Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/733
Browse
974 results
Search Results
Item A survey of organization and practice in several semi-nongraded school systems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, 1967) Owens, Olive V.The purpose of this study was to obtain first-hand information concerning the organization and administration of nongraded school systems. Five semi-nongraded or nongraded schools were visited. Principals, personnel and parents were interviewed. Principals of the five schools also responded to a written inquiry. In addition, representatives of two schools not visited granted interviews and completed the written inquiry. All schools approached cooperated. Some similarities in operation and administration were evident: 1. All of the schools responding were organized on a 'levels' plan for reading skills. 2. Initial ungrading began with some or all of the primary years. 3. Thorough orientation of staff and community was deemed highly important. 4. Lack of appropriate materials was a limiting factor. 5. More funds for equipment, materials and additional personnel were needed. 6. Each school devised its own reporting plan. Operation and administration varied in these respects: 1. Bases for evaluation of pupil progress (teacher judgement, reading tests based on textbook, and/or general achievement). 2. Plans for reporting to parents (conference, card, anecdotal, and/or combinations of two or more). 3. Number of levels for each year's work (from four per year to as many as seven). 4. Financial support of initial innovation (district or foundation). 5. Source of instigation for the plan (administration or teacher-administration group). 6. Organization of groups within classes (by achievement and/or interest). 7. Basis for assignment to classrooms (achievement, age, personality). 8. Extent of curriculum and years which were ungraded at first and currently (only reading in one or more primary grades to all areas in entire school). There appeared to be no one 'best' plan for implementing a nongraded school. There was only a consensus of philosophy. Administrators, staff and parents were generally enthusiastic about the plan. There was a lack of objective evaluation, even in the schools which had operated the plan the longest number of years.Item A comparison of the achievement test scores in the intermediate grades in a school using performance grouping and a school using heterogeneous grouping(Montana State College, Division of Education, 1961) Burton, Priscilla J.The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not a form of ability grouping known as performance grouping had an effect on the students' achievement test scores that would not be obtained in a heterogeneous classroom. The major hypothesis held was that added gains would be shown on the standardized achievement test scores by the students in a school using performance grouping that would not be shown by students in a school using heterogeneous grouping.Item A study of selected factors that may contribute to the incidence of premature infant births in Twelve southwestern Montana counties(Montana State College, Division of Professional Schools, 1961) Burcham, Genevieve S.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Eleanore L. ModeThis study was concerned with three selected factors (socio-economic, geographic, and health facilities) that may contribute to the incidence of premature infant births in twelve southwestern counties in Montana. The documentary and exploratory method was employed in securing the data. The results of this study showed no established pattern of the three factors to the incidence of premature infant births.Item Diorama construction simplified(Montana State College, Division of Education, 1960) Simmons, Hugh G.The decade preceding the 1960's was an age when the interests of students' and adults' were many and varied. Because of this diversification of interests, ideas to be presented had to be short, to the point, and interesting for effective communication. Each year history was being made, studied, and forgotten by students trying to keep up with the fast-changing pace of events. It was the opinion of the writer that there was a way in which important events could be recorded which would enable students not only to understand an event, but to gain an understanding of the forces or actions which led up to the event. It was the writer's contention that the preparation for and the construction of a diorama, a three dimensional scene incorporating three-dimensional objects with backgrounds in perspective, could stimulate and vitalize history courses at the high school level. The purpose of this investigation was three-fold: to construct a diorama, to produce a slide film set and guide, and to record the various steps in the construction of the diorama.Item The history of federal aid to Montana education(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, 1966) Donohoe, Gordon ThomasThe purpose of this study was to bring together fragmentary information on the impact of federal monies on Montana education. The writer examined federal and state education department records arising in the way of administration and business, dealing with federal education aid. Chronicles, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets and federal laws has been reviewed. The following conclusions seem warranted from examination and analysis of data collected in this historical study: 1. Federal support was offered to Montana schools in 1864. However, the primary impact of federal aid to Montana education was felt with the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917. 2. Federal educational spending has had an impact on Montana public education although federal policy toward education has been influenced by factors other than educational ones, such as land settlement, national welfare and national defense. 3. Federal aid has been governed by dictates from Washington, D.C. 4. Federal funds in lieu of tax payments have not been sufficient to cover the additional cost of educating the children of federally dependent families. 5. Montana education can expect federal aid and controls in the future, as witnessed by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.Item The views of a group of adolescents concerning their hospital experiences in one Montana community(Montana State College, Division of Professional Schools, 1963) Donohue, Susan; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Eleanore L. ModeThe primary purposes of this study were to determine the views of a selected group of adolescents towards their hospital experiences and obtain information from this group concerning their illnesses or injuries. The study was based on a survey conducted by interviewing a selected sample of adolescents between the ages of twelve and seventeen years. The majority of the adolescents indicated that they did not mind being hospitalized and viewed their hospitalization experiences as 'an experience.' The statistical analysis of the data revealed significant results in the answers to the majority of the questions asked but that there was no significant difference among the responses of the boys and girls.Item A study of dropouts in the 1960-61 freshman class of Montana State College(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1962) Hamilton, John J. (John Judson)Item A follow-up study of the 1967-1968 bookkeeping graduates of the Dalles Senior High School(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Professional Schools, 1969) Schick, James AlexanderThe problem in this study was the lack of available knowledge concerning the application of bookkeeping by graduates of The Dalles Senior High School who have completed the first-year course in bookkeeping. The need for such information has been demonstrated by the lack of agreement among those responsible for determining the instructional objectives of the course. A follow-up study of the 1967-1968 bookkeeping graduates was conducted to provide that information. The major reason for conducting a follow-up study of the 1967-1968 bookkeeping graduates of The Dalles Senior High School was to determine the application of a course in high school bookkeeping to the selection of a vocation or additional education in preparation for employment.Item A comparison of the results of the frequency of five-minute timed writings in a Manhattan Christian High School ninth grade typing class(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Professional Schools, 1966) Timmer, Laverne Jay; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Harvey A. LarsonThe purpose of this study was to determine if there would be any significant difference in 5-minute typewriting rates between students who took 5-minute straight copy timed writings four times a week versus those students who took them twice a week. The writer by means of the review of literature found a lack of information on the frequency of offering 5-minute straight copy timed writings to a beginning ninth grade typewriting class. This examination also revealed four specific areas in typewriting which are being written about in our business education journals. The specific areas are grade level of offering typewriting, related learning to typewriting, predicting typewriting success, and grading in typewriting. To test the frequency of offering 5-minute straight copy timed writings, this writer used the ninth grade students at Manhattan Christian High School. By means of random selection the students were divided into two groups. Both the experimental and control group consisted of seventeen students respectively. Instruction prior to the giving of 5-minute timed writings was the same for both groups. Students in both groups at the beginning of the experiment were given 5-minute straight copy timed writings to determine their present typewriting rates. For twelve weeks the experimental group were given one 5-minute straight copy timed writing four times a week while the control group received one 5-minute straight copy timed writing twice a week. At the end of the twelfth week, both groups were again given 5-minute straight copy timed writings on the material used at the beginning of the experiment. The F-test of one-way analysis of covariance was used to determine if there was any significant difference in the increase in typewriting rates between the two groups according to the method used.Item An evaluation of the office practice course at Sentinel High School, Missoula, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Professional Schools, 1967) Wiles, Ann Lawton; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Harvey A. LarsonThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the Office Practice course at Sentinel High School by comparing skills and attitudes actually taught in each unit with the skills and attitudes which employees and employers indicated as desirable for beginning employees to possess when they enter the labor market. Methods used to arrive at the evaluation included an initial questionnaire submitted to the members of the 1965-66 Office Practice class of Sentinel High School to determine their employment status; questionnaires completed by those graduates who indicated non-clerical or clerically related employment; and, completion of questionnaires and personal interviews with the clerically employed and their employers. All of the employees rated each unit of the Office Practice course, using an A-B-C-D-E rating scale (A indicating great value and E, little value), in terms of individual on-the-job value. Employers used the same rating scale and rated each unit in terms of on-the-job value to these beginning clerical employees. Employees and clerical employers made suggestions for course content changes or additions. Conclusions drawn as a result of this study were: (1) beginning employees lacked proficient skill and confidence in the operation of some business machines, especially the typewriter and dictating machines; (2) too much emphasis was placed on the automated data processing unit in view of the present requirements of Missoula employers; (3) additional instruction in communicative skills was needed; (4) additional emphasis needed to be placed on accuracy in all units; and, (5) some type of work experience prior to graduation and employment would be desirable. Recommendations were made as a result of this study that (1) additional office machines be purchased for the Office Practice laboratory to insure adequate machine instruction; (2) units on production and statistical typing and oral and written communication be added to the course; (3) an introductory unit containing terms and types and uses of equipment be substituted for the present ADP unit; and (4) adoption of a three-phase plan of pre-employment work (cooperative, directed, simulated) be included to meet the needs of all students enrolled in Office Practice at Sentinel High School.