R. Cosby

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Jennifer Cosby

MEASURING HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

2016-2017

Ed.D. in P20 and Community Leadership

Years of research focused on the physical and mental well-being of college students to promote retention. In 2013, international students numbered 819,644 and contributed $27 billion to the United States economy (Le, LaCost, & Wismer, 2016). International students are a valuable resource to the United States because they enhance the cultural diversity of the nation, bring creativity and innovation to institutions, and contribute greatly to the economy (Leong, 2015). Many studies have shown that international students report lower quality of life than domestic …

Impact Of The Accelerate You! Instructional Model On Student Success, Tyra F. Henderson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a multi-faceted instructional model used in Applied Technologies programs at a medium size community college. The model accelerates students who have not met placement test benchmarks into college level math with the support multiple strategies utilized in the model, specifically team teaching in the technical and math courses, a learning community structure, weekly tutoring, and a first year experience course. This study examined the impact of the instructional model on student success, specifically course grades and semester-to-semester persistence, and on students’ personal qualities, specifically mindset, grit, and study skills self-efficacy. Mixed methods research design examined statistical significance …

Cumulative Integration Of Academically Advanced Honors College Students, Scott Adair

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The study sought to understand what caused, or is causing, Murray State University Honors College students to become successful in post-secondary education. The researcher chose to extend the findings of previous research beyond the freshmen year and focus exclusively on what influences persistence until graduation for second, third, or fourth year students. While research that influences graduation is not a new idea, emphasis on influential factors that affect upper-level college students remains relatively unexplored. The whole student, consisting of domains that consider social integration, academic integration, intrinsic motivation, and key interactions that intermingle throughout the collegiate journey, were taken …