Education Commons^™

Incorporating Different Number Bases Into The Elementary School Classroom., Crystal Michele Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since becoming an educator and gaining extensive classroom experience, I have concluded that it would be beneficial to elementary school children to learn other number bases and their basic functions and operations. In this thesis, I have developed five units involving lesson plans for incorporating various number bases into the existing curriculum. The units are Decimal (Base 10), Duodecimal (Base 12), Quinary (Base 5), Binary (Base 2), and Octal (Base 8) which are all appropriate for the elementary level.

An Introduction To Number Theory Prime Numbers And Their Applications., Crystal Lynn Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The author has found, during her experience teaching students on the fourth grade level, that some concepts of number theory haven't even been introduced to the students. Some of these concepts include prime and composite numbers and their applications. Through personal research, the author has found that prime numbers are vital to the understanding of the grade level curriculum. Prime numbers are used to aide in determining divisibility, finding greatest common factors, least common multiples, and common denominators. Through experimentation, classroom examples, and homework, the author has introduced students to prime numbers and their applications.

Graph Theory For The Middle School., Laura Ann Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

After being introduced to graph theory and realizing how it can be utilized to solve real-world problems, the author decided to create modules of study on graph theory appropriate for middle school students. In this thesis, four modules were developed in the area of graph theory: an Introduction to Terms and Definitions, Graph Families, Graph Operations, and Graph Coloring. It is written as a guide for middle school teachers to prepare teaching units on graph theory.

Combinatorics For The Third Grade Classroom., Rita Jane Mcfaddin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

After becoming interested in the beauty of numbers and the intricate patterns of their behavior, the author concluded that it would be a good idea to make the subject available for students earlier in their educational experience. In this thesis, the author developed four units in combinatorics, namely Fundamental Principles, Permutations, Combinations, and Pascal's Triangle, which are appropriate for third grade level.

Base Counting And Simple Mathematic Applications For The Special Education Classroom., James David Ray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis was designed as a self study unit for middle school aged students with special needs. The unit is broken in to sub-units that specifically cater to each number base. Also included in this plan is a brief history of counting and practical uses for the mathematics of different number bases. This has been designed to be a "fun" unit to study after taking S.O.L. tests or other state standard testing. Included in each unit are worksheets for assessment of understanding.

The Language Of Mathematics: Mathematical Terminology Simplified For Classroom Use., Beverly Karen Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

After recognizing the need for a simpler approach to the teaching of mathematical terminology, I concluded it would be valuable to make a unit of simplified terms and describe methods of teaching these terms. In this thesis I have compared the terminology found in the Virginia Standards of Learning objectives to the materials found at each grade level. The units developed are as follows: The Primary Persistence Unit- for grades K-2; The Elementary Expansion Unit- for grades 3-5; and The Middle School Mastery Unit- for grades 6-8.

The Effectiveness Of Principal Training And Formal Principal Mentoring Programs., Robert B. Dodson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine principals' perceptions of how effective mentoring programs and university-based principal preparation programs are in developing the skills necessary to carry out the 13 critical success factors identified by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). A review of the literature addressed what it means to be an effective principal and what an effective mentoring program should look like.

The quantitative study was conducted using a survey developed from the SREB's 13 critical success factors that have been developed to determine what makes a successful, effective principal. Each factor was developed into a question …

Statistics: Raising The Bar For The Seventh Grade Classroom., Sherry Lynn Mullins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

After recognizing the need for a more thorough concentration of statistics at the seventh grade level, the author concluded that it would be a good idea to include statistics that cover both seventh and eighth grade Virginia Standards of Learning. Many years of administering the SOL mathematics test at the eighth grade level led the author to the understanding that some of the more advanced seventh graders would be missing some key concepts taught in eighth grade because those advanced students would be taking algebra in the eighth grade. In this thesis, the author has developed four units that she …

Probability For The Fifth Grade Classroom., Janeane Sue Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to thoroughly develop probability objectives to be used by a fifth grade teacher. These probability objectives were developed in four main units. The focus of the first unit was probability vocabulary. The second unit explored the concept of fairness as determined by the probability of winning a game. The third unit's purpose was to determine sample space using tree diagrams, lists, and the Counting Principle. Unit four was designed to help the student write theoretical and experimental probability as fractions, decimals, and percentages. Each unit was written to include detailed descriptions, definitions, and probability …

Creating Communities Of Mathematical Thinkers In The Pre-Kindergarten Classroom., Robin Penley Herndon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes a standards-based pre-kindergarten mathematics curriculum. The purpose of this thesis was to create a series of original lesson plans for the pre-kindergarten classroom that would address defined standards with instructional and other materials appropriate for teaching and assessing student understanding of the concepts. The curriculum is based on standards set forth by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Virginia Department of Education's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning. The body of the work introduces the foundation for the thesis with theoretical underpinning, defines the content strands and learning objectives, establishes a pacing schedule for meeting …

The Role Of The History Of Mathematics In Middle School., Mary Donette Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is the author's belief that middle school mathematics is greatly taught in isolation with little or no mention of its origin. Teaching mathematics from a historical perspective will lead to greater understanding, student inspiration, motivation, excitement, varying levels of learning, and appreciation for this subject. This thesis will develop four units that will incorporate original source documents and selected historical topics surrounding computation, numbers, and early calculating devices. Many of the units will center on the Rhind Papyrus and The Treviso Arithmetic. These units will be appropriate to middle school, with an emphasis on 6^th grade.

Benefits Of Storytelling Methodologies In 4th And 5th Grade Historical Instruction., Julia E. Watts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the benefits of using stories to teach history to 4^th and 5^th grade students. In order to determine student attitude toward history, students completed a History Affinity scale prior to and after being exposed to one of 2 teaching methods. Students in the experimental group listened to and participated in oral narratives during their history lesson while students in the control group received conventional lecture and note-taking instruction. After collecting and analyzing the data, results indicate a significant increase in history affinity in the positive direction for the experimental group with no change in history …

Investigating How Students Think About And Learn Quantum Physics: An Example From Tunneling, Jeffrey Todd Morgan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of physics education research (PER) has focused on introductory courses and topics, with less research done into how students learn physics in advanced courses. Members of The University of Maine Physics Education Research Laboratory (PERL) have begun studying how students in advanced physics courses reason about classical mechanics, thermal physics, and quantum physics. Here, we describe an investigation into how students reason about quantum mechanical tunneling, and detail how those findings informed a portion of a curriculum development project. Quantum mechanical tunneling is a standard topic discussed in most modern physics and quantum physics courses. Understanding tunneling is crucial …

An Examination Of Student Performance In Reading/Language And Mathematics After Two Years Of Thinking Maps® Implementation In Three Tennessee Schools., Katharine Mabie Hickie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, association exists between Thinking Maps^® instruction and student achievement in fifth grade students in Reading/Language and Mathematics as reported by the State NCE scores of the criterion referenced portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Achievement Test in 3 Title I elementary schools in northeast Tennessee. The association was examined after 2 years of Thinking Maps^® implementation and instruction. Using a quantitative design, the quasiexperimental study included fifth grade students' State NCE scores from 2005 and the same students' State NCE scores from 2003. Scores obtained …

The Relationship Among Resilience, Forgiveness, And Anger Expression In Adolescents, Mauren A. Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate and describe the relationship among resilience, forgiveness and anger expression in adolescents. The purpose of the study was to explore whether certain adolescent resiliencies significantly related to positive or negative affective, behavioral, or cognitive levels of forgiveness and certain types of anger expression in adolescents. This study also investigated whether there were certain adolescent resiliencies and types of forgiveness that can predict lower levels of negative anger expression in adolescents. This research was built on two conceptual models: Wolin and Wolin's (1993) Challenge Model and the Forgiveness Process Model (Enright & Human Development Study …

Caregiver Burden And Coping Responses For Females Who Are The Primary Caregiver For A Family Member Living With Hiv/Aids In Kenya, Veronica Kimemia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Caring for a family member who is ill can be a draining experience (Cooper et al., 2006; Daire, 2002; Zarit et al, 1980). Providing care for a family member that is living with HIV/AIDS is potentially even more stressful because of social meanings associated with HIV/AIDS infection (Stajduhar, 1998) and the contagious nature of the HIV virus (Powell-Cope & Brown, 1992). Research indicates that most caregivers are female (Bunting, 2001; Songwathana, 2000). In Africa women bear the brunt of the burden of providing care for family members who are living with HIV/AIDS (Mushonga, 2001; Olenja, 1999). This study examined coping …

A Case Study Of Four Years Documenting The Changes In The Process Of Self-Reporting Academic Program Plans Alongside The Perceptions Of Program Coordinators, Kedar Kulkarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Major Advisors: Suzanne Martin, Ph.D., Laura Blasi, Ph.D. Universities in the United States of America are faced with numerous challenges concerning quality assurance such as the quest for Continuous Quality Improvement. Implementation of technology has been a priority of many developing institutions of higher education. A large metropolitan institution of higher education has put into practice a technology based, on-line program quality assessment system, for its academic and administrative programs. This dissertation was a study of the changes reported over four years, 2001-2005, within ten initial teacher preparation undergraduate programs at the College of Education at this institution. Using a …

Highly Qualified Secondary Special Education Co-Teachier Definitions Among The Fifty States, Leslie Sena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rationale for this research was based on recent legislative requirements that all teachers must meet the No Child Left Behind of 2001 and Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 highly qualified requirements by the end of the 2005-2006 school year. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which state Department of Education officials representing the 50 states addressed the issue of NCLB of 2001 highly qualified personnel provisions for secondary special education co-teachers. Information for this study was represented by online documents that were retrieved from DOE websites across the United States. Findings suggested that …

Trends In The Selection, Evaluation, And Compensation Of University Presidents In The Florida State University System, Nancy L. Marshall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent literature suggested that while the discussion of presidential selection, evaluation, and compensation was common to both private and public institutions, special attention was paid to public university presidents. They and their presidencies were subject to intense public debate and scrutiny. Florida's public university presidents have contended with the same issues as their counterparts in other states. However, the 2001 changes in the state's higher education governance created distinct challenges and opportunities for the 11 presidents in the Florida State University System. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends in the selection, evaluation, and compensation of the …

Challenging A Traditional Social Norm In A Second Grade Mathematics Classroom, Lisa Egendoerfer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an attempt to examine classroom dialogue within a second grade classroom, I encouraged students to participate in mathematics discussions without needing to raise their hands before speaking. I challenged this traditional social norm and established sociomathematical norms as the study progressed. My study showed the effects of this change on the dialogue of students in my classroom. Focus was placed on the participation in classroom discussions when traditional social and sociomathematical norms were in place as well as when new norms were established. The study helped determine the effects of student-centered dialogue on conceptual understanding as demonstrated in the …

Classroom Mathematical Practices In A Preservice Elementary Mathematics Education Course Using An Instructional Sequence Related, Janet Andreasen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study documents a classroom teaching experiment in a semester-long undergraduate mathematics education course for 16 prospective elementary school teachers. The purpose of this study was to investigate how social aspects of the classroom environment facilitated the collective mathematical learning of place value and whole number operations by preservice elementary school teachers. Design-based research methodology was used for formulating the study. A hypothetical learning trajectory and instructional sequence related to place value and operations were created and refined in the two semesters prior to this study. The instructional sequence was in its third iteration for this study. The developmental …

Differences In Academic Performance And Self-Regulated Learning Based On Level Of Student Participation In Supplemental Instruction, Ana Mack

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined differences in academic performance and self-regulated learning based on levels of student participation in Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions in two introductory undergraduate biology and chemistry courses offered at University of Central Florida in the Spring 2006 semester. The sample consisted of 282 students enrolled in the biology class and 451 students enrolled in chemistry. Academic performance was measured using students' final course grades and rates of withdrawal from the courses. The self-regulated learning constructs of motivation, cognition, metacognition, and resource management were measured using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). Relationships between students' gender and ethnic …

In Transition: An Activity Theoretical Analysis Examining Electronic Portfolio Tools' Mediation Of The Preservice Teacher's Authoring Experience, Rebecca Fiedler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Co-chairs: Dr. Donna Baumbach Dr. Gail West Background: Electronic portfolios are increasingly used to make critical decisions about teacher candidates and program accreditation. Adoption rates for portfolios are at nearly 90% for schools, colleges, and departments of education (Salzman, Denner, & Harris, 2002). Over 50% of institutions who rated themselves or were nominated by others as exemplary users of electronic portfolios use web-based database-driven electronic portfolio systems (Strudler & Wetzel, 2005b; Wetzel & Strudler, 2005b). There is a paucity of theory-driven, systematic, rigorous research on electronic portfolios and a need for in-depth, context-aware research on such initiatives. Purpose: To explicate …

A Comparison Of Marriage Education And Brief Couples Counseling, Tina Livingston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated marital adjustment for couples participating in one of two treatment groups; the Brief Integrative Couples Counseling model(Young & Long, 1998, 2007); and the PREPARE/ENRICH Empowering Couples marriage education weekend workshop (Olson & Olson,2000). This study examined the following research questions: Do couples show a different level of marital adjustment following Brief Integrative Couples Counseling compared to those who receive a marriage education treatment?; Do couples show greater marital adjustment following Brief Integrative Couples Counseling compared to those who participated in a Marriage Education weekend workshop treatment over time? This article presents an exploration of mean marital adjustment …

The Effects Of Inquiry And Single-Gender Grouping On Second Grade Girls' Attitudes And Participation In Science, Elsy Estrada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disparities between males and females in attitudes toward science have been the focus of extensive investigations. Studies have found that females feel intimidated by their male peers in science and mathematics classes, making girls less likely to participate. Their confidence in these areas decreases and they become less likely to follow related career paths. Researchers and educators are at task to find methods to provide equal learning opportunities for all students. The purpose of this action research was to investigate the effects of single-gender grouping and inquiry-based teaching on girls' participation and attitude in science class. This study took place …

The Effects Of The 5e Learning Cycle Model On Students' Understanding Of Force And Motion Concepts, Meghann Campbell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As advocated by the National Research Council [NRC] (1996) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS] (1989), a change in the manner in which science is taught must be recognized at a national level and also embraced at a level that is reflected in every science teacher's classroom. With these ideas set forth as a guide for change,this study investigated the fifth grade students' understanding of force and motion concepts as they engaged in inquiry-based science investigations through the use of the 5E Learning Cycle. The researcher's journey through this process was also a focus of the …

The Effect Of Different Presentation Formats Of Hypertext Annotations On Cognitive Load, Learning And Learner Control, Yuanming Yao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation study was intended to verify whether the positive effects of the roll-over annotation presentation format on reducing cognitive load and enhancing vocabulary and comprehension of 5th-grade children (Morrison, 2004) can be extended to college students' learning from a web-delivered text. In order to answer this research question, relevant constructs, such as cognitive load, learner control and learning, have been examined in this experimental study of 149 undergraduate students in a state university at College of Education. No single effect of annotation presentation format on cognitive load was found, but an interaction effect on cognitive load was revealed between …

Enhancing Vocabulary Acquisition Through Synthetic Learning Experiences: Implementing Virtual Field Trips Into Classrooms, Alicia Sanchez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A Synthetic Learning Environment (SLE) the Virtual Field Trip (VFT) was designed to increase vocabulary acquisition and knowledge by utilizing simulation based technologies and leveraging sound educational findings. Vocabulary acquisition is considered a prerequisite to becoming a good reader and therefore a critical predictor of academic and lifelong success for early learners, however, teachers report that students lack the real world knowledge required for vocabulary knowledge. The VFT provides a meaningful context for anchored and situated instruction. Second grade students were assigned to either use the VFT or to listen to stories read aloud by a researcher on a video …

Teacher Retention In Brevard County, Florida K-12 Schools, Kenneth Winn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive study was designed to determine the extent to which selected self-reported practical and professional factors of teaching influenced teacher job satisfaction and retention within the K-12 public education system. The population of the study was 1321 certified teachers from a large Central Florida school district. The researcher developed the survey instrument based on the constructs of teaching known for motivating teachers to remain within the public school setting (Brunetti, 2001; Farkas, Johnson, & Folena, 2005). The researcher's survey was based on the studies of Perie (1997), Brunetti (2001), and Gary (2002). The researcher personally distributed 1321 surveys, respondent …

The Analysis Of The Relationship Between Learning Styles And The Learners' Knowledge Acquisition And Reactions Through The Online Case Study, Rui Zeng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between learning styles and student performance on a pre and post test, using an online case study, while also documenting their reactions to the case study. The case studies used in this research contained different storylines that showed multiple perspectives of case scenarios, giving students more choices to see what may happen in real school situations. Working with undergraduate students (N = 138) from the College of Education at a southeastern university, the researcher examined how students learned and responded to an online case study relative to their learning styles. …