Education Commons^™

An Analysis Of The Iowa Tests Of Educational Development Performance Of Participants And Non-Participants In A Ninth Grade Contemporary Science Course, Ronald D. Millsap

Graduate Research Papers

The need to document the results of instruction in a school system has been recorded as early as 1912 (Thorndike, 1912). Today, there is little argument about the necessity of evaluating pupil progress. Recent national attention has focused on public education and student performance on standardized achievement tests. Reports such as "Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Education Reform" (1983) agree that public schools need to be more accountable for student achievement and that standardized tests may be one of the best tools for assessing and/or evaluating the performance of students and schools.

The Essentials Of Leadership For Successful Principals, Larry D. Abel

Graduate Research Papers

The high school principal wears many faces in the community in which she/he lives and works (Cavanaugh and Yoder, 1984). Most patrons of the school district know who the principal is and hold high expectations for him/her. At the same time, when the residents of a school district are asked to define the principal's job in their school district, it is often hard for them to come up with a clear-cut statement. This is due to a lack of understanding of the principal 's responsibilities in the school system, and to the complexity of the principal 's role in education …

A Study Of Residence Hall Students' Knowledge Of, And Attitudes Toward, Safety And Security Policies And Procedures At The University Of Northern Iowa, Michael Jon Woeste

Graduate Research Papers

Increasingly in recent years, serious crime has emerged as a phenomenon on American college campuses (Time, 1973). Factors such as the increased crime rate in the United States, the increased heterogeneity of the college student population, and the greater openness of the college campus have resulted in more and varied crimes on college campuses, e.g., sexual assault, theft, and vandalism (Middleton, 1981). Rape on college campuses, once unheard of, is now commonplace (Thomas, 1978, Mehreu, 1983, Dowd, 1983). American colleges and universities had had little experience with crime, and were ill prepared to deal with it.

Microcomputers In Education, Michael J. Schultz

Graduate Research Papers

With the ever-increasing use of the microcomputer in the classroom, numerous studies, surveys, and reports have been done on this topic. One would think that with this new technology at a teacher's fingertips, everyone would be excited and eager to get a microcomputer to use in his/her classroom. Such is not the case. Many teachers are hesitant about the computer, while others are ready and willing. Perhaps it is because of the drastic, sudden push for computer use and computer literacy. Perhaps it is because of the competitiveness among state education agencies. Whatever the reason, most believe that microcomputers are …

Colonel Francis Parker And Beginning Reading Instruction, Elinor Woods Kline

Graduate Research Papers

In the late nineteenth century progressive educators advocated reforms in the educational system that were intended to humanize instruction. At the forefront of this movement was Colonel Francis W. Parker, a teacher and later an administrator who concerned himself with all aspects of the curriculum, including beginning reading. He was acclaimed by some as an innovator and attacked by others as a heretic. Parker's viewpoints concerning education countered the existing educational practices of the late 1800a. His beliefs concerning the teaching of reading were no leas radical to his time.

Learning Strategies As An Aid To Graphical Comprehension, Peggy Pruisner

Graduate Research Papers

The highest human abilities- perceptual, intellectual, and linguistic- interact and support each other during the act of reading. The processing and assimilating of written information is the single goal of reading. The complex mental process that is used when a reader encounters a variety of materials that satisfy many needs and purposes cannot be easily dissected into a hierarchy of skills, but is represented by a large number of interrelated skills that gradually develop. The total process of reading is impaired if any major function or part prevents adequate performance, thereby preventing literacy. It is vital to note that the …

A Study For School Media Center Program Improvement, Glen W. Jordan

Graduate Research Papers

The school library-media specialist holds an interesting position. They are not usually classroom teachers, but they are involved in the educational process. They select, purchase, catalog, and provide access to a great many materials in book form as well as in audiovisual and computer format. It is this material and its usage that puts the library-media specialist in such a unique and interesting position within the context of a school's educational program. 1 Although the media specialist is the person who generally does the selecting of learning materials for a school's media center, and knows as well as anyone what …

Elementary Social Studies: The Unit Method And Problem Solving, Sue Guenther

Graduate Research Papers

On many occasions, this writer has observed students sitting in desks arranged in near perfect rows, reading from the social studies text, and answering factual questions. Noting the lack of motivation for learning evidenced in these observations has sparked a desire to investigate the availability of materials and/or methods of teaching which provide better learning experiences in this curriculum area--social studies.

Testing A Direct Mail Offer In Magazine Subscription Promotion, Mary L. Peet

Graduate Research Papers

Direct marketing is an $82 million per year business. Its history dates back over a century with roots in direct mail. Direct marketing today involves not only mail, but a variety of media, including newspapers and magazines, radio, television and telephone. The cornerstone of direct marketing is its measurability and accountability, as well as a reliance on lists and a database (Baier, 1983). In other words, direct marketing allows marketers to improve their skills by measuring what they do against previous tests. The availability of lists and data about lists provides populations from which samples can be drawn to conduct …

Combining Counseling And Coaching Techniques To Achieve Optimal Performance Of High School Students, Lee Alan Toole

Graduate Research Papers

A longstanding question in sports psychology research has been whether a given amount of cognitive practice and prepraration [sic] to perform a motor skill will enhance performance (Ravizza, 1982). This research has recently shown that there is an optimal level of arousal that maximizes performance at any level and that this level of arousal depends on the nature and complexity of the task, as well as individual differences (Weinberg, 1983). Sports psychology has thus evolved to focus on teaching individuals the importance of recognizing the need and the skills to gain control and attain an optimal level of arousal. Once …

The Initiation Of A Literature-Based Composition Program In A Fifth-Grade Classroom, Lori J. Alexander

Graduate Research Papers

A worthy goal for educators is the continued search for an understanding of children's learning. Continued research and observation of children in a variety of settings provide educators with theoretical perspectives and methodological applications for classroom instruction.

The Effects Of Constructivism And Behaviorism On The Development Of Autonomy In Young Children, Deborah I. Burk

Graduate Research Papers

Autonomy, the ability to govern one's self, is an admired attribute in adults. The concern for the development of autonomy in young children is not new to the field of education. Piaget acknowledged autonomy as the goal of education over 50 years ago (Piaget, 1932). It is the opinion of the followers of Piaget that in order to develop autonomy to a marked degree, children must be given opportunities to make decisions and gain control of their own lives. Piagetian theory maintains that children construct their own reality based on their interactions with their environment (Kamii & DeVries, 1978). Therefore, …

A Study Of Vocational Certification Standards For Postsecondary Instructors Of Technical Areas, Dale A. Amunson

Graduate Research Papers

Are current certification standards that deal with postsecondary instructional certification, relevant to the new and ever-changing technologies present in the educational setting today?

A. How do these standards apply to Iowa?

B. Has there been any effect upon present certification standards because of the new technologies?

Child Sexual Abuse Intervention, Jill Christine Hay

Graduate Research Papers

School counselors are involved to a meaningful degree in the lives and development of children. Consequently, counselors need to be knowledgeable of the problem areas 1 that affect or obstruct the child's learning and development. One such problem area has received wide media coverage, but until recently little was known about the effects of sexual abuse on children and how to help those children.

Current Career Counseling Practices In Community Colleges, Kristin D. Stewart

Graduate Research Papers

When the community college came into being in the early 1900 1 s, its goals were trifold: (a) to offer courses traditionally taught by the four year colleges during the first two years, (b) to train workers for jobs in a flourishing industrial nation, and (c) to enhance social equality. The community college's close proximity and open door admission policy gave almost everyone a chance to attend college.

The Scarlet H: Herpesvirus Hominus -- Its Clinical Manifestations And Personal Implications, Ann K. Larson

Graduate Research Papers

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) tend to affect sufferers psychologically as well as physically. Most of these diseases, however, can be cured and forgotten. Genital herpes, the leading Sexually Transmitted Disease in the United States, seems to cause more psychological damage than do any of the other STDs. (Chase, 1983) Herpetics must cope with the knowledge that their Sexually Transmitted Disease in incurable. The fact that there is a paucity of information on counseling the herpetic contributes to the need for the study. Any professional dealing with an individual who has recently learned he or she has genital herpes needs to …

Implications Of Existential-Humanistic Principles For Counseling Adolescents In Schools, Peter John Larson

Graduate Research Papers

This study focuses upon the emergence of existential humanistic psychology, particularly as developed through the work of Carl Rogers. The study attempts to display how existential humanistic psychology, as expressed through the work of Rogers, may offer valuable insights to counselors working with adolescents in school settings. By assuming that adolescents are at the forefront of society in terms of planning lives in a fast-changing and often despairing climate, the conclusion is offered that the principles of existential-humanistic psychology might be particularly relevant to counselors who are working with the adolescent in schools.

Interventions For Resistance In The Initial Stage Of Systemic Family Therapy, Richard A. Shaw

Graduate Research Papers

Family therapy involves the entire family unit as the target of therapy, rather than just an individual who is showing problem symptoms. Persons are understood on the basis of their relationships within the family, rather than their internal intrapsychic condition alone.

An Historical Look At Honors Student Characteristics In Higher Education, Daniel E. Key

Graduate Research Papers

Having the opportunity to listen in on several Honors Committee Meetings at the University of Northern Iowa proved to be very thought provoking. The UNI Honors Committee had been discussing plans for a new honors program design when a question was asked, one that proved to be very important and needs serious consideration. "What type of student are we looking for?" What seemed to be a simple question with a simple answer gave rise to further questions and an issue which is the heart of any honors program. What characteristics will potential honors students possess? How will they be selected? …

Teacher Participation In Administrative Decision-Making And Its Effects On Teacher Morale, Adrian Paul Talbot

Graduate Research Papers

As demands made upon administrators, teachers, and schools increase, the decisions which principals make often have to be justified to people who are outside the immediate educational circle. Many of these decisions are extremely complex and place the principal, who tries to shoulder the burden alone, under considerable pressure. It would seem that the days of the successful autocrat are numbered. In an attempt to deal with this problem, writers (Guba, 1960; Dallas, 1978) have proposed ideas which would involve teachers to a far greater extent in the decisionmaking process, supporting the old adage that 11many heads are better than …

The Role Of The Counselor In Working With Disabled Students In Post-Secondary Educational Institutions, James Cameron Thornhill

Graduate Research Papers

Despite improvement in treatment of disabled students in the post-secondary education programs, there remain many problem areas (Katz, 1981). Disabled students still encounter such obstacles as: (a) faculty misconceptions of disabled students' capabilities, {b) intrapersonal problems of the disabled students concerning their internal adjustment to the disability, (c) interpersonal problems with other students or faculty, and (d) environmental barriers such as building inaccessibility.

Women In Educational Administration: Barriers/Strategies, Gail Ladria Dozier

Graduate Research Papers

Women historically have played a significant role in American education, but their role almost exclusively has been in teaching positions. Women have been excluded from authority positions within the educational system as throughout the society. Although women comprise over two-thirds of the teacher population, men dominate the positions of school administration.

Campus Recreation Survey: Student Satisfaction And Needs At The University Of Northern Iowa, Michael Edward Gannon

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine student satisfaction with the campus recreation program and to determine student recreational needs at UNI.

Student Service Needs Of The Nontraditional Woman Student In The Academic Setting, Jolene Phyllis Peck

Graduate Research Papers

The past decade has seen a dramatic change in the demographic profile of college students, in part the result of an influx of students, particularly older women, entering higher education for the first time or re-entering after an interruption in their education. According to the Carnegie Council (1980), within the three-year period of 1975 to 1978 alone, the number of women between the ages of 24 and 34 enrolled in institutions of higher education increased by 187%, with women now accounting for more than two-thirds of all adult students (U.S. Department of Labor, 1979). With this increasing enrollment of older …

Resolving Resistance In Family Therapy: Techniques Of Intervention For Family Therapists, Lauren M. Oujiri

Graduate Research Papers

Resistance by clients involved in psychotherapeutic treatment is a common occurrence and poses problems throughout the therapy process. Resistance displayed by families in therapy is a more complicated problem because of the nature of the family system, the many forms resistance may take, the diverse causes and effects of resistance in family therapy and the lack of agreement between professionals about how to resolve resistance. The specific problem this paper addresses is "What techniques can therapists employ to work through displays of resistance by families in therapy?" The purpose of the present research is to outline the development of the …

The Nature And Effect Of School Policy On Student Absenteeism, Aaron Lee Herman

Graduate Research Papers

In our country there appears to be a high rate of student absenteeism. In trying to combat the problem, school policy is used to control absenteeism.. Utilizing an attendance policy appears to be the response among today's school boards. Such policies vary from moderate to a restrictive and punitive style. The purpose of this paper is to review literature regarding the nature and the effect school attendance policies have on student absenteeism. Available research indicates there is clear evidence that a school attendance policy will help reduce student absenteeism. Furthermore, there is evidence that school attendance and achievement are related. …

An Investigation Of The Impact Of The Controlled Budget On Small Iowa School Districts, Joyce N. Losure

Graduate Research Papers

The controlled budget growth of school districts in Iowa has been determined by the State School Finance Formula since 1971. The basic idea was to promote "equal educational opportunity." But this descriptive research paper confirmed that, since the controlled budget is tied to the number of pupils enrolled, the actual percentage growth of the controlled budget in the majority of small, decreasing enrollment schools has not equaled the state's allowable percentage of controlled budget growth. This paper determined, through an open-ended survey of the superintendents of schools in Iowa with 325 or fewer students, the fiscal adjustments made for survival …

The Development Of Social Skills In Upper Elementary Students, Mark M. Mcvey

Graduate Research Papers

This study is designed to determine if a structured approach to the development of social skills, given to students in a Self Contained with Integration (SCI) Classroom, will increase proficiency in these skills. In the study, students in a SCI room will receive instruction in six specific social skills. These skills involve appropriate behaviors in getting along with others. The students will be introduced to individual social skills, practice with the skills, and review each skill, Each skill will be assessed by the homeroom teacher as to gains made in developing appropriate social skills.

Alcoholism: The Relapse Dynamic, Jim R. Hoeft

Graduate Research Papers

At the time of the discovery and colonization of America, alcohol was firmly entrenched in the society of the Old World. The drunkard was common, particularly in the urban areas. He was treated poorly and often imprisoned for his alcoholic abuses. For the most part, however, he was ignored. (Ewing and Rouse, 1978) Beer and wine was simply transported across the Atlantic to the colonies as a way of life with no special significance. Drunkenness was not tolerated, but even the Puritans drank. (Royce, 1981) The drunkard was a social misfit and a source of pity. (Ewing and Rouse)

The Status Of Student Development Programs Designed For Nontraditional Women Students In Higher Education, Laura S. Kirk-Clark

Graduate Research Papers

The mission of higher education is directed to every prospective and enrolled student. In college catalogs throughout the United States, statements of purpose or aims of institutions are recorded. Although these statements may differ in words, phrases, or structure, the content is similar. Upon completion of the college experience, the individual student will be better prepared, both intellectually and emotionally, to contribute to society (Whiteley and Sprandel, 1970).