Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Centers For Promoting Emergent Literacy In The Primary Grades, Elizabeth Greaves

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design classroom Literacy Centers incorporating the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements that promote emergent literacy skills in primary level children. Using Literacy Centers to enhance a child's ability to read, write, listen, and communicate is the focus of this project. The centers are intended to be a hands-on and authentic method of learning for young children. The review of relevant literature shows that this option provides positive experiences in a primary level classroom. Adaptable center plans are included as well as management and assessment suggestions.

Comparison Of East Asian And Western Culture In Teaching Mathematics: A Model Of Elementary School Mathematics Curriculum, Hui-Nuan Nuang

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to compare cross-cultural mathematics teaching in the elementary schools in East Asian and Western countries, particularly focused on Taiwan and the United States. Another purpose was to design and develop a common mathematics curriculum program for elementary schools to use in both environments. To accomplish this purpose, a review and comparison of current research and literature regarding current curriculum and teaching practice of mathematics in Taiwan and the United States was conducted. Additionally, related information from selected sources was obtained and analyzed.

Language Acquisition In A Natural Environment, Lisa Marie Muchlinski

All Graduate Projects

The search for early childhood curricula to prepare children from lowincome families for success in school began with the opening of Head Start in 1965 and Project Follow Through in 1967. Since then, interest in Early Childhood Curriculum Models has come and gone as the result of shifting trends in society. The nation is currently experiencing a renewed awareness in this area. The examination of the natural environment in relation to language acquisition is of increasing interest, as language acquisition is the precursor to pre-literacy skills. The natural environment is explored and an examination of several Early Childhood Curricula is …

Struggling High School Readers' Responses To A Literature-Rich Curriculum, Fran Harrison Stephens

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

The purpose of this study was to determine how struggling readers in 11th grade Applied Communications classes responded to literary texts that are typically taught to college-prep students. Differentiation of literature for college-prep and techprep students began in the early twentieth century; since then, noncollege-bound students have traditionally studied literary texts that have been rewritten on a lower reading level to accommodate struggling readers in these classes. In this research project, I taught 11th grade Applied Communications students the same literature that college-prep students read; using a qualitative research design, I analyzed the impact of this literature on these students. …

The Motivational Stories Of How Women Become Scientists: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Inquiry, Sandra White Watson

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

The under-representation of women in science careers is well documented (Astin, Green, Kom, & Riggs, 1991; Felder, Felder, Mauny, Hamrin, & Dietz, 1995; Green, 1989; National Science Foundation, 1996, 1998; Seymour & Hewitt, 1997; Strenta, Elliot, Adair, Scott, & Matier, 1994; Tobias, 1990, 1992). While important information has been published concerning various factors that influenced women to pursue science careers (American Association of University Women, 1992; Debacker & Nelson, 2000; Samuels, 1999), very few research projects have allowed women scientists to share their personal experiences ofwhat motivated them to become scientists in their own voices.

The purpose of this inquiry …

Retention In The New Millennium, Pat Davison

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the effects of retention in regards to children's academic success. The features of retention, research and literature associated with retention, and the benefits and disadvantages were discussed. Guidelines were presented for teachers, along with the appropriate strategies to use in grade level retention. In addition, conclusions were drawn from literature and recommendations for the future facilitation of retention policies.

Messages For Girls: Looking At The Representation Of Women's Short Fiction In American Literature High School Anthologies, Aurelia Ramage Tippett

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

The purpose of this qualitative study was to answer the question "What messages about the image of womanhood are available to adolescent females in female-authored short fiction that appears in a variety of American literature textbooks used since 1965, a few years preceding racial integration and widespread coverage of the women's movement in rural Georgia, through 2000?"

Five American literature anthologies that were used in the Laurens County Georgia School System for instruction in the required American literature course since 1965 were collected. Short fiction written by women was identified and then the researcher identified those women writers whose short …

Volume 14, Number 01, G. William Hill Editor

Reaching Through Teaching

Full text of Volume 14, Number 01 of Reaching Through Teaching.

Who Owns Our Values? Back To School, John Strassburger

Publications

This is the sixth in a series of occasional papers about the challenges confronting students and what Ursinus is doing to help them enter adult life.

Cooperative Learning: May The Circle Be Unbroken, Barbara J. Millis

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Fueled by new discoveries in cognitive development and the thrust toward active learning in general, cooperative learning in higher education is now widely accepted and widely practiced.

A Model Curriculum And Intructional Program For Native American Studies Grades 11-12, Terry Cosentino

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a model curriculum and instructional program for Native American Studies, grades 11 - 12 at Tenino High School, Tenino Washington. To accomplish this purpose a review of related literature was conducted. Additionally, information and materials from selected sources was obtained and analyzed.

Developing A Model Career Pathway Curriculum For South Kitsap School District, Esther L. Albertus

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a model Career Pathway Curriculum for South Kitsap School District. To achieve this purpose, current research and an examination of literature and evaluation of current models in place were considered and reviewed. Additionally, recommendations and specific policies were adapted and developed to meet the needs of the South Kitsap School District community.

A Comparison Of Interaction In Av-Based And Internet-Based Distance Courses, Melodee Landis

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

At the center of the debate over the viability of distance education is whether the newer electronic technologies can offer enough interaction to maintain quality learner outcomes and critical mass. Two of the most commonly used forms of distance education are 1) two-way, fully interactive audio-video classrooms and 2) on-line instruction through the Internet or Worldwide Web. This study used qualitative methods to compare and contrast the interaction that occurred in distance learning courses offered via each medium. The research process confirmed findings that there were fundamental differences in the interaction that occurred in the two environments. On-line interaction is …

Analisis Perbandingan Kandungan Kurikulum Matematik Matrikulasi Dengan Stpm, Abd Wahab Ibarahim

Student Works (2000-2009)

The comparative analysis research on the Mathematics curriculum for the matriculation program and Malaysian Higher School Certificate was conducted with the primary aim of determining whether content coverage and learning experiences provided in the Mathematics curriculum for the matriculation program is sufficient to prepare mathematically competent students for further studies at institutions of higher learning. The research methodology employed in this study was that of content analysis. Samples for the study were the Mathematics syllabus QMO 15, QS025, QS035 and Mathematics Modules QMO 15 and QS025 for the matriculation program, developed by the Ministry of Education Malaysia. These materials were …

Volume 13, Number 02, Don Forrester Editor

Reaching Through Teaching

Full text of Volume 13, Number 02 of Reaching Through Teaching.

Spm Malay Language Paper Ii Learning Package, Ramasamy Thevi

Student Works (2000-2009)

SPM Malay Language learning package developed for SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) students. It can be used as a self-study material or teaching tools in schools. SPM Malay Language learning package focuses on the proper preparation methods by providing guidelines and answering techniques to the students. It is a comprehensive tool that used to learn Malay Language effectively. The notes provided are from various researches whereas the exercises aim to help students to master the language well. The students are able to view their own performance and prepare themselves in specific topic they are weak in. This software is developed using …

Helping Students (Better) Evaluate And Validate Www Resources, David L. Graf

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Faculty need strategies to assure that students can process information from the WWW responsibly. Such strategies include developing web-savvy assignments and requiring demonstration of critical review of the material.

Counting Quality, John Strassburger

Publications

This is the fifth in a series of occasional papers about the challenges confronting students and what Ursinus is doing to help them enter adult life.

Parent Involvement: Behind-The-Wheel Guide Sample Lessons And Driving Procedures, David Elroy Kinnunen

All Graduate Projects

Yearly, thousands of novice, young drivers are licensed and embark upon a driving career within the state of Washington. Many of these young drivers end up as statistics in collisions and collision related fatalities. This project report reviews the importance of parent involvement in education and supports the involvement by developing a parent and student handbook for home driving practice. This behind the wheel handbook applies the element that is missing in most young driver's training programs, experience through additional practice time behind the wheel. The current minimum standards for classroom and behind the wheel instruction in the state of …

Developing A Web-Based Assessment Instrument, Robin L. Galloway

Graduate Research Papers

Public demand for affordable and quality higher education continues to pressure institutions to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning experiences. Traditional paper surveys have been utilized to gather data in the past. The World Wide Web can provide many of the same benefits in delivering a survey instrument while offering more convenience, lower costs, and a more flexible data set.

This report of the graduate project documents the process employed when developing a web-based assessment instrument. It outlines a method and procedure for connecting a web site with a FileMaker Pro database. In addition, it provides documentation for the implementation …

Portfolios As An Alternative Assessment, Carmine Z. Draude

Graduate Research Papers

During the past decade, there has been a shift in paradigms by educational reformers to provide a more authentic means of student assessment in our schools. These assessments need to be multidimensional and provide a more accurate picture of students' abilities. The portfolio is one type of alternative assessment that has proven to do this.

This paper discusses the use of portfolios with a group of ninth grade students enrolled in an English course. These portfolios were a systematic collection of the students' work to demonstrate how (1) they have developed and grown academically and (2) how their attitudes and …

Infusing The Multiple Intelligences Into Fifth Grade Curriculum, Kelly Eugene Mattson

All Graduate Projects

Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences involves eight different ways to learn (linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, naturalistic, interpersonal and intrapersonal). These categories of intelligence, along with the guidelines of Washington State's Essential Academic Leaming Requirements, were applied to thirty lessons that were derived from the fifth grade curriculum at Tieton Middle School in Tieton, Washington. The lessons reflect the fields of reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies and health/fitness.

A Balanced Reading Program For The Primary Grades, Hope Kranz Mcdonald

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to create specific.activities that teach children various tools that assist in learning how to read. The project implements a balanced reading curriculum with an emphasis in kindergarten and first grade. Throughout this project the students will be exploring a variety of ways to acquire the knowledge of reading. The project concentrates on two philosophies of how to teach reading; phonemic awareness and whole language. The final product encompasses both philosophies and creates a curriculum that links the two into a balanced approach to reading.

Standards-Based Education: Lessons For The Essential Academic Learning Requirements In The Seventh-Grade Social Studies, Karl Anton Schelbert

All Graduate Projects

This project focuses on aligning seventh-grade social studies with Washington State's Essential Academic Leaming Requirements, the state's curriculum guide. In the last decade standards-based education has swept across the United States and the results in Washington have changed the face of education. The project itself presents a variety of lessons that are aligned with the seventh-grade standards for social studies. Lessons are separated into the four disciplines in social studies: history, geography, civics, and economics. Each lesson teaches some aspect of a selected social studies requirement. The review of literature examines the standards-based reform and its resulting affects in Washington …

Senior Project: A Paradox In Critical Pedagogy, Mark Allen Winters

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

High school education is currently based upon technicist pedagogy, transforming education into mere technical training for the workforce. The regimen of testing in schools standardizes experiences and fails to provide a complete view of what students know and are able to do. Students need freedom to question and to insert their own interests into what they are studying. Such freedom provides more than preparation for graduation; it provides emancipatory education. I focused on a single curricular program—Senior Project. My research questioned, "Can Senior Project provide high school students with the freedom to study topics of personal interest and the freedom …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Standardized Tests On Curricular And Instructional Practices, Jennifer Joy Davis Fox

Masters Theses

Does a student's performance on a standardized test measure the quality of education he/she is receiving? Many students today are being bombarded with standardized assessments mandated by state and district policies. The pressure to perform well on these assessments causes teachers to focus their classroom instructional time on test preparation even at the expense of the non-tested topics and curricular areas. A written survey was designed to determine teachers' perceptions of the influence of standardized tests on curricular and instructional practices. Participating in this study were third and fourth grade teachers (n=67) who administer the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). …

Volume 13, Number 01, Don Forrester Editor

Reaching Through Teaching

Full text of Volume 13, Number 01 of Reaching Through Teaching.

Volume 12, Number 02, Don Forrester Editor

Reaching Through Teaching

Full text of Volume 12, Number 02 of Reaching Through Teaching.

The Design And Development Of A Model Program That Integrates Arts, Social Studies And The Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements For The Seventh Grade Students And Manson Secondary School, Kenneth L. Nelson

All Graduate Projects

Relatively little research was encountered which attempted to measure the effectiveness of an integrated curriculum over a more traditional course of studies. The results that were articulated seemed to indicate that students in classrooms using an integrated curriculum approach did as well or better than students experiencing a more traditional approach. This was especially true in the area of conceptual understanding. The purpose of this project was to design and develop a model program that integrated Language Arts, Social Studies and the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements for the seventh grade students at Manson Secondary School.

Interdisciplinary Teaching And Learning, Deborah Dezure

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Interdisciplinary initiatives are proliferating throughout higher education at an unprecedented rate (Edwards, 1996; Gaff and Ratcliff, 1997; Klein, 1996). They can be found in general education, replacing and augmenting distribution requirements; in emerging disciplines, such as cultural and gender studies, environmental studies, and neuroscience; in new curricular designs, such as learning communities, capstone courses, and service learning; and in the new pedagogies, such as collaborative learning, discovery and problembased learning, and the use of technology, particularly the Internet for instruction.

If we want our students to engage in complex intellectual tasks to integrate the insights of different disciplines, then lets …