Education Commons^™

Cultivating Culturally Responsive Elementary Teachers In A Suburban Title I School, Angela L. Mack

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

Research suggests increased enrollment of students with diverse cultural, racial, linguistic, and social backgrounds will continue in schools across the United States over the coming years; thereby, imposing a challenge for some teachers with differing backgrounds to instruct culturally and linguistically diverse students. Without adequate professional development focused on culturally responsive teaching, it has been purported teachers will continue to adopt deficit perceptions and subpar practices that negatively impact students of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Thus, this study aimed to explore how a series of in-service professional development focused on culture, race, and pedagogy may influence teacher perceptions and …

The Parent Role In Teen Digital Citizenship, Christi Harp

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

This research presents a case study on the parent role in adolescent digital citizenship in the Southeastern United States. This study involved ten parents of middle school students who are exemplars of involvement in their children’s digital lives. Research shows that teens are using technology at a rapid rate and there is a need for positive digital citizenship among youth. Research studies have been conducted on adolescents, teachers, media specialists, and administrators regarding digital citizenship. There is a need for research to be conducted involving parents and what role they play in the development of their child’s digital citizenship skills. …

Student Engagement In The Honors Biology Flipped Learning Environment, Hillary M. Wilson

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate four constructs of engagement (affective, behavioral, cognitive, and social) within an Honors Biology flipped learning environment. Social constructivism, the Bioecological Model of Influences on Student Engagement, and Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) served as the theoretical foundation for the study. A mixed methods convergent parallel design was used to answer the following research questions: What are student perceptions of engagement in a flipped learning environment based on the dimensions of engagement (e.g., affective, behavioral, cognitive, and social)? How do high school Honors biology students affectively, behaviorally, cognitively, and socially engage during the …

Understanding Community And Engagement In Synchronous Online Writing Instruction, Conner Sutton

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone consists of an autoethnography based on the author's experiences as a synchronous online writing instructor. Using the current literature on synchronous writing instruction—as well as interviews with fellow instructors—this project explores how we define and measure classroom community and engagement from behind a webcam.

Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Experiences With Technology Integration In A One-To-One School District During Face-To-Face And Remote Instruction: A Phenomenography, Safna Kalariparambil

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenographic study was to acquire a better understanding of the lived experiences of 12 secondary mathematics teachers who integrated one-to-one technology into their classrooms as part of a district-wide one-to-one technology initiative. Transcripts from semi-structured interviews were analyzed to elicit and describe different ways in which secondary mathematics teachers experienced the phenomenon. Data analysis showed teachers experienced technology integration in classrooms based on their attitude towards using technology. Those who expressed positive attitudes used technology to support modeling mathematics, differentiate learning, problem-solving, expedite grading, and provide instant feedback to students. Those who did not have positive …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of One-To-One Laptop Initiative For Increased Learner Communication And Collaboration Skills, Harry Saint Cyr

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

This mixed-methods case study examined the impact of one-to-one technology on learners’ communication and collaboration skills, two of the critical 21st-century skills necessary for learners to succeed in the global world. The purpose of this case study was to examine middle school teachers’ perceptions of a one-to-one laptop computer implementation and its impacts on learners’ communication and collaboration skills. Mixed-methods research methodologies were adopted to collect the data that answered the research questions. Explanatory sequential design was used to design, collect, analyze, and report the study’s findings. Quantitative data as Likert scale survey was sent to all the eligible forty-one …

Teacher Experiences With Multiple One-To-One Technology Integration Models: A Phenomenography, Tiffany Post

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the beliefs and perceptions of teachers who have experience with both the BYOT and school-issued 1:1 technology integration models. The eight informants in this study all had middle and/or high school experience teaching with both models. The data came from semi-structured interviews with each informant and five documents related to 1:1 technology integration from four districts. Analysis results showed a preference for the 1:1 school-issued model due to concerns with technical support, equity, student behavior, technology monitoring, and pedagogical change. COVID reinforced teacher preference. Neither model was conclusively preferred in …

Disproportionality Of Black Males In Special Education: A Case Study Analysis Of Educator Perceptions In A Southeastern Urban High School, Artese Ja'donn Mccrae

Doctor of Education in Special Education Dissertations

Disproportionality is the overrepresentation and/or underrepresentation of a specific population or demographic group including gender, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic class in special education programs relative to the group’s presence in the overall student body. Research suggested that the overrepresentation of Black male students in special education is the result of subjective testing practices and eligibility processes that stem from societal beliefs and staff biases rather than objective measures used to diagnose the presence of specific disabilities. While Black male students are historically overrepresented in special education, the concern is that the inappropriate placement of Black male students is a form of …

Examining Teachers’ Practices And Perspectives Of Family Engagement In A Rural High School Setting, Meredith Gulledge

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

Once considered an additional support for schools, family engagement became a more essential aspect of education to help connect teachers with family members in an effort to increase positive academic outcomes among students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the current practices and perspectives of family engagement practices promoted by classroom teachers who currently teach at a high school in a rural setting. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Teacher Efficacy Theory based on Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory were two influences of the theoretical framework for this study. The two research questions examined teachers’ current practices …

Hospital Home-Bound Education: Are Teachers Prepared To Implement Transition Plans Post-Hospitalization For Student Success?, Katherine Kimbro-Vincent

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

Homebound instruction presents many challenges for teachers. Teachers are frequently not prepared to provide such services. Teachers are frustrated in recognizing that homebound services do not provide sufficient depth and intensity of instruction that some students may need. The purpose of this study was to bring awareness of what happens during the transition of a hospital homebound student post-hospitalization and their academic success. A qualitative case study allowed me to gather and analyze students’ needs that addressed their medical conditions. These important aspects included not only the hospital homebound teachers, students, and staffs’ behaviors/views on the overall program, but also …

An Exploration Of The Mentoring Experiences Of Elementary Assistant Principals Provided By Elementary Principals Within One Large Urban School District., Adib Shakir

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenographical study was to explore the different ways that elementary assistant principals experienced mentoring from their elementary principals as a way to provide the requisite leadership development that would lead them to become a principal. This research study was conducted using in-depth semi-structured interviews as the primary data source. Ancillary data sources such as demographic surveys, reviewing district leadership secondary source documents, and researcher journal notes aided in the data triangulation and analysis. This study was guided by one main research question: What are the different ways elementary assistant principals experience mentoring from their elementary …

The Relationship Between Hiring Type And Principal Retention: Comparing Georgia Public School Principals, Belinda Sloan

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Abstract

School principals’ have a significant impact on student achievement and positive educational outcomes (Beteille et al., 2012; Branch et al., 2013; Miller, 2009; Miller, 2013; Supovitz et al., 2010). There are concerns regarding the high turnover rate and shortage of applicants for school leadership positions currently within the United States (Beteille et al., 2012; Burkhauser et al., 2012; Burkhauser, 2015; Jensen, 2014; Whitaker, 2003). According to research, high poverty schools are significantly impacted by this current state of affairs (Beteille et al., 2012; Miller, 2013). This quantitative research study aimed to contribute to the body of literature regarding principal …