| Current Academic Research |
| Author |
Research Description |
Hypothesis/Question(s) |
Audience/Methods |
Estimated Completion/Results |
| Chad Even |
To determine the effectiveness of the Activboard in the regular education classroom.
|
1. Does the Activboard increase student engagement during a lesson? 2. Does the Activboard engage various learning styles and provide differentiated instruction to meet the various students' needs? 3. Are Activboards more beneficial than standard whiteboards ?
|
BPS Teachers with ActivBoards. Survey of teacher perceptions regarding instructional practices since receiving an ActivBoard. |
Executive Summary |
| Eliza Brown |
To determine the extent to which online multiplication simulations enhance student fluency of basic multiplication facts. |
1.To what extent does online fact practice contribute to student growth?
2.How do online multiplication simulations play a part in the transfer of facts to various math skills?
3.To what extent does the gaming atmosphere of online websites contribute to student fact fluency?
[Note: My study is primarily focusing on multiplication fact fluency. However, my hypothesis is that by strenghtening my students fact fluency, other mathematical concepts will be strengthened as students carry over fact knowledge into other various areas of math.] |
Students in author's classroom. Pre/post student perception surveys, observation, analysis of classroom math scores. |
Executive Summary |
| Tom Eberle |
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) assessment is an appropriate measure to use as a precursor to the North Dakota State Assessment (NDSA) to help ensure secondary schools meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). |
1.What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress as part of the North Dakota secondary schools assessment strategies?
2.To what extent do North Dakota secondary school districts use the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA-MAP) assessment?
3.To what extent can performance on the North Dakota math and reading assessment for high school students be predicted from Rasch Unit (RIT) scores?
|
Administrators |
Executive Summary |
| Gina Phillips |
Bismarck High School has been awarded a grant for 5 Kindle eBook readers for circulation in the library. The BHS Library is one of the first schools in the state to circulate eBook readers and we feel this is a great benefit to the students of BHS. Through the use of anonymous surveys, confidential interviews, and circulation statistics we will look at how this form of technology affects student reading enjoyment and interest. |
(1) To what extent does an eBook reader affect student reading interest? (2) Are reluctant students more likely to read on an eBook reader device? (3) Can eBook readers help increase engagement in reading? (4) Are eBook readers an effective way to motivate teenagers to read more? (5) Do students use the built in technology features such as note taking and the dictionary to increase their comprehension?
|
Bismarck High School Students |
Executive Summary |
| Alyssa Opland |
The purpose of this study is to describe how the reading program, READ RIGHT, affects the reading scores of students taking computerized standardized tests such as the Map test and the North Dakota State Assessment. |
RQ 1. In what ways does cycling and excellent reading help with comprehension on test taking? RQ 2. How does weekly critical thinking help students to answer/respond to the questions asked on tests? RQ 3. If students consistently perform independent reading, how much will student scores be affected on tests?
|
Students |
July 2011 |
| Greta Delparte |
I want to research student's improvement levels with timed tests in comparison to using the math program Fastt Math. Currently this program is used in the fourth grade and I would like to see if teachers would find more benefit from starting in a younger grade. I plan on using Fast Math with my classroom at least 4 days per school week as compared to another 2nd grade classroom that is using the regular teaching and timed tests to teach students. At the end of this action research project I will be using the data to write a report that I will submit to VCSU as a part of my graduate program. |
I hypothesize that my students who are using Fast Math will see more growth with quicker reaction times to math facts than the students who are using the timed tests. |
Teachers & VCSU Staff |
Executive Summary |
| Mary McHugh |
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between instructional coaches and classroom teachers in order to better understand how effective coaching relationships are formed. |
This study will examine the relationship between coaches and the teachers they coach in order to gain information about the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of the relationships between the coach and the teachers they coach?
2. What factors contribute to effective coaching relationships?
3. What challenges do coaches face in their attempts to build effective coaching relationships?
4. How do coaches and teachers build an effective coaching relationships?
|
Coaches, Teachers & Administrators |
August 2011 |
| Whitney Spah |
This study explores the relationship of physical fitness and academic achievement. Student academic achievement will be measured by GPA and the PLAN test, this test serves as a predictor for American College Testing (ACT) test or planning for postsecondary education. Student physical fitness will be measured using the FitStats program, a compilation of physical fitness tests from Cooper Fitnessgram and Presidential Fitness.
|
It will be hypothesized that tenth grade students will show a positive association between physical fitness tests and academic achievement, as measured by GPA and PLAN test scores.
|
Administrators and Physical educators as well as students.
|
Executive Summary |
Dominique Bondley
|
Differentiated instruction encourages changing the dynamics of the classroom to meet the individual needs of students. While changing the mathematical content, delivery process, and student products, I will be intensifying the learning process for all students. I will investigate how the change in teaching practices affects my instruction and student content knowledge acquisition.
|
Main: How will differentiated instruction affect student learning?
Sub: How does in-class ability grouping affect student learning? How do student interest projects affect student learning? How does differentiated instruction affect teacher instruction?
|
Students |
Executive Summary
|
| Wendy Sanderson |
To study the parent involvement practices of parents/guardians of American Indian middle school students, determine family educational factors that might affect such involvement, and compare parent practices with teacher perceptions on what types of parent involvement are most likely to lead to student academic learning. |
1. In what specific parent involvement activities do parents and guardians of American Indian middle school children at this site choose to participate?
a. Is educational attainment level of
American Indian parents a factor in
their choice of parent involvement
activities?
b. Is an American Indian boarding school
experience in their family history a
factor in their choice of parent
involvement activities?
2. To what degree do middle school educators
perceive that specific types of parent
involvement activities enhance student
academic learning?
3. Are the specific involvement practices of the parents of
American Indian students in this survey perceived by
educators as a valuable tool for enhancing middle school
students'''' academic learning?
|
Teachers |
August/September 2011 |
| Dan Pullen |
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between K-12 educators' perceptions and use of data to improve student achievement and the types of Data Driven Decision Making tools and professional development currently available to them. |
1. What is the relationship between K-12 administrators' perceptions and use of data for improving student achievement and the data systems and professional development that are available to those teachers?
2. What is the relationship between K-12 teachers' perceptions and use of data for improving student achievement and the data systems and professional development that are available to those teachers?
|
Survey of State Leaders, Administrators, and Teachers |
April, 2012 |
| Marcia Wilkens |
The purpose of this thesis is to track and observe common reading characteristics for struggling readers. I am studying 24 characteristics to see if there is a pattern with struggling readers and which patterns may or may not be similiar. |
What areas are the students struggling the most with reading?
Why can students decode words in isolation, but cannot decode the same words in a sentence or a reading passage?
Where is the biggest problem area with our struggling readers and is and what are the best methods to address the failing readers? |
Reading Teachers |
January 2012 |
| Summer Hoverson (Wing) |
The problem principal's are facing today is they are caught between managerial and operational tasks of the school and instructional leadership. The purpose of this study is to determine if a school's demographic size is a factor in the principal's involvement with curricular activities affects student achievement as measured by Adequate Yearly Progress. This study will also determine if the position of the administrator, either principal or associate principal/assistant principal, is a factor regarding the amount of time the principal is involved with curricular activities affects student achievement as measured by Adequate Yearly Progress. The data will also be analyzed to see if a pattern exists between each individual schools Adequate Yearly Progress scores and principal involvement with curricular activities.
|
1. Does the Average Daily Membership (ADM) of each participating school affect the amount of time principals spend on curricular activities?
2. Does a principal's position affect the amount of time spent on curricular activities?
3. Does principal involvement with curricular activities result in higher Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) scores? |
Administrators |
May 2012 |
| Patty Kuntz |
The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes and motivation of students, teachers, and parents regarding reading for pleasure. The study will also reveal whether choosing reading as a leisure activity is important, and if there is merit to having teachers and parents as reading models when trying to raise readers. Through this research I hope to uncover factors related to reading for pleasure. |
Do we, as educators, allow enough choice when asking students to select books? Is the area of children's literature being given enough focus to allow pre-service teachers the expertise they need to expose students to great literature? Are we providing enough in school class time for independent reading, and are we as educators underscoring its importance? What are the benefits of sustained silent reading (SSR) programs whose primary focus should be based on building independent readers, and are they effective? Where will our future be as a nation if our students are not avid readers? Does it matter if teachers and future educators are not avid readers, and should we be concerned? |
Students/colleagues/parents/MSU preservice teachers |
May 2012 |
