Action theses are housed in the library at CSUMB, and can be downloaded in PDF form.  An easy way to locate them is to go to the Archive of the CSUMB Capstone website.

1999

Yer Jeffery Thao.  Multicultural Learning Environment for Mong Children in the California North Coast: Home and School Collaboration.

2000

Adrian Andrade, The Emancipating Power of Education: Reshaping the Intellectual Paradigm of California's Chicano Community
Through the examination of current higher educational trends of a sample of representatives from the Mexican-American community, this research seeks to provide some answers to the central question, 'Why is it that only a small number of Mexican-Americans have succeeded in the college environment, while so many continue to drop out?'

Kerry Conner.  Family Involvement and Reading: Achievement and Enjoyment.
This action thesis examines family involvement and children's feelings about their families' involvement in their reading progress.  The study examined student feelings, family feelings, and teacher feelings about family involvement in reading, using data gathered in the author's school.

Felix Cortez-Littlefield.  Critical Computing in a Multicultural Classroom.
Cortez-Littlefield developed liberatory and empowered approach to computing and teaching for today's diverse learners, drawing on Paulo Freire's conceptions of liberatory education.  The heart of his action thesis is an on-line website of a course outline.

Kate Dixson-Clark, Emergent Literacy and Second Language Development: A Case Study of Six English Language Learners in a Structured English Immersion Kindergarten.
This project focused on the second language literacy development of non-English speaking Kindergartners learning to read and write in English. This thesis was written in part in response to Proposition 227's decision that children, after one year in a Structured English Immersion program, should be ready to transition to mainstream English-only programs.  Case studies document student achievement in the kindergarten classroom.

Natalie Gray, Participatory Community Literacy in Peace Corps Training.
The thesis explores the idea of incorporating a Participatory Community Literacy project into Peace Corps training with the goal of improving Peace Corps training and empowering the local community. Participatory Community Literacy is described and discussed, as is Peace Corps training, with an analysis of the goals and objectives of both. An integrated, thematic curriculum for elementary school was developed incorporating Participatory Community Literacy, based on  questions that addressed the needs of the local community, and the language and cultural goals of the Peace Corps.

Eloise Guidara.  Kindergarten Retention: Preceptions, Practice, and Criteria.
This thesis studied the basic issues teachers face in choosing students to repeat the kindergarten year, and what the teachers believe it will do for those students.  It summarizes philosophies pro and con for kindergarten retention, what the research concludes about the practice, and how a sample of local kindergarten teachers feel about the issue.

Max Macias, Our Mexican California Past (1821-1848)
This action thesis provides a critical examination of how the Mexican Period of California history is presented in five textbooks, four of which are currently being used in classrooms.  A framework for analyzing and evaluating textbooks was created for this analysis.

Holly Ouellette,Ethnomathematics: Towards Integrating Culture into Upper Elementary Mathematics.
The purpose of this project was to create and pilot a professional development presentation to define culturally relevant pedagogy, ethnomathematics, and the role of ethnomathematics toward culturally relevant pedagogy. Following the presentation, the author gathered data from the participants on its impact on them, and suggested modifications to a workshop such as this one.

Vinay Singh.  Fiji East Indian Educational Implications in Monterey County.
Fiji East Indian students are almost invisible in the local schools.  Singh presents a brief history of this group, then uses Obgu's theory of voluntary versus nonvoluntary minorities to argue that Fiji East Indians have a history of being both.  The thesis then presents a study showing isolation of students in the schools, and offers suggestions for what teachers can do.

Kelly Smith.  Making Comprehension Comprehensible: Using Explicit Instruction in Comprehension Skills and Effective Groupwork Strategies to Increase Secondary Student Reading Achievement.
This study examined strategies to explicitly teach comprehension to secondary students, a large proportion of whom spoke Spanish as their primary language.  The use of Reciprocal Teaching and Complex Instruction is explored.  The study reports test data on student reading achievement, showing how reciprocal teaching and complex instruction support student achievement.

Jeanette Dugger Taylor.  Developing Small Group Early Literacy Intervention Model. This project examines the effects of an after-school small group early literacy intervention model on students and teachers at a small rural elementary school.  The impact of this model on staff development and student achievement is discussed.

Xiu Zhang, Struggling in US Society: Three Ethnic Groupsí Perspectives of US Society
This action thesis examines three ethnic and cultural groups:  African-Americans, Mexican-Americans and Asian Americans, and their individual  perceptions of U.S. society. It surveys their experiences from childhood to  adulthood, especially as it relates to their school years. This action thesis  1) identifies some of the problems which the various minorities have in  common, 2) reviews how each group faces them, and 3) tries to find solutions  that make them better.

2001

Zandra J. Galvan, Family Involvement: Building a Partnership Between Schools and Families through the Joy of Reading
My case study researches and identifies what both our families and school are currently doing to involve themselves in the reading practices of our children. The research includes an extensive literature review and shared results from student, parent, and teacher surveys.  The literature review and survey results allowed the researcher to provide specific recommendations on how to further promote and increase family involvement in reading at Greenfield Elementary School.

Eirini Leivadarou, Chem-Is-Try: Designing Interactive Tutorials and Exercises for Chemistry Class on the Web
This research discusses application and development of Web-based tutorials and exercises for redox (reduction and oxidation chemistry). These tutorials and exercises are delivered as HTML files created using Dreamweaver on the web.  The learning theory used for the basis of these materials is constructivism.

Changmin Kim, Sight Translation in its own Right
The purpose of this survey-based research was to explore sight translation, as practiced in and outside of class by student professionals in the Monterey Institute of International Studies. This research sheds light on the perspectives of students, the consumers of education, and not the one-way perspective of instructors.

Miyuki Murase, Communicative English for Japanese
Japanese learners are good at writing; however theyíre not really good at communication.  What kind of social or cultural factors might hinder Japanese to acquire communicative English?  This thesis investigates that question by reporting a survey of teachers and students in English classrooms in Japan.

Liz Nelson, Multiculturally Relevant Curriculum in the Art Classroom
This thesis examines what multicultural perspectives are currently being used in two art classrooms to create more relevancy for a diverse student population.  After an extensive review of literature on art and multicultural education, the thesis reports interviews with the two teachers and surveys of the students to find out what is actually happening in two classrooms.

Maria Papageorgiou, Constructing a Model for an Interactive Web-Based English and Greek Language Program
A model of interactive web-based educational program was constructed through the use of technology. The purpose of this project is to teach both English and Greek languages simultaneously, so that bilingual acquisition is realized for first and second grade Greek students in reading and writing.

Luis Felipe Restrepo, A Field of Study of Dual Diagnosis Program for Adults with Psychological Disabilities
The purpose of this project is to enhance therapeutic and educational curriculum of the transitional age client (normally between the ages of 18 and 24 years) with a dual diagnosis program fir adults with psychological disabilities and chemical dependency.  This is an age group that tends to fall between the cracks in dual diagnosis programs. Students where the author works are surveyed in order to examine what works and what could be improved in the curriculum there.

Virginia Roach, Digital or Electronic Portfolios as Process to Support Different Ways of Knowing
This electronic/digital project is a culmination of an extensive search on the Internet and in the literature for exemplary authentic student work digitized for portfolios published on the Internet.  Students, and educators alike will be able to access the information on a website to see how the process of electronic portfolio development is viewed around the globe.

Marlene Theresa Chavez Villegas, Physical Education in the Curriculum
The purpose of this study is to determine the importance of physical education in the school curriculum.  Data were collected through surveys of high school students regarding their attitudes and perceptions about physical education.

Jennifer Zanzot, Bilingual Education after Proposition 227
This action thesis is a case study of kindergarten students in an alternative bilingual program in California.  Academic growth, English acquisition, and student interactions are examined and discussed.  It is shown that being in a bilingual program did not keep the case study students from acquiring English and other academic skills.
 

2002

Anastasia Anagnostopoulou, A Greek Perspective of EFL (English as a Foreign Language)
The main purpose of this research was to explore linguistic elements that potentially hinder or assist Greek native speakers encounter, when they acquitre English as a foreign language in the Greek educational system.

Jean P. Bye, Language Disordered or English Language Learner?
This is a case study of using curriculum-based measurement (CMB) to meausre progress of English lebgyage learners, identified as learning disabled, in oral reading fluency and expressive writing

Lucia Estella Cardona, A case study to comopare two elementary music education programs within the Monterey Peninsula.

Joya LaShaun Chavarin, Culturally Congruent Critical Pedagogy for Preschool Children.

Maria Isabel Díaz, Edifying and Strengthening English Literacy for Latino Second-Language Learners Through the Use of Their Native Language: A Language Arts Curriculum
This project unites Paolo Freire's definition  of critical literacy, Jim Cummins' definition of of basic interpersonal communication skills and cognitive academic language proficiency, Stephen Krashen and Tracy Terrell's work on language acquisition, and Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory for the development of a language arts curriculum for middle school Latino English language learners.

Keresha J. Durham, Breeding Poverty or Teachign Sexual Health: Education for Preventing Teen Pregnancy and Issues of Class, Culture, and Gender Equity.

Raymond Lee Fox, II, Character Education in Juvenile Detention Facilities

Jesus Galindo, Gang Membership or Post-Secondary Learning: How Silvana Mexican/Latinos Make the Choice

Ronna L. Gilani, Minority Representation Among National Board Certified Teachers
A case study examines the experiences of six teachers who have been candidates for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  Teachers needed specific kinds of support, which were not fully met. Needs of minority candidates, in particular, were unfulfilled;  this thesis gives  recommendations for addressing these needs.

Delia Silva Gomez, Proyecto Uno, Dos, Uno, Dos: Helping Parents Help their Kindergarteners with Simple Math

Janet Rachel Johns, Dance as Identity, Resistance and Power: Danza Indígena de la Huasteca, México.
This action research documents the traditional indigenous danzas of five communities of the Huasteca regoin of Mexico and investigates the importance and significance of these traditions to the indígena.

Nancy Newsom, Bringing Voices Out of the Hall

Terri Pipes, Beneath the Surface: Middle School Students and Diversity
This is a case study of diverse middle school students' perspectives on educational and social equity in a central coast California middle school. Its purpose is to open up dialog, create awareness, and bring democratic change that empowers students of all backgrounds to participate freely in their education.

Gina E. Rodriguez, Building Effective Arts Programs that Reflect and Include our Community

Cynthia Suverkrop, Teacher Evaluation as Professional Development
This qualitative study examines the connection between teacher evaluation and the goals of professional development by using the perceptions of a sample of experienced teachers. The purpose is to explore how effecitve teacher evaluation can be a means to teacher professional development.

Maria Vasilaki,  A Developmentally Appropriate Visual Art Program for K-1 Students.
The main purpose of this thesis was to research and share the benefits of a visual arts program for K-1 students.  The reserach examined how it enhanced academic (reading, writing, and attention span) and artistic skills, and how it met the standards, expectations, and developmental needs of K-1 students.

Kathryn J. Walker, Staffing Extended Learning.

Wei Xu, A Course of Independent Study for English Speakers of Chinese after the Intermediate Level.
Discusses the development of an Independent Study course of Chinese language, which was based on the needs of learners at CSU Monterey Bay, and supported by reviewing literature and practices in second language learning, and Chinese as a second language.

2003

Natalie Bernasconi,

Debra Bolger, Empowering African American Women To Use Their Voices
African American women face multiple oppressions and injustices.  This thesis' main objective is to find various ways and methods to empower African American women to use their voices, in any circumstances or situation.

Diana Flores,

Judith Flores Carmona Edwards, Dismantling the Master's House:  Using Whose Tools?
This participatory action research thesis offers a critical analysis of the experiences of university service advocates at the service learning institute of California State University, Monterey Bay.  It looks at their experiences to critically analyze how their social identities impact how they co-teach about race in the classroom.

Ronna L. Gilani, Minority Representation Among National Board Certified Teachers
A case study examines the experiences of six teachers who have been candidates for certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  Teachers needed specific kinds of support, which were not fully met, especially the needs of minority candidates.  This lack leads to dismal passing rates and an inequity in the certification rates of minority candidates. This study suggests an agenda for addressing these needs.
 

Janet Johns, Dance as Identity, Resistance and Power/Danza Indígena de la Huasteca, México
This action research documents the traditional indigenous danzas of five communities of the Huasteca region of Mexico and investigates the importance and significance of these traditions to the indígena, in an attempt to rescue and preserve them in order for them to be passed down to future generations. Many of the ancient indigenous dance traditions of the Huasteca are in danger of being erased due to political, economic, religious and social pressures. Through this research the voices of the indigenous dance communities, including facilitators, elders, musicians and danzantes are heard and their messages of identity, resistance and power communicated through their dance.

Juanita Perea Jimenez, Teachers Using Computers.
This thesis reports a case study to find the many different levels of use and levels of concern when teachers are learning to use computers to teach in the classroom.

Lila Staples, Connecting CSUMB freshmen to community.
To what extent can regional art and literature serve as an academic framework in a first year experience course to connect CSUMB students to their off-campus community? This is an action research case study, the purpose of which is to affect freshman pedagogy here at CSUMB to stem attrition and provide a more positive social and academic environment for entering freshmen.

Lori Voogd, Dynamic Assessment and Reading Instruction.
This case study examines the use of dynamic assessment in reading and its effects on a small group of elementary studentsí reading levels.

ANGELA MEEKER, Critical Multiculturalism in Teacher Education.An evaluation of the impact of critical multiculturalism in a teacher education course. This study examines the ways in which issues of social justice and equity are understood by student teachers-and translated to their classroom practice.

ANGELA DER RAMOS, New After School Program Model. A case study presenting the process and outcome of an implementing or new after school program model.

RICHARD DIGGORY SHIELDS, Language Groups from Bilingual Kindergarten – Who Graduated, Who Didn’t? What Are the Stories? A California coast school district that was involved in a consent decree 30 years ago over its lack of bilingual programs to provide adequate bilingual education to the large number of its native Spanish-speaking students. This narrative study interviews former kindergarten students who have now graduated from high school. Masks to what extent is there still a difference in the service offered to various language groups by the school district.

2004

CHRISTI A. CRUTCHFIELD. Low Oral Communication and Communication Apprehension in the High School Classroom. What do the six types of low oral communicators, including communication apprehension, look like in my high school classroom, and how can I and other teachers encourage students who are low oral communicators?

JENNY FABIOLA DE LA HOZ. The Use of manipulatives and education materials to teach young children about science and conservation. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the usage and effectiveness of the Splash Zone Family Kit in bringing the Monterey Bay Aquarium's conservation message and science content into Head Start families' homes.

CAROLINA EVANS-ROMAN. Early Introduction to English Literacy Instruction for Bilingual Students: Does it facilitate or hinder success? Through obser-vations and documentation made during a six-week intervention of early introduction to formal English literacy with four first-grade bilingual students, re-ceiving their primary literacy instruction in Spanish, the author attempts to identify those skills and proc-esses which transfer successfully from Spanish to English and those which do not.

LESLIE IAN STEWART JENKINS. Creating an Anti-Bias Children's Book. After researching how prejudice develops in children, I wrote a book that is designed for parents or adults to read with children and discuss different forms of prejudice. The pur-pose of the book is to help adults, especially white adults, to begin to recognize their own prejudices and help their children recognize and question these prejudices and develop anti-bias personas.

MIKYONG KIM. Korean Folktale: Virtues and Ethics. This thesis researches Korean folktales and character education. It includes a curriculum guide-book with lesson plans using Korean folktale to teach values.

SHERI NACHT. Dual Language Immersion: The educational practices that contribute to the success of English only kindergarten students in learning Spanish. The focus of this study is to learn what the formal and informal educational practices are that contribute to the success of English-only (EO) kin-dergarten students participating in a two-way immer-sion (TWI) program in learning Spanish.

NOURACHAM NIAM. Core Curriculum in Chad: A Case Study. This thesis examines the non-governmental schools in Chad. The thesis compares the governmental schools' and the non-governmental schools' curricula.

KAREN NORDSTROM. Application of Lesson Study to MBSP/ LASERS professional development summer science academy. This research addresses the power of collaborative, reflective teaching practice on teacher professional development in science education.

DIANE CELESTE NUGENT. Beyond the Classroom: learning through fieldtrips. This project is a web-based field trip resource guide intended to raise awareness of the multitude of valuable learning op-portunities we have outside the classroom and facili-tate the planning process for teachers.

JENIPHER ACHIENG OWUOR. Economic Empowerment of Women Through Technology Training. This study provides a narrative of women’s perspec-tives and experiences in Telecommunication, Multi-media, and Applied Computing (TMAC) program, at the California State University, Monterey Bay.

ORIANA PARENTI. Intentional Extinction of Public Sphere.

KATHARINE NEUMANN RICHMAN. Parental In-fluence on High Achieving Mexican Origin Students. The purpose of this study was to learn about the ways in which the Mexican immigrant parents of successful students encouraged and contributed to their children’s achievement.

EFFROSYNI SAKALOGLOU. Analysis and Critique of Existing Greek Elementary Schools' 4th Grade Language Textbook: Proposal of Guidelines for the Development of an Inclusive Multicultural Language Curriculum.

SANDRA SHEPHARD. A Model of a Professional Development Program With an Emphasis on Serving Typically Underserved Populations for Educators Working With Gifted and Talented Students. This thesis contains a model of a professional devel-opment program for educators who work with gifted students in the regular classroom setting as well as for those who work with the gifted child in a more homogeneous environment

ANNA MARIA YBARRA. Be informed, Retention is here to Stay. Parents and teachers are the voice of the students who have no power to decide their fu-ture. It is for their sake that parents and teacher be-come informed in the retention process and exercise their rights to ensure that each student receives the education needed to become a productive member of society.