College of Education - FY 2006 Research Abstracts

 

SCHOOL OF APPLIED HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (SAHEP)

 

GIS Research and Implementation

This project will integrate the use of a statewide Geographic Information System (GIS) in the sponsorâs programs by developing a centralized GIS laboratory to effectively serve as a library for geo-referenced infrastructure, facility, visitor, natural resources, financial, inventory, tourism, and other data. It will facilitate management of extensive digital data sets, transfer of data, and cooperation with outside agencies and the public. It will also identify and procure remote sensing data, integrate the GIS with remote sensing, and better manage data internally, as well as provide data to the public in a visual format.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department

PI: Lowell Caneday

 

Proposal for an Assessment of the Leisure Service Delivery System

This project has four phases: 1) a baseline inventory of public, private, and non-profit providers of leisure services, 2) an assessment of potential partnerships between these providers to increase efficiency and effectiveness of service, 3) a determination of duplications that may exist among those providers of leisure services, with the intent of assisting Stillwater in being more cost-effective in its planning, and 4) a determination of omission of services and opportunities for under-served residents in the community, with the intent of allowing for targeted development in public services to reach the ãunreached.ä

Sponsor: Stillwater Parks, Events, and Recreation

PIs: Lowell Caneday, Deb Jordan

 

Indian Health Services Scholarship

This scholarship pays for one Counseling Psychology studentâs tuition and fees for the 2005ö2006 academic year.

Sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services

PI: Al Carlozzi

 

Preparing Future Faculty in Psychology

Programs offered will address the career interests of OSU doctoral students interested in preparing for academic careers. Participants include students from OSUâs five doctoral psychology programs housed in SAHEP in the College of Education and in the Psychology department in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as faculty mentors and students from partner institutions (Langston University, the University of Central Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Tulsa Community College, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, OU Health Sciences Psychologists).

Sponsor: American Psychological Association

PI: Sue C. Jacobs

 

Assessment of Public Perception of Lake Murray Property

The potential sale of Lake Murray Lodge and the surrounding property offers an opportunity to seek and present the best available information on public perception of ownership, management, and operation of state lodges. The PIs will oversee the research design and methodology to provide public input for residents most affected by actions on Lake Murray Lodge, develop a survey instrument, conduct a telephone survey, and analyze and report on the responses.

PIs: Deb Jordan, Lowell Caneday

 

Needs Assessment for the Assistive Technology Equipment Loan (ATEL) Program

This project has several objectives: 1) determine the assistive technology equipment needs of select agencies across the state of Oklahoma, by region; 2) identify constraints and facilitators to agency participation in an AT loan program, and 3) guide the purchase of appropriate AT devices for the ATEL program.

Sponsor: Oklahoma ABLE Tech

PIs: Deb Jordan, Lowell Caneday

Research Assistant: Donna Lindenmeier

 

Continuing Education Program for Oklahoma Recreation and Park Society

This contract reimburses OSU for instruction included in specified continuing education programs.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Recreation and Park Society

PI: Jerry Jordan

 

Project CREATES

Project CREATES conducts research on transforming teaching and learning as teachers and artists develop and deliver high-quality academic instruction infused with high-quality arts instruction for students attending high-risk schools in the Tulsa community.

Sponsors: Barthelmes Foundation, ArtsBridge/University of California, Irvine, Anonymous gift

PI: Diane Montgomery

 

Exercise as a Recreational Therapy Intervention for Older Individuals Diagnosed with Depression

This project will evaluate the influence exercise may or may not have when delivered as a Recreational Therapy intervention to individuals admitted to a Geriatric Psychiatric Treatment Facility diagnosed with clinical depression. This project will add to the body of knowledge addressing commonly utilized interventions with specific data concerning exercise as a recreational therapy intervention. These findings may also provide examples of best practice exercise programs, such as specific types and durations of exercise schedules for utilization with older individuals diagnosed with depressive disorders.

Sponsor: American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation

PIs: Tim Passmore, Donna Lindenmeier

 

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP)

A comprehensive five-year program, GEAR-UP utilizes diverse public and private two-year and four-year institutions, a state agency, non-profit, community-based organizations, and Tulsa Public Schools. As a main objective, the program works with approximately 1,200 middle school students and encourages them to stay in school, study, and prepare for college or vocational training.

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education

PI: John Romans

 

Practicum Programs

Programs provide students with pre-professional clinical experience.

 

Sponsor: Payne County Youth Services

PI: Barbara Carlozzi

 

Sponsor: Stillwater Medical Center

PI: Tona Palmer

 

Sponsor: Stillwater Public Schools

PI: Terry Stinnett

 

Sponsors: Associated Centers for Therapy, Inc., Payne County Youth Services, Stillwater Domestic Violence Services

PI: Carrie Winterowd

 

SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES (SES)

 

Assessment of Comparison of Perceived Sleep Quality and Comfort Based on Selected Durations of Bedding System Use

This study will attempt to: 1) assess sleep and comfort among selected durations of bedding systems use, 2) compare stress and sleep quality among selected durations of bedding system use, and 3) ascertain the break-in period for new bedding systems. Results of this study may enable bedding system manufacturers to more accurately predict system longevity and will enable consumers to choose bedding systems with more confidence and accuracy.

Sponsor: International Sleep Products Association

PI: Bert Jacobson

 

Oklahoma Center for Community Education

The Center endeavors to increase accountability of community education programs in Oklahoma through assessment, communication, and training. The Center worked in partnership with a consortium advisory council made up of group members to implement the effort. The training included institutes, workshops and teleconferences, baseline assessment information, an electronic newsletter, and a webpage. Updating the Community Education Practitionersâ Handbook and developing a final report on the status of Community Education in Oklahoma will complete the project.

Sponsor: Oklahoma State Department of Education

PI: Bert Jacobson

SES: Deke Johnson, Director

 

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Non-Transdermal Lifewave Patches on Muscle Strength, Muscle Endurance, and Power

According to the manufacturers, recently developed energy patches use bioelectric stimulation produced by specific electrical frequencies in the body's magnetic field. They claim that over 99% of users experienced significant improvements (10% or higher) in strength after only a few minutes of wearing the patches. This study compares the efficacy of energy and placebo patches in the performance of bench press repetitions, standing vertical jump, and muscle endurance in college varsity athletes. The study finds no significant within or between group differences between active and placebo patches for maximum bench press repetitions, vertical jump distance, or grip strength. Based on these results, the energy patches used in this study did not significantly alter performance in the selected testing areas. Future research should focus on the efficacy of energy patches on endurance activities.

Sponsor: Lifewave TM

PI: Bert Jacobson

 

NASA Aerospace Education Services Program

Through this program, Oklahoma State University administers the activities of the Aerospace Education Services Program (AESP) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which provides teachers, students, NASA Explorer Schools (NES), and the general public nationwide with information about NASAâs latest programs and research. OSU disseminates information through teacher workshops, demonstrations, and lecture programs provided by 35 education specialists, 12 NES Coordinators, and eight Digital Learning Network (DLN) Coordinators based at ten NASA space flight and research centers across the nation. Specifically, the program provides for aerospace education community involvement programs; assistance to NASA Explorer Schools; courses and workshops for elementary and secondary school teachers and preservice teachers; assistance with curriculum enhancement and development activities at the national, state, and local levels; presentations for delivery on education television and radio; presentations for civic clubs and professional organizations; special services at science and technology centers; and professional development programs for aerospace specialists. This national program offers a number of these activities in selected inner city areas.

Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

PI: Steven K. Marks

 

NASA Teaching From Space Cooperative Agreement

Under a contract with NASA, Oklahoma State University is responsible for the general administration of the Teaching from Space Program (TFS). This program provides logistical support for curriculum development, support to Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers (NEAT), education product development, education payloads and operations for the Space Shuttle and the international Space Station, and education conferences associated with the program.

Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

PI: Steven K. Marks

 

Aerospace Education High School Summer Academy

The OSU Aerospace Education High School Summer Academy makes it possible for 30 students who are between their sophomore and junior years or junior and senior years in high school to engage in active study of aerospace education concepts. This experience provides on-campus classroom activities, as well as regional field trips to study the impact of aviation and space exploration on society.

Sponsor: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

PI: Steven K. Marks

 

SCHOOL OF TEACHING AND CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP (STCL)

 

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

Students from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska visit the OSU campus to present projects in a regional competition in science, mathematics, and engineering. The winners of the regional competition will then compete for additional scholarships at the national conference.

Sponsor: Academy of Applied Science

PI: Caroline Beller

 

Collaborative Research: Engineering Students for the 21st Century

This multi-year, department-level reform program will replace the traditional focus on acquisition of knowledge with an emphasis on student cognitive development, where knowledge acquisition becomes a means to an end. Selected courses across the engineering curriculum are being reformed to fit this developmental model by modifying both the content of the courses and the methods of teaching.

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

PIs: Richard Bryant

Electrical and Computer Engineering: R. Alan Cheville, Charles F. Bunting, Keith A. Teague

Digital Library Services: Elizabeth A. Reiten

Physics: Timothy M. Wilson

 

Vitalizing Electromagnetic Concepts to Obtain Relevancy: VECTOR

Researchers will develop and implement a two-course sequence in electromagnetics based on proven teaching methods. The project aims to make electromagnetics curriculum relevant to students, utilize modern engineering tools and techniques to teach fundamental concepts, pipeline students into the electromagnetics-photonics curriculum, and evaluate VECTOR as a test-bed for future development of exemplary curricular materials.

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

PIs: Richard Bryant

Electrical and Computer Engineering: Charles F. Bunting, James C. West, R. Alan Cheville

 

Geometry: Visualization and Manipulation for Understanding

Researchers conduct week-long professional development workshops on visualization and manipulation for understanding of geometry in order to improve the content knowledge of mathematics teachers from high-need LEAs at three different locations in the state. All three workshops provide teachers the opportunity to work with the latest technology and geometry software and to incorporate those technologies and other geometric models with appropriate lesson plans and assessments based on the PASS objectives. Scientifically based research techniques measure the workshopsâ impact on student achievement.

Sponsor: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

PIs: Darlinda Cassel, Stacy Reeder, Juliana Utley

Langston University: Betsy Showalter

University of Central Oklahoma: Adele Hanlon

 

Professional Development Institute for Mentor Teachers

Oklahoma State University's College of Education, in collaboration with Stillwater Public Schools, provides Coaching Skills for Effective Teaching, a funded program to prepare mentor teachers in the state's Residency (induction) Program to effectively support first-year teachers. The program works with approximately 100 educators throughout the state.

Sponsor: Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation

PIs: Leah Engelhardt

Stillwater Public Schools: Diana Leggett

 

Teach for Achievement: Data Driven Decision Making in Literacy Education

Teach for Achievement (TFA) intends to address endemic problems associated with poor literacy instruction and subsequent student outcomes. At its core, this project will provide intensive literacy, assessment, and data-based decision making training to teachers and other school personnel. Follow up support provided through teacher coaches will be employed to ensure the implementation of empirically-based literacy practices in the target school. Through the provision of these empirically-based literacy practices and use of assessment data to inform instruction and monitor student progress, it is expected that student literacy outcomes will be impacted.

Sponsor: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

PI: Heidi Anne Mesmer

School of Applied Health and Educational Studies: Eric Mesmer

Communication Sciences and Disorders: Penny Cremeens

 

OSU Writing Project

An affiliate of the National Writing Project, the OSU Writing Project is a collaborative school-university program dedicated to improving the quality of instruction in elementary and secondary schools through staff development training for teachers. The OSU Writing Project offers a summer institute for classroom teachers who want to improve their own writing skills and involve their students in more writing activities. Teachers must apply to the summer institute, and those accepted receive a stipend towards tuition and books. Participants study current theories of teaching writing and share their own best practices. The 2004 project was the thirteenth in a row to be funded by the National Writing Project, Berkeley, California.

Sponsor: National Writing Project

PIs: Margaret Scott

English: Carol Moder, Britton Gildersleeve

 

Career and Technology New Teacher Induction Process

This service and research grant uses collaborators among the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE), 22 technology centers, and Occupational Education Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma and OSU. Working as a team with local administrators, a local instructional mentor, and a higher education representative, first-year teachers identify strengths, challenges, goals, and strategies in order to move from surviving to thriving in development of the skills for effective teaching.

Sponsors: Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, Local Technology Centers

PI: Mary Jo Crawford Self

 

Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program

This project delivers professional development to middle and high school algebra teachers through a two-week Summer Professional Development Institute (PDI) and a concurrent one-week Summer Algebra Academy for middle and high school students. It provides teachers with: 1) training on content, pedagogy, and assessment related to OK PASS standards; 2) increased content knowledge to support formative assessment and diagnose student algebra learning; 3) expanded knowledge and skills for effective use of technology; 4) real classroom opportunities to work with students to implement strategies learned; and 5) peer coaching and reflection strategies related to their practice and instructional planning.

Sponsor: Keys High School, Oklahoma State Department of Education

PIs: Susan Stansberry

Education Research Administration: Gayla Hudson

Mathematics: James Choike

 

Rural Alliance for Improving Science Education (RAISE)

RAISE seeks to enrich the learning environment of 6thö12th grade students while providing OSU graduate students with firsthand opportunities to experience the teaching profession. Graduate students (RAISE Fellows) pair with 6thö12th grade science teachers. The interdisciplinary area of Geographic Information Science (GISci) serves as the focus for fellows and teachers to develop innovative science curricula. Summer workshops were offered in July 2004. Dissemination of lesson plans and other materials developed by fellow/teacher teams will occur regionally through summer institutes and nationally through a project website.

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

PIs: John Steinbrink

Geography: Thomas Wikle, Joel Helmer

 

EDUCATION RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION

 

National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM)

Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education-Rehabilitation Services Administration, the NCRTM supports the collection and dissemination of human resource development materials created by the national vocational rehabilitation community. The Clearinghouse, established at OSU in 1961, reaches an international audience of rehabilitation practitioners and counselor education programs, special educators, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, and community rehabilitation programs. Its library contains more than 7,000 titles of printed and audio visual materials on topics related to people with disabilities. It provides document delivery, reference, and research services to the national rehabilitation community.

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education

PI: Charles Feasley

 

A Professional Development Institute on Algebra and Its End-of-Course Assessment

This project delivers professional development to middle and high school algebra teachers. It provides training on: 1) strategies in content, pedagogy, equity, and assessment related to algebra teaching; 2) using formative assessment and student achievement information in instructional planning; 3) content knowledge tied specifically to supporting formative assessment and diagnosing student algebra learning; 4) teacher leadership, peer coaching, and self-reflection; and 5) increasing student literacy in speaking and writing about mathematics. Project goals will be accomplished with a five-day Summer Institute, follow-up meetings, and academic year support by means of the U.S. Department of Education funded ãAlgebra for Allä web site.

Sponsor: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

PIs: Gayla Hudson

STCL: Susan Stansberry

Mathematics: James R. Choike

 

Oklahoma Center for Innovation in Teaching Excellence (OCITE)

OCITE has created an active coalition of key stakeholders and developed relationships with and among a higher education collaborative and the Tulsa Public School District (TPS). Langston University, Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, and TPS held preliminary Partnership meetings to develop a cohesive plan to enhance discipline-specific content knowledge and instructional strategies in the critical areas of mathematics, science, and reading. OCITE will strengthen these content areas by building leadership capacity within and for educators and educational leaders in an urban school district.

Sponsor: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

PIs: Gayla Hudson

Mathematics: James R. Choike

Langston University: Darnell Williams

Tulsa Public Schools: David E. Sawyer

Northeastern Oklahoma State University: Kay Grant