Education Commons^™

University Research Development Offices: Perceptions And Experiences Of Research University Administrators, Roxana Ross

Theses and Dissertations

Universities are struggling to keep up with the cost of doing research. Some are searching for new ways to improve their likelihood of getting grant funding to support their research efforts. As a function of the academic research enterprise, research development offices and research development staff at universities utilize specific activities to enhance grant funding success and support university research goals. This study examines university research development activities and research development offices to determine if formal research development offices are perceived to have value and what research development activities are most impactful. The issue of fair measures of success for …

The Black Male's Perception Of Academic Success In The Black Belt Region, Lisa M. Morenzoni

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to explore the perceptions of academic success of Black males in the Black Belt in an effort for educators and community members to better understand and meet the needs of young Black men. In this study, the researcher conducted one 60-minute interview followed by one confirming interview with nine former students (Appendix D) who graduated from the local area high school. Interview questions (Appendix B) were developed by the researcher based on the research questions in the study. These use of these questions assisted in understanding the perceptions of academic success of these …

Parent Beliefs, Attitudes, And Needs In Preschool Age Literacy Development In A Head Start Program, Dianna Jean Mccoy

Theses and Dissertations

The topic of this applied dissertation concerns parents from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds participation in support of literacy development of their preschool aged children. Evidence from the limited research on this topic suggested that some parents rely on the school to teach literacy to their children beginning in kindergarten. Consequently, little time and effort is dedicated to preschool narrative skills, letter knowledge (other than the ABC song), print awareness, phonological awareness, print motivation, and vocabulary.

Literacy development begins before children enter kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers expect children to be able to identify letters, their sounds, print their names. Children without …

Factors That Preclude College Completion Of Students At A Technical College In Georgia, Cicily Mapp

Theses and Dissertations

Key indicators for the success of colleges and universities are the rates of retention, persistence, and college completion (Hendon & Jenkins, 2012; Schreiner, 2014; Yunfan, 2015). However, current data indicate that a large number of institutions of higher education have had to identify strategies designed to increase the academic success of the students (USDOE, 2016). The purpose of the study was to identify and understand the factors that influence graduation rates of students who attend a technical college located in central Georgia. A primary goal would be to obtain information that could be used by teachers, staff, and educational leaders …

Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Delaware Bullying Intervention Programs, Tracy Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to measure the attitudes of teachers about bullying within the state of Delaware, to provide steps in reporting bullying incidents, to determine key factors teachers consider important for state bullying intervention programs, to understand teachers’ perceptions of the uniform definition of bullying and their perceptions of the Delaware bullying intervention programs, and to provide insight to the people who work with victims in the state of Delaware to ensure that bullying is being addressed. In 2010, due to several incidents of suicide caused by bullying, a consortium was convened by Family Court Chief Judge Chandlee …

The Impact Of Small Group Intervention Focusing On Operations With Rational Numbers On Students’ Performance In The Florida Algebra I End-Of-Course Examination, Evelyn Dopico

Theses and Dissertations

In Florida, passing the Algebra I end-of-course examination (EOCE) is a graduation requirement. The test measures knowledge of basic algebra. In spring 2015, the Department of Education introduced a different version of the test. For the first two administrations of the new test, the failure rate for 9th-grade students in the state was almost 50%. In contrast, the failure rate for students in the school where this study was implemented exceeded 70%. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of small group intervention focusing on operations with rational numbers of high school students’ performance on the Algebra …

Teachers’ Perspectives: Exploring The Reading Gender Gap Among Elementary School Boys, Teleshia Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers’ Perspectives: Exploring the Reading Gender Gap Among Elementary School Boys. Teleshia Mincey-Jones, 2016: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Keywords: academic achievement, achievement gap, elementary education, reading readiness, gender differences.

Reading mastery is essential for academic success. As an emphasis is placed on more rigor in education, some boys are being left behind in the area of reading. School districts are adopting new rigorous standards and transitioning to produce students who are career and college ready upon graduation. Girls are responding positively and thriving academically; yet, boys continue to underperform girls at the district, …

Criterios De Calidad En El Diseño De Programas De Orientación Vocacional [Systematic Review: Quality Criteria In Designing Programs Vocational Guidance], Julieth Annie Álvarez Maestre

Theses and Dissertations

La presente disertación exploró el diseño de programas de orientación vocacional para la educación formal a nivel secundaria en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, para resolver la carencia de un programa de orientación vocacional efectivo y adecuado a las condiciones sociodemográficas de su población estudiantil. Su propósito principal fue desarrollar una síntesis crítica sobre literatura científica relacionada a la orientación vocacional y profesional por medio de la metodología de la revisión sistemática, facilitando elementos para el diseño de dichos programas donde se ofrezcan las condiciones claras determinando la calidad y evaluación de los mismos.

Del análisis se pudo …

A Case Study Of Collaboration Between General Education Teachers And Special Education Teachers In A Southern Rural High School, Oassie Jean Daniels

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was framed around issues associated with the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom as these issues related to teacher collaboration. Specifically, the problem on which this study focused was that according to the principal at the research site, the general education teachers and special education teacher needed to collaborate more successfully in order to be more helpful to the students. The purpose of this case study was twofold. First, the researcher wished to determine how and to what extent collaboration practices occurred between general education teachers and special education teachers in a southern …

Effects Of A Peer-Tutoring System Utilizing Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders As Tutors And Students With Intellectual Disabilities As Tutees, Vicki Koslin Howell

Theses and Dissertations

High school students with intellectual disabilities often find appropriate ways and times to socialize with their peers. In self-contained settings, students are often limited to interacting with only those within the classroom. In addition, students with emotional behavioral disorders often have deficits in social domains and in self-esteem. Improving socializations of students with disabilities has always been a concern of both parents and teachers. Peer-mediated learning has been a proven effective way to instruct students with disabilities. Placing a student with an emotional behavioral disorder in the position of a peer tutor allows them to feel more secure in their …

Course Quality And Hosting Platforms: Implications For Massively Open Online Course (Mooc) Design And Delivery, Rita Diane Schmallegger

Theses and Dissertations

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) began as an experiment in connectivist learning in 2008 (Downes, 2012). While the number of MOOCs offered has risen, as has the number of universities offering MOOCs (Brown, Costello, Donkon, & Giolla-Mhichill, 2015), perceptions of the quality of MOOCs have been mixed (Bali, 2014; Peterson, 2014). From a perspective of Merrill’s first principles of instruction (2013), this qualitative study examined MOOC delivery platforms to determine what learning platforms and what specific characteristics may best promote and sustain MOOC quality. MOOCs selected for this study include those offered in English, open to anyone with Internet access, …

Evaluación Del Impacto De La Desnutrición Por Exceso E Interacción Social En Escolares Del Segundo Ciclo Del Nivel Básico, Ysabel Noemí Tejeda Díaz

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación consistió en la evaluación del impacto de la desnutrición por exceso e interacción social en los escolares del segundo ciclo del nivel básico en una escuela pública en Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana. Se estudiaron (a) los tipos de interacciones que se producen entre los participantes y (b) las interrelaciones sociales desarrolladas en el entorno escolar. Así como el impacto en los niveles de popularidad e influencia de acuerdo a las teorías de Herrera (2008) y Rizo (2007) en el ámbito escolar.

Se realizó una investigación mixta, a partir del abordaje del problema desde los aspectos cualitativo y cuantitativo, …

Examining The Relationship Between Virtual School Size And Student Achievement, Sherrill Waddell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between virtual school size and student achievement in virtual schools in a southwestern state. Enrollment size and the following areas were studied in an attempt to determine student achievement: STAAR English Language Arts/Reading, STAAR Math, STAAR Science, and STAAR Social Studies testing scores in regards to race. This quantitative study used nonexperimental research utilizing a distribution approach. The effect of virtual school size on student achievement in a southwestern state was examined. Specifically, student achievement was defined by student passing rates on individual tests of the STAAR examination. This research …

Modelo Aces: Caracterización De La Sostenibilidad Curricular En Programas Académicos Universitarios, Alejandro Higuera

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue caracterizar la existencia e inclusión de la sostenibilidad curricular en las Unidades de Aprendizaje de Economía Urbana, Desarrollo Social y Ecología Urbana, conocer la opinión y determinar las fortalezas, oportunidades, debilidades o amenazas (FODA) del programa académico (PA) en Administración y Promoción de la Obra Urbana (LAPOU) en una universidad mexicana. Para lograrlo, se estableció una perspectiva metodológica cualitativa apoyada del método de estudio de caso. Apoyado del Modelo ACES, aplicado al programa de estudios y a los docentes. Bajo ese contexto, se estableció una muestra de 15 docentes, pero los sujetos no participaron …

Evaluación De Criterios E Indicadores Curriculares Como Estrategia Para Aseguramiento De La Calidad En Programas Académicos Universitarios, Erika Rivera Gutiérrez

Theses and Dissertations

La presente disertación surge de la necesidad de evaluar el nivel de cumplimiento decriterios e indicadores curriculares como estrategia para contribuir al aseguramiento de la calidad en programas académicos universitarios. La institución pública de educación superior se ubica en el municipio de Ixtlahuaca, estado de México.

El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar el nivel de cumplimiento de los criterios eindicadores de calidad del Plan de Estudios (PE), conocer la apreciación de los profesores, así como definir las áreas de oportunidad del programa académico (PA) de Diseño Gráfico (DG). Por tanto, se determinó una perspectiva metodológica de corte cualitativo con …

Exploring The Leadership Experiences Of Minority Women In A Black Greek Letter Sorority, Ashley Nichole Jennings

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research study was designed to explore and reveal the lived experiences of minority women in Black Greek Letter Sororities and their understanding of sorority membership and leadership development following graduation. Data collection was completed using two qualitative streams: online questionnaire and one-on-one interviews. This study will contribute to the discussion of leadership development for Black Greek Letter Sorority members. More specifically, this study focused on the role that a Black sorority has in developing minority female leaders as they matriculate and develop within higher education and simultaneously in the sisterhood. This research study provided suggestions on opportunities …

Perceptions Of Contributions Of Business Coaches To Female Entrepreneurial Success, Tracy I. Timberlake

Theses and Dissertations

Although coaching has seen tremendous growth and success, it is still regarded as controversial because there is no governing body that oversees coaches or the coaching industry. In this manner, the industry has not achieved uniformity, therefore is under much scrutiny with regards to the validity of the industry as a whole. With female entrepreneurship on the rise, many industry personnel are hiring business coaches to teach them the business building skills they need to start their solo ventures. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of the one-on-one business coaching experience from the perspective of the client. Because there …

Gendering Migration Determinants: A Phenomenological Analysis Of Professional Immigrant Women From India, Noreen Ohlrich

Theses and Dissertations

The economic contributions of highly qualified (HQ) labor migrants from developing countries fuel the global talent race. The problem is that little is known about the women in this sought out talent pool. This phenomenological study addressed this neglected gendered dimension by exploring how professional Asian Indian women experienced the following aspects of international migration: (a) gendering international mobility, (b) women and the race for global talent, (c) policies and the labor market, (d) cultural stigma, (e) brain drain versus diaspora networks, and (f) the Asian Indian woman paradox.

Professional Asian Indian women from greater Frankfurt am Main, Germany were …

The Impact Of Declining Student Persistence In Distance Learning On American College Completion Goals, Francine Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Academic institution leaders, education researchers, and policy makers have come together to restore America’s ranking among the top nations who are educating citizens to prepare for the technology jobs of the future. President Barack Obama tasked the nation to do so after alarming figures in student achievement were revealed from the 2009 PISA reports. The White House and Lumina Foundation called for a transformation, setting deadlines for 2020 and 2025, respectively, that 60% of Americans should attain degrees or credentials. This study centered on degree attainment by, assessing distance learning persistence for warning signs of impeding these goals. This study …

Nurse Educators’ Perceptions Of Using High-Fidelity Simulation In Teaching, Marlene Whigham

Theses and Dissertations

Nurse Educators’ Perceptions of Using High-Fidelity Simulation in Teaching. Marline Whigham, 2017: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Keywords: nursing education, learning strategies, simulation, staff development, teaching styles.

High-fidelity simulation in nursing refers to the use of computerized manikins to offer realistic hands-on training to nursing students. The problem addressed by this dissertation was resistance among some faculty to the use of new computerized simulation technology in the nursing curriculum. The research question for this case study investigated how faculty members can incorporate simulation into the curriculum and barriers faced in setting the stage for …

Success Factors Of Women In Leadership Roles And Breaking Through The Glass Ceiling: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Heidi Richards

Theses and Dissertations

While literature that which focuses on the barriers that women encounter to grow in their careers exists, there seems to be a lack of research focusing on the success factors that positively impact women in leadership roles and their ability to break through the glass ceiling. The information provided in this phenomenological qualitative study is twofold. This study explored the experiences of female leaders to assist with empowering and guiding women who want to grow in their careers, as well as to allow women already in leadership roles to recognize the challenges they may encounter, along with how they can …

Factors In The Admissions Process Influencing Persistence In A Master’S Of Science Program In Marine Science, Melissa L. Dore

Theses and Dissertations

Factors in the Admissions Process Influencing Persistence in a Master’s of Science Program in Marine Science. Melissa L. Dore, 2017: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Keywords: academic persistence, admission counseling, graduate students, marine science education, examinations This applied dissertation was conducted to provide the graduate program in marine sciences a valid predictor for success in the admissions scoring systems that include the general Graduate Record Exam. The dependent variable was persistence: successfully graduating from the marine sciences master’s programs. This dissertation evaluated other values including the applicant’s age, gender, undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, …

An Investigation Into The Self-Efficacy Of Jamaican Preservice Teachers For Working In Inclusive Classrooms, Sharon A. Anderson Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this applied dissertation was to examine changes in the self-efficacy of preservice teachers on completion of a special needs course and to determine whether there is a correlation between self-efficacy and several demographic variables. Studies conducted in several countries revealed that, despite participation in a special needs course, preservice teachers often expressed low levels of confidence for the inclusion of students with special needs in their general education classrooms. Because there is not much research in the Caribbean on this subject, this study sought to further explore this issue within a different cultural context. The case study, …

A Replication Study: 20 Years Later Correctional Officers: How Do They Perceive Sexual Offenders?, Kimberlie Massnick

Theses and Dissertations

Correctional officers represent a large, influential group working within the criminal justice system; as such they have long attracted the interest of social scientists. These professionals, their attitudes towards inmates and the impact of these attitudes, have received scrutiny, especially since Zimbardo’s (1973) study of a mock prison, commonly referred to as the Stanford Prison Experiment. When compared to other professionals within the criminal justice system, correctional officers are often the least empathic, the most punitive, and the least supportive of rehabilitation. These potential attitudes this is unfortunate since correctional officers are ideally placed to improve the social atmosphere of …