Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Why Are School Districts Abandoning The Core-Plus Mathematics Curriculum, Amber Rae Richgels

Mathematics Graduate Theses

In this paper, the author establishes that high schools are abandoning the Core-Plus Mathematics curriculum and determines the need for curricular reform and the motivation to develop such standards-based programs. She discovers that although Core- Plus is a nationally recognized, exemplary mathematics curriculum, school districts are deciding to discontinue the curricular option of Core-Plus. The author reviewed literature and interviewed teachers from schools that have recently decided to abandon Core-Plus in attempt to determine factors leading to these decisions. This paper discusses those interviews, provides suggestions for the future adoption of Core-Plus, and concludes with recommendations that further study be …

Course Change And Attrition From Higher Education, Julie Mcmillan

LSAY Research Reports

This report examines the pathways of recent school leavers who enter the higher education sector in Australia. The focus is on the first three years after completing senior secondary school. The report has four broad aims: to provide estimates of the proportions of entrants who change courses or leave the higher education sector before completing a course; to identify factors associated with course change within the higher education sector; to identify factors associated with attrition from the higher education sector; and to examine the initial education, training and labour market destinations of those who leave the higher education sector before …

An Evaluation Of The Bachelor Of Learning Management At Central Queensland University, Lawrence Ingvarson, Adrian Beavis, Charlotte Danielson, Louise Ellis, Alison Elliott

Initial Teacher education

The term 'learning management' was created to capture the increased importance of individual learning in the knowledge society. The over-arching purpose of the degree is to graduate 'Learning Managers' who have a significantly different perspective and skill/knowledge base than in the past. Bachelor of Learning Management graduates will have a 'quality guaranteed' capacity to manage the learning of students and will be able to work collaboratively with other teaching professionals, a range of other supporting professionals and the community. The Bachelor of Learning Management is a distinctive approach to pre-service teacher preparation that has widespread education industry support. A feature …

Action Research For Female Science Teacher Development: Case Pakistan, Harcharan Pardhan

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

2004-2005 Profile, Morehead State University. Institutional Research & Analysis.

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis Publication Archive

2004-2005 issue of Profile Magazine.

The Evaluation Of The Use Of Technology/Electronic Media In Teaching Or Delivering Instructions/Lectures At A Florida University: History, Philosophy And Practices, Iwasan D. Kejawa

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

According to the previous survey conducted by Florida Atlantic University Student Academic Affairs department in 2001, it was indicated that faculty uses of teaching and learning technologies/electronic instruction media to teach and deliver their lectures at the college were lacking.

With the current research study, investigations were thoroughly made and suggestions are provided on the improvement of faculty performance in the use of technologies at the institution to teach and convey knowledge to their students. In this report, the institutional personnel and its administration are made aware whether all existing technologies are being optimally used by faculty. This study also …

The Effects Of The Michigan Transition Outcomes Project, Jane E. Finn

Dissertations

This study investigated whether the Transition Outcomes Project used in Michigan resulted in improved compliance with the transition components required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA 1997) and interviewed staff who have implemented this model to identify their perceptions ofhow it affected the transition planning process for students with disabilities. The study used qualitative and quantitative measures. The quantitative measures studied the effectiveness of the model, while the qualitative measures investigated the perceptions of the school personnel who implemented the model in their district.

Findings showed that the Michigan Transition Outcomes Project is an effective model …

A Comparison Of Academic Achievement And Value-Added Grades On The State Report Cards In Tennessee, 2001-2003., Kyle Allen Evans

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study uses the state report cards published by the Tennessee Department of Education to compare the academic achievement grades to the value-added grades to determine if there is a relationship between the two grading systems. The data used for this study are from the 2001, 2002, and the 2003 state report cards published for each school using the five subject areas of reading, language, math, science, and social studies.

One thousand sixty schools in the state of Tennessee were for this study. The socioeconomic status (SES) of the schools was used as a covariate to determine if the socioeconomic …

21st Century Community Learning Center Program: A Study To Evaluate The Success Of A Program In A Rural County In East Tennessee., Joy Collingsworth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The 21st Century Community Learning Center Program is a key component in the No Child Left Behind Act. It presents an opportunity for students and their families to continue to learn new skills after the regular school day has ended. The focus of the program is to provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools. Tutorial services and academic activities are designed to help students meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading and math. In addition, programs provide youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, technology education programs, art, music, and recreational …

At-Risk Students' Perceptions Of The Impact Of Popular Culture And The Media On Their Lives., Rebecca Cupples Draper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study is comprised of indepth interviews with 16 at-risk high school students. The students were asked to give reasons for their discipline problems in high school. They were also asked to give their perspectives on various forms of popular culture. Questions regarding television, movies, music, video games, and sports were posed to determine the participants' interest level in each of the areas. The students were then asked to gauge how much these interests had taken away from their schoolwork. The students' perceptions and life experiences were explored in depth via the interview process.

In general, the lives of …

Special Education Teachers' Collection And Use Of Data To Measure Student Progress, Crystal Thacker

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not teachers use systematic and direct formative assessment techniques and if implementing these techniques has an effect on teacher efficacy. The participants (N = 89) were practicing special education teachers from urban and rural school divisions across Virginia and from one graduate-level course in special education. Data were collected using portions of the Data Collection and Analysis Survey (Cooke, Heward, Test, Spooner, & Courson, 1991) and selected items from the Teacher Efficacy Scale (Gibson, 1983). The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 89 surveys distributed, …

High-Stakes Testing And Special Populations, Gary H. Sherwin, Todd Jennings

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

This opinion paper critically examines the use of high-stakes testing on special populations. Without appropriate accommodations, standardized exams are not valid for some students with special needs. Unfortunately, many classroom teachers who must initiate testing accommodations lack knowledge of appropriate accommodations and regularly fail to provide the necessary testing accommodations. The deficit understanding of testing accommodations makes comparisons between classrooms, schools, and districts invalid since some scores loose validity. Solutions specific to standardized testing and students with special needs are offered and a more encompassing solution to the problems incurred from these tests when used for high-stakes is suggested.

To Wonder, Wander, And Linger In The World Of Standardized Testing, Randall Wright, Alayne Sullivan

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

The standards movement began as a nobly-intended effort to establish a core curriculum—a template of knowledge and skills that would guide teaching and learning across the K-12 curriculum. Our attempts to standardize curriculum may have unintended and deleterious side-effect: The atrophying of the mind’s natural tendencies for exploratory play and inherently imaginative dimensions. This paper engages us in a critical remembering of our pedagogical relationships with children. It reminds us of children’s ways of being and asks how we might engage them in a rigorous appreciation of curricular literacies without thwarting their wonderful wanderings. Ultimately, we worry about the place …

Volume 16, Number 02, G. William Hill Editor, Linda M. Noble Editor

Reaching Through Teaching

Full text of Volume 16, Number 02 of Reaching Through Teaching.

Indicators Of Quality In Internet-Based Distance Education: An Empirical Investigation Of Faculty Perceptions At Two-Year Colleges, Deborah A. Halik

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

may exist between the presence and importance perceptions of faculty. Lastly, the study tested for differences between full and part-time faculty perceptions on the importance of quality indicators. Data was collected using a survey instrument developed by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP). The population of interest for this study was full-time and part-time Internet-based distance education faculty from two-year community colleges in the Midwest. Descriptive results were presented as well as t-test analyses investigating the differences of interest described above. The study found that when comparing Internet-based distance education faculty perceptions of quality indicators in Internet-based distance education, …

Teaching And Trading: Local Voices And Global Issues From Central Asia, Sarfaroz Niyozov, Duishon Shamatov

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Ninth Grade Performance On The Ctbs 5th Edition, Kraig H. Grayson

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

An applied project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Specialist in Education at Morehead State University by Kraig H. Grayson on April 20, 2005.

The Western Scholar, Editors

WKU Scholar

No abstract provided.

A Summary Of The Evaluation Of The Community Playgroup Initiative, Geraldine French

Reports

Community playgroups contribute to a sense of identity, belonging and participation. Beyond the family and the school, the community has the potential to contribute to the development of supportive environments for our young pre-school aged citizens. In recognition of the vulnerability of these important services in Ireland the Community Playgroup Initiative (cpi) 2001 – 2004 was established. It was funded by the Katharine Howard Foundation in partnership with the then South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) in Ireland. This three-year project was developed to assist community playgroups to deliver a high quality sessional service, to identify and evaluate the impact of …

Contradictions In Irish Academic Research, Stephen Jerrams, John Donovan

Articles

The conditions that govern academic research vary greatly from country to country and research in the Republic of Ireland was and remains markedly different from that of its larger European neighbours and the United States. Despite the quality of its education system and the excellent reputation of its universities, until recently Ireland had relatively low levels of academic research. Pinnacles of excellence could be found in certain disciplines, but state funding was low and issues relating to industrial collaborations, international partnerships, commercialisation and the exploitation of Intellectual Property (IP) rarely arose. Even today the Irish Government’s spending on academic research, …

Learning Styles: A Focus Upon E-Learning Practices And Pedagogy And Their Implications For Designing E-Learning For Secondary School Students In Newfoundland And Labrador, Morris Cooze, Michael K. Barbour

Education Faculty Publications

With the increase of online learning in the K-12 environment, research must turn to specific studies focused upon this level. One area of investigation surrounds the development of online course content and individualised student learning styles. This review found that although there is a vast body of research concerning online learning in the post-secondary environment, this is not true for K-12 education. Recent studies have begun the discussion for secondary school students as online learning becomes more prevalent and accepted as a means of learning. The lessons that these studies bring forward may be of particular interest to instructional designers …

Nefdc Exchange, Volume 16, Number 1, Spring 2005, New England Faculty Development Consortium

New England Faculty Development Consortium Exchange

Contents

From the NEFDC President: The Heart of the Matter - Thomas S. Edwards, Thomas College

Transforming Your Good Idea into a Compelling Conference Proposal - Judith E. Miller, Clark University

Learning the Infield Fly Rule: Limits of the “Silver Platter” Method - Rob Schadt, Boston University School of Public Health

Discovering New Ways to Teach: Our Experience in an Instructional Skills Workshop Facilitators Training Program - Patricia Cook and James M. Gentile, Manchester Community College

The Bad and the Good About Improving Student Retention in Online Learning - Elaine Garofoli

Connecting with others

Learning Disabilities in Higher Education: An …

Adult Student Motivators At A University Satellite Campus, Janet Cosman-Ross, Diana Hiatt-Michael

Publications

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine what factors motivated the adult learners at a Southern California university complex. Using surveys and interviews, the study also provided insight into the expectations of the students in relation to their careers and personal growth. In addition, analysis of the data uncovered information on how employer reimbursement of education costs affected the students’ motivation, who influenced the students to attend school, and why the students chose this university over others in the area.

Raising And Leveling The Bar: Standards, Access, And The Ymca Evening Law Schools, 1890-1940, Dorothy E. Finnegan

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

Using Portfolios As Evidence Of Candidate Growth & Program Impact, Cynthia Carver, Paul Vellom, Katharine Cummings

Assessment Grants

Presentation on the use of portfolios for assessment in the Department of Teaching, Learning & Leadership.

Numeracy In The Early Years: Project Good Start, Sue Thomson, Ken Rowe, Catherine Underwood, Ray Peck

School and system improvement

Project Good Start investigated the effectiveness of numeracy programmes for Australian children in the year before school and the first year of schooling. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from pre-schools, early childhood centres and primary schools, tovinvestigate the practice and learning experiences that best support children’s early numeracy development.

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 …

Factors Affecting The Impact Of Professional Development Programs On Teachers' Knowledge, Practice, Student Outcomes & Efficacy, Lawrence Ingvarson, Marion Meiers, Adrian Beavis

Professional learning for teachers and school leaders

This report examines effects of structural and process features of professional development programs on teachers’ knowledge, practice and efficacy. It is based on four recent (2002-2003) studies undertaken through the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme, designed to enhance teacher quality. The total data set for the survey study includes 3,250 teachers who had participated in eighty individual professional developmental activities within these studies. Teachers were surveyed at least three months after participating in an activity, which provided them with the opportunity to gauge the impact of programs on their practice. To investigate factors affecting impact, a theoretical model was developed …

Bridgewater State College Factbook, Academic Year 2004-2005, Office Of Institutional Research And Assessment, Bridgewater State College

Factbook

No abstract provided.

A System-Level Comparison Of Cost-Efficiency And Return On Investment Related To Online Course Delivery, Thomas R. Ramage

Dr. Thomas R. Ramage Scholarship

As the number of students enrolling in Internet-based or online instruction grows, so do questions from educational leaders, policymakers, college and university presidents, members of governing boards, and legislators regarding cost (Johnstone, 2001). This situation is not unique to the United States.

Decision-makers considered the primary benefit of online distance education to be that costs could be spread over a large number of students, taking advantage of economy of scale, assuming that large numbers of students would increase revenue and lower cost-per-student and operating expenses. In addition, increased access and quality learning experiences remained important (Inglis, 1999).