Education 671
Integrating Research Seminar in Secondary Education
Dr. Ruth Tompkins
Spring 03

Coarse Description: A culminating, research-oriented seminar which integrates professional knowledge, professional skills and subject area knowledge. Students conduct a school-based research project, based on professional literature, and write a research report.

Evaluation: This course allowed me to first conduct my research and then write my research in standard APA form. The guidance in writing and structuring my research was invaluable.

My research was to study "The Effects of Developing Mental Math Skills in Pre-Service Elementary Teachers." The study would be conducted at USI with Mrs. Judy Wells in her two Math 104 classes (Basic Elementary Mathematics 1). One class would be the control group; one the experimental group.

First, I needed to get the approval from USI to conduct my research.

• USI IRB Application
• IRB Approval

The first day of class, both classes took two pre-tests.

• Aiken Math Attitude Test
• Revised Essential Elements of Elementary Mathematics Test

During the course of the semester, the experimental group was given mental math exercises to practice daily. They were to required to keep a mental math notebook of their daily work. They also were to respond each week to discussion board questions via Blackboard. Every two weeks they were given mental math quizzes.

• Mental Math Exercises 1 - 10
• Mental Math Exercises 11 - 20
• Mental Math Exercises  21 - 30
• Mental Math Exercises  31 - 41
• Mental Math Quizzes 1 - 7
• Discussion Board Questions

At the end of the semester, both classes were given the two pre-tests as post-tests. They were also given individually by an instructor a calculator/estimation test to measure their dependency on the calculator.
Also, the students in the experimental group along with the instructor were interviewed.

• Calculator Experiment
• Student/Faculty Interview Questions
  

The results formed my research project.

• Research Project (without Appendices)
• Results on the Pre/Post-Tests
• Student Information

Return to Main Menu