The purpose of this study was to describe students' perceptions of their classroom in which HyperCard is used and to compare it to a non-HyperCard environment in which no HyperCard is or has been used. The participants were 67 fifth-grade students from four intact classrooms from the same school in a large, urban, midwestern city.A non-randomized control-group versus treatment group design was used. In this design preassembled groups were selected and given an environmental perception instrument and then compared for similarity on the five dependent measures: cohesiveness, friction, difficulty, satisfaction, and competitiveness.Specifically, the statistical design was a two factor MANOVA examining each of two levels (classroom type and gender), and five dependent measures corresponding to the five scales of the Mv Class Inventory, (MCI). Eleven null hypotheses were tested at the .05 level of significance.In this study, students' perceptions of the non-HyperCard utilizing classroom learning environments were compared to classroom environments utilizing HyperCard. Four fifth-grade classrooms were examined: two classrooms utilizing HyperCard and two non-HyperCard classrooms.The following results were reported:1. Multivariate tests of significance for Sex by Group effect found no interaction (p. = .274) Multivariate Analysis (MANOVA) of the differences between boys and girls as measured jointly on the subscales of the found no significant differences (with F [5,59] = .91, p = .483).2. Multivariate tests of the differences between groups, as measured jointly on the subscales of the MCI, found significant differences (with F [5,59] = 5.34, p - .000).The researcher concluded that HyperCard classrooms present new and more difficult challenges that are not addressed in similar and familiar ways.Recommendations for further research included longitudinal studies that would ascertain how students' perceptions of their classroom environment change over a period of time. Additional research might examine the effects a more time-intensive HyperCard program has on students' perceptions of their environment. / Department of Elementary Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of reading aloud nonfiction science trade books on the attitudes toward science and the book selection habits of students in the elementary classroom. Gender differences among attitude and book selection were also explored.The school district chosen as the site for the research was located in a small Midwestern town with a population of about 32,000. The community consisted of people with diverse socioeconomic status and cultural backgrounds. Four teachers and 73 third grade students participated in the study. Complete data was available for 60 students.The four classrooms were randomly divided into two groups, those listening to science nonfiction trade books for twenty minutes each day for six weeks and those listening to nonscience books for twenty minutes each day for six weeks. An attitudinal survey was administered at the beginning and the end of the study. The percentage of science books versus other types of books was monitored for the six week period.The analysis of data revealed that students who were read the science nonfiction books chose a greater percentage of science books when checking out books from the library than did the students who were read nonscience books. There was no difference in the percentage of books selected by girls compared with those selected by boys. Results also showed a very slight increase in positive attitude toward science as a result of listening to science books during read-aloud sessions. There was no significant difference in the attitudes of the girls compared to the boys who were read science books. / Department of Elementary Education

The purpose of this study was to examine how participation in an academic and behavioral remediation summer camp impacts broad adaptive behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders. Adaptive behavior was measured by administering the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition (ABAS-II; Harrison & Oakland, 2002) to the parents of a sample of 23 children whose ages ranged from 5 years, 10 months to 11 years, 4 months. Adaptive behavior was assessed prior the beginning of camp and again during the last week of camp. Repeated measures ANOVA and repeated measures MANOVA were conducted to assess whether significant changes in adaptive behavior were observed. Results from these analyses indicated statistically significant changes in adaptive behavior were not observed, but the MANOVA indicated there was a significant interaction between time and gender. Although significant improvement in adaptive behavior was not observed, there also were no significant decreases in adaptive behavior. Additionally, clinical significance was assessed using reliable change indexes (RCI). These analyses suggested most children did not exhibit clinically significant changes in adaptive behavior. Results also were mixed with three children reportedly exhibiting clinically significant increases and two children reportedly exhibiting clinically significant decreases in adaptive behavior. Suggestions for future research include using a control or comparison group, obtaining larger sample size, using multiple measures of adaptive behavior, and obtaining observations of adaptive behavior from multiple sources. / Department of Special Education

The transition from elementary to middle school is a significant period of change for adolescents and is remarkable for several reasons, including the opportunity for new experiences and the potential for other developmental changes to occur simultaneously. Existing literature on transition includes both positive and negative outcomes for adolescents in areas of achievement, peer relations, self-esteem, and self concept, with gender differences including more negative outcomes for girls. The possibility of multiple transitions occurring simultaneously (i.e. puberty and academic transition), along with literature suggesting that the elimination of the middle school model and replacing it with a K-8 building configuration would reduce negative student outcomes, provided the rationale for the current study: an examination of early adolescents either making an academic transition following the fourth grade or remaining in a K-8 building, and the potential influence on self concept. In addition, student perceptions of school related issues were surveyed. A repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance revealed no significant interactions of time and either group status or gender on self concept. The information from the student perception survey suggested students in the Transition group were more likely to report school as being very different before and after transition. Environmental factors, such as having a locker and more choices in the cafeteria, were more important to students than making new friends or facing increased difficulty in academics. The findings of the current study lend support to academic transition occurring at an earlier age and suggest a greater emphasis on environmental aspects of transition and protective factors in facilitating positive outcomes. / Department of Educational Psychology

Poverty, specifically child poverty, has been an area of great concern impacting the United States for decades (Chen & Corak, 2008; Douglas-Hall & Chau, 2008; Fajth & Holland, 2007; Germany, 2007; Raphael, 2005; Wight, Chau & Aratani, 2010; Wilson, 2010). This paper explores the differing views, experiences and perceptions of poverty through interviews with three impoverished families: one child and mother each located in an (1) urban (2) suburban and (3) rural community. By looking at children and parents living in impoverished homes in diverse neighborhoods I sought to investigate the societal, social, and emotional perceptions and experiences of children and parents living in urban, suburban, and rural poverty. Children between the ages of 6 and 7 years old were interviewed, as were their mothers, utilizing a qualitative, case study methodology. Research found parental themes of overall concern regarding child well-being due to past personal and peer experiences, a fear of the future, and the differences in variations of family, community, and financial support. Child themes included an awareness of the financial burdens of their families, knowledge of crime and violence and perceptions of wealth and home. / Department of Elementary Education

The purpose of this study is to explore preschool children&rsquo / s attitudes towards environmental issues in terms of consumption patterns, environmental protection, recycling-reusing, and living habits and to investigate gender as a factor affecting environmental attitudes. The sample of the study is comprised of 40 preschool age children living in Ankara, Turkey. The research has been realized by qualitative design and the data were collected through interviews. The interview questionnaire was adapted from

This study reports on an investigation of the effects of busing on the academic performance and selected school-related attitudes of white fourth- and fifth-grade students in urban elementary schools. The 900 subjects of this study included 169 fourth-grade bused white students, 298 fourth-grade non-bused white students, 189 fifth-grade bused white students, and 264 fifth-grade non-bused white students, all assigned to desegregated schools. Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions were drawn. 1) When middle-class, white fourth-grade students are bused to desegregated schools similar to their neighborhood schools, they can be expected to sustain positive attitudes about school and self. 2) The achievement made by fourth-grade bused white students in desegregated schools can be anticipated to be equivalent to the achievement of non-bused white students in desegregated neighborhood schools. 3) When middle-class, white fifth-grade students are bused to desegregated schools similar to their neighborhood schools, they can be expected to sustain positive attitudes about school and self. 4) The achievement made by fifth-grade bused white students in desegregated schools can be anticipated to be equivalent to the achievement of non-bused white students in desegregated neighborhood schools. 5) The effects of busing on middle-class, white fourth- and fifth-grade students transported to environments similar to their former schools appear unrelated to school achievement and attitudinal factors toward school.

The incidence of autism has increased tremendously over the past 20 years; however, the tools used for diagnosis and educational identification have largely remained the same. Diagnostic and educational decisions are based on observations and interactions to identify hallmark skill deficits associated with autism. Research demonstrates behaviors are affected by the environment, and real-time data collection is more accurate than reflective methods. The problem is current autism diagnostic and educational identification tools lack essential features. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), considered the gold standard, relies on contrived settings, and lacks an observational comparison to same aged peers. Autism behavior rating scales, rely on reflective data collection, and are not context specific. The purpose of this study was to gain feedback from stakeholders (clinicians, educators, parents) about the perceived efficacy and feasibility of a context-specific autism behavior rating tool with real time data collection methods for diagnosis and educational planning. Results showed stakeholders confirmed the perceived efficacy of the context-specific tool for improved accuracy for diagnosis, more specific information for educational planning, and increased understanding for parents to support their child's learning needs. Even though the tool was useful, stakeholder feedback also indicated the tool lacked feasibility for teacher use and may be better suited for administration by school psychologists or other trained professionals. The increased specificity and accuracy provided by a context-specific autism behavior rating tool has the potential to affect the future of autism evaluations and educational planning; thereby influencing the future life function of individuals with autism.

This study investigated the implications of using computers in the writing process. The purpose was to determine whether there was a difference between two groups in their editing and revising techniques and their attitude towards writing. It was hypothesized that students who had had three years experience with computer writing would use more sophisticated forms of editing and would feel more positive toward writing than those students who had only a single year of writing with the computer. Two groups of seventh-grade students were identified: the One-year Group consisted of students who had one year of keyboard training and one year of experience with a word processor; the Three-year Group consisted of students who had a minimum of three years of keyboard training and a minimum of three years experience with a word processor. The students had all attended schools within the same district for the past three years. A group of grade-six students were trained as observers. They were given two training sessions, first observing a videotape and then observing another student. About 150 students were trained and the best 60 were used to observe the grade sevens for the study. Each writing group spent one forty-minute period composing an essay on the computer while being observed by the grade-six students. The observers tallied the editing and revising actions that were employed by the two writing groups. The editing activities of the two groups were compared. The grade-seven students were also given a writing opinion survey. Both groups had a positive attitude but there was no significant difference in their attitude toward writing. Three levels of editing are normally discerned (Kurth and Stromberg, 1987; Hillocks, 1987): surface, lexical, and phrase/sentence. The One-year Group made significantly more typing corrections but there was no difference in overall surface editing. The Three-year group did significantly more lexical and phrase/sentence editing. In this way, students with more word-processing experience exhibit an editing style that is characteristic of better writers. / Education, Faculty of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to gather insights about the thoughts, feelings, and knowledge children had about the skill of throwing. Interviews, conducted with 54 children enrolled in two different schools, served as the primary data collection source. Information concerning their knowledge of the biomechanical throwing cues was gathered using a written test. The children were involved in two different physical education programs. One physical education program was taught using the skills theme approach and the other used a traditional approach. Questions guiding the study included asking the children how they felt about how they were learning to throw, what they liked and disliked about their throwing experiences in their physical education classes, and how important they thought it was to learn to throw. Children were also asked to describe and demonstrate the correct way to throw a ball. Assertions were formed using interpretive research. These assertions framed and organized the results section of the study. Results indicated that the children taught using the skills themes approach were more knowledgeable about the skill of throwing and they attributed their throwing knowledge to their physical education teacher. The children taught using a traditional approach showed little knowledge about throwing and they relied on others, not their physical education teacher, to teach them about throwing. Additional results revealed that all of the children said throwing was an important skill to learn and the way to improve throwing performance was to practice. Implications for teaching throwing are offered. / Master of Science