Education Commons^™

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of The Waterford Early Reading Program In A Rural School District, Dennis L. Bruno

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation study determines the effectiveness of the Waterford Early Reading Program and reviews the data collected using a control and experimental group. The data were collected from a pre- and posttest using the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test. Other tests given included the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test, 2000 and the Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test.

The study concluded that a measurable difference was indicated in the fall. Although the control group made a larger gain between the fall and spring, the experimental group’s average percentile rank in the fall was the same as the control group’s rank in the …

The Impact Of Reading Recovery Teachers On Reading Achievement Of Small Groups, Bridget G. Marcin-Parsons

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The intervention described in this applied dissertation was designed as an alternative to retention for students in a small rural community who were reading below grade level. The focus of the study was to assess whether instruction given by Reading Recovery teachers to small groups of struggling second and third graders, delivered in long segments over a short period of time, was more effective than that delivered for shorter segments over a longer period of time. Two Reading Recovery teachers team-taught groups of 6-7 students to provide intensive reading instruction virtually all day for 7 weeks. Treatment groups were compared …

Increasing Literacy Completion Points Of Adult English For Speakers Of Other Languages Students At Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center, Louise A. Hall-Motin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Legislation passed in 1998 reshaped the adult education system in Florida. A greater accountability for adult education was established. Due to this legislation, adult education’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program changed to performance based funding. Program funding was provided according to student mastery of Literacy Completion Points (LCPs). These LCPs reflected student achievement of academic competencies by way of standardized instruments, checklists, or portfolios. Funding was determined by the LCPs of student progression from one level to the next. The adult center in this study elected to use the state mandated checklist system to measure student achievement (Florida …

The Effects Of An Inclusion Program In A Catholic School Setting On Students Who Experience Academic And Learning Difficulties In The Regular Classroom, Lucila E. Marazita-Espinosa

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

At Good Shepherd Catholic School, 37% of the students in the 5th grade were identified as experiencing academic and learning difficulties in the regular classroom. This conclusion was based on teacher referrals, low academic performance, educational evaluations, and results of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, the Cognitive Abilities Test, and the Scholastic Reading Inventory.

This research focused on the need to identify the causes that prevented these students from being academically successful in the regular classroom. Some of the concerns addressed included insufficiencies in the present remedial pullout program and the lack of staff development in the areas of …

How Communities Of Practice (Cops) Contribute To The Professional Development Of Faculty In An Academic Setting, Patrick Stubbs

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Communities of Practice (CoPs), sometimes termed learning communities, commonly exist in academic environments. What is not well known is how participation in one or more of these communities bears upon the professional development of full time faculty in the community college environment. This applied dissertation investigated and analyzed the contribution of CoPs to faculty professional development in an academic setting.

A qualitative case study was chosen as the methodology for this study. By conducting a survey of all full time faculty, identifying existing CoPs, interviewing selected faculty, and observing selected CoPs, data was gathered to support the discovery of patterns …

Improving Kindergarten Children’S Writing Through A Comprehensive Writing Program, Lori Canning

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem investigated in this applied dissertation was that kindergarten children were not acquiring age appropriate writing skills. Without these skills, the children exiting kindergarten children did not have the proper foundation needed for writing success in first grade and the years beyond. This created a pattern of academic failure that followed the students throughout their education.

The goal for this applied dissertation was for kindergarten students to acquire age appropriate writing skills at the end of the implementation. The writer developed a comprehensive writing program to meet the needs of these students. The program was incorporated into the framework …

Increasing Parental Involvement Through The Use Of Homeroom Parent Support Groups, Shirley Ann Ewing

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation investigated the extent of parental involvement at the Daniel Boone Elementary School. Parents were visible on campus during the school day and at special performances featuring children, but according to the teachers, they were not actively involved in a manner that affects their children’s academic performance or success in school. Increasing parental involvement was not a priority at Boone School, as indicated in the 1999-2000 School Improvement Plan.

Therefore, a Homeroom Parent Support Group (HPSG) program was implemented to increase parental involvement in an elementary school setting. Parents and their third grade students were members of the …

Discovering, Supporting, And Advancing Gifted Education Students, Victoria Barkwell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to increase the numbers of gifted students being identified and served in an elementary school setting. The numbers of students being served in the school’s Gifted Student Program (GSP) had declined steadily from 58 students in 1995 to 21 students in 2001. Factors that contributed to declining enrollment were: (a) a majority (68%) of faculty members had never referred students to the program; (b) referrals were not representative of the demographic profile of the school; (c) the majority of teachers (94%) had not participated in any in-service training to help them recognize gifted characteristics; and …

The Relationship Between Technology Resource Teachers And The Delivery Of Job-Embedded Professional Development, Susan Abramson Lancaster

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Twenty Kentucky technology resource teachers (TRTs) participated in a study to determine the relationship between TRTs and the delivery of job-embedded professional development. Evaluation focused on collecting data through questionnaires, open-ended questions, surveys, and interviews. The questionnaires and interviews were conducted with Kentucky TRTs who had, as defined in their job descriptions, been responsible for delivering professional development for longer than 1 year.

This study concentrated on common concerns, strengths, and weaknesses of the job-embedded professional development model. Teachers, as adult learners, use a different learning style than their students. Therefore, professional development providers are required to accommodate the needs …

Improving Students’ Writing Scores On The Alabama Direct Assessment Of Writing, Grade Five, Julia Sullivan Nelson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to help increase the low-writing scores on the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing, Grade Five at Burroughs Elementary School (BES), and how these low-writing scores have caused multiple concerns for the staff, students, and community. Planned intervention strategies were applied to effectively implement teaching strategies to assist with increasing the writing scores of the students. In order to write effectively, an individual must have certain teaching skills that will allow the students to accept and internalize the learning.

The writer developed an action plan to address the low-test scores of BES’s fifth-grade students who had …

Development Of A Community-Based Program To Combat Absenteeism Of Middle School Students, Claudia Reed

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to provide a program designed to address the problem of poor attendance at a middle school in Port Arthur, Texas. The middle school has consistently exhibited poor attendance. This problem has resulted from a few students missing a large number of days. This study identified these nonattendees as students who are absent 20 or more days during the school year.

Operation Outreach was created to provide service for students who were retained because of nonattendance at school. The program was created and maintained through the organization of a learning setting composed of community leaders …

Blended Learning Environments Definitions And Directions, Russell T. Osguthorpe, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

During the past decade the availability of computer technologies, such as the Internet, have greatly expanded the educational options available to learners and instructors alike. Innovative uses of technology have begun to blur the distinctions between traditional face-to-face and more recent distance learning environments. As the learning environments have been combined, many have recognized the inherent strengths and weaknesses associated with both.

Effects Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On Kindergarten Students’ Concept Age Gains, Denise Hutchinson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to determine whether kindergarten students in instructional technology classrooms have a greater concept age gain than students in traditional kindergarten classrooms at John F. Kennedy Elementary School. The 4 kindergarten classrooms to which students were randomly assigned are the subjects of this study. The 2 instructional technology kindergarten classrooms incorporated three computers into the required centers to be completed daily by each student. The 2 traditional kindergarten classroom used the same daily center plans; however, the 3 computers in each of these classrooms were used for free exploration and play after the other centers …

Resource Consultation : A Study Of The Relationship Between An Elementary Mathematics Teacher And The Talented And Gifted Coordinator, Janine Kane

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to document the relationship between a fourth grade teacher and the talented and gifted (TAG) coordinator as they provided services to advanced learners in mathematics. The participants' conversations during consultation sessions were transcribed and analyzed. Categories included curriculum and methods, grouping, relationship, barriers, and mentoring. Interviews, questionnaires, and observations of classroom instruction provided supporting data. Little mentoring occurred during the participants' interactions and a pull-out model of service provision was followed. Possible reasons for the continued use of the pull-out model were barriers (e.g., time, space, and class assignment practices), the participants' beliefs, the …

Predicting Ghanaian Pre-Service Teachers' Intention To Teach High-Risk Sexual Behavior Prevention From Teaching Efficacy And Prevention Approach, Joseph Kwesi Ogah

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Youth and adolescents in African Countries have been experiencing high prevalence levels of the outcomes of high-risk sexual behavior (HRSB), such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, illegal abortions, and dropping out of school. Education is one means by which HRSB can be reduced among adolescents, but the sensitive nature of sex education and the controversy over which prevention approach to use have made the teaching of HRSB prevention in schools a cautious undertaking. The purpose of this study was to describe (a) pre-service teachers’ efficacy beliefs for teaching HRSB prevention and (b) pre-service teachers’ preferred approach to HRSB prevention, as determinants …

Teacher Perceptions Of Iowa Workshop Model Aspects Fostering Use Of Project Wet, Marcene Seavey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

State partners of national environmental education (EE) programs contribute to professional development in EE through their program delivery. This study describes teacher perceptions of individual elements of EE workshops provided by one such program, Iowa Project WET. The study found that educators associate three types of workshop activities with successful classroom integration of Project WET activities: ( a) Experiencing activities first-hand, (b) interacting with other educators, and (c) learning about the Project WET Activity and Curriculum Guide. Almost 90% of survey respondents integrate some of the activities they experience during the workshop into their classrooms. Some of these teachers also …

Rebooting The Promise Of Technology In The Classroom: Review Of Oversold And Underused: Computers In The Classroom By Larry Cuban, Heidi Schweizer, Carrianne H. Hayslett, Robert Lowe

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Alcohol And Other Drug Abuse Counselors’ Attitudes And Resources For Integrating Research And Practice, Todd Campbell, Lynn A. Catlin, Timothy P. Melchert

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The state of Wisconsin recently launched a Research-to-Practice Initiative. One aspect of the Wisconsin initiative was to survey Wisconsin-Certified Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselors (CADCs) to assess their attitudes, reported practices, and resources in regard to the integration of research and practice. The sample for the present study included 366 CADCs. Of the 366 respondents, 62 percent (n = 226) were female and 38 percent (n = 140) were male. The respondents were primarily Caucasian (90 percent) with the remaining respondents identifying as African American (4 percent), Native American (2 percent), Hispanic (1 percent), and Asian American …

Reading Reminder: A New Tool For Scaffolding Strategic Readers, Bill Henk

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

From The Individual To Individualism: A Critique Of The Helping Professions, Timothy B. Smith, Matthew R. Draper

Faculty Publications

Individualistic values characterize contemporary society and many popular approaches to mental health treatment. This paper critiques the individualistic values embedded in the helping professions that implicitly contradict the teachings ofJesus Christ, the surest foundation for mental health interventions. Members of AMCAP are encouraged to search out and replace problematic values that contradict gospel teachings which have been integrated into contemporary mental health practice.

Ombudsman As Translator: A Critical Hermeneutic Interpretation Of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Elaine M. Lutkitz

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

2003 January, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Morehead State University press releases for January of 2003.

The Incidence Of Mental And Behavioral Disturbances In Dementia: The Cache County Study, Martin Steinberg, Jeannie-Marie E. Sheppard, Joann T. Tschanz, Maria C. Norton, David C. Steffens, John C. S. Breitner, Constantine G.. Lyketsos

Psychology Faculty Publications

A population-based prevalence sample of 355 residents of Cache County, Utah, who were diagnosed with dementia, was rated on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Of the 355 residents, 119 had no neuropsychiatric symptoms at baseline and were, consequently, at risk for incident mental and behavioral disturbances. The NPI was readministered approximately 18 months later to 61 surviving participants. Sixty-nine percent developed at least one mental or behavioral symptom. Delusions were most common (28%), followed by apathy (21%), and aberrant motor behavior (21%). When this incidence rate of 69% was combined with a previously estimated prevalence rate of 61%, the cumulative 18-month …

Georgia Southern Magazine, Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern Magazine

• University News
• A World View
• Foreign Relations
• Service with a Smile
• It's Raining Mosquitoes...
• A Matter of Degree
• A Firm Foundation
• Fan Fare
• Alumni News

Georgia Southern Magazine, Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern Magazine

• University News
• The Artists Within
• On With The Show!
• Not Your Father's Dormitory
• School of Thought
• Quantum Leap
• Beyond Beauty
• A Firm Foundation
• Fan Fare
• Alumni News

A Study Of Elementary Teachers' Abilities, Attitudes, And Beliefs About Problem Solving, Nancy Mullins Brown

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

Problem solving has been alternately viewed as the justification for the study of mathematics or as the impetus and means for studying mathematics. This study examines characteristics—attitudes toward problem solving, beliefs about problem solving, and abilities to solve problems—of elementary teachers of grades three, four, and five that relate to problem solving.

Participants completed a two-part survey to quantify their attitudes and beliefs and a problem-solving activity which quantified their problem-solving abilities. Four participants were subsequently interviewed. Analyses showed that these teachers had generally positive attitudes toward problem solving, generally positive beliefs about problem solving, and generally poor problem-solving abilities. …

Bylaws Revision: Article Iv, Section 5, Section 10, Section 16, Section 18, Section 20, Section 24, Section 26, Section 28, James M. Lobue

Faculty Senate: Index

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog [2002-2003], Georgia Southern University

Undergraduate & Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

2003-2004 Graduate Catalog, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Armstrong Office of the Registrar: Graduate Catalogs (Archived)

Academic catalog for Armstrong Atlantic State University.

The Infusion Of Higher Education In The U.S. Army: A Sociolinguistic Study Of An Organizational Information Dissemination Process, Gerald Allen Kehr

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

The present research was dedicated to uncovering sociolinguistic coupling mechanisms, specifically the metaphor, and their role in the infusion of higher education in the U S .Army It was argued that levels of ambiguity connected to inter-sociolect lexicons embedded within sociolect-specific metaphors may impede effective communication between officers and senior enlisted personnel regarding the role of higher education in the overall U. S. Army mission Information gained from this research is dedicated to the development of how the U.S military can better infuse higher education into its ongoing professional development programs. A qualitative interview method was used to conduct the …