Education Commons^™

James Baldwin's Classroom And What He Can Teach Educators About Queer Representation, Matthew Callahan

Honors College Theses

This is an extended analysis of James Baldwin's "A Talk to Teachers" about how to bring representation into the classroom. I use Baldwin's other essays and fiction along with educational research to look into the way Baldwin understands education and the importance of bringing healthy queer representation into the classroom. I provide both theoretical observations along with practical implications of what this means for educators in the classroom and what they can do to help all their students feel seen, represented, and welcome in the classroom.

Mirrors Of Learning: Amplifying Engagement And Retention With Culturally Relevant Teaching In 21st-Century Education, Britney Buckner

Honors College Theses

This research investigates the impact of Culturally Relevant Teaching (CRT) on student engagement and information retention, in alignment with 21st-century learning objectives. CRT, which incorporates educational content reflecting the diverse identities of students, fosters a deeper connection to the material and aligns with the fundamental purpose of education in preparing students for societal and global contexts. By mirroring their realities in the curriculum, students are motivated to learn and retain information, recognizing its relevance to their lives. This increased retention is essential for accurately assessing student knowledge against state and national benchmarks, indicative of successful 21st-century education. Furthermore, CRT supports …

Politics, Policies, And Procedures: The Iron Triangle Of Implementing Education Reform, Clint Reardon Jr

Honors College Theses

Education is often seen as a living thing, something that should grow and change with time. However, for far too many people who experience education from both within the school structure and for those who experience education from outside the school structure it can often seem like the educational system is stagnate, dying, and in some cases dead. One shared reason for this perception is perceived barriers in education that stifle creativity and allow educational systems to grow, adapt, and change to meet the needs of the students they serve. This study set out to identify what those barriers are …

Curriculum Response To An Evolving Society: An Analysis Of Family And Consumer Sciences Education At Murray State University From 1928 To 2023, Lauren Ervin

Honors College Theses

This research aims to identify and explore the changes in the family and consumer sciences (FCS) education program at Murray State University from 1928, when the major was first offered, until 2023. The following questions were answered:

• What are the notable changes in Murray State University's FCS education program, involving curriculum, from 1928 to 2023?

• What are the notable themes, topics, and changes to the overarching FCS field from 1928 to 2023?

• How have the events in society and the FCS field influenced the FCS Education program at Murray State University?

The researcher noted the changes in the Murray State …

Every Student Deserves A Struggle: Planning For The Implementation And Differentiation Of High Cognitive Tasks, Kaitlyn Jones, Kaitlyn N. Jones

Honors College Theses

The work of Mary Kay Stein and Margaret Smith is foundational to cognitive research in education. Most other works in the field branch out from their work in one way or another. One of their most influential contributions was their system for classifying tasks according to cognitive demand or the type of thinking the tasks requires students to engage in. Memorization tasks or tasks that involve procedural work without making deeper connections are classified as having low cognitive demand. On the other hand, tasks involving procedures with connections and “doing” mathematics tasks are viewed as having high cognitive demand. Research …

Interactive Addressing Of Body Insecurity In Adolescent Females, Haylee Cox

Honors College Theses

The research consists of various explorative literary reviews regarding the physical, mental, emotional, and social impacts of body image insecurity among adolescent females. This thesis will consist of pulling from the website I developed that deals with education and activity regarding the subject at hand to equip adolescent females with the means to cope when healthily struggling with body image insecurity. The website includes referenced studies and techniques for middle-grade students searching for avenues to cope with the emotional stressors of unhealthy body perception and the effects that follow. Topics addressed include body image, social media, the weight of words, …

You Can Be Anything You Want: An Analysis Of Gender Stereotypes In Early Childhood Literature, Emily Renee Marshall

Honors College Theses

The theme of gender roles is present in many genres of literature. In early children’s literature, the vast majority of these stories portray the most common gender stereotypes, such as girls who wear pink and play with dolls, while boys wear blue and play with cars and trucks. The families’ roles are also seen in these books. For example, the mother figure is usually seen at home with the children, working in the kitchen or outside in the garden, while the father is often portrayed coming home from a long day of work in a suit and tie. These gender …

The Forgotten Subjects: Implementation Of Science And Social Studies Into Elementary Education, Kayla Wendler, Kayla M. Wendler

Honors College Theses

The content areas of science and social studies are areas that students in today's elementary education classrooms do not interact with daily. In many general education classrooms, literacy and mathematics take up a majority of the instructional time leaving students missing out on important skills that help them grow and flourish in society. The importance of science and social studies within the classrooms goes beyond simple means of expanding their knowledge. For example, these "forgotten subjects" allow students to connect with the world around them and incorporate the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. The content areas are used to deepen …

No Such Thing As A New “Normal”: The Future Of Teaching In A Pandemic World, Victoria Benard

Honors College Theses

Due to the many changes wrought on our society by the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers in high schools have had to dramatically alter their methods of teaching in order to comply with new rules and regulations. These guidelines, deemed safe by the CDC, have completely upended traditional high school classrooms and left teachers scrambling to effectively teach their content and assess student learning. The purpose of this research is to determine the successes and/or failures of high school teachers’ teaching strategies that have undergone dramatic adaptations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. One goal of this research is to produce a concise understanding …

Amplifying The "A" In Steam Education, Grace Floerke

Honors College Theses

This paper discusses the importance of teachers implementing STEAM education in the classroom. Previously, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (abbreviated as STEM) education was used as a tool to prepare students to excel in career fields that are projected to grow in the near future. However, recently the acronym was changed to STEAM to add “the arts” to the original acronym. It is imperative that the arts are seen as an equal to STEM, as they can complement and enhance the goals STEM is trying to reach. Since not all students possess the same interest, ways of learning, or abilities, …

The Road To Inclusion: Special Education In The United States And Mexico, Elena Hammann

Honors College Theses

This report addresses the laws, views, funding, and school system policies in the United States and Mexico. Children with disabilities are typically subject to misrepresentation, prejudice, and a lack of opportunities. The best chance these children have to succeed is an adequate education. The intention of both countries for the last five decades is to provide an equitable and inclusive education for students with disabilities. Although educational planners and policy makers in each country pass federal legislation and educational policy, there is further work for improvement. The results of current research through a questionnaire shows continued negative social bias towards …

Integrating An Action Plan Into The Standard Entrepreneurial Higher Education Curriculum, Blakely Broder

Honors College Theses

In these increasingly complex times, entrepreneurship has become a common tool for innovative, economic, and social growth. Its adaptability has made it a prime instrument for addressing market failures and facilitating innovation (as cited in McMullen & Cahoon, 1979). Due to entrepreneurship’s crucial role in our modern, innovation-based economy, there has been a particular interest in the efficacy of current entrepreneurial education curriculums and instruction methods.

Discussion has risen about how to design the most effective entrepreneurial higher education curriculum. An effective curriculum in this context would be defined as one that yields the most value creation (Bruyat & Julien …

Inclusive Ensembles: Differentiating For The Singer On The Autism Spectrum, Natalie Wilkins, Natalie A. Wilkins

Honors College Theses

Exceptional children belong in music classrooms. Music ensemble directors need to overcome complex challenges to meet the goal of inclusion, because ensembles often include a mixture of ages, grades, social and intellectual development stages, musical skills, and a wide variety of diverse learning needs. This study focuses on how a choral ensemble director may create an inclusive environment for students on the Autism Spectrum.

This study reviewed the current research on inclusive rehearsal environments. Analysis revealed varied methods for differentiation that allows students with special needs to thrive in a music classroom and also revealed that music can be a …

An Analysis Of Pre-Service Agricultural Educators’ Self-Efficacy With Exceptional Learners, Sara Edwards, Sara Edwards

Honors College Theses

The total program of agricultural education has established that the inclusion of all students is a priority, including students who fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other similar legislation. However, upon reviewing the literature, a significant deficit has been identified in terms of training and preparation to work with students with disabilities within agricultural education. Literature and philosophy regarding the concepts of self-efficacy and experiential learning theories are explored. Additionally, works regarding special education in the agriculture classroom and primary challenges faced by agriculture educators are reviewed. A need to establish better preparatory training within preservice …

How Ell And Mainstream Teachers Foster A Culturally Responsive Classroom Environment, Mariah G. Cox

Honors College Theses

This study explores the culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices of mainstream and English language learner (ELL) teachers as well as how to foster such practices. The study was completed with surveys, interviews, and an observation used to determine the knowledge of and practices concerning CRT. Participants of the study included 20 ELL teachers and 11 mainstream teachers from 11 different public-school districts. Due to pandemic restrictions, there was only one observation participant. ELL teachers reported incorporating CRT through class discussions and activities on diverse cultures. Mainstream teachers gave varied answers, but most spoke about differentiation methods and appeared to lack …

Mental Illness In Young Adult Literature: A Classroom Approach, Claire Ghent

Honors College Theses

As high school curriculum in the 21st century evolves, the need to increase exposure of diverse literature that reflects culture, gender, and ethnicity is growing. One crucial area often overlooked by educators, parents, and publishers is literature that provides attention to mental illness, in spite of the growing amount of adolescents who suffer from a mental illness. By increasing awareness of mental illness in the classrooms, teachers can reduce stigma and increase empathy in their students while still providing challenging and engaging literary interactions. One of the best vehicles to deliver mental illness and stigma education is young adult literature …

The Disconnect Between General Classroom Teaching Techniques And English Language Learner Needs, Marliese Belt

Honors College Theses

This project will seek to identify gaps in pre-service teacher education as it relates to appropriate instructional strategies for English Language Learners (ELLs). First, public and private liberal arts schools of higher education in Kentucky will be analyzed for relevant programs and courses addressing the needs of ELLs and research-driven instructional techniques used to educate them. It will be determined that many of the schools offer undergraduate or graduate level endorsements and certificate programs, but only one, Murray State University, offers an undergraduate degree-bearing program. Next, ELLs, their characteristics, and unique needs will be defined to ensure that all stakeholders …