Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

A Social Constructionist Inquiry Study On The Lived Experiences Of Educators With Dyslexia Overcoming Workplace Barriers And Increasing Their Capacity For Success, Kathryn R. Taylor

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research is to journey the lives of educators with dyslexia growing up as K-12 students, working in the K-12 educational environment, and the means by which those educators overcome workplace barriers as analyzed by three guidelines under the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principle, multiple means of engagement. The qualitative study was designed from a constructive inquiry perspective. This method allowed the researcher to construct reality by interpreting a group of educators’ perceptions based on their experiences and social dynamics living with dyslexia. The primary data was collected from one-on-one interviews guided by scripted questions. …

An Exploration Of Close Reading Strategies And 3rd Grade Comprehension, Loretta Cecilia Houck

Theses and Dissertations

The research case study was conducted to explore how Close Reading Strategies support 3rd grade Basic Skills students' comprehension. The purposes of the study were to first determine if utilizing the rereading and text questioning strategies would support students' comprehension while reading complex texts. Secondly, to determine if annotating in the margins of the text would support comprehension as the students reflected on their thinking. The students were of varying abilities of below grade level readers and one student was an ELL below grade level and challenged by language meaning difficulty. The students were reading on an end first grade …

How Do Teacher Evaluation Ratings On Kentucky's Professional Growth And Effectiveness System Relate To Student Achievement?, Martha Collins Jones, Jennifer R. Allen, Jim Masters

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Martha Collins Jones, Jennifer R. Allen, and Jim Masters on January 23, 2017.

Reading With Choice Of Texts In The First Grade Classroom, Erine Lloyd

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how first grade students would respond to reading when provided with the opportunity to select their own texts to read. More specifically, I was curious to see if offering students choice of reading materials would engage them in reading, motivate them to want to read, and have an impact on reading growth. The first grade students' reading logs, reading response journals, reading attitude surveys, and interviews were analyzed. Offering students the opportunity to self-select their own texts to read transformed the literacy classroom. When choice was afforded to the learners, most students …

Collaborative Inquiry And The Shared Workspace Of Professional Learning Communities, Daniel Carpenter

CUP Faculty Research

An exploration of an educator collaborative inquiry in the shared workspace of professional learning communities reveals that the educator collaborative inquiry enables the leaders to focus on increasing student achievement scores.

The Impact Of Blogs In The Classroom: A Qualitative Analysis Of Elementary Students Using Blogs To Respond To Texts, Jessica Bakan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate how students in a fourth grade classroom used blogging when responding to texts. Students were required to write a blog post about the fictional text that they were currently reading. In the posts, I encouraged students to incorporate details and well-developed responses. Students were given freedom to write without a prompt to guide their responses. After the students wrote their initial posts, they had the freedom to read their classmates' entries and comment, developing an online community. Throughout this study, I have analyzed student engagement, motivation, writing skills, quality of responses, and …

“Science Is Not My Thing”: Exploring Deaf Non-Science Majors’ Science Identities, Cara L. Gormally, Amber Marchut

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing are underrepresented in science majors, yet we know little about why. Students from other underrepresented groups in science—women and people of color—tend to highly value altruistic or communal career goals, while perceiving science as uncommunal. Research suggests that holding stereotypical conceptions about scientists and perceptions of science as uncommunal may strongly hinder recruitment into science majors. This study sought to explore the science identities of students who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing signers. The study focused on non-science majors in bilingual (American Sign Language and written English) biology laboratory courses. This study is the …

A Qualitative Case Study Describing The Relationship Of Physical Activity And Classroom Behaviors Expectations For Elementary Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Steven Robert Wehrle

Theses and Dissertations

This case study examined the relationship of elementary age students' participation in a before-school physical activity program and their adherence to the behavioral expectations in the morning homeroom period. Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) demonstrate behaviors such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. One theory that as to the cause of these behaviors is the lack of a synaptic connection in the Executive Functioning brain area, which is caused by the lack of dopamine and norepinephrine which increase during physical activity.

This case study was conducted using three student participants diagnosed with ADHD and their classroom teacher. Data collection …

Scalable, Web-Delivered Supports To Help Students "Learn To Learn", Matthew L. Bernacki

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Many graduate K-12 without skills necessary to manage learning (ACT, 2008)

Increasing Identification, Thus Success And Graduation From Unlv, Emmanuel Ayim

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

When our students are connected to UNLV at multiple levels, and identify as UNLV students, they will more likely persist and graduate.

Using Mastery Learning To Help All Students Achieve, Jori S. Beck, Christina J. Santoyo

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

In 1968, Benjamin Bloom outlined a specific strategy that he dubbed learning for mastery, which later became mastery learning (Guskey, 2007).

Socrative Student And Real Time Assessment, Emma Frances Bloomfield

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Many graduate K-12 without skills necessary to manage learning (ACT, 2008)

Teaching Strategies To Engage Student To Content, Student To Student And Student To Teacher In Online Courses Using The Community Of Inquiry, Lori Candela

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Researchers have found a sense of community enhances learning.

Cumulative Exams (With A Twist), David E. Copeland

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

When first hearing about cumulative exams, students generally have a negative reaction – their impression is that cumulative exams are more difficult because knowledge has to be retained for longer periods of time.

Games, Learning, And Classroom Community, Joe Ervin

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The use of games in my COLA 100E classroom makes up a small minority of my instructional approach. The games are used to compliment my regular pedagogy. The two games that I utilize consistently are Kahoot! and UNLV Trivia.

Office Of Online Education: Tips For Effective Online Teaching, Leeann Fields, Dan Antoniuk, Dedrick Catus, Doris Ostrander

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

To be successful in online classes, students must participate consistently and frequently. This requires a high level of both student-student and student-instructor interaction.

Service Learning Collaboration With Student Affairs, Nathan Hanke, Leanne Soter, Kelsi Sullivan

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Service Learning is Applicable to courses across academic disciplines

Instant Class Polling Using Mobile Devices: An Interactive And Effective Pedagogical Tool, Lori D. Johnson, Emma Babler

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Available methods of instant class feedback had been limited to technology associated with clickers purchased by students, or tied to responses from laptops, which professors have begun banning from the classroom due to distraction. However, obtaining real-time feedback on students’ comprehension of complex concepts remains a critical pedagogical goal, particularly in rule-based courses such as Professional Responsibility.

Large Class Splitting To Reduce Class Size, Ed Jorgensen

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

It is well recognized that smaller classes lead to improved student outcomes. However, instructor resources are limited, particularly for first year introductory classes.

In “Kahoots” With Student Engagement In The Classroom, Kim Nehls

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

In a recent classroom survey, 95 percent of my students recommended additional use of Kahoot. One student remarked that he was more likely to complete the reading in advance and participate in class if he was going to be part of a friendly competition. Kahoot is an exciting and fun way to utilize the cell phones and tablets already in play in the classroom.

Critical Pedagogy: Building Strong Learning Communities, Malayka Neith Cornejo

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Strengthens instructor-student relationship; peer interactions; connection to course content, and sense of belonging. Shifts normative power structures and empowers students to co-construct the learning experience. Student voice matters.

Providing Annotated Examples Increases Science Learning, Elana A. Paladino

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Students consistently score low in the areas of application of scientific results, critical analysis of results, proper citation usage, and poster design

Student Class Presentations, Roberta Sabbath

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

NEED: Practice expressing ideas orally and functioning in a collaborative setting NEED: Practice preparing and delivering oral presentations

Building Relationships For Unlv Students’ Success, Nathan M. Slife

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Racially diverse, first-generation students gain more from one key relationship with an instructor or administrator than from money spent on typical support services (Bensimon, 2007). Instructors can strive to build this relationship with their students by meeting one-on-one for 3-5 minutes outside of class.

Critical Service Learning, Anna C. Smedly-Lopez

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Service Learning Initiative for Community Engagement in Sociology (SLICES) is a critical, research-focused, community-based, leadership and knowledge project. By engaging in Community Based Participatory Action Research Projects (CBPAR) students have an opportunity to work multiple semesters, if they choose, to develop research skills, serve in leadership roles, serve and collaborate with local organization, and engage in professional development.

Approaching Intersections In The Classroom, Shelly Volsche

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Most university professionals are accustomed to understanding diversity by demographics.

Learning Through Intradepartmental Scholarship In The History 251 Milestone, Mary D. Wammack

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The History Department established HIST 251 in 1996 to supply students with the opportunity to acquire and develop the methodological skills and habits of critical thinking and analysis considered essential for student success.

Impact Of Mindset On Literacy: What Happens To Literacy Skills When A Growth Mindset Is Taught To First Graders, Katherine Saia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the type of mindsets held by first graders and to determine what happens when they are exposed to ways to have a growth mindset. The goal is to see what happens when children use a growth mindset when asked to engage in challenging literacy activities. First graders were first evaluated using a mindset survey and reading levels were determined. Logic puzzles were given and timed to determine if work effort matched that of the mindset survey. Students showed a change in mindset and growth in reading abilities. Implications for future research are …

Brain-Based Learning (V 1.0), Sarah Grison

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Workshops

This interactive presentation discusses brain-based learning by identifying the myths versus the realities of the approach, exploring teaching an learning tools suggested by literature on brain-based research, and discussing how brain-based learning techniques might be useful in the community college classroom.

The Effects Of Text-To-Speech On Reading Comprehension Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Mary Cece Young

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I implemented the use of technology to investigate the effectiveness of text-to-speech (TTS) on the reading comprehension of students with learning disabilities (LD). In a freshman self-contained classroom, I used the classroom-based text and TTS on four participants during a 48-min English class period for 16 weeks. An A-B-A-B withdrawal design evaluated the effectiveness of TTS on reading comprehension, the dependent variable, measured through accuracy of participants’ responses to reading comprehension questions from curriculum-based measures (CBMs). Following intervention, I assessed maintenance of the effect of TTS on reading comprehension for 4 weeks. Additionally, I measured participants’ perspectives …