Education Commons^™

A Diverse And Inclusive Way To Teach Art, Kennedi L. Richards

ATU Research Symposium

"A Diverse and Inclusive Way to Teach Art" is a presentation that gives information on how to teach with respect to all students. It is the instructors responsibility in the classroom to make the conscious decision to include examples of artists that look like the population within your classroom. This presentation informs educators how to teach students about many artists of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders.

Faculty Perceptions In Working With Students With Disabilities Who Have Accomodations, Blakely A. Baker

ATU Research Symposium

This research investigated the university faculty members’ attitudes towards accommodations for students with disabilities. A survey was emailed to 243 faculty members at a medium-sized public four-year University in Central Arkansas and resulted in 59 responses. The survey contained 26 prompts with 9 being demographic based questions. Other than the demographic questions, the other 17 prompts were created using an alternating Likert scale with opposing values assigned to 1 and 7. These prompts followed themes regarding knowledge of the disabilities services, institutional support and personal teaching policies. Findings found that majority of faculty had a positive attitude when it regarded …

What Are We Teaching Our Nation’S Ag Teachers? A Synthesis Of Agriculture Content Courses In All U.S. Agricultural Education Bachelor’S Degree Programs., Alex Jennings

ATU Research Symposium

In the United States, there exists a multitude of universities that offer Agricultural Education programs. This project aligned with the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE) research value Advanced Public Knowledge of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) Systems by contributing to education efforts aimed to analyze the quantity of content coursework curriculum required in Agricultural Education degrees across the nation (AAAE, 2023). The purpose of this descriptive synthesis was to use descriptive data to frame the agriculture content coursework for all US bachelor’s programs using each Universities most recent degree plan found on their website. The frame of universities’ …

Assignment To Advancement: A Deep Dive Into Tech 1001 & 1013 Success & Retention, Hannah Pate, Joyrion Chase, Hannah F. Anderson

ATU Research Symposium

This research investigates the multifaceted implications of student retention, academic performance, and instructional methodologies within our TECH 1001/1013 courses at Arkansas Tech University. The work examines enrollment trends, scrutinizes the academic grades of retained and non-retained students, evaluates overall course performance metrics, assesses the average grading patterns of instructors, and compares the academic outcomes between face-to-face and online instructional formats. By conducting this quantitative analysis study, the research aims to explain the correlations between student retention rates and academic success. The findings of this study hold implications for educators and administrators and offer insights into strategies for improving student retention …

Chromebook Charging: Motivation Through Personification, Emma Helmuth

ATU Research Symposium

This research study was conducted to provide a solution to students arriving at first-period classes with uncharged Chromebooks. The research questions ask if personification will motivate students to charge their Chromebooks before arriving at their first-period class. Prior literature shows that students are more likely to accomplish goals when they are motivated, both intrinsically and extrinsically. Hence, this study focuses on personification to motivate students. Students’ Chromebooks will be personified to be “pets”, through animal stickers and name badge stickers. The end goal is to see an increase in student preparedness by coming to class with charged Chromebooks. For this …

Military-Affiliated Student Experiences In Post-Secondary Education, Cole T. Hendrix

ATU Research Symposium

Abstract

This paper is intended to learn about the experiences of military-affiliated students in post-secondary education by surveying veterans, service members, and dependents on what resources they have available, what resources they would like to have, and comparing between 2-year, 4-year, public, and private institutions. Participants were surveyed at five different institutions. Three closed-ended questions asked for background and other disadvantaged identifiers. Three open-ended questions ask in detail about their experiences at their institution. Students at public 4-year institutions received the best assistance with room to improve. Institutions of higher learning would benefit their military-affiliated students by providing a military-affiliated …

Getting Started With Inquiry-Based Teaching And Learning, Raelynn M. Hall, Avery Farmer, Madison Howerton

ATU Research Symposium

Inquiry-based instruction refers to different ways we study the natural world, practice to ask and try to answer a scientific question, and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from conducting experiments. For this study, we engaged in developing science process skills by actively conducting research using Drosophila, the fruit fly as a model organism for studying the phenomenon that animals have traits inherited from parents. The phenomenon is a performance expectation in the Next Generation Science Standards (3-LS3-1). We observed the phenomenon, developed hypotheses, conducted experiments, collected data, analyzed and communicated our findings through discussions and presentations. We developed …

Developing Understanding Of Science Process Skills Through Research And Practices, Faith Ebling, Savannah Cessna, Adria Lindemann, Noelia Lopez, Charleen Sawin, Kyndal Smith

ATU Research Symposium

The research examines out first-hand experience of conducting experiments in science and conceptualizing the experimental design process for teaching science concepts in elementary grades. We used Drosophila, the fruit fly as a model organism for studying the phenomenon that animals have traits inherited from parents. The phenomenon is a performance expectation in the Next Generation Science Standards (3-LS3-1). We observed the phenomenon, developed hypothesis, conducted experiments , collected data, analyzed and communicated our findings through discussions and presentations. We utilized our knowledge acquired from the process in developing lesson plans for teaching in elementary grades. In this presentation we will …

Student Willingness To Report Weapons And School Violence At A Rural Secondary School In Arkansas: A Quantitative Study, Travis Poole

ATU Research Symposium

School safety continues to be a concerning and vital topic in education. This quantitative study examines the willingness of students from a rural Arkansas school district to report weapons being brought to school or violent occurrences happening at school and analyzes the behavior associated with students reporting or not reporting. The study examines barriers that exist to help to explain why students would not report weapons or violent incidents to staff members or adults in the school district. The study surveyed 52 students from a secondary school with Likert-style survey questions. The questions were grouped into different variables such as …

"Laziness" And How It Affects Our Students, Wren Jenkins

ATU Research Symposium

This article analyzes the use of the term “lazy” in the educational setting, how this term affects students, and the pedagogical approaches educators can take within their subject areas to reduce stress for their students. Pedagogical decisions affect student stress, and this article provides suggestions to prevent student burnout in order to improve curricula offerings in secondary and higher-level classrooms. Results show that students often reduced to “lazy” are most likely struggling with an underlying cause for their lack of performance, such as stress, burnout, depression, anxiety-induced procrastination, unknown and undiagnosed mental challenges, and misguided apathy. Results concluded that to …

A Phenomenological Examination Of The Lived Experiences Of African American Female Superintendents In The State Of Arkansas, Debra Denise Goodwin Myton

ATU Research Symposium

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of African American female Superintendents in the State of Arkansas. One of the major educational issues is the limited number of African American female superintendents in the USA and the state of Arkansas, in particular. African American women venturing into the superintendency are hindered in their goals by their double minority status as women and African Americans (Wiley et al., 2017). A qualitative, narrative research lens was used in this study to capture the individual career advancement of African American female Superintendents in the State of Arkansas. …

The Importance Of Academic Advising: The Good, The Bad, & The Influence, Sierra N. Smith

ATU Research Symposium

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between inadequate academic advising and its effects on graduation rates, retention, and students’ academic performance. Mixed technology will be used to conduct a thorough investigation. Interviews of graduate students from a Student Affairs department at an east south-central 4-year institution will be used for the qualitative aspect of this study. The participants will discuss the advising encounters they shared with their undergraduate academic advisor(s). The quantitative element will consist of an online survey using a Likert scale to answer a series of questions regarding academic advising experiences. Knowing this will …

Csp 1013 And Tech 1001 Assessment For Fall 2020, Brian Mallory, Holly Haynes, Amber Robinett

ATU Research Symposium

We are assessing the sections of CSP 1013 (Principles of Collegiate Success) and TECH 1001 (Orientation to the University) from the Fall 2020 semester by establishing learning and developmental outcomes to assignments related to two chapters that were taught. We are tracking overall grades for the assignments to determine the effectiveness of the material. For this assessment project, we are focusing on the following outcomes:

• Display successful time and life management skills
• Demonstrate effective study, note-taking, reading, and test taking skills

We tracked various assignments based on what the instructor for each section deemed fitting.

To do this, we have …

The Impact Of The Science Of Reading Training On The Nwea Map Test Scores Of African American Students In A Central Arkansas School District, Katina Simpson-Ray Dr.

ATU Research Symposium

Abstract

THE IMPACT OF THE SCIENCE OF READING TRAINING ON THE NWEA MAP TEST SCORES OF ELEMENTARY AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS IN A CENTRAL ARKANSAS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Katina Latrice Simpson-Ray

The state of Arkansas adopted ACT 1063 in 2017, which was designed to improve reading achievement for all students. Included in the law was the requirement that “curriculum programs that are supported by the science of reading and based on instruction that is explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic be implemented (Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2020). All K12 teachers and administrators, as well as higher education institutions, were required to …

First-Generation Students: How This Subculture Chooses Their Higher Education Institution, Claire I. Kerr

ATU Research Symposium

First-generation students are a unique type of student. Both complicated and misunderstood, this subculture provides an increasing challenge for student affairs professionals. Nearly 25% of the overall undergraduate population is first-generation, with first-generation being defined as students without parents who went to college (Engle & Tinto, 2008). There is little research on how or why first-generation students choose their higher education institution. Understanding first-generation students and how they choose their higher education institution is important as the population of first-generation students is rising, thus creating a need for understanding this for recruitment professionals at institutions. The first research question was …