Education Commons^™

The Experience Of Teaching Disengaged Students In Stem: Examined Through The Lens Of The Abc Engagement Framework, William Randall Hjorth

Theses and Dissertations

Young people today are increasingly disengaged from their education. Studies indicate that of all school subjects, American students struggle to engage in STEM subjects more than others. For decades, we have known that student engagement/disengagement impacts teachers. Researchers have also claimed that engagement/disengagement can be described as a construct made up of affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions (ABC). However, we do not understand how teachers experience student disengagement in these three areas. At a crucial time in education, investigation into the experiences of teachers with disengaged students is needed to uncover insights which may help us understand how teachers interpret …

Exploring The Influence Of School Location On School Resource Officers’ Perceptions Of Their Roles And Priorities, Larry A. Potts

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the widespread presence of school resource officers (SROs) in public schools for decades, their proper roles and priorities have remained unsettled because those roles are often varied, complex, conflicting, and ambiguous. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how SROs perceive their roles and priorities and whether school location influences those perceptions. Qualitative research methods provided opportunities for one-to-one interviews with SROs and their supervisors. Two elements embedded in the design consisted of a descriptive questionnaire provided to the SROs before their interviews, and a qualitative interview question designed to elicit a percentage estimate response from SROs. …

Perceptions Of College/University Students On High School Science And Stem Courses, Brian Park

Theses and Dissertations

Over the years, the evolution of science along with technology, engineering, and mathematics has been noticeably evident while science education, on the other hand, has shown little development. The research study aimed to investigate future change initiative implementation in secondary science curricula. In addition, the purpose of the research was to learn and examine postsecondary students' perceptions of how well secondary science education prepared them for the postsecondary level plus for schools to utilize the feedback received from students to further improve the quality of science education. The data for the study were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 college/university …

Examining Teachers’ Experiences With Mindfulness Practices To Promote Positive Relationships And Student Engagement In The Classroom, Hiram Ortega

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years mindfulness practices in the classroom have become increasingly relevant to bring awareness to the present moment, the here-and-now. The literature indicates that mindfulness reduces stress/anxiety in the classroom, and promotes self-regulation, cognitive flexibility, self-compassion, and empathy that contributes to positive classroom behavior, communication, and effective instructional practices. The purpose of this qualitative research is to analyze teachers’ experiences with mindfulness practices in promoting positive relationships and student engagement in the classroom. A group of teachers from an at-risk school district in the southwestern region of the United States were interviewed. The teachers answered 10 open-ended questions about …

Using An Ecological Framework To Understand English Language Arts Educators’ Beliefs And Practice About How Students Learn And Develop Comprehensive Literacy Skills, Nina Chavona Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Third grade students who cannot read at grade level are more likely to experience difficulties throughout their education. This intrinsic case study examined the epistemological beliefs and pedagogical practices of six third grade English Language Arts (ELA) educators on developing students' comprehensive literacy skills (CLS) in two Title I schools. Bronfenbrenner's bioecological and ecological theories of human development postulated the theoretical framework. Educators' epistemologies were examined through their decision-making processes during ELA instruction. Pedagogies were evaluated through educators' use of culturally relevant instructional practices. Data were collected in three phases through semi-structured interviews, photographs with descriptive narratives, and an open-ended …

Examining K-12 Principals' Leadership Role And Their Beliefs Toward Technology Integration In The 21st Century Classroom, Rhonda Michelle Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Educational experts have evolved substantially over the past several decades in their thinking about educational leadership and the critical role that principals play in supporting the teaching and learning environment within schools through their leadership behaviors.

Although educational leaders have had a significant impact on the field of education to integrate technology effectively with the goal of increasing student achievement and overall school performance, most of the research on technology integration has been teacher-focused, rather than on principals’ preparation, skill, knowledge, and related leadership. Continuation of teacher-focused research, though beneficial, has left a research gap concerning the skills and preparation …

The Magic Of Teaching And Assessing Writ [ Rid ] Ing, Kristina Koehler

Theses and Dissertations

Theories of hermeneutics (Moss) and complementarity (Broad and Boyd) claim that human understandings deepen when inquiries are informed by multiple perspectives. This thesis renders two distinct but related pedagogical enterprises—the teaching of writing and the teaching of horseback riding—reciprocally illuminating and complicating. As a result, the Elbovian “magic” of teaching, assessing, writing, and riding has come to light: the delicate humanity and intimacy of our work in both “communities of practice” (Star). My argument calls teachers to embrace this “magic” in our classrooms by addressing and normalizing fears that both we and our students experience. Doing so is essential to …

Promoting Self-Reflection Of Foreign Language Teachers Through Professional Development: An Action Research Dissertation, Hanan Khaled

Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory mixed-method action research describes how a social constructivist professional development program impacts self-reflection of foreign language teachers at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC). The problem is that traditional professional development for foreign language teachers does not improve self-reflection. Despite their individual differences and qualifications, most teachers receive traditional in-service professional development (Darling-Hammond, Hyler, Gardner, & Espinoza, 2017) on a specific topic and have no time to reflect on their existing practices, newly presented concepts, or students' responses to instruction. The effectiveness of such professional development is questionable (Darling-Hammond, Wei, Andree, Richardson, & Orphanos, 2009; Penuel, …

Out And Queer: Independent School Teachers Navigating The Personal And Professional, Caroline C. Dunnell

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer (Queer) community has experienced unprecedented acceptance in U.S. culture. Yet, education, historically slow to change (Fullan & Miles, 1992), continues in many states to promote a heteronormative culture that does not recognize nor promote equity for the queer community that exists within their schools (Barrett & Bound, 2015).

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological heuristic inquiry was to explore my experience, and those of eleven other queer out independent school educators, to understand how we makes sense of, and navigate, the heteronormative, traditionally male-dominated, independent school environment. This study used in-depth …

Elementary Mathematics Teachers’ Beliefs And Practices: Understanding The Influence Of Teaching In A Steam Setting, Melissa Negreiros

Theses and Dissertations

Many elementary mathematics teachers hold beliefs about the teaching and learning of mathematics and enact practices that are not aligned with the recommendations of reform efforts in the field of mathematics education (Stigler & Hiebert, 2009). For standards-based reform to gain any significant success, many teachers will have to alter the deeply held beliefs that they have about mathematics teaching and learning (Ellis & Berry, 2005). Given the role that teachers’ beliefs about the nature of mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning play in their selection and enactment of instructional practices, it is essential to understand the influence that different …

Identity Politics, State Standards, And On The Ground Realities: A Critical Policy Analysis Of Teaching/Learning Gender/Sexuality In A Virginia Elementary School, Stefanie Hudson

Theses and Dissertations

Even though America has seen an increase in the level of acceptance for people who identify as LGBTQ and/or gender non-conforming, certain aspects within society continue to hinder their rights, especially within public education. Specifically, there are insufficiencies regarding content of and attitudes toward including LGBTQ issues in teaching and leadership training programs. Add to that, the deficits in most Family Life Education (FLE) programs in elementary schools as they lack adequate coverage of developmentally appropriate teaching and learning about gender and sexuality. Taken together, it remains questionable whether the needs of LGBTQ and/or gender non-conforming children can truly be …

Teaching Distance Education In Library Science: A Comparative Study Of Faculty Satisfaction, Teaching Effectiveness, And Support Services, David S. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether distance education technologies, institutional support services and/or faculty demographics have a relationship to the job satisfaction of faculty teaching in American Library Association (ALA) accredited master of library and information science programs (MLS) delivered through online distance education. A better understanding of faculty satisfaction in these areas will allow universities to more effectively select technologies and design/maintain support services that can contribute to faculty morale, teaching effectiveness, and program quality in distance education.

The researcher studied faculty in MLS programs because the discipline of library science interconnects academe, information collection and …

Strategies For Teaching Developmental Mathematics Students At The College Level, Natalie Lynn Kautz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to identify strategies used by effective instructors of developmental mathematics, and to discover the perceptions developmental mathematics students have about these strategies. While there are research projects focusing solely on developmental mathematics achievement, this study fills a need by incorporating views of teaching effectiveness from multiple viewpoints.

In this research project, college-level instructors of developmental mathematics students were recorded on video before, during, and after the teaching of an algebraic concept. Students were given a pre-lesson survey and post-lesson survey to see if there were gains in their learning. Students completed a survey about …

Advocating For Advocacy: How Academia Affects Students' Civic And Political Engagement Outcomes, Chandler S. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the relationship between classroom interaction and students' behavioral outcomes. To investigate this relationship, the research applies the theory of planned behavior to identify civic engagement outcomes produced by teaching and classroom exposure. The results indicate that there is no significant relationship between the forms of teaching (i.e., active or passive) and behavior outcomes (e.g., self-efficacy). Nevertheless, results supported previous literature by showing that attitudes, self-efficacy, and subjective norms can predict behavioral intent. The results also showed a possible fatigue effect due to overexposure to civic and political engagement in the classroom.

Investigating The One-On-One Master-Apprentice Relationship: A Case Study In Traditional Craft Apprenticeship, Isaac W. Calvert

Theses and Dissertations

Governments around the world are calling for a revival of apprenticeship on a large scale, emphasizing the value of the one-on-one, human interaction between master and apprentice and the teaching involved in that interaction. Although a broader historical view of apprenticeship shares these ideas, certain prominent threads within recent educational research have done a great deal to deemphasize them. Some go so far as to overlook the master-apprentice relationship altogether, assert that masters simply do not exist, and claim that apprenticeship learning happens without any teaching at all. In response to these claims, the researcher took part in an autoethnographic …

Teacher Preperation For The Global Stage: International Student Teaching, Jacob B. Chacko

Theses and Dissertations

As globalization lessens the distance between peoples and diversifies the common classroom, Teacher Education (TE) programs lag behind in producing globally-minded educators. One approach used by some TE programs to remedy this issue is to offer International Student Teaching (IST) experiences. While the literature related to these programs is rather positive, information related to why students choose to participate in IST experiences and the challenges they encounter while abroad is limited. This study attempts to fill this gap in the literature. Drawing on interview data from current (n=3) and former (n=2) participants, as well as two program administrators, this multiple …

Uncovering Transformative Experiences: A Case Study Of The Transformations Made By One Teacher In A Mathematics Professional Development Program, Rachelle Myler Orsak

Theses and Dissertations

Effective professional development is vital for improving mathematics teaching (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 2007), so studying effective professional development programs is important to the field of mathematics education. This case study presents findings on one teacher, Rebecca, and her experiences in a five-semester mathematics professional development for elementary teachers. The participants in this professional development engaged in collaborative problem solving of challenging mathematical tasks over extended periods of time. I used qualitative research methods based on grounded theory methodology (Charmaz, 2006) to analyze Rebecca's entrance and exit surveys, video data of Rebecca's individual interviews, and video data …

The Scholarship Of Teaching: Contributing Factors To Improved Teaching Performance Among University Faculty Members, Whitney Ransom

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis brings a much-needed focus on the quality and scholarship of teaching as it pertains to educational and faculty development. The main purpose of this paper is to outline what more than 200 faculty members across a wide variety of disciplines have focused on over a three-year period to make significant (a 1.5 standard deviation increase or higher in online student ratings) and sustained improvements in their teaching. The top three factors of improvement include active/practical learning, teacher/student interactions, and clear expectations/learning outcomes. The researcher also discusses how institutions and faculty communities of practice, research, and faculty personality contribute …

Differentiated Educational Strategies In The Elementary Art Classroom, Mary Amber Bush

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides elementary art teachers strategies for teaching lessons in a method called "differentiation". The purpose of differentiation is to tailor lesson plans to try and meet unique needs of the students. Lessons can be differentiated through content, process, or product. A teacher may choose one of these three areas and provide different approaches to the lesson to meet different learning needs of the students. To meet different learning needs in an efficient way, students are grouped for lessons based on their readiness, interests, or their learning styles. This thesis provides greater detail on content, process, product, readiness, interests, …

Technology At The Beginning Of The 21st Century: Using An Interactive Whiteboard In Elementary Art Education, Nancy G. Kocen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether art lessons, provided using an Interactive Whiteboard (IWB), were effective in transferring learning to a diverse student population. The descriptive investigation focused on three main areas; the impact of the IWB on student learning, the time invested in integrating the IWB, and the compatibility of the IWB with my teaching style. The research took place over fourteen weeks starting in late August, 2006, and continued in my art room during the first quarter of the school year. Data were collected through daily journal entries, video taped lessons and interviews. Although long hours were required for training …

Teacher Empathy And Its Relationship To The Standardized Test Scores Of Diverse Secondary Students, Timothy Bruce Bostic

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to ascertain whether there is a relationship between teachers' cognitive role taking aspect of empathy and the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL); English, Reading scores of their students. A correlational research design using hierarchical multiple regression was used to look for this relationship. In order to control for what previous research has shown to contribute to student achievement, a teacher's years of experience, degree level, self-efficacy beliefs about managing classroom behavior and a teacher's expectations for her students were measured and placed into the regression equation. The empathy measure was taken from the …

Fostering Imaginative Expression In Elementary Art Students: A Descriptive Study Of Teacher Strategies, Julia Robinson Bargo

Theses and Dissertations

The students in my elementary art classes did not seem to be creating for themselves. They seemed to have the understanding there was only one correct answer in art class, and the art teacher knew what that answer was. By way of research I have found ways to create an atmosphere in my art room that promotes imagination and self expression in children, thus fostering a free and creative reaction from my students. Through understanding how and why one uses their imagination, an art teacher can enhance a student's ability to build and use his or her knowledge base. I …

Advanced Placement Art History: Effective Teaching Strategies In The Art Beyond The European Content Area, Donna J. Head

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a study of current research on effective teaching strategies in art beyond the European tradition content area of the Advanced Placement Art History (APAH) examination administered by the College Board. Three Advanced Placement Art History teachers participated in this study. Each teacher demonstrated successful and effective strategies in her APAH program. The criteria for selection required that each participant taught the class for three years (2001-4) and their students scored higher than the national average as published by the College Board. Each teacher discussed with the author how they teach the art beyond the European tradition content …

Prediction Of K-5 Student Achievement Using Teaching Candidate Performance On The Teacher Work Sample: A Predictive Validity Study, Gretchen Louise Braun

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a predictive validity study investigating if teaching candidate performance on the teacher work sample predicted post-assessment achievement of K-5 students. Teaching candidate scores on the teacher work sample for 124 pre-service teachers were matched with the post-assessment scores of the 1,321 K-5 students to whom they taught a one- to two-week instructional unit. The pre-service teachers were in a semester-long field placement prior to student teaching in four rural, low-income elementary schools. Three of the thirty-two individual indicators of the teacher work sample were significant predictors of K-5 student achievement: knowledge of community, school, and classroom factors …

The Effects Of Use Of A Metacognitive Strategy On The Language Anxiety Of Missionaries At The Missionary Training Center, Laura Millet Bichon

Theses and Dissertations

Language anxiety is a form of anxiety that can negatively affect language learners by disrupting their cognitive processing, by rendering their learning experience unpleasant, and by reducing the quantity and quality of their language production. The language anxiety research contains many suggestions for anxiety reduction, one of these being the use of metacognitive language learning strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-monitoring, metacognitive strategy called ASWE on the language anxiety levels of young male and female missionaries in the intensive language learning program at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. The ASWE …

An Examination Of The Strategies Of Instruction Employed By Prophets And Teachers In The Book Of Mormon And Their Potential Application To Current Lds Instructional Settings, Bruce A. Van Orden

Theses and Dissertations

The problems with which this study will deal are based upon three premises:
1. There is a tremendous need in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for qualified, spiritually-motivating teachers.
2. The Book of Mormon has a record of many outstanding teachers and examples of teaching.
3. Teachers in the Church today can improve their effectiveness by learning from the teachers and the instructional process as found in the Book of Mormon.

A Study Of A Teaching Method Called Seminary Bowl, Max G. Hirschi

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study of the development, use and value of a method of teaching the scriptures called Seminary Bowl from its beginning in 1964-65 to the present day.

The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which the full-time teachers of the seminary program are using Seminary Bowl and to have teachers and students evaluate this method of teaching the scriptures.

The results of this study have shown that both teachers and students alike feel very favorably towards Seminary Bowl as a method of teaching the scriptures. The results also show that although there are …

A Study Of The Method Of Teaching Called "Scripture Chase" As Employed By The Full-Time Teachers Of The Seminaries Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Vernon W. Mattson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the LDS Seminary Scripture Chase in the following areas: (1) Principles of learning involved; (2) Percentage of full-time teachers using the Scripture Chase; (3) Teacher evaluation of the Scripture Chase in terms of (a) teacher training in the Scripture Chase, (b) student involvement and application, (c) areas of effectiveness and (d) evaluation and rating of the over-all program.
Questionnaires were sent to 498 full-time Seminary teachers in Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Canada with a return of 80.3 percent. The data revealed that 143, or 33 percent regularly use …

A Study To Establish Criteria For Creating Thematic Literature Units Appropriate To Lds Secondary Schools In The South Pacific, And The Creation Of Three Such Units, Ronald F. Malan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to develop criteria for creating thematic literature units appropriate to the English language facility and to the culture of students in the LDS secondary schools in the South Pacific, and (b) to create three thematic literature units at the Form 5 (11th grade) level which would exemplify the recommended criteria.
An analysis of questionnaire responses revealed that a concept-centered approach to literature should take precedence, with geographical literature—especially Polynesian—also receiving emphasis. Less attention should be given to developing skill in literary analysis, and more focus placed upon systematically reinforcing other language arts …

An Evaluation Of The Use Of Selected Book Of Mormon Filmstrips In Improving The Learning Of Book Of Mormon History, Bruce E. Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research and study was to evaluate the use of selected Book of Mormon filmstrips and determine their value in teaching Book of Mormon history. New impetus to use filmstrips was received with the announcement that the Department of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion had produced eighteen filmstrips using episodes from Book of Mormon history. The Department was desirous that the filmstrips be utilized in the most effective way by teachers in meeting the individual needs of students in this course of religious instruction.