Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Student Support Unit Assessment Panel, Anne Lundquist, Kate Bates, Laura Darrah, Dianna E. Sachs

Assessment in Action Conference

Staff in 3 Student Support Units at Western Michigan University shared information and lessons learned during this panel session at the Western Michigan University Assessment in Action Conference 2015:

¨ Laura Darrah, Residence Life: Using National Benchmark Data for Affirmation, Improvement and Change

¨ Diana Sachs, University Libraries: Direct and Indirect Assessment Initiatives, including studies of student and faculty satisfaction, learning, and perception of library resources and services.

¨ Chris Sligh and Kate Bates, Student Activities and Leadership Programs: Sharing Outcomes and Results: Using Assessment to Tell Your Story

Western Michigan University Assessment In Action Conference 2015, Office Of Assessment And Undergraduate Studies

Assessment in Action Conference

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Review Of The Critical Factors For Success Of Mobile Learning In Higher Education (University Students' Perspective), Muasaad Alrasheedi, Luiz Fernando Capretz, Arif Raza

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

The phenomenon of the use of a mobile learning (m-Learning) platform in educational institutions is slowly gaining momentum. However, the enthusiasm with which mobile phones have been welcomed into every aspect of our lives is not yet apparent in the educational sector. To understand the reason, it is important to understand user expectations of the system. This article documents a systematic review of existing studies to find the success factors for effective m-Learning. Our systematic review collates results from 30 studies conducted in 17 countries, where 13 critical success factors were found to strongly impact m-Learning implementation. Using these results …

Learning Gains At Cccu-Member Schools: A Comparison Of Cccu Students’ Performance On The Cpa Exam To Performance At Aacsb-Member And Non-Aacsb-Member Schools – A Replication Of A Study By Hahn, Fairchild, And Childs Presented At The Christian Business Faculty Association In October 2014, Rachel M. Galbreath

Selected Honors Theses

This study is a replication of a study by Hahn, Fairchild, and Childs that examines differences in Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam (UCPAE) pass rates between test-takers who graduated from schools that are members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and those who graduated from institutions that are not members of the CCCU. CCCU- member schools were found to have pass rates similar to institutions accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) even though AACSB schools have an advantage in incoming student aptitude as measured by students’ SAT scores. These results indicate that …

Beliefs About Toddler And Care: A New Measure For Infant Toddler Teachers, Treshawn L Anderson

Open Access Dissertations

The first three years in a child's life are particularly important, as this is a critical time for development in all learning domains, however some of the settings in which infants and toddlers are learning and developing (i.e., child care) have been found to be of despairingly low to mediocre quality, with teacher qualifications also being minimal (Burchinal, Roberts, Nabors, & Bryant, 1996; Howes, Whitebook, & Phillips, 1992; Ruzek, Burchinal, Farkas, & Duncan, 2014; National Survey of Early Care and Education [NSECE] Project Team, 2013, 2014; Vandell & Wolfe, 2000). With more than 60% of children birth to age three …

Developing An Early-Alert System To Promote Student Visits To Tutor Center, Qijie (Vicky) Cai, Carrie Lewis Miller, Jude Higdon

iSALT Outcomes: Publications, Presentations, and Other Scholarly Works

An early-alert system (MavCLASS) was developed and piloted in a large gateway math class with 611 freshman students to identify academically at-risk students and provide alert messages. It was found that there was significant association between the alert messages students received and their visits to the university’s tutor center. Further, the achievement of students who visited the tutor center was improving over the semester. Evidence from the study suggests that an early-alert system focused on personalized feedback from instructional staff correlates with the help-seeking behaviors of at-risk students in large gateway classes.

A Case Study Of A Teacher-Student Mentor Adoption Program At The Elementary Level, Timothy Shane Benson

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if positive teacher-to-student relationships impacted student academic performance. This case study involved examination of the results of data collected from 43 students who participated in a mentor adoption program initiated with the intent to enhance positive teacher-to-student relationships for the 2013- 2014 school year. Archival data of students who participated in the mentor adoption program were compared to data from a stratified group of students who did not participate in the mentor adoption program. Data from English language arts (ELA) and mathematics (MA) Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scale scores, attendance rate, and …

An Examination Of Middle School Readiness Variables For Students From Two K-5 Elementary Sending Schools In Missouri, Walter James Belcher

Dissertations

The transition process from elementary school to middle school has created numerous obstacles for all stakeholders. Early adolescents encounter emotional and physiological challenges as their bodies mature (Lester, Waters, & Cross, 2013). These challenges have a major impact on the academic achievement of the students (Musoleno & White, 2010). There is a direct connection between a student’s successes in middle school and how well the student will do in high school, making the transition process even more important (Andrews & Bishop, 2012). The purpose of this study was to identify predictors which could aid in easing the transition into middle …

The Impact Of Poverty On Elementary Academic Achievement In One Rural Elementary School In Missouri, Seth Allen Huddleston

Dissertations

The impact of poverty on one rural elementary school’s student achievement was measured based on formative and summative assessment data. Student assessment data were examined to determine if strong relationships can be linked between students living in poverty and academic achievement. Additionally, parental perceptions were addressed as to whether or not parents are engaged in their child’s education, and if so, does this engagement impact student achievement. The topic was chosen for the relevancy of determining students’ instructional needs and how best to move the elementary in a positive direction academically. The socio-economic levels of families in the area studied …

An Examination Of Chronic Absenteeism As Related To Performance On End-Of-Year Missouri State Assessments, John Wesley Collins

Dissertations

This study was designed to examine if a correlation exists between regular school attendance and academic success. As an outcome of concern for educational expectations in American schools, the government of the United States increased accountability for schools through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requiring schools improve student achievement levels in designated core academic areas (Tyre, Feuerborn, & Pierce, 2011). Unlike the findings of Robert Balfanz and Vaughan Byrnes (2012) of Johns Hopkins University, which found most educational agencies do not keep detailed statistics regarding student attendance, Missouri public school districts do have an accountability structure in …

Retaining Rural Educators: Characteristics Of Teacher Retention Practices Of Rural School Districts, Joshua C. Phillips

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons high-quality rural veteran educators choose to remain in small, rural district settings and to identify common factors among small rural school districts that have high numbers of highly qualified veteran teachers. The study is relevant to school leaders and school boards within small rural communities seeking to develop policies and encourage strategies to keep high-quality educators from leaving districts. The motivation-hygiene theory of job satisfaction developed by Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman (1993), coupled with Rosenholtz’s (1989) 10 essential components for working together were utilized throughout the study to evaluate the …

Documento Conceptual Sobre Redes De Excelencia Para La Investigación Y La Educación, Suresh V. Garimella, David B. Janes, Anne Slaughter Andrew

PPRI Digital Library

“Redes de Excelencia” focalizadas permitirán que las instituciones en América Latina desarrollen ecosistemas de investigación y educación de un modo mucho más rápido que si siguieran procesos "orgánicos" o locales. Una vez implementados, estos ecosistemas no solo permitirán profundas transformaciones que lleven a economías basadas en el conocimiento, sino que también desempeñarán roles claves en las redes necesarias para los sistemas de innovación regionales.

Para acelerar el desarrollo de ecosistemas de investigación y educación en toda América, los autores proponen establecer “Redes de Excelencia” en las áreas claves. Cada Red de Excelencia será multiinstitucional, multisectorial (universidad, empresa, gobierno, ONG) y …

An Examination Of The Correlation Between Teacher-Assigned Standards-Based Grades And Teacher-Assigned Traditional Grades And Student Achievement, Ashley L. Tyree-Hamby

Dissertations

The relationship between teacher-assigned standards-based grades and teacher-assigned traditional grades and student achievement on the Missouri Assessment Program was examined for all students of the sample. The 120 participants for this study were third graders during the 2012-2013 school year transitioned to fourth grade during the 2013- 2014 school year. The students were enrolled in Elementary School A in rural Missouri. One hundred twenty students’ permanent traditional and standards-based grade cards and Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores provided the data to determine the relationship between teacher assigned standards-based grade cards or teacher-assigned traditional grade cards and student achievement. The findings …

A Study Of The Impact Of Retention On Student Achievement In Three Rural Missouri School Districts, Jon Thomas Johnson

Dissertations

A case study was performed using archival data from retained students in three rural Missouri school districts. The data were examined to determine if a correlation existed between grade level retention and improved student achievement in Math and English Language Arts. A t-test was used to determine the impact retention had on student achievement. Scores were collected from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) data from retained students the year before they were retained, as well as the year following when they were retained. Data were collected from 2006-2014. Data from this study revealed students who were retained showed significant gains …

The Adequacy Of Programs In Nsw In Supporting Vulnerable Households To Transition To Renewable Energy, Madison Dell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Rising electricity prices in Australia have caused low-income households to take drastic measures to reduce their energy consumption, cutting back on essential needs like food and heating. At the same time, prices for renewable energies like solar PV are decreasing, making renewable energy a more viable option for low-income households than grid electricity. In support of increasing the nation’s supply of renewable energy, the New South Wales government is funding the Zero Net Energy Town (Z-NET) project. The Z-NET project is a new initiative to create Australia’s first town that supplies all of its energy through renewable energy sources, using …

How Does Inclusion With Co-Teaching Affect Student Performance On Summative Assessments?, Kaitlin Marie Hutchinson

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Schools have been pushed toward inclusive practices with an emphasis on co-teaching models (Yeung, 2012), yet reservations exist and little is known about the effects of inclusive practices. The questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Does inclusion with an emphasis on co-teaching affect performance of newly transitioning students with disabilities on district and teacher made summative assessments?, and 2. Does inclusion with co-teaching have a carry-over effect on typically-developing students’ assessment scores? This study aims to investigate the effect of inclusive practices on student summative assessment scores. Results from the district preassessment were gathered for all students in …

Merit Pay For Educators: An Investigation Of Components Significantly Impacting Student Achievement, Lisa G. Carlon

Dissertations

With teacher evaluations, school ratings, and ultimately school funding being linked more and more to student achievement data, U.S. public schools are searching for new and effective ways to boost academic testing scores. This study examined teachers’ and administrators’ experiences with and perceptions of merit pay, with the goal of identifying key program components positively impacting student success. With this information, solid and successful merit pay structures could be implemented in schools across the nation. Professional educators from two Midwest states who were involved in performance pay programs participated in the study through both a survey instrument and personal interviews. …

Addressing The Achievement Gap In Pinellas County Schools: School Improvement Plan Compliance Of Listing And Implementing Interventions, Melissa Porter

Dissertations

The focus of this research revolved around the achievement gap which exists among Blacks and non-Blacks in Pinellas County Schools. The problem that I addressed was whether or not the strategies listed in the School Improvement Plan were actually being implemented within the classrooms and whether or not those strategies were academically effective to assist Black students. The method I used to determine implementation and effectiveness was through the use of surveys distributed to parents, students, teachers, and administrators. The results of the surveys revealed which strategies were being used and were the most effective within the classrooms. In conclusion, …

Week Four Introduction, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

After reviewing Chapter 4 with a jigsaw activity, we will revisit lesson planning by using a rubric to evaluate two different plans. We also learned how to use low tech "clickers" and discuss the students' inertia including ways to overcome it using simulations and other teaching strategies. If there is time, we will talk about Just in Time Teaching (JiTT), a technique to get students to read.

Week Five Introduction, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

After investigating hazardous classroom materials, we will learn about diverse students and how to teach them. We will also write learning biographies for different students and used them to consider a variety of teaching-learning issues, including college student development. In addition, we will shared our CAT implementation reports and discuss the impact of classroom climate on student learning.

Week Eight Introduction, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

We used what we have learned about smart teaching to provide advice to the instructor in a YouTube video, and then identified causes of and solutions for common disruptive behaviors. We ended the series with a "Thought Museum" activity and an assessment of the Teaching Academy.

Teaching Academy 2015: Tuesday Syllabus, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The purpose of the Teaching Academy is to help you understand how learning works so you can develop the competencies needed to create active, learning-centered courses. By the end of the Academy you will have (a) created a list of common misconception in your content area, (b) constructed and used a CAT (classroom assessment technique) to measure student learning, (c) created a lesson plan that addresses a disciplinary or course related misconception, and (d) written test or quiz questions.

Teaching Academy 2015: Syllabus Review, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following questions answer everything you need to know to succeed during the Teaching Academy.

Reading Guide For “Teaching & Human Memory, Part 1” Article, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Supplemental questions for Teaching & Human Memory, Part 1.

Reading Guide For “Discrepant Teaching Events” Article, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

Supplemental questions for Discrepant Teaching Events.

Week One: Introduction To Learning-Centered Teaching, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is an introduction and overview of Learning-Centered Teaching.

Week One: Certificate Requirements, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The Centers for Teaching and Technology’s Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education is designed to foster experiential, investigative, and reflective approaches to teaching and student learning. It calls for a commitment to learning-centered teaching. All requirements are to be completed within two years of the start date

Cat Examples, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following are descriptions of selected classroom assessment techniques.

Excerpt From The “Curse Of Knowledge”, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is an excerpt from the "Curse of Knowledge" or why intuition about teaching often fails by Carl Wieman.

Week Two: Chapter 2 Reading Guide, Judith Longfield

Teaching Academy

The following is a reading guide for chapter two.