Education Commons^™

The Role Of Leaders In Implementing Effective Leadership Strategies Towards The Educational Barriers Of Us-Based Refugee Students: A Qualitative Case Study Of Congolese Refugee Students, Faustin Busane

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This qualitative research study explored the experiences of three families of refugee school students, two school officials (a Superintendent and a Principal), three teachers, and one humanitarian agent all living in a Southeastern U.S. city. The results of the study revealed that the language barrier is the main academic challenge that refugee students encounter when they enroll in U.S. schools. The study also found that educators conceptualize their responsibilities toward refugee children by emphasizing the importance of high-quality teaching, and establishing through establishing strong relationships between parents, school officials, and exercising patience in the process. This study poses important implications …

Garrott, June Rose, B. 1932 (Sc 3670), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3670. Letters and papers of June Rose Garrott, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Includes family information; letters from Japan, where she taught English; Christmas letters; an account of a trip to China; and a list of her writing and scholarly activities.

Preston, John Bowker, 1851-1925 (Sc 3657), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3657. Reward of Merit for correctness in spelling, awarded to John B. Preston by his teacher. The reverse is inscribed June 14, 1864.

Differentiation For Gifted And Talented Elementary Students: What Teachers Know And Implement, Karyn Michelle Andrews

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this research was to measure the ways elementary school teachers are differentiating instruction for their gifted and talented students and to gauge their awareness of the need for implementing appropriate differentiation strategies they use in their classrooms. The study surveyed elementary teachers currently teaching in one large school district in Kentucky. Teachers responded to 38 survey items, indicating how often they use specific practices with their gifted students versus with their average-achieving students.

The results indicated that there is much work to be done to increase teacher awareness of the importance of differentiated instruction for gifted and …

Knowledge Is Power: A Study Of Juvenile Justice Facilities And Educational Programs, Molly Anne Latham

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Juvenile Justice System is established to maintain public safety, as well as rehabilitate youth that have involved themselves in criminal activity. The overall goal is to create a better future for these individuals and transform them into law-abiding citizens for the good of society. In order to understand where the system has failed in doing this, we must first examine what opportunities and programs these individuals have to help them succeed. The current study will employ a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey through which the United States Bureau of the Census (1995) collected data on the characteristic of …

Simplification Of Robotics Through Autonomous Navigation, Grant Turner

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

With self-driving vehicles, college campus food delivery, or even automated home vacuuming systems, robotics is undoubtedly becoming more prevalent in everyday society and it can be expected to continue with time. While many people are owners, users, or even just spectators of theses robotic products or services, there seems to be a negative perception of robotics that poses an intimidation factor regarding the attempt to understand the ideas driving technology. This perception tends to view robotics as machines that require rich education to understand the complexity and interworkings of, thus attempts understand the field are neglected.

To combat this line …

Regression Analysis: Graduation Rate In Kentucky Public High Schools, Rebecca Price

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Kentucky’s Public High School graduation rates vary widely across the rural and urban regions in the state. In addition to their graduation rates, each of these schools have their own unique demographics, funding, teacher-student ratio, etc. that define said school’s identity. This research aims to analyze the aforementioned variables, as well as other variables listed on each school state report card, in order to create a model to predict any school’s graduation rate.

In order to create this model, data was taken on all public high schools in Kentucky from the Kentucky Department of Education’s School Report Card. Data were …

Mindfulness And Social Emotional Learning: The Lived Experience Of Students Learning English As A Second Language, Lara Catherine Donnelly

Dissertations

In a phenomenological case study, the author sought to gain an awareness of the lived experiences of 4th and 5th grade ESL students, their parents, and their teachers who participated in the MindUp mindfulness curriculum. The author was interested in the relationship between the mindfulness curriculum and SEL based on the perspective of all three participant groups. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 3 students, at least one parent of each of those three students, and the two classroom teachers who conducted the MindUp lessons. Five main themes developed from coding of the raw data: (1) positive impact on students; (2) …

Design Thinking As A Common Language Between Higher Education And Employers, Johnna Denning-Smith

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores student skill preparedness for the work force through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with current college students, faculty members, and employers. Responses from study participants were transcribed, coded, and thematically organized into the following four categories of skills that employers seek in recent college graduates: critical thinking skills, resiliency, workplace skills, and discipline specific skills. The findings include participant perceptions of the importance of these skills and whether higher education effectively prepares recent graduates for the workforce. As part of this discussion, design thinking is presented as a bridge between these groups and as a solution …

Reasons For The Theory-Practice Gap In Education Administration, Gary Houchens, Ysuf Badavan, Nuray Kisa

Educational Administration, Leadership, and Research Faculty Publications

The theory-practice gap can be defined as "a failure to apply or to relate the concepts, ideas and theories to professional conditions". The aim of this research was to explore the reasons for the theory-practice gap in the field of educational administration. Participants included 380 school administrators working in primary, secondary and high schools and 57 researchers working in different higher education institutions in Ankara. The views are collected through the questionnaire with two different forms, namely Reasons of Theory-Practice Gap in the Field of Educational Administration developed by the researchers. Data were interpreted by percentages, frequency distributions and chi-square …

Floyd Collection (Mss 689), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 689. Field books, 1851-1929, containing Warren County, Kentucky surveying notes recorded by John B. Floyd as well as some Warren County land records related to the Floyd family. Educational material from Jesse A. Floyd, Jr. relating to his teaching career in Warren County. A travel journal kept by Hubert and Alleyne Robinson during their trip to the western United States, Canada, and Mexico.

American Association Of University Women - Danville, Kentucky (Mss 681), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid for Manuscripts Collection 687. Records of the Danville branch of the American Association of University Women, including minutes, president’s reports, newsletters, historical information, programming materials and other miscellaneous items. Also includes more limited material about the state and regional divisions of the AAUW.

Teachers And Teaching (Sc 3477), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3477. Letter, postmarked 31 October 1933, from "S. I." to her friend "Annie Laurie." Both women have connections to Bowling Green, Kentucky, but "S.I." is currently teaching in a one-room schoolhouse at a location she references as Sassafras Bushes." She laments her routine existence, the trials of teaching 28 students with dispositions "from bland to ferocious" and "intelligence from imbecility to genius," and their "brilliant answers" on a recent test. She refers to some of her and Annie's mutual friends and expresses her intention to attend "Western" …

Perceived Teaching Style And Academic Growth In An International School Setting, Jamie Elizabeth Martin

Dissertations

The presence of international schools has grown significantly around the world to accommodate a growing need for academic instruction that differs from that provided in local schools and to meet the rapid demands of globalization. As demands for international schools increase, demands for student performance are also increasing.

This quantitative correlational study seeks to determine if correlations exist between teaching style and student academic growth in mathematics within an international school setting. The study also determines if a dominant teaching style exists and if correlations between teacher grade level and teaching style can be made among international teachers who teach …

Schools - Simpson County, Kentucky (Sc 3423), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3423. Report of a joint meeting to discuss proposals to merge the Independent School District of Franklin, Kentucky and the Simpson County (Kentucky) School District. Matters considered include a joint budget, tax rate, facilities, and costs per pupil. Includes data on high school enrollment for 1939-1940. The report concludes with a decision to reject the merger.

Bertram, Kay (Fa 1238), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1238. Student paper titled “Taylor County’s One Room Schools” in which Kay Bertram details the history, the construction, and the eventual consolidation of public schools in the county. Bertram describes how funds were raised in order to build the schoolhouses, teachers’ annual incomes, and a “typical day” in the life of a student. The paper also contains color photographs of each one-room school and a brief description of the location.

Greenwell, Doris (Fa 1237), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1237. Student paper titled “The One-Room Schoolhouse in America’s Past” in which Doris Greenwell details the significance of two schoolhouses in New Haven, Kentucky. Greenwell gathered information from two teachers, both of whom taught in one-room schools for an extended period of time. The author describes each schoolhouse as well as common characteristics of how the schools operated on a daily basis. The paper includes pictures of the Hagan School and the former New Haven School.

Mckinley, Sue (Fa 1236), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1236. Student paper titled “The Early Schools of Taylor County” in which Sue McKinley charts the rise and fall of traditional one-room school houses throughout Taylor County, Kentucky. McKinley examines the lasting influence the schoolhouses had on the community, as well as factors that contributed to the success of educational programs throughout the county. The author also describes the structure of a typical school day, the consolidation of rural schools and districts, and the importance of properly trained teachers. The paper includes black and white photographs of multiple one-room schoolhouses with a brief …

Currey, Cathy (Fa 1210), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1210. Student folk studies project titled “The History of African-American Education in Christian County, [Kentucky].” Narrative history which includes historical and architectural information, photographs, and other documentation regarding African American schools in Christian County, Kentucky.

The Role Of Leadership In School Innovation: A Case Study, Savannah Adkins Denning

Dissertations

Expansive research on leadership, particularly school leadership, has suggested leaders have an indirect impact on student outcomes, as leaders build a school’s academic capacity, which elevates teaching and learning (Hallinger, 2010). Though there is significant empirical research regarding school leadership, there is a lack of research investigating the intersection of leadership and innovation. In terms of innovation, “personalized learning,” has become an emerging topic among education researchers, as scholars seek to understand the potential impact personalized learning strategies have on student outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to explore how leadership interacts with innovation. This study specifically explored the …

School Psychologists And Suicide Risk Assessment: Role Perception And Competency, Kristen Herner Erps

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

As the second leading cause of death for adolescents, suicide has become one of the biggest concerns for school personnel. School psychologists are often expected to be the most competent and able to lead in suicide prevention efforts, however, studies have shown a lack of preparedness in crisis intervention and, more specifically, suicide risk assessment. This study surveyed practicing school psychologists (N = 92) to explore their perception of both their role and competency in suicide risk assessment. While school psychologists reported having varying roles within their district related to suicide risk assessment, the majority endorsed having a role at …

Chinese Higher Educator Perceptions Toward Leadership Effectiveness In Regard To Gender, Kanglei Meng, John Baker

International Journal of Leadership and Change

This article discusses Chinese educator perceptions of effective leadership behaviors in order to determine how these teachers define effectiveness and whether a correlation exists between their perception and leaders’ gender. Factors include conscious and unconscious gender bias, Chinese culture, historical background, and identity. As a male-dominated country, China has been deeply influenced by Confucianism; hence, limited attention has been on female leadership. The article identifies and reviews three Women’s Revolutions in China and their effects in the past century in order to predict the status of female leadership. The researcher used the Chinese version of the LPI survey and conducted …

Bowling Green, Kentucky - City Schools - Relating To (Sc 3188), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3188. Abstract of a federally funded program proposal submitted by Bowling Green (Kentucky) City Schools for the year 1971 titled “Increasing teacher effectiveness in dealing with student behavior.” The program aimed to train teachers at Bowling Green Junior and Senior High Schools in techniques for better understanding the problems of African-American and disadvantaged students and to aid students in developing more positive behavior.

Williams, Carolyn (Fa 1054), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1054. Student folk studies project titled “Rural Schools in Cumberland County, Kentucky” which includes survey sheets with brief descriptions of life and beliefs surrounding rural schools in Cumberland County, Kentucky. A second set of projects with survey sheets may include riddles, proverbs, beliefs, songs, and motif index numbers.

Culture Shock: Understanding World Cultures Through Arts Integration, Shelby Wooldridge

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Teachers often have difficulty engaging students in arts and humanities classes. To aid in this struggle, a series of lesson plans applicable for kindergarten through twelfth grade students in music and arts and humanities classes will be presented. These lesson plans will teach students about world cultures, such as West African, Appalachian, and Latin America, through arts integration. In order to reach this goal, there will be a component on student development in order to match the units with students’ developmental levels. From there, the lesson plans will be developed to incorporate all of the art forms, with an emphasis …

Invisible Children: The Effectiveness Of Non-Governmental Organizations (Ngos) In Primary Education In Central America, Megan Skaggs

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

what extent are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) an effective tool in primary educational development in Central America? To address this concern, this project addressed the results of several months of research in Nicaragua, Guatemala, and at the U.S. NGO headquarters, where interviews with educators, NGO workers, and citizens were conducted regarding the role of NGOs in addressing educational concerns effectively. Interviewees included: Pueblo a Pueblo, Serving Orphans Worldwide, U.S. Agency for International Development, Let Girl’s Learn Program, and varied individuals connected with education or non-profit work in that region. My research analyzed the historical and social structures of Nicaragua and Guatemala, …

Wku International Student Teaching Program: Professional, Cultural, And Character Impacts On In-Service And Pre-Service Teachers, Meghan F. Althauser

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This project focuses on researching the effects of participation in WKU’s International Student Teaching Program on in-service and pre-service teachers. The program’s effect on teachers’ professional decisions made in the classroom and attitudes toward diversity in the classroom were the focus of this research. A mixed method approach of in-service teacher questionnaires and interviews, pre-service teachers interviews, and analysis of blogs/journals from in-service and pre-service teachers while they were abroad was used in this project. The results of the project have illustrated the benefits, as well as the professional, cultural, and character developments of participating in the WKU International Student …

Reach To Teach, April R. Cowles

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Multiple intelligences theory of Howard Gardner are used as a foundation of research in order to explain how educating students of all learning styles should include interdisciplinary methods and creative applications. Primary and secondary research of Howard Gardner’s theory and interdisciplinary methods, specifically the Integration Model and Broad Model approaches were completed. Two different lesson plans demonstrating how to teach students integrating two disciplines while including creativity were generated as examples of thesis. Qualitative research on creativity and motivation identified connection between the two and why interdisciplinary methods enable more possibilities of adding creativity to lessons taught. Advantages include reaching …

Toward A More Perfect Definition Of Learning: Using Biomarkers To Predict And Assess Learning Performance, Samuel J. Hunt

Dissertations

This study seeks to establish groundwork for a new definition of learning based on neurogenesis capable of guiding future educational policy and practice. The purpose of the research was to: (1) produce separate increases in neurogenesis and intelligence, (2) measure the changes in neurogenesis using protein biomarkers, and (3) correlate increases in levels of the protein biomarkers with increases in intelligence. The study employed a randomized pretest-posttest, control/comparison group research design. Thirty-eight fourth- and fifth-grade students with diverse academic needs were divided into three experimental groups: chess, exercise, and combined; with an additional control group. Pre-post measures included intelligence (RSPM) …

What Leadership Development Institutes Can Never Teach College Presidents About Leadership, Livingston Alexander

International Journal of Leadership and Change

While most new presidents of colleges and universities advance to the presidency through a traditional academic pathway, an increasing number of new presidents are now coming from positions outside of higher education. Yet, regardless of how they come to the position, many new presidents are unprepared for the complex challenges they will encounter when they take on their new assignments. A large number assume that participation in professional development seminars, often promoted as institutes for new presidents, will provide the essential algorithm for a successful presidency. Operating on such an assumption may well turn out to be a fatal mistake. …