Education Commons^™

Expressive Language And Phonological Awareness Training For At-Risk Students In Kindergarten, First, And Second Grades, Brenetta Gaye Jackson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve expressive language and phonological awareness for students in primary grades who were receiving speech-language services, and who were exhibiting significant risk factors for reading disabilities. An increasing number of students at this site were being referred for modifications to reading instruction in the regular education classroom. The solution strategies utilized for this applied dissertation included formal evaluation to measure expressive language, phonological awareness, and general reading ability for students who were already identified as having speech-language disorders, and who were receiving modifications to reading instruction through the Student Support Team. A training program …

Increasing Science Achievement Of Elementary Students, Beverly S. Mathis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This dissertation was designed to address low student achievement in science at an inner-city elementary school. Science achievement is assessed by standardized tests administered to the fourth grade in the Clark County School District. Kermit R. Booker Elementary School, the site of the research project, is predominantly in a low income, African American neighborhood and has an enrollment of 400 students.

Low science achievement may be due to a lack of background experience, motivation, or comprehension of non-fiction material. It could be due to a lack of exposure to quality science instruction from teachers with limited scientific expertise or confidence. …

Adolescent Participation In School Nutrition Meal Benefit Programs: A Case Study, Janice P. Maddox

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation is a historical case study targeted at the segment of a high school population who are eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits but do not take advantage of these benefits. The population to be studied is those students who take advantage of the free or reduced price benefits to which they are entitled less than 50% of the days that school is in session. Frequency of eating counts will be compared for the past 11 years in order to discern if the target population participation has changed over the years by programs designed to increase …

Actitudes Del Estudiantado Ante La Incorporación De La Educación A Distancia: ¿Factores De Aceptación O Rechazo?, Marina Polo

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Esta disertación aplicada tuvo como propósito determinar las incidencias, negativas o positivas, de las actitudes de los estudiantes en la introducción de los estudios a distancia con apoyo de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, en una universidad venezolana.

Se definió la actitud como la percepción que alguien tiene de un objeto, según sus creencias. De ahí se desprenden inclinaciones que favorecen o perjudican el proyecto.

La revisión bibliográfica condujo a una investigación de campo experimental, sin manipulación de variables. La selección aleatoria y estratificación por semestre de la muestra dio a todos igual probabilidad de ser muestreados. …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Aspiration And Refusal Of Oral Intake In The Dementia Population, Tina Walker Bullock

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to identify aspiration as a possible cause of oral intake refusal in the dementia population. This was a common occurrence in the skilled nursing facility population in which the principal investigator of this project is employed. Patients with a diagnosis of dementia who had demonstrated characteristics of swallowing problems, dysphagia, weight loss, oral intake refusal of meals or liquids, decreased intake, expelling of food or liquid during meals or snacks, holding food or liquid in the mouth, change in appetite, skin integrity problems, or increased feeding time were considered for participation in this study. The …

Providing Literacy Support For Unsuccessful Limited English Proficient Seventh And Eighth Grade Students By Increasing Access To Varied Support Strategies, Amanda Lynch

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide assistance to struggling limited English proficient (LEP) students at a Title I Middle School. The goal was that 25 students would have access to additional supports to improve language arts grades, reading skills, and attendance in school. Parents were invited to participate.

The solution strategies included (a) incorporating books into the homes of the target group, known as Lit Kits, (b) creating staff development for teachers, (c) providing the target group an additional hour of school each day focusing on literacy skills, homework completion, and learning strategy skills, (d) implementing a monthly family …

Increasing Student Achievement Through Formative Assessment And Teacher Support, Nancy Nichols

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to increase student achievement on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) through formative assessments, tracking student progress, and targeting instruction to deficit areas important for standardized tests and to use this data to group students for reteaching. The school had maintained the school grade of C for 2 consecutive years but had not been able to raise the school grade to a B. By increasing student achievement, the school grade would also improve. This study was also designed to provide support to new teachers to identify, diagnose, and provide remediation for failing students. …

Case Study Project: A Professional Development Approach Linked To Student Achievement, Martha Adam Colwell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Woodland, a 3rd- and 4th-grade elementary school in Milford, Massachusetts, implemented a multiyear professional development program in order to improve student achievement in reading. The need for improvement became obvious after 3 years of low scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests and a failure to meet state expectations for the school. This project involved training all teachers to use the Case Study of an individual student to illustrate how to assess and guide reading instruction for all students in the classroom.

Every regular education teacher, special education teacher, bilingual teacher, English-as-a-second language teacher, and reading teacher selected a …

Block Scheduling Versus Traditional Scheduling: A Comparative Study Of The Academic Achievement Of Seventh Graders, Grace W. Reese

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study compared the academic achievement of 7th-grade students using a block schedule with the academic achievement of 7th-grade students using a traditional schedule. The goal was to determine what impact, if any, block scheduling had upon academic achievement. The sample included 7th-grade students at Semmes Middle School in the Mobile County Public School System in Mobile, Alabama.

The 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition (SAT-9) test results in reading, mathematics, and science, which are required of all students in Grades 3-8 in the Mobile County Public School System, provided the necessary data.

A t test was used …

Improving School Attendance Of Special Education Students Through Tangible Rewards And Concrete Incentives, Lenell Q. Navarre

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide concrete incentives and tangible rewards for the special education students in a high school. Mediocre attendance is a serious problem in many schools with students identified as meeting the criteria for special education. It impacts the student, school, parents, and community. Research shows that poor attendance can be associated to behavioral problems, academic failure, and leading to dropout tendencies.

The writer developed a program that provided concrete incentives and tangible rewards. Planned solution strategies to improve attendance included (a) distributing concrete incentives to students, (b) distributing tangible rewards to students, (c) forming an …

An Analysis Of The Developmental Education Program At Bevill State Community College, Teresa L. Johnson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to conduct a gap analysis, using a formative evaluation model, to compare the components of the developmental education program at Bevill State Community College (BSCC) to components of effective programs. The problem was that at least 40 percent of the students who complete the developmental education program at Bevill State Community College never enroll in college level courses. This analysis determined changes which could be made to increase the effectiveness of the program at BSCC. Eight procedures were completed to answer seven research questions.

The results of the study showed twenty-three areas which need to …

Implementing Study Groups To Improve Reading Achievement Scores Of Jensen Elementary School Students, Margaret Gayle Woodall

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was conducted to provide an historical review and assessment of the implementation of teacher study groups at Jensen Elementary School for the purpose of improving student reading skills during the 1997-1998 school year. The reading study groups were grade level groups that met monthly to participate in team learning (Senge 1990) by obtaining new information, revisiting information from a 4-day district in-service session, discussing strategies, problem solving, sharing successes and supporting one another.

The evaluation of the initiative consisted of a formative evaluation to determine if the program was implemented and a summative evaluation to determine if …

The Effect Of Incorporating Interactive Concept Maps On Non-Major Adult Students’ Attitudes And Motivation Toward A Web-Supported Biology Course, Efrain J. Venezuela

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study aimed to investigate the effect of incorporating interactive concept maps, as an instructional strategy for teaching complex biological concepts, on non-major adult students’ attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course. The author hypothesized that the incorporation of interactive concept maps would have an affect on non-major adult students' attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course. Consequently, this study attempted to answer the following question: How would the incorporation of interactive concept maps influence non-major adult students' attitudes and motivation toward a Web-supported biology course?

This study was conducted with non-major adult students enrolled in upper-level, Websupported …

Perfect Attendance: A Program To Reduce Teacher Absenteeism At Marion High School, Robert L. Hennecy Jr.

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve teacher attendance at Marion High School. The goal was to reduce teacher absences to 2.0 or less per day, regardless of the reasons. The plan utilized incentives that would be of benefit and reward to teachers. Over the years teacher attendance had been a problem that affected student achievement. There had been financial rewards in place from the district office level, but never a rewards system at the school level.

A plan was developed to reduce teacher absenteeism to 2.0 or less per day at Marion High School, Marion, South Carolina. Answers were …

Improving Third-Grade Writing Scores Through Training On The Georgia Assessment Rubric, Ruth G. Summerlin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to determine whether teacher training would result in a 60% inter-rater reliability among 14 third-grade teachers at Bascomb Elementary School during the 2002-2003 school year. The State of Georgia Writing Assessment for Grade 3 contains developmental scoring guidelines for six stages of writing using content, personal expression, and surface features as indicators of stage development.

The writer hypothesized that a professional development program would enhance teacher knowledge of the State of Georgia Writing Rubric, allowing these teachers to assess accurately and therefore more effectively teach content related to the rubric. The researcher expected that the …

Meeting The Psychological Needs Of School-Aged Native Students In An Extreme Geographic Region, Deborah Diette Wilson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to meet the psychological needs of a unique Native population through a continuum of services and the utilization of technological platforms. The host community has experienced significant historical events including the exclusion in full participation education and the provision of educational curricula by individuals lacking the cultural competency base to provide appropriate educational experiences sensitive to Native learning styles. Psychological services were dictated by Federal and State mandates and consisted solely of educational and ability testing for the purpose of special education eligibility determination. As a result, school-aged Native students experienced significant social and emotional …

Development Of An Athletic Recruiting Plan For Long Beach City College With A Process For Implementation And Evaluation, Dan Ripley

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Recruiting is a necessary component of a successful athletic program. There was no comprehensive recruiting plan at Long Beach City College (LBCC) to maximize the recruiting efforts of its athletic department. The purpose of this applied dissertation was to develop a specific recruitment plan for the LBCC athletic department.

This applied dissertation answered the following questions: (a) What are selected community colleges doing to attract student athletes, (b) what is the current status of athletic recruiting at LBCC, (c) what should an ideal athletic recruiting plan for LBCC include, and (d) what steps should be included in the implementation and …

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.

A Model Of Norm Development For Computer-Mediated Teamwork, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

The process of establishing norms is an important aspect of group dynamics. Most, if not all, of the major models of group development incorporate norming as an important part of the process. However, little is understood and agreed on regarding how norms develop.With the increased availability and power of technology to connect people at remote sites, the popularity of computer-mediated teamwork has increased dramatically. This new communication context brings with it some dramatic differences from the traditional face-to-face context, along with a need to understand how norms develop in this environment. This study investigates the norming process engaged in by …

Blending Face-To-Face And Distance Learners In A Synchronous Class: Instructor And Learner Experiences, P. Clint Rogers, Charles R. Graham, Rus Rasmussen, J. Olin Campbell, Donna M. Ure

Faculty Publications

Like many institutions, Brigham Young University (BYU) is searching for ways to extend the reach of its programs without expanding the physical classroom and without incurring unreasonable costs. Internet supported instruction provides one alternative, with millions of students already attending Web-based classes (Gubernick & Ebeling, 1997). This case study examines the development of a class that blends distance and face-to-face students in a synchronous class. This case study focuses on how this blended learning environment was experienced by the distance and face-to-face students as well as the instructor.

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.

The Ecosystem Of Partnerships: A Case Study Of A Long-Term University-Community Partnership, Gary Daynes, Scott L. Howell, Nathan K. Lindsay

Faculty Publications

This article presents a case study describing a robust fortyeight- year partnership between the Boy Scouts of America, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley State College, and others in an annual merit badge Powwow1 for Boy Scouts. Service-learning occurs as five hundred university students and faculty prepare for and teach merit badge classes to five thousand Boy Scouts as part of this Powwow. The article presents the history and operation of the Powwow, describes benefits to participants, and identifies some of the factors that contribute to the enduring nature of the partnership. The case study suggests that partnerships are similar to …

Using Low-Threshold Applications And Software Templates To Improve Efficiency In An Introductory Statistics Course, Jason K. Mcdonald

Faculty Publications

This study was an exploratory study in improving efficiency in university courses by using low-cost methods of design and development that can be easily managed by university faculty. To explore this issue, we developed a lesson for the Statistics department at Brigham Young University using low-threshold applications (uses of technology that are low-cost and easy to learn) and software templates. We evaluated the lesson as a possible method to decrease the number of hours instructors were required to spend teaching in class. We discovered that students responded positively to the lesson, and that the methods of lesson design and development …

A Study To Determine The Effectiveness Of The Leadership Learning Website At Bank Of America, Gloria D. Govan

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To solve this problem the following goals were established: 1. Determine the effectiveness of the leadership learning website for Consumer Products leaders at Bank of America; 2. Identify the various learning options that are most frequently used by Bank of America leaders in the Consumer Products lines of business; 3. Recommend web solutions to improve future leadership training of Consumer Products leaders.

Effects Of Enhanced Evaluative Feedback On Student Grades, Roney A. Mcdaniel

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The following hypothesis was developed to guide this study: 1. Students in the OTS 110T, Technology in Your World, class at Old Dominion University that receive enhanced evaluative feedback will earn higher grades than those students receiving normal feedback.

Distance Education In Tidewater Virginia, Lisa Wornom-Zahralddin

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The following research goals were created in order to answer this study: 1. Determine if Tidewater, Virginia business leaders were currently utilizing distance education/distance training concepts in their organizations; 2. Determine if distance education/distance training programs would be beneficial for Tidewater businesses; 3. Determine what types of distance education/distance training programs should be developed and offered to Tidewater businesses.

Parents' Definition Of Technological Literacy And Their Perceived Attitudes Toward Technological Literacy, Charles L. Thomas

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The research objectives used to guide this problem were: 1. Determine parents understanding of technology 2. Determine parents' attitude towards the effect of technology on society 3. Determine the parents attitude toward technological literacy and the school curriculum.

A Study To Determine The Relationship Between Parent's Work And Their Concern For Their Children Becoming Technologically Literate, Gerald T. Hoover

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

This study was used to gain an understanding of parent's concern for their children's technological literacy. The questions established for this research were: 1. Are parents who work in technical fields more concerned about their children's technological literacy than parents who work in non-technical fields? 2. Do parents who work in technical fields have a better understanding of what technology is over parents working in non-technical fields?

Computer Implementation In Education: Hearing The Educator's Voice, Julie Lynn Mueller

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Computer technology is pervasive in education systems around the world. Although computers are now available in almost every school, that presence has not guaranteed the use of computers as part of the instructional repertoire of educators. This thesis is an investigation of the factors that affect implementation of computers from the perspective of educators across a school board. Fifty-four randomly selected educators (37 elementary and 17 secondary) completed a written survey assessing computer access and use, predictors of integration, prevalence of barriers and supports, and, recommendations from the educators themselves. Results indicated that computers are indeed available and that educators …

Development Of Portfolio Assessment For English As A Second Language High School Students At The Roberto Clemente Charter School, David Vázquez

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This dissertation was designed to pilot an alternative assessment to help English as a Second Language (ESL) students complete their high school education. The purpose of this project was to develop a portfolio assessment to meet the needs of the ESL students at the Roberto Clemente Charter School (RCCS).

There were 5 research questions for this project: Is a portfolio assessment the proper form of evaluation for students? What should be the criteria for the portfolio assessment? What form and content should be included in the portfolio? How should it be implemented? and How should it be evaluated?

This project …