The Technology Students Prefer For Their Learning, Lisa Allen

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to find out if students want to use technology in their learning and what that looks like. The research question guiding this study was “How do students think technology should be used in their learning?” Technology is in all aspects of our lives, including education. Technology promotes powerful learning experiences for students and teachers. There is an abundant amount of technology options for students to use for their learning. In many instances, the teacher will determine the technology tool or resource that will be used by the students. Students are seldom given …

Adequate Use Of Technology And Effects On Young Children, Jackie Breuer

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This paper reviews literature about technology use in young children and the positive effects it may have, along with consequences and recommendations. Young children are able to access technology easily and use it for many reasons. Using technology responsibly and for educational will help maintain young children’s health and safety. Supervision and interaction is key when young children use technology. Young children spend a lot of time on technology which can have adverse effects such as physical health issues, mental health issues and social interaction problems. When children use it for educational purposes the work should be monitored and the …

Does The Use Of Bell Ringers As Formative Assessments Affect Student Retention Of Knowledge In A Third Grade Science Classroom?, Cari Herbst

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This research study explored if the use of daily bell ringers used as formative assessments increased student achievement in science. The study analyzed the effect daily bell ringers had on student summative assessment scores in a third grade science classroom. Data collection included summative assessments from a control group taught without daily bell ringers and the test group taught with daily bell ringers. The data and analysis showed there was an increase in the average class scores and amount of student’s proficient with the implementation of daily bell ringers.

This research study explored if the use of daily bell ringers …

The Impact Of Project-Based Learning In The Secondary Classroom, Alan Kies

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

How to increase student engagement in the classroom and prepare the students for the future are questions that teachers have been pondering for decades. Over the years, many different student-centered teaching methods have been introduced to varying degrees of success. This literature review investigates one of the student-centered teaching methods that has been shown to have positive benefits for students in secondary classrooms, project-based learning (PBL). In a PBL unit or lesson, the students are investigating a real-world question or problem and then presenting their learning in a final project. Through the creation of the final product, the students will …

Student-Centered Collaborative Classrooms And Critical Thinking Skills, Becky Leonard

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research was to determine if implementing a student-centered, collaborative classroom would have a positive effect on student critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Data was collected at six points during the study. Three set were collected prior to the intervention and three sets were collected after. After analyzing the data, the research suggests that students working in peer collaborative groups can have a positive impact of their problem-solving strategies and improve their critical thinking skills.

Sight Words And Phonics: The Connection That Helps Early Elementary Students Read Fluently, Stephanie Mulder

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if combining phonics and memorized vocabulary words into the reading instruction for Tier 2 students would increase fluency speed. For six weeks the researcher introduced Dolch sight words according to grade level to Tier 2 students. This was done in addition to the typical phonics instruction done in the general education classroom and Tier 2 resource room. At the beginning of each week students were given a list of 20 new vocabulary words. Throughout the week, students were asked to use these words in sentences, find them in books, and …

Do Upper Elementary Students Have Higher Grades When They Complete Their Homework?, Kristie A. Olson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research study takes a look at the question, Do upper elementary students have higher grades when they complete their homework? Data was collected from forty-seven fifth grade students for a three-week period in five academic areas. Students are challenged to complete their homework and have three or less missing or late assignments to earn a reward. Homework completion is compared to the student’s first quarter grades. There is discussion of different factors that affect homework completion from the point of view of the teacher, parent and student.

Opportunities To Respond In An Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom, Courtney Schauf

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if providing students with opportunities to respond resulted in positive student behavior. The researcher conducted the study in an inclusive preschool classroom including students on Individualized Education Plan’s (IEP) and English Language Learners (ELL). The intent of the study was to reduce the amount of negative behaviors in order to provide students with more instructional time and less time addressing unwanted behaviors.

Kagan Strategies In The Preschool Classroom And Their Effectiveness With Engagement And Academic Response, Megan Smith

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research was to determine the impact of Kagan cooperative learning practices on academic growth in a preschool classroom. Participants were four and five year olds in a half-day preschool program in an urban setting. Students were a mix of household incomes as well as students who are English language learners. Quantitative data was collected using the Get Set for School assessment. Data was collected after ten small group sessions for 50 sessions. For each group of sessions, a different Kagan engagement strategy was utilized and the Get Set for School assessment was given to track …

The Effects Of Setting Goals On Accelerated Reader, Austin King

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if sixth grade English and language arts (ELA) and reading students’ reading habits are due solely to Accelerated Reader (AR) point mandates by their classroom teachers and if by allowing them to set their own reading goals, whether or not they will be able to attain an equal or greater amount of AR points. Rather than be given a minimum number of AR points for a quarter which would then be input to the grade book, students were asked to create self-set goals based on their final fifth grade quarter …

Video Self-Modeling, Reading Aloud, Or Silent Reading: Effects Of Strategies On Fluency, Rebekah J. Vande Kamp

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research is to explore the most effective strategy for children to engage in during Read to Self to increase their fluency. Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and expression; and is an important aspect of being a successful reader. In this study, three 2nd grade classes will engage in different Read to Self strategies. One class will be doing silent reading. Another class will be reading their books aloud to themselves. A third class will be using video self-modeling, which is recording themselves reading their books out loud on Chromebooks and watching …

Does Daily Exposure Through The Use Of Nursery Rhymes Better Support Students’ Phonological Awareness Skill Development?, Jordan Redig

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine the best way to help students develop phonological awareness skills. It seeks to answer these questions: Can the use of nursery rhymes help to develop phonological awareness skills in preschool? Will the use of nursery rhymes help students learn to listen and hear the play with words, and therefore understand the concepts of phonological awareness with ease? If there is phonological awareness practice that is routinely embedded daily into the classroom schedule, will student notice the key skills quicker and develop the concept deeper than students’ develop in the past who have …

How Does The Use Of Visuals Affect Challenging Behaviors In The Preschool Classroom?, Shadley Grimes

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Children with autism (ASD) are being included increasingly in the general education setting for preschool. This brings with it unique challenges as these children often are significantly discrepant from their peers in their communication abilities, both receptively and expressively. Beyond communication, ASD affects the child’s joint attention skills, necessary for observational learning and sharing social experiences, each of which are significant elements in a typical preschool setting. These delays lead the child to frustration, which can be expressed in aggression, disruption, and other challenging behaviors. These behaviors negatively affect the student’s ability to participate in preschool activities, make friends, and …

The Power Of Intentional Planning, Brittany Busch

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research is to give teachers meaning and action to the word intentional. Interventions were used to support early childhood educators in improving the intentionality of their lesson planning and instruction. The interventions included a systematic planning tool, a resource binder, and a model through professional development. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected through an electronic survey of teachers both before and after the intervention. Quantitative data was collected through a rubric rating lesson plans on specific characteristics before, during, and after the intervention. Analysis of the data collected revealed when intentionality is well-defined and trained, …

Play In Early Childhood, Keri Griswold

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review looks at play in early childhood education and why play is important for early learners. The review looks at the history of play and the benefits that play has on brain development, as well as defining play. Adults play an important role in play, as does the early childhood learning environment. Early learners develop their critical thinking skills and their social and emotional skills through play. The curriculum that is offered to early learners should revolve around play but should ensure that they are being provided the opportunity to learn about the outdoors, math, reading, and all …

Relationship Between Movement And Student Behaviors, Amy L. Ackerman

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine the relationship between movement opportunities and student behaviors, specifically off-task behaviors. Participants were twenty-five, four and five-year-olds in a public, inclusive, half-day preschool setting. Data was collected through observation during a ten-minute end of the day large group meeting for six weeks. Various movement opportunities were provided ranging from no breaks, ten-minute in-classroom brain breaks, and fifteen-minute gross-motor recess breaks. Any reminders given to attend to the large group meeting were recorded and later analyzed to suggest that movement opportunities affect student behaviors in a positive manner.

Increasing Family Involvement With The Use Of Technology, Briana Riddle

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if the use of an online application could increase parental involvement, more specifically communication, in a prekindergarten setting. Data was collected through quantitative means using a tally system for each occurrence of communication and which method was used. The classroom setting consist of two groups of students, an AM and a PM group. One class had the application made available to them, along with the other forms of communication, while the other class only had the basic forms of communication (e-mail, face-to-face, or phone calls) available. Analysis of the data …

The Effectiveness Of Project-Based Learning In The Science Classroom, Jordan Tegrootenhuis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine the effect of project-based learning on middle school science students. A science classroom was taught with a traditional method for a unit and data was collected to be measured for growth. Then another class was taught with project-based learning on the same unit with data collected to measure their growth. Analysis of the data collected suggests that while both strategies are effective in providing growth of knowledge, project-based learning showed a greater growth within special education, at risk, and ESL students.

Investigating The Potential Of The Flipped Classroom Model In Secondary Mathematics, Allison Birdsall

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review investigates the effectiveness of the flipped classroom model in secondary mathematics classes, specifically the types of modifications and strategies teachers have used to help improve student motivation and academic success. The use and availability of technology in the classroom keeps increasing. Many classrooms now have access to tools and resources that they could only dream about ten years ago. Educators have adapted teaching styles and strategies to align with the new growth of technology. With so many technology options now available to students and teachers, the flipped classroom model offers flexibility to adapt the learning to the …

Effects Of Instruction On Basic Addition Fluency For Second Grade Students, Heidi Borton

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research is to determine the effect of instruction on basic addition fluency. The Number Corner curriculum was used to instruct, supplement, and assess students’ ability to increase their addition facts per minute. A sample of 22 students participated in this action research study. There were several programs including Scout Them Out, Quick Facts, and other activities assigned by the curriculum, that helped make up the whole intervention. This took place in scheduled increments over a three-month period. The study gathers qualitative data which helped determine that the curriculum was successful in helping students increase their …

Academic And Musical Success By Gender Separation, Adam Radcliffe

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review presents the history of the traditional American coeducational classroom, studies regarding the results and benefits of implementing gender-separated classrooms, and the discussion of how music education classrooms could find value in the research relating to gender separation. With the allowance of increased studies regarding single-sex versus coeducational classrooms in the United States since the early 2000s, more researchers are aiming to understand what setting is most advantageous for students and their overall academic experience. The literature review will present information from scholarly-based articles, research study findings, and other reputable sources that highlight the statistical results and overall …

Flexible Alternative Seating In The Classroom And On Task Behavior, Brandi Benedict

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review explores the impact that alternative flexible seating has on student achievement and on task behavior in the classroom environment. The presented method of classroom arrangement offers options for students to select the best environment for their needs and provides measurable improvement in academic achievement. This literature review contains scholarly based articles, journals, and other information from dependable sources to explore a detailed look and explanation of how flexible alternative seating can impact and change the behavior and achievement of students in a general education setting.

Intentional Teaching In Kindergarten: Combining Academic Instruction And Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Amy Borkowski

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review explores the perceived dichotomy in kindergarten between child-centered, developmentally appropriate practices and teacher-directed, academic instruction. Long-held beliefs about child development have dominated the field of early childhood education for well over a century, but new research, legislative mandates, and academic standards have dramatically changed the landscape of education in the kindergarten year. Literature from scholarly journals and academic texts will be examined, revealing how kindergarten has changed over time, the impact that various factors have had on driving that change, and what educators should consider as they strive to provide intentional instruction in kindergarten.

Effects Of Print In Early Childhood Programs, Marcie Lentsch

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This paper will discuss the effects of print on early childhood classrooms. The first goal was to determine if referencing print during read alouds would increase foundational literacy skills. The second goal, was to identify if implementing the Sit Together and Read (S.T.A.R.) framework would increase emergent literacy skills with three, four and five year olds students. Two early childhood classrooms from the same school district were included in the study. One classroom embedded print references and the S.T.A.R. framework during repeated read alouds. The other classroom continued with normal read aloud routines. Data was analyzed using the Early Literacy …

Effectiveness Of Growth Mindset In The Classroom, Amanda Feller

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review discusses how effective a growth mindset can be in the classroom. The review begins by exploring the differences in fixed mindsets and growth mindsets. Fixed mindsets believe an individual is naturally talented or gifted, while growth mindsets believe that individuals can grow their ability or talent. This review discusses studies that have proved the importance of a growth mindset in literacy, mathematics and science classrooms. It then continues to give recommendations for fostering a growth mindset in the classroom to ensure learners are working at the best of their ability and achieving their goals.

The Effects Of Second Step In A Prekindergarten Classroom, Victoria Brandenburg

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research project was conducted to determine if using Second Step social emotional learning program would affect the frequency of negative behaviors in a preschool class. The lead teacher and associate were trained in Second Step social emotional learning. Second Step was implemented in the preschool class for three weeks. Qualitative data was collected from teacher interviews. Quantitative data was collected from behavior logs, behavior reports and researcher observations. The data was entered in a table and the data was used to determine if negative behavior decreased after implementing Second Step curriculum. After analyzing the data and teacher interviews, …

Using Music And Movement To Enhance Cognitive Development, Bobbie Jo Pogue

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review explores the research done in the use of music and movement in enhancing cognitive development, focusing mainly on the early childhood setting. The demand on preschool students has increased over the years and many even say preschool is the new kindergarten. For many years, young students have been taught through song, movement and actions, listening to music, and how to play an instrument. These are all interrelated to helping enhance a child’s cognitive development. Teachers tend to be so focused on just the academic part of teaching, even in preschool, that they forget the importance of music …

Meeting The Needs Of The Brightest, Sheena Osborne

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The importance of ensuring that talented and gifted students’ needs are being met in the general education classroom is essential to not only their future, but also society’s future. Gifted students tend to be left in the shadows of high-stakes testing and the rest of their classmates’ needs due to a lack of understanding, in terms of their unique set of social emotional and academic needs. Differentiation is a necessity to ensure their needs are being met and these bright students are being push to the edge of their abilities. This literature review will focus on the importance of differentiation …

Effectiveness Of A Growth Mindset In Education, Sarah Zintz

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review explores the effectiveness of how a growth mindset can be instrumental to student's academic performance. Students who are able to persevere when given a difficult task are more likely to have success, than a student who feels intelligence is influenced by natural ability. Students with a fixed mindset are quick to give up when given a challenging task. Growth mindset and grit are a direct reflection of each other. This literature review consists of a study that was done to measure factors that would predict high school graduation. Results from the study were associated with both grit …

Love And Logic In The Classroom: Reshaping The Teacher-Student Culture, Erin Vande Kerk

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine how the implementation of Love and Logic strategies, learned in the Parenting the Love and Logic Way seminars, impact the classroom culture. Five weekly Parenting the Love and Logic Way sessions were attended, where such strategies were learned and then utilized within the classroom setting. The findings generally suggest that implementing such did have a positive impact on the teacher-student connection and classroom culture. Overall, conducting such implementation allowed for reflection, growth, and an increased awareness of the connection between teacher-student interaction and the classroom culture.