M.Ed. Partnerships Cohort 3

Revised Thesis Topics and Teams 5/13/99

Team Members:

Deb Berntson, Gregg Ciurleo, Scott Fitzsimmons, Catherine Nachbar, Jodi Smolnikar-Joki, and Cindy Upton

Building a successful partnership utilizing media services and computer technology to meet the needs of 21st Century learners in the Information Age: A model for the merging of technology and media in the schools.

Statement: The approach in the onslaught of technology is pushing educational change. Education must adapt to this readiness of information to keep up with modern day activity. The challenge lies in the way education will respond. The incorporation of an enhanced Media and Technology Department partnership are vital to support our new information culture.

Hypothesis: Technology is pushing educational change. Education must adapt to the readiness of information to keep up with modern day activity. The incorporation of an enhanced Media and Technology Department partnership is vital to support our new information culture.

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Cohort 3: Brenda Bender Sue Lalama

Thesis Topic: Senior English Skills Curriculum Development

Hypothesis: A Curriculum designed specifically to meet teen's needs will result in higher motivation and performance levels.

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Dawn Paro-Strother

Mentors, Advocates, and Parental Involvement with American Indian Students

Research Question: How can we as educators help increase the graduation rate of American Indian students of ISD #709?

********** Team: Richard Lyle and Glenn Tracey

Alternative Programs for Middle Level Learners: EXCEL Summer School in Duluth, Minnesota

Hypothesis: Summer EXCEL participants gain specific assets leading to continued educational experience within a traditional setting.

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Sara Montgomery

Academic Mentors and Primary Native American Students

Research Question: Can we increase test scores of first and second Native American students by using volunteer academic mentors?

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Team: Sue Hendrickson, Barb Olson, Christine Osthus, Tim White

The Role of Math Computation Skills on High School Achievement

Statement: We intend to research math computation skills of fifth graders and see if these scores correlate to various academic outcomes: drop-out rate, successful or not problem-solving ability, class rank, GPA, success in high school math courses. (time frame?)

Hypothesis: Low math computation skills in fifth graders correlate to certain negative academic outcomes in high school: lack of success in high school math, lower class rank, lower ACT scores, and a decreased likelihood of graduation on time.

******** Team: Erin Marsman, Cindy Claviter, Sue Janson, Christi Sickel

Research Question: What is the relationship between parental involvement and academic success of children in grades K-8 in Northeastern Minnesota?

Hypothesis: Parental involvement affects the academic success of students. Factors influencing parental involvement are socio-economic status, cultural background, and level of parent education.

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Team: Jennifer Harnell and Brian Rud

The Correlation between Involvement in High School Athletics and Academic Success

Research Question: Do high school athletes achieve higher academic class ranking than non-athletes?

****** Team: Cherese Pearson, Heidi Mlynarczyk, Sue Mickelson, Wayne Opsahl

Effects of Practical Training in Cooperative Learning.

Research Question: Is cooperative Learning being implemented effectively in the classroom? Would cooperative learning be more successful if teachers experienced extensive technical training?

Statement: We believe Cooperative Learning in the classroom is not being conducted effectively due to lack of technical training of the instructor.

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Marcia Gurno

School Choice in Public Education and the Impact on Parent Involvement in School Activities

Hypothesis: When parents have school choice in public education, they are more likely to increase their involvement in school activities.

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Team: Brenda Bender and Sue Lalama

Senior English Curriculum Development

Hypothesis: A curriculum designed specifically to be motivating and sensitive to teen needs will result in higher performance levels.

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Team: Sondra Dolentz, Kristina Downs, Linda Hart, Dianne Hedburg, Shelly Koonst, Nicole White

Fostering Student Self-Evaluation through Goal-Setting, Portfolios, and Parent Involvement

Hypothesis: Students will become better learners if they are taught how to evaluate their own work by participating in a plan which integrates self-evaluation, parental involvement, goal setting and portfolios in order to measure their own progress and improvement.

Valerie Tanner - Best Practice for Training Minnesota Teachers which includes tribal sovereignty issues.

Eric Birkeland - new project under consideration

John Bergum???

mjm.5/17/99

-- Anonymous, May 17, 1999