Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Effects Of Differentiating Instruction Through Tiered Lessons In Special Education Secondary Mathematics, Katlyn Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of differentiating instructing through tiered lessons to see if it would improve students' success in high school special education classes. The study was done in two Algebra II secondary special education classrooms including 17 students in total. There were 5 females and 12 males, all students were juniors in high school and aged 16 or 17 years old. All of the students were classified as either specific learning disabilities, other health impaired, or multiple disabilities including anxiety and depression. The students were enrolled in resources classes for all of their major academic subjects and inclusive …

The Effectiveness Of A Digital Ipad Curriculum In The Classroom, Erin Marie Warantz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if utilizing a digital iPad curriculum increases academic achievement in students in a middle school inclusive mathematics classroom. Twenty eighth-grade students participated in the study. The research was conducted using a group design methodology. Ten students in the experimental group used the digital iPad curriculum throughout instruction. The remaining ten students in the control group used traditional paper materials. A baseline was found prior to instruction using pre-tests. While the instruction was the same for all students, the methods of note-taking, practice of skills, and assignment completion and submission varied between the …

Effects Of Using Google Classroom On Teaching Math Students With Learning Disabilities, Margaret Cacace

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Google Classroom on the outcomes of students with learning disabilities in the mathematics classroom. Specifically, the study evaluated students' organizational skills, student achievement, and student satisfaction. The study included 7 high school students, 4 males and 3 females, in an Algebra 2 resource class. A single-subject ABAB design was used. During the baseline phases, students received Algebra 2 instruction as usual. During the intervention, Google Classroom was implemented to assign, complete, and manage all assignments. Homework and classwork assignments were used to measure student organization while quiz and test …

An Exploratory Investigation Of The Effect Of Reading Strategies On Science Assessment Scores, Suzanne K. Lynch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of literacy strategies in a content area improves a summative assessment score. All of the students in this research had Individual Education Plans. Most of the students have specific learning disabilities that include reading comprehension, reading fluency, basic reading skills, and inferencing skills. Both pre-reading and during reading strategies were used for the study. Students were exposed to the use of graphic organizers and close reading strategies on given topics. Data gathered from the experiment showed that the use of a graphic organizer in addition to notes and labs …

The Effectiveness Of Google Classroom In The Self-Contained Chemistry Classroom, Steven J. Gross

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory investigation was to ascertain the effectiveness of Google Classroom in the self-contained Chemistry classroom in terms of student turning in of assignments, student performance on summative assessment, student satisfaction with the use of Google Classroom, student contribution to class discussion in terms of frequency and quality, and the student acceptance of Google Classroom as a system of technology. Results suggest increased growth on summative assessments, turning in of assignments, and less regression in turning in of assignments with the implementation and use of Google Classroom. Results also suggest that the student population performs better through …

Cooperative Grouping In The Inclusive Stem Classroom, Catherine M. Elsey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if using cooperative group role assignments impacted on-task behavior in an inclusive STEM classroom. This study investigated if students were positively engaged, remained on-task, and completed STEM challenges with their group. There were two 5th grade classes, each with sixteen participants, involved in the study. In the experimental class, students had role assignments in their cooperative group of four members. The other class, was a control group, and students did not have role assignments in their group of four members. Data was collected through observation procedures of on-task and off-task behaviors for …

The Effectiveness Of The Question Formulation Technique On Open-Ended, Written Response Questions In Mathematics, Jessica M. Mannion

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) on students' open-ended, written response questions in mathematics in a 4th grade inclusion classroom. Four students, three male and one female, participated in the study. All students were classified with specific learning disabilities (SLD) or other health impaired (OHI). Experimental research design was used. A baseline was collected using students previous written response scores.

The QFT was implemented over the course of three math chapters. Students were assessed after each chapter with three open-ended, written response problems. The results show that each students average …

The Effectiveness Of Growth Mindset Strategies On Off-Task Time In A Special Education Mathematics Classroom, Alisa Marie Ialacci

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of growth mindset strategies on off-task time and attitude in a special education classroom. This research was done using a two-group pretest-posttest design where students with IEPs will be compared to those who do not have IEPs. Student on-task time was monitored prior to the intervention to give a pre-assessment of each student's off-task time. During the intervention, the students' behaviors were observed for signs of improvement. Growth mindset strategies were implemented during each class as needed for improving the overall mood. Overall the results showed a decrease in off-task …

Effects Of Online Program Vs. Handheld Flashcards On Multiplication And Division Fact Knowledge Of 4th Grade Learners With Exceptional Needs, Lindsay M. Siegman

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a time series design to investigate the effects of a computer-based math fact program called Xtramath.org vs. the use of traditional handheld flashcards. Students were given a baseline assessment before beginning the school district's method for learning basic math facts: Xtramath.org. They were tested again after 6 weeks and then began to use traditional handheld flashcards. Students were tested again to compare the results. Eight 4th grade students (5 male and 3 female) with special needs were included in this study. These students attend school in a wealthy, suburban area with a predominantly white population.

Fluency in …

The Effect Of Cross Age Tutoring On Math Fact Automaticity Using Students With Disabilities As Tutors, Wendy L. Krayer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the math fact knowledge and recall of students with disabilities improved when they acted as tutors in cross-age tutoring situations. I hypothesized that students with disabilities would exhibit increased recall, improved engagement and enhanced self-concept when they took on the role of expert. All the participants in our study were special education students with Individualized Education Plans and met for 15 three-minute tutoring sessions. The tutor and tutee did not change roles. Addition fact cards were presented and tutees were given a pre-determined amount of time to answer. All participants were …

Using Graphic Organizers To Improve Science Outcomes, Deana Lynn Elwood

Theses and Dissertations

This study looked at the outcome of using graphic organizers to improve student outcomes in the content area of science for students with special needs in an inclusion class in a high school in New Jersey. In total, there were five participants in this study who were all eligible for special education services. Of the five students in the study, four are under the category Other Health Impaired, and one student is autistic. All participants were demonstrating grade level performance as determined by their baseline data collection.

The data from the study illustrated that all five of the participants demonstrated …

The Effect Of Imagine Math On High School Students With Learning Disabilities, Danielle Cabassa

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to: (a) examine the effectiveness of Imagine Math in increasing the engagement of students in a high school resource Algebra 2 classroom, (b) examine the effectiveness of Imagine Math in increasing the academic achievement of students in a high school resource Algebra 2 classroom, and (c) determine if students in a high school resource Algebra 2 classroom are satisfied with the use of Imagine Math. The research was conducted using single-subject design methodology. The study followed an ABAB alternating baseline pattern. Academic achievement was monitored through daily assessments, while engagements was evaluated in three …

Effects Of Universal Design For Learning Math Menus On Seventh Grade Students, Mona L. Mauro

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to: (a) examine the effectiveness of UDL math menus in increasing the academic engagement of seventh grade students with disabilities, (b) examine the effectiveness of UDL math menus in increasing the academic achievement of seventh grade students with disabilities, and (c) determine if seventh grade students with disabilities are satisfied with the use of UDL math menus. The research was conducted using single-subject design methodology. The study followed an ABAB alternating baseline pattern. Student academic achievement was evaluated through daily assessments, while student engagement was evaluated five times per class, approximately every fifteen minutes …

The Effects Of Using A Whiteboard Interactively In A Middle School Mathematics Classroom, Joshua H. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to further examine the effects of using Interactive White Boards interactively versus as a glorified whiteboard. The experimental group consisted of seven eighth grade general education students and six eighth grade special education students. The experimental group was taught with lessons created to promote interactivity and student involvement and covered the five lessons in a unit on three-dimensional geometry. Baseline data was collected by using the mean of the students' recent test scores. The post-test was then compared to the students' baseline scores to show the effectiveness of the intervention. To further data analysis, …

The Effects Of Interactive Word Walls On Students With Learning Disabilities In The Secondary Science Classroom, Casey Elizabeth Eustace-Debaun

Theses and Dissertations

Effective approaches for teaching vocabulary to various populations of learners is a topic of current research (Barr, Eslami, & Malatesha, 2012) yet little research is dedicated to students with learning disabilities in the science classroom. Within this study the interactive word wall was used as a tool to build vocabulary and to encourage usage of new subject-specific terminology. The experiment utilized quasi-experimental pre-post test comparison group design using interrupted time-series (Johnson & Christiensen, 2007) due to the inability to randomize participants and establish a clear control group. The data was collected across four units of terminology and with a student …

The Effectiveness Of The Flipped Classroom For Students With Learning Disabilities In An Algebra I Resource Setting, Ashley Butterick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was: (a) to examine the effectiveness of using the flipped classroom model to improve the academic scores of students with a specific learning disabilities (SLD), (b) to examine the effectiveness of using the flipped classroom to improve rates of homework completion by students with a SLD and (c) to evaluate student satisfaction and perception of the flipped classroom intervention. Five high school students, four males and one female, with a SLD participated in the study. A single subject ABAB design was used. During the baseline phases, students received Algebra I instruction through a traditional classroom …

The Effects Of The Online Game Kahoot On Science Vocabulary Acquisition, Joseph Pede

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the online game Kahoot on science vocabulary acquisition of students with learning disabilities in a middle school inclusion physical science classroom. Specifically, this study investigated (a) student science vocabulary acquisition, (b) student focus and on task behavior, and (c) student satisfaction using the online game Kahoot. Vocabulary acquisition was measured in terms of weekly vocabulary assessments. Six middle school students, three males and three females, participated in this study. A single subject design with ABAB phases was utilized. Results show that all students increased their vocabulary assessment scores when …

The Effect Of The Video Game Quizlet On The Acquisition Of Science Vocabulary For Children With Learning Disabilities, Kelsey Claire Donovan

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were (a) to determine if using the video learning game Quizlet in a middle school resource classroom increases science vocabulary acquisition of students with learning disabilities, (b) to determine if using the video learning game Quizlet in a middle school resource classroom increases the student engagement/on-task behavior of students with learning disabilities, and (c) to evaluate student comfort and satisfaction in using the video learning game Quizlet in a middle school resource classroom. Six middle school students, three female and three male participated in the study. A single subject design with ABAB phases was utilized …

Effects Of Implementation Of The Next Generation Science Standards On The Math Performance Of 5th Grade Students With Adhd, Robert Zimmer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to implement two components of the Next Generation Science Standards, gathering and reasoning, into the 5th grade math curriculum for students diagnosed with ADHD. Each student completed a 21st Century pre-assessment created by the My Math Text book (McGraw Hill, 2011) and modified by the instructor. This assessment contained 10 questions that were a culmination of the concepts that were covered in the upcoming chapter. A total of 8 students participated in the study. Of these, 4 were taught with the components of gathering and reasoning, while the rest of the 4 were involved …

The Effects Of Computer Games On The Mastery Of Multiplication Facts For Students With Exceptional Learning Needs, Kristy Peters

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of multiplication computer games on mastering multiplication facts for students with exceptional learning needs. Three students will be participating in this research study. There is one male student and two female students, in Grades 3 and 4. Each of the three students has an individualized education plan (IEP) and receives three hours of instruction outside the regular classroom in a resource room setting. Two of the students have been identified as having Specific Learning Disabilities and one as having multiple disabilities. The students were selected for the study due to …

Developing Conceptual Understanding And Procedural Fluency In Algebra For High School Students With Intellectual Disability, Andrew J. Wojcik

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching students with Intellectual Disability (ID) is a relatively new endeavor. Beginning in 2001 with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, the general education curriculum integrated algebra across the K-12 curriculum (Kendall, 2011; National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010), and expansion of the curriculum included five intertwined skills (productive disposition, procedural fluency, strategic competence, adaptive reasoning, and conceptual understanding) (Kilpatrick, Swafford, & Findell, 2001). Researchers are just beginning to explore the potential of students with ID with algebra (Browder, Spooner, Ahlgrim-Delzell, Harris & Wakeman, 2008; Creech-Galloway, Collins, Knight, …

Closing The Achievement Gap In Mathematics For Students With Learning Disabilities Utilizing The Resource Room As An Intervention, Esta H. Brownstein

Theses and Dissertations

Students with learning disabilities are placed in general education classrooms in increasing numbers. Many of these students receive additional services in Resource Room programs taught by a special education teacher. The intent of this study was to determine if students with disabilities, who were struggling in mathematics, increased achievement utilizing Resource Room instruction as an intervention. Students in the study were in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades and performed at least one grade level below expectations for that grade in mathematics. All of the students had a specific learning disability. This study investigated the correlation, if any, between the amounts …

Understanding How Students With Learning Disabilities From An Urban Environment Experience Nature-Based Informal Learning, Thor Antonio Stolen

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that there is an achievement gap with students of color in the urban environment and their White non-urban peers (Norman, Ault, Bentz, & Meskimen, 2001; National Research Council, 2012) additionally an achievement gaps exists between students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers (National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2011). The demand for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) preparation is growing and more students need to be prepared in school for STEM careers (Carlson, 1997). The didactic traditional style of teacher led text book reading has proven unsuccessful for large groups of urban youths and students with disabilities …

Effectiveness Of 1:1 Technology In The Science Classroom, Courtney Tara Weiss

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were: (a) to determine if using e-text technology in a middle school resource science classroom increases student academic performance, (b) to determine if using e-text technology in a middle school science resource classroom increases student engagement/on-task behavior, and (c) to evaluate student comfort and satisfaction in using an electronic textbook or print textbook in a middle school resource science classroom. Ten middle school students, four in grade 7 and six in grade 8 participated in the study using the Discovery Education Science Techbook and the AGS General Science series. A single subject design with ABABA …

Comparing Math Fluency And Automaticity Using Explicit Timing With Students With Disabilities, Andrew Ehala

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the mathematical fluency performance of a group of students with various learning disabilities in an eighth grade classroom by implementing and intervention intensification program that incorporates an explicit timing model. Students demonstrated a wide range of progression with their mathematical fluency with all students showing progress from the start of the study to the conclusion. Analysis of the data determined that students fluency levels increased at a faster rate when provided with a consistent intensive regime of math computational facts. Implications for teaching students with disabilities mathematical fluency are discussed.

Do Formative Assessment Strategies Help Learners With Academic Difficulties?, Dana King

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not formative assessment strategies enhance the educational learning experience for lower level learners in a mathematics classroom setting. The selected students are supported by a Basic Skills teacher and perform below grade level. The FA group, Formative Assessment group, was given two variations of Formative Assessments to use each day. The IAL group, Instruction as Usual group, continued as is. The formative assessment strategies used were mini white boards and a mathematical graphic organizer allowing the students to determine the problem, question being asked, information provided, which operation to choose, …

The Effects Of Cognitive Strategies Paired With Hands-On Or Virtual Manipulatives On Math Instruction For Students With Mathematical Learning Disabilities To Learn Word Problem Solving Skills, Kimberly Plute

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using cognitive strategies with hands-on manipulatives, and cognitive strategies with virtual manipulatives to enhance problem solving skills of students with Mathematical Learning Disabilities (MLD), as well as their satisfaction with those strategies. Five, 5th graders with MLD participated in the study to learn word problem solving skills in a math class for 80 minutes, 5 days a week for 10 weeks. A single subject research design with ABC phases was used in the study. Results showed each student gained from 3.6 to 5.2 mean points of the weekly quizzes …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Two Verbal Problem Solving Strategies: Solve It! And Cubes, Margaret Tibbitt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to find which problem solving strategy was more effective for special education students in the general education classroom; CUBES or Solve It! The students completed a pre-test, solving five single step and five multi-step word problems. The students then received four instructional and activity sessions on the CUBES and Solve It! strategies. The results indicated that the six fourth grade special education participants increased their problem solving skills after using each strategy. The Solve It! strategy resulted in a larger increase then the CUBES strategy. The students showed a slightly larger decrease in the …

The Effects Of Using The Gomath Program On Teaching Computation Skills For Students With Learning Disabilities, Patricia Virginia Giordano

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects on teaching math computation skills to students with learning disabilities (LD) using the GoMath program and to examine the teachers’ and students’ satisfaction with this program in their teaching and learning. Four, 3rd and 4th graders with LD were taught by one special education teacher in a resource room and participated in learning computation skills for 60 minutes, 5 days per week for 12 weeks, using the Go Math program. A multiple baseline research design with A B phases across students was used to evaluate their performance. The findings indicated …

The Effects Of The Ride Strategy On Teaching Word Problem Solving Skills To Students With Learning Disabilities, Sandra Kay Locke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the RIDE, a mnemonic device on solving word problems for middle school students with Learning Disabilities and to examine the teacher and student satisfaction in teaching and learning using RIDE to solve word problems. Two male 8th graders participated in this study. They were both classified as having learning disabilities and were learning mathematics at a 3rd grade level. A single subject design with ABC phases was used in this study. During the baseline, the students were given a quiz with 5 word problems each day for ten …