Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Demo: Wearable Application To Manage Problem Behavior In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Camellia Zakaria, Richard C. Davis

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Managing problem behaviors in children with neurodevelopmental disorders can be challenging. Such behaviors may discourage social participation and learning. Many of these behaviors warrant intervention, however, are challenging for caregivers to constantly supervise. Previous work focused on developing recognition systems for stereotypical and aggressive behaviors. Researchers also developed visualization interface for caregivers to better understand their child’s needs. Our goal however, is to design an independent behavior management application to help children manage problem behaviors with minimal supervision.We conducted a field study at a school for children with special needs in Singapore, and interviewed ten teachers. This study helped us …

Training Paraprofessionals For Enhanced Iep Goal Achievement In Special Education, Mark P. Mclain

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

This research study involved training paraprofessionals in one special education classroom to implement student IEP in a variety of different settings. Three paraprofessionals participated in this training and with the assistance of the researcher, they determined if the current program at the school site was effective, what some of the reasons were for students not achieving a higher rate of IEP goal success, and if the implementation of a new pilot program helped students become more successful in achieving their IEP goals and benchmarks during a nine-week research period. Through research conducted on the history of paraprofessionals in classrooms and …

Effects Of Professional Development On Co-Teaching On 5th Grade Students With Exceptional Learning Needs, Wade J. Chilmonik

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of professional development in co-teaching to see if it can improve teaching relationships and the classroom achievement of 5th grade students with exceptional learning needs. This study included eight educators with experience levels from two to thirty five years. All of the educators in the study were teachers of students with and without disabilities who worked in co-teaching classrooms in the middle school subject areas of language arts, social studies, math and science. The participants consisted of 6 white females and 2 white males, ages 26-62. There were ten middle school students that also participated …

An Examination Of School Readiness: How Is The Construct Defined For Children Who Are Blind?, Lisa Joann Mcconachie

Dissertations and Theses

An increased focus on school readiness exists as students enter public school for the first time. Given unique challenges for students who are blind and use braille, school readiness in the transition to and preparation for kindergarten is even more critical to their future academic success. If children who are blind and use braille as their primary learning medium have the necessary school readiness skills entering kindergarten, they will be better prepared to participate in the academic classroom. There is a need for additional research to illuminate the skills needed for school readiness for children who are blind and use …

Seeking Independent Management Of Problem Behavior: A Proof-Of-Concept Study With Children And Their Teachers, Camellia Zakaria, Richard C. Davis, Zachary Walker

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Problem behaviors are particularly common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism and Down syndrome. These behaviors sometimes discourage social inclusion, inhibit learning development, and cause severe injuries, but caregivers are often unable to attend to their children immediately when the behaviors occur. Recent research shows that problem behavior can be automatically detected with wearable devices, but it is still not clear how to reduce caregivers' burdens and facilitate academic, social, and functional development of children with problem behaviors. We conducted a field study at a school with 21 children who exhibit problem behaviors and found that they needed frequent …

The Preparation And Self-Efficacy Of Teachers Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disabilities, Claire F. Higgins

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Inadequate preparation, combined with challenging work conditions, contribute to the shortage of skilled special educators in the United States (Levenson, 2011). Because teacher quality is linked to student achievement (Darling-Hammond, 2001), the discrepancy in access to qualified teachers has remained a serious issue, particularly for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD), whose intensive needs present great obstacles to learning. Although the research identifies strong content knowledge and social emotional competence as critical skills for educators (Bridgeland, Bruce, & Hariharan, 2012; Shulman, 1986), current standards for licensure (as they apply to EBD teachers) largely overlook these attributes (Massachusetts Department of …

Comparing Video Modeling To Discrete Trial Teaching For Teaching Daily Living Skills, Nicole Angelina Gubernick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the effectiveness of implementing video modeling to teach daily living skills to a fifteen year old boy who is diagnosed with autism. This was a single subject, repeated measures research design with the repeated measures being teeth brushing, making a sandwich, and doing the dishes. The daily living skills chosen were based upon a rating scale administered to the parents. Baseline data was collected for the three daily living skill tasks using task analysis probing. Once baseline data was collected, discrete trial teaching with implanted. Data was collected and the level of …

The Construct Definition Of An English Language Teachers’ Content Knowledge, Reza Khani, Anna Hajizadeh

The Qualitative Report

Regardless of the increasing emphasis on the importance of language teachers’ content knowledge, there is a lack of consensus regarding its constituents. To this end, a panel of experts and non-experts were requested to express their opinions regarding the constructs of content knowledge (CK) in the format of an open-ended written questionnaire. The findings indicate that teachers’ CK includes eleven categories: teaching skills, structures, method and approaches, curriculum, language acquisition theories, classroom context, language testing theories, learner related knowledge, ELT research methods, and teacher related knowledge. The findings can help training educated teachers to be familiar with various aspects of …

A Discrit Narrative Case Study: How Are The Cards Stacked In Alternative School For African American Students With Disabilities?, Cherry Stanard

Doctor of Education in Special Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative narrative case study is to develop a better understanding of how African American students with disabilities in alternative schools make sense of their educational journeys. Critical race theory and disability studies (DisCrit) is used as a framework for the investigation of (a) the process of being identified as a student with disabilities and (b) behavioral factors associated with placement in the alternative school environment, and (c) how students develop characteristics of resiliency in the alternative school environment. Five African American students with disabilities who were currently attending or who had previously attended alternative school were …

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 …

Revising The Myth Of Normal: Creating A Sustainable Secondary Academic Curriculum Predicated On Learning Diversity, Sara M. Kaplan

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

In recent years, a paradigm of neurodiversity has emerged in secondary schooling that functions as a framework to meet the needs of all types of learners. Accordingly, as our understanding of students who learn differently shifts, we must consider and evaluate pedagogical overhauls that aim to meet the needs of all learners. This synthesis details my experience as a young, fairly inexperienced administrator who has entered into a newworkplace environment and devised a curricular framework with the intention of supporting students with learning differences to become constructive and reflective agents of their own learning. In this narrative, the reader will …

Creating Order Out Of The Chaos Of Differentiated Lesson Planning For The Novice Teacher Candidate, J. Dusteen Knotts Ph.D.

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Current classroom settings are more diverse than ever before. Preservice teacher candidates must learn the principles of differentiation and how to apply them to lesson preparation. Lesson planning is multi-faceted and this paper offers an integral tool to promote differentiated lesson planning to the novice teacher. These principles are presented in a concise, foundational chart aligning the components with Blooms Cognitive Taxonomy, classroom activities, assessment, scoring guides, and student grouping. Understanding of these aligned concepts sets the foundation to facilitate differentiated lesson planning.

Examining The Influence Of Self-Determination Theory Components With Students Of Varying Cognitive Abilities, Antonia Szymanski

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This study sought to explore difference in the influences of components of Self-Determination Theory between students of average and high academic ability. Differences were examined using correlational comparisons, t-tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). As expected, students with high academic ability reported high perceptions of competence. Although other mean differences were not significant, relationships between the variables showed interesting results. Significant correlational differences were found between the relationships of Perceived Competence and Teacher Control, Intrinsic Motivation, and Boredom. Teacher Control also had significantly different relationships with students’ engagement between the two groups. The study adds to the understanding of Self-Determination …

Student Teachers’ Experiences With A Preparation-To-Practice Gap In Reading Instruction: A Preliminary Exploration And Implications For Teacher Preparation Faculty, Brooke Blanks

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Abstract

Teacher educators and practitioners can agree that there are differences between knowing something in theory and knowing how to do something in a real classroom. This qualitative inquiry is anchored in evidence-based reading instruction as described by the National Reading Panel (2000) which emphasizes systematic, explicit instructional and teaching enhancements to support diverse students’ learning in multi-tier general educational classrooms. Specifically, this study investigated how student teachers applied their knowledge of research based reading methods in general education classrooms during their capstone field experience at the end of their undergraduate program, hereafter called student teaching.

Perceptions Of Eighth Grade State Writing Assessment At A Nationally Recognized Middle School, Jillian M. Quandt

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

This study seeks to understand how one at-risk middle school in Nebraska is consistently beating eighth grade Nebraska State Writing Assessment (NESA-W) averages. The school has significant populations of Hispanic, special education, and low-income students. The study answers the following two research questions. What strategies does the at-risk school utilize to enable its students to exceed the Nebraska average on the NESA-W? What attitudes do the school’s writing teachers, administrators, students, and their parents hold about the NESA-W? Students and their parents answered a multiple-choice survey; teachers and administrators answered a longer, open-ended survey. The researcher used a combination of …

Conceptual Model-Based Problem Solving: A Response To Intervention Program In Mathematics Problem Solving (Comps-Rti), Yan Ping Xin, Victor Chen, Signe E. Kastberg

Purdue P-12 Networking Summit & Poster Session

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Inquiry-Based Instruction On Science Achievement For Students With Disabilities: An Analysis Of The Literature, Karen L. Rizzo, Jonte C. Taylor

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

In comparison to the past, more students with disabilities are being included in the general education classroom for science instruction. Though inquiry-based instruction has not shown to be an effective practice for students with disabilities, it is vastly becoming the dominant practice in science education. The purpose of this review is to examine the effects of inquiry-based instruction on science achievement for students with disabilities. The twelve studies, meeting selection criteria, report improvement in science achievement using inquiry practices. The participants and settings, variations of inquiry-based instruction, science achievement measures, and teacher training were addressed in this review. Two major …

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 …

Effects Of A Self-Advocacy Intervention On The Ability Of High School Students With High Incidence Disabilities To Advocate For Academic Accommodations, Nancy J. Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

One factor that may contribute to the success of students with disabilities in postsecondary educational settings may be their ability to advocate for academic accommodations (Garrison-Wade, 2012; Getzel & Thoma, 2008). By incorporating self-determination practices into the curriculum and transition process during high school, students with disabilities may acquire the self-advocacy skills to be successful in postsecondary settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-advocacy intervention on the ability of five high school students with high incidence disabilities to request academic accommodations in a high school general education course. Specifically, this study was a …

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 …

Affects Of Extracurricular Activities On Youth In The Asd Population, Kristina Munyon

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) lack the understanding of appropriate communication and social skills. Considerable research has proven that extracurricular activities boost numerous positive effects academically, emotionally, and behaviorally. Given that participating in extracurricular activities provide such outstanding benefits to overall quality of life, it is important to understand the opportunities presented to youth with ASD. Research suggests that poorer school districts who suffer budget cuts have been forced to reduce funding for extracurricular activities. Furthermore, more affluent school districts are able to seek extracurricular activities through private resources, in addition to their already plentiful selection of programs. This …

The Effects Of Using Direct Instruction And Computer-Assisted Instruction On Teaching Decoding Skills To Elementary Students With Learning Disabilities, Jessica Lauren Schramm

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study are to examine the effect of the Project Read program in teaching decoding skills to students with learning disabilities, and evaluate the effects of the supplemental computer program, Explode the Code. Three second grade students with learning disabilities participated in this study. Both interventions were administered to each student, at different times, during the school day. Project Read was administered followed by 15-20 minutes of Explode the Code. A multiple baseline research design across students with A B phases was used in this study. The results of the current study showed significant growth in the …

Social Positioning: Positioning Adults With Severe And Multiple Disabilities And Complex Communication Needs For Social Interaction, Dena Bonnike

Theses and Dissertations

This single subject multiple probe study across dyads investigated the effects of social positioning on the nonsymbolic and symbolic communication of adult peers with severe and multiple disabilities and complex communication needs (SMD-CCN) when they were out of their wheelchairs. Social positioning referred to the positioning of adults with SMD-CCN in proximity and facing one another (no more than three ft apart) with access to speech generating devices (SGDs) with appropriate messages for communicating and socializing with peers. Videotapes of the adults were analyzed to collect event recording data of their nonsymbolic (eye gaze, reaching, and vocalization) and symbolic (SGD …

Adopting Universal Design In Libraries: Collaborating For Student Success, Stefanie Havelka, Rebecca Arzola

Publications and Research

Faculty grapple with resources such as skill (experience with accessible features and devices), time (teaching students how to navigate software and devices in the library), and expense (software, hardware, eBooks, databases). This presentation will provide an overview of accessible features in library research databases, computer technology, mobile devices, and apps. The presenters will report on their collaboration with Lehman College’s Access and Technology Center (ATC) and Student Disability Services to share how to better approach issues and challenges in order to more successfully support students’ access needs. We will also consider the following questions:

• As librarians and faculty, how can …

Using Systematic Instruction To Teach Science To Students With Severe Disabilities, Anna E. Greene

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Science content is still a commonly over-looked academic content area for students with severe disabilities despite recent research. The purpose of this study was to show that students with severe disabilities can learn science content in a whole group setting when taught using applied behavior analytic principles, such as prompting and fading techniques. Four elementary-aged students with severe disabilities between 1^st and 5^th grade were taught science content using group lessons and effects were measured by a multiple baseline design across units. Participants were taught content from three different units: Energy, weather, and plants; the science content selected …

Analysis Of African American And White American Cognitive Profiles For Language And Cultural Influences, Nicole Jones

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Abstract

One of the most concerning aspects of special education is the overrepresentation of African American minority youth receiving special education services. Samuel Ortiz and colleagues considered the issue of the representation of the Latino, English Language Learner (ELL) population in special education services based on cognitive performance in relation to the mainstream population. To target this concern they determined an estimated level of expected cognitive performance of ELL’s and impact of language and cultural differences to help eligibility teams more appropriately interpret and place students with the aid of the Culture-Language Interpretive Matrix (C-LIM) model they developed. The current …

The Evaluation Of Family-School Collaboration With Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families, Samantha Silver

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Research has demonstrated that when parents are involved in their children’s academic and school life, children experience improved language achievement, overall behavior, grades, test scores, have improved attendance, and a lower chance of dropping out of school (Friend and Cook, 2007). Despite the growing diversity of U.S. schools, there is a still a systemic lack of effort to include parents of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This research study sought to examine barriers to establishing a successful collaborative relationship with these families from the perspective of elementary, middle, and high school teachers using an online survey. A total of 39 …

Elementary General Education Teachers' Perspectives Towards The Inclusion Of Students With Emotional Disturbances, Leona E. O'Dear

Theses and Dissertations

Inclusion of students with emotional disturbances (ED) is encouraged nationally through litigation and legislation. Despite this fact, 38.1% of the students with ED spend less than 40% of their day in a regular education classroom due to several barriers. Research has demonstrated that one of the barriers to inclusion exists in general education teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of students with disabilities. The purpose of this research study was to use a qualitative design to study the perspectives of general education teachers at the elementary level in an urban Illinois school district towards the phenomenon of the inclusion of students …

Inclusive Settings: Rti In The General Education Classroom, Brittany Graves

Honors Projects

The premise of this study was derived upon seeing a severe need for professional development in my current field work experience. I set out to determine a possible solution to the lack of cohesion among general and special educators evident in my local school district. This small town rural school is looking to expand RTI, and intervention technique, to decrease gaps in education for at risk students. With issues of cohesion and professional development evident, I collected and analyzed data in order to determine a way the school district can still incorporate and expand their Response to Intervention (RTI) practices. …

Parent-Implemented Intervention Using An Ipad To Enhance Expressive Language In Young Children, Yvette Renee Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Early childhood special educators face many challenges teaching young children with expressive language delays. One of those challenges is teaching parents effective strategies to address the expressive language delays in the home setting. The purpose of this multiple probe single-subject design study was to provide a systematic approach that included the use of mobile technology for parents to promote their child’s expressive language development. To accomplish this goal, a four-week intervention implementing the Joint Attention Mediated Learning-Focus on Verbal Expression with Technology (JAML-FVET) strategy across four families was conducted. The researcher provided the intervention while training the parent. Specifically, the …