Educational Methods Commons^™

Brown-Bagging It: Engaging Students In Lecture, Paul V. Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Making Science Teams Work, Roxanne Greitz Miller

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Science teachers, likely have more experience with students working together than teachers in any other subject area due to teaming students for hands-on activities. While the importance of teamwork is emphasized in the National Science Education Standards, getting teams to actually work-meaning getting students to share equally in the academic assignments and to interact in a positive and productive manner-often eludes even the best of teachers. It has been the author's experience as a middle level science teacher that effective teaming requires careful planning, clear communication with students and parents, relevant motivational strategies, and arranging the classroom and activities to …

Oliver Ranch Science School Complex & Wild Horse And Burro Facility: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending December 31, 2004, Margaret N. Rees

Oliver Ranch Project

Assist in project coordination between numerous stakeholders such as the Clark County School System, Desert Research Institute, Community College of Southern Nevada, UNR Cooperative Extension, Nevada State College, local museums, state parks, non-profit organizations, federal agencies, and the public to ensure appropriate educational curricular activities and venues are provided for in the conceptual design of the School and the Wild Horse and Burro facility where appropriate as well as assist in the NEPA process as needed. The activities will be conducted at least in part by university faculty, staff and students as part of the university’s research, teaching, and service …

Mathematical Card Tricks, Sarah Zimmermann

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Mathematical Mind Journeys: Awakening Minds To Computational Fluency, Susan Austine Ebdon, Mary Mcgee Coakley, Danielle S. Legnard

Education Faculty Publications

Connecticut's New Canaan Public Schools has a mission of mathematical literacy for all children and has undergone an extensive curriculum review process over the past six years. Designing reformed curriculum and ensuring computational fluency have been shared visions for the district's mathematics educators, including the authors of this article. We are three teachers who have taught across levels K-12 and have led the mathematics initiative as mathematics resource teachers, mathematics coordinators, and building administrators. We coined the term "Mathematical Mind Journey," or "MMJ," to describe the adventure we take our students on each day. MMJs support the Process and Content …

Project-Based High School Science Activities, Raymond Lynn Harris

All Graduate Projects

The development of project-based science activities and assessment rubrics are presented. A total of fifteen different science projects are presented for use in the high school science classroom. The activities are complete with lesson plans, design lessons, overviews of materials and follow up assessments. The activities are designed to combine essential academic learning requirements with real-world applications and can be applicable to a wide variety of concepts. The development of these activities is supported by the literature review as well as the use in the author's classroom.

Online Writing As A Form Of Electronic Communication In A Second Year Biology Course, Michael Barbour, Michael A. J. Collins

Education Faculty Publications

Over the past decade, the proliferation of technology in the realm of teaching has occurred at a phenomenal rate. From the smallest integration of technology into the classroom to entire courses being taught in an online environment, the use of computers by students and teachers has continued to increase.

This paper considers student use of an online discussion forum in a second year Biology course and how that participation may be an indicator of increased student success in the course. The authors discuss how participation in the online discussion forum is a form of public writing in which the students …

The Impact Of Classroom Organization In Grade 4 On Student Achievement In Science, Edward Duncanson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Using A Computer Simulation To Teach Science Process Skills To College Biology And Elementary Majors, Aimée T. Lee, Rosalina V. Hairston, Rachel Thames, Tonya Lawrence, Sherry S. Herron

Faculty Publications

The Lateblight computer simulation (Arneson and Ticknor, 1990) has been implemented in the general biology laboratory and the science methods course for elementary teachers to reinforce the processes of science and to allow the students to engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate the methods of building concepts in science. The students develop testable hypotheses and then use the program to run experiments and collect data. In addition, they research relevant background information and subsequently present their results in a poster during class.

Journaling In The Secondary Mathematics Classroom: An Introduction, Defense, And Resource, Emily K. Falgier

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

A Curricular Design For Integrating Writing With Science: A Benchmark Handbook Approach, Marci Jayne Gano

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to create an integrated science and writing benchmark handbook. Review of the literature, Washington State Academic Learning Requirements for science and writing, published scie.nce lessons, and teacher's guides were utilized. Classroom teachers, district and school science and writing goals were consulted in the creation of this project. The activities presented in all five units were designed to provide hands-on experience in both science and writing. Possible assessment options are also provided.

Multiple Intelligence Theory And Seventh Grade Mathematics: A Handbook Of Activities, Mechelle Lynn Devries Lalanne

All Graduate Projects

Multiple intelligence theory was investigated; a description and history of the theory, as proposed by Howard Gardner, is provided. The multiple intelligence theory as it relates to education, particularly mathematics education, was reviewed. A handbook of activities was created to provide a resource for seventh grade teachers that will assist in the application and integration of mathematics across the range of multiple intelligences in their classroom. Assessments that resemble the Washington Assessment of Students Leaming are included, in order to develop skills necessary to meet the Essential Academic Leaming Requirements of Washington.

Animal Dissection And Evidence-Based Life-Science And Health-Professions Education, Nathan Nobis

Education Collection

Balcombe’s (2000, 2001) case for replacing learning methods that require pain, suffering, and death for animals with methods that do not (computer-assisted learning, three-dimensional models, videotapes, and other alternatives) can be seen as motivated by this evidentialist perspective. Balcombe provided a wealth of empirical evidence from educational studies to show that in most contexts animal dissection is not necessary—and even counterproductive—to achieve valid educational goals, especially higher order goals (concept learning and problem solving). He demonstrated that no sound defense of dissection has been given.

Integrating Literature Into The Science And Social Studies Curricula: A Curriculum Guide For Grade Two, Jennifer M. Donald

All Graduate Projects

The adoption of the Open Court reading program in conjunction with the Washington Read's Grant was the initial idea for this project. The integration of science and social studies themes was researched, and found to be beneficial in the teaching of those content areas. A handbook for second grade educators was created to integrate the adopted science and social studies topics with the newly adopted reading curriculum at Vale Elementary in Cashmere, Washington. This handbook contains a scope and sequence, literature libraries for three reading achievement levels, the benchmarks and essential learning's for the designated topics, and suggested activities for …

Using Authentic Learning To Teach Basic Technology Skills, Steven Burken

Graduate Research Papers

During the past decade, most school districts have been required to write technology plans that have included the goal that students will become technologically literate. Teachers and administrators have been challenged to teach technology skills that will help student solve problems in the work place. What has been commonplace is for schools to offer courses or units in which students acquire skills without applying them to real world problems. This paper takes a look at the literature and research surrounding the use of technology, and the learning of technology skills, in the framework of authentic learning.

Changing Mathematical Discourse: A Case Study Of A Secondary Mathematics Teacher, Mary Lynn Breyfogle

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Learning To Construct Proofs In A First Course On Mathematical Proof, Peter R. Atwood

Dissertations

This study examined the conceptions o f proof that undergraduate students have upon entry to a transition course on mathematical proof how they develop skill in planning and reporting proofs, obstacles encountered, and effects of instruction on their performance in solidifying schema in proof-planning and proof-reporting.

The subjects were sophomores and juniors (n=16) in a transition course at a large midwestern university. The course was taught by one o f the co-authors o f the text, "Mathematical Proofs" (Chartrand, Polimeni, and Zhang, 1999, in press). Assessment of learning to construct proofs was through quizzes and a final exam developed by …

How Many Blocks To The Empire State Building? : An Original Story, Enakshi Bose

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Presents a children's story for eight and nine year old children that poses several mathematical questions, including the central one of how many blocks it is from the 215th Street subway station in Inwood to the Empire State Building. Photographs and maps enhance the mathematical concepts involved. Discusses the developmental appropriateness of the book's content and how the material meets various standards in mathematics.

Off To The (Earthworm) Races: A Quick And Flexible Laboratory Experiment For Introductory Zoology Courses., Paul Switzer, Ann Fritz

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Pakej Pembelajaran Multimedia Sains Upsr, Menyiasat Alam Kehidupan (Ppms), Abdul Rahman Araby Norhayati

Student Works (2000-2009)

Pakej Pembelajaran Multimedia Sains UPSR ini merupakan satu pakej pembelajaran dan pengajaran multimedia bagi matapelajaran Sains Kurikulum Baru Sekolah Rendah (KBSR). Pakej ini mengkhususkan kepada salah satu daripada lima topik yang terdapat dalam sukatan matapelajaran Sains KBSR iaitu Menyiasat Alam Kehidupan yang memfokuskan kepada subjek-subjek tahun empat, lima dan enam. Objektif utama pakej ini dibangunkan adalah untuk berfungsi sebagai satu alat bantuan belajar kepada para pelajar serta sebagai alat bantuan mengajar kepada guru atau ibubapa. Selain menyediakan nota-nota pembelajaran, pakej ini juga menyediakan pelbagai corak kuiz bagi menguji kefahaman pengguna. Pakej ini telah dibangunkan dengan menggunakan bahasa pengaturcaraan Lingo Script …

Proses Penyelesaian Masalah Algebra Di Kalangan Pelajar Diploma Di Sebuah Institusi Pengajian Tinggi, Roselah Osman

Student Works (2000-2009)

The main objective of this study is to examine the problem solving process in learning Algebra, employed by the first semester students of diploma in engineering from an institute of higher learning. The research instrument comprised of five problem solving questions on basic Algebra. Six students were randomly selected as the research sample. The research data were the steps of written solutions shown by the sample. A modified scoring Rubric was used to analyse the process and the strategies used by the students to solve every problem solving question. The results of the study shows that some of the students …

The Story Of A Service-Learning Project: Mathematics In The Park, Joyce O'Halloran

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Analysis Of Japanese And U.S. Teaching Styles Of Mathematics, Timothy Michael Wurdock

Mathematics Graduate Theses

This study examines the effects of different international teaching styles on the performance of junior high school students. Japanese students ranked higher than U.S. students on international tests. The whole-class method and open-ended problems are techniques frequently used in Japanese classrooms. These techniques will be incorporated into the author’s curriculum to determine their effectiveness in teaching mathematics. Two eighth grade classes will be studied. The author will teach the experimental group using the whole-class method. The control group will be taught using the American method.

“The Way Of The Scientist Deepens Beauty By Increasing Understanding”: Teaching Physics As An Aesthetic Form, Claudine Indigo Kavanagh

Dissertations and Theses

Educators have struggled to find an appropriate and efficacious method to engage students of science in their classrooms and lecture halls, This investigation presents a theoretical foundation for the use of aesthetic criteria when teaching physics in high school or undergraduate settings and suggests that this may be an effective learning tool. The relationship between science aesthetics and science literacy is pursued here. Included in this study are discussions of the applications of aesthetic judgement by theoretical physicists in the 20th century and and methods for bringing a dialogue concerning natural philosophy and beauty in the science classroom. While many …

Integrating Writing To Enhance Mathematical Skills At The Elementary Level, Kendra J. Kupp

All Graduate Projects

The recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Washington State Commission on Student Learning Essential Academic Requirements are addressed. The benefits of integrating mathematics and writing are studied. Integrated activities and materials for a first and second grade mathematics curriculum are developed. Recommendations for implementing the project are given.

Fetal Pig: The High School Dissection Experience, Gracia Barr, Harold A. Herzog

Education Collection

Using qualitative methods, we observed a series of fetal pig dissection sessions in a high school biology course and interviewed 17 students in the class. The students' responses to dissection varied considerably. Most felt that dissection was a positive experience, but a substantial minority viewed it primarily in negative terms. Almost all the students had some ambivalence about aspects of the fetal pig lab and believed that alternatives should be provided for students who object to the practice. We argue that dissection remains a viable educational tool but should be an optional rather than compulsory component of the curriculum.

Comprehension Strategy Lesson Plans For Third Grade Teachers Incorporating Informational Science Trade Books, Trinidad M. Rivera

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to create a set of lesson plans for teachers useful in teaching comprehension strategies to monolingual third grade students. Research on comprehension strategies and the effects they have on children's reading comprehension was explored. Effective comprehension strategies were defined. Lesson plans were created to aid educators as they teach comprehension of informational material to third grade students.

Effectiveness Of Programmed Instructional Material In The Teaching Of Relection To Form Two Pupils In A Rural School, Swit Peng Gan

Student Works (2000-2009)

The primary objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of programmed instructional material as complementary aids in the teaching of a Mathematical topic, specifically Reflection, to Form Two pupils in a rural secondary school. This is an experimental study. The design of the study is the pre-test-post-test type. An experimental group and a control group were involved in this study. The experimental group used the programmed text, Learn It Yourself Reflection (LIY Reflection) which comprises 4 Units while the control group followed the normal classroom instruction. The students have similar pre-requisite as there is no significant difference in …

The Classroom Encounter, Reuben Hersh

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Integration Of Children's Literature And Mathematics With Literature-Based Supplemental Activities In A First Grade Classroom, Linda Mcdow

All Graduate Projects

The Essential Academic Learning Requirements developed by the various subject committees selected by the Washington State Commission on Student Learning and the recommendations made by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics are addressed. The benefits of integrating children's literature and mathematics are studied. Integrated activities and an annotated bibliography of children's literature that could supplement a traditional mathematics curriculum for primary age students are developed.