Education Commons^™

Effective Testing Procedures For Partial Vision Students Utilizing The Microcomputer, Deborah K. Emmons

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A testing program utilizing a voice synthesizer and double-sized graphics was developed for high school partial vision students in a Business Education Microcomputer Applications class. Prior to the program, partial vision students had failing test grades. In order to take a test, the partial vision student had to go to a resource lab to use a reader. This took a great amount of time and the partial vision student missed regular classroom activities.

The program was implemented for 10 weeks. After the partial vision students were trained to use the speech synthesizer for one week, tests were administered on the …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of An Instructional Model To Increase Comprehension Through Written Structural-Response To Text, Jean Bravick

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC) requires large numbers of Incoming students to enroll in College Reading Techniques Classes because of deficient reading skills. These students have a particular lack of the higher level inferential reading/thinking skills. Although the value of using student writing to develop those skills has been indicated, little research has been done to identity the instructional methods most affective in college reading Classes.

It was the purpose of this study to develop, implement, and evaluate an instructional model to increase reading/thinking skills through written responses to the macro-structure of the text read. Answers were sought to the …

Refocusing From Content Specific Ieps To Enabling Ieps, Kenneth J. Stevenson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Content specific lEPs address curriculum which is assumed the same for all students. Individual needs and "how" the student can benefit form the instructional setting and art the unique needs of the exceptional student. This methodology for writing IEPs is called "enabling skills."

This practicum sought to focus teachers' writing of IEPs from content specific IEPs to enabling IEPs.

A target school was selected where 89 percent of IEPs written were content specific only (individual needs and enabling skills Nere not addressed). A three hour inservice workshop and module was developed to explain the intent of individual Educational Planning under …

Three Individualized Reading Strategies For Mentally Handicapped Students Through A Modality Strength Approach In A Congregate Living Center, Helen Marie Mathews Phillips

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The author used three reading strategies with mentally handicapped readers and nonreaders living together in a center. The aim was to improve reading comprehension through the use of familiar materials to which the students could relate in an independent living environment.

The reading materials were presented to each student according to his/her modality strength. Some students were use as reading tutors for the others. The reading materials focused on sequencing and following directions skills. Each student's general comprehension level was raised during the instruction period. The strategies as well as adoption in any beginning reading program.(Appendices include charts of individual …

Monday Update - June 30, 1986, Nova University

The Update

No abstract provided.

Monday Update - June 16, 1986, Nova University

The Update

No abstract provided.

Improving Auditory Sequencing Skills In The Kindergarten Age Child Through The Increased Instruction Of Music, Millicent Hume Brandt

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The writer applied an increased frequency of general music instruction given to a target group of kindergarten children in order to measure its impact on auditory memory sequencing skills. A control group received the general music instruction on a less frequent basis. The writer, a music teacher specialist, theorized that skills learned in the music class setting would transfer to other (academic) classroom settings, as measured by a standardized testing instrument and a classroom teacher survey checklist.

The writer designed a method of instruction using music classroom materials selected to include sequencing and auditory memory skills. The target group received …

An Outdoor Environmental Education Center, Robert L. Booth

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A program introduced by the author was developed and implemented to provide the school and community with An Outdoor Environmental Education Center and supportive curriculum. This program was implemented to satisfy a recommendation in the Pinellas County Elementary Schools Educational Specifications manual which called for such a center in the construction of new schools. There was also a request from the faculty to enhance the environmentally rich campus of the school with this education center for the use of school and community.

The program involved construction of an eight station nature trail and the design and development of curriculum enrichment …

An Experiment To Determine The Effectiveness Of Systematic Desensitization In Reducing Communication Apprehension., Tanya Johnson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The small group communication classes at Evergreen Valley College are experiencing large class sizes. Students enrolled in these classes tend to have high levels of communication apprehension (CA). which these large classes it is difficult to apportion class time to reducing CA. the purpose of this study was to determine whether the most often used treatment of CA, systematic desensitization (SD) lowers CA significantly enough to justify the use of class time.

Two intact small group communication classes of thirty-four students each were used and the SD treatment, consisting of four forty minute sessions, was randomly assigned. The same instructor, …

Developing An Understanding Of Haitian Culture Through Select Social Studies Objectives In A Class For Learning Disabled Students, Camilla Felicia Paggett

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The author of this practicum developed and implemented a program to introduce global perspectives focusing on Haitian culture in a sixth grade class for learning disabled students. The program's aim was developed to get the students to develop an understanding of Haitian culture and a perspective of feeling and caring for others of a Haitian background.

The program contained seven strategies: film watching, game playing, food sampling, class discussions, story reading, Gestalt strategies and societal media involvement. All strategies were fully implemented throughout the ten weeks. At the conclusion of the program, all of the students showed a significant gain …

Strategies For Socialization Of Learning Disabled Students At The Secondary Level, Verden T. Smith

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Learning disabled students at the secondary level have inferior socialization skills with peer groups and poor self-perceptual skills. Studies indicate that socialization appears to be the keystone of adolescent development. Evaluative instruments employed to discern interpersonal and socialization skills were the IPAT-Anxiety Scale Questionnaire Test-Self-Analysis Form (Cattell, Krug, Scheier) and the Self-Inventory (Simon-Howe-Kirschenbaum). Peer Counseling, observations, filmstrips and guest speakers were utilized to implement this socialization. skills program. Results indicated improved self-esteem, increased communication with peer groups and more positive attitudes toward self and others. (Appendices include sample instruments and student data.)

The Application Of A Behavior Management System To Increase Mathematics Academic Performance Of Secondary Learning Disabled Students, Joyce L. Stockdale

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The author developed and implemented a behavior management program designed to aide learning disabled (LD) students in a large metropolitan school district. The objectives of the program were to help the LD students increase their grade level performance skills in mathematics, to reduce inappropriate behaviors which were interfering with their learning, and to assist the students in the development of a positive attitude toward mathematics, themselves, peers, adults and the school. The identified behaviors were: Tardiness to class, Walking around aimlessly, Unprepared for class, Talking out, Drawing and/or writing on tables, walls, desks and other school materials. The components of …

Stress Management Factors In Education, Marri J. Duncan

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The high percentage of faculty and staff absenteeism due to significant stressful situations was addressed by the implementation of Stress Management Workshops in the target school. This occurred at a secondary institution where there were five different approaches to the program: Guest speakers, movies, after school activities, environmental improvements and positive sharing.

The workshop consisted of four guest speakers in the topics of: Stress Management Awareness, Time Management and Organizational Skills, Nutritional Needs During Stress, and Physical Fitness Related to Stress. All the speakers gave their presentations during morning school hours and nutritional morning munchies were served. Inservice points were …

A Comparative Study To Determine The Effectiveness Of Adjunct Faculty In The Business Division Of Fayetteville Technical Institute., Edward John Jackson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Fayetteville Technical Institute’s enrollment, during the Fall Quarter 1985, increased by thirty-four percent. Over the past two years full-time faculty increased by twelve to the current level of one hundred sixty-five employees. During the same period there was an increase of forty-three adjunct faculty members bringing the present total to one hundred eighty-two. With the increasing ratio of adjunct faculty to full time, and the projected growth in student enrollment, the utilization of adjunct faculty has become a major issue. The effectiveness of instruction for both groups must be comparable. An in-dept evaluation is required to determine if full-time faculty …

An Assessment Of The Image Of The Wisconsin Vocational-Technical And Adult Education System Based On Rating By Employee Groups In A Five-District Consortium, Dorothy E. Stepien

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Five vocational, technical, and adult education (VTAE) districts in the Wisconsin vocational-technical system have been organized into the East-Central Wisconsin YTAE Consortium to maximize use of member districts resources for improving services to their constituency. In 1984 the five districts began to experience a decline in enrollments which indicated a need to explore the marketing plan and institutional image.

The importance of views and efforts of the internal publics, especially the faculty, support staff, and management, to the overall image projected by the educational institution and the subsequent marketing efforts was acknowledged. A need to treat faculty and staff as …

Monday Update - May 5, 1986, Nova University

The Update

No abstract provided.

The Alumni Network, May 1986 (Vol. Ii No. 2), Nova University

Alumni Network Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Computer Assisted Instructional Program To Facilitate Eleventh Grade Remediation In Skill H68, Direct Address, Audrey P. Dunn

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The author created and implemented a computer assisted instruction (CAI) program to remediate juniors in skill H68, dealing with direct address. This skill is found on the State Student Assessment Test, Part I. The program's aims were to increase student achievement, alleviate the problems of management, improve student attitude, and teach basic computer literacy to below average students.

The program consisted of two lessons, each dealing with one component of the skill of using the comma to set off proper names in direct address. The study group included all eleventh grade students who failed to master this skill. 100% achieved …

Improving Reading Skills Of Chapter I Third Grade Students Through The Infusion Of Daily Narrative And Expository Composition Into The Reading Program, Flora S. Joiner

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Based on a study of valuable literature, this writer decided to improve reading skills of 16 third grade Chapter 1 students, who had a reading deficiency of one and two years below grade level, through the infusion of creative narrative and expository writing into the reading curriculum. A review of available literature and the writer's own observation indicated that meaningful, correlated writing activities would improve comprehension of the written word. A ten week curriculum was planned and implemented, consisting of instructional strategies with an emphasis on creative writing, oral reading and listening skills. The students were posttested and their scores …

Problem Solving For The Field/Dependent Chemistry Student, Barbara C. Schwartz

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The author has created and implemented a program to help field/dependent chemistry students solve word problems (stoichiometry). Problem solving is the most complex form of human activity and one of the hardest to teach. Field/dependent students have the greatest difficulty doing word problems. Field/dependent students cannot separate relevent clues from misleading clues in word problems. Fifty eight percent of the regular high school chemistry students in this study are field/dependent.

The program contains six basic components: individual blackboards, games, analogies, special labs, imagery and testing format. Individual blackboards enable the student to receive individual attention, immediate feedback and work at …

Improving Reading Comprehension Skills In Fifth Grade Students, Roberta T. Strassler

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

[No abstract provided]

Improving Inferential Comprehension Through Semantic Webbing, Virginia P. Hines

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The author identified a key strategy for teaching inferential comprehension as implemented in a 7th grade classroom of students who were, at least, one year below grade in reading. The purpose was to improve the students' inferential comprehension skills.

The implementation began with a diagnostic reading test followed by several weeks of introducing different forms of semantic webbing to help clarify basal reader stories and other activities. After a mid-point teacher-made exam showed good results, the author implemented a few more weeks of webbing before a final diagnostic reading test was given to monitor progress. A comparison of the beginning …

The Use Of Quality Circle Techniques To Improve Problem Solving In Elementary School, Linda S. De Candido

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A sequentially planned program using Quality Circle Techniques, adapted to the educational environment was implemented in an elementary school in Central Florida. The program consisted of ten sessions designed to acquaint the team leaders and administrators with the Quality Circle Techniques and, under the direction of a trained facilitator, developed and practiced the skills.

The sessions included activities on brainstorming, concensus, cause and effect diagrams, group functions, data collection techniques and management presentations.

The pre,post attitudinal survey showed a positive gain for all participants. Cognitive quizes during the sessions produced an average retention of 96.6%. These results were further strengthened …

Improving The Skill Of Analysis In Fifth And Sixth Grade Academic Excellence Students, Sandra Stein

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The writer initiated and implemented a program designed to increase the higher cognitive skill of analysis in fifth and sixth grade Academic Excellence students. This was to be achieved by an eclectic approach involving language arts, mathematics, and social studies. The program employed daily and weekly lessons, as well as a three week research project.

The primary objective was improvement of scores on the “Ross Test of Higher Cognitive Skills” as evidence by percentile upgrades on spring testing as compared to fall testing. Assessment was done on a weekly basis through oral and written evaluation in the form of anecdotal …

A Gifted Education Inservice Program For Regular Classroom Teachers, Diane L. Lethbridge

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A ten week inservice training program in gifted education was developed and implemented for regular classroom teachers at the elementary school level. The goals were for the participants to show significant gains in identifying the gifted, in developing positive attitudes and in planning and utilizing appropriate methods and materials to meet their particular needs.

A local survey indicated that the majority of regular education teachers were not able to identify gifted students or to provide for their affective and intellectual needs. A creative inservice training program was developed to demonstrate effective gifted education strategies. Multi-media workshops presented information on identification, …

Monday Update - April 21, 1986, Nova University

The Update

No abstract provided.

Reducing Discipline Referrals Through Parent And Teacher Involvement And Student Counseling, Robert S. De Groot

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The writer developed a discipline policy, separating the students academic problems from those of a behavior nature. The writer involved students in counseling and increased the communication between parents, teachers and students. The policy's aims were to reduce discipline referrals, develop positive attitudes toward discipline, increase awareness of policy, increase consistency and fairness, involve parents and students in forming policy, develop a discipline policy that would administer discipline for correction, separate the academic from the behavioral problems, and help teachers handle more discipline on their own.

Both types academic and behavioral problems were dealt with on separate tracks, increasing the …

A Cross-Age Tutoring Program To Enhance Sight Word Recognition In Primary Resource Room Students, Janice Fay Langel

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem addressed in this practicum was the significant deficit in recognition of sight word vocabulary among Primary Resource room students partially due to insufficient exposure to the words, little positive reinforcement, and a lack of consistent practice providing the correct responses.

The method devised to remedy this deficit was to implement a ten week, cross-age tutoring program in which the Resource students were drilled for 10 minutes daily on the Dolch Basic Sight Word Vocabulary, the Queen's Vocabulary List, and supplemental word lists with positive verbal, and correct-response reinforcement by fifth grade tutors. Student tutors were selected from low …

Using The Newspaper To Teach Reading Skills, James R. Mcdermott

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The practitioner developed and implemented an alternative to standard textbook/packet learning, Ninth graders, who were proven by testing as being deficient in four basic reading skills (stated main idea, implied main idea, fact/opinion, and following written directions), were remediated by utilization of the newspaper as a learning material source.

The remediation program featured a multitude of newspaper-related activities, Four specific units emphasizing each of the targeted skills were featured in ninth grade high school English classes over a 10-week development period. A pretest and posttest concept was utilized for summative evaluation. Formative evaluation devices (logs, surveys) were used as well. …

The Effectiveness Of Computer Assisted Instruction On Children’S Mathematical Problem-Solving Ability, Amy D. Pettit

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The author provided activities for a target group of third grade students who were experiencing difficulties in mastering the skills required to solve problems involving money. The program’s aims were to remediate these students by giving them the opportunity to use instructional software that would increase their mathematical vocabulary, strengthen the logic behind their thought patterns, and assist them in mastering the skills necessary to solve word problems with confidence and success. The author developed and implemented a computer program that included reading, understanding, analyzing estimating, and computing with regard to the solving of word problems having to do with …