Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Analysis Of A Mathematics Outcomes Assessment Program, Susan Ann Newman-Bourne

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to analyze longitudinal student data collected from the mathematics component of a general education outcomes assessment program from spring semester 1999 through spring semester 2003. The study determined whether or not newly declared Business Administration and Accounting program majors' mathematics placement scores in Numerical Skills and Elementary Algebra on a standardized pre-college assessment instrument predicted their mathematics outcomes assessment examination score on an intermediate algebra course outcomes assessment examination. The study also investigated whether the students' mathematics pre-college assessment scores predicted their mathematics outcomes assessment examination score in the Business Administration and Accounting programs' …

The Effects Of The Use Of Dynamic Geometry Software On Student Achievement And Interest, Heidi B. Hansen

Mathematics Graduate Theses

This study examines the current research that exists on the effects that the use of dynamic geometry software has on student achievement and interest level in mathematics. Additional questions examined are whether using dynamic geometry software has a greater impact on high or low achievers, and what current methods of implementation are suggested by the research. A review of the relevant literature indicates that the use of dynamic geometry software does have a positive effect on student achievement, particularly achievement in areas of high-level thinking. Insufficient research has been done on the effect that the use of dynamic geometry software …

Developing Scientific Talent In Students With Special Needs: An Alternative Model For Identification, Curriculum, And Assessment, Carolyn R. Cooper, Susan M. Baum, Terry W. Neu

Education Faculty Publications

Can students with learning and attention difficulties in school actually be talented scientists in disguise? This article presents a model that was highly successful in identifying and developing scientific talent in these special students. The factors that contributed to the success of the model were the following: The emphasis was on helping students become creative producers. The model also featured a strong mentoring component that included role-modeling and problem solving within specific scientific domains and provided students with authentic, discovery-based, experiential, advanced level subject matter of the domain. Finally, the alternate means of assessing student achievement focused on a student’s …

Rui Barbosa And The Argument For Teaching The Natural Sciences In The Brazilian Primary School Of The Xix Century, Karl M. Lorenz

Education Faculty Publications

The paper discusses the ideas of Rui Barbosa on the importance of teaching science in the primary schools of nineteenth-century Brazil. Barbosa was one of the great parliamentarians of his time and one of Brazil’s most vocal advocates of educational reform in the nineteenth century. In 1882, Barbosa was directed to provide a written assessment of the1878 educational reform of Minister Leonçio de Carvalho. In the document that resulted, Barbosa states his rationale for why and how the natural sciences should be taught in the primary school. This paper relates Barbosa’s ideas on science teaching and argues that he was …

A Study Of The Effects Of The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences On The Beliefs And Attitudes Of Pre-Service Teachers About Mathematics And The Teaching Of Mathematics, Marylin T. Leinenbach

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effects of the Multiple Intelligence Theory on the beliefs and attitudes of pre-service teachers about mathematics and mathematics pedagogy. It identifies the influence of MI Theory on the beliefs and attitudes of pre-service teachers about teaching mathematics and how past performance in the study of mathematics influences beliefs and attitudes about teaching mathematics. The National Council of Teachers (NCTM) has called for changes in the preservice preparation of mathematics teachers. One of the main components of its Standards on Teaching ( 1991) is providing the pre-service teacher with opportunities to examine and revise their beliefs about …

E – Journals: Reflections And Communication Improve Learning Outcomes, Teresa G. Banker

Faculty Articles

This report describes how journaling and email were used to
benefit both the teacher and her students on a college campus in Georgia.
The report outlines how decisions were made about the content of the
journals, submission deadline considerations, and concerns about the e –
journal process. Benefits to the teacher/professor are enumerated and
discussed as are benefits to the students. E-journaling has been a
successful experiment, which, seemingly, has improved the education
process for these students and others as well.

The Effect Of Funnix Math On Pre-Kindergarten Student's Achievement In Mathematics, Michelle E. Andreoli

Theses & Honors Papers

It is imperative that mathematics education in the United States be effective and comprehensive in nature. Mathematical skills are a necessary component to functional and independent living. Much debate has aroused over which instructional methodologies to adopt, but the research clearly supports the use of explicit instruction. Direct Instruction is an expository approach to learning, which encompasses critical design principles that enable it to be sequential and thorough. Funnix Math is the newest program, which utilizes this methodology. The present study investigates the efficacy of Funnix Math on the pre-kindergarten population. The results of this study contradict previous research on …

Os Livros Didáticos De Matemática Na Escola Secundaria Brasileira No Século Xix [Mathematics Textbooks And Brazilian Secondary Education In The Xix Century], Karl M. Lorenz, Ariclê Vechia

Education Faculty Publications

O estudo identifica os livros didáticos de matemática utilizados no Colégio de Pedro II do Rio de Janeiro no século XIX, considerado "padrão" para seus congêneres. A partir de informações contidas nos programas de ensino adotados no Colégio de 1838 a 1900 e com auxílio da literatura especializada, foi possível identificar a autoria e o título de trinta e dois livros-texto, sendo a maioria deles escrita por autores brasileiros e um número menor escrito por autores franceses. Infere-se que houve equivalência entre os estudos de matemática do Colégio Pedro II e dos demais colégios do Rio de Janeiro e das …

Contributing Factors To Student Success In Anatomy & Physiology: Lower Outside Workload & Better Preparation., David E. Harris, Lynn Hannum, Sat Gupta

School of Nursing

Presents a study that examined the factors associated with the success in undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology coursework at Lewiston-Auburn College, University of Southern Maine in Lewiston. Details of the grading system used for the period of the study; Analysis of the independent variables that correlated significantly with the final course grades of the students; Relation between the amount of previous study of mathematics and science in both high school and college and the final course grades of the students.

Making Learning Visible: Peer Review And The Scholarship Of Teaching, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Presentations

This is the conference program from the March 2004 national conference, Making Learning Visible: Peer Review and the Scholarship of Teaching. This conference was hosted by the UNL Peer Review of Teaching project and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Making Thinking Visible: A Method To Encourage Science Writing In Upper Elementary Grades, Roxanne Greitz Miller, Robert C. Calfee

Education Faculty Articles and Research

In order to make a dramatic change in the way teachers approach science writing, the authors found it necessary to address both science instruction as a whole and the use of writing during various stages. To guide them in this endeavor and communicate a concrete idea of an ideal foundation for highly effective science writing to teachers, the authors turned to the CORE Model of Instruction. The CORE Model on instruction, which was originally developed as a representation of the manner in which reading and writing can be linked and reinforcing to each other, is described in this article. The …

Students’ Assessment Of Biology Education At Marshall University, Chris A. Barker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this thesis research was to evaluate the quality of scientific education offered in the College of Science’s Department of Biology at Marshall University. The objectives of this study were to emphasize the important aspects of higher education assessment, point out that a scientifically literate citizenry is imperative for society to function effectively, and to determine what factors contribute to differences among students with regard to their perception of the quality of scientific education they are receiving at Marshall. A survey questionnaire was administered to students in eleven biological science courses during the Fall semester of 2003 and …

On Reflection, James Anthony Gibbons

Shannon Research Press

This book commences with a criticism of constructivism as the basis for curriculum design followed by an attempt to argue an alternative. It is possible to proceed to criticise constructivism as the basis for curriculum design by illustrating the issues with references to extracts from curricula used by various countries and Departments of Education. This book takes a different route. The assumption is made that criticism will be clearer if related to a substantial part of a curriculum rather than extracts from a variety of curricula from a variety of countries. The focus is on the recently developed, and currently …

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 …

Humanistic Mathematics: Personal Evaluation And Excavations, Stephen I. Brown

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Innumeracy And Its Perils, Numeracy And Its Promises, Ramakrishnan Menon

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Water Quality Assessment: A Hands-On Approach To Environmental Education, Tracy Lynn Royse

All Graduate Projects

A water quality assessment lab manual has been created to assist secondary educators using the HACH water quality testing kits. It consists of ten chemical tests, a geological survey and a biological assessment largely based upon Washington State University's lab format and the Walla Walla County Conservation District's water study protocol. The lab manual also contains safety guidelines, a scoring rubric and an action plan research project. The environmental approach to science education used in the lab manual meets the Essential Academic Learning Requirements adopted by the Washington State Commission on Student Learning as well as the National Science Education …

Proposal For An Elemenatry Science Curriculum Outline To Help K-4 Teachers Prepare Students To Take The 5th Grade Science Wasl, Cindy D. Williams

All Graduate Projects

With a statewide pilot of the 5th grade science Washington Assessment of Student Leaming (WASL) in the spring of 2003, all elementary schools were tiying to prepare their students to meet the standards. At this time, the only resources schools had for preparation was a glimpse of the first criterion-referenced assessment, the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs), Grade level Expectations (GLEs) and a "release booklet" of sample items distributed to 5th grade science teachers. Educators knew that the best curriculum built on the previous year's knowledge which spiraled throughout the curriculum. At this time there were no curriculums designed starting …

The Periodic Table Of The Elements, Michael A. Bailey

All Graduate Projects

The blueprint to the world of chemistry is encoded in the periodic table of the elements. This fundamental chart can be found in virtually all science classrooms in the world. The purpose of this project was to design a professional development course focusing on the periodic table of the elements. The target audience is college students working towards teaching science as a career, current teachers looking to enhance their understanding of the table, and resident teachers working towards continuing certification. In order to accomplish this purpose extensive literary research, the Washington State Academic Learning Requirements for science, published science lessons, …

A Model General Science Developmental Writing Skills Curriculum In Alignment With Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Troy L. Halfaday

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design a model general science curriculum, for seventh grade students, for implementation at Ballou Junior High School, Puyallup, Washington. The model curriculum was designed in alignment with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR's). To accomplish this purpose, current research and literature was reviewed. Additionally, related information from authorities was obtained and analyzed.

Robotics Technologies For K-8 Educators: A Semiotic Approach For Instructional Design, Antoinette P. Bruciati

Education Faculty Publications

Robotics engineering courses have provided undergraduate computer science students with opportunities for designing and programming simulations of robotic tasks. In contrast, many teacher preparation programs have lacked courses in this area. Educators who have not gained a conceptual understanding of computer programming may not possess the skills that would have enabled them to successfully integrate robotics technologies into their K-8 curriculum.

Recent technological advances have provided a viable means of approaching this problem. Several icon-orientated robotics technologies have been identified that allow educators to master computer programming concepts through a simplified graphical user interface (GUI) design.

This investigation addressed the …

Examining Students’ Views On The Nature Of Science: Results From Korean 6th, 8th, And 10th Graders, Sukjin Kang, Lawrence C. Scharmann, Taehee Noh

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

In this study, students’ views on the nature of science (NOS) were investigated with the use of a large-scale survey. An empirically derived multiple-choice format questionnaire was administered to 1,702 Korean 6th, 8th, and 10th graders. The questionnaire consisted of five items that respectively examined students’ views on five constructs concerning the NOS: purpose of science, definition of scientific theory, nature of models, tentativeness of scientific theory, and origin of scientific theory. Students were also asked to respond to an accompanying open-ended section for each item in order to collect information about the rationale(s) for their choices. The results indicated …

Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers To Teach With Technology: Getting Past Go In Science And Mathematics, Julie Thomas, Sandi Cooper

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

We are teacher educators (in elementary science and mathematics) who are enthusiastic about technology as a teaching tool—though it is as new to us as it is to our university colleagues. We recently led a United States Department of Education Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) grant project entitled TechLinks. In an effort to encourage peer faculty members to connect methods instruction with current technology initiatives (namely the International Society for Technology Education [ISTE], 2000, and the National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education [NCATE], 1997), TechLinks provided faculty fellowships–$1,000 for equipment and materials and a technology assistant who …

Oliver Ranch Science School Complex & Wild Horse And Burro Facility: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending September 30, 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 …

Integrating Technology To Facilitate Math Instruction In The Elementary Classroom, Terri Schmidt

Graduate Research Papers

Integrating technology throughout the elementary curriculum is a topic that concerns educators. This paper informs educators as to why they should explore the implementation of technology into the math curriculum in the elementary classroom. This paper discusses brain-based learning, how to use brain-based learning techniques as well as the computer to integrate math and the benefits of using the computer in the math classroom throughout the day in the elementary classroom.

Oliver Ranch Science School Complex & Wild Horse And Burro Facility: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending June 30, 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 …

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 …

Problem-Based Learning In A Fourth Grade Gifted And Honors Mathematics Class, Barbara J. Barr

All Graduate Projects

Problem-based learning was used to deliver math instruction on three different occasions. Thirty-two fourth-grade students were involved in the project. The purpose was to investigate students' attitudes towards word problems and the development of their confidence with problem-solving skills by providing differentiation through Problem-based learning. The results showed that the majority of the students perceived themselves as good problem solvers and that math in school was related to real life.

The College Pedro Ii And The Modernization Of The Secondary School Curriculum In Imperial Brazil, Karl M. Lorenz

Education Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Bumble Boosters: Students Doing Real Science, Douglas A. Golick, Diana M. Schlesselman, Marion D. Ellis, David W. Brooks

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bumble Boosters was a lottery grant funded cooperative project between the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Department of Entomology, the Lincoln Public Schools, Science Focus Program, and the Lincoln Folsom Children’s Zoo. The primary education goal of the project was to create a community of learners to conduct authentic research on bumble bees in Nebraska. Participants were actively engaged in collecting bumble bees and placing nesting domiciles. Internet technology was employed to facilitate networking between project participants. Systematic evaluation was conducted during and after the project.