Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Can Science Methods Really Be Taught On-Line?, W. M. Frazier

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

In this paper, the process in which both project-based curriculum strategies and Blackboard web-based technology were utilized to develop on-line methods courses to prepare science teachers is described. A discussion of the curriculum design process includes a rationale for using project-based instruction in methods courses, along with a rationale for using Blackboard, a web-based technology, as the environment for the course. The course‘s potential for creating highly qualified science teachers as defined by the No Child Left Behind legislation of 2001 and the National Science Teacher Association‘s Standards for Science Teacher Preparation will be explored [1].

History Of A Problem Solving Course For Pre-Service K-8 Teachers, J. Fitzgerald

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

James Madison University's mathematics course in problem solving for prospective K-8 teachers has gone through many changes since we introduced it as a course for prospective middle school teachers four years ago. This paper will discuss the original design of the course, the changes made and their reasons, and the current state of the course.

First Steps Toward Change In Teacher Preparation For Elementary Science, C. Klevickis, R. Kolvoord, M. Handley, K. Giovanetti, D. Peterson, T. Daughtrey, S. Fairchild

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

Unless introductory undergraduate science classes for prospective elementary teachers actively incorporate the philosophy of inquiry-based learning called for in K-l2 science education refom little will change in elementary science education. Thus, at James Madison University, we have developed a new integrated science core curriculum called Understanding our World [1]. This course sequence was not only designed to fulfill general education science requirements. but also to focus on content areas our students will need to know as teachers. The objectives of these courses are based on the National Science Education Standards and Virginia’s Science Standards of Learning, including earth and space …

Hands-On Physical Science For In-Service Teachers, J. Mcdonnough, S. Mckelvey, A. Baski, D. Lewis

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The initiation of the Virginia Commonwealth University B.S. in Science program was reported in this journal Fall 1999 as a program designed to meet the academic content major of a teacher preparation program for elementary and middle school mathematics and science teachers [1]. This paper reports the current status of the interdisciplinary B.S. in Science degree program including program enrollment data and trends. Also described are refinements in the required curriculum, which include a newly developed geometry, a mathematical computing course, and an emerging teaching technology course featuring graphing calculators, CBLs, and computer software applications.

Helping Provisionally Licensed Middle School Science Teachers, J. J. Matkins, D. R. Sterling, A. Kitsantas

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The New Science Teachers' Support Network is a National Science Foundation-funded project that provides a multifaceted support system to provisionally licensed middle and high school science teachers.The teachers in this project were all hired to teach science, and had science degrees, but had little or no education coursework or background. Research is being conducted on the effectiveness of the support system we employed for these teachers, particularly on the factors that characterize the practice of new teachers, and on factors that lead to teacher success and teacher retention. In this paper, we describe the design of the study and the …

Aligning Mathematics Curriculum To Create Potential For Active Learning In Pre-K Through Eighth Grade Teacher Education, G. E. Parker

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

In this paper, we consider some issues surrounding the teaching of mathematics to pre-service teachers. In particular. we look at the possibilities for teaching elementary mathematics from an advanced standpoint and alignments of curriculum that have the capacity to enhance student involvement in the making of the mathematics.The particulars of the James Madison University curriculum are used to illustrate many of the points.

Rapporteur's Report, W. E. Haver

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

Reaching Deep In Math (Developing Educational Excellence And Proficiency In Mathematics), R. D. Anderson

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This paper describes the DEEP in Math Program developed in the academic year 1998-1999 from a collaborative effort of the Louisiana Systemic lnitiative Program (LaSlP) and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE). It includes evidence of impressive results in low achieving schools and in high-poverty districts targeted by the effort. The plan was for LaSlP to give intensive content and leadership training in Summer 1999 and academic year 1999-2000 to carefully selected. well-qualified math leaders. These leaders were then employed full-time in the 1999-2000 academic year and beyond by their local education authorities to work with all math teachers in …

Student Work Section, R. Howard

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Socio-Economic Factors In Correlation To Standardized Educational Test Scores, M. F. Connolly

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This paper describes the analysis of socio-eeonomic factors in correlation to standardized educational test scores. The scores used were from the Elementary School Proficiency Assessment exam distributed to fourth graders in New Jersey during the years 1999, 200l- 2003 [1-4]. The socio—economie factors are from the 2000 United States Census [5]. Simple regression and other statistical equations were used to compare the data from both sources with Microsoft Excel as a programming tool to perform the analysis.

Uses Of Technology By Science Education Professors: Comparisons With Teachers’ Uses And The Current Versus Desired Technology Knowledge Gap, John Settlage, A. Louis Odom, Jon E. Pedersen

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

A survey of the AETS membership was conducted to examine potential gaps in their current versus desired knowledge about technology uses relative to science teacher education.

The Impact Of Direct Reading Instruction For Middle School Students At Newfield Middle School, Newfield, New York, Robert R. Ike

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Effects Of The Teacher's Use Of Guided Inquiry In The Fifth Grade Classroom, Deborah Strickland Spiess

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED THE EFFECTS OF THE TEACHER'S USE OF GUIDED INQUIRY IN A FIFTH GRADE SCIENCE CLASSROOM. INQUIRY IS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL(2000), AND INDICATES THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD DEVELOP THE ABILITIES NECESSARY TO DO SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND DEVELOP UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY (P.21). THIS STUDY WAS A QUALITATIVE ACTION RESEARCH DESIGN, FOCUSING ON SEVENTEEN STUDENTS AND THEIR RESPONSES TO A GUIDED INQUIRY METHOD OF SCIENCE INSTRUCTION ON MATTER, ENERGY AND MOTION, AND EARTH AND SPACE. AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE AND STUDENTS' ATTITUDES ABOUT SCIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM WAS CONDUCTED ABOUT EACH UNIT OF INSTRUCTION. THE …

Effects Of Bullying On Student Attendance, Michelle Clark

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of A Chilly Climate: Differences In Traditional And Non-Traditional Majors For Women, Ladonna K. Morris

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine how perceptions of a chilly climate differ between students in traditionally female-dominated majors versus traditionally male-dominated majors, and how these perceptions relate to students' intentions to persist or pursue higher education in their chosen field. Participants were 403 students attending a community college in the southern United States, including students majoring in information technology (IT), engineering, education, and nursing. Participants completed the 28-item Perceived Chilly Climate Scale (PCCS) and other informational items.

The primary research question asked: To what extent can scores on the five subscales of the PCCS be explained …

Successful Online Course Retention At Marylhurst University Constructing A Model For Online Course Retention Using Grounded Theory, Vincent Schreck

Dissertations and Theses

Over the past 6 years, the course retention rate for Marylhurst University's (MU) online courses was 91%, which is within four percentage points of its on-campus course retention rate (Schreck, 2002). This appears to contradict a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education that stated, "Although there is significant variation among institutions with some reporting course-completion rates of more than 80% and others finding that fewer than 50% of distance-education students finish their courses, several administrators concur that course-completion rates are often 10-20 percentage points higher in traditional courses than in distance offerings" (Carr, 2000). Recent studies (Beatty-Gunter 2001; …

Professional Development : The Missing Component In Education, Brett C. Ernst

Graduate Research Papers

Professional development addresses student needs and is based on researched teaching strategies that are proven to assist both the teacher and the student in meeting high achievement standards. Other indicators of effective professional development, as described by NCLB, include: ongoing support; data-driven decision making; and effective evaluation of the professional development. It has the potential to improve educators' attitudes, behaviors, knowledge and skills, so it benefits student learning. High quality professional development, when explicit about the results it is seeking to achieve, can assist both teachers and students to meet or exceed the desired outcomes they are being asked to …

The Influence Of Teacher Preparation Programs On Student Achievement And The Use Of Nctm Standards And Principles In Middle School And High School Algebra I Classrooms, Denelle L. Wallace

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

The impact of traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs on student achievement and the instructional delivery methods used in middle school and high school Algebra I classrooms was explored through a mixed method comparative design. The data analysis revealed that alternative teacher preparation programs are a viable avenue to explore in meeting the needs of public schools for providing qualified teachers in mathematics classrooms at the middle school and high school levels. Data from the standardized state test and district level quarterly assessments revealed no significant differences between groups on half of the achievement measures, but there was a significant …