Education Commons^™

A Special Remedial Program To Improve The Skills Of Failing Eighth-Grade Students, John J. O'Malley Jr.

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describes an afterschool remedial program during the 2000-2001 school year at Forest Grove Middle School in Worcester, Massachusetts. The remedial program was an effort to improve the skills of 8th-grade students who fall short of the state norms on the mandatory 8th-grade Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Test (MCAS; Massachusetts Department of Education, 1999). An analysis of the 1999 test indicated that 480 8th-grade students in a 905-pupil enrollment at the school fell short of the passing grade, 51% in the mathematics section and 21% in the language arts section.

Planned solution strategies included (a) an afterschool and vacation remedial …

An Evaluation Of The Third-Grade Reading Curriculum At Daniel Webster Elementary School, Stacey Y. S. Hunt

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum report presents an evaluation of the current 3rd-grade reading curriculum for the Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) in Gary, Indiana, at Daniel Webster Elementary School. Traditionally, Daniel Webster Elementary School students have performed well, particularly, at the 3rd-grade level in reading achievement as measured by the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills. However, during the 1997-1999 school years, test scores for the district, as well as Daniel Webster Elementary School, declined or failed to show progress. Results from a district evaluation of the reading curriculum in 1 998, along with the decline in reading scores, caused the GCSC to …

Development Of A Comprehensive District-Wide Student Service Plan To Enhance Student Success At Tarrant County College, Lonzetta R. Smith-Allen

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Tarrant County College (TCC) is a comprehensive community college dedicated to the mission of providing quality education in response to the expectations of the people of Tarrant County. The institution holds student success and learning as top priorities and is dedicated to providing meaningful educational experiences in support of these priorities (Tarrant County College, 2000a).

In recent years TCC has faced many challenges, including state accrediting agency mandates, changing demographics, technological advances, community demands and increased competition, that have necessitated institutional change. The changes are affecting who is being taught as well as the services that are being required.

Similar …

Development Of A Mul Tl-Media Course On The World Wide Web For Orientation Of Registered Nurses To Transcultural Concepts, Sandra L. Bassendowski

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

International Services, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), offers educational and work opportunities to nursing students and faculty. These opportunities are in developing countries and require individuals with skills and knowledge in transcultural nursing. Currently, there is no formal orientation course available as preparation for international assignments. The problem is that nursing students and faculty are not provided with a standard level of orientation prior to working in developing countries.

The purpose of this study was to determine the competencies needed by nursing students and faculty to work in other countries and to develop an online orientation course …

The Development Of A Strategic Continuous Improvement Process Implementation Guide For The North Carolina Department Of Administration, George E. Millsaps Jr.

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The North Carolina Department of Administration (DOA) is under pressure by the North Carolina legislature and governor's office to increase both the quality of services provided, and decrease the cost of providing services. The pressure is on mission expansion, reduction in the number of positions, and limiting budgetary growth primarily to cost of living increases in salary.

The leadership of the department knows of no other reasonable way to respond to these pressures except through the implementation of continuous improvement or total quality management (TQM). However, the department has attempted to implement quality initiatives four times in the past with …

Evaluation Of The Usage And Effectiveness Of Computer Assisted Instruction In Basic Skills Remediation At The East Los Angeles One Stop Career Center, Rex Steffey

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem for investigation encompassed three domains that identified the One Stop Career Center's (OSCC) remedial programs, the ability of its clients to enter federally funded job training programs, and clients' success in the programs they entered. Another facet of the study examined whether OSCC was using its current instructional software effectively in client remediation. The purpose of the project was to evaluate the use and effectiveness of computer assisted instruction (CAI) in basic skills remediation.

Four research questions guided the study. First, "Does the center's basic skills remediation program prepare clients to enter federally funded job training programs?" Second, …

Comprehensive Evaluation Of Critical Thinking Skills And Attitudes Of Students In The Department Of Nursing At Rockford College, Kathleen A. Schultz

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem addressed in this study was that there had been no evaluation of improvement in the critical thinking (CT) skills and attitudes of nursing students related to the nursing curriculum. No mechanism existed to obtain student input.

The purposes for this project were to determine if there were longitudinal changes in CT skills and attitudes during the sophomore and junior years of the nursing curriculum and if there were cross sectional differences in CT test scores between sophomore, junior, and senior students. In addition a mechanism was developed to obtain feedback from nursing students related to the improvement in …

Development Of A Two-Year Diploma Nursing Program That Includes A Career Mobility Track And Plans For Implementation And Evaluation To Replace A Three Year Program, Rosemary E. Saunders

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Southside Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in Petersburg, Virginia had experienced an increased demand for registered nurses because of growth in the population of its service area and a decrease in the number of graduates from its nursing program. The three-year hospital-based diploma nursing program had a decrease in the number of applicants to the school and an increase in attrition of enrolled students. The purpose of the project was to develop a two-year hospital-based diploma nursing program that included an educational track for career mobility and plans for implementation and evaluation from the current three-year program.

The development research methodology …

Development Of An American Indian Studies Program For The Tohono O’Odham Community College, Byron Lee Blackwell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Tohono O'odham Community College opened a tribal Indian college in the fall 2000 semester. The Tohono O'odham Reservation was previously referred to as the Papago Reservation; the name was changed in 1986. The problem was that there was no curriculum in American Indian Studies at the college. In the past the Papagos always had to leave the reservation if they wanted to pursue higher education in American Indian studies.

The purpose of the applied dissertation was to develop a product. The purpose of the applied dissertation project was to design an American Indian Studies Program for the tribal college …

Development Of A Pediatric Specialization Track In The Occupational Therapy Program At College Misericordia, Lalit J. Shah

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was that there were no classes offered that culminated into a specialization track in the occupational therapy (OT) curriculum. The purpose of this applied dissertation project was to develop a specialization track in pediatrics in OT curriculum at College Misericordia that would provide students with multiple options to complete their educational requirements and also provide specialized training.

There were four research questions for this study: ''What are the advantages of a specialization in pediatrics at College Misericordia?" "What are appropriate components to be included in the development of a specialization program in pediatrics at College Misericordia?" …

Development Of An Educational Curriculum For Tuskegee University’S Laboratory Animal Technician Staff With A Plan For Implementation And Evaluation, Helene Rodriguez Mcconnell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

As the field of biomedical research grew, regulating research programs became more difficult for the federal government to manage internally. Biomedical research institutions were given authority and responsibility for ensuring their research personnel were trained to perform their duties involving laboratory animals.

The proposed project's purpose was to develop a curriculum for Tuskegee University's laboratory animal technician staff. The following research questions guided this project:

1. What is the demand for the new curriculum?

2. What is required to ensure compliance for biomedical research?

3. What data are needed to assess the participant's learning needs?

4. How should this data …

Development Of A Leadership Development Program At The Dallas Market Center With A Plan For Implementation, Rudy Sanchez

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Dallas Market Center (DMC) does not have a formal program to develop its employees into leadership roles. Therefore, the Dallas Market Center is at risk of losing its competitive advantage to other wholesale merchandise marts. Consequently, the purpose of this project was to design a leadership development program for the Dallas Market Center to be offered to employees in an effort to develop leadership skills and/or competencies that will in turn benefit DMC.

There were four research questions to be investigated. First, "What are the core competencies needed to be developed within the DMC leadership program?" Second, "What are …

Development Of A Five Year Plan To Synchronize The Funding Of Existing Programs With Visionary Initiatives Of The Moody Bible Institute, Richard R. Epps

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is an 115-year-old institution located in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to its fully accredited vocational ministry focused educational programs, MBI has extensive broadcasting and publishing enterprises. MBI is heavily dependent on donations for its continued existence and expansion. The problem was that with a finite amount of financial resources, competition arises between the demands for funding existing core programs and the allocation of funds for visionary initiatives related to the expansion of education, broadcasting, and publishing. The purpose of this study was the development of a five-year plan that will synchronize the funding of existing programs …

Development Of An Associate Of Applied Science Degree In Interpreting For The Deaf At The Community College Of Southern Nevada, Sandra L. Workman

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The associate of applied science degree in deaf studies has been in place since 1 994 and 4 is transferrable as a prerequisite toward a four-year deaf studies degree. The Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) has the only deaf studies program in the state. If a student wants to pursue a degree in interpreting for the deaf, the student must go out of state. In July, 1 997, the governor of Nevada signed a law stating that American Sign Language is a fully developed, autonomous, natural language with distinct grammar, syntax, and art forms. However, the current administrations at …

Creation Of A Leadership Development Handbook For Asia Pacific Assemblies Of God Leaders, Benjamin M. Kaufman

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Few issues will be as important in the new millennium as the development of leaders. Character and managerial leadership competencies and skills are particularly important to those who lead the churches and Christian colleges and universities in the new era. The purpose of this applied dissertation was to create a handbook, including implementation and evaluation plans, that Asia Pacific Assemblies of God leaders can utilize for their own character and managerial development.

Six research questions guided this research. First, what broad content categories need to be addressed in the leadership development handbook? Second, within each of the categories, what issues …

Increasing The Independent Living Skills Of Lower Functioning Students In A Special School, Through Teacher Training, Motivational Strategies, Parent Involvement, Hands-On Experiences, And Music., Joan Reid

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum was designed to increase the independent living skills of low functioning students in a special school. Parents were not involved in the school's programs and were not committed to seeing that their children develop independence. Teachers were not motivated or adequately trained and equipped to assist these students. These low functioning students were not aware that their needs were not being met.

The writer selected and utilized five strategies as solutions for the problem. These included: Teacher training, motivational strategies, parental involvement, hands-on experiences, and music. Weekly planning and training sessions were conducted for teachers, who were provided …

Development And Implementation Of A Program To Increase Communication And Collaboration Among Early Adopters Of Instructional Technology At The Elementary Level, Debbie Lind

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide a means of communication for teachers at several elementary schools. Isolation is a common issue facing K-12 teachers sustained by the organizational constraints of traditional methods of education. Few opportunities for interaction and collaboration were provided by the school district. Interaction is needed to change the image of teachers from independent instructors to members of a community of practice like other professions.

The writer developed an Intranet site that utilized synchronous and asynchronous communication technology to create an online learning community. To facilitate collaboration the discussion board and chat facility were supplemented with …

Nutrition Education Programs - Program Evaluation Manual - Part One: Introduction To Program Evaluation, Elizabeth J. Sandell

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

This manual is the "recipe book" for evaluation in NEP.

Seven Principles Of Effective Teaching: A Practical Lens For Evaluating Online Courses, Charles R. Graham, Kursat Cagiltay, Byung-Ro Lim, Joni Craner, Thomas M. Duffy

Faculty Publications

The "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education," originally published in the AAHE Bulletin (Chickering & Gamson, 1987), are a popular framework for evaluating teaching in traditional, face-to-face courses. The principles are based on 50 years of higher education research (Chickering & Reisser, 1993). A faculty inventory (Johnson Foundation, "Faculty," 1989) and an institutional inventory (Johnson Foundation, "Institutional," 1989) based on these principles have helped faculty members and higher-education institutions examine and improve their teaching practices.

We, a team of five evaluators from Indiana University's Center for Research on Learning and Technology (CRLT), recently used these principles to evaluate …

Smoking And Drug Policy For The Appalachian School Of Law, Alicia Lee O'Quin

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The goals identified to guide this study were: 1. To identify the guidelines for grant funding from the Appalachian Regional commission and the standards for the accreditation from the American Bar Association; 2. to review State and Federal Regulations governing the use of tobacco and drugs in the workplace; 3. To identify smoking and drug policies available at the accredited law schools in Virginia; 4. To prepare a smoking and drug policy for the Appalachian School of Law

Adult Learning In The Context Of Interreligious Dialogue: A Collaborative Research Study Involving Christians, Jews, And Muslims, Nadira K. Charaniya, Jane West Walsh

Dissertations

What do American Jews really know about Muslims? What do American Muslims really know about Jews? These questions undergird this account of how two religious adult educators--a Jew and a Muslim--came to engage in collaborative, dialogic, relational and transformational interreligious learning and research. Emerging out of this collaborative doctoral research project at National-Louis University, this study addresses two different dimensions of research and practice in the field of adult education: the nature of adult learning in the interreligious dialogue process and the role of collaborative methods in research methodology.

Adult learning in the context of interreligious dialogue can best be …

Otterbein Towers Winter 2001, Otterbein Towers

Towers Magazine

What Do All These Alumni Have In Common? This issue includes: Alumni-Employees; Our Many Identities; How Well Do You Know Your Campus; Clock Runs Out on Coach; Online Opinion Poll Generates Lots of Feedback; A Web of Friendship; College News; Sports; Milestones; Alumni Notes.

Recruit, Recruit, Recruit: Organizing Benefits For Employees With Unmarried Families, Polly Thistlethwaite

Publications and Research

This article argues that librarians should work to adopt domestic partner benefits for employees in unmarried same- and opposite-sex couples given the inequities in compensation manifest in their absence. It provides new information about the domestic partner practices of Tier 1 and Tier 2 institutions based on a spring/fall 2000 telephone survey. The article includes an outline of actions to institute domestic partner benefits in university settings.

A Space For Co-Constructing Counter Stories Under Surveillance, María Elena Torre, Michelle Fine, Kathy Boudin, Iris Bowen, Judith Clark, Donna Hylton, Migdalia Martinez, 'Missy', Rosemarie A. Roberts, Pamela Smart, Debora Upegui

Publications and Research

Using our experiences as members of a participatory action research committee (from the City University of New York Graduate Center and the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility) documenting the impact of college in a maximum security prison, this essay illustrates the power of Participatory Action Research in the construction of counter stories. We raise for discussion a set of theoretical, methodological and ethical challenges that emerged from the co-production of counter stories under surveillance: the creation of a critical space for producing 'counter knowledge'; the co-mingling of counter and dominant discourses, the negotiation of power over and within research in prison, …