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Title: Using the "We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution" curriculum to improve middle school minority student knowledge and understanding of the United States Constitution and perception of their rights and responsibilities in American society.
Creator: Shreffler, Michael R., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: The focus of this study was to determine whether the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum improved knowledge and understanding of the U.S. Constitution of middle school minority students. A second focus of this study was to determine if the same curriculum improved student perception of their rights and responsibilities in American society. The Test on the History and Principles of the United States Constitution Level II was used to determine whether there existed a...
Show moreThe focus of this study was to determine whether the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum improved knowledge and understanding of the U.S. Constitution of middle school minority students. A second focus of this study was to determine if the same curriculum improved student perception of their rights and responsibilities in American society. The Test on the History and Principles of the United States Constitution Level II was used to determine whether there existed a difference between middle school minority students participating in the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and middle school minority students enrolled in the traditional textbook-driven civics education program. The second instrument, Student Perception Questionnaire, measured perception of the rights and responsibilities of middle school minority students who participated in the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and students enrolled in the traditional textbook-driven civics education curriculum. The instruments were administered to a total of 247 8th grade middle school students. The inquiry found significant differences in knowledge and understanding between 8th grade students who used the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and students who used the traditional textbook-driven civics education curriculum. Independent sample t tests revealed mean pretest values to be nearly identical but posttest values to be higher among students using the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum. The results demonstrated that the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum had a greater impact on the knowledge and understanding of the U.S. Constitution of middle school minority students participating in the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum compared to students enrolled in the traditional textbook-driven civics education program. The study also found that there was only a marginally improved student perception between those students who participated in the We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and students enrolled in the traditional textbook-driven curriculum. Independent sample tests revealed that the change was insignificant. Research on effective citizenship education programs in American schools can play a significant role in the continuous efforts of social studies educators in promoting political participation among minority populations.
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Date Issued: 2003
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12058
Subject Headings: Education, Bilingual and Multicultural, Education, Secondary, Education, Social Sciences, Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Education, Curriculum and Instruction
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A standards-based content analysis of selected biological science websites.
Creator: Stewart, Joy E., College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this study was to analyze the biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods of 100 biological science websites that were appropriate for Grade 12 educational purposes. For the analysis of each website, an instrument, developed from the National Science Education Standards (NSES) for Grade 12 Life Science coupled with criteria derived from the Web-based Inquiry (WBI) for Learning Science instrument (Bodzin, 2005) and other pertinent published educational...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to analyze the biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods of 100 biological science websites that were appropriate for Grade 12 educational purposes. For the analysis of each website, an instrument, developed from the National Science Education Standards (NSES) for Grade 12 Life Science coupled with criteria derived from the Web-based Inquiry (WBI) for Learning Science instrument (Bodzin, 2005) and other pertinent published educational literature, was utilized. The analysis focused on elucidating the appropriateness of the biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment tools of selected websites for facilitating the biological science education of Grade 12 students. Frequencies of agreement and disagreement of the content of each selected website with criteria included in the data collection instrument were used for alignment determination of the content of each website with the NSES. Chi-square tests were performed by Microsoft Excel to determine the statistical significance of differences of actual and expected 85% frequencies of alignment of the analyzed website parameters with indicators of alignment to NSES. Chi-square tests indicated that at a 0.05 level of significance there was an overall difference between the actual and expected 85% frequencies of alignment of biology content, instructional strategies and assessment methods with website indicators of alignment with the NSES (p < 0.05). Chi-square tests also indicated that there was a significant difference between the actual and expected frequencies of alignment of analyzed categories (biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods) of the sampled websites with website indicators of alignment with the NSES (p < 0.05)., Major findings of this study indicated that 3 out of 4 of the analyzed content attributes, 12 out of 13 of the instructional strategies, and all the assessment methods of the researched biological science websites were less than 85% aligned with the NSES. Only 11 out of 80 (13.75%) of the analyzed websites had collective biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods attributes that were 85% or more aligned with the NSES. Appropriately sequenced content that fostered acquisition of fundamental biology knowledge was the only content attribute with significantly more than 85% alignment with the NSES. Provision of illustrative examples to enhance understanding of facts and/or ideas in the context of a conceptual framework was the only instructional strategies attribute that was significantly more than 85% aligned with the NSES. Alignment of website attributes with the NSES has the potential to enhance the educational value of science websites. It is hoped that the findings of this study will motivate science website designers to comply with the NSES. Hope also exists that educators will be motivated to engage in standards-based reform measures for promoting scientific literacy among students.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2683127
Subject Headings: Science, Study and teaching (Secondary), Technological innovations, Science, Study and teaching (Secondary), Standards, Internet in education, Standards, Web sites, Standards
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Predictors of scientific understanding of middle school students.
Creator: Strate, Joshua Matthew., College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this study was to determine if middle school student scientific understanding could be predicted by the variables: standardized 5th grade score in science, standardized 5th grade score in mathematics, standardized 5th grade score in reading, student attitude towards science, socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnicity. The areas of the comprehensive literature review were trends in science learning and teaching, research in the K-12 science education arena, what factors have...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine if middle school student scientific understanding could be predicted by the variables: standardized 5th grade score in science, standardized 5th grade score in mathematics, standardized 5th grade score in reading, student attitude towards science, socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnicity. The areas of the comprehensive literature review were trends in science learning and teaching, research in the K-12 science education arena, what factors have influenced K-12 science education, scientific understanding, what research has been done on K-12 scientific understanding, and what factors have influenced science understanding in the K-12 arenas. Based on the results of the literature review, the researcher of this study examined a sample of middle school 8th grade students. An Attitude Towards Science Survey (SATS) Simpson & Oliver (1990) and a Survey of Scientific Understandings (Klapper, DeLucia, & Trent, 1993) were administered to these 116 middle school 8th grade students drawn from a total population of 1109 who attend this middle school in a typical county in Florida during the 2010- 2011 school year. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to test each sub-hypothesis and to provide a model that attempted to predict student scientific understanding. Seven null sub-hypotheses were formed to determine if there were significant relationships between student scientific understanding and the abovementioned variables. The results of the tests of the seven null sub-hypotheses showed that the sub-hypothesis that involved socioeconomic status was rejected, which indicated that the socioeconomic status of a family does influence the level of scientific understanding of a student., Low SES students performed lower on the scientific understanding survey, on average, than high SES students. This study can be a source of information for teachers in low-income schools by recognizing potential areas of concern for low-income students in their science classrooms. The study is also a guide for administrators in developing science curriculum that is designed to remediate critical science content. Recommendations, further research, and implications for stakeholders in the science education process are then identified in order to focus on the concerns that these stakeholders need to address through a needs assessment.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3334102
Subject Headings: Science, Study and teaching (Middle school), Science teachers, Training of, Middle school teaching, Achievement in education
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Is there a relationship between academic achievement and school climate at the elementary, middle, or high school grade level?.
Creator: Doyal, Thomas Stacy., College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: Researchers have determined that many factors, including school climate, may be contributing to the lack of academic achievement of many of our students. In an effort to better understand this issue, this study tested for possible relationships between the school climate of multiple schools in Palm Beach County, Florida, and their students' academic achievement. Separate analyses were done at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. For the purpose of this study, academic achievement ...
Show moreResearchers have determined that many factors, including school climate, may be contributing to the lack of academic achievement of many of our students. In an effort to better understand this issue, this study tested for possible relationships between the school climate of multiple schools in Palm Beach County, Florida, and their students' academic achievement. Separate analyses were done at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. For the purpose of this study, academic achievement (criterion variable) was measure by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Math and Reading sections. School climate (predictor variable) was measured by the school district's yearly climate survey. In order to test the study's hypotheses, a linear multiple regression model using SPSS software was run to measure for any relationship between the criterion and predictor variables at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The relationships of individual predictors with the criterion were tested with correlations and the model including all seven predictors was tested with multiple regressions.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/221943
Subject Headings: School improvement programs, Academic achievement, Educational equalization, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Educational tests and measurements
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The impact of art integration as an intervention to assist learners' visual perception and concept understanding in elementary science.
Creator: Smilan, Cathy A., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: Art integration as educational reform has been the focus of recent debate. The suggestion has been made that the arts can provide unique learning opportunities in other content areas. To provide empirical evidence for this added value of the arts in learning, this study investigated the efficacy of teaching science concepts in and through the visual arts by implementing an art integrated lesson. The study investigated the impact of an art integration to assist elementary level learners'...
Show moreArt integration as educational reform has been the focus of recent debate. The suggestion has been made that the arts can provide unique learning opportunities in other content areas. To provide empirical evidence for this added value of the arts in learning, this study investigated the efficacy of teaching science concepts in and through the visual arts by implementing an art integrated lesson. The study investigated the impact of an art integration to assist elementary level learners' visual perception so they could more accurately form mental models of the science ideas. The hypothesis suggests that participants in the art intervention who construct a three-dimensional representation of abstract science concepts will gain an increased understanding of those concepts. Specifically, students who work with parallel concepts in art and science to make and manipulate three-dimensional, kinetic models of the sun, earth, and moon will be able to more accurately visualize the relationships between these heavenly bodies. Fifth grade students participated in the study which was integrated into the regular curriculum. Seventy-six randomly selected students comprised the experimental group and participated in the art project. After the completion of traditional textbook and lecture presentation by the classroom teachers, a researcher developed Science Concept Test was administered to all fifth grade students. Statistically significant results indicated that the differences between the groups on the science concept test were due to the integration of the art intervention. These empirical data show significant differences between the group receiving the art intervention and the group receiving traditional classroom instruction, supporting the efficacy of the art integration model. In conclusion, the study supports the literature that suggests the efficacy of art integration partnerships as alternative avenues for presenting and representing knowledge. The study additionally supports the literature establishing the need for concrete modeling of science concepts at the elementary level. Furthermore, the study indicates the need for further investigation into attitudes toward art integration partnerships, the role of the arts in the culture of education, and the viability of instruments to assess conceptual understanding in the visual arts and in science.
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Date Issued: 2004
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12092
Subject Headings: Education, Art, Education, Sciences
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A correlation of standardized benchmark testing and teacher-assigned grades in 10th-grade English courses.
Creator: Beaulieu, Christopher A., College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: The accountability measures implemented by the states as a result of federal government mandates required by the No Child Left Behind Act (2001 [NCLB]) have created the need for states to develop standardized benchmark assessments as part of the compliance requirements set by the federally mandated act. State and local standardized tests have become an everyday part of public school life. A quantitative study was conducted to assess the correlation of students' scores on the reading portion...
Show moreThe accountability measures implemented by the states as a result of federal government mandates required by the No Child Left Behind Act (2001 [NCLB]) have created the need for states to develop standardized benchmark assessments as part of the compliance requirements set by the federally mandated act. State and local standardized tests have become an everyday part of public school life. A quantitative study was conducted to assess the correlation of students' scores on the reading portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and students' reading percent scale-scores on one Florida county's benchmark reading assessment (CBAT) with students' teacher-assigned grades (TAG) for 10th-grade, English Language Arts courses. The study also assessed the predictive values of the 3 criterion variables and the moderating effects of 6 categorical variables: Race (White, Black, and Hispanic), Socioeconomic status (SES), English Language Learner status (ELL), and Students with Disabilities status (SWD), which contribute to Florida's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) ranking of school grading policy. The study found that there was a moderate and positive correlation among the 3 criterion variables and that the combination of students' scores on the reading portions of both the CBAT and the FCAT showed a significant predictive value in predicting students' TAG. The study showed an even higher predictive value of the combination of students' scores on the CBAT and students' TAG in predicting students' scores on the FCAT. The study showed there was a moderating effect of the categorical variable Race on the correlation between students' CBAT reading scores and students' TAG; however, Race did not moderate the correlation between students' scores on FCAT and students' TAG., The study found a moderating effect of the categorical variable SES on the correlation between students' scores on CBAT and students' scores on FCAT and students' TAG. The study showed a moderating effect of the categorical variable ELL between students' scores on FCAT and students' TAG and between students' scores on CBAT and students' TAG. The categorical variable SWD did not show any moderating effect between students' scores on CBAT and students' TAG, or between students' scores on FCAT and students' TAG.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/192981
Subject Headings: Educational tests and measurements, Education, Secondary, Study and teaching, English language, Rhetoric, Ability testing, Grading and marking (Students)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A comparative analysis of teacher-authored websites in high school honors and advanced placement physics for web-design and NSES content and process standards.
Creator: Persin, Ronald C., College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether statistically significant differences existed between high school Honors Physics websites and those of Advanced Placement (AP) Physics in terms of web-design, National Science Education Standards (NSES) Physics content, and NSES Science Process standards. The procedure began with the selection of 152 sites comprising two groups with equal sample sizes of 76 for Honors Physics and for Advanced Placement Physics. The websites used in the...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to investigate whether statistically significant differences existed between high school Honors Physics websites and those of Advanced Placement (AP) Physics in terms of web-design, National Science Education Standards (NSES) Physics content, and NSES Science Process standards. The procedure began with the selection of 152 sites comprising two groups with equal sample sizes of 76 for Honors Physics and for Advanced Placement Physics. The websites used in the study were accumulated using the Google[TM] search engine. To find Honors Physics websites, the search words "honors physics high school" were entered as the query into the search engine. To find sites for Advanced Placement Physics, the query, "advanced placement physics high school," was entered into the search engine. The evaluation of each website was performed using an instrument developed by the researcher based on three attributes: Web-design, NSES Physics content, and NSES Science Process standards. A "1" was scored if the website was found to have each attribute, otherwise a "0" was given. This process continued until all 76 websites were evaluated for each of the two types of physics websites, Honors and Advanced Placement. Subsequently the data were processed using Excel functions and the SPSS statistical software program. The mean and standard deviation were computed individually for the three attributes under consideration. Three, 2-tailed, independent samples t tests were performed to compare the two groups of physics websites separately on the basis of Web Design, Physics Content, and Science Process. The results of the study indicated that there was only one statistically significant difference between high school Honors Physics websites and those of AP Physics., The only difference detected was in terms of National Science Education Standards Physics content. It was found that Advanced Placement Physics websites contained more NSES physics content than Honors Physics websites. There was no significant difference found between the two types of high school physics websites in regards to web-design, and NSES science process standards. It is hoped that the results of this study may serve as a guide for researchers to explore the role of Web-Assisted Instruction (WAI) as an enhancement to traditional instruction in physics. With the first generation to grow up in the digital age now in high school, WAI may prove to be useful as method to improve critical thinking skills and provide opportunities for inquiry beyond the classroom.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/192988
Subject Headings: Science, Study and teaching (Secondary), Standards, Internet in education, Standards, Web sites, Design and construction, Standards, Technical education
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Belongingness and integrative motivation in second language acquisition.
Creator: Kvasnak, Robb., College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description: This study investigates the perceptions that second language students have of those who speak the language that these students are trying to acquire and examines how these perceptions relate to students' progress in acquiring the target language. The study is based on the psychological theory of the need to belong, i.e. belongingness as well as on the concept of integrative motivation. This study is a qualitative investigation that uses the Repertory Grid Technique and Personal Construct...
Show moreThis study investigates the perceptions that second language students have of those who speak the language that these students are trying to acquire and examines how these perceptions relate to students' progress in acquiring the target language. The study is based on the psychological theory of the need to belong, i.e. belongingness as well as on the concept of integrative motivation. This study is a qualitative investigation that uses the Repertory Grid Technique and Personal Construct Theory in order to elicit subject perceptions and their constructs. Membership checking was carried out with nine of the originally interviewed 22 subjects in order to obtain more insight into the subjects' perceptions of themselves, their progress, and, most importantly, their perceptions of the target language speakers. One of the important findings in this study is the establishment of what elements second language students use to construct views of target language speakers., The subjects of this study used specific culture, generic culture, language, and perceptions to try to understand target language speakers. Furthermore, those subjects who had graduated from the community college program from which the subjects were drawn and who were now working in the everyday world showed strong desire to integrate into English-speaking society. Conversely, these program graduates showed an increased degree of criticism of American English speakers. Their views may be attributed to the close contact and lack of preparation for contact with target language speakers, as the community college program contained little or no instruction on American English culture., The perceptions of being marginalized expressed by the graduates, perceptions not shared by those students still in the community college program, indicate a need for a change in curriculum which would emphasize the students' social needs outside of and beyond the classroom and cultivate a sense of belonging to target language society. Belongingness and integrative motivation may well the key to a bright new future of second language acquisition. As more research is done on the significance of both concepts, and as they are increasingly incorporated into language learning classrooms, students should acquire target languages with greater ease.
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Date Issued: 2007
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/47403
Subject Headings: Second language acquisition, Language and languages, Study and teaching, Communicative competence, Identity (Psychology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2016-2017 Program Review Teaching & Learning.
Creator: Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Date Issued: 2016-2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007948
Subject Headings: Florida Atlantic University -- History
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2015-2016 Program Review Teaching & Learning.
Creator: Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Date Issued: 2015-2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007947
Subject Headings: Florida Atlantic University -- History
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2014-2015 Program Review Teaching & Learning.
Creator: Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Date Issued: 2014-2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007946
Subject Headings: Florida Atlantic University -- History
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2013-2014 Program Review Teaching & Learning.
Creator: Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Date Issued: 2013-2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007945
Subject Headings: Florida Atlantic University -- History
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2012-2013 Program Review Teaching & Learning.
Creator: Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Date Issued: 2012-2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007944
Subject Headings: Florida Atlantic University -- History
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2010-2011 Program Review Teaching & Learning.
Creator: Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Date Issued: 2010-2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007943
Subject Headings: Florida Atlantic University -- History
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2009-2010 Program Review Teaching & Learning.
Creator: Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Date Issued: 2009-2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007942
Subject Headings: Florida Atlantic University -- History
Format: Document (PDF)

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