Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons^™

Assessing And Evaluating Students' Perception Of Cooperative Learning Teams At South Main Street School, Andrea Atkins

Theses and Dissertations

The intern conducted an action research project to evaluate the perceptions of fourth graders relative to working in cooperative learning teams in their reading classes. The target population were 38 fourth graders from South Main Street School who are presently involved in Success For All, a cooperative learning program. The intern wanted to determine whether the target students perceived the cooperative learning experience as being positive or negative, and whether this perception impacted on their learning. The intern utilized the survey as the major instrument for data collection. The students were interviewed as well. The intern utilized mean scores to …

School-Family-Community Partnership, Cynthia E. Kates

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of the school, family members, and local community agencies and organizations concerning the development of a school-family-community partnership. The project centered on a needs assessment for the West Avenue School in reference to parental and community involvement. The views of 15 teachers, 79 parents, and 3 community agencies were studied through questionnaires. Teachers expressed a desire for more parental involvement in their child's education, but would like no interference in the area of classroom management. Parents expressed an interest in taking a more active role in the overall …

Linking Parents, Community And School, Migdalia Soto

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop ways to build and create partnerships between parents, community and School by providing a variety of opportunities for parent-community participation. These partnerships will be fostered through the use of effective communication methods, such as coffee club sessions, focus group discussions, and school newsletters.

This action research was conducted via qualitative and quantitative methods to gather and analyze data. The participants for the study were the parents of the children at Parkside school, community members, and the faculty. A pre- and post-survey were sent to a randomly selected group of parents of students …

A Case Study: New Teacher Induction, Keith B. Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine in what areas new teachers were deficient using a case study action research approach. The study will result in recommendations to the administration of Pennsauken Public Schools for a redesign of the new teacher-training academy and for the development of a mentor-training academy. Nine new teachers ranging in one to four years of experience were studied using a variety of instruments designed to answer three research questions. (1) What training do new teachers need in classroom management techniques? (2) What training do new teachers need in lesson planning and instructional strategies? (3) …

Communicating Special Education Student Performance, Michael C. Dicken

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to develop effective methods and strategies of communicating special education student progress to the student's parent and school district representatives. The research problem was posed in two questions. (1) What are the effective methods of reporting special education student progress to their parents and school district representatives? (2) Are the current methods of interpersonal communication between special education teachers and the parents of those students promoting academic and behavioral growth within the student population?

Approximately 150 subjects were involved in this project. These subjects were special education teachers, parents of special education students, and …

A School Discipline Plan, Thomas J. Campo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a comprehensive school discipline plan in an elementary school setting where no definitive discipline plan previously existed. This study will take place at the Charles L. Spragg School in Egg Harbor City. C.L. Spragg is a Pre-K to grade 4 school with approximately 375 students from diverse multi-cultural backgrounds. The study will focus around the development and use of a comprehensive disciplinary referral form. This form will serve as the research instrument as data analysis will be bases on the total number of forms completed by teachers during the time …

An Administrative Internship Experience At Maple Shade Junior/Senior High School, Maple Shade, New Jersey, 1999-2000, Frank Jankowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a plan that would allow teachers in the junior high at Maple Shade High School to incorporate technology into their lessons on a more consistent basis. The use of technology would improve learning and better prepare our students for the future.

The intern used interview and survey as data gathering techniques for the project. The intern brought meaning to the data through a thorough analysis of interview responses. Also, surveys were collected, coded, and analyzed.

Teacher preparation and prior teaching experience were cited as reasons behind the fear of technology. Staff claimed …

Active Collaborative Teaching, Todd R. Slimm

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the effects of teachers collaborating would have an effect on professional knowledge (pedagogy) and teacher efficacy. Teachers were exposed to three programs designed to promote collaboration (teachers talking about teaching and learning). The entire school staff was introduced to the program with 29 participants in the actual data study. Data was gathered through a questionnaire/survey/interview process. The major method of data analysis was tallies, percentages, and personal comments during interviews. The study found that the three programs had an effect on teacher collaboration. All three programs were found to be of …

The Renaissance Concept And The Effect Of Positive Reinforcement On Student Performance, Henry N. Kobik

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of extrinsic rewards on the extrinsic and intrinsic motivation levels of high school students. To complete this task, 118 students were chosen to complete a series of surveys which measured perceived levels of academic performance and motivation. This process allowed the students to not only respond in a multiple choice format but also provided the opportunity for written feedback as well. Further information on the topic was gathered from discussion with these students. All of the participants were chosen through random selection using the school roster and they represented the …

Examining The Need For And Completing A Revision Of The New Teacher Mentoring Program At Burlington City High School, Aimee Davis Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to improve the new teacher mentoring services offered at Burlington City High School to provide a more effective assimilation of first-year teachers and experienced teachers new to the school. The intern studied the mentoring practices in place at BCHS, interviewed veteran staff, and surveyed new teachers regarding the program. The conclusions of the study indicated a need for revised and improved mentoring practices, and suggested a need for increased collaboration among staff. Based on the information collected and research on mentoring, the intern developed a New Teacher Assimilation Program, to be initiated in the …

Teacher Motivation, Lisa Francks

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to ascertain the causes of decreased teacher motivation in order to provide assistance to first year teachers and other novice teachers who were experiencing difficulties. In addition, the study determined whether teachers who went through a teacher assistance program sustained a higher degree of motivation and enthusiasm towards teaching than those who were not assisted. The study provided a basis for developing a beginning teacher assistance program. As a result, the intern developed a mentoring program to offer novice teachers a means of coping with many of the difficulties they periodically faced.

The intern …

Effective Programming Of A School District's Educational Access Channel, Darren J. Hickman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a district policy and practice of collecting and disseminating school information and public service announcements to the public using Atlantic City Public Schools' educational access channel, ACTV Channel 2. Using a case study research design, the project will result in an evaluation of current usage by parents and families of children who attend Atlantic City Public Schools and what they would like to view.

An upgrade in programming with more educational programs was a major objective for this study. To assist in programming improvement, a questionnaire survey was developed and was administered …

Multicultural Teacher Education, Carol L. Birnbohm

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to create a method of incorporating multicultural thinking with current curriculums. The main goal was to have the teachers learn that multicultural education is not a one-day, once a year event, but rather a philosophy that must be a part of their everyday lessons and discussions.

Nineteen teachers and 102 students were surveyed from Cherokee High School. There were nine males and ten females in the teaching category. There were 52 male students and 50 female students.

The surveys were distributed twice to each group. The survey was first given prior to any training …

Identifying The Role Of The School Business Administrator, Diana L. Schiraldi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the school business administrator and to determine the congruency or incongruency between role expectations of the business administrator and actual role performance. Individuals participating in this study were the school business administrator and seventeen of his role set partners. Role set partners included the superintendent of schools, four district level administrators, eight building level administrators, two board members, a teacher and a custodial supervisor. Participants were surveyed using a written questionnaire to determine their views of the business administrator's role. The business administrator's daily activities were documented through shadowing. …

A Multicultural Club At Hammonton High School, Mildred Peretti

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the attitude change among rural high school students regarding diversity and tolerance presented through a multicultural club. Fifty randomly selected students and parents of the high school were pre-tested using a survey instrument measuring needs assessment and an attitude profile. Data analysis was conducted using percentages of each of the four questions asked. The entire student body was then exposed to various multicultural facts and experiences promoted through a multicultural club. Activities included daily factual announcements, a trivia contest of information retrieval, guest speakers, music, assemblies, displays of heritage's artifacts, and relevant content knowledge integrated …

The Effectiveness Of Peer Mediation On Student Behavior At The Paul W. Carleton School, Charles A. Warfield

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the newly developed and implemented Peer Mediation Program in an elementary school. Peer mediation is the use of third party students who are trained in the mediation process to help other students resolve interpersonal conflicts prior to their escalation to physical or verbal offenses. Students may be referred to the Peer Mediation Program by teachers or the administrator. They may also request a mediation session on their own. Disputing students who participated in the Peer Mediation Program worked cooperatively to reach an agreement with the aid of the peer …

Streamlining The Accounts Payable Purchase Order Procedure And Approval Process, Alan B. Parmelee

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a uniform method for purchasing materials and equipment for the Sea Isle City Public School District and to bring about a change in the organizational culture that would support those changes in procedure.

The intern utilized open-ended action research and his problem solving skills to analyze the practices currently in use, to research statute and code and for conditions and limitations of public sector purchasing practices and to review other relevant purchasing manuals and procedures. Informal interviews were conducted among staff to gauge the level of their knowledge of purchasing requirements.

As …

A World Of Difference: A Multicultural Program, Newton Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to develop aggregated understandings of bias and how it affects violence in a school's culture using action research. The study, through A World of Difference Program's Anti-Bias Study Guide and peer interventions, will result in improved cultural relations. At this stage in the research, bias is studied and acknowledged.

A fifty thousand-dollar grant was awarded to Atlantic City's Board of Education, with one school piloting the program. The A World of Difference Program focuses on training, education, and interactive activities. Student and teacher volunteers who do the work will recognize and realize, through communications, …

Classroom Management Styles And Their Link To Discipline Infractions, Joseph F. Mcginty

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study is to compare the classroom management styles of academic teachers to the number of in class discipline infractions, at the Burlington County Institute of Technology Vocational High School located in Medford, New Jersey. This particular sample involved eighteen academic teachers over a four-week period.

Interviews involved the building principal, the vice-principals, and assorted academic teachers. Data were compiled from surveys, personal interviews and the school's computer data bank. Data analysis consisted of using information collected from the database, interviews, questionnaires, and review of literature, to identify areas of improvement in teacher classroom management …

The Effectiveness Of The Peer Mediation Program In Improving The Atmosphere In The School And Reducing Violent Acts In The School Setting, Robert Milavsky

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact mediation has in reducing violence in the school setting. Through the use of survey instrumentation, the researcher will gather feedback from disputants regarding the effectiveness of the program in resolving their problems. Along with a survey instrument, the researcher will conduct monthly mediation meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to gather information from the mediators in regards to both effective and ineffective mediations and ways to improve the total program.

Survey instruments will go out to all individuals participating in a mediation. It will be distributed approximately two weeks …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Portfolio Assessment For Pre-First And First Grade Teachers In Pemberton Township School District, Ursula M. Csercsevits

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to discover the effects of portfolio assessment as perceived by pre-first and first grade teachers using community based action research. The outcome of this study is data that assists in evaluating the continued use of portfolio assessment as it exists, or determining the need for adjustment to the practice. The sample group consisted of forty-two pre-first and first grade teachers currently using portfolio assessment. Data collection of this action research study began with a questionnaire distributed to all members of the sample. The cycle of research continued with interviews, classroom observations and a review …

Has Technology In The Elementary Classroom Caused Instruction To Improve?, Denise Mcdermott

Theses and Dissertations

This study described and evaluated the extent to which technology has improved instruction, and thus improved student learning, in elementary schools in Deptford Township, a K-12 district. The study included all K-6 grade teachers. A 31-item survey was completed by 85% of elementary school teachers. Percentages of answers were mathematically calculated and lists of software programs and student systems for computer use were compiled. The majority of elementary teachers described their level of expertise regarding technology as "able to manage as long as everything runs correctly". The results reveal a high dissatisfaction with the type and amount of technology training …

The Role Of A School Business Administrator: Perspectives Of A Role Incumbent And His Role Set, Stephen J. Lynch

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the perceptions held by a school business administrator for his position with the perceptions of his principal role set.

Interviews were held with the school business administrator and 17 members of his role set to determine perceptions of the role expectations and actual role performance. For each question on the role set interview instrument, frequency distributions were constructed and then converted into relative frequency distributions expressed as percentages.

The interview data was used to compare role expectation and role performance as perceived by the role incumbent; to compare role expectations and role performance as perceived by the …

Case Study On Mainland Regional High School's Pilot Program On Block Scheduling, Matthew A. Jamison

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to discover and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of block scheduling at Mainland Regional High School. The major focal point of this case study was the perceptions on block scheduling of teachers, students, and parents.

This study blends the richness of qualitative research with the range of quantitative research. Approximately 180 sophomore students participated in the pilot program. Four teachers volunteered to teach the classes in the pilot program. The students completed a pre and post survey. At the conclusion of the first semester, random students were chosen to be interviewed. All the …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Integrated Curriculum, Lynda Kozicz Leahey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the interdisciplinary approach to teaching mathematics and science, specifically Geometry and Biology. The study used an action research design in which two teachers participated in a planned interdisciplinary activity that involved 160 high school students. The site of this study was a high school located in a middle-class, rural-suburban community. Data was gathered using a concept map to measure the amount of conceptual understanding students have of the relationship between Geometry and Biology. Data of those students who were enrolled in both Geometry and Biology were compared to those …

Middle School Discipline: In Need Of Solutions, Robin L. Moore-Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract available.

Collaborative Teaching Relationships And The Inclusion Of Sixth Grade Students, Richard C. Panas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of implementing inclusion within a collaborative teaching framework in the sixth grade using an action research design. Based on the parameters set forth in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), the schedule to determine if a student's goals and objectives are being met is measured quarterly by report card. Ultimately, whether or not a student achieves the minimum level of proficiency as outlined in the IEP for social studies, science, mathematics, and language arts serves as the benchmark for determining whether or not the student's placement is appropriate. …

Evaluating The Impact Of Block Scheduling, John Joseph Hourani

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and describe the effectiveness of a 4x4 semester block schedule with respect to academic achievement, discipline, attendance and the school climate of Penns Grove High School. A longitudinal trend study design was utilized to compare statistics from the school's first two years under the block schedule to the school's final two years of the traditional schedule. Such statistics include the frequency of students obtaining A's, F's, and honor roll status, as well as monthly attendance rates, and discipline referral counts. Additionally, a modified action research design is used to examine the new …

An Impact Study Of The Positive Benefits Of A Technology Course On Students' Critical Thinking Skills, Jerry J. Marinacci

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the positive benefits to students enrolled in the new Applied Technology course offered at Bridgeton High School. The intern wishes to determine if the course has enhanced students' ability in critical skills such as: communicating, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking.

The study will focus on students' ability to define and solve real world problems as presented in a high school technology laboratory. The design of the study was based on qualitative research of students' ability to identify criteria, develop possible solutions and solve problems of a technical nature based on pre-test …

Reform: In Search Of A Rationale, Ada R. Barlatt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards at Pleasantville. The district, a special needs (Abbott district), receives 85% of its funding from the state, therefore, must provide all children with a "Thorough and Efficient" education.

Two separate groups of students were studied. One group represented the current students in grade 10 and the second group represented the current students in grade 9. Also included in the study were teachers, counselors, administrators and employers.

The overall approach in this study was to use several methods to investigate the effects on a local …