Demographic, Learning Style, and Attitude towards Technology Differences Between Online and Face-to-Face Students in an Introductory Level Special Education Course

Tandra Tyler-Wood; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2007 (Mar 26, 2007) pp. 526–529

On-line courses have become a standard delivery method for teacher education classes. Questions continue to surface as to the effectiveness of online service delivery models for training future educators. The current study reviews a number of...

Fostering Technology Integration Skills and Positive STEM Dispositions in Hawaii Middle School Science and Technology Teachers

Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2014 (Mar 17, 2014) pp. 1386–1393

Data gathered from 100-200 Hawaii teachers in each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 across 40 middle schools were analyzed to assess the impact of the Hawaii FIRST Pre-Academy Professional Development Program. STEM disposition and technology...

Topics: Science Education, Workforce Education, Research & Evaluation

Alignment of Hands-On STEM Engagement Activities with Positive STEM Dispositions in Secondary School Students

Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Journal of Science Education and Technology Vol. 24, No. 6 (2015) pp. 898–909

This study examines positive dispositions reported by middle school and high school students participating in programs that feature STEM-related activities. Middle school students participating in school-to-home hands-on energy monitoring activities ...

Contrasts in Teacher and Student Perceptions of STEM Content and Careers

Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education Vol. 11, No. 1 (March 2011) pp. 92–117

Analysis of baseline attitudinal data gathered from a National Science Foundation Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers project uncovered large contrasts between the perceptions of practicing professionals and students toward...

Vampire Power and STEM Interests for Middle Schoolers Out to Save the World (MSOSW)

Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (Mar 07, 2011) pp. 1436–1437

Classroom teachers and students will present project outcomes via video and audio conferencing software and through videos created by the students. Students have calculated their carbon footprints and will report amounts being wasted with stand-by...

STEM Interests for Middle Schoolers Out to Save the World (MSOSW)

Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (Mar 07, 2011) pp. 1428–1433

Middle Schoolers Out to Save the World (MSOSW) is a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Project funded to span 2008 – 2011. Analysis of pre-post data gathered from 2009-2010...

Gender Differences in High School Student Dispositions Toward Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Careers

Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching Vol. 34, No. 4 (October 2015) pp. 395–408

STEM disposition surveys were completed by 364 11th and 12th grade students attending a two-year university-based residential science and mathematics academy during fall 2012. Surveys were completed by the same classes as a post test administration...

Topics: Mathematics, Engineering, Administration, Middle School Education, Post Secondary Education

Teacher Dispositions Toward Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2015 (Mar 02, 2015) pp. 1539–1545

Dispositions of middle school teachers in an NSF-funded Innovative Technologies project as well as teachers in two other STEM enrichment programs are compared with those of preservice educators from a midwestern university in the USA. Comparisons...

Topics: Preservice Teacher Education, Science Education, Engineering, Middle School Education, Workforce Education

Vampire Power and STEM Interests for Middle Schoolers Out to Save the World (MSOSW)

Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (Mar 07, 2011) pp. 1434–1435

Classroom teachers and students will present project outcomes via video and audio conferencing software and through videos created by the students. Students have calculated their carbon footprints and will report amounts being wasted with stand-by...

Instruments for Assessing Interest in STEM Content and Careers

Tandra Tyler-Wood; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen

Journal of Technology and Teacher Education Vol. 18, No. 2 (April 2010) pp. 345–368

Two new instruments created to assess perceptions of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines and careers are analyzed and found to have respectable to excellent internal consistency reliability, as well as good content,...

Topics: Information Communication Technologies, Engineering, Science, Attitudes, Teachers, Computers, Assessment, Mathematics, Evaluation, Middle School Education, Research Methods, Students

Barriers to Teaching with Technology for Alternative Certification Teachers

Tandra Tyler-Wood; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen

World Conference on Educational Media and Technology 2004 (2004) pp. 3209–3214

This study examined the technology skills of 278 pre-service teachers as they entered and exited a required, technology infused, introductory special education course. The major finding was that alternative certification teacher candidates generally ...

Topics: Teachers, Educational Technology

Piloting Innovative Learning Experiences: Outcomes of Digital Fabrication Activities across Five Classrooms

Curby Alexander; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching Vol. 38, No. 2 (April 2019) pp. 115–152

Declining academic achievement across U.S. schools, particularly in mathematics and science, has prompted several initiatives to increase the quality of teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The National Science...

Integrating Science Curriculum into a Computerized Classroom Simulation

Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek; Rebekah McPherson; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2010 (Mar 29, 2010) pp. 3550–3551

SimMentoring is a three-year project supported by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). SimMentoring uses simSchool, a web-based program designed to provide preservice teachers with an opportunity improve their ability to...

PT3 Implementation at the University of North Texas

Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Dana Arrowood

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2002 (2002) pp. 1661–1662

PT3 Implementation at the University of North Texas Gerald Knezek Rhonda Christensen Tandra Tyler-Wood Dana Arrowood Theresa Overall Garry Mayes Michele Maldonado The Millennium II consortium is implementing seven preservice teacher...

Topics: Professional Development, Information Communication Technologies, Integration, Educational Technology, Preservice Teacher Education

Simulating Students with Learning Disabilities in Virtual Classrooms: A Validation Study

Sita Periathiruvadi; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2012 (Mar 05, 2012) pp. 2588–2595

This study explores the validity of using a simulation as a training tool to provide future teachers with an opportunity to work with a simulated student with a learning disability in an inclusion classroom. This study seeks to determine if a...

Project SETS (Simulation-Enhanced Training for Science Teachers)

Tandra Tyler-Wood; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Lemoyne Dunn

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2008 (Mar 03, 2008) pp. 5167–5172

Project SETS (Simulation-Enhanced Training for Science Teachers) seeks to improve training for elementary level science teachers using a simulated classroom (simSchool) as a laboratory experience. Future teachers can practice teaching in an...

SimSchool: Enhancing Teacher Preparation through Simulated Classrooms

David Gibson; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Gerald Knezek

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (Mar 07, 2011) pp. 1504–1510

Outcomes from using a simulated teaching environment with pre-service teacher candidates are presented. Results of analyses for the areas of pedagogical practices and teaching skills are used to illustrate that changes in pre-service educators can...

Middle School Water Conservation Unit: Increasing Middle Schoolers Interest in Pursuing a Career in Environmental Engineering

Tandra Tyler-Wood; Alexander Curby; Sita Periathiruvadi; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Arrowood Dana

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2012 (Mar 05, 2012) pp. 1091–1093

This poster explores the use of digital fabrication as a tool to train middle school students in the concepts of environmental engineering. Students are presented with a real life scenario which involves water shortages and the need to conserve and...

Measuring Student Career Interest within the Context of Technology-Enhanced STEM Projects: A Cross-Project Comparison Study Based on the Career Interest Questionnaire

Karen Peterman; Ruth Kermish-Allen; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Journal of Science Education and Technology Vol. 25, No. 6 (2016) pp. 833–845

This article describes Energy for ME and Going Green! Middle Schoolers Out to Save the World, two Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education programs with the common goal of improving students' attitudes about scientific...

The Impact of Project-Based Learning on Pre-Service Teachers’ Technology Attitudes and Skills

Curby Alexander; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Glen Bull

Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching Vol. 33, No. 3 (July 2014) pp. 257–282

Researchers in this study looked at the effect of content-specific, technology-rich project-based learning activities on EC-8 pre-service teachers’ competencies and skills, as well as pre-service teacher’s attitudes toward science, technology,...

Exploring the Relationship between Middle School Student Technology Affinity and Attitudes Toward School

Leila Mills; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Rhonda Christensen; Peter Dunn-Rankin

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2013 (Mar 25, 2013) pp. 2269–2272

Abstract: Middle school student 'snapshot' data were analyzed to explore significant patterns (relationships) between technology affinity (habits/ use) and aspects of school attitude. Data collection via a hand-written survey battery that...

simSchool's Progress: The SITE simSchool Modules Project

David Gibson; Stacy Kruse; Gerald Knezek; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Rhonda Christensen; Susan Hopper

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2013 (Mar 25, 2013) pp. 1315–1323

This paper presents the final report of progress of the EDUCAUSE-funded SITE simSchool Modules Project from April 2011 to July 2012. The goals of the simulation-based project were to (1) facilitate initial adoption of simSchool in teacher education...

The Relationship of Personality Traits to Perceptions of Teaching Effectiveness for Teacher Preparation Candidates in a Simulated Classroom Environment

Susan Hopper; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood; David Gibson

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2014 (Mar 17, 2014) pp. 1411–1416

This study explored the personality traits of 152 preservice teachers and examined their perceptions of teaching confidence and teaching experience.Treatment and comparison groups completed the Survey of Teaching Skills and the OCEAN survey for...

Topics: Personality, Games & Simulations, Research & Evaluation, International Education

The Long-term Impact of the BUGS Program for Increasing Girls’ Interest in Science

Okyoung Lim; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Amber Ellison; Sita Periathiruvadi; Rhonda Christensen; Gerald Knezek

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (Mar 07, 2011) pp. 1341–1344

Bringing Up Girls in Science (BUGS) was an afterschool program for 4th and 5th grade girls that provided authentic learning experiences in environmental science in an effort to increase participants’ academic achievement in science. The initial...

Implementing Technology into Preservice Teacher Courses: PT3 First Year Accomplishments

Tandra Tyler-Wood; Rhonda Christensen; Dana Arrowood; Jeff Allen; Michelle Maldonado

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2001 (2001) pp. 1784–1787

More than 20 preservice methods courses are currently taught in the College of Education at the University of North Texas. Prior to 1999, fewer than half of these courses made extensive use of information technology, and fewer than one-fourth...

Topics: Educational Technology, Teachers, Preservice Teacher Education

Editorial: Integrated STEM and Current Directions in the STEM Community

Andrea C. Burrows; Joe Garofalo; Steven Barbato; Rhonda Christensen; Michael Grant; - Kinshuk; Jennifer Parrish; Christine Thomas; Tandra Tyler-Wood

Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education Vol. 17, No. 4 (December 2017) pp. 478–482

uring this National Technology Leadership Summit (NTLS; see ntls.info), concurrent “strand” deliberations took place over 2 days. One of those strands was entitled American Innovations in the Content Areas: STEM, and the discussion within that...

STEM Learning in Middle School with Games and Simulations

Teresa Franklin; Shelby Morge; Sridhar Narayan; Gene Tagliarini; Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Chang Liu; David Chelberg

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2009 (Mar 02, 2009) pp. 1445–1449

STEM education is a major focus of recent legislation and funding in Congress as the number of scientists and mathematicians, engineers and technologists are sadly lacking to support innovation and the ever changing economy (Ashby, 2006). Recently, ...

Measurement of STEM Dispositions in Elementary School Students

Gerald Knezek; Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Sita Periathiruvaldi; Curby Alexander; Garry Mayes; Charlotte Owens; Dale Magoun

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2012 (Mar 05, 2012) pp. 1052–1059

This paper focuses on the development and refinement of a new instrument for measuring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) dispositions in elementary school students. Reliability and validity indices are presented, as well as a cross...

No more standing-by for middle schoolers: Project Updates from Middle Schoolers Out to Save the World (MSOSW)

Rhonda Christensen; Tandra Tyler-Wood; Gerald Knezek; David Gibson; Theresa Overall; Lisa Gros; Allan Baer; Amber Ellison; Okyoung Lim; Patty Veayo; Cindy Anderson; Jennifer Simone

Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2010 (Mar 29, 2010) pp. 3552–3553

In this NSF-ITEST project, approximately 600 sixth graders from nine middle schools in Louisiana, Maine, Texas and Vermont are monitoring home energy use under supervision of their (14) teachers. The data are being used to develop optimum scenarios...