Education Commons^™

The Factors That Are Related To Native American Community College Students' Intent To Persist, Garnet Laureen Williams

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

More than half of Native American higher education students choose community colleges as their institution of choice. However, when compared with other ethnic groups, Native American/Alaska Natives (NA/AN) students earn the second-lowest number of associate degrees and the lowest number of bachelor's degrees. Despite this substantive gap, few studies have explored the factors related to Native American community college students' intent to persist. With the projected population surge of NA/AN residents over the next 15 years, more research on the factors related to Native American community college students' intent to persist in college is warranted.

This ex post facto study …

Perceived Satisfaction Of Counseling Doctoral Students With Their Dissertation Chairperson: Examining Selection Criteria And Chairperson Behaviors, Cheryl Warren Neale-Mcfall

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The relationship between doctoral students and their chairperson has been linked to students' successful completion of their dissertation and program of study (Gardner, 2009; Lovitts, 2001). It is often the case that failure to complete the dissertation is what prevents doctoral students from completing their degree. When students do not successfully complete their degrees, attrition rates rise and programs and students feel the burden, both financially and as an investment of time. (Bair & Haworth, 2004). Studies indicate that many students fall short of completing the dissertation, or take much longer than expected, due to a lack of supervision or …

A Principal's Perceptions Of Character Education In A Rural Public School, Sandra H. Harrison

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

A majority of rural public schools face difficult and challenging problems: geographical isolation, escalating crime, impoverished families, economic inequities, faculty nonretention, declining enrollments, and lack of success in meeting accreditation benchmarks. In the past decade, support for character education as a valuable pedagogy to complement instruction and academic achievement emerged. The obligation to meet federal and state standards created expectations that school principals have the leadership ability to facilitate strong academic curricula as well as programs fostering students' moral development through character education. Mobilizing resources for character education initiatives becomes the responsibility of school principals or their designees. The purpose …

Community Of Inquiry Framework And Learning Outcomes, Jennifer Ann Maddrell

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

First described by Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2000), the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework suggests social presence, teaching presence, and cognitive presence are essential elements to foster successful educational experiences in computer-mediated higher education distance learning environments. While hundreds of CoI-based articles have been published since 2000, those critical of the framework and related research suggested a lack of empirical evidence to support the framework's central claim that a CoI leads to deep and meaningful learning outcomes (Rourke & Kanuka, 2009). The current study, conducted with 51 graduate students in five distance education courses at the same university, compared the …

Student Achievement As An Investment In Human Capital: Using Longitudinal Patterns Of Per Pupil Instructional And Capital Expenditures, Socioeconomic Status, And Past Performance In Predicting Student Achievement, Charles Anthony Roberts

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Existing research illustrating a significant relationship between school spending and student achievement is expanding. However, research specifically investigating the relationships between capital expenditures (maintenance, renovations, and construction) and instructional expenditures (teacher quality, teacher salaries, textbooks, class size) with student achievement both individually, and as a function of overall school spending, is lacking. Recent studies have linked school spending to student achievement in an attempt to increase school funding as a response to No Child Left Behind Act (2001) mandates. This study attempts to augment this area of inquiry by providing feedback across the Commonwealth of Virginia on longitudinal patterns of …

Elementary Teachers' Views Of Environmental Education, Rose M. Hotchkiss

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to examine teachers' views of environmental education (EE) at the elementary level. The study addresses teachers' attitudes toward the EE at the elementary school level and their self-efficacy in teaching EE.

The study's sample consisted of 201 randomly selected kindergarten through fifth grade United States public school teachers. The participants completed an on-line survey with eight percent of the respondents participating in follow up interviews. The questionnaire measured two constructs; Teachers Attitudes Toward EE and Teacher Efficacy in EE. Teachers Attitudes Toward EE had 3 subscales; Advocacy for EE, Stewardship in EE, …

Kindergarten Teachers' Classroom Management Beliefs And Practices And Their Implications On Students' Social And Academic Outcomes, Lauren D. Florin

Theses and Dissertations in Early Childhood Education

The purpose of this study was to utilize Baumrind's parenting style construct, with early childhood educators, as classroom management styles by assessing the proportion of classroom management styles of Virginia Association of Early Childhood Education (VAECE) educators, and secondly to assess classroom management beliefs and practices of among urban kindergarten teachers in addition to examining whether those differing classroom management styles impacted students' social and academic skills. The study investigated the proportion of classroom management styles of VAECE educators using an online questionnaire and used a case study approach with nine kindergarten teachers to better understand the teachers' classroom management …

The Impact Of Computer-Assisted Sight Word Instruction On The Reading Skills Of Students With Significant Intellectual Disabilities, Colleen Frances Wood-Fields

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

There is a paucity of research identifying instructional methods that promote the reading development of students with significant intellectual disabilities (ID). This research study employed a single subject, multiple baseline design to evaluate the effects of computer-assisted sight word instruction employing constant time delay (CTD) procedures with incidental phonics and comprehension stimuli on the reading skill development of six elementary students with moderate ID and expressive language impairments. Study results suggest that the seven week PowerPoint slide show sight word intervention had very small to moderate intervention effects on receptive sight word identification. However, students learned some incidental letter-sound correspondences …

Perspectives Of Students Labeled With Emotional And/Or Behavioral Disorders On Their Transition Programs, Allison E. Gardner

Theses and Graduate Projects

Many students with the disability label of Emotional and/or Behavioral Disorders (EBD) have a history of extreme difficulty and failure in traditional school settings. If these students remain in school or return to school to attend a transition program they may face some of the same challenges they faced in high school that prevented them from obtaining their diploma by the end of their senior year. This research examines the perspectives of four students labeled EBD on their current transition programming at Rosewood Transition Center (RTC). Incorporating sfudent perspectives into transition program planning may directly impact student success. The sfudents' …

Identifying And Addressing Specific Student Difficulties In Advanced Thermal Physics, Trevor I. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As part of an ongoing multi-university research study on student understanding of concepts in thermal physics at the upper division, I identified several student difficulties with topics related to heat engines (especially the Carnot cycle), as well as difficulties related to the Boltzmann factor. In an effort to address these difficulties, I developed two guided-inquiry worksheet activities (a.k.a. tutorials) for use in advanced undergraduate thermal physics courses. Both tutorials seek to improve student understanding of the utility and physical background of a particular mathematical expression. One tutorial focuses on a derivation of Carnot's theorem regarding the limit on thermodynamic efficiency, …

History Education And Identity Formation: A Case Study Of Uganda, Takako Mino

CMC Senior Theses

History education builds the foundation of a common past necessary for the formation of group identity. Evaluating History curricula is important because group identity guides people’s political behavior. This Uganda case study demonstrates how different actors have manipulated History education in order to enhance the saliency of ethnic, national, and regional identities. The expansion of nationalized education and the teaching of Ugandan, East African, and African history have contributed to fostering the rise of national consciousness in Uganda. Greater awareness of national identity has promoted national integration while marginalizing non-school educated people.

An Analysis Of The Validity Of The Enneagram, Sara Ann Scott

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Educational Efficiency In Virginia Public School Divisions, Clinton Robert Calzini

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Effective Reading Comprehension Teaching And Research: How Do They Relate, Lauri M. Leeper

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Making Music Together : A Music Handbook For An Early Childhood Classroom, Shana Hope Frankel

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper discusses the importance of music in Early Childhood classrooms. It is meant to be a resource for the classroom intended to be used by teachers, however; it can also be used by families and caregivers who want to add more music in to their homes. The songs are organized to follow a typical daily schedule in a classroom. The readers do not need background knowledge of music and can make up their own tunes to most of the songs provided. I have suggested the music to go along with most of the songs however other melodies could work …

Advanced Learner Perceptions Of Psychological Well-Being And School Satisfaction In Two Educational Settings, Janice C. Robertson

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The intent of this study was to explore the effects of two settings on self-concept and school satisfaction of academically advanced high school students. The research designs were causal-comparative and correlational. Participants were 224 partial-day academic Governor's School students and 56 academically advanced students in district schools in a southern U.S. state.;Self-concept for the total group appeared adequate to strong, and the two student groups were similar in total self-concept and its dimensions ( p > .01), as measured by the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale -- Second Edition (Piers- Harris 2). However, frequent worry, nervousness, and feelings of differentness were revealed …

Persisting To Graduation: A Grounded Theory Exploration Of Nontraditional Undergraduate Women's Enrollment, Danielle Ferioli Sulick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While women maintain a numerical majority in undergraduate college enrollments and degrees earned, they also represent the numerical majority among students over 29 years old, students of color, students who are in the lowest income category, students who are single parents, and students who attend college part-time (Peter & Horn, 2005; Planty, et al., 2008). The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) has identified seven characteristics that place students at risk of not completing an undergraduate degree; (a) delayed enrollment between high school and college, (b) part-time enrollment, (c) financial independence, (d) students with dependents, (e) students who are single …

Do Methods Matter In Global Leadership Development? A Mixed-Methods Study Of A U.S.-Based International Mba Program, Jennie L. Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As world communication, technology, and trade become increasingly integrated through globalization, multinational corporations seek employees with global leadership experience and skills. However, the demand for these skills currently outweighs the supply. Given the rarity of globally ready leaders, global competency development should be emphasized in higher education programs. The reality, however, is that university graduate programs are often outdated and focus mostly on cognitive learning. Global leadership competence requires moving beyond the cognitive domain of learning to create socially responsible and culturally connected global leaders. This requires attention to development methods; however, limited research in global leadership development methods has …

A Meeting Of Character: An Examination Of Teaching Social, Brannon Terese Aiello

Dissertations

The study's purpose was to examine student and teacher perceptions of classroom meetings by using the lessons in Social Decision Making/Social Problem Solving (SDM/SPS)--as prescribed by Elias and Butler (2005). The research problem determined whether SDM/SPS lessons taught in classroom meetings were a good strategy to teach character education.

The study quantitatively measured participant perceptions of classroom meetings regarding the classroom environment while implementing the character education program SDM/SPS. First, students' perceptions of classroom meetings, where their classroom teacher teaches SMD/SPS lessons within the context of classroom meetings, were quantitatively measured using a survey. Second, teachers responded to a survey …

An Examination Of Internet Pornography Usage Among Male Students At Evangelical Christian Colleges, Paul Olaf Chelsen

Dissertations

Internet pornography access among male students at Evangelical Christian colleges presents two dilemmas. First, Internet pornography access is institutionally prohibited based on a Biblical view of sexuality. The second dilemma is that individual students who choose to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ in the context of Evangelical Christian faith tradition can experience internal distress in response to Internet pornography access. No empirical study to date has examined Internet pornography access only among male undergraduates only at Evangelical Christian colleges. The first guiding research question is, "To what extent do male undergraduates at select Evangelical Christian colleges in the Midwest …

The National Council Of Teachers Of English And Federal Education Policy, 1958-1966, Curtis Mason

Dissertations

Following the launching of Sputnik in 1957, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act of 1958 that primarily funded research for the teaching of science, foreign language, and math. English was omitted, but in 1961, due to persuading from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Congress funded a program that established institutes and centers for research for the teaching of English.

In my research I argue that in order to secure federal funding, the NCTE altered its formal mission to accommodate popular educational rhetoric. Ironically, after achieving federal funding for curricula research one outcome was a recommendation for …

Riding The Wave Of Gentrification: Selected Principals' Perceptions Of Gentrification's Impact On Leadership And School Culture, Jose Antonio Jimenez

Dissertations

Gentrification is primarily viewed as neutral to school leadership and school culture (Freeman 2002; Nyden, Edlynn, & Davis 2006; Merriman 2007). Student displacement is seen as collateral damage for the betterment of the community.

Using qualitative research approach derived from the frameworks of Di Primio (1988), Colllins (2001), Fullan (2006), the researcher interviewed nine active principals in Cook County, Illinois to answer the following research questions:

What are principals' perceptions of neighborhood gentrification?

In what ways do principals perceive their school culture being affected by gentrification?

What strategies do principals implement in response to student changes in enrollment caused by …

Keeping True To The Cathedral Within: A Case Study Of Wheaton Academy And The Initiation, Development, And Fulfillment Of Its Christian Saga Of Social Justice, Barbara Dill-Varga

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on a case study of Wheaton Academy, a nondenominational Christian high school in West Chicago, Illinois. This study seeks to understand, through a study of its organizational saga, how and why this antebellum academy has survived for over 157 years and to what extent it has been able to maintain its founding fathers' Christian vision of social justice. Robert Benne's framework, focused on Vision, Ethos, and People as detailed in Quality with Soul, provides a useful lens to organize the study through three phases of the life of the school's saga: initiation, development, and fulfillment.

The central …

Workplace Pressures Of Pk-8 Teachers In A Midwestern Archdiocese, Carrie O'Donnell Brink

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this research study was to determine the types of workplace pressures that PK-8 teachers, in a Midwestern Archdiocese, experience. Two hundred eighty teachers participated in the survey. Results from this study indicate that PK-8 teachers express elevated levels of stress in the following areas: income/salary, amount of hours spent outside contract hours on instructional tasks, paperwork required, student behavior/discipline, and implementation of new curricula.

Statistical differences were found in the following areas: female and male stress levels with regard to income; school locale (suburban, urban, and rural) income stress levels; school locale (suburban, urban, and rural) implementation …

An Examination Of Attitudes And Actions Of Regular Classroom And Gifted Teachers Toward Differentiating For Gifted Learners Involved In A Pullout Gifted Program, Melissa Nicole Logan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bridging the gap in student performance has changed the teaching practice in classrooms across America. Educators have the responsibility to teach all learners. There is a need for instruction to be tailored to boost the higher-level achievers and balance the gaps. This study examined the attitudes and actions of regular and gifted teachers toward differentiating instruction for gifted learners to find out: (a) the types of differentiated instruction regular classroom teachers use for gifted learners, (b) the differences in gifted teachers' lesson plans from regular teachers' lesson plans, (c) the evidence in lesson plans that demonstrate differentiated instruction, and (d) …

Teachers' Experiences With English Language Learners In The K-5 Classroom, Anita Williams Mcgraw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teachers across the nation face challenges in today's diverse classrooms. To add to the pressure of meeting all of the students' needs and being successful on high-stakes tests, the growth in the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the regular classroom has grown tremendously over the last several years. This study examined teachers' experiences in working with ELLs and their families in the K-5 classroom. Research on teachers' attitudes in working with this population was reviebecause teachers' attitudes have an effect on the quality of the education ELLs receive. Evidence based strategies to help teachers with ELL instruction were …

College And University Developmental Education: The Professional Development Needs Of College And University Remedial Instructors, Kyle Trevor Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed method study, which utilized both survey data and personal interviews, was to determine if Murray's (2001) theory of six constructs applies to faculty who instruct remedial students at both four and two-year institutions. The research study used both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. A survey that included 23 items concerning college and university remedial faculty's perceptions about professional development at their institutions was administered to 300 remedial instructors. Ninety seven participants' responses were analyzed for the study. Survey answers were analyzed using factor analysis with Cronbach's ? reliability tests. Survey responses from college and …

The Effectiveness Of The Response To Intervention Plan On Third Grade At-Risk Readers In A Rural School District Measured By The Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (Mct2), Tamisha Estes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a response to intervention plan program on students' reading achievement scores on the Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT2). It explored gender differences in reading achievementto determine whether differences existed between males and females on the 2010–2011 MCT2 reading achievement tests.

The Effects Of Bilingual Instruction On The English Emergent Literacy Skills Of Spanish-Speaking Preschool Children, Zoila Tazi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Numerous studies have shown that early childhood education (ECE) contributes to educational attainment particularly for poor children. Nationally, ECE has gained considerable backing as a viable intervention to propel achievement. As ECE comes to the fore, census figures indicate that Latinos are the fastest growing minority in the United States. Latinos have persistently experienced greater rates of poverty and other risk factors that adversely affect educational attainment.

Multiple risk factors as well as a "cultural mismatch" with a school system poised to educate white, middle-class, English-speaking students, raise alarm for the educational trajectories of Latino children just entering schools. Racism …

Increasing Teacher Diversity: Contributions Of A College Of Education Recruitment And Retention Program, Kate Elise Schmuck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There are very few minority teachers in pk-12 schools today even though research indicates that minority teachers are beneficial in classrooms. Teacher education programs are working to bring more teachers of color into the field, but few minority recruitment and retention programs have been evaluated. Most of these evaluations have been qualitative studies of the students in the programs, examining current and recommended practices to recruit and retain minority students into teacher education programs. This research was a qualitative study interviewing graduates of a minority teacher recruitment and retention program. It sought to answer the question: how does the recruitment …