Education Commons^™

Analysis Of Instructional Technology In The Runnemede School District, David Gentile

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of technology as a tool of instructional delivery. The results informed teachers, administrators, and board members of their current technology status and served in the development of future goals. The goal of the study was to survey the professional teaching staff to gather input and create a focus group to analyze the results.

The Intern surveyed the professional teaching staff at the Volz Middle School to assess how technology was being used to deliver instruction in the Runnemede Public School District. The Intern interviewed a focus group to …

Distance Learning In The Pitman School District: A Window On The World, Marsha K. Hahn

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how a well-developed procedure to facilitate the use of distance learning technology would impact teaching practice and student achievement at Pitman High School. As part of the action research, the intern conducted a survey using a questionnaire that employed a Likert-type format. The population for the study consisted of a sample of the teaching staff from Pitman Schools representing an elementary school, middle and high school. Each of these schools had distance learning technology available. The intern analyzed the results of the survey, and computed the mean response to each question for …

Has Technology Created A Safer School Environment?, Mark Leung

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was two-fold. It was to determine and evaluate the effectiveness of technological advances on the maintenance operations of a school district's facilities. It was also to determine and evaluate the types, amounts, and locations of technology equipment implementations in school districts and how these implementations have affected the school environment's overall safety.

Forty-two school districts in Burlington County, New Jersey were surveyed using a questionnaire with twenty-two queries. The survey targeted Directors of Buildings and Grounds and the surveys were distributed and collected via electronic-mail or facsimile. The survey data was analyzed using the SPSS …

The Effects Of Administrative Change On School Environment, Dale H. Horner

Theses and Dissertations

Administrative change in education is inevitable. However, successful administrative change is not. Successful administrative change requires Boards of Education and the new leaders they create to think of the administrative change as a process not an isolated act. The newly created leader must clearly and consistently communicate his vision with the shareholders. He must allow the shareholders to question and respond to his vision until together they make a new vision, one which they can all embrace. He must have and effectively convey a transition plan that will bring the shareholders from the past, which they know and accept, across …

Innovative Scheduling, Brian J. Barg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop an academic schedule that was well-thought, thorough, consistent, and beneficial to students' academic achievement. The use of a block scheduling formula for the high school meant providing students and teachers with an opportunity to innovatively and creatively interact in the learning process, while using time-on-task in an efficient manner. Utilizing an innovative schedule determined how teachers used pedagogy to improve academic performance. Innovative scheduling made a contribution to scholarly research, scholarly work, student interest, and cooperative learning.

The intern reviewed research regarding the advantages of block scheduling. In order to gather input …

The Professional Roundtable: Developing Novice Teachers, Tanya Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of a program developed for novice teachers are examined in this document. Data was derived from information obtained during interviews conducted by the intern, as well as entry and exit surveys. The study begins by addressing the nation's impending teacher shortage which can be linked to the retention of novice teachers. This section expounds upon the need to properly develop novice teachers in order to retain their services.

The next section is a review of the literature which explains the status of the educational system as it relates to novice teachers. Following this review, a design of the …

An Integration Approach To Character Education In The High School, Janet T. Farrell

Theses and Dissertations

Character education provides many opportunities for students to learn how to be responsible citizens in their schools and communities by developing moral and virtuous traits. However, this path to maturity seems to create many challenges for today's students. Recent events in public schools and today's society have demonstrated that society has failed to adequately help students to meet these challenges. Although blame can be placed on the family or schools, schools must address the dilemma and try to correct it. The implementation of a character education program at the high school level and the incorporation of this program into the …

Parental Involvement As A Tool To Lower Repeat Suspension Offenses, Steven W. Price

Theses and Dissertations

Parental involvement in education has been sought after for decades. The purpose of this study was to involve parents in the discipline process and thereby reduce repeat discipline offense. The intern offered the opportunity for involvement to the parents of tenth grade students who received their first out-of-school suspension. The study took place during the first semester of the 2002- 2003 school year. Parents were asked to participate in this study by answering a short survey and by discussing the incident with their child at home.

The sample population included all of the tenth grade students. A limited sample included …

The Development And Implementation Of A Multifaceted Model For Differentiated Teacher Evaluation To Improve Student Achievement, Nancy L. Schumacher

Theses and Dissertations

Effective teacher evaluation is a meaningful experience that improves student achievement. The first purpose of this study was to examine the current evaluation system used in a special services school district in southern New Jersey. The second was to revise that system to reflect current research-based practice. An examination of the district's evaluation procedures, data from a questionnaire, and interviews with teachers revealed that the current system did not reflect their varied expectations and experience and was limited to classroom observations. The Personnel Evaluation Committee developed a new differentiated model of teacher evaluation. It uses a collection of data from …

School Reform: The Impact On Teaching Practices, Carol J. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of school reform on teaching practices at the Middle School of Pleasantville. The district, a special needs (Abbott district), receives 85% of its funding from the state, therefore must provide all children with a "Thorough and Efficient" education.

The overall approach of this study was to use a survey to investigate the effects of school reform on teaching practices. Thirty teachers of grades 5-8, representing a variety of subject areas, completed a survey. The survey was used to determine if professional development provided teachers with effective support throughout the change …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Crisis Management For The Staff Of The Uptown School Complex, Michele Tourigian-Mcgettigan

Theses and Dissertations

The Uptown School Complex has a crisis management plan that needs to be reviewed, updated, and practiced by staff members. In the past year, our country has gone through radical changes with security and crisis management that also need to be addressed in our schools. The focus of this study is to ensure that all staff members are aware of the current crisis management plan and to revise and update the plan.

The purpose of this study is to provide a highly effective organizational unit for dealing with a variety of crises by evaluating the effectiveness of the current crisis …

Implementation Of A Peer Mediation Program, Darin B. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to examine and describe the implementation of the peer mediation program at Ulysses S. Wiggins Elementary School. In the past few decades, with the rise of school campus violence, models of conflict resolution programs including peer mediation have rapidly increased in popularity in which students assist their peers in resolving disputes. Peer mediation at Wiggins Elementary School offered training and counseling to students who would become peer mediators to help other students manage their conflict without the use of violence. Significantly, the study was action based in its design to find out what components would be …

Designing, Implementing, And Evaluating A Homework Policy And Its Effects On Discipline At The George L. Hess Educational Complex, C. David Evangelist

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact a new homework policy would have on discipline among sixth grade students. Over the five months of the study there were an average of 346 students involved in the project. It was determined that a new homework policy would be incorporated into the already successful behavior point system, as a means to help students grow into accountable individuals. This policy would enhance our Character Education Program by promoting student responsibility and signify to the student that his/her work is similar to an employee in their work place. Without a homework …

Bully-Proofing, Kevin M. Mcgloin

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine if the existing Bully-Proofing Program at the Reeds Road Elementary School is working effectively. Utilizing an action research design, fifth and sixth graders completed a bully-proofing survey during the 2002-2003 academic year. This survey elicited student observations and actions of bullying within the school. Forty surveys were randomly chosen for analysis with the final research population being twenty fifth graders and twenty sixth graders (20 female/20 male). In analyzing the results, verbal bullying was responded to the most, outweighing all other forms. Another statistic is that boys were identified as bullies, more so than …

An Analysis Of The Influence Of Lesson Study On Preservice Secondary Mathematics Teachers' View Of Self-As Mathematics Expert, Julie Stafford

Theses and Dissertations

This research seeks to investigate the influence of lesson study on preservice secondary mathematics teachers' view of self as mathematics expert. The study acknowledges the commonly held belief that prospective mathematics teachers have that they know and understand secondary mathematics. The purpose in engaging the preservice teachers in lesson study is to dislodge this belief. In particular, this research report focuses on one preservice teacher and her experiences during lesson study. Using the data collected, the researcher reports on the baseline beliefs that the preservice teacher held toward her knowledge of secondary mathematics, her mathematical experiences during the actual lesson …

The Effect Of Interactivity And Instructional Exposure On Learning Effectiveness And Knowledge Retention: A Comparative Study Of Two U.S. Air Force Computer-Based Training (Cbt) Courses For Network User Licensing, Matthew J. Imperial

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) currently employs the use of computer-based training (CET) across a host of requirements. One such requirement is in the Information Assurance (IA) arena and involves the training/licensing of over one-million computer network end-users. USAF use of CETs has been shown to possess a potential for substantial fiscal savings. However, studies investigating the learning outcomes of learning effectiveness (initial learning) and knowledge retention (sustained learning) associated with USAF CETs are lacking.

An Analysis Of Information Referenced Testing As An Air Force Assessment Tool, Eric D. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DOD) has placed a great deal of importance on training and education, throughout all areas of infrastructure development and force implementation. A more knowledgeable operating unit, in any situation, is consistently the deciding factor for success. The United States Air Force, too, has emphasized this ideal and sought to employ those persons most qualified for the required task. Yet, problems within the classroom and various training venues are always present and should be continually marked for improvement. Existing assessment techniques should provide an accurate account of the quality of information learned by DOD personnel. This is …

The Effects Of Reflective Assessment On Student Achievement, John B. Bond

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last decade alternative assessment strategies have become an important part of the debate regarding the reform and restructuring of American education. The purpose of assessment should be to improve student learning, which means it should be integral to the teaching and learning process. For this to occur, a seamlessness needs to exist between teaching, learning, and assessment through which students are empowered to take increased responsibility for their learning. Reflective assessment grows out of strong theoretical roots including ancient Greek thought, the philosophy of John Dewey, and cognitive constructivist learning theories. Reflective assessment is a formative process through …

Reasons For Low Participation In Professional Development By East Arkansas Teachers, Susan L. Luebke

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers in east Arkansas have been less willing to participate in professional development activities beyond those that are required for continued licensure than those in other areas of the state. The Arkansas Legislature has passed legislation that will create a professional development institute in east Arkansas to assist teachers in gaining access to quality programs. This study sought to identify reasons for low participation in professional development by east Arkansas teachers in order to provide guidance in the design of the institute. An investigation of research in the principles of andragogy, characteristics of effective professional development, motivating learning, and the …

A Study Of Arkansas Public School Alternative Language Program Coordinators' Knowledge Of The Legal And Evaluation Requirements For The Alternative Language Program, Karen E. Broadnax

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine public school Alternative Language Program coordinators' knowledge of the legal and evaluation requirements for Alternative Language Programs in the state of Arkansas. Their current knowledge was investigated in this study. A non-experimental research design was used for this causal-comparative study. The survey instrument used was developed by the researcher and it included all of the 138 Alternative Language Program coordinators in Arkansas, except the researcher. A non-probability sample of 90 coordinators completed and returned the survey at a return rate of 65.7 percent. Part I of the survey was used to collect …

Teaching Strategies Employed By Arkansas High School Teachers Using Traditional And Block Scheduled Formats, Randy Lee Byrd

Theses and Dissertations

This study surveyed teachers in Arkansas who were teaching in high performing high schools in either a traditional or block-scheduled format. The study sought to determine what instructional strategies were being used in both types of classroom settings. This study also explored what influence staff development had on the different instructional strategies presented to the students in both block and traditionally scheduled settings. This study employed a self-reporting method in the form of a Likert-type scaled survey on which teachers recorded their responses. A Chi-Square test was then applied to the results of the survey to determine if there were …

Island Of Tranquility: Rhetoric And Identification At Brigham Young University During The Vietnam Era, Brian D. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

The author argues that beyond religious beliefs and conservative politics, rhetorical identification played an important role in the relative calmness of the BYU campus during the turbulent Sixties. Using Bitzer's rhetorical situation theory and Burke's identification theory, the author shows that BYU's calm campus can be explained as a result of communal identification with a conservative ethos. He also shows that apparent epistemological shortcomings of Bitzer's model can be resolved by considering the power of identification to create salience and knowledge in rhetorical situations. During the Sixties, BYU administration developed policies on physical appearance that invited students to take on …

Design And Application Of A Nutrition Education Program Based On A Test Of Improved Practices For Pregnant Women And Women Of Childbearing Age In La Rinconada And Cuambo, Odila Nicaragua

Theses and Dissertations

This study was done with the objective of designing and applying a nutrition education program based on a test of improved practices for pregnant women and women of childbearing age in the rural communities of Ibarra canton: La Riconada and Cuambo. For this, information was collected on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding the eating habits of pregnant women. These results were used to identify content and recommendations to reinforce and/or instruct about eating during pregnancy. Nutrition education was based on the methodology of the improved practices test, which consisted of testing the recommendations in families' homes before recommending them …

A Comparison Of The Quality Of The School Experience For Current High School Students And For Teachers When They Were High School Students, James R. Willison, Sr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study is designed to compare the quality of school experiences for teachers when they were students with that of current high school students. Teachers and students from one urban, one suburban, and one rural high school in Central Arkansas completed the Concord High School Student Survey (CHSSS), an instrument designed to measure the quality of the school experience. Mean scores on the CHSSS for teachers and students were compared using a two-sample t-test. The data conclude that there is a statistically significant difference between perceived quality of school experiences for current students and the perceived quality of school experiences …

An Investigation Of Teachers’ Knowledge And Implementation Of Effective Literacy Strategies In Kindergarten Through Second Grade In Two School Districts In A Metropolitan Area In The State Of Arkansas, Janice C. Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' knowledge and implementation of effective literacy strategies in kindergarten through second grade in two school districts in a metropolitan area in the state of Arkansas. The study investigated teachers' knowledge and implementation of effective literacy strategies within districts and among grade level. The Effective Literacy Strategy Teacher Survey was used to survey participants in the study. The questions from the survey were comprised into two scales: Teachers' Knowledge and Teacher Implementation of effective literacy strategies. Indicators derived from these two scales were utilized to measure teacher's knowledge and frequency of implementation …

Evaluation Policies And Procedures For Building Administrators In Academically Advanced And Below Basic Schools In Arkansas, Cindy Viala

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the written policies and procedures of 10 advanced and 10 below basic school districts in Arkansas with a student population of 1,500 or more, and the opinions of building administrators within those districts concerning the evaluation of building administrators. Building administrators have the responsibility to meet public school accountability mandates from the 'No Child Left Behind' law. Data used includes written policies and procedures from each of the school districts and surveys collected from participating building administrators. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square statistic were used. Conclusions show that some school districts have written policies, but are not …

Testing The Relationship Between Student's Perceptions, Achievement, And Learning Style Characteristics In Campus Based Lecture Classes, Campus Based Lecture Classes With Computer Enhanced Components, And Classes Offered On-Line, Blake Embrey Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

Educational professionals have always been attracted by the potential of what is going to happen in the future. From film in the 1920s, to television in the 1950s, to computers in the 1980s, and now informational technology in the 1990s, there have always been great expectations that new technology would soon enhance learning and instruction. This study investigated the relationship between student perceptions, academic achievement, and learning style characteristics across three instructional delivery formats: campus-based lecture classes, campus-based lecture classes with computer-enhanced components, and classes offered fully online. As users of the electronic classroom, faculty must properly and professionally integrate …

William Small 1734-1775: Teacher, Mentor, Scientist, Martin Richard Clagett

Theses and Dissertations

Several studies have examined the life of William Small but only in respect to certain phases of his life, particularly Small's connections to Thomas Jefferson, James Watt, or the Birmingham Lunar Society. In 1758 William Small was recruited for the post of professor of mathematics at the College of William and Mary. From 1760 through 1762, he was Thomas Jefferson's only professor at the College of William and Mary. In 1764 Small returned to England and, with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin and others, became physician and scientific advisor to Matthew Boulton, a wealthy industrialist. Small, Boulton, and Erasmus Darwin …

A Measurement Of Job Satisfaction Indicators Of North Dakota Long Term Health Care Givers, Deborah Moreno

Theses and Dissertations

Long term care facilities in North Dakota and across the nation are experiencing a shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). This shortage is significant as it directly affects the quality of care provided to long term care residents. As long term care is labor intensive, recruitment and retention efforts are critical to these facilities. In a highly competitive labor market, although recruitment is important, retention of current employees is crucial. An integration retention strategy is necessary for the retention of employees. Numerous studies have suggested that job satisfaction is directly related to …

The Effects Of Self-Esteem Instruction For Children With Disabilities, James Henderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of self-esteem instruction for children with disabilities. Academic achievement, attitudes toward school and learning, and attitudes toward peers were measured prior to ninety days of self-esteem direct instruction. A total of 72 children with disabilities from grade 1 to 3 in 3 elementary schools in the same community participated. They were divided into both control and experimental groups in 3 elementary schools with a total of 3 experiment and 3 control groups. Three special education teachers provided self-esteem direct instruction to the experimental groups according to the same lesson plans …