Educational Methods Commons^™

Crt Assessment Instrument, Janet L. Applin

Kentucky Teacher Educator

The Culturally Responsive Teaching Assessment Instrument (CRT) is an observation instrument that was developed to assess teachers' use of culturally responsive teaching in applied classroom settings.

A Student Teaching Manual For The Preservice Student Teacher, Alecia L. Rochelle

All Graduate Projects

This project is designed to assist and support student teachers and first-year teachers who feel unprepared during their preservice training, and novice teachers who are teaching out of their certificated field. The review of related literature and personal research shows that there is an essential need for additional direction, encouragement, collaboration, and guidance among student and first year teachers. This project contains a student teaching manual designed for Parkside Elementary School that provides specific tips on how to be an effective student/first year teacher. The purpose of this project is to design a manual that would assist student and first …

The Development Of The Culturally Responsive Teaching Assessment Instrument, Janet L. Applin

Kentucky Teacher Educator

This article is concerned with developing an instrument to assess Culturally Responsive Teaching. A study was conducted to explore the process of developing a valid and reliable CRT Assessment Instrument. Teaching behaviors widely accepted to indicate culturally responsive teaching were operationalized and an observation instrument was developed to assess teachers' use of culturally responsive teaching in applied classroom settings. Teachers were observed using the instrument and it was evaluated for its reliability and validity. Results of the study indicated that the instrument was found to have acceptable inter-rater reliability for approximately half of the indicators. The results supported the content …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Federal Definition Of Gifted And Talented, Bruce Battles

Kentucky Teacher Educator

The Tennessee state law as it refers to the gifted and talented is not as specific in the characteristics found in the Federal definition. The purpose of this study was to find if the perceptions of the local teachers agreed with the Federal characteristics. A survey of 80 middle Tennessee teachers was completed. The total number of schools surveyed was 4 public and one private school. The survey was rated using a 5 point Linker scale. The results were analyzed using the SPSS statistical program. A paired samples test was used in the data analysis. It was found that while …

A Personalized Art Curriculum That Promotes Art Advocacy, Nicole Marie Walters

All Graduate Projects

The following project shows the development of a personalized drawing curriculum that will encourage students to become art advocates. The curriculum is based upon art history and is designed for students to relate historical ideas to their own lives. This personalization will help students learn more about art as a form of communication. Through this art experience, students will see the value of art in their own education and it is hoped that in the future, when these students are adults they will be advocates for the arts.

Finding Our Way Back Home: Reintroducing Mythology Into The Lives Of Children, Faith Klavan

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Mythology is present in almost all aspects of modern life. Though many books, movies, video games and advertisements make reference to ancient myths, the myths themselves are no longer readily accessible to children. This thesis provides a rationale for writing a children's book which retells an ancient Greek myth. An outline for the book, entitled Perseus, as well as two sample chapters, are included. The thesis deals with mythology's relevance to the modern child asserting that it can help him/her deal with issues such as step-parents, separation anxiety and the need for individuation. The thesis also discusses the ways in …

When Mom Or Dad Has A Mental Illness: General Information And Memories Of A Girl Whose Father Has Bi-Polar Disorder, Lisa RenéE Levesque

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This original material answers common questions that children in middle childhood (8-12 years) may have about parental mental illness. When Mom or Dad has a mental illness: General information and memories of a girl whose father has Bi-polar Disorder defines mental illness, addresses symptoms, causes and treatments, provides definitions of related terms, and shares personal stories about having a parent with mental illness. A review of current literature shows the lack of similar work, and the developmental theories of Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Erikson, and Vygotsky confirm the importance and validity of the project. The motivation behind this work is to …

Effect Of Movement Activities On Student Engagement: A Handbook Of Movement Activities For Elementary Teachers, Leanne Kaye Procter

All Graduate Projects

A handbook has been developed to aid teachers in the incorporation of movement activities in the elementary classroom. The activities can be done between lessons or between long periods of focus. The activities will help to gain attention and engagement of students. The activities in the handbook are to be used as a supplement to any existing elementary curriculum. The handbook consists of seventy-eight activities that may be used in a variety of classroom settings. Current literature and research surrounding the topics of engagement, stimulation, retention, and the importance of movement for adolescents were explored.

Interactive And Textbook Lessons In Science Instruction: Combining Strategies To Engage Students In Learning, Christina Puentes

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Students in elementary classrooms are not receiving science instruction that is engaging and challenging. The review of the literature indicates that the way that the information is presented has more of an impact on the students than simply whether they comprehend the information. Studies show that hands-on science instruction allows success beyond the classroom, hands-on activities excite students about leaning and science in general, and that the hands-on activities create confidence in the children. Research also indicates that students who receive textbook based lessons earn scores similar to students who learn through hands-on lessons. This study explores the effects of …

A Museum-Based Curriculum For Middle School Students In New York City, Nayantara Mhatre

Graduate Student Independent Studies

India Inquiry is a museum-based curriculum designed for middle school students in New York City. The curriculum is organized by the following themes: Geography, Wildlife, Culture and Crafts, and Religion. Within each theme there is one out-of-classroom trip, including three visits to the American Museum of Natural History, and one to the Ganesh Temple in Flushing, Queens. In addition there are seven lessons that compliment and support the organized field trips.

The curriculum was developed to appeal to the social, emotional, and intellectual needs of students emerging from the latency period of late childhood and approaching early adolescence.

India Inquiry …

The Effect Of Inquiry-Based Learning In A Technical Classroom: The Impact On Student Learning And Attitude, Ian R. Hartman

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effect of inquiry-based instruction in technical undergraduate education. Specifically, the effect was measured along two dimensions: 1) the effect on student learning and, 2) student attitude towards subject matter. The researcher designed an inquiry-based instructional approach to encourage interaction between teacher and students and to help students take more responsibility for their learning. Three technical undergraduate classes participated in the study. Each class was divided into experimental and control groups. For the experimental group, a twice-a-week traditional lecture was replaced with a once-a-week inquiry-based question and answer session. Students in the control group were taught as …

Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention: A Comparative Analysis Of Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention Programs, Diana Howell

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

School bullying has often been tacitly minimalized as a rite of passage—an unfortunate but common experience among children. In the past few years there has been an increasing awareness of school bullying as a catalyst of school violence. Parents, school boards, and administrators are understanding and taking more seriously the negative impact that bullying has on victimized students and are actively looking for ways to reduce incidents of such violence. This research provides a discussion of bullying behavior and an examination of teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs in their schools. If teachers do not feel that …

Learning Styles: A Focus Upon E-Learning Practices And Their Implications For Successful Instructional Design, Morris Cooze, Michael Barbour

Education Faculty Publications

With the proliferation of online learning into the K-12 learning environment, the focus of investigation needs to shift specific studies that pertain to this environment. One such area of investigation surrounds the development of specific online course content and the individualized learning styles of the students in these online learning environments. This review focuses upon the vast body of literature for the post-secondary online learner and argues the case for additional research in K-12 education. While recent studies have started the process of changing this focus, as online learning becomes more prevalent and accepted as a means of learning at …

Principles Of Effective Web-Based Content For Secondary School Students: Teacher And Developer Perceptions, Michael K. Barbour

Education Faculty Publications

In this article, I describe findings from a study of the perceptions of course developers and electronic teachers on the principles of effective asynchronous web-based content design for secondary school students. Through interviews, participants' perceptions of various web-based components and instructional strategies, and the effectiveness of both based upon the experiences of the participants were investigated in a virtual high school context for the purpose of generating a list of guidelines that future course developers might utilize.

Making Sense: Reflections On Developing A Social Studies Curriculum For Five- And Six-Year-Olds, Anne Tobias

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is a reflection on the writing of a social studies curriculum for five and six-year-olds-a study of a neighborhood construction site. It examines the way in which one teacher's commitment to offering children meaningful content evolved into the formulation of her educational philosophy, as influenced by such progressive educators as John Dewey, Lucy Sprague Mitchell, and Caroline Pratt.

Part One of the thesis is divided into three major sections. The first consists of a developmental overview of five- and six-year-olds. The second describes the connections between understandings of basic child development, understandings of a particular group of children, …

Brain-Based Learning Theory: An Online Course Design Model, Abreena Walker Tompkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The development of a theoretical brain-based online course design model with potential transferability across course management systems in higher education is the problem for this study. Qualitative inquiry was the emergent design and consisted of an extensive current, relevant literature review of educational literature in brain-based learning theory, online course design, and course management systems for the purpose of developing a theoretical brain-based online course design model for higher education. The model developed includes synthesized indicators from the analytical charting. The proposed model is presented in acronym form, which in and of itself aligns with brain-based learning theory. The acronym …

Guerrilla Puzzling: A Model For Research, Marc Zimmer

Chemistry Faculty Publications

There are two main settings for puzzle solving in higher education: graduate programs, with professors and both graduate and postdoctoral students; and predominantly undergraduate institutions, with professors and students. Research programs at large universities are well-oiled puzzle-solving machines. Graduate students there work long, hard hours in the laboratory, under the supervision of postdocs and professors. Students at predominantly undergraduate institutions, on the other hand, can rarely devote more than 10 hours a week to research during the academic year, what with course work; extracurricular activities, like sports; jobs; and other commitments. In this article, the author describes "guerrilla puzzling," a …

Fostering Creativity Through A Nonlinear Approach To Teaching Technology At Wood River Middle School, Warren Edgar Hull

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to address the following research questions: 1) what is the current status of creativity research in a typical classroom, and 2) how does an instance of exemplary teaching serve to encourage creativity in a technology education setting? The first research question is focused on through a thorough review of published literature on creativity in order to frame the second research question. The second research question is addressed by understanding how Mr. Brad Thode, the technology teacher at Wood River Middle School in Hailey, Idaho, encourages his students to be creative. By investigating this one …

Repeated Reading To Improve Oral Reading Fluency, Loretta Lynn Powers

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review the available research on repeated reading as a method of improving a student's oral reading fluency (ORF), to determine its contribution to the reading process, and to create an implementation guide for middle school teachers to use in their language arts classroom. The results of the research show that there is a need for effective repeated reading instruction. Including this instruction at the middle school level will provide tremendous benefits for students. Repeated reading is an effective way to expose students to short, interesting, fictional and non-fictional texts. The project includes a …

Developing Teachers’ Skills In Thar Desert Area, Sindh, Pakistan, Saeed Nasim, Parvez Pirzado

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

This paper aims to present AKU-IED’s experiences about working in the Thar Desert Area of Sindh. AKU-IED aimed to develop teachers’ skills and to help them provide quality education to the children of the said underprivileged and remote area of Pakistan.

Teacher Status : A Symposium, Anjum Halai

Books

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Oral Reading Fluency And Comprehension, Jessica A. Talada

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Oral reading fluency and reading comprehension are identified as components in effectively gaining meaning from text. A reciprocal relationship exists between the two that allows one to comprehend more thoroughly as one reads more fluently. Additionally, as one reads more fluently, one’s ability to comprehend also improves. This is due to the fact that one’s brain is more capable in processing text meaning when one is able to read fluently. Therefore, when one automatically identifies words one is able to comprehend text more completely. The oral reading fluency and comprehension relationship was tested for a second and third grade population …

A School-Wide Project : Community, Experience And Values, Ilene Harris

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Describes a school-wide integrated curriculum project at Beit Rabban Day School for children ages three to 12 in New York City. The project centers around a five-day, 250 mile bike ride with Hazon (a New York based Jewish environmental group), and Arava Institute of Israel (a center for environmental studies). This paper focuses on the following: shared learning experiences, authentic experiential learning, community, and education rooted in values. Includes lesson plans and work samples.

My Whiteness: A Teacher's Efforts To Explore The Roots Of Her Own Racial Identity, Abigail Johnson

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This Independent study is an attempt to explore the roots of my own racial identity in order to become a culturally sensitive teacher. It is preparation for teaching in a classroom where most of the children will be from a different background than my own.

Perceptions Of Preceptor Training In The Dietetic Supervised Practice Experience, Mary Kathryn Gould

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Preceptors are critical in the education of dietetic students and over the years, interest in preceptor training has grown. As a result, the American Dietetic Association recently established a task force to develop and implement a Preceptor Training Certificate Program. There is, however, limited information with regard to formal preceptor training currently being offered by dietetic internships and the affect it may have on programs. Because of the lack of knowledge concerning this topic, a qualitative collective case study was conducted at three university-based dietetic internships with the intent of adding to the body of knowledge regarding formal preceptor training …

Emergent Pedagogy: Learning To Enjoy The Uncontrollable—And Make It Productive, Anne Dalke, Kimberly Cassidy, Paul Grobstein, Doug Blank

Literatures in English Faculty Research and Scholarship

This essay reflects the shared experiences of four college faculty members (a biologist, a psychologist, a computer scientist, and a feminist literary scholar) working together with K-12 teachers to explore a new perspective on educational practice. It offers a novel rationale for independent thinking and learning, one that derives from rapidly developing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary inquiries in the sciences and social sciences into what are known as “complex” or “emergent” systems. Using emergent systems as a model of teaching and learning makes at least three significant contributions to our thinking bout teaching, in three very different dimensions. It invites us …

Using Dragonflies As Common, Flexible, And Charismatic Subjects For Teaching The Scientific Process, Paul Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Crime And The Sorcerer's Stone: Using Harry Potter To Teach Theories Of Crime, Julie Elizabeth Humphrey

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to take a piece of popular culture, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and use it as a pedagogical tool in a graduate criminal theory course to serve as a pilot study. Evaluation data showed that using the Sorcerer's Stone is an effective way to teach students how to apply criminological theory hypothetical examples of behavior.

An Integrated Approach To Writing: Using Writer's Workshop, Step Up To Writing And Six Traits Of Writing To Teach The California State Standards, Daisy Marie Tawney

Theses Digitization Project

This project researcher designed, implemented and collected data on an integrated approach to writing instruction for her third grade students in the Etiwanda School District. The literature review showed the importance of teaching students the purpose for writing, the traits of writing and the process of writing. Research showed the effectiveness of teaching students the six traits of writing and the writing process as indicated by student writing achievement scores.

Motivating Readers Through Policies And Classroom Practices, Christi Lynn Worthington

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project examined the role of motivation on literacy, through a specific method of teaching called Concept Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI). The CORI program is designed to encourage reading motivation and comprehension through thematic teaching strategies designed around science concepts.