Education Commons^™

Scaffolded Discourse Within A Comprehensive Literacy Model, Kimberlee Wagner

Dissertations

Research has shown that successful models of school change have several common features: a balance of teacher autonomy and accountability, high-quality professional development, quality leadership, and the support of an outside partner. One model that has these features is the comprehensive literacy model within the Partnership of Comprehensive Literacy model. This mixed methods study examined the language of scaffolding that occurred in three settings within the model: grade level meetings, coaching and mentoring, and small group instruction. Participants in this study included the literacy coaches, interventionists and first-grade teachers at two schools within the PCL network. Three levels of scaffolding …

Gearing Up For College, Beatriz Amy Huerta

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Sadly, in the Greenfield community, there are exceedingly high rates of individuals who lack post-secondary education. The Census (2010), states that only 4.8% of persons age 25 years and older in Greenfield, CA obtain a bachelor’s degree. At Greenfield High School over the past five years, an average of 16 students enrolled at a CSU campus (The California State University, 2018). In efforts to promote higher education, Gear Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) empowers students and families of the Monterey County by fostering equitable access to postsecondary education and career readiness through relevant rigorous academic and …

Increasing Technology Skills For Head Start Staff In Monterey County, Jasmin Lopez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

MCOE Head Start has been transitioning from pen and paper to a new software, ChildPlus. This software provides the ability for staff and administrators to quickly and efficiently track all of the data required by the program so that the agency staff can focus on serving families and children to the best of their ability. When the requirement to use ChildPlus was implemented, teachers were resistant and unprepared. As a consequence, the programs funding and efficiency opportunities and its data input was impacted. A twenty- four question survey of thirty- eight staff members was developed to help determine the greatest …

Life Through Different Lenses, Teresa Morales

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For this capstone project, my partner and I were able to explore the lack of affordable housing for low-income families and the demonstrable effect on students academic achievement. Children whose families have a difficult time finding adequate housing, live in poor conditions that limits them to acquire their learning skills and abilities to succeed. The community partner we worked with was a local Family Resource Center that provides housing assistance and other social determinants. The purpose of this research was understand how low-income families deal with inadequate living conditions and the impacts of student academic success. Based on an analysis …

Summer Therapeutic Program For Children, Randi Losalu

Social Work Independent Study Projects (ISP)

Children who struggle during the school year will continue to do so through the summer months. As such, it is important to have therapeutic opportunities and programming available for those children. Addressing the therapeutic needs of children with serious emotional disturbances and/or social deficits can take many forms. Adventure therapy and experiential activities are supported by a variety of theoretical perspectives including Experiential Learning Theory, Systems Theory, Existential Theory, Behavioral/Cognitive Behavioral Theory, and Psychodynamic Theory. Through the use of adventure type activities, participants are able to address and reach therapeutic goals in a different manner than the traditional office setting. …

Mentee And Mentor Teacher Perspectives On The Effectiveness Of School-Based Mentorship In High-Poverty, Low-Performing Schools., Amanda Leigh Santos-Colon, Carlisha Smith Kent

College of Education & Human Development Capstone Projects

This capstone intends to seek a teacher’s perspective on the effectiveness of school-based mentorship in a high-poverty, low-performing school setting. The first study investigates the perspectives of new teachers, while the second study focuses on the perspectives of the mentor teachers. When new teachers complete the undergraduate program, they become certified teachers but have never actually had the opportunity to be alone in a classroom with up to thirty students. New teachers are often prepared to teach the curriculum but unprepared for the student behavior and classroom management. Furthermore, teachers may be assigned a mentor, but the mentor may lack …

The Effects Of Using An Information Literacy Model On The Information Seeking Behavior Of Sixth-Grade Students, Jessica L. Kohout-Tailor

All Dissertations

This action research study describes how teaching an information literacy model affects the information behavior of sixth-grade students. The theoretical framework that supported this study was Carol Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process or ISP (1989). This study used a sequential mixed-methods design to examine the following questions: “How will teaching the Simple Four information literacy model (Alewine, 2006) to sixth-grade students affect their information seeking behavior?” The study also explored the effects the model had on students’ affective behavior through the second research question: “How will teaching the Simple Four information literacy model (Alewine, 2006) to sixth-grade students affect their confidence …

Secondary School Principals' Perceptions Of Inclusion For Students With Autism: A Causal-Comparative Study, Jason Brent Conaway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A person’s perceptions define their reality, and behavior is based on what one believes to be real; therefore, perception is the path to belief, and one usually acts upon belief (Colaianni, 2015). According to Hallinger and Murphy (2012), “Today, we view instructional leadership as an influence process through which leaders identify direction for the school, motivate staff and coordinate school and classroom-based strategies aimed at improvements in teaching and learning” (p. 7). The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to contribute to a body of research surrounding the perceptions of secondary school principals toward the inclusion of students with …

A Comparison Of High School Students Who Participate In Athletics Verses Non-Athletes On Seven Dimensions Of Work Ethic, Roy Jonathan Shipley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study compared the differences in work ethic dimension scores between high school student-athletes and students who do not participate in athletics. The underlying problem was that there is not enough research in this area and that current available studies provide conflicting information. The purpose of the study was to examine the differences in seven work ethic dimension scores from the Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP) between student-athletes and non-athletes. The study used a quantitative, causal-comparative design to examine the differences in the two pre-existing groups. The convenience sample of participants (N = 144) were selected from an available population …

Differences Between Physical Vs. Non-Physical Activity Rewards On The Behavior Of K-8 Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, John Trevor Guerra

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) face many challenges in the classroom, including the propensity to act-out in class with externalizing behavior such as work avoidance, off-task behavior, refusal to follow rules, and aggression. Past research has focused on the benefits of using reward systems within the classroom, with evidence that those who teach using some form of reward system as a motivator often meet with success. Rewards driven by Token Economies have specifically shown promising results when used with students with disabilities who display challenging behaviors. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of using …

Investigating The Impact Of Differentiated Instruction On Soldier Training, Sara Rebecca Baumgarten

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As the individuals identified as the Millennial Generation transition into adulthood, postsecondary instructional institutions must adjust training methods for increased learning. This postsecondary institutional transformation is not exclusionary, thus military training must also evolve to increase knowledge acquisition. For soldiers in the unit supply specialist program, training utilized differentiated instruction methods and strategies with an end state of improved learning for soldiers at their first duty station and lasting through the course of their career. This revised learning methodology has increased property accountability as directed by the Command Supply Discipline Program, Department of the Army. Conducting an ANCOVA on Control …

Understanding The Experiences Of Middle School Social Studies Teachers Creating Personalized Learning Classrooms: A Phenomenological Study, Robert Lee Carlyle Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine teachers’ experiences of implementing personalized learning in the social studies classroom at middle schools in Georgia. Personalized learning is the ability to tailor learning to each learner’s interest, strengths, and needs. The theory guiding this study is the discovery learning theory, which was introduced by Jerome Bruner. The central research question guiding the research was “How do middle school social studies teachers in Georgia describe their experiences creating personalized learning classrooms?” Sub-questions used to further refine the central question were: (1) How do teachers motivate students in the personalized learning …

Country Road, Take Me Home: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Public School Personnel In Two Rural Central Virginia School Divisions And Their Perception Of Homelessness And The Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Cora Peterson Tolliver

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how school personnel in two rural Virginia school districts perceive the phenomenon of homelessness and the McKinney-Vento Act for Homeless Education. Participants in this study were10 school employees from two school districts located in the rural Central Virginia counties of Framingham and Marlborough, and included teachers, reading specialists, school administrators, registrars, counselors, and homeless liaisons. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Burns’s (1978) theory of transformational leadership, which holds that, with the proper leadership, stakeholders, such as teachers, can be connected more to the project at hand and to …

Impact Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports On At-Risk, Black Male Students' Academic Performance, Sandra Adomako Letterlough

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black male students have experienced disproportionate disciplinary actions at higher rates compared to male students of other races, which has an at-risk effect on academic achievement because of lost instructional time, poor student-teacher relationships, and decreased motivation to learn. Implementing Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) could help to reduce the time spent out of class due to a disciplinary issue, thus increasing the opportunity to learn. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine the impact of PBIS on academic achievement and frequency of office disciplinary referrals (ODR) in a PBIS and non-PBIS alternative middle school. The sample …

School Administrators' Leadership Styles, Gender, And Perceived Self-Efficacy In Suburban Virginia: A Multiple Regression, Nary Esther Kitson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Educational leadership is one of the most important indicators in the success of a school. Research indicates leadership has various constructs which affect its effectiveness. The most successful and effective leaders have high self-efficacy. Leaders with high self-efficacy are affected by various constructs. Gaps in the literature on leadership effectiveness include the study of gender constructs and the effect of perceived self-efficacy and the effects of leadership styles (e.g., transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire). This study used a multiple regression analysis to determine if there is a significant predictive relationship between perceived self-efficacy and the linear combination of gender and leadership …

The Relationship Between Secondary Teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge And Technology Integration Factors, Randal Cody Raper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research in educational technology has led to the discovery of factors for successful technology integration into the classroom—technology access and support, professional development, attitudes toward technology, technology use by students, and technology use by teachers. Additionally, using the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) theoretical framework, a teacher’s understanding of the knowledge required to effectively implement technology can be measured. This study attempted to examine the relationship between teachers’ TPACK score and the key indicators of technology integration using the TPACK survey and the Survey of Technology Integration and Related Factors (STIR). Using a nonexperimental, correlational design, participants were selected from …

Perceived Leadership Style And The Adequate Yearly Progress Status Of Title I Elementary Schools, Gennifer Lynn Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the correlation between perceived leadership style and academic achievement in Title I Virginia elementary schools as measured by Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. The results of this study could provide education institutions and school districts with insight regarding education for school administration that would enhance characteristics that may increase academic achievement. The researcher examined the correlation between principals’ perceived leadership styles and the AYP status of Title I elementary schools in Virginia through the use of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and Virginia Report Cards, through a point-biserial correlation analysis. This study …

You Live Where? Maximizing O&M Services In Rural And Remote Areas Through Distance Consultation, Amy T. Parker, Mary J. Tellefson

Special Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

The region served by Portland State University’s Orientation and Mobility (O&M) and Visually Impaired Learner (VIL) hybrid preparation program is geographically vast. The states of OR, WA, ID, MT, AK, and HI comprise 28% of the US's geography, covering more than 1,061,000 square miles. Because of regional personnel shortages, faculty must prepare candidates to serve geographically dispersed children and adults with visual impairment or deaf-blindness using technologies that support distance-based consultation.

As a part of a federally funded grant from the US Department of Education, faculty in the O&M program developed an online learning module for candidates to use as …

A Quantitative Study Of School Leadership Style Based On Gender, Jeffrey A. Dufour

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to analyze data from one eastern North Carolina school district and examine the influence of gender on leadership style to determine if one’s gender influences leadership style. Data was collected using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5). Participants who were involved in this research were school-based administrators from a school district in the eastern part of the United States who were serving in an administrative role within the school district. The data was compiled by Jeffrey A. Dufour while utilizing the MLQ-5 survey that was administered via an online format and was sent to …

Using Tablet Technology To Teach Secondary Content Vocabulary: A Collective Case Study, Annie R. Raney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to provide an understanding of the instructional methods of teachers who use tablet technology in middle school classrooms to teach complex content vocabulary. Dewey’s theory of constructivism guided this study, as it explains that students learn by building upon what they know. Middle school students add new terms to their existing vocabulary banks so that they can learn the related concepts in their content-area classes. The study took place in a southern state with technology standards that require students to use technology for reading and learning purposes. There is extensive research about …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Career Progression Among Culinary School Graduates, Anthony Joseph Padavan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this experiential phenomenological study was to describe the experience of a formal culinary education and its impact on job placement, job satisfaction, and career progression for culinary school graduates who are also members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF). The theory guiding this study was experientialism focusing on construction of knowledge as proposed by Kolb’s experiential learning theory. Kolb’s theory directly relates to the vocational nature of the culinary profession and helped to answer the research question: How do participants value a culinary education in relationship to job placement, job satisfaction, and overall career progression? The sample …

A Logistic Regression Study Of How Pre-Enrollment Factors Predict Graduation At A Christian Historically Black University, Tara Laron Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this logistic regression study is to review the pre-admission factors through the lenses of multiple retention constructs and graduation rates at a Christian, Historically Black College or University (HBCU). A binary logistic regression is used to analyze the odds of graduation based on a set of pre-admission factors of first-time freshmen, as predictor variables. In particular, the predictor variables of interest are eligibility of academic support based on academic scholarships, gender, international status, and type of high school attended. The outcome variable of interest is graduation. This study is important because it contributes to the scholarship in …

School Suspension And Academic Achievement For Tenth And Eleventh Grade Male Students: A Correlational Study, Dante' L. Ferguson Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between absenteeism due to suspensions and math and reading scores from the 2016 – 2017 Georgia Milestones Test for tenth and eleventh grade regular education, male students. The focus of this study was on determining if math and reading scores on standardized tests could be predicted by the number of days missed from school due to suspensions using a bivariate regression. A total of 93 male high school students in grades ten and eleven who have received one or more out of school suspensions during the previous school term …

Breaking The Silence: A Phenomenological Study Of Introverted Undergraduate Students' Experiences In The Active Learning English Classroom, Richard Lee Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of introverted undergraduate students in the active learning English classroom in a community college setting in Florida. Eysenck’s Personality Theory, which provides knowledge about introverts’ preferred method of learning; and Experiential Learning Theory, which presents pertinent information concerning how individuals learn by experience, guided this study. The research questions were as follows: How do introverted undergraduate students describe their experience in an English course structured as an active learning classroom environment (ALC)? How do participants describe the academic atmosphere of the ALC? How do participants describe the effect …

High School Teachers’ Sense Of Efficacy: Traditional Teaching Vs. Teaching With A Learning Management System, Kelly Yolanda Backenstoe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teacher efficacy has an impact on how students achieve in the classroom. There is a variety of ways teachers help students learn. For example, the method of traditional instruction includes the use of a textbook and teacher lectures. However, a current trend in education is for schools to use a Learning Management System, like Schoology, to help teachers organize and distribute resources to students. This study will help administrators understand if teachers have a stronger or weaker sense of efficacy through the use of traditional instruction or instruction with the use of Schoology. The study is important because administrators need …

The Effect Of Morphology Instruction On Performance Growth Of Seventh-Grade Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Erin Kathleen Pizzo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest, nonequivalent control group study was to evaluate the effectiveness of morphological instruction that includes word matrices and word sums with middle school students. This study compared the overall reading performance growth as measured by the Northwest Evaluation Association: Measure of Academic Performance (NWEA MAP) scores of students who received morphological instruction with word matrices and word sums with the growth of students who did not receive morphological instruction that included word matrices and word sums. A convenience sample of 100 students English-speaking students from a rural, public middle school in northwest Pennsylvania was used …

Rod Library: Notes For The Stalled, V11n05, December 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Library Newsletter

In This Issue:
--UNI Edits Wikipedia
--Stress Busting
--Virtual Reality
--Textures of UNI
--Hours for Finals

Assessing The Supports And Variables Needed For Graduation Of Students Receiving Special Education Service: A Longitudinal Study, Jennifer Dewaard

Dissertations

Graduation from high school is an important measure of success for both schools and individuals. While requirements for graduation change, the rate at which students receive a diploma within four years is on the rise. But students who receive special education services continue to have a lower graduation rate than the general population. It is imperative for both schools and individual students to increase this rate and close the gap for those receiving a diploma.

The purpose of this study is to examine that gap between graduation rates for the total population of a high school in West Michigan compared …

Understanding The Experiences Of Students Re-Admitted After Academic Suspension As Part Of A University-Initiated Process: A Qualitative Study, Gary L. Versalle

Dissertations

Student persistence and retention continues to be a major issue facing most institutions of higher education. With ever more diverse student populations, researchers studied a multitude of groups and sub-groups of students based on ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, or age. These studies looked at how these various student groups can be supported and retained. Students who returned to school after having been academically dismissed are one group which has been consistently underreported. Reentry practices remained largely unchanged and still require the student to initiate the process. This phenomenological study examined the experiences of students accepted into the Reclaim the W …

Implication Of Item And Test Differential Functioning In Criterion-Referenced Tests, Xiaojie Hu

Dissertations

In a compensatory criterion referenced test (CRT) it is common that the test developer maximizes the test information at or near the cut score location. This is believed to produce the highest classification accuracy. However, a recent study showed that the optimal location to maximize test information for highest classification accuracy (CA) and consistency (CC) also depends on factors such as test length, cut score location, the examinee ability distribution, and the test model applied for latent trait estimation (Wyse & Babcock, 2016). Moreover, when unintentional secondary dimensions are also measured (nuisance dimension caused by test construction, test standardization, or …