Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Educational Assessment: Exploring The Relationship Between Computer Adaptive Testing, Data Analysis, And Student Achievement, Michael Donhost

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The research on the potential relationship of the Northwest Evaluation Association's Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) and the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) was conducted in two phases and focused on middle schools with a grade configuration of 6-8 in the state of Illinois. The first phase of the research examined whether or not a significant relationship existed between NWEA MAP test participation by middle schools in Illinois, and ISAT growth over time. A total of 86 schools were involved in the research associated with Phase 1. The second phase of the study aimed to find out if the …

Public-Private Partnerships, Civic Engagement, And School Reform, Theodore J. Kowalski

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The number of partnerships between public schools and private organizations increased dramatically after the National Commission on Excellence in Education (1983) issued its report "A Nation at Risk." ... In this essay, I propose an uncommon perspective of public-private partnerships in the United States—one that calls for direct citizen involvement to ensure that collaboration is linked to and compatible with reform efforts carried out at the local (school district) level. The need for a new conceptualization is framed by three convictions: public-private partnerships have been largely ineffective in terms of improving instruction and student learning; democratic deficits in these ventures …

Influence Of Ethnicity On English Vocabulary Measurement: Using The Montgomery Assessment Of Vocabulary Acquisition In One Rural Southeastern New Mexico School, Eileen M. Gatliffe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined vocabulary acquisition of elementary students in grades kindergarten through fifth in one rural New Mexico school. The school had 277 students. Hispanic students comprised nearly 80% of the student body. All students received free lunch and breakfast. The 65 students who participated in the study were assessed using the Montgomery Assessment of Vocabulary Acquisition (MAVA). This new assessment, published in 2008, tests receptive and expressive vocabulary utilizing the three-tier vocabulary model introduced by Beck, McKeown and Kucan (2001). The study assessed each student for proficiency in identifying and using tier-I, tier-II and tier-III words. Hispanic and non-Hispanic …

What Explains The Gender Gap In Financial Literacy? The Role Of Household Decision-Making, Raquel Fonseca, Kathleen J. Mullen, Gema Zamarro, Julie Zissimopoulos

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

Research has shown that financial illiteracy is widespread among women, and that many women are unfamiliar with even the most basic economic concepts needed to make saving and investment decisions. This gender gap in financial literacy may contribute to the differential levels of retirement preparedness between women and men. However, little is known about the determinants of the gender gap in financial literacy. Using data from the RAND American Life Panel, we examined potential explanations for the gender gap including the role of marriage and division of financial decision-making among couples. We found that differences in the demographic characteristics of …

Superintendents' Use Of Research-Based Responsibilities/Practices In High-Performing School Districts, Wayne Russell Stitt

Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to identify "how" effective superintendents use the research-based leadership responsibilities/practices outlined in Marzano and Waters' (2006) meta-analysis that significantly and positively impact student achievement. A second purpose of this research was to find challenges that superintendents face in their attempts to be successful within their school districts.

The study employed a qualitative multi-site case study using elite purposeful sampling. Five superintendents in southwest Michigan were targeted and agreed to participate in this study. They were the only superintendents in this region who met the criteria, which included school districts who have a total …

Student's Attitudes Toward High-Stakes Testing And Its Effect On Educational Decisions, Aldo Alfredo Moran

Dissertations

With the recent increase in accountability due to No Child Left Behind, graduation rates and drop-out rates are important indicators of how well a school district is performing. High-stakes testing scores are at the forefront of a school's success and recognition as a school that is preparing and graduating students to meet society's challenging demands.

*please download the dissertation to see the full Abstract.

The Use Of Multiple Intelligence Concepts With Middle School Students And Future Academic Achievement, Christa Fountain Glenn

Dissertations

This quantitative quasi-experimental study examined the variables of student’s grade point averages when Multiple Intelligences were introduced and implemented in a study in 2007. To examine this information, in 2007 a study was conducted of 115 eighth grade students from a single grade school in the southern United States. At the conclusion of the study in 2007, it was the researchers’ belief that students may possibly utilize the Multiple Intelligences in their upcoming years as high school students, therefore, the study continued and the academic achievement by way of grade point averages of 94 of the original students now ending …

Creating Inclusive Learning Communities For Ell Students: Transforming School Principals' Perspectives, Kathryn Brooks, Susan R. Adams, Trish Morita-Mullaney

Scholarship and Professional Work – Education

School-level administrators are often concerned about tertiary supports for English language learners (ELLs), such as translating signs and school documents or offering Spanish classes for their teachers. Although modeling and learning the heritage language(s) of the ESL population can be helpful, its focus on language differences can limit our considerations of broader systemic challenges that impact the success of ELLs in our schools. This article shares the dialogues that school administrators are having about ELL students and discusses the use of social justice and equity focused professional learning communities as a way to transform this discourse to address the broader …

Factors Affecting School District Performance Scores In Louisiana, Ronnie Harrison

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between District Performance Scores (DPS) in Louisiana and (a) socio-economic status of students, (b) academic achievement using average ACT scores, (c) percentage of certified teachers, (d) district class size, (e) per pupil expenditure, and (f) percentage of minority students in determining why a district is considered low performing or high performing. The study investigated 68 school districts in Louisiana during the 2007-2008 school year.

The study noted significant differences in two of the six variables that may have an influence on the district performance score for the lower performing and …

The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’S Semester At America’S Holiest University, Jessica Rimmer

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Koinonia, Brian Jensen, Emily J. Darnell, Philip Byers, Josh Arnold, Drew Moser, David Johnstone, Rob Pepper, Kim Stave, Ken Heffner, Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma, Christopher Bohle, Bob Crow

Koinonia

Best Practice Features
Life on Life Learning: Steps Towards Authentic Mentoring, Brian Jensen

The Heart of the Honor Code: I am My Brother's Keeper, Emily J. Darnell

Spotlight Features
Old People are "Whole Persons," Too: Why Understanding Heritage is a Foundational Component of College Student Development, Philip Byers

Ministry and Learning in Residence Life, Josh Arnold

Shepherding in an Age of Edupunks, Drew Moser

The Gap in the Curtain: Seeing Pieces of a Residential Community's Future, David Johnstone

Interviews
A Conversation with Juana Bordas, conducted by Rob Pepper

Looking Into the Future: Two Educators' Perspectives on Christian Higher Education, by …

An Evaluation Of The Right Choices Program To Determine Effectiveness In Delivering Constructive Interventions And Providing An Early Support Program In Order To Modify Behavior Of First-Time Student Offenders Who Commit Drug And Violent Acts, Lisa B. Barnes

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to perform a program evaluation of the Right Choices Program to determine the program's effectiveness in delivering constructive interventions that modify student behavior once students have left the program and have returned to their regular learning environment. This mixed-method evaluation consisted of an experimental-comparison design approach that included interviews with program participants, completing focus groups, and comparison of the number of out-of-school suspensions that participants received after completing the Right Choices Program.

The researcher and trained interviewers administered a survey to the 16 certified staff members working in the Right Choices Program including the …

Evaluation Of The Union County Alternative To Suspension Program, Joyce Ann Dunlap

Education Dissertations and Projects

The schools in Union County have undergone a tremendous amount of growth in the past decade. The growth in the county has led to an increase in discipline problems. In order to provide suspended students a second chance, Union County Public Schools implemented an alternative to suspension program, the Union County Alternative to Suspension Program (UCATS). The UCATS Program provides students suspended for 2 to 10 days the opportunity to earn attendance credit by performing community service in local business agencies in Union County.

The researcher conducted a program evaluation using archival and survey data to answer the research questions: …

Elementary Principals' Perspectives On Opening New Schools In A Large Urban School District, Tammie Taylor Sexton

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine in detail the experiences of four elementary school principals who have gone through the process of opening new year-round schools in the past 5 years in a large urban school district in North Carolina. In particular, this study examined and documented the procedures that the principals used in opening the new schools, as well as in making the schools operational. It examined the principals' perceptions regarding the tasks and procedures involved in opening a new public elementary school and how to go about this process successfully in a rapidly growing school …

Millennial Sex Habits: The Sexual Attitudes And Behaviors Of Unmarried Undergraduate Males At A Small, Private, Christian Institution, Travis T. York

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This study analyzed the sexual attitudes and behaviors of 211 unmarried, traditionally-aged undergraduate males at a small, private, Christian, liberal arts institution in western Pennsylvania. As hypothesized, data were largely consistent with millennial theorists’ projections about current students’ decline in sexual activity in comparison to data from the past. The results of this project also confirm the relevance of the Social Norms Theory to the study of sexual behavior (Berkowitz, 2003). Descriptive data and definitions of sex, virginity, and abstinence are also discussed. This research suggests that student development professionals should invest in education and programming that provides accurate statistics …

Assessing Technology Literacy: The Case For An Authentic, Project-Based Learning Approach, Jonathan D. Becker, Cherise A. Hodge, Mary W. Sepelyak

Educational Leadership Publications

This whitepaper takes a comprehensive look at the research, policies, and practices of technology literacy in K-12 settings in the United States. It builds a research-based case for the central importance of "doing" as part of technology literacy, meaning more than just being able to answer canned questions on a test. It also explores the current approaches to develop meaningful assessment of student technology literacy at a national, state, and local level, including TechYES.

Disputed Issues: Contending For Christian Faith In Today’S Academic Setting, Caleb Farmer

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Alumni Engaging Students From Under-Served Groups In Southern Appalachia, Mitchell R. Williams, Laura Leatherwood, Laura Byrd, Monica S. Boyd, Kevin Pennington

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

The study explores how alumni can help community colleges in Southern Appalachia to create greater access for people in groups which are traditionally under-served by higher education. Semi-structured interviews conducted with alumni program directors and admissions officers at seven community colleges in the Southern Appalachian Region explore how they use alumni to recruit and retain students from non-dominant groups as well as students from generationally poor families. Examples of "best practices" illustrate ways alumni can help recruit, motivate, and retain students from historically under-served groups.

Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy: Identification And Intervention, Alexandra Elizabeth Walk, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP), also known as “factitious disorder by proxy,” is a mental illness in which a person lies about the physical or mental well-being of a person he/she is responsible for (The Cleveland Clinic, 2008). Most often the dynamic transpires between a mother and her child. The motivation behind MSBP is that the adult seeks the attention typically given to those who are sick, and attempts to get the attention by causing or lying about illness in his/her child. MSBP is a type of child abuse and can result in long-term physical and psychological effects or even …

Promoting Student Faith Development Within Evangelical Higher Education Through Engaging People Of Other Faiths, Bruce R. Norquist, Terry E. Williams

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of students, administrators, and faculty at two universities within the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) regarding the extent, nature, and impact engagement with people of other faiths had on student faith development. The findings confirmed that constructive engagements with people of other faiths do indeed have a strong and positive impact on faith development. Significant barriers, however, were found that serve to impede the extent and quality of interactions with people of other faiths on the campus. At the same time, institutional leaders, including student development professionals, were found to play a …

Growth No. 9 (2010) - Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The full issue of the ninth edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.

An Assessment Of Academic Support Service Needs, Christy M. Tanious

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Vocationalism In Higher Education, Joshua Arnold

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

In their recent book, The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness, Donald Opitz and Derek Melleby (2007) note how “expectations have profound implications on what students actually find when they arrive at college” (p. 15). In recent decades, a paradigmatic shift has occurred among college students concerning their views of the purpose of a college education. Student expectations have grown increasingly pragmatic, utilitarian, and vocational in nature. This shift toward a vocational emphasis has had a profound impact on the landscape of higher education, changing the shape of many institutions and how higher education is both viewed and offered in …

Hooking Up, Kimberly C. Thornbury

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Desiring The Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, And Cultural Formation, Laura M. Rodeheaver

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Christian Higher Education In The Global Context: Implications For Curriculum, Pedagogy And Administration, Kevin Kehl

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Assessment Methods For Student Affairs, Robert C. Pepper

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Exploration Of Student Spiritual Development In A Living-Learning Community, Jason Morris, Mimi Barnard, Greg Morris, Julie Williamson

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The purpose of this study is to examine the spiritual development of eight participants in a living-learning community at Abilene Christian University. Using a qualitative methodology, this study attempted to capture the voices of participants as they concluded a year together in a Barrett Hall living-learning community (LCC). Data were collected over a period of 2-3 weeks through individual semi-structured interviews, as well as one focus group comprised of all eight community members. Data were analyzed to capture meaningful themes and categories. Implications for practice are discussed.

Religion In The National Agenda: What We Mean By Religious, Spiritual, Secular, Leslie C. Poe

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

The Student Leadership Challenge: Five Practices For Exemplary Leaders, Anthony D. Zappasodi

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.