Education Commons^™

Telescopes And Spyglasses: Using Literary Theories In High School Classrooms, Danielle M. Rains

Honors Projects

This handbook is structured in a way that can be directly applied to the classroom. The theories are organized and ordered to build on one another; the skills that your students learn from one will help them complete the tasks of the next. Each chapter provides information about the theory, how to conduct a reading following the theory’s guidelines, and how to introduce the theory to your students.

My Classroom Management Plan: The First Two Weeks Of School, Hannah Burkhart

Honors Projects

As a pre-service teacher in one of the best teacher preparatory programs in the country, I learned many of the theories behind classroom management and discipline. After spending time during student teaching in my own classroom, however, I needed a more immediately useful solution than theory could provide. After investigating varied classroom management approaches and styles, I discovered the work of Harry and Rosemary Wong who inspired the creation of my own classroom management plan: a step-by-step guide of best practices and approaches to respond to daily issues and routines in the classroom. While I have heard that “the best …

The Development Of Photography Training For Recreation And Wellness Marketing, Erica Pax

Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology Plan II Graduate Projects

The Department of Recreation and Wellness marketing office previously did not have a standardized photographic workflow to ensure all marketing student employee photographers consistently capture, edit, name, and store digital image files. As a result, the digital photo library contained digital image files of varying quality that were organized inconsistently. These inconsistencies made it difficult for designers to quickly and efficiently locate adequate image files for use in the creation of promotional items. In addition, a reduction in administrative staff and an increase in workload necessitated that new student employees learn new processes through self-instruction.

The researcher created a photography …

Online Instructor Training For Canvas Learning Management System, Phillip Paskvan, Phillip Michael Paskvan

Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology Plan II Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to research, develop, deliver and evaluate a module-based training course that would be delivered online within a week’s timeframe to asynchronously train instructors in the use of Canvas learning management system (LMS) in the context of a campus environment with specific LMS use policies, versus the more comprehensive look provided by the Canvas help guides.

This course, Canvas 101 was delivered in the Canvas environment with the trainee in the role of both student and teacher. While the trainees worked in the course as students, they were required to perform ungraded tasks in an …

A Blended Learning Npr Training Module For It Staff, Tracie Henson

Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology Plan II Graduate Projects

The problem of the study was that there was a need to provide additional training to employees of the Information Systems (IT) Department of a regional hospital in the utilization of the Non-Procedural Report (NPR) writing function of the hospital’s Healthcare Information Systems (HIS). The current methods of NPR training lacked structure and depth and did not fulfill the needs of the IT staff to be able to focus on the proper actions needed to produce reports. The design and development of the blended learning module Creating Your First NPR Report was created to fill that need and provided an …

Developing A Contextualization Of Students’ Mathematical Problem Solving, Sean P. Yee, Jonathan Bostic

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This paper investigates how students contextualize mathematical problem solving, not the actual problems. When students attempt to solve problems, what contexts (situational, cultural, or conceptual) do they evoke to describe their experiences with problem solving? The Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice emphasize contextualizing and decontextualizing problems, but what does this mean in practice? Middle and high school students were asked to attempt ability-appropriate problems during semi-structured interviews in this qualitative study. Situational contexts were analyzed using representation analysis (symbolic and nonsymbolic) while cultural contexts were analyzed using linguistic analysis (metaphors). The synergy of these two analyses developed a …

Gamification Techniques For Academic Assessment, Jerry C. Schnepp, Christian Rogers

Visual Communications and Technology Education Faculty Publications

Students from the millennial generation have come to expect highly developed and engaging academic tools - including those used to assess their performance. Keeping up with these expectations can be a daunting task for educators. However, the creative use of gamification, customization and on-demand supplemental material can potentially lead to a more engaging assessment experience. This presentation will focus on the topic of gamification and the millennial generation. The audience will participate in an open dialogue about how gaming and other engaging approaches can play a role in the summative assessment process.

Role-Playing The Standards For Mathematical Practice: A Professional Development Tool, Jonathan Bostic, Gabriel T. Matney

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This article describes a performance assessment to use during Common Core-focused professional development and shares insights from research using this assessment regarding about teachers’ comprehension of the Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs). We asked 46 teachers from grades K-10 to read and make sense of the SMPs and then role-play a classroom scenario indicative of one SMP. This performance task is called Unpacking the SMPs. Teachers’ interactions during the role-play activity were intended to help them interpret the SMPs. From this role-play activity, PD providers were more aware of teachers’ initial comprehension of the SMPs.

Validating The Psm6, Jonathan Bostic, Toni Sondergeld

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Objective for the presentation is to share results from a validation study examining a sixth-grade problem-solving measure.

Students Perceptions Of An Alternative Testing Method: Hints As An Option For Exam Questions, Christian Rogers, Jerry Schnepp

Visual Communications and Technology Education Faculty Publications

In the Proceedings of the 2014 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Indianapolis, Indiana, June 15 – 18, 2014.

Automated Hints On Quizzes: An Approach To Combined Learning And Evaluation, Jerry Schnepp, Christian Rogers

Visual Communications and Technology Education Faculty Publications

This paper describes and evaluates an approach to student assessment using Point Barter, an online quiz system that allows students to sacrifice partial credit in exchange for hints about the correct answer.

In the Proceedings of the 2014 International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association Conference. Anchorage, Alaska, May 31 to June 2, 2014.

Know Your Role: Black College Students, Racial Identity, And Performance, Dafina-Lazarus Stewart

Higher Education and Student Affairs Faculty Publications

This article is a report of a critical constructivist study of racial identity and performance among 13 Black, traditional-age students enrolled at three different colleges, two historically Black and one predominantly White. The study’s approach understood identity to be socially constructed and reliant upon community affirmation and validation. The findings highlight (1) the role of internal community pressure, (2) the ways in which racial performance dominated the students’ discussions of their racial identities, and (3) the intersection of internalized racism and sexism. The overarching conclusion points to the need for promoting acceptance of racial heterogeneity within communities of Black young …

Understanding The First Year Experience: An Avenue To Explore Trends In Higher Education (Keynote), Colleen Boff

University Libraries Faculty Publications

Regular examination of the issues and research related to the First Year Experience (FYE) is a priority for most administrators in higher education. A great deal of time, energy, funding and research are funneled into programs for first year students as a means to recruit and retain students in an increasingly tight market. As a consequence, there is much librarians can learn from the examination of these efforts made nationwide. Whether a librarian works exclusively with first year students, upper division students, graduate students or behind the scenes in technical services, paying attention to FYE developments is critical to speaking …

Spaces For Children's Development Of Structure, Pattern, And Repeated Reasoning, Gabriel T. Matney, Jonathan Bostic

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Our goal is to explore the difference of these two SMPs through a task designed for learners of differing abilities and connect the SMP and the mathematics content exhibited through the task engagement.

Looking For Elementary Mathematics Teachers’ Common Core-Focused Instruction, Jonathan Bostic, Gabriel T. Matney

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This manuscript describes six elementary teachers’ instructional changes through the lens of the Standards for Mathematical Practices (SMPs). Teachers were randomly selected from a larger sample of K-5 teachers who engaged in yearlong professional development targeting the SMPs. Videos of their pre- and post-professional development programs were examined using a SMPs-focused protocol. They overwhelmingly provided more opportunities for students to engage in the SMPs after the professional development experience. We connect this impression with ways to effectively foster elementary teachers’ SMP-focused instructional practices through professional development.

Supporting K-10 Teachers' Instructional Changes To Promote The Standards For Mathematical Practice, Gabriel T. Matney, Jonathan Bostic

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This manuscript describes two cohorts of teachers’ instructional changes through the lens of the Standards for Mathematical Practices (SMPs). These teachers participated in a yearlong professional development program targeting the SMPs. Videos of their pre- and postprofessional development programs were examined using a SMPs-focused protocol. They offered more opportunities for students to engage in the SMPs after the professional development experience than before the professional development. We connect this impression with ways to effectively foster elementary, middle, and secondary teachers’ SMP-focused instructional practices through professional development.

Social Media For Informal Science Learning In China: A Case Study, Ke Zhang, Fei Gao

Visual Communications and Technology Education Faculty Publications

This article reports a case study on a popular informal science learning community via social media in China, named GuoKr (meaning “nutshell” in English). Data were collected through a variety of Chinese social media and social networking sites, web-based community portals, and discussion boards. Content analyses and data mining were conducted to investigate how GuoKr successfully attracted and engaged public in informal learning on scientific topics in particular. The study found three key characteristics that contributed to the success of such learning communities: (a) utilizing a variety of social media to empower participants with just-in-time, accidental learning opportunities; (b) daily …

Exploring The Use Of Discussion Strategies And Labels In Asynchronous Online Discussion, Fei Gao

Visual Communications and Technology Education Faculty Publications

Drawing on research in both constrained online discussion environments and strategy instruction, this approach combines explicit instruction on discussion strategies with the use of post type labels. In a trial of this approach in an online course, students actively used the discussion strategies and post type labels in their discussion. Analysis of student posts and survey responses suggested that students in the experimental group used discussion strategies more frequently after the intervention as compared to the control group and perceived that this approach positively impacted their discussions. In addition, there is a certain degree of improvement in the quality of …

Development Of Professional Identity Through Socialization In Graduate School, Debora L. Liddell, Maureen E. Wilson, Kira Pasquesi, Amy S. Hirschy, Kathleen M. Boyle

Higher Education and Student Affairs Faculty Publications

Professional identity is one outcome of successful socialization. The purpose of this study was to understand how socialization in graduate programs contributes to the development of professional identity for new professionals in student affairs. Via survey, we found significant relationships between program qualities, standards, activities, and experiences and measures of professional identity. Out-of-class experiences were perceived to have a strong influence than in-class experiences. Implications for graduate preparation programs and supervisors are discussed.

An Assessment Of The College Of Technology, Architecture And Applied Engineering’S Master Of Technology Management Degree Program, Quality Systems Specialization, At Bowling Green State University, Alan Powers

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to give a background and assessment of the quality specialization of the Master’s degree presently being awarded at Bowling Green State University’s College of Technology, Architecture, and Applied Engineering compared to other degrees of a similar type. The program now awarding the degree is described. The literature review discusses topics and ideas pertinent to the project and is necessary to better understand the research and assessment of the degree. The methodology and procedure section identifies the course of investigation and defines what form the gathered data will take. The Results chapter presents the findings …

Universal Design For Learning At The Toledo Museum Of Art: Mobile Learning Guide, Katie Hatch

Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology Plan II Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a mobile learning guide based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles that would help the casual visitor understand and engage with objects or exhibits located in the Toledo Museum of Art’s Classic Court. Adhering to the UDL principles (i.e., providing multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement), the guide showcased four artifacts in the gallery. The contents of the mobile learning guide included an orientation to the guide and the four artifacts highlighted within, an introduction to visual literacy, and a chapter for each artifact, containing information organized thematically. …

Improving Enrollment In The Construction Management Graduate Program Through Students’ Perspectives, Mouloud Messaoudi

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

Low enrollment and the decrease in graduation and retention rates are challenges facing the growth of the Master’s in Technology Management – Construction Management (MTM-CM) program at BGSU. In addition, the competition between the universities to enroll and retain more in-state, out-of-state, and international students is aggressive. There is a need for a revaluation for the MTM-CM program in order to attract more students in the future. This study is a necessary step to know what the MTM-CM students think about the product delivered to them at BGSU. There was no prior study investigating the satisfaction level of the construction …

Promoting Freedom Through Problem-Based Learning, Jonathan Bostic, Brooks Vostal, Brady Ruffer

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional tool for encouraging active thinking about realistic problems and making sense of them through multiple content-focused lenses. It also has the power to bring faculty together in support of academic and social goals for students. Using a case-study approach, we share the story of a rural school district’s faculty and administrators who decided to implement a school-wide, week-long PBL activity. We focus on the social studies component of the PBL activity, describing the initial decisions teachers made to create this project, the planning teachers completed throughout the semester leading up to it, and students’ …

Deepening Teachers’ Understandings Of Mathematical And Pedagogical Connectedness, Gabriel T. Matney

School of Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

In this paper, I will describe the findings and perspectives of one group of teachers who recently completed the Walk-Across task and share my views on the implications of these findings for those who lead professional developments focused on the CCSSM.

The Benefits Of Music: An Exploration Of Music In Core-Curriculum Classrooms, Courtney Froehlich

Honors Projects

Inspired by research that establishes the benefits of using music in the teaching and learning of non-music subjects, this creative honors project provides sample lesson plans for music, math, and English teachers in grades K-8 that use musical activities to teach math and English concepts. Sample lesson plans are grouped by subject and grade levels, and underlying concepts of each plan are identified. Part One includes lesson plans that combine and draw connections between music and math concepts; Part Two includes lesson plans that combine and draw connections between music and English concepts. Within each part, plans are designed for …

Henry's Big Adventure, Kelly Rippeth

Honors Projects

I have written and illustrated a children’s book as well as planned a selection of lesson plans that can be used in addition to the book titled Henry’s BIG Adventure. Illustrated children’s books are very valuable to the development of children by aiding in comprehension. According to Mary Renck Jalongo, author of Young Children and Picture Books, children can learn so much from reading stories, even fiction ones. Henry’s BIG Adventure centers on a young boy who finds an old photo album with pictures of several places he has never been before. The album leads him on a big …

Integrating Math And Language Arts In The Classroom, Emilee Blake

Honors Projects

This is a unit outline with detailed lesson plans and a reflection. It is a unit teaching about adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators for fourth grade students. The unit focuses on incorporating language arts in the math classroom focusing on reading, writing, and speaking.

The Effects Of Inquiry Problems On Students Construction Of Mathematical Reasoning And Viable Arguments, Georgia Ike

Honors Projects

This research study addressed the inquiry problem solving technique and its effects on students’ ability to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. The participants included six classes of secondary mathematics students. In order to answer the question “How do inquiry-based problems worked on outside of class time affect the students’ ability to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others?” the research method involved noting how often different types of responses were used in class discussion, administering and evaluating an inquiry based assignment, observing students’ presentations and explanations of reasoning to the class, and interviewing students …

Active Learning In The Science Classroom, Amber Mathias

Honors Projects

This study focused on at active learning and how it affects student attitude and achievement in college level biology courses. A Biology Attitude Survey was administered at the beginning and middle of the semester to determine if student’s attitude towards biology improved from the active learning setting. The student’s attitude was also assessed from a classroom format survey containing questions about the benefits of undergraduate Learning Assistants and the active learning classroom format. These attitudinal measures were then compared with student’s achievement in biology by looking at their midterm grade, pre-test and post-test assessment scores. The ANOVA revealed that students …

Effects Of Altering Student Seating Position On Student Learning In An 8th Grade Mathematics Classroom, Rebecca Szparagowski

Honors Projects

There is a general lack of research on how altering student seating positions in middle and high school classrooms can affect students’ performance in learning the classroom content. In this study I aimed to create a seating position chart to optimize student learning through cooperative learning groups. Student seating positions in two classes were altered with two different methods to compare the effects on students learning and belief in learning