Education Commons^™

Enhancement Of Coastal Dredge Disposal Sites To Create Habitat For Endangered, Threatened, And Protected Species, Mary Beth Simpson

Theses and Dissertations

As human activities and development along the shoreline continue to increase, more and more wildlife habitat is lost, leaving many species with a precarious prospect for survival. Biologists and environmentalists are continually exploring options which may prevent plants and animals from becoming extinct. Strategic placement of new sites is becoming increasingly valuable as a management tool.

the purpose of this study was to develop a plan for enhancement of a cluster of dredged material islands, in order to create suitable habitat for four endangered, threatened, and protected animal species.

Four dredged material islands were assessed for suitability. Surveys were conducted …

Enrichment Course In Environmental Education For Studying Coastal Wetlands Ecology Through The Visual Arts, Cynthia Lynn Hasbrouck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to develop an environmental education course to be offered to students in grades 4-6 at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. The course was designed to teach coastal wetlands ecology through the visual arts to supplement and enrich the current environmental education program offered by the Institute. Although the course is designed specifically for use at the Institute, the activities can be adapted to a similar wetland site and used in part by a resourceful teacher to suit the needs of students of any age or level.

The course format consists of …

A Retrospective Study Of Preschool Handicapped Children, Tracey Lynn Miller

Theses and Dissertations

The hypothesis of this study is that preschool handicapped programs are indicative of what type of educational setting a child will be placed in during his future years of education. The data for this study was collected from three different school districts of varying size and socio-economic backgrounds. Children who were classified preschool handicapped during the 1989-90 school year were followed during their kindergarten and fourth grade years of school. It was found that it is difficult to predict where a child will be placed throughout his educational career by looking at his reasons for classification during preschool. Data from …

Written Guidance Document For Municipalities For Storm Water Permitting In Gloucester County, Krista Lee Fritz

Theses and Dissertations

To date, no such general permit has been issued to an individual municipality for stormwater dischargers. This thesis focused on the design of a stormwater characterization plan that was acceptable to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and provided the basis for municipal stormwater permitting by municipalities within Gloucester County.

The author produced a written guidance document that enabled individual municipalities located in Gloucester County to research data on and design on their own, using this step-by-step approach to stormwater permitting, a plan that is acceptable to NJDEP for a "General Municipal Stormwater" permit to control stormwater discharges within …

Development Of A Grant Proposal For Funding Of A Nonprofit Land Conservation Organization, Janet Eisenhauer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to solve the dilemma of how to acquire funding for operational expenses of a private nonprofit land conservation organization through foundation grants. A model grant proposal is also developed as part of the study.

The methods employed to determine strategies and to develop a grant proposal for funding of operational expenses for a private nonprofit land conservation organization include: review of literature on grantswriting, and interviews with foundation representatives, conservation organization grantswriters and others in the field of conservation organization fund raising.

Based on the literature review and interviews carried out, it was determined …

An Enrichment Unit On Local Water Resources And Water Conservation To Supplement Eighth Grade Earth Science Curriculum, Michele Junod Memis

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, there is no written curriculum for educating students about local water resources and water conservation practices in the Glassboro Eighth Grade Earth Science Curriculum. Utilizing all available references and agencies, (federal, state and local) the author created an enrichment unit dealing with local water resources and water conservation practices to supplement the existing Eighth Grade Science Curriculum, specifically the Geology unit of the Merrill Earth Science textbook. The lessons are hands-on activities which promote critical thinking, problem solving, and cooperative learning. Though designed for a specific audience and for a specific reason, lessons in the unit can be easily …

A Study To Increase Educational Interaction Between The Adult/Child Within The Treehouse At The Philadelphia Zoo, Jennifer L. Studley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to conduct a study assessing adult/child interaction in the TREEHOUSE that will yield a series of recommendations to assist in meeting the educational objectives of the TREEHOUSE.

The author conducted a naturalistic study employing adult/child observations and interviews. The groups studied consisted of between two and five individuals, including one adult and one child. Twenty-two groups were observed and eleven groups were interviewed, four of which were both observed and interviewed. Data was recorded and analyzed. Major findings were presented in the form of text, graphs and charts.

Interaction between adults and children did …

The Effects Of Positive Action And The Sexual Abuse Prevention Program On Sexually Abused Students' Behavior, Social Skills, And Self-Esteem, Paul W. Houser

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the effects of the Positive Action Program and the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program on sexually abused students' behavior, social skills, and self-esteem. Four classrooms of multiple handicapped elementary aged students in Burlington County Special Services District were selected, giving a sample of forty-four. Each week pupils received four lessons, for twenty minutes each, of instruction in the two programs. Prior to program implementation in the Fall and again in the Spring students rated their social skills development, behavior problems, and self-esteem.

Results indicated that the programs in the course of only a six month …

Can The Use Of Self-Management Techniques Be Effective In Reducing The Off-Task Behaviors Of Multiply Handicapped Students?, Lori M. Rosenthal

Theses and Dissertations

Can the use of self-management techniques be effective in reducing the off-task behaviors of multiply handicapped students? For the purposes of this study, multiply handicapped students were defined as mentally retarded and the method of self-management used was self-recording. Three students out of a class of ten were chosen based on a teacher rating scale. The lowest averaged scores determined which students were off-task the most. In addition, a multiple baseline design measured the occurrence and non-occurrence of nine target behaviors, three per student.

The results showed self-recording to be an effective intervention in eight out of the nine targeted …

A Longitudinal Assessment Of The Educational Status Of Children Enrolled In A Title I Preschool Program, Mary L. Corriveau

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to determine if children who have been through the Title I Preschool program require less special services than the rest of the district in subsequent years. The sample consisted of children who had been through the Title I Preschool program during the 1991-1992 school year through the 1997-1998 school year and are still currently enrolled in the Gloucester Township School District. Computer records were used to check the number of children who had received the benefit of the Title I Preschool program and were receiving services as of Oct. 15, 1998. The percentage of Title I students …

A Comparative Study Of The Effectiveness Of Two Approaches To Reading Instruction, Whole Language And Direct Instruction With Perceptually Impaired Students, Malika A. Byrd

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate the reading achievement of two groups of special education students classified as perceptually impaired. The two groups of children were provided with two different types of reading instruction in two different settings. One group received whole language reading instruction in the regular classroom as mainstreamed students. The other group received direct reading instruction in a self contained classroom.

At the conclusion of the study, it was found that both groups of students made some progress. All students improved their scores of reading achievement as measured by the CAT V inventory test. Pre-test results showed …

The Construction Of Effective Cooperative Learning Groups For Successful High School Biology Instruction, Diana I. Probasco

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to determine the effect of balancing learning styles in the construction of cooperative learning groups. The investigation attempted to determine if science instruction and subsequent achievement can be enhanced by establishing effective cooperative learning groups. The Learning Style Inventory was used to determine learning styles. Then groups were formed based on either construction of balanced or unbalanced cooperative learning groups. Students then completed group activities as contained in the Celebrate Immunity Team Pack. Pretests and posttests were administered in order to measure cognitive gains. A statistical analysis of the results of the groups showed …

A Comparison Of The Learning Styles Of Community College Versus Four-Year College And Male Versus Female College Students, Michele M. Booth

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the learning styles of community college versus four year college General Psychology students and male versus female college students from the combined groups, to ascertain if differences in learning style existed between the groups. The study identified David Kolb's Learning Styles Inventory elements that were important to the males/females and community college/four-year college students.

The sample included 16 General Psychology students from Salem Community College, and 29 General Psychology students from Rowan College. There were 27 female and 18 male students who participated from Salem Community College and Rowan College combined.

All …

A Generic Intelligent Architecture For Computer-Aided Training Of Procedural Knowledge, Freeman A. Kilpatrick Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) development is a knowledge-intensive task, suffering from the same knowledge acquisition bottleneck that plagues most Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. This research presents an architecture that requires knowledge only in the form of a shallow knowledge base and a simulation to produce a training system. The knowledge base provides the basic procedural knowledge while the simulation provides context. The remainder of the knowledge required for training is learned through the interaction of these components in a state-space scenario exploration process and inductive machine learning. These knowledge components are used only at the interface level, allowing the internal …

A Study Of The Integration Of Language Arts In An Elementary Music Curriculum, Kimberly Ann Kell

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of this study was to determine the effects of the integration of the language arts in a first grade music curriculum.

Two first grade classes from the Marie D. Durand Elementary School, in Vineland NJ, participated in the study. The groups received 12 weeks of an integrated language arts music curriculum based on materials from Harcourt, Brace, and Jovanovich (HBJ) reading series and Carson-Dellosa "Phonics Fun K-1." The two control groups, which also consisted of first grades, received traditional music instruction, with no specific emphasis on the language arts.

For problem one, a survey was administered to all …

A Comparison Of Instruction Delivered By Two-Way Interactive Compressed Video And Traditional Conference: Attitudes And Achievement Of Residents In Family Medicine, Yvonne Larocca Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the attitudes and/or achievement of family practice residents differed as they received instruction by two-way interactive compressed video or by the traditional conference method. The attitude survey, completed before and after the presentations were delivered, provided feedback from the residents in the experimental group on how they felt about the sessions. Pre- and post-test scores provided information about the achievement of residents and the possible difference between scores of those who received the presentations by two-way interactive compressed video as opposed to those taught by the traditional conference method. Results from …

Learning Styles And Perceptions Of Effective Teacher Characteristics Among Adult And Traditional Learners In Baccalaureate Nursing Programs, Irene Taylor Henderson

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of this study was to investigate the relationship of learning styles and perceptions of effective teacher characteristics among adult and traditional aged learners in baccalaureate programs of nursing. Previous research did not clearly identify the relationship of the variables of learning styles and student perceptions of effective teacher characteristics. Also, research was not clear as to the import added maturity had on student perceptions. This study utilized a sample of 281 baccalaureate nursing students which comprised 122 (43.4%) adult learners aged 25 and older and 159 (56.5%) traditional learners aged 24 and younger. Three data gathering instruments were …

Children's Perceptions Of Autonomy And Success At School, Margaret Laney Leigh

Theses and Dissertations

Perceptions and experiences relevant to autonomy were explored in interviews with thirty elementary students in first, third and fifth grades. Ten questions probed attitudes toward autonomy versus control in school, home and play; and opportunities for autonomy in the same three settings. Observations and school records provided additional evidence. Qualitative and quantitative methods were combined to discover themes in student perceptions and to correlate those themes with student characteristics. The great majority of the students were motivated to learn and wanted to cooperate with teachers and other adults. However they viewed learning as a passive experience where autonomy was neither …

A Plan Establishing Outdoor Classrooms To Facilitate Multidisciplinary Environmental Education, Eva U. Chappelle

Theses and Dissertations

This plan to establish outdoor classrooms is for the purpose of bringing outdoor/environmental education to a small rural school in South Central Georgia, kindergarten through twelfth grade, that has had very little, if any, collective concern for environmental issues heretofore. Anticipated results will be to return the benefits of a "community forest" to a barren school campus and to provide various outdoor education areas where children can play, learn, and most importantly, develop an appreciation for their environment. This project includes construction of outdoor classroom facilities, establishment of the Central Elementary-High School Environmental Education Committee, production of a school curriculum …

Self-Reported Teacher Stress And Perception Of Administrative Support, Janice Lyn Sjostrand

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine the existence of a relationship between levels of teacher occupational stress and perception of administrative support. Six secondary schools were chosen from six randomly selected school districts stratified by size and geographic location. The predictor variable was administrative support; the criterion variable was level of stress. Instrumentation included the Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI) and the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire Form XII (LBDQ Form XII). Ten factors of stress were measured: five were manifestations of stress, and five were sources of stress. The subjects, the majority of whom were females, did not exhibit …

An Examination Of The Relationship Among Job Satisfaction, Educational Satisfaction, And Post-Industrial Change For A Selected Sample Of Graduates Of Master’S Degree Programs In Business, 1970-1990, Sherry Tomlin Sandkam

Theses and Dissertations

Post-industrial society in the United States is characterized by a knowledge explosion which has been accompanied by an increase in occupational complexity and specialization and the ongoing need to upgrade knowledge and higher education at the master’s level, especially in professional programs. Research supports a consensus about the positive outcomes of master’s education in general, however, conflicting data exist regarding master’s degree programs in business, including criticisms of graduates, declining application and enrollment patterns, and concerns on the part of graduates with the major organizational changes which are occurring in the workplace as post-industrial society moves from a goods-producing to …

Walking Lightly On The Planet: A Curriculum Enrichment For The Pinelands Science Unit Of The Cherry Hill Environmental Education Residency Program On Pinelands Ecology, Elaine Ruth Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project is designed to produce written curriculum materials in Pinelands ecology. The written curriculum materials produced are intended to be implemented as part of the Pinelands Science Unit of the Cherry Hill Environmental Education Residency Program, also known as CHEER.

The written curriculum materials will include pre-trip, resident trip, and follow up assessment materials and activities that follow the given format for all Cherry Hill science units. The structure of such a program will allow, if desired, interdisciplinary coordination between science, math, English and ecology that correlate with the existing CHEER program. Through this experience it is expected …

The Comparative Effectiveness Of Computer-Mediated Communication Supplemented Satellite Distance Education And Traditional Face-To-Face Education, Megan C. Block

Theses and Dissertations

Satellite distance education delivery typically has one main drawback -- limited student-to-student and student-to-instructor interaction. Telecommunications technology, more specifically computer-mediated communication (CMC), has made it possible for educational institutions to overcome this drawback. This research examines the comparative effectiveness of CMC supplemented satellite distance education delivery and traditional face-to-face education delivery. The three dependent variables that were measured to compare the two educational delivery methods included: performance, interaction, and attitude outcomes. Pre- and post-course instruments were administered in a non-equivalent quasi-experimental design to students enrolled in an Air Force Institute of Technology's School of Systems and Logistics software engineering Professional …

An Investigation Of The Appropriateness Of Computer-Based Instruction To The Royal Australian Air Force Ciscon Mustering, Linda M. New

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) uses traditional methods of training for all of its personnel, including the newly formed Communications and Information Systems Controllers (CISCON) mustering. The formation of this mustering and the concurrent formation on every RAAF base of a Base Information Systems Centre (BISC) brought to light training needs that were not being met. Using many different forms of stimulation to activate learning, computer-based instruction (CBI), in particular multimedia, represents an alternative method of presenting training.This research investigated the applicability of CBI to the RAAF by matching its features with the training needs of the CISCONs …

The Effect Of "Project Adventure" On Self-Esteem Of Learning Disabled Students, Nava Shaked

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of "Project Adventure," a program of physical activity, and self-esteem on learning disabled children and non-disabled children. The hypothesis was that the "Project Adventure" program would have a positive effect on the self-esteem of all the students, with an especially strong effect on the Learning Disabled students.

The subjects, 22 regular education students and 11 Learning Disabled students participated in a 9 week Project Adventure program in Oakcrest High School (Mays Landing, New Jersey). The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory had been used for assessment as a pretest and a posttest. The …

Effect Of Parenting Style And Supervision On Adolescent Risky Behavior And Academic Achievement, David L. Mccullough

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether correlations existed between parenting style, degree of supervision, risky behavior (substance use) and academic achievement. Subjects' responses were also summarized to develop a profile of the population's behaviors and attitudes.

The study was based on 57 high school seniors' responses to a 95-item questionnaire which they voluntarily completed during their home economics class at Woodstown High School in southern New Jersey.

Relationships were analyzed by applying the chi square test for independence using the critical value of alpha at .05. The results of this analysis indicated that the hypothesized relationships approached …

The Relationship Between Non-Native English Speakers' English Proficiency And Their Callings In The Lds Church In The United States, Dena Marie Wright Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

As part of BYU's Distance Learning Project to teach English for gospel purposes, a committee created a survey to assess the English needs of LDS non-native English speakers in native-language units in the United States. This thesis uses several sections of the survey to correlate proficiency, callings in the Church, and demographic information. In addition to survey data, this thesis uses qualitative information from focus groups, and interviews to illustrate the statistical findings. The theory underlying this research is that learning precedes involvement in a community. Although learning in the LDS Church community is multi-faceted, this study examines the learning …

The Effect Of A Drug Use Prevention Curriculum On A Measure Of Self-Esteem, Irven E. Simpkins Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Longitudinal studies have indicated that drug use prevention curricula are effective in increasing students' knowledge of the harmful effects of drugs, improving their social skills, and developing healthier interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the effect of a drug use prevention curriculum on students' self-esteem over a short time span. Sixty-seven students were pretested with a measure of self-esteem after being divided into a target and a control group. Five lessons were taught to the target group over a period of five weeks. All students were then posttested and the results were analyzed using a …

Academic Achievement And Divorce, Christine M. Neilio

Theses and Dissertations

Divorce is a major crisis in the life of a child and can lead to a decline in academic achievement. Numerous studies indicate that children of divorce show lower academic achievement than those from intact families. Studies have shown that children from one parent families score lower on achievement tests but the reasons for the test scores vary based on the individual situation.

Educational systems can play an important role in helping children of divorce deal with their problems. Teachers and counselors are very important to the success or failure of children in coping with problems associated with divorce. Since …

A Study On The Positive Effect Of Cooperative Learning On The Status Group Problems In The Classroom, Eugene D. Tecce

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that cooperative learning and the teaching of group norms would have on the social ranking of the low status students in the elementary school classroom.

The sample was comprised of 48 fourth grade students. A treatment group consisting of 24 students, and a comparison group of 24 students were pretested and posttested using a sociometric instrument designed to examine the interpersonal relationship patterns of the students.

Introduction of a treatment designed to change the existing pattern of interaction was given to the treatment group. The treatment group met for 18 …