Education Commons^™

A Mixed-Method Investigation Comparing Perceptions Of First-Generation And Non- First- Generation College Sophomores, Joshua Steven Hanke

Dissertations

The researcher focused on two groups of students, the First-Generation College Student (FGCS) and the sophomore student. First-Generation College Students completed degrees within six years at a rate of 34%, compared to 66% of non-FGCS (Engle & Tinto, 2008, p. 2). Researchers concluded that reducing support services after the first year led to a feeling of disconnection from institution and dropouts (Sanchez- Leguelinel, 2008). Researchers concluded the sophomore FGCS as the most susceptible group for attrition during a student’s second year (Ishitani, 2006). The purpose of the mixed methods study was to compare perceptions of the sophomore students from both …

Perceptions Of Restorative Practices Among Black Girls: Talking Circles In An Urban Alternative Middle School., Vanessa Marie Mcphail

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that Restorative Justice approaches have shown promise in terms of their impact on school climate, student behavior, and relationships. The purpose of this study is to explore Black female students’ perceptions of Restorative Practice (RP) talking circles at an alternative school. The study examined literature on Zero Tolerance, School Discipline Disparities, African American Female students, Intersectionality, Restorative Justice, and Alternative Schools. A qualitative case study method was used for this study, drawing from two sources: (a) face-to-face interviews and (b) observations of the Black female students who attend the alternative school and participate in the talking circles. Analyses …

Principals' Perceptions Of Brain-Based Learning, Tami Hudson Godman

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed by the study was a lack of research on principal’s perceptions of brain-based learning and the potential impact on classroom instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the principal’s perceptions of brain-based learning and instruction at their schools. The following research has been conducted using a qualitative paradigm. A case study involved a focus group of 12 principals and additional interviews with four of those principals. The qualitative data were thematically coded to provide information on patterns and practices within a variety of schools in the area. The findings offer the educational …

A Descriptive Study Of Teacher Perceptions Of International Travel Outcomes, Michael Dale Green

Theses and Dissertations

People have been traveling internationally for hundreds of years seeking enlightenment. There is a plethora of research to discuss how travel has impacted them. However, travel research is lacking where the educational impacts on the educational experiences of teachers are concerned. The purpose of this study was to offer empirical evidence on whether the international travel outcomes appear to be a function of traveling abroad, according to teacher perception. Eleven teachers were interviewed using a semi-structured format. They were questioned concerning the effects of international travel on their personal and professional lives. The researcher analyzed the data by transcribing the …

The Mentor & Mentee Perspective: Mentorship From Faculty And Staff For Black Male Students In Higher Education, Javaski D. Mcdonald

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Trends in academic statistics show a decline in enrollment, academic achievement, and program completion for Black male students in higher education. Research indicates a decline in Black student enrollments and graduation rates. This single qualitative case study was an exploration of perceptions of mentorship for Black male students among faculty and staff in higher education. Using social capital theory as a theoretical framework, the researcher analyzed the perceptions of mentorship by way of semistructured interviews with five faculty and staff members and five Black male students at a Texas university. The literature review revealed the numerous factors–social, environmental, mental, and …

Decisions Based On Perception: Perceptions Of Stem Teacher Leader Job Satisfaction In Rural, High Poverty Schools, Jodi G. Zeis

Theses and Dissertations

High poverty rural schools face teacher turnover at a rate higher than average schools. Perceptions drive decisions. Workplace circumstance affect what drives the leadership of STEM teacher leaders in high poverty rural schools. Therefore, when STEM teacher leaders leave, they take their unique skill sets with them. Research shows that engagement and self-efficacy, along with professional appreciation lead to a higher retention rate of teachers. Often that is achieved through distributed leadership. This study aimed to determine how leadership experiences shape the professional perceptions of STEM teacher leaders in high poverty, rural schools. Building on previous research this study asked: …

Formative And Summative Test Process: The Students' Perspectives, Bailey Goodenough

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Students are assessed using a variety of formative and summative assessments. One West Texas School chose to implement an assessment process using both forms of assessment. The Formative and Summative Test process is a three-day process allowing teachers to collect data, reteach content, and help students meet mastery. The purpose of the study was to understand the students’ perceptions of the testing process, as well to determine if test grades were improving and how the process came to be. The author collected data by distributing surveys, conducting six student interviews and one administrator interview, and observing student conversations. After analyzing …

Social Media As A Primary Means For Parent Involvement In Missouri Rural Schools: Secondary School Principals’ And Superintendents’ Perceptions, Justin Paul Copley

Dissertations

With a lack of research regarding the viability of social media use as a tool for learning in K-12 education, administrators are struggling to determine if this technology belongs in school settings (Piotrowski, 2015). Educators who have not reviewed current perceptions regarding technology may not use appropriate technology practices with students (Dietze & Kashin, 2013). Furthermore, since social media and technology use is an expected practice in classrooms, the responsibility of attending to this growing trend is assumed by school administration (Piotrowski, 2015). The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of school administrators in regard to social …

Exploring Emirati Ninth Grade Students’ Use Of Edmodo In Learning English: A Mixed-Method Study, Amna Hamad Al Nuami

Theses

This mixed-method study is aimed at exploring the use of EDMODO by Emirati ninth grade female students (n = 97) who are studying English as a second language. In the first phase of the study, quantitative data were collected by using a questionnaire. Additionally, from the original pool, a subset of students (n = 11) were interviewed with regards to EDMODO usage in the classroom. The findings from this study revealed that ninth-grade students found EDMODO to be first and foremost an interesting and joyful learning experience; Second, they also reported it is an efficient platform for …

Curriculum Change: A Study On Teacher Perceptions Of Curriculum Change On Content Standards, Tiffany Kessler-Hopek

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, curriculum has encountered frequent changes throughout years. The main initiative of educational change has three main components, and they are to increase the quality and rigor of the curriculum, have a common curriculum, and prepare students for secondary education. The standards in the state of Georgia have changed from Georgia Performance Standards and Common Core State Standards to the more recent Georgia Standards of Excellence. By the school year 2018-2019, the Georgia Standards of Excellence should be fully adopted. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted to examine the perceptions of teachers on curriculum change …

Perceptions Of Elementary School Parents, Principals, And School Resource Officers Regarding Visitor Management Systems And School Safety, Janalee Olhausen-Kaylor

Dissertations

Currently, three out of 10 parents fear for their students’ safety while attending classes within the public school setting (McCarthy, 2015). This study focused on two elements that directly affect safety within schools: visitor management and intruder prevention. To analyze each of these two elements, qualitative methodology was utilized through four focus groups to determine the perceptions of Elementary school administrators, parents, and school resource officers on school safety. After conducting multiple interviews, four common themes emerged. The first theme was monitoring access to school buildings. Participants asserted taking an active approach in this area would increase the overall safety …

Cyberbullying And The Middle School Adolescent: Educator Perceptions, Kalani Crognal Lafrancis

Education Dissertations and Projects

Victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying are ongoing threats to school systems across the United States. Cyberbullying is a vast problem for adolescents, due to constant access and availability of technology via the online environment. This mixed methods study was based on the theoretical framework of Bandura’s (1989) theory. This study investigated the perceptions of middle school educators concerning cyberbullying via educator surveys, focus groups, and interviews to gather mixed methods data. This study took place in four middle schools in upstate South Carolina within District X. One hundred three educator participants took the survey, 12 educators participated in focus groups, …

Teacher Perspectives On Performance Pay In One Southeastern State, Wendy B. Firtell

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated teachers’ perceptions of a teacher performance-pay initiative. Despite implementing a performance pay initiative at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, the target school district had not investigated teachers’ perceptions of the initiative. The researcher included a convenience sample of 54 teachers who worked at a Title 1 elementary school located in the southeastern United States.

This applied dissertation used a descriptive survey research design. The researcher found Pre-K, kindergarten, and Grade 1 teachers were slightly more supportive of performance pay initiatives than Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5 teachers (TPPP difference of 0.17 …

School Counselors' Lived Experiences Supporting Students With Mental Health Concerns, Linda F. Peterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health in schools is a growing concern for many school counselors, educators and communities. School counselors are in key roles in the school setting to support students with mental health concerns. This research was done to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences, beliefs, and attitudes of school counselors supporting students with mental health diagnoses. This hermeneutic phenomenology research used n=4 participants school counselors and each has worked in their field for over 6 years. Additionally, each participant worked in the same school building for a minimum of 3 years or more. Semi structured interviews were used to collect …

Teachers' Perceptions Of African American Middle School Males' Reading Performance, Louis David Figueroa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School administrators at a middle school in the northeastern United States lacked understanding regarding reading services and teaching strategies to improve African American middle school (AA MS) males' performance on standardized state reading assessments. English language arts (ELA) teachers' perspectives on and experiences of teaching reading to AA MS males at the target site were explored using Kolb's model of experiential learning. A qualitative intrinsic case study with an anonymous survey was used to collect data at the target site. Fifteen individuals who met inclusion criteria of being 6th- or 7th-grade ELA teachers at the target site were recruited using …

Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Perceptions Of Opportunities And Challenges, Shelby Eversole

Masters Theses

This study investigates the perspectives of opportunities and challenges of middle school mathematics’ teachers. To gain these perspectives, an ethnographic study was conducted by interviewing four middle school mathematics teachers in central Illinois. The results of this study imply that teachers of different backgrounds and teaching environments have varying perspectives about challenges and opportunities in the classroom. Limitations of this study include but are not limited to, the researcher having one year to conduct the research, only four teachers from two schools being interviewed, interviewees teaching different grade levels, no rural setting involvement, one educator having little teaching experience, teachers’ …

The Perceptions Of Transgender Patients Toward Nursing Care, Debra Ann Quenga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transgender individuals present unique issues when seeking care that many nurses are not prepared for. Nursing education is lacking in transgender care for both nursing students and practicing nurses, which may delay care or lead to patients not disclosing their gender if they feel their needs are not understood or that there is bias toward them. Due to the limited research available, educators are not prepared to include transgender care in their nursing curricula, leading to a lack of knowledge and skills needed to care for this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of …

Perceptions Of Community College Students And Instructors On Traditional And Technology-Based Learning, Lukishia Denise Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The college under study only requires instructors to use traditional resources to teach literacy content leading to a variation in the use of technology within literacy courses. In this college, technology is not being integrated well, too little or inconsistent exposure to technology depending on the instructor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of faculty toward integration of technology into classroom instruction and students' perceptions of technology as a part of their learning. Dewey's theory of educative experience was the conceptual framework used in this study. Data collection for this qualitative study was based on semistructured …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Reflective Practices Within An International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Gail C. Hardwick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The International Baccalaureate (IB) standards recognize reflection as an integral part of the framework and the fabric of the Primary Years Programme school, as it is embedded in the foundational standards and practices of the inquiry-based IB teaching model. However, teachers in an IB Primary Years Programme school located in the southeast United States struggled with being reflective practitioners. Guided by John Dewey's reflective thought, the purpose of this bounded qualitative exploratory case study was to examine teacher perceptions of reflection practices in an IB Primary Years Programme school. Research questions were drafted to ask about teachers' perceptions of their …

College Teachers' Perceptions Of Technology Professional Development, Jo-Michele Refe Rymarczyk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community college faculty need to learn and understand the technology that is available in their classrooms so that they can teach students how to use these tools. Professional development workshops are one way that faculty members acquire knowledge of classroom technology. However, little is known about the usefulness of technology professional development workshops using active learning in a community college setting as a development option. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify faculty members' perceptions and beliefs regarding technology professional development that incorporated active learning as a learning method. The conceptual framework included the concepts of transformative and …

Componentes Y Percepciones De La Educación Rural En La Investigación Científica Y Sus Implicaciones, Ibeth Eliana Castañeda Guerrero, Geiber Eduardo Peña Cardona

Licenciatura en Español y Lenguas Extranjeras

Esta investigación de enfoque cualitativo- descriptivo tiene como objeto de estudio la Educación Rural y la representación de esta en el medio científico. Aquí, por medio de un análisis documental de las revistas científicas indexadas de la plataforma Latindex, se estudiaron los conceptos de educación y escuela rural, sus principales componentes: el contexto, el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje, los actores, sus características y cómo estos modelan la educación en la ruralidad. También se analizaron las diferencias y los efectos negativos de comparar las condiciones de la educación rural con la educación urbana; especialmente las implicaciones que tienen estos artículos de investigación sobre …