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A Family Perspective On Family Involvement Strategies In A Local Urban Elementary School, Barbara Ann Smith Jan 2024

A Family Perspective On Family Involvement Strategies In A Local Urban Elementary School, Barbara Ann Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe active engagement of parents in the educational experiences of their children has been suggested to support high academic achievement for the children. In the project setting, an urban elementary school, educators were struggling to find effective strategies to promote family involvement in their children’s education. The purpose of this qualitative project study was to investigate family perspectives on family involvement strategies and potential barriers at the project setting and to determine new effective strategies to help them become more involved in their children’s education. The conceptual framework for the project is Epstein’s (2009) framework for parental involvement which explains …


Educator Preparedness In The Use Of Simulation In Nursing Education, Marcelene E. Hart Jan 2023

Educator Preparedness In The Use Of Simulation In Nursing Education, Marcelene E. Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNurse educators lack preparation when using simulation as a teaching modality in educating nurses and nursing students within their clinical environment. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand nurse educators’ perceptions of the challenges in preparing for simulation-based training experiences for nurses and nursing students. Vygotsky’s constructivist theory was used as the conceptual framework for the study to emphasize students’ innate ability to learn using active and hands-on processes through simulation experiences. Questions were developed to explore the challenges nurse educators encounter when preparing for simulation activities. Survey questionnaire invitations were sent through email to hundreds of …


Educator Preparedness In The Use Of Simulation In Nursing Education, Marcelene E. Hart Jan 2023

Educator Preparedness In The Use Of Simulation In Nursing Education, Marcelene E. Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNurse educators lack preparation when using simulation as a teaching modality in educating nurses and nursing students within their clinical environment. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand nurse educators’ perceptions of the challenges in preparing for simulation-based training experiences for nurses and nursing students. Vygotsky’s constructivist theory was used as the conceptual framework for the study to emphasize students’ innate ability to learn using active and hands-on processes through simulation experiences. Questions were developed to explore the challenges nurse educators encounter when preparing for simulation activities. Survey questionnaire invitations were sent through email to hundreds of …


Barriers To Technology Integration Perceived By Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Teachers, Jessica Levine Jan 2022

Barriers To Technology Integration Perceived By Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Teachers, Jessica Levine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A problem exists in southeastern United States where technology integration is limited in classrooms. Although researchers have found benefits for integrating technology, it was unknown why teachers were not integrating technology into instruction. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers of kindergarten through second-grade students about the barriers for integrating technology into instruction and the support needed to effectively integrate technology. There have been studies about the barriers to technology integration experienced by teachers; however, it was uncertain what these barriers were for kindergarten through second-grade teachers. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory was the conceptual …


Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes Jan 2022

Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act mandated that all Head Start teachers have at least an associate degree and 50% of teachers within each Head Start program should have a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was that Head Start teachers from a Midwestern region encountered barriers as they pursued higher education to meet mandated requirements to continue employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences, barriers, coping strategies and views of support needed by Head Start teachers who were completing their degrees. Tinto’s academic and social integration model and …


Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes Jan 2022

Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act mandated that all Head Start teachers have at least an associate degree and 50% of teachers within each Head Start program should have a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was that Head Start teachers from a Midwestern region encountered barriers as they pursued higher education to meet mandated requirements to continue employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences, barriers, coping strategies and views of support needed by Head Start teachers who were completing their degrees. Tinto’s academic and social integration model and …


High School Teachers’ Concerns With The Use Of Multiple Mobile Devices For Instruction, Orin Carpenter Jan 2022

High School Teachers’ Concerns With The Use Of Multiple Mobile Devices For Instruction, Orin Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smartphones, laptops, and tablets are mobile devices that are now considered essential tools for high school educators. The problem many teachers face is figuring out how to manage multiple mobile devices in the classroom at the same time. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the barriers, problems, and challenges teachers experience while using these devices in the classroom. The concerns-based adoption model provided the framework to analyze the informational, personal, management, and consequence stages of concern through in-depth interviews with 10 Catholic high school teachers in California. The results of thematic analysis showed that although teachers …


Teacher Perspectives On Integrating Technology In Early Childhood Classrooms, Crystal Renee Crozier Jan 2021

Teacher Perspectives On Integrating Technology In Early Childhood Classrooms, Crystal Renee Crozier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The integration of technology in early childhood classrooms can be advantageous when used in meaningful ways. Early childhood teachers are utilizing technology in instruction; however, they are not always doing so effectively. There is a gap in practice regarding the factors that affect the choices of technology activities that early childhood teachers use. A study on what influences the decisions early childhood educators make when choosing the types of technology to integrate in the classroom was necessary to fill the gap in literature and enhance the technology practices of early childhood teachers. Using Bandura’s social cognition theory, the purpose of …


Barriers To The Hiring Of Women For The Independent School Headship, Kelley King Jan 2021

Barriers To The Hiring Of Women For The Independent School Headship, Kelley King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite over a century of activism to increase gender equality, inequalities persist across U.S. employment sectors, including in independent K-12 schools, which are predominately staffed by women yet led by men. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory case study was to understand the perceptions of six female heads of school and six female search consultants regarding the barriers that women face in being hired for the head of school position in independent K-12 schools. Most researchers studying gender equality have focused solely on the perspectives of female leaders, although executive search consultants are important arbiters in the search and hiring …


Lived Experiences Of African American Nursing Students In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Monique Renee Merritt Jan 2020

Lived Experiences Of African American Nursing Students In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Monique Renee Merritt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite recognition of the barriers that African American nursing students encounter while pursuing nursing education, leaders of U.S. nursing programs continue to struggle to retain these students and promote their degree completion. Poor retention and lack of completion contributes to the unequal representation of African American nurses in the U.S. healthcare workforce compared to the overall population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences that helped to promote African American nursing students’ success or served as barriers to successful completion of an Associate Degree Nursing program. Tinto’s integration model was used as the theoretical framework. Semistructured …


Rural Practical Nursing Students' And Faculty Members' Perceptions Of Supports And Barriers To Success, Amy J. Randall-Mcsorley Jan 2020

Rural Practical Nursing Students' And Faculty Members' Perceptions Of Supports And Barriers To Success, Amy J. Randall-Mcsorley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Practical nursing program students at a rural vocational school (RCC) in the midwestern United States were graduating at a low rate that was putting the school at risk to not meet accreditation standards set by the Council on Occupational Education. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of practical nursing program students and faculty at RCC about institutional, situational, and dispositional supports and barriers students faced toward graduation. The conceptual framework, Cross’s model of barriers to adult learning, was used to identify institutional, situational, and dispositional supports and barriers. A bounded case study design was employed to …


Minority Child Care Providers' Perspectives Of Barriers To Timely Associate Degree Completion, Sonia G. Pruneda-Hernandez Jan 2020

Minority Child Care Providers' Perspectives Of Barriers To Timely Associate Degree Completion, Sonia G. Pruneda-Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem this basic qualitative study sought to address was the length of time it takes minority childcare providers (MCCPs) seeking an associate of applied science degree in early childhood (EC) education to graduate from a community college. For MCCPs to acquire a degree and meet educational requirements, they often work full time to complete the degree, which may result in loss of employment, closure of their family child care homes, demotion in positions, or decreased salaries. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of MCCPs on the barriers to timely degree completion of an associate degree …


Perceptions Of Academic Success Of English As A Second Language Nursing Students, Jean Lansang Jan 2020

Perceptions Of Academic Success Of English As A Second Language Nursing Students, Jean Lansang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic or Latino and Asian communities represent two of the rapid-growing ethnicities who seek healthcare in the United States. However, the U.S. nursing workforce does not reflect the ethnic or cultural makeup of the patient population. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of Asian and Hispanic or Latino English as a second language (ESL) nursing students and learn the barriers and facilitators they experienced in their nursing program. A qualitative phenomenological approach underpinned by the social-ecological model and the Cummins language acquisition model was used for the study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 7 Asian …


Perceptions Of The Effects Of Technical Competence On Female Adult Learners, Tamela Wilson Jan 2019

Perceptions Of The Effects Of Technical Competence On Female Adult Learners, Tamela Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colleges and universities face some retention problems for female adult learners over the age of 25 who face technical requirements in higher education courses. However, little is known about how technology influences the experiences of female adult learners. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to identify how female adult learners over the age of 25 perceived the technical demands of the courses in their degree programs and how they coped with those demands. The conceptual frameworks for the study were the adult learning theory, which focuses on self-directed learning, and the transactional distance theory. Participants for this study …


Examining The Barriers To The Continuing Education Of Early Childhood Teacher Assistants, Colleen Louise Wright Jan 2017

Examining The Barriers To The Continuing Education Of Early Childhood Teacher Assistants, Colleen Louise Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 required teacher assistants (TAs) to obtain their child development associate (CDA) credential by September of 2015. TAs who had not obtained their CDA within the required timeframe were either demoted or terminated from their positions. However, with the increase of working parents, the need for quality early childhood education has risen. In this project study, the barriers TAs confront in regards to their decision to continue their schooling to obtain a CDA credential were examined, as were the factors that deterred or prevented them from enrolling in or completing a …


Unique Barriers Faced By First-Generation Adult Learners, Paulette Williams Jan 2016

Unique Barriers Faced By First-Generation Adult Learners, Paulette Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been an increase in the number of first-generation adult learners in higher education institutions. However, literature has revealed limited information on the experiences of first-generation adult learners and their perception of the barriers they face in higher education. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of 6 first-generation adult learners attending a higher education institution and their perception of the barriers they faced. The theoretical foundations were andragogy theory and social-cognitive career theory. Data were collected using purposeful interviews and data were analyzed using iinterpretative pphenomenological aanalysis. Five detailed patterns were identified: (a) students …


Examining Barriers To Retention Of Adult Learners In Rural Education Programs, Tiffany Minyon Spivey Jan 2016

Examining Barriers To Retention Of Adult Learners In Rural Education Programs, Tiffany Minyon Spivey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The retention of adult learners in rural educational settings throughout the United States is challenging for adult education instructors. Adult learners in rural areas encounter internal and external barriers, including lack of self-efficacy and minimal transportation. Research exists regarding the retention of adult learners, but little is known about the barriers to persistence among adult learners in rural areas, or the motivations experienced by students and instructors. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify perceived barriers to retention at a rural adult learning center in Georgia and to provide suggestions to improve adult education and literacy initiatives. …


Examining Barriers That Inhibit Student Achievement From A Teacher's Perspective, Taryn Everett Jan 2016

Examining Barriers That Inhibit Student Achievement From A Teacher's Perspective, Taryn Everett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers at an urban high school in the Southeast have failed to see an increase in classroom achievement or standardized test scores despite efforts to increase passing rates. If achievement rates do not increase, school restructuring will occur. While the site has implemented programs to reduce academic failure, data exists that external barriers may be affecting student achievement. Guided by Bandura's (1986) theory of metacognitive beliefs and self-efficacy as the conceptual framework, this qualitative case study explored teachers' perceptions about the root causes of poor student achievement. This study examines how to identify those causes to help students improve academically, …


Perceptions Of Air Force Civilians Regarding Participation In Nonresident Professional Military Education, Edward Hodge Jan 2016

Perceptions Of Air Force Civilians Regarding Participation In Nonresident Professional Military Education, Edward Hodge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In spite of a 2009 memorandum from senior Air Force leaders calling for civilian employees to participate in nonresident Professional Military Education (PME) courses, employees' PME completion rates have remained low. This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of nonresident PME held by 12 employees at an installation with a nonresident PME completion rate of less than 3% in 2013. The theories of reasoned action and planned behavior guided the 5 main questions that asked participants to describe their familiarity with nonresident PME course content, availability, and structure; as well as their perceptions of organizational support for PME course participation, their …


Barriers High School Teachers Encounter In Teaching Critical Thinking In Writing, Monica Murray Jan 2016

Barriers High School Teachers Encounter In Teaching Critical Thinking In Writing, Monica Murray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an urban high school in California, students are generally unskilled in critical writing. The problem has been associated with instructional barriers encountered by teachers. In this qualitative case study, English Language teachers provided their perceptions of such barriers and shared perspectives for solutions based in professional development. Grounded in the theories of Halpern, Saiz and Rivas, Weigle, and Harris and Graham, the conceptual framework emphasized instructional models that develop metacognition in writing, which can increase students' critical thinking. Selection criteria required participants who were English Language Arts teachers of writing critical thinking. Data from 4 participant interviews were coded, …


Barriers Faced By Canadian Aboriginal Adults As They Return To Postsecondary School, Robert Lawrence Campbell Jan 2016

Barriers Faced By Canadian Aboriginal Adults As They Return To Postsecondary School, Robert Lawrence Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aboriginal people in Canada are less likely to complete postsecondary education than are non-Aboriginal people. This lack of education leads to increased rates of unemployment and poverty and the need for additional government supports. The purpose of this project study was to identify and examine barriers faced by Canadian Aboriginal adult students as they return to school for postsecondary education. The conceptual framework for this qualitative study was based on the work of Ertmer, which suggests barriers can be placed into broad categories of extrinsic and intrinsic barriers. A case study design was used with a purposeful sample from a …


Career Mobility Patterns Of Aspiring Female Leaders At California Community Colleges, Tracy Lynn Johnson Jan 2016

Career Mobility Patterns Of Aspiring Female Leaders At California Community Colleges, Tracy Lynn Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many women struggle to move up the career ladder. Women aspiring to executive positions in community colleges within the United States may face gender barriers, family-work life barriers, and barriers regarding their leadership ability. The problem studied was a gap in knowledge of how women succeeded in attaining executive positions in community colleges. The purpose of this study was to examine ways that female leaders at Southern California community colleges assumed executive-level roles at their institutions and the barriers they faced to attain those positions . The theory of upward mobility and the concept of self-efficacy comprised the study's conceptual …


Barriers To The Influenza Vaccination In Veterans, Zina Floyd Jan 2015

Barriers To The Influenza Vaccination In Veterans, Zina Floyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Influenza is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 56,000 deaths annually and leading to an average of more than 200,000 hospitalizations every year. Adults 65 years of age and older account for 50% to 60% of influenza-related hospital admissions and an estimated 90% of influenza-associated deaths occur in people age 65 and older. During the 2011 to 2012 influenza season, approximately 50 % of veterans between 45 and 70 years of age refused the influenza vaccine within the metro-area outpatient Veteran Administration (VA) facility in Atlanta, Georgia. The aim of this project was to …


Perceptions Of High School Teachers On Integrating Technology Following Professional Development, Charnice Starks Ray Jan 2015

Perceptions Of High School Teachers On Integrating Technology Following Professional Development, Charnice Starks Ray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers integrate technology to make the learning environment interactive and appealing to students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore perceptions of teachers at one high school working to integrate technology into instruction following participation in professional development. Guided by Dewey's constructivist theory and Mishra and Koehler's technological pedagogical content knowledge model, this study explored teachers' perceptions of pedagogy and technology integration following participation in professional development and the strategies they used to overcome barriers to integrating technology. Twelve purposefully selected high school teachers from English, social studies, mathematics, science, electives, health education, and special education provided …