Education Commons^™

The Virginia Sol Eighth Grade Writing Test In Relationship To The National Commission On Writing Recommendations, Grade Configuration, Region, And Socioeconomic Status., Jeffrey R. Comer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine Virginia Standards of Learning 8^th grade writing assessments to determine if there was any association between school passing rates and the recommendations suggested by the 2003 National Commission on Writing to improve writing proficiency. This study further examined the possible differences in school passing rates that may exist due to the grade configuration of a school, the location of a school, the availability of a comprehensive writing plan, and the student percentage on free and reduced-price lunch. Data collection consisted of a self-administered survey sent to all 364 schools in …

An Evaluation Of Perceptions Of A Mentoring Program Of Beginning Teachers In A Rural East Tennessee Secondary School., Mike Frazier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teachers, especially beginning teachers, continue a trend of leaving the profession at alarming rates within the first 5 years resulting in excessive costs to school systems and diminished instructional quality. Some programs, however, have shown impressive results. The purpose of this qualitative study, using an emerging interview process, was to examine the perceptions of beginning teachers in their 1st or 2nd year and those of veteran 3- to 5-year teachers regarding the effectiveness of mentoring and other guidance they received as beginning teachers in a secondary school and to understand their vision of how mentoring should be structured for beginning …

Perceptions Of Educational Equality In Tennessee: A Comparison Of City School Systems Vs. County School Systems In Northeast Tennessee., Timothy Wade Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The majority of city and county school systems throughout Tennessee and the United States at one time or another experience a budget crisis. In the state of Tennessee, school systems are funded through the Basic Education Program, established in 1992 as part of the Tennessee Education Improvement Act. The lawsuit of 1988, Tennessee Small School Systems v. McWherter, created the Basic Education Program. Through the years, the Basic Education Program has provided extra teaching positions, materials, and supplies and has provided the funding formula for school systems throughout the state. Many high-ranking administrators contend that the Basic Education Program …

Integration Of Fifth Grade Math And Science Curriculum, Accompanied By Increased Parental Involvement, Produces Higher Virginia Test Scores., Kathy Diane Perkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The National Educational Society, through much research and testing, discovered that American students are not performing as well on the academic level as their counterparts. As a nation the math and science scores fell behind other tested disciplines. The Virginia Department of Math and Science Report Card scores confirm that students are struggling in these areas.

As a resolution to correct this problem a proposal for the integration of fifth grade math and science curriculum accompanied by increased parental involvement was devised. The program involved thirteen elementary students and their parents. Pretesting, math and science labs, worksheets, posttesting, and a …

An Evolving Change In Public Schools: An Assessment Of Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions And Classroom Changes Concerning High-Stakes Testing., Selena Marie Kiser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to investigate changes in the curriculum caused by high-stakes testing mandates within 3 Southwest Virginia school systems to find best practices for instructional application in classrooms. This qualitative study was comprised of indepth interviews and observations with elementary school teachers and administrators. High-stakes testing has impacted the nation in myriad ways. The mandates from the government presented teachers and administrators with conditions that must be met according to the No Child Left Behind Act and individual state's standards. Teachers' perceptions of curriculum changes, Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), testing mandates according to high-stakes testing, and …

An Assessment Of Read 180 Regarding Its Association With The Academic Achievement Of At-Risk Students In Sevier County Schools., Jayson Nave

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

READ 180 is an intensive reading intervention program designed to meet the needs of students whose reading achievement is below the proficient level. The program addresses individual learning styles through adaptive software, interesting literature, and direct instruction with reading skills. The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement of academically at-risk students in Sevier County Public Schools in East Tennessee who participated in the READ 180 pilot program with the achievement of their academically at-risk peers not enrolled in the intervention program before and after its implementation in order to assess the reading intervention program. The Sevier County …

Black And Latino Studies And Social Capital Theory, Pedro Caban

Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies Faculty Scholarship

Three and one-half decades have transpired since the establishment of the first Black, Chicano and Puerto Rican studies programs. Since then, a substantial body of scholarship on the African American and Latino experience in the USA has been produced. One area of recent scholarly interest is the origin, goals and trajectory of the Black, Chicano and Puerto Rican studies movements of the 1960s. New scholarship has generated important insights on the relationship between activist scholarship and community empowerment in the context of the 1960s nation-wide political struggle for social and racial justice. The intellectual and political need to further develop …

A Comparative Study Of International And American Study Abroad Students' Expectations And Experiences With Host Countries., Evelyn Domville-Roach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This was a comparative study of international and American study abroad students' experiences and expectations with the host countries. The rationale for this study was to acquire a deeper understanding of different experiences of students who study abroad and to understand whether their expectations of the host country have an impact on their experiences. An opportunity sample of American study abroad and international students was selected from the United States student population and their expectations and experiences of the host country compared. The study addressed 6 research questions, using a mixed-method approach. The principal instrument for the investigation was the …

Using Peer Mediation As A New Alternative For Conflict Resolution: The Effects On Students' Behaviors And Attitudes, Shanika Anicia Testamark

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

During the recent years, countless incidents regarding school violence have captured the attention of many, and have disrupted the lives of numerous young students in the United States. In an effort to rebuild a healthier and safer school climate in America schools, many studies have been conducted on peer mediation programs. Peer mediation programs were developed to educate students on how to resolve conflicts constructively.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the implementation of a peer mediation program called Project S.T.O.P (Students Teaching Options for Peace) could reduce school violence and students' aggressive behaviors and attitudes. To …

Masculinity In The Quad, M. Kaufman, Jason A. Laker

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Masculinity In The Quad, Michael Kaufman, Jason A. Laker

Jason Laker

No abstract available.

The Social Construction Of Authorship: An Investigation Of Subjectivity And Rhetorical Authority In The College Writing Classroom, Johannah Rodgers

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Although we use the term author on a daily basis to refer to certain individuals, bodies of work, and systems of ideas, as Michel Foucault and other critics have pointed out, attempting to answer the question “What is an Author?” is by no means a simple proposition. And, starting from the position that there is no single, or definitive answer to this complex question, this dissertation seeks to contribute to the ongoing discussion of the genealogy of authorship by investigating the ways in which conceptions of the author have informed models of the writing subject in the field of rhetoric …

Book Review. One Size Does Not Fit All: Traditional And Innovative Models Of Student Affairs Practice, Jason A. Laker

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Role Of The Introductory Sociology Course On Students' Perceptions Of Achievement Of General Education Goals, Jay R. Howard, Aimee Zoeller

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

As higher education accreditation agencies emphasize achievement of general education learning goals for undergraduate students, departments are increasingly required to identify and assess the contributions of their disciplines to achievement of these goals. This exploratory study conducted at a large urban university and its satellite campus seeks to identify students' perceptions of the contributions of the Introduction to Sociology course to the general education goals specified by a single university. This study also seeks to identify the most frequently used pedagogies used by introductory sociology instructors. Results indicate students perceive that Introduction to Sociology facilitates achievement of critical thinking skills, …

Education And Homeless Youth: Policy Implementations, Ronald Hallett

Benerd College Faculty Articles

Hallett provides a review of research project related to McKinney-Vento.

"Free" Religion And "Captive" Schools: Protestants, Catholics, And Education, 1945-1965, Sarah Barringer Gordon

All Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Interview Of Francis Tri Nguyen, F.S.C., Ph.D. Part 2, Francis Tri Nguyen Fsc, Melissa Schellinger

All Oral Histories

Francis of Assisi Nguyen von Tri, was born in Shanghai, China in 1938. When the Communists took over China, his family left the country for Hanoi, North Vietnam. In 1954, when the French were defeated, they fled the Communists again, and settled in South Vietnam. He was raised a Catholic, and enrolled in the Christian Brothers order at a young age. While completing his formation for the Christian Brotherhood, Brother Francis began teaching students at various age levels. He entered into higher education, completed a Bachelors degree, and went on to pursue a Masters degree in Sociology after receiving a …

The Increasing Expectation Of Relevance For Higher Education And The Academic Profession: Some Reflections On The Case Of Mexico, Jesús F. Galaz-Fontes, Laura E. Padilla-González, Manuel Gil-Antón

Jesús Francisco Galaz Fontes

Developments in the global context and in national conditions have stimulated a re-examination of higher education relevance in the context of the increasing role of knowledge in the economic and social life of nations. In general, and such is the case also for Mexico, there are increasing expectations regarding higher education potential contribution to society. In this essay we discuss, in the context of the recent evolution of Mexican higher education, the drivers that are elevating the relevance expectations that Mexicans have of higher education. After that, we elaborate how higher education growth dynamics and the increasing social expectations regarding …

La Universidad Vista Por Sus Estudiantes: El Caso De Una Universidad Pública Estatal, Jesús F. Galaz-Fontes, Juan J. Sevilla-García

Jesús Francisco Galaz Fontes

En base a una encuesta organizacional aplicada a 2,697 estudiantes de una universidad pública estatal se identificó la perspectiva de los mismos sobre la institución (infraestructura, gestión, actividades de docencia, etc.) y su trabajo como estudiantes. En general, los estudiantes manifestaron una opinión positiva de la institución excepto en relación a los asuntos relacionados con el gobierno institucional. Los resultados se discuten en cuanto a su aportación a nuestra comprensión de la vida estudiantil.

Facilitating Identity Formation, Group Membership, And Learning In Science Classrooms: What Can Be Learned From Out Of Field Teaching In An Urban School, Stacy Olitsky

Stacy Olitsky

This paper explores both the obstacles and the possibilities for students developing identities associated with science by engaging in solidarity-building classroom interactions. Data come from ethnographic research conducted in a diverse eighth-grade urban magnet school classroom in which the teacher taught out of field for part of the year. Contrary to expectations, more students participated and reported enjoying science when the teacher was out of field. Analysis of classroom interactions indicated that while in field, the teacher primarily engaged in “front stage” performances that hid her struggles with the material and accentuated students’ views of science as an elite status …

Promoting Student Engagement In Science: Interaction Rituals And The Pursuit Of A Community Of Practice, Stacy Olitsky

Stacy Olitsky

This study explores the relationship between interaction rituals, student engagement with science, and learning environments modeled on communities of practice based on an ethnographic study of an eighth grade urban magnet school classroom. It compares three interactional events in order to examine the classroom conditions and teacher practices that can foster successful interaction rituals (IRs), which are characterized by high levels of emotional energy, feelings of group membership, and sustained interest in the subject. Classroom conditions surrounding the emergence of successful IRs included mutual focus, familiar symbols and activity structures, the permissibility of some side-talk, and opportunities for physical and …

Identity, Interaction Ritual, And Students' Strategic Use Of Science Language, Stacy Olitsky

Stacy Olitsky

An important part of learning science is formulating ideas, debating explanations, and talking about science with others. Yet students may still avoid “talking science” in class even if they are familiar with the content knowledge. Drawing on data from an ethnographic study of an eighth-grade urban science classroom, I argue that students’ expressions of knowledge in science class can be considered a strategic move, or a choice, aimed at supporting identity claims and increasing the likelihood of engaging in successful interaction rituals characterized by entrainment and solidarity. The results of this study suggest that a student’s knowledge of the subject …

Education And Homeless Youth: Policy Implementations, Ronald Hallett

Ronald Hallett

Hallett provides a review of research project related to McKinney-Vento.

It’S About Time: Temporal Dimensions Of College Preparation Programs, William Tierney, Ronald Hallett, Kristan Venegas

Ronald Hallett

After-school education programs for at-risk students are often implemented to increase academic performance and college readiness. This article explores the terms "out-of-school" and "after-school" related to college preparation programs and suggests that these programs should consider attendance, participation and intensity to impact a student's success in college. This article concludes with four practical steps to improve the structural design of after-school programs concerned about college preparation.

Factors Implicating Sense Of Belonging At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Gloria S. Vaquera, Ricardo Maestas, Linda Munoz Zehr

Sociology

This study examines factors that impact students' sense of belonging at a Hispanic-serving institution. Findings indicate that various variables measuring academic and social integration as well as experiences with and perceptions of diversity have a positive impact on sense of belonging. Implications support the idea that campus diversity may improve sense of belonging and ultimately improve retention of all students. Implications and recommendations are discussed.

Review Of The Book: One Size Does Not Fit All: Traditional And Innovative Models Of Student Affairs Practice, Jason A. Laker

Jason Laker

No abstract available.

Activism And Pedagogies: Feminist Reflections, Patricia Ticineto Clough, Michelle Fine

Publications and Research

Together our two essays move between scenes of teaching and researching with women and men who are or have been in prison. Having written on ethnography, autoethnography, and participatory research, we both have sought a method that would allow us to abandon superficial identifications, mistaken for deep connection, with those who are or have been incarcerated. While we are conscious of the failures and successes of our attempts, we nonetheless write because what we have learned about the state's support for mass incarceration and the state's retreat from public higher education—particularly for persons of color—more than warrants it. With this …

Generational Differences Among Community College Students In Their Evaluation Of Academic Cheating, Kathleen E. Wotring

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Values development is an important part of the mission of community colleges, and upholding academic integrity is one way in which colleges advance this mission. Community colleges serve a multigenerational student body, more diverse than most four-year institutions of higher education, and different generational cohort groups hold different values and attitudes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether community college students varied by generation in their evaluation of academic activities as cheating, and to further determine whether such variation interacted with demographic variables and the extent to which personal morality is grounded in a religious belief system. Based …

Wealth And Achievement Gaps: An Examination Of Virginia Middle Schools, Paulette Natasha Richmond

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

Achievement gaps, the focus of this research, result from unequal achievement and the variance in achievement existing between different segments of the student population, for example, the difference in achievement between minority students and non-minority students. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) focus on achievement gaps despite contradictory expressions about the efficacy of the act. The No Child Left Behind Act has created discussion and awareness of race, SES (economically advantaged and disadvantaged) and academic achievement.

There are conflicting beliefs about the impact of resources, funding and wealth on student achievement. This study …