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Full-Text Articles in Education

How Interacting With Teacher Feedback Impacts Students’ Writing, Kristen Bankers Saxhaug Oct 2017

How Interacting With Teacher Feedback Impacts Students’ Writing, Kristen Bankers Saxhaug

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The following research question is investigated in this paper: How does purposeful interaction with teacher feedback impact the writing outcomes of high school students? The literature review explored the topics of writing development, feedback, and motivation and self-efficacy in writing. A mixed methods approach was used to investigate whether purposeful, directed interaction with teacher feedback led to improved outcomes in students’ writing. Participants were a cohort of 36 racially diverse, at-risk students who were behind their grade-level peers in the development of age-appropriate literacy skills in a co-taught intervention English class. The data revealed that teaching students how to interpret …


What Are Effective Strategies To Enhance Motivation And Engagement Of Secondary Struggling Readers To Grow Reading Achievement?, David Hemmesch Oct 2017

What Are Effective Strategies To Enhance Motivation And Engagement Of Secondary Struggling Readers To Grow Reading Achievement?, David Hemmesch

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The question addressed in this project was, what are effective strategies to enhance motivation and engagement of secondary struggling readers to grow reading achievement? Research was done on current reading instruction trends for secondary students and on the principles of motivation and engagement for students and people in general. The findings suggest that teaching struggling readers about cognitive strategies is more important than specific reading strategies. An e-learning curriculum project was created based on fixed and growth mindsets with the goal being for learners to discover his or her current mindset, to learn to recognize the difference between the two …


What Alternative Reading Curriculums Are Available For Students Who Have Not Made Adequate Progressing Using Tier 1 And Tier 2 Interventions?, Lorinda Unger Oct 2017

What Alternative Reading Curriculums Are Available For Students Who Have Not Made Adequate Progressing Using Tier 1 And Tier 2 Interventions?, Lorinda Unger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was: What alternative reading curriculums are available for students who have not made adequate progress using Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions? The purpose of this inquiry was to create a system to provide students who are below their grade level peers in reading an intervention that matches their specific reading need. Current research confirms there are five essential reading elements that students need to master to become efficient readers. Each reading element is explored with curriculums, interventions, and learning activities provided.


A Business Plan Outlining Strategies To Effectively Motivate Individuals To Develop Clean, Sustainable Lifestyles, Kelsey Depew Oct 2017

A Business Plan Outlining Strategies To Effectively Motivate Individuals To Develop Clean, Sustainable Lifestyles, Kelsey Depew

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

With an ever-growing worldly human population, our current frivolously lavish lifestyles will need to change to sustain a balance on Earth. The purpose of this study was to craft a business plan with accompanying tools to build a solid foundation for the small business called Cut Fluff. The mission of Cut Fluff is to educate and inspire individuals to create their own clean, sustainable lifestyle to lower their impact on earth. A clean, sustainable lifestyle not only decreases an individual’s ecological footprint, but it also brings wellness, purpose, and abundance into their lives with the three core pillars. The core …


How Does An Environmental Based Service-Learning Project In An Non-Science Classroom Affect Student’S Values And Motivate Them To Be Better Stewards?, Nathan Fritz Jul 2017

How Does An Environmental Based Service-Learning Project In An Non-Science Classroom Affect Student’S Values And Motivate Them To Be Better Stewards?, Nathan Fritz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the question: how does an environmental based servicelearning project in an non-science classroom affect student's values and motivate them to be better stewards? The participants of this study were tenth grade AVID students in a suburban high school setting. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected, analyzed and compared to accurately measure student’s attitudes towards the environment. The quantitative data was collected using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Likert Scale Survey. The students were surveyed prior to their service-learning project and then again after the project's completion. Qualitative data was obtained through one-on-one interviews and a short writing …


How Integrating Digital Formative Assessment Impacts The Learning Of Sixth-Grade Science Students, Sara E. Potter Jul 2017

How Integrating Digital Formative Assessment Impacts The Learning Of Sixth-Grade Science Students, Sara E. Potter

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in the project was, How integrating digital formative assessment impacts the learning of sixth-grade science students? The motivating factor for this capstone was the increased use of electronic devices in the classroom. In this study, qualitative and quantitative data was collected using student surveys and summative assessment results of a science unit after using either traditional or traditional and digital formative assessments. In one year, exclusively traditional formative assessment was implemented, and in the other, both traditional and digital formative assessments were used. It was found that whether traditional formative assessment or a combination of traditional …


Factors That Influence Motivation To Read With African American Middle School Males, Brandon Tuttle Jul 2017

Factors That Influence Motivation To Read With African American Middle School Males, Brandon Tuttle

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, what factors influence motivation to read with African American middle school males? Current research suggests that many African American males are performing poorly nationwide in reading. As the author researched the topic, four recurring categories emerged in searching for factors that would influence motivation in reading with African American middle school males. These categories included culturally relevant instruction, choice with literacy, building relationships and parental involvement. These four categories helped build the framework for a strategy guide that educators could use in reading intervention classes to help build proficiency in reading with …


Using Knowledge Of The Adolescent Brain To Increase Motivation And Build Relationships, Courtney Elizabeth Anderson Jul 2017

Using Knowledge Of The Adolescent Brain To Increase Motivation And Build Relationships, Courtney Elizabeth Anderson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can we use knowledge of the adolescent brain to increase motivation and relationships? Adolescents are experiencing a plethora of changes that impact their ability to learn. Therefore, it is crucial to consider ways to provide them with optimal success in their academics and beyond the walls of the classroom. This Capstone provides literature supporting the value in developing the adolescent brain and using the knowledge to help increase motivation and build relationships. In addition to the literature, this Capstone provides a project that implements brain-based strategies into a curriculum in order …


Pedagogy-Minded Use Of Web-Based Technology In The Classroom, Jeff Mcgie Jul 2017

Pedagogy-Minded Use Of Web-Based Technology In The Classroom, Jeff Mcgie

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was: How can teachers use web-based technology in the curriculum to increase student engagement and enrich learning? It documents a teacher’s creation of a technology-infused curriculum that uses valid research and pedagogically-minded practices as its foundation. In addition to the curriculum, the author created a web technology toolbox that assists teachers in effectively and strategically implementing the technology into their classroom. The author describes the project’s challenges as well as the implications for students and teachers. He concludes that: 1) technology enhances learning only when used in alignment with pedagogy and instructional strategies; …


Sense Of Belonging And Community In An Alternative Education Program: Perceptions Of Former Graduates And Teachers, Elizabeth A. Janey Jul 2017

Sense Of Belonging And Community In An Alternative Education Program: Perceptions Of Former Graduates And Teachers, Elizabeth A. Janey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative research design was used to inform the question: How do graduates and educators in a former alternative education program describe their sense of community and how did it inform their experiences? Four graduates and four educators, as members of an alternative education program, participated in semi-structured interviews. All participants were White. This study used the central concepts of two motivational theories: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory and self-determination theory as analytical frameworks. Six themes emerged from these eight interviews. These themes identify the importance of meeting students’ basic needs, especially their need for community and belonging. Results of …


Close Reading As A Means For Increasing Self-Perception In Struggling Middle School Readers, Megan Slinger Jul 2017

Close Reading As A Means For Increasing Self-Perception In Struggling Middle School Readers, Megan Slinger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this capstone was: How does explicit instruction in close reading skills impact self-perception as a reader in struggling middle school students? In this project, action research was conducted over a four week period in a seventh grade suburban summer school classroom with eleven students. All of the participants were categorized as struggling readers. At the beginning of the research, students were administered a survey to gather information about their self-perception as a reader. Over the next four weeks, students received explicit instruction in three close reading strategies. During this period, students were also interviewed one …


Factors To Consider Before Choosing A Single Gender Classroom In An Elementary School Setting, Jade Phillips Jul 2017

Factors To Consider Before Choosing A Single Gender Classroom In An Elementary School Setting, Jade Phillips

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, what factors should parents consider before choosing a single gender classroom for their child? The author researched biological differences of boys and girls as found by Dr. Leonard Sax as well as perceptions and realities of boys and girls who have been exposed to single gender classrooms as seen in work by Rosemary Salomone and Michael Gurian. Qualitative and Quantitative research was conducted and the author discovered that students and teachers unanimously disagree with single gender classrooms for a variety of reasons.


Self-Efficacy And The Transfer Of Collabortive [Sic] Learning To Independent Assessments In The Mathematics Classroom, Ashley K. Andrews Jul 2017

Self-Efficacy And The Transfer Of Collabortive [Sic] Learning To Independent Assessments In The Mathematics Classroom, Ashley K. Andrews

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone investigates the research question: What instructional strategies best allow middle school students to develop self-efficacy as they transfer collaborative learning to individual assessments in the mathematics classroom? The author conducted action research in urban schools with an at-risk student population. Within the action research framework, the author applies a qualitative approach to examine instructional strategies that encourage all students to become flexible learners. This capstone ultimately argues that clear expectations and mindset largely impact student success, regardless of the task. It discusses the influence of mindset on student engagement during both collaborative and independent tasks.


Factors Contributing To An Elite High School Football Program, Richard Fryklund Jul 2017

Factors Contributing To An Elite High School Football Program, Richard Fryklund

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, what factors contribute to an elite high school football program. The motivating factor for this capstone was one teacher-coach’s desire to understand what differentiates lasting levels of on-the-field success for high school football programs. This capstone was designed to ask high school football coaches their perspectives and methods in their respective high school football program. Previous studies on the definition of elite, organizational culture and support, coaches, and athletes aided the researcher in obtaining background information of successful organizations in various domains. Five high school football coaches, who met the criteria of …


How Can A Modified Teacher Child Interaction Training (Tcit) Program Decrease Problem Behaviors In Pre-K To First-Grade Classrooms By Supporting Positive Student-Teacher Interactions?, Jill Bradford Jul 2017

How Can A Modified Teacher Child Interaction Training (Tcit) Program Decrease Problem Behaviors In Pre-K To First-Grade Classrooms By Supporting Positive Student-Teacher Interactions?, Jill Bradford

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project will describe a behavior modification program inspired by Teacher Child Interaction Training (TCIT) to help reduce behavior problems in the classroom and help support positive student-teacher interactions. The program called TCIT-lite, uses the skills of Praise, Reflection, Imitation, Description, and Enthusiasm (PRIDE) to increase positive student-teacher relationships in Pre-K to first-grade classrooms. A PowerPoint presentation was created in order to train teachers on how to take data on a specific behavior and implement a five-minute Child Directed Interaction (CDI) session the three times a week for six weeks to decrease the frequency of that behavior.


How Can I Improve The Math Performance Of Intermediate Students Using Game-Based Learning, Leann M. Karl Jul 2017

How Can I Improve The Math Performance Of Intermediate Students Using Game-Based Learning, Leann M. Karl

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can I improve the math performance of intermediate students using game-based learning? It provides multiple sources of research on game-based learning and website design, along with the original creation of an authentic game-based learning website; gamebaseded.com. Throughout the project chapters, the author describes the limitations and benefits of the game-based learning website. The documented benefits include increased engagement, participation, and academic scores.


Guided Reading Curriculum For Chinese Immersion Kindergarten, Yue Fu Jul 2017

Guided Reading Curriculum For Chinese Immersion Kindergarten, Yue Fu

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of the study was to create a guided reading curriculum for Chinese Immersion Kindergarten programs. Guided reading worked as an educational literate instruction played a significant role in schools. Based on the summarize of the history and strategies of guide reading instruction, as well as a general review of the implementation of English as a second language (ELL) learners, the connections between the instruction and immersion students, became possible. By combining the “backward” unit model design, reviewing the guided reading strategies, and coordinating the Language Arts Curriculum in our Chinese Immersion Kindergarten program, this paper developed a guided …


Impact Of Mindset Interventions During Morning Meeting On Student Motivation And Classroom Community, Megan Schoaf Apr 2017

Impact Of Mindset Interventions During Morning Meeting On Student Motivation And Classroom Community, Megan Schoaf

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The(research(question(addressed(is what impact do mindset interventions during Morning Meeting have on students’ motivation and building community in a kindergarten classroom? It studies the work of Carol Dweck and other researchers who have theorized that the human mindset can play a pivotal role in motivation to learn and persevere past challenges. It also examines the effects of teaching about the brain and how the brain can grow and change with effort and persistence. The author used a qualitative method of study using interviews, anecdotal notes, and classroom observations to obtain perspective of preliminary mindsets and mindsets at the end of the …


How Mindsets Matter: Second Grade, English Language Learners’ Reportings Of Their Experiences With A Growth Mindset Curriculum In Colombia, Amanda Brooks Apr 2017

How Mindsets Matter: Second Grade, English Language Learners’ Reportings Of Their Experiences With A Growth Mindset Curriculum In Colombia, Amanda Brooks

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, classroom action research was conducted in a private bilingual school in Colombia with seventeen participants. The research questions were: 1) How do second-grade Colombian English language learners report changes to their Growth Mindset qualities following a six-week Growth Mindset intervention? and 2) How do second-grade Colombian English language learners perceive their language learning ability following a self-evaluation of Growth Mindset qualities? The research fills a gap in existing literature on three similar topics: Growth Mindset and academic achievement for adolescents and adults, conditional self-worth for children six and younger, and attribution theory and language learning for adolescents. One …


Motivation For Learning English At A Theological Seminary In Ukraine, Joshua Tokar Apr 2017

Motivation For Learning English At A Theological Seminary In Ukraine, Joshua Tokar

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine what factors motivate students to learn English at an evangelical seminary in Ukraine. After the fall of communism, English was mainly taught at newly formed evangelical seminaries in Ukraine to enable students to access theological resources in English that were not available in Russian or Ukrainian. A mixed-method approach involving a written attitudinal questionnaire and follow-up focus group interviews was employed to collect data. Participants in this study were second- year music ministry and first- to third-year theology students enrolled in English courses.The results of this study revealed that twenty-five years later seminary students …


How Does Goal Setting Impact Intrinsic Motivation And Does It Help Lead To Enhanced Learning At The Kindergarten Level?, Melissa A. Beal Apr 2017

How Does Goal Setting Impact Intrinsic Motivation And Does It Help Lead To Enhanced Learning At The Kindergarten Level?, Melissa A. Beal

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how does goal setting impact intrinsic motivation and does it help lead to enhanced learning at the kindergarten level? It documents one teacher’s creation of letter identification pre and post-tests along with check points in between the pre and post-tests. She utilized student graphing charts to document student progress. It integrates Frank’s seven-step process on how to set a goal for yourself. It also discusses Locke’s theories for goal setting and Deci & Ryan’s SelfDetermination Theory. The author documents results collected based on the different tests to help validate the study. She …