Education Commons^™

Collaboration Of Board Certified Behavior Analysts And Special Education Teachers In Transition, Amelia Ruth Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

Transitions occur at many points in a child's educational journey. For children with disabilities, these changes in routine, service providers, and setting may be especially difficult and result in problem behavior. Special education teachers are expected to facilitate a smooth transition from one setting to another, teaching appropriate skills and addressing problem behavior as it arises. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), who have an expertise in problem behavior and skill generalization, are currently under-utilized in schools and could work collaboratively with special education teachers and other stakeholders to make it easier for students with disabilities experiencing a school transition. As …

Helping First Year Residential Students Transition To The Collegiate Environment, Jenna N. Mazurek

Culminating Experience Projects

The purpose of this project is to address the barriers faced by first-year residential students while making their transition from high school to college. Transitioning to a new environment can be overwhelming, so making sure first-year students feel prepared is an important part of the acclimation process. To make the acclimation period easier, first-year students should make sure they are aware of campus resources, and make sure they have a strong support network. The intervention for this problem is a first-year experience program set at Grand Valley State University called the Becoming a Laker Program. This program is designed to …

Community College Transfer Student-Athlete Transition To Usd: Cultivating A Campus Of Village Awareness, William Francis Guarino

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my action research project was to enhance the incoming transfer student-athlete experience from the community college system to the University of San Diego (USD). The study examined a subculture of student-athletes that met this transfer demographic on campus and explored the system that supported them. The discovery came from the powerful storytelling recorded by student-athletes as they discussed how they navigated their undergraduate dreams of pursuing their specific academic degrees at USD. The heart of the research came from the one-on-one interviews that explored their values and the support groups that helped them transition academically, socially, and …

Searching For Equity In Positivity: A Two-Year Case Study Of The Effectiveness Of The Implementation Of Positive Education In A West Australian Public Secondary School Following A Year 7 Cohort To Year 8, Veronica J. Sutton

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research evaluated the effectiveness of explicitly teaching Positive Education to early adolescent learners transitioning into a metropolitan, secondary public school in Western Australia and to understand the source of their stress and where they felt supported. Based on teacher feedback, a model for embedding the development of social and emotional competencies (Equity in Positivity) in the Western Australian secondary metropolitan public-school context, in a sustainable and cost-effective way, was developed over a six year period and linked to the Australian Wellbeing Hub (2020).

The researcher adopted a mixed method, instrumental bounded case study methodology, longitudinally applied through the lens …

College Preparedness. Narratives Of Transitions From High School To College., Chelsey Luann Vincent

Theses and Dissertations

Despite many theories on student success as well as many resources to help students make the transition from high school to college, many students do not persist in or graduate from college. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide insight into what takes place when students leave P-12 institutions and enter institutions of higher education by using focused narrative inquiry. This study took place at a large research university in the south. The study included 4 participants at various parts of their transition journey. Participants in the study responded to written prompts. Follow up interviews were conducted, and a …

Evaluating A Video Peer-Modeling Intervention On The Acquisition And Maintenance Of Social Skills For Adults With Autism In A Transition Setting, Adam K. Hammond

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the use of a peer video modeling and prompting intervention used to teach three adults with autism to give a specified verbal and physical response when greeted. This intervention used a six-step task analysis to verify correct completion of the target behavior. At baseline, each of the three participants gave little to no response when greeted but after the video modeling and prompting intervention all three had acquired at least five out of six (83%) of the target behavior steps. Follow-up probes demonstrated that all three of the participants had maintained at least 4 out of 6 …

Transition Programs To Facilitate Employment For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lillian I. Usen

Anthropology

It is well-documented in the literature that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have difficulty transitioning from school to the workforce. This group experiences challenges adjusting to the expectations of the workforce and a high unemployment rate is reported among adults with ASD. There are several notable barriers that inhibit adults with ASD from achieving gainful employment: inadequate preparation for the demands of the workforce, especially along vocational and social skill domains, are likely impacting this issue. Deficits in social skills and communication are reported as key factors that contribute to low employment and low employment skill retention among individuals …

Transitioning Into Kindergarten, Faith C. Dysard

Culminating Experience Projects

Historically, kindergarten is the place where many children receive their educational foundation. The current demand on children and educators has changed from play-based education to more of an academic focus, for which some children are not ready. At University Prep Art and Design Elementary School, incoming kindergartners are assessed when they are admitted and then invited to participate in a weeklong summer bridge program. This project will explain different factors that provide reasoning as to why children are not ready for kindergarten and give a layout of a transitional program that children, teachers, and families can participate in to better …

Exploring Transfer Students’ Perceptions Of Their Transition Experience In Calculus 2 At A Research Intensive Institution: A Schlossberg’S And Tinto’S Theory Approach, Steven Edalgo

All Dissertations

This study explored the lived experiences of eleven transfer students as they described their experiences in Calculus 2 at very high research land grant institutions (R1). This qualitative investigation focused on the psychological phenomenon of transition as the transfer students perceived, reflected, made sense, and understood their transition experience. Furthermore, this study explored transfer students’ understanding of how they perceive the attributes of their success or lack of success in Calculus 2.

Employing the use of Schlossberg’s Transition Framework along with Tinto’s Persistence/Departure Framework, the perceptions of the transition experience was analyzed through the lens of this conceptual framework. The …

“So, I Am Back”: Adjudicated Youths’ School Reentry Experiences, Inita S. Knox

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adjudicated youth face a multitude of barriers when reentering school following incarceration. School administrators and educational personnel know very little about how these students perceive their reentry experiences and what the students identify as needed supports, resources, and barriers throughout the process. This qualitative study used in-depth, semi-structured interviews with photo-elicitation to explore and describe how formerly incarcerated youth perceive their high school reentry experiences. Participants were male adolescents ages 16 to 18 years old. who provided rich and in-depth descriptions of their reentry experiences. Recommendations for policy, practice and future research are provided.

Implications Of Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs (Ipses) On Quality Of Life For Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Sarah K. Eggleston

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Students with intellectual disability (ID) who are aging out from qualifying for special education services through the public school system often encounter difficulty in the transition to early adulthood. While students with disabilities in Virginia have access to employment and transition services to aid them in seeking job placement, some students with ID still carry aspirations of going to college like many of their peers without disabilities. College is an experience that allows emerging adults to gain independence, social skills, pivotal identity development, and opportunities to explore academic and professional interests, while increasing their qualifications for more competitive employment. In …

A Sacrifice For Their Country And A Commitment To Their Community: A Phenomenological Study Of Veterans Transitioning From Soldier To Student, Clarence A. Becknell Sr

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges and lived experiences of former military men and women as they transitioned from military assignments to students in institutions of higher learning. This study focused on identifying gaps in support services that hindered the needs of former military men and women enrolled in higher education institutions. According to a study by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2021), former military men and women encountered common challenges during re-adjustments, such as employment, maintaining healthy relationships, and pursuing educational endeavors. Using a descriptive phenomenological research design, the research study gathered information …

Facilitating Sense Of Belonging For Collectivist International Students: Intervention Strategy Utilizing Peer Support, Taylor Marie Wieringa

Culminating Experience Projects

International student populations have persisted in higher education with limited support. Research regarding international student experiences from collectivist home countries have found that mentorship programs could be helpful in assisting with transition and overcoming culture shock, yet few current intervention strategies go beyond international student orientation. This project explores relevant literature regarding barriers unique to students from collectivist home countries as they adjust to the individualist culture of American colleges and universities. With these barriers in mind, this project also explores peer mentorship as an intervention strategy to engage international collectivist students and assist in feeling that they belong on …

A Framework For A Peer Mentorship Program To Promote Student-Athlete Success At Grand Rapids Community College, Brianna D. Greenough

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has shown community college student-athletes have a complex transition to their first year of college and there are many resources and programming available to support them. Navigating and learning how to adjust when entering college can be confusing and overwhelming, but the transition can be made easier with the help of an older student-athlete as a mentor. This unique population of students has differing needs from the general student population and requires some extra guidance to maintain their responsibilities. This project analyzed community college student-athletes’ needs, supportive resources, and peer mentoring programs. The desired subsequent outcome of this project …

From College To University: Nursing Students' Experience Of Transition, Mary Anne Krahn

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Increasingly complex healthcare systems require nurses to have a greater depth of knowledge and theory application to care for patients safely and competently. To prepare nurses for rapidly changing health care systems, the baccalaureate degree was accepted by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) as the standard for entry to Registered Nurse practice across Canada and became the entry-to-practice requirement starting in 2005 (Wood, 2011).

In Ontario, this entry-to-practice standard required the development of college and university collaborative partnerships to respond to the resulting implementation and capacity challenges in nursing education (MacMillan & Mallette, 2004). Although these partnerships have been in …

Navigating Age Of Majority-Related Issues In Special Education: The Current Needs And A Potential Means For Aligning Professional Values With Policy And Practice, Charles Blayne Walters

Theses and Dissertations

The paper that follows serves to collect three articles that investigate policy and practice regarding adult decision-making support for students with disabilities receiving special education services. Each has been led by the author of this multiple-manuscript dissertation, Charles Walters. Following a short introduction to these works as Chapter One, Chapter Two provides a reformatted version of an interview-based study with special education directors at the school district level. It was originally published in Volume 35, Issue One of the Journal of Special Education Leadership and titled “An Exploratory Study of Special Education Director Experiences with Issues Related to Age of …

Training Curriculum For Students With Disabilities (Ese), Carolynne P. Mather Mrs.

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Against All Odds Ministry, Inc. (AAOM) is a non-profit organization created by CEO and Founder Carolynne Mather. Carolynne's passion for serving the at-risk population dates to her years as a Preschool Owner providing moral and spiritual counseling to the young mothers of the children her facility provided care. Carolynne desired to mentor these women in a monthly meeting and guide them to see if they could move beyond their circumstances against the odds that faced them. The desire was to use the group meetings to write a book on women's success from this mentoring group. The group produced two parents …

Transitioning Elementary-Aged Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders Into An Inclusive Educational Setting, Stevanie Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an urban school district in the southwestern United States, students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) who were in third- through fifth-grade self-contained classes were not consistently transitioning successfully into inclusive classrooms; therefore, the students were remaining in a restrictive environment for an extended time. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the reasons for such inconsistencies. The concept of inclusion as outlined in the Salamanca Statement framed the study. Semi structured interviews were conducted with six special education teachers and six general education teachers, all of whom had experience educating students with EBD. Research questions …

Transitioning Elementary-Aged Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders Into An Inclusive Educational Setting, Stevanie Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an urban school district in the southwestern United States, students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) who were in third- through fifth-grade self-contained classes were not consistently transitioning successfully into inclusive classrooms; therefore, the students were remaining in a restrictive environment for an extended time. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the reasons for such inconsistencies. The concept of inclusion as outlined in the Salamanca Statement framed the study. Semi structured interviews were conducted with six special education teachers and six general education teachers, all of whom had experience educating students with EBD. Research questions …

Student Perspective Of Alternative Education Characteristics Implemented By Public School Social Workers, Jennifer M. Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public schools are facing increased challenges to address the needs of students with significant behavioral issues. In response, Alternative education (AE) programs are used to reengage students in learning and enhance personal development, through a combination of academic and therapeutic strategies. AE placement is intended to be short-term, with the goal of returning students to public school. However, the differences between these two settings make it difficult for students to sustain achievements made in AE upon reentry. The purpose of this qualitative research was to use the student perspective to identify the social-emotional characteristics of AE that have influenced change, …

Transition Guide And Supports For Families Of Adolescents With Disabilities, Chelsey S. Traut

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Often when individuals with disabilities transitioned out of high school, there were a variety of repeated questions that teachers and administrators seemed to constantly be answering each year. The first goal of the project was to answer those questions and potentially serve as a resource for teachers and other professionals to answer the questions parents/guardians were asking them. Another goal was that even if the information was different for their district it could at the very least guide professionals and families in the right direction to find answers and support. The literature review provides information about parent/guardian and teacher collaboration …

The Impact Of Intervention Programs For Teenagers At Risk Among Middle And High School Students In Southeast Missouri, Bryan Austin

Dissertations

At-risk students have been noted to be exposed to high cases of early school dropout, late graduation, poor academic performance, and engagement in risky behaviors, such as drug and substance abuse. While research has reported poor transition to future careers and adult life among at-risk students, little is known regarding intervention programs used in Missouri schools to motivate at-risk students. The objective of this study was to investigate intervention programs being used to retain and engage at-risk middle and high school teenagers in Missouri and identify effective intervention programs that might help promote their success in school and subsequent transition …

Easing The Middle To High School Transition: An Evaluation Of The Gold Program, Leilani Shive

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Some effective components of effective transition programs include using a freshman academy or school-within-a-school model, teacher and peer mentoring and summer bridge programs. This study analyzed the effectiveness of the Gold Program, a middle to high school transition program for at-risk youth in a large urban high school in the southwestern United States. This program incorporated those components in addition to several others, such as: parent involvement, career and technical education, blended learning, behavior interventions, and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC). Individual components of the Gold Program were chosen to meet the four S’s of Schlossberg’s transition …

Supporting Reverse Transfer Students: From Trauma To Transition And Triumph, Stephanie Burga

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

This study explores the reverse transfer student identity, a population or group that transfers from a four-year college or university to a two-year community college. The research utilizes a San Diego two-year community college as the sample institute to discover more about a sample of the reverse transfer student identity. The theoretical framework includes a combination of intersectional stigma and the ethic of care that is implemented throughout the transition process for the student. The purpose of this study is to seek and uncover patterns as to why students reverse transfer and what support looks like for them. How does …

New Engineers’ Perceptions Of Their Transition To Practice, Todd Southern

Theses and Dissertations

The transition from student to engineering practice is complex, ambiguous, and critical for new engineers. New engineers are typically moving from a highly structured curriculum into a highly unstructured work environment, making it essential to understand new engineers’ perceptions and experiences throughout the transition to practice. This understanding can help improve the development of new engineers and the organizations that will benefit by supporting them. Given the relatively incomplete understanding of new engineers’ transition to practice experiences, the goal of this study was to explore how new engineers perceived their transition to practice throughout their first two years as professional …

Middle School Transition: The Influence Of An Academy Approach And The Role Of Leadership, Kimberly Calhoun Odom

Theses and Dissertations

Students entering middle school frequently encounter challenges in their transition as they leave the comforts of elementary school. Traditionally, fifth grade students experience their last year in elementary school in a similar fashion to the previous five years of elementary school. They are in self-contained classrooms with one teacher for the majority of their school day. This study’s objective is to determine best practices and strategies that support fifth grade students in transitioning to the rigors of middle school. More specifically, the research focuses on the impact of an Academy structure in the elementary setting that models the transitions of …

Academic And Athletic Motivation Of Collegiate Athletes And Their Career Transition Plans: A Mixed -Method Approach, Jeongwon Choi

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The purpose of this study is to understand NCAA Division I, II, and III collegiate athletes (CAs)’ motivations towards academics, athletics, and gain a greater understanding of their transition plans. This study uses a sequential mixed method design. Firstly, the quantitative study examined collegiate athletes’ motivation levels for both academics and athletics among the NCAA divisions. The Sport Motivation Scale-II (SMS-II) was utilized to measure athletic motivation, and the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) was used to measure academic motivation. After conducting quantitative research, a qualitative approach was used to explore collegiate athletes’ career readiness and transition plans based on their …

Transition: Early Intervention To Preschool, Kim Thiesse

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) requires all Individualized Family Service (IFSP) plans to address transition. Early Intervention programs must initiate and discuss the transition process from early intervention to school-based services with each family at least 90 days before the child’s third birthday. Transition should be a process of information sharing and planning for each individual family. The transition process can be very stressful for many families because services, service providers, location, and delivery of services change. Preschool is often a family’s first experience with a school environment, successful collaboration and communication through the transition phase enhances the …

Supporting Transitions: Success Interventions For Transfer Students, Jessica C. Fillmore

Culminating Experience Projects

The purpose of this project was to explore the barriers associated with transferring to a four year institution, and offer potential solutions to better support transfer student success. When students transfer to a new institution, they face a multitude of potential barriers in the pursuit of a degree. These challenges can range from difficulty adjusting to a new environment to issues with credit transfers and efficient degree completion. Through a review of literature addressing this transition I have suggested a Transfer Experience Course that can serve as a success intervention to better improve transfer student success at a new institution.

Promoting Transfer Student Success Through Comprehensive Orientation Programming At Gvsu, Berkley E. Bretschneider

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has shown that transfer students have lower retention and graduation rates than students who stay at the same institution for the duration of their college enrollment. Transfer students are a diverse group of students that face unique challenges when transitioning to a new institution, particularly when coming from a two-year school to a four-year college or university. This project examines common issues experienced in transition and explores best practices to set transfer students up for success at receiving institutions. Focusing on early academic advising, peer mentoring, and exposure to campus resources, this project restructures the current Transfer Advising and …