Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Developmental Process And Outcome Of Mckinley K-5 Elementary School "Portrait Of America 2001-2002" Multimedia Cd-Rom, Cheryl Edwards

Graduate Research Papers

McKinley K-5 Elementary School created and mass-produced a multi-media CDROM correlating with the Social Studies Standards and Benchmarks of Muscatine Community School District. Each grade level designed and developed lyrics and music about the related grade level curriculum. Some classes created a multimedia presentation while others gave a fine arts program. This was a student-centered, hands-on activity that was formed during the 2001-2002 school year.

Criticism Of Middle School Curriculum Integration : A Review Of The Literature, Carrie Even

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review looks at curriculum integration at the middle school level. The literature predominantly has reflected curriculum integration as a practice that benefits middle school students, but it has received criticism as well. Some of the criticism includes the following: time needed for planning, teaming of teachers, student interest, standards and benchmarks being subject specific, and the lack of critical information in specific content areas. This review of the literature examines the criticism to understand whether curriculum integration is beneficial for students.

Recommendations about the continued use of curriculum integration at the middle school level include the following: continued …

Aligning Technology And Language Arts Standards, Catherine A. Feldmann

Graduate Research Papers

The standards of language arts and technology blend fluidly to provide for an optimal learning environment. Language Arts teachers and students of all levels can gain significantly from the incorporation of multimedia software into the curriculum. Educators demonstrate responsible teaching when the initiative is taken to incorporate these otherwise separate areas together. Multimedia provides for an additional method for students to obtain, demonstrate, and share information. The use of technology into all curricular areas helps to develop life skills that are considered necessities in many jobs today.

Technology Coordinators : The Relationship Between Employment Responsibilities And Need For Ongoing Professional Development, Mary C. Frese

Graduate Research Papers

The intent of this research paper is to examine the responsibilities of technology coordinators in the P-12 educational environment and the association of ongoing professional development for technology coordinators. The research cited indicated that the responsibilities of technology coordinators have evolved to include complex technical skills. Commonly cited duties include network administration, maintenance, instructional design, staff development, budgeting and acquisition, software evaluation and installation, multimedia production, management of communication and online resources. The extent of suggested expertise implies that technology coordinators have need for ongoing professional development. Informal conversations were held by this researcher with several technology coordinators to gather …

Differentiating Instruction Using Authentic, Performance Assessments And Technology Integration, Cynthia Seberg

Graduate Research Papers

A major challenge in education today is to be able to reach and teach all learners. Methodologies and strategies come and go. The philosophy of differentiated instruction, while not new, is being bandied about as the answer to working with all students of all abilities. The beliefs associated with differentiated instruction envelope methodologies and strategies associated with authentic assessment, performance-based assessment, and technology integration.

A common bond inherent within these philosophies is the growing emphasis on assessing students based on their ability to perform real-life tasks, and technology integration is the connecting link. Educators must become facilitators of meaningful learning …

Choosing Quality Multicultural Literature For Use In A General Classroom, Jill M. Dykstra

Graduate Research Papers

The history of multicultural education has changed from the conception of it in the 1960's until now. It emerged primarily in the 1960's, initially in response to cultural deprivation theory. Today, however, multicultural education is linked to cultural diversity. Most teachers use multicultural education and literature only if they have a diverse population; however, the belief is that all students need to experience diversity. Multicultural literature may help not only students to broaden their knowledge and information about others, but may also provide teachers with new ideas and perspectives.

Putting The Best Possible Teacher In The Classroom : Through Reflection And Self-Evaluation, Renee Fisher

Graduate Research Papers

Over the span of five months, an elementary school teacher uses reflection and self-evaluation methods to review her teaching. The process encourages improvement in areas concurrent with the Iowa Teaching Standards. Including a current portfolio, the teacher uses the medium of videotape to self-evaluate her teaching style and the evaluation by building administrator. Current research in teacher evaluation lends support to the need for self-evaluation. The completed portfolio becomes a working document chronicling the teacher's work in the classroom and career field. The results show the improvement that has occurred, along with areas to advance in.

Parents As Partners : The School-Home Connection, Jennifer Burkhart

Graduate Research Papers

Family literacy programs engage parents in small groups, help parents capitalize upon what they already do with literacy in the home while teaching new skills for parents to work with their children, and provide children with time to read together. Parents' attitudes have lifelong effects on a child's literacy (Morrow, 1995). Getting parents involved in emergent literacy activities has a positive effect on the child's own literacy and is associated with higher achievement and stronger cognitive skills (Anderson, 2000; de Jong and Leseman, 2001; Morrow, 2001 ). A family literacy program can better reinforce the internal motivation that parents and …

The Need For Handheld Computers In The Classroom, Joseph Nichols

Graduate Research Papers

The handheld computer has become a viable tool for education. It costs less, weighs less, and takes less space in the classroom than a desktop computer. This review of literature shows the merits of using handheld computers in the classroom. In order to appreciate the handheld computers, one needs to research the history of computers and how the handheld computer is being used in the corporate world, as well as by educators. By researching handheld computers past use and current trends, it should be possible to evaluate their impact in the classroom.

Developmental Spelling Instruction Through Word Study, Elizabeth Ann Overstake

Graduate Research Papers

This article is an overview of word sorts and word study that has evolved from research in developmental spelling. The five stages of developmental spelling are described. Analysis of four students' writing samples from a second grade classroom was utilized in this study. Spelling inventories from Words Their Way were used three times throughout the year to evaluate developmental stages of spelling. This alternative approach to spelling instruction, including word sorting, writing sorts, speed sorts, and word hunts is discussed in this article.

Accelerated Reader And Its Impact On Reading Comprehension And Lifelong Literacy, Julie Whiston

Graduate Research Papers

Computerized reading assessment programs such as Accelerated Reader (AR) are becoming prevalent in reading classrooms. After their reading level is determined, students take quizzes over the books they read. Points are earned by answering quiz questions correctly. A reward is often associated with earning a certain amount of points. The assessment program has many advantages. Students are allowed to choose the books that they read, and the program depends upon students having access to a wide variety of trade books. When used correctly, the program has been shown to increase reading scores and encourages students to read independently (Topping & …

Communication Apprehension And Interpersonal Skills In Physical Therapy Students : A Comparative Study Of Problem-Based Learning And Traditional Curricula, Beverly D. Fein

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Physical Therapy education has been challenged to prepare students to meet the increasing demands upon and changing needs of physical therapy practice in the evolving health delivery system. Today's practitioner needs strong interpersonal and collaborative skills for effective communication with patients, families, third party payers, community and other members of the health care team. The characteristics of problem-based learning (PBL) curricula appeared to offer greater potential for students to develop communication skills as compared to traditional curricula. Therefore, this study used available measures of communication apprehension and clinical performance of communication related behaviors to compare students educated in PBL curricula …

The Virtual High School: An Historical Analysis Of One E-Learning Model, Jill L. Sack

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Reading Between The "Signs", Sarah Durchenwald/Williamson

Graduate Research Papers

Teaching reading to hearing students, with the supplemental support of American Sign • Language, is a relatively new concept. Many components associated with sign language reinforce basic concepts of English. It teaches individual letter sounds, and names, and many of the signs for words emphasize beginning sounds, as well as meaning. Another important component of sign language is its bodily kinesthetic form of learning. Many students in public schools today are not learning through traditional teaching strategies. Incorporating sign language provides a multi-sensory approach to literal hands-on learning.

The following research outlines the principles behind teaching effectively using sign language …

Creating A Successful Online Class In An Alternative Educational Environment, Cathy L. Lewis

Graduate Research Papers

This paper's objective was to describe how creating an online class for alternative education students could benefit school districts. Alternative education is a continuing problem for school districts. Small school districts have difficulty affording alternative education environments. Online alternative programs also benefit students. Creating an online learning environment allows students to work at their own pace, stay in touch with their class, and perform at their own level. This paper's conclusions indicate alternative education programs can benefit through the creation of online classes.

The Motivating Aspects Of Technology, Mary Ascher

Graduate Research Papers

Motivation is the most challenging and complex issue facing educators today. There are two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. To foster life-long learning educators need to stimulate intrinsic motivation in their students. Three factors that stimulate and sustain intrinsic motivation include personal relationships, shared responsibility, and safety. The expectancy theory also identifies elements affecting motivation. Technology is a tool that fits into all of these factors to capture the students' motivation.

Females And Computer-Mediated Communication : New Technologies, New Challenges, Kelly Coleman

Graduate Research Papers

Advanced technologies are changing the face of higher learning by creating opportunities for those who wish to continue their education. On-line education, currently the most common mode of education delivery, has revolutionized the way in which learning takes place. Adult females appear to benefit greatly from computer-mediated communication distance learning due to its flexibility. However, there has been a general lack of research and focus on the females as distance learners and their success in on-line learning. This literature review examines the reasons why females comprise the majority of computer-mediated students and also looks at those barriers that keep women …

A Study Of Elementary Teachers' Abilities, Attitudes, And Beliefs About Problem Solving, Nancy Mullins Brown

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

Problem solving has been alternately viewed as the justification for the study of mathematics or as the impetus and means for studying mathematics. This study examines characteristics—attitudes toward problem solving, beliefs about problem solving, and abilities to solve problems—of elementary teachers of grades three, four, and five that relate to problem solving.

Participants completed a two-part survey to quantify their attitudes and beliefs and a problem-solving activity which quantified their problem-solving abilities. Four participants were subsequently interviewed. Analyses showed that these teachers had generally positive attitudes toward problem solving, generally positive beliefs about problem solving, and generally poor problem-solving abilities. …

An Inquiry Into Gardner's Theory Of Multiple Intelligences And Strengths Of Students Placed In Special Education Under Mildly Disabled Categories, Kathryn Sandiford Harrell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

This study explored the strengths displayed by 4th-5th grade students placed in special education under mildly disabled categories as compared to the intelligences defined by Howard Gardner in his Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Gardner, 1983, 1999). These categories consist of Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) and Mildly Intellectually Disabled (MUD). Critics maintain that special education has been focused on the weaknesses of students while overlooking their strengths (Miller, 1993; Armstrong, 2000). Under new legislation and new performance goals for special education, the time has come to focus on students' strengths and equal opportunities for students to learn the curriculum mandated by …

An Investigation Into Computer And Network Curricula, David Veal

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis consists of a series of internationally published, peer reviewed, journal and conference research papers that analyse the educational and training needs of undergraduate Information Technology (IT) students within the area of Computer and Network Technology (CNT) Education. Research by Maj et al has found that accredited computing science curricula can fail to meet the expectations of employers in the field of CNT: “It was found that none of these students could perform first line maintenance on a Personal Computer (PC) to a professional standard with due regard to safety, both to themselves and the equipment. Neither could they …

Militarism Goes To School, Laura L. Finley

Essays in Education

While there are many influences that shape how schools are structured one that has been largely ignored is the influence of militarism. Militarism refers to a set of values or ideologies that include hierarchical relationships and domination. This piece discusses the ways that schools are militaristic, including their authority, physical, academic, and athletic structures, the processes used by administrators and in classrooms, and the curriculums taught.

A Study Of Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Regarding The Match Between Teachers' Teaching Styles And Students' Learning Styles, Sandra Eileen Sutton

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Educational Mission Statements: Determining How Mission Impacts Curricular And Policy Decisions At The Hudson School, Deborah L. Krause

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Proven Faculty Development Tools That Foster The Scholarship Of Teaching In Faculty Learning Communities, Milton D. Cox

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Faculty learning communities have played a key role in the development of the scholarship of teaching and learning at Miami University for over 20 years. This chapter describes a sequence of developmental steps, evidence of success, and supporting documents and artifacts that can guide faculty developers in a community approach to the development of this scholarship.

Assessing And Reinvigorating A Teaching Assistant Support Program: The Intersections Of Institutional, Regional, And National Needs For Preparing Future Faculty, Kathleen S. Smith

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

This article discusses an assessment of an 11-year old teaching assistant (TA) support program at a Research I institution. The TA support program was developed on the premise that professional preparation of teachers includes fundamental teaching competencies or skills that call be identified, developed, and evaluated (Simpson & Smith, 1993; Smith & Simpson, 1995). The purpose of this longitudinal study was to identify and enhance the institutional enabling factors that help graduate teaching and laboratory assistants in performing their duties and in using their graduate experience to prepare for careers at a variety of academic institutions.

Transforming Instructional Development: Online Workshops For Faculty, Laurie Bellows, Joseph R. Danos

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Two vastly different institutions, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and Delgado Community College, cooperated in the delivery of online faculty development workshops in syllabus construction. This chapter describes the experiences of a flagship university and an urban community college in employing electronic delivery of the same workshop content to their respective faculty members. It shares successful and unsuccessful strategies, nuts and bolts, and the discovery of an unexpected, pleasant irony: The technology that can separate and isolate us has the potential to bring us together, as though we were on electronic legs in a virtual Athenian agora.

Undergraduate Students As Collaborators In Building Student Learning Communities, Candyce Reynolds

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Colleges and universities have recently used the concept of learning communities as a strategy to improve undergraduate student learning. This chapter describes a learning community approach where upper-division undergraduates serve as mentors for freshman and sophomore students and develop and sustain learning communities with faculty partners. The impact of this program is described and implications are discussed.

Are They Really Teachers? Problem–Based Learning And Information Professionals, Michael Anderson, Virginia Baldwin

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Traditionally, working with teaching faculty is the primary consulting role for most faculty development professionals. The boundaries, however, are not always clear regarding instructional assistance that is provided to other personnel. This chapter demonstrates how collaboration among faculty consultants and information specialists can result in enhanced library utilization and better research-related instruction. Our model uses problem-based learning (PBL) as a vehicle for teaching research and retrieval skills in either a single class experience or in multiple classroom visits with an engineering librarian.

Bibliography, Volume 21 (2003)

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Bibliography for volume 21 (2003) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development.

Using Technology To Provide More Objective Grading And Compliance With "No Child Left Behind", Kevin Suhr

Graduate Research Papers

In January of 2001, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act. "The act redefines the federal role in K-12 education and will help close the achievement gap between disadvantaged and minority students and their peers. It is based on four basic principles: stronger accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work" (No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 2003). The passing of the No Child Left Behind Act has added pressure to schools and departments around the country to meet …