Education Commons^™

Cultural Sensitivity: Early Career Teacher Beliefs, Espoused Theories, Theories In Use, Michelle Steinberger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine early career teacher practice and beliefs about students of color in their classrooms and the relationship between those beliefs and their classroom practices. In this study, seven teachers in the initial five years of their teaching career were interviewed and observed inside of their classrooms using the Quality Responsive Classroom Observation Protocol. The interview questions were developed to look at the beliefs, teacher preparation, and culturally responsive pedagogy of early career teachers. Data was then analyzed using the five tenets of the Critical Race Theory: (1) Centrality of Race and Racism; (2) …

The Meaning Of Educational Travel In The Lives Of Urban Middle School Students In A Low-Income Neighborhood: A Transformative, Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Carrie Arlene Olson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This transformative, explanatory, sequential mixed methods study addresses a gap in the literature regarding the meaning of educational travel in the lives of urban youth in a low-income neighborhoods. The framework for this study stems from educational travel, culturally responsive teaching, effective middle level education (AMLE), and experiential learning. First, a quantitative phase examined data from former travelers (n = 344) compared to non-travelers (n = 6,100) at Harold Middle School from 2003 to 2011. Academic achievement data examined consist of: American College Test (ACT) scores, Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) scale scores, and grade point averages (GPA). School engagement …

What The Children Are Reading: A Content Analysis Of Minority Male Characters In Preschool Children's Libraries, Joan Katrina Mann-Boykin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many early childhood classroom environments have a library area, which has picture books for the children to explore and enjoy, and some early childhood classrooms put tubs or baskets of a few picture books in every center in the classroom. In addition to inspiring a love of reading and providing hours of enjoyment, children's literature serves emotional, social, intellectual, linguistic and literary purposes (Temple, Martinez, Yokota & Naylor, 2002). A primary goal in early childhood programs is to welcome and embrace the diversity of children and families in today's multicultural society (Brinson, 2012) and children's books provide a wonderful way …

A Systematic Review Of Studies Using Gettier-Type Thought Experiments, Maximilian Popiel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Experimental epistemologists have recently begun using Gettier-type thought experiments to test various philosophic theories. Generally speaking, these thought experiments present a justified, true belief which intuitively does not seem like knowledge. Despite the studies using this same general definition, they have exercised a myriad of different particular Gettier cases and experimental methods. Some results have been conflicting, or otherwise counter-intuitive, and interpretations of their findings have been divergent. The present study was a systematic review of these experiments, with a focus on experimental methods. Studies were compared on readability and factors effecting participant fatigue and comprehension. The results suggest that …

Surviving And Thriving: The First-Year Transition Experiences Of Chinese Undergraduate Students In The United States, Kerrie Anne Montgomery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of international students pursuing degrees at U.S. institutions at the undergraduate level surpassed those at the graduate level for the first time in 2013. Additionally, the majority of international students coming to the U.S. are from China. This phenomenological study used a conceptual framework of Schlossberg's Transition Model (1995) and the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments Model (Museus, 2014) to analyze the experiences of Chinese undergraduate students in their first year of college in the United States. Three transition types were identified - academic, social/personal, and linguistic - and the students' preparation, sources of institutional support, and coping strategies …

Science As A Second Language: Analysis Of Emergent Bilingual Performance And The Impact Of English Language Proficiency And First Language Characteristics On The Colorado Measures Of Academic Success For Science, Joanna Kristine Bruno

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an age when communication is highly important and states across the nation, including Colorado, have adopted Common Core State Standards, the need for academic language is even more important than ever. The language of science has been compared to a second language in that it uses specific discourse patterns, semantic rules, and a very specific vocabulary. There is a need for educators to better understand how language impacts academic achievement, specifically concerning Emergent Bilinguals (EBs). Research has identified the need to study the role language plays in content assessments and the impact they have on EBs performance (Abedi, 2008b; …

The Myth Of The Saving Power Of Education: A Practical Theology Approach, Hannah Kristine Adams Ingram

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

U.S. political discourse about education posits a salvific function for success in formal schooling, specifically the ability to "save" marginalized groups from poverty by lifting them into middle- class success. The link between education and salvation is grounded in the historic relationship between Christianity and the establishment of public education in the United States. Initially, churches invested in schooling to form a Christian society. Today, the public institutions of education operationalize the ideology of meritocracy and promise individual success in the economic realm. Discourse analysis of political speeches and charter school programs demonstrates that education primarily offers its salvation to …

Development Of A Measure Of Interprofessional Collaboration Among School Mental Health Professionals, Jessica I. Colebrook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collaboration is frequently put forth as one way to improve academic, behavioral, and social-emotional outcomes for K-12 students. Yet to date, there is little evidence-based research supporting this claim (Mellin, 2009; Trach, 2012). In order to collect such research, collaboration must be a measurable variable. This study was a first step in understanding interprofessional collaboration specifically among school mental health professionals such as school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors, and other school-based mental health professionals. The purpose of this study was to develop a measure of school mental health professionals' current perceptions of interprofessional collaboration with and among their …

Teachers' Perceptions Of School Leaders' Behaviors And The Relationship To Student Growth/Achievement, Kimberly Dawn Smith Waller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem under investigation for this quantitative study focused on the responses of K-12 public educators about school leadership effectiveness and fairness and the culture of school organizations, with special attention to the relationship between working conditions and student achievement/growth. A sample of 5,912 (n=5,912) educators’ responses was used for the study. The data collected were publicly available, archival data from the responses reported by the Teaching Empowering Leading Learning Tennessee Survey. The original survey consists of the following eight research-based constructs: time for planning, facilities and resources, community support and involvement, management of student conduct, teacher leadership, school leadership, …

Intermediate Russian Through Formula Tales, Tamar Karakozova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation presents a study of on the benefits of formula tales in university-level foreign language classrooms during grammar practice activities. The study investigates students’ attitudes toward the use of such texts in the post-secondary foreign language environment. In addition, differences between and among the participant-students is analyzed. Cognitive learning theory, noticing hypothesis, and content-based instruction provide the theoretical framework for the study.

The Acting White Phenomenon: An Examination Of Existing And Emerging Implications For African American Students In Rural High Schools In Mississippi, Earl W. Richard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study, The Acting White Phenomenon: An Examination of Existing and Emerging Implications for African American Students in Rural Schools in Mississippi, examines the impact the Acting White Phenomenon has on the academic and social development of African American adolescents in rural schools of Mississippi. This study uses various analytical methods and presents research conclusions, discussions and implications to guide future work in minimizing the effect and maximize the benefits to African American adolescents in rural high schools in Mississippi. Studying African American seniors in rural high schools in multiple locations, this mixed methods study gathers both quantitative and qualitative …

The Effects Of Homogeneous Differentiation On Reading Achievement: Within-Class Grouping Versus Between-Class Grouping, Sharon Suzanne Liddell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quasi-experimental, ex-post facto study was to determine through quantitative analysis of longitudinal data, the effects of homogeneous differentiation on reading achievement. Specifically, the study sought to determine the achievement differences in reading of students who were taught using a within-class grouping method or a between-class grouping method. The study population consisted on students from a Mississippi school district who began first grade from the 2006–2007 school year through the 2009–2010 school year. Students who had been assessed over a three-year on the DIBELS, STAR, and the MCT2 assessment were eligible for inclusion in the study. A …

The Role Of Study Strategy Use, Meaning In Life, And Grit On The Academic Success Of University Students, Kwoneathia Rasha Boswell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academic achievement is important to successful developmental outcomes. Educators and academic researchers have long been interested in identifying factors that contribute to student achievement. Literature suggests that relative to students who are academically unsuccessful, students with desirable academic outcomes use more study strategies. It has also been shown that academic performance can be enhanced by teaching students study strategies. Several personal factors seem to be associated with high academic achievement. Academically successful college students perceive that they have a greater sense of meaning in their lives compared to poorly performing students. Additionally, students with greater perceived meaning in life de-value …

Bringing The Best And Brightest To Teacher Education, Mary Ann Parker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research discusses historical, societal, and educational contexts leading to negative perceptions of public school education in the United States. The qualitative phenomenological research study explored the lived experiences of students participating in a unique scholarship program for high achieving students in teacher education. The study focused on fellows participating in the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP), a full scholarship opportunity allowing top performers to study secondary education at either Mississippi State University or the University of Mississippi. The study focused on University of Mississippi METP scholarship recipients and explored the conflict fellows experienced as a result of pursing …

Topping The Queue: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Principal Selection In Mississippi's Public School Districts, Angela Dawn Elder Quinn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a result of the competitive principal market and the varying qualities of a perfect job applicant, information is critical to job candidates, educational leadership program developers, and superintendents or members of school hiring committees. Informed by research from the fields of industry and education, this study utilized explanatory sequential mixed methods design to identify and describe the process, the participants, and the prominent factors involved in the selection of principals for k-12 schools in Mississippi. Non-parametric quantitative analysis and qualitative thematic coding were used in seeking to answer four critical related questions for those seeking to find effective school …

1:1 Laptop Experience And High-Stakes Testing: Effects On Eighth-Grade Student Achievement, Mary Lea Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on 1:1 laptop implementations is missing key information about student achievement on high-stakes assessment. This post hoc, quasi-experimental, quantitative study explores how 1:1 laptop access affects student achievement on the mandated eighth-grade online science assessment in five Mississippi school districts throughout the state. Fifth-grade science assessment results are used as a baseline for student achievement. Three research questions examined mean scale scores on the science assessment, change in scores from fifth to eighth-grade, and the effect on scale scores as the duration of the 1:1 laptop implementation increased. Two of the three experimental districts shoa significant difference in the …

The Calming Effects Of Modified Lighting, Jessica Foshee Simpson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three articles examining the effects of modified lighting on commonly observed behaviors in children diagnosed with behavior-based disabilities. Prior literature has evaluated the effect of lighting on academic skills. Unfortunately, there is an absence of evidence regarding the effect of lighting on behaviors. Taken together these three articles will clearly display the importance of carefully designing lighting in classrooms, specifically in classrooms that include children with behavior-based disabilities. The first article (Chapter 2) evaluates the effect lighting with low level illumination has on the behaviors commonly observed in a child diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder …

Comparing University Student Performance In Online V. Face-To-Face Offerings Of The Same Course, And Investigating Student Perceptions Of Satisfaction In An Online Course, Kristin Davidson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Online education in the United States has seen dramatic growth for the past decade, outpacing any other growth in higher education. The concurrent mixed-methods study that was conducted for this research used data from a survey geology course taught in both environments, online and traditional face-to-face. The quantitative research focused on comparing student performance in an online course relative to the same face-to-face course, while the qualitative research investigated how students described their experiences taking an online class. Previous work in online education has been limited by relatively small sample sizes, conducting studies over just one semester, comparing dissimilar courses …

Assessment Of The Knowledge And Skills Of School Personnel To Respond To Diabetic Emergencies In Georgia Public Schools, Alesha Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes is a common chronic disease that affects children in the United States. As children with diabetes attend school, the ability to appropriately manage their diabetes is essential to preventing life-threatening health complications. The purpose of the study was to assess school personnel’s knowledge of diabetes and perceived self-competence in performing diabetes management skills in response to a diabetic emergency. For the present study, a diabetic emergency was operationalized to include hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or diabetic ketoacidosis. A cross-sectional survey design, utilizing a fifty-two item self-administered questionnaire that accentuated the causes and symptoms of diabetes, definition of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and …

The Relationship Between Secondary Schools' Plc Characteristics And Literacy Achievement, Jennifer C. Topper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, non-experimental, correlational study examined the relationship between secondary school staff perceptions of their school’s effectiveness and the change in student literacy over a one year period. The staff perception data was elicited through an anonymous, electronically administered survey, the SEDL’s School Professional Staff as Learning Community Questionnaire (SPSLCQ) (Hord, 1996). Perceptions were gathered and measured based on the responses to descriptors in the five PLC domains of shared and supportive leadership; shared vision and values; collective learning and application of learning; supportive conditions; and shared personal practice. The populations whose perceptions were measured were the staffs of middle …

Charter School Governance: An Exploration Of Autonomy And Board Effectiveness, June A. Erskine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the increased numbers of charter schools each year, we understand very little about their governing boards. According to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation (2004) factors that correlate with charter school success such as accountability, public support, and institutional capacity to progress toward established goals are typically under the management of a charter school governing board. While there is no shortage of governance recommendations for charter schools, there are few empirically validated prescriptions. There are empirically validated characteristics of successful Non-Profit Organization (NPO) governing boards (Herman & Renz, 2008). The methodology for this research was designed to determine if governance …

Dystopian Identities: Exhuming The World Of Zombies Through The Camera's Eye: A Documentary, Julie Kimble

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research seeks to understand how engagement in zombie media culture helps its participants to navigate their everyday fears, develop identity, and form meaningful communities through this interaction. Curriculum studies enables us to see that knowledge is fluid and we often learn more from our interaction with our world outside of the expected sites of education—like schools. Media and pop culture provide a place for this knowledge to begin. Participants in zombie culture invest themselves and connect in ways that transcend entertainment and seem to become sites of transformation. Standardization and testing have become the driving force in education, creating …

In Search Of Financial Literacy: A Qualitative Analysis Of Student Money Management Centers In The U.S., Jenny E. Cotton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Financial stress and obligations have been identified as the number one reason students leave college. In an effort to address this, colleges and universities have begun to reevaluate their role and responsibility as it pertains to financial education. This has led some institutions to create student money management centers. These centers serve as a resource for students to receive financial counseling and education.

This research explores how administrators within college money management centers perceive and meet the needs of college students on issues of personal finance. Charmaz’ Constructivist Grounded Theory (2006) approach to qualitative research was utilized as the theoretical …

“At-Risk” Rural Middle-School Students’ Perceptions Of Problem-Based Learning In Mathematics, Deborah A. Bowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Middle-grade students who fail math have at least a three-in-four chance of dropping out of high school (Neild & Balfanz, 2006). Furthermore, these students, especially female students, at risk of failure in mathematics and consequent dropout, may not be well served by traditional teaching methods because of their inequitable instructional practices (Lerner & Sadker, 1999). This case study of eight seventh-grade students from a rural school in Georgia sought to gain insight into whether PBL (problem-based learning) was perceived to be an effective teaching method for “at-risk” middle-school mathematics students and female students in particular. The goals of the study …

Deans Of Students’ Responsibilities In Campus Crisis Management, Patrice B. Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive quantitative study was to discover the responsibilities of the dean of students in managing campus crisis. The literature clearly identifies the dean of students as a member of the crisis management team (Benjamin, 2014; Zdziarski, 2001, 2006, 2016). However, a gap in the literature exists concerning the specific responsibilities of the dean of students in responding to campus crisis.

The five phases of crisis management as defined by PPD-8 are Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery (US Department of Homeland Security, 2011). In signing PPD-8, President Obama mandated all state and federal organizations develop comprehensive …

Surviving At The Top: A Critical Case Study Of Female Administrators In Higher Education, Renanda Wood Dear

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women encounter significant barriers as it relates to their gender and leadership traits. The strong patriarchal system has made it more difficult for women to advance in higher education. Research has previously examined a number of factors, including characteristics, institutional influences, and practice efforts to increase the representation of women in leadership in higher education. However, exploring the persistence of gender inequality at the highest ranks of executive leadership is essential to understanding the underrepresentation of women in executive leadership positions in higher education (Bonebright, Cottledge & Lonnquist, 2012; White, 2012). Even though women have been a part of higher …

A Model-Based Approach To Mobile Learning And Digital Literacy, Zena Ramsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to 1) explore models of technology implementation programs and professional development interventions that promote the successful integration of mobile devices (iPads) in a small elementary school in a large Central Florida school district, and 2) identify the needs of the instructional staff to design a professional development intervention to meet these needs. This school will be referred to as School A. In the U.S., the ownership of mobile devices, such as iPads is on the rise. For example, 88% of American teenagers between ages 13 and 17 have access to a mobile phone, …

Moral Judgment Development Of Student Nurses In An Associate Degree In Nursing Program, Graciela Way

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the correlation between the development of moral judgment and the variables of gender, age, primacy of religion, level of educational attainment, and year in the nursing program student nurses enrolled in an associate degree in nursing program who were concurrently enrolled in a bachelor degree in nursing program in the southern United States. A correlation was established with the dependent variable, or N2 index score, and the independent variable, primacy of religion. A negative correlation between the N2 index was established in students who believed that religion exerted a great influence on their lives while a positive …

New Student Orientation And First Year Retention Rate Of Associate Degree Nursing Students, Molly Yanni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between a program-specific orientation program for associate degree nursing students and first semester course grades, retention, and persistence to graduation. Previous research of orientation programs for associate degree nursing students has proved inconclusive in promoting student success. A significant difference was identified in first semester course grades between the orientation and no orientation groups, with the orientation group having an average lower course grade. The potential for confounding variables was discussed. There were no significant differences found in the relationship between orientation participation and first-year retention rates or orientation participation and persistence …

Navigating New Relationships During Recovery From Intimate Partner Violence: A Phenomenological Investigation Of Female Survivors' Experiences, Paulina Flasch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of the extant literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) centers on immediate needs and crisis interventions for victims and survivors, and limited emphasis is placed on the long-term recovery process. Researchers have identified post-IPV romantic relationships as a topic in need of further investigation, but to date, little to no research has focused on romantic relationships post-IPV. The present investigation provides a thorough literature review on the topic of recovery from IPV, introduces a phenomenological investigation of survivors' experiences of considering or navigating new relationships during recovery from intimate partner violence, and discusses findings and implications for counselors and …