Education Commons^™

Educational Technology: Beyond The Basics, John Shimer

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This paper addresses classroom technology as a much deeper concept than many would like to believe. It is not something to be taken lightly by only looking at what is currently available, but rather examined through a brief history, in-depth tests, and the consequences as well as the benefits of new developing technology. Furthermore it is not an issue only important for educators and administrators but requires involvement from parents and more importantly Christians to ensure that students are given the greatest opportunity possible for their future. Since technology is the future of children’s education, it is imperative that it …

Assisting Learning And Success In Adhd Children, Katie Burns

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become the center of controversy as Americans diagnosis children with ADHD at an ever increasing rate. Yet it seems at times that little is actually known about the disease beyond the accepted truth that a distinct disorder marked by inattention and hyperactivity does, in fact, exist. This disorder causes numerous problems within the classroom including classroom management and jeopardizing the education of all children in the class. One option to overcome these challenges is to place all ADHD children in a separate classroom, however this only serves to isolate the child and entirely exhaust the teacher. …

Islamic Education In China: Rebuilding Communities And Expanding Local And International Networks, Jackie Armijo

All Works

Over the last twenty years a wide range of Islamic educational opportunities have been developed to meet the needs of China's 20 million plus Muslim population. In addition to mosque schools, government Islamic colleges, and independent Islamic colleges, a growing number of students have gone overseas to continue their studies at international Islamic universities in Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, and Malaysia.

Generational Differences Among Community College Students In Their Evaluation Of Academic Cheating, Kathleen E. Wotring

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Values development is an important part of the mission of community colleges, and upholding academic integrity is one way in which colleges advance this mission. Community colleges serve a multigenerational student body, more diverse than most four-year institutions of higher education, and different generational cohort groups hold different values and attitudes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether community college students varied by generation in their evaluation of academic activities as cheating, and to further determine whether such variation interacted with demographic variables and the extent to which personal morality is grounded in a religious belief system. Based …

Dislocated Worker Training And Education Perceptions: The Effect Of Tailored Information, Self-Concept, And Role Salience On Self-Reported Deterrents To Education Participation, Lisa A. Row

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated whether selected information would change dislocated workers' deterrents to education participation. The study also explored whether information presentation method altered the participants' perceived deterrents. Finally, the study explored whether self-concept or role salience as a student moderated information reception.

The population included North Carolina workers pending job dislocation from three manufacturing plants. The final analysis included results from 194 workers. Participants were randomly assigned to groups using a roster having random group assignments and case numbers.

A three-group, quasi-experimental design explored changes in education deterrents. Three instruments provided data: the Adult Learning Questionnaire, Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, Second …

The Introduction Of Recurrent Funding To Non-Government Schools In Western Australia : National Statesmanship Or Provincial Pragmatism?, Heather De Leuil

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

State aid to private schools has been a controversial issue in Australia since the beginning of European settlement. This was true in all colonies' and remains a national issue in the twenty-first century. At various times colonial governments chose to provide to private schools, principally those operated by the Catholic and major churches. However as the colonies grew and statehood loomed, the of the day sought to withdraw their aid from private schools and their funding on the growing non-denominational, public school systems.

The Biodiesel Project: A High School Multi-Discipline Class Collaboration And Graphic Imaging Technology Unit Plan, Charles E. Cimo

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis project, my intention was to integrate diverse high school courses with poignant subject matter to increase the amount of learning students can achieve. This unit plan explored a Prince George High School (Virginia) multi-class cooperative effort involving biodiesel production. The project involved creating a biodiesel refinery built by Production Systems classes according to plans purchased from the Internet. The research for converting used kitchen oil into biodiesel and the titration of the fuel was conducted by Chemistry classes. Graphics Imaging Technology students created a logo, a poster, and designed brochures that described the processes and benefits of …

The Use Of Continuing Professional Education (Cpe) By Practicing Presbyterian Ministers, Steven C. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed method study investigated continuing professional education practices of active Presbyterian ministers serving congregations within the United States. In the first phase, a self-developed survey instrument was mailed to a stratified random sample of 1,000 Presbyterian ministers. The survey instrument contained items relating to demographics, educational strategies, and techniques used when participating in continuing professional education. The data from 439 completed surveys was analyzed to determine if any significant relationships existed between gender, career choice and educational strategies and techniques used by Presbyterian ministers. The second phase consisted of telephone interviews with 12 Presbyterian ministers from the overall sample …

Comparison Of Event History Analysis And Latent Growth Modeling For College Student Perseverance, Richard Samuel Mohn Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Event history analysis is the most prevalent modeling technique used to model event occurrence with longitudinal data (Cox & Oakes, 1984; Menard, 1991; Singer & Willett, 1993, 2003). An alternative is to model longitudinal data within the SEM framework, known as latent variable growth modeling (McArdle, 1988; Meredith & Tisak, 1990), which can provide a more robust framework. Whether or not a student remains in college presents an appropriate context within which to examine the modeling of event occurrence with longitudinal data. The purpose of the study was to compare event history and latent growth modeling as for predicting change …

Elementary School Principals' Perceptions Of The Instructional Role Of The School Library Media Specialist, Audrey Puckett Church

Theses and Dissertations

Studies conducted in numerous states by various researchers demonstrate that library media specialists who take an active role in the instructional process positively impact student achievement in their schools. Principals are the instructional leaders of their schools, yet the research indicates that they are not knowledgeable regarding the role of the library media specialist. This study explored Virginia elementary school principals' perceptions of the instructional role of the library media specialist, the effect of library schedule on these perceptions, and the origin of these perceptions. Principals who responded to the study strongly endorsed the role of library media specialist as …

A Study Of The Value Of "Measuring Up" As A Tool For State Policymakers In Developing Postsecondary Education Policy For Three Eastern States, Rachel R. Maddux

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study determined the effectiveness of Measuring Up, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education's national state based higher education report card, as a tool for state leaders in developing postsecondary educational policy. The researcher interviewed state postsecondary leaders in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia, including state government leaders and administrative officials. Interviews were conducted with nine participants.The participants in this study collectively identified the most pressing issues impacting higher education access. Affordability was identified as the predominant factor impacting access to postsecondary education; the preparation of secondary students was also identified as an issue of …

Social Support During The Academic Transition Of International Students In Ph.D. Programs, Deborah A. Westin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe and analyze the mechanisms of social support for international students in Ph.D. programs during an academic transition. Purposive sampling was used to identify participants, two each from the People's Republic of China, India, and Africa. This study employed a phenomenological research method to explore the social support networks that these six students established, the nature of their interactions with the host culture and the effect of social support on academic success. Data collection methods included individual interviews with international students and two staff members from the Office of International Education, one …

Motivators Of Job Satisfaction For Elementary School Principals In Central Virginia, Michelle K. Mcqueen

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the overall job satisfaction level and motivators of job satisfaction for elementary school principals in Central Virginia using the MinnesotaSatisfaction Questionnaire (1977) revision via Web-based survey through Virginia Commonwealth University's Inquisite Survey System. The research literature supports job satisfaction of school principals being a worthwhile topic of study. Researching aspects of job satisfaction is important because a job is not merely life-sustaining, but enriching and enhancing (Darboe, 2003), and the impact of leadership on everyone in schools is substantive. Elementary principals' general job satisfaction level was investigated using descriptive demographic data and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) …

A Descriptive Study Of Special Education Teachers Serving Students With Autism: Knowledge, Practices Employed, And Training Needs, Dawn R. Hendricks

Theses and Dissertations

Autism now affects a significant number of students in schools. It is well documented that the unique learning characteristics of these students differ widely from other learners requiring teachers to possess specialized skills (Simpson, 2005). Despite advancements in instructional practices for students with autism (Iovannone, Dunlap, Huber, & Kincaid, 2003) little attention has been given to examining the qualities of special education teachers who deliver services to these students.This dissertation evaluated special education teachers' knowledge and implementation of educational practices critical for the improvement of students with autism and determined areas of training needs. The study was conducted with special …

The Role Of Spirituality In Women's Leadership At Community Colleges, Carol L. Hedberg

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This qualitative research study examined the role of women's leadership in Iowa community colleges. Administrative leaders from community college settings, recommended by their presidents, wrote narratives about effective leadership traits and from these narratives, four women leaders were selected and later interviewed. Key thematic categories were developed from the written and verbal narratives. The resulting data set was then analyzed by a comparative case study approach. Emerging thematic categories were interpreted through the lens of four primary research questions addressing the relationship between gender, spirituality, and authentic leadership.

A plethora of issues surfaced from the data. Issues of gender and …

Approaches To Studying And Study Tactics Of Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Lisa D. Brodersen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research was designed to describe study approaches and study tactics used by baccalaureate nursing students. Previous inquiry indicates that students will take a Deep, Strategic, or Surface approach to studying and will use specific study tactics to meet the demands of their learning contexts.

The Approaches to Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) was administered to 174 students in Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Nursing Care of the Adult Client. Failing students were less likely to participate. The ASSIST bad acceptable internal consistency reliability and construct validity. A majority (55%) of students took a Strategic approach to studying; smaller …

Identifying Behavioral Characteristics Of High School Principals Providing Leadership In Reforming Iowa High Schools, Nadene E. Davidson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Technological advances and the changing world have created new challenges in preparing our youth to lead satisfying lives in the twenty-first century. Current literature supports the case that change is needed in our high schools to move from the factory preparation model to become more personalized learning communities preparing students for life in a global community. This reinvented high school will require reinvented leadership to guide the process of high school reform. The purpose of this study was to identify behavioral characteristics of high school principals providing leadership in reforming Iowa high schools.

Interviews were conducted with educators from two …

Florida High Stakes Testing And Graduation Success, Laurel Alva Stanley

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Florida has the longest history of high stakes testing of any state in the United States, spanning a period of 28 years, seven different testing policy periods, and five tests. In this study, analysis of statistics from the 28 years suggested that declines in graduation rates corresponded to increasingly difficult high stakes testing policy periods, new tests, and periods that did not include high stakes accountability for graduation rates. Overall, graduation rates declined through an erratic 28 years for a net loss of 4.51 %. The achievement gap in graduation rates between white and black students worsened 200% from 1992 …

Articulation, Academic Progress, And Graduation: A Comparison Of Community College Transfer And Native Students In Selected Florida Universities, Angela M. Garcia Falconetti

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this concurrent mixed methods study was to explore how well Florida's 2+2 articulation agreement and transfer student services meet the needs of students. Phase I employed quantitative methodology to compare the academic success and persistence to graduation of a single cohort (n = 2,612) of Florida public community college Associate in Arts graduates (n = 1,738) and native (n = 874) juniors (60-to-70 credit hours) who entered the same universities as FTIC. Discriminant analysis results yielded statistically significant differences in the academic success and persistence of community college transfer and native student graduates and …

Effects Of Identity On Public-Organization Relationships: A Case Study Of Student-University Relations, Nadezhda Olegovna Bocharova

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study tested the applicability of identification theory for diagnosing relationship quality between organizations and their publics in PR. A survey was posted on-line in a mid-Western university; 377 students of all classifications filled out the questionnaire. Factor analysis produced one-dimensional identification scale and three-dimensional relationship scale: reciprocity, commitment, and exchange. There were significant positive correlations between identity, reciprocity, and commitment, whereas exchange part of relationship negatively related to the above dimensions. Discussion of student publics was developed along with analysis of factors related to university life. Analysis of variance revealed that identity, reciprocity, and commitment decline with tenure in …

The Views Of Students With Disabilities Regarding Dropout And School Belonging, Rebecca L. Brandau

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A large number of students drop out of high school each year. Most of the existing research does not focus specifically on students with disabilities. This study uses survey research to examine the perceptions of 40 students with mild disabilities regarding high school drop out and school belonging. Results indicate that participants believe it is important to graduate from high school, and they believe parents and teachers want them to graduate. The students indicated that their friends think about dropping out of school more than the students themselves do. Participants consistently indicated that they feel they can talk to an …

Sexual Minority Youth In The Research Literature: The Invisible Students, Kelly J. Beck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research examines the topics addressed in the School Psychology literature and specifically looks at the amount of coverage the topic of sexual minority youth has received in the research literature in the last 15 years. A content analysis of research articles published in two prominent school psychology journals, School Psychology Review and School Psychology Quarterly, from 1990 to 2005 was conducted. The topics that received the most coverage included: (1) intervention, (2) assessment, and (3) ethical, legal and professional issues. Nine articles out of 901, less than 1 %, included the topic of sexual minority youth. The sub-groups, such …

A Case Study Using Guided Reading And Teacher Read-Alouds While Monitoring English Language Learners' And Native English Speakers' Reading Achievement, Kelsey M. Baker

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the United States continues to increase (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002); therefore, schools and educators are affected by the growing differences in students' language skills, prior experiences, and progress. This research addresses the need for understanding ELLs and how ELLs benefit from adults effectively reading aloud to them. Further research is needed on effective reading instruction for ELLs for several reasons. First, teachers are becoming ELL teachers by default and feel overwhelmed because of the responsibility to teach both language and content (Gersten, 2002). Second, an achievement gap exists between ELLs and native …

Addressing The School Psychologist Shortage : Past Trends And Implications For The Future, Erin Delaine Mccoy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis begins with a brief history of the field of school psychology, starting with the Hybrid years and continuing through to the present day. Research on the trends that have occurred in the field of school psychology are reviewed. Past trends discussed include: demographics, personnel needs, function and roles, employment conditions, and job satisfaction. This study examined reasons why school psychologists in Iowa left their positions and, specifically, what effect job satisfaction played in their decision to leave. Results indicated two reasons Iowa school psychologists left their positions: role restrictiveness and lack of building support. School psychologists in Iowa …

Sexual Minority Youth In The Research Literature : What Kind Of Coverage Is The Field Of School Psychology Providing?, Jill Hayes White

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The amount of coverage sexual minority youth have received in the research literature over the past 15 years was examined. A content analysis of all research articles published in Psychology in the Schools and The Journal of School Psychology from 1990 to 2005 was conducted. Comparisons were made between the topic areas receiving the most coverage in 1990 versus 2005. Results revealed that issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth were discussed in only 0.4% of the articles. Topic areas receiving the most coverage included assessment, intervention, ethical and professional issues as well as race and diversity issues, …

High School Dropout : Educators' Knowledge Of And Perceived Role In Dropout Prevention, Dustin Reese

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The reasons behind high school dropout have been examined for years. Previous research has focused primarily on understanding student characteristics in relation to high school dropout. However, teachers play an important role in preventing school dropout. Their beliefs about dropout may influence the way in which they interact with students, especially those they believe are at risk for dropout. Because of the critical influence teachers can have on students' educational decisions, this research sought to answer the following questions: (1) What factors do educators believe contribute to students' decision to drop out of school? and (2) What type of influence …

Examination Of The Major Factors Contributing To The School Psychology Shortage, Sara Ann Recker

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The shortage of school psychologists in the United States has been an issue for many years. Though research has been done to address regional shortages, no research has addressed the shortages in each state. Furthermore, little research exists that examines the settings in which the practitioner shortage is most critical. This study utilizes survey research to examine the current shortage in each of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia) and also to determine whether the shortages exist in urban, suburban, or rural areas. Additionally, this study begins to examine possible reasons the shortage exists in the different states. …

Geometric Reasoning In Four-Year-Old Children, Christina Eyres Sales

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study addresses the curriculum issues of young children's geometric knowledge and how they can learn about geometry in early education. To investigate, I designed a pattern block frame activity that was the focus of a seven-week intervention with four-year-old children in a constructivist classroom. All children were considered at-risk for school failure. The investigation is rooted in my unsatisfying experiences with pattern blocks in my preschool classrooms.

Data were obtained from a pre and posttest assessment administered to ascertain the effects of the intervention on all children in the classroom and from observations of children's behavior as they engaged …

The Effects Of The Nutriactive Healthy Experience Intervention On Nutrition Knowledge In Kindergarten And First Grade Students, Jennifer Marie Bruss

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Over the past 30 years obesity in elementary school age children has gone from almost non-existence to common place. With obesity on the rise, the occurrence of diseases associated with it such as Type II diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia have also risen for children. These diseases are often carried into adulthood since overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. This will create another generation of obese children, continue to strain a failing health system, and add additional problems to our economy as the current obese generation heads into retirement.

Poor eating habits and insufficient physical activity …

An Analysis Of Intuitive Eating Among College Students, Danielle Marie Vsetecka

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In response to the world's increasing obesity rates, the use of traditional dieting and weight loss techniques is at an all time high. Although dieting rates have rapidly increased, the world's rising obesity rates show no sign of slowing and the effectiveness and effects of dieting have long been questioned. As an alternative to dieting and exercise, a non-dieting approach to weight regulation has emerged. Intuitive eating is one of its main tenants and is defined by allowing individuals to listen to internal body cues to determine hunger and fullness levels to meet nutritional and physical needs. However, few studies …