Education Commons^™

Creating Bridges Between Health Care Professionals: Interprofessional Collaboration Between Respiratory Therapy And Speech-Language Pathology And Its Importance For Patient Outcomes, Nafiah Khan

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

In a changing health care industry, it is imperative that different healthcare professionals collaborate to address the state of the patient. Respiratory therapists (RTs) and speech-language pathologists {SLPs) frequently work with the same general patient population in the healthcare setting; however, while RTs typically provide emergency interventions, SLPs work with the patient in the rehabilitative domain. Each profession has a unique understanding of the patient and may encounter an overlap in responsibilities for performing a particular task, including management of tracheostomy tubes and prevention of aspiration pneumonias. This study investigated SLPs' and RTs' perspectives on their interprofessional collaboration. The findings …

Student Involvement: A Comparative Study Of Eastern Michigan University And Oxford-Brookes University, Meaghan Lynch

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Through a comparative analysis of Eastern Michigan University and Oxford-Brookes University, it has been determined that despite being similar in size and reputability, student organizations look significantly different. The researcher determined a strong first step in discussing why the two universities have such differing approaches to student involvement would be to investigate the value found in extra-curricular participation for students that occur in both countries. The researcher explored this difference and discusses what each institution could learn from the other and continue to grow and develop their extracurricular programs.

The Extent To Which Emotional Intelligence, Locus Of Control And Self-Efficacy Contribute To The Perception Of Online Learning, J. Laurence Abraham

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Online learning is now entrenched in the mainstream educational system and continues to provide educational opportunities for millions of Americans. However, as online education increases, there is a need to improve the quality of education. This dissertation examines the extent to which emotional intelligence, locus of control, and self- efficacy contribute to the perception of online learning. The applied research methodology was a quantitative cross-correlational design. The statistical population was 156 online students selected from a Midwest university. A survey containing 21 items with Likert-type responses was developed to assess students' overall perceptions of online learning. The research questions for …

An Historical Analysis Of Women’S Emergence Into Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership: Eastern Michigan University, A Case Study, Cheyenne Luzynski

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The implementation of Title IX has increased women’s participation rates in intercollegiate athletics tenfold, yet women’s representation in athletic leadership remains marginal compared to men. As such, the purpose of this study was to understand the social construction of gender as it relates to intercollegiate athletic leadership at Eastern Michigan University. The study explored the history of sporting activities as a mechanism to shape and perpetuate masculine and feminine culture. These values (i.e, competitiveness and cooperativeness) were institutionalized in higher education as sex-segregated physical education and athletic functions. This historical case study applied organizational and institutional theory analyzing the institutional, …

Exploring How Integrating Art & Animation In Teaching Text-Based Programming Affects High School Students' Interest In Computer Science, Hadeel Mohammed Jawad

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

As oil is the fuel of the industrial society, software is the fuel of our current information society. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be more demand for computing jobs in the future. By 2024, more than one million computing jobs will be available. Statistics show that there is more demand for computing jobs than there is a supply of qualified graduates from universities. In this experimental study, three groups of high school students were targeted to explore how integrating art, animation, and code sharing into programming affects their interest in pursuing a degree in computer science …

The Impact Of Communication Skills On The Social Interaction Of Students With Down Syndrome: Special Education Teachers' Perspectives, Tara Poikey

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

It is important for children to have effective socialization, no matter what type of disability they may have when it comes to communication. Friendship and play opportunities with others usually provide cognitive learning opportunities as well as social learning opportunities. For most children, school is a key setting for them to engage in friendships and develop social interactions. This study investigated eight special education teachers' perspectives on the communication needs of children with Down syndrome within the school context, as well as the teachers' knowledge and resources needed to facilitate their students' social interactions. The participants reported having little knowledge …

Expectations And Experiences In A Modern Physics Laboratory Course, Helen Mae Cothrel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines students’ expectations for and experiences within a modern physics laboratory course. The course instructor and several students were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol at the beginning (pre) and end (post) of the semester. Interviews were video-recorded, then transcribed to text. This thesis presents the results of three students’ interviews as case studies; their interview transcripts were adapted to a more narrative style for inclusion in this report. An interpretation of each student’s responses from pre- to post-interview is given, followed by conclusions which incorporate all three students’ interviews. Particular attention is paid to students’ ideas about experimenting …

What Works? Teaching African American Students In Urban Schools, Shawn Renee Forman

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The academic achievement gap for African American students compared to their White counterparts has historically and currently remained significant. Many researchers have been prompted to address this issue by examining the practices utilized to teach African American students. The findings from this study suggest that when teachers move away from the traditional methods of teaching and move toward teaching practices that take into consideration the individual student, motivation and academic performance can be achieved. This research presents a general literature review, interviews from four urban elementary school principals, and the stories of five African American urban elementary teachers who were …

College-For-All Meets Skills Gap: Millennials’ Decisions To Pursue Certificates In Skilled Trades, Amy Deitrickson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This is a case study of a group of students enrolled in traditional skilled trade certificate programs at a large Midwestern community college. Considering severe shortage of skilled labor in the geographic area of the college, there is great need for better understanding of ways to alleviate the labor shortage by attracting more young adults to the in-demand fields. Therefore, this case study sought to examine millennial students’ decisions to pursue careers in areas of demand. To collect input from multiple perspectives, interviews were conducted with students, college employees, and family members. The influence college-for-all culture had on their decisions …

Perceived Sources And Types Of Social Support And Academic Success Among Male Nursing, Social Work, And Occupational Therapy Students, Tina Thornton

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Incorporating gender diversity into a collaborative practice environment among healthcare professionals and patients is necessary to provide quality care for the complex healthcare population that we serve. Nursing, social work, and occupational therapy have been known to be predominantly female occupations. There are many benefits of including males in these occupations to produce a more diverse workforce supporting positive patient care outcomes and delivery services. There are, however, education, and social barriers to male students within these health science programs. Evidence has shown that social support is an effective mechanism for managing the effects of stress, promoting positive self-esteem, and …

The Digital Self: A Qualitative Approach To Studying Female College Students' Use Of Social-Networking Platforms, Megan Christine Gore

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to understand how female college students make use of social networks, specifically how they use the medium to connect with others. Researching socialnetworking use pertaining to the phenomenon of connection will give a richer understanding of female students’ lived experience of social networking. Many quantitative studies have been conducted about social networking, but more qualitative measures are needed to explore social networking. With the continuously changing social-networking platforms, there is little research that sheds light on social-networking use among female college students. My goal was to conduct a qualitative research study that examined female …

Access Granted: A Study Of The Factors Affecting The Development Of Technology Literacy In Black Males, Carlton Bernard Bell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

One of the most urgent challenges of the digital divide is the need to expand technology literacy. Access to technology was believed to be one of the causes for the discrepancy that exists, but there is a deeper divide: the divide that exists between technology literacy, and career readiness. Although access to technology has improved over time, the educational outcomes for Black males in related fields have not. A critical area of concern is the lack of a Black male professional presence in technology fields, which has serious implications for the future of our society. These implications include a less …

Students’ Interpretations Of Categorical Data Using Dynamic Graphical Representations, Adam Eide

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Statistical association is an important concept in statistics. An exploratory study examined how students reason about statistical association utilizing graphical representations constructed with CODAP, a dynamic statistical graphing software. Task-based interviews were conducted with three 6th grade students prior to formal instruction. Students’ conceptions of a statistical relationship, proportional reasoning skill level, ability to interpret bivariate categorical graphs (particularly segmented bar graphs and two-way binned plots), and ability to identify association of two categorical variables were all investigated through interview tasks and responses to inquiry. Students were found to have developing proportional reasoning skills and struggled to correctly define and …

An Application Of Investment Theory Of Community College Transfer Students To Understand Bachelor Degree Completion And The Role Of Articulation Agreement, Molly Duggan

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Community colleges are a valuable and important commodity in the education system in the United States. As of 2015, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) reports that there are 1,123 active community colleges, with 28 community colleges in the state of Michigan. The AACC further reports a headcount of 12.4 million students based on Fall 2013 data. Nearly half of all undergraduate students are enrolled in two-year public institutions, thus recognizing the significant role that community colleges play in the landscape of higher education. The purpose of this study was to examine bachelor degree persistence of community college transfer …

Assessing The Relationship Of Grit And Student Achievement In Reading And Mathematics In Second Grade Students Of The Sault Ste. Marie Public School District, Sheri L. Mcfarlane

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The single most common predictor of success may be how hard students work. Students who persevere when faced with challenges and adversity have grit. This quantitative study explored the relationship of grit and student achievement in students in early elementary school. The subjects of the study were second grade students enrolled in the Sault Ste. Marie Area Public School District. The cognitive measures for this study were the subjects’ scores from the Northwest Evaluation Association’s Measures of Academic Progress in the areas of mathematics and reading. The non-cognitive measure for this research was the Grit-S Scale, which provided a grit …

Examining Students' Perspectives On The Use Of First Language In Community-Based English As Second Language Classrooms, Fernanda Da Silva Carvalho

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This survey-based research investigates the perspectives on first language (L1) use by adult students of English as a second language (ESL) in three ESL community-based programs in Michigan, United States. The study focuses on community-based programs because, even though it offers a variety of social, educational, and language backgrounds, this setting has been underrepresented in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) research on L1 inclusion in ESL classes. The key findings of this study demonstrate that students use their L1 regardless of their English proficiency and lack of encouragement by teachers. In addition, students believe specific L1 uses …

Factors Affecting Faculty's Intent To Use E-Learning Systems At A University In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Razan I. Alsuwailem

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

E-learning systems provide instructors with a platform to create, deliver, and manage course content electronically. Faculty members' use of an e-learning system at Saudi universities concerns researchers, academics, and practitioners. Although most Saudi universities have an e-learning system, few faculty members are using an e-learning system. The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education has seen massive investment toward the educational improvement in e-learning systems through building and maintaining an advanced level of Information Technology infrastructure, improving the utilization and flexibility of Information Technology resources, and enhancing and developing the privacy and security of e-learning systems. While previous research has examined factors …

College Students And The Rhetorical Dissent Goal: Associations Between Dissent Goal, Dissent Target, And Perceptions Of Instructor Power, Martin Glenn Heator

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Some college students who experience discontent with the instructional experience engage in a complaining and problem-solving behavior called instructional dissent. Three types of dissent have been identified: rhetorical, expressive, and vengeful. Student perceptions of instructor power influence if and how students dissent. This study explored the relationship between instructor power and rhetorical dissent. Previous studies measured rhetorical dissent as a single variable incorporating the goal for dissenting and the target for dissent expression, using the instructor in the class as the only target. This study measured dissent goal and dissent target as separate variables and included the instructor in the …

The Evolution Of Architecture Faculty Organizational Culture At The University Of Michigan, Linda Mills

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding and navigating the multiple academic disciplines and administrative subcultures, which operate within higher education institutions, is challenging for both internal and external stakeholders who may be unfamiliar with the disparate normative, regulative, and cultural cognitive systems that guide social behavior of each area. Higher education leaders need to understand the cultures operating within the organizational groups and subgroups in order to coordinate, integrate, and foster collaboration toward organizational and institutional goal attainment activities. This case study, which focused on the emergence and evolution of the organizational culture of the architecture faculty at the University of Michigan, provides insights into …

A Study Of The Relationships Among The Transformational Leadership Practices Of The Michigan High School Principal, School Culture, And Student Achievement, Delores Michelle Starks

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The continuing demand for greater accountability and improved student performance are critical concerns facing education in the 21st century. Federal and state mandates have been issued to ensure that all students achieve mastery of curriculum objectives. This quantitative study examined the relationships among student achievement as measured by the overall student proficiency in science on the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) Test and teacher perceptions of transformational leadership practices of Michigan high school principals and school culture. A correlational research design was used for this study. A total of 157 teachers, representing 147 unique high schools completed an …

The Relationship Between Motivational Interventions And Task-Oriented And Ego-Oriented Learners, Carolyn S. Dale

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: The current high stakes standardized testing mandate, wherein school funding and other resources depend on successful student test performance, makes student motivation especially important. This study seeks to examine factors affecting K-5 teachers’ ability to recognize different types of student motivation behaviors and identify corresponding interventions. The study focuses on an aspect of motivation known as goal orientation, which has been found to manifest in two basic types: ego orientation and task orientation.

Purpose: The study assesses the relationship between elementary teachers’ goal orientations and their teaching environment, and their ability to recognize ego- and task-oriented behaviors and interventions. …

Teaching Efl Writing In Montenegro: Perceptions And Approaches Of Elementary And High School Teachers, Silvija Marnikovic

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This project examines perceptions and practices of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) K-12 teachers in Montenegro regarding their teaching of writing. To collect data the researcher utilized a researcher-created online questionnaire. Participants’ responses were analyzed and compared in order to examine their perceptions of importance of EFL writing instruction for their students, the extent and quality of professional training on teaching EFL writing they receive, the approaches to teaching EFL writing they practice, and perception of their competence in teaching EFL writing. Findings showed that the 27 participants would feel more confident teaching EFL writing if they had more …

Educators' Support Of The Cultivation Of Self-Determination And Self-Advocacy Of Students With Disabilities, Stephanie Porcari

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

In a society that appears to take independence for granted at times, it has become more and more of a necessity for educators to combat this trend and foster independence within students. One way educators can foster independence is by supporting the cultivation of self-determination and self-advocacy within students during the school-age years. As part of this project, a literature review was conducted to compile the components of self-determination and self-advocacy of students with learning disabilities and mild cognitive impairments. Working definitions of these two attributes were then created from these components. This project will explore the cultivation of self-determination …

Cleft Lip And Palate: An Educational Guide For Families, Ciara Woods

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Cleft lip and palate are craniofacial anomalies affecting more than 200,000 infants in teh United States per year. Although this condition is quite common, parents are often confused and uninformed when they discover their newborn has a cleft lip and/or palate. In time, parents can learn of the surgical repairs and therapies, but what about the management, treatment, effects on education, risk factors, genetics, and any other lasting effects on the newborn? Many parents often wonder if their baby can be fed properly, if the child will have trouble learning to talk, or how to tell relatives and friends about …

Navigating The World Of Alzheimer's Disease: An Educational Guide For Family Members, Delaney Walker

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a condition which deteriorates the brain and results in a form of dementia. Its the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and its symptoms have significant impact on both individual with AD and their caregivers. Family members are often confused and overwhelmed with an AD diagnosis. This thesis incorporates a comprehensive literature review that addresses four significant areas of need for individuals with AD: Feeding, communication, behavioral, and activities of daily life. The booklet highlight the importance of family education as they navigate the unfamiliar road of AD.

Writing Across The Curriculum: Integrating Writing Into Daily Elementary Math, Science, And Social Studies Lessons, Emily Lundh

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

There is a significant lack of time spent writing with students in the primary grades, namely writing informationally. By using research done by experts in the fields of writing and literature in the elementary grades I have created lessons that integrate informational writing into the daily lessons in math, science, and social studies in first, third, and fifth grades. These lessons are individual, pair, and small group plans that can be completed in just one day or a few days where students are engaging with the content in a different way.

Not Just The Playground: Adult Bullying In The K-12 Workplace, Cynthia J. Kleinheksel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This non-experimental, explanatory, quantitative research study surveyed K-12 educators and other K-12 school employees to gather data about negative school workplace climate using the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R). Through the NAQ-R and other demographic survey questions, the researcher studied the prevalence and characteristics of adult-on-adult bullying in the K-12 workplace. Categories of Emotional Intimidation, Workplace Intimidation, and Physical Intimidation were identified and regressions were completed to analyze results against a study by Einarsen, Hoel, and Notelaers (2009). Using R. J. Bies's four categories of interactional justice, the characteristics of adult bullying in the K-12 workplace were identified and analyzed to …

A Case Study Of High School Students Affected By School Closure, Elizabeth Wolkowicz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Recent charter school closures in a Southeastern Michigan community have created an influx of displaced students from communities where families are not provided systematic support to make the unexpected transition. The study utilized focus group and individual interviews to collect data from high school students who have experienced their charter high school closing and have transitioned into a single charter high school. Data analyses were done concurrently with data collection, and the first- and second-level codes were presented in matrix displays. Four themes emerged from the interviews of these participants. These themes were: sense of belonging, fear of the unknown, …