Education Commons^™

Self-Direction And Technology Use Among New Workforce Entrants, Lila Louise Holt

Doctoral Dissertations

With the knowledge age evolving, colleges and universities should be ever vigilant to assure that the pedagogies practiced are adequately preparing future workers with skills required to keep pace (Scardamalia & Bereiter, 2006). Business managers have identified self-direction and technology use as increasingly important in the 21^st century (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2006), yet a gap in research of pedagogies that advance self-directedness and promote technology use has been found. To help identify new pedagogies, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between self-directed learning (SDL) and technology use of people …

A Comparative Analysis Of School Counselors' And School Principals' Perceptions Of School Counselors' Activities, Deborah K Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional survey study was to compare school counselors’ and principals’ perceptions of the frequency with which school counselors perform activities that align with the ASCA National Model (ASCA, 2005) and those activities that do not, as measured by the School Counselor Activity Rating Scale (SCARS) (Scarborough, 2005). Results indicate that the school counselors and principals that participated in the study agreed that school counselors are spending most of their time engaged in activities that align with the ASCA National Model (ASCA, 2005). Significant differences (p < .05) appeared on 10 items in which five were related to counseling activities, primarily as they relate to small group counseling. Principals indicated their school counselors were conducting small group activities related to academic and substance abuse issues more frequently than the school counselors indicated. Other areas that showed significant differences (p < .05) between school counselors’ and principals’ responses included …

"Your World Stops": The Relationship Chiasm Between Teachers And Students In Court-Mandated Adult Education, Rondal David Mottern

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of teachers working with court-mandated students in GED/ABE programs. While there is a considerable body of literature on adult correctional education, this literature almost exclusively deals with teachers and students working within incarceration settings, where students are in jail or prison. There is a lack of research on the experiences of teachers working with students who are a part of the correctional system but are placed within the community, i.e., students who are in community corrections programs such as probation and parole. This study begins to fill that void in the research literature. This research …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Job Satisfaction And School Climate In An Era Of Accountability: A Mixed Methods Study Of Two High Schools On Tennessee’S High Priority List, Jeffrey Anton Knox

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods study examines how teachers and administrators react when the school is under the stress of an accountability system. In this study, teacher job satisfaction and school climate are measured as these often overlooked variables have a great impact on student academic achievement (Goddard, Sweetland, & Hoy, 2000). Accountability systems such as No Child Left Behind need to be explored for negative unintended consequences such as the lowering of teacher job satisfaction and school climate. Questionnaires, interviews, and observations are used to measure teachers’ job satisfaction and school climate of two high schools that have been on Tennessee’s …

Improving Facilitation Through Levelising: Reflecting In And On Practice, Willard Donald Creekmore

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the experience of engaging in reflective practice through the framework of Levelising. Reflective practice has been of interest to professionals and educators of professionals for many years. However, Levelising is a recently introduced approach. Levelising categorizes the reflective process into four modes. These modes include an awareness of what is occurring (Level I), considering one’s actions (Level II), considering one’s conceptual frame (Level III), and considering the conceptual frames of others (Level IV). This study focuses on my personal experience of improving my facilitation using Levelising as a framework for reflective practice. The context of the study …

A Survey Of Tennessee Extension Agents’ Perceptions Of The Tennessee Extension Agent Performance Appraisal System, Joseph Leonard Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations

This study aimed to describe extension agent perceptions of the Tennessee Extension Agent Performance Appraisal System. A survey instrument was developed to address the research questions. The instrument had two sections: Satisfaction with the Current Appraisal System (14 items) and Satisfaction with Appraiser Performance (7 items). The instrument was reviewed by an expert panel and pilot tested with a group of 39 extension agents. The instrument was deployed online to the study population.

The population studied consisted of all extension agents employed by the University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University in January, 2010 (N=312). The total completed responses were …

Bullying, Victimization, Associated Distress & Transition Among Intellectually Gifted Children, Taylor Kaine Pelchar

Doctoral Dissertations

This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of bullying and victimization among children identified as gifted who are in the last grade of elementary school (4th grade) and first two grades of middle school (5th and 6th grades). Additionally, I investigated if the children experienced distress associated with bullying and victimization and if the distress varied systematically across the three grades. The study took place at one elementary school and two middle schools located in Tennessee. There were a total of 35 participants [4th grade (n = 15), 5th grade (n = 13), and 6th grade (n =7)]. The results indicated …

Teacher Internship Report - Sheldon High School, Kristopher M. Elliott

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

The California Agriculture Incentive Grant provides special funding for secondary Agricultural Education programs in California. In order to qualify for funding, programs are required to meet several “Quality Criteria,” which are designed to improve each program and ensure funds are used appropriately. Each program goes through an annual review process on a three year rotation. During year one, the program conducts a self-review using the “Quality Criteria,” followed by an advisory committee review during year two and a California Department of Education Official (Agricultural Education Regional Supervisor) review during year three. These reviews ensure that students are receiving a quality …

Rubrics In Use As An Assessment Tool For Elementary Physical Education, Megan Marie Brown

All Graduate Projects

There are many health related benefits of participating in regular physical activity. A well-designed elementary physical education program will promote lifetime physical activity that may reduce the risk of disease. In implementing a quality curriculum for physical education, educators need to take in to account the standards when deciding the direction for their curriculum (NASPE, 2005). According to the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (2008), physical education includes curriculum, instruction and assessment all implemented together. This project addresses the need for meaningful and convenient assessment tools.

Econometric Analysis Of Erie County, Ny Schools: The Effects Of Poverty On Our Schools And Evaluating Possible Solutions, Ryan B. Keem

Multidisciplinary Studies Theses

School districts in the Buffalo Metropolitan Area are very segregated by socioeconomic status which has resulted in very different educational outcomes for the region's students as measured by New York State assessment results at the 4^th grade and 8^th grade level in English Language Arts and Math. This study measured the correlation between average test score results for each school building in Erie County and the rate of low-income students in those schools. The multiple regression analysis performed controlled for race, percentage of students that had a disability, class size, and per-pupil expenditures by the district.

The study …

An Action Research Inquiry Into The Relationship Among Aerobic Activities, Memory, And Stress With Students Identified As Gifted, Denise Marie Ford

Dissertations

Students identified as gifted come from varying socio-economic strata and nationalities with a range of talents and temperaments comprising a diverse community. They may experience stress for a variety of reasons. Although a certain amount of stress can enhance the learning process, too much stress can impede learning, especially memory. Strategies have been offered for relieving stress, yet the benefits of physical activities as stress reducers for the gifted have frequently been overlooked. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among aerobic activity, stress, and memory ability in students in an elementary school gifted program. An exceptional …

Redemption Of A Common Life, Blythe L. Hunt

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Blythe L. Hunt in December of 2011.

A Spatial Analysis Of Offender Residence And Neighborhood Crime Rate: An Exploratory Study Of Gang Membership, Matthew Ryan Laurin

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Matthew Ryan Laurin in December of 2011.

An Investigation Of Academic Integrity In Jordanian Universities, Ala' Alahmad

Theses & Dissertations

This study aimed to describe current practices employed by public and private four-year universities in Jordan in promoting academic integrity and addressing academic dishonesty. This quantitative research provided a framework for the current practices that promote academic integrity in higher education in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan. The survey questionnaire developed by Kibler (1992) was utilized to collect data to answer the research questions. This instrument was tested for reliability and validity by Kibler (See Appendix C). In addition, the Cronbach's Alpha was utilized later to check for reliability. The Cronbach's Alpha for the data collected was 0.85. The …

Leisure Reading Habits: Students Attitudes Toward Their In School Reading Compared To Out Of School Reading., Jeffrey Early

Education Masters

The purpose of this study is to discover how students attitudes toward their in school reading compare to their out of school reading. It is my claim that students will have a much more positive attitude toward the reading that they do outside of school than they do of in school reading. Data was collected using students from three different ELA classrooms grades 10-12, including questionnaire data as well as interviews. The study reveals that a variety of different factors contribute to the difference in reading outside of school compared to the reading that takes place in school. If teachers …

Encouraging Students To Become Critical Thinkers: Using Critical Literacy And Young Adult Novels In The Social Studies Classroom, Jessica Stenshorn

Education Masters

This action research project looked at whether students could engage in critical talk utilizing young adult literature in the social studies classroom. Research indicated that students who were presented with multiple perspectives and documents in the social studies classroom did achieve critical talk. To examine this I utilized the four dimensions of critical literacy. I created my own lessons per each dimension. I analyzed the data based on the four dimensions framework for data analysis. It is evident that students who were exposed to critical literacy with a young adult novel in the social studies classroom did achieve and utilize …

Assessing The Authenticity Of The Document-Based Question Featured Within The New York State Global History And Geography Regents, Clinton Depew

Education Masters

This study questioned the validity of the Global History and Geography Regents exam DBQ as an authentic learning event and assessment. The previous five years of the Global History and Geography Regents DBQs administered in June were evaluated to assess the authenticity of the documents in regards to their context, the level of questioning featured in the task and constructed response questions, and the readability levels of the documents. Ultimately the analysis of the data disproved the validity of the DBQ as an authentic task as presented in the Global History and Geography Regents. In the end, teachers must infuse …

The Use Of Morning Meeting To Develop Social And Emotional Skills, Amanda Margaret Williams

Education Masters

This action research project asks how the teaching of social and emotional skills supports early literacy development. The research claims that the activities embedded within Morning Meeting provide social and emotional support in a whole group setting. One student was chosen for observation of social, emotional, and academic behaviors within Morning Meeting as well as various activities throughout the day. It was found that the daily routine provided the sense of belonging and self-esteem that leads to engaged learning throughout the day. This project supports that Morning Meeting should be used in all classrooms to provide social and emotional support …

Phonics Strategies And Letter-Sound Acquisition Knowledge, Kristina Reeb

Education Masters

This study addressed the question of how phonics strategies contribute to letter-sound acquisition knowledge through the use of three different phonics strategies. I emphasized that the use of phonics strategies in support to instruction increased the students' identification knowledge of letters and sounds. Data was collected through using three phonics strategies, letter and sound assessments, interviews, questionnaires, and observations. Four out of the five students were able to increase their letter-sound acquisition knowledge by identifying more letters and sounds on the assessments following the initial. Educators should use phonics strategies as a tool to enhance their instruction since the students …

Retelling Using Different Methods, Sarah Stoutz

Education Masters

This study examines different methods of retelling and the effects of these methods on the quality of retelling produced. I claim that different methods of retelling will elicit varying quality of retellings. Data was collected through asking two first graders to retell stories that I had read to them using different methods. The study shows that confidence, memory, and cognitive demand of the retelling task, as well as visual cues and prompting play a role in retelling quality. Retelling is a strategy that is easy to use and can be easily adapted to meet the needs of different types of …

The Affects Of Manipulatives On Sight Word Recognition, Meghan Huver

Education Masters

The following study examines the affect manipulatives have on sight word recognition. Data was collected in a variety of ways throughout this action research project, which include observations, interviews, audio recordings, questionnaires, as well as authentic work completed by the participant. This study reveals that the use of hands-on materials increase one’s sight word recognition, motivation, and engagement. As a result, teachers should incorporate manipulatives and educational games into their curriculum. These tools will motivate students and assist them in learning new sight words.

The Effects Of Electronic Books On The Reading Experience Of First Grade Students, Ashley Melinis

Education Masters

This study examines the effect of electronic books on the reading experience of first grade students. Data was collected through observations, audio recordings of student retellings, interviews, and questionnaires on the student‘s reading experiences on the computer and Nook. The study reveals that electronic books motivate and engage all students, help strengthen struggling readers‘ text comprehension, provide supportive features for word reading, but also have potentially distracting features. Therefore, teachers should use electronic books in the classroom to foster technology and literacy skills and motivate struggling and reluctant readers, but must carefully select texts and train students on their use.

Between Centralization And Decentralization: Changed Curriculum Governance In Chinese Education After 1986, Tingting Qi

Doctoral Dissertations

China’s curriculum system has been undergoing substantial transformations since 1986. In response to public criticism of the highly prescribed national curriculum, the central state of China is attempting to build a more inclusive system which is composed of national curriculum, province curriculum and school-based curriculum. The new curriculum system accommodates more flexibility in carrying out national curriculum policies and even encourages local input in curriculum development and management. Apparently, the current curriculum reform in China is moving toward decentralization.

The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the complexity of decentralization reform in China’s curriculum system and examine the dynamics …

After The Final Bell: The Self-Directed Learning Practices Of Elementary Teachers, Susan Renee Wagner

Doctoral Dissertations

Are elementary teachers self-directed learners? If so, do their learning activities outside their classrooms translate into their classrooms? The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship, if any, between elementary teachers’ self-directed learning and activities in their classrooms. A two phase, mixed methods design first utilized a quantitative study from which the results were used to denote the type of data collected in the second, qualitative phase. The quantitative Phase I of this study involved using a survey instrument in order to identify self-directed learners and identify categories of teacher learners. These quantitative data were gathered through the …

Evaluation Of Fastt Math, Krystal Clawson, Valerie Grier, Amanda Iocoangeli

Graduate Capstone Projects

FASTT Math is an online, computer-based program that helps students develop fluency with basic math facts. FASTT Math can be used by students in second grade and up. Monroe Public Schools implemented this program in 2008 as a way to help improve fact fluency in the elementary grades. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the program was conducted and recommendations for future use are provided.

Movement Of The Organized Blind In India: From Passive Recipients Of Services To Active Advocates Of Their Rights, Jagdish Chander

Cultural Foundations of Education - Dissertations & Theses

In recent years, the subject of the newborn disability rights movement in India has been attracting the attention of researchers, but there has been very little effort to document the movement of blind people in India for their rights, which preceded the broader disability rights movement. I therefore conducted a qualitative study of this movement of blind people in India by using the methods of oral history and document analysis. For this purpose, I conducted 93 interviews (by interviewing 45 informants) and analyzed relevant documents. Borrowing terminology from the self-advocacy movement of the blind in the United States, I describe …

Lesson Study: Developing A Knowledge Base For Elementary Writing Instruction, Vicki Mcquitty

Teaching and Leadership - Dissertations

Concern about students' writing skills has led to recommendations that elementary teachers receive more professional development in how to teach writing (National Commission on Writing, 2006). However, there is currently little evidence about the knowledge teachers need to teach writing well, and it is therefore difficult for teacher educators to design effective professional development experiences. What is needed is a better understanding of the knowledge base that informs teaching writing to elementary children.

One possible means of gathering evidence about this knowledge base is through a collaborative teacher research process known as lesson study (Hiebert, Gallimore, & Stigler, 2002; Lewis, …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Perspectives Educational Implications In The Spanish Bilingual Programs In Primary Education In The Central Florida Region, Caitlin M. Araldi

HIM 1990-2015

The proposed goal of this research was to take the data gathered and implement it in analyzing the potential reformation of programs in need of evaluation, assessing the potential benefits of further development in the field of bilingual education in the United States as a nation. Using data collected in the Central Florida region as a microcosmic example of how existing programs function in the modern elementary educational system, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate through the conduction of interviews with local teachers and currently available research that a more suitable standard for bilingual education is both necessary …

An Examination Of Supplemental Educational Services Expectations And Realities In A Large Public School District, Kristin Blair

HIM 1990-2015

On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. This sweeping legislation brought reform to every area of public education by establishing seven performance-based provisions. Supplemental Educational Services is a core aspect of NCLB, designed to meet two of the seven goals: improving academic performance of disadvantaged students and promoting innovative programs. SES tutoring is provided free of charge to parents for students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch and that attend a Title I school that has not made Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, for three or more years. The …

Exploring The Relationship Between Music Participation On Math Scores And High School Retention, Marin Halperin

HIM 1990-2015

If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music... I get most joy in life out of music.--Albert Einstein In the spirit of recent legislation, educational leaders are in search of ways to ensure a quality education for all students in America, vowing to leave no child behind. Unfortunately, most of the rhetoric surrounding quality in education fails to acknowledge the impact of the arts in standards-based reform initiatives. In fact, some school districts have discussed cutting the …