Education Commons^™

Professional Development For Teaching In The Digital Age: Addressing Teachers’ Digital Competency, Blanca Nery Ibarra

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify teachers’ digital skills proficiency gaps in order to determine preparedness for teaching in the digital age. Using a survey research design helped identify teachers’ digital skills self-confidence, attitudes towards the use of technology in the classroom, and current uses of technology for instructional purposes. The participants in this research study consisted of 320 middle school teachers from a border school district in south Texas. The data was collected using a survey instrument consisting of the TPSA C-21 and researcher-developed items. The data was analyzed using the Spearman-rank order correlation to describe the …

The Relationship Between Social Presence, Student Satisfaction And Academic Achievement In Fully Online Asynchronous Courses, Martin Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the study was to describe the strength and direction of the relationship between social presence and student success as measured by student satisfaction and academic achievement in fully online asynchronous courses. A correlational research design was utilized to study the relationship between social presence, student satisfaction, and academic achievement. The participants in this study are a convenience sample of 104 undergraduate level students enrolled in fully online asynchronous courses at The University of Texas at Brownsville from August to December 2014. The data for the participants’ perception of social presence and student satisfaction were elicited through two …

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Parental Involvement And Home-School Connections In A South Texas Border Town, Cynthia A. Lopez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Latinos have a high amount of individuals residing in poverty, and, yet, are still the fastest growing minority group in the nation (Gandara & Contreras, 2009; National Council of La Raza, 2014). For some families, living in poverty and the need to earn a living prevents parents from being actively involved in their children’s education (Moreno & Gaytan, 2013). Therefore, the need to form alliances with parents is critical. Partnerships with parents must be formed to better understand the necessities of these children. Consequently, educators should convey to parents the significance of forming links between the home and school. Moreover, …

Knowledge, Skills, And Dispositions Influencing Middle School Teachers' Decision Making In Planning Social Studies Instruction In A Hispanic Serving School, Angela Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The issue of highly qualified teachers as the key to improving the educational system in the United States has become a primary focus in education. The federal educational policy No Child Left Behind Act 2001, describes what it means to be a highly qualified teacher in core subject areas, and all states are required to use this criterion for defining what teachers should know, and be able to do. Accordingly, certified teachers in today’s public school classrooms must possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions so that all students, including those students who have been historically disadvantaged and those who are …

A Third Grade Bilingual Teacher's Knowledge And Practices For Developing Reading Comprehension, Miriam Guerra

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to examine teacher knowledge and practices for teaching reading comprehension to English language learners and socio-economically disadvantaged students in a third grade bilingual class. This study uses a conceptual framework of pedagogical content knowledge to investigate how kinds of content knowledge and pedagogical practices interact to create the teacher’s special way of knowing how to teach comprehension to her students. This study uses a case study methodology to investigate what the teacher knows and how her knowledge is enacted in her teaching practices. This case study provided an in-depth perspective of teacher knowledge. Through …

Dropout Prevention: Factors Contributing To The Resiliency Of At-Risk Hispanic Students And Their Pursuit Of A High School Diploma, William Roach

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Dropping out of high school has become a reality for far too many Hispanic high school students. Some estimates have the Hispanic dropout rate at close to 50% (Stutz & Hobbs, 2008). Research on factors contributing to this high dropout rate is well documented and schools across the nation are well aware of the problem. But in spite of this knowledge, the dropout epidemic persists. The purpose of this study was to determine, from a student perspective, what can be done to reduce the number of Hispanic dropouts. Forty-six at-risk Hispanic seniors in a small Texas high school along the …

A Descriptive Profile Of The Philosophical, Organizational, And Curricular Program Structure Of The Reading Programs In Six Selected School Districts Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, June Ann Mccullough Burger

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This descriptive study was undertaken in order to provide the communities and educational organizations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley with a profile of the philosophical, organizational and curricular structure of reading programs in the school districts of the area. Six school systems were selected as representative of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and were chosen on the basis of population, school enrollment and geographical location.

A questionnaire was prepared to insure continuity of the collected data and to serve as a basis for conducting interviews with appropriate administrative personnel. The data collected revealed that while school systems of the …