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1
Fletcher, Margaret Anne, and n/a. "Undergraduate Assignment Writing: An Experiential Account." Griffith University. School of Cognition, Language and Special Education, 2004. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20040625.165808.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine assignment writing as a phenomenon of academic writing. This was done through exploring the experiential accounts of members of a university writing community. Their accounts described the community's perceptions and experiences of literacy practices needed to write assignments, of how students developed these practices, and, of what constituted success in the writing. A multi-method, embedded, case-study approach was used. Quantitative data were derived from first-year, second-year, and fourth-year respondents' perceptions and experiences related to assignment writing. A cross-sectional comparison of groups showed consistent year-level effects. Fourth-year students were more confident as writers than first-year and second-year students, and had less difficulty with declarative and procedural aspects of writing assignments. These findings were replicated in a repeated-measures study using a sub-group of first-year and fourth-year students. However, when students contextualised their responses by nominating a subject and referring to their completion of its written assignment, first-year students reported less difficulty with the declarative aspects while fourth-year students were more positive in the procedural aspects. Year-level effects were found for what they reported as helpful in acquiring declarative and procedural knowledge of writing. First-year students reported a wider range of sources as helpful than fourth-year students did, with two exceptions. More of the latter had found information gained in consultations helpful in understanding an assignment question. Additionally more had found friends helpful. Second-year students generally were more positive than first-year and fourth-year students about the usefulness of information in helping them understand an assignment question and in writing it in an academic genre. Knowing how to write predicted success more strongly and consistently than any other factor. Qualitative data informed findings from the quantitative analyses by providing experiential accounts about students' perceptions of themselves as assignment writers, their experiences when writing assignments, and how these experiences developed literacy practices that contributed to success. Additionally, qualitative data were collected from lecturers who convened first-year subjects and those who convened fourth-year subjects. The qualitative data indicated students' strong reference to experiences of writing and of seeking help. Both had shaped their self-perceptions as writers and these had changed over time. First-year students believed that knowing what lecturers wanted in writing assignments was an important factor in success. They described their efforts to access this information and to give lecturers what they thought was wanted. Fourth-year students recognised the same factor, but were more self-reliant in approaching an assignment task. The change to greater internal control appeared to be an outcome of encountering inconsistent and confusing information from external sources over their four years of writing assignments. For their part, lecturers of first-year students said that successful students knew what to write and how to write it. However, lecturers of fourth-year students believed knowing what to write should be subsumed by knowing how to write, and concentrated on the procedural aspect. They believed a coherent assignment resulted when students conceptualised subject matter in ways that enabled them to write academically. Findings in this study extend recent reconceptualisations of literacy as 'literacies' and socio-cultural, socio-cognitive theories about literacy as social practice. They demonstrate limitations of an apprenticeship model for acculturation and suggest a more agentic role for novice members in accounting for learning outcomes as students develop as assignment writers. The experiential accounts reported by members of the academic writing community described their shared and idiosyncratic perceptions of literacy practices and relations of these practices with success in assignment writing. Their descriptions enhance our understanding of the complexity and consequences of these experiences. They also account for why calls for the community to be more visible and explicit in sharing communal expectations of what is privileged and valued in academic assignment writing generally may not be a solution. Based on findings here, this is not a solution. Expectations need to be co-constructed within the community, among students, and lecturers within the context of the writing task. An outcome of understandings reported here is the development of a model from which factors, conditions and critical events that situate learning within a rhetorical conundrum may be described and predicted. This model offers a framework for members of a writing community to explicate individual experiences and expectations in ways that help everyone make sense of those critical events that contribute to a rhetorical conundrum and shape encultured knowledge.
2
Fletcher, Margaret Anne. "Undergraduate Assignment Writing: An Experiential Account." Thesis, Griffith University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/365389.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine assignment writing as a phenomenon of academic writing. This was done through exploring the experiential accounts of members of a university writing community. Their accounts described the community's perceptions and experiences of literacy practices needed to write assignments, of how students developed these practices, and, of what constituted success in the writing. A multi-method, embedded, case-study approach was used. Quantitative data were derived from first-year, second-year, and fourth-year respondents' perceptions and experiences related to assignment writing. A cross-sectional comparison of groups showed consistent year-level effects. Fourth-year students were more confident as writers than first-year and second-year students, and had less difficulty with declarative and procedural aspects of writing assignments. These findings were replicated in a repeated-measures study using a sub-group of first-year and fourth-year students. However, when students contextualised their responses by nominating a subject and referring to their completion of its written assignment, first-year students reported less difficulty with the declarative aspects while fourth-year students were more positive in the procedural aspects. Year-level effects were found for what they reported as helpful in acquiring declarative and procedural knowledge of writing. First-year students reported a wider range of sources as helpful than fourth-year students did, with two exceptions. More of the latter had found information gained in consultations helpful in understanding an assignment question. Additionally more had found friends helpful. Second-year students generally were more positive than first-year and fourth-year students about the usefulness of information in helping them understand an assignment question and in writing it in an academic genre. Knowing how to write predicted success more strongly and consistently than any other factor.
Qualitative data informed findings from the quantitative analyses by providing experiential accounts about students' perceptions of themselves as assignment writers, their experiences when writing assignments, and how these experiences developed literacy practices that contributed to success. Additionally, qualitative data were collected from lecturers who convened first-year subjects and those who convened fourth-year subjects. The qualitative data indicated students' strong reference to experiences of writing and of seeking help. Both had shaped their self-perceptions as writers and these had changed over time. First-year students believed that knowing what lecturers wanted in writing assignments was an important factor in success. They described their efforts to access this information and to give lecturers what they thought was wanted. Fourth-year students recognised the same factor, but were more self-reliant in approaching an assignment task. The change to greater internal control appeared to be an outcome of encountering inconsistent and confusing information from external sources over their four years of writing assignments. For their part, lecturers of first-year students said that successful students knew what to write and how to write it. However, lecturers of fourth-year students believed knowing what to write should be subsumed by knowing how to write, and concentrated on the procedural aspect. They believed a coherent assignment resulted when students conceptualised subject matter in ways that enabled them to write academically. Findings in this study extend recent reconceptualisations of literacy as 'literacies' and socio-cultural, socio-cognitive theories about literacy as social practice. They demonstrate limitations of an apprenticeship model for acculturation and suggest a more agentic role for novice members in accounting for learning outcomes as students develop as assignment writers. The experiential accounts reported by members of the academic writing community described their shared and idiosyncratic perceptions of literacy practices and relations of these practices with success in assignment writing. Their descriptions enhance our understanding of the complexity and consequences of these experiences. They also account for why calls for the community to be more visible and explicit in sharing communal expectations of what is privileged and valued in academic assignment writing generally may not be a solution. Based on findings here, this is not a solution. Expectations need to be co-constructed within the community, among students, and lecturers within the context of the writing task. An outcome of understandings reported here is the development of a model from which factors, conditions and critical events that situate learning within a rhetorical conundrum may be described and predicted. This model offers a framework for members of a writing community to explicate individual experiences and expectations in ways that help everyone make sense of those critical events that contribute to a rhetorical conundrum and shape encultured knowledge.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Cognition, Language and Special Education
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Didis, Nilufer. "Investigation Of Undergraduate Students." Phd thesis, METU, 2012. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12614316/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this research is to investigate undergraduate students&rsquomental models about the quantization of physical observables. The research was guided by ethnography, case study, and content analysis integrated to each other. It focused on second-year physics and physics education students, who were taking the Modern Physics course at the Department of Physics, at Middle East Technical University. Wide range of data was collected by interview, observation, test, diary, and other documents during 2008-2 academic semester. The findings obtained from the qualitative analysis of the data indicated the following conclusions: (1) Students displayed six different mental models, defined as Scientific Model, Primitive Scientific Model, Shredding Model, Alternating Model, Integrative Model, and Evolution Model, about the quantization of physical observables. (2) Students&rsquo
models were influenced by the external sources such as textbooks (explanations in textbooks, bringing textbook into the classes, and the use of one or both textbooks), instructional elements (explanations in instruction, taking notes in classes, and studying before and after the classes+taking notes in classes+attending classes regularly), topic order, and classmate
they were influenced by the internal sources such as meta-cognitive elements, motivation, belief (the nature of science and the nature of quantum physics concepts), and familiarity and background about the concepts. (3) The models displayed by students developed with the contribution of these sources in different proportions. Furthermore, although upgrading in models was observed within the cases of quantization, students&rsquo
mental models about the quantization of physical observables are context dependent, and stable during the semester.
4
Koop, Gabrielle A., of Western Sydney Nepean University, and Faculty of Education. "Assessment and undergraduate learning." THESIS_FE_XXX_Koop_G.xml, 1998. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/825.
Full textAbstract:
This study is an investigation of the relationship between assessment, teaching and learning from the perspective of undergraduate students. It consisted of three stages which were developmental in nature with each stage informing the next and providing overall focus and direction. Students participating had completed at least five semesters of their undergraduate porogram.Findings from the literature, the interviews and the survey confirmed the central role the assessment process plays in shaping student learning. Ways feedback was used to inform learning as well as the types of assessment strategies employed emerged as key factors associated with students' motivations to learn. Nine practice related recommendations are made and four issues requiring further research are identifiedDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
5
Ware, David George. "An Undergraduate Consulting Methodology." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/244817.
Full textAbstract:
As a field, Management Consulting is mostly unknown to students of public universities. This unfortunate circumstance is a product of favoritism of elite, private colleges in the hiring processes of most consulting firms. Regardless of the presence or lack of intention of pursuing management consulting as a career path, undergraduates can benefit from the application of management consulting principles, especially in terms of business problem solving. Undergraduate consulting field projects help to hone analytical skills, apply course material, and serve the community. In order to more easily facilitate undergraduates participating in such projects, this thesis first outlines best practices by top firms in the management consulting industry. It then adapts these best practices to provide a broad methodology for undergraduate use in pursuing consulting projects, as well as a specific methodology for one of the more common undergraduate--‐level consulting tasks: marketing analysis and design. The thesis then applies these methodologies through a case study, a consulting engagement performed by Eller Consulting Club for a local entrepreneur. Finally, the thesis provides guidelines for securing employment in the management consulting industry, focusing on the interview process. True to consulting form, the thesis is presented in a straightforward, easily accessible slide deck.
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Unal, Cezmi. "An Investigation Of Undergraduate Students." Phd thesis, METU, 2012. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12614201/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this study is to investigate undergraduate students&rsquoscientific inquiry processes in a physics laboratory designed using problem-based learning. Case study, one of the qualitative research methods, was employed for this aim. Sixteen undergraduate students were participated in this study. Participants conducted inquiry activities for five weeks. The data sources were the observations of participants while they were doing inquiry activities and the laboratory work sheets filled by the participants. A framework suggested by Klahr and Dunbar (1988) in Scientific Discovery as Dual Search model was used to gain better understanding of scientific inquiry process. In this framework, inquiry process consist of three phases
hypothesis formation, designing and conducting experiments, and evidence evaluation. The variations on the participants&rsquo
scientific inquiry processes were analyzed and categorized for each phase of inquiry. Participants&rsquo
hypothesis formation processes were categorized based on the nature of sources used by the participants and how these sources were used. The emerging categories were labeled as &ldquo
concept-based hypothesis formation&rdquo
, &ldquo
equation-based hypothesis formation&rdquo
, and &ldquo
context-based hypothesis formation&rdquo
. Participants&rsquo
designing and conducting experiment processes were categorized into two types: &ldquo
Systematic manipulations&rdquo
and &ldquo
unsystematic manipulations&rdquo
. &ldquo
Haphazard manipulation of variables&rdquo
and &ldquo
using two manipulated variable simultaneously&rdquo
were the two different types of observed unsystematic manipulations. Lastly, participants&rsquo
evidence evaluation processes were categorized based on the driving sources: &ldquo
Data-driven evidence evaluation&rdquo
and &ldquo
prior knowledge-driven evidence evaluation&rdquo
. Detailed descriptions of these categories were presented with examples.
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Patrick, William John. "First-year undergraduate student attrition." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2004. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2592/.
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This is a study of student attrition amongst full-time, first year undergraduates at the University of Glasgow during the 1999-2000 academic session. The thesis contains an initial assessment of the importance of research in this area (Chapter 1), followed by a review of the literature, focusing in particular on the theories and explanations of student attrition that have been advanced by other authors (Chapter 2), and on appropriate research methodologies and data collection techniques (Chapter 3). The investigation then progresses through a succession of different empirical and data-analytic phases. Because of his function within the organisation, the author had uniquely good access to the student records system maintained centrally by the University. This made it practical to sift through this information in such a way as to determine first the simple concomitances of retention (Chapter 4), and then to use it in a more sophisticated manner to develop logistic regression models of retention (Chapters 5 and 8). The challenge was then to decide which new, additional data should be gathered in order to improve upon these quantitative models. The solutions were found partly by recourse to some focus group work with students and staff (Chapter 6). This resulted in two questionnaires being developed to discover students’ attitudes believed to be relevant to retention (Chapter 6). The first survey instrument was administered to all first-year students as part of the matriculation process. The other was completed on-line in the course of the session as an adjunct to the IT Induction Programme for all first-year students. Chapter 10 contains the first outcomes of the attempt to improve the logistic regression models described in Chapter 5 by the introduction of attitudinal constructs, first on their own, and then in combination with the original background and prior academic characteristics in order to model summer retention. The amount of data available in this study is considerable and, consequently, some large-sample structural equation techniques were then used to develop some new, more comprehensive models of retention (Chapter 11). These are more informative, demonstrating how trade-offs can occur between different variables in an overall model of retention, and identifying particular areas where practical policy interventions are likely to be successful in ameliorating student attrition. It is demonstrated that summer retention is affected in roughly equal measure by academic and non-academic factors. On the academic side, it is shown that extra effort and additional academic help and feedback can benefit those students having relatively low entry point scores, for example. Social integration, at least in moderation, is beneficial, and it is positively influenced by living in university accommodation. However, various extraneous problems harm retention through the mediating variables of social integration and commitment. The models have a temporal dimension, and it is argued that students’ attitudes whilst on course owe their origins to those detected at the time of matriculation and, ultimately, back to levels of family support.
8
Chung, Yoona. "Exploring tablets for undergraduate schoolwork." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/17382.
Full textAbstract:
Master of ScienceDepartment of Food Science
Delores Chambers
Electronic reading (e-reading) device has been available for decades and there are many studies that have been published based on those devices. However with continuously changing tablet marketplace, there is a lack of studies looking at current devices. In order to understand the effect of tablets on undergraduate students, we conducted a consumer study to: 1) Determine the most beneficial tablet size for college students in their academic pursuits and 2) Determine the necessary types of support from academic libraries for college students conducting schoolwork using a tablet. An initial focus group study guided a consumer survey of 121 undergraduate students. The focus group study identified reading and note taking as key academic activities for tablet users. The participants were also interested in receiving quick help from the library and using electronic journal articles available from the library. A consumer survey took place at a university campus a month later. Each survey respondent answered a set of questionnaires using both large and small tablets of either Android or iOS operating system. The survey data showed that overall, larger tablet was preferred for academic use. Tablet size was not an important factor in reading or note taking (P ≥ 0.05) but perceived portability of a tablet size increased preference for that tablet size (P = 0.0078). In addition, the library’s instant messaging feature was found to be equally successful in both full and mobile website when viewed on a tablet (P ≥ 0.05). Many students who use HTML only or both HTML and PDF formats to view electronic journal articles when on a computer switched to PDF only when on a tablet. Our findings can assist tablet manufacturers in making a suitable tablet targeted for higher education uses. This study can also guide academic libraries in improving accessibility to resource for a growing number of undergraduate tablet users.
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Johnston, Alexis Larissa. "Homework Journaling in Undergraduate Mathematics." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26602.
Full textAbstract:
Over the past twenty years, journal writing has become more common in mathematics classes at all age levels. However, there has been very little empirical research about journal writing in college mathematics (Speer, Smith, & Horvath, 2010), particularly concerning the relationship between journal writing in college mathematics and college studentsâ motivation towards learning mathematics. The purpose of this dissertation study is to fill that gap by implementing homework journals, which are a journal writing assignment based on Powell and Ramnauthâ s (1992) â multiple-entry log,â in a college mathematics course and studying the relationship between homework journals and studentsâ motivation towards learning mathematics as grounded in self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Self-determination theory predicts intrinsic motivation by focusing on the fundamental needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2000). In addition, the purpose of this dissertation study is to explore and describe the relationship between homework journals and studentsâ attitudes towards writing in mathematics.
A pre-course and post-course survey was distributed to students enrolled in two sections of a college mathematics course and then analyzed using a 2Ã 2 repeated measures ANOVA with time (pre-course and post-course) and treatment (one section engaged with homework journals while the other did not) as the two factors, in order to test whether the change over time was different between the two sections. In addition, student and instructor interviews were conducted and then analyzed using a constant comparative method (Anfara, Brown, & Mangione, 2002) in order to add richness to the description of the relationship between homework journals and studentsâ motivation towards learning mathematics as well as studentsâ attitudes towards writing in mathematics.
Based on the quantitative analysis of survey data, no differences in rate of change of competence, autonomy, relatedness, or attitudes towards writing were found. However, based on the qualitative analysis of interview data, homework journals were found to influence studentsâ sense of competence, autonomy, and relatedness under certain conditions. In addition, studentsâ attitudes towards writing in mathematics were strongly influenced by their likes and dislikes of homework journals and the perceived benefits of homework journals.Ph. D.
10
Kwong, Caputo Jolina Jade. "Undergraduate Research and Metropolitan Commuter University Student Involvement: Exploring the Narratives of Five Female Undergraduate Students." PDXScholar, 2013. http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/1006.
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This study sought to explore the lived experiences of five female, first-generation, low-income students who attend a metropolitan commuter university, and investigate how a structured undergraduate research experience exerts influence on the women's academic and social involvement. A qualitative case study with a narrative and grounded theory analysis was selected as the most appropriate approach for exploring this topic and addressing the guiding research questions. Interview and journal data were collected and analyzed to identify significant themes. The importance of finding an academic home, the significance of interacting with faculty and peers, and the validation of a metropolitan commuter university education through a scholar development process emerged as significant findings. Implications and recommendations on programmatic and institutional levels are included, as well as suggestions for future research.
11
Foster, Jason. "Understanding and Improving Undergraduate Engineering Education." Thesis, University of Waterloo, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/849.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis seeks to understand the past and present state of engineering education and to plot a course for its future evolution. This research is limited to engineering education as it has taken place in North American universities during the last half of the 20th century. Within this context, broad trends are described. The description is supplemented with a case study of a unique and innovative engineering programme. The trends and case study form the foundation of a synthesis, and alternative vision, for higher education and engineering education. The intended audience of this thesis includes those who teach, design curriculum, or administer engineering education programmes. The description of the current state of engineering education contains analyses of the state and of the gaps within it. Both of these analyses are based almost exclusively on publicly available documentation. The present state of engineering is drawn from accreditation criteria. Critiques of the current state and suggestions for future change are drawn from reports commissioned by groups affiliated with professional engineering. The discussions identify recurring themes and patterns. Unlike the analysis of the literature, the case study merges interview evidence and personal experience with the available documentation. The synthesis and visions continue the trend away from formal sources towards experiences and beliefs. Engineering education research is in its infancy and shows few signs of maturing. There is no documented, common framing of engineering education nor have there been any efforts in this regard. Few sources address broad issues and those that do lack theoretical rigour. The visions for engineering education are simple amalgams of visions for the profession and for general higher education. The Department of Systems Design Engineering has enjoyed great past successes because of its unique vision that combines the theories of systems, complexity, and design with the discipline of engineering. Its recent decay can be traced to its faculty having collectively lost this vision. The original vision for Systems Design Engineering holds promise as a means to reinvent and reinvigorate both the engineering profession and engineering education. For this renaissance to be successful a theoretically rigorous research programme assessing the past, present, and future of engineering and engineering education must be developed.
12
Williams, Lorne Murray. "Undergraduate leadership development, augmenting existing curriculum." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2001. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/MQ59492.pdf.
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Saddlemire, Marie T. "Faculty Perceptions of Undergraduate Academic Dishonesty." Connect to this title online, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=bgsu1112470618.
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Lee, Ember Lynn Brestan Elizabeth V. "Undergraduate attitudes towards parental discipline strategies." Auburn, Ala., 2006. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/2006%20Fall/Theses/LEE_EMBER_22.pdf.
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Denault, Alexandre. "Minueto, an undergraduate teaching development framework." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=84023.
Full textAbstract:
In the last decade, the video game industry has shown unparalleled growth, both in revenue and in development complexity. Modern video games are built using powerful game development tools. However, given their complexity and scope, these tools are ill-suited for the undergraduate academic environment.Minueto is a platform independent game development framework specifically designed for undergraduate students. Originally developed to help students of the course COMP-361 for their game programming project, Minueto offers a simple object-oriented API that is ideal for any 2D game development. Minueto's simple design allows students to quickly learn the framework and avoid the overhead typically associated with graphic programming. Extra effort was spent writing multiple types of documentation, each of them corresponding to different learning techniques. Minueto was first implemented in Java and used by the students of the Winter 2005 term. There was an impressive increase in the overall quality of the 2005 projects if compared to the 2004 projects. A significant decrease in the number of graphic programming complaints from the students was also noticed. This indicates that Minueto successfully reduced the graphic programming burden from the students, and allowed them to focus on the content of the game.
16
Rejniak, Gabrielle. "Improving Student Learning in Undergraduate Mathematics." Master's thesis, University of Central Florida, 2012. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/5455.
Full textAbstract:
The goal of this study was to investigate ways of improving student learning, par- ticularly conceptual understanding, in undergraduate mathematics courses. This study focused on two areas: course design and animation. The methods of study were the following: Assessing the improvement of student conceptual understanding as a result of team project-based learning, individual inquiry-based learning and the modi ed empo- rium model; and Assessing the impact of animated videos on student learning with the emphasis on concepts. For the first part of our study (impact of course design on student conceptual understanding) we began by comparing the following three groups in Fall 2010 and Fall 2011: 1. Fall 2010: MAC 1140 Traditional Lecture & Fall 2011: MAC 1140 Modi ed Empo- rium 2. Fall 2010: MAC 1140H with Project & Fall 2011: MAC 1140H no Project 3. Fall 2010: MAC 2147 with Projects & Fall 2011: MAC 2147 no Projects Analysis of pre-tests and post-tests show that all three courses showed statistically signifi cant increases, according to their respective sample sizes, during Fall 2010. However, in Fall 2011 only MAC 2147 continued to show a statistically signifi cant increase. Therefore in Fall 2010, project-based learning - both in-class individual projects and out-of-class team projects - conclusively impacted the students' conceptual understanding. Whereas, in Fall 2011, the data for the Modifi ed Emporium model had no statistical signifi cance and is therefore inconclusive as to its effectiveness. In addition the diff erence in percent of increase for MAC 1140 between Fall 2010 - traditional lecture model - and Fall 2011 - modi fied emporium model - is not statistically signi ficant and we cannot say that either model is a better delivery mode for conceptual learning. For the second part of our study, the students enrolled in MAC 1140H Fall 2011 and MAC 2147 Fall 2011 were given a pre-test on sequences and series before showing them an animated video related to the topic. After watching the video, students were then given the same 7 question post test to determine any improvement in the students' understanding of the topic. After two weeks of teacher-led instruction, the students took the same post-test again. The results of this preliminary study indicate that animated videos do impact the conceptual understanding of students when used as an introduction into a new concept. Both courses that were shown the video had statistically signifi cant increases in the conceptual understanding of the students between the pre-test and the post-animation test.ID: 031001440; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Adviser: Cynthia Young.; Error in paging: p. xi followed by a page numbered xi.; Title from PDF title page (viewed June 26, 2013).; Thesis (M.S.)--University of Central Florida, 2012.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-107).
M.S.
Masters
Mathematics
Sciences
Mathematical Science; Industrial Mathematics
17
Lilienkamp, Katherine A. (Katherine Ann) 1969. "Lab experiences for teaching undergraduate dynamics." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/17007.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2003.Includes bibliographical references (p. 443-466).
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
This thesis describes several projects developed to teach undergraduate dynamics and controls. The materials were developed primarily for the class 2.003 Modeling Dynamics and Control I. These include (1) a set of ActivLab modular experiments that illustrate the dynamics of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems and (2) a two wheeled mobile inverted pendulum. The ActivLab equipment has been designed as shareware, and plans for it are available on the web. The inverted pendulum robot developed here is largely inspired by the iBOT and Segway transportation devices invented by Dean Kamen.
by Katherine A. Lilienkamp.
S.M.
18
Bateman, James. "Virtual patient design in undergraduate education." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2013. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/62110/.
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Background Virtual patients (VPs) are computerised online representations of realistic clinical cases. Recent technology and software advances position VPs as a standardised, accessible, collaborative teaching tool. We do not know how they should be designed. My research question is: how do different VP design principles influence student experiences when completing VPs? The aim of this study is to provide qualitative and quantitative research evidence to support VP design and development. Methods This research project uses qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate how VP design influences medical student learning, based on groups of students from three UK medical schools (Warwick, Birmingham, Keele). The initial qualitative research component is a grounded theory (GT) focus group study evaluating VP design properties. The literature review and qualitative research identified the two most important VP properties to research were: (1) branching within the cases; and (2) structured clinical reasoning instruction (SR) intended to promote good clinical decision making in the VPs. The quantitative research component is a multi-centre randomised experimental 2x2 factorial study of undergraduate students at three UK medical schools, conducted to a published protocol. I investigate two most important independent VP design variables: (1) branching, present or absent; (2) SR, present or absent. Outcomes including: (a) VP scores; (b) VP student evaluations; (c) metrics collected from the VP environment; (d) student self-reported case preferences and (e) summative assessment results. The study has institution ethics approval. Results In the qualitative study of six focus groups (n=46), I produced a model describing how VP design influences learning. In the quantitative research, 572 students completed 1773 VPs, and 1223 evaluations, with 296 (50.1%) students completing all four VPs (1184). Key findings were: student expressed preferred SR when present (70.5% of student, P<0.001); there were no significant differences in adjusted global VP scores or evaluation scores (all p>0.3 for the independent variables); institution factors played an important role with higher scores at one centre (p<0.001); and there were significant improvements in Bayesian reasoning with SR present (7% improvement, p<0.001). Discussion This original research is the first GT study into VPs. The quantitative component is the largest study to date in the literature exploring VP design variables. It provides practical lessons for authors and institutions for design and delivery of VPs. All VPs used are available as open education resources.
19
Davis, Sharrika D. "Factors Influencing Undergraduate Women's Educational Aspirations." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26911.
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Education is one key to economic prosperity and a predictor of overall life satisfaction. The further one progresses through the educational pipeline, the more likely it is that she may prosper. However, in a society bolstered by patriarchal systems, economic and educational inequalities exist among the genders.
Educational aspirations are influenced by studentsâ socialization experiences. Faculty teach students about their discipline. Families influence educational pursuits. Peers serve as reinforcements or challenges to academic progress. All three groups are socialization agents to students pursuing higher education.
Research indicates that various socialization agents influence whether students pursue an undergraduate degree. However, there is little literature specifically focused on women and less on the relationship between womenâ s undergraduate socialization experiences and their decision to enroll in graduate studies.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether certain collegiate experiences (with family, faculty and peers) predict undergraduate womenâ s expectation to enroll in graduate study and to determine if the experiences influence expectation to enroll by race. The sample included women who completed the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ) Fourth edition. The study employed logistic regression to explore the relationship between undergraduate womenâ s educational aspirations and family, faculty and peer influences. In addition, I examined whether the associations between family, faculty and peers differed by race/ethnicity.
The results of the logistic regression revealed that academic ability (GPA) and peer experiences influenced advanced degree aspirations. In addition, race/ethnicity does matter, i.e., being of African-American or Latina decent is associated with a higher level of advanced degree aspiration. Also, as frequency of interactions between faculty and African-American women increase â aspiration decreases. These findings suggest that it is important to consider the various factors that influence advanced degree aspiration. This is especially important since advanced degrees can be elemental to economic prosperity.Ph. D.
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Paver, Barbara E. "Reconsidering Language Orientation for Undergraduate Singers." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1258478129.
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Kirk, Edith Cordelia. "Undergraduate social workers and professional development /." The Ohio State University, 1986. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487322984316042.
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Centofanti, Allison R. "Personality, Major Choice, & Undergraduate Retention." Youngstown State University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1558707645250452.
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Mansour, Tamam Botrous. "Teaching research to undergraduate nursing students." free to MU campus, to others for purchase free online, 2002. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/preview?3052197.
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Doran, Yaegan. "Knowledge and Multisemiosis in Undergraduate Physics." Thesis, Department of Linguistics, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7116.
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Physics is arguably the most fundamental of the sciences, yet many students disengage with it at a very early level. This thesis lays the groundwork to understanding why this is the case by using Systemic Functional theory to study how knowledge is conveyed to students within two undergraduate physics textbooks. Further to this, it uses Bernstein’s (1999) notion of ‘knowledge structure’ to describe the nature of knowledge within the discipline of physics itself. The thesis finds that mathematics and images work with written language to convey technical knowledge. Moreover, these semiotic resources can become technical, transcending the text to become part of the assumed knowledge of the field. Finally, it shows that mathematics in particular allows physics to integrate its various sub-fields and produce general theories that can be applied to real world. This thesis presents the first attempt using linguistic analysis at describing the nature of physics and how it is recontextualised for pedagogical purposes. As part of this, the thesis extends multiple theoretical frameworks including multimodality, theory of knowledge and genre theory.
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Hodds, Mark. "Improving proof comprehension in undergraduate mathematics." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2014. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/14964.
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When studying for a mathematics degree, it has been shown students have great difficulty working with proof (Moore, 1994). Yet, to date, there has been surprisingly little research into how we could improve the way students study mathematical proofs. Furthermore, there is relatively less research on students' proof comprehension skills when compared with that of their proof construction skills (Ramos and Inglis, 2009). The aim of this thesis was therefore to build upon the existing proof comprehension literature to determine methods of improving undergraduate proof comprehension. Previously, text based manipulations (e.g. Leron, 1985; Rowland, 2001; Alcock, 2009a) have been tested as a way of improving proof comprehension but these have often not been as successful as we would have liked. However, an alternative method, called self-explanation training, has been shown to be successful at improving comprehension of texts in other fields (Chi et al., 1989; Wong et al., 2002; Rittle-Johnson, 2006; Ainsworth and Burcham, 2007). This thesis reports three studies that investigate the effects of self-explanation training on proof comprehension. The first study confirmed the findings of previous self-explanation training research in other fields. Students in the study who received the self-explanation training showed a significantly greater understanding of the proof text compared to that of a control group. Study 2 used eye-tracking analysis to show that self-explanation training actually changed the way students in the study read proofs; they concentrated harder on the proof (as measured by mean fixation durations), and made more between-line transitions. The final study revealed that self-explanation training can be implemented into a genuine pedagogical setting with relative ease and also showed the positive effects on proof comprehension last for a longer term of three weeks. From the findings of the research reported in this thesis it can be concluded that many students who participated in these studies appeared to have the knowledge required to understand proofs, it is perhaps they just needed some guidance on how to apply their knowledge. Self-explanation training appears to do this as it significantly improved proof comprehension in the short-term as well as offering longer-term benefits. More research will be needed to confirm these findings, given that the studies here involved participants from only one UK university on what would be considered as typical mathematics degree courses for the UK. However, these findings are promising and provide the foundation for improvements in undergraduate proof comprehension.
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Guthrie, Clare Patricia. "How do mature undergraduate students self-author? : a narrative enquiry of four accounting and finance undergraduate students." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2016. http://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/618194/.
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This study is undertaken in a large post 92 university in which the intake each year for accountancy and finance is over 400. There is a prevailing assumption in the institution that the majority of the intake are classified as typical undergraduates coming straight from previous studies, with little or no sustained experience of the world of work. Little consideration is given to students identified as “mature” using the university definition of aged over 21 (HESA 2015). I became aware of a number of mature students in my roles as lecturer and latterly manager of this programme. Furthermore, the sacrifice of full-time paid employment for three years full-time study intrigued me. This study has three key aims. The first is to explore the processes involved in making a career change decision from full-time paid employment to full-time study for an accounting and finance undergraduate degree. The second is to analyse the ways that students identify and articulate changes to their identity, as they become mature full-time students. The third is to explore how structure and agency affect career choices of the mature undergraduate student. The research involved interviewing four accounting and finance undergraduate students. The choice of students was opportunistic as these were students known to me during the course of their studies. The analysis and discussion chapters delineate between pre and post university registration as two distinct phases. The pre university experience relates mainly to the first aim. The post university phase relates to the second aim and the third aim draws on both. The theoretical framework draws upon Bourdieu’s notions of capital, field and habitus and Holland et al’s (1998) concept of Figured Worlds with particular focus on notions such as the “standard plot” and “serious play”. A key finding from this research is that despite the ability to make the decision to change career themselves, the validation of this decision by others was important. The final chapter includes further findings concluding with impact on future practice and a critical reflection on and the limitations of the study.
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Day, Deborah A. "Factors in the Undergraduate Experience that Influence Young Alumni Giving." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/82966.
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Public funding of higher education has declined substantially in recent years (Alexander, 2000; Esposito, 2010; Mortenson, 2012; NACUBO, 2011; Redd, 2014; Serna and Harris, 2014), while operating costs and demand have increased (Desrochers and Kirshstein, 2012; Mortenson, 2012; Mumper and Freeman, 2011; NCSES, 2014; Serna and Harris, 2014; St. John and Parsons, 2004), forcing institutions to look for alternative sources of revenue (NCSL, 2010). One such alternative source of revenue is alumni giving (Monks, 2003; Archibald and Feldman, 2012; CAE, 2014).
Research has shown that the factors that influence alumni financial giving include demographic characteristics (Hoyt, 2004; Monks, 2003), academic experiences (Monks, 2003; Pumerantz, 2005), social experiences (Monks, 2005; Thomas and Smart, 2005; Volkwein, 1989), and alumni participation variables (Gaier, 2005; Gallo and Hubschman, 2003).
Although there is ample evidence to support the importance of alumni giving, researchers have not examined the factors that influence young alumni giving. This study sought to determine if demographic characteristics, academic experiences and social experiences explain the variance in alumni giving to their alma mater within five years of graduating. I conducted a case study at a single institution and used Volkwein's (1989) model of giving coupled with data from the 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) that captured alumni's demographic characteristics and measured their academic and social experiences while in college. I merged NSSE with data about giving that I retrieved from the Development Office at the selected institution.
The variables included five Demographic items, fourteen Academic Experience items with numerous sub-items, and twelve Social Experience items with numerous sub-items. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five academic factors and four social factors. The results of a multiple regression analysis revealed that only one factor, Class Assignments, explained the variance in young alumni giving, but it may have been spurious. It would appear that demographic characteristics and academic and social factors determined from NSSE are not particularly useful in explaining giving by young alumni. Indeed, only 14.5% of participants actually made a donation within five years of graduating. Clearly more research is needed to expand upon the literature about alumni giving.Ph. D.
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Koch, Paul R. Rhodes Dent. "Judgments of value in undergraduate economics instruction." Normal, Ill. Illinois State University, 1994. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ilstu/fullcit?p9521336.
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Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1994.Title from title page screen, viewed April 11, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Dent M. Rhodes (chair), Larry D. Kennedy, Thomas F. Ryan, Bernard J. McCarney. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-111) and abstract. Also available in print.
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Lusher, Anna L. "Identifying assessment practices in undergraduate accounting programs." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2006. https://eidr.wvu.edu/etd/documentdata.eTD?documentid=4862.
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Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006.Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 218 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-172).
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Metz, Rosalyn. "Conducting Online Research Undergraduate Preferences of Sources." Thesis, School of Information and Library Science, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1901/289.
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When students write research papers they use a variety of sources in their paper. These sources range from web pages to research articles. The purpose of this study was to decide whether or not undergraduate students would choose to use scholarly or non-scholarly sources when presented with both types of sources in a set of search results. Twenty Duke University students were recruited for the study. They were given a research topic and asked to perform a search. Both the search results and interface were fabricated by the researcher in order to control the experimental environment. The students were asked to rate the sources found in the results, choose four sources to use for their research scenario, and finally, were asked to explain reasoning behind their choices. The findings concluded that the students in this study were more likely to choose scholarly sources over non-scholarly sources and give these scholarly sources higher ratings.
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Goold, Annegret, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "Factors affecting success in undergraduate computer programming." Deakin University. School of Management Information Systems, 1999. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20051111.120545.
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The aim of the research is to investigate factors that may explain success in elementary computer programming at the tertiary level.
The first phase of the research included the identification of possible explanatory factors through a literature review, a survey of students studying introductory computing, a focus-group session with teachers of computer programming and interviews with programming students.
The second phase of the research that was called the main study, involved testing the identified factors. Two different groups of programming students - one group majoring in business computing and another majoring in computer science - completed a survey questionnaire.
The findings of the research are as follows.
Gender is of little significance for business students but there is an adverse gender penalty for females in computer science. Secondary school assessment is inversely related to outcomes in business computing but directly influences outcomes in the first programming unit in the computer science course. As in prior research, previous knowledge and experience were demonstrated to matter, A range of other variables was found to be of little importance. The research suggests that different problem-solving techniques might be relevant in business compared with those of use in computer science.
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O'Sullivan, Anthony John Public Health & Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine UNSW. "Assessment of professionalism in undergraduate medical students." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. Public Health & Community Medicine, 2007. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/40754.
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This thesis investigates professionalism in undergraduate medical students. Professionalism is comprised of values and behaviours that underpin the contract between the public and the medical profession. Medical errors are reported to result in significant morbidity and are in-part related to underdeveloped professionalism. The aim was to determine whether aspects of professionalism were underdeveloped in medical students. A questionnaire with 24 clinical and medical student vignettes was taken by Year 2, 4, and 6 medical students from UNSW Medicine 3801 and their responses where compared to responses from practicing Clinical Academics. Second, fourth and sixth Year medical students' responses differed from Academics in two aspects of professionalism, firstly, high ethical and moral standards and secondly, humanistic values such as integrity and honesty. A second component of this thesis was to determine whether student's responses to professionalism changed as they progressed through the medical program. Year 2 and 4 students had very similar responses except for the aspect responsibility and accountability. Similarly, the Year 2 and 6 students differed in only two of eight aspects of professionalism, that is, high ethical and moral standards and humanistic values and responsibility and accountability. These findings suggest that students' approaches to some aspects of professionalism do change slightly as they progress through a medical course, however there does not appear to be a clear decline or development of professionalism as a whole. Responses from the Year 2, Medicine 3801 and Medicine 3802 (new medical program) medical students were compared and no statistically different responses. This finding would indicate that professional behaviour was very similar between these two groups of students. Certain aspects of professionalism seem to be underdeveloped in medical students compared with Academics. These aspects of professionalism may need to be targeted for teaching and assessment in order that students develop as professionally responsible practitioners. In turn, students with well-developed professionalism may be less involved in medical error, and if involved they may have the personal values which can help them deal with error more honestly and effective.
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Meyer, Alan E. "Servant Leadership Attributes in Undergraduate University Students." Thesis, Concordia University Chicago, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3572623.
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The objective of this research study was to ascertain if attributes of servant leadership were more fully developed in undergraduate students nearing graduation than in those students who recently embarked on their university program. The university at which the project was completed endeavors to make its undergraduate students servant leaders as publically stated in its vision, mission, and other public statements and documents. The results of the research indicate that of the five servant leadership attributes selected, the seniors indicated higher scores in two categories, lower in one, and showed no statistical difference in the other two. As a result of this study, therefore, it cannot be concluded that the upper classmen had stronger servant leadership attributes than freshmen. The implications of this result include the need for further study around the students’ environments and history, the institution’s curriculum and extracurricular content, and the culture of the university in light of its mission and vision.
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Boustead, Therese Mary. "Undergraduate difficulties: algebraic skills and mathematical comprehension." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Mathematics and Statistics, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/5639.
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Many first year university students struggle with mathematics. Observations in senior mathematics classes in four New Zealand secondary schools highlighted potential undergraduate problems, especially with algebraic and mathematical reading skills. In this thesis, these two areas are investigated further.
In the first part of the thesis, an analysis is done of algebraic tests given to first year university mathematics students. From the results there emerged five main categories of common consistent algebraic difficulties. These categories not only emerged the following year with a similar group, but senior secondary school and second year undergraduate mathematics students also displayed them. Overall, the conclusion was that these categories of algebraic difficulties formed from the research did not appear to improve with higher mathematical learning.
A second area for the investigation of undergraduate difficulties was in the field of reading to learn mathematics. The results of a questionnaire survey confirmed that students were not only resistant to reading mathematical text, but they did not appear to have the skills to read expository text. Many students used a narrative, surface approach to mathematical reading that resulted in very little of a topic being understood. Further analysis using a variety of extracts, case studies, interviews and written answers led to the formation of a mathematical reading model based on generative comprehension research by Wittrock (1990) and interactive reading research by Dechant (1991). For mathematical text, critical linkages were often symbol-symbol linkages requiring a higher level of comprehension than narrative text. These critical linkages were predominantly located at an inner text layer. A major deterrent to reading mathematical text for students is the difficulty in locating these critical linkages in hard-copy text. Further investigations compared hard copy text with various types of software designed for self-study purposes. Some of the software was found to be better at directing students to these critical linkages while others were not so successful.
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Abulaban, Hiam. "Undergraduate student nurses experiences of vertical violence." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/45320.
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Vertical violence is the term used to describe abusive and bullying behaviours among a group of people with unequal power. Vertical violence is used in this study because the recipients of abusive behaviours are students. The goal of this phenomenological study was to elicit a description of the lived experience of nursing students with vertical violence during their clinical placements in three major hospitals in Palestine. Findings suggest that nursing students are experiencing and witnessing bullying behaviours in different forms, most notably by staff nurses and head nurses. Students reported that their experiences with vertical violence lessen as they advance in their clinical education and gain more skills. The majority of the students told someone about their experiences. Experiencing vertical violence was found to impact the students' learning, socialization and clinical practice. The students reported using different coping strategies to deal with vertical violence. Implications for practice include ensuring that if the issue of vertical violence is not dealt with, it will have a detrimental effect on the student nurses and on their practice. Recommendations include providing policies to address this issue and provide reporting guidelines for student nurses. Also teaching nursing students and nurses about vertical violence is to be a top priority for the schools of nursing and hospital managements.
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Prayitno, Adhy. "Data acquisition system for undergraduate physics laboratory." Virtual Press, 1995. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/935929.
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This thesis describes an automated data acquisition system based on a personal computer that has been modified for use as a scientific instrument in an undergraduate physics laboratory. Two demonstration experiment have been designed to explain how the system functions and how it may be utilized in a laboratory setting.An experiment in optical spectroscopy will allow students to automatically scan the spectra of a light source and collect data concerning wavelength and line intensity. The computer system displays the information in graphical format and saves the data on floppy disks for further analysis.The second experiment studies the heat flow along a cylindrical copper rod. Eight thermocouples, located along the length of the rod, monitor temperature as a function of time. A known heat source is attached to one end of the rod and the other end is maintained at room temperature. Both the transient and stead-state behavior of the temperature distribution is studied. The acquired data is presented graphically and saved on floppy disk for further analysis. These two experiments will be used in the Modern Physics Laboratory course, PHYCS 262.Department of Physics and Astronomy
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Hernandez-Martinez, Paul. "Mathematics in an undergraduate computer science context." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.432339.
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Steven, Richard. "Developing an evidenced based undergraduate otolaryngology curriculum." Thesis, University of Dundee, 2018. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/a56d3160-9362-4d4e-a71d-4057a7efce52.
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Developing curricula to ensure that they are comprehensive but not overwhelming is an on-going challenge in undergraduate medical education. This research aimed to explore what we teach and why with regards to undergraduate otolaryngology. A longitudinal transformation approach was taken to this mixed methods study. This consisted of a comparison of undergraduate otolaryngology curricula in medical schools in the United Kingdom. Following this, a survey was devised, piloted and distributed nationally to a wide range of doctors. Four main groups were targeted including foundation year doctors, specialty trainees, general practitioners and consultants. Focus groups were then undertaken to explore results obtained from the preceding studies. The curriculum comparison provides an overview of the main topics included in undergraduate otolaryngology curricula in the UK. The comparison highlighted the large degree of variability in undergraduate otolaryngology curricula from both a content and methods perspective. Utilising results from the curriculum comparison, a national survey was devised. Results indicated that doctors felt that medical students should be able to perform the majority of otolaryngology examination skills. They should also be able to recognise, assess and initiate management for both common and life threatening acute conditions and be able to take an appropriate history and perform an appropriate examination for the majority of otolaryngology clinical conditions but manage only a select few. The survey indicated that the region in which a doctor works does not have a significant influence on their opinion, however, there was a large degree of variation in responses depending on the post of the respondent. Focus groups showed that variability in undergraduate otolaryngology curricula is multifactorial. Factors include resource allocation and a lack of standardisation. The focus groups highlighted that the perceived importance of a topic was an influencing factor in questionnaire responses and that this was linked to the perceived seriousness of a clinical condition, the complexity of a case and whether it would be possible to manage the condition in general practice. The results should aid curriculum development both in terms of curriculum content and how curricula are designed. A collaborative approach to curriculum development is recommended to reduce the risk of excluding important topics. The findings may be applicable to other specialties and have implications for curriculum development in general.
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Gonzalez, Reyes Mata. "Improving undergraduate higher education through curriculum reform." Thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3721035.
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Employers, parents, legislators and researchers have expressed concerns that students are graduating from college at low rates, take too long to graduate, and do not possess the proper knowledge or skills to be successful at work or wherever life may take them. Many claim that the curriculum at colleges and universities no longer meets the needs of the students, employers, graduate programs, and society at large. One of the many potential solutions is reforming the undergraduate curriculum.
This research examines the factors that motivated two institutions to reform their curricula in efforts to improve student success. Both of the institutions are relatively small liberal arts educational organizations, one public and the other private. Each institution has differing missions and goals and is at a different point in its development. The study attempts to describe what was important enough to motivate them to change their curricula and why it mattered.
This research investigates the reforms of the two institutions in a case study manner, drawing upon published information and personal interviews to analyze what took place. The inquiry centered upon six basic questions. 1. What was the impetus for changing the curriculum? 2. What was the process used in changing the curriculum? 3. What changes were made to the curriculum? 4. What student outcomes were achieved? 5. How did the curriculum reform impact the institution? 6. What lessons were learned through the reform process?
Reforming a curriculum is a long, complex process, requiring input and consensus from many stakeholders, especially faculty. The manner in which each organization gained faculty endorsement for the reform is analyzed. Actual changes made to the curricula are documented. The research explores student outcomes and the impact that the reform had on the faculty and institutions. Then the researcher attempts to obtain indications that the improvements made by the institutions are achieving the intended goals. Learning is a complex phenomenon to assess, and every organization is challenged to find a way to assess learning effectively.
The research reports on what took place, what was learned, and what other potential curriculum reformers can expect if they, too, embark upon reform. The study shows that faculty and strong faculty leaders (often cited in the literature as causes of ineffectual curricula) are crucial to the reform process and without adequate assessment, the true results of a reform cannot be known. Much remains to be learned about the extent to which curriculum reform can improve higher education and in fact be a cure of societal maladies. Opportunities for improvement abound. The researcher attempts to identify similarities and differences, seeking fundamental conclusions. In this manner the study proposes to be used as a resource for other educational organizations interested in either improving or completely revamping their curricula.
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Dale, Rebecca A. "Undergraduate hospitality students’ pre-entry career expectations." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/16235.
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Master of ScienceDepartment of Hospitality Management and Dietetics
Kevin R. Roberts
The psychological contract is comprised of the perceived obligations between two parties, such as an employee and an employer. When an individual joins an organization, the employee has a specific set of personal needs to be satisfied, which will be fulfilled by the psychological contract. Research has historically focused on the consequences of the psychological contract violations. The antecedents and the formation of the psychological contract are less known. Two types of psychological contracts exist: transactional and relational. In past research, undergraduate students enrolled in hospitality programs have indicated that transactional contracts are most important. Research has been limited on undergraduate hospitality students and their expectations of the workplace, thus the purpose of this study was to explore undergraduate hospitality students’ pre-entry career expectations. An online survey was distributed to undergraduate hospitality students at universities in the United States. Students highly ranked a safe work environment (8.7 ± 2.5), resources (7.8 ± 3.0) and equipment (7.4 ± 3.2) to do their jobs, training (8.2 ± 2.9), and job security (7.7 ± 3.1). The least important and expected items were work schedules with limited nights and weekends (2.5 ± 4.3) and working 40 or less hours per week (2.5 ± 4.1). The number of college credit hours completed and amount of work experience had the largest effects between expectations. Results of this study will assist hospitality educators in preparing students for post-graduation employment and offer industry recruiters insight into what expectations are important to new hospitality graduates.
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Wu, Xi Vivien. "Holistic clinical assessment for undergraduate nursing students." Doctoral thesis, Högskolan i Jönköping, Hälsohögskolan, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-29937.
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A major focus in nursing education is on the judgement of clinical performance, and it is a complex process due to the diverse nature of nursing practice. Difficulties in the development of valid and reliable assessment measures in nursing competency continue to pose a challenge in nursing education. A holistic approach in the assessment of competency comprises knowledge, skills and professional attitudes, wherein the notion of competency incorporates professional judgement and management skills in the clinical situation. Therefore, the thesis aims to develop a holistic clinical assessment tool with a reasonable level of validity and reliability to meet the needs of clinical education. The conceptual framework underlying this research is formed by establishing a theoretical connection between the practice of learning, and of pedagogy and assessment. This research consists of five studies. In Study I, a systematic review was conducted to explore the current assessment practices and tools for nursing undergraduates. In Studies II, III and IV, a qualitative approach with focus group discussions was adopted to explore the views of final-year undergraduate nursing students, preceptors, clinical nurse leaders and academics on the clinical assessment. Based on the multiple perspectives, it therefore addresses concerns in clinical assessment. In Study V, a holistic clinical assessment tool was developed, for which a psychometric testing was conducted. The systematic review indicated that limited studies adequately evaluate the psychometric properties of the assessment instrument. The qualitative studies have raised an awareness of professional and educational issues in relation to clinical assessment. Workload, time, availability of resources, adequate preparation of preceptors, and availability of valid and reliable clinical assessment tools were deemed to influence the quality of students’ clinical learning and assessment. In addition, the presence of support systems and formal educational programs for preceptors influenced their preparation and self-confidence. Nursing leaderships in hospitals and educational institutions have a joint responsibility in shaping the holistic clinical learning environment and making holistic clinical assessment for students. The involvement of all stakeholders in the development of a valid and reliable assessment tool for clinical competency is also essential to the process. The Holistic Clinical Assessment Tool (HCAT) was developed by the author based on the systematic review, qualitative findings and the core competencies of registered nurse from the professional nursing boards. The HCAT consists of 4 domains and 36 assessment items. Furthermore, testing of the psychometric properties indicated that the HCAT has satisfactory content validity, construct validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In conclusion, the HCAT is meritorious in that it carries the potential to be used as a valid measure to evaluate clinical competency in nursing students, and provide specific and ongoing feedback to enhance the students’ holistic clinical learning experience. The HCAT not only functions as a tool for self-reflection for the students, but also guides the preceptors in clinical teaching and assessment. In addition, the HCAT can be used for peer-assessment and feedback. It is imperative that the clinical and academic institutions establish various levels of ongoing support for both students and preceptors in the process of clinical assessment.
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Kavun, Natalia. "Undergraduate Students’ Experiences of Online Learning Environments." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1627938399767033.
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Kavun, Natalia. "Undergraduate Students’ Experiences of Online Learning Environments." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1627938399767033.
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McClellan, Timothy. "Creative learning approaches for undergraduate self-development." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2013. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/368989/.
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This thesis investigates creativity in the undergraduate curriculum and how students respond to creative approaches to learning within their studies. Specifically, the thesis considers how the use of multiple creative learning methods may enhance undergraduate learning and the role that creative visualisation and guided imagery can play in this experience. The thesis presents the learning stories of six undergraduates in the main study who took one of these modules. Interviews were conducted and a range of other documentary data, such as learning journals and assignments, was collected and analysed in order to detail each student’s journey through and experience of the module. The analysis is presented in three separate sections; firstly, as individual student case studies; secondly, as a thematic cross-case analysis; and thirdly, as a synthesis of the data with theoretical constructs and current debates surrounding creativity in higher education with conclusions and recommendations for individual and sector practice. The thesis discusses the ‘messy’ nature of research, highlights the compromises and difficulties inherent in a PhD project and illustrates how these issues were overcome. The work also reflects on the researcher’s own PhD learning journey and identifies a number of themes that influence the efficacy of the teaching of creative skills in undergraduate programmes. The thesis proposes a number of new models that have been integrated into the author’s own teaching and that have wider implications for the teaching of transferable skills in creativity and creative thinking in higher education for practice-based and non-vocational programmes as well as consultancy opportunities for industry. New knowledge proposed within the thesis includes a refined model of student engagement and a model to plot the student journey of self-discovery. The thesis also offers a critique of and guidelines for the use of guided imagery to promote student creativity in higher education.
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Merriman, Carolyn S. "Test-Taking Strategies for Undergraduate Nursing Students." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 1998. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/8468.
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Middaugh, Amanda Lyn. "Evaluating Effectiveness of an Undergraduate Dietetics Curriculum." Thesis, North Dakota State University, 2011. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/29860.
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Assessment is necessary in many programs to be certain that expected outcomes are being met. Without curriculum evaluation, higher education faculty would be unaware if students are competent in the skills and knowledge that the faculty thought they were teaching. New curriculum competencies related to dietetics are introduced every five to seven years from the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE). CADE establishes the minimum requirements of foundation knowledge, skills, and
competencies for institutions to train entry level dietitians. Even though a variety of criteria have been proposed to evaluate curricula, no common model or format is used because of the differences in each program, college, or university. The purpose of this study is to evaluate North Dakota State University's (NDSU) dietetics program through students' understanding and knowledge as demonstrated by the change in pretest and post-test scores to ensure they are meeting competencies. The Dietetics Program Assessment Test is made up of questions contributed by each instructor in the dietetics program at NDSU regarding their particular area of expertise. The effectiveness was assessed by comparing students' Dietetics Program Assessment pretest scores, taken during sophomore year, with their post-test scores, taken during senior year. This evaluation was used to determine if pretest scores predict program course grades or if high pretest results indicate a more successful student. Therefore, the scores could be used as a selection criterion for acceptance into the dietetics program if there is a strong correlation. Results from students in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) were compared to those in the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and those not accepted into either program to see if there is a difference between the groups. The test was also divided into dietetics core content areas (community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy/clinical, food service, basic nutrition/lifespan, and management) to see if there was an area in which students were scoring poorly. Pretests were taken by 122 pre-dietetics students; of these, 46 were admitted into the CPD, 29 were admitted into the DPD, and 47 were not admitted into either program. A paired t-test found there to be a significant difference (p<0.0001) between individual mean
pretest scores and post-test scores, which means students' knowledge about the area of dietetics had greatly improved through courses throughout each program. A t-test found there was not a significant difference between either the pretest scores (p=0.9847) or the post-test scores (p=0.4263) of those in the CPD and DPD programs. In all of the core dietetics content areas the average percentage of correct questions improved from the pretest to the post-test, and each content area had a similar improvement, roughly a 25 percentage point increase. Using an exact Kendall's Tau Test to examine the association
between pretest score and final course grades, no significant difference was found in all of the core dietetics courses expect for Food Selection and Preparation Principles (HNES 261) (p=0.0324). In conclusion, since no one content area on the post-test appears to be lacking more than any other, it would appear that the students are learning from all courses. Due to the lack of association between all core dietetics course grades and pretest scores along with the small sample size, pretest scores should not currently be used alone or as one of the selection criterion for admittance into either dietetics programs.
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Simerly, Gabriel, Ginette Blackhart, Parker A. Dreves, and Robin L. Leonard. "Effects of Self-Care on Undergraduate Stress." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2019. https://dc.etsu.edu/asrf/2019/schedule/193.
Full textAbstract:
Previous research has shown that excessive levels of stress can have a significant, negative effect on one’s overall cognitive efficiency and that stress levels are negatively correlated with various self-care practices. The present research was designed to build upon this body of knowledge by gathering data from an undergraduate sample (N = 200) with 44 males and 156 females (MAge = 21.22). Participants’ stress levels and self-care practices were measured at weeks 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 of a standard semester using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and the Mindful Self-Care Scale. We hypothesized that increased stress would result in decreased self-care practices and that predisposed levels of self-care at time 1 could be used to predict stress levels at times 3 and 5. A cross-lagged panel analysis supported this hypothesis, indicating simultaneously that self-care was significantly correlated with stress and that the two factors were significantly predictive of one another at later time points.
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Taylor, Mary E. "The Changing Advising Needs of Undergraduate Students." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/34428.
Full textAbstract:
Academic advising plays an important role in the education and retention of college students. Developmental advising is concerned with the development of the whole student throughout his or her academic career. As students develop and mature, it is expected that the topics they present to advisors will change. It is also expected that advisors will vary the topics they raise with different students as the students progress through their academic careers.
This study was designed to determine if the advising topics that traditional-age undergraduate students present to advisors vary by academic level. Further, the study looked at whether these topics differ by gender or race. Topics raised by advisors were also examined to determine if the topics raised by advisors varied by academic level, gender, or race of the student. Examining the topics raised by advisors is one way to assess whether advisors are utilizing a prescriptive or developmental model of advising.
Data were collected over a two-month period during the spring semester, 2000 at a research university in the Southeast. Eleven professional advisors agreed to participate in the study from six different departments. Students were asked if they would be willing to participate in the study when they came to see one of the participating advisors. Eighty undergraduate students agreed to participate in the study. Prior to meeting with the advisor, students were asked to provide demographic information and answer an interview question to determine the topics they planned to raise during the advising session. Advisors completed surveys following the advising sessions providing information on topics raised by the students and topics that the advisors themselves raised.
No significant differences were found in the types of topics raised by students or advisors by academic level, gender, or race. The majority of the topics discussed dealt with academic issues such as academic progress, course selection, and major selection. On average, students raised 3.99 topics per session and advisors raised an additional 1.41 topics per session for a total of 5.50 topics per advising session. Most advising sessions were 15 to 20 minutes in length. Non-White students raised on average more topics than did White students. Because of the number of topics raised in a relatively short period of time, as well as the narrow range of topics covered, the results of this study indicate that a traditional, information giving model of advising is largely being utilized by advisors in the study.
The results of this study suggest that advisors have little time in advising sessions to do little other than provide information on a limited range of topics. This study highlights the amount of time advisors spend answering routine academic questions during advising sessions. With this awareness, advisors can begin to provide some of this academic information using different means. This would provide more time in advising sessions to practice a developmental approach to advising that spans academic, career, and life issues.
Master of Arts
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Hyland, Tarryn. "Student negotiation of an undergraduate accounting assessment." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25313.
Full textAbstract:
In South Africa (SA), access to the accounting profession is characterised by inequality, resulting from a multitude of socio-economic and historical issues. Assessment serves as the primary gate-keeping mechanism of the profession. However, more than twenty years after the end of apartheid, pass rates remain skewed by factors such as language and race. Accounting education research offers some quantitative studies which investigate diversity in academic performance by school-leaving results or by race, for example, and a number of studies which consider language in the accounting curriculum. The quantitative studies, however, do not provide insight into the complex socio-cultural issues operating in accounting education, and the work on language in accounting education is largely focused on action research projects and the documentation of communication interventions. While some accounting education studies acknowledge that specific disciplinary conventions exist, these practices are not analysed or described. This study asks the question: how do students negotiate undergraduate accounting assessments? To explore this problem, the academic communication practices in a second-year accounting assessment at a wellestablished, English-medium university in SA are investigated by analysing what is valued in accounting assessments, what students are doing in the assessment event, and why. Academic literacies research and a theory of language as social practice, including the work of Theresa Lillis and Norman Fairclough, are used to develop the theoretical framework of this study. Critical discourse analysis (CDA) is used to analyse the assessment texts, explore the dominant disciplinary practices in accounting higher education and explain the power behind professional accounting education discourse. This study outlines elements of the valued disciplinary literacy, such as the genres of accounting assessments and the accounting discussion answer, and specialised test-taking reading practices, including how to identify the valued task response. The overarching feature of the dominant disciplinary practices is its linguistic complexity, largely shaped by professional accounting institutions. To investigate students' literacy practices, the answer texts of three students from different backgrounds are analysed using CDA, together with ethnographic data from "talk around text" (Lillis, 2008: 355) and "literacy history" (Lillis, 2008: 362) interviews with students. This study shows that students with language practices aligned to the valued professional education discourse have power in the assessment, while English additional language students from poorer schooling backgrounds in particular struggle to grasp and demonstrate the valued discourse. This study contributes to research on language practices and student experiences in a professional curriculum. It is my hope that the insights offered by this paper can be used to improve teaching and learning by encouraging educators to be aware of, and facilitate access to, the dominant accounting disciplinary practices. Educators need to acknowledge the diverse language practices of students, make explicit the complex elements of the valued disciplinary practices in the teaching and provide opportunities to develop students' knowledge of business and legal concepts, for example, which are recontextualised in the accounting curriculum. Until these steps are taken to make the epistemology of the discipline clearer, access to the accounting profession will remain unequal.
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Talberg, Heather. "Investigating professional identity in undergraduate physiotherapy education." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12016.
Full textAbstract:
Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.
Clinical practice remains an integral part of the training of physiotherapy students. It is seen as an effective way of socialising students into the profession. By placing students in a clinical setting where under the guidance of clinicians and clinical educators, they are able to put their classroom taught procedures into practice it is believed that they then start to develop an understanding of what being a physiotherapist entails. Drawing on Lave and Wenger's model of situated learning, this research sets out to understand how final year physiotherapy students begin to develop their identity as physiotherapists. The research looks at the positioning of students within specific communities of practice and the nature of the learning that occurs within these communities.