Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Moving From The Streets To The Classroom: Understanding The Teacher's Role For Creating A Robust Education For Homeless Youth In The Classroom, Desiree Vargas

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Homeless youth within the educational system have been neglected through the lack of teacher education. Teachers have been misdirected through their education in the Bachelor of Arts degree and the teacher credential program. They are learning how to teach to an “ideal” classroom with students who are always ready and mentally prepared to learn. Teachers are not made aware that every student brings a different background to the classroom, and how that background could affect their academics and behavior. Teachers are unaware on how to deal with issues such as homelessness in the classroom, and that the students’ situations outside ...

Children's Mental Health: Reimagining Teacher Preparation, Karolina Camacho

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Current research sheds light on the importance of the mental health of school-age children and researcher’s efforts continuously point out that there is need for more to be done to support children with mental health needs, in the context of the classroom, in the United States. Particularly focusing on children with internalizing behavior under Emotional Disturbance, this paper will provide reasoning as to why these children have a need for prevention and intervention services, the reality of the lack of general knowledge teachers have on children’s mental health, and the need for elementary school teachers to have children ...

The Effect Of An Adult Esl Project-Based Literacy Training On Teacher Practice, Rachel Lynn Gerner

Theses and Dissertations

This case study evaluates the effectiveness of a project-based learning professional

development training conducted at a literacy center for nine ESL teachers who are working in a

workforce literacy environment. The researcher investigated principles of andragogy in the

training and examined whether participants implemented the content of the training in their

teaching environments via observation, self-reported answers on a questionnaire, individual

interviews, and a focus group. There was no direct follow-up after six weeks of the training. The

findings of the study indicate that none of the teachers implemented project-based learning in

their teaching environment directly following the professional development ...

The Long-Term Effects On Conceptual Change And Affect For Preservice Teachers One Year After A Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (Cave) Experience, Margaret Depasquale

SMTC Plan B Papers

The current research evaluated the long-term effects of a cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE) experience on preservice teachers’ conceptual change and affect. To evaluate the lasting effects, four students from a physical science class were interviewed one year following their experience in a CAVE simulation in which they learned about molecular density. For each participant the interview produced a transcript of his/her spoken responses and a drawing that was compared to the drawing s/he had done the year before. The results of the research showed that participants manifested both positive and negative affect in regard to their CAVE ...

Winter 2018

Transformations

No abstract provided.

A New Model For Creative Education, Carolina Schnapp R.

Creative Studies Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project explored the design of a pedagogical model for the development of creativity, targeted for teachers and educational institutions. The development of creativity has become highly relevant over the past few decades, especially with the emphasis given to 21st Century Skills and the responsibility that schools have on fostering these skills. In this project, you will find the ideas based on research and experience, that were the foundation for the model, the creative process behind the design of the model, and the final version. The project was shared with experts who validated parts of the model and opened space ...

Mindful Writers, Sustainable Writing: Implementing Mindfulness Intervention To Support The Writing Practices Of Advanced Academic Writers Engaged In High Stakes Writing, Nadia F. Zamin

Theses and Dissertations (All)

This mixed methods study examines the impacts of participation in a four-week, once-weekly program of mindfulness intervention on the self-efficacy, management of writing anxiety, and dissertation writing productivity of advanced academic writers across the disciplines engaged in high stakes writing projects.

Data was collected from participants in the form of self-report questionnaires and interviews at three distinct stages: before participation in the intervention program (pre-intervention), immediately following the conclusion of the intervention program (post-intervention), and one month following the close of the intervention program (follow-up). Post-intervention quantitative results reveal that participants experience strong and positive changes in their self-efficacy, management ...

How To Best Support Individuals Growing Up With A Special Needs Sibling, Lauren Mcdonell

Master's Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand the emotions of a neurotypically developing sibling. This study also attempted to understand how caregivers can best support the neurotypical sibling in the areas of self-concept and overall well-being. The gap is knowledge is how to better support neurotypical developing siblings specifically in the areas of self-concept and overall well-being. Three participants were interviewed to gain insight about their experiences with their special needs sibling. Participants who participated in a support group for neurotypical developing children with a SNS were surveyed to gain insight about their experiences with the support group. Through ...

School Library Research From Around The World: Where It's Been And Where It's Headed, Karen W. Gavigan

Faculty Publications

This article examines studies conducted by school library researchers around the world. The selected studies were conference papers, and articles published in School Libraries Worldwide. Findings from these studies are relevant to researchers and practicing school librarians, who may want to incorporate the findings into their library programs.

Professional Learning Communities: An Examination Of Teachers’ Perspectives On Professional Conversations And Student Learning, Elizabeth J. Spencer-Johnson

Education Dissertations

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have emerged in the last 20 years as a popular professional development initiative. However, despite a wealth of PLC literature available, researchers have found that forming teacher communities does not automatically result in improved teaching practices that support student learning. This qualitative study was used to explore the ways in which humanities teachers perceive their work in existing PLCs. Specifically, it examined the ways teachers experience their work together related to subject knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and the influence the work within the PLC has on changing instructional practices. Using an embedded unit case study design with ...

Montessori Family Education, Katharina Vidojevic

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Montessori family education is a stepping stone in forming a bridge between school and home. This action research is focused on increasing familial attendance in Montessori education classes. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods are important tools in discovering the needs of the school community. Attendance, Likert scales and feedback questionnaires were useful tools in reaching out to the familial community. Implementing the changes based on the research results showed a drastic increase in attendance. With families leading busy lives, the school meeting them half way showed positive quantitative and qualitative results. This study had a maximum of 28 families ...

The Effects Of A Peer-Supported Mindfulness Practice On Teacher Stress Reduction, Dana Vitolo

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to measure the effects of daily mindfulness practice with peer-support on teacher stress reduction. Nine female Montessori teachers participated in study and taught at private Montessori schools in suburban or rural settings. The participating teachers practiced a short mindfulness activity daily such as the body scan, sitting meditation, yoga, or mandala coloring and wrote reflections in their daily journal for four weeks. The teachers also participated in a weekly peer support group for community building and wrote reflections in their weekly journal. The teachers participated in a pre- and post- intervention stress ...

Using Ipads To Increase Students’ Letters And Letter Sounds Knowledge, Jessica Isgett, Leslie Mann

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research was carried out to determine if the use of an application named Phonics Island would help student knowledge of letters/letter sounds increase. The research was completed in a full day Primary Montessori classroom of 4k and 5k students. Data was gathered using teacher observation and teacher made checklists. Data on students’ feelings toward learning letters/letter sounds was also assessed to see if students’ thoughts about letters changed after incorporating technology. Students were given an iPad for approximately fifteen minutes per day. The letters were grouped in categories, and the researchers chose which group the student ...

Effects Of Pencil Grasp Exercises On Handwriting In Sixth Grade Resource Students, Karen Galloway

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of pencil grasp exercises on the handwriting of sixth-grade resource students. This action research project took place in a public middle school resource classroom located on the outskirts of a suburb. The six-week study had seventeen student participants, ranging between the ages of eleven and twelve years. During the study, the researcher collected data on the placement of the hand and fingers on the pencil, grasp, legibility, letter placement, fluency, and perception of abilities. The data utilized pre and post questionnaires, observations, matrixes, and assessments. Results showed that sixth-grade resource ...

The Effect Of Data-Driven Feedback And Coaching Using A Mixed-Reality Simulation In A Preservice Teacher Education Program, Wes J. Desantis

Education Dissertations

This research focused on the inquiry skill of questioning used as a teaching tool and how undergraduate preservice teacher-preparatory program. The instructional strategy of questioning took place in a classroom that used a mixed-reality simulation system. The research design was a mixed-methods procedure. The quantitative aspect included a quasi-experimental design with a treatment group (those who received data-driven feedback and coaching, n = 15) and a comparison group (those who did not receive data-driven feedback/coaching, n = 15). A comparison of self-efficacy means between groups, indicated no differences before or after the treatment. A Chi-Square procedure and Sign follow-up tests were ...

Behavior Management Interventions For Effective Classroom Management In Alternative Education, Ashton Plette

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Alternative education environments serve a diverse set of students with individual needs. Educational Options is a term synonymous with “alternative education”, helping students to meet the standards and objectives of typical education through modified interventions (California Department of Education, 2017). The need for individualized interventions is large; to assist in addressing this need I created training curriculum for staff in Community Day Middle School on Monterey Peninsula Unified School District’s Educational Options campus. Community Day Schools serve students who have been expelled from school due to recurring problems with attendance and behavior. The training presents structured and empirically-based interventions ...

Academic And Social Effects Of Waldorf Education On Elementary School Students, Christian Zepeda

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As society becomes more critical of public education, alternative education systems are becoming more popular. The Waldorf education system, based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, has increased in popularity and commonality each decade. Currently, 23 Waldorf institutions exist in California. With this increase in popularity, it is important to analyze and examine the effectiveness of this education philosophy. An examination of Waldorf education, through research and interviews of Waldorf teachers and administration, will provide parents and teachers with an understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, Waldorf education provides a positive environment for students, yielding positive effects but this ...

Preparing Multiple-Subject Pre-Service Teachers To Work Effectively With Students Who Have Autism, Makalah Vosmera

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing of the State of California mandates that teacher preparation programs prepare effective and knowledgeable pre-service teachers to teach all students. Through the use of literature review, interviews and surveys with graduating Liberal Studies students, this senior capstone examines whether Liberal Studies graduating students are being prepared to work effectively with autistic students or not. The findings indicate that they take introductory education courses on autism spectrum disorder along with other forms of disabilities, but they do not receive sufficient breadth and depth coverage on how to work effectively with autistic students in regular classrooms.

Social Media As A Personal Learning Network For Professional Development: Teachers In International Schools Use And Perspectives, Shannon H. Doak

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Traditional professional development methods are not optimal for international school educators because of isolation, lack of funds and time to attend, disconnected content and inability to make a difference in the pedagogical approaches teachers use. The creation of online Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) has been suggested as an augment to or a replacement for traditional approaches. The purpose of this mixed methods study was three-fold: (a) to discover if international school educators are using social media for professional learning and if so, what tools they are choosing to use, (b) to discover if a relationship exists between the use of ...

Congolese Refugee Students In Higher Education: Equity And Opportunity, Refik Sadiković

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore Congolese refugee students’ experiences in higher education in the United States. In order to understand the challenges Congolese students face in higher education, this study used narrative inquiry methodology to investigate Congolese students’ lived experiences that affected their educational endeavors before and after resettlement to the United States. The study examined personal stories of 10 Congolese students in the Pacific Northwest using semi-structured in-depth interviews, one-on-one follow-up interviews, field notes and two focus group interviews. Using narrative analysis five reoccurring themes were identified and discussed in the findings. The study findings indicate ...