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An Analysis of the Representation of Hispanic Students in Gifted Programs in Florida's K-12 Public Schools
Title
An Analysis of the Representation of Hispanic Students in Gifted Programs in Florida's K-12 Public Schools.
Creator
Luis, Dalena, Johnson, Jerry, Baldwin, Lee, Taylor, Rosemarye, Gill, Michele, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This mixed-method study was conducted to investigate characteristics influencing the representation of Hispanic students in gifted programs across Florida K-12 school districts. Characteristics included school district enrollment, school district poverty level, school district percentage of minority students, grade level, and policies and practices relevant to gifted identification. Results showed a statistically significant positive relationship between school district enrollment and the...
Show moreThis mixed-method study was conducted to investigate characteristics influencing the representation of Hispanic students in gifted programs across Florida K-12 school districts. Characteristics included school district enrollment, school district poverty level, school district percentage of minority students, grade level, and policies and practices relevant to gifted identification. Results showed a statistically significant positive relationship between school district enrollment and the percentage of Hispanic students identified for gifted education in 2016-2017, indicating that Hispanic gifted representation was higher in Grades 6-8 than in Grades K-5 or Grades 9-12. Qualitative methods were utilized to analyze exceptional student education (ESE) policy manuals in two purposively sampled school districts and data from interviews with gifted coordinators in those same districts to determine how policies influenced school-level practices in increasing Hispanic representation in Florida's K-12 gifted programs.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007220, ucf:52231
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007220
Educating Gifted Students with Asperger's Syndrome: A Case Study of Three Students and Their Classroom Experiences
Title
Educating Gifted Students with Asperger's Syndrome: A Case Study of Three Students and Their Classroom Experiences.
Creator
Horn, Beverly, Gill, Michele, Eriksson, Gillian, Pearl, Cynthia, Nye, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Much research has focused on students with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), and much research has also been done on gifted students with special needs, yet very little has been published that looks at the characteristics of students who have been identified as both Gifted and as having Asperger Syndrome (G/AS), and what teachers are doing in the classroom to meet their needs. This is an important topic because this group of twice exceptional students has characteristics of both exceptionalities, and...
Show moreMuch research has focused on students with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), and much research has also been done on gifted students with special needs, yet very little has been published that looks at the characteristics of students who have been identified as both Gifted and as having Asperger Syndrome (G/AS), and what teachers are doing in the classroom to meet their needs. This is an important topic because this group of twice exceptional students has characteristics of both exceptionalities, and trying to meet the special needs of both groups in the same classroom would likely be a challenge for the teacher. Without understanding what these students are like, and how classroom teachers are trying to meet the needs of this special population, little can be recommended that will help the students succeed. This study examined the academic, social, and behavioral characteristics of three students with G/AS through observations and interviews of students, as well as interviews of their teachers and parents, and records reviews. Using an individual case study approach, information was gathered that was designed to understand the behaviors of specific students with G/AS and what their teachers were doing to meet their needs. By examining characteristics of students with G/AS and their teachers' practices, information pertinent to an improved understanding of the varying profiles of students with G/AS can be described that may improve decision making and planning when attempting to meet the needs of this population of students.
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Date Issued
2012
Identifier
CFE0004188, ucf:48987
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004188
TEACHER AND STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES ON GIFTED STUDENT MOTIVATION
Title
TEACHER AND STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES ON GIFTED STUDENT MOTIVATION.
Creator
Pappas, Chloe M, Sellnow, Deanna, Parrish, Adam, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This thesis explored teacher and student perceptions of classroom pedagogical practices as they may impact gifted children's motivation to learn. Because engaging gifted students can be uniquely challenging, teachers may need to tailor the teaching and learning experience to motivate them in ways that encourage them to succeed to their full potential. This exploratory study examined relationships among various pedagogical practices employed by a teacher and gifted student motivation....
Show moreThis thesis explored teacher and student perceptions of classroom pedagogical practices as they may impact gifted children's motivation to learn. Because engaging gifted students can be uniquely challenging, teachers may need to tailor the teaching and learning experience to motivate them in ways that encourage them to succeed to their full potential. This exploratory study examined relationships among various pedagogical practices employed by a teacher and gifted student motivation. Ultimately, results of this study may lay a foundation for best practices for teaching gifted students.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFH2000432, ucf:45730
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000432
Students Who Are Gifted and Public School Enrollment Choices Their Parents Make
Title
Students Who Are Gifted and Public School Enrollment Choices Their Parents Make.
Creator
Austin, Leigh, Martin, Suzanne, Little, Mary, Baldwin, Lee, Brooks, Bridget, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
ABSTRACTGiven the many school choices available to parents, there is a need to understand the reasons parents of a child who is gifted choose to keep their child in his/her current school. Parents' satisfaction with their child's school and their academic growth is essential to continued enrollment of the child in that school (Abdulkadiroglu, Angrist, (&) Pathak, 2011; Van Tassel-Baska, 2006). The parents' decision to keep their child who is gifted enrolled in their current school may be...
Show moreABSTRACTGiven the many school choices available to parents, there is a need to understand the reasons parents of a child who is gifted choose to keep their child in his/her current school. Parents' satisfaction with their child's school and their academic growth is essential to continued enrollment of the child in that school (Abdulkadiroglu, Angrist, (&) Pathak, 2011; Van Tassel-Baska, 2006). The parents' decision to keep their child who is gifted enrolled in their current school may be influenced by factors within the school as well as those factors outside of the school. The purpose of this study was to research factors that may influence the parents' decision to keep their child who is gifted enrolled in their current school. The research studied parental perceptions of academic support, social and emotional support, and principal support for gifted education for their child who is gifted and the parents' willingness to keep their child who is gifted enrolled at their current school. The target group in the study was parents of children who are gifted and enrolled in a very large urban school district but did not include parents of children who are gifted and also have a disability.The research included the analysis of a survey and follow-up interview questions with parents of a child who is gifted and enrolled in the very large urban school district. There were 683 survey responses out of 4,401 total parents surveyed with a return rate of 16%. The low return rate is considered a limitation of the study and it is recommended to conduct additional research on the majority of parents who did not participate in the survey. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 10 randomly selected parents of children who are gifted and enrolled in the very large urban school district. The survey and interview data was coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics. There were two research questions that guided the development of the research process and the analysis of data. The first question focused on indicators of parent satisfaction that included academic needs met, social and emotional needs met, and principal support for gifted education. The survey and interview data yielded mixed results with parents split between the belief that their child's academic needs were met, social and emotional needs were met, and that their child's principal was supportive of gifted education. The second research question considered the relationship between the three indicators of parent satisfaction and the parents' willingness to consider enrolling their child in a school solely for students who are gifted. The results showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the parents' belief that their child's academic needs were met and the parents' consideration to send their child to a school solely for students who are gifted. However, there was a lack of evidence to establish a relationship between parent's belief about their child's social and emotional needs or the parents belief that their child's principal was supportive of gifted education. The implications of the study are numerous. There are enough parents willing to consider sending their child to a school solely for students who are gifted to support opening the school. The majority of the survey participants had elementary school children; therefore, consideration should be focused on opening an elementary school for students who are gifted. Long range planning is needed to determine how to support the school for students who are gifted as well as the impact of transferring the students from one school zone to the school for students who are gifted. The literature reflected the diverse nature of the parents' satisfaction with academic support, social and emotional support, and principal support for gifted education and revealed that when the parents' are satisfied it does not guarantee that the parent will keep their child enrolled in their current school. The need for on-going communication between the school and the parents are critical to keeping the student enrolled in their current school.Further research is needed to determine the beliefs of parents with children who are gifted and identify themselves as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or another race since the majority of the survey participants were White. More research is also needed to determine the reasons why large numbers of parents would consider sending their child to a school solely for students who are gifted regardless of their satisfaction levels with school support. In addition, further research needs to be conducted to determine why parents would choose to keep their child enrolled in their current school when the parents believed their academic or social and emotional needs were not met or their principal was not supportive of gifted education.
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Date Issued
2015
Identifier
CFE0005759, ucf:50092
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005759
ACADEMIC ACCELERATION IN FLORIDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: A SURVEY OF ATTITUDES, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES
Title
ACADEMIC ACCELERATION IN FLORIDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: A SURVEY OF ATTITUDES, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES.
Creator
Guilbault, Keri, Bozeman, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The focus of this research was to provide recent descriptive information about acceleration policies and practices in Florida elementary schools. District, school, and personal demographic variables were investigated to determine the extent to which they affected school-based acceleration options provided for students. Also, school district policies were examined to determine which types of research-based acceleration options were more frequently used and what procedures were in place to...
Show moreThe focus of this research was to provide recent descriptive information about acceleration policies and practices in Florida elementary schools. District, school, and personal demographic variables were investigated to determine the extent to which they affected school-based acceleration options provided for students. Also, school district policies were examined to determine which types of research-based acceleration options were more frequently used and what procedures were in place to guide the decision-making process. Results from this study indicated that extant acceleration policies only included grade skipping and limited procedures for referral, screening and decision-making in the schools. The most common types of acceleration offered in Florida elementary schools were subject acceleration in the Language Arts and Mathematics provided outside of the regular classroom, continuous progress, and curriculum compacting. The most frequently selected reason for not accelerating a student listed by both school principals and district administrators of gifted education programs was concern over a studentÂÂ's social and emotional development. No relationship was found to exist between schoolsÂÂ' or principalsÂÂ' personal demographic variables and types of acceleration offered in elementary schools. No relationship was found between elementary school principalsÂÂ' knowledge of gifted learners and the types of acceleration implemented in their schools.
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Date Issued
2009
Identifier
CFE0002969, ucf:47988
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002969
Principals' Perceptions on Educating Elementary Students who are Gifted
Title
Principals' Perceptions on Educating Elementary Students who are Gifted.
Creator
Cumming, Ingrid, Martin, Suzanne, Little, Mary, Zygouris-Coe, Vassiliki, Ellis, Amanda, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Students who are gifted need student centered academic challenges and authenticproblems to spark reflection and enhance student outcomes. When academic needs are not met,students who are gifted may not reach their full academic potential and may lose motivation for learning. A primary reason for students who are gifted to underachieve in academics is equated to school factors including lack of instructional resources, social/emotional support, and teacherswho are unprepared to teach students...
Show moreStudents who are gifted need student centered academic challenges and authenticproblems to spark reflection and enhance student outcomes. When academic needs are not met,students who are gifted may not reach their full academic potential and may lose motivation for learning. A primary reason for students who are gifted to underachieve in academics is equated to school factors including lack of instructional resources, social/emotional support, and teacherswho are unprepared to teach students who are gifted. The purpose of this phenomenologicalresearch study is to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of participating elementary school principals in an urban school district. The research questions explore elementary school principals' perceptions of the implementation of practices, programs and instructional methodsthat support their programs for students who are gifted and the teachers of students who are gifted.
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Date Issued
2015
Identifier
CFE0005937, ucf:50822
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005937
Taxonomy of Affective Curriculum for Gifted Learners
Title
Taxonomy of Affective Curriculum for Gifted Learners.
Creator
Cavilla, Derek, Eriksson, Gillian, Hynes, Mike, Hopp, Carolyn, Vitale, Thomas, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Teaching and learning in the current milieu of standards-based accountability has resulted in a near-exclusive focus on academic growth and development for students in today's schools. This is particularly acute for gifted students, whose label inherently focuses on superior intellectual capacity and aptitude for academic success. However, there is a growing demand for equal support of social-emotional learning (SEL) across the globe. In the United States, the Collaborative for Academic,...
Show moreTeaching and learning in the current milieu of standards-based accountability has resulted in a near-exclusive focus on academic growth and development for students in today's schools. This is particularly acute for gifted students, whose label inherently focuses on superior intellectual capacity and aptitude for academic success. However, there is a growing demand for equal support of social-emotional learning (SEL) across the globe. In the United States, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has shed significant light on the power of affective development for school-aged children, indicating that, without it, students are limited in their ability to reach their full potential. The proposed Taxonomy of Affective Curriculum for Gifted Learners is intended to provide a framework to reduce the disparity in focus between cognitive and social-emotional development for a population that requires affective support in response to the effects of asynchronous development as well as an inherent proclivity for heightened capacity for emotional intelligence and moral development. Through the research-based definition and sequence of specific affective constructs, the taxonomy leads gifted learners toward their full potential through the eventual development of specific social-emotional abilities, such as harmonious passion (Vallerand et. al, 2003), acceptance of ambiguity (Urban, 2014), willingness to view failure as opportunity for growth (Dweck, 2006), and an increased ability to set and attain meaningful goals (Dweck, 1986). Qualitative data from both practitioners and experts as well as suggested implementation and evaluation of a pilot study further inform the framework's development with implications surrounding the stimulation of greater levels of internal locus of control as well as a clarification of the role of teacher versus counselor of the gifted.
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Date Issued
2016
Identifier
CFE0006087, ucf:50946
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006087
PERCEPTIONS OF PRESERVICE TEACHER CANDIDATES TOWARDS GIFTED EDUCATION TRAINING AND OBTAINING THE GIFTED EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT CERTIFICATE IN FLORIDA
Title
PERCEPTIONS OF PRESERVICE TEACHER CANDIDATES TOWARDS GIFTED EDUCATION TRAINING AND OBTAINING THE GIFTED EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT CERTIFICATE IN FLORIDA.
Creator
Laschober, Zachary, Eriksson, Gillian, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
According to the Institute for Research and Policy on Acceleration, training in gifted education is inaccessible by teacher candidates in colleges of education in the United States. This study involved the use of questionnaires with 100 teacher candidates enrolled on an introductory course on diversity in education in a Florida university. Teacher candidates responded to a series of items to identify beliefs about giftedness within and outside the context of education as well as the value of...
Show moreAccording to the Institute for Research and Policy on Acceleration, training in gifted education is inaccessible by teacher candidates in colleges of education in the United States. This study involved the use of questionnaires with 100 teacher candidates enrolled on an introductory course on diversity in education in a Florida university. Teacher candidates responded to a series of items to identify beliefs about giftedness within and outside the context of education as well as the value of training in gifted education for educators. Of the 100 respondents, 79% agreed or strongly agreed with the need for specialized training for educators working with gifted students. 60.6% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with outcomes with gifted students being positively influenced by research of and experiences with gifted students. The data showed a statistically significant, positive correlation between attitudes towards giftedness within education and agreement with outcomes with gifted students being positively influenced by research of and experiences with gifted students. Results suggest teacher candidates recognize a value in training in gifted education but do not see themselves as gifted educators and are unaware of how to be trained in gifted education.
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Date Issued
2012
Identifier
CFH0004277, ucf:44940
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004277
Gifted Students' Engagement in a Middle School Research and Critical Thinking Course
Title
Gifted Students' Engagement in a Middle School Research and Critical Thinking Course.
Creator
Crupi, Samuel, Jeanpierre, Bobby, Gresham, Regina, Haciomeroglu, Erhan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This action research was an analysis of a group of eighth grade gifted students 'classroom engagement in a large urban school district. Over a two-week period a variety of data were collected. Data were collected using the Student Engagement Instrument (Appleton (&) Christenson, 2004), which is a self-report of students' perceptions of engagement. Observation data of student engagement were collected using a teacher developed student engagement checklist, which measured academic and...
Show moreThis action research was an analysis of a group of eighth grade gifted students 'classroom engagement in a large urban school district. Over a two-week period a variety of data were collected. Data were collected using the Student Engagement Instrument (Appleton (&) Christenson, 2004), which is a self-report of students' perceptions of engagement. Observation data of student engagement were collected using a teacher developed student engagement checklist, which measured academic and behavioral indications of student engagement. At the end of the two week observation period students participated in an exit interview focused on their perceptions of student engagement. The student engagement interview was adapted from an analysis of elementary student engagement carried out by Parn (2006). The data collected were analyzed according to the academic, behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement sub-types. The findings showed that the highest levels of engagement were in the sub-types of behavioral and academic engagement. Levels of affective/psychological engagement were lower than levels of cognitive engagement. The results demonstrated that affective/psychological student engagement was positively related with cognitive engagement, behavioral engagement, and academic engagement.
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Date Issued
2012
Identifier
CFE0004313, ucf:49466
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004313
PERCEPTIONS OF THE EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL DISABILITY LABEL ON EDUCATORS' REFERRAL AND PLACEMENT DECISIONS TO GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS
Title
PERCEPTIONS OF THE EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL DISABILITY LABEL ON EDUCATORS' REFERRAL AND PLACEMENT DECISIONS TO GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS.
Creator
Marrah, Charissa, Little, Mary, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Socio-culturally diverse students with disabilities are underrepresented in gifted and talented programs. This study investigated the differences in educators' referral and placement decisions based on a students' disability label, socio-economic status (SES), and ethnicity. Two hundred and eighty five educators' (classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers) across a Florida school district participated in the study. Educators' were...
Show moreSocio-culturally diverse students with disabilities are underrepresented in gifted and talented programs. This study investigated the differences in educators' referral and placement decisions based on a students' disability label, socio-economic status (SES), and ethnicity. Two hundred and eighty five educators' (classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers) across a Florida school district participated in the study. Educators' were randomly assigned to treatment and control case vignettes that described a student with emotional/behavioral disabled (EBD) and gifted characteristics. Treatment case vignettes explicitly stated the students' disability label, socio-economic status, and ethnicity. Control case vignettes described of the student examined and did not mention the disability label, ethnicity, or socio-economic status of the student. After reading the case vignette, participants responded to a two-item questionnaire that explained their referral and placement decisions of the student described in the vignette. Participants responses to the two item questionnaire were indicated by selecting one of six choices: strongly agree, slightly agree, agree, disagree, slightly disagree, and strongly disagree. Reponses were the dependent variables being measured. A three-way factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to measure the differences in educators' referral and placement decisions based on a student's disability label, socio-economic status, and ethnicity. Results indicate educators' awareness of a students' disability label, socio-economic status, and ethnicity influence referral decisions. Implications are discussed and recommendations for future research are made.
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Date Issued
2007
Identifier
CFE0001777, ucf:47260
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001777
Rock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers
Title
Rock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers.
Creator
Afflerback, Sara, Grauerholz, Elizabeth, Carter, Shannon, Koontz, Amanda, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Rock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers, is the first known sociological exploration of need-based consumption for babies, despite the baby gear industry being a $6-billion-dollar business (whattoexpect.com). Data stemmed from qualitative, semi-structured interviews with new, first-time mothers (3 months (-) 1 year postpartum) conducted within participants' households. The insights gained from the present study tell us a great deal about the (")needs(") that predominantly...
Show moreRock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers, is the first known sociological exploration of need-based consumption for babies, despite the baby gear industry being a $6-billion-dollar business (whattoexpect.com). Data stemmed from qualitative, semi-structured interviews with new, first-time mothers (3 months (-) 1 year postpartum) conducted within participants' households. The insights gained from the present study tell us a great deal about the (")needs(") that predominantly white, middle-class mothers socially constructed in anticipation of their first child, and the consumptive behaviors used to accomplish these "needs." Respondents had turned to similar resources (other mothers, online forums, consumer reports, books, magazines, etc.) to help them construct (")need(") and formulate decisions among commodities. Provided they were relying on comparable, if not overlapping, bodies of knowledge, mothers' narratives about consumer (")need(") were often congruent. Additionally, the ways expectant mothers accumulated items are ritualized and made tradition. The baby shower and gift registration process (which all of my respondents participated in to some variation) are social constructions; these practices, which are so strongly tied to consumption, also constituted reality for mothers, and inevitably, their babies.
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Date Issued
2012
Identifier
CFE0004258, ucf:49502
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004258
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA-TRENDS, ATTRITION, AND RETENTION1997-2005
Title
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA-TRENDS, ATTRITION, AND RETENTION1997-2005.
Creator
Norburn, Jill, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The purpose of this study was to examine the trends, attrition and retention rates of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida between the years of 1997 to 2005. This study was intended to provide information for higher education practitioners, faculty, and administrators to help them better understand the expectations and current trends of National Merit Finalists. The problem was to determine how to increase recruitment and retention while decreasing the attrition rates...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to examine the trends, attrition and retention rates of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida between the years of 1997 to 2005. This study was intended to provide information for higher education practitioners, faculty, and administrators to help them better understand the expectations and current trends of National Merit Finalists. The problem was to determine how to increase recruitment and retention while decreasing the attrition rates of these highly desirable students. The importance of this study includes identifying trends that may aid in future recruitment efforts for National Merit Finalists; finding the causes of dissatisfaction towards the University among these students; and identifying specific areas in which to alleviate those dissatisfactions. The results will hopefully provide insight into specific recruitment, services, and programming options for these students. The study examined data that was collected from the University of Central Florida's Burnett Honors College database known as FileMaker 8.0. The data examined characteristics such as grade point averages (high school and college); valedictorian and salutatorian status; test scores (SAT and ACT); Honors in the Major (undergraduate thesis) students; Honors and university status (withdrawn, probation, removed, disqualified, enrolled, graduated); Honors college attrition; university attrition; ethnicity; gender ratios; majors; and, prestigious scholarships awarded in college (such as the Rhodes, Truman, Marshall). The actual size of the sample was one hundred ninety-eight National Merit Finalists. Data was also collected from a survey given to all University of Central Florida National Merit Finalists. Descriptive statistics were reported for each of the components examined. This data examined the types of scholarship packages that National Merit Finalists were offered; the reasons students chose the University of Central Florida over other universities; the college recruitment process; hours studied for the PSAT; siblings; perceptions on being a National Merit Finalist; the number of times students changed their majors; job status; transportation; computer attainment; disabilities; and the potential disadvantages of being labeled as a National Merit Finalist. The data could be utilized to examine the trends of our National Merit Finalists, in order to see what is working and what is not in terms or recruitment and retention; and also to further examine what these students want from their institutions. Findings indicated that problems exist in regard to the following: the recruitment of female and minority National Merit Finalists; males historically score higher on the SAT than females; decreasing the attrition rates of this population at the University of Central Florida; the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida come from Florida; the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida do not tend to be high school salutatorians or valedictorians; high school counselors seem to be the least effective tool for recruiting National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida; and the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida did not study at all for the PSAT test. However, the University of Central Florida is extremely competitive with other institutions of higher education with regard to scholarship packages. Results also revealed the following: the SAT is a more widely accepted tool for determining NMSC status as opposed to the ACT; the majority of National Merit Finalists have a GPA between 3.600 and 3.999 at the University of Central Florida; the University of Central Florida is succeeding in making its National Merit Finalists feel special during the recruitment process; the most influential reason that National Merit Finalists are choosing UCF is based upon the financial scholarship packages they are offered; and the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida do not feel that there are disadvantages toward being labeled as such. This data provides a basis for further research on National Merit Finalists trends, attrition, and retention. Practical considerations are revealed in the data that will influence future recruitment methods and lead to higher retention rates and increased student satisfaction. Several other recommendations are made to conduct further research studies on the trends, attrition, and retention rates of National Merit Finalists.
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Date Issued
2006
Identifier
CFE0000931, ucf:46760
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000931
The Implications of a High Academic Ability Learning Environment on Third Grade Gifted Students' Academic Achievement in Florida Public Schools
Title
The Implications of a High Academic Ability Learning Environment on Third Grade Gifted Students' Academic Achievement in Florida Public Schools.
Creator
Cady, Julie, Murray, Barbara, Taylor, Rosemarye, Murray, Kenneth, Spadaccini, Becky, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The purpose of this two year study was to investigate the implications of a high academic ability learning environment on the achievement scores of third grade gifted students who attended the Florida Brevard County Public School System. Learning environment was defined by the students' academic ability level, whether high academic ability or heterogeneous academic ability, and for this study was the independent variable. Academic achievement, as measured by the 2011 and the 2012 Florida...
Show moreThe purpose of this two year study was to investigate the implications of a high academic ability learning environment on the achievement scores of third grade gifted students who attended the Florida Brevard County Public School System. Learning environment was defined by the students' academic ability level, whether high academic ability or heterogeneous academic ability, and for this study was the independent variable. Academic achievement, as measured by the 2011 and the 2012 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test(&)#174; 2.0 (FCAT 2.0) Mathematics and Reading Developmental Scale Scores (DSS), was the dependent variable. Other student data such as gender and socioeconomic status were also collected and used along with classroom structure to examine the extent to which third grade gifted students' reading and mathematics performance could be predicted. Random samples of students were drawn from the third grade gifted student population attending Florida Brevard County Public School System in the 2010-2011 and the 2011-2012 school years. Using an independent samples t-test, analysis of the 2011 FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics found a statistically significant difference in both the students' FCAT 2.0 Mathematics and the students' FCAT 2.0 Reading achievement test scores based on the classroom structure. Specifically, there was enough evidence to support the claim that third grade gifted students who learned in a homogeneous high academic ability learning environment scored significantly higher on reading and mathematics standardize tests than did third grade gifted students who learned in a heterogeneous academic ability learning environment. Approximately 14% of the variance in reading and mathematics scores could be accounted for by classroom structure. However, different results were found with the 2012 FCAT 2.0 Mathematics and Reading scores. The results from the 2011-2012 school year indicated that there was not a significant difference in mean reading and mathematics scores between third grade gifted students who learn in a homogeneous high academic ability learning environment and third grade gifted students who learn in a heterogeneous academic ability learning environment. The recommendations include that subsequent studies incorporate a wider range of grade levels, perhaps even include methods of instructional delivery, types of gifted services provided, and teachers' years of experience. In addition, recommendations are that future studies address the academic performance of high academic ability non-gifted students who learn in homogeneous high academic ability classroom environments verses those who learn in heterogeneous academic ability classroom structures.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0004661, ucf:49896
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004661
Explicit Feedback Within Game-Based Training: Examining the Influence of Source Modality Effects on Interaction
Title
Explicit Feedback Within Game-Based Training: Examining the Influence of Source Modality Effects on Interaction.
Creator
Goldberg, Benjamin, Bowers, Clint, Cannon-Bowers, Janis, Kincaid, John, McDaniel, Thomas, Sottilare, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This research aims to enhance Simulation-Based Training (SBT) applications to support training events in the absence of live instruction. The overarching purpose is to explore available tools for integrating intelligent tutoring communications in game-based learning platforms and to examine theory-based techniques for delivering explicit feedback in such environments. The primary tool influencing the design of this research was the Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT), a...
Show moreThis research aims to enhance Simulation-Based Training (SBT) applications to support training events in the absence of live instruction. The overarching purpose is to explore available tools for integrating intelligent tutoring communications in game-based learning platforms and to examine theory-based techniques for delivering explicit feedback in such environments. The primary tool influencing the design of this research was the Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT), a modular domain-independent architecture that provides the tools and methods to author, deliver, and evaluate intelligent tutoring technologies within any training platform. Influenced by research surrounding Social Cognitive Theory and Cognitive Load Theory, the resulting experiment tested varying approaches for utilizing an Embodied Pedagogical Agent (EPA) to function as a tutor during interaction in a game-based environment. Conditions were authored to assess the tradeoffs between embedding an EPA directly in a game, embedding an EPA in GIFT's browser-based Tutor-User Interface (TUI), or using audio prompts alone with no social grounding.The resulting data supports the application of using an EPA embedded in GIFT's TUI to provide explicit feedback during a game-based learning event. Analyses revealed conditions with an EPA situated in the TUI to be as effective as embedding the agent directly in the game environment. This inference is based on evidence showing reliable differences across conditions on the metrics of performance and self-reported mental demand and feedback usefulness items. This research provides source modality tradeoffs linked to tactics for relaying training relevant explicit information to a user based on real-time performance in a game.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0004850, ucf:49696
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004850