Education Commons^™

Metacognitive Reading Strategy And Emerging Reading Comprehension In Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Natasha Cox-Magno, Peter Ross, Kathleen Dimino, Andrea Wilson

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This article ventures to address the gap in special education practices by providing a metacognitive reading strategy to support the emerging reading comprehension skills of kindergarten students with intellectual disabilities. Historically, students with intellectual disabilities have low reading comprehension skills that can impede their overall academic success. There is a gap in practice regarding the identification and effective use of evidence-based reading comprehension instructional strategies for students with intellectual disabilities. Guided by Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s constructivist theories, the purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a metacognitive reading strategy on the emerging reading comprehension (ERC) skills of …

The Significance Of Articulating An Institution’S Intellectual Distinctions In Response To The Crisis Of The Liberal Arts, Christian Teeter

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This case study details an investigation to gain greater insight about the intellectual distinctions that prevail within the academic environment at Crestline College, a pseudonym for an eastern institution of higher learning, in support of the significance of a liberal arts education. While many graduates of Crestline report satisfaction with their academic experience, many alumni volunteers have felt more work could be done to explain the exact nature of what makes Crestline strong academically, articulating the practical value of a liberal arts education. Developing a compelling argument for a strong vision for academics would help reinforce the value and importance …

Using The Txvaas To Improve Teacher Effectiveness: Investigating The Research-Situated “Truths” Behind Txvaas Claims, Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, Clarin Collins

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

At the time of this study, the Texas Value-Added Assessment System (TxVAAS) was being piloted throughout Texas to hold teachers more accountable for their effects on students' achievement (i.e., teachers’ value added). It is still being used by districts throughout Texas today. Using a framework informed by the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, researchers conducted a content analysis of the marketing and research-based claims asserted about the TxVAAS, to (a) examine the “truth” of each claim to (b) help others critically consume the marketing claims using (c) nonproprietary, peer-reviewed literature. Given that the more popular, and also proprietary …

Relevance Of The Ies/Nsf Protocol To Identification Of Evidence-Based Practices, Barbara R. Schirmer, Alison S. Lockman, Todd N. Schirmer

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued common guidelines that provide a protocol by which the use of particular methodological designs in a line of research inquiry provides evidence for each successive step in the process of bringing any given instructional intervention into practice. Our purpose was to determine if research on two widely used literacy instruction approaches has been conducted at each methodological stage in the IES/NSF protocol and is relevant to identifying the approach as an evidence-based practice. We applied the IES/NSF pipeline-of-evidence guidelines to assess whether practices touted as having a …

Using Focus Groups To Explore Sources Of Self-Efficacy In Puerto Rican Preservice Teachers, Yitza A. Arcelay-Rojas

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This article used focus groups to explore Puerto Rican preservice teachers' perceptions of sources of self-efficacy. The present study allowed, through a qualitative design, examination of the experiences of preservice teachers at the end of their student teaching practicum. The qualitative design and the use of the focus group technique provided insight into the main sources of their perceived self-efficacy through the self-assessment of their field experience. The beginning of the student teaching practicum provoked an intense process of emotions in which the preservice teachers needed support and guidance, particularly in aspects of planning, differentiation, and classroom management. The participants …

Two Birds, One Stone: Integrating Communication Proficiency Development Into Existing Academic Courses, Yehudith Weinberger

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This article discusses the pedagogical knowledge required to develop students' communication proficiencies as part of their academic experience, proposes a method of doing so, and illustrates that method using a recent example. Using the case-study approach, first, the challenge is presented while its complexity in the context of academic studies is analyzed. Then, with implementation of the conceptual framework of “disciplinary literacy,” an original solution is offered in the form of a rolling multistage task in a seminar course that was a part of the master’s in teaching program. The rolling multistage task revolves around the development of the pedagogical …

Punishment Or Policy Change: A Case Of Plagiarism In A Dissertation, Patricia Deubel

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This article examines a case of plagiarism in a dissertation, which was found after the doctoral degree had been awarded. Plagiarism detection is discussed in relation to the methodology, which included manual analysis, Google searches, and originality reports from Turnitin. Questions on the role of the dissertation committee, processes used to complete the dissertation, and consequences of plagiarism are addressed, as well as factors influencing a decision to report the case. Procedures for reporting plagiarism allegations and those the university used to investigate are included. Because this case illustrates that revoking a degree is not necessarily a sanction when plagiarism …

Transforming Inclusive Education: Nine Tips To Enhance School Leaders’ Ability To Effectively Lead Inclusive Special Education Programs, Cammy Romanuck Murphy

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Principals and assistant principals, collectively referred to as school leaders, play instrumental roles in ensuring the success of inclusive special education in the schools they oversee. However, school leaders continually report they lack the knowledge and skills to effectively oversee quality inclusive special education programs. There are very few training programs available to school leaders that focus on leading inclusive special education programs. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide school leaders with nine tips, along with 11 immediately implementable practical strategies, to improve upon the inclusive special education programs in their schools. Topics include pertinent definitions, …

Teacher Decision-Making: Using Hypothetical Vignettes To Examine The Course Recommendation Process, Philip E. Bernhardt

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Academic tracking is common in American schools. While the impact of this practice on students is well documented, few studies closely examine the influence of teacher decision-making on students’ academic trajectories. This article discusses a study examining how teachers recommend students for high- and low-track academic classes. Specific attention is paid to data collected through participant analysis of hypothetical vignettes. This unique methodology was specifically designed to illuminate the dynamics shaping participants’ decision-making process. The key finding of this study is that participants experienced high levels of autonomy when making recommendations. This autonomy, however, did not emanate from recognition of …

Social Studies Teacher–Athletic Coaches' Experiences Coping With Role Conflict R2, Caroline Conner, Chara Haeussler Bohan

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The current study provides insight into the experiences of the most common content area teacher–coaches: social studies teacher–coaches. Substantial research findings support the idea that occupying the dual role of teacher–coach may lead to role conflict, role overload, and burnout in teacher–coaches. The purpose of the study is to illuminate the unique stressors associated with occupying the dual role of social studies teacher and athletic coach (SSTC) simultaneously, and to discover ways in which SSTCs manage such conflict. Through a case study of three football SSTCs in the southeastern United States, we explored participants’ experiences with role conflict, role overload, …

The Socratic Method Of Instruction: An Experience With A Reading Comprehension Course, Rachid Acim

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Moroccan teachers of English have tried several pedagogical techniques for teaching English at a higher level. Attention to critical thinking and questioning are still lacking. The Socratic seminar has proven to be a powerful strategy for promoting these two skills. In this article, its applicability to reading comprehension and précis course is reconsidered. Instead of simply being given information, students are forced to gain knowledge through conversation and Socratic dialogue. They are taught to look at the world from different perspectives, to accept differences and maintain esteem for others. Drawing on an observational study, I unveil the pros and cons …

A Case Study Of Relationships, Resilience, And Retention In Secondary Mathematics And Science Teachers, Angela W. Webb

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Reasons why mathematics and science teachers leave the profession have been well documented and discussed. However, a critical examination of the nuances contributing to their retention warrants our attention. In this qualitative case study, I applied relational–cultural theory (Miller, 1986) to the experiences of three female mathematics and science teachers. I sought to unpack teachers’ decisions to remain in the classroom year after year and make meaning of their experiences as related to resilience in and through relationships. Based on findings from participants' experiences, recommendations for improving teacher retention along the career trajectory are offered.

Blind Date Poetry: Introducing Poetry To Today’S High School Students, Amy Rottmann

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study examined an early college high school English teacher's instructional method of introducing poetry through Blind Date Poetry. Blind Date Poetry was created by the teacher to introduce her students to 25 poems in a 90-min class session. The study was to find if the poetry introduction engaged and motivated students to learn poetry. The collected data showed that students preferred autonomy, quick decision-making, and personal interest when being introduced to poetry. Also, the instructional method increased students’ engagement and motivation to learn about the poems they had chosen.

A Consensual Inquiry Of Teachers’ Responses To Classroom Situations: Implications For School Counselors, Jeffrey M. Warren, Gretchen G. Robinson

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Although often overlooked by school leaders, teacher emotions are key factors that impact classroom climate and therefore educational outcomes and student success. We use a framework grounded in rational emotive behavior therapy and social cognitive theory to explore teachers’ perceived thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in response to common classroom situations. The consensual qualitative research methodology was used to analyze data collected from 21 elementary school teachers. Findings suggest that psychosocial barriers exist among teachers who undermine effective instruction and classroom climate. Implications for school counselor practice are discussed.

Public Policies Involving Pregnant And Parenting Secondary Students From Perspectives Of Educators, Tomecole Hilliard-Carlton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite a significant drop in the number of pregnant adolescents and reforms to fight

gender discrimination under Title IX, teen pregnancy and risk factors including poverty,

stigma, and substance abuse, which may lead to different negative outcomes, such as

depression, social isolation, and lowered self-esteem remain a persistent problem in the

United States. Due to these factors, pregnant and parenting teens have been noted to drop

out of high school prematurely. Using incrementalism as a theoretical framework, the

purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore and describe Title IX

compliance and local policies and practices of educators …

Impact Of A Postcollege Service-Learning Year: From Self To Social Justice, Kelly S. Hall, Cheryl H. Keen

Journal of Sustainable Social Change

Recent college graduates in the United States are increasingly pursuing a year of service in programs such as Teach for America, AmeriCorps, and Volunteers Exploring Vocation. A cohort of 689 volunteers participating in 18 Volunteers Exploring Vocation programs across the nation was surveyed both at the beginning and end of their year of service. Principal component analysis was used to analyze the two surveys. Repeated measures captured volunteers’ motivations for entering the programs and opportunities important to them upon exiting programs. Upon entering, program participants were motivated by opportunities for discovery about themselves in relation to community and for exploring …

Conceptual Framework For A Curriculum In Social Change, Iris M. Yob

Journal of Sustainable Social Change

Colleges, universities, and many high schools are expressing their mission in terms of creating social change or contributing to the common good. Such a mission suggests that if they are going to graduate students who will fulfill this mission, they will need to consider how they will best prepare students to do this. The conceptual framework for a curriculum in social change in this article offers a holistic approach, taking into account what a student should know, be able to do, and what values and attitudes should be nurtured. To that end, the article identifies three competencies in the knowledge …

Postsecondary Online Students’ Preferences For Text-Based Instructor Feedback, Joseph J. Gredler

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Misalignment between student preferences and instructor practices regarding writing feedback may impede student learning. This sequential explanatory mixed-methods study addressed postsecondary online students’ preferences and the reasons for their preferences. A survey was used to collect 93 responses from postsecondary students attending a large private online university; data collection included interviews with a subsample of 4 participants. Findings indicated students preferred proximal, detailed, supportive feedback to enhance their writing skills and to understand deductions assessed by instructors. Findings may increase instructor awareness of students’ preferences and enhance collaboration in the feedback process to promote writing skill development and improve academic …

Organizational Learning For Libraries At For-Profit Colleges And Universities: A Manual, Julie Evener

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

The purpose of this manual is an introduction to the concept of organizational learning for librarians working in for-profit colleges and universities, though the suggestions and ideas herein are applicable to librarians working in a variety of institutions. Information in this manual was collected through a literature review, as well as the author’s original research focusing on organizational learning in libraries of for-profit colleges and universities in the United States. The content of the manual includes why organizational learning is important for libraries, factors that contribute to organizational learning, challenges to organizational learning and strategies to overcome the challenges, and …

Conceptual Framework For A Curriculum In Social Change, Iris M. Yob

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Colleges, universities, and many high schools are expressing their mission in terms of creating social change or contributing to the common good. Such a mission suggests that if they are going to graduate students who will fulfill this mission, they will need to consider how they will best prepare students to do this. The conceptual framework for a curriculum in social change in this article offers a holistic approach, taking into account what a student should know, be able to do, and what values and attitudes should be nurtured. To that end, the article identifies three competencies in the knowledge …

Data-Driven Decision-Making In Urban Schools That Transitioned From Focus Or Priority To Good Standing, Danielle Ware

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the importance an urban school district places on data-driven decision-making (DDDM) to drive instruction, implementation continues to remain a challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate how support systems affected the implementation of DDDM to drive instructional practices in three urban schools that recently transitioned from priority or focus to good standing on the State Accountability Report. The study aligned with the organizational supports conceptual framework with an emphasis on data accessibility, collection methods, reliability and validity, the use of coaches and data teams, professional development, and data-driven leaders. Through the collection of qualitative data from one-on-one …

Effect Of Coteaching On The Achievement Of Middle School Students With Disabilities, Calandra C. Holmes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

From 2014 to 2015, full inclusion through coteaching practices (2 or more professionals providing instruction in the same classroom environment) was implemented at a rural southeastern middle school in Georgia to improve the low academic achievement of students with disabilities (SWDs). The problem is that 8th-grade SWDs score low on the reading and mathematics sections of the Standardized Assessment for Reading and Mathematics (STAR). The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to examine the effect of coteaching on the achievement of 8th-grade SWDs in reading and mathematics as measured by the STAR. Vygotsky's zone of proximal development was the …

Teachers' Participation In Learning By Design Activities, Their Technological, Pedagogical And Content Knowledge, And Technology Integration In An Inner City School, Joan Bruner-Timmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students at an inner city school have low test results despite making progress. The study examines the problem that technology plans implemented by the Board of Education could not improve student achievement. Educational policy recommends to increasingly sustain teaching by educational technology. Therefore, this research examines the teacher knowledge necessary for technology integration in classes, and the ways this knowledge can be fostered. The theoretical framework of this study integrates 2 prominent theories of instructional science: learning by design (LBD) and technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK). The relationship between LBD, TPACK, and technology integration in the classroom was examined. …

Relating Teacher Attendance To Student English Language Arts And Math Achievement, Daryl Kubilus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

On average, teachers in the United States are absent for 9.6 days of student instruction per school year, while in this study's rural Northeast Ohio school district, teachers averaged 16.2 absences in the 2015-16 school year. Teacher absence is a concern because the classroom teacher is often considered the most crucial school-related influence on student achievement. Guided by Bowlby's attachment theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the possible predictive relationships between teacher absences for sick/personal and professional leave as well as other teacher-related variables, including teaching experience, teacher education level, and teacher evaluation results, with the outcome …

The Need For Cognition And Critical Thinking Skills And Depressive Symptoms In College Students, Jill Maschio

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This dissertation concerns the relationship between the symptomatology of depression and cognition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the assumptions of Beck's negative cognition theory regarding the relationship between patients' lack of ability to reason and depression. Beck noticed that people with depression failed to consciously examine the basis upon which their negative self-defeating reality is founded. This study examined a relationship between critical thinking skills and the need for cognition (the desire to think about ambiguous information) and levels of depression and education. The participants were 75 postsecondary undergraduate and graduate students from both online and traditional …

Implementing And Sustaining Gifted Programs In High Minority Low-Income Schools, Jolene Marie Meyers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students who have been identified as gifted have the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities in many but not all school districts across the United States. Students from disadvantaged populations who are underrepresented in gifted programs fail to advance academically at the same rate as other students. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of an official gifted program in a high ethnic minority low-income school district in Illinois. The purpose of this study was to examine how leaders of school districts with demographics similar to the district lacking a gifted program create, implement, and sustain gifted programs. …

Understanding Students' Perceptions Of Cultural Diversity, Catherine Moss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diversity is a positive aspect of a student's educational experience. Current literature supports the value of diversity, confirming that skills are developed within a diverse learning environment that prepares students to thrive in a competitive global economy. The leadership at University X (UX) had implemented various initiatives to improve diversity, yet the problem addressed in this study was that students perceived differently, citing that diversity growth lacked progress. The goal of this single case study was to bring forth change with a specific intervention created to elevate diversity and a positive campus climate. Maslow's hierarchy of needs was used to …

Financial Literacy In Appalachian Kentucky With A National Comparison, Tanya Noah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial literacy is a national problem; many studies confirmed that Americans have low levels of financial literacy. There is little to no research about financial literacy in Appalachia, and the level of financial literacy was unknown for Appalachian Kentucky. There is a problem deserving attention which can be seen by examination of the 3 key financial indicators. Many researchers found the Appalachian Kentucky region deficient regarding poverty rates, unemployment rates, and personal income rates. The purpose of this study was to develop a baseline level of financial literacy of Appalachian Kentuckians and to compare it to national levels. Becker's theory …

Strategies For Hiring Skilled Furniture Manufacturing Workers, Michael L. Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In April 2013, the U.S. unemployment rate was 7.6% and did not drop as quickly in the recent recession as in past recessions. The Unemployment and Job Creation Program study informed readers that many employers could not find qualified workers. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore hiring managers' strategies to locate and hire skilled workers in the furniture manufacturing industry. The target sample included 3 furniture manufacturers located in Huntsville, Alabama who have successfully developed and implemented strategies for hiring skilled workers. The skill shortage theory was the conceptual framework for this study. In the …

An Examination Of The Student-Focused Transition Planning Process In A Rural Setting, Pamela Lynne Brezenski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the local state special education transition aged postoutcome survey measurements, high school students with disabilities (HS-SWDs) continue to demonstrate problems with unemployment, independent living, and postsecondary education as they transition to adult life. HS-SWDs receive instruction from transition planning teams (TPTs) to address educational attendance, independent living, agency collaboration, and employment skills. When these knowledge and skills are not acquired, HS-SWDs cannot gain employment or attend postsecondary institutions. The purpose of this qualitative, bounded case study was to explore the TPT members' perspectives of the transition planning process. Kohler's transition taxonomy guided this study. The research questions were used …