Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

A Study Of The Role Of Gender In The Classroom, Ryan Ann Malloy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the role gender plays in the classroom, through considering both teacher and student perceptions of gender and how those perceptions impact student learning and socialization. Conducting my early research it became evident that the three underlying forces that allow gender to impact the classroom environment are socialization, individual perceptions, and instructional practices. In order to understand the true influence of gender in the classroom I incorporated a qualitative study on these three interrelated pieces to see how they came to life in an actual kindergarten classroom. Students took part in face-to-face interviews, …

The Effects Of Small Group Mathematical Instruction, Theresa A. Storms

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of small group mathematical instruction when compared to whole group mathematical instruction. The participants of the study consisted of 35 first grade students from two intact classes from a suburban school district in New Jersey. The control group included 21 students who received whole group mathematical instruction. The experimental group included 14 students who received small group mathematical instruction. All students were pre-tested, instructed in mathematics, and post-tested in their respective groups.

This study hypothesized that first grade students who received small group mathematical instruction would show a higher significant …

A Study Examining The Effect Of Multi-Sensory Stimulation On The Descriptive Writing Of Fourth Grade Students, Karen L. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if multi-sensory stimulation during writing exercises would increase the number of descriptive elements used by fourth grade students. Thirty-five students in two intact classrooms participated in the nonequivalent control group design study. A learning styles questionnaire was administered to both groups to ensure that all modality preferences were represented in each classroom. Two pretests in the form of writing prompts were given to each group. Two weeks later posttests identical to the pretests were administered to each group. During posttest writing exercises, the experimental group was exposed to multi-sensory stimulation. The control …

An Investigation Of The Increase In Phonemic Awareness In Kindergarten Students Who Were Exposed To Word Sort Activities, Karen S. Münch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if word sort activities would help improve the phonemic awareness of kindergarten students. The experimental and control groups consisted of students ranging in a variety of reading abilities. The experimental group received phonics instruction through the use of word sorting activities. The control group had no guidelines for phonics instruction. Any phonics lesson taught in the classroom were done according to the classroom instructors own plans and ideas. Pre-test and post-test scores showed that students that were exposed to word sort activities scored significantly higher on sound recognition tests then other students. …

The Effects Of Collaborative Strategic Reading Among Third Grade Students, Inez Lee Barberio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of Collaborative Strategic Reading in a third grade class significantly improved test scores in vocabulary and comprehension in a given social studies unit exam. Two third grade classes were researched. The use of CSR was compared to the testing results of another third grade class that was taught through the use of traditional "textbook" teaching methods. The researcher taught the experimental group through the use of CSR while the control class was taught by their regular classroom teacher. Each class was tested using the same pretest and post-test. Mean …

Teachers' Insights On Character Education, Meghan Kristin Salowe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore teachers' thoughts and concerns regarding the practice of teaching Character Education programs in elementary school. The subjects for this study are twenty-one elementary school teachers and the school's guidance counselor. This study used a survey instrument with closed-ended responses (Likert scale) as well as teacher interviews. A qualitative approach was utilized to analyze the data, which showed varying teacher perceptions on Character Education. A need for consistent teacher training and opportunities for teacher dialogue are some implications that emerged from my study.

Exploring The Effect Of Literature Circles On Reading Comprehension And Motivation, Christina Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of literature circles on elementary school children. It was hypothesized that a third grade class that read independently through the use of the literature circle structure will show greater gains in reading comprehension and reading motivation than when the same third grade class does not experience the literature circle structure. The sample included a predetermined class of 24 third-grade students, which consists of 9 females and 15 males.

The non-treatment conditions consisted of small group guided reading lessons. The treatment conditions consisted of the implementation of literature circles. Student reading …

Reading Comprehension Evaluated Through Electronic Storybooks And Traditional Print Storybooks, Erika Lynn Crescenzo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether electronic text storybooks, when compared to printed storybooks, affect students' comprehension skills. Reading comprehension is a process by which the reader constructs meaning with the text. With electronic texts, the computer is able to control the number of words that are displayed to allow the student to read at their own pace. Dramatization along with special text features used in electronic storybooks presents the text in a way that differs from the traditional printed storybook. These changes grasp the readers' attention both visually and verbally. Eliminating the decoding of the text …

Object Information Repository In A Christian Theory Of Technology, Longy O. Anyanwu

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

It has not been easy to formulate a stable Christian theory of technology. Nonetheless, some ideas and Christian theories of technology have been fielded by a handful of distinguished Christian scientists and technology experts. Although some of these ideas and theories are substantively at variance, others have sizeable common base. Important, though, is the seeming agreement on the visualization of technology as an object with embedded values and information. With object information repository as the primary focus, this study, therefore, attempts to provoke the consideration of a possible synthesis and agreement on the foundational essence of Christian theory of technology …

The Five Orders Of Ignorance: Knowledge, Ignorance, And The Nature Of Software, Phillip Armour

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Software is not a product, it is a medium in which we store knowledge. As simple as this idea seems, the consequences of it are quite significant. If software is not a product, then software development is not a product of production activity, despite the common practice of managing it as such. Most organizations believe that job of software developers is to build a system that we then ship to a customer. It is not. The system we build and ship to the customer is actually the by-product of the real activity which is learning. Software development is the activity …

Mathematics As Poesis: A Preliminary Project Report, Sam Stueckle, Jeremy Case, Ken Constantine, Troy Riggs

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

This paper talks about the various viewpoints of mathematics, beginning with classical perspectives and ending with the idea of poesis, or the theology of math as the art of making.

Integrating Catholic And Marianist Historical Perspectives In A Mathematics Coruse For Elementary Education Majors, Mary Wagner-Krankel

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

St. Mary's University in San Antonio recently reaffirmed their distinctive nature as a Catholic university promoting the Marianist tradition. This new affirmation is in response to the smaller number of Marianists serving in teaching and administrative positions on campus. Faculty have been encouraged to explore new ways to integrate Catholic and Marianist values and historical perspectives in their teaching and research. I will discuss some major Catholic mathematicians and some classroom activities that I developed for the course MT3304- Mathematics for the Elementary Teacher.

Does The Success Of Mathematics Defeat Naturalism?, Russell W. Howell

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

This paper discusses the arguments for and against Intelligent Design from the perspectives of mathematics.

The Artificial Gravity Pitch, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Toss a ball into the air; we analyze and contrast the resultant trajectories when standing both on the Little Prince’s Asteroid B-612 of 1943 and in Arthur C. Clark’s rotating space ship Discovery of 2001.

Explicit Null Space Of Discrete Laplacian, Hanna Vanderzee

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

For a given partial differential equation, such as Poisson’s equation in two dimensions, stipulating the null-space component of the solution is sometimes a useful alternative to specifying boundary conditions in order to determine a unique solution. To implement this approach computationally, we need a sparse and well-conditioned representation of the null space of the relevant differential operator. We discuss how the null-space method works and present an explicit formula for generating a sparse null basis for a uniform, finite-difference discretization of Laplacian operator on the unit square. The formula makes use of a triangular array which has the large Schroeder …

Artificial Intelligence: Can We Create Machines In Our Own Image?, Derek C. Shuurman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) leads to many questions about what it means to be human. Some researchers claim that inevitably computers will reach a certain threshold of complexity that will enable them to “think” and artificial consciousness will emerge. This speculation, taken a step further, leads some to believe that computer technology will eventually set humans free from the frailty of their bodies and enable them to achieve immortality. Underlying these claims is a reductionistic philosophy about what it means to be human and how one approaches the mind-body problem. Ever since the fall people have wanted to …

Integration Of Faith, Learning, And Christian Vocation With First-Year Mathematics Majors, Doug Phillippy, Angela Hare

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

The mission of Messiah College is "to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith, in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society". Therefore, as faculty in the Mathematical Sciences Department at this college, how we build maturity in our students, not only a mature mathematical intellect, but also maturity of character and Christian faith, reflects our commitment to the mission of the College. Further, our departmental mission statement includes the objective "to challenge students to live out their faith in their vocation as they become servant leaders in society, church, …

Writing Math Lessons That Integrate Christian Beliefs: The Kuyers Institute Grant Project, Dave Klanderman, Gary Talsma

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

In this paper, we describe multiple math lessons designed to incorporate a Christian perspective. A total of nine lessons, some with materials for multiple class sessions, will soon be published by the Kuyers Institute. These lessons are appropriate for use at the middle school and high school level.

A Christian Constructivist? The Impact Of Worldview On Learning Theories And The Mathematics Education Research Community, Jeffrey Barrett, Dave Klanderman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

This paper analyzes the role of worldview and its impact on learning theories within the mathematics education research community. The authors propose a scholarly agenda for engaging this issue in future research projects.

Teaching The History Of Mathematics Using Architecture And Art, Maria Zack

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a Christian university deeply committed to teaching in the liberal arts tradition. As a consequence, all of our students take roughly 64 semester hours of “general education” courses as part of the 128 semester hours required for graduation. One of the challenges of teaching at such an institution is helping students to value the core curriculum. I recently taught “Topics in Mathematics: Mathematics, Art and Architecture.” My goal was to help students see, discuss and understand connections between the mathematics that they were studying and some aspects of the general education core that is …

Mathematics From A World View Perspective, Jonathan Zderad

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence: Can We Create Machines In Our Own Image?, Derek C. Schuurman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

Determinants And Zero Divisors In Rings Of Matrices, Gary L. Raduns, Wolfgang Kappe

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

The Consequences Of Believing In An Infinite God, John T. Noonan

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

Technology And Formation: How Does Computing Shape Us?, Cary C. Gray

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

Nicole Oresme - An Invitation, Fernando Q. Gouvea

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

Object Information Repository In Christian Theory Of Technology, Longy O. Anyanwu

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

The Divine Challenge: On Matter, Mind, Math And Meaning, By John Byl, Russell W. Howell

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

A book review of The Divine Challenge: On Matter, Mind, Math and Meaning (2004, Banner of Truth Trust) by John Byl.

James Clerk Maxwell And Why Read Biographies, Sean Bird

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Why do we read about the lives of others? This paper discusses the value of reading biographies and examines the life of physicist-mathematician James Clerk Maxwell.

Jesus, Plato, Math And Theology: What Is Truth?, Paul Moffett

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Mathematical ontology is relevant to Christians because so much of Christian theology has been historically shaped by Platonic mathematics and the ontology that goes with it. The various contributors to Mathematics in a Postmodern Age, edited by Howell and Bradley, seem to assume that Christians are necessarily realists in ontology, and they are not alone. But what is the cause of this Christian connection with mathematical realism in ontology? How much has our idea of God been shaped by Plato and his mathematics?