Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Faculty Achievements, April 2016, Otterbein University

Faculty Achievement Reports

No abstract provided.

Making Academic Change Happen-Any Way We Can?, Julia Williams

Assessment in Action Conference

Within the higher education community, there are repeated calls for changing the way we educate our students. And yet, despite the development of research-based teaching strategies, innovative co-curricular projects, and many years of funding and development from a variety of foundations and corporations, change in higher education is not pervasive. The lack of systemic change points to an important problem with the approach to change that the higher education community has pursued thus far. Current change approaches have not fostered the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) in motivation, communication, collaboration, and persuasion that are the foundation for change on …

Exploring Ways To Support Teachers’ Use Of Instructional Practices: A Principal’S Action Research Investigation, Sheila E. Fitzgerald

Dissertations

This study investigated the role of the school administrator in helping teachers to use instructional practices that led to improved student learning outcomes. The data indicated that teachers were comfortable learning from other teacher-leaders in the school. Teachers responded favorably to opportunities to participate in collegial observation and being provided specific feedback to stimulate growth. The study also confirmed that teachers looked to the school administrator to provide necessary resources and funding for professional development opportunities. Teachers need to be provided ongoing opportunities to learn and grow together through meaningful grade-level team meeting. This study took place during the 2010- …

Class 6 School Factors In Afghanistan 2013 : The Relationship Between School Factors And Student Outcomes From A Learning Assessment Of Mathematical, Reading And Writing Literacy, Tim Friedman, Sally Robertson, Stephanie Templeton, Maurice Walker

Monitoring Trends in Educational Growth (MTEG)

In 2012, the Ministry of Education, Afghanistan, engaged the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) as a partner to support the development of a national learning assessment program in Afghanistan. To achieve this goal, the Learning Assessment unit of the Ministry of Education and ACER have collaborated to design and implement the Monitoring Trends in Educational Growth (MTEG) program in Afghanistan. MTEG is designed as a long-term monitoring program with one focus on trends in achievement outcomes in single class levels over time, and another focus on the growth of achievement in cohorts throughout the school cycle, from Class 3 …

Yorba Times: Special Edition On Safety, Noah Asher Golden, Facundo Acevedo, Jesse Alonzo, Henessy Arana, Leslie Arriaga, Michelle Brait, Amy Chau, Ashley Diaz, Jeremiah Dille, Sierra Durand, Beberly Espinoza, Elora Estes, Lesley Fernandez, Darshan Gamma, Cassandra Garcia, Karla Garcia, Yasmin Garcia, Neko Gianquinto, Gisselle Gonzalez, Jacob Gonzales, Sakina Jaffery, Adrianna Herrera, Allie Hoch, Victoria Hulett, Anthony Jaimes, Leilani Lagunes, Sandra Loredo, Kate Markey, Joshua Marmolejo, Faith Martin, Melissa Medina, Layla Melendez, Dylan Moses, Michaela Moses, Brooklynn Payne, Michelle Perez, Brianna Quirarte, Ieleen Ramirez, Edwin Reyes, Jehu Sandoval, Jaqueline Ramirez, Jonathan Sanchez, Nathalie Sanchez, Christopher Santibanez, Kaylin Seeley, Genevieve Stothers, Miranda Valdez, Christopher Velasquez

Yorba-Chapman Writing Partnership Anthology of Journalistic Writing

During the Spring 2016 semester, Dr. Noah Asher Golden's Teaching of Writing K-12 students partnered with the Journalism class at Yorba Academy for the Arts. Through collaboration over a four-month period, Chapman's future teachers and Yorba's junior high journalists engaged a deep writing process to write a series of features, editorials, and news articles, all connected in some way to the overarching theme of safety. Thank you to Ms. Andrea Lopez, Ms. Tracy Knibb, and the Lloyd E. and Elisabeth H. Klein Family Foundation for supporting this project.

Gender And Sex Differences In Student Participation, Achievement And Engagement In Mathematics, Sarah Buckley

Student learning processes

Research in neuroscience, psychology and education explores gender differences in achievement and learning in many different ways with different implications for educators and policymakers. This paper presents some of the literature from these three research fields. Rather than being an exhaustive review, This paper provides a brief synthesis of relevant issues when considering gender in education. The paper has three main sections. The first section presents data on gender differences in mathematics participation, achievement and engagement in Australia. Note that for the purposes of this paper, the term ‘engagement’ will be used to describe students’ motivated involvement with mathematics, particularly …

Accessibility And Quality Of Education For Refugees: A Case Study Of Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Meital Kupfer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Education is a tool critical for a good future and success in an individual’s life. Without education, opportunities are lost. For vulnerable populations, including refugees, education is often not an indivisible right; living in a foreign country fleeing violence and persecution creates a difficult situation for learning. In Uganda, where there are over 600,000 refugees, hundreds of thousands of children are disregarded in the quality of their education. Kyangwali Refugee Settlement is one of ten Ugandan refugee settlements in Hoima district, housing over 40,000 Congolese and Sudanese refugees.

This research combined a practicum with Action Africa Help – Uganda, as …

Hostos Online Learning Assessment: A Survey Of Student Perceptions, Kate Wolfe, Sarah Hoiland, Kate Lyons, Carlos Guevara, Kristopher B. Burrell, Jacki Disanto, Sandy Figueroa, Aaron Davis, Iber Poma, Wilfredo Rodriguez, Linda L. Ridley

Publications and Research

The Office of Education Technology (EdTech) at Hostos Community College and faculty members from various departments created the Hostos Online Learning Assessment (HOLA) Task Force to design a survey for gathering and assessing data about students’ perceptions of their online learning experiences. The task force wanted to utilize the survey results to identify strengths and weaknesses in online instruction and student preparedness for the online learning environment. Student perceptions of online learning are integral to building upon current best practices and also gauging the preparedness of the students for the online learning environment, particularly in an urban, Hispanic-serving community college. …

Evaluating The Implementation Process Of A New Math Program: Math In Focus, Suzette Pfanstiel

Dissertations

Mathematics is an indispensable skill. Mathematical reasoning occurs when a person is taught the basic foundations during the elementary school years. With the pressures following implementation of Common Core State Standards and Race to the Top, school districts are tried not only to raise their state test scores, but also to prepare, strengthen, and empower educators to feel confident in their ability to instruct mathematics effectively. The Singapore approach to teaching math was the innovative program that created higher math scores in school districts in the United States. The country of Singapore, after developing this approach became the world’s leader …

Building Better Courses: Examining The Content Validity Of The Inacol National Standards For Quality Online Courses, David Adelstein, Michael K. Barbour

Education Faculty Publications

In 2011, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning released the second iteration of the National Standards for Quality Online Courses. These standards have been used by numerous institutions and states around the country to help design and create K-12 online courses. However, there has been no reported research on the validity of the standards or the accompanying rubric. This study compares all elements under the five main standards to contemporary K-12 or higher education online course literature. The research concludes with suggested changes and additions, as well as an explanation as to how the research connects to a larger …

Inside/Outside/In-Between: Understanding How Jewish Identity Impacts The Lives And Narratives Of Ashkenazi Female Public School Educators, Mindi Ellen Benditson

Educational Studies Dissertations

Since Ashkenazi Jews in the United States are not a visible minority, it often becomes difficult to distinguish what/who is a Jew. As many Jewish females may appear to be of the dominant culture, they often get overlooked in discussions and courses on teacher education and multiculturalism/multicultural education. However, their identity as both Jewish and White and the absence of conversation regarding their multiple positions in education and in society can contest, as well as support, their connection to multiculturalism.

The purpose of this research was to identify how four middle class Ashkenazi females in the greater Los Angeles area …

Pursuing Innovation How Can Educational Choice Transform K–12 Education In The U.S.?, Patrick Wolf, Anna J. Egalite

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

This report summarizes the state of competition in American K–12 education. It pays particular attention to the prevalence and market penetration of charter schools, private school vouchers, and tax-credit scholarships as market reforms. The effect of added institutional competition from charters, vouchers, and tax-credit scholarships on the performance of district schools and education funding is examined using a survey of the high-quality research on that topic. These summaries and analyses suggest that growing educational competition from charter schools, vouchers, and tax-credit scholarship programs holds the promise of improving the productivity of district schools, subject to the effective design of school …

The Relationship Between Student Achievement And Professional Learning Communities At The Middle School Level, Michael S. Burde

Dissertations

For nearly two decades, schools throughout the United States and beyond have utilized the Professional Learning Community (PLC) model to foster teacher collaboration in hopes of improving student achievement outcomes. At the turn of the century, much of the research suggested a positive relationship between student achievement outcomes and the implementation of PLC’s in the school setting. The more recent research suggests little to no relationship between PLC’s and student achievement outcomes.

In an effort to bring clarity to the conflicting research, data was collected from a sample of 12 schools which included 275 teachers and nearly 6,000 students. Teacher …

Internships: Experiential Learning, Academic Connection And Assessment, Arlene J. Nicholas

Faculty and Staff - Articles & Papers

This paper reviews the current literature on internships and the impact internships have for students. For example, according to Gault, Leach, and Duey (2010) interns who exceeded employers' expectations were offered a 9.2% higher salary than other non-intern alumni counterparts. Employers of students who complete credit internships are required to respond to a questionnaire about the students work. However, like many other universities and colleges, students were not required to complete formal surveys of their internship. Overview of student surveys regarding their experiences and academic associations is discussed. The benefits of electronic documentation for outcomes and assessment is explained.

Experiences Of Students With Specific Learning Disorder (Including Adhd) In Online College Degree Programs: A Phenomenological Study, Seleta Bunch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Enrollment in online degree programs is rapidly expanding due to the convenience and affordability offered to students and improvements in technology. The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the shared experiences of students with documented specific learning disorders (including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) enrolled in online degree programs at a large, faith-based university in the Southeast United States. Colleges and universities must follow federal mandates as recommended by the Office of Civil Rights for students with documented disabilities in both traditional and online settings. Research is lacking in the area of understanding the experiences of students with specific learning …

A Phenomenological Examination Of Students’ Lived Experiences In A Type Ii Alternative School, Joseph Garner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe lived experiences in a type II alternative school, from the perspective of former students who are now in a correctional facility. Three research questions guided the study: How do former students who are now incarcerated describe their experiences in a type II alternative school? How do former students of a type II alternative school describe their experiences in a correctional facility? How do participants’ lived experiences in the alternative school compare and contrast with their lived experiences in a correctional facility? Data was collected through individual interviews, journaling, and focus group …

High Impact Practices: Student Engagement And Retention, Giselle Bonet, Barbara R. Walters

Publications and Research

Community college students face special challenges that can impede their academic progress, resulting in lower grades and persistence than students in selective four-year colleges. Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York, successfully addresses these challenges with learning communities: small cohorts of students in a blocked program of study, which includes developmental or basic English, a one-credit student skills course, and a social or behavioral science course. This research analyzes the short-term effects of the model by comparing a sample of 267 students enrolled in four learning community and four regular sections of sociology and psychology classes. The results demonstrate a …

Applying Andragogical Principles To Corporate Medical Sales Training, Benjamin C. Washington Ii

Dissertations

This qualitative action research study investigated how to apply andragogical principles to corporate medical sales training. The study stemmed from a practitioner’s concern that instructional methodologies may be insufficient for the learning needs of medical sales representatives in the post-2008 recession climate, which was requiring greater return on investment and performance accountability. The phenomenon of sales representatives being in the field one day and the next day being deemed ‘trainers’ exposed several gaps in sales training programs primarily originating from instructor deficiencies in curriculum development, instructional design, and weakness in application of adult learning methodologies. Andragogy, a learning theory on …

Use Of An Lms In Undergraduate Business Communications Courses, Arlene J. Nicholas

Faculty and Staff - Articles & Papers

Does the current college population embrace the use of technology for classwork? They may be devoted users of text messaging, Facebook and even Google, but do they take advantage of the learning tools created for their specific coursework? Does it advance their knowledge or understanding of course objectives? The cost for the university licensing, faculty and staff effort to create, upload, troubleshoot and maintain is considerable. A small case study of Business Communication students who used a learning management system (LMS) was conducted. Analysis of this study and other recent research in this pedagogical method will be reported.

An Examination Of The Authorship Of Publicly Available Nbea And Isbe International Business Education Journal Articles, 2001 - 2015, Carol Blaszczynski, Ph.D.

International Journal for Business Education

This study of the two NBEA and ISBE international business education journals, the International Journal for Business Education and the Journal for Global Business Education, examined the accessibility of the journals and the authorship characteristics of publicly available articles published in the journals between 2001 and 2015. Over 55% of the articles published in both journals were multiple authorship efforts, with inter-institutional collaborations constituting the greatest number of collaborations. Author rankings as well as adjusted authorship rankings were calculated for the two journals.

Game-Based Selective Attention Intervention: Effect Of Blink On Selective Attention For Street Youth In Zambia, Brittany S. Richard

Senior Honors Theses

The following study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a game-based intervention in the form of a card game, Blink, on selective attention for a sample of street youth in Zambia, Africa. Based on previous research suggesting that selective attention and executive functioning may be modified by game-based interventions in various populations and contexts, this study sought to employ a card game intervention for selective attention. The study was conducted with a repeated measures design, with a paired sample within-groups t-test adapted from the TEA-Ch Sky Search measure of selective attention, and the card game Blink as a …

The Experience Of Teachers And Deans In An Intensive Weekly Observation/Feedback Model, Kathleen A. Grinwis

Dissertations

This phenomenological study looked at the lived experiences of 12 teachers and deans participating in an intensive weekly observation/feedback model in several charter school academies. In this model, teachers and deans work to grow as educators and to reach their professional development goals. While we know that a major factor in increasing the proficiency rate of our students is improving teacher effectiveness, not as much is known about how to provide the necessary guidance for teachers’ professional growth and efficacy development. The challenge for leaders is to develop effective systems of supervision that support teachers and administrators as they work …

Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (Sea-Plm) : Global Citizenship Domain Assessment Framework, Rachel Parker, Julian Fraillon

Assessment and Reporting

This assessment framework forms part of the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEAPLM) assessment program and outlines an approach to assessing global citizenship. The purpose of this assessment framework is to articulate the basic structure of the global citizenship domain as part of SEA-PLM. It provides a description of the constructs to be measured. It also outlines the design and content of the measurement instruments and describes how measures generated by those instruments relate to the constructs. It combines theory and practice to describe “both the ‘what’ and the ‘how’” (Jago, 2009, p. 1) of the SEA-PLM assessment of global …

A Quantitative Study Of International School Working Conditions And Learning Environments In Relation To Student Achievement, Melissa Allen

Dissertations

With an increased focus on global competition, many educators and policymakers relied on international assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to evaluate the ability of their education system to prepare students for the global economy. Students in the United States continued to demonstrate disappointing results on the PISA, which led to an outcry by American educators and policymakers and a call for reform. To lessen the achievement gap between the United States and other countries, experts suggested the importance of identifying the characteristics of high performing countries and adapting effective policies to fit the needs of …

Balancing The Local And The Global: Understanding Alternative Education In Modern Ladakh, Hannah Ryde

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

For nearly thirty years, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) has addressed the shortcomings of the education system in Ladakh (la dwags), a mountainous region under the rain-shadow of the Himalayan Range in Jammu and Kashmir State of Northern India, through education reform in government schools and the creation of alternative education programs. These programs attempt to support students who have failed in, and been failed by, the Ladakhi government education system and are designed to fill in gaps in the curricula of mainstream schools through supplemental academics and skill-based learning, while simultaneously building confidence …

La Reconstrucción Del Debate En Santa Cruz De La Sierra, Bolivia: Una Herramienta Para La Auto-­Descolonización Y El Desarrollo De Un Pensamiento Crítico Entre Jóvenes., Tessa Holtzman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Debate improves public speaking ability, critical thinking, and self-­‐ confidence. It also empowers students to challenge their beliefs and understand the world around them. It has been used in a variety of educational systems as a developmental tool that promotes democratic citizenship and civic engagement. In Bolivia, however, it is an under-­‐used resource. In this essay, I reflect on my experiences teaching and creating sustainable debate programs in partnership with local schools in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Through an analysis of my successes and failures, I find that differing cultural and economic climates affect the way educators should …

Applying Andragogical Principles To Corporate Medical Sales Training, Benjamin C. Washington

Dissertations

This qualitative action research study investigated how to apply andragogical principles to corporate medical sales training. The study stemmed from a practitioner’s concern that instructional methodologies may be insufficient for the learning needs of medical sales representatives in the post-2008 recession climate, which was requiring greater return on investment and performance accountability. The phenomenon of sales representatives being in the field one day and the next day being deemed ‘trainers’ exposed several gaps in sales training programs primarily originating from instructor deficiencies in curriculum development, instructional design, and weakness in application of adult learning methodologies. Andragogy, a learning theory on …

The Evaluation Of The Outcomes Of Work Ethic Curriculum: A Report On The Perceptions From Faculty And Students, John E. Wood

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the work ethic attitudes and behaviors of entering Ethos freshmen to students who were about to graduate. Data was collected by two means, first by using the Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP) instrument and the second by analyzing existing work ethic grades issued by faculty. The dependent variables were the seven dimensions of work ethic in the MWEP and the five Ethos work ethic traits. The population for this study consisted of members of the freshman and graduating classes from the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years. A purposive sample was taken from …

Using Rtp (Responsible Thinking Process) As A Lever For Improving School Culture: A Case Study Of An Alternative Secondary School’S Implementation Of Rtp, Andrew D. Rynberg

Dissertations

There is an urgent need to improve our K-12 system. How to implement and sustain educational change, however, is a challenge facing the K-12 arena. This qualitative case study was intended to examine a six-year educational change initiative in one alternative secondary school. The study helped us gain knowledge on implementing and sustaining educational change by addressing the following three research questions:

1. What were the staff members’ descriptions of disciplinary issues before and after the RTP intervention?

2. Based on staff descriptions, what were the factors associated with the successful implementation of the RTP program?

3. Based on staff …

The Influence Of Building Configuration On Academic Achievement, Attendance, And Demographic Variables In Selected Midwestern School Districts, Catherine A. Macarthur

Dissertations

This study examined the influence of building configuration on the academic achievement and attendance of students who were considered chronically absent. A longitudinal nonequivalent groups research design was used to test the study’s six hypotheses. Data were collected from over 10,000 students within 38 K-8 schools and 40 6-8 middle schools in 24 urban school districts. These districts belonged to the Middle Cities Education Association (MCEA) in a Midwestern state. Student achievement data were collected from this state’s Department of Education’s Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) database that focused specifically on 6th (2009) and 8th-grade (2011) achievement and …