Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Education Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 16 of 16

Full-Text Articles in Education

Integrating The Funds Of Knowledge To Impact The Literacy Learning Experience For Students With Disabilities, Stephanie Lyn Losasso Oct 2021

Integrating The Funds Of Knowledge To Impact The Literacy Learning Experience For Students With Disabilities, Stephanie Lyn Losasso

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact on the literacy learning experience for students with disabilities when integrating the funds of knowledge into the curriculum. Prior to this research, students were given books with no relevance to their at home literacy. The curriculum was missing components of a framework that included the sociocultural perspectives of diverse learners. The participants for this study were three eight year old students. Two of the students were males and the one student was a female. The study was conducted during a 30-minute pull-out reading support. The students were interviewed to gain …


The Tale Of Two Pandemics: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In A Blended Learning Environment Amidst Covid-19 And Racism Pandemics, Kayla Hostetler Oct 2021

The Tale Of Two Pandemics: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In A Blended Learning Environment Amidst Covid-19 And Racism Pandemics, Kayla Hostetler

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the sudden spread of COVID19 in March of 2020, schools in the United States were scrambling to figure out ways to educate their students and at the same time keep them safe. In many cases schools switched to online learning or at home packets. During the same school year on May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer. The video tape of his murder sparked protests across the country. His death showing how racism continues to plague American society. Students and teachers across the country were trying to process all of these events and navigate …


Task-Based, Learner-Centered Language Instruction: Educational Innovation In An Adult Foreign Language Program, Clayton D. Leishman Oct 2021

Task-Based, Learner-Centered Language Instruction: Educational Innovation In An Adult Foreign Language Program, Clayton D. Leishman

Theses and Dissertations

This study involved educational innovation and implementation of a task-based, learner-centered curriculum within a foreign language program. The concerns-based assessment model (originally proposed by Hall et al., 1973, and further developed by Hall & Hord, 1987; 2011) was used to investigate the degree to which language instructors adopted the innovation. An adapted form of the concerns-based assessment model’s levels of use focused interviews and instructional artifacts were used to measure the level of implementation of the task-based approach. Analysis of the data identified categoricalchanges as instructors implemented the new curriculum. The category of sharing revealed higher levels of use due …


The Impact Of Reading Intervention Supports On Adolescent Reader Identity, Erin Christine Doty Jul 2021

The Impact Of Reading Intervention Supports On Adolescent Reader Identity, Erin Christine Doty

Theses and Dissertations

This case study research aimed to uncover how adolescent students describe their experiences with reading intervention and what aspects of their school experiences they see as contributing to their reader identity. Previous research done with or about adolescent students in reading intervention programs has demonstrated a need for a deeper understanding of students’ perspectives of reading intervention and its impact on reader identity as well as an understanding of how these interventions position students as learners. Using a case study approach, data was collected with three eighth grade students who have participated in reading intervention programs for more than three …


Exploring Students’ Cosmopolitan Perspectives In An Undergraduate, Intermediate Spanish-Language Class, Erin Carlson Jul 2021

Exploring Students’ Cosmopolitan Perspectives In An Undergraduate, Intermediate Spanish-Language Class, Erin Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how SPAN 121 might be designed to foster and support students’ development of cosmopolitan perspectives. Specifically, it explored how English-speaking students might demonstrate cosmopolitan perspectives in response to activities engaging them in Spanish with global Spanish speakers as part of their undergraduate, intermediate Spanish-language class. Theories of cosmopolitanism value responsible, global citizens engaged in open and respectful dialogue across geographic boundaries to learn about themselves and the world and may guide undergraduate college students in intercultural interactions. Through teacher action research utilizing qualitative case study, this study explored which activities might foster …


Effects Of Simultaneously Integrating Sel And Culturally Responsive Pedagogy On Students' Perceptions About Themselves And Their Abilities, Daniele J. Jacob Jun 2021

Effects Of Simultaneously Integrating Sel And Culturally Responsive Pedagogy On Students' Perceptions About Themselves And Their Abilities, Daniele J. Jacob

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to understand what happens to students' perceptions about themselves and their abilities when social and emotional learning (SEL) and culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) are simultaneously integrated into an elementary gifted and talented classroom setting. Prior to this research, a structured approach to addressing students' social and emotional learning needs did not exist. Additionally, culturally responsive practices were not being used purposefully or with intent. This left the researcher to wonder how the lack of these practices may be negatively impacting students. How SEL and CRP can positively affect students' perceptions about themselves …


The Facts Of Life: Professional Identity Narratives Of Expatriate Language Instructors In Egypt, Sierranicole Butler Jun 2021

The Facts Of Life: Professional Identity Narratives Of Expatriate Language Instructors In Egypt, Sierranicole Butler

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses a narrative approach to investigate the lived experiences of two expatriate TESOL instructors at a private university in Egypt. Through the use of observations and interviews, the researcher analyzed how the emotions and beliefs of experienced expatriate TESOL instructors influence, shape, and are shaped by their Language Teacher Professional Identities. Farrell’s (2011) Professional Role Identities codes were used. The study revealed that expatriate language instructors face a number of trying experiences when teaching students, interacting with colleagues, and taking on various leadership roles within their institutions based on a number of factors including their own beliefs, backgrounds, …


Integrating Funds Of Knowledge Into Reading Lessons To Help Students Who Receive Additional Academic Support Create Discussions, Annamarie Fielding May 2021

Integrating Funds Of Knowledge Into Reading Lessons To Help Students Who Receive Additional Academic Support Create Discussions, Annamarie Fielding

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how utilizing funds of knowledge (FofK) in reading lessons for students who receive additional academic support would affect their ability to independently engage in discussions. The study investigated how this impacted students' motivation and engagement for students during literacy lessons. Qualitative methods focused on observing students' individual, small group, and whole-group responses to literature. Participants included two students in a fifth grade, inclusion classroom who have been identified with specific learning disabilities and have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Both students come from significantly different backgrounds, as one is a child of a …


Multimodal Writing Of University Students: The Case Of Academic Posters, Noha Ibrahim Fouad May 2021

Multimodal Writing Of University Students: The Case Of Academic Posters, Noha Ibrahim Fouad

Theses and Dissertations

After having been marginalized for a long time as a second-class genre or “the poor country cousin of papers” (Swales & Feak, 2000), academic posters have recently received remarkable attention as a special multimodal genre that is indispensable for the membership of the academic community. In line with the currently growing interest in multimodal writing, the present study seeks to contribute to the limited body of knowledge on academic posters in two ways: first by investigating the textual and visual communicative strategies employed by novice multimodal writers to facilitate the comprehension of their multimodal texts and guide readers through their …


The Motivation And Attitude Of Arab Heritage Children And Their Parents’ Perspectives Toward Learning Arabic, Nada Naji May 2021

The Motivation And Attitude Of Arab Heritage Children And Their Parents’ Perspectives Toward Learning Arabic, Nada Naji

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the unstable circumstances in the Middle East in the last decade, a large number of immigrants from Arab origins immigrated to non-Arab countries. This immigration created a new generation of Arab heritage learners who want to learn the Arabic language as a heritage language for different reasons. This study investigates the motivation and attitude of Arab heritage children between 10 and 16 years of age and their parents’ perspectives toward learning Arabic as a heritage language in host countries. 143 participants (92 parents, 51 children) living in 17 different non-Arab countries have participated in this study. The method …


Adaptive Learning Environments And Student Learning Outcomes, Marie-Conceptia Girault Feb 2021

Adaptive Learning Environments And Student Learning Outcomes, Marie-Conceptia Girault

Theses and Dissertations

In response to the urgent need to alleviate South Carolina from poverty and elevate them into the 21st century industry, South Carolina Department of Education (SCDOE), has vowed to educate all South Carolina students and ensure that they graduate prepared for success in college, careers, and citizenship (SCDOE, 2017). To accomplish this mission, SCDOE has developed rigorous educational standards, which include technology-integrated curricular (SCDOE, 2015). Through a non-experimental quantitative study, the relationship between adaptive learning environments (ALE) while employing technology and student outcomes were explored. These learning outcomes were in support of K-12 novice-mid language learners and were defined as …


Using Student Talk And Reader Response Journals With Emergent Readers, Samantha Gudowski Feb 2021

Using Student Talk And Reader Response Journals With Emergent Readers, Samantha Gudowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact on comprehension when emergent readers use talk and reader response journals to comprehend text. Data collected from reading attitude surveys, interviews, student journal entries, audio-recorded student conversations and notes in a teacher researcher journal were analyzed for emerging themes. The findings show that talk about text and the use of reader response journals have a positive impact on both reading comprehension and motivation. Implications for future research are discussed in chapter five.


Using Multicultural Picture Books To Motivate Students And Foster Critical Discussions On Identity And Social Justice, Susan Davenport Jan 2021

Using Multicultural Picture Books To Motivate Students And Foster Critical Discussions On Identity And Social Justice, Susan Davenport

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the significance of integrating multicultural literature, primarily multicultural picture books, in culturally responsive book clubs to improve student motivation, foster awareness of one's identity and promote discussions about social justice. Prior to this research, student discourse about their own identity and the nature of social injustices related to prejudice, stereotyping, and racism was limited. Qualitative research was employed utilizing student artifacts such anticipation guides, literature role responses, and reflection journals. Data was also collected from audio recording transcripts of book club and class wide discussions as well as a teacher's reflection journal. …


Changing The Narrative: The Effect Of Culturally Relevant Teaching To Improve Reading Comprehension And Engagement Among African American Males In Middle School, Portia J. Wood Jan 2021

Changing The Narrative: The Effect Of Culturally Relevant Teaching To Improve Reading Comprehension And Engagement Among African American Males In Middle School, Portia J. Wood

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine the effects of using culturally relevant texts to motivate and engage African American adolescent boys who read below grade level to read while also improving their current reading levels. The participants for this study were two twelve-year-old African-American adolescent males in the seventh grade. The study was conducted during a 30-minute independent reading segment and after school. The participants read a book for 15-20 minutes a day followed by a ten minute response to reading assignment about their book. The participants in this study were assigned culturally relevant texts to …


Teaching Social Justice In Kindergarten To Reduce Bias In Children, Deanna Marie Villari Jan 2021

Teaching Social Justice In Kindergarten To Reduce Bias In Children, Deanna Marie Villari

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand what happens when students in a Kindergarten classroom participate in learning about social justice to create a culture of empathy. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 1995) serves as a theoretical framework for implementing mini-lessons using the 2020 Teaching Tolerance's Anti-Bias Framework and social justice standards to create an inclusive kindergarten environment. The objective was to increase engagement in the classroom and create a more positive and comfortable environment for students during play group and class discussions around picture books. Qualitative research was used in this study, which focused on read-alouds, class discussions, and …


Yolkkh: The Story Of My People, Amna Zelimkha Yandarbin Jan 2021

Yolkkh: The Story Of My People, Amna Zelimkha Yandarbin

Theses and Dissertations

The name of my project is: Yolkkh, The Story of My People. With this project I present a series of scarves each one bearing an illustrated scene in order to tell a story – my story and the story of the Noxci people. Noxci are the people who are referred to as “Chechens” by Russians and are generally known by that title. As a Muslim, I have witnessed the way Western media tend to dehumanize my community. In order to contrast this dehumanizing process, I thought that telling the story of my family would help reverse Islamophobic tendencies and raise …