Education Commons^™

Top-Down And Bottom-Up Approaches To Understanding The Fate Of The Federally Endangered Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly (Heraclides Aristodemus Ponceanus), Jaeson T. Clayborn

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The federally endangered Schaus’ swallowtail butterfly (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus) populations have declined precipitously over the years. Despite tremendous efforts to augment the numbers of this butterfly through captive-bred releases and habitat enhancements, it remains imperiled and federally endangered. The dissertation’s objectives were: 1) to restore dry forest habitat in Biscayne National Park (BNP) for Schaus’ swallowtails; 2) to assess host plant (torchwood and wild lime) survivorship and growth in the restoration sites (BNP) and project dry forest habitat loss because of imminent sea level rise (SLR); 3) to quantify ant activity and record predator-prey interactions against Heraclides caterpillars …

A Path Analysis Exploration Of Teacher’S Effect, Self-Efficacy, Demographic Factors, And Attitudes Toward Mathematics Among College Students Attending S Minority Serving Institution In Face-To-Face And Hybrid Mathematics Courses, Nelson De La Rosa

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graduation rates in colleges and universities have not kept up with the increase in enrollment. Lack of mathematics competence is a factor that impairs students from completing higher education studies. This problem is even more pervasive in minority groups. The existing body of research on mathematics education have not favored emerging minority populations in terms of addressing their needs for academic program completion across mode of instruction.

The study analyzed the relationship between type of instruction and the factors underlying students’ attitudes toward mathematics. Further, this study examined the effect of factors underlying the constructs of teacher’s effect and self-efficacy …

Do Mentoring Programs Make A Difference? A Qualitative Case Study On The Journey Of Latino Students In A Stem Track, Juan M. Morata

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A number of studies have sought to identify factors influencing STEM students’ success in colleges and universities (Crisp et al., 2009; Excelencia, 2011; Hagedorn & Purnamasari, 2012). However, there are few qualitative studies focusing on students’ perspectives and how they make meaning of their experiences as participants in a mentoring program.

The main purpose of this research was to explain the perceptions of Latino students in a STEM Mentoring Program at Miami Dade College. Because this study sought to gain an in-depth understanding of how students involved in a mentoring program make meaning of their experiences, the type of qualitative …

Examining The Relationships Between Gender Role Congruity, Identity, And The Choice To Persist For Women In Undergraduate Physics Majors, Bronwen Bares Pelaez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Persistent gender disparity limits the available contributors to advancing some science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. While higher education can be an influential time-point for ensuring adequate participation, many physics programs across the U.S. have few women in classroom or lab settings. Prior research indicates that these women face considerable barriers. For university students, faculty, and administration to appropriately address these issues, it is important to understand the experiences of women as they navigate male-dominated STEM fields.

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study explored undergraduate female physics majors’ experiences with their male-dominated academic and research spaces in the U.S. …

An Exploration Of Black National Pan-Hellenic Council (Nphc) Sorority Membership As It Relates To Academic Achievement And Civic Engagement, Canela Eatman

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the experience of 13 Black, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) sorority members as they relate to their academic achievement and civic engagement. Participants were female, upperclassmen students at four different Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), half private and the other public. Criterion, purposive, and snowball sampling were used to secure participants.

Using the Community of Practice as a theoretical framework, which is comprised of five stages, participants’ experiences were described, analyzed, and interpreted to inform the study. Data were collected through individual phone interviews, using a semi-structured interview protocol, and were analyzed …

Professionalization Of Academic Advising, Craig M. Mcgill

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this collected papers dissertation was to better understand the professionalization of academic advising. Advising can claim several features of widely-agreed upon professional components, but the question of whether academic advising constitutes a “profession” has caused much debate. Three primary obstacles stand in its way: advising is misunderstood and lacks a consistent unifying definition; there has not been a substantial literature to define the content and methodologies of the field; and there is insufficient empirical research demonstrating its effectiveness. Two studies were conducted.

Study #1 was a structured literature review of higher education, student affairs, and academic advising …

Evaluating High School Biology Modeling Instruction In South Florida: A Comparative Case Study, Feng Li

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation, with a collected papers approach, focused on evaluating the implementation of MI curriculum in high school Biology I classes in south Florida. The dissertation included the development and validation of the Biology Identity and Persistence Survey (BIPS), the connection of instructors’ teaching practices with students’ biology identities, evolution identities, and career aspirations, and the connection of instructors’ teaching practice with students’ conceptual understanding in evolution. In the first part of the dissertation study, the BIPS was validated through expert review and student cognitive interviews for its face and content validity. Confirmatory factor analysis addressed the construct validity of …

Education For Democracy: Mixed Methods Case Studies Of Teachers' Critical Thinking Dispositions And Their Teaching Styles, Maram Behairy

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Democracy does not automatically maintain itself by prescribed constitutions and procedural codes (Dewey, 1939), but rather its citizens must have certain dispositions to protect and strengthen it (Biesta, 2006). According to John Stuart Mill (1859/1991), people can tyrannize one another within the structures of a democracy, a concept he phrased “tyranny of the majority” (p. 7). To safeguard against such tyranny and to maintain a democratic way of life conducive to progress, I contend that our schools must be tasked with developing critical thinking dispositions in our future adults. The literature on education for democracy was reviewed and aligned with …

Comunidades Lectoras A Través De La “Ronda De Libros”, Gaby Vallejo Canedo

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

El Desarrollo De Habilidades De Lectura Y Escritura En Inglés Como Lengua Extranjera, Óscar Javier Martínez Alaniz

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

Desafíos Latinoamericanos: En Busca De Una Cultura Letrada, Adelina Arellano

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

Alfabetización De Niños, Niñas Y Personas Adultas: Componente Indispensable En La Formación Docente, Luz Emilia Flores Davis, Marta Eugenia Sánchez González

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

¿Cómo Se Lee Y Escribe En Línea ?, Daniel Cassany Comas

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

El Desarrollo Del Lenguaje En Los Primeros Cuatro Años De Vida: Cómo Favorecerlo Desde La Cotidianidad Del Espacio Educativo, Jeannette Cerdas Núñez, Marielos Murillo Rojas

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

Los Docentes Como Mediadores Del Conocimiento Científico Utilizando La Lengua Escrita, Adelina Arellano

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

El Desarrollo Del Pensamiento En El Niño Para Escuchar, Hablar, Leer Y Escribir, Angela K. Salmon

Revista Electrónica Leer, Escribir y Descubrir

No abstract provided.

Digital Graduations And Reunions, Mandayam Thirunarayanan

Department of Teaching and Learning

• Online students deserve the same rituals of graduation as place-based students, and the same opportunities to hold reunions with their sometimes worldwide cohort of peers.

• Digital graduations and reunions can provide these options for online students, using avatars and appropriate scenes on virtual reality platforms.

• Besides the increased engagement with the institution and possibly the alumni association, these virtual convocations can save travel costs otherwise required for the widely distributed online participants to attend in person

The Relationship Between Occupational Stress And Instigator Workplace Incivility As Moderated By Personality: A Test Of An Occupational Stress And Workplace Incivility Model, Laura C. Batista

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the face of competition and competing demands on organizations, employees are taxed to exert more effort with fewer resources. The type of environment can create the recipe for increased levels of occupational stress and an environment of increased workplace incivility.Therefore, it is not surprising that research has begun to look at the interaction between occupational stress and workplace incivility. The current work environment requires employees to exert more effort or face negative consequences from supervisors and peers. All too often, the salary increases, bonus structure, career progression, job security and mobility that might be reasonably expected from producing such …

Effects Of Bilingualism In Short-Term Memory In Individuals With Down Syndrome, Evelyn I. Pinto-Cardona

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of bilingualism in short-term memory (STM) compared to monolingualism with individuals who have Down syndrome. Five tasks were used for STM skills comparison between monolingual and bilingual participants. Sixteen participants between the ages of 13 to 37 were included in this study. Participants were divided based on their language groups. The experimental tasks consisted of non-verbal activities to examine visual (RVDLT) and spatial (Corsi) STM; as well as three verbal STM tasks (RAVLT, WMS, and Digits). The results showed that bilinguals acquired higher overall correct responses, with a significant difference …

Project-Based Learning: Investigating Self-Directed Learning Readiness Skills And Content Knowledge Retention In An Urban Jamaican High School Eighth Grade Integrated Science Cohort, Carolyn A. L. Reid-Brown

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Self-directed learning (SDL) readiness skills and the command and/or retention of content knowledge have been identified as key factors for success in post-secondary settings. The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has stated that two in three Jamaican secondary school graduates lack the requisite content knowledge and self-directed learning skills needed for advancement in the work space and in postsecondary education (Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan, 2009). This dissertation examined the efficacy of project-based learning (PBL) as a method of instruction for improving SDL readiness skills and content knowledge retention. More specifically, the phenomenon was explored within the context of a …

How The Use Of Subjectivist Instructional Strategies In Teaching Multiple Sections Of An Eighth Grade Algebra Class In Guyana Relates To Algebra Achievement And Attitude Changes Toward Mathematics, Jennifer Hoyte

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In Guyana, South America, the Ministry of Education seeks to provide universal, inclusive education that prepares its citizens to take their productive places in society and to creatively solve complex, real-world problems. However, with frequent national assessments that are used to place students in high school, college or into jobs, teachers resort to using familiar strategies such as lecture, recitation and test drilling. Despite their efforts, over 56% of students are failing the Grade 6 assessments, 43% failing 10th grade Mathematics and over 60% failing college algebra courses. Such performance has been linked to students’ lower academic self-concept and their …

Representative Bureaucracy In German Public Schools: An Assessment Of The Mechanisms Of Passive Representation, Gretha Burchard

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to representative bureaucracy theory, a bureaucracy that mirrors the population it serves—in terms of demographic composition—is more responsive to the interests of all groups in the population. Most research in this area has examined the link between passive representation (i.e., occurrences in which minority bureaucrats mirror the population) and active representation (i.e., occurrences in which minority bureaucrats actively pursue the interests of those they represent). Less attention has been directed toward the notion that different mechanisms can make representative bureaucracy have an effect.

Focusing on the German public school sector, the aim of this study is to understand through …

The Relationship Between Information Literacy And Global Learning, Valda J. Adeyiga

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between undergraduate student performance on an information literacy assessment activity and their performance in global learning assessment activities for three global learning outcomes: global awareness, global perspective, and global engagement.

Global learning is the process whereby people from varied backgrounds collaboratively analyze and seek solutions for complex problems that go beyond borders. Important components of global learning are the acquisition, analysis and use of information, relating to complex problems which may include, but are not limited to, poverty, environmental protection and food security. These components of global learning are analogous …

The Effect Of Covert Audio Coaching On The Attending Behavior Of Elementary Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In The Classroom Setting, Christina Crocco

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest growing disability category in U.S. schools. Current legislation mandates that students with disabilities be educated in the classroom setting to the greatest extent possible. The increase in prevalence combined with placement regulations presents a challenge for classroom teachers who support students with ASD, as many of these students struggle with the necessary classroom skills to function appropriately in that environment. Classroom skills have been referred to in the literature as skills that are required for learning to occur, including: (a) looking at the teacher, (b) keeping hands to self, (c) raising a hand …

Multidimensional Leadership: Masculine And Feminine Leadership Approaches In Public Education, Joseph P. Eberhard

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With two-thirds of new leaders being women, it has become increasingly more clear that the face of our educational organizations is changing both symbolically and substantively. The demands placed on public education have also grown exponentially. If society demands that schools become better, then it is necessary to investigate the approaches that school leaders utilize in making decisions.

The purpose of this research was to explore the different approaches that educational leaders implement during their decision-making processes. The present study asked 20 school leaders within Miami Dade County Public Schools to report and explain their personal approaches to leadership to …

Teachers As Facilitators Or Barriers Of Parent Involvement: Experiences Of African American Mothers Of Children In Special Education Programs, Princess Briggs

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parents in disenfranchised groups, namely African American parents of children with special needs, are less likely to be involved in their child’s education, although involvement is associated with positive educational outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate African American parents’ perceptions of special education programs, of teacher actions, and of school policies that influence parent involvement of African American parents of children with special needs.

A phenomenological study was conducted with 15 African American mothers of children with special needs. These parents participated in individual face-to-face interviews, which included a discussion of the child’s Individualized Education Plan. Audio …

Institutional Ethnography: Utilizing Battered Women’S Standpoint To Examine How Institutional Relations Shape African American Battered Women’S Work Experiences In Christian Churches, Ursula Tiershatha Wright

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the collected papers dissertation was to critically examine the individual and institutional conditions that shaped battered women’s work experiences in church organizations. The studies in the collected papers shared the provision of using a methodological and analytic tool, institutional ethnography (IE), that offers a strategic and comprehensive means of investigating issues related to institutions and institutional processes that merge a macro and micro view. The first paper was a conceptual paper that emphasized the socio-political context in which adult vocation education is practiced and shared a practical means of using IE to uncover the interconnected and interdependent …

To Teach Or Not To Teach, Andrew Marichal

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

Recruiting STEM teachers is a persisting issue that has not been fully addressed. There is little research that currently exists with regards to recruitment. While some qualitative data exists on why people choose to teach STEM as a career, there is very little quantitative evidence to support this qualitative work. In our work we draw on a large national survey study to better understand when students choose math/science teaching as a career and what predicts whether students will persist in these teaching goals by the time they begin college. Our results indicate that 76.3% of students who expressed an interest …

Out Of Kendall, Paula Almeida

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

The Out of Kendall Project focuses on introducing young children in first and second-grade to the following competencies: global empathy, slowing down, and appreciating their surrounding and other places. The project utilizes approaches adopted from Harvard University’s Project Zero that provide pedagogical approaches, thinking routines that allow the students to comprehend these competencies. The Out of Kendall Project introduces young learners to Paul Salopek’s journey of walking 21,000 miles around the seven continents. Paul documents his journey for everyone to watch and to partake. Project Zero created a website called Out of Eden Learn that allows classrooms around the world …

A University-Based Summer Camp To Promote Construction Technology Career For High School Students, Armando Carrasquillo

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

This presentation reports on high school students’ deep learning of fundamental concepts in programming during a pilot summer program organized to promote construction-related careers, especially construction technology careers, to high school students. The program introduced concepts from programming, virtual reality, and construction disciplines to students who had little to no experience in these fields. The two-week long program utilized a project-based learning approach to increase relevance and deep learning, in addition to exposing students to learning concepts using hands-on experiences. The program brought about interest in taking an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems in the field of construction. The project …