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Full-Text Articles in Education
Assisting Student Cancer Survivors To Re-Enter The School Setting, Rebecca Rothschild
Assisting Student Cancer Survivors To Re-Enter The School Setting, Rebecca Rothschild
Theses and Dissertations
The tremendous increase in the survival rates of children diagnosed with childhood cancer has created an ever-growing number of children who are re-entering school during or after treatment for childhood cancer. Furthermore, there are many long-term side effects following the treatment for childhood cancer. A study was conducted to assess the knowledge base and awareness of school staff members regarding assisting children re-entering school after cancer. Based on preliminary data, a professional development study was conducted and a professional development intervention was designed and presented to make all school personnel aware of potential educational problems that may be related to …
Measuring The Impact Of A Mentoring Program: Preparing African American Males For Success Beyond High School, Cornell Gray
Measuring The Impact Of A Mentoring Program: Preparing African American Males For Success Beyond High School, Cornell Gray
Theses and Dissertations
The academic struggles befalling countless African American male youth have been the source of consternation in many homes, schools, and communities across America. When compared to males from other ethnic groups, as well as females, Black males often lag behind in many academic categories from elementary school through college. As a result of their educational failures, parents, educators, and even government officials have been exploring ways to resolve this dilemma. While a number of solutions have been proposed and even implemented by a variety of stakeholders, too few seem to offer reasonable rates of success to address what appears to …
The Seminarts Experience: Restructuring A Ninth Grade Transitional Program In A Whole School Arts Academy, Mari Celi Sanchez
The Seminarts Experience: Restructuring A Ninth Grade Transitional Program In A Whole School Arts Academy, Mari Celi Sanchez
Theses and Dissertations
The potential problem with a student's high school experience may begin as soon as he/she enters the high school. Freshmen students experience increased changes in school environment, as well as new friends, teachers, rules and regulations, and challenging courses. They need to maneuver all of these experiences with complex social-emotional and physiological upheavals associated with adolescence. For some students, this transition to high school has negative consequences that lead to achievement loss and dropping out of school. Because of this, effective transitional programs that assist new ninth grade students into high school are needed. Freshmen require procedural, social, and academic …
Educating Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients Who Are Undergoing Radiation Therapy, Michael Mimms
Educating Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients Who Are Undergoing Radiation Therapy, Michael Mimms
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research study was to examine the various levels of understanding that patients had about cancer when they had been diagnosed with the illness, and to improve their understanding of the radiation treatment process through the presentation of an educational video (Bogdan & Biklen, 2007). Patients often remained confused and thereby missed vital information, regardless of how many explanations or how much information they had been given to explain cancer and the options they had for treatment (Eiser, Davies, Jenny, & Glaser, 2005; Kodish et al., 2004). The goal of this study was to satisfy the need …
Inclusive Co-Teaching In The Secondary Schools: A Study In Sustainable Change, Marnee Sirolli
Inclusive Co-Teaching In The Secondary Schools: A Study In Sustainable Change, Marnee Sirolli
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this action research project was to change the current implementation of inclusion and co-teaching in the secondary grades at one school in southern New Jersey. Through professional development, establishing core communication strategies, and the development of a common lesson plan template for each teaching partner, teachers were provided with the opportunity to use survey data and participatory action research to develop a new model for inclusive co-teaching that integrated best practices and established cohesion and clarity among co-teaching partners. The data were collected through surveys, interviews, observations, discussions, and reflective journals. The first conclusion was that teacher's …
Implementation Of Cross-Disciplinary Projects To Improve Student Engagement: A Leadership Study In Building Capacity For Collaboration Between Middle School Teachers, Barbara Horner
Theses and Dissertations
Most students, including at-risk students, enter school engaged in the process and eager to learn, like school, and comply with school routines (Alexander, Entwisle, & Horsey, 1997; Nystrand & Gamoran, 1991). Over time students' interest in school declines and they fail to connect within the school context and curriculum (Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris, 2004). Disconnected and disinterested students exhibit off-task behaviors and apathetic attitudes toward school, which often result in student disengagement. The effects of disengagement manifest in the form of poor academic achievement, disciplinary problems, and poor attendance records (Lee & Smith, 1995; Miller, Leinhardt, & Zigmond, 1988). Research …
Looking To The Future: An Examination Of The Potential For Sat-Optional Admissions, Albert Betts Jr
Looking To The Future: An Examination Of The Potential For Sat-Optional Admissions, Albert Betts Jr
Theses and Dissertations
The use of SAT scores in the college admissions process has been increasingly criticized in recent years for a variety of reasons. There are those who continue to support the use of the SAT in the college admissions process, those who oppose its use, and those who believe the best option is to make the submission of standardized tests scores optional. Currently, all applicants for undergraduate admission to Rowan University with less than 24 college credits earned must submit standardized test scores along with their high school and college transcripts when applying for admission to the university. The purpose of …
Reflective Leadership: Effects Of Peer Mentoring On Minority Students Within An Urban School Setting, Sean Mccarron
Reflective Leadership: Effects Of Peer Mentoring On Minority Students Within An Urban School Setting, Sean Mccarron
Theses and Dissertations
The extent to which school and community resources are utilized by partially proficient students affects their academic and social proficiency (Anderson & Pellicer, 1998; Shann, 2001). All too often a school system will initiate new programs and resources without adequately targeting the students who would benefit most, or not provide the management and leadership necessary, causing the support systems to be ineffective (Munoz, Ross, & McDonald, 2007). Regardless of the varying support systems in place at Wayside Middle School, four subgroups of students have not been achieving academic proficiency as identified by the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge …
Open Source Software As Applied In Higher Education: At One Four-Year University, Muneerah Wakeel
Open Source Software As Applied In Higher Education: At One Four-Year University, Muneerah Wakeel
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of my study was to explain the implementation process of open source software (OSS) in a higher education setting, including any challenges that the faculty encountered during professional development, and implementation during instruction. This study was conducted at a four-year university in the southern region of New Jersey. In addition, as a participant observer I investigated my leadership throughout the research process so that I could employ reflective practice in order to determine if my espoused beliefs were aligned with my theory-in-use. I reviewed literature that discussed both OSS and distance education and connected them to the social …
Understanding Community College Affordability And Its Impact On Student Persistence, Elvy Vieira
Understanding Community College Affordability And Its Impact On Student Persistence, Elvy Vieira
Theses and Dissertations
Perceptions of community college affordability and the use of the payment plan as it relates to retention were examined during this action research project. The action research study conducted used six cycles to discover students' perceptions about tuition affordability, to understand the budget of the community college, examined staff experiences and opinions about students, and studied advisement strategies as a means to inform students of tuition payment options. The findings discussed indicate that students use payment plans at community colleges as a way to persist toward the attainment of their educational goal. Several factors were discovered through qualitative interviewing of …
Through The Lens Of A College Success Seminar: Developing Workshops For Eof Students, Yesenia Madas
Through The Lens Of A College Success Seminar: Developing Workshops For Eof Students, Yesenia Madas
Theses and Dissertations
The body of research on first-year seminars has grown considerably and there is much evidence to support that college success seminars have increased student persistence and degree attainment (Fidler, 1991; Keenan & Gabovitch, 1995; O'Gara, Karp, & Hughes, 2009; Zeidenberg, Jenkins, & Calcagno, 2007). While most success courses come packaged with content such as study skills, test-taking, and time management, little assessment of the effectiveness of these areas has been conducted. Therefore, this study investigated the specific course components of the College Success Seminar that contribute to student success and used that information to create workshops for students in the …
Utilizing Teacher's Perceptions Of Professional Development To Inform District Level Programming, Gina Friedman
Utilizing Teacher's Perceptions Of Professional Development To Inform District Level Programming, Gina Friedman
Theses and Dissertations
Teachers' beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes toward professional development initiatives have a powerful impact on the effectiveness of those programs after implementation. Specifically, teachers in first order change schools perceive inhibiting factors (i.e. lack of faculty buy-in, scheduling conflicts, limited time for trainings within the calendar, lack of leadership support, etc.) as a hindrance to the success of program implementation. Concurrently, Cedar Creek teacher's perceptions identify many of the same inhibiting factors to effective professional development that are found on a national level. These perceptions suggest a first order mental model perspective. This mixed methods action research study identified a second …
An Investigation On Whether Creating A Culture Of Respect Can Reduce Disruptive Behaviors By Influencing The Social Skills Development Of Four Year Old Children In An Urban Setting, Ruth Cummings-Hypolite
An Investigation On Whether Creating A Culture Of Respect Can Reduce Disruptive Behaviors By Influencing The Social Skills Development Of Four Year Old Children In An Urban Setting, Ruth Cummings-Hypolite
Theses and Dissertations
This investigation explored the impact of a culture of respect on disruptive behaviors of four year old children in an urban setting. A curriculum on respect was implemented, and teachers' and students' views on respect were measured before and after delivering the curriculum. Family involvement was part of the curriculum. The research questions identified teachers' knowledge and attitudes regarding teaching social skills and respect, the influence of teaching respect on children's social skills, and effective strategies for teaching respect. A pilot study and principal study were conducted in a total of 9 preschool classrooms. A mixed research methodology was used …
Connecting Brain Research With Teaching Practice Among Middle School Teachers, Irene Sanders
Connecting Brain Research With Teaching Practice Among Middle School Teachers, Irene Sanders
Theses and Dissertations
The discipline of mind, brain, and education science is the merger of psychology, neuroscience, and education. Its focus is to address complex problems in education and provide evidence-based solutions. One facet of this mixed methods action research study expanded middle school teachers' knowledge of brain function and brain-based strategies through a five-part workshop series and created a ten session professional learning community. Participants selected strategies such as relaxation, working memory tasks, or taught students about their brains to increase academic achievement, and tracked two groups' progress. Strategy implementation was judged to be too time consuming except for relaxation exercises. Alternate …
The Professional Staff And Librarian Learning Community At Rowan University, Katherine Boland
The Professional Staff And Librarian Learning Community At Rowan University, Katherine Boland
Theses and Dissertations
As powerful forces of change continue to exert pressure on institutions of higher education, scholars are calling for strategies to sustain our most valuable asset, the academic community. One promising response is Milton Cox's work. He created the Miami University model for faculty and professional learning communities, a nationally-recognized strategy for supporting faculty development, addressing institutional needs, and promoting meaningful change. This mixed methods action research project introduced a new version of Cox's technology, a project-based learning community. This project-based version was the basis of my work with the Professional Staff and Librarian Learning Community (PSLLC). The PSLLC engaged in …
From Passive To Active Learning: Contingent Faculty Collaboratively Leading Pedagogical Change, Thomas Setaro
From Passive To Active Learning: Contingent Faculty Collaboratively Leading Pedagogical Change, Thomas Setaro
Theses and Dissertations
A paradigm shift is underway in higher education where the role of the college instructor moves from a pure disseminator of knowledge to a facilitator of collaborative knowledge creation. Successful active learning strategies are gaining prominence through proven empirical research. Most recently, active learning strategies utilizing emerging collaborative software such as Web 2.0 technologies have furthered advanced cooperative and collaborative learning. The research points to the far reaching benefits that active learning can have across an institution and the affects that it can have upon faculty and students alike. Better retention and deeper learning are just two outcomes derived from …
Professionalizing Practice: How Plc Development Enhances Teaching And Learning, Kelly Roselle
Professionalizing Practice: How Plc Development Enhances Teaching And Learning, Kelly Roselle
Theses and Dissertations
Professional learning communities (PLCs) are groups of professionals who work collaboratively to meet expressly stated goals. The groups analyze data and make decisions based upon that analysis. All parties closely monitor student achievement. A true PLC is focused on a specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, time-bound (SMART) goal. In this study, the PLC is designed to increase teacher use of research-based best practices, which is referred to as "professionalizing practice". This study focuses on a group of volunteer high school teachers who met regularly before and after school to discuss students, share ideas, collaboratively implement strategies, and gather and analyze data. …
The Transformation Of Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum: A Multicultural Approach To Optimize Clinical Competence, Sharon Burke
The Transformation Of Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum: A Multicultural Approach To Optimize Clinical Competence, Sharon Burke
Theses and Dissertations
This action research study sought to address the need for multicultural awareness in nursing education. The purpose of this action research study was to improve baccalaureate nursing students' cultural competence and multicultural awareness through infusing multicultural awareness education in the JSN curriculum. Education sessions were implemented to increase multicultural awareness to improve nursing practice. This mixed method action research project was conducted during the 2009-2010 academic year. Data collection techniques included surveying nursing faculty, administrators and baccalaureate students in the Jefferson School of Nursing as well as conducting student focus groups. Descriptive statistics and thematic coding were used to analyze …
Leadership For Improvement: Promoting Student Learning Through An On-Campus Residential Learning Community For First-Year Female, Minority, And Low Income Engineering Students, Patricia Zobel
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this action research study was to examine the effects of an Engineering Living and Learning Community (ELLC) comprised of minority, female, and low-income engineering students and their perceptions of their first-year experience regarding their transition to college, their peer-to-peer and peer-to-faculty relationships, and their connection to campus. This study explored the impact of the creation of the ELLC and the researcher's evolution as a leader during the process. Hinchey (2008) defines action research as a process of systematic inquiry usually cyclical, conducted by those inside a community with the goal to identify action that will generate some …
Leading Change In A Traditional Teaching Environment: Establishing Positive Student Behaviors Through Proactive Classroom Management, Ann Toth
Theses and Dissertations
Disruptive student behaviors in the classroom jeopardize the learning environment in schools across the United States (Conroy, Sutherland, Snyder, & Marsh 2008; Crum, 2004). Presently, most schools apply a reactionary punitive discipline system in hopes of changing these disruptive student behaviors (Glasser, 1998; Havill, 2004; Jenkins, 1994; Kohn, 2006). At the Long Middle School, the present initiative is to change the teachers' approach from controlling their students' behaviors to building relationships, facilitating intrinsic motivation for appropriate student behaviors, and teaching self-management skills through a proactive classroom management approach in conjunction with a learning team model. The purpose of this research …
Online Courses At A Community College: A Study Of Student Characteristics, Nancy Kegelman
Online Courses At A Community College: A Study Of Student Characteristics, Nancy Kegelman
Theses and Dissertations
Over five and a half million students in higher education were taking online classes in fall 2009. The annual growth rate (21%) in online enrollments from 2002 to 2009 far exceeded the enrollment growth (2%) in higher education for that seven year period (Allen & Seaman, 2010). Continued rapid growth in online enrollments is predicted despite students' significantly lower success rate in online classes than in face-to-face classes. This action research study was conducted to correlate student characteristics with online success in one community college. The researcher also examined the researcher's leadership growth and style through the design, development, and …
Leading A Readiness Program For Low-Income Students Within A Preschool Setting, Renee Murtaugh
Leading A Readiness Program For Low-Income Students Within A Preschool Setting, Renee Murtaugh
Theses and Dissertations
The solution to narrowing the achievement gap between low socioeconomic students and high socioeconomic students has included endless approaches and interventions, including full day pre-school programs (NAEP, 1999; Snow, Burns, & Griffith, 1998).This action research project focused specifically on the needs of low-income preschool students and concentrated on closing the achievement gap among the SES subgroups within the By-the-Sea School District preschool Kindergarten classrooms. Using Monahan's (2003) 9-Step Change Model as a framework for change, classroom teachers worked collaboratively with the researcher to make the necessary changes to their classrooms and school to better meet the needs of low-income students. …
Service Learning And Student Leadership Through Environmentally Immersive Writing, Seth Cohen
Service Learning And Student Leadership Through Environmentally Immersive Writing, Seth Cohen
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined the impact of environmentally immersive service learning on a focused cluster of the NJASK, self-perception of leadership, attitude toward the environment, and student ability to define and articulate the benefits of service learning. The study compared the 2008-2009 New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge 7 (NJASK 7) and the 2009-2010 New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge 8 (NJASK 8) cluster area score of the explanatory task. The difference in the mean score on the explanatory task was analyzed by comparing the state, the Allamuchy Township School District, and the district factor group, representing other communities …
Implementing Professional Learning Communities To Improve Student Writing Achievement, Dori Alvich
Implementing Professional Learning Communities To Improve Student Writing Achievement, Dori Alvich
Theses and Dissertations
Demands are made for schools to improve student learning. In answer to that demand, school leaders are searching for ways to implement new approaches to enhance student learning and teacher professional development. Professional learning communities (PLCs) implemented in a school setting can increase collaboration and improve instruction and learning if focused on three essential characteristics: student learning, teacher collaboration, and results (Dufour, DuFour, & Eaker, 2008). Darling-Hammond (1996) recommends that "schools be structured to become genuine learning organizations for both students and teachers; organizations that respect learning, honor teaching, and teach for understanding"(p. 198). Writing is required for all subject …
Fostering Teacher Leadership: Transforming Learning And Leading To Enhance School Culture, Jennifer Luff
Fostering Teacher Leadership: Transforming Learning And Leading To Enhance School Culture, Jennifer Luff
Theses and Dissertations
The complexity associated with educational leadership and the challenges related to school change require schools to cultivate new sources of leadership (Anderson, 2009; Copland, 2003, Danielson, 2007, Goldstein, 2004). Literature demonstrates that teacher leadership is linked to increased professional learning, sustained change, and improved student achievement (Hart, 1995; Spillane, Hallet, & Diamond, 2003; Trachtman, 1993). The purpose of this action research study was to evaluate the Teacher Leadership Coalition, a cadre of teachers developed to empower teachers, increase professional learning, and improve culture in the Ryan School District. While implementing interventions to improve the Coalition, I sought to learn more …
The Professional Learning Community: An Educational Construct To Improve Student Learning Through Effective Teacher Collaboration, Lynn Barberi
Theses and Dissertations
This limited practical action research study was designed to address a problem of practice at one Pre-K - third grade school located in a suburban community on the east coast of the United States, wherein teachers work the majority of the time in isolation from their peers and where collaboration is the exception, not the rule. Teachers have few opportunities to share teaching strategies and build on the strengths of their peers to improve the learning outcomes of their students as they practice the art of teaching in the classroom. The goal of this study was for the school principal …
Teachers, Teamwork, And Technology: An Introspective Look At Leadership And Change, Robert Rossi
Teachers, Teamwork, And Technology: An Introspective Look At Leadership And Change, Robert Rossi
Theses and Dissertations
Teacher convictions and doubts about the process of integrating technology into instruction have a major influence on the degree to which the teacher applies technology in the classroom. Teacher paradigms, in addition to federal, state, and local policies, can create barriers that inhibit the incorporation of technology-based initiatives. The purpose of this action research study was to create/design a process of technology integration that takes into account the needs of all stakeholders by identifying the pedagogical beliefs of elementary school teachers with regard to the implementation of technology in their classrooms. The research was conducted using a qualitative methodology approach …
A Study Of The Integration Of Technology In Interdisciplinary Curriculum, Phyllis Mordente
A Study Of The Integration Of Technology In Interdisciplinary Curriculum, Phyllis Mordente
Theses and Dissertations
The relationships among all subject areas in interdisciplinary instruction and the effectiveness of technology integrated within this process provide a pertinent study for educators, especially in the consideration of and adherence to recent national standards and mandates on cross-curricular instruction. The purpose of this study was to explore effective technology implementation in interdisciplinary activities in a middle school setting. The researcher qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed how to effectively structure media-rich inquiry-based learning and how to effectively integrate technology into a team project-based learning model. A research plan was formulated to recursively collect, organize, and analyze data within a collaborative framework. …
The Association Between Grades Pre K-12 Student Achievement And Differentiated Instructional Strategies In The Anytown Township School District Explored Through Units Of Study, Jeff Gorman
Theses and Dissertations
This is a quasi-experimental quantitative study that sought to determine the association between differentiated instructional elements or strategies and student achievement as measured through pretest and posttest results for teacher created units of study in the area of mathematics and language arts literacy. A series of descriptive and parametric inferential statistics was utilized. A one-between one-within analysis of variance (ANOVA) on change scores by time (pretest vs. posttest) and group (primary vs. elementary vs. middle vs. high school) was conducted. The results for the main effect of time were statistically significant as indicated by F (1,194) = 530.30, p = …
Good To Great: A Framework For Improving Instruction In A Ninth Grade Academy, Donna Marable
Good To Great: A Framework For Improving Instruction In A Ninth Grade Academy, Donna Marable
Theses and Dissertations
This participatory action research project explores the leadership of a female African American high school principal in an urban district who applies the principles in Jim Collins' Good to Great (2001, 2005) to improve academic performance in a ninth grade academy. Participatory Action Research (PAR) is defined as planning, acting, observing, reflecting, and repeating each cycle in a spiral of self-reflective cycles. The data was captured through qualitative and quantitative data collection strategies. The study is written as an autoethnographic self-narrative and is a self-reflective study of my leadership. The findings of this study suggest that applying the principles in …