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University of Memphis

Theses/Dissertations

2010

Motivation

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Empowering Imagined Communities: Social Network Sites In A Chinese English As A Foreign Language Classroom, James Andrew Kelley Dec 2010

Empowering Imagined Communities: Social Network Sites In A Chinese English As A Foreign Language Classroom, James Andrew Kelley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little work has yet to explore the potential for the use of social network sites (SNSs) in the English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) classroom, but recent trends in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) research suggest that SNSs may be a powerful context for language learning: offering students access to online communities of practice and /or imagined communities (as interpreted by Norton et al.); increased control of co-constructed/negotiated identities; and opportunities for empowering positions in authentic intercultural exchanges. This dissertation reports on a largely exploratory, empirical study of how the use of an …


The Power Within: The Influence Of Spirituality On African American Female Adult Learners, Nakeisha Latoy Owens Jul 2010

The Power Within: The Influence Of Spirituality On African American Female Adult Learners, Nakeisha Latoy Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This interpretive, qualitative study investigated the influence of spirituality in the lives six African American female adult learners. The following questions guided the research study:1) What role has spirituality played in the pursuit of educational goals of African American female adult learners? and 2)What influence has spirituality had on the development of these adult learners?An examination of the influence of spirituality in the areas of motivation, barriers, and adult development among college students framed the scholarly review of existing literature. The data collection methods included interviews, timeline and song lyric elicitations, and field notes.The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed.An …


An Exploration Of The Influence Of Instructional Technologies On Faculty Motivation And Teaching Innovation On A Research Campus, Sandeford Julius Schaeffer Iii Apr 2010

An Exploration Of The Influence Of Instructional Technologies On Faculty Motivation And Teaching Innovation On A Research Campus, Sandeford Julius Schaeffer Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

AbstractSchaeffer, Sandeford Julius. Ed.D.. The University of Memphis. May/2010. An exploration of the influence of instructional technologies on faculty motivation and teaching innovation on a research campus. Major Professor: Patricia Murrell, Ed.D.The purpose of this study was to explore how the introduction of instructional technologies has influenced the motivational attitudes of higher education faculty at research-oriented institutions with respect to their teaching responsibilities. This was a qualitative study using case-study methodology and involved multiple (4) purposefully-selected faculty members who were studied at an in-depth level within the teaching context of their institution. Research questions that were addressed included:(1) What are …