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Eastern Illinois University

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Assessing Teachers' Need For Classroom Management Training: Can Consultants Link Data To Evidence-Based Practices?, Jessica White Jan 2022

Assessing Teachers' Need For Classroom Management Training: Can Consultants Link Data To Evidence-Based Practices?, Jessica White

Masters Theses

The present study examined whether 53 observers could use the Five in 20 Observation Tool to accurately identify teachers needing additional classroom management training. The Five in 20 Classroom Observation Tool includes 21, evidence-based classroom management strategies, critical to effective classroom management. Fifty-three observers were recruited to complete 42 (42 primary observers and 11 reliability observers), 20-minute observations using the Five in 20 Tool. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 29 observers participated in the recalled format and 24 participated in the live version. There was a statistically significant difference between observers who indicated fewer, or lower quality evidence-based strategies were …


Exploring The Special Education Classroom Context And Experiences Before And During Covid-19, Claire E. Smith Jan 2022

Exploring The Special Education Classroom Context And Experiences Before And During Covid-19, Claire E. Smith

Masters Theses

During the last two and half years, school districts and special education programs have experienced a situation that turned the world of education upside down: the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, teachers, administration, families, and students had to maneuver a new way of education and achieving student success with different learning modalities, such as remote learning. This thesis focuses on a functional life skills classroom and how the context of the classroom changed after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic using autoethnographic methods. This paper was written to display how students in special education and their teachers adapted to …


An Exploration Of Middle School Teachers’ Utilization Of Culturally Responsive Teaching, Samantha Phillips Jan 2022

An Exploration Of Middle School Teachers’ Utilization Of Culturally Responsive Teaching, Samantha Phillips

Masters Theses

Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) can be used as a means for effectively teaching and managing students and decreases the achievement gap between students of Color and their White counterparts. This qualitative study with an ethnographic design examines the utilization of culturally responsive teaching strategies of two middle school teachers and two principals in public schools on the Southwest side of Chicago. The study is guided by one research question: What aspects of culturally responsive teaching practices are teachers using in their teaching strategies? The study has two purposes: To analyze the effectiveness of two middle school teachers’ utilization of culturally …


The Experiences Of Professionals Of Color At A Predominantly White Institution, Brandy Matthews Jan 2022

The Experiences Of Professionals Of Color At A Predominantly White Institution, Brandy Matthews

Masters Theses

This qualitative study looks at the experiences professionals of color face in a Predominately White institution. More specifically, this study showed that professionals of color still face many challenges due to the barriers they face on, and off-campus compared to their White counterparts. This study utilized semi-structured interviews to help explore professionals of color experiences at a rural mid-sized university in the Midwest.


How Do I Do This? How Universities Support Students Experiencing Grief, Jackie Hirn Jan 2021

How Do I Do This? How Universities Support Students Experiencing Grief, Jackie Hirn

Masters Theses

Grief prompts college students to ask, “how do I do this?” in many ways. This phenomenological study examined the ways in which student affairs professionals supported grieving students from four universities across the United States. It was found that grieving college students faced many challenges and barriers, including academic, emotional, financial and legal, and cultural issues. Grief is an individualized process that manifests differently in each student. To ensure student success, it was found that resource referral was vital for students, and that connections between departments were imperative to make those referrals happen. This study notes that the COVID-19 pandemic …


Self-Reported Multicultural Teaching Knowledge And Skills Of School Professionals, Julia Kedzior Jan 2021

Self-Reported Multicultural Teaching Knowledge And Skills Of School Professionals, Julia Kedzior

Masters Theses

Diverse learners face a variety of challenges, such as achievement gaps, behavior problems, and absenteeism. Therefore, it is important for their educators to have both multicultural teaching knowledge and skills to address these challenges and work towards a successful school experience for all students. Although research has sought to measure the cultural competence of teachers, not many studies have examined cultural competence in other school professionals (administrators, school psychologists, social workers, interventionists, instructional assistants, and other individuals who directly work with students in the school environment). In the current study, 185 teachers and other school professionals completed an adapted version …


Speaking To Power: An Exploration Of College Students’ Experiences With Student Lobbying, Catie Witt Jan 2021

Speaking To Power: An Exploration Of College Students’ Experiences With Student Lobbying, Catie Witt

Masters Theses

The United States is currently experiencing an increase in student activism compared to recent years (Jason, 2018). While research on student activism is vast, there is little research that has examined student activism through student-run lobby groups. Research seems to be non-existent when it comes to exploring the experiences of students involved in student lobbying as a form of activism. Studies also often focus on the outcomes of student activism, rather than the student activists themselves. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of students who had been involved in a student-run lobby group at a rural …


Female Student Service Member’S Experiences With Higher Education And Military Transitions, Sophie Cieslicki Jan 2021

Female Student Service Member’S Experiences With Higher Education And Military Transitions, Sophie Cieslicki

Masters Theses

This study explored the experiences of female student service members when transitioning between military-related and higher education responsibilities as well as their motivations for degree completion and campus resources they utilized. While the number of studies on female student service members is growing, research on this population is scarce. This study utilized a narrative qualitative approach to give female student service members a voice and platform to share their experiences and truths. Participants in this study have served at least one year in the United States Armed Forces and have completed at least one semester of college coursework. Participants were …


Examining The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Religion/Spirituality Among International Students, Ly'jerrick Ward Jan 2021

Examining The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Religion/Spirituality Among International Students, Ly'jerrick Ward

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturative stress and religion/spirituality of international students. This study utilized Sandhu and Asrabadi’s (1994) Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS) as well as the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF) created by Plante and Boccaccini (1997). Much research exists on how international students adapt and acculturate to a host country. This research will add to the body of literature that exists regarding how international students use their religion/spirituality to deal with acculturative stress. Students in this study were asked a number of questions from the ASSIS …


The Impact Of Mentoring African Americans Males During Their Undergraduate Experience At Predominantly White Institutions, Michael D. Miller Jan 2021

The Impact Of Mentoring African Americans Males During Their Undergraduate Experience At Predominantly White Institutions, Michael D. Miller

Masters Theses

Mentoring is often described as a positively effective relationship socialized by a professor or faculty member that assists the student with academic and interpersonal endeavors (Lavant, Anderson, & Tiggs, 1997). Black males face many obstacles in higher education that limit their abilities to obtain resources such as mentorship. The purpose of the present qualitative study was to examine the impact of mentoring relationships for African American males enrolled at a predominately White university. This study sought to explore if mentoring had an impact on Black males, what effects does mentorship have, how they describe their mentoring relationships, and how satisfied …


An Examination Of The Integration Of Augmented Reality In Science Curriculum, Cathleen A. Bierman Jan 2021

An Examination Of The Integration Of Augmented Reality In Science Curriculum, Cathleen A. Bierman

Masters Theses

This study examines students’ success rate and level of engagement in a science classroom by using augmented reality (AR) specifically merge cube. Students’ success rate is measured by their grades, which can determine if the student understands the material. Engagement is measured by observing whether or not the students are asking questions, volunteering information, working well with others, paying attention in class, and participates actively in discussions. The two research questions guided the study:1. Does the use of a merge cube in the science classroom improve participants’ success rate in learning science? and 2. Does using a merge cube increase …


The Efficacy Of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (Pals) With Hispanic English Language Learners In The 2nd Grade, Sonia Duran Jan 2021

The Efficacy Of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (Pals) With Hispanic English Language Learners In The 2nd Grade, Sonia Duran

Masters Theses

The present study examined the efficacy of a reading instruction, Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS), for Hispanic English Language Learners (ELL). Currently, the literature indicates that there is a surge in ELL students, most commonly Spanish-speaking ELL students, in the United States. This increase in ELL population created a need for academic support as many of these students are historically academically behind their non-ELL peers due to the negative impact of lack of exposure to the English language and cultural differences. The PALS program is a class-wide reading intervention where students engage in reading activities to promote reading skills; and …


Preparing For Life After College: The Career Skills Learned By Resident Assistant Alumni, Kala Cousineau Jan 2021

Preparing For Life After College: The Career Skills Learned By Resident Assistant Alumni, Kala Cousineau

Masters Theses

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), there is a high value placed on college graduates who acquire skills that can be utilized to attain their professional goals (2015). On college campuses, the resident assistant (RA) role is one of the many opportunities the residence life department has that can help develop students and their career readiness (Peck, 2017). There is a lack of research looking at what transferable skills students in the resident assistant position acquire and then use in their careers post-graduation. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore what skills former RAs learned …


Adapting To Change: Transitional Experiences Of Vertical Transfer Students, Anna K. Goldberg Jan 2021

Adapting To Change: Transitional Experiences Of Vertical Transfer Students, Anna K. Goldberg

Masters Theses

Vertical transfer students, defined as those who transfer after graduating from a community college to a four-year university, are on the increase in the United States. While there are numerous studies on the logistical parts of transferring, there are fewer that have examined the adjustments and transitions that vertical transfer students face. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with vertical transfer students at a rural, mid-sized, Midwestern institution to understand these students' experiences. Another important area examined was how student affairs professionals can best assist vertical transfer students. Thematic material was analyzed through the lens of Schlossberg's (2011) transition theory. …


Korean War Coverage In High School History Textbooks, Zarek Nolen Jan 2021

Korean War Coverage In High School History Textbooks, Zarek Nolen

Masters Theses

This content analysis investigated coverage of the Korean War in recent high school U.S. history textbooks. Open coding techniques applied to six textbooks yielded data for the following categories: background of the war, the outbreak of the war, the sequence of the war, the conclusion of the war, the devastation of war, the effects of the war, U.N. and U.S. politics, the Chinese intervention, General Douglas MacArthur, and African Americans in the military. Data from these categories were compared and scrutinized against historians’ knowledge using axial coding techniques. This study's findings support past research on Korean War coverage in high …


A Preliminary Investigation Of The Revised Pkate: An Elementary Sample, Madison Fisher Jan 2021

A Preliminary Investigation Of The Revised Pkate: An Elementary Sample, Madison Fisher

Masters Theses

When used correctly, praise is a simple and effective strategy that can be used by staff school-wide to improve student disruptive behavior. Unfortunately, many teachers report receiving little classroom management training and feeling unprepared to manage student problem behavior. Therefore, having an assessment tool that identifies which educators may benefit from additional training may better guide training and therefore increase educators’ effective use of praise. The present study attempted to revise a previous iteration of the Praise Knowledge Assessment for Teachers and Educators (PKATE), examine educator’s knowledge and attitudes toward praise, and determine whether there is a relation between teachers’ …


Student-Centered Learning Spaces During A Pandemic, Rebeccah J. Maley Jan 2021

Student-Centered Learning Spaces During A Pandemic, Rebeccah J. Maley

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the experience second year, live on students study habits in outside academic spaces during a pandemic from 2020-2021 academic year. Through gathered testimonies of residents it was found students value their communities, appreciate localized spaces for collaboration, and acknowledged various influences that can enhance or inhibit their ability to study. Additionally, they shared the impact COVID-19 had on their personal lives, academics, and how they interacted with others. It was found that holistic measures are needed for students to be successful in outside academic spaces. This study brought attention to these measures …


Unchallenged And Obedient: Status Of Nigerian Junior Secondary School Social Studies Curriculum, Toluwalase Solomon Jan 2021

Unchallenged And Obedient: Status Of Nigerian Junior Secondary School Social Studies Curriculum, Toluwalase Solomon

Masters Theses

Bolstering best practice social studies pedagogy is crucial to raising analytical, responsible, moral, and civic-minded students in Nigeria. This study, using content analysis research methods, examined the contents of Nigerian junior secondary school (JSS) social studies curriculum materials to determine the extent to which the curriculum aligns with major social studies teachers’ epistemologies (citizenship transmission, social sciences, and reflective inquiry). Though there have been numerous studies on examining the major social studies teachers’ epistemologies—citizenship transmission, social sciences, and reflective inquiry—yet few have examined the extent to which Nigerian social studies curriculum materials aligns with these epistemologies. Three major findings emerged …


Teacher Perceptions Of Co-Teaching Effectiveness In Inclusive Elementary Classrooms, Ann Sims Jan 2021

Teacher Perceptions Of Co-Teaching Effectiveness In Inclusive Elementary Classrooms, Ann Sims

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine if co-teaching is an effective strategy of inclusion for students with Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Specifically, students in the general education classroom for grade levels kindergarten to fifth grade in the state of Illinois. Co-teaching has been utilized in middle and upper-grade levels, but the implementation of co-teaching has started to integrate into elementary grades. Two questions guided the study; is co-teaching an effective inclusive strategy for students with an IEP in a general education classroom; and does the model of co-teaching impact the student's academic progress? A quantitative study utilizing a …


Listening To Their Voices: A Narrative On Campus Climate For Trans* Students, Cloe Bourdages Jan 2021

Listening To Their Voices: A Narrative On Campus Climate For Trans* Students, Cloe Bourdages

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that campus climate has on trans* student academic and personal success. This qualitative study was explored through individual interviews by four participants. Participants discussed practices which enabled and inhibited their success; which lead to the finding of four themes: identity and validation, academic climate, climate outside of the classroom, and resources and services. Overall, a positive correlation in trans* student success was found when institutions use inclusive practices within their work. Lastly, the study provided implications for higher education recommended by both the participants and the researcher.


Feels Like Home: On Campus Housing And Its Effect On Sense Of Belonging, Makenzie Joseph Jan 2021

Feels Like Home: On Campus Housing And Its Effect On Sense Of Belonging, Makenzie Joseph

Masters Theses

There has been substantial research done on sense of belonging for college students. This study explored the on-campus experience of upperclassman on-campus residents at a mid-sized Midwestern university. This research was a qualitative study that examined the impact on-campus housing had on a student’s sense of belonging and their intentions to reenroll in their institution. The findings of this study supported many of the previous findings in relation to on-campus housing and a sense of belonging, as well it presented new findings. Many different themes emerged such as the importance of faculty and staff relationships, institutional size, and personal and …


Is The Customer Always Right? An Exploration Into The Expectations Of Student Affairs Professionals, Brittany Floyd Jan 2021

Is The Customer Always Right? An Exploration Into The Expectations Of Student Affairs Professionals, Brittany Floyd

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to gain perspective of how student affairs professionals are managing the changing dynamic of the student. The researcher sought to explore how student affairs professionals cope with the expectation that the “customer is always right” while encouraging students’ development. It was found that student affairs professionals share a common goal to assist and serve students, but administration, parents, and students have clear expectations as to how they do so. It was found that the customer service mantra “the customer is always right” does exist on a college campus, and it comes with a cost. …


An Exploration Of The Perception Of Faith Development At A Midwestern Public Institution, Zachary Sandoval Jan 2021

An Exploration Of The Perception Of Faith Development At A Midwestern Public Institution, Zachary Sandoval

Masters Theses

Despite research indicating benefits to religious or faith involvement, there is an increase in individuals that claim to have no religious affiliation. Additionally, most research that has investigated faith development of college students has been conducted at private religious institutions. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to examine students’ perceptions of various interactions on their faith development at a public, rural Midwestern institution. Moreover, this study investigated how the institution of interest can better support spirituality on campus and the role student affairs can have on spiritual development. Thematic material was developed through Parks’s (2000) theory of faith development. Results …


Using Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Activities To Narrow The Achievement Gaps In East Central Illinois, Kiyla Devoss Jan 2021

Using Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Activities To Narrow The Achievement Gaps In East Central Illinois, Kiyla Devoss

Masters Theses

STEM has become a growing topic in recent years. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. There is a strong emphasis on improving and expanding STEM education to meet the demands of our STEM-focused society. To fill this need afterschool programs have emerged as key partners in STEM education to provide inspirational STEM enrichment opportunities. The study aims to explore if STEM activities narrow the achievement gap of participants from low socio-economic status (SES) in East Central Illinois. The study used a grade level ready framework to define the concept of narrowing the achievement gap and lowering the percentage …


First-Generation Black Males’ Challenges In Attending A Pwi: Understanding What Makes Them Persist, Shakeitra Simmons Jan 2020

First-Generation Black Males’ Challenges In Attending A Pwi: Understanding What Makes Them Persist, Shakeitra Simmons

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology, the researcher studied the challenges and persistence factors for undergraduate First-generation Black males to persist at a Predominantly White Institution. Through conducting six one-on-one semi-structured interviews, the researcher identified the challenges faced by this group of students as mental health, lack of support, and racism/microaggressions. The researcher also identified the factors for persistence at the PWI to be upward mobility, family and school personnel support, and campus involvement.


Growth Mindset: A Key To Motivating Students In Reading, Jenny M. Reid Jan 2020

Growth Mindset: A Key To Motivating Students In Reading, Jenny M. Reid

Masters Theses

If students believe the possibilities for attaining knowledge are boundless, they will be capable of reaching those heights. However, if students feel as though they are restricted by what nature and genetics have gifted them, their learning will remain within those boundaries. This is what stands as the difference between a growth and fixed mindset, which affects will be analyzed pertaining to student progress and motivation in literacy. A third-grade class was observed over six weeks to explore what the teacher believes about her students’ reading abilities as well as what the students believe about their reading abilities. These beliefs …


A Qualitative Study Of Why Women Join Panhellenic Organizations, Alex T. Martens Jan 2020

A Qualitative Study Of Why Women Join Panhellenic Organizations, Alex T. Martens

Masters Theses

Each year more and more women across the country are enrolling in higher education institutions. However, this increase in attendance is not reflected in sorority recruitment. Studies are either non-existent on why women are joining sororities, or the studies that are conducted focus on harm reduction, including alcohol and hazing. Studies also seem to focus more on men, and fraternities. This study was designed to focus on the experience that women are experiencing during recruitment and the reasoning for joining their respective chapters. Using a qualitative approach, the researcher interviewed six women who varied in race, year in school, and …


Stability Of The Learning Behaviors Scale, Nikki Davidson Jan 2020

Stability Of The Learning Behaviors Scale, Nikki Davidson

Masters Theses

Learning behaviors are observable actions, habits, and manifestations of attitudes that facilitate learning, such as persevering at difficult tasks, showing interest in academic subjects, demonstrating care and concern about classwork, and graciously accepting feedback (Buchanan, McDermott, & Schaefer, 1998). Assessment of these learning behaviors is an essential first step to effective intervention. It is important to know which learning behaviors to target and the degree of deficit in order to remediate learning problems. The present study examined the medium length (two-month) stability of scores obtained from the Learning Behaviors Scale (McDermott, Green, Francis, & Stott, 1999). Fifty K-8 teacher rater …


Persistence Of African American Students At Predominately White Institutions, Candace Thompson Jan 2020

Persistence Of African American Students At Predominately White Institutions, Candace Thompson

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology, the persistence of African American students at predominately White institutions was analyzed. This was conducted through semi-structured interviews by six participants which evaluated African American students’ overall persistence. Participants expressed what determined their selections of institutions as well as what institutional and personal factors negatively and positively affected their matriculation throughout the institution. In addition, the study provided recommendations to student affairs professionals to better serve this population.


How Leaders In Greek Life View Alcohol, Blake Miller Jan 2020

How Leaders In Greek Life View Alcohol, Blake Miller

Masters Theses

The researcher in this study used qualitative methodology to explore perspectives of undergraduate student leaders in fraternity and sorority life at a mid-sized, Midwest institution on alcohol, especially within the Greek life system. Eight informants participated in semi-structured, open-ended interviews and were asked about their views on and experiences with alcohol, both as a new member and after having leadership experience. Informants were also asked about alcohol intervention and prevention measures. A majority of informants maintained or developed an indifferent or aversive view of alcohol, had decreased their personal levels of alcohol use, had made attempts to change the way …