Education Commons^™

An Historical Perspective To Examine How Federal Policy Influenced The Definition And Evaluation Of Teacher Effectiveness Since 1950, Janine M. Mathesz

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Increased public demand to hold teachers accountable for student learning and to remove ineffective teachers has challenged state department of education officials to develop teacher evaluation systems that include student assessment data. Many educational researchers theorize teacher effectiveness is the variable under the control of the school with the most influence on student success.

This study examines the influence of federal government education policies on state teacher evaluation systems and how this influence has shaped the definition and evaluation of an effective teacher over the past 62 years. Teacher evaluations, when used as a proper tool, assist administrators in providing …

Why Do Undergraduate Women Persist As Stem Majors? A Study At Twotechnological Universities, Ronald Brandt

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields despite significant policy efforts to increase the number of qualified women. Prior research focused on access for women into advanced high school mathematics and science courses. Parity has been achieved in academic prerequisites for STEM studies in higher education, yet the number of women majoring in STEM has remained static. Recent research has focused on the socio-cultural obstacles that women face, including a lower self-confidence in their abilities, bias and gender stereotypes.

A survey was undertaken to examine the self-confidence, opinions and backgrounds of female students persisting as STEM majors at two …

Middle School Transition: Faculty And Parent Perceptions Of The Academic, Procedural, And Social Changes That Occur Between Elementary And Middle School, Barbara Mckeon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of parents and faculty regarding the transition from a private special education school to the middle school environment. Research was conducted using a mixed methods design to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of those directly involved with the transition process. Seventeen participants, nine parents and eight faculty participated in both the interviews and questionnaire processes. Social competence, academic competence, procedural challenges, maturational readiness and program planning were dominant themes in this study. The study examined the academic, procedural and social changes that occur in middle school from the stage-environment fit …

Perceptions Of Kindergarten Teachers Regarding Professional Development In New Jersey's Public Schools, Deborah Fitzpatrick

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

PreK-3 is a growing national initiative designed to transform the educational experiences of young children. Research indicates that young children’s educational gains are more likely to last when quality preschool programs are linked with the elementary years. A PreK-3 approach integrates and builds strong connections between the learning experiences of children ages three through eight. Kindergarten is the grade where preschool and primary grade experiences intersect.

The purpose of this study was to examine kindergarten teachers’ opinions regarding professional development opportunities in early childhood education which may help facilitate implementation of the PreK-3 continuum. This was accomplished through an examination …

The Price Of Prestige: A Study Of The Impact Of Striving Behavior On The Expenditure Patterns Of American Colleges And Universities, Kevin Iglesias

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the effect that striving behavior has upon an institution’s expenditures. While not the first study to examine such effects, it was the first to look across a multitude of institutional types, spanning seven levels of Carnegie classifications and encompassing public and private not-for-profit bachelors-granting schools to public and private research institutions. Further, by including 8 distinct lines of expenditures, the study was the first to provide such a comprehensive look at changes in institutional expenditures. The study drew on numerous theoretical constructs, including resource dependency, theory of strategic balance, isomorphism, and Perrow’s theory of prestige in order …

Meaning-Making Among Medical Students: Development Of A Quantitative Measure Of Self-Authorship, Robert Fallar

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Preparation for and application to medical school, as well as the subsequent medical training of matriculating students, can have an important impact on psychosocial development. The premedical baccalaureate is the traditional preparation for medical school, although many medical schools also offer a separate entry path through early assurance programs that provide conditional acceptance in the sophomore year of college. These programs may provide freedom in the remainder of the baccalaureate program to explore the liberal arts, which could be a source of differential development of non-cognitive skills among medical students. Self-authorship is defined as the ability to define one’s beliefs, …

An Investigation Of American Students’ Tonal Acquisition Towards Disyllabic Words With Same Or Different Tones, Yuan Yuan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Mastering Mandarin tones is an indispensable path to achieving high Chinese language proficiency and a headache to a lot of American learners. Scholars keep studying this area, but this problem remains unsolved.

Through long-time observation of beginners, I found an interesting phenomenon: many students were able to correctly produce a certain tone (Tone X) which was contained by a monosyllable. However, when the students encountered a disyllabic word with the tone which they were skillful at (Tone X) and another different tone (Tone Y), the students showed no advantage on Tone X. This phenomenon motivated me to do research on …

A Study Of U.S. Education Outcomes For Female Students From The Republic Of Georgia, Nino Bitsadze

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This qualitative study sought to understand how living and studying in the United States affected the personalities, beliefs, attitudes, and careers of a group of female students from the Republic of Georgia. The researcher traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, to interview twenty alumni of U.S. study programs (on undergraduate and graduate study levels) individually. Jack Mezirow’s Transformational Learning Theory and David Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory provide the theoretical framework for the study.

The findings revealed that living and studying in the U.S. matured the participants personally as they got to experience the challenges that accompany living independently in an unfamiliar …

Shifting Paradigm: A Detailed Exploration Of 3d Technology In Museums, Alycia Piazza

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This thesis explores the impact of 3D technology on the overall museum experience. Detailed analysis of the current utilization of 3D scanning and printing in the areas of exhibition, conservation, research, accessibility, education, and programming, has yielded informed findings on the potential advantages and distractions this technology creates. The information discussed raises important questions and opens the doors to critical discourse; it provides museum professionals with valuable insight and theoretical suggestions on how to best incorporate this technology within the museum setting, with careful consideration to its capabilities for both the present and future.

Development Of University Related Foundations In China, Li Guo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The major purpose of the study was to identify significant organizational changes that have taken place in foundations of national Chinese public universities from 1999 to 2012. The study also attempted to explore major forces behind these changes. A secondary purpose was to seek for ideas on promoting higher education philanthropy in China by explore successful experiences in other countries.

To achieve the goals, this study: (a) started by identifying challenges on financing higher education in China as well as pointing out that the Chinese government and higher education institutions have begun to generate diversifying revenue sources including recently adopted …

“What The Hell Is Revise?”: Student Approaches To Coursework In Developmental English At One Urban-Serving Community College, Stefan A. Perun

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The primary objective of this dissertation was to help illuminate why most students who enroll in developmental English at community colleges never make it to a college-level course. The extant literature suggests that students’ learning experiences in a course largely account for success or failure, yet few studies have uncovered how students experience content and pedagogy in developmental English at community colleges, and how these experiences shape students’ success or failure in their course. To remedy this gap, I conducted a semester-long, classroom level, qualitative study of three sections of developmental English at one community college. I primarily relied upon …

How Professors Infuse Critical Thinking Into College Courses, Nancy K. Lennon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to explore professors’ understandings about how they infuse critical thinking within Signature courses in one private Catholic university, where a strong commitment exists to develop students’ critical thinking skills through the Core Curriculum. This qualitative study investigated the views of 12 professors in 6 disciplines as to how they approach the teaching and assessment of critical thinking skills within three Signature courses of the Core Curriculum.

Data collection included documentation and one-on-one interviews with the professors, who taught Signature courses during the Spring 2011 semester. Through a cross analysis of the data,the …

Predictors Of Success In Entry-Level Master's Degree Programs In Athletic Training, Mary E. Murray

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

ABSTRACT

Athletic training educational program directors use a variety of admission criteria to select qualified applicants who they anticipate will succeed academically and professionally. No standard sets of admission criteria exist for identifying a student’s ability to succeed in an entry-level master’s degree athletic training program or on the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the relationship between entry-level master’s degree athletic training student demographic and academic factors and first- attempt passing rate on the BOC examination. The research questions examined the relationship between age, gender, admission grade point average (GPA), final …

The Effects Of Cultural And Social Capital On College Choice: An Examination Of The Differences Between Latino Students And Their Racial/Ethnic Peers, Evelyn Garcia

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Latino college students are the fastest growing minority segment in the United States. College choice has been the focus of many research studies; however the Latino student is different. They are different with respect to their college going behaviors and ultimately baccalaureate degree attainment. They enroll at two year institutions at higher rates and they also have lower rates of baccalaureate degree attainment as compared to their Asians, African American and White counterparts. In order to inform policy in a changing environment, the research community must examine the Latino student and determine which behaviors are associated with attendance at a …

Boys' Academic Achievement At The Secondary Level In Jordan Between 2005 And 2009, Shadin Belal

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study investigated factors linked to the underachievement of boys' education in Jordan. These school factors include the availability of male teachers, availability and infrastructure of school, student-teacher ratio (STR), and the quality of teachers. Both qualitative methods and archival research were utilized to collect data in urban and rural areas in Jordan. Findings reveal the existence of an academic disparity in achievement at the secondary level in Jordan. Male students have a lower participation in Jordan's Tawjihi exam. An analysis of Tawjihi results also reveals that girls outperformed boys in all Tawjihi stream exams except for sharia'h between 2004 …

The Relationship Between Teacher Candidates' Performance On Praxis I And Praxis Ii In New Jersey, Cathy R. Owens-Oliver

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between teacher candidate performance on the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills test and select Praxis II: Subject-Area Assessments. Praxis I is a set of three basic skills tests in reading, writing, and mathematics most often used as an admissions tests for teacher education programs. Praxis II is a battery of tests used to assess adequate content knowledge for program exit and for obtaining a license for beginning practice. This research focuses on teacher supply and quality in New Jersey, as demonstrated by teacher candidate performance on Praxis I and Praxis II …

The Student Augustinian Values Institute: Assessing Its Impact Of Enhancing The Understanding And Experience Of The Augustinian Core Values Of Veritas, Unitas, And Caritas Upon Students In Augustinian Secondary Schools, Stephen M. Curry

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Educational leadership understands the importance of teaching values in its schools and incorporates this philosophy into the school’s symbolic and structural systems. Roman Catholic Church leaders have always endorsed the teaching of values in its schools and this position was sanctioned at its Second Vatican Council (Vatican Council II, 1962-65). One aspect of the Council emphasized the importance of Catholic education as an essential vehicle for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. Catholic schools founded and sponsored by religious communities were challenged to reappropriate their founders’ charisms in their educational ministries. The Order of St. Augustine is an example …

An Analysis Of Principal Preparation Programs At Pennsylvania State Schools, Karlin Burks

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In this era of data-driven accountability for school success and high student achievement, successful school leadership has been hailed as one of the most import tools in creating effective schools. Principal preparation programs have an ever-demanding job of producing high-quality principals capable of effective school leadership, as the failure or success of a school can be directly attributed to the training and preparation of the school principal. It is the desire of the researcher that the findings of this study will add to the research on school leadership and perhaps encourage university principal preparation programs to examine their practices and …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Singapore Math Curriculum And The Everyday Mathematics Curriculum On Fifth Grade Achievement In A Large Northeastern Urban Public School District, Tina L. Powell

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the differences between the achievement effects of one proposed Common Core State Standards-aligned mathematics program, Math in Focus: Singapore Math, and one NCTM-aligned mathematics program, Everyday Mathematics, on Grade 5 mathematics performance. An explanatory non-experimental research design was employed using post hoc pre- and post-treatment data from 2010 NJ ASK3 and 2012 NJ ASK5 administrations, respectively. The study examined the achievement outcomes of 205 Grade 5 general education students across several independent variables (race/ethnicity, gender, SES, attendance). Statistical analyses revealed fairly consistent results regarding differences in student performance on the 2012 NJ ASK5 in schools implementing Singapore …

The Influence Of Early Childhood Program Participation On Academic Achievement At The Elementary Level, Gina Marie Villani

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of early childhood program participation on academic achievement by grade 3. This case study utilized a quantitative approach to data collection. For purposes of this research, one P-12 school district in central New Jersey was studied to look at the influence of early childhood program participation on academic achievement as measured by the NJ ASK 3. A quantitative approach to this research was used to remove opinions and perceptions from the data collection. Quantitative data was collected through demographic information and NJ ASK 3 results for students who participated in …

The Influence Of The Student Mobility Rate On The Graduation Rate In The State Of New Jersey, Lavetta S. Ross

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the influence of the student mobility rate on the high school graduation rate of schools in the state of New Jersey. Variables found to have an influence on the graduation rate in the extant literature were evaluated and reported. The analysis included multiple and hierarchical regression models for school variables (i.e., teacher mobility and school size) and student variables (i.e., percentage of limited English proficient students, special education students, low socioeconomic status, and minority students). All data explored in this study pertained to 316 public comprehensive high schools in New Jersey during the 2010-2011 academic school year, …

The Impact Of Principal Knowledge, Attitudinal Favorability And Organizational Structure On Emergency Preparedness In New Jersey's Public Schools, Scott Rocco

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

School violence, an issue documented across the United States, has put a focus on school emergency preparedness for school principals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the school principal’s level of emergency preparedness in New Jersey public schools and how the confidence and behavior of principals affect emergency preparedness.

This study had three research questions that centered on the principal’s behavior and confidence. The population for this survey was New Jersey public school principals ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade schools, vocational, technical or institute schools, public schools for the handicapped, and magnet schools. Each selected principal …