Education Commons^™

Transitioning Children With Autism From One-On-One Discrete-Trial Settings To Special Education Classrooms, Jennifer L. Freeman

Dissertations

The goal of an early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) program is to teach each child the skills necessary to make meaningful progress in less-restrictive environments (Fox, Dunlap & Crushing, 2002). However, few studies have detailed the steps necessary for a “successful” transition into these educational settings. We transitioned two children, who received 20 hours a week of one-on-one discrete-trial therapy and attended a half-day special education pre-school classroom, to a full-time educational setting. With the goal of aiding each during his/her transition, this study used the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) (Sundberg, 2008), particularly the barriers and …

A Formative Evaluation Of A Program Providing Support To College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kourtney Kay Bakalyar

Dissertations

Young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are attending institutions of higher education more than ever before (Smith, 2007). All college students with disabilities have the right to accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA; P.L. 110-325); however, these accommodations frequently do not address barriers that prevent students with ASD from successfully completing their academic programs. The Autism Services Center at a public, four-year university provides services to its college students with ASD to address difficulties with communication and social skills, unique emotional and behavior characteristics, insufficient executive function, and difficulties with independent living skills. …

Parent Involvement In Kindergarten, Martine A. Reinhardt

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research investigated the effects of parent engagement strategies on the level of parent involvement in kindergarten. Parents may have barriers preventing them from becoming more involved in their child’s schooling. Many parents have younger children they take care of, work full time jobs, and are unaware of how they can get more involved at home. In this study, various strategies were implemented to help increase levels of engagement. Parents were asked to track the amount of time they spent working with their child at home on school related activities. Activities and ideas were sent home to generate discussions …

The Effects Of Technology On Students’ Retention Of Letters And Sounds, Amanda Garcia

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research was conducted to determine if the use of technology, specifically the interactive SMART board, would lead to higher student assessment scores on the district tests for letter identification and letter sound recognition. The research was completed in a full-day traditional public school transitional kindergarten (TK) class. Data was collected using district-wide alphabet assessments, teacher observation journals, student conferences, and student checklists used by a classroom instructional assistant. Letters of the alphabet were divided into two equal groups based on letter formation and level of difficulty identified through research. One group of letters and sounds was taught using …

Project-Based Learning’S Effect On Students’ Understanding And Usage Of The Engineering Design Process, Allison Larsen

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research study examined project-based learning’s effect on students’ understanding and usage of the Engineering Design Process. The study took place in an elementary school with seventy-two 5th grade participants. Students participated in three project-based learning activities throughout the study. The data was collected over a six week period with the use of pre- and post-assessments, teacher observations, an Engineering Design Process rubric, and student journaling. The results of the study showed that students’ understanding and usage of the Engineering Design Process increased throughout the study. In conclusion, a project-based learning environment supports a positive effect on students’ understanding …

The Effects Of Inquiry Based Practices On Students Problem Solving Competence, Antonio Kuklok

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project looked at the impacts that family dynamics and family resources have on student achievement and self-advocacy. It then went a step further by showing how inquiry-based strategies can give students with little family resources the tools to self-advocate and become academically successful. A specific six-step inquiry process was taught and implemented amongst 28 rural fifth grade students. The researcher utilized observations, assessments, and compared completed student work to Minnesota Academic Standards throughout the project period. After the students learned and implemented inquiry practices, their self-advocacy and academic achievement increased showing that these practices can affect students …

Evaluating Intercultural Communicative Competence Using Mediated Self-Reflection In Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages, Hessah Khaled Alzimami

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In a globalized world, teaching English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL) requires mastery of intercultural communicative competence (ICC). Deploying ICC has many benefits, especially with teaching and learning English, because it is a preeminent necessity for intercultural communication today. In ESL and EFL contexts at college and university levels, learners and instructors interface with other learners and instructors who have various languages and cultures, so there is a need for implementing ICC, because it encourages instructors and learners to communicate effectively with others using both their native and target languages, as well as …

The Academic Library And Social Justice: A Q-Study Of Librarian Attitudes, Risa Maureen Lumley

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study took place on the campus of a Hispanic-serving institution, and used Q methodology to assess the attitudes and perceptions of academic librarians toward a social justice role for the university library. Among librarians and others in higher education, there is a great deal of confusion around social justice as a concept because over the past forty years, it has often been subsumed under, or diverted by the neoliberal discourse of multicultural education, which conflates social justice with providing equal opportunities for under-represented students primarily as a means of enabling them to obtain jobs and become consumers in our …

Leveling The Playing Field: Teacher Perception Of Integrated Stem, Engineering, And Engineering Practices, Bridgette Fincher

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions and approaches of 14 third-through-fifth grade Arkansan elementary teachers towards integrative engineering and engineering practices during 80 hours of integrated STEM professional development training in the summer and fall of 2014. This training was known as Project Flight. The purpose of the professional development was to learn integrated STEM content related to aviation and to write grade level curriculum units using Wiggins and McTighe’s Understanding by Design curriculum framework. The current study builds upon on the original research.

Using a mixed method exploratory, embedded QUAL[quan] case study design and a …

Attachment Styles And Trust Propensity In Females With Borderline Personality Disorder, Jacob Matthew White

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most frequently encountered and complex disorders in mental health care. Interpersonal impairment is a central issue for individuals with BPD. This complex disorder has received negative stigma along with historically more females than males receiving this diagnosis (Linehan, 1993). Therefore, this study examined a clinical sample of 30 females diagnosed with BPD. Through the collection of data this study used the following measures: a basic demographic questionnaire gathering specific age, ethnicity, current relationship status, parental relationship status, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR; Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998), and the Propensity …

A Quantitative Analysis Of School-Level Factors And Their Impact On The Racial Achievement Gap, Atiera Lauren Coleman

Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS) dataset, I examined the racial composition of schools and classrooms, disciplinary variables, levels of reading and math levels, test scores, and other aspects of schools to analyze effectively the marginal effects of being a black student within schools. Focusing on the dependent variables of test scores, classroom ability level, and suspension rates, I controlled for non-school related factors in order to isolate the impact of school influences on academic achievement, utilizing Hierarchical Linear Models. The results of this study indicate that early school tracking as well as …

Leadership Experience At Alcohol And Drug Services Of Guernsey County, Kate Paul

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

A practicum presentation on Alcohol and Drug Services of Guernsey County.

Meaning In Motion, Kara Hendrickson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis essay and accompanying exhibition examine the capacity of interactive art to stage situations for participants to explore embodiment. In presenting the four-part interactive suite "Body Language" by Nathaniel Stern, the exhibition invites viewers to engage with digital projections that track and respond to movement by producing animated text and spoken utterances. Through the juxtaposition of motion performed by the viewer’s physical body with computer-generated words and speech, "Body Language" explores the complex ways in which the body and language depend upon each other to create and communicate meaning. This essay also proposes that the gallery uses its power …

Mindfulness Activities In Teacher Spiritual Preparation, Suzette Quiros

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project examined the effects of mindfulness activities on teacher spirituality. It was conducted during a two-month Early Childhood Montessori teacher training course with eight female teachers between the ages of 25 and 50. Data was collected with the use of attitude scales, self-reflection journals, field notes and conversations. Conclusions showed participants perceived an increase in spirituality and gained inner peace, patience, kindness, humility, self-respect. They also showed they gained the ability to let go of negative energy, achieving calmness and positivism. Further research could be conducted to see the effects of teacher spirituality on the classroom environment …

The Effects Of Daily Art Activities On Attention In Elementary Students An Action Research Report By Marjan, Marjan Oghabi

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The goal of this action research project was to investigate the effects of morning art activities on student focus. The intervention took place over five weeks at a public elementary school. Nineteen students participated in a lower elementary Montessori classroom of six to nine year olds. The qualitative and quantitative data collected were student surveys, behavior tally sheets, student and teacher assessments, field observations and conversations. The evidence showed a relationship between daily art activities and student concentration. The students increased their time on task while writing reflections about their artwork throughout the five-week study. Future research could examine the …

The Effects Of Sign Language On Second Language Acquisition, Itzel Mejia-Menendez

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project examined the effects of sign language on the ability of primary students to learn new Spanish vocabulary in a bilingual Montessori classroom. The research took place at a public charter Montessori school in Washington, District of Columbia. Twenty-seven primary school aged children were included in this seven-week study. Sources of data collection included a parent-teacher questionnaire, a baseline assessment, daily observation logs, a daily checklist, a weekly journal, and a summative assessment. Students were grouped by Spanish fluency and taught eight different vocabulary words in Spanish. Half of the words were taught alongside a sign in …

Growth Mindset And The Makerspace Educational Environment, Lucas Steier, Alexandra W. Young

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project has studied the impact of implementing strategies in a Makerspace on increasing grit in students. The study has been conducted in two fifth grade classes in a mid-western suburban elementary school. During the study, students completed four different Makerspace design challenge activities. Data was collected from Angela Duckworth’s grit survey to establish a baseline of student grit. Documentation of strategies used was collected through an inventory students completed after each design challenge. The data was used to identify changes in grit scores from students’ initial survey results to their final survey results. Student’s survey results were …

Engaging All Students: Strategies To Promote Meaningful Learning And Increase Academic Performance, Heidi Haagenson, Casandra Schlangen

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project studied the impact specific engagement strategies had on student academic performance. We conducted this project in two ninthgrade English classes in a suburban high school and two eighthgrade Spanish classes in a suburban middle school both of which were located in a midwestern metropolitan area. During the study, students participated in a variety of engagement strategies aimed at promoting academic excellence: 1) challenge and competition, 2) cooperation and connection, 3) curiosity and controversy, and 4) choice and creativity. The data provided by course grades, student feedback, student observations, and teacher reflections showed students were more engaged …

Increasing Student Learning Through Arts Integration, Codi Feland, Kylie Petrik, Jacob Larson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research study was designed to examine the effects of the arts integration on student learning. Student learning was broken down by focusing on student engagement, critical thinking, and creative response. Research was conducted with 72 participants from fourth grade, fifth grade, and ninth grade classrooms within the social studies curriculum. Data collection methods included a pre-assessment survey, student journal prompts, observation tally sheets, student self-assessments, and the post-assessment survey. The results of our study indicated that student learning in each classroom maintained or improved when the arts were integrated. Students showed enthusiasm and felt optimistic towards integrating the …

Teaching Academic Vocabulary In Mathematics To English Language Learners, Emily M. Sasse

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research was to explore the effects of explicit academic vocabulary instruction in mathematics on English language learners’ understanding of mathematics concepts. The study took place in a third-grade classroom, where 50% of the students were English language learners. Data collection methods included pre- and post assessments, student self-assessment ratings, teacher reflections, and student discussion questions. Results of the study indicated positive increases in assessment scores for students at all levels of English language proficiency. Going forward, the teacher researcher will continue to use vocabulary journals, discussions, activities, and games in her classroom to provide multiple opportunities …

Examining Exemplary P-20 Partnerships Using A Mixed Methods Approach, Elizabeth Erin Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Historically, P-12 schools and institutions of higher education have operated independently of each other, creating a gap that acts as a barrier between high school and postsecondary institutions. This gap is blamed for many societal issues including high college remediation rates, low college-going rates among minority groups, and low six-year college graduation rates. P-20 partnerships, agreements between P-12 schools and institutions of higher education with the purpose of improving the P-20 education system, have emerged as a way to address these problems.

From laboratory schools in the 19th century to modern-day professional development schools, P-20 partnerships in teacher education have …

Advanced Placement And Dual Enrollment As Related To College Readiness And Retention At A Tennessee University, Diana E. Bowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between students who entered a Tennessee university for the first time in the fall of 2014 who had earned either Advanced Placement (AP) or dual enrollment credit regarding their college readiness and 1-year college retention. College readiness was defined by students’ American College Testing (ACT) sub scores in English, reading, and mathematics. The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) regulates the minimum sub score for each sub section that a student must obtain to be deemed college ready. College retention was defined by students who enrolled at …

A Survey Of The Educational Practices Of The Haudenosaunee Confederacy And The Implications For Cultural Sovereignty, Kimberly Lyman-Wright

Education Doctoral

The Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act of 1975 allowed American Indian students an education in public school systems in the United States. However, colonization has threatened the survival of and called into question the need and validity of traditional American Indian languages and Haudenosaunee culture. Although American Indian students have access to a public school education, research has documented achievement gaps in the academic success of American Indian students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore, understand, and describe the educational practices of Haudenosaunee educators, and whether a strong cultural awareness has an impact on academic success. …

An Exploratory Analysis Of The Perceptions Of Persistence Factors Among High-Achieving Black Male Students In Stem Majors At A Four-Year Public College, Anthony D. Andrews Jr.

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this phenomenological focus-group study was to gain insight into perceptions of persistence factors among successful Black male college students who major in the rigorous STEM field majors, at a 4-year college. Nine high-achieving Black male STEM majors reported that when it comes to academic persistence, they: (a) have an intrinsic motivation to succeed, which was instilled by their parents; (b) credited family or church influence in helping them to excel in academics; (c) believed that leadership requires certain characteristics that can be acquired through leadership training, and this can assist with persistence and future academic/career aspirations; (d) …

Exploring The Disciplinary Attitudes And Practices Of New York City Public Elementary School Principals Towards Students Living In Poverty And The Impact On Black Males, Susan M. Green

Education Doctoral

Black males represent the largest population of students suspended from school at all grade levels across the US. Rooted in the power theory framework, this study was designed to gain insight into the disciplinary values and practices of public elementary school principals serving students living in impoverished communities across the five counties of New York City and the impact on Black male students. Conducting an explanatory-sequenced, mixed-method research design, a sample of 100 elementary school principals answered questions using the Disciplinary Practices Survey regarding their beliefs on the best approaches to managing student misconduct. Successively, individual interviews were held with …

Student Veteran Success: A Grounded Theory Study, Peter W. Granger

Education Doctoral

Student veterans in undergraduate post-secondary education face many challenges. Current research addresses these unique challenges and offers recommendations for further research, as well as strategies for college administrators and faculty seeking to assist student veterans. However, the research does not address the strategies student veterans use to succeed. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to start this conversation. The objective of this study is to present a theory that predicts and explains student veterans’ success, using grounded theory methodology to examine student veteran strategies to succeed in college. Thirteen student veterans from two different colleges participated in the …

Preschool Teacher Self-Efficacy In An Urban School District, Charles Joseph Infurna

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this research was to assess the relationships between preschool teacher self-efficacy, as measured by the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) of years of early childhood teaching experience, and teacher outcomes as measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). Also considered was whether or not self-efficacy differed as a function of program setting. Early prekindergarten program (EPK) and universal prekindergarten program (UPK) (n = 89) lead teachers completed the TSES, representing a cross-section of all 3 and 4-year-old preschool lead teachers in a mid-sized urban district. Teachers completed the TSES via SurveyMonkey. CLASS observations were conducted …

Perceptions Of Significance Regarding Prenatal Care Among Multiparous Maternal Patients, Susan E. Wurzer Gustafson

Education Doctoral

Pregnancy, with the inherent need for prenatal care, is a global condition. Research has demonstrated a positive relationship between maternal adherence to prenatal care with associated maternal, fetal, and delivery outcomes of pregnancy. Non-adherence has been shown to increase risks of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of care, maternal adherence to prenatal care is problematic, pervasive, and persists without an identified etiology. Research to identify a causation for maternal nonadherence has focused upon groups of women with shared traits or circumstance as a predisposing risk. The aim of this study was to identify how adherent multiparous …

K-12 Christian School Sustainability: Leadership Practices, Neal Capone

Education Doctoral

K-12 Christian schools in the United States are experiencing decreases in enrollment and an increasing number of closures. This qualitative phenomenological study used semi-structured interviews to gain an understanding of the leadership practices of K-12 Christian school leaders in the United States. Six K-12 Christian schools located in the United States were identified as sustainable and their school leaders were interviewed. The leadership practices involved in managing their respective schools were studied and analyzed using three phases: in vivo coding, pattern coding, and code weaving. Findings showed that the school leaders worked within a supportive board governance structure in which …

Effectiveness Of The Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program In Preparing Premedical Students For A Career In Medicine, Elizabeth A. Wilson-Anstey

Education Doctoral

This study measured the effectiveness of the Travelers Summer Research Fellowship (T-SRF) Program for Premedical Students. No in-depth study has been conducted on the impact of its activities. A program-oriented qualitative summative evaluation approach and a logic model design were used to analyze survey responses for participants from four program years randomly chosen from 2000 to 2015, medical school enrollment records for participants from 1969 to 2015, physician practice locations for participants from 1969 to 2009, and interviews with a purposeful random sample of 10 physicians who were program participants from 2004 to 2008. Narrative inquiry consisted of audio recording, …