Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Secrets Of Their Success: A Multiple Case Study Of Mathematically Proficient Homeschool Graduates, Betty Cardinale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explain how mathematically proficient homeschool graduates acquired their proficiency. Bronfenbrenner's (1979, 1999) ecological and Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) models were used as theoretical frameworks to analyze the development of the graduates in the homeschool environment. The National Research Council's (NRC) Five Strands of Mathematical Proficiency (Kilpatrick, Swafford, & Findell, 2001) was used as a conceptual framework. I collected four types of data: (a) surveys; (b) National Assessment of Educational Progress; (c) Mathematical Self-Efficacy Scale scores; and (d) interviews. These data items were analyzed with explanation building, a special case of pattern-matching logic. Many …

Expanding Our Roles: Embedded In Curriculum Design, Gisela Butera, Alexandra Gomes, Thomas Harrod, Seema Kakar, Julia B. Frank, Jennifer Owens

Himmelfarb Library Faculty Posters and Presentations

Objectives To describe how librarians became involved in helping to design curriculum for Problem- Based Learning (PBL) Course for first- and second-year medical students. Librarians became part of a team collaborating with medical faculty to revise the PBL curriculum, incorporating innovative teaching techniques and creating effective simulated patient case scenarios.

Methods In August 2010, the PBL Director contacted the Library to help revise 10 cases for second-year problem-based learning course. Two librarians joined the PBL multi-disciplinary curriculum team meeting bi-weekly to create and revise medical tutor and student guides, and case modules. The cases successfully evolved from paper handouts to …

English Language Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Providing Corrective Feedback On Grade 4-8 Students’ Writing In Al Ain Schools, United Arab Emirates., Rauda Rashed Al Shamsi

Theses

Writing is one of the skills learners need to acquire using effective strategies. Teaching writing is not an easy task for English teachers because selecting appropriate teaching methods need careful planning, observation, and assessment. Teachers devote time and effort for correcting students’ writing believing that correct feedback might improve students’ writing. This study of 200 Grade 4 to 8 teachers of English in Al Ain explored feedback related to types of errors in students’ writing and type of feedback teachers provide when they respond to students’ writing. Furthermore, this study investigated teachers’ concern associated with providing with providing corrective feedback. …

Productivity In The Cognitive Overload Era, George K. Thiruvathukal

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Could technologies that emphasize the concept of "we" rather than "me" help modern society overcome its information overload?

Evaluation Of The Impact Of A Mentor-Based Program On Teacher Retention In A Large Urban School District, Denise S. Beattie

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Feelings of isolation and defeat experienced by many novice teachers during their initial years have caused them to leave the profession before they are able to impact students' academic performance. The School District of Palm Beach County, afflicted by the cyclic trend of having to recruit and retrain beginning teachers, partnered with the New Teacher Center in 2009 to implement a mentor-based induction program. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the support provided by the district's mentor-based program on teacher retention as it compared to the support provided by school-based mentoring. A quasi-experimental design was …

A Response To Intervention Model For Secondary Schools, Robbie L. Fletcher

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Robbie L. Fletcher on April 23, 2013.

From High School To College: Teachers And Students Assess The Impact Of An Expository Reading And Writing Course On College Readiness, Jennifer Mccormick, Anne L. Hafner, Michelle Saint-Germain

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The study aimed to examine teachers’ and students’ views on the impact of the Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) on students’ college readiness and on teaching practices. Literature in the areas of college readiness, critiques of the English curriculum at the secondary level, and a review of research on the effects of ERWC are summarized. The mixed-methods study used a teacher survey, teacher interviews, and student focus groups. Findings showed that teachers reported making numerous changes and improvements in their teaching as a result of attending a professional development program and also reported making changes in other courses. Teachers …

Human Geography Without A Map, William E. Demars, Laurel Rosenberger, Jimmy Rogers, Trent Hardee

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

Course materials developed for a 9th grade course on human geography, focusing on human rights, terrorism, and globalization.

Teaching Qsen Competencies To Entry Level Nursing Students, Brianna Clouet, Melissa Glasper, Cheryl Perna

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public state university with a fully accredited School of Nursing (SON), which typically admits 48 students every trimester into their accelerated pre-licensure BSN program. UNLV is:

• Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

• Fully Approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing (NSBN),

• Continuously working to meet and uphold external standards and to remain current and competitive.

A team consisting of two Level 4 BSN students and the BSN Coordinator identified the need to better integrate the QSEN competencies into current nursing curriculum. Although the competencies are embedded into …

The Impact Of Interdisciplinary Code Simulation On Perceptions Of Collaboration And Team Performance Among Internal Medicine Residents And Nursing Students, Cynthia Herrick, Michael Michael Nasiak, Aditi Singh, Sandhya Wahi-Gururaj, C. Sue Witt, Jessica Doolen, Kevin Gulliver

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

• Allows for inter-disciplinary training
• Provides safe environment to practice patient care with immediate feedback-quality improvement
• Results in better adherence to protocols
• Well received by learners
• In one study, almost half of IM residents surveyed felt ill- equipped to lead code teams even after ACLS training

Crisis Resource Management (CRM)

• Communication and cooperation
• Leadership and management
• Situational awareness
• Decision-making

Preliminary Results Of Using A Student Success Facilitator In An Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Program, Jennifer Bellsey, Cheryl Perna, Tish Smyer, Carolyn B. Yucha, Antonio Gutierrez,

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

Competing demands of work, family, friends, and the academic rigor while in an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program often lead to high levels of anxiety and may contribute to unsuccessful student progression. This phenomena is not unique to the UNLV School of Nursing but is an issue that nursing programs grapple with nationwide. While there is nursing research literature related to student success programs there are limited studies that describe the use of a Student Success Facilitator (SSF) coupled with a Student to Student Mentoring Program (SSMP). IRB Exempt #1205-4167

April Agenda, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting minutes.

Meeting Minutes, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting minutes.

A Study Of Asynchronous Learning Options That Promote Continuity Of Learning In K-12 Settings, Timothy Wade Bobrowski

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Timothy Wade Bobrowski on April 11, 2013.

Teaching Of Biology: Including Elsi Activities In The Introductory Biology Classroom, Thomas Jack Morris, Lisa M. Pytlikzillig

Discipline-Based Education Research Group Speaker Series

The increasing need for public input about ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) associated with science and technology implies a corresponding need for ethical education of students in the sciences. The changing goals of college biology courses further reflect growing awareness of such needs. What are the challenges associated with engaging science students—who may expect to focus only on “science” and not “ethics” issues—in such overarching discussions? In this presentation, we will discuss our design, implementation, and study of the use of ELSI deliberative activities in an introductory freshman‐level biology course across five semesters. First, we will describe the activities …

Graduate Student Research Meeting Minutes, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting minutes.

Using Collaborative Learning Techniques (Colts) To Promote Engaged Student Learning, Judith Longfield

Centers for Teaching Excellence: Presentations

Research demonstrates that engaging students in the learning process leads to improved attitudes, enhanced learning and student retention. In this interactive session you will learn about collaborative and cooperative learning, how to form groups and create effective learning tasks, and be introduced to a variety of active learning techniques. You will also practice integrating collaborative learning techniques (CoLTs) into a course by developing a plan for using, grading and evaluating one or more CoLTs.

New Dwc Syllabus Using Nonwestern Sources, Aubrey Moore

Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship and Creativity

This project presents a new, annotated syllabus for the Development of Western Civilization (DWC) curriculum at Providence College. The syllabus follows most of the same topics discussed in 3rd semester DWC, but instead uses almost all nonwestern sources for reading material. The purpose of the project was to gain a better understanding of western civilization while providing an alternative to how people learn about the society they live in, to better understand other societies, and help to put historical events into a broader context.

American Government In Action, Cynthia Suarez, Lea Elizabeth Allen, Mary Ford

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

This AVD project will focus on the development of student-centered learning activities and instructional strategies for a secondary government and economics teacher, Mary Ford, at Southside High School in Greenville, SC. The materials were created to provide more opportunity for students to be involved in their own learning process, analyze primary sources, and participate in self-guided learning in an effort for Government and Economics to be understood by students with varying interests and learning styles. This project was completed in three separate sections which each provide diverse lessons and address varying standards. The first section contains multi-purpose supplementary materials for …

Can The Strong Get Stronger? A Laboratory Investigation Of Natural Selection For Antimicrobial Resistance, Tracie M. Ivy, Natalie W. Spivey, Sarah Grace Keaveany, Elizabeth Ramsey, Patrick Sellars, Deborah Stripling

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

The students, Sarah Grace Keaveany and Elizabeth Ramsey, completed original research with to investigate 1) standing variation among common bacterial species (Escherichia coli and Stapholococcus epidermidis) in the amount of resistance to triclosan, a common anti-microbial used in hand washes; and 2) the capacity for these bacteria to develop increased resistance to triclosan through selection. The students have developed lab modules based on this research. One module includes a wet lab, where students will culture their own bacteria. The other module allows students to obtain data from photographs of bacterial plates in lieu of a wet lab component.

Vocabulary Acquisition And Technology, German I/Ii, Grade 10-12, Beate U. Brunow, Travis Trojan, Arthur Turfa

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

Information technology plays an important role at Blythewood High School and the recent purchase of chrome books for students will be part of our project. All students will have access to chrome books, and Dr. Turfa also uses the social learning network “Edmodo” to communicate with his students. The project focuses on developing lessons for beginning German classes that combine knowledge and understanding of German-speaking cultures with communication. This approach reflects the current ACTFL standards for foreign language learning (preparing for the 21^st century) with the guiding learning principle: “Knowing how, when, and why to say what to whom.” …

Finances & Algebra Too!, Anne J. Catlla, Jonathan Foster, Charlene Frazier

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

The focus of this project is to provide an application-based approach to teaching algebra 2. Students will study algebraic concepts and functions through the lens of personal finance. After each unit of study, students will complete a financial application project that will go into each student’s “financial” portfolio.

Censorship And Fahrenheit 451, Natalie S. Grinnell, Michelle Stinson, Susan Miles

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

The goal of this project was to apply the censorship found in Fahrenheit 451 to other situations present in different areas of “the real world”. The students, after doing so, would then create a video of images and their voice, discussing themes of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451and how it’s used in other areas outside of the book. The purpose is to have students use analysis in literature and applying it in different areas as well as to do so in a different way other than through writing. By using the video software, they are changing the way that traditional …

Advanced Placement American History In 3-D, J. David Alvis, Steve Jobe, Erin Frost

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

The purpose of this project is to create an online collection of visual works that will enable high school teachers to supplement their instruction of AP American history as well as local history in Spartanburg, SC. We are grateful for this grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation and believe that this project will be a credit to their generosity. It is a commonly acknowledge fact in pedagogy today that visual stimulation enhances learning and makes it more enjoyable. Art can introduce social studies, literature, civics, and even science and math in an immediate, tangible way. In AP American History, …

Aprender Con Aventuras (Learning Through Adventures), Camille L. Bethea, Peter Elbaum, Katie Haney

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

This project focuses on developing learning modules that combine grammar and culture for beginning and intermediate level high school Spanish classes. The objective of this project is to make grammar more interactive for students, while at the same time highlighting the cultural richness and diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. This approach reflects the current ACTFL standards for foreign language learning (preparing for the 21^st century) and the South Carolina Academic Standards for Modern Languages. Ms. Haney wanted to make learning grammar more enjoyable and accessible to her students. She was also interested in exploring ways of using technology more …

¡Hablemos Con Más Fluidez! Increasing Oral Proficiency, Begona Caballero-Garcia, Benjamin Green, Lindsay Knox

Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows Projects

Students that study a foreign language in high school generally graduate with a solid base in reading and writing the language; however, speaking it remains a struggle. This project was designed to develop a series of activities and a framework on which future activities can be based. The activities are meant to engage students and help them practice speaking so as to increase their oral proficiency. By doing such activities two or three times a week, students can become more accustomed to speaking a foreign language and will gain confidence. They will also have practice using vocabulary relevant to the …

Service Learning In Christian High Schools Associated With Christian Schools International, Russell J. Smies

Master of Education Program Theses

This study examines the frequency of the implementation of service learning in Christian Schools International (CSI) high schools in the United States and Canada. Additionally, this study examines the perceived effectiveness of service learning programs in these schools. The researcher collected data through a survey of 78 school leaders. The survey questions utilized a Likert scale response in which the responses were coded and averaged. Of the 78 school leaders surveyed, 63.2% of the respondents indicated that their school does service learning. The study found that schools are planning their service learning opportunities in accordance with accepted standards more than …

Guided Discovery Grammar Instruction: A Review Of The Literature With Original Teaching Materials, Marcella Caprario

MA TESOL Collection

Although grammar instruction is a hotly debated facet of language teaching, a review of Second Language Acquisition, Foreign Language Instruction, and Educational Psychology literature reveals that inductive explicit grammar instruction is a viable method, which can generate positive learning outcomes. Studies have shown that learners tend to learn grammar more accurately and faster through explicit instruction. By utilizing inductive techniques, teachers can create a student-centered classroom that encourages critical thinking and problem solving, in addition to language study. With these principles in mind, I have created a series of guided discovery grammar worksheets, accompanied by the procedure and teaching notes …

Effectiveness Of Peer-Facilitated Workshops On Student Performance In Introductory Financial Accounting, Katherine A. (Childs) Bigelow

Selected Honors Theses

There has been a need for reform in accounting education at universities so that students can better understand the accounting material and also perform better in the workplace. Prior research has been conducted on the effectiveness on student performance for methods that move away from the traditional classroom format. While these methods include laboratories, cooperative learning, and online learning modules, no research has been done to assess the effectiveness of peer-facilitated workshops on accounting students’ performance. This thesis assesses the effectiveness of peer-facilitated workshops that focus on the accounting equation on student performance in a Principles of Financial Accounting course. …

Create Cornerstone: Introduction To Scientific Thinking, A New Course For Stem-Interested Freshmen, Demystifies Scientific Thinking Through Analysis Of Scientific Literature, Alan J. Gottesman, Sally G. Hoskins

Publications and Research

The Consider, Read, Elucidate hypotheses, Analyze and interpret data, Think of the next Experiment (CREATE) strategy for teaching and learning uses intensive analysis of primary literature to improve students’ critical-thinking and content integration abilities, as well as their self-rated science attitudes, understanding, and confidence. CREATE also supports maturation of undergraduates’ epistemological beliefs about science. This approach, originally tested with upper-level students, has been adapted in Introduction to Scientific Thinking, a new course for freshmen. Results fromthis course’s initial semesters indicate that freshmen in a one-semester introductory course that uses a narrowly focused set of readings to promote development of analytical …