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A Case Study Of Communities Of Practice In Schools, Stephanie Ann Knipp

Education Dissertations

Abstract

This research is an examination of a community of practice, how it generates teacher social capital, and the implications for school leadership. Grounded in situated learning theory and social capital theory, this case study of teachers in a small school analyzes how communities of practice can generate teacher social capital, and how school leaders can help foster its growth. Situated learning theory is creating meaning from the real activities of daily living, and its implications for educational research and application are extensive. Developed by anthropologist Jean Lave and computer scientist Etienne Wenger in the 1990s, situated learning theory is …

School Board Members' Perceptions In Relation To Selected District Demographic Variables, Lisa Truemper Scott

Education Dissertations

The study presented in this dissertation explored the relationship between school board members’ perceptions and selected district demographic variables. Chi-square tests for independence were employed to analyze school board members’ categorical perceptual data and district enrollment size, district urban-centric locale, and district socio-economic status. The findings suggested a significant relationship existed between district enrollment size and district socio-economic status, both with regard to school board members’ prioritization of educational issues and perceptions of reasons that adversely affected the board’s ability to increase student achievement. The implications of these findings for school board members and superintendents are also discussed.

Interorganizational Collaboration In Education For Community Change: An Exploratory Case Study, Stacy Marie Mehlberg

Education Dissertations

In the fields of business and healthcare, researchers have found that organizations are more successful at serving their clients when they collaboratively share knowledge, resources, and time using a multidisciplinary approach. There is less empirical evidence supporting these interorganizational collaborations (IOCs) in education. In 2013, the Cold Spring School District (CSSD) established an initiative to improve student and community outcomes. To do this, the district created an IOC to guide their work. The purpose of this current study was the exploration of this IOC to better understand how the IOC was developed, supported, and sustained. Through analysis of interviews, surveys, …