Education Commons^™

Understanding The Importance Of Formative Assessment Programs In Undergraduate Medical Education, Matthew Gentile

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to investigate the impact and relationship formative assessment in undergraduate medical education has on summative assessment performance. Previous research has investigated the important role formative assessment has on the broad education process (Menéndez, Napa, Moreira, & Zambrano, 2019). This research study examined that role in undergraduate medical education. This research study utilized a preexisting de-identified data set consisting of 332 third-year medical student assessment records from five different cohorts. The initial analyses investigated the differences in summative assessment performance for students who completed a formative assessment program during their third year of …

Clew’D In: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Leaders Performing Clinical Learning Environment Walks (Clews), Lisa Ingram Hutcherson

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of leadership using Clinical Learning Environment Walks (CLEWs) to ascertain the current culture of the clinical learning environment. Physician trainees deserve the opportunity to train in an environment where staff are high performing and continually work to improve the quality of care provided to patients. The capacity to assess the clinical learning environment in its entirety is a novel concept brought to the forefront recently by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) due to the need for critical communication that is inherent in creating an optimal …

Parent Perception Of The Parent And Placement Team Process, Deborah Perry

All Theses And Dissertations

Special educators face a growing number of legal implications as they strive to meet students’ needs as identified on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Once identified as requiring special education services, students have an (IEP) to track their progress on goals and objectives. All IEP meetings require the family’s attendance and feedback as part of the process. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) noted that parent feedback is required in the IEP document. This study collected information about parents’ perceptions of the IEP process. Individual interviews were completed with 13 engaged parents to document their experiences working through the IEP process. …

The Student Placement Decision-Making Process: A Study Of Administrator Considerations, Jonathan Roland Normand

All Theses And Dissertations

A myriad of factors are considered in the out-of-district placement process of special needs students, but there is not a standardized process for weighing these. Little is known about how Maine School Administrators weigh each factor to determine the appropriate placement. This interpretive phenomenological study examined the question: What is the hierarchy of priority of the factors used to determine out-of-district placements by Maine special education administrators?

Six special education administrators representing different geographic areas of the state of Maine were interviewed individually. The researcher utilized a purposive sampling method to recruit from within the targeted population those who have …

Examining The Communication Strategies Utilized During An Organizational Change Within Universities’ Branch Campuses, Portia R. Stallworth

All Theses And Dissertations

In this interpretive phenomenological study, the researcher sought to understand the lived experiences of branch campus administrators’ perceptions of the communication strategies utilized during a pervasive organizational change. Minimal research has been conducted surrounding the specifics of the communication strategies that have effectively and successfully matriculated branch campus administrators through an organizational change. To gain a better understanding of the lived experiences and perceptions of the communication strategies utilized during a branch campus organizational change, 35 members of the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators completed a qualifying survey. A semistructured interview was conducted with 10 branch campus administrators who …

Surviving Higher Education: Retention & Persistence Through The Lens Of Psychological Survivorship, David R. Cartwright

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of students categorized as at-risk, non-traditional adult learners who persisted in pursuit of their higher education degree. These students demonstrated perseverance and grit when faced with challenges that might have caused them to drop out of school. The lived experiences of the participants are strongly linked to their identities as working professionals and adult-learners. Recent literature indicates that several theories and models have emerged on the concept of motivation as it relates to success in higher education. Research suggests that achievement is not solely based on cognitive …

Knowledge And Access: An Investigation Into Course Material Models At The Collegiate Level, Jonathan David Sadhoo

All Theses And Dissertations

For over 1,000 years, physical textbooks have been the primary course material tool utilized to facilitate knowledge transfer from the instructor to the student population. In current times, multiple barriers to success have emerged for the modern student of higher education, including affordability, accessibility, and quality. In addition, student engagement with the course material can be a critical factor for student achievement. Taylor & Parsons (2011) indicated that student engagement levels in the classroom are linked with overall success in the course. Within higher education, faculty and academic administrators are at the front lines, attempting to reduce and eliminate these …

Ethical Considerations For Outpatient Behavioral Healthcare In North Texas, Carolyn B. Guillory

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study was to examine caregivers’ perceptions of practices for outpatient behavioral health care. Effort was made to gain insight into the components of ethical service delivery. Significant data on the providers’ perceptions of care was identified in literature reviews, though it was not the case for perspectives of consumers or caregivers. This population has been identified as one which is likely to experience unaffordable, fragmented, and confusing behavioral health systems (Baker, 2015). Attempts to inform research by addressing the quality of treatment was a focus. The Research Problem: Since 2016, the suicide …

Soft-Skill Development In Co-Curricular Programs: An Evaluation Of A Community College Student Leadership Program, Michael James Fischer

All Theses And Dissertations

Colleges are vital for the provision of a trained workforce. As of 2017, over 1,100 community colleges were serving about 41% of the undergraduates across the nation. The emphasis on preparing students to enter the labor market has led to colleges developing integrated academic and co-curricular programs. Many professionals in higher education believe that education happens best in a truly integrative learning environment, where both academic and student affairs programs are used to educate the student.

The New Hampshire Community College Student Leadership program was developed to help students gain soft-skills, as identified by the National Association of Colleges and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Tardiness Policies Of Elementary Schools, Diana J. Goodwin

All Theses And Dissertations

Previous research has shown that student tardiness has been a challenge for educators as far back as the institution of modern schooling. While there has been considerable research about student absenteeism, student tardiness remains an under researched area, particularly at the elementary school level. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare tardiness policies across several large, urban school districts, investigate their alignment with current research about tardiness and school attendance, and explore the possible relationship between school tardiness policies and student academic achievement. The research questions for this study were: What are the major similarities and differences …

Exploring A New Path For School Climate & Safety Assessment, Skip Wilhoit

All Theses And Dissertations

The passage of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in 2001, ushered in a new era of federal oversight in state educational accountability systems. While the act may have succeeded in identifying schools in need of support and creating data systems to help inform parents and assist educators in establishing clear and consistent goals, the state accountability systems created under this law were widely criticized for their narrow academic focus and failure to include the holistic and multifaceted nature of school quality. In response, the federal government replaced NCLB in 2015 with The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The …

Examining The Challenges And Benefits Of Inclusion In Urban Secondary Schools, Jeff James Spaletta

All Theses And Dissertations

American high schools with full-inclusion programs often struggle to offer effective academic instruction to students with disabilities. While academic researchers have conducted studies on inclusion programs, a literature review revealed a dearth of academic studies specific to inclusion programs in secondary schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the attitudes of general-education teachers in urban, Title 1 high schools regarding the ability of those teachers to provide effective academic instruction to students with disabilities in schools that offer full-inclusion education. This study was motivated by three research questions: 1) What are the attitudes of teachers working in …

Building Student Development Through Creative Writing Workshops, Kerry C. Hoey

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative study describes out-of-school education facilitators’ perceptions, beliefs, and values regarding the promotion of personal and social, cultural, and academic and career development through creative writing workshops. The focus on the facilitators of the creative writing workshops is to explore the perceptions, beliefs, and values they have regarding the theories they use to inform their curriculum, and, therefore, how they promote student development. The researcher believes that a better understanding of the facilitators’ descriptions and perceptions of students and student development within creative writing workshops allows educators and community leaders to proceed from a more informed perspective in terms …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Observation, Coaching, And Feedback Cycle, Susan B. Ficke

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to investigate teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, and viewpoints of how their daily teaching may be refined after implementing feedback from the Observation Coaching Feedback Cycle (OCFC) into their daily instruction. In direct connection, this study’s purpose seeks to fill a gap in literature regarding teachers’ perceptions of the OCFC experience. Reflective Practice Theory was selected as the Conceptual Framework that guided this study. Reflective practice is essential to understand one’s actions so as to engage in a process of continuous learning. Without reflective processes, people would not amend their work (Helyer, 2015). The …

Former High School Music Students’ Motivation To Persist Through Yearly Adjudicated Music Festivals, Edward D. Wilkin

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to understand what motivated former high school music students who failed an adjudicated festival audition, their perseverance to improve, and their return to the audition process in following years. In direct connection, this study fills a gap in literature regarding why students remain motivated throughout their high school years of music festival auditions. A focus on what motivated these students to persist through challenging music auditions was guided by the theoretical framework of self-determination theory. Data analysis was conducted on Intrinsic Motivation Inventory evaluations and in-depth student interviews. Through this case …

Implementing The Siop Model To Support English Language Learners, Pamela T. Chandler

All Theses And Dissertations

Children who are English as a Foreign Language Learners (EFL) and/or English language learners (ELLs) are missing critical content-specific learning. These students are transitioning into mainstream classrooms, lacking basic literacy foundation skills, including vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, phonology, and meaning, which is preventing them from accessing grade-level content. Teachers who are charged with educating English language learners are not always provided with sufficient professional development that will allow them to meet the students’ needs. ELL students need specific instructional strategies that will address their learning needs as well as language development. The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation …

The Tesol 6 Principles Of Exemplary Teaching Of English Learners: Perceived Effectiveness In The Community College Esl Classroom, Stephanie N. Marcotte

All Theses And Dissertations

Community college English as a second language (ESL) programs provide targeted English language support to diverse student populations. Limited research exists pertaining to the instruction taking place within community college ESL programs. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore community college ESL faculty-perceived effectiveness in their use of the TESOL 6 principles for exemplary teaching of English learners. The study asked, What is the community college ESL faculty’s perspective of their effectiveness in their application of the TESOL 6 Principles? Participants in this study included full-time, adjunct, and retired professors from community colleges across Massachusetts. They were invited …

Occupational Therapy Student Preparedness For Clinical Fieldwork, Jean A. Mccaffery

All Theses And Dissertations

Topic, Problem and Purpose: Experiential learning and occupational therapy student preparedness. Occupational therapy education programs must prepare occupational therapy students for practice. Traditional observational Level I Fieldwork presents challenges to achieve student-learning objectives and often places the burden of supervision on practicing therapist. The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapy students’ perceptions of preparedness for Level II Fieldwork following participation in a skill-based experiential learning opportunity as an alternative to traditional observational Level I Fieldwork.

Research Question and Sub-Questions: What is the graduate occupational therapy student’s perception of preparedness for intensive Level II Fieldwork following a skill-based, …

Health Science Faculty Retention At Small And Mid-Sized Sized Private Universities, Thomas Pahnke

All Theses And Dissertations

Health science faculty shortages are one factor limiting the ability of institutions of higher education (IHE) to meet healthcare workforce demands. To address this problem IHE leaders must not only recruit, but also retain faculty. Given this problem, the purpose and question of this research study was to identify personal and workplace factors that contribute to health science faculty retention at small and mid-sized private Midwestern IHEs. To explore this question, a descriptive and exploratory quantitative survey research design was used. This design specifically sought to identify incentives for continued employment, as well as disincentives that cause a faculty member …

International School Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Climate And Culture, Richard Webster

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the phenomena of international school leadership and school climate and culture. It proposed to identify key leadership strategies and techniques that can be implemented to initiate change which will foster a positive school culture and climate. The theoretical framework that shaped this study was the Five Dimensions of School Climate as described by Thapa, Cohen, Guffey, and Higgins-D’ Alessandro (2013). This study used a Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology to explore the lived experiences of leaders of international schools in south-east Asia in relation to school culture and climate. Through …

Students’ Perceptions And Experiences: African American Students In Band And Orchestra Programs, Sharese Pearson-Bush

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore how African American students in a South Carolina metropolitan area perceived their experiences in band and orchestra at their middle school. Fifty-one sixth through eighth grade students responded to an inventory that measured students’ predisposition to music, pedagogical preferences, and cultural awareness. Furthermore, seven of the fifty-one students engaged in individual, semistructured interviews that measured students’ personal connection to musical experiences within their culture and communities. This study examined the minimal rate at which African American students participated in music programs through the conceptual lens of African-Centered Pedagogy and Culturally Responsive …

Barriers And Opportunities For Provision Of Specialized Programming For Rural, Low-Incidence Students, Eric Mcgough

All Theses And Dissertations

The dichotomy between increasing accountability mandates and access to appropriate service provision is particularly evident in consideration of mandates pertaining to students represented in special education, Section 504, students who are English learners, migrant students, and homeless students. For the purposes of this study, these students are represented as the low-incidence student population. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that enhance or facilitate those factors that hinder efficient delivery of services to the low-incidence student populations in a very rural region in New England. Participants in this study were three district administrators, three school social workers, and …

Wellness Programming For Adults With Disabilities: A Qualitative Inquiry Of Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Courtney Roca

All Theses And Dissertations

There is a well-established need for a wellness program for adults with disabilities in the regional community. In alignment with best practice guidelines, and as a first step in the development of a program in the regional community, qualitative methodology was utilized to explore the views of key community stakeholders to gain an in-depth understanding of their perceptions of wellness programming needs for adults with disabilities in the regional community. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews which specifically explored barriers and facilitators to wellness programming for this population in the regional community to inform future steps of program development. Three …

The Connection Of Academic Advising To College Student Identity Development, Kaela Urquhart

All Theses And Dissertations

Academic advising has become increasingly connected to student success and student retention. This study explores the role advising plays beyond student success, satisfaction, and retention efforts and focuses on student identity development. Specifically, it addresses the connection between academic advising and college student identity development through an exploratory case study utilizing a conceptual framework of transformational learning theories and literature. The study centers on the perspectives of upper-level students at a large public Midwestern university with the purpose of furthering the field’s knowledge of the student perception and voice in relation to the advisor-advisee effect on identity development. Data was …

Latinx Student Development At An Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution In The Midwest, Gilberto Pérez Jr.

All Theses And Dissertations

As Latinx students continue to enroll at emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) in the Midwest, it is imperative that college administrators understand the ways students develop while living in the residence halls. Although much research has been conducted about Latinx college students, little is known about their first-year experience in residential life settings and how that experience might contribute to their development. Seven second-year participants were identified and participated in this phenomenological study. Arthur Chickering’s (1969) student development theory guided the study to better understand how the seven vectors of identity contributed to student development in the following areas: competence, …

The Effectiveness Of Read 180 At A Cooperative High School In New England (Chsne), Michael E. Daboul

All Theses And Dissertations

Over the last decade, schools have employed a variety of intervention plans to assist below grade-level achieving students to quickly gain missing skills with the ultimate goal of allowing these students access to proper grade level curriculum. These intervention plans have been directly aligned with educational laws in the US such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Achieves Act with very little success. There has been a great deal of research conducted on the most effective and efficient ways to properly diagnose, address, and implement these intervention plans; however there is a lack of literature …

Clinical Preparedness Amongst Recent Dental Hygiene Graduates: A Phenomenological Study, Daniela M. Taranto

All Theses And Dissertations

The focus of this phenomenological study is to evaluate the lived experiences of recent dental hygiene graduates’ as they relate to their curriculum preparation as clinicians. Individual interviews of ten newly graduated hygienists were conducted, consisting of seventeen open-ended questions related to their experience with feeling prepared to enter the workforce specific to their clinical skills, professionalism skills, and critical thinking skills. This study documented the experiences these participants had as they transitioned from master student, to novice clinician specific to their newly acquired skills. A positive perception of preparedness was found directly to their instrumentation, professionalism, and critical thinking …

Assessment Of Working Relationships Between Athletic Training Program Faculty And Clinical Preceptors, Kathleen Williams

All Theses And Dissertations

Athletic training degree programs require both clinical and classroom educational content. The educational content of the 2020 Standards, adopted in 2018 by athletic training’s accrediting body, included a requirement for additional skills and a minimum level degree. However, clinical preceptors educated prior to 2018 working in athletic training programs are often not proficient or trained in the new techniques. The change in athletic training educational knowledge has led to a theory–practice gap between athletic training faculty and clinical preceptors working in the field. Athletic training faculty and clinical preceptors need good communication and interpersonal working relationships to bridge the gap …

Educator Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Learning Embedded In Academic Instruction To Improve Student Outcomes, Christopher T. Basta

All Theses And Dissertations

Society, parenting, and public education have changed drastically over the past several decades. As a result, public schools recognize the need to address student social and emotional learning (SEL) in addition to their academic growth. Although there is abundant research into the benefits of SEL and various methods for delivering SEL instruction, there is a dearth of research studying teacher perceptions and understandings of SEL embedded in academic instruction. The purpose of this study was to explore teacher perceptions of social-emotional learning (SEL) during academic instruction. This phenomenological study’s research questions were (a) How do teachers’ past experiences and training …

Brain-Targeted Teaching As A Tool To Facilitate Implementing Mind Brain And Education Science Into Community College Pedagogy, Adrienne Seegers

All Theses And Dissertations

Applying findings from mind, brain, and education science (MBES) could improve teaching and learning yet, MBES is not consistently applied in higher education pedagogy. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of community college faculty of the Brain-Targeted Teaching (BTT) framework as a tool to facilitate implementing MBES into pedagogy. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How did community college faculty describe changes to their pedagogy after participating in professional development that presented and modeled the BTT framework? and (2) What was the perception of participants of the value of the BTT framework as a tool to facilitate implementing MBES …