Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Scientific Literacy In Central Appalachia Through Contextually Relevant Experiences: The “Reading The River” Project, April D. Haight, Wilson J. Gonzalez-Espada

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Despite the best intentions of the United States educational system, implementing science reform efforts equitably and consistently throughout the nation is still a long-term goal. The light of scientific literacy has yet to shine brightly in many rural, isolated and economically depressed regions. Using Appalachia as a case in point, this paper provides a synopsis of the challenges of quality rural science education in the United States and the hope of new contextual and culturally relevant pedagogies aimed at engaging science students in inquiry research using their environmental surroundings as cognitive scaffoldings. The program Reading the River is showcased as …

"More Real And Less Factual:" Teacher Decision-Making About Place-Based Topics In Rural Secondary Classrooms, Timothy G. Thomas

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

In an age of accountability and tenuous school funding, rural schools are particularly challenged to maintain the institution, contribute to the wider community, and imbue students with local pride. One promising instructional approach is place-based education, students studying the setting in which they live and learn. Participants in this qualitative study were 5 Kentucky teachers who covered issues of regional resource management with students. Participants recognized that curricular mandates affected their planning and deprived students of certain skills for success in school and the real world. In the results of the study, the essential nature of interaction between school and …

Constructing Rural Geographies In Publication, Verdie Craig, Matthew Kurtz

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The paper compares American and British scholarship in rural geography. It argues that, among other reasons for the difference in “rural geography” between the two countries, their distinct publication strategies offer insights for potential interventions. To sketch how the field has been differently construed on opposite sides of the Atlantic, the article first examines several sub-disciplinary literature reviews. It then adds a materialist account to a performative perspective of subdisciplinary formation by exploring how the publication industry helped shape distinct relationships between rural geography and theory. We suggest that rural geographers in the US might use new publication strategies to …

Kentucky Teacher Standard 10: Developing And Supporting The Leadership Competency Through Constructive Field Trip Planning, Kimberlee A. Sharp

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

With gasoline prices skyrocketing out of control and school districts having to determine possible cuts in their annual budgets, one would be justified in questioning the efficacy of school field trips as a means to broaden students' cultural experiences. After all, most modern classrooms (or school libraries) are equipped with computers that can provide students vitiual cultural excursions that are, to some degree, equal to their real world counterpart. More importantly, preparing students for high - stakes standardized tests has helped to relegate the once revered field trip to the back-burner.

The State Of Hispanic Education In Kentucky School Districts, Victor Ballestero, Sam Wright

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The study was designed to provide information on the state of Hispanic education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The data were obtained from Kentucky school Superintendents or their designees in 175 public school districts through a survey (12 questions) mailed in late spring, 2007. We received responses from 136 Kentucky public school districts for a 77.7% return percent.

Departmental Survival Through Collaborative Industrial Partnership, Jaby Mohammed, Sam Mason, Xiaolong Li

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

In this paper/discussion the author's identify how the Industrial and Engineering technology curriculum and program strengthened at Morehead State University. The author's initially review a brief history of the Industrial and Engineering Technology program and how the department survived from closing down to become one of the most successful departments at the university. The author's also describe how the objectives were set and how department worked with the local industrial partners and advisors to set up and help with the curriculum to meet the industrial demands. The objectives were set based on the local educational and industrial demands for the …

A Phase I Survey Of The Blue Licks Battlefield, Adrian Mandzy, Daniel Sivilich, Erik Hale, Joe Marin

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

In March and April 2008, faculty and students from students frorn Morehead State University's History prograrn, along with members of the Battlefield Restoration and Archeological Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) conducted a survey of the Blue Licks Battlefield. The Battle of Blue Licks is best known as the "Last Battle of the American Revolution" and was a rnajor defeat for the colonists. Previous studies of the battlefield suggested that the area had been adversely impacted by modern development and that little or no resources connected with the events of 1782 remain.

The resulting metal detecting survey identified remains frorn the Battle of …

A Data Mining Approach For Location Management In 4g Wireless Heterogeneous Networks, Sherif Rashad

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Sherif Rashad to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2008 on the problem of location management. in the fourth generation (4G) of wireless mobile networks.

Investigating The Stability And Efficiency Of Ado Modules In A Web-Based Manufacturing Control Interface, Yuqiu You

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Yuqiu You to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2008 on the stability and efficiency of ADO Modules in a web-based manufacturing control interface.

The Effect Of Appalachia And State Borders On Patterns Of Mortality In The Five Central Appalachian States, Timothy S. Hare

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Timothy S. Hare to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2006 on mortality rates in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Parent Resources And High School Quality In The Context Of The Rural Gap In Postsecondary Educational Attainment, Edward B. Reeves

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The goal of the present study is to explain the effects of parent resources and secondary school quality in bringing about these patterns in the context of the rural gap in higher educational attainment. Using a nationally representative data set that tracks individual student careers in high school and beyond (which NELS provides) lays a strong empirical foundation for the investigation of this topic.

Object-Oriented Memory Reference Trace File Generation, Yudi Gondokaryono

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Yudi Gondokaryono to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2006 on memory reference traces for Object Oriented Programs in an enhanced DINERO style format.

Right Must And Will Succeed: Excerpts From The Letters Of Sergeant Edmund Burke Wylie, Company K, 31st Iowa Infantry Regiment, Dieter C. Ullrich

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Sergeant Burke Wylie of the 31st Iowa Infantry Regiment was an eyewitness to the events and series of historic battles that occurred between Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia. His vivid descriptions of the ferocity of combat, the geographic features of battlefields and the local inhabitants he encountered are well depicted in his correspondence. Sergeant Wylie's letters begin in December 1863 near Chattanooga and conclude in September 1864 outside of Atlanta.

Online Vs. Face-To-Face Instruction: Similarities, Differences, And Efficacy, David Barnett, Lola Aagaard

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Developing leadership skills within graduate students who aspire to be school administrators requires that these students be involved in authentic experiences similar to those faced by today’s school leaders. While conventional graduate training has relied heavily on face-to-face instruction, the proliferation and availability of technology within today’s society has more and more students seeking training in an online setting. Professors make an effort to provide authentic experiences online, but sometimes are unsure of their effectiveness. What are the perceptions of graduate students pursuing leadership certification who are involved in online classes versus face-to-face instruction? Participants in this study indicated that …

The Effects Of School Location On Math And Science Achievement Trends: A Primer On Growth Modeling In Education Policy Research, Edward B. Reeves

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The effect of school location on math and science learning is currently an important policy issue in the United States and in other countries, such as Australia. The present paper uses a 5-year series of math and science achievement data from the state of Kentucky to determine the effects of school location on learning in these subject areas. Adopting an organizational assessment approach, I show how growth models may be used to estimate achievement trends. I also demonstrate methods for discovering two important sources of invalidity in growth models: regression artifacts and spuriousness. Failure to account for these sources of …

Healthcare Utilization, Deprivation, And Heart-Related Disease In Kentucky, Timothy S. Hare, Holly R. Barcus

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Timothy S. Hare to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2005 on the relationship between patterns of healthcare facility utilization for heart-related disease in Kentucky.

The Development Of Intelligent Machining-Error Detector For Machining Sculptured Surfaces Using 3 Or 5 Axes Cnc Milling Machine, Rachmawati Wangsaputra

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Rachmawati Wangsaputra to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2005 on generating tool paths for machining sculptured surfaces.

The Effects Of School Location On Math And Science Achievement Trends: A Primer On Growth Modeling In Education Policy Research, Edward B. Reeves

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The effect of school location on math and science learning is currently an important policy issue in the United States and in other countries, such as Australia. The present paper uses a 5-year series of math and science achievement data from the state of Kentucky to determine the effects of school location on learning in these subject areas. Adopting an organizational assessment approach, I show how growth models may be used to estimate achievement trends. I also demonstrate methods for discovering two important sources of invalidity in growth models: regression artifacts and spuriousness. Failure to account for these sources of …

Fighting For Freedom: The 1649 War Between The Cossacks And The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Adrian Mandzy

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

To most westerners, the Cossacks remain a mysterious and romanticized people. Nineteenth century writers and artists depict the Cossacks as extraordinary horsemen. This image is often reinforced by descriptions of Cossacks immune to the vigour of the Russian winter as they continued to nip at the heels of Napoleon’s Grand Army in 1812. Novels, like Gogol’ s Taras Bulba, and the opera Mazepa, suggests the Cossacks were both cruel and crafty, while others highlight their barbarity and backwardness.

The Gender Gap In Naep Fourth-, Eighth-, And Twelfth-Grade Reading Scores Across The Years 1992-2003, Beverly M. Klecker

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

This paper presents a secondary analysis of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) dataset. The study explores differences in the NAEP fourth, eighth, and twelfth grade reading scores by students' gender across the years 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003. The study used the NAEP National Public School data. The statistically significant (p.<.01 with effect size measured by Cohen's d) differences in reading scores by gender were consistent across grade level and years with females scoring higher than males. A discussion of the calculation and reporting of effect size with NAEP data is included as well as implications for the No Child Left Behind goals of "closing the gap." This paper presents the argument that the 'child left behind' in reading is very likely to be male--from elementary school through university.

The Geographical Accessibility Of Inpatient Services Used For Heart-Related Ambulatory Cara Sensitive Conditions In Kentucky, Timothy S. Hare

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Timothy S. Hare to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2005 on geographical accessibility of inpatient hospital services used to treat heart-related ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) conditions in Kentucky.

The Effects Of Rural High School On Attending College And Earning A Bachelor’S Degree? A Multivariate Longitudinal Analysis Of A National Cohort Of High School Seniors, Christopher S. Snyder

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

This study examines the effects of attending a rural high school on postsecondary education outcomes. Besides rural high school attendance, other school, family, and individual characteristics are examined to determine if they moderate the effects of high school location upon entering a four-year college or not and graduating with a B.A. degree or higher. Using data for the 1992 cohort of high school seniors gleaned from the National Educational Longitudinal Survey (NELS 88/2000), the results indicate that the long-term effects of receiving a rural high school education are not as detrimental as some previous research has suggested. The disadvantages of …

Expenditures Streams And School Improvement In Kentucky: Does Money Matter?, Edward B. Reeves

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Every Kentucky public school is expected to achieve the goal of proficiency on the State's Accountability Index by the year 2014. Many schools may not reach the proficiency goal in time without a broad, multifaceted approach to enhance educational outcomes. A strategy to optimize the allocation of school district funds may contribute to this goal. Previous studies have attempted to answer the question "does money matter?" for raising school performance, but to date the findings have proven inconsistent. One reason for this might be that most of these studies have used a global measure of monetary resources, such as total …

Mapping Supply And Demand In Kentucky's Health Care System, Timothy S. Hare, Holly R. Barcus

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Timothy S. Hare to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in 2004 on the geographical distribution of supply and demand in Kentucky's health care system.

Alabamans In East Tennessee: Letters From Confederate Soldiers Back Home, Dieter C. Ullrich

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

Between the summer of 1862 and the fall of 1863, tens of thousands of Confederate soldiers camped upon the hills and valleys near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Many of those men would write home of the sites and events they experienced. What follows are several letters that were recently found in the Auburn University archives located in the Ralph Brown Draughon Library.

Proximal Factors Predicting Student Performance In A Self-Paced College Psychology Course, Ronald L. Skidmore

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

This study examined the effectiveness of using selected self-report measures assessing motivational orientation, learning strategies, procrastination, and perceptions of daily hassles to facilitate the prediction of student engagement in a self-paced introductory psychology course. Research has shown these factors to be associated with academic success, and of concern to instructors and students alike. Surveys that economically and effectively assess these factors would be invaluable for the instructor attempting to predict student engagement and determining possible interventions to promote academic success. Four surveys purporting to measure the constructs were chosen. A demographic survey was also administered.

Monitoring The Occurrence Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In The Triplett Creek Watershed By Polymerase Chain Reaction, Geoffrey W. Gearner

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Geoffrey W. Gearner to the Research and Creative Productions Committee on September 30, 2003 on water samples collected from 27 sites in the Triplett Creek watershed at various times from August 2001 to March 2003.

Fidelity Of The Implementation Of The Cdc Guidelines For School Tobacco Programs To Prevent Use And Addiction, Maurice Martin

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

A report submitted by Maurice Martin to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in June of 2003 on CDC guidelines for school tobacco programs n an effort to prevent use and addiction.

Images Of Pain, Wretha G. Goodpaster, Marcia J. Cooper, Jeffrey C. Fannin, Timothy Ferguson

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

An article written in part by Wretha G. Goodpaster and published in the May 2003 issue of Advance: for Imaging and Oncology Administrators, pages 53-57.

The Relationship Between Teachers' Years-Of-Teaching And Students' Mathematics Achievement, Beverly M. Klecker

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

This study examined differences in student achievement on the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Mathematics Test by their teachers’ years-of-experience teaching mathematics. Data examined were mean scale scores of fourth and eighth grades in five sample groups: national (public and private school students combined), national public school students, and Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas public school students. These states were chosen because of their statewide systematic school reform efforts. The research question was: Are mathematics scores of students of more experienced mathematics teachers higher than those of students of less experienced teachers? The National Assessment of Educational Progress data …