Education Commons^™

Self-Care Practices, Work Experience, Educational Setting, And Burnout Among School Counselors, Paul Sylvester-Nwosu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSchool counselors should be well-adjusted in their personal and professional lives and possess a keen, accurate perception of their self-care practices. However, people drawn to careers in school counseling are often at risk of developing burnout due to high professional demands and limited resources supporting their self-care and well-being. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between the independent variables of self-care practices, years of work experience, and educational settings and the dependent variable of levels of burnout among practicing school counselors in K-12 suburban educational settings in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. …

Perspectives Of Teachers, Directors, And Parents Regarding Male Teachers In Early Childhood Education, Tabiyes Montrell Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was the focus of this study is the lack of male teachers in early childhood classrooms. This problem is important because it suggests failure of gender equity in early childhood hiring. The purpose of this qualitative study was to increase understanding of the perspectives of teachers, directors, and parents that may contribute to the lack of male teachers in early childhood classrooms. The conceptual framework of this study comprised work of Koch and Zeelenberg et al. on gender-based stereotyping and risky decision-making in hiring. Data were gathered from interviews with 20 participants, including childcare center directors, female …

Stroke Prevention Through Education, Laura Lee Ballance

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis project focused on two concepts: a need for a stroke prevention program and what should be included. The problem with early identification of stroke is not formally addressed at the project site, physician’s office. A physician’s office can play a beginning key role in minimizing the risk of stroke. The purpose of this project was to explore the evidence to support the need for and to determine ideal content for a stroke prevention education program. This program focused on early detection and identification of risk factors to prevent stroke occurrence. The theoretical framework of Pender’s health promotion model aligns …

Effects Of Blended Learning Using The Rotation Model On Fourth And Fifth Grade Students' Mathematics Scores, Heather Roach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this quantitative study was that school administrators are allocating funds for implementing blended learning using the rotation model into mathematics classrooms without knowing if it is effective in improving student achievement in mathematics. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of blended learning using the rotation model on fourth and fifth grade students' achievement in mathematics. Mayer's cognitive theory of multimedia learning guided this study. In this quantitative quasi-experimental comparative study, data from N = 591 fourth and fifth grade students and N = 3 principals from three selected central Indiana elementary schools …

Reported Literacy Engagement Among Low-Income Parents And Their Children., Olugemi Ojo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little is known about literacy engagement between low-income parents and their preschool children, although it may affect children's language development and later school achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine shared reading interactions among low-income parents and their children. The research questions addressed the lexical diversity of books read and the shared book reading experience of preschool children as reported by their low-income parents. The conceptual framework was based on the work of Hart and Risley, who proposed that the extent and value of literacy environment and collaboration during shared book reading are linked to the socioeconomic …

Relationship Between Teacher Professional Development And Urban High School Students' Reading Achievement, Chantell Rowe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reading is an essential ability for students to be successful in life. The students attending an urban high school in Washington, DC received low reading test scores. Therefore, the school district required teachers to attend mandated professional development workshops (PDWs) to help improve students' reading. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the number of mandated PDWs attended over 3 academic school years and 10th grade student reading achievement levels as measured by the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS) as well as whether the increased number of mandated PDWs predicts reading levels on …

Teachers' Perspectives On The Prepared Environment As A Component Of The Toddler Curriculum, Maria Varela

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is insufficient research about teachers' perspectives on the prepared environment as a component of toddler program curriculum. Previous studies suggested the need to further investigate how teachers prepare toddler program environments to promote children's optimum development to meet their developmental milestones in group-based education. The conceptual framework for this study was grounded in Montessori's prepared environment and Malaguzzi's concept of environment as the third teacher. Twelve teachers with 3-19 years of experience in toddler education programs participated in semistructured interviews to answer three research questions about their perspectives on the prepared environment as a component of toddler program curriculum …

Lecture Versus Collaborative Learning Methods In Community College Classrooms, Gwendolyn A. Vaughn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Educational scholars have recommended using collaborative learning in higher education classrooms to improve the learning outcomes of community college students. The problem is that many community college instructors continue to use traditional lecture methods, which might be due to instructors not being convinced of the merits of collaborative learning. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, causal-comparative, repeated measures, research study was to examine the difference between pre- and posttest change scores on the Personal Community Health assessment of students who were taught with the collaborative method and students who were taught with the lecture method. The theoretical foundation for this …

Mymathlab And Nontraditional Students' Attitudes Toward Technology In Mathematics, Lisa Sherry Olsen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nontraditional students, who often do not have a background in computer usage, are a growing population in higher education. These students are often ill prepared for success in mathematics courses due to attitudes toward mathematics and the use of technology in the learning process. Researchers have looked into the needs of nontraditional students in academic settings but have not focused on nontraditional students' use of adaptive learning components, such as Pearson's MyMathLab (MML), in blended classrooms. The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was to explore the difference in nontraditional students' attitudes toward math and the use of technology …

Nursing Students' Perceptions About Membership In Professional Organizations, Kimberly Ann Seaman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The importance of developing professionalism in the new nursing graduate has been discussed in the nursing literature and identified as a goal in the Future of Nursing competencies. However, the understanding of undergraduate nursing students'perceptions of membership in professional organizations is unknown. This study was conducted to better understand nursing students' views of membership. Social identity theory was used to explain how membership in a professional organization promotes exposure and adaptation of preferred professional behaviors. Novice-to-expert theory was selected to explain the maturation process of professionalism in the new graduate. Twelve nursing students enrolled in an undergraduate nursing program participated …

Elementary Principal And Assistant Principal Instructional Leadership Practices Influencing Student Literacy, Jennifer England Magnusson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem of a rural school district’s declining reading scores for students in Grades 3 through 8 was a significant concern because effective reading skills are of paramount importance to student success in school and life. Evidence suggests that principal instructional leadership practices influence student achievement; therefore, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine the district’s elementary principals’ and assistant principals’ instructional leadership practices that influenced student literacy. Murphy’s model of instructional leadership served as the conceptual framework. The research question for this study addressed how these elementary administrators implemented instructional leadership practices at their schools to …

Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of Public School Violent Intruder Drills, Kati Oakes Pusey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public schools in the United States are increasingly implementing violent intruder drills in response to school shootings; however, the impact these drills have on the well-being of preservice teachers is not fully understood. A lack of knowledge also exists as to how intruder drills contribute to preservice teachers’ motivation to enter the profession. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of preservice teachers who have participated in violent intruder trainings and drills. Using prospect theory as the framework, the key research questions addressed preservice teachers’ perceptions of violent intruder incidents and drills as well as their …

Lecture Versus Collaborative Learning Methods In Community College Classrooms, Gwendolyn A. Vaughn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Educational scholars have recommended using collaborative learning in higher education classrooms to improve the learning outcomes of community college students. The problem is that many community college instructors continue to use traditional lecture methods, which might be due to instructors not being convinced of the merits of collaborative learning. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, causal-comparative, repeated measures, research study was to examine the difference between pre- and posttest change scores on the Personal Community Health assessment of students who were taught with the collaborative method and students who were taught with the lecture method. The theoretical foundation for this …

Elementary School Principals’ Instructional Leadership Practices To Retain Novice Teachers In The Philippines, Gonzalo Miguel Pitpit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elementary school principals at the study site were inconsistently implementing instructional leadership practices to retain novice teachers in the Philippines. The purpose of this basic qualitative research design was to explore the instructional leadership practices implemented by elementary school principals that help retain novice teachers. The conceptual framework was the instructional leadership model characterized into three dimensions: (a) defining the school mission, (b) managing the instructional program, and (c) promoting a positive school learning climate. The research question was about what instructional leadership practices are implemented by elementary school principals to retain novice teachers in their job. Purposeful sampling was …

Professor Perceptions Of Grit In Baccalaureate Online Education, Erica Marie Aiken

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Undergraduate students who enroll in online courses and degree programs often struggle to make progress. Researchers have suggested that noncognitive traits like grit may contribute to student success. However, findings on grit have been conflicting and there is no research on professors’ perceptions. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore professor perceptions of the role of grit in online baccalaureate education, particularly its role in student progress and if there were any implications for teaching practice. Dewey’s pragmatism, Garrison et al.’s CoI framework, and Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory came together to form the conceptual framework for …

Teachers’ Perspectives Of Preschool Reading Fadeout And Strategies To Prevent It In Low-Performing Schools, Jacquelyn Blanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Third-grade reading scores on some U.S. state tests revealed that children who attended a state-funded preschool program were not proficient readers. Reading gains made in preschool faded by the time the children reached third grade. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine teachers’ perspectives regarding the causes of preschool reading fadeout and the strategies they used to prevent preschool reading fadeout in low-performing schools. The conceptual framework included the dynamic skill-building theory and skill formation theory to examine the development of reading skills. Nine state-certified teachers who taught reading in preschool through third grade shared their perspectives …

Urban High School Principals' Leadership Practices And Academic Progress For At-Risk Students, Mary Delouise Duhart-Toppen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have shown that principals are vital to improving student academic achievement. Urban principals often face significant challenges in their environments and have large populations of at-risk students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe the perceptions of urban high school principals regarding the type of leadership practices needed to support the academic progress of at-risk students. Elements from transformational leadership, transformative leadership, and effective leadership practices informed the conceptual framework. Research questions addressed how principals described and perceived the practices, processes, and procedures used to create environments that support students in urban high schools …

Persistence Towards Graduation Of First-Year Native American Students At A Local College, Dolores Becenti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the graduation rate for Native American (NA) college students was less than 1%. As enrollment increases in local colleges and universities, so do concerns about the persistence, retention, and completion of NA students. The purpose of this study was to investigate what influenced first-year NA students to persist toward graduation at a local college. The conceptual framework concentrated on social integration perspectives based on Tinto's student integration model. A qualitative case study design was chosen to gain insight into the phenomenon. Purposeful sampling procedures were used to recruit 6 first-year NA students …

An Exploration Of Attitudes Among Veterans And Military Personnel Regarding Care And Reintegration, Mavis Jean Christopher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reintegration is a complicated process and becomes more difficult due to stigma toward care seeking. Stigma can act as an influence to avoid treatment or terminate treatment early. The problem is that the attitudes of veterans and military personnel toward care seeking prior to discharge are unknown, particularly with respect to the lack of anonymity or privacy. Also unknown is what these populations desire to be included in reintegration treatment/training. The purpose of this study was to discover and interpret the attitudes of this population toward care seeking. The conceptual framework included military culture, masculine ideology, and stigma. The research …

Exploring A Nursing Faculty’S Perceived Level Of Engagement With High-Fidelity Simulation Experiences, Filipina Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResearchers from several disciplines concluded that deep engagement in an organization is critical to its success. However, little is known about a nursing faculty’s engagement experiences with high-fidelity simulation (HFS), which could establish the critical link between deep engagement and HFS’ successful integration in nursing programs. Grounded in the alternative model of engagement in learning, bridging this knowledge gap was the purpose of this study. The research question of this phenomenological study explored the nursing faculty’s perceived level of engagement with their HFS experiences. A purposeful sampling of 10 nursing faculty were interviewed using semistructured interview process. Van Kaam’s interpretative, …

What Do The Stories Of Indigenous Youth Reveal About Their Educational Experiences?, Kenneth Paul Ealey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While the voices of Indigenous youth in other parts of the world have been sought out, no studies have specifically focused on the educational experiences of urban Indigenous youth in Canada. This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of youth-adult relationships among Indigenous youth attending urban high schools in Western Canada. The study was approached from a postcolonial perspective aligning with Native Theory. This position is grounded on the premise that the experiences and stories of participants reveal their lived realities. Indigenous youth, 18 to 21, were recruited through targeted information sessions and word of mouth. Over 30 youth expressed …

Strategies To Retain Skilled Assistant Project Managers In Construction Industries, Anastasia Persad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 160,000 assistant project managers in the construction industry willingly left the U.S. labor workforce in 2018. The cost of replacing an employee could amount up to 200% of the departing employee's annual salary for construction companies. Grounded in Herzberg's two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to investigate effective organizational strategies business leaders used to retain skilled assistant project managers. Six participants were senior project managers from construction companies in Manhattan, New York, with more than 10 years of experience in the commercial construction industry. Data came from semistructured interviews and a review of company …

Strategies Insurance Company Managers Use To Retain Employees, Christopher Ramel Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Insurance business managers who fail to retain employees experience reduced profitability and productivity. Employee retention issues in the insurance industry negatively affect recruitment and training costs, employee engagement, and operational efficiency. Grounded in Herzberg’s 2-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that insurance company managers use to retain employees. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 5 insurance managers in New York and a review of company documents on employee retention strategies. Data were analyzed using Yin’s 5-step process of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding data. The 3 themes that …

Teacher Preparedness, Stress, And Subjective Well-Being In Alternative And Traditional Certification Route Teachers, Shuchemia Nicole Bradley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many educators who enter the teaching profession via the traditional route leave the profession early. As a result, many school districts rely on alternative certification programs to fill the teacher shortage. Though the traditional route of teacher certification contains instruction parallel to pedagogical theories and produces candidates with the opportunity to gain experience through practicums, the alternative route allows candidates to move directly into the classroom to fill teacher vacancies. The purpose of this study was to examine possible differences in teacher job-related stress and teacher subjective well-being as a function of teacher certification route. In addition, possible differences in …

Effectiveness Of Response To Intervention In Third Grade Reading Outcomes, Amanda Wentz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reading continues to be a struggle for many students beyond primary ages. Response to Intervention (RTI) is a common approach in practice to improve reading outcomes, but it has not been researched with all populations. Studies on 3rd grade struggling readers are needed to ensure they receive appropriate support to become more successful readers. The theoretical foundations for this quantitative study included Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The research questions examined whether participating in RTI had a significant influence on 3rd grade students’ reading outcomes from the beginning compared to the end of the school year. …

Middle School Teachers’ Use Of Technology To Transform Mathematics Instruction, Camille Georgia James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIncorporating technology into instructional practices is needed to cultivate learners who are digitally competent to function in a society in which technology keeps evolving. The problem that exists at the study site is that although technology is available, it is primarily being used to enhance learning rather than transform learning. Transforming the teaching- learning process, requires the use of technology to modify and redefine learning. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore the extent to which middle school mathematics teachers in a PreK–8 independent day school in Denver, Colorado use digital technology as a transformative learning tool in …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Enhancing Student Achievement Through Scripted And Teacher-Developed Curriculums, Katherine Ann Marie Sudduth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

District administrators in a school district in Georgia are concerned that after 5 years of implementing a mandated scripted curriculum, the high school continues to post failing scores on standardized tests. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine teachers’ perceptions of and experiences with teaching the Common Core Standards with scripted curriculums provided by the school district and teaching the same standards using teacher-developed curriculums. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the theories of constructivism and differentiated instruction. Qualitative data were collected through 1 initial and 1 follow-up interview with 8 teachers (3 English, …

Instructors’ And Administrators’ Perspectives On Culturally Responsive Teaching In Rwandan Higher Education, Ephrard Rulinda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Rwanda, the number of culturally minority students in higher education institutions has been increasing in recent years, yet the role of instructors and school administrators in utilizing culturally responsive teaching (CRT) methods for those students remains unclear. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe instructors’ and school administrators’ views of their roles in utilizing CRT methods. The conceptual framework for this study included CRT best teaching practices and approaches; institutional, personal, and instructional dimensions of CRT; and components of the preparation for and practice of CRT. The study was conducted at a university with three campuses …

The Relationship Between At-Home Reading Literacy Activities And Reading Literacy Scores Of Beginning Kindergarteners, Shera Chantel Caviness

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 33% of U.S. prekindergartners have trouble recognizing the English alphabet and their associated sounds. To compete and succeed globally today, children start early with English alphabet recognition and phonics instruction to develop fluent reading skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between parental recollection of at-home reading literacy activities of prekindergartners and beginning kindergarteners’ reading literacy scores. Vygotsky’s theory of social interaction and Piaget’s theory of child development provided the theoretical basis for this study. The key research question focused on the relationship between parental recollection of at-home reading literacy activities of prekindergarteners and beginning …

College Freshmen Perspectives Of Teaching And Learning About Emotional Wellbeing, Kathrine Ann Pigeon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study responded to a problem reported by freshman on evaluations from a university experience course. The students identified mental health as a significant barrier to succeeding academically, and the most critical area of students’ need. The rationale for this study was to develop policy recommendations based on the content of the interviews that provide new insights and information to improve student experiences, offer adequate support and relief, and more effectively meet student needs. The first research question explored the perceptions of first-year students enrolled in a freshmen experience course at a local 4-year college regarding their learning about …