Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 10 of 10
Full-Text Articles in Education
Experiences Of Adult College Learners As They Acquire Digital Literacy Skills, Albani L. Milton-Smith
Experiences Of Adult College Learners As They Acquire Digital Literacy Skills, Albani L. Milton-Smith
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
A substantial barrier to learning for adult college students over the age of 50 is technology literacy. These students may not have the digital skills required for college, which is a disadvantage for social, educational, and career development. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the learning supports and types of learning required for digital literacy development of undergraduate college students over 50 attending 4-year institutions. Data sources included interviews with 12 participants over the ages of 50 from six 4-year colleges. After the interviews were completed, six of the 12 students participated in two focus group …
Educator Perceptions Of Participation In A Vertical Professional Learning Community, Katherine Orlando
Educator Perceptions Of Participation In A Vertical Professional Learning Community, Katherine Orlando
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Many researchers have studied best practices within school-based professional learning communities (PLCs). Practitioners need to understand more about different PLC configurations, such as vertical PLCs across schools, and how leaders influence implementation and outcomes. The purposes of this case study were to understand vertical PLC participant perceptions of leadership and school improvement, educator growth, and the effectiveness of the vertical PLC structure. The conceptual framework incorporated leadership of change, commitment to continuous improvement for individuals and organizations, and support of active and compelling adult learning. A collaborative, vertical PLC structure in a medium-sized public school district in a Mid-Atlantic state …
Online Learning Challenges For Our U.S. Veterans Unable To Physically Attend College, Cassandra Anne Dove
Online Learning Challenges For Our U.S. Veterans Unable To Physically Attend College, Cassandra Anne Dove
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Many veterans pursue college degrees using their inservice higher education benefits and enroll in universities around the world. However, many of these veterans also begin their higher education with mental and physical disabilities that limit their ability to attend brick and mortar college classrooms. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore veteran students’ experiences in collegiate online learning. The veterens in this study were restricted from the conventional classroom for various reasons. The conceptual framework included Tinto’s student integration model and Knowles’ andragogy. The research questions in this study inquired about (a) the perceptions of online student veterans …
Fidelity Of Implementation Of An Urban Elementary Montessori Kindergarten Program, Damesia Denise Starling
Fidelity Of Implementation Of An Urban Elementary Montessori Kindergarten Program, Damesia Denise Starling
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In a Texas school district, administrators did not monitor the fidelity of implementation (FOI) of the Montessori kindergarten program implemented in 2005, which left administrators without empirical data regarding program implementation. The purpose of this qualitative evaluative case study was to explore teachers' and administrators' perceptions and implementation of the Montessori program. Using the implementation of science framework, which involves examining FOI by monitoring interventions, implementation methods, enabling contexts, and intended outcomes, data were collected through interviews, nonparticipatory observations, and a review of archived Montessori documents. A convenience sample of 10 Montessori teachers, who met criteria of over 5 years …
Faculty Perspectives Of Academic Preparedness Of Nontraditional Students Who Earned Prior Learning Assessment Credits, Kerri Moseley-Hobbs
Faculty Perspectives Of Academic Preparedness Of Nontraditional Students Who Earned Prior Learning Assessment Credits, Kerri Moseley-Hobbs
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Through prior learning assessment (PLA) programs, students' professional and life experiences are evaluated to determine if they equate to college program courses-removing the need for the student to complete traditional college courses to earn a postsecondary degree. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of faculty at the study site on the academic preparedness of nontraditional students. Knowles' andragogy theory guided the research questions on the academic preparedness of students earning prior learning credits and what characteristics of PLA programs faculty believe contribute to the academic success of these students. Thirty-six participants completed a survey where they …
Second Chance For School Dropouts In Kenya Through Adult Education, Lombo Lombo
Second Chance For School Dropouts In Kenya Through Adult Education, Lombo Lombo
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Most Kenyan high school dropouts do not have a school reentry option, and without a high school diploma, they lack access to tertiary or higher education institutions for training and career development. This case study was an investigation of how an adult learning center in Kenya educated high school dropouts and helped them to gain access to vocational training or higher education. The research questions addressed the pedagogy, learning experiences, and curriculum of the Baraka Adult Learning Center (BALC) and also focused on how the BALC met students' aspirations, needs, and goals based on the perceptions of teachers and adult …
Predicting Success In First-Year Associate Degree Nursing Students, Laura J. Hope
Predicting Success In First-Year Associate Degree Nursing Students, Laura J. Hope
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
An associate degree of nursing program in the southeastern region of the United States has had significant increases in student attrition over the past few years. Admission requirements did not include an entrance exam, such as the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), which may be useful in decreasing the deficiencies associated with poor student progression. Guided by the Knowles' theory of adult learning and Bandura's social learning theory, the purpose of this correlation study was to explore the relationship between the TEAS scores and the cumulative grade point average (GPA) of first-year students to determine if success at the …
Exploring The Efficacy Of School-Based Professional Development, Michele Theresa Glynne
Exploring The Efficacy Of School-Based Professional Development, Michele Theresa Glynne
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
No method exists for evaluating the effectiveness of professional development (PD) for teachers in Boston Public Schools. Often PD does not contribute to teacher quality, which can hinder student outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of PD among K-8 teachers and to examine the alignment of PD in the schools with the 4 prerequisites of professional learning outlined by Learning Forward. These 4 prerequisites served as the conceptual framework. Of the research questions, 4 reflected the topics of the 4 prerequisites: commitment to students, readiness to learn, collaboration, and learning styles. The …
"Investigating Instructor Perceptions Of On-Line Teaching Versus Traditional Classroom Instruction"., Gena Mcnair-Crews
"Investigating Instructor Perceptions Of On-Line Teaching Versus Traditional Classroom Instruction"., Gena Mcnair-Crews
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Web-based education is an important method of instruction across multiple higher education contexts due to its convenience, accessibility, and flexibility. A local college faces demand for online teaching that exceeds the availability of willing faculty. This study investigated instructors' perceptions of online teaching versus traditional classroom instruction to ascertain whether there were systematic differences between online teaching and face-to-face classroom instruction. Transformational learning theory was the conceptual foundation of this study. The study's guiding questions were designed to determine how faculty regarded their experiences teaching online classes and the reasons for their opinions, as well as what limitations faculty thought …
A Qualitative Assessment: Adult Perceptions Of Collaboration As Mitigation For Statistics Anxiety, Karl James Kinkead
A Qualitative Assessment: Adult Perceptions Of Collaboration As Mitigation For Statistics Anxiety, Karl James Kinkead
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Math anxiety, defined as feelings of apprehension and fear of courses involving mathematics, often interferes with student learning in a variety of college-level courses. A related phenomenon, statistics anxiety, affects the performance of many students in statistics courses. Researchers have found evidence that including collaborative problem solving as an instructional methodology is effective at reducing the negative effects of statistics anxiety. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore adult perceptions of collaborative problem solving as an instructional methodology focused on improving the learning environment in a business statistics course. Behaviorist, constructivist, and adult learning theories provided the …