Browsing by Subject "STEM Education"
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Item Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Teacher Preparation Academies in Texas(2012-07-16) Brown, Danielle BairringtonThe purpose of this mixed-methods study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 14 Mathematics, Science, Technology Teacher Preparation (MSTTP) Academies located across the state of Texas. The aim of the academies was to increase the number of highly qualified mathematics, science, and technology teachers, while also improving the quality of certified teachers in these areas by focusing on seven established goals. The researcher examined best practices for professional development and teacher preparation utilized by the academies, as well as strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the extent to which the participants perceived the academy had improved their content knowledge and pedagogical skills was examined. Finally, the extent to which the seven goals were associated with participants? perceived content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge was analyzed. The study used secondary data from a larger evaluation of the MSTTP Academies. A mixed-methods design utilizing triangulation to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data was employed for the study. The results of the current study revealed that the14 MSTTP academies demonstrated the following key strengths: (a) a focus on strengthening content knowledge; (b) a willingness for developing professionally committed teachers; and (c) providing funding for participants. In regard to weaknesses, the degree of program effectiveness revealed that none of the academies had fully implemented all seven goals. All 14 academies, however, struggled to accomplish two of the goals: (a) the integration of the areas of science technology and mathematics; and (b) the infusion of technology into curriculum. Additionally, the findings indicate that participants felt as though the academies had improved their content knowledge and pedagogical skills. The findings also reveal that all academies exhibited three features of effective professional development: (a) a focus on content; (b) active learning opportunities; and (c) intensive and sustained over time. Only one academy exhibited the remaining two features, collective participation and coherence. Finally, the study revealed that only the goal of strengthening content knowledge was a good predictor for participants? content qualifications, while strengthening content knowledge and strengthening pedagogical skills were good predictors of participants? pedagogical qualifications. This research study contributes to the to fields of teacher preparation and professional development.Item The Effectiveness of the Cause-MaP System in Teaching Interconnected Complex Earth Systems in a Texas Private School(2012-12-12) Forshee, Patricia 1987-The six subsystems of Earth (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and anthroposphere) are complex and dynamic. Because all subsystems are linked, study from an independent perspective and a composite perspective is fundamental. Unfortunately, because of current instructional methods, students tend to consider these systems unrelated and use linear cause and effect models where little to no interaction occurs between different systems and the components. The simplistic and incorrect view of systems is the fundamental reason more education about Earth systems science is necessary in the K-12 curriculum. In this study, the Cause-MaP system of studying complex Earth systems in a private intermediate school in Texas was evaluated. The objective was to ensure that students are more aware of how Earth affects them and vice versa. An added benefit of the study was the opportunity to teach scientific reasoning. Students completed a pre-unit test to measure a priori knowledge. The students then worked through a modified Cause-MaP system in which they took notes in a structured table format; then each created a concept map. Students completed these steps for two subsystems: hydrosphere and lithosphere. The individual concept maps were used to assess knowledge and understanding of the individual systems by each student. At the end of the unit, students created composite concept maps which included each system they studied in this unit, to illustrate the interconnectedness of Earth systems. Based on the number of components and processes included, the students? maps were evaluated to determine their understanding of the interactions between multiple Earth systems. The students? maps were grouped based on the number of components and processes included in the concept maps. A post-unit test was also administered, which included two similar questions. The pre-unit test was completed again to check the overall progress of the students involved in this study. The students showed, with practice and encouragement from their instructor, that they recognize intersystem connections in complex Earth systems. With more integration of programs like these, students will become more proficient in recognizing system interactions.Item Using piezoelectric technology to harvest energy from drums and inspire an engaging high school classroom experience(2012-08) Earnhart, Alison; Crawford, Richard H.; Wilson, Preston S.Using piezoelectric materials to harvest the energy of vibration is a popular and fast-growing field of study. This report details an attempt to use piezoelectric energy harvesting techniques to support an interesting and engaging lab experience for high school engineering students in which the vibration of musical instruments (specifically drums, for this report) is harnessed to power a string of decorative LEDs. The likelihood of the energy harvesting actually being successful enough to light the LEDs was not known before undertaking this lab, so the goals of the project became twofold: 1. Conduct the experiment from scratch to determine if a substantial amount of energy can be harvested from the instruments (enough to reach the goal of lighting the LEDs), and 2. Identify how this lab experience (or one similar to it, if the goal of lighting the LEDs is unattainable) can be beneficial to high school engineering students. The purpose of this report is to summarize the research that was carried out to harvest energy from drums using piezoelectric technology, and to outline how similar lab exercises can be utilized in the high school engineering classroom setting.