Western Connecticut State University
WestCollections Repository (Western Connecticut State University)Not a member yet
724 research outputs found
Sort by
ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS HELD BY TEACHERS ON INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS WITH COMMON PLANNING TIME AT A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Get PDFThis study explored the beliefs and attitudes about education held by teachers on middle school interdisciplinary teams that shared common planning time (CPT) at a highly effective middle school. Data were analyzed to identify beliefs and attitudes towards students, fellow team members, and the larger school environment.
Effective middle schools have interdisciplinary teacher teams. Teams sharing CPT are more effective than teams without CPT, as well as schools without teams at all. Previous research involved quantitative measures such as student test scores and suspension rates; as well as measures of work environment, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and climate.
In the current educational climate of high-stakes testing and value-added measurements, pressures on educators increase daily. It is important to continue validating the team concept as a critical aspect of middle level education. This study qualitatively explored the attitudes and beliefs of effective middle level teachers on interdisciplinary teams sharing CPT and analyzed various influences upon them.
Using a multiple case study qualitative research design, one suburban middle school that had previously received outside recognition of success was studied. Teachers from all participating teams were given an open-ended survey. Focus groups were held with individual teams from three different grade levels. Individual interviews were held with select members of each team, the longest serving as well as the newest team members. Building administrators were interviewed as well. Artifacts and documents were also examined.
Analysis identified three main themes within the data: empathetic attitudes, team attitudes (flexibility, support, risk-taking), and a profound awareness of adolescence. These attitudes and beliefs influenced one another and overlapped in the teachers’ daily work.
This research can influence professional development of pre-service teachers, middle level teachers, and administrators. Findings provide specific topic foci for small group learning community topics, stand-alone workshops, and more. The study’s conclusions also lend positive researched support to schools contemplating a move towards, or maintenance of, middle school teacher team structures with CPT.Doctor of Education (EdD)Education & Educational Psycholog
AN EXAMINATION OF THE SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AN URBAN DISTRICT
No full textA growing body of evidence has suggested that the factors determining academic success are not limited to the cognitive realm alone. Students bring to the classroom their natural talents, as well as all of their previous experiences, joys, sorrows, hopes and dreams. Obtaining the essential social and emotional learning skills to meet the challenges of life and persevere academically is a foundation pivotal to future success.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spiritual intelligence and the level of students’ social and emotional learning skills in an effort to gain insight into the effect one may have upon the other. This mixed method study included 181 students aged 7 to 13 years old in an urban public school district. Data were collected using two instruments. Analysis of the data obtained from these instruments was used to examine the particular characteristics of two focus groups: one group consisting of students scoring at the higher scale of both instruments and another group consisting of students scoring at the lower scale of both instruments.
Results of step-wise multiple regression indicate a significant (p r² = .265) and Adaptability (r² = .153). An examination of whether grade level made a difference in level of Social and Emotional Learning skills yielded insignificant result. Grade level was also compared to level of Spiritual Intelligence with limited results.
Qualitative analysis of two focus groups indicated that students who scored highly on the two instruments utilized in this research were more inclined to display a positive outlook on life, a belief in free will, as well as acknowledge the influence of family and community upon their lives. Students scoring lower on the instruments reported a higher incidence of feelings of guilt, of being involved in ethical dilemmas, and of the way family members influence their lives.Doctor of Education (EdD)Education & Educational Psycholog
Primary Culture of Brain Stem Cells
No full textNeurospheres are multicellular, spherical clusters of cells derived from brain tissue placed in cell culture. According to the literature, neurospheres are heterogeneous populations consisting of, at least, neural stem and neural progenitor cells. We successfully established primary cultures of neurospheres from fetal mouse brain tissue. Disaggregation and passage of these neurospheres into expansion media lacking growth factors typically necessary for cellular differentiation revealed the formation of strut-like cellular structures with associated smaller cells. We hypothesize that these struts are conglomerates of neurons, and the smaller motile cells
associated with them are glial cells involved in their maintenance. The motility of the small cells was revealed by time-lapse videomicrography
Press Conference
No full textLorraine Capobianco, University CIO, feeds Bucky (a Nigerian dwarf goat) as Lisa Lengel looks on at the One Book One Community press conference
Curriculum Project to be implemented at The Bay Academy for the Arts and Sciences, I.S. 98, Brooklyn, NY
No full textThe revised curriculum for my 8th grade ELA class is based on the current state and national standards. Since New York State is adopting the Common Core Standards there needs to be some revision and thought to how the current curriculum can be adapted to a different set of standards. The Common Core Standards do not just ask students to understand or have knowledge of skills but to analyze, apply, and recreate. The new curriculum must also have students going beyond the current state standards and as educators we must ask our students to analyze, apply, and recreate in our classrooms.Master of Arts (MA)Englis
Travels with Mike: In Search of the World
No full textThis collection of short travel essays describes a journey across the North American continent. The individual pieces depict the adventures, hardships and bizarre places visited while on the road. The work is divided into two parts. The first part illustrates passages of our travels across the United States and also a scene from Canada. The second part portrays a road trip to the most northeast community on the North American continent. The individual destinations in each part are separated in short travel essays
Crossover
No full textThis thesis project contains the fully scripted prologue and first chapter, full chapter summaries of chapters 2-7 as well as the epilogue, and the prologue first draft sketches of a graphic novel Crossover. Tilly, a six-year old girl that anyone could relate to, is thrust into not one, but seven worlds that she has watched on television her whole life. She meets her favorite heroes and villains, and fights alongside her idols, who bestow upon her their powers. The audience enters unprepared, but their thirst for action grows as Tilly begins to lose control over her desire to punch, until the action-packed finale brings everyone back down to Earth. The novel is a fast-paced romp that can be enjoyed by adults as well as children
Harmonious Prosperity: Examples of Instrumental and Musical Benefits
No full textThis piece is meant to inspire musicians or people that want to become a musician. The benefits that many people have acquired from playing an instrument are explained and elaborated upon. The author is experienced in this process and offers information to provide readers with knowledge on how to approach learning an instrument and acquire skills that will help them do this more effectively and quickly.This collection of anecdotes and research shows the psychological and life enjoyment benefits that anyone can gain by learning and playing a musical instrument. It includes the author's personal experiences with learning an instrument, along with four interviews with musicians of differing experience levels, musical styles, and ways that playing music has helped their lives. The interviews range from a guitar teacher that's been playing for 25 plus years to a musician that spent six years touring. This thesis also examines the ability of music to soothe and calm, as well ass its potential power to change a person's life by eliciting commitment, devotion, and discipline
Back to Basics: Synopsis
No full textThe following document is a synopsis of a compilation of thirteen articles written for a bushcraft or wilderness survival magazine or other publication. The intention of these articles are to educate and promote wilderness survival and bushcraft to the general public