Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Central Auditory System Plasticity: Generalization To Novel Stimuli Following Listening Training, Kelly Tremblay, Nina Krause, Thomas D. Carrell, Therese Mcgee

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Behavioral perceptual abilities and neurophysiologic changes observed after listening training can generalize to other stimuli not used in the training paradigm, thereby demonstrating behavioral ‘‘transfer of learning’’ and plasticity in underlying physiologic processes. Nine normal-hearing monolingual English-speaking adults were trained to identify a prevoiced labial stop sound (one that is not used phonemically in the English language). After training, the subjects were asked to discriminate and identify a prevoiced alveolar stop. Mismatch negativity cortical evoked responses (MMN) were recorded to both labial and alveolar stimuli before and after training. Behavioral performance and MMNs also were evaluated in an age-matched control …

The Availability Of Inferences In Children And Young Adults, Gerilyn A. Katz

Student Work

Much of the research on age-related differences in the ability to inhibit irrelevant information in a given task has been on the study of younger and older adults. Only a minimal amount of research has focused on the developmental differences in children and young adults. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether age-related differences exist between children and young adults in processes consistent with inhibition.

Third-, sixth-grade children, and college undergraduates listened to twenty-four garden path passages containing either expected or unexpected, but acceptable, conclusions. The twenty-four passages were divided into four subsets, with each subset containing …

Helping Students With Attention Deficit Disorder Succeed In A College Mathematics Class, Pamela E. Matthews

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Differences In The Leisure Activities Of Mathematically Advanced Secondary School Students, Mary L. Cornell

Culminating Projects in Special Education

A survey designed to gather information about extracurricular and leisure activities was distributed to 332 tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students between March 30, 1997 and June 1, 1997. Two hundred and ten surveys from the original sample were analyzed by grouping the various activities into eleven activity indices. Each index was then compared statistically using a series of one-way ANOVAs, and Tukey's box plots. Students were also divided into six groups based on their mathematical accomplishments, and their gender.

Statistically significant differences were found for six of the eleven Activity Indices. The Academic Index, Math Index, and Science and …

How Parental Involvement Increases The Academic Performance Of Special Education Students, Esperance St. Louis

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

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Cost Effectiveness Of Maintaining Students With Emotional Disorders In The Public School System, Robert C. Macmillan, Michael Grimes, Bill Filler, Christie Norton, Nancy Cooper, Teresa Gibson

Robert C. MacMillan

This report examines the cost effectiveness of the Marchus School's 599/1261 Project, one of two programs funded by the State of California, that established an inclusive education program for 17 students with serious emotional disturbances at risk for nonpublic school placements. The project teaches academic, social, and conflict resolution skills by using a social cognitive approach that fosters healthy emotional development and academic achievement. The active support and participation of each student's family is also encouraged. "Wrap around services" provided by mental health and other agencies support the classroom staff and include services such as a one-to-one assistant, a mobile …

Case Studies Of High-Ability Students With Learning Disabilities Who Have Achieved, Sally M. Reis, Terry W. Neu, Joan M. Mcguire

Education Faculty Publications

We used qualitative methods to study 12 young people with learning disabilities who were successful at the college level. The participants reported negative school experiences, verified by their parents and school records, such as social problems, difficulty with teachers, and frustration with certain academic areas. The interaction of their high abilities and their learning disabilities produced a number of negative consequences since their talents were not usually addressed by the school system they attended. However, despite these experiences, participants were able to integrate specific personal traits and special compensation strategies and environmental modifications to succeed in a challenging university setting. …

The Enhancement Of Verbalization Skills Of Teenagers With Moderate Mental Retardation Through Augmentative Communication Intervention, Marydee Gaidis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if persons with moderate mental retardation, who have poor verbal skills, can improve the length of verbalizations through the use of a simple augmentative communication device.

Through a three-part study using an experimenter made pretest and posttest, the effectiveness of treatment could be determined, The study included two fifteen-year-old males with Down's Syndrome from a private school for the handicapped. Both subjects had significant difficulty with speech production and showed great weakness in the area of independently requesting services during community-based instruction. Baseline data was collected in the classroom setting. Each subject …

Preparing For Inclusion: An Examination Of The Regular Educator's Readiness To Teach Students With Disabilities, Tinamarie Nicolo

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to examine the readiness of regular educators to accommodate students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms. Determining the quality and effectiveness of school district professional development/inservice programs intended to train regular educators for the challenges of an inclusive classroom was of particular interest. Prior research asserts that the success of inclusion is dependent upon the advanced planning of district personnel and administrators. Researchers assert that in order for the regular education environment to effectively support students with disabilities, teachers must receive effective inservice training and ongoing technical assistance. This study hypothesized that regular classroom teachers do not feel …

How Does Phonemic Awareness Affect Reading Ability With At-Risk Students On The Primary Level, Denise D. Layne

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how phonemic awareness affects reading ability with at-risk students on the primary level. Subjects were from two second grade classes at an elementary school. Phonological activities were provided during 30 minute class periods 5 times each week for 10 weeks. Instruction centered on finding words that rhyme, words with same blends and words with vowel sounds. Subjects completed a pre- and post-test using the Yopp-Singer Test of Phoneme Segmentation. Findings suggest that both groups' scores increased on the post-testing. But the experimental group improved 76.4% greater than the control group.

Are Computers Effective Tools In Teaching Reading Comprehension To Learning Disabled Students?, Nicole C. Rockmacher

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, teaching reading comprehension through the use of computers was tested against the traditional book method of teaching reading comprehension, in which students read in a book and the teacher does oral questioning. To carry out the study, six students with similar reading levels were split into two groups of three. The control group did reading comprehension through the traditional method for six stories. The experimental group worked on reading comprehension in Stories and More on the computer, using the same six stories. The reading comprehension section of the Kauffman Test of Educational Achievement was administered individually to …

The Effect Of Participation In An Instrumental Music Program On Students With Serious Emotional Disturbance, William R. Brody

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an instrumental program on ten seriously emotionally disturbed students ranging in age from ten to eighteen. The study utilized a pretest/posttest with no control group. The pro-ed behavior rating profile second edition (BRP-2) was used as the testing instrument (parent, student and teacher BRP-2 were utilized). No statistically significant differences were found utilizing a T-test. The short duration of this study and the part-time nature of the music department utilized for this study have contributed to the yielding of inconclusive results. Promising recommendations for follow-up study are included.

General And Special Educators' Perceptions Of The Desirability And Feasibility Of Modifications For Students With Mild-Moderate Mental Retardation In The General Education Classroom, Alice E. Mccormick

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this research was to study the perceptions of general and special educators toward the desirability and feasibility of modifications for students with mild-moderate mental retardation in the general education classroom. The subjects were (N = 192) teachers from the elementary, middle, and high school levels of rural public school divisions in south central Virginia. Data were collected through a Likert-type questionnaire developed by Schumm and Vaughn. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 192 surveys mailed, 103 (N = 103) subjects responded. The results indicated there were no statistically significant differences in …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Students With Mild Disabilities, Catrina Danette White

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers viewed one group of mildly disabled students as more difficult to teach than the others. In addition, the study attempted to determine if there were any differences in the views of special education and general education teachers toward students with mild disabilities. Fifty teachers from the South Central area of the state of Virginia were surveyed with a 10-item survey to determine the tendency of the teachers to associate certain characteristics or needs with a particular category (i.e., LD, ED, MR).

Results showed that teachers tended to choose the category …

Homework Practices And Attitudes Of Secondary Students With Learning Disabilities: A Comparison Of Classroom Settings, Melissa E. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to answer the following question: will secondary students who are in self-contained, resource center, or inclusive classrooms improve their homework practices and attitudes after using a self-monitoring activity? It also was the intent of the study to determine if learning-disabled students in different classroom settings improved their homework practices and attitudes at different levels after using a self-monitoring activity.

The subjects of the study were 30 students in grades seven and eight in special education, resource center, or inclusive classrooms in a southern Gloucester County Regional school district. Students responded to the Student Survey …

The Effects Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On Developing Mathematical Problem-Solving Skills, Mary W. Wise

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects computer-assisted instruction has on the mathematical problem-solving skills of students with learning disabilities. A multiple baseline across subjects design was used in this study. Three female students from a rural secondary school participated. Data were collected from fifteen sessions where mathematical problem-solving skills were taught utilizing computer-assisted instruction . Positive results were obtained from all three subjects in the study, though the degree of improvement varied.

Teacher Recognition Of Student Learning Styles, Michelle Wright

Theses & Honors Papers

The ability of teachers in a special education classroom utilizing individualized instruction to recognize students' learning preferences was investigated. Each student's learning style preference was determined by the administration and evaluation of a learning styles inventory. Teachers were asked to respond to a similiar inventory as they felt their students would respond. A Pearson r performed on the results indicated that a relatively strong relationship existed between the responses at the . 10 level of significance .

Assessing Professional Development Needs Of Elementary Teachers Implementing Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities In General Education Classrooms, Patricia D. Burgess

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A descriptive study was conducted to identify authentic professional development needs of elementary teachers preparing, implementing, and maintaining inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classrooms in Northeast Tennessee. The purpose of this study was to contribute information of identified professional development needs of elementary teachers to current research on responsible inclusive education. Data were collected from 325 elementary teachers randomly assigned to the sample using a 65-item survey designed for this study. Three subsections of the survey, Assessing Professional Development Needs of Teachers Implementing Inclusion in Grades PreK-8, assessed the perceived needs of conditions, areas, and foundations …

A Study To Determine The Effects Of Nild Educational Therapy On Standardized Test Results And Classroom Performance, Deborah A. Dower

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if the gains evidenced on standardized tests as a result of intensive intervention using the NILD educational therapy model are reflected in functional classroom performance. Twenty-two students who had been diagnosed as learning disabled and enrolled in the NILD educational therapy program participated in this study. Pre- and post-test measures on standardized tests were compared to determine progress of the students in the NILD program. Report cards were analyzed to determine progress in grade point averages in language and mathematics. In addition, information was gathered through initial test reports and anecdotal records …

Homework Behavior Interventions Used With Learning Disabled Junior High School Students: A Comparative Study, Naomi M. Cressman

Theses and Dissertations

A three phase integrated intervention of study skills and work habits direct instruction, use of a self-monitoring device where all homework information and its completion was recorded, and a modified behavior management using self-selected extrinsic rewards was implemented. The sample for this study was three sixth grade learning disabled students serviced in a resource center. The purpose of this study was to determine which, if any, of these interventions would produce a positive effect in the ability of these students to complete independent tasks. While each of the interventions did bring about an improved homework completion rate, it was determine …

The Prevalence Of Adoption Among Children Diagnosed With Learning Disabilities And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Karma Jo Roach

Theses & Honors Papers

This study investigated the prevalence of adoption among children diagnosed with Learning Disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Parents who were members of the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of a mid­ Atlantic state completed a two-part questionnaire with information about their school aged live-at-home children. A Chi-Square one sample test was used to compute a chi­ square statistic based on the observed frequency in the study and the expected frequency of adoption in the general population. The Chi-Square value was 75.773 (df=l) with a significance level of .0001. This shows a significantly greater than expected prevalence of adoption …

Effects Of Auditory Perceptual Training On Reading Decoding, Jennifer L. Marshall

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this experimental study was to determine the effect of auditory perceptual training on reading decoding skills of adolescent students with learning disabilities. The subjects (N=4) were all being served in a self-contained high school setting. Three of the subjects were male and one was female. The subjects were pre­-tested and post-tested using the Test of Auditory Analysis Skills (TAAS) and word identification and word attack subtests of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test­ Revised(WRMT-R). The data were analyzed using dependent sample t-tests. Significant differences were found on auditory skills (t= -3.66, p<.05), word attack (t=8.3, p<.05) and the basic skills cluster (t=5.14, p<.05). Two limitations of this study were the small number of subjects and duration of the training exercises. Future studies with a larger sample and longer training period are recommended. Another recommendation is to use a single subject method when the sample size is this small.

Effects Of Computer Assisted Instruction And Pclogo Programs On Math Performance Of Seventh And Eighth Grade Students With Learning Disabilities, Katherine R. Sweeny

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of computer assisted instruction and Logo programming on the math performance of seventh and eighth grade students with learning disabilities. The sample included thirty (N=30) subjects with learning disabilities. The computer programs used were Deluxe Math Munchers and LOGO for Windows. A three group pretest-posttest experimental design was used to determine if a relationship existed between the three different methods of instruction and achievement, and whether or not a significant difference existed in performance based on grade levels. The 30 subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups, two …

Using A Constant Tie Delay To Teach Measurement To Middle School Students With Learning Disabilities, Emily S. Lovell

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to teach the parts of an inch in sixteenths, using a constant time delay procedure. Constant time delay is a virtually effortless, or near errorless, instructional process involving the simultaneous delivery of a target stimulus and a controlling prompt for a limited number of trials, followed by trials where the target stimulus is presented, but the controlling prompt is delayed for a constant time period. The study was conducted with 6 sixth-grade students in a self­ contained math class for students with learning disabilities. The subject group contained 5 males and 1 female. Each …

Client Perceptions Of Transition Services From School To Work At An Employment Service Agency In Central Virginia, Christine Head

Theses & Honors Papers

High school student's perceptions of transition services were investigated. Interviews were conducted with seven clients at one employment agency. The subjects had mixed feelings about several different issues regarding transition topics. The present study found that the clients lacked awareness and knowledge of the IEP process and transitioning. The results of this study produced similar findings to previous research .

A Comparative Study Of Perceptions Regarding Assistive Technology Among Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Parents And Teachers Of Elementary Students With Autism, Carolyn Lee Komich

Theses & Honors Papers

Forty subjects were surveyed to determine their perceptions of selection, funding, use and maintenance of assistive technology. The subjects included physical therapists, occupational therapists, parents, and teachers of elementary students with autism . A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. 43% of the questionnaires were returned.

Descriptive statistics and Chi-square (X²) were used to analyze data for this study. Results obtained from the descriptive statistics showed that professionals from various disciplines felt comfortable using and maintaining assistive technology but had not been formally trained to do so. The data also indicated that the respondents …

A Study To Determine Whether Students Using The Sra Spelling Mastery Program Will Learn To Spell More Words As Compared To Students Utilizing The Graham And Freeman Strategy, Brian Shakespeare

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to determine if the use of the SRA Spelling Mastery Program with emotionally disturbed students would increase the amount of words they could spell as compared to similar students who utilized the Graham and Freeman five step study strategy. All the students in the study have been described as having attentional difficulties. After the completion of the placement test, intervention was begun. Intervention consisted of one hundred words selected from the SRA Spelling Mastery Program. Both the SRA and the Graham group had weekly spelling tests consisting of the same ten words. Unit tests …

The Effect Of A Word Processing Program On Secondary Students With Mild Learning Disabilities In Essay Composition As Compared With Essays Produced Using Paper And Pencil, Donna J. Ewing

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of computer based word processing versus paper and pencil in essay composition. This study used a repeated measure and an alternating treatment design to compare student performance in constructing essays under two experimental conditions a.) using a computer based word processor and b.) using paper and pencil. Analysis of error rate and measure for each student indicated varied improvements under the computer condition for composition length, length of sentences, grammatically correct sentences, paragraph development, content area, composing time, misspellings, and grammatical errors. Participants included twenty-five secondary students with mild learning disabilities.

The …

A Survey Of Attitudes Toward The Proposed New Jersey Special Education Administrative Code Revisions, Michael W. Gasky

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the reaction of teachers to five proposals for reforming special education. These proposals include the achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards, inclusion of exceptional students in state and districtwide assessments, child study team revisions, classification changes, notice reduction, and the redefining of consent. A fifteen closed-ended question survey with five Likert-type rating scale optional answers was developed. Seventy-three graduate students in education participated in this study. The categorical data was illustrated through charts, graphs, and crossbreak tables. Survey analysis revealed that 52% supported the policy proposals, 35.9% were in opposition, 11.2% indicated no opinion, and 0.9% …

Regular And Special Education Teachers' Perceptions Regarding Interventions For Improving The Behavior Of Students With Emotional Disturbances, Sandra M. Samek

Theses & Honors Papers

One of the purposes of this study was to investigate the perceptions of regular and special education teachers toward behavioral interventions and psychopharmacology for students with emotional disturbances . Another purpose was to investigate which interventions were considered the most effective and least effective in the teachers' classroom . The subjects of this study included regular and special education teachers from four school divisions in central Virginia. One hundred thirty seven (N=137) of the 250 surveys sent out were returned. A self-developed questionnaire, using a five point Likert scale for Part II and open-ended questions for Part III, was used …