Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Middle School Grading Practices And The Ability To Predict Achievement On The Arkansas Benchmark Test, Philip Matthew Summers

Dissertations

After the No Child Left Behind Act was legislated, it became necessary for states to target specific learning goals and then test those objectives. As part of this process, districts began to develop new curricula and evaluate grading practices. For this study, student samples were drawn from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade populations of a Northwest Arkansas Middle School. Samples were disaggregated by grade level for the 2005-2006, 2006- 2007, and 2007-2008 school years. A quasi-experimental design was implemented to test the strength of the independent variable, averaged semester grades, on the dependent variable, Arkansas Benchmark Test scores. A Pearson …

Proceedings Of The 50th Annual Adult Education Research Conference, Randee Lipson Lawrence

Adult Education Research Conference Proceedings

This document contains the full text proceedings of the Adult Education Research Conference (AERC) held at National-Louis University in May 2009.

Factors That Are Predictive Of Student Achievement Outcomes And An Analysis Of These Factors In High-Poverty Schools Versus Low-Poverty Schools, Cherita Ruth Graber

Dissertations

This study was conducted to identify factors that are predictive of student achievement outcomes and to analyze these factors in high-poverty schools versus low-poverty schools. Because of accountability standards implemented with the passage of No Child Left Behind, it is critical that educators determine factors that will increase student achievement most significantly. Once the most significant and most predictive variables of student achievement can be identified, stakeholders can implement policies and procedures to address those areas. In addition, instructional strategies can be employed to improve student success. The dependent variable under study was student achievement, which was dissected into two …

Missouri Elementary Teacher Certification Programs And The Education Provided On How Boys And Girls Learn Differently, Elizabeth Anne Cooper

Dissertations

Teacher education programs, professional development, and higher education should provide educators with the information needed to address the ways that boys and girls learn differently. This mixed-methods study discovered the amount of education provided to teachers during their Teacher Education Programs in regards to how girls and boys learn. This study focused on a purposeful sample of five school districts within a chosen region in Missouri. Data were collected from elementary schools within these districts in the fall of 2008. The subjects included a purposeful sample of elementary teachers throughout these districts. In addition, twelve elementary teachers within this region …

The Star Math Test As A Predictor Of Arkansas Benchmark Test Scores, Patricia Anne Conner

Dissertations

With the failure of the legislative branch to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind law in 2007 and recent reports that more schools than ever are failing to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress, educators are reviewing practices and curriculum. As a result of federal and state laws, it is necessary to identify an accurate predictor of student achievement prior to the administration of the state-mandated test. For this study, student samples were drawn from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade populations of a Northwest Arkansas Middle School. Samples were separated by grade level and ranked according to the grade equivalency on the …

The Impact Of High Quality Professional Development On Student Achievement In The State Of Missouri, Lisa M. Christiansen

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover the relationship between high quality professional development and student achievement in the state of Missouri as measured by the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP). The ultimate goal of high quality professional development is to provide tools for educators which increase student achievement. In the state of Missouri, the Regional Professional Development Centers are primary providers of high quality professional development. This study specifically focuses on the relationship between the high quality professional development activities offered by the Missouri Regional Professional Development Centers and its relationship to student achievement. The Missouri Assessment Program results …

Same Gender Classrooms And Student Achievement, Amy L. Viets

Dissertations

Leonard Sax, executive director National Association for Single Sex Public Education (2008) noted, “Same Gender Classrooms have long existed in educational institutions” (p. 1). According to Cable and Spradlin (2008), “The option of single-sex schooling in public schools has emerged once again through federal policies associated with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001…” (p. 1). The purpose of this study was to determine if Same Gender Classrooms impact state mandated test scores. More than a dozen schools throughout the Midwest implementing Same Gender Classrooms were contacted and interviewed. Test scores from schools implementing Same Gender Classrooms were compared …

Teacher Perceptions Of Electronic Curricula Implementation Within An Elementary And Secondary Lutheran Setting, Bruce Gerard Kintz

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research project was to investigate and understand elementary and secondary Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) school teachers' awareness of and attitudes toward the use of electronic curricula in the classroom. The research question was: Why is there a lack of mainstream LCMS grade schools and high schools asking for or using electronically-delivered curricula? Interpretive inquiry was chosen as the methodology for this research and due to the nature of this researcher's focus on technology in the classroom, an electronic survey was used for gathering data which was effective in terms of cost and time efficiency. The …

Interventions, Perceptions Of Accommodations, And Motivating Factors Impacting The Achievement And Successful Mainstreaming Transition Of English Language Learners, Desiree Atchley

Dissertations

This study was inspired by the many English language learners who have overcome the struggles of achieving proficiency in English. The district studied is a small school district with approximately 1850 students. In 1999, there were 148 Hispanic students, and this number has more than doubled in the last nine years. For a school that was basically void of diversity twenty years ago, it is now a school in which almost one-fifth of its population is a second language learner. Currently over seven languages are represented in its population, and those numbers continue to grow. The district has faced many …

Exploring Web 2.0 Technologies To Internationalize The Teaching Of Psychology, Richard Velayo

Cornerstone 3 Reports : Interdisciplinary Informatics

This project aims to explore effective ways in which instructors in psychology through the use of Web 2.0 technologies in teaching help with this “internationalization” initiative. Though the focus of this pilot project is the psychology curriculum, an investigation of the ways in which Internet-based technologies are used to internationalize curriculum in other disciplines will also be explored.

E‑Learning Success Model: An Information Systems Perspective, Anita Lee-Post

Marketing & Supply Chain Faculty Publications

This paper reports the observations made and experience gained from developing and delivering an online quantitative methods course for Business undergraduates. Inspired by issues and challenges experienced in developing the online course, a model is advanced to address the question of how to guide the design, development, and delivery of successful e‑learning initiatives based on theories of a user‑centered information systems development paradigm. The benefits of using the proposed model for e‑learning success assessment is demonstrated through four cycles of action research after two action research cycles of pilot study. Findings from our empirical study confirm the value of an …

The Impact Of Early Childhood Programs On Student Achievement, Kelly Ann Sutherland

Dissertations

The common goal of wanting children to succeed in school is shared by educators, families, and communities. While meeting educational benchmarks, such as achieving at grade level to staying in school, can be linked to school readiness, so can early childhood programs. Early childhood programs such as Parents as Teachers and Pre-k programs, are important interventions to help improve student achievement and success in school. In this study, student samples were drawn from existing data in one rural school district in Missouri. The testing data were from students who began school from the fall of 2004 to the fall of …

The Impact Of Departmentalization On Sixth Grade Achievement On The Missouri Assessment Program, Shawn James Page

Dissertations

In 1950 the Missouri Board of education designed accreditation standards for Missouri schools. In 1990 the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) experienced a major revision that required that all districts be accredited. A school could achieve accreditation by taking part in a five year review cycle designed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESSE). No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was signed into law in 2002. The results were sweeping changes to the educational system(DESE 2006). One of those changes was an Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) standard. One of the most notable innovations of traditional junior high schools, first …

Parent Involvement And Technologically-Based Communications In Missouri’S Top Performing Schools, Gina M. Wood

Dissertations

With ever-increasing accountability requirements, public schools need to seek the support of the most invested parties, the parents. Despite the good intentions of all involved, finding meaningful ways for schools and parents to collaborate on student learning remains a difficult task. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of Missouri parents and school personnel from the top-performing elementary schools in the state regarding involvement, to determine if a relationship existed between these attitudes and student achievement. Sixty-eight demographically diverse Missouri schools were included in this quantitative, correlational study. Examined were questionnaire items related to parental involvement and reported …

Effect Of A 15-Week Wellness Course On Health Indicators And Six Areas Of Wellness In College Students, Andrea Michelle Alameda

Dissertations

The current state of health of the United States, including physical inactivity, dietary intake, and overall lifestyle habits is of concern for educators. Specifically, the health of the college population appears to be under-represented in health and wellness research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a 15- week university wellness-based course on health indicators and six dimensions of wellness: physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual. The researcher hypothesized that students who participated in the wellnessbased course (intervention group) would experience positive health outcomes and increased perceptions of wellness in the six areas of wellness. The intervention group …

An Evaluation Of Issues In Rural Missouri K-12 Public School Districts, Jason L. Buckner

Dissertations

This evaluation discusses the commonalities in the issues among rural school districts in Missouri. A survey was sent to 270 school districts in the state of Missouri with 1,000 student enrollment or fewer. Fifty percent of the districts responded. The survey consisted of a questionnaire targeting thirteen different issues and requested that superintendents target the top five issues in their school district. The main issues selected were district funding (84%), student achievement (73%), governmental mandates (61%), socio-economic factors (48%), and technology (47%). Results of this evaluation are tabulated in Chapter 4, based on the following research questions: 1)What are the …

Effects Of Socioeconomic Status On Academic Performance In Missouri Public Schools, Brent M. Blevins

Dissertations

Understanding the effects of socioeconomic status on academic performance is important in determining effective and valid testing for all Missouri students. Determining the correlation between these two variables is important for all educators to understand, so that all students can achieve to their academic potential. Finding the correlation between academic performance and socioeconomic status can assist educators in determining instructional strategies that best fit each individual student. In this study the researcher analyzed the effects of socioeconomic status on the academic performance by retrieving data on the state mandated Missouri Assessment Program. The researcher analyzed fifty school districts on the …

"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 …

Do University Rankings Measure What Counts, Ellen Hazelkorn

Articles

The article discusses the impact of rankings on higher education.

The 2008 Graduate Pathways Survey : Graduates Education And Employment Outcomes Five Years After Completion Of A Bachelor Degree At An Australian University, Hamish Coates, Daniel Edwards

Higher education research

This report presents findings from the first national study in Australia of bachelor degree graduates five years after degree completion. It details the design, development, implementation and outcomes of the Graduate Pathways Survey (GPS). Findings from the 2008 GPS are wide ranging. They must be read within the context of the project's methodology which is detailed in Appendix B, but it is clear that the findings have the capacity to shape university education and the development of Australia's economy and professional workforce. Findings from the 2008 Graduate Pathways Survey are of interest to a wide range of audiences. Potential university …

Disparities In The System: The Effects Of Free Primary Education (Fpe) On The Quality Of Education In Nairobi’S Public Schools, Adrienne Chuck

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In 2003, the Kenyan government implemented Free Primary Education on a nation-wide scale. Since then, the policy has received both support and disapproval from the public. Although many analyses have examined the impacts of FPE on a nation-wide or district scale, minimal research has been done on how the policy has affected schools with different social and political characteristics. This study aims to look at how FPE has impacted schools’ learning environments and how those impacts influence the academic performance at these schools. From this information, the research determines whether or not the educational quality of these institutions has suffered …

Instructional Architect Teacher Professional Development Handouts, Mimi Recker, Andrew Walker, M. Brooke Robertshaw, Linda Sellers, Heather M. Leary

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Research

Three handouts for the teacher professional development workshops on the Instructional Architect (IA). Starting spring 2009 the face-to-face workshop was changed to be three different days of learning about how to use the IA, inquiry based and problem based learning, evaluation of IA projects with a rubric, and creating IA projects.

The Development And Pilot Of A Culinary Intervention Designed Using The Social Cognitive Theory To Teach Nutrition To Adolescent Girls, Julie Anne Chessen

Master's Theses

In the past 20 years, the way in which food is prepared has rapidly changed. Convenience has become a way of life and Americans have replaced meals made from scratch with meals that are quick and easy. During that time, body mass index has risen steadily. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has become common in the American population. “Pink Chefs,” a six-week culinary intervention for middle school girls 12 to 14-years-old, was developed and piloted to combat childhood obesity by teaching nutrition through basic cooking skills. The social cognitive theory was used as the theoretical framework. The …

Nefdc Exchange, Volume 20, Number 1, Spring 2009, New England Faculty Development Consortium

New England Faculty Development Consortium Exchange

Contents

Message from the President: Where We've Been, Where We're Going - Judy Miller, Clark University

From the editors - Jeanne Albert, Donna Qualters, and Naomi Magliacci

NEFDC 2009 Spring Conference, Friday, May 29, 2009; theme: Connecting the .edus: Using Technology to Connect with Our Students; keynote speaker: Peter Doolittle, Virginia Tech

Online Teaching: Field-Tested Principles of Pedagogy and Practice - Peter Doolittle, Virginia Tech; Krista Terry, Radford University, and Stephanie Scheer, University of Virginia

Spring 2009 Conference Agenda, Friday, May 29, 2009, Middlebury College, Dartmouth College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, New England Institute of Technology, and University of Connecticut

Connecting …

Expert Versus Novice Tutors: Impacts On Student Outcomes In Problem-Based Learning, Heather Leary, Andrew Walker, Melynda Harrison Fitt, Brett E. Shelton

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

The tutor is an essential part of problem based learning (PBL). However, tutor characteristics and role are inconsistent. Meta-analysis was used to investigate both the role and training of PBL tutors as moderators of student learning. Weighted effect sizes were calculated on student outcomes with a modest favorable overall effect size for PBL; a vote count shows favorable results as well. Results indicate a mixture of peers and instructors do best when compared to peers and instructors alone. Tutor training appears to make a difference by itself, but when considered with tutor background, tutor training does not appear to moderate …

Assessing The Quality Of Doctoral Dissertation Literature Reviews In Instructional Technology, Melynda Harrison Fitt, Andrew Walker, Heather Leary

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Assessment of the doctoral dissertation literature review provides insight into a student’s preparation for future work as a researcher. In 2004, efforts to assess the quality of literature reviews in doctoral dissertations were pioneered by Boote & Beile. Their work represents an important response to the call for improved research skills among emerging scholars. The purpose of this study is to replicate their work in a focused area of educational research, specifically Instructional Technology, and to examine the inter-rater reliability of the rubric. The findings suggest that dissertation literature reviews in Instructional Technology show the same need for improvement as …

Determining Future Success Of College Students, Paul Oehrlein

Undergraduate Economic Review

Many people invest a lot of money in order to go to college with the hope that they will eventually be rewarded with higher salaries. This paper attempts to determine what aspects of college are most important in determining the future income of students. In particular, this paper studies whether GPA is an important determinant of income as well as whether some majors are better investments than others after controlling for other factors. In addition, the effect of math and verbal ability on income and how they interact with different fields of study are examined. The data comes from the …

The Effect Of Technology Education On Student's State Standardized Test Scores, Maurice Torrez Frazier

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The intent of this dissertation was to determine if technology education program completers score higher on academic standards assessments than do students who do not enroll in technology education courses. Many states have developed academic standards for public school students to measure the quality of the educational system. States and local school systems adopted these standards and their accompanying tests to establish a level of academic competency for all of their students. One of the goals of technology education courses was to provide practical applications to reinforce the content of the core subject areas. The purpose of this study was …

Inside Unlv, Shane Bevell, Diane Russell, Michelle Mouton, Gian Galassi

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Systemic And Personal Change: A Retrospective Case Study Of Balanced Literacy Implementation As Perceived By Those Involved, Donna J. Anderson

Dissertations

This retrospective critical case study was conducted to learn more about teacher perceptions of deep, systemic change experiences. This study examined the successful implementation of a balanced literacy program at one Title I elementary school several years after completion of the implementation period. Participants were teachers who reflected on their experiences with the balanced literacy initiative implementation and discussed personal change associated with their experiences. Analysis isolated elements of teachers' recollected experience and compared those elements with factors that previous research has associated with successful change. Additionally, this study explored the lasting effects the experience of being a part of …