Education Commons^™

Tanzania Post-Colonial Educational System And Perspectives On Secondary Science Education, Pedagogy, And Curriculum: A Qualitative Study, Eugenia Lucas Wandela

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The development of technology and innovation in any country depends on a strong investment in science education from the lower to the upper levels of education. In most of the Sub-Saharan African nations, science education curriculum and teaching still faces many issues and problems that are inhibiting the growth of technology and innovation in these nations. In order to address these issues, an interpretive qualitative study that aims to examine how Tanzanian secondary science educators perceive secondary science education was conducted in the summer of 2013. The purpose of this study is to investigate problems and educational issues that might …

An Ethnography Of Voice(S) In The School House: Making Sense Of Girl World, Julie Devaud

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The life of a gifted adolescent girl both in and out of the schoolhouse is dynamic and complicated. This qualitative study, using the methodology of narrative inquiry and multiple interviews, examines how these young women make sense of their lives as they move quickly towards the socialization of womanhood. This study specifically examines which factors lead to their academic success in the schoolhouse and personal success as happy individuals. Using grounded theory and a critical feminist perspective as my framework for analysis, I found the support of family, teachers, and peers was critical. I also discerned four distinct themes among …

Creating Futures: Transformative Involvement Experiences For Immigrant Latino Parents., María Del Carmen Aragonés Guarro

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Despite more than half a century of debate about parental involvement in the education of children, it still remains an evolving and elusive topic. While much is written about Latino immigrants and U.S. schooling, much less is known from the parents´ perspectives. This qualitative case study explores the experiences and perspectives of immigrant parents in an early childhood Latino parent education program and the impact of this non-formal educational program on their role as parents. Theoretical lenses for this study are transformative learning (Mezirow, 1978) and popular education (Freire, 1970). Findings demonstrate that: (a) a context of isolation impacts parents´ …

Striving For Excellence: Exploring The Experiences Of Economically Disadvantaged, African American, Middle School Students Making The Choice To Be An Exception, Tawanda Lawrence

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the lives of six, economically disadvantaged, African American, middle school students who are demonstrating school success to discover how their home, school, and community experiences influenced their academic achievement.

A phenomenological inquiry approach was applied in this qualitative study to investigate the lived experiences of the student participants and identify the factors that contributed to their academic achievements in spite of the various challenges they encountered. The qualitative data consisted of three individual interviews. Using a semi-structured protocol, questions focused on the students’ perceptions of the factors that contributed to their academic …

The Journey To The Top: Women's Paths To The University Presidency, Ann Marie Klotz

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The history of women in higher education reflects a constant battle for access and equity. Although the number of post-secondary institutions steadily increased after Harvard University opened its doors in 1636, almost two hundred years would pass before women students were allowed at some institutions. In the last 50 years, the number of women graduating from four-year institutions has dramatically increased. The same delayed access for women students to gain admittance mirrors the challenges that women faculty and staff have seen in obtaining leadership roles within higher education. Despite enrollment numbers that indicate women students are enrolling and graduating at …

Looking For A Solution: Social Justice Education And Its Impact On Adolescent Empowerment, Anita Thawani

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Schooling can often function as a mechanism of oppression specifically for low-income and minority youth. This study is an exploration of how a social justice education impacts adolescent empowerment. It is an attempt to gain a deeper knowledge into the ways participants were influenced by this form of schooling, a pedagogy derived in response to silenced youth to be agents of social change. In an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between social justice education and empowerment, and to investigate their lived experiences during high school and the ways in which empowerment emerged in their lives, I …

Urban Adolescents' Field Trip Experiences: A Phenomenological Perspective, Julia Elizabeth Anne Borst Brazas

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Evidence is mounting that field trips are vanishing from school life, as districts across the nation report reductions and eliminations of these outings because of funding concerns. The matter is of special importance in urban areas, where a wealth of museums are situated nearby neighborhoods in which poor and minority children live and attend school. These children are absent from the museum, less likely to visit with family because of the powerful exclusionary effect that educational attainment and income level have on museum socialization, making school the place where a connection to the museum is formed. However, opportunities for learning …

Educators' Positive Stress Responses: Eustress And Psychological Capital, Karen Bradley

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This study contributes qualitative support for the Positive Psychology concepts of Psychological Capital and eustress in the field of education. The research questions ask how stressors inherent in public education today may positively influence the meaning-making teachers engage in. The constructs of Psychological Capital (hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism) are explored viewing their relationship to positive meaning-making for these individuals.

The study is based on life history interviews with six teachers identified as being positively oriented in their outlook. The career trajectory of each was discussed, along with identification of successes and challenges in being a public school teacher at …

From Survivor To Advocate: The Therapeutic Benefits Of Public Disclosure, Katherine Infusino

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the therapeutic impact of public disclosure for survivors of sexual assault. The purpose was to identify how disclosure in a public setting affected the recovery process of survivors of sexual assault. Three adult women were interviewed about their experiences. This study analyzed the meaning of public disclosure for these women in order to understand if it had therapeutic value in their recoveries. Each woman indicated that public disclosure helped strengthen her recovery. Public disclosure helped these women connect with other survivors and supporters, which assisted in alleviating feelings of shame. There is a need to study public …

“Making It Click”: Assigning Value And Confronting Obstacles In An Educational Exhibit, Andrea Thomalla Cavedo

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the development of Choosing to Participate, an educational exhibit presented by Facing History and Ourselves, and teachers’ experiences visiting the exhibit on field trips with students. Presented as an exhibit about “what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society,” teachers found multiple sites of value within the exhibit, but resisted the notion that it was meant to educate visitors about democracy or citizenship. Their descriptions revealed several essential characteristics of processing an educational exhibit, namely constant evaluation in order to inform adaptation for the classroom; as well as key obstacles to fostering …

Youth's Lived Experience Of An After-School Music Program: Understanding The Meanings And Values Placed On Music Learning, Brittany Young

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The value of arts education in our nation has steadily diminished. As aims for global expansion and development become more geared towards sustaining economic and technological vitality, the role of education naturally follows a similar trajectory, making the permanent implementation of arts curriculum in schooling an obscure reality. Amidst this transition, however, arts educators are relentlessly working to create arts programs for underprivileged youth whose families often times cannot afford private lessons. This thesis will explore the essence of a music educational space that embodies this effort in order to understand the meaning making processes of development and expansion for …

Portraits Of Four African-American Women Who Earned Doctoral Degrees From A Predominately White Institution, Sherry M. Coleman Hunter

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Within the African-American (AA) community, higher education is one of the ultimate gifts that could lead to success and a bright future. This qualitative study explored the experiences of four AA women who earned doctoral degrees in educational leadership from a predominately White institution (PWI). The research questions guiding this study were framed to learn the following:

1. the experiences of AA women who obtained doctorates at a PWI,

2. the factors the four interviewees perceived as contributing to the successful completion of their doctorate,

3. the elements that facilitated their degree progression,

4. the factors that inhibited their degree …