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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This thesis discusses the use of film in the composition classroom. It is divided into four chapters: The Argument, The Audience, Film as a Pedagogical Tool, and The Future. Chapter One (the Argument) discusses the different ideas about using media in the classroom, and how it is good practice to do so. New ideas on teaching from education expert Ken Bain (What the Best College Teachers Do) are presented. Bain suggests that as long as the instructor is confident in his or her subject, any innovative thing they do in class is all right. Malcolm Gladwell’s ideas from The Tipping Point are applied to the classroom: the Law of the Few, Connectors, Mavens, Salesmen, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. Presentations couched within a Gladwell frame can prove to be extraordinarily effective. Chapter Two (the Audience) analyzes the Millennial students, and discusses their views on learning and media. These students see learning as a commodity and view modern media with a bit of contempt. Therefore, to use media in the classroom the instructor must be innovative. Chapter Three (Film as a Pedagogical Tool) examines various different applications of film use in the classroom. It also looks in depth at using David Mamet’s films in the classroom, especially Glengarry Glen Ross, The Edge, and The Verdict, which use classical structure to persuade and argue. Chapter Four (The Future) looks at the work of Howard Gardner and his theory five minds: the Disciplined Mind, the Synthesizing Mind, the Creative Mind, the Respectful Mind, and the Ethical Mind and how we must prepare to teach to them all. In the conclusion I posit that the students of today and the students of tomorrow will require new and innovative techniques to be taught effectively, and that film is versatile and flexible enough to do it.

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Three methods of training procedural tasks were studied. Forty-five high aptitude and fourth-five low aptitude Naval trainees from the Basic Electronics and Electricity School, Orlando, Florida, were given training with either a programmed instruction text with a pictorial-print information presentation format, or a standard narrative text. The effects of instructional method and aptitude on the performance of a procedural task after 1 1/2 hours of study and after on week's time were evaluated. It was shown that subjects who studied the programmed instruction text with the pictorial-print information presentation format made significantly (p<.0001) fewer performance errors, immediately after study and after one week, than did the subjects who studied the other methods. It was also shown that high aptitude subjects performed significantly (p<.0001) better than low aptitude subjects, regardless of training method. However, it was found that the low aptitude subjects who studied the programmed instruction text with the pictorial-print information presentation format performed significantly (p < 0.1) better than the low aptitude subjects who studied the other materials. These low aptitude subjects who studied the other materials. These low aptitude subjects also performed significantly (p < .01) better than the high aptitude subjects who studied the standard narrative text.

This study examined the ways in which diagrams and texts were used to teach verbal chains and other forms of cyclical information. One hundred twenty-nine college students were randomly assigned to one of four stimulus treatments and a comprehension test. The four treatments conditions were: Text Only (Control), Diagram Only, Text with Instructive Questions, and Diagram with Instructive Questions. Flow diagrams were more effective than texts as a presentation type when teaching cyclical information. The groups that studied diagrams scored significantly higher on the comprehension test than the groups that studied texts §(1,125) = 22.44, p < .05. However, instructive questions used as prompts or as study organizers did not enhance the instructional effectiveness of diagrams or texts. The groups that received instructive questions as an adjunct to the presentation mode scored significantly lower on the comprehension test than the groups that did not receive the adjunct questions F(1, 125) = 8.14, p < .05. Further analysis indicated no interaction among the independent variables. It was concluded that flow diagrams are more effective than text when teaching verbal chains. / Ed. D.

A particularistic case study was designed to investigate how portfolio assessment contributed to teachers’ instructional decision-making. Four fifth grade teachers and twenty-four fifth grade students were selected as the participants for this case study. The dual role of teacher as instructional leader and assessor was examined. Data were collected from classroom and team observations, formal and informal interviews, document analysis, audiotapes, and team planning sessions. This study demonstrated the empowerment and autonomy that teachers developed during their experience with portfolio assessment. Teachers increased their authority related to instructional decision-making, initiating self and student change, and empowering students. Analyzing student writing samples and creating benchmarks inductively derived from their own students’ writing samples provided teachers with an active role in determining the instructional focus. Teachers increased their level of decision-making through collaborative idea sharing, brainstorming sessions, and peer encouragement. They transferred these skills to other areas. The change in teachers’ instructional practices was gradual and evolutionary. The decision-making processes that the teachers underwent were context dependent and were directly related to their analysis of student writing portfolios. The monthly portfolio assessment sessions served as the catalyst for change. Teachers developed instructional adaptations and modifications based upon specific areas of student need. This process resulted in changes in the following areas: instruction, assessment, attitude, student expectations, and philosophy. The integration between assessment and instruction resulted in authentically designed experiences for students. Gradually, teachers shifted their cognitive exploration techniques from concrete to abstract techniques. The expectations for decision-making also shifted from teacher ownership to student ownership. A socialization process emerged whereby students assumed more ownership and direction for their own learning. An integrated instructional/assessment system was developed for the students which paralleled the system that was created and used by the teachers. Students inductively derived their own benchmarks based upon their own writing. As a final step toward student empowerment, metacognitive strategies were utilized by having each student evaluate his own progress by providing both quantitative and qualitative documentation along with personal reflections and future writing goals. / Ed. D.

Thesis (PhD (Educational Psychology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / It is evident that many students admitted to higher education in South Africa are ill-prepared for tertiary study. The predominantly behaviorist school system encourages learner dependency and superficial understanding and fails to encourage reflection and self-direction. Changing times and a more diverse student population have heightened the need for a broader range of teaching and learning approaches at tertiary level. As a result, many departments, faculties and institutes such as SciMathUS have explored the merits of problem-based learning (PBL) which supports students as self-directed, independent learners. Problem-based learning is a different philosophical approach to the whole notion of teaching and learning where problems drive the learning and is one of the best examples of a constructivist learning environment. Thus far, problem-based learning has mainly been implemented in long-term medical curricula, so research findings focus mainly on the development of PBL for longer programmes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether introducing a Hybrid PBL approach in a shorter one-year foundation programme can create conditions for learners to develop and sustain self-directed learning skills and gain more control of the learning process. This interpretive-constructivist study may be broadly termed evaluation research. A mixedmethod approach that involved collecting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data was chosen. Evaluation findings indicate that introducing students to a Hybrid PBL approach does promote more meaningful learning patterns, typified by processing the subject matter critically and self-regulating learning processes. However the sustainability of the meaningdirected learning activities is questionable if student beliefs do not support the activities employed. Findings also reveal that the Hybrid PBL approach contributes to overall programme improvement by promoting understanding in mathematics and science and improved staff relationships and subject knowledge. PBL helps to establish a learner-centered learning environment that emphasizes relations in mathematics and science, promotes deep approaches to learning which may lead to higher levels of achievement and success in Higher Education.

This study examines the use of aesthetics in the art education curriculum as a strategy for building oral language skills and critical thinking skills. In this study reproduced artworks were used to stimulate discussion; students learned to scan paintings using a technique called aesthetic scanning during which they learn how to look at a painting orally through guided questioning by the classroom teacher. It was concluded that providing oral language opportunities through the implementation of the aesthetic scanning program was an effective way to promote oral language skills and critical thinking skills in the kindergarten classroom. Arts, as a core subject can be taught through Disciplined Based Art Education (DBAE). With DBAE all students are given the oppportunity to actively engage in oral language activites as they aesthetically view works of art.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of English

The purpose of this project was to create a website that would assist students in the process of submitting the correct assignments with a minimal amount of frustration for all parties concerned: teachers, administrators, parents, and students.