Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

The Impact Of Inclusion On The Academic Achievement Of High School Special Education Students, Harold Smith Dawkins

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examined the impact of inclusion on the academic achievement outcome of high school special education students as measured by English 1, biology, and algebra 1 as a function of gender, ethnicity, and years of inclusion. The study also examined the generalizations with confidence that could be made about the use of inclusion methodology in high schools within an urban North Carolina school district as measured by end-of-course test scale scores. Data from three traditional high schools within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District were used in this study. High school special education students lagged behind several other subgroups on end-of-course …

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 …

Engaging Students, Assessing Learning: Just A Click Away, Linda C. Hodges

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

Three ongoing challenges for those of us teaching today’s college students, especially in large lecture classes, are: getting students engaged in their learning, assessing what learning is actually taking place, and competing with students’ technology in keeping their attention. One teaching innovation that holds great promise for addressing these concerns is the use of personal response systems, also known as clickers. Clickers allow you to determine the level of student understanding at any given time with relatively little effort, and in the process encourage students to engage with class material by using the hook of technology. In this paper I …

Using Games In A Foreign Language Classroom, Amy Talak-Kiryk

MA TESOL Collection

This independent professional project researches the value of games in a classroom setting. The research focuses on the educational benefits as well as on recommendations how to incorporate games into a learning environment. Also included are games that can be used in a foreign language classroom to enhance student learning. The games were developed by various sources and used in a Spanish classroom in an American high school with teenagers ages fourteen to eighteen.

Appreciating The “A” Word Putting A Plan In Action, Maira Bundza, Laura Darrah, Brad Dennis

Assessment in Action Conference

Non-degree awarding units are actively engaged in assessments like surveys, focus groups and individual conversations. Framing those in an assessment plan is a chance to add intentionality to the process. A plan provides guidance, connects assessment to your goals, identifies missing areas, and outlines how the results will be used and more. Join us to see two different approaches to starting a plan and have some in-session work time to draft something to take back to your department. Examples of each approach will be shared.

Tool Time: Assessment Tools Presentation, Sarah Summy

Assessment in Action Conference

In this hands on work group session, we will show you some samples of exemplary rubrics and provide you with the basics for how to create your own rubric. Time will be spent working on providing suggestions to those who brought in rubrics for feedback as well as time to work on creating a rubric from scratch with the assistance of the facilitator(s) if requested.

Catalogue 2010-2011, Bank Street College Of Education

Graduate School of Education

This course catalog from a past academic year is a resource for referring to previous course offerings, degree requirements, institutional policies, and more.

Is Our Students Learning? Using Assessments To Measure And Improve Law School Learning And Performance, Rogelio A. Lasso

Barry Law Review

This article considers the use of student assessments to provide law students with timely feedback in order to improve law student learning, provides a set of best practices for using assessments, and furnishes detailed examples of various forms of assessments.

A Descriptive-Comparative Study Of Professional Development And Observed Quality In Early Care And Education Programs, Rebecca Romeyn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With over 12 million children enrolled in early care and education programming across the U.S., families with children under the age of 5 years old are dependent on these programs. Although highly important, little regulation exists regarding qualifications necessary for individuals to work in these programs. Consequently, individuals in the field bring a plethora of professional development experiences, skills, and competencies. This variance is partly a result of the uncertainty surrounding what should be required. Major information about the impact training and education have on these programs is missing from quantitative research, including capturing content and quantity, accurate measurement of …

Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment Of Timss-2007 Mathematics Achievement Items For 8th Graders In Turkey, Turker Toker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated students' responses to released TIMSS mathematics items and considered what those responses might show about participants' mastery level of cognitive areas. The least squares distance method (LSDM) was used in this cognitive diagnostic analysis. There were 4,498 8th-grade students from seven geographical regions of Turkey who took TIMSS items. In this study, using the responses of Turkish students to the released math items of TIMSS-2007, an IRT analysis was also conducted to both compare results with international item parameters A Pearson correlation between these two sets of item logit positions produced a correlation of r = .82, …

Teaching About Genocide: A Cross-Curricular Approach In Art And History, Mark Thorsen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study describes the experiences of suburban area high school 10th, 11th, and 12th grade art students immersed in a cross-curricular study of the Holocaust and genocide. Three participant-educators, art teachers, and I, a history teacher, designed a two week curricular unit which was implemented in January, 2010, to increase student-participant awareness and action to address the global problem of genocide. This cross-curricular unit used non-discursive sources of testimony in a variety of forms of representation to inspire student-participant artwork.

Four research questions guided this study: How do educators use a variety of forms of representation to teach the complexities …

Narrowing Of Curriculum: Teaching In An Age Of Accountability, Donna Kay Newberg-Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation made clear the need for increased accountability of U.S. public schools in 2002, there has been a trend toward narrowing curriculum in social studies and other core subjects to focus predominantly on what is tested through state exams. Concerns exist regarding the unintended consequences of curriculum narrowing on low, middle and high socioeconomic status (SES) students in public schools.

The Center on Education Policy (CEP) and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) have been tracking the effects of NCLB since it took effect in 2002 and found that 71 percent of districts nationwide …

In Pursuit Of Sustained Achievement: A Case Study Of One At-Risk School's Efforts To Change Behaviors, Carol A. Sorvig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sustained achievement remains out of reach for most Title I schools. While there are many programs and examples of schools touting improved performance, there are precious few that are able to maintain that improved performance over time. This case study examined the characteristics of changes made at one Colorado Title I elementary school that did see improved growth for a period of four years. Two administrators, five teachers and two classified staff members were interviewed. Two of the staff members were also parents at the school. This study utilized a qualitative methodology to examine the changes made that lead to …

Doing More For Learning : Enhancing Engagement And Outcomes : Australasian Survey Of Student Engagement : Australasian Student Engagement Report., Ali Radloff, Hamish Coates

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

The 2009 Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) involved over 30,000 students from 35 higher education institutions. AUSSE reports on the time and effort students devote to educationally purposeful activities and on students' perceptions of other aspects of their university experience including interactions with university staff. The research shows that the contact students have with staff are among the strongest influences on positive learning outcomes. When students have the opportunity to speak with their teachers about their performance, their grades, or ideas from their classes, particularly outside of the classroom, and engage with their teachers on an individual level, students …

Harmonizing Technology With Interaftion In Blended Problem-Based Learning, Roisin Donnelly

Journal Articles

This paper discusses the harmonizing role of technology and interaction in a qualitative study on blended 22 problem-based learning within the context of academic development in higher education. Within this 23 setting, and as both designers and tutors in blended PBL, it is important to seek best practices for how 24 to combine instructional strategies in face-to-face and computer-mediated environments that take 25 advantage of the strengths of each and avoid their weaknesses. A qualitative study of the lived experi- 26 ences of 17 academic staff participants in a blended problem-based learning module was considered 27 likely to provide a …

Ua56/3/1 Institutional Research Reports File Internal, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Internal reports created by the department of Institutional Research. Reports include statistical analyses, surveys and evaluations of faculty, salaries, program and student enrollments, degree programs, at WKU. Series also includes Instructional Indices which provide information on student/faculty ratios by dept and college.

Bridgewater State University Factbook, 2009-2010, Office Of Institutional Research And Assessment, Bridgewater State University

Factbook

No abstract provided.

Common Data Set, 2010-2011, Office Of Institutional Research, Bridgewater State University

Common Data Sets

No abstract provided.

Transforming Academic Practice: Human Resources Challenges, Ellen Hazelkorn, Amanda Moynihan

Books/Book chapters

No abstract provided.

Creating Clear Pathways: Assessing And Enhancing The First Year Experience At Wmu, Jillian Kinzie

Assessment in Action Conference

First-year student success is no accident. Student engagement in a variety of intentionally designed educationally-purposeful activities is necessary to achieve desirable learning outcomes. A common feature of institutions with strong undergraduate programs is the creation of clear pathways for student success via enrollment materials, supportive resources, rituals, and in-and-out of class experiences that heighten students’ commitment to academic success. This presentation will highlight these practices and their implications for promoting student success. We will also consider WMU's results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) as a tool for reflecting on practices related to first year student achievement and …

The Future Of Natural Selection Knowledge Measurement: A Reply To Anderson Et Al. (2010), Ross Nehm, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

The development of rich, reliable, and robust measures of the composition, structure, and stability of student thinking about core scientific ideas (such as natural selection) remains a complex challenge facing science educators. In their recent article (Nehm & Schonfeld 2008), the authors explored the strengths, weaknesses, and insights provided by a detailed exploration of three commonly used measures of student thinking about natural selection in a large sample of underrepresented minority students. One of their core findings was that all of the tools they studied--including the CINS--have strengths and weaknesses that must be carefully taken into consideration by those …

Lessons Learned While Conducting Educational Program Assessment, Olivia Rivas, Irma S. Jones, Eli E. Pena

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Assessment, accountability, and strategic planning are all processes that are included in accreditation for colleges and universities. For most colleges and universities, starting the reaffirmation process means identifying current assessment practices and reports from academic units and programs. This paper discusses the lessons learned during a successful completion of the reaffirmation process with a regional accreditation entity. The authors will present a model that includes an understanding of strategic planning, inclusion of faculty at all levels and affirms continuous learning and involvement in a dynamic process. Also included in the paper are additional tips and observations found useful by the …

Course Design Based On The Kolb Learning Style As It Relates To Student Success In Online Classes, Edward John Perantoni

Dissertations

Educators are taught that differentiated instruction is important to ensuring that students are offered an opportunity to learn. As a result, student learning styles become important in the design of an online course. Certain students prefer group work, discussions, and brainstorming sessions all of which are part of the socialization process. Kolb related the ability of a student to learn through the socialization process to the accommodator and diverger learning styles. The researcher hypothesized that the development of a quality online course, as defined by NACOL, should include socialization techniques such as group work. Therefore, the purpose of this study …

The Use Of Classroom Walk-Through Observations As A Strategy To Improve Teaching And Learning: An Administrative Perspective, Mark J. Weller

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the possible use of structured classroom walk-through observations as a strategy to improve teaching and learning. A wide variety of programs and initiatives have recently been implemented across the country to improve student achievement. One such initiative is classroom walk-through observations. Classroom walk-through observations are briefly performed by school administrators to gauge the effectiveness of instruction in each classroom. The walkthrough observation gives teachers and administrators a snapshot of teaching and learning aspects throughout the school over time. This research was done collaboratively with Leslie McEntire and Tom Sorensen. The research team …

Acer 2009-2010 Annual Report, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

ACER Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

The Application Of Little's Law To Enrollment Management: Improving Student Persistence In Part-Time Degree Programs, Ellen M. Walk, Lewis A. Litteral

Management Faculty Publications

Little’s Law is applied to enrollment management in part-time degree programs. Using institutional data by program, on number of graduates per year, as well as number of credits taken and number of active students per semester, the calculated average time to graduation is compared to the average flow time predicted by Little’s Law. Despite significant variability among students who enter with varying transfer credits and take varying credits per semester, Little’s Law provides a simple model for measuring program growth trends, student productivity, and persistence to graduation. Implications for marketing, admissions, advising, course scheduling, and curriculum design are discussed.

Sustained Employment Of Teachers In High Poverty Schools, Karen Jean Davis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Author's abstract: The researcher's purpose of this study was to understand from the lived experiences of teachers in high poverty schools the reasons they remained in these schools. A qualitative method was used to conduct the study, which involved interviews with eight teachers (4 elementary, 2 middle and 2 high), one principal and the Superintendent who responded to open-ended interview questions. The interview questions were designed to elicit responses to the research questions and interview questions. The researcher coded transcripts from the interviews for recurring themes and patterns. Field notes from before and after each interview, as well as district …

Researching K-12 Online Learning: What Do We Know And What Should We Examine?, Michael Barbour

Education Faculty Publications

The article discusses the research about K-12 online education in the U.S. Research about K-12 online learning are classified into two categories. The first category involves the comparison of the performance of students enrolled in the regular classroom and those enrolled in online courses. The second category deals with research on the qualities of teaching/learning experiences in online learning.

Universal Design For Instruction: Understanding Faculty Practices And Needs, Howard P. Parette, Hedda Medan, Brian Wojcik, Jeffery P. Bakken

Faculty Publications - College of Education

The purposes of this short report are to describe key principles of UDL and UDI and to describe the findings of a pilot survey study that focused on faculty members practices and needs in the areas of UDL/UDI. Limited previous research is available related to faculty perceptions of UDI/UDL in higher education settings. One exception is a study conducted by Vreeburg-Izzo, Murray, and Novak (2008). Vreeburg-Izzo et al. conducted a survey, coupled with follow-up focus groups, with faculty and graduate teaching assistants that examined the (a) climate of instructional settings for students with disabilities, and (b) perceived needs for professional …

What Do Graduates Say About Multicultural Teacher Education?, Anaida Colon-Muñiz, John Brady, Suzanne Soohoo

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"We wanted to assess the impact that our teacher preparation course on multicultural education has had on teachers’ self-perceptions and practices as multicultural educators. Lowenstein (2009) stated that not enough work has been done to determine the impact of multicultural education courses on teacher candidates once they are in the field. Although California assessments for teachers assess content background and instruction, there is a dearth of assessments on teachers’ capacity to work with culturally diverse learners."