Education Commons^™

Exploring Early Language Acquisition Through English And French, Rebecca C. Aguilar

Honors Capstones

Knowing that there is no singular event that leads to learning a language, and factoring in the extent an individual’s culture can affect language learning, this study emphasizes the importance of a cross-linguistic approach to continue to broaden the scope of language acquisition research. The primary objective is to identify and analyze the critical commonalities in the initial stages of learning English and French as first languages through two major categories: speech/language and culture. This project carried out an analytical review of 24 pieces of relevant literature, in both languages, in an effort to highlight key findings. Those findings include: …

Culturally Responisve Teaching Practices To Support Students With Visual Imapirments, Genesis C. Miranda

Honors Capstones

This project examines education for children with visual impairments and those from racial, cultural, and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Taken separately, they result in a unique educational experience for the individual. This projedct also looks at the intersection of visual impairment and diversity and how students who fall within these groups are taught. The value of culturally responsive teaching practices is presented and applied to teaching children with vision loss to provide educators with strategies to create inclusive environments that promote learning and empowerment.

Toilet Training And Teaching Self-Initiations To Children With Autism Who Use Augmentative And Alternative Communication, Darcy A. Douglass

Honors Capstones

Within this project, we address the challenges faced by individuals, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), during toilet training, which often takes longer than neurotypical children. Practitioners who use traditional methods often overlook teaching children how to request bathroom use, especially among those who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Drawing from literature and expert recommendations, we summarize the importance of teaching independence in bathroom use for children with complex communication needs by incorporating their AAC devices when teaching toilet training.

Inspired by Perez et al. (2020), who demonstrated positive responses from individuals with ASD to reinforcement-based procedures, …

A Study Of Children With Autism In Illinois General Education Elementary School Classrooms, Zachary V. King

Honors Capstones

The purpose of this study is to gather survey-based information from parents of children with autism who are currently in elementary schools in Illinois to determine whether or not their children are receiving the needs they should get. The parents are asked about their perceptions as to whether or not their children are getting the necessary help with educational, stimulatory, and sensory needs. The survey’s response, though limited, found that while accommodations and support for children with autism have improved in the past 20 years, the matter of addressing maladaptive behaviors may still need some work. This shows that while …

The Matthew Effect Within South Side Chicago Public Schools, Jazmin S. Hollingsworth

Honors Capstones

The Matthew Effect was first developed by sociologist Robert Merton (1968) to describe a phenomenon they observed whereby wealth and credit is distributed to individuals based on the wealth or credit they already possess. Keith Stanovich further developed this theory around poverty and effects on students, their learning, and in particular reading (1986). The name Matthew Effect comes from the Bible book of Matthew chapter 25: verse 29. "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." The dynamics of poverty …

Community College Library Technical Assistant Students’ Experiences With Student-To-Student Engagement In Asynchronous Online Courses: A Qualitative Case Study, Amanda Musacchio

Dissertations of Practice

COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIBRARY TECHNICAL ASSISTANT STUDENTS’

EXPERIENCES WITH STUDENT-TO-STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN

ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE COURSES:

A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY

This dissertation examined how community college students connect and engage with their peers via discussion forums in online asynchronous courses. Asynchronous online student interaction and knowing each other as more than a name on their screen is an important part of online learning. Examining how students can form peer connections in asynchronous online courses can help them to have a more meaningful learning experience. Using a case study approach and the Community of Inquiry model framework, the purpose of this study was …

Exploring How Out-Of-Class Student Engagement Shapes Undocumented Students' Sense Of Belonging, Taylor D. Hartman

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

EXPLORING HOW OUT-OF-CLASS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SHAPES UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS’ SENSE OF BELONGING

Taylor D. Hartman, EdD
Department of Counseling and Higher Education
Northern Illinois University, 2023
Carrie A. Kortegast, Director

This dissertation explores how out-of-class student engagement shapes undocumented students’ sense of belonging at a public four-year university in the Midwest. The goal of this study is to understand the out-of-class student engagement experiences of the participants in relation to their sense of belonging. This study is significant as further research is needed to understand undocumented students’ experiences with out-of-class engagement, or lack thereof, may shape their sense of belonging. …

Being A Leader: Exploring Generation Z Students’ Conceptualizations Of And Engagement In Leadership In College, Zachary G. Birch

Dissertations of Practice

Colleges and universities have always helped students learn leadership skills. As Generation Z college students began to enter institutions of higher education, there had been a noted shift in how they were engaging in traditional leadership organizations. This phenomenological research examines the essence of how Generation Z thinks about and gets involved with leadership on campuses. This study interviewed eight participants from across the United States, talking about how they think about the concept of leadership and why they choose to engage. What was discovered in this research as a phenomenon noted as the “Four Commitments to Student Leadership.” These …

Does Path Matter?: A Quantitative Study Examining Mathematics Course-Taking Patterns And Degree Or Transfer Attainment, Jacqueline Kraus

Dissertations of Practice

DOES PATH MATTER: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY EXAMINING MATHEMATICS COURSE-TAKING PATTERNS AND DEGREE OR TRANSFER ATTAINMENT

Abstract

This quantitative study, guided by Bean and Metzner’s (1985) student attrition model, examined whether mathematics course-taking pattern is associated with a students’ chances of attaining degree or transfer at a community college. Six years of student data from a midwestern community college was used. Descriptive statistics of student course-taking patterns highlighted that more full-time and college level students enrolled in mathematics immediately while part-time and developmental level students delayed their enrollment in mathematics coursework. Contradicting assumptions at the midwestern community college under study, it …

Faculty Perceptions And Integration Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy In Programs Designed For Adult Learners, Jennifer Mattingly

Dissertations of Practice

Enrollment in colleges and universities has become increasingly diverse and with the looming demographic cliff, many institutions have turned more attention to the adult learner population. However, the diversity of the adult learner has often been overlooked, including in research about how culturally responsive pedagogy is incorporated into adult learning models. The purpose of this case study was to learn about how faculty in adult learning degree programs perceive and integrate culturally responsive pedagogy into their teaching practices. The case site was a department that offers degrees specifically designed for adult learners at a small, private liberal arts institution located …

Examining The Rockford Public Schools' Master Scheduling Process As An Open System To Achieve Sustainability, Renee E K Schott

Dissertations of Practice

Master scheduling is a high-stakes process that plays a critical role in a school’s ability to effectively deliver instruction to students. Proper care is required to ensure students have equitable access to courses and staff assignments are maximizing the functionality of the schedule. Despite its significance, however, there is little extant literature or research on the topic of master scheduling itself or its agents, Master Schedulers. The scope of this research strives to fill that gap by analyzing the master scheduling processes of a Midwest, urban, public school district through the lens of Systems Theory. Through this study, strengths and …

Latino Students' Perceptions Of Belonging And Inclusion Of The Recruitment Strategies And Marketing Materials At An Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, Julie Wiejak

Dissertations of Practice

Latino students are the fastest-growing minority enrolling in higher education institutions. If higher education institutions want to recruit, attract, and retain Latino students, they must create a recruitment marketing strategy that highlights inclusion for these students on their campuses. Therefore, the purpose of this critical visual qualitative case study is to understand the perceptions Latino students have of marketing materials at a four-year emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as those materials relate to inclusion and access. The research site for this study was a regional public four-year institution named North Calumet University (NCU), which is an emerging HSI. The conceptual …

Feeling At Home In The Basic Communication Course: A Qualitative Case Study Of Faculty And Student Perceptions Of A Connected Classroom Climate At One Midwestern University, Cynthia A. Grobmeier

Dissertations of Practice

The concept of a connected classroom climate considers that peer-to-peer interaction, not just instructor-student interaction, contributes to a sense of community in the classroom that can impact student outcomes. This qualitative case study considers both student and instructor perceptions of what contributes to that sense of connection in the classroom at a mid-size, four-year, Hispanic-serving university. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and member checks with students and instructors who engaged in the first-year basic communication course during the Spring 2022 semester. Five themes emerged in this study: a) the communication classroom is uniquely positioned to create a sense of …

An Analysis Of K-8 School Transportation: Understanding The Need, Gauging The Effectiveness, And Defining Best Practice, Leeann D. Taylor

Dissertations of Practice

School transportation plays a critical role in schools, helping students gain access to their education and school sponsored extracurricular activities each day. This study examined the history, need, and future of school-provided transportation in efforts to establish the components of a tool by which districts can gauge the effectiveness of current transportation practices. To organize the research, data, and final framework in the most meaningful way, the final product was divided into three individual papers.

Paper 1 reviews the existing literature reviewed the history, significance, and anticipated developments in the field of school transportation. Paper 2 curates the results of …

Learning To Lead With An Equity Lens: A Case Study Of A Principal Residency Program, Maurice L. Davis

Dissertations of Practice

School districts throughout the United States are challenged with the plague of educator turnover. In particular, building principals are exiting school buildings causing gaps in system consistencies leading to negative perceptions of school culture and decreases in student achievement. Universities are working to assess and redevelop principal preparation programs (PPPs) to support principals and the skill sets needed to be successful within schools today. By increasing the skill of a building principal to lead using an equity lens and developing theories of action to address the frustration initiated by urban school working conditions, principals may develop a greater sense of …

In Order For My Voice To Be Heard, I Had To Create My Own Space: A Critical Narrative Analysis Of Black College Student Success In Creative Majors, Rachel Horton

Dissertations of Practice

This critical narrative inquiry explored the strengths of Black undergraduate students who study the creative arts. The research centered on the unique wealth that Black students bring to their institutions, as highlighted through the Community Cultural Wealth model. The study found that participants: used aspirational capital to fuel them in attending college and pursuing the arts; used linguistic capital in general, and code switching in particular, to navigate various cultures and spaces, to facilitate hard conversations on topics such as racism, and to ensure that their voices were heard and respected; networked with other artists to create strong work through …

Implementing The Least Restrictive Environment Through Co-Teaching: The Role Of Administrative Support, Maureen Hatfield

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation investigates the perspectives of educators with the aim of enhancing support for the practice of co-teaching. Co-teaching, an inclusive instructional strategy involving collaboration between general and special educators, holds promise for diverse student populations. However, its effective implementation requires adequate support structures. This research employs a qualitative approach, employing interviews grounded in narrative inquiry and supplemented by a corresponding survey. The key findings illuminate critical areas where principals can enhance support for co-teaching practices within their schools. Through analysis, three primary categories emerged: resources, autonomy, and efficacy. General and special educators identified these areas as pivotal for successful …

The Personal Is Political: School Board Members’ Motivation For School Governance, Andrew Lobdell

Dissertations of Practice

Understanding the motivation behind school board members' governance is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of public schools. This research aims to analyze the motivations of five newly elected board members and compare them with past research on governance and motivation. The leadership qualities of school superintendents also impact governance and can influence board members' motivations for running and serving their communities. Similarly, board members' motivations can affect how superintendents lead their districts and prioritize different topics. The research is divided into three papers. Paper 1 reviews existing literature and is organized into three distinct sections that explore school board governance, …

Associations Amongst Basic Psychological Needs And Burnout Amongst Illinois Principals, Matthew Zediker

Dissertations of Practice

Associations Amongst Basic Psychological Needs and Burnout Amongst Illinois Principals

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between burnout and the basic psychological needs of Illinois principals. The objective of this research was to gather more information on Illinois principals on their level of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) and the association with the three basic needs psychological needs (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) outlined within self-determination theory. The principal position is seeing attrition concerns and there are also training pipeline concerns for teachers to become principals. Because of this it is imperative to learn more …

"It’S Hard To Be An Enemy Of Student Success”: A Qualitative Case Study Of A Cultural Shift Towards Student Success, Lisa R. Lawless

Dissertations of Practice

Literature on how colleges change is limited and theoretical in nature. The purpose of this qualitative case student was to explore how Retention University changed their culture and norms to increase student persistence and retention. Data was collected with semi-structured interviews with 16 participants at a large, public university in the southeast. Four primary themes emerged from data: (1) leaders play an important role in fostering organizational change; (2) leaders need to be strategic about how they foster change; (3) leaders need to consider how organizational contexts might hinder change; (4) and value the people and process. Implications for further …

Sel Walkthroughs: Promoting Practices That Foster Social And Emotional Learning, Garrett Podgorski Dr.

Dissertations of Practice

The concept of social and emotional learning (SEL) has been around Illinois since the early 2000s and a part of legislation for schools to implement since 2003. This dissertation focuses on the extant data of 483 observations from the Municipal Nashville Public School (MNPS) SEL walkthrough tool, which was utilized to investigate SEL implementation in select Illinois schools. Data were collected in the South Cook County area of Illinois.

This dissertation provides a review of literature in the areas of SEL that should be taught in K-12 schools and provides an in-depth review of best practices for utilizing walkthrough observations …

A Case Study On First-Year Experience Programs And The Importance Of Sense Of Belonging For Latinx Students, Javier Aquino

Dissertations of Practice

Latinx students who are first-generation college students face a plethora of barriers when transitioning from high school to college. For example, some students experience a lack of sense of belonging to a campus community, cannot afford to continue their studies, and need guidance on how to be successful in college. First-year support programs can help aid students as they transition. Many of these programs reside in colleges/universities that are low-staffed and have limited funding. Students who are part of first-year programs look to the program to help fill in the gap so they can be successful and complete their college …

Lived Experiences Of Latino/A/X Students At Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions In The Midwestern United States, Elizabeth Depew

Dissertations of Practice

LIVED EXPERIENCES OF LATINO/A/X STUDENTS AT EMERGING HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS IN THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES

There are a growing number of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions (eHSI) across the United States (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, 2013a, 2013b, 2022). Because many HSIs and eHSIs are either formerly or still also Predominantly White Institutions (PWI), historical policies and practices within institutions of higher education do not routinely consider the lives of Latino/a/x students. In addition, HSIs are not required to have any portion of their mission dedicated to the advancement of Latino/a/x students as part of …

Examining Onboarding Practices In School Settings: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Gabriel Medina

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation examines the onboarding practices implemented in several schools within a district and their impacts on teacher retention and the culture and climate of the schools. The theoretical lens of self-determination theory was used to determine areas of strength and growth of onboarding with respect to the three basic human psychological needs of autonomy, belonging, and competence. Drawing on this theory, the research aimed to reveal how onboarding practices support or hinder fulfillment of these basic psychological needs in a school setting. By examining how teachers perceive their onboarding experiences, the study sheds light on the relationship between the …

Understanding School Financial Administrator’S Sphere Of Influence And Perception Of Role In Decision-Making Through A Comprehensive Review Of Historical, Legal, Philosophical, And Practice Perspectives On Local Decision-Making And Resource Allocation, Jacquelyn M. Bogan

Dissertations of Practice

UNDERSTANDING SCHOOL FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR’S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE AND PERCEPTION OF ROLE IN DECISION-MAKING

THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF HISTORICAL,

LEGAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, AND PRACTICE PERSPECTIVES

ON LOCAL DECISION-MAKING AND RESOURCE

ALLOCATION

Jacquelyn Bogan, Ed.D.

Department of Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Benjamin Creed, Director

Public education in the United States is a multilayered endeavor with complex governance and oversight from federal, state, and local agencies. While there is involvement across all levels, local school districts have a significant degree of control in decision-making regarding resource allocation. Public education has undergone legal, economic, and philosophical changes since …

Creating A Three Dimensional Ngss Aligned Unit On Motion And Energy For Middle Grades Students, Spencer M. Rudie

Honors Capstones

A study was conducted to see how the attitudes of middle school aged students would change with respect to science and engineering before and after participating in a ten-lesson unit. Students from the Barb City STEAM team (n=5) participated in the unit and attitudes assessment The unit was based on the principles of motion and energy, concluding with an engineering challenge where the students analyzed the motion and energy of a mousetrap powered car that they built from common craft materials. Their attitudes were assessed before and after the unit with seven questions using a five-point Likert scale, and the …

Multilingualism And Augmentative Alternative Communication: A Review Of The Literature, Hannah N. Lamarca, Natalie R. Andzik

Honors Capstones

Purpose: Individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who use Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) are often offered English-only AAC systems that do not meet their language needs. Devices that host multiple languages often only offer one at a time.

Method: The authors reviewed the literature by searching relevant databases using a variety of search strings. Following our inclusionary and exclusionary criteria, 15 articles were yielded for analysis.

Results: Authors found that more than half of the included articles were discussion-based papers on AAC delivery, barriers to AAC and multilingualism, and codeswitching using AAC. The included interview studies aimed to …

Examining Early Word Recognition Instruction: Synthetic Phonics Vs. Analytic Phonics, Jenelle Gallagher-Mance

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This single subject experimental design study used an adapted alternating treatment design to examine the effects of a synthetic phonics intervention and an analytic phonics intervention on oral reading accuracy, oral reading rate, and letter-sound correspondences among first grade students. Students who were reading at least two levels below guided reading level expectations and scored below the 25th percentile on the AIMSweb R-CBM (2017) fluency probe and the Words Their Way Primary Spelling Inventory (Baer et al., 2007) were selected to participate in the study. Five participants received daily instruction based on a synthetic phonics intervention (systematic directed phonics) or …

The Relationship Between Campus Dining, Student Learning, And Student Success, John Boswell

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Campus dining does more than provide sustenance to a campus community. Campus dining is an integral part of student success and learning. Limited research has looked at the impact of campus dining, particularly in the areas of student success and learning. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how campus dining directors in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) perceived how themselves and their dining programs impact student learning and success. Data was collected through interviews with MAC campus dining directors and through observations made on their campus dining websites. Three themes emerged from the research on ways campus …

Herstory 101: Examining The Representation Gap Of Bipoc Women Educational Leaders, Kinasha Brown

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how lived experiences influenced perceptions of leadership self-efficacy amongst Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC) women educational leaders in order to minimize future representation gaps in educational leadership. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 BIPOC cis-gender female leaders who worked in a large school district in the southwestern region of the United States. Results: Examining the social constructs of race, gender, leadership makes clear how BIPOC women are socially constructed as inferior and how that played out in this educational leadership settings. The interconnectedness of both approaches contributes to …