Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Promoting Inference-Making In A First Grade Classroom, Susan E. Flater

Graduate Research Papers

School-age children throughout their life experiences make inferences. Teachers can offer instruction and modeling in inference-making and opportunities for children to make inferences. As a result, children can become accustomed to bringing their prior knowledge to reading experiences, thus extending their thinking-language abilities.

Design, Development And Delivery Of Web-Based Instruction, Isabelle Cowden

Graduate Research Papers

The World Wide Web is becoming an increasingly popular medium for instructional delivery of distance education. Many colleges and universities are offering courses and complete programs of study via the web.

This Graduate Project: "Design, Development and Delivery of Web-based Instruction" includes a brief review of the literature indicating the widespread use of the web in distance education in higher education. It reflects the current practice of web-based instruction in the UNI Educational Technology program. It documents the project including the process for establishing a new section of a currently developed course. It is the intention through this project report …

Integrating Writing Across The Curriculum Enables Special Needs Students To Become Writers, Gretchen Peterson-Kobriger

Graduate Research Papers

Elementary students with language and learning disabilities became independent writers and readers after the classroom instruction changed from a teacher directed, segmented, skill deficit approach which is typically found in special education classrooms to a classroom which embraced whole language philosophies and provided students with the necessary conditions for learning written language. This paper describes the specific changes in teaching philosophy, instructional practices, methods, and strategies which were implemented in my classroom. It demonstrates how individual student challenges were met which enabled the students to increase their self-esteem and awareness of themselves as writers.

Class Size In The Primary School Years (Kindergarten - Grade Three), Tracy L. Goebel-Kelley

Graduate Research Papers

Studies of the effects of class size on children's learning have been conducted throughout the twentieth century involving nearly a million students. This article summarizes the professional literature on the effects of class size on primary grade children's learning and how it corresponds to the NAEYC's developmentally appropriate guidelines. Then, class size reduction policies such as hiring an additional teacher, implementing tutoring programs, or grouping students differently throughout the day to reduce class size during reading and math classes are presented. This article was written to help those who are involved in early childhood programs understand the many benefits that …

Electronic Job Searching : Suggestions For Educators, Jan Andreesen

Graduate Research Papers

The Internet offers an abundance of resources and information to the job seeker. Because of this great wealth of data, it is important educators are able to assist students in developing a path to take when utilizing the Internet as a job searching tool. When job searching using the Internet, students can go online to determine their interests, research various careers, research various companies, and research general and specific job listings using online job boards and online newspaper classifieds. The Internet also offers information on the various resume formats needed by today's job seeker. These resume formats include those that …

Looking At Children Looking At Art : Teacher Response To Aesthetic Journals In Art, Julie A. Alden

Graduate Research Papers

Although recent trends in art education emphasize a discipline based approach to instruction, the elementary art experience often focuses on the process components of art production, overlooking other significant areas of study (Adams, 1992; Garoian, 1988; Hickman, 1994 ). One way in which educators can help make art experiences more meaningful to students is to use response journals for viewing artwork. Educators have established the use of response journals as a worthy practice by providing students with opportunities to develop greater understanding of content material and by providing teachers with valuable insight into students thinking through shared dialogue (Hall, Crawford …

Designing And Implementing Successful Staff Development, Peggy A. Sheetz

Graduate Research Papers

What staff development factors are vital to ensure successful staff training for the integration of technology into the curriculum? What variability factors must be taken into account when planning and implementing staff development?

In theory, staff development should not take very long, and educators should be able to ascertain the meaning and directions that are given related to technology quite easily. However, the staff development that is thought out and executed well is the staff development opportunity that is effective. Effective staff development requires five factors: time, access, collaboration, training and implementation. Without these factors being considered, success will be …

Androgogy And K-12 Technology Staff Development : Towards Effective Practice, Craig Barnum

Graduate Research Papers

Many K-12 technology staff development programs are based upon pedagogical models. Adult learners require a different set of design and facilitation skills referred to as andragogy. The primary goal of adult education in any arena is to produce independent life long learners. This is particularly valuable in the ever changing realm of technology. To engage this task Knowles and Brookfield each identify six guiding principles that construct a framework for designers and facilitators of adult education programs to follow. The process of meaningfully integrating technology into the schools requires substantial change to current instructional methods. K-12 technology staff development designers …

Inclusion Of An Autistic Child Into A Self-Contained Third Grade Classroom, Arlene M. Belt

Graduate Research Papers

This article describes the disorder of autism in the spectrum of pervasive developmental disorders, the challenges that the autistic child faces, and the inclusion of an autistic child, a nine-year old boy, into a self-contained third grade classroom. Through details of his life, the reader is given an intimate look at the personal and educational issues he faces as he struggles to cope with his disability. In addition to focusing on how the disorder affects an individual, the paper stresses the importance of parents and professionals working together to develop and implement teaching strategies that will assist such a child …

Nurturing Reading Comprehension Of Attention Deficit Students By Improving Their Inferential Skills, Paula Decker

Graduate Research Papers

Inference-making is a necessary component of reading comprehension. Many attention deficit students have shown some degree of reading comprehension deficiencies. Due to the nature of their disability – staying focused, sticking to a task, and noticing details – inference-making may be difficult for them.

This article suggests that by modifying and enhancing existing teaching methods and strategies, the instructional needs of ADD/ADHD students would be met. It offers some lesson and teaching modifications that have shown to be helpful in this author's experience.

When teachers are aware of the characteristics and limitations of students with an attention deficiency, they can …

Looping : An Alternative To Grade Level Promotions, Michelle Block

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper is a study of looping. The purpose of this study was to conduct a review and an analysis of the literature concerning looping. Three questions were asked in the study: 1. What is looping and how does looping differ from multi-age grouping? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages in looping? 3. What are the guidelines for an effective looping arrangement? The definition of looping was discussed as well as the advantages and disadvantages of looping. Guidelines for an effective looping arrangement were presented. Summary, conclusions, and recommendations were shared with readers.

Developing Industrial Suppliers In Mexico, Abe Camacho

Graduate Research Papers

Research Questions:

1. Will cultural differences influence the effectiveness of developing Mexican industrial suppliers for U.S. international companies? 2. Will understanding the Mexican culture reduce time developing industrial suppliers for U.S. international companies? 3. Will developing Mexican industrial suppliers increase markets for U.S. international companies?

The Basics Of Teaching Media Literacy, Jill Wurzer

Graduate Research Papers

According to the Media Literacy Online Project (1998), American children and adolescents spend 22-28 hours a week viewing television. By the time today's children reach age 70, they will have spent 7-10 years watching television. Now, more than ever, schools are being called on to deal with the effects of the growing influence of the media in students' lives. Media literacy and media education are even getting attention in the English Language Arts Standards by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). So, what is media literacy? What materials are available to teach it, and how can teachers justify …

Instructional Technology In The School System, Sherri Sue Zanotti

Graduate Research Papers

Analyses of the deployment of technology in schools have tended to note its failure to affect the daily values and practices of teachers and students. This absence is generally regarded as an implementation failure, or as resulting from some temperamental shortcoming on the part of the teachers or technologists. Such a construction is predicated on the assumption that the technology is value free and its implementation a struggling playing field. This paper proposes that no instructional technology is ever neutral. Its value and practices must support the organization into which it is placed. The failures of technology to look and …

Classroom Discussion: A Journey To Decentralizing The Classroom, Mike Suther

Graduate Research Papers

Throughout history of the United States, teachers have instigated classroom discussion about text in hopes that talk enhanced understanding. More recently, Vygotsky (1978) produced evidence of the importance of social talk in learning. It is through this social interaction or discussion that students construct and negotiate meaning of text. What constitutes social interaction or discussion is what leads some teachers to disagree. The literature on discussion has classified it into two types: recitation and discussion.

Gender Differences In Science, David Harbaugh

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examines the research that was available about the trends and the status of gender differences in science. The major factors identified by researchers and educators that contribute to this gender difference are discussed. Suggestions are presented which may minimize the gender differences and provide specific practices that can help improve the situation. The results of this review indicate that although a difference exists, there are ways that educators, parents, and students can make changes to decrease the difference.

Integrating The Research Process In The Early Primary Curriculum, Laurie Jean Hazel

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to design a developmentally appropriate curriculum that provides primary teachers with the rationale, planning, procedures, and guidance needed to incorporate research projects into their primary grade curriculum. This program is not limited to talented and gifted students; it is recommended for all students.

The literature review consists of profiling the work of teachers and authors in the field of education who incorporate research techniques into their teaching practice. The literature builds a foundation for the importance and benefits of research skills and projects for students of all ages and ability levels.

When primary students …

Creating And Measuring Media Literacy : A Case Study, Darin M. Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

Seven years later, I stood before high school students in Ames, Iowa, with the proposition that we study media as a collection of cultural artifacts. Behind many of our discussions was the assumption that media convey values and that these values influence our personal values. What was missing from my instruction was an organizational structure that would help students see the necessary patterns, methods and stereotypes in order to better comprehend the values in these messages.

After a summer of contemplation, I decided thematic instruction would most naturally allow us to examine important media while capstoning themes from the required …

Writing A Defensible Personal Education Plan : Rationale And Design, Mary Kay Desenberg Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

Iowa requires documentation of qualitatively differentiated curriculum for identified talented and gifted students by schools using allowable growth funding. In response to this directive, a local special education Individual Education Plan (IEP) documentation format was modified to a Personal Education Plan (PEP) format for gifted learners.

Construction and refinement of the format continued over a seven year period. The use of the familiar IEP process seemed to afford credibility and was readily accepted by staff, parents, and administration. The PEP format held the program for gifted and talented to a high standard of accountability, and a six step model evolved …

Literature Based Social Studies Versus Textbook Based Social Studies, Kathrine Jean Kellogg

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of literature based social studies versus textbook based social studies in mastery of information. Using a pre-test and a post-test, control group, experimental design, and a t-test for non-independent variables, it was found that the experimental group achieved higher test scores than the control group. Results of the t-test yield a t-value of 3.00 with 18 degrees of freedom with a .05 level of significance. This shows that the results are 95% certain that the differences between the two groups' performances on the post test are due to the variation …

Talented And Gifted Programs In The Middle School : Critical Components, Patricia R. Kayser

Graduate Research Papers

As middle school educators and teachers of the gifted and talented continue to debate issues such as equity vs. excellence, homogeneous vs. heterogeneous grouping, and cognitive vs. affective education, the needs of gifted and talented middle school students in the general education classroom appear to be ignored. This paper reviewed current literature relating to the needs of gifted and talented pre-adolescents in the middle school setting in order to determine what were the critical components necessary for meeting their unique needs in the general education classroom. From the reviewed literature, critical components identified include content differentiation, teaching strategies, grouping for …

Building A Computer Network For Schools, Robert Kleinow

Graduate Research Papers

With the increased use of computers in schools, it should come as no surprise that schools are quickly beginning to see the incredible potential of connecting those computers together. The opportunities a computer network in schools can provide for administrators, teachers, and students are immense and are beginning to be realized across the nation.

This paper will by no means make the reader an expert in setting up a computer network. It is merely to introduce you to the basics of computer networking, some of the unique qualities of a school network when compared to networks done elsewhere, and show …

The World Of Work : An Intermediate Level Curriculum Model Integrating School-To-Work And Service Learning, Virginia Lavelle

Graduate Research Papers

Workers will need new and different skills for the changing economy in the 21st century. Current legislation includes school improvement and school-to-work. This project was designed to incorporate the educational reform movements of school-to-work and service learning within the school year calendar to provide educational work-related experiences for a full range of intermediate level learners in an inclusive classroom. Within this model students practice developing and applying basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities (SCANS) through work-based experiences which bring together school-to-work and service learning.

Multiage Classrooms : Setting Up A Quality Program, Jan Lindeman

Graduate Research Papers

This study reviews the literature on multiage classrooms for setting up a quality multiage program. Both benefits and disadvantages of multiage classrooms are discussed. Benefits of multiage classrooms are the following: children work at their own levels, children work collaboratively with other students, and children learn to work with students of different ages. Disadvantages of multiage classrooms include the following: extra workload for teachers, parents suspicious about the effectiveness, and students compare themselves with older students.

Implementing a multiage classroom takes time and patience. Educators need to take time to examine the best way of implementing a quality program.

The Home-School Partnership, Sue W. Mcdonald

Graduate Research Papers

This school-home literacy project reaffirms the notion that the school and home working together greatly benefits children. The parents in the project believed the partnership encouraged them to make time each day to be involved in their child's literacy experiences. From this consistent scheduling of experiences, the parents were able to observe the benefits of the partnership as their children grew in reading and writing abilities. Parents also commented on the difficulty of locating books that were appropriate for their children's reading level. A bibliography of predictable stories should be provided to the parents.

Privacy Issues Dealing With Technology : A Review Of The Literature, Kimberly S. Mccoy

Graduate Research Papers

The sophisticated applications of technology are expanding everyday. Unfortunately, so are the many concerns individuals in society are having about their right to privacy. The actual regulations dealing with one's right to privacy has not expand as rapidly as the applications of technology. Individuals using various types of technology are under the assumption their activities are private; however, this is not the case. It does not seem to matter if you are using a computer for communications work, school, or in the "privacy" of your own home, there is absolutely no privacy when dealing with this type of technology.

This …

The Unit Letter : A Strategy For Reconciling Explicit Instruction And Whole Language, Lucy Butin Ashby

Graduate Research Papers

Though differences between whole language and explicit instruction theories and research may seem irreconcilable, a growing body of research advocates an integration of the two. Combining the meaning-filled and student-empowering environment of whole language with needs-based explicit instruction is the solution most highly recommended. The unit letter activity is a teaching strategy for elementary-aged students which blends explicit instruction and whole language approaches. The activity involves student interaction with a thematic-related letter. The activity's purposes are two-fold : to convey information related to a theme chosen by the students, and to provide an authentic context for learning and practicing reading …

Qualitative Assessment Of The Writing Process, Laura L. Behrends

Graduate Research Papers

A strong trend in the language arts is the emphasis placed on the involvement of-students in the language processes to extend their thinking and language abilities. Thus, their involvement needs to be described by qualitative means. Qualitative assessment is necessary in writing because there is a great deal that cannot be measured (Field, 1992). Assessment needs to be continuous and inseparable from instruction, therefore authentic (Tierney, Carter, & Desai, 1991; Valencia, 1990; Barclay & Breheny, 1994; Stone, 1995). Assessment must be an integral part of each day in order for teachers to plan instruction and communicate with parents and the …

Why It Is Important To Keep Recess In Schools, Mary Lou Mcgee Cushing

Graduate Research Papers

Recess is a common part of most elementary school schedules yet its benefits are often not clearly articulated. As a result recess may be thought to be expendable from school curricula as school districts adjust already full schedules in an attempt to accommodate every necessary component.

This research review explores the relationship of recess to school schedules, time allotments, activities commonly observed at recess, and developmental (social, cognitive, and psychomotor) aspects of recess in schools. Also addressed are common criticisms of recess in schools.

Proponents And Opponents For Rewarding Children, Shelly Bromwich

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of the literature concerning the types and uses of rewards. The primary focus of this paper was to look at opposing sides of whether rewarding children has benefits or whether there are problems with using rewards. Also, I looked at how children can be given credit for their efforts to accomplish their goals with using encouragement and natural and logical consequences.

As stated by Alfie Kohn, "A reward .. .is a desired object or event made conditional on having fulfilled some criterion" (Kohn, 1993, p. 53). There is a controversy today concerning the use of …