No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction / David S. Allen / This study addresses how the flipped method of classroom instruction differs from traditional classroom instruction when comparing student achievement measures in middle and high school mathematics classrooms. The flipped classroom is defined by the Flipped Learning Network (2014) as an instructional method that moves direct instruction outside of the classroom in order to make room in the classroom for a more interactive learning environment where students can actively engage in the content. The flipped classroom strategy theoretically allows teachers the time to develop mathematical ideas and the ability to facilitate that development. For the Common Core State Standards initiative to be effective, teachers need to engage students in new learning experiences that support college and career readiness. By implementing a technology based instructional approach, like the flipped classroom strategy, teachers are able to blend twenty-first century skills with the development of the essential habits of mind of mathematically proficient students (Brunsell & Horejsi, 2013). This study seeks to understand how the flipped method of classroom instruction can lead to improved student achievement in mathematics courses and improve student perceptions about math in order to encourage course consumption in the future (Zollman, 2011). A modified explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used, and it involved collecting quantitative data and then explaining the quantitative results with in-depth qualitative data. In the quantitative phases of the study, NWEA Mathematics MAP Assessment data were collected from middle school students and course common final assessment scores were collected from middle school and high school students in a large Midwestern suburban school district to determine how student math achievement was impacted for students in a flipped classroom as compared to a traditionally instructed classroom. The frequency of active learning incidents was also collected during classroom observations. The qualitative phase was conducted as a follow up to the quantitative results to help explain the quantitative results. In this exploratory follow-up, student and teacher perceptions of mathematics achievement as a result of the flipped classroom approach to instruction with middle and high school math students and how those perceptions might be different than those of students and teachers in traditionally taught classrooms along with descriptions of observable active learning incidents in the school district were explored.

Faute de connaissances épistémologiques et socio-historiques au sujet du concept de mole et d’une transposition didactique pertinente de ce concept dans les manuels scolaires, les enseignants ne disposent pas des moyens nécessaires pour que leur enseignement soit aussi efficace qu’ils le souhaiteraient. Plusieurs recherches confirment que cet enseignement met habituellement l’accent sur l’aspect quantitatif de ce concept, néglige ses aspects qualitatifs et ne tient pas toujours compte des trois domaines du savoir en chimie : sous-microscopique, macroscopique et symbolique. L’évolution socio-historique de la mole est complexe. En 1900, Ostwald définit la mole comme étant une « masse normale ». En 1961, on reconnait la mole comme étant un concept pour compter les entités sous-microscopiques. En 1971, la mole devient l’unité de la « quantité de matière », sans toutefois que cela soit clairement mentionné dans la définition. Les diverses définitions qui se sont succédées laissent donc l’enseignant perplexe devant le choix d’une définition adéquate. De plus, les confusions linguistiques liées à l’apprentissage de la mole sont nombreuses, telles que des confusions phonétiques (mol et molécule), et des confusions symboliques (n, m, M, N. etc.). Un enseignement de la mole qui ne tient pas compte de ses aspects qualitatif et quantitatif, de l’évolution socio-historique du concept et d’un évitement des erreurs sémantiques risque de provoquer des obstacles didactiques chez les élèves. Par conséquent, l’objectif général de cette recherche de développement était d’étudier l’impact d’une formation portant sur le concept de mole donnée à des enseignants du secondaire sur l’évolution de leurs connaissances et compétences professionnelles et sur la réduction des obstacles didactiques chez les élèves. La formation a été planifiée selon un cycle de DBR (Design Based Research) qui comportait de nombreuses interactions entre l’étudiante-chercheure et les six enseignantes participantes d’une école du Liban. Ce cycle de DBR se subdivisait en cinq méso cycles dans chacun desquels l’étudiante-chercheure animait des activités de perfectionnement. Le premier mésocycleconsistait essentiellement en un microcycle d’analyse et d’exploration ; les 2e, 3e et 4e cycles comportent des microcycles de design et de conception de matériel didactique ainsi que des microcycles d’analyse, d’exploration, d’évaluation et de réflexion ; le dernier mésocycleconsistait surtout en un microcycle d’évaluation et d’exploration. Durant le premier méso cycle, l’analyse des données recueillies lors d’un groupe de discussion, d’une analyse de fiches de préparation et d’une évaluation diagnostique des apprentissages a confirmé la problématique décrite ci-dessus. Durant les trois méso cycles suivants (2e, 3e et 4e), un matériel didactique a été élaboré et mis à l’essai en classe. Chacun de ces méso cycles commençait par un retour réflexif des enseignantes ayant expérimenté le matériel didactique en classe. Par la suite, une activité de perfectionnement de synthèse était animée par l’étudiante-chercheure, une amélioration du matériel d’équipe était effectuée en équipe et une mise à l’essai par des enseignantes était réalisée en classe. Chaque mésocyclese terminait par une évaluation des résultats des élèves. Durant le dernier méso cycle, l’étudiante-chercheure a animé un groupe de discussion et des entretiens d’explicitation durant lequel les enseignantes participantes ont partagé leurs impressions au sujet des effets de la formation sur leur enseignement et sur les apprentissages des élèves. L’analyse et l’interprétation des résultats obtenus semblent montrer des effets positifs sur l’évolution des connaissances et des compétences professionnelles des enseignantes et sur la réduction des obstacles didactiques chez les élèves. Cette recherche présentait néanmoins d’assez nombreuses limites, notamment en raison du petit nombre d’enseignantes participantes. / In the absence of epistemological and socio-historical knowledge about the concept of mole and of a relevant didactic transposition of this concept in textbooks, teachers do not have the means to make their teaching as effective as they would like. Several studies confirm that this teaching usually emphasizes the quantitative aspect of this concept, neglects its qualitative aspects and does not always take into account the three areas of knowledge in chemistry: sub-microscopic, macroscopic and symbolic. The socio-historical evolution of the mole is complex. In 1900, Ostwald defined the mole as a "normal mass". In 1961, the mole was recognized as a concept for counting sub-microscopic entities. In 1971, the mole became the unit of the "quantity of substance", however without this being clearly mentioned in the definition. These various definitions leave the teacher puzzled and looking for an adequate definition. In addition, there are many linguistic confusions related to the learning of the mole, such as phonetic confusions (mol and molecule), and symbolic confusions (n, m, M, N, etc.). A teaching of the mole that does not take into account its qualitative and quantitative aspects, the socio-historical evolution of the concept and an avoidance of semantic errors may cause didactic obstacles for secondary school students. Therefore, the general objective of this development research was to study the impact of a training on the concept of mole given to secondary school teachers on the evolution of their professional knowledge and skills and on the reduction of didactic barriers in secondary school students. The training was planned according to a DBR (Design Based Research) cycle which involved numerous interactions between the student-researcher and the six participating teachers from a Lebanese school. This DBR cycle was subdivided into five meso-cycles in each of which the student-researcher conducted developmental activities. The first meso-cycle consisted essentially of a microcycle of analysis and exploration ; the 2nd, 3rd and 4th cycles include microcycles of design of didactic materials as well as microcycles of analysis and exploration, evaluation and reflection ; the last meso-cycle consisted mainly of a microcycle of evaluation and exploration. During the first meso-cycle, an analysis of the data collected during a focus group, an analysis of the preparation documents and a diagnostic assessment of learning confirmed the problem described above. During the following three meso-cycles (2nd, 3rd and 4th), a didactic material was developed and tested in class. Each of these meso-cycles began with a reflexive feedback from the teachers who had experienced the didactic material in class. Subsequently, a synthesis development activity was facilitated by the student-researcher, an improvement of the team material was carried out by the teachers and a test was conducted in class. Each meso-cycle ended with an assessment of the secondary school students’ achievement. During the last meso-cycle, the student-researcher facilitated a focus group and explanatory interviews during which the participating teachers shared their impressions about the effects of the training on their teaching and on student learning. The analysis and interpretation of the results obtained seem to show positive effects on the evolution of teachers' professional knowledge and skills and on the reduction of didactic obstacles for secondary school students. Nevertheless, this research had quite a few limitations, mainly because of the small number of participating teachers.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs / Linda P. Thurston / This qualitative case study with multiple participants explored how the perception of campus climate and gender role expectations contributes to Latinas’ persistence at a two-year Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the Midwest. Guided by the work of Hurtado and Carter (1997) and social support theory (Sarason & Sarason, 1985), various aspects of the college experience both inside and outside the classroom were examined. In-depth interviews were conducted in order to gain insight into those viewpoints that influenced the desire to enroll and persist in college and how these perspectives shaped commitment and sense of belonging to the institution. Prominent themes that emerged were: the significance of family support and the need to stay close, the impact of student identity and the importance of positive faculty-student interaction. The results indicated that immigration status, the desire to make family proud, and support from family and instructors that offered words of encouragement served to motivate students to persist and graduate. Additional prominent findings revealed that the perception regarding academic environment including the need for positive academic advising experiences, involvement in organizational memberships, particularly with the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) and activities that embrace the diverse student population and incorporate varying perspectives affect perceptions of campus climate and commitment to the institution. Participants identified those programs and services on campus that best serve the needs of Latinas and have the most impact on a positive college experience. The results contribute to the research addressing campus climate and sense of belonging for Latino/a students overall, and offers unique insights from the perspective of Latinas attending a two-year HSI that is lacking in the body of literature. Implications for practice and future research are identified.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / M. Gail Shroyer / This study was designed to examine one component of impact within a High School Professional Development School (PDS) partnership. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived impact of pre-service teachers on the students they teach and the cooperating teachers who mentor them. More specifically, this study was designed to explore the impact on the learning environment of high school students who were taught by pre-service teachers and the cooperating teachers who mentored them from the perspective of 8 pre-service teachers, 130 high school students, and 8 cooperating teachers. The theoretical framework for this study was based on the concept of an Optimal Learning Environment (National Research Council, 1999). The overarching question for this study was: In what ways do pre-service teachers impact the learning environment of the PDS in which they complete their final clinical experience? Survey and interview data were gathered from participants to explore the perceived impact of the pre-service teachers on the (a) learner centered learning environment, (b) assessment centered learning environment, and (c) knowledge centered learning environment of the high school students and cooperating mentor teachers. The data collected were focused on what the high school students, pre-service teachers and cooperating mentor teachers perceived based on their personal experiences and understanding. The results of this study indicated a perceived positive impact on the learner centered, assessment centered, and knowledge centered learning environments of the high school students and the cooperating mentor teachers from the perspectives of the high school students, pre-service teachers and cooperating mentor teachers. The researcher thus concluded that the pre-service teachers positively impacted the perceived Optimal Learning Environment of the PDS in which they completed their final clinical experience.

Master of Arts / Department of Modern Languages / Douglas Benson / The purpose of this report is to demonstrate mastery of content in the Spanish MA program in Second Language Acquisition at Kansas State University. After graduation from this program, I plan to pursue a career as a high school Spanish teacher. As evidence of content mastery, this report contains my philosophy of education, which emphasizes communicative competence in the Spanish classroom. I discuss best teaching practices in presenting and practicing Spanish vocabulary and grammar with students. The use of the target language and the integration of culture and the four language skills is designed to further my students’ development through the progression of the lesson plan, from warm-up, to input, to the activity sequence, to closure. This report also contains a rationale, or how my philosophy of education directly and specifically applies to my teaching, for a unit plan including daily lessons and related appendices on the subject of the Spanish Civil War, and outlines student learning outcomes for this unit, such as the ability to compare their home culture to the culture of the second language as well as the ability to relate art and literature to the events of the war. The topic of my unit plan is of particular interest to my students and me as wars and violence are a present reality in our world. The secondary focus of my unit plan involves the significant detrimental effects of the Spanish Civil War and well as its specific consequences in the lives of women and children.

Doctor of Education / Department of Educational Leadership / Trudy A. Salsberry / Educational leadership is challenged with meeting the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) of 2001 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004. The focus on accessibility and accountability is resulting in an increase in the number of students with disabilities receiving specialized instruction within the least restrictive environment (LRE) of the general education classroom. To support students in the LRE, many schools are implementing the service delivery model of co-teaching, or pairing a special educator with a general educator, to provide core instruction with appropriate special education services to students with special needs. The purpose of this case study was to investigate what practices of principals are deemed most supportive to teachers engaged in a co-teaching service delivery model. The qualitative, multi-case study was designed to analyze perceptions of district level general education administrators, district level special education administrators, building principals, co-teaching coaches, and co-teaching partners who participated in the Kansas Co-Teaching Initiative. Data were obtained primarily through interviews of the participants. Demographic surveys, building schedules and field notes served as additional information for analysis and the interpretation of the data. The over-arching research question for this study was: “What practices of principals provide the most meaningful support to collaborative co-teaching in the context of the least restrictive environment?” Sheard and Kakabadse’s nine Key Elements of Effective Teams (2002, 2004) formed the framework for the study. These key elements also guided the research sub-questions. Data collected through the study revealed sixty patterns across the key elements of effective teams. When analyzed, the patterns yielded three themes: 1) principals arranged and protected time during the daily schedule for collaboration between co-teaching partners, 2) principals paired co-teachers together with careful consideration for compatibility, and 3) principals established and maintained a culture of professional growth.

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / Marjorie R. Hancock / The purpose of this study was to explore participants' (teachers, students, administrators, and parents) experiences and perceptions regarding the perceived impact a rural high school's one-to-one laptop initiative had on content area literacy, new literacy's, and critical literacy. Through a case study, data were collected through multiple sources and viewpoints to obtain an in-depth perspective of how this rural high school's one-to-one laptop initiative had perceivably impacted teacher's instruction to enhance student learning. Data were collected and analyzed through a blending of direct interpretation and categorical analysis, presenting the following findings. The one-to-one laptop initiative's technology was utilized: (a) by student participants for academic purposes, personal efficiency, and recreational purposes, (b) by teacher participants for educational purposes, and (c) within content area instruction. Resulting from the access to laptop technology, this study documented the purposes of finding information for assignments, facilitating "just in time" learning, and stimulating schema about curricular content. Content area literacy instruction was perceivably effected because of the multiple textual formats the technology provided, and instructional occurrences were documented as developing vocabulary and fostering either content comprehension or reading comprehension. The new literacy's and how they were implemented within the mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies classrooms were discussed. The role of critical literacy was presented in relation to students' sense of agency, and the power dynamic within various content area classes. The majority of participants were documented having a positive perception regarding the one-to-one laptop initiative. Although integration of technology was occurring, there were opportunities lacking that could further develop teachers' instruction to enhance student learning. When considering professional development within schools implementing a one-to-one technology initiative, administrative teams should: (a) consider what will be requisite versus elective technology integration tasks, and (b) ensure professional support is provided to teachers regarding integrating technology within their pedagogical practices. Additionally, teachers should instructionally integrate the technology tools and literacy's that students currently employ. Pedagogically, this study implies that teachers must expand their comfort zones regarding content area literacy, new literacy's, and critical literacy.

Master of Arts / Department of Communication Studies, Theatre, and Dance / Leann M. Brazeal / In this thesis study, the use of group work as an instructional strategy was assessed to determine the effect it has on students’ willingness to communicate, communication apprehension, and self-perceived competence. Students enrolled in a basic public speaking at a major Midwestern university completed Neer’s (1987) Classroom Apprehension about Participation Scale (CAPS) at the beginning of the semester and again four weeks later after being exposed to a treatment of group or no group. Results indicated students’ willingness to communicate and self-perceived competence increased over the four-week duration of the study regardless of treatment. However, a significant reduction of communication apprehension was seen in students using group work in their classrooms. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Ce mémoire de maîtrise propose une séquence didactique travaillant l’enchaînement de phrases par subordination et coordination en vue de favoriser le transfert de connaissances grammaticales en situation de production écrite. Nous avons d’abord fait ressortir que les élèves apprennent et revoient diverses règles de grammaire, mais qu’ils ont une grande difficulté à transférer ces connaissances en contexte d’écriture. Plusieurs chercheurs soulignent la pertinence de décloisonner l’enseignement de la grammaire et de l’écriture (Paret, 1992; Chartrand, 2003; Bilodeau, 2005) pour favoriser le transfert, notamment au moyen de la démarche active de découverte (Chartrand, 1996). Nous nous sommes intéressée à la syntaxe de la phrase, plus précisément à la construction de phrases complexes par enchaînement. Nous considérons les notions grammaticales qui en découlent difficiles pour plusieurs élèves et nous constatons que cet enseignement se fait peu fréquemment et souvent de manière magistrale, sans travailler l’écriture en parallèle. Nous avons donc élaboré une séquence didactique travaillant ces concepts grammaticaux, tout en ayant en tête de favoriser le transfert des notions grammaticales vers un contexte d’écriture. Nous avons ensuite mis à l’essai cette séquence dans un groupe de première secondaire et avons vérifié son efficacité à l’aide d’un prétest et d’un posttest (production écrite). Nous avons pu constater que la séquence didactique expérimentée dans le cadre de ce mémoire produit de bons résultats. Il y a une amélioration notable dans les enchaînements de phrases dans les textes produits par les élèves. Par contre, nous n’avons pas pu conclure que ceux-ci étaient significatifs d’un point de vue statistique. La séquence didactique semble toutefois aider les élèves, même les plus faibles, puisque les entretiens métagraphiques montrent qu’ils ont meilleure compréhension des enchaînements de phrases. / This research proposes a series of lessons for working subordination and coordination. The goal is to foster the transfer of grammar knowledge in writing compositions. First, we have noticed that students learn grammar rules, but they have a great difficulty to tranfer this knowledge in writing contexts. A lot of researchers (Bilodeau, 2005; Paret, 1992; Chartrand, 2003) stress the relevance of breaking the limits of the various domains of the study of French in class (grammar, writing and reading). This “open” approach is seens as helping the transfer of grammatical knowledge, notably with the use of an heuristic approach (cf. Chartrand, 1996). We focused on the syntax of the sentence, more specifically the construction of complex sentences by linking simple sentences together. We consider these grammatical notions as difficult for most of the students at the beginning of «secondary school », and believe that the teaching is too often rare or totally separate from witing. So, we created a series of lesson that aims at working these grammatical concepts, keeping in mind that it is primordial to foster the transfer of grammatical knowledge to writing contexts. We have tested the series of lesson in an experimental group of the first year of secondary school (age 12-13) and we have verified its efficacity using a pretest and a posttest (written composition and interview on the text). By comparing the experimental and the control group, the results of the research show us qualitative (but not quantitative) that the didactic sequence has a positive effect on the experimental group. After an analysis of the results conducted by a professional statistician, we unfortunately could not prove that the sequence has an significant impact on the experimental group.