Education Commons^™

Identity And Language Socialization Of Asian Transnational Adolescents Across Communities Of Practice: A Critical Narrative Study, Ming-Tso Chien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A large percentage of the international secondary students in the United States come from Asian countries. Their enrollments are closely connected to the cultural, curricular, and extracurricular diversity of their American schools. Despite their contribution, stereotypical depictions of these students and deficit-informed research still abound in educational settings, leaving serious consequences for the social and academic well-being of the students.

These problematic educational framings about Asian international students and the majoritarian narratives about them are mutually informative. Therefore, to counter the dominant discourses, this multimodal critical narrative study set out to recruit stories from a group of Asian transnational adolescent …

“Reading Is Everywhere:” A Case Study Situating Children's Book Distribution Within The Literacy Practices Of Somali New Mainers, Rachel C H Groenhout

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Somalia has a long and rich oral literacy tradition of poetry, proverbs, and songs, while Somalia’s print literacy history has been significantly disrupted by colonization and then the Somali Civil War. Many Somalis have fled the country since the start of the civil war in 1991, and an estimated 10,000 Somalis have made a new home in Maine. When Somali citizens relocated to Maine, they were exposed to Maine’s Raising Readers children’s book distribution program. Raising Readers distributes high-quality, age-appropriate, English-language children’s books during pediatric well-child visits to foster family literacy interactions and children’s emergent literacy skills.

This study explores …

Developing An Lgbtqia2+ Affirming Curriculum And Testing Its Impact On Allyship, Tausif Karim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Why are some conversations considered more difficult in learning spaces than others? What is the potential for educational interventions strengthen our capacities for such challenging conversations and for allyship? Guided by these broad questions, the present thesis focused on LGBTQIA2+ affirming education and sought to specifically test how an intentionally queer online learning experiences impacted the participants’ self-perceived allyship efficacies.

In my thesis, I draw on literature exploring how the “civility, teacher immediacy, or teacher credibility” (Chen & Lawless, 2018, p. 376) of Western education has prevented instructors from bringing topics related to race, gender, immigration, sexuality, and others in …

Borderline Grading Decisions: The Factors That Influence The Choices Of High School Physical Science Teachers, Kate Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teachers consider many different kinds of factors in determining student grades. They use a mix of achievement and non-achievement factors in grading decisions, to the criticism of educational measurement experts (Brookhart, 1991; Brookhart, 1993; Frary et al., 1993; Popham, 2009). The factors that influence this decision making are particularly salient when teachers consider borderline grades and make decisions about raising, holding, or lowering marks. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences and self-reported practices of high school physical science teachers’ decision making about borderline grades. Through a series of two semi-structured interviews, twelve participants described the …

School Principals And Instructional Coaches: An Examination Of Their Working Relationships In Maine Schools, Theresa J. Gillis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School principals are charged with being instructional leaders and yet they are tasked with obligations and face daily challenges that often make this an unrealistic expectation. According to the Maine Department of Education, 225 instructional coaches work in 53 Maine school districts. Instructional coaches provide feedback and support for teachers geared towards professional growth. This study will explore how instructional coaches and school principals can work together to support teaching and learning. While both school principals and instructional coaches “share the ultimate goal of effecting positive change” (Hall & Simeral, 2008, p. 23) their relationships may not always promote this …

Intersections Of Environmentalism, Chemistry, And Racism: An Experimental Study Of Halobenzene Hydrogenolysis And Critical Communication Studies Of Equitable Learning Practices Rooted In Black Feminism, Lauren O. Babb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing concentrations of fluorinated aromatic compounds in surface water, groundwater, and soil pose threats to the environment. Fundamental studies that elucidate mechanisms of dehalogenation for C-X compounds (where X represents a halide) are required to develop effective remediation strategies. For halogenated benzenes, previously published research has suggested that the strength of the C-X bond is not rate-determining in the overall rate of dehalogenation. Instead, the rate-determining step has been hypothesized to be adsorption of the C-X compound onto the surface of a catalyst. Building on this hypothesis, in this work, we examine the reaction kinetics of fluorobenzene conversion to benzene, …

Investigating The Teaching And Assessment Experiences Of Maine Secondary Science Teachers During The Covid-19 Lockdown, Anupam Raj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In March 2020, an unexpected event changed the educational systems throughout the world. In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic caused public places to close down, including schools. To continue education, schools in Maine went online. This study describes how Maine secondary science teachers taught and assessed their students while teaching remotely for the first time during the lockdown. It does so by investigating teachers’ perspectives about the impact on their students, how they handled the issue of equity, their new priorities and expectations, their teaching and assessment challenges, and their successful strategies during the initial phase of the lockdown. …

Botanically Inclined: Elementary Students' Knowledge Of Plant Structures And Their Functions Captured In Drawings, Emilie Oesterlin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School gardens provide numerous educational opportunities and many elementary schools in Maine are supporting these nature-based learning experiences. However, there is a lack of information about how school gardens are associated with student learning of plants. This research investigated student knowledge of plant growth and reproduction at a school with a garden and explored how this knowledge is associated with how much time students spend in a garden.

An activity was designed, based on the Next Generation Science Standard performance expectation 4-LS1-1, asking students to draw a plant and label the different structures, including explanations of their functions. The activity …

Investigating Student Science Identity In A Middle School Social Studies Classroom, Hazel Cashman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many science identity researchers theorize identity as a process of authoring and re-authoring oneself while being recognized by others, and therefore theorize science identity as negotiated (for example, see Avraamidou, 2019 and Calabrese-Barton et al., 2013). It is widely accepted that recognition by others shapes students’ negotiations of science identity (Carlone and Johnson, 2007). Few studies, however, have focused heavily on the role that students’ self-recognition plays in the science identity negotiation process. A large body of research also exists on students’ ideas about science (see Lederman, 1992), yet that research has not frequently intersected with research on student science …

How School Counselors Promote Growth Mindset In Their Practice: Five Views Of Agency In The Motivation Of Elementary Students, Sheryl G. Baker-Hewey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The construct of growth mindset has become an increasing focus of educators as they seek ways to promote goal attainment among students. The growth mindset framework suggests that attributes such as high performance, skill development, and ability can be developed through motivation, sustained effort, and grit. Allowing for the possibility of continuing academic and personal growth, a positive mindset stresses the agency of perseverance and redirection in the face of challenge. Such an approach stands in contrast to a fixed or stagnant view of individual ability. Promoting a perspective of resilience and progress through growth mindset strategies is viewed as …

The Role Of Internal And External Coaches In Supporting Implementation Of Proficiency Based Learning At The Secondary Level, Katie M. Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of the role of internal and external coaching on implementation of proficiency-based education, a school-wide reform initiative. The conceptual framework for this qualitative multi-site comparative case study is a combination of the Double-Loop Learning Model (Argyris, 1976) and Vygotsky’s Space model (Gallucci, 2008). Data were collected and compared from four secondary schools in Maine for this study: two with internal coaches assisting in implementing proficiency-based education and two with external coaches assisting in implementing proficiency-based education. Seventeen teachers, four coaches, and four principals were interviewed as the primary source of …

Teacher Growth In Knowledge Of Conservation Of Energy And In Self-Efficacy, Paul H. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a conversation between a group of three in-service teachers during a professional development workshop. During the workshop, the teachers collaborated to answer a set of survey questions pertaining to energy concepts in physical science. The teachers began the survey expressing low self-efficacy in their knowledge of energy. Through this study, we were able to observe teachers as they learned new concepts. This study used a narrative analysis of their conversation. The analysis centers on changes in the teachers’ common content knowledge of conservation of energy and their expressed self-efficacy regarding that knowledge. Their knowledge was evaluated from …

Strategic Management Of Human Capital As Rural Praxis, Scott Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate teachers' and administrators’ perceptions about the current state of human capital management in a rural Northern state. The study also sought to uncover ways in which rural districts could better leverage their unique advantages and minimize their place-based challenges by investing in a more strategic approach to human capital management (HCM). Human resource practices within the education industry have not kept pace with advances in the human resources profession (Tran, 2015). Strategic HCM is a crucial underutilized approach to helping districts deliver on their vision of equitable access (Odden et al., …

Examining Factors Predictive Of On-Campus Mental Health Services Utilization Among Collegiate Athletes, Margo Diamond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Collegiate-athletes are vulnerable to mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, yet very little is known about what variables might predict the use of on-campus mental health services among them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of Andersen’s Behavioral Model (ABM) in predicting the use of on-campus mental health services by student-athletes using data from the Spring 2019 American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment IIc (ACHA-NCHA IIc). Participants: The sample consisted of college student participants in the Spring 2019 administration of the ACHA-NCHA IIc survey (n= 67,973) with 3,536 students who reported …

The Value Of Peer Supervisory Practices, Josh Tripp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Across the country schools have continuously looked to find ways to increase student achievement. In response to state and federal policy, school districts have used evaluative processes and accountability measures to increase teacher effectiveness. Despite a significant body of research that supports the effect of supervisory practices on teacher effectiveness, this focus on formal evaluation has detracted from the time and resources allocated to instructional supervision. Due to COVID-19, schools across the nation have been forced to provide remote learning opportunities to students. Essentially, this new style of teaching has turned all educators, regardless of experience, into first-year teachers. The …

Outdoor Pursuits And Outdoor Learning At Rural Maine Schools: A Positive Outlier Approach, Lauren E. Jacobs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the barriers and facilitators to outdoor learning and outdoor pursuits (OPs) in some of the most rural isolated K-12 schools in Maine. The purpose was to understand why some of these schools incorporate a lot of OPs and outdoor learning into their curriculum while other schools do not. Outdoor pursuits and outdoor learning in school settings are worthy of study because they provide students with opportunities to increase physical activity, benefit from time in nature, and make important connections to local culture (Lim et al., 2017; Schafft, 2016; Trembley et al., 2015).

This study employed a comparative …

Implementation And Teacher Leadership Of Collaborative Efforts During The Challenges Surrounding The Covid-19 Pandemic, George R. Mayfield Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation and teacher leadership of collaborative work in the era of hybrid and online learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic in a medium-sized suburban/rural high school in central Maine. In situations of intense challenge like this, collaborating with colleagues to produce new teaching and learning modalities can be a beneficial task. Structures like professional learning groups (PLG) provide a means to support and enhance opportunities for just such a task. The study elucidated the levels of implementation of our PLG efforts and sought to inform future use of PLG structures as …

Youth’S Expressions Of Personal Significance In An Informal Learning Setting That Bridged Stem And Experiential Learning, Gabrielle A. Brodek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When youth relate to environmental science on a deep, personal level they are more likely to retain information, as they make neural connections to significant lived experiences, and are more likely to be environmentally aware and engage in actions that benefit marine and freshwater ecosystems. In order to promote and encourage personally significant connections to environmental science ideas, tools, and practices, it’s important to design a curriculum or program that provides opportunities for reflection, discussion, and application. This thesis includes one practitioner manuscript that describes the development of a new design process for informal learning programs that incorporates evidence-based STEM …

Supporting Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Learning In White Majority Settings, Susan Thibedeau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increased public scrutiny and outcry over police shootings of unarmed Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor to name just two, forced a greater awareness of societal demonizing and criminalizing of Black and Brown people due to racial stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination. This examination of American policing and justice systems, as one element of systemic racism then spawned a broader look at how Black, Indigenous, and People of Color face racism in every aspect of their lives, including in education. As school districts heed the call to understand the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People …

The Effect Of Leadership Change On School Climate, Brian D. Bannen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School climate affects student achievement, feelings of safety within the school, and teacher job satisfaction. Concurrently, the principal is often seen as someone with a direct influence on the climate of the school, and therefore someone who has a direct role in shaping these aspects of school climate. Recent data suggests that about one in five principals leaves the profession every year, which means that every year, one in every five schools experiences a change to its climate, and a change to its achievement, safety, and teacher satisfaction. If this trend continues, schools are going to continue to feel the …

Adaptive Leadership Practices: High School Leadership In Maine During The Covid-19 Crisis, Ryan B. Crane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on leadership decisions by high school administrators in Maine in response to school closures and subsequent reopening plans due the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to learn the degree to which adaptive leadership was used as a leadership approach in response to a unique, complex and dynamic set of challenges, and to discover how the theories of constructive development influenced administrators’ comfort with adaptive work. Adaptive leadership is identified as the focus for this study based on the unprecedented magnitude of adaptive challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic for school systems throughout the state …

Who Are You? A Study Of Authentic Leadership In Action, Dan Chadbourne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The building leader is the pulse of the school. The behavior and emotions of building leaders set the tone for short term and long-term outcomes in schools. The ability of the school principal to be aware of the characteristics they have, what they believe in, and the goals they desire to achieve is critical. Principals who follow up with their own awareness and put into action those beliefs are served well. Research suggests that principals who consistently exercise their core values, establish goals, understand their purpose and lead with their heart are considered genuine in their leadership. Authenticity was the …

The Role Of Technology In The Development Of Pk-12 Teacher Leadership During Covid-19, Mia L. Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In March of 2020, school buildings were closed in response to the global health crisis. Administrators and teachers alike were forced to reimagine education in order to meet the needs of students and the community, effectively over a single weekend across an ever changing landscape. Servant and distributive styles of leadership were needed to face these unprecedented, adaptive challenges and a “new normal” model of leadership rose to prominence. Because connecting in a virtual environment requires technological acuity in skill, pedagogy, and practice, effective teachers who had developed cultures of choice, creativity, and autonomy in their student-centered classrooms weathered this …

Supervision To Support Reflective Practices, Laura Susan Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is immense pressure on school leaders as they grapple with their responsibilities to show constant evidence of school improvement. School improvement describes a process that identifies school changes needed to improve student outcomes and shows how and when the level of student outcomes will be made. There are essential considerations when planning for improvement; specifically, high quality professional development to enhance teacher skills and knowledge, a system that supports reflective practices in order to increase teacher autonomy, and student engagement as a way to improve student outcomes. Student outcomes are identified as academic achievement, civic responsibility, and social-emotional development. …

Teacher Listening And Reflection As A Way To Broaden Teacher Pedagogical Conceptual Understanding Of Mathematics At The Elementary Level, Glen D. Widmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine how teachers can employ listening practices to gain a heightened understanding of not only what their students understand and how they are thinking about mathematics, but also as a way for teachers to build their own conceptual understanding of mathematics by reflecting on the different approaches their students are using. This study seeks to understand to what extent conscious listening, followed by reflective journaling through a systematic professional development process, enhances teacher understanding of both pedagogy and of mathematics. Math anxiety has been identified as a limiting factor in the effectiveness of …

Where Do I Belong In The United States Public School System?, Christiana R. Becker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I seek to inquire about the world as it relates to my identity as a first generation descent of the Penobscot tribe living in the United States by utilizing four methodologies in my research: life histories/autobiographies, narrative inquiry, a/r/tography and practice-based and practice-led. Through coupling my artistic practice with those four methodologies I am able to creatively show the information I have unearthed in hopes that others will benefit from a fresh and augmented understanding of what it historically and culturally means to be a part of a community that makes up a very small percentage of the United States …

Middle School Science Teachers' Vulnerability In The Written Discourse Of A Professional Learning Community, Eliza Jacobs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vulnerability is omnipresent in personal and professional human experiences (Gilson, 2011; Lasky, 2005) and an unavoidable condition of work as a teacher (Bullough, 2005; Kelchtermans, 1996). It plays a role in teachers’ interaction with themselves, their students, and their professional communities, as they engage in making sense of their role in these social environments (Uitto, Kaunisto, Kelchtermans, & Estola, 2016). This study examined the written reflection journals by 12 middle school science teachers in a professional learning community (PLC) in New England. Teachers engaged with each other to co-construct knowledge and emotional understanding of their practice within this professional community. …

Agency Of In-Service Elementary Science Teachers During A Global Pandemic, Anica Miller-Rushing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In-service teachers of science work with unique content and pedagogical experiences. Understanding teacher agency in these circumstances will help researchers understand the actions that these teachers take, actions that are consequential for shaping teaching patterns and supporting the development of students’ scientific practices. The purpose of this study was to understand how the agency of six elementary (K–5) in-service teachers was expressed discursively during a global pandemic. The teachers’ agency was qualitatively analyzed using a case study approach (Yin, 2012, 2017) that applied discourse analysis to identify the ways in which science teacher agency is conceptualized, afforded, and constrained through …