Education Commons^™

Beating The Odds: Counter Narratives Of Thriving Students Of Color At Dominantly White Faith-Based Institutions, Rebecca Kuhn

Faculty Dissertations

Graduation rates of students of color in the United States remain virtually unchanged, despite 50 years of institutions implementing programs and services to increase success among students of color (de Brey et al., 2019). The disparity in undergraduate degree completion rates between White college students and students of color indicates systemic barriers to student success remain pervasive. This qualitative study employs hermeneutic phenomenology to analyze and interpret the lived experiences of 10 thriving students of color at dominantly White faith-based institutions. Schreiner’s (2010a) holistic student success construct of thriving and Harper’s (2012a) Anti-Deficit Achievement Framework provide the conceptual frameworks for …

The Impact Of School Culture Upon An Educational Institution, Jared T. Clark

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, there are close to 100,000 public schools and over 33,000 private schools in the United States. Each of these schools have different mission statements, pedagogies, philosophies and purposes along with different types of students. These schools are led by a variety of leaders with different levels of education and leadership styles. Is there a common theme between the schools that are most successful at providing a holistic education for their students and creating a rewarding environment in which the respective faculties serve their students? What is the impact of school culture upon …

Should Twins Share An Elementary School Classroom?, Heather S. Amundson

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

In any child’s educational experience, there are positive and negative aspects. However, when jealousy and competition, identity and dependence, separation anxiety, and a host of other emotionally charged aspects of school life, are added to the situation, the elementary classroom becomes a minefield for all involved, especially for twins. It is this minefield that parents, states, and educational professionals walk students through, all while seeking each child’s best interest. However, there are conflicting opinions, research, and practices that mark the historical landscape of whether to educate twins in a shared elementary school classroom. The historical trend within the greater United …

What Research Says About Leadership Styles And Their Implications For School Climate And Teacher Job Satisfaction, Steven C. Wynn

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

The purpose of this research is to explore the various styles of leadership within education that are practiced by principals, administrators, and other educational leaders and how it impacts education, specifically the implications for school climate and teacher job satisfaction. The styles of leadership explored in this research include Affiliative, Authoritative, Autocratic, Coaching, Coercive, Democratic, Laissez-Faire, Pacesetting, Transactional, and Transformational. Each style of leadership is defined and demonstrates the effect it has on schools. The Paradigm of Educational Leadership has been crafted to visually show the relationship each style of leadership has with its counterparts. Research from the business industry …

Under The Umbrella: Strategies For Working With Asd Students, Shannon Elise Hallisy

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

A literature review was conducted to examine the various strategies that have been implemented with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Interventions were identified and examine regarding their effectiveness with these individuals. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research studies from several different countries were included, in order to provide a global perspective. The main areas that were examined were academically-focused interventions, behavioral and social interventions, student perceptions, and teacher-focused studies. Although autism is a condition that is highly unique to each individual, several commonalities are noted regarding key features of autism as well as common practices that have shown …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Plagiarism In International High Schools And Divisions In China’S First-Tier Cities, Katie Marie Thomas

Master of Education Research Theses

This paper explores perceptions of plagiarism among the diverse faculty in international high schools and divisions in China’s first-tier cities. In survey and interviews, participants reflected previous research in their punitive attitudes and identified obvious expressions but lacked consensus on subtler forms, suggesting institutions should develop precise policies that are reevaluated and revised annually to mitigate the effects of high faculty turnover. A discrepancy was noted between low frequency of offenses reported and more than half of participants believing plagiarism was a “big issue” in their institutions. The oft-implemented parental contact as a punishment was seen as ineffective and thus …

Family Engagement In Urban Education: The Impact And Factors Affecting Engagement, Jennifer Elliott

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

Much research has documented the importance of parental participation in education, but the findings are mixed in regards to what type of parental engagement yields higher academic achievement. As an educator, I have witnessed programs and ideas that are successful in a suburban setting completely fail or be unrelated to an urban school setting. I realize that every school setting is unique and what works for one teacher or school may not work for another. As an urban educator it is my desire to discover the most effective types of parental engagement relating to my students. To that end, the …

Relationship Between Active Learning Methodologies And Community College Students’ Stem Course Grades, Cherish Christina Lesko

Faculty Dissertations

Active learning methodologies (ALM) are associated with student success, but little research on this topic has been pursued at the community college level. At a local community college, students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses exhibited lower than average grades. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the use of ALM predicted STEM course grades while controlling for academic discipline, course level, and class size. The theoretical framework was Vygotsky’s social constructivism. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were performed on data collected through an anonymous survey of 74 instructors of 272 courses during the 2016 …

An Examination Of Fourth-Grade Teachers’ Trade Book Selection, Kristin M. Norman

Master of Education Research Theses

Children’s trade books are a pervasive force in elementary school classrooms. Teachers utilize these trade books for various instructional purposes. Research studies revealed that teachers’ selection of children’s trade books is a complex process involving many factors. This study examined the factors that influenced three fourth-grade public school teachers’ selection of trade books for classroom instruction. Each teacher met one of these criteria: five years or less of teaching experience, six to 15 years of experience, and 16 years or more of experience. Interviews were conducted with each teacher to determine the trade books they selected for teaching purposes and …

What Place Do Electronic Resources Have In The Christian School Library?, Sheri E. Cooper

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine how Christian school library collections have been impacted by the information age. The focus was threefold: Do collection development policies include e-resources? Should they? How is a biblical worldview exhibited in the selection of e-resources? How much of the budget should be allocated to e-resources? The twenty-two participants of this study were librarians from Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) accredited schools who were willing to participate. The instrument used for this study was a survey with primarily open-ended questions. This study shows that many Christian school libraries do not consider e-resources …

Vocabulary Acquisition: Implementing Word Walls With Images In Science For Ells, Mary Orr

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

With increased concern about science instruction for ELLs, this quantitative applied research project sought to answer the research question, “Is there a relationship between the vocabulary instructional strategy of a word wall with images (WWwI) and the science vocabulary acquisition for ELLs?” The research design was a pre-test post-test control condition study using a group of ELLs in an ELL classroom for both the control condition and experimental condition. The quantitative data confirmed the results that there is a relationship between the students learning the science vocabulary words with the use of a WWwI since the experimental condition of ELLs …

Discovering Dyslexia: A Phenomenological Study Of Dyslexia Experiences Across Age Groups, Shauna A. Karloski

Master of Education Research Theses

This phenomenological study focuses on this research question: What types of experiences do students identified early with dyslexia have in comparison to those identified at a later stage in life? Five children and three adults ranging in age from 8-years-old to middle-age were asked to participate in this study. Each participant was interviewed about their diagnosis of dyslexia and what it is like to cope with the disorder in school and everyday life. Participants' accounts were reviewed and organized according to 11 major themes. These themes were compared and contrasted across age groups to look for similarities and differences in …

A Quantitative And Qualitative Investigation Of Content-Area Literacy Instruction Integrated Into Social Studies Content For Kindergarten - 4th Grade Students, Jennifer E. Lee

Master of Education Research Theses

The objective of this study was to research the impact of short term intensive instruction of content-area literacy strategies on students’ academic success, students’ reading attitudes, and teachers’ perceptions of literacy integration into content-area learning of social studies with Kindergarten through 4th grade students at a private, Christian school. The experimental group of students did not show any statistically significant improvement over the control group of students. However, there was a trend in the experimental Kindergarten and 1st grade groups in which their content-area knowledge post-test scores slightly increased (5% and 10% increase in post-test scores, respectively) with additional literacy …

An Analysis Of Technology Integration Within A Play-Based Learning Environment At The Preschool Level, Dana M. Anderkin

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this study was to research this question, “Is technology use appropriate for preschool instruction within a play-based pedagogy and philosophy of education?” The definition of the play-based preschool learning environment is provided, the technology debate outlined, along with a qualitative research study, illustrating the opinions and beliefs regarding technology use of teachers within a play- based learning environment. This study relates research findings to the literature review and suggests that technology use within a play-based learning environment is possible when technology is used appropriately and with balance, to enhance and extend the curriculum. A balanced approach to …

Effects Of Direct Instruction Of Literary Text Elements With Story Mapping On Reading Comprehension, Diane M. Hannay

Master of Education Applied Research Projects

The purpose for the study was to examine the effects of direct instruction of literary text elements accompanied with story mapping on reading comprehension in a fourth grade self-contained classroom. In addition, the study examined if the teacher implementing the treatment recognized a positive change in student comprehension of literary text after implementing the treatment and if the teacher was positively motivated to include direct instruction lessons on literary text elements with story mapping to enhance student reading comprehension in the future. A quasi-experimental mixed research method was used driven by the objective of explaining a cause-and-effect relationship. Results of …

Indiana Choice Scholarships And Their Impact On A Christian School, Rebekah Read

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative thesis project was conducted under the direction of Cedarville University and with the cooperation of the Christian Academy of Madison, in Madison, Indiana. The purpose of the project was to identify and analyze changes that occurred in a private school due to a significant increase in enrollment from students that received vouchers from the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program. Data was collected from third grade IREAD-3 and ISTEP+ state test scores from the previous four years. Additional data was gathered from surveys and interviews with the administration, teachers, non-voucher families and voucher families at the school. Student test scores …

A Comparison Of Teaching Methods In Taiwan For Young Learners Of English, Marilyn E. Hodgin

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this research is to investigate what instructional methods are effectively being used in Taiwanese primary school classrooms to increase the abilities of students’ speaking and listening of English. The data for this qualitative study was collected from three sources. One was from a short survey of eight local teachers in the sample population. Another was from individual interviews with each of those instructors. The third was personal observations from the English classrooms while teaching in Taiwan. Most of the teachers were from the public schools, but two were private English instructors. Three themes emerged from the coding …

How Are Teenage Students In A Private Christian School Using Social Media And What Are The Implications For Education?, Kimberly K. Beavers

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this study was to research this question in a private Christian high school, “How are teenage students using social media and what are the implications for education?” The definition(s) of social media are provided, along with a qualitative research study, illustrating the information concerning the participants in a private Christian high school, relating the research findings to previous compiled literature reviews concerning incorporating social media in a high school educational classroom. The methods, instrumentation, and procedures used are described. The results provide agreements and disagreements from the influence of social media. The analysis section of the research …

Automated Proficiency Indicators To Improve Non-Proficient Scores, Nick C. Maile

Master of Education Research Theses

This action-research study compared improvement data for 9th grade Algebra students. The study entailed the use of automated proficiency indicators to guide intervention with students not meeting proficiency standards after an initial assessment. Data from the previous school year was compared and results revealed questions and implications of multiple levels of non and low proficient students. The goal of this study was to show if using a gradebook with automated proficiency indicators would help improve proficiency scores to a greater degree.

Educational Reform: A Case Study Of Teachers’ Attitudes, Perceptions, And Engagement Throughout Curricular Reform, G. Colin Castelow

Master of Education Research Theses

This applied research project uses a mixed method approach to analyze curricular reform at a private Christian school in Chesapeake, Virginia. The study aimed to answer two questions regarding curricular reform at the school. Are the teachers seeking to improve the curriculum to which they have been entrusted? Have their attitudes and perceptions regarding the change in template evolved over time? Using the Concerns-Based Adoption Model, two separate surveys were coded based on the model’s Stages of Concern and Levels of Use. An initial teacher survey provided data and open-ended responses on the participant’s willingness to implement the reformed device. …

Critical Influences That Encourage Adolescent Boys To Engage In Leisure Reading, Adam Wyse

Master of Education Research Theses

This mixed-method study identifies influences on the literacy habits of adolescent boys. The study sought to answer the question: what factors influence adolescent boys to pursue or not pursue leisure reading? Leisure reading has been found to have a positive impact on academic success (Hughes-Hassell & Rodge, 2007) and boys tend to lag behind in engaging it (Smith & Wilhelm, 2004). A Likert scale survey was given to 137 students, boys and girls, from an upper-middle class, private Christian school in the Midwest. Questions focused on why students do or do not read and what could encourage them to increase …

An Analysis Of Pre-Service Versus Experienced Special-Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Attrition, Derek M. Kreider

Master of Education Research Theses

In this quantitative study, I assessed the presence of factors related to attrition in pre-service special educators. I surveyed 23 pre-service special educators regarding various attrition factors identified in the research literature and then compared their responses to the perceptions of 32 seasoned special educators to test for statistical significance. Participants were located at a large, public university in the southeast United States and the largest public-school system in proximity to the university. The results of the study indicated that attrition factors may be evidenced in pre-service educators and therefore detectable prior to entering the teaching field. The study also …

Armed Employees And School Policy: The Issues And Perspectives Of School Employees Regarding Armed Personnel In A Rural High School Setting, Mark A. Ratliff

Master of Education Research Theses

This mixed-methods study examines the perceptions of classified and certified staff members at a rural, Southwestern Ohio high school and was based on results from a 27-item questionnaire. The study covered three main topics: (1) perceptions of safety, (2) perceptions of armed employees, and (3) views on what procedures and limitations should be in place if a school were to adopt an armed employee policy. With results similar to previous nationwide surveys, 94.4% of participants believe their school is a safe place to work, however only 66.7% believe their school has sufficient procedures in place should a school shooting occur. …

The Efficacy Of Repeated Reading On Secondary Students' Oral Reading Fluency And Retell Fluency, Cynthia S. Driggs

Master of Education Research Theses

Abstract

Driggs, Cynthia S. M.Ed., Education Department, Cedarville University, 2013. The Efficacy of Repeated Reading on Secondary Students’ Oral Fluency Rate and Retell Rate.

Today’s secondary students need effective reading instruction in order to meet the demands of The College and Career Readiness Standards. Since fluency and comprehension comprise essential components of effective reading instruction, this quantitative research is a controlled experiment with a pretest-posttest control-group design. The questions asked include the following: (a) Does repeated reading improve secondary students’ oral reading fluency as measured by increase in the number of words read per minute? (b) Does repeated reading improve …

Evaluating Learning Styles And Personality Type: Guidance For Home School Families Selecting High School Curriculum, Sarah J. Cook

Master of Education Research Theses

“The diagnosis and identification of the strengths and weaknesses of each student, both cognitive and emotional structure, establishes the teaching prescription of instruction” (White, 1998, p. 145). Along with achievement and aptitude tests and portfolios, home school parents can delve into personality and learning styles to gain a greater understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknesses and also to guide in curriculum choices. Can evaluating personality and learning styles aid home school parents in the curriculum decisions? This study included nine upper elementary home schooled students. Each participant completed a self-assessment questionnaire. The data gained from the questionnaire and the …

Teacher Retention In The Low-Income Diverse Community Of Immokalee, Florida, Ashley M. Buehler

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative ethnographic study explores the background characteristics and motivations of nine long-standing teachers in the small migrant community of Immokalee, Florida. Each teacher participated in a standard open-ended interview consisting of 55 questions. Common background characteristics exist among the teachers. The teachers are life-long learners, embrace challenges, possess a familiarity with their school context, and interestingly the majority of the teachers pursued another profession before becoming an educator. All the teachers communicated their love for the students and community of Immokalee, however, four dissatisfying factors emerged throughout the interview process these include: insufficient time, the negative perception directed towards …

A Qualitative Study Of The Motivating Factors, Perceptions, And Experiences Of Mentors Involved With Elementary Students During In-School And After-School Programs, Aaron D. Berning

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative study focused on the thoughts, attitudes, and opinions of mentors working with elementary age students. Volunteers were taken for the study from two mentoring programs; an academically based tutoring program which took place during the school day and a more relationally oriented program involving teens working with students after school. Both programs took place in a public school with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged children. Participants were asked questions about their perceptions of student needs, their successes with their individual mentee(s), the strength of the program they were involved in, and about their personal thoughts and opinions …

A Study Of Fifth Grade Students’ Perceptions And Attitudes Of A Self-Contained Versus A Departmentalized Middle School Classroom, Mitzi Hanks

Master of Education Research Theses

This study examines students’ perceptions and attitudes toward entering a departmentalized middle school program after experiencing a self-contained elementary setting and if those perceptions and attitudes are reflected in their overall grades. In this longitudinal qualitative study, forty students were surveyed at the end of their last year in a self-contained classroom regarding their perceptions of entering the focus school’s departmentalized fifth grade program. Students remaining in the study group were surveyed again at the end of their fifth grade year to gain information on their attitudes toward departmentalization after completing the program. Data was collected from students’ end of …

The Impact Of Pro-Life Education On Abortion Attitude Among College Students In Nepal, Maya Shrestha

Master of Science in Nursing Theses

Since the legalization of abortion in Nepal in 2002, the number of induced abortions has increased. Various national and international organizations have been giving greater attention and effort to enhancing the public’s knowledge on legal abortion. However, little research on pro-life education and its impact on abortion attitude have been conducted in Nepal and around the world at large. The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of pro-life education on abortion attitude among college students in Nepal.

This one group pretest posttest study was based on the cognitive dissonance theory (CDT) which postulates that education brings attitude …

Worldview-Building Potential Of Ukrainian Abc Bukwar Textbooks, Ganna Valentynivna Izyumtseva

Master of Education Research Theses

Izyumtseva, Ganna V. M.Ed., Educational Department, Cedarville University, 2013. Worldview-Building Potential of Ukrainian ABC Bukwar Textbooks.

The research study examined the worldview foundation undergirding the content of Soviet and contemporary Ukrainian ABC Bukwar textbooks (hereinafter referred to as theBukwar) to define whether, if at all, contemporary Bukwar has moved from the Soviet control beliefs, whether it stimulates the formation of a new conceptual vision of reality, necessary for building democratic society and formation of a new human resource. To conduct the study, I employed the grounded theory as a leading theoretical paradigm. The analysis has identified the position …