There is no abstract available for this thesis.

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of integrated art-science curricula upon remediation of the misconception held by elementary students that humans are not animals. Quantitative instruments were designed to measure and assess: (1) the existence of the misconception within the test population; (2) the degree to which the misconception existed within grade levels and treatment groups within grade levels; (3) the degree to which any positive level of remediation is achieved; and (4) evaluation of the experimental curricula by participating faculty. Qualitative instruments were applied to measure and assess the reasoning process applied by students for the formation of and any degree of change in the targeted misconception.Two hundred and forty-two students, in grades one, three and five, from a rural elementary school in east central Indiana participated. Enrolllment of students in individual classrooms was accomplished by administration policy of random assignment. Classrooms, by grade level, were randomly assigned to treatment groups by the researcher.Students in control groups at each grade level were instructed according to established curricula of the school. Students in experimental animal science groups were instructed through specifically designed hands-on science activities with the art component being the school's established curriculum. Students in experimental animal art groups were instructed according to specifically designed art activities incorporating observations made during science lessons, with the science component being the school's established curriculum. Students in the both treatment groups received instruction combining the experimental animal science and experimental animal art curricula.Results indicated that students instructed from the experimental curricula demonstrated remediation of the misconception, with students in the both treatment groups of each grade level demonstrating the highest degree of remediation. Students in control groups failed to demonstrate any level of significant remediation while actually demonstrating an increase in the degree to which the misconception was held.Implications presented by the data indicate interdisciplinary approaches to learning to be far more effective in establishing higher levels of comprehension and understanding. Through the combination of the innate behaviorial characteristics of elementary students and the connecting relationships of academic disciplines, presentation of instructional materials will generate higher levels of interest and enthusiasm within both students and teachers. The resultant effect being a more positive learning environment and an increase in achievement. / Department of Biology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term Hands-On, Minds-On science process skills on the acquisition of general readiness to learn by kindergarten children.Three null hypotheses were formulated to examine differences between the scores of an experimental group of kindergarten children who had engaged in Hands-On, Minds-On science process investigation and a control group of kindergarten children who had not engaged in such investigation. The students engaged in approximately eight hours of science process investigation. Differences due to sex were examined in Hypothesis II. Differences which may be attributed to student ability as measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were examined in Hypothesis III.A fourth factor, class effect was also examined.The research utilized a modified Posttest-Only Control Group design. The posttest was the California Achievement Test, Level 10, Form E.The participants for the study were 86 kindergarten students from four intact classes. The control group was comprised of 47 students and the experimental group a total of 39 students. These students attended a small rural school corporation with a enrollment of approximately 1,240 students.The use of the Wilk's Lambda Multivariate Tests of Significance yielded the following information at the .05 level of significance:No significant difference was found between children who had or had not engaged in Hands-On, Minds-On science process instruction. The significance of F between the two groups was .106.No significant difference was found based on sex differences of the students who participated in this study. The significance of F between males and females was .917.A significant difference was found between high and low ability students who participated in this study. The significance of F to three places, between the two groups was .000.A four-way univariate analysis of variance analogous to the multivariate analysis was performed on each component of the vector (Visual Recognition, Sound Recognition, Reading Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Language Expression, and Mathematics) and tested at the .05 level of significance. The results indicated that each component of the vector was significant at the .05 level with the independent variable ability.Based on the researcher's findings recommendations for further research were made. Two of the most promising were increased science time for student participation and development of a test which measures a broader spectrum of the curriculum, including science. / Department of Elementary Education

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

The main purpose of this research was to establish how the theory of variation could be used as a resource to enhance learning in Economic and Management Sciences. In the process three specific interdependent research questions were addressed: firstly "how can we develop among learners a good understanding of a particular topic in EMS, for example how the price or value of the Rand is determined on the Foreign Exchange market? secondly "how can the theory of variation be used as a tool for learners to experience the object of learning in a particular way?"; and lastly, "How can the use of a learning study help educators to improve their teaching and make a particular kind of learning possible?" The study utilised pre-test-post-test retention design experiment in phenomenographic studies. A learning study tool within the variation theory of learning was incorporated into a series of grade nine classroom-learning activities on foreign exchange market operation. 361 learners participated in the study. Three main findings were established. Firstly an outcome space was found which contained four qualitatively different ways of experiencing the determination of the Rand price/value on the foreign exchange market. Secondly there was a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test in learning outcome of the understanding of Rand price determination. This was demonstrated using t-test at p-value of 0.000, followed by Levene's t-test for equality of variance test. Thirdly, the results showed an educationally significant improvement in learners' understanding of the EMS concept, through the application of a learning study tool in the variation theory of learning The study therefore supports the role of the theory of variation of learning, which means that learning to see something in a particular way is a function of experiencing simultaneous variation in critical aspects of the object of learning. Educators identify the critical aspects related to different ways of understanding of a particular object of learning, and to design the patterns of variation, or create the space of variation consciously with respect to these critical aspects. / (PhD) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

The purpose of this study was to develop and test an audio-tutorial, independent study program on simple machines to meet the individual needs of elementary in-service teachers. The research was designed to determine how well in-service teachers could learn the specific content involved using this particular approach. Advantage was taken of the teaching skills and methods which teachers employ in their own classes. Pre- and post-tests of the Smith Mechanic Test were administered.Two samples were drawn from the population of elementary teachers in the Science 590 extension and summer classes at Ball State University. There was a control group of twenty-nine elementary teachers and an experimental group of forty-eight elementary teachers. The experimental group used the audio-tutorial program. The control group received classroom instruction over the specific content involved. The difference in means between groups was examined for significance using a two-tailed t-test. No significant difference was found on the pre-test. A significant difference beyond the 0.01 level was found on the post-test (t = 2.87, 75 d.f.). Each group was considered separately for significance in the mean gain. The control group showed significance at the 0.05 level (t = 2.05, 28 d.f.). The experimental group showed significance beyond the 0.001 level (t = 13.54, 47 d.f.). It was concluded that the audio-tutorial program afforded a much better mode for practice over the specific content involved than did classroom instruction. It was recommended that the program be used in conjunction with elementary pupils in order to measure any increase in teacher competency more accurately; that the program be used in a teaching situation other than the extension class in order to measure retention; that the program be used as one mode of presentation in the Science 590 classes; and that administrators institute this program into schools as part of continuing in-service training.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine what a national public science educator does when attempting to educate the general public. This investigation was conducted with the goal of expanding the literature on the treatment of science in multimedia to include descriptive work on whom the general public goes to learn science. The science educator's work in radio, television, and print were explored through interview and content analyses with themes and patterns emerging. The educator appeared to apply a loose formula of keeping a finger on the public's pulse, exhibiting scientific rigor, using variables and techniques such as props and demonstrations, including elements of popular culture, inserting interesting facts, injecting humor, and telling stories.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-246). / Microfiche. / xvii, 246 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm