Education Commons^™

Investigating Trust In The Mentoring Relationship: The Beginning Teacher's Perspective, Nancy Ann Edick

Student Work

The focus of this dissertation was to investigate the beginning teacher's perspective on trust in the mentor-beginning teacher relationship. This was a qualitative study rooted in grounded theory modified to accommodate the use of received theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). The investigative framework was based on two received theories, and each theory formed the foundation for the following research questions: (1) Gabarro's (1978) theory predicts that work place trust in an associate will be affected by her perceptions of the associate's character, competence, and judgment. Is this true in the case of the beginning teachers as they do or do …

Performance -Based Assessment: Teacher Perceptions Of Implementation And Related Potential Outcomes, Gary Martin Shudak

Student Work

The purposes of this study were to determine: (a) whether and to what extent teachers' perceptions of a district-wide performance-based student assessment program (PBA) correlated with teacher demographics (sex, age, years in the district, years teaching, regular or special education, grade level/subject area taught, elementary or secondary assignment, year of undergraduate degree, and highest level of education attained); (b) whether and to what extent teachers' perceptions of the implementation of PBA correlated with their perceptions of PBA's effects on teaching behaviors, professional identity, relationships with others in the profession, and student achievement; (c) the extent to which teachers felt the …

The Current Training Practices And Perceived Training Needs Of Paraprofessionals In Special Education Programs In Nebraska, Enid Ann Schonewise

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to determine (a) the current training practices for paraprofessionals as perceived by building administrators, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals in special education programs in the state of Nebraska, (b) the perceived training needs of paraprofessionals, as viewed by building administrators, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals, (c) the differences that exist between current training practices and perceived training needs of paraprofessionals and the differences that exist in perceptions of building administrators, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals, and (d) the changes that have occurred in training practices since 1982.

Surprise And Sense-Making: The Organizational Socialization Of First -Year Teachers In Intermediate Grades Four Through Six, Kathleen Joanne Daley Peterson

Student Work

This qualitative dissertation study used grounded theory methodology modified to accept received theory to examine organizational and professional socialization as experienced by a group of ten first-year teachers in grades four through six. Stage model theory and surprise and sense-making theory supplied the study's conceptual framework. The first-year teachers were interviewed three times during the 2000–2001 school year to identify elements of their organizational socialization experience.

A Quantitative Analysis Of The High School Department Head Role In Teacher Evaluation, Instructional Improvement, Curriculum Development, And Student Performance Standards, John Thomas James

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to ascertain what relationships exist between a variety of departmental variables and the role of the department head. Data was collected from department heads in the 56 largest secondary schools in Nebraska during the 1994–95 school year using a 66-item survey containing yes/no, open response, and scaled response questions.

A Comparative Study Of Leadership Behaviors Of Principals From High And Low Socio-Economic Elementary Public Schools In Nebraska, Marilou Niemeyer

Student Work

This study examined the differences, if any, between leadership behaviors of elementary principals from low and high socio-economic schools as defined by the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch schedule. A total of 80 principals with at least one year of experience were asked to participate in this study, a sampling of 40 principals from high socio-economic schools in Nebraska and a sampling of 40 principals from low socio-economic schools in Nebraska as measured by the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

A Three-Dimensional Analysis Of Subtalar And Knee Joint Coupling During Running Over Obstacles, Tracy Allan Dierks

Student Work

Running has been associated with a number of lower extremity overuse injuries. Attention has been given to biomechanical factors, specifically, excessive pronation and excessive tibial rotation. It has been suggested that excessive tibial rotation is due to excessive foot pronation transferred through a coupling mechanism. The ankle and knee are mechanically linked via the tibia and excessive tibial internal rotation may delay tibial external rotation as the knee begins to extend. Increased impact forces have also been implicated as a cause of running injuries, although little is known about this possible relationship. Obstacle heights have been used previously to produce …

The Current Training Practices And Perceived Training Needs Of Paraprofessionals In Special Education Programs In Nebraska, Enid Ann Schonewise

Student Work

The purpose o f this study was to determine (a) the current training practices for paraprofessionals as perceived by building administrators, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals in special education programs in the state of Nebraska, (b) the perceived training needs o f paraprofessionals, as viewed by building administrators, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals, (c) the differences that exist between current training practices and perceived training needs of paraprofessionals and the differences that exist in perceptions of building administrators, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals, and (d) the changes that have occurred in training practices since 1982.

Building administrators, special education teachers, …

Crisis Management Plan Characteristics In Elementary Schools As Perceived By Nebraska Public School Principals, Linda K. Christensen

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of crisis management plans and their elements as perceived by Nebraska elementary school principals. Data were collected by using a survey instrument sent to a stratified random sample of 300 Nebraska elementary school principals. The sample was delineated by school district size, small, medium, and large. The survey, which included 21 questions, was designed to analyze the extent to which crisis management plans were in place. A total of 188 surveys were returned for a return rate of 63%.

Factors In Adults' Decisions To Enter Educational Fields, Pamela Anne Schiffbauer

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons that persons in non-educational careers enter educational fields. Fifteen education majors at the University of Nebraska at Omaha participated in this study. Ten of the participants were from the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Program for Special Undergraduates and five of the participants were from the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Teacher Academy Project.

Assimilation Concerns Of Immigrant High School Students To The United States, Michelle Jeannette Garcia

Student Work

This dissertation examined the difficulties in assimilation faced by immigrant students in our nation's public schools. One paradigm through which these difficulties might be viewed is the phenomenon of cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance was defined as the psychological discomfort aroused by dissonant cognitions experienced by an individual. A review of the literature substantiated the fact that immigrant students are bombarded by dissonant cognitions every day in American schools as they adapt to their new lives here. Some resolve the psychological stress caused by these dissonant cognitions better than others.