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Full-Text Articles in Education

The Lack Of And Discouragement Of Certified And Intended Music Educators Due To The State Of Louisiana Teacher Certification Requirements, Kendall James Damond May 2024

The Lack Of And Discouragement Of Certified And Intended Music Educators Due To The State Of Louisiana Teacher Certification Requirements, Kendall James Damond

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current trends in today’s secondary education level lean towards a shortage of certified teachers and educators in all subject areas. As public and private school administrations devise new incentives and plan to recruit individuals to the field of education, preservice educator requirements and university curriculum demands continue to discourage and prevent aspiring educators from not only becoming fully certified but also continuing the journey of the teacher preparation and certification process. This qualitative research study will focus on Louisiana’s music teacher certification preparation practices within its universities and the effects of failure to successfully pass the Praxis II: Music Content …


Exploring Perceptions Of School Climate At The Middle School Level Through The Implementation Of A School-Wide House System: A Case Study, Mallory Graham Mar 2024

Exploring Perceptions Of School Climate At The Middle School Level Through The Implementation Of A School-Wide House System: A Case Study, Mallory Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to explore the perceptions of school climate as influenced by the implementation of a school-wide house system for staff and students. The theories guiding this study were Maslow’s theory of motivation and the theory of self-determination. The central research question for the study considers ways in which stakeholders, faculty, and staff implement a house system with the goal of creating a positive school climate. The intrinsic case study was situated at a middle school in southwest Virginia that had fully implemented a school-wide house system, and the sample consisted of five 8th …


The Perceptions Of Black Parents Of Middle School Children Concerning Parental Involvement In A Northeastern U.S. Inner-City District: A Case Study, Gabrielle T. S. Dixon Dec 2023

The Perceptions Of Black Parents Of Middle School Children Concerning Parental Involvement In A Northeastern U.S. Inner-City District: A Case Study, Gabrielle T. S. Dixon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study is to explore the perceptions of Black parents of middle school children concerning parental involvement in a Northeastern U.S. inner-city district. The theory guiding this study is Epstein's Parental Involvement Theory, which defines types of involvement: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community. This qualitative research study used a case study approach. This case study occurred in a Northeastern inner-city district. Participants in this study were 12-15 Black parents of middle school children in a northeast U.S. inner-city district. The researcher collected data through individual interviews, focus …


The Low Retention Rates Of Nontraditional Students In Community Colleges: An Exploratory Case Study, Stephanie Rodrigo Sep 2023

The Low Retention Rates Of Nontraditional Students In Community Colleges: An Exploratory Case Study, Stephanie Rodrigo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore nontraditional community college students' experiences with student support services, their connectedness to the institutions, and their overall satisfaction with the institution. Tinto’s integration framework guided this study to test connectedness and its association with student retention rates. The central research question for this study was: What are nontraditional community college students' perceptions of their overall satisfaction with the institution? The study was conducted at Waynesboro Community College in Waynesboro, NC. The purposeful sample size selected included 10 nontraditional students as research participants. The triangulation of data collection methods used in …


Parental Perspectives On The Role Of Music As A Core Subject, Justine M. Hansen May 2023

Parental Perspectives On The Role Of Music As A Core Subject, Justine M. Hansen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the designation of music as a core subject by federal and many state education policies, instructional time for elementary music classes is disproportionately less than that allocated to other core subjects. The perceptions held by parents of elementary school children may indicate the extent to which elementary general music education is valued by the public, affecting the allocation of instructional time. At present, no research exists examining the views held by parents concerning the designation of music as a core subject and its role in a well-rounded education. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions held …


Perceptions Of Student Loan Debt And The Decision To Pursue Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study Of African American High School Students, Adrian J. Wilkins Apr 2023

Perceptions Of Student Loan Debt And The Decision To Pursue Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study Of African American High School Students, Adrian J. Wilkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine African American high school students’ perceptions surrounding potential student loan debt burden and its perceived influence on the decisions to enter HEIs. The purpose of this study stems from the current status of student loan debt as a significant factor in the decision-making process for potential higher education students as well as current students and those who have graduated. The central research question of this study was what are African American high school student perceptions of student loan debt, student loan debt burden, financial aid, and how are those perceptions influencing …


A Quantitative Analysis Of The Views And Perceptions Of Building Leaders On Discipline And Special Education For Urban Students, Dementred T. Young Mar 2023

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Views And Perceptions Of Building Leaders On Discipline And Special Education For Urban Students, Dementred T. Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation involved summarizing and critically evaluating principals’ views on students who have been traumatized and the treatment these students receive as a result of these perceptions. The main focus was to ascertain whether administrators’ upbringing has a mediating effect on the treatment of students being educated in an urban community. The central question focused on the views and perceptions of building leaders raised in urban, suburban, or rural areas and the impact of their perception of urban students who have experienced trauma. Sub-questions were designed to uncover the relationship between the building administrator’s life experiences and perceptions of disciplinary …


Gatekeepers Of Family And Consumer Sciences: A Quantitative Study Exploring Factors Influencing Administrator And Counselor Perceptions Of Family And Consumer Sciences, Amber Nicole Tiernan Oct 2022

Gatekeepers Of Family And Consumer Sciences: A Quantitative Study Exploring Factors Influencing Administrator And Counselor Perceptions Of Family And Consumer Sciences, Amber Nicole Tiernan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify which factors may predict the perception of family and consumer sciences curriculum (FCS) programs by administrators and school counselors. The study was centered around Kurt Lewin’s Gatekeeper theory, in which an individual or group acts as a gate through which information passes. Principals and school counselors were chosen as the sample for this study because of their role as gatekeepers in a school, deciding which programs are offered and which information is conveyed to students. A Likert-scale survey was sent to all Virginia public high school principals and school counselors. Data …


Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Motivation To Use Classroom Integrated Technology, Jason Lynn Webb Aug 2022

Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Motivation To Use Classroom Integrated Technology, Jason Lynn Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The integration of technology into the classroom transforms curriculum design and instructional methods. Research suggests that the perspectives of teachers and students are not always in agreement regarding the influence of classroom integrated technology on learning motivation. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a significant difference in how teachers perceive the influence of technology integration on student learning motivation based on teacher gender, teacher weekly hours of computer use, and teacher years of teaching experience. The study used the Teacher Attitudes toward Classroom Computing Scale to collect data from 238 4th- and 5th-grade rural …


Rural Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of School Climate And Student Achievement In Math And Reading: A Multiple Case Study, Matthew James Dolegowski Apr 2022

Rural Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of School Climate And Student Achievement In Math And Reading: A Multiple Case Study, Matthew James Dolegowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to investigate teachers’ and school leaders’ perceptions of how school climate affects student achievement in math and reading at rural schools. The conceptual framework guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory intertwined with the U.S. Department of Education’s School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) (2019) school climate model to influence student academic achievement. Purposeful criterion sampling was used to select 13 teachers and school leaders from two rural schools in Western New York. Data was collected through a survey, teacher interviews, and school leader interviews. The data was triangulated and analyzed using …


Perceptions Of School Safety: A Multiple Case Study Of School Resource Officers In A Rural Setting In The Southeastern United States, Stephen Lance Britt Jan 2022

Perceptions Of School Safety: A Multiple Case Study Of School Resource Officers In A Rural Setting In The Southeastern United States, Stephen Lance Britt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine school resource officers’ (SROs) perceptions of school safety assigned to 12 schools within rural communities located in the Southeast region of the United States. For this study, school safety was defined as the overall safety and well-being of the school environment. The perceptions of the SROs assigned to selected schools were examined using this definition of school safety. All aspects of safety within the schools were the focus of the study and were not limited to any specific areas of emphasis. This study utilized a purposeful sampling of 12 …


Perceptions Of General Education And Special Education Teachers Towards Inclusion: A Quantitative Study, Charity Leigh Kinneer Sep 2021

Perceptions Of General Education And Special Education Teachers Towards Inclusion: A Quantitative Study, Charity Leigh Kinneer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the attitudes of general education teachers and special education teacher of the inclusion classroom in the middle and high school levels. Using casual- comparative and survey methodology, the level of agreement or disagreement of these teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusive procedures was assessed in four areas: Planning, Classroom/School Environment, Collaboration/Team Partners, and Resources/Supports/Professional Development. The survey measured general education teachers and special education teachers in the middle and high school levels using a 19- item, five-point Likert scale. To address the research questions, an ANOVA was initially proposed. However, due to the low sample size of administrators …


Title Ix And The College Employee: A Phenomenological Study, Jessica Jean Necessary Apr 2021

Title Ix And The College Employee: A Phenomenological Study, Jessica Jean Necessary

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand employee perceptions of Title IX through participants’ lived experiences at Small Public College. The transcendental phenomenological design for this study was be grounded in the phenomenological approach of Moustakas (1994) as it enables the researcher to investigate the lived experiences of participants related to a central phenomenon. The central research question guiding the study was what are the employee perceptions of Title IX at Small Public College? The study utilized three instruments: interviews, focus group, and document analysis. Fifteen participants were interviewed. Six participants were in the focus group. Data …


Comparing Digital Citizenship Perceptions Of Online Students And Teachers, Tamarack Autumn Grammon Dec 2020

Comparing Digital Citizenship Perceptions Of Online Students And Teachers, Tamarack Autumn Grammon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify commonalities or differences between teacher and student perceptions of digital citizenship, defined by the norms of behavior with regard to technology use. The study was conducted with online, secondary students and teachers from the same population using the DCS (Digital Citizenship Scale) instrument created by Choi, Glassman, and Cristol (2017). The study addressed the problem of inconsistent digital skills among online, secondary students and teachers by gathering data about areas where deficiencies may exist for both teachers and students in the same population. Variables included: (1) online, secondary student perceptions of digital …


Differences In Parent Involvement Perceptions: A Quantitative Study Of Soldiers With Children In Elementary School, Tabatha Ware Oct 2019

Differences In Parent Involvement Perceptions: A Quantitative Study Of Soldiers With Children In Elementary School, Tabatha Ware

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined perceptions of effective parent involvement for military parents with children in elementary school. Schools can cater to the needs of military parents by offering activities that parents prefer when consideration is given to rank and the grade level of the child. The population included soldiers stationed at an Army post in the southeastern part the United States. The target population was military parents with children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The sample population included the military parents with children enrolled in elementary schools near the Army installation. A causal-comparative research design was used to compare mean scores …


A Comparative Study Of Special Education Teachers’ Inclusion Perceptions: The Role Of Certification Routes, Dannette Taylor Estes Apr 2019

A Comparative Study Of Special Education Teachers’ Inclusion Perceptions: The Role Of Certification Routes, Dannette Taylor Estes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A primary goal of education is to increase student achievement. Many school districts are addressing increased student achievement by hiring and retaining effective teachers. Teacher effectiveness and student achievement are both influenced by teacher perception. Teachers with positive perceptions have been shown to contribute to increased student achievement and are perceived to be effective educators. Special education teachers hold both positive and negative perceptions about inclusion. In addition to varied perceptions of inclusion, teachers have taken different routes to obtain special education teacher certification. The purpose of this causal-comparative, quantitative study was to determine whether a statistically significant difference exists …


Teacher Perceptions On The Use Of Technology With English Language Learners, Holly Harvil Jun 2018

Teacher Perceptions On The Use Of Technology With English Language Learners, Holly Harvil

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand general education teachers’ perceptions regarding their use of technology with students who qualify for English Language Learner services in an urban Georgia school district. The self-efficacy theory originated by Bandura was used to examine 17 teachers’ experiences of using technology as possible personal preference or as being influenced by environmental factors. The following three research questions were used: (1) How do teachers describe their use of technology in a classroom setting? (2) What are the participants’ understandings of instructional technology in relation to ELL students? (3) How do teachers of …


Effect Of School Level On Teacher Perceptions Of Sst/Rti Effectiveness (K-12), Within A Northwest Georgia School System, Susan R. Tolbert Mar 2018

Effect Of School Level On Teacher Perceptions Of Sst/Rti Effectiveness (K-12), Within A Northwest Georgia School System, Susan R. Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study is to evaluate the effect of school level (primary, elementary, middle, and high school) on teacher perceptions of Student Support Team and Response to Intervention within a Northwest Georgia school system. Understanding these differences in perceptions will allow educational leaders to create meaningful staff development for mandated programs for all certified staff. This study will utilize demographic information, 21 survey questions, and two multiple-choice questions to analyze the differences in perceptions among primary, elementary, middle, and high school certified staff in regards to SST and RTI. Analysis will involve the use of an ANOVA …


Teachers' Perceptions Of School Climate In High Performing Schools And Low Performing Schools, Briget Ethier Jun 2017

Teachers' Perceptions Of School Climate In High Performing Schools And Low Performing Schools, Briget Ethier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal comparative research study was to determine if there was a significant difference in teachers’ perceptions of school climate between high performing schools and low performing schools. The study investigated teachers’ perceptions of overall school climate, collaboration, decision-making, instructional innovation, student relations, and school resources. Data was collected from 75 teachers in three high performing schools and 75 teachers in three low performing schools from one school district. The Revised School Level Environment Questionnaire (Revised SLEQ) was the instrument utilized in the study to measure teachers’ perceptions of overall school climate in addition to the …


A Phenomenological Study Of Collaborative Learning: Understanding The Perceptions, Values, And Experiences Of Freshmen Language Arts Students, Teachers, And One Administrator, Sheryl Ackers Apr 2017

A Phenomenological Study Of Collaborative Learning: Understanding The Perceptions, Values, And Experiences Of Freshmen Language Arts Students, Teachers, And One Administrator, Sheryl Ackers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a better understanding of collaborative learning through the perceptions of freshmen Language Arts students, teachers, and one administrator. Nine freshmen Language Arts students, four freshman Language Arts teachers, and one administrator participated in the study at Falcons Rise Up (pseudonym) (FRU). FRU is located approximately 45 minutes outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Theories from both Vygotsky (1978) and Bandura (1986) framed the study. Data methods included student, teacher, and administrator semi-structured interviews. Interview questions focused on participants’ perceptions of and experiences with collaborative learning models. Moustakas’s (1994) phenomenological reduction method of data …


A Phenomenology Of Sixth Grade Students’ Perspectives On Their Experience Using A Rubric For Criterion-Referenced Assessment, Julie Quast Oct 2016

A Phenomenology Of Sixth Grade Students’ Perspectives On Their Experience Using A Rubric For Criterion-Referenced Assessment, Julie Quast

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine sixth grade literacy students’ perspectives of rubric-referenced assessment at an inner-city school in central Arkansas. The theories guiding this study were Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development, as rubrics scaffold students learning (Reeves & Stanford, 2009) and social cognitive theory, as rubrics help students regulate their learning (Covill, 2012) and control their actions (Bandura, 1997). The sample size included 29 students completing a questionnaire, 12 students participating in a focus group session, and two students journaling their experience. The research questions focused on the experiences, perspectives, approach to assignments, and response to …


A Phenomenological Study Of African-American Female Teacher Graduates Of Historically Black Colleges And Universities’ Perceptions Of Preparedness For The Field, Kimberly Bryant Oct 2016

A Phenomenological Study Of African-American Female Teacher Graduates Of Historically Black Colleges And Universities’ Perceptions Of Preparedness For The Field, Kimberly Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and explain the perceptions of African-American female teachers’ levels of preparedness for the teaching field after attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Preparedness was generally defined as one’s readiness to teach in the classroom. The main theory guiding this study was Dewey’s (1938) theory of experience and education. The central question of this study was: What are the perceptions of preparedness for African-American female teacher education graduates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities? The sub-questions focused on the characteristics of Dewey’s (1938) theory of experience and education, additional helpful resources, and …


The Correlation Between Student/Instructor Rapports, Student Perceptions Of Instructor Effectiveness, And Course Grade Expectations, Erin Yezbick May 2016

The Correlation Between Student/Instructor Rapports, Student Perceptions Of Instructor Effectiveness, And Course Grade Expectations, Erin Yezbick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher attempted to determine if a correlation exists between student/instructor rapport, student perceptions of instructor effectiveness, and course grade expectations for freshman general education courses at a career college in the Great Lakes Region of the United States. Previous studies have determined that rapport affects motivation (Bergström, 2010; Frisby, Berger, Burchett, Herovic, & Strawser, 2014; Legg & Wilson, 2009), perceptions of teacher effectiveness (Giles, 2011; Kozub, 2010), and evaluation scores (Barth, 2008; Kowai-Bell, Guadango, Little, & Ballew, 2012). The researcher asked the following research questions: Is there a relationship between student/instructor rapport, as measured by the Professor-Student Rapport Scale …


Total Communication Methods For Preschool Children With Autism: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Parent And Professional Perceptions, Leigh Beesley May 2016

Total Communication Methods For Preschool Children With Autism: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Parent And Professional Perceptions, Leigh Beesley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to explore experiences of using a total communication system with preschoolers diagnosed with autism as explained by their parents and teachers. The research focused on the experience specifically relating to functional communication and social interactions. Determining resources that parents and teachers need that may have made the employment of the strategies more successful, was of importance to this study in order to determine implications, or future needed research. The participants in this study, determined by purposive sampling, included parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, and speech therapist located in an elementary school setting. The study …


A Phenomelogical Study Of Reclassified Elementary School English Learners’ Perceptions Of Their Educational Experiences, Fernando Betanzos May 2016

A Phenomelogical Study Of Reclassified Elementary School English Learners’ Perceptions Of Their Educational Experiences, Fernando Betanzos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide an insight into how former English learners’ educational experiences allowed them to attain English language proficiency and meet grade level standards in English Language Arts. This study was informed by the theoretical frameworks of Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, and Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, as they pertain to English learners. The data collection procedures included student semi-structured interviews, elementary school principal semi-structured interviews, and review of site documents such as student work samples, report cards, attendance records, discipline records, state standardized test scores, Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment scores, and English …


Comparing The Perceptions Of Inclusion Between General Education And Special Education Teachers, Debra Bruster Apr 2014

Comparing The Perceptions Of Inclusion Between General Education And Special Education Teachers, Debra Bruster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative, quantitative study compared the perceptions of inclusion of students with disabilities in the mainstream classroom that are held by high school general education teachers and high school special education teachers that teach in inclusive settings. The study determined there is a difference between the perceptions of inclusive education between teachers with different teaching assignments. Special education teachers were clearly more positive than general education teachers about the inclusion of students with disabilities, the influence of students with disabilities on the general education classroom and its students, and the management of behavior in the inclusive classroom. There was no …


Working Towards School Goals At Lion Elementary: A Phenomenological Study, Benjamin Butcher Apr 2014

Working Towards School Goals At Lion Elementary: A Phenomenological Study, Benjamin Butcher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the perspectives of educators regarding school goals at Lion Elementary. Perspectives concerning school goals were generally defined as the importance of competing priorities as described by participants. This research can inform educators about whether perspectives regarding school goals were aligned, and provide insight regarding the reasons behind similarities and differences by having considered several questions: (a) What were the perceptions of the principal and teachers regarding school goal priorities? (b) What were the main challenges they perceived for meeting school goals? (c) What factors contributed toward schools successfully meeting goals? …


Novice, Rural New York State Teacher Perceptions Of Their Classroom Management And How These Perceptions Affect Their Job Satisfaction And Retention, Shawn Bielicki Jan 2014

Novice, Rural New York State Teacher Perceptions Of Their Classroom Management And How These Perceptions Affect Their Job Satisfaction And Retention, Shawn Bielicki

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological inquiry listened to the voices of five novice teachers from a rural area in New York about their encounters with classroom management and their perceptions of job satisfaction and retention. Data were triangulated through the use of four audio recordings, an online focus group featuring two online discussion board topics and two online discussion board replies, and two individual phone interviews per participant. Data analysis resulted in nine emerged themes. Findings indicated that participants felt (a) experience was necessary to succeed; (b) issues with classroom management are part of the job; (c) approaches to classroom management were …


Perceptions Of Student-Teacher Relationships And Ged Completion: A Correlational Study, Melissa Hairston Dec 2013

Perceptions Of Student-Teacher Relationships And Ged Completion: A Correlational Study, Melissa Hairston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study took an in depth look at student-teacher relationships as one institutional barrier affecting GED completion among adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of student-instructor relationships, specifically Instructor Connectedness and Instructor Anxiety, and its effects on adults seeking GED completion. Data from approximately 120 students who attended classes for at least 20 hours at the Regional Learning Center were surveyed using the Student-Instructor Relationship Survey in Portsmouth, Virginia. A quantitative design utilizing correlational statistics to produce Pearson's r was used to determine if correlations existed among Instructor Connectedness and Instructor Anxiety with the following …


A Phenomenological Investigation Of Experience In Middle School Honors Math And Language Arts Courses And Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Preparedness For Similar High School Honors And Advanced Placement Courses, Melissa Butler Aug 2013

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Experience In Middle School Honors Math And Language Arts Courses And Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Preparedness For Similar High School Honors And Advanced Placement Courses, Melissa Butler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to investigate student and teacher perceptions concerning the impact of honors middle school language arts and mathematics courses on preparedness for similar ninth through twelfth grade classes at a high school in northwest Georgia. The questions that guided the study focused on examining the perceptions of students and teachers who had experienced this phenomenon and their notions of the impact that participation in middle school honors mathematics and language arts courses had on preparedness for non-gifted students enrolled in similar accelerated high school courses. A transcendental phenomenological design was used to discover …