Education Commons^™

Qualitative Exploration Of Principal Behaviors In Elementary Schools Classified With High Climate And High Achievement, Christian Kirby, Christian Aubrey Kirby

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to gain a clear understanding of principal behaviors in high achieving/high climate elementary schools in North Georgia and the impact of these behaviors on future principal professional learning practices. This research study was conducted using a qualitative case study with a phenomenological approach. The particular phenomena studied in this research are the characteristics and behaviors exhibited by principals in elementary schools with high achievement and high climate ratings in one North Georgia School District. Case studies, by nature, involve a small target population.

The study analyzed total instructional programs, reducing the achievement gap, and …

The Effect Of Multiage Grouping On The Self-Esteem Of Students, Aaron Farrant

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Educators know children need to learn at a level that is appropriately challenging for them. If the material is too difficult, the children will often feel defeated and stop trying. If the material is too easy, the children will often lose interest and not achieve their potential. Educators also know children learn at different speeds and have different abilities, even children who are the same age. Despite knowing this, the traditional educational model is designed to group children based solely on age and the expectation is for the teacher to differentiate to meet the needs of each individual child in …

Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Care Of The Dying, Betsy N. Ward, Elizabeth Nora Ward

Doctorate of Nursing Science Dissertations

Abstract

Most nursing students fear death or care of the dying and thus question their abilities to give compassionate and competent care to patients or families at end-of-life (EOL). Research has shown positive results when students have experiences with dying patients in environments where interdisciplinary palliative and end-of-life practices are delivered. The purpose of this mixed methods comparative group study was to assess BSN students’ knowledge and attitudes toward care of the dying guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory, which addresses learning under difficult circumstances. Nursing students in a palliative and end-of-life care elective course were compared to students in …

The Impact Of Parental Involvement On Student Success: School And Family Partnership From The Perspective Of Students, Tyler Bailey

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT ON STUDENT SUCCESS: SCHOOL AND FAMILY PARTNERSHIP FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF STUDENTS

by

Tyler M. Bailey Kennesaw State University, 2017

In this study, the impact of school-family relationships on student success were examined through the narratives of three fifth-grade students, their teachers, and the school’s curriculum coach. The study used these stories to understand better how student success was altered by parental involvement in the students’ academic, social, and emotional life.

The participants were selected from the same school located in a major southeastern city. The students and teachers were in the same class (within …

The Evolution Of Pre-Service Teachers Tpack After Completing An Undergraduate Technology Integration Course, Sherri Booker

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The steady momentum of emerging technology tools continues to impact the educational environment, generating dramatic changes over the past five years (Spalding, 2016). According to the 2016 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP), educational institutions that prepare educators often fail to give teachers the technology skills required to do their job well. Many teacher preparation programs claimed technology was integrated throughout the courses within the program; however, the comfort level with technology for pre-service teachers entering the teaching field remained low (Moore-Hayes, 2011; Giles & Kent, 2016; NETP, 2016; Niess & Gillow-Wiles, 2016). As members of the educational learning community, teacher …

The Impact Of Parental Involvement On Student Success: School And Family Partnership From The Perspective Of Parents And Teachers, Audric Newchurch

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

The purposes of this study was to examine the perceptions of parents and teachers regarding their awareness and responsiveness concerning parental involvement and search for ways to improve the home-school relationship through effective parental involvement. Additionally, the study strived to identify efficient yet useful ways that families and schools can build strong partnerships and to discover the role of the school in at home parenting and learning through a collaborative partnership based on Epstein’s six typologies of parental involvement.

Conversely, this study focused on two uncommon involvement typologies in Epstein’s framework. Those two are parenting and learning at home. …

Teacher Perceptions Of School-Based And District Professional Development, Ashley Kennedy

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

Professional development is a leading topic of discussion in the field of education. Because teachers are responsible for implementing relevant instructional practices, meeting the instructional needs of students, and taking ownership of their professional development goals, understanding teacher perceptions of school-based and district level professional development is critical. The purpose of this study was to investigate how K-12 teachers perceive school-based and district professional development. This study aimed to answer three questions: How do teachers perceive school-based and district professional development? What types of professional development experiences do teachers find effective? Do recent professional development experiences influence how teachers collaborate …

Perceptions In A Changing World: Teachers' Attitudes Toward The Implementation Of Educational Innovations, Joy Jones

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine teachers’ attitudes toward the implementation of educational innovations - with an explicit focus on social and emotional learning (SEL) and new teacher mentor (NTM) programs. Because teachers are primarily responsible for absorbing new information and implementing educational programs directly to students, their attitudes may influence how the program is perceived, the program’s delivery, and may also impact the program’s outcomes. Support for novice teachers is often regarded as necessary and warranted in many schools, and researchers unfailingly reveal findings that demonstrate the effectiveness of SEL; specifically in traditional school settings (Slaten, …

Perceptions In A Changing World: Teachers' Attitudes Towards The Implementation Of Educational Innovations With A Focus On Social And Emotional Learning, Tiana Holmes

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ attitudes toward the implementation of educational innovations - with an explicit focus on social and emotional learning (SEL) and new teacher mentor (NTM) programs. Because teachers are primarily responsible for absorbing new information and implementing educational programs directly to students, their attitudes may influence how the program is perceived, the program’s delivery, and may also impact the program’s outcomes. Support for novice teachers is often regarded as necessary and warranted in many schools, and researchers unfailingly reveal findings that demonstrate the effectiveness of SEL; specifically in traditional school settings (Slaten, Irby, …

A Little Birdy Told Me: Educators’ Experiences With Twitter As A Professional Learning Network, Valerie King

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

This study reveals educators’ experiences with using Twitter as a professional learning network. The context of this study is framed by the notion of ubiquitous learning woven into the underpinnings of social learning theory, adult learning theory and connectivism. Current traditional professional learning does not adequately address the needs of today’s educators. There is growing evidence to suggest that teachers are more isolated and lacking the collaboration necessary to encourage and sustain best practices in the classroom. This research investigates the topics of traditional professional learning, online learning and social networks to lead to a keen understanding of the nuances …

A Case Study: Leadership For Parent Involvement, Polly Tennies

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Educational leaders, looking to make a difference in an outcome era, build partnerships with families to strengthen student performance. In this case study, intentionally cultivating relationships and building capacity for stakeholders falls under the guidance of a parent involvement coordinator (PIC) working in a parent resource room in a school setting. This turn-around school features a PIC collaboratively focused with an elementary school principal. Capacity building practices result in success for parents, teachers, and students. State and Federal initiatives support parent involvement, yet questions remain on how to make parent involvement happen when barriers keep parents away from school. Transformative …

Supporting Novice Teachers: Peer Coaching And Collaborative Inquiry As Support, Rotonya Rhodes

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine what happens when a peer coaching with collaborative inquiry model is implemented with novice teachers. The goals of the study include examining the peer coaching process as described by teachers, and understanding the relationships between novice teachers and their peer coaches based on the novice teachers’ perspectives. This study employs a qualitative case study methodology, in which the group of novice teachers represents the case bounded by the peer coaching process. The study uses individual interviews, a focus group interview, and teachers’ written reflections with 11 participants to address the research …

Planning For Differentiated Instruction: Comparing Instructional Leadership Practices As Perceived By Administrators And Teachers In Middle School, Mark L. Lang

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Scholars have purported that teachers infrequently implement differentiated instruction due to self-imposed obstacles or misconceived notions that promote barriers. This study was designed to generate an awareness of the differences between school administrators’ and teachers’ perceptions of instructional leadership practices towards implementation of differentiated instruction. From the existing research, six functions of instructional leadership and 27 practices were identified as being effective in supporting the implementation of differentiated instruction. These functions of instructional leadership along with related practices served as the basis for a two-part, six subset, and 27 item researcher-designed survey. Data were collected from 34 middle school administrators …

The Effects Of Instructional Leadership On Teacher Efficacy, Michelle L. Pearce

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

This study sought to examine the effects of instructional leadership behaviors on teacher efficacy. The body of literature examined influenced the nature and implementation of this study. Previous studies were used to shape the lens of this body of work. The focus was at the elementary level examining the perceptions of principals and teachers. The two forms of instrumentation included the Principal Instructional Rating Management Scale developed by Phillip Hallinger and used in similar studies cited in this work. The teachers completed the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale based on the work of Tschannen-Moran and Woolfolk-Hoy. The perceptions of participants were examined …

Confronting And Understanding Factors Of Teacher Turnover: A Deep-Rooted Phenomenon Employing An Autoethnographic Perspective, Elizabeth G. Hill

Doctor of Education in Elementary and Early Childhood Education Dissertations

This qualitative autoethnographic study explores the phenomenon of teacher turnover as it relates to the researcher’s specific contexts and personal experiences. Through the acts of journaling, coaching, and narrative writing, teachers can better understand influences of culture on their beliefs, values, attitudes, and decisions – especially in regards to actions of movement from one setting to another. The findings indicate that beliefs, values, attitudes, and decisions are learned through a school’s culture, and they can change depending on perspective. The findings also indicate that there is power in dialogue – even for teachers who never felt they had influence or …

On Craft, William Lentjes

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Craft is a relationship - a dialogue - between craftsman, tool, and material. Craft begins with the intent of all of these loci, and all of these loci are rooted in Being.

Being is known through the consciousness, awareness, and perception of a subject. Being is the inherent existence and totality of "what is."

Being crafts us; Craft imbues Being.

This thesis re-examines the pedagogical approach of an architectural education. The focus is placed on craft through presuppositionless phenomenology.

In an age of endless mechanized production and spiritless materialism, the practice of craft can teach us to return to the …

Learning Is Diverse: The Dynamics Of Change, Catherine G. Harter

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Educational models of the 20th century in the United States responded directly to the then current economic circumstances and workforce needs. Schools throughout the United States were designed on those educational models of production and efficiently. While educational models have since changed in response to societal shifts, now emphasizing flexibility, diversity, and the integration of technology, the design of school infrastructure has not made that leap. By reconceptualizing the boundaries between elements and opening existing structure schools can be redesigned to align with the new educational model. This creates collaboration between different levels of expertise, the exploration of relationships between …

On Craft, William Lentjes

KSU Journey Honors College Capstones and Theses

Craft is a relationship - a dialogue - between craftsman, tool, and material. Craft begins with the intent of all of these loci, and all of these loci are rooted in Being.

Being is known through the consciousness, awareness, and perception of a subject. Being is the inherent existence and totality of "what is."

Being crafts us; Craft imbues Being.

This thesis re-examines the pedagogical approach of an architectural education. The focus is placed on craft through presuppositionless phenomenology.

In an age of endless mechanized production and spiritless materialism, the practice of craft can teach us to return to the …

"We Run A Different School Within A School": Educator Perceptions Of Guatemala-Maya Students In A North Georgia Public School System, Anna Tussey

Master of Arts in American Studies Capstones

In recent years, the social and political persecution of the Maya population throughout Central America has led to an influx of Maya women and children migrating to the United States. The increased population of immigrant children presents new challenges for the United States, especially in public education. Maya people are rarely distinguished from the Latinx population, subsequently causing their linguistic and cultural needs to go unmet and unacknowledged. This project focuses on the education of Guatemalan-Maya students in a North Georgia public school system, framed through interviews with educators. The educators selected for this study worked almost exclusively with elementary, …

Crowdsourcing Cognitive Presence: A Quantitative Content Analysis Of A K12 Educator Mooc Discussion Forum, Kathryn Dawson Shields

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offer participants opportunities to engage with content and discussion forums similar to other online courses. Pedagogical components of MOOCs and the nature of learning are worth of examining due to issues involving scale, interaction and the role of the instructor (Ross, Sinclair, Know, Bayne & McLeod, 2014). The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework provides a basis for measuring cognitive presence in online discussion forums. As voluntary point of entry to a community of learners, it is important to consider the nature of participant contributions in terms of cognitive presence. This study focused on an educator …

Students’ Experience Of Flow In A Critical Literacy Unit In A 6th Grade English/Language Arts Classroom, Barbara E. Mcclure

Doctor of Education in Secondary and Middle Grades Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure students’ experiences of engagement as conceptualized by flow during a critical literacy unit in a 6^th grade English Language Arts class. A total of 61 respondents replied to an 18-item survey consisting of 14-Likert scaled items, one identifier, two open-ended questions, and one multiple-choice question three times a day for five days. In addition, respondents completed a 7-item survey consisting of one identifier, three demographic questions, and three Likert-scaled items. All respondents were sixth grade students at a middle school just outside of a large city in the Southeastern United States. …