Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Tennessee Per-Pupil Expenditures In Special Education And Academic Achievement, Melanie C. Davidson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Federal legislation known as the No Child Left Behind act has required states to close achievement gaps. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between special education spending by districts in the state of Tennessee and standardized achievement for students with disabilities.

Secondary data were obtained from the Tennessee Department of Education’s website (www.tn.gov/education). Data from each local education association were collected for the years of 2010-2014 in the areas of special education spending, special education population, and TCAP proficiency percentages in reading and math grades 3-8. Data from each local education association were collected …

Assessing High School Science Students’ Abilities To Use Cross Cutting Literacy Skills And Scientific Argumentative Writing Skills In A Mid-Western School District, Ellen M. Karel

Masters Theses

This study sought to determine to what extent a centrally focused initiative concentrated on how to teach students to not just write, but how to think, read, and speak about real world problems in a persuasive manner based on multiple sets of data related to science concepts, increased scientific argumentative writing proficiencies among high school students. A secondary area this study attempted to explore was the correlation between the implemented processes in the initiative and high school students’ scientific argumentative writing proficiencies. The study was conducted in a mid-western high school, population 1,088, with a select group of students in …

What Professional Development Practices Support The Successful Integration Of Technology Within A Standards-Based Educational (Sbe) System, Richard A. Green

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between K-12 teachers’ current technology skill level, their self-efficacy as teachers, and their attitude toward changes required to integrate 21st-century technologies into their classrooms. Twenty-five members of the teaching staff from a rural School Department in Maine participated. This study describes the following: (a) What is the relationship between teachers’ current skills/ability using technology and their attitude towards integrating 21st-century technologies in the classroom? (b) What is the relationship between teachers’ current self-efficacy towards using technology, and their capacity towards integrating 21st-century technologies in the classroom? and (c) What …

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Available Public Education Programming And The Influence Of Professional Perceptions, Heather Wilmot

All Theses And Dissertations

A mixed-methods research study was conducted in a small, rural western Maine school department. The intent of this research was to reveal what kind of programming is available to students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and how the availability of programming is influenced by the perceptions of educators and leaders in a public school department. In addition, the research addressed how the background and professional development of the employees impacted the availability of programming for students with ASD. Forced survey questions included quality indicators for programming for students with ASD and pre-selected follow-up focus groups questions were used.

Data analysis …

Substance Abuse In Rural Appalachia: Responding To Community Needs, Samuel S. Faulkner, Cynthia A. Faulkner, Lynn Geurin

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

This paper presents the multi-year collaboration between Social Work faculty and community stakeholders in a rural Appalachian region to address the community needs generated by the high rate of substance abuse. A needs assessment was administered to substance abuse counselors, child protection workers, and intimate partner violence workers in twenty eight counties. Outcomes developed from the survey findings include: offering Substance Abuse Certification classes; developing a minor in Substance Abuse Counseling; and educating middle and high school students on the consequences of substance use/abuse.

Measuring Student Growth In K–12 Schools Using Item Response Theory Within Structural Equation Models, Kenneth Lee Thompson

Dissertations

The use of test-based accountability has expanded beyond measurements of school effectiveness to include measurements of teacher effectiveness. However, whereas the use of test-based accountability has expanded, the understanding of the statistical methodologies used in accountability systems has not kept pace. Currently, Student Growth Percentiles and value-added modeling are the most prevalent methodologies for estimating annual student growth. Each of these methodologies is regression-based and relies on scale scores from standardized assessments. Given the prevalence of Item Response Theory in statewide assessment programs, these scale scores often result from Item Response Theory scaling practices. Grounded in earlier work of Brockman …

“It’S The Best Idea Ever!”: Exam For The Byod Generation., Susan J. Main Mrs, Alistair Campbell Phd

eCULTURE

This research sought to investigate the feasibility of digitising exams to improve student outcomes and was based on research suggesting that the handwriting speed of undergraduate students limits their ability to demonstrate knowledge, while poor legibility makes it difficult for the assessor to accurately judge the quality of the response. Research found that the handwriting speed of undergraduate students was equivalent to fluency data on 11-year-old schoolchildren, which is a significant concern when we consider that handwriting fluency accounted for considerable variance in writing quality and tutor marks for examination answers. This generation of students typically relies on digital technologies …

Clinical Placement Before Or After Simulated Learning Environments? A Naturalistic Study Of Clinical Skills Acquisition Amongst Early-Stage Paramedicine Students, Brennen W. Mills Mr, Owen Carter A/Prof, Cobie Rudd Prof, Nathan Ross Mr, Louise Claxton Mrs

eCULTURE

Background

There is conflicting evidence surrounding the merit of clinical placements (CP) for early-stage health-profession students. Some contend early-stage CPs facilitate contextualisation of subsequently learned theory. Others argue attending CP before attaining skills competency is problematic and should only occur after training in simulated-learning environments (SLE). The evidentiary basis surrounding the extent to which either is true remains limited.

Methods

First-year paramedicine students (n=85) undertook three days of CP and SLEs as part of course requirements. Students undertook CP either before or after participation in SLEs creating two groups (Clin→Sim/Sim→Clin). Clinical skills acquisition was measured via objectively-structured clinical examinations (OSCE) …

Using Eye Tracking, Time-To-Action, Heart-Rate And Perceived Task Difficulty To Assess Level Of Distraction And Performance Of Entry-Level Paramedicine Students In Low- Versus High-Fidelity Simulation, Owen Carter, Brennen W. Mills, Cobie Rudd, Natalie Strobel, Louise Claxton, Nathan Ross

eCULTURE

Introduction

There is limited research investigating the usefulness of high-fidelity simulations (HFS) for early-stage students. Some argue the additional expense of HFS over low-fidelity simulation (LFS) is unnecessary as early-stage students are too easily distracted by non-relevant stimuli inhibiting student’s ability to focus on the core task. However, the extent to which this is true is yet to be empirically tested.

Methods

First-year paramedicine students were randomly assigned to complete either a LFS or HFS involving a collapsed patient with an obstructed airway. Level of distraction was measured via eye-tracking, arousal via heart-rate (HR), task difficulty via the NASA TLX, …

Collaboration Opportunities With The Society To Enhance Indonesian Citizenry By Furthering Higher Education With The Liberal Arts (Seiche), Judith Puncochar, Don Faust

Conference Presentations

The Society for the Enhancement of Indonesian Citizenry through Higher Education (SEICHE) is an Indonesian organization analogous to The Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) in the United States. SEICHE and ASHE use similar organizational structures and promote scholarly research and debate about issues and possibilities in the advancement of higher education. SEICHE was launched on November 22, 2014, in Bandung, Indonesia, with representatives from seven universities and one non-profit organization. The SEICHE vision is to help achieve international recognition of Indonesia’s higher education system, accomplished principally through collaboration and engagement with research in curriculum, instruction, service, and …

Summer 2015 Census Enrollment Indicators Campus Report, Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

Enrollment Reports

Census Enrollment Indicators Report Enrollment Comparison: Summer Semester 2015 and 2014

Summer 2015 Census Enrollment Indicators Colleges Report, Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

Enrollment Reports

Census Enrollment Indicators Report Enrollment by Colleges: Summer Semesters 2015 and 2014

A Profile Of The Spatial Visualisation Abilities Of First Year Engineering And Science Students, Stephanie Farrell, Avril Behan, Gavin Duffy, Rachel Harding, Robert Howard, Aaron Mac Raighne, Edmund Nevin, Brian Bowe

Conference papers

The link between spatial visualisation skills and academic and professional achievement in STEM fields is well established. It is also widely documented that men outperform women on tests of spatial ability. This disparity puts women at a relative disadvantage for academic success in STEM disciplines. Our research explores the influence of secondary academic experience on spatial visualisation ability among first year students entering an engineering or science programme. Spatial ability was measured using two standard psychometric instruments for measurement of spatial visualization. Out of eight secondary courses considered, a single course in design and computer graphics emerged as a predictor …

Assessing The Validity And Reliability Of Dichotomous Test Results Using Item Response Theory On A Group Of First Year Engineering Students, Edmund Nevin, Avril Behan, Gavin Duffy, Stephanie Farrell, Rachel Harding, Robert Howard, Aaron Mac Raighne, Brian Bowe

Conference papers

Traditional measurement instruments employed to assess the performance of student’s studying on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related programmes typically involve classification based on final scores. The validity and reliability of these instruments and test forms are important considerations when assessing whether a student understands content and if not, where and in what way they are struggling. The aim of this study is to examine, validate and analyse the test results of first-year engineering student’s at an Institute of Higher Learning in Ireland who took the Purdue Spatial Visualisation Test of Rotation (PSVT:R). Results obtained were analysed using the …

Mathematician's Apology, Tom Clark

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Better standards may help all math teachers to shape our classes to better reflect the creativity and play at the heart of mathematics."

Posting about ways to improve math's negative image­­­­­­­­ from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/a-mathematicians-apology/

The Effects Of Spatial Skills And Spatial Skills Training On Academic Performance In Stem Education, Gavin Duffy, Stephanie Farrell, Rachel Harding, Avril Behan, Aaron Mac Raighne, Robert Howard, Edmund Nevin, Brian Bowe

Conference papers

Spatial ability plays an important but often unacknowledged role in achieving success in science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) education. Many entering STEM disciplines have low spatial skills but these can be improved through a short training course. Accompanying improvements in academic grades and retention rates have been observed by others. This presents an opportunity to enhance the first year experience (FYE) for those with poor spatial skills. In this study the spatial skills of students entering several first year programmes in science and engineering were measured. Those identified as weak visualisers were offered a spatial skills course. Spatial skill …

Examining The Relationship Between Physics Students’ Spatial Skills And Conceptual Understanding Of Newtonian Mechanics, Aaron Mac Raighne, Avril Behan, Gavin Duffy, Stephanie Farrell, Rachel Harding, Robert Howard, Edmund Nevin, Brian Bowe

Conference Papers

One of the primary motivating factors of physics educators is to ensure a high level of conceptual understanding is achieved by their students. Furthermore it has been shown that success in physics and engineering courses is strongly related to students' spatial skills. Conceptual and spatial skills tests have been independently developed and reported in the literature as a measure of each of these competencies. In this study we examine correlations between spatial skills and conceptual understanding using two of these tests in order to determine the relationship, if any, between students' conceptual understanding of Newtonian mechanics and their spatial skills. …

Top Borrowed Library Books And Series, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

Looking to freshen up your library for the new term? Here’s a list of the top borrowed library books and series, as discovered by a recent survey.

Numeracy Infusion Course For Higher Education (Niche), 1: Teaching Faculty How To Improve Students' Quantitative Reasoning Skills Through Cognitive Illusions, Frank Wang, Esther I. Wilder

Numeracy

We describe one of the eight units of a professional development program, the Numeracy Infusion Course for Higher Education (NICHE), which introduces research on cognition, including dual-processing theories, to university faculty. Under the dual-processing framework, System 1 (intuition) quickly proposes intuitive answers to judgment problems as they arise, while System 2 (deliberation) monitors the quality of these proposals, which it may endorse, correct, or override. We present several classic questions that demonstrate the pitfalls of overreliance on intuition without analytical thinking, then describe faculty participants’ responses to these questions and their ideas on how to apply cognitive illusion research to …

Quantitative Reasoning In Environmental Science: Rasch Measurement To Support Qr Assessment, Robert L. Mayes, Kent Rittschof, Jennifer H. Forrester, Jennifer D. Schuttlefield Christus, Lisa Watson, Franziska Peterson

Numeracy

The ability of middle and high school students to reason quantitatively within the context of environmental science was investigated. A quantitative reasoning (QR) learning progression, with associated QR assessments in the content areas of biodiversity, water, and carbon, was developed based on three QR progress variables: quantification act, quantitative interpretation, and quantitative modeling. Diagnostic instruments were developed specifically for the progress variable quantitative interpretation (QI), each consisting of 96 Likert-scale items. Each content version of the instrument focused on three scale levels (macro scale, micro scale, and landscape scale) and four elements of QI identified in prior research (trend, translation, …

The Levels Of Conceptual Understanding In Statistics (Locus) Project: Results Of The Pilot Study, Douglas Whitaker, Steven Foti, Tim Jacobbe

Numeracy

The Levels of Conceptual Understanding in Statistics (LOCUS) project (NSF DRL-111868) has created assessments that measure conceptual (rather than procedural) understanding of statistics as outlined in GAISE Framework (Franklin et al., 2007, Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education, American Statistical Association). Here we provide a brief overview of the LOCUS project and present results from multiple-choice items on the pilot administration of the assessments with data collected from over 3400 students in grades 6-12 across six states. These results help illustrate students’ understanding of statistical topics prior to the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Using the …

The Quantitative Reasoning For College Science (Quarcs) Assessment, 1: Development And Validation, Katherine B. Follette, Donald W. Mccarthy, Erin Dokter, Sanlyn Buxner, Edward Prather

Numeracy

Science is an inherently quantitative endeavor, and general education science courses are taken by a majority of college students. As such, they are a powerful venue for advancing students’ skills and attitudes toward mathematics. This article reports on the development and validation of the Quantitative Reasoning for College Science (QuaRCS) Assessment, a numeracy assessment instrument designed for college-level general education science students. It has been administered to more than four thousand students over eight semesters of refinement. We show that the QuaRCS is able to distinguish varying levels of quantitative literacy and present performance statistics for both individual items and …

Quantitative Reasoning In Environmental Science: Rasch Measurement To Support Qr Assessment, Robert L. Mayes Dr., Kent Allan Rittschof, Jennifer H. Forrester, Jennifer D. Schuttlefield Christus, Lisa C. Watson, Franziska Peterson

Curriculum, Foundations & Reading: Faculty Publications

Original work is hosted at USF Libraries Scholar Commons publisher of Numeracy, the electronic journal of the National Numeracy Network (NNN).

Abstract : The ability of middle and high school students to reason quantitatively within the context of environmental science was investigated. A quantitative reasoning (QR) learning progression, with associated QR assessments in the content areas of biodiversity, water, and carbon, was developed based on three QR progress variables: quantification act, quantitative interpretation, and quantitative modeling. Diagnostic instruments were developed specifically for the progress variable quantitative interpretation (QI), each consisting of 96 Likert-scale items. Each content version of …

Aspire In Arkansas?, Sarah C. Mckenzie, Gary W. Ritter

Policy Briefs

On June 22, 2015, Governor Hutchinson communicated with Johnny Key, State Commissioner of Education, his request for the state’s removal from PARCC by June 30th. This back and forth over student assessment has raised many questions for educators, students, and parents. This brief will review the history behind annual assessments, address the differences between PARCC and ACT/ACT Aspire, and suggest the scores Arkansas’ students would receive if ACT Aspire is administered next school year

Exploring Content Validity Of Shore Handwriting Screening And Newly Developed Score Sheet With Pre-Kindergarten Students, Denise K. Donica, Erin Francsis

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Limited tools exist to measure handwriting readiness skills of pre-kindergarten students. This study was a preliminary exploration of content validity of the Shore Handwriting Screening (SHS) and the newly developed Score Sheet with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) in 4- and 5-year-old pre-kindergarten students. Because socioeconomic status (SES) is known to impact handwriting skills, data from two different socioeconomic groups were collected.

Method: Students from a Lower SES group (n = 36) and a Higher SES group (n = 14) completed the SHS and fine motor composite of the BOT-2. Pearson’s correlation was used to …

The Social Profiles Of Occupational Therapy Students’ Educational Groups, Tore Bonsaksen, Mari N. Eirum, Mary V. Donohue

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Today’s occupational therapy models emphasize that a person’s choice of, satisfaction with, and performance in occupations are markedly influenced by the context. For students undergoing a group-based study module, the group is an important context factor. Until recently, there has been a lack of instruments available for the assessment of functioning and participation at the group level. This mixed methods pilot study aimed to examine occupational therapy students’ perceptions of their group’s level of functioning and course of development during one study module.

Methods: The students’ perceptions of their group’s functioning were assessed in two ways: by examining their …

The Effect Of A Student Success Seminar On Student Retention At A Regional University, Cindy L. Clemson

Dissertations

With approximately half of all students who enter colleges and universities graduating, the problem of student attrition continues to challenge higher education officials. Decades of research studies have been completed on the causes of student persistence and retention, but significant changes have not occurred to increase those numbers. This study attempted to integrate current research with a practical application to increase retention of first-year students. A first-year seminar, known as a student success seminar, was created at the university to teach advanced academic behaviors to incoming freshmen. This study involved a program evaluation of the new seminar as the independent …

An Analysis Of The Comparison Between Classroom Grades Earned With A Standards- Based Grading System And Grade-Level Assessment Scores As Measured By The Missouri Assessment Program, Gary L. Greene

Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the ability of traditional and standards-based grading practices to predict student performance on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Grade-Level Assessments at the middle school level. This study also explored the perceptions Missouri middle school teachers and administrators had concerning the use of standards-based grading and identified obstacles educators faced during and after its implementation. The research was conducted in phases to observe two sets of data. Phase One involved the collection and analysis of quantitative data from two schools in Missouri that use standards-based grading in the seventh and eighth grades and two schools …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of First-Year Trio Student Support Service Participants, Raquel Annette Morrow

Dissertations

This qualitative study was designed to investigate the perceptions of participants in the TRIO Student Support Service (SSS) program, a government-funded student retention program for first-generation college students, low-income students, and students with disabilities. There was little research on the perceptions of students who represent the target population in this government-funded program. Tinto’s (2012b) model of student departure was used to interpret the findings. The study was guided by three research questions used to investigate possible barriers or benefits to the participants while attending the university, and also asked participants for suggestions to improve the TRIO SSS program. Interviews with …

The Australian Child Wellbeing Project : Phase Four Report, Petra Lietz, Elizabeth O'Grady, Mollie Tobin, Juliet Young-Thornton, Gerry Redmond

Wellbeing

The purpose of this report is to provide information on the implementation of the main survey of the Australian Child Wellbeing Project (ACWP). This phase of the project has followed extensive qualitative work with young people and field testing of the survey instrument, as detailed in the Phase 1, 2 and 3 reports. This report covers sampling, participation rates, sampling weights, permission processes and approvals, general survey promotion and specific contact with main survey schools, logistical details, and a full documentation survey at each of the three year levels, namely Years 4, 6 and 8.