Education Commons^™

Motivations Of Adults Enrolling In An Evening Graduate Degree Program, Bradford R. Frazier

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

According to the American Council on Education (2006), it is estimated that more than 41% of students enrolled in degree granting programs in higher education are nontraditional, adult students age 22 or older. Many of these 6 million students are entering graduate school as working adults. According to previous research on non-traditional students, participants may be motivated by a variety of reasons both intrinsic and extrinsic. Understanding adult students' motivations to enroll in a graduate school degree program is critical for graduate schools to remain viable and sustainable as they seek to attract tuition paying students.

The purpose of this …

Self-Efficacy And Instruction In Mathematics, Juana Patricia Ordonez-Feliciano

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

According to the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008) differences in students' mathematical achievement were attributed to differences in teacher characteristics, including the use of instructional methods and their self-efficacy beliefs. Concurrently, today's mathematics teachers face challenges arising from Federal and State mandates requiring students' proficiency to improve on standardized tests. This study considered the relationship between two characteristics, mathematics teachers' self-efficacy and their choice of instructional strategies. Further, the relationship between teachers' self-efficacy and their demographic characteristics as measured by a researcher-developed questionnaire was explored.

The researcher utilized the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) and the Teachers' Instructional Practices Survey (TIPS), …

Academic And Non-Academic Factors Associated With Retention Of Undergraduate College Students, Connie Myers Kracher

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The purpose of this study was to critically analyze both academic and nonacademic factors that may influence retention of health science students and the potential for future effective admission strategies beyond cognitive admission standards. The health science professions are fortunate to attract intelligent, competitive applicants to the professional programs. However, applicants may not possess the emotional intelligence skills to be interpersonally competent, caring healthcare providers. College institutions have only recently begun acknowledging the value of noncognitive criteria in admissions and student retention of beginning undergraduate students.

The purpose of this correlational and comparative research study was to test a hypothesized …

Online Learning Success: Underlying Constructs Affecting Student Attrition, Sandra Porta-Merida

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

With the advent of the Internet, distance education has achieved a new meaning. Online delivery has become one of the most convenient ways to impart knowledge and education, and it has opened new educational possibilities for some who prefer this method of learning, rather than the traditional classroom setting.

The purpose of this critical analysis of theoretical and empirical literature is to explore the relationships among, online student progress, student characteristics of successful online completers, and to identify areas of future scholarly inquiry. The review examines how social and academic integration are predictors of course performance and course persistence in …

Student Characteristics, On-Line Course Characteristics, Cross-Cultural Adaptability, Classroom Community, And On-Line Course Performance, Cheryl Mcdowell

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

On-line higher education courses continue to receive growing interest among students, and colleges and universities throughout the country strive to ensure that quality education is provided in an on-line environment. Characteristics of the student and of the course, the student's ability to interact cross-culturally, and the impact of class community on course performance are all critical components that need further investigation. Continuing the development and implementation of on-line higher education courses can provide students with more successful on-line higher educational experiences.

Structural and process variables attribute to the makeup of on-line courses and components involved in their delivery. A discussion …

Teacher, School, And Student Characteristics, Theoretical Orientations Toward Reading, Attitudes Toward High Stakes Testing, And Reading Performance In Grades K-6, Dianne Memmer-Novak

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

High stakes testing and accountability has become a hotly debated topic among politicians and educators since the bipartisan passing of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in 2002. With the goal of having all students reading at or above grade level by the end of the 2013-2014 school year Reading First was developed as part of NCLB, to provide schools and teachers with scientific research-based reading instruction.

More than districts or schools, it is the classroom teacher that bears the ultimate responsibility for increasing reading performance. Effective teachers of reading must face the demands and challenges of NCLB while …

School Counselors' Strategies Supporting Vygotsky's Theory And Affecting Behavior Of Hispanic English Language Learners (Ell) With Adhd In Second Grade, Margarita Santamaria

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This study is proposed due to the growing population of Hispanics and English Language Learners (ELL) in United States schools, the need for research on the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on Hispanic population, in particular on ELL students diagnosed with ADHD, and the privileged position of school counselors to assist ELL students with ADHD. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study is to identify school counselors' strategies supporting Vygotsky's theory and affecting behavior of Hispanic English Language Learners (ELL) with ADHD in second grade. Guided in-depth interviews, will be utilized with ten school counselors (five English Speakers …