As teachers and society become more comfortable with various technologies, it is likely that technology will be implemented in all areas of the educational curriculum as well as physical education. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which individual physical education teachers in public schools were using technology as a tool for their students' education. Individuals who were currently teaching physical education in public schools in Indiana completed the Computer Usage Survey on the web (N = 400). To determine types of technology used, potential uses for technology, difference in the implementation of technology by gender and teaching experience, usage of the Internet, and physical educators' attitudes toward technology, statistics including descriptive statistics, Chi-square (X ), and One-way ANOVA were used (p < .05). The results of this study show that physical educators were more likely to use PC computers (both desktop and laptop) over Apple computers. Participant responses demonstrated a high usage of hardware devices such as Printers, hard drives, and CD drives, however, 5.25 floppy drives, external hard drives, Hand-held computers (i.e. Pocket PC or Companion PC), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and smart boards were rarely used by physical educators. A significant positive relationship resulted between use of technology at school and at home. Significant differences were observed between male and female physical educators in types of technology used and purposes for using technology. Use of technology was significantly lower in the experienced physical educators group. Most of the physical educators use the Internet and they usually use it for research and teaching/assessment ideas. Physical educators in Indiana believed that technology has an important role and can enhance their teaching with implementation of technology. The findings of the present study demonstrated that use of technology among physical educators in Indiana has been changed dramatically within 10 years; however, the result emphasized importance of technology training programs for pre-service and in-service physical educators. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The purpose of the study was to determine if the language of the negotiated agreements of Indiana School Corporations was reflected in professional growth and staff development activities. Collective bargaining agreements during 1982-1983 and 1988-1989 from 289 Indiana School Corporations were compared to identify the existence, if any, of (a) a trend in the acknowledgement of professional growth and staff development-related statements found in the contracts, and (b) policy statements delineating how staff development activities and curriculum-related activities were to be conducted in schools. Contract language in which comparisons appeared to be significant were subjected to the Friedman Two-way Analysis of Variance (Friedman ANOVA) to determine whether or not comparisons were statistically significant at the .05 level. Such statistically significant comparisons also helped to determine whether or not school corporations incorporated contract language, which gave instructional staff a legal position in decisions which affected teacher professional growth and participation in curriculum-related matters.Conclusions1. Compared to small enrollment Indiana School Corporations (3,000 students or less), large enrollment Indiana School Corporations (3,001 or more students) were more likely than statistically expected to provide salary compensation for higher levels of teacher education training and sabbatical leave compensation at statistically significant levels of .05 or less, based upon use of the chi-square statistic.2. The research findings failed to support movement toward greater Indiana School Corporation contract language in 1982-1983 and 1988-1989 in most of the specified staff development factors under investigation in the research. Therefore, contrary to the literature which claimed that collective bargaining would be used as a vehicle for staff development change, collective bargaining has not provided structural support for such change among Indiana School Corporations. / Department of Educational Leadership

Beginning school teachers in Indiana in school years 1986-87 and 1987-88 who graduated from Ball State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University, and Purdue University (D=1,607) were studied to determine the relationship of NTE Core Battery subtest scores, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, and undergraduate grade point average (GPA) to beginning teaching effectiveness as measured by the Beginning Teacher Assessment Inventory (BTAI). The BTAI is an inventory listing eight criteria for which a beginning teacher must demonstrate minimal competence in order to complete the Indiana internship requirement. Findings were based on an analysis of data obtained from 663 beginning teachers in 163 Indiana school corporations. No empirical evidence indicated that NTE Core Battery subtest scores provide useful information for predicting beginning teaching effectiveness. Undergraduate grade point average (GPA) provided more accurate predictions of beginning teaching effectiveness than did the NTE Core Batter subtests. The ability of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores to possess a statistically significant relationship with values on the Beginning TeacherAssessment Inventory (BTAI) was not substantiated. Females systematically scored higher than males on the BTAI assessment areas. Results were consistent for graduates from all four major state universities in the study. / Department of Educational Leadership

This study investigated the relationship of the elements of professional development and the attitudes of teachers and principals toward inclusion. Participants in the study were the teachers and principals in Indiana schools designated as "Inclusion Schools" by the Indiana State Legislature in the summer of 1992. Thirty-one schools of the 50 designated schools were approved for data collection. Three hundred ninety teachers and 31 principals responded to the survey instrument.The dependent variables were the attitudes of the participants toward the inclusion process and the concept of inclusion. The independent variables were six characteristics of professional development: design, presenters, location, attendance requirement, when professional development occurred, and how much professional development was received. Additional independent variables were demographic information such as: age, experience, level of education, and if special education classes had been taken at the university.The conclusions of this study for teachers found positive relationships with the dependent variables for inclusion professional development characteristics: design by building based decision making, presentations by special education administrators and staff, the location in the home school, voluntary attendance, and the more professional development the more positive the teachers' attitudes. A negative relationship was found when professional development occurred before inclusion began. The age and experience of the teachers had a negative relationship to positive attitudes toward inclusion.The only positive relationship between the principals' attitudes toward inclusion and professional development found that attitudes were more positive when more professional development was attended. They were positive when the professional development took place before inclusion began. Other findings reflected negative relationships with inclusion professional development characteristics for: location, design, presenters, and attendance requirement. The more inclusion aide support the principals had, the more positive were their attitudes toward inclusion.The teacher findings in this study were supported by literature and prior research findings by the NASBE Study (1992), Miller & Lieberman (1988), Brehm's Reactance Theory (1983-84), and Pearman et. al. (1992).The principal findings were not conclusive and further study should be made to find how inclusion professional development can develop positive principals' attitudes toward inclusion. / Department of Educational Administration and Supervision

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of satisfaction of selected teacher spokespersons toward Indiana Public Law 217, the collective bargaining law for teachers.A survey instrument consisting of forty-six items in five Likert-response categories was mailed to 125 randomly selected teacher spokespersons in Indiana. Space was provided for respondents to write comments or rationale for their answers. Fifty-seven teacher spokespersons responded to the survey.The following rank order was utilized for each of the sections of Indiana Public j 217 ranging from (5) highly dissatisfied, (4) somewhat dissatisfied, (3) neutral, (2) somewhat satisfied to (1) highly satisfied based on the mean scores.Findings1. Selected teacher spokespersons rated four section items between 4.00 and 5.00.2. Of the forty-six section items that were surveyed, seventeen sections were rated between 3.00 and 3.99.3. Negotiators for the teachers ranked seventeen sections of Indiana Public L&7_ between 2.00 and 2.99.4. Eight section items were rated between 1.00 and 1.99 by the teacher spokesperson.Conclusions1. Teacher spokespersons were dissatisfied with the inability to strike and the penalities for unlawful strikes.2. Teacher spokespersons were dissatisfied with the procedures and restrictions governing bargaining and discussions.3. Teacher spokespersons were dissatisfied with the provisions and procedures of fact-finding, arbitration and maintaining a status quo contract.4. Teacher spokespersons were dissatisfied with the sections of the law dealing with the rights of the employer5. Teacher spokespersons were dissatisfied with the stated intent of the law.6. Teacher spokespersons were dissatisfied with the structure and powers of the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.7. Teacher spokespersons were satisfied with the definitions of certificated employees and exclusive representative.8. Teacher spokespersons were satisfied with the procedures of unfair practices as stated in the law.9. Teacher spokesperson were satisfied with the procedures of dues deductions as stated in the law.

The focus of this research is in the area of virtual schooling at the K-12 level, specifically looking into teachers’ perceptions of important traits of teacher effectiveness and student progress in this online learning environment. Such a study is important in Indiana, as this is the first time in public school history when there is now a new choice for students to attend a school such as this. The research is a mixed methods approach utilizing surveys and interviews to gather data. The findings from this research indicate several teacher characteristics are important. Teachers should be communicative, responsive, and manage their time well. Student characteristics considered important are access to computer and Internet, strong support from their family or learning coach, and effective time management skills. A top recommendation emerging from this study is the development of a screener for parents to take before enrollment to determine whether this type of learning environment would be the best fit for their student(s)/child, based on the important student characteristics. Other recommendations emerging from this study included professional development, especially in the areas of technology and communication for the school’s teachers and the relationship with between colleges and universities that prepare teachers that would lead to development of specific training and lab experience in a virtual setting. / Department of Educational Leadership

Public policy and current educational reforms have challenged schools to close the achievement gap for all students, including those with disabilities as required under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. As schools seek to implement sound instructional practices for students, technology has become a dominant force in schools and society. The focus of improving instruction and meeting the needs of diverse learners has not yet blended with the technology capabilities that are more readily available in schools. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) seeks to build an inherent flexibility into the curriculum and to utilize technology to accommodate diverse learners. The purpose of this study was to analyze how UDL training impacted school personnel’s perceptions of inclusion, instruction, student engagement, and the use of technology to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners. The sample consisted of faculty from 50 Indiana schools, and analysis was completed based on respondents’ level of UDL training. Significant differences were found in perceptions that the primary responsibility for accommodating classroom activities for students with disabilities lies with the special education teacher, as well as whether accommodations designed for students with disabilities create increased opportunities for all learners. Significant differences were also found in how technology is used to provide choice and flexibility to students and differentiate instruction. There were significant differences in faculty perceptions that choice and technology impacted students’ levels of engagement. Significant differences were found among variables based on respondents’ categorization as general education or special education, as well as categorization as administrators or teachers. / Department of Special Education

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which preservice elementary education students participating in Ball State University's Urban Education Semester would evidence a change in attitudes toward multicultural teaching and learning based on their experiences in the program. A treatment group of 22 Urban Semester participants was compared to a control group of 21 preservice teachers engaged in coursework and field experience in a traditional, on-campus setting. Employing a case study approach, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to explore the phenomenon under investigation.The qualitative aspect of the study examined treatment and control group pretest and posttest scores on the Teacher Multicultural Attitude Survey (TMAS) (Ponterotto, Baluch, Grieg, & Rivera, 1998), to ascertain the extent to which attitudes would change as a result of curricular and experiential treatments. A follow-up administration of the TMAS occurred approximately six weeks following the intervention to determine the extent to which attitude change in the treatment group was either lasting or transitory in nature. The treatment group evidenced a highly significant difference in pretest / posttest scores on the TMAS (p = 0.002**), and the change was retained in follow-up measures.Qualitative methodology included analysis of student journals, content of two focus groups conducted throughout the semester, student discussion observed in Ball State courses, and personal interviews conducted at the end of the Urban experience. Analysis revealed common themes including the importance of direct experience with diversity, personal reflection, professional mentoring and teaching opportunities for student multicultural growth. Additionally, the experience served to dispel myths and stereotypes regarding urban teaching and encouraged movement from a color denial perspective to an appreciation for and respect of cultural differences.The present study illustrates the potential of curricular intervention to alter student attitudes toward multicultural teaching and learning. Implications for the development of initiatives geared toward this end include the importance of cultural immersion, opportunities for personal reflection, infusion of multicultural content across curricular areas, and carefully planned student / mentor teacher pairings in order to affect such change. / Department of Elementary Education

The purposes of the study were to examine: (1) the opinions of the lay faculty and the administrators regarding the role of the lay faculty in academic governance; (2) the importance of selected internal devices and impediments that facilitate or hinder lay faculty participation; and (3) the influence of the Vatican II decrees regarding lay faculty participation in governance. The population for the study consisted of 154 full time lay faculty and 31 administrators from 5 Catholic colleges in Indiana.The principal research instrument was a seventy item questionnaire directed at obtaining responses to a series of forced-choice decisional activities and encouraging written commentaries illustrating some basic issues in Catholic college governance practices. A visit to each college and a review of the college publications supplemented the responses received in the questionnaire.The principal analytical method employed was a t-test of independent groups at .05 level of probability applied to the means and standard deviations of the response on the decisional activities in Part One of the questionnaire. Percentages and the means were calculated for the responses in Part Two which was concerned with the importance of selected variables that facilitated or hindered lay faculty participation in governance. Percentages were also used in Part Three, demographic information, to construct a profile of the lay faculty and administrators at Catholic colleges. A review of the literature supplemented the statistical analysis of the data.The data were reported under the following divisions:1. Part One - The responses on the twenty-nine decisional activities concerning academic affairs, student affairs, personal and financial affairs, and public-alumni affairs were statistically analyzed to examine the difference in opinions between the lay faculty and the administration.2. Part Two - Means and percentages were employed in ranking the importance of selected variables that facilitate or hinder lay faculty participation in governance.3. Part Three - A profile was constructed using such factors as age, sex, highest degree held, years at the college, and rank to compare the lay faculty and the administrators at the Catholic colleges in the study.4. Narrative summaries supplemented the data reported in tables in each part of the study.The findings of the study support the following conclusions:1. The faculty and administrators indicated that the faculty role was more predominant in the academic affairs than in areas of student affairs, personal and financial affairs, public and alumni affairs.2. The administrators felt that the faculty role in academic governance was greater than the role indicated by the faculty.3. There were similarities in the findings of this study as compared to the findings in the Archie Dykes and American Association of University Professors studies Similarities were noted in the predominance of the faculty role in academic affairs and the predominance of the administrators role in the area of financial affairs.4. In rating the usefulness of the participatory devices, the most important finding was that, except for departmental meetings and faculty senate, none of the devices were rated very high in providing opportunities for meaningful faculty participation.5. Ranked last among the devices, the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors, was nonetheless, viewed as having some usefulness in affecting faculty participation.6. The feelings that too much time was spent in meetings and committees belaboring various points, and faculty apathy, were ranked as the two most important factors inhibiting faculty participation in academic governance.7. The Vatican II decrees were viewed as exerting a mild influence upon the implementation of faculty participation in academic governance.8. The governing boards of the Catholic colleges were viewed, by the majority of the respondents, as being unavailable to the faculties.9. A majority of the respondents indicated that they were not aware of the colleges adopting the American Association of University Professors Statement on Governance.

The purpose of the study was to obtain the judgments of superintendents, principals and teachers toward instructional leadership competencies for middle school principals.A questionnaire containing thirty-two instructional leadership competency statements was mailed to 796 teachers, 120 principals and 120 superintendents randomly selected from Indiana school corporations. Respondents were asked to select the level of need and actual demonstration for each competency statement. Judgments were obtained as to how each referent group viewed the way the principal should be functioning and how the principal was actually functioning in the area of instructional leadership.Returns were divided into four enrollment categories and questionnaires from principals with less than three years experience in the position were not utilized for the study. A total of 300 teachers or thirty-eight percent, sixty-two principals or fifty-two percent and sixty-eight superintendents or fifty-seven percent completed usable questionnaires.The results were analyzed by using Kendall's W and Spearmans Rank Order Correlation Coefficient in order to answer the following research questions.1. What instructional leadership competencies as provided in the questionnaire were judged by superintendents, principals and teachers to be needed for middle school principals?2. What instructional leadership competencies as provided in the questionnaire were judged by superintendents, principals and teachers as actually being demonstrated by middle school principals?3. What was the extent of agreement among superintendents, principals and teachers concerning instructional leadership competencies as they presently were judged to exist and as the competencies ought to exist for middle school principals?4. What dimension of the instructional leadership competencies--technical, human, conceptual--was judged by superintendents, principals and teachers to be significantlymore important?5. Were the instructional leadership competencies of the middle school principalship in a small middle school judged to be significantly different than those observed in larger middle schools?Findings indicated there was significant agreement among teachers, principals and superintendents as to needed and actually demonstrated instructional leadership competencies for middle school principals. Competencies in the areas of staff selection, assignment and supervision of teachers were ranked in the top ten needed competencies.The results indicated a need for principals to possess skills more from the conceptual and technical dimension rather than from the human dimension.The evidence further indicated significant agreement between the competencies needed and demonstrated by principals in small middle schools when compared to the instructional leadership competencies needed and demonstrated by principals in larger middle schools.