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The Effects Of The Avid Program On Rural Student Growth In Middle Grades Mathematics, James Allen

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From this mixed method study, I present my findings on the effects of selected aspects of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program on rural middle school students’ mathematics achievement. Previous research on the AVID program has focused on implementation in urban schools, although rural communities’ student populations continue to grow.

Most research on AVID’s success in urban settings show positive correlations between how long students participate in the AVID program and their college readiness. Other research about predictors of college success shows students who do not enroll in advanced level mathematics courses in middle school are less likely to …

Mapping Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Curriculum Assemblages: A Post-Qualitative Inquiry, Hilary Rene Tanck

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In my post-qualitative inquiry, I investigated four middle school mathematics teachers’ curriculum work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curriculum has been undergoing a transformation as teachers have greater access to online resources and digital tools (Pepin et al., 2017; Webel et al., 2015). The transformation was further exacerbated by the changes forced by COVID-19 as teachers scrambled to reimagine their curriculum systems in a different context—virtual, hybrid, and concurrent. This study used a post-qualitative approach branching away from traditional linear notions of curriculum to one that is complex, dynamic, and creative. The goal was to create a space to consider curriculum …

Effects Of Mismatched Math Self-Efficacy And Performance On Behaviors And Attitudes Of Engineering Students With Poor Math Preparation, Gustavo Moran

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This research is a sequential explanatory mixed methods study seeking to understand the influences of mathematics self-efficacy (math SE) on the behavior and attitudes of engineering students with poor math preparation behavior and attitudes in their first college math courses.

The quantitative phase of this research assessed the math SE of engineering students placed in non-college-level math courses at Clemson University. A total of 408 students completed a survey to classify their math SE level; based on the results of the quantitative data analysis, 11 engineering students were selected from different semesters between the Spring 2014 and Spring 2016 to …

Exploring Teacher Perceptions Of Influential Facilitators Of Elementary Mathematics Professional Development: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Sandra Linder

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This dissertation examines the role of the facilitator in elementary mathematics professional development. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was utilized to answer the central research question: How do United States elementary school teachers perceive an influential facilitator of elementary mathematics professional development (EMPD)? Phase one of this study explored teacher perceptions through a phenomenological design, which informed the second phase of the study, the implementation of a survey instrument to elementary school mathematics teachers on a larger scale. This dissertation is divided into six chapters. Chapter One presents a rationale for examining the role of the facilitator in professional …

Elementary School Teachers' Understanding Of Essential Topics In Statistics And The Influence Of Assessment Instruments And A Reform Curriculum Upon Their Understanding, Timothy Jacobbe

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With the increased emphasis on statistics at the elementary school level as recommended by the GAISE document, it is important to consider the current status of teachers' understanding of statistics. This study explored teachers' understanding as they implemented new curricula materials which have ten lessons focused on statistical topics at each grade level. These curricula materials provided a medium for discussion that helped reveal whether or not elementary school teachers possess an adequate understanding of essential topics in statistics to implement the standards they are now called upon to teach.
The results of this study indicate that elementary school teachers …