Education Commons^™

An Evaluation Of One School District's Ged Instructional And Assessment Program Following The Revised Ged 2014 Test, Marc Hutek

Dissertations

In 2014 the GED^® test was reintroduced for the fifth time in its history. Despite aligning its adult education program content to the Common Core State Standards, one school district still found exceptionally low initial success rates by students. By obtaining quantitative and qualitative data on behalf of the districts’ stakeholders within the GED^® program, this study has identified the overall effective aspects of the program and areas that can be improved to enhance student success. It has created a foundation for the development of a change project for continual program growth and improved performance. In constructing change …

Connecting Graduate Level Non-Native English Speakers To Language Support Resources, Kathryn Korchik

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project addresses the question of how to build the capacity of student services staff and university faculty to connect graduate level English language learners to appropriate language-based resources. Because student support resources on larger university campuses are often dispersed and frequently targeted to undergraduate populations, it can be difficult for students to have knowledge of and access to resources and services. This project, utilizing previous research to support the foundational assumptions that international graduate students require special attention, documents the creation of a website to serve the needs of students, staff, and faculty at a large research university. The …

From Small Talk To Academic Dialogue: An Online Professional Development Course For The English Language Proficiency Standards For Adult Education, Debra H. Cargill

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to explore the English Literacy Proficiency (ELP) Standards for Adult Education (AE) (AIR, 2016). I studied the ELP Standards for AE in order to understand how to integrate academic language learning into instruction in order to support adult English language learners in transitioning to careers and postsecondary education. This knowledge was used to design an online professional development course that supported the use and implementation of the standards. The four-week online course engaged participants in course content through integrated discussions, assignments, and materials that utilized a constructivist approach to learning.

The Benefits Of Experiential Learning In An Outdoor Expedition Setting, Luke Kimmes

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Experiential learning has been around for hundreds of years. This is one of many pedological methods that teachers use today. Technological advancements in the classroom, and in modern day society, is creating withdraw from these experiential hands on learning tactics in an outdoor setting. To understand the extreme importance and benefits of college level students to have interest and incorporate an experiential learning experience in their lives, presented below in the literature review there is content backing this approach. Through the literature review findings, my personal experience on expeditions, and in the field teachings, the Rediscovering North America experiential learning …

Political Speech, Doublespeak, And Critical-Thinking Skills In American Education, Doris Minin-White

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The idea for this project was born during the 2016 US presidential election campaign, after noticing that my students did not seem to find anything questionable about statements of politicians, while at the same time it seemed apparent to me that not all the candidates spoke in a straightforward fashion. This disparity led to my research question: What patterns of doublespeak characterize selected discourse samples of the two most recent US presidents? In this project, I presented the analysis of the candidates’ styles of doublespeak based on the number of occurrences and a technique that I called “The Beguilement and …

Barriers To Individuals Of Entering The Field Of Education, Jamie Williford

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Institutional racism is prevalent in our society. It is the researcher’s belief that we must acknowledge the effects of racism in order to address the needs of individuals of color. The schools in our nation are an important place to start. The goal of this research is to create a list of barriers to individuals of color entering the field of education. Mixed methods research data collection and literature review aid in solving the research question: What are the barriers to individuals of color entering the field of education? A significant race gap has been noted by the researcher and …

Aspect Comprehension And Processing In Narratives By Native Spanish Speakers, Hannah Riddle

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Aspect is fundamental to expressing time and sequence of events in narratives. In second language acquisition literature little is known about how English aspect is comprehended. This study manipulates aspect in narratives and compares comprehension of Spanish speakers to English and Arabic speakers. English and Spanish have morphosyntactic aspect, Arabic does not. This study examines aspect comprehension in 18 native Spanish speakers, using 16 narratives to capture moment-to-moment and off-line processing. Results show that Spanish speakers comprehend aspect more like English speakers in the moment-to-moment processing, where Arabic speakers do not. Spanish speakers did not comprehend aspect like English speakers …

Website​ ​Resource​ ​For​ ​Strengthening​ ​The​ ​Relationships​ ​Of​ ​Fathers And​ ​Their​ ​Children​ ​To​ ​Increase​ ​Academic​ ​Achievement, Adam Barlow

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project is, how can empowering fathers in their child’s life increase student academic achievement? The Capstone provides literature supporting the value of father in the lives of their children, providing them with optimal success in academics and beyond the classroom. It brings together characteristics and statistics of fatherhood, detailing how a father impacts: family roles, child’s behavior, child’s needs, learning tasks, daughters, a child with special needs, mother and father differences, and early child development. The author brings forth research to support fathers staying engaged with their child, from before birth to adolescence, providing …

Training Adult Esl Volunteers In College And Career Readiness Standards, Cara Berger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

A significant number of instructors in adult education programs are volunteer, and the volunteer-led classrooms in which these volunteers serve face difficulties and challenges that staff-led classrooms do not (Belzer, 2006; Gomez, 2012). This project sought to answer the question: how can College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) be incorporated into lesson plans for an adult ESL intermediate volunteer-led class so that students may benefit from the same standards of instruction that staff-led classes follow? Research on the CCRS and various volunteer training methods was addressed to develop a project artifact intended to aid volunteers in their lesson planning. The …

English Language Learner Considerations For Equitable Identification Of Needs And Referrals To Special Education, Melissa Persons

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Identifying learner needs for an English learner (EL) student has various factors to consider that a non-EL student may not. To explore what is needed to be analyzed prior to determining an EL student’s learner needs, the question being researched is: What are considerations to take into account when an EL student begins the Student and Teacher Assistance Team (STAT)? The framework the research was performed was analyzing resources from school districts and state departments of education, as well as guidance from personal communication with professionals in related fields. Taking all of the data from literature and information from currently …

Lesson-Plan​ ​Delivery​ ​Before​ ​Lesson-Plan​ ​Design: Defining,​ ​Sequencing,​ ​And​ ​Teaching​ ​The​ ​Essential​ ​Skills​ ​Of​ ​An​ ​English Language​ ​Teacher​ ​Development​ ​Program​ ​At​ ​Induction, Joel Hanson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research questions addressed in this project were: 1) What are the essential set of teaching skills/practices at the induction portion of teacher training that are applicable to my EFL teaching context? 2) In light of the specific teacher preparation and development needs of the staff in a 12-school network in Morocco, how should these skills be sequenced and taught during the induction portion of an English language teacher development program? Answering these questions involved an investigation—and integration—of four teacher development frameworks proceeding from the macro- to micro-level of teacher training, unpacking what Feiman-Nemser calls the central tasks of learning …

All Good People: Professional Development Sessions For Educational Equity At The High School Level, Mauri B. Deer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project shares the journey of a white educator towards greater cultural competence, and provides guidance for those beginning an equity journey. It was developed as a series of five, one-hour professional development sessions with supplementary materials. The project was created to address gaps in education for a school district increasing in diversity, but without an equity framework or district-wide initiative that addressed educational equity. The professional development sessions are intended for small groups of educators at the secondary level who have little to no experience with concepts of educational equity. Each session uses concepts in culturally responsive teaching to …

Effective Vocabulary Instruction And Study Strategies For Adult Efl Learners, Daniel Todd Place

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

In this capstone I seek the answers to two questions. What are some effective ways to teach vocabulary in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom? What are some effective ways students can use to study vocabulary outside of the classroom to help them learn and retain target vocabulary items? I start by explaining who my students are. I include information about the students, the university I teach at and the town where the university is located. I continue to explain: what recent research says about adult EFL learners` needs; the importance of vocabulary improvement for EFL learners; and …

A Family Approach To Emergent Reading And Writing, Amanda Jones

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can adult education programming be developed to support parents of emergent readers and writers? It discusses the importance of emergent literacy, brain development, and the role of parents in their child’s development. The stages of emergent literacy, including milestones of child’s development are included. The research of Malcolm Knowles is the framework used in order to create a presentation that supports literacy in the home. Specifically, the six assumptions of andragogy (adult learning) from Knowles’s theory are identified and described.

Creating Conversation Guides To Help Parents And Children Communicate Effectively Of Sexual Health Topics, Emily R. Russo

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project was created to increase student knowledge of sexual health topics through engaging parents and children in conversation. While most parents wanted to be the primary source of information on sexual health for their student, they did not engage in effective communication about sexual health topics. This lead me to the following research question: How can creating conversation guides on sexual health topics can help parents communicate more effectively? Using Family Communication Patterns Theory and Adult Learning Theory I developed concrete and scaffolded communication structure focused on practicing communication skills. I created a 3-part parent presentation series on …

An Examination Of The Factors That Influence The Transfer Of Learning Among K-12 Educators Participating In Professional Learning Communities, Charcelor C. Mccullum

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify the factors that either support or inhibit learning transfer among educators within K-12 professional learning communities (PLCs) as well as to obtain a better understanding of how adult education principles relate to teacher learning and job satisfaction within this environment. Although research regarding professional learning for educators within the K-12 setting is available, much of this research is not focused directly on adult education principles and often fails to examine learning transfer. The present study addresses both areas using a two-phase exploratory sequential mixed methods approach to obtain both qualitative …

Learning Style Patterns Among Special Needs Adult Students At King Saud University, Abdulrahman Alshuaibi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Few studies of learning styles among adults with special needs exist worldwide. Even though there are large numbers of adults with special needs, this population in university education has been largely ignored in educational research. Therefore, this study aimed to gather and analyze learning styles of adult special needs students and to provide data for researchers interested in the fields of learning styles, adult education, and special education. This study examined the learning style patterns among special needs adult students at King Saud University as measured by the dimensions of the Index of Learning Styles, which include active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, …

Implicit Bias And The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Phenomenon And Their Affects On Literacy Performance In Elementary Students, Anna K. Quirk

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The author’s inquiry was: How do implicit bias and the self-fulfilling prophecy phenomenon affect literacy performance in elementary students. Implicit or unconscious bias is known for causing issues with judges and police officers, but new awareness has been brought to the realm of education and how these biases can widen the achievement gap in literacy and other academic areas. The self-fulfilling prophecy phenomenon or Pygmalion Effect, can hinder growth in academics when an educator fails to identify student strengths, only focusing on deficits. This project brings awareness to how implicit bias and the self-fulfilling prophecy through the use of a …

Esl International Students’ Perceptions Of Their Academic Readiness For Us Higher Education, Jaclyn Combs

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine English as a second language (ESL) international students’ perceptions on how prepared they felt they were for academic culture and classroom expectations at their higher education institution in the United States. A mixed-methods approach was employed using an in-depth quantitative survey and qualitative interviews. Findings suggest that even if ESL international students satisfy English language proficiency admissions requirements, they still need ongoing English language support, academic literacy development, and a clearer understanding of workload expectations in order to complete their studies successfully. Implications for future research include inspecting the role of US …

Esp For Ecotourism: Discourse Skills, Technology, And Collaboration For Job Contexts, Jill King

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone’s primary aim was to design a companion instructional guide for teachers of English for Specific Purposes for ecotourism professionals in Mexico. It identified gaps left by traditional EFL courses that tend to lack strong connections between language instruction and real-world job requirements for English usage. It looked at curricular reform efforts in other world regions with the intention to innovate ESP instruction in Mexico. Findings include recommendations for student-centered curricula that incorporate multimodal learning activities and authentic contexts for tourism jobs. Multiliteracies pedagogy drove the creation of the instructional guide’s components, which provide support in conducting small-group projects …

Understanding Nontraditional Transfer Student Challenges And Persistence To Degree Completion, Marcia L. Runnberg-Valadez

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The study examines nontraditional student phenomenon in the struggle toward degree completion. The research questions addressed in this project were, how do nontraditional students who transfer from a community college into an undergraduate degree social work program describe the challenges they experienced during their journey to baccalaureate degree completion? A secondary question explores, how do these students describe their ability to persist through their challenges toward degree completion? Through qualitative in-depth interviews with students and faculty focus groups, the author provides valuable insights into common explicit struggles and powerful implicit meaning making that supports student success.

Curriculum For Teaching Relative Constructions To Somali-Speaking Learners Of English, Kelly M. Rynda

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how do relative constructions in Somali compare to relative constructions in English, what difficulties do Englishlanguage learners have acquiring relatives, and what teaching strategies are most appropriate for these learners? It documents one teacher’s creation of a unit focused entirely around the acquisition of relative constructions, using strategies that have been identified as most effective, such as learning subject relatives and object relatives in sequence and utilizing repeated timed reading. The author provides lesson plans and activities that align with the best practices outlined in the research, with particular consideration given to …

An Investigation Into The Allophonic Split Of /B/ And /P/: Is There A Relationship Between Noticing And Pronunciation For Adult Somali Els?, Amy Christine Carruthers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

My study sought explore the relationship between an adult Somali EL’s ability to notice the difference between the allophonic split of /b/ and /p/ in two-letter syllable minimal pairs and each participant’s ability to pronounce the same minimal pairs. I also explored whether the use of color photos in targeted pronunciation instruction was significant in improving noticing and pronunciation ability. I conducted a quasi-experimental study using the framework of Schmidt’s noticing theory, and his definition of focal awareness, in a one-time session with two treatment groups; one group utilized the independent variable, color photos of minimal pairs. I conducted a …

Giving English Language Learners A Paddle: Idiom Usage In Two Undergraduate Texts, Michael John Heine

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to answer the research question of: What types of idioms are common in two undergraduate texts and how often do they occur? Idiom definition and type were first explored based on several different factors. A text analysis was used in order to identify the frequency and typology of idiom occurrence within two undergraduate texts. The identified idioms’ were looked at for non-compositionality, and they were then categorized based on their level of transparency. The findings reinforced the idea that idiom instruction should be informed by corpus-based lists created from authentic language. The findings also …

Perceptual Learning Style Modalities: Comparing Latino, Black, And Caucasian Adults, Nicolle Chantelle Hardy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the individual learning modalities of Latino, Black, and Caucasian males and females with at least some college education utilizing the Multi-modal Paired Associates Learning Test IV (MMPALT IV). Using the MMPALT IV, 20 participants from each of the three race/ethnicities above the age of 40 were measured in each of the seven perceptual modalities: Visual, Print, Aural, Interactive, Haptic, Kinesthetic, and Olfactory. The MMPALT IV is a performance-based test, which measures a person’s capacity to acquire information through each of the seven learning channels.

ANOVA tests (2 x 3) with a …

Teaching Listening For Prominence In Combination With Reading To Help Students Determine New Information, Margaret Genereux

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess whether teaching adult English Language Learners (ELLs) to listen for new information spoken with prominence on the target new information increased their ability to make inferences about meaning. Data collected included: a pre and post-test to assess students’ learning during the intervention; an uptake sheet to solicit students’ self-perception of their learning about pronunciation and placement of new information; and a Likert scale to elicit participants’ self-assessment of their ability to identify and use prominence. While results of the post-test on selecting the correct inference were inconclusive, quantitative and qualitative data indicated …

The Impact Of Informal Education On Formal Education In Science A Symbiotic Relationship, Colin Johnson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Classroom science teachers face many obstacles, from standardized exams to including real world concepts in their science units. Informal science educators are looking for ways to expand their mission into school curricula in the form of activities and project-based learning. Incorporating real-world experiences from informal science institutions can supplement and enrich the formal science educator’s classroom learning units. The research in question in this Capstone was to address how formal and informal science educators can work together to increase students’ participation in science and the environment. I interviewed science professionals about why they pursued a career in science and I …

Cultural Dissonance Of Elder Learners In Beginning Literacy And Language Classrooms, Lisa Vogl

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Elder learners face unique barriers in LESLLA classrooms. Using qualitative research and semistructured interviews, this study analyzed data from fourteen low-literate elders and their instructor participated in interviews with a bilingual interpreter and observations in a beginning language and literacy classroom. Elders compared their prior learning experiences, based in Indigenous Knowledge, with their experiences in Western classrooms. Themes identified provide important implications for further LESLLA research.

(Age)Ncy In Composition Studies, Alaina Tackitt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The number of adult learners entering or returning to institutions of higher education is increasing in general and in relation to the traditional student population, and projections suggest that the trend will continue. As automation and technology impact the labor force, educational access is becoming a national concern and a necessity for more adult learners. Access to higher education impacts minority and economically depressed populations disproportionally and increases the personal and professional success of adult students and the long-term prosperity of their families. Although Composition Studies has a history of recognizing and facilitating student populations as they enter the Academy, …

An Urban Mid-Western Adult Education Program: Perspectives Of All Stakeholders, Dedria Lynette Willis

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study is two-fold: (1) to narrate the realities and perspectives of adult students’ learning experiences in a General Education Development (GED) preparation program in a Mid-western urban city; and (2) to document the thinking of the former director of adult education at the state level to understand the reforms of adult education program he envisioned. Data sources to achieve the first objective comprised of classroom observations, researcher’s journal entries, and transcripts of individual interviews of three adult education students, one teacher, and one counselor. The data source to realize the second objective was the …