Education Commons^™

The Effectiveness Of Using Speech-To-Text Technology To Support Writing Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Jennifer Adams

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of using Speech Recognition (SR) technology to create more cohesive writing for students with learning disabilities as compared to the use of paper and pencil. Six students with IEPs from general education classrooms, ages 7 years old to 9 years old, participated in this study.

Prior to the start of this study, the subjects completed a baseline assessment to measure their expressive writing abilities in response to a narrative prompt. The students were required to include a topic sentence, beginning, middle, and end, and demonstrate understanding of the conventions of writing. There was not a …

Aggression And Self Injurious Behaviors: The Effects Of Behavior Interventions In Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tara Buck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two behavioral interventions of young adults with Autism spectrum disorder that present with aggressive and self-injurious behavior. The results were analyzed to determine the successes and comparisons of the interventions to decrease challenging behaviors. The participants were two young adult male students diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder, both use an AAC device as their primary means of communication. Data was collected using a reversal (A-B-A-B) study design, with collection during a baseline phase, intervention phase one, reversal withdrawal of intervention phase two and re-implementation of intervention phase three. The …

Spelling Instruction For Students With Learning Disabilities, Rebecca Grochowicz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the success of phonetic-based and memory-based spelling instruction on students with learning disabilities. This study implemented a pretest-posttest design. The participants were six learning disabled second grade students in a resource room setting. All participants were performing below grade level in Language Arts and Reading. Data was collected during a baseline phase, intervention phase, and post-intervention phase. Students were taught list spelling words using both phonetic-based and memory-based strategies on alternating weeks. Their weekly progress and retention rates were recorded and compared to the baseline data. Overall, the results of the study …

The Disproportionate Representation Of Minorities In Special Education, Rasuwl Medina

Theses and Dissertations

Students throughout the United States are promised that individuals who enter the U.S. educational system are placed on an even playing field and that each student will be given equitable treatment within the school they attend. Furthermore, students are assured that studying and learning class material will determine not only their placement within school but the success they will have in life. Despite this long held belief, research and demographic breakdowns of special education placement within the U.S. suggests minorities are disproportionately placed into special education (de Valenzuela, Copeland, & Qi, 2006). This finding is in concert with the already …

Vocabulary Gamification Vs Traditional Learning Instruction In An Inclusive High School Classroom, Diana Nahmod

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vocabulary quiz scores when Kahoot! game-based response system was implemented as a competitive game for vocabulary review, alternating with a traditional review worksheet. The study was conducted in a public high school in Monmouth County, NJ across two 10th grade English classrooms with general education and special education students ranging in age from 15-16 years old who reside in Central New Jersey. Vocabulary quizzes were administered weekly over twelve weeks. Participants in this study consisted of 36 general education students and 14 special education students. Results of the study …

Using Discrete Trial To Teach Functional Play Skills, Courtney Marie Furtaw

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects that discrete trial training could have on the functional play skills of four male preschool students diagnosed with autism. In order to determine the effectiveness of discrete trial training as an intervention, baseline data was first collected for two weeks on the four students through observations of a thirty minute group playtime in the morning of their MD preschool classroom. The baseline data demonstrated that all four students were only engaging in functional play for a limited amount of time. Next, a discrete trial training program was created for each individual student focusing on functional …

The Impact Of Mindfulness Exercises On The Verbal Reactive Behaviors Of Students Identified With Significant Behavioral And Emotional Difficulties, Nicole Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mindfulness exercises such as counting and breathing on the reactive verbal behaviors of students who are identified as having significant behavioral and emotional difficulties. The six participants were fifth and seventh grade students who were instructed in the self-contained classroom for emotional support a minimum of three class periods daily. Mindfulness exercises were practiced twice daily for a period of three to five minutes for twenty days. Data was collected on each participant prior to, during and after the intervention implementation. The independent variable was the mindfulness exercises employed. …

Yoga And Mindfulness In The Inclusion Classroom, Maria Petruzzelli

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the effectiveness of implementing mindfulness and yoga techniques in two sections of fourth grade inclusion language arts classes. More specifically, this paper examines the effectiveness of yoga and mindfulness techniques on the frequency of off-task behaviors and academic achievement. It was hypothesized that off-task behaviors would occur less frequently and that academic performance in writing would improve after a yoga and mindfulness intervention was implemented.

Using a pre-post no-control design, thirty-six students, eighteen per class, from a public elementary school in Southern New Jersey participated in this investigation. Baseline and post implementation data were collected using On-Demand …

The Effects Of Using Digital Texts On Chromebooks On The Reading Comprehension And Academic Engagement Of Elementary School Students With Learning Disabilities In The Inclusive Classroom, Kimberly Michelle Milchanoski-Bach

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of digital texts on Chromebooks as an assistive technology to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities in an inclusive classroom. Specifically, the study examined (a) the effectiveness of using digital texts on Chromebooks on reading comprehension, (b) the effectiveness of digital texts on Chromebooks to improve engagement and on-task behavior of students with learning disabilities, and (c) student satisfaction using digital texts in the inclusive classroom. Students displayed variation in performance on comprehension and academic engagement throughout the intervention. Findings suggest that digital texts may hinder the comprehension …

The Effects Of Graphic Organizers To Identify Main Idea And Supporting Details In Informational Text On Students With Learning Disabilities, Heather Coombs

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of graphic organizers to identify main idea and supporting details in informational text on students with learning disabilities. The participants were eight 6th grade students classified with learning disabilities in reading. This study implemented an ABAB design. Data was collected during the Baseline (A1), Intervention (B1), Baseline (A2), and Intervention (B2) phases. The independent variable for this study was the utilization of a graphic organizer to assist in identifying main idea and supporting details, as well as reading comprehension. The dependent variables were student identification of main idea and supporting …

The Effects Of Classical Music On Children With Learning Disabilities In A Sixth Grade Mathematics Classroom, Amy C. Mckeever

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) determine if sixth grade students would improve their math performance (in areas of staying on task, focusing, and completing work) while classical music was being played, (b) determine if students will report they feel differently and more successful in the mathematics classroom while classical music was being played, and (c) determine if students with learning disabilities will improve their mathematical performance (in areas of staying on task, focusing, and completing work) while classical music is being played. In this study, there were 19 students. The results show that classical music had …

Success Of Secondary Special Education Students Outside Of Classroom In Integrated Occupational Learning Environments, Erik Yost

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to highlight the benefits of vocational work outside of the classroom for special education students, primarily those who are in enrolled in secondary school. It also questions how effective a vocational setting is compared to a traditional classroom setting for special education students nearing the end of their initial educational track. It was hypothesized that special education students, primarily enrolled in secondary or high school, benefit from a learning environment outside of a normalized classroom setting due to the first-hand experience gained in a real-world setting is more conducive to long-term success after completing …

Using Classdojo To Promote Positive Behaviors And Decrease Negative Behaviors In The Classroom, Abigail Marquis Saeger

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, ClassDojo, a digital behavior management tool, was used in a classroom of second grade students. The purpose was to determine whether the application in conjunction with weekly goal setting could encourage students to display more positive behaviors and decrease the frequency of undesired behaviors. The participants in this study were 19 second grade students ranging from 7 years in age to 8 years in age, the mean age being 8 years old. Nine students were identified by their previous grade's teacher as low performing in literacy, math, or both, three were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder …

Effects Of Class-Wide Positive Behavior Supports On The Academics Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Valerie Ann Budd

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a classwide positive behavior support (CWPBS) plan on the behavior and academic performance of students in a basic skills math and science classroom. The study utilized an ABA withdrawal design to investigate the impact of a CWPBS on student engagement/time on-task and student attention seeking behaviors. Furthermore, the study investigated the satisfaction of basic skills students with the CWPBS. Results of the study reveal that four out of the six participants reduced off-task behaviors, and similarly, four of the six student participants demonstrated an increase in classwork completion with …

The Effect Of Implementation Of The Developmental Designs For Middle School (Ddms) Program On The Social Skills Of 7th Grade Students, Emmalene Hall Probst

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of implementing the Developmental Designs for Middle School (DDMS) program on the school connectedness of students with and without special needs in a seventh grade inclusion class in a middle school in a suburban community in southern New Jersey. Of the 23 participants in the study, 10 were students with special needs who were eligible for special education services and had individual education plans (IEPs). Of those 10 students, four qualified for IEPs under Other Health Impaired, four qualified under Multiply Disabled, and two qualified under Specific Learning Disability. The other thirteen students were general …

The Effects Of Interactive Word Walls On Students With Learning Disabilities In The Secondary Science Classroom, Casey Elizabeth Eustace-Debaun

Theses and Dissertations

Effective approaches for teaching vocabulary to various populations of learners is a topic of current research (Barr, Eslami, & Malatesha, 2012) yet little research is dedicated to students with learning disabilities in the science classroom. Within this study the interactive word wall was used as a tool to build vocabulary and to encourage usage of new subject-specific terminology. The experiment utilized quasi-experimental pre-post test comparison group design using interrupted time-series (Johnson & Christiensen, 2007) due to the inability to randomize participants and establish a clear control group. The data was collected across four units of terminology and with a student …

Effectiveness Of Electronic Visual Schedules On Task Completion And Independent Transitioning Of Adolescents With Developmental Disabilities, Katarina Radi

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents with developmental disabilities are often unable to navigate single daily tasks without depending on verbal prompts. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of electronic visual schedules on task completion and independent transitioning from one task to another. Four high school students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders participated. A single subject multiple baseline design was used for the study. During the baseline, students followed a paper based daily schedule. Independence in task completion and transitioning were measured. During the intervention, an application, First Then Visual Schedule High Definition, on an iPod was provided for each student. …

The Effectiveness Of Using Self-Monitoring, In Conjunction With A School-Wide Positive Behavior Support System, To Increase On-Task Behavior And Academic Performance Of Alternative High School Students With Disabilities, Joseph Wojceichowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to: (a) examine the effectiveness of using self-monitoring in conjunction with SWPBS to increase on-task behavior, (b) examine the effectiveness of using self-monitoring in conjunction with SWPBS to increase academic performance of alternative high school students with disabilities, and (c) evaluate if students are pleased with self-monitoring in conjunction with SWPBS. Five alternative high school students classified with a variety of disabilities participated in this study. Using a single subject ABAB design, the intervention was implemented for 40 minute class periods in a pull-out replacement classroom. During Baseline 1 & 2, the special education …

The Effects Of Kahoot! On Vocabulary Acquisition And Retention Of Students With Learning Disabilities And Other Health Impairments, Kathryn Elizabeth Ciaramella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Kahoot! on vocabulary acquisition, evaluate the effect of Kahoot! on vocabulary retention, and determine student satisfaction with using Kahoot! as an intervention. The seven sixth grade students participating in the study were classified with a learning disability or other health impairment and received instruction in a pull-out replacement language arts classroom. A single subject multiple baseline across participants design was utilized. During the baseline phase, data was collected to determine the percentage of vocabulary words each student acquired and retained. During the intervention phase, data was again collected and …

Fire Safety Training Using Video Modeling In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amy Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Studies on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show limited research on topics involving safety, especially those that relate to fire evacuation procedures. Current research provides minimal information for understanding and practicing fire safety procedures. This topic requires more research to ensure that these children are able to understand and follow safety procedures during a fire to prevent and reduce injury and death. The research questions advanced in the study were: 1) Is video modeling an effective approach for teaching fire safety skills to children with ASD? 2) Does the teaching approach result in generalization of fire safety skills in …

The Effectiveness Of The Mnemonic Keyword Strategy On Math Vocabulary Learning For Students With Learning Disabilities, Lily Siegel

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to investigate (a) the impact of the mnemonic keyword strategy on the acquisition of mathematical vocabulary of students with learning disabilities, (b) the impact of the mnemonic keyword strategy on the retention of mathematical vocabulary of students with learning disabilities, and (c) the level of satisfaction that students with learning disabilities have with the mnemonic keyword method. Seven sixth grade students with learning disabilities participated in this study, which utilized a multiple baseline across participants design. During the baseline and mnemonic keyword intervention phases, students completed weekly assessments to measure their acquisition of mathematical …

The Effects Of Multisensory Phonics Instruction On The Fluency And Decoding Skills Of Students With Learning Disabilities In A Middle School Resource Classroom, Angela Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was: (a) to determine the effects of a multisensory phonics instruction approach on students with learning disabilities in a middle school resource room, and (b) to ascertain the impact of phonics instruction at the middle school level for fluency and decoding performance for this particular population. This study utilized a single subject multiple baseline across participants design. Study results show students demonstrated a large increase in performance in both fluency rate and decoding accuracy. The average growth for fluency rate was 35% and the average growth for decoding accuracy among students was 24%. Analyses revealed …

The Effectiveness Of The Flipped Classroom For Students With Learning Disabilities In An Algebra I Resource Setting, Ashley Butterick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was: (a) to examine the effectiveness of using the flipped classroom model to improve the academic scores of students with a specific learning disabilities (SLD), (b) to examine the effectiveness of using the flipped classroom to improve rates of homework completion by students with a SLD and (c) to evaluate student satisfaction and perception of the flipped classroom intervention. Five high school students, four males and one female, with a SLD participated in the study. A single subject ABAB design was used. During the baseline phases, students received Algebra I instruction through a traditional classroom …

The Effects Of Daily Yoga Practice On The Academic Engagement And Achievement Of Middle School Students In A Special Education Classroom, Ellen C. Sternberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of daily yoga on the academic engagement and achievement of middle school students in a small group special education classroom. A single subject design with four phases was used. Students participated in daily yoga practice followed by a social studies class period. Engagement data was tracked through tallies across all phases. Academic achievement was assessed through vocabulary matching, multiple choice, and map quizzes given weekly. Additionally, students participated in a Likert scale based survey to assess their satisfaction with the daily participation in yoga. Results from this study suggest that …

The Effect Of Classwide Peer Tutoring On The Academic Performance And Critical Thinking Of Students With Learning Disabilities In An Urban Middle School Inclusion Social Studies Classroom, Andrew Robert Goulburn

Theses and Dissertations

This single subject study utilized an ABAB design to investigate the effect of Classwide Peer Tutoring (CWPT) on vocabulary acquisition and critical thinking. Three special education students in an urban middle school social studies classroom participated in the study. During the intervention phases of this ten week study, students participated in CWPT sessions prior to taking ten questions quizzes consisting of eight vocabulary and two critical thinking questions. Students took turns performing the roles of tutor and tutee. The results of the present study demonstrated small growth in the group means for both vocabulary and critical thinking. Individual results varied …

The Effects Of The Online Game Kahoot On Science Vocabulary Acquisition, Joseph Pede

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the online game Kahoot on science vocabulary acquisition of students with learning disabilities in a middle school inclusion physical science classroom. Specifically, this study investigated (a) student science vocabulary acquisition, (b) student focus and on task behavior, and (c) student satisfaction using the online game Kahoot. Vocabulary acquisition was measured in terms of weekly vocabulary assessments. Six middle school students, three males and three females, participated in this study. A single subject design with ABAB phases was utilized. Results show that all students increased their vocabulary assessment scores when …

Utilization Of A School Specific Intervention Manual To Increase Teacher Perceptions Of The I&Rs Process And Reduce Special Education Referrals, Jacqueline Jade Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

One of the primary purposes of the Intervention and Referral Services (I & RS) process is to assist school staff in addressing students' learning, behavior, or health needs (N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1 [a]). This study sought to improve I & RS process and student outcomes in a southern New Jersey elementary school that services students from grades Pre-Kindergarten through second grade. At the outset of the study, school administrators reported that an area of need was to formulate an intervention resource for the school's I & RS committee and teaching staff. It was determined that an online/interactive intervention manual would be created …

Effects Of Self-Regulated Strategy Development On The Persuasive Essay Writing Of Seventh Grade Students With Disabilities, Amanda Scrivani

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) on the persuasive essay writing of seventh grade students with disabilities. Specifically the study analyzed the effects of SRSD on (a) essay length, (b) number of essay parts, and (c) essay quality. In addition, student satisfaction with SRSD was evaluated for social validity. Eight seventh grade students, seven male and one female, participated in the study. All students were classified with either learning disabilities (LD) or other health impairment (OHI). A single-subject multiple baseline across participants design was used. During the baseline phase, students wrote …

The Effect Of The Video Game Quizlet On The Acquisition Of Science Vocabulary For Children With Learning Disabilities, Kelsey Claire Donovan

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were (a) to determine if using the video learning game Quizlet in a middle school resource classroom increases science vocabulary acquisition of students with learning disabilities, (b) to determine if using the video learning game Quizlet in a middle school resource classroom increases the student engagement/on-task behavior of students with learning disabilities, and (c) to evaluate student comfort and satisfaction in using the video learning game Quizlet in a middle school resource classroom. Six middle school students, three female and three male participated in the study. A single subject design with ABAB phases was utilized …

Can Sensory Strategies Reduce Tantruming To Increase Positive Familial Interactions?, Deborah Stacy Maule

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of sensory strategies in relation to a child's success in regards to enjoyment of his or her family life. This study was based on the sensory struggles of one little boy who spent much of his time tantruming. This was possibly due to his inability to self-calm so that he could find success instead of strife within his home environment.

This study took place over fifteen Early Intervention home visits in southern New Jersey, and parental questionnaires were referenced each time to note progress or regression in areas pertinent to the child's social emotional and …