Global ETD Search

1	Improving Problem-Solving Techniques for Students in Low-Performing Schools HOBBS, ROBERT MAURICE January 2012 (has links) Teachers can use culturally relevant pedagogical strategies and technologies as emerging tools to improve students' problem-solving skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate and assess the effectiveness of culturally specific computer-based instructional tasks on ninth-grade African American mathematics students. This study tried to determine if problem-solving skills and overall mathematical achievement and attitude could be improved using these computer-based tasks. A culturally specific, computer-based mathematics assessment (CD-ROM) and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment were used to measure student growth in mathematical problem solving. The Modified Fennema-Sherman Attitude Scales (MFSAS) were used to measure mathematics attitude. To determine whether or not the study was practical, an initial study was conducted (Study I) to see if pre- and post-tests would accurately forecast student performance. There were three groups for Study I. The two treatment groups worked in the computer lab on a Cognitive Tutor program to improve skills in Algebra 1. They were also exposed to word problems that were based on culturally specific themes. The control group had no exposure to the computer lab or word problems with culturally specific themes. Only one significant difference occurred in Study I. One of the treatment groups' data results declined significantly on the CD-ROM. In spite of this, the group revealed a slightly more favorable attitude towards mathematics than the other two groups. This treatment group also demonstrated the largest increase in NAEP pre- and post-test data results. For Study II there were two groups. The treatment group worked on a Google Maps project where students mapped different coordinates within their neighborhoods and plotted the results. The control group received computer lab instruction similar to the treatment group but did not work on Google Maps. When scores of the control and treatment groups on the CD-ROM assessment, NAEP assessment, and MFSAS survey were compared using a pre-test/post-test design in Study II, only one significant difference occurred. The control groups' CD-ROM scores resulted in nearly a 50% decline. A correlation analysis in Study II revealed that there were weak relationships between most of the measures, suggesting scores on each measure were unrelated. / CITE/Mathematics and Science Education Education, Mathematics Educational Technology Multicultural Education Computers and Mathematics Culturally Relevant Specific Pedagogy Teacher as Facilitator Technology and Math Education
2	Influence of the Reflex Math Fact Fluency Program on Math Scores Cress, Tammy D 01 January 2019 (has links) Researchers have shown a correlation between students’ math fact fluency and their achievement in higher-level math. The problem investigated by this study was that 59% of students in intermediate elementary grades at the local school were not proficient in math. Guided by Miller’s information processing theory, the purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to examine the influence of the Reflex Math Fact Fluency Program on 2nd graders’ math achievement scores (as a whole group and by gender) after 1 school year of program use. Archival data was purposefully sampled for 98 2nd grade students (n = 50 boys; n = 48 girls) who were continuously enrolled for the entire 2018-19 school year and completed both the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 Star Math Assessments prior to and following exposure to the Reflex Math Fact Fluency Program. Results of a repeated measures t test showed students’ scores after using the program for 1 school year were significantly higher than the same students’ scores before the program. Additionally, a mixed-design ANOVA revealed a significant interaction effect such that girls’ scores before the program were higher than the boys’ scores but were lower than the boys’ scores after the program. Findings suggest that the Reflex Math Fact Fluency Program can be a valuable tool for elementary level students, especially boys, who are learning basic math skills. Implications for positive social change include providing the school’s stakeholders with a policy recommendation that may influence students’ access to additional instructional opportunities in math which could, in turn, lead to improved student achievement in math over time. Basic Math Facts Factors Affecting Math Success Genders and Math Math Fact Fluency Reflex Math Fact Fluency Program Technology in Math Instructional Media Design Science and Mathematics Education
3	An Investigation of the Impact Gender-Specific Course Grouping Has on Female Middle-School Students' Concept of and Interests Toward Technology and Engineering Walsh, Thomas Broderick 06 August 2021 (has links) Attempts to improve retention, interest, and enrollment of females in Technology & Engineering Education courses have included a variety of approaches including female-only classes. However, the implications of such courses have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, an investigation of female-only classes was undertaken; the findings revealed that the overall enrollment of females went up in the course and in subsequent classes, these students maintained their interests and attitudes towards Technology and Engineering, their perceptions of an engineer's gender changed from that of mostly male to mostly female, and their concepts of what an engineer does changed from mostly building or fixing things to that of mostly someone who designs. This study used two instruments: the Technology Engineering Attitude Survey (TEAS) and the Draw an Engineer Test (DAET). The population of the study was 7th grade middle school students. They were placed into two groups: the control being the mixed male female engineering and technology classes, and the treatment being the all-female students enrolled in the same engineering technology course. technology engineering female women girls male men boys technology engineering attitude survey teas draw an engineer test daet technology and engineering engineering and technology education technology and engineering education science technology engineering math stem science technology engineering art math steam non-traditional careers women in engineering k-12 middle School junior high public school utah usa industrial education vocational education stem education steam education teaching Engineering

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