This program evaluation, which used the context-input-process-product program evaluation model (Stufflebeam, 2003, 2010), was implemented within a suburban elementary school. The problem addressed through the evaluation was that the Habits of Mind program (Costa & Kallick, 2000a, 2000b, 2009b), which was implemented as the character education program at the study site in the 2008-2009 academic year, had not been evaluated. By conducting the study, the researcher evaluated the program to determine its effectiveness in promoting academic achievement and appropriate school behaviors. By conducting the evaluation, the researcher identified 4 findings suggesting that the (a) need exists to ensure the fidelity with which the intervention is implemented, (b) academic performance of students in Grades 3 and 4 improved while the intervention was ongoing, (c) behavioral performance of students in kindergarten through Grade 3 improved during program implementation, and (d) viability of sustaining and implementing a character development program with integrity will require the concerted effort of all staff members. Recommendations for educational practice are to (a) continue implementing the Habits of Mind program (Costa & Kallick, 2000a, 2000b, 2009b), (b) include members of the support team and parents in a training event during the present school year, and (c) provide ongoing training to teachers as well as recognition of related practices noted through supervisory observations. It is further recommended that the school principal identify a viable approach for assisting members of the school leadership team in the development of skills for recognizing and managing the conflict presently occurring among teachers. It is also recommended that members of the leadership team address the stated concerns of teachers in their questionnaire responses. Two recommendations for future research were identified. First, it is recommended that additional research on Habits of Mind at nearby elementary schools be conducted to determine the integral processes through which the program is implemented within other settings. Second, it is recommended that the level of student understanding involving the 16 components of Habits of Mind be identified and then the findings be used to guide future program development.

Strategies for Improving Instruction for English Language Learners and Culturally Diverse Student Populations. Turanza D. Jackson, 2014: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. ERIC Descriptors: English (Second Language), Multicultural Education, Cultural Awareness, English Language Learners This applied dissertation was designed to determine effective strategies that promote academic success for high school students of diverse cultural populations, particularly students learning English. Many ineffective strategies used by teachers in English-language classrooms also lack the culturally accepting element. Students from various sociocultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds are experiencing limited academic engagement because of educators’ deficiency in cultural perspectives. The problem addressed was the need to improve educational opportunities and academic engagement for English language learner (ELL) students and the diverse needs of students from various cultural backgrounds. A qualitative research design was conducted by examining the instructional methods and leadership practices of participating faculty and staff at a high school servicing ELL students and culturally diverse student populations. This research design focused on understanding strategies for improved performance of ELL students and diverse student populations in the teaching and learning environment with particular interest on how faculty were engaged in using specific strategies. Through the collection of interview, documentation, and observational data, detailed conceptual theory was developed. A constant comparative analysis of the data revealed 5 themes that support existing theories in the literature: student engagement, classroom strategies, environmental conditions, teacher–student relationships, and challenges that impede performance. This study resulted in 3 main conclusions. First, a strong relationship exists between students’ increased classroom engagement and improved student performance. Next, student engagement is influenced by 4 main practices selected by teachers: grouping, relevant topics, collaboration, and differentiation. Finally, 3 factors that greatly affect student performance are relationship dynamics, cultural perceptions, and external challenges.

This research study is designed to take an initial step in the direction of determining whether cooperative office education programs are more effective in teaching clerical skills, in preparing students for office employment, and in helping them to achieve employment and job success than classroom-laboratory training in office skills alone.

Research examining the actual practice and methods of group parent trainers has not kept pace with the great amount of literature on "how-to-parent” theory. In this study, 23 group parent trainees throughout the Willamette Valley in Oregon were interviewed to determine the characteristics of their groups in terms of numbers of parents in each group, length of groups, fees charged, teaching methods used, parenting approaches taught. Their general concerns and opinions about the parent training field were also elicited. The support aspects of the parent groups were recognized as integral to parent training's effectiveness. The organizational structure of the groups and the teaching methods employed by the trainers appeared to emphasize the supportive functions of the groups. Very limited success was realized with educating involuntary clients on a group basis. It appears that attempts to educate wider numbers of parents will have to be accomplished on a voluntary basis. Outcome studies documenting group parent education's effectiveness are needed.

The present study investigated the effects of public progress charts on self-pacing in a social studies course taught by the PSI method in a middle school (grades 5-8). It was found that public progress charts significantly enhanced a student's rate of progress, t(45) = 5.06, p < .01. Student satisfaction with the PSI method was measured and it was found that students liked the PSI method.

It is the purpose of this study to investigate the relationship between the reading comprehension and the verbal problem solving in arithmetic in each of the low, average and high ability groups of pupils in grades three, five and seven in the Arden Carmichael Elementary Union School District, and to determine the means and variability of achievement in the reading comprehension and the verbal problem solving in arithmetic.

I denna uppsats görs en jämförelse mellan läromedel i spanska för nybörjare. Betoningen ligger på grammatik och länderkunskap. / This essay presents a comparasion between different educational materials for beginners in Spanish. The author emphasizes grammar and knowledge about the Spanish speaking countries.

The primary purpose of the study was to measure the influence of high school social studies teachers upon the economic and civil liberties attitudes of their twelfth grade students. Additionally, peer group influence, and influences, related to the sex role and to social class were measured.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there were significant differences in student success in face-to-face and online biology courses as categorized by gender, major, and age; and as measured by lecture grades, lab grades, and final course grades. The data used for analyses included data from 170 face-to-face sections and 127 online sections from a biology course during the fall and spring semesters beginning fall 2008 through spring 2011. Researchers have reported mixed findings in previous studies juxtaposing online and face-to-face course delivery formats, from no significant differences to differences in grades, learning styles, and satisfaction levels. Four research questions guided this study with data analysis involving t-tests for independent groups and chi-square tests. This researcher noted significant differences in the results of this study: grades, success rates by gender, success rates by health and nonhealth majors, and nontraditional age (≥25) success rate were higher for students in the face-to-face courses; and the attrition rate was higher for students in the online course sections. There was no significant difference found in the success rate for traditional age (<25) students in the face-to-face sections compared to those in the online sections.

There exists a need to promote better Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education at the high school level. To satisfy this need a series of hands-on laboratory assignments were created to be accompanied by 2 educational trainers that contain various electronic components. This project provides an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach to teaching C programming that meets several standards defined by the Tennessee Board of Education. Together the trainers and lab assignments also introduce key concepts in math and science while allowing students hands-on experience with various electronic components. This will allow students to mimic real world applications of using the C programming language while exposing them to technology not currently introduced in many high school classrooms. The developed project is targeted at high school students performing at or above the junior level and uses the Arduino Mega open-source Microprocessor and software as the primary control unit.