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International School Elementary Educators' Transition To A Revised Mathematics Curriculum: A Case Study, Christine H. Saba Nov 2021

International School Elementary Educators' Transition To A Revised Mathematics Curriculum: A Case Study, Christine H. Saba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single instrumental case study was to research how teachers at an organization of international schools transitioned to using a revised mathematics curriculum to understand how to replicate or improve the process for success in the implementation phase in the future. The guiding theories for this research were Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory, as the aim of the study was to research teachers in a time of transition, and Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning theory, as teachers worked through the cycle of experiencing, reflecting, thinking, and acting. Data was collected through interviews, focus groups, and journaling. The site was …


The Relationship Among Learning Styles, Achievement, And Retention In Bible College Freshmen: A Correlational Study, Frances Ann Stetler Nov 2021

The Relationship Among Learning Styles, Achievement, And Retention In Bible College Freshmen: A Correlational Study, Frances Ann Stetler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This predictive correlational study used a multiple regression to examine whether learning style and achievement, or grade point average (GPA), can predict retention for first-year, traditional Bible college freshmen. Four small Bible colleges were the sites for the research: one in Florida, two in Ohio (Northern Ohio and Southwestern Ohio), and one in Pennsylvania. The first predictor variable, learning style, was generally defined as the preferred method for a student to process and learn information. The second predictor variable, achievement, was generally defined as the end-of-semester GPA. The criterion variable, retention, was generally defined as a participant’s attendance in the …


Transitioning From Clinical Practitioner To Educator Within The Field Of Dental Hygiene: A Phenomenological Study, Kay Porter Sep 2021

Transitioning From Clinical Practitioner To Educator Within The Field Of Dental Hygiene: A Phenomenological Study, Kay Porter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study describes the lived experiences of clinical dental hygienists transitioning from clinical practitioners to dental hygiene educators. The theory guiding this study is Schlossberg’s (1981, 2011) transition theory as it relates to career transition. The focus of this study was based upon the central research question, “How do clinical dental hygienists describe their transition into dental hygiene education?” Educators reflected on the essence of their transition, including preparational methods, pedagogical practices, orientation, mentoring programs utilized during their transition, and staff development since becoming dental hygiene educators. This study took place in the School of Health Sciences …


The Impact Of Stem Education On Elementary School Math And Science Achievement, Jessica Leigh Bentley Jul 2021

The Impact Of Stem Education On Elementary School Math And Science Achievement, Jessica Leigh Bentley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following is a dissertation looking to address the impact of STEM-focused education on fifth-grade standardized test scores in mathematics and science. STEM education has become such an integral part of American education in recent years, and its importance continues to extend beyond the research available. The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine the effects of a STEM-focused education on the standardized test scores of students in fifth grade. Convenience sampling was employed, with matching, to collect data from four classes of fifth grade students, totaling 226 students, from a rural school district. The 2019 Virginia Standards of …


Caucasian Teachers' And African American Students' Perceptions Of Factors That Motivate Low-Socioeconomic African American Students To Read, Brittany Keys Anderson Jun 2021

Caucasian Teachers' And African American Students' Perceptions Of Factors That Motivate Low-Socioeconomic African American Students To Read, Brittany Keys Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore Caucasian teachers’ and African American students’ perceptions of factors that motivate low-socioeconomic African American students to read within the southern region of West Virginia. The theories guiding this study were the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1980) and the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991). This study details the literature on the achievement gap in reading between African American students and students of other races, as well as teachers’ and students’ perceptions of instructional and motivational practices that influence reading development. African American students from lower economic backgrounds are being left …


The Effects Of A Mindfulness Curriculum On Mathematics Word Problem Performance In 3rd And 4th Grade Students, Adrianne S. Blackwelder Jun 2021

The Effects Of A Mindfulness Curriculum On Mathematics Word Problem Performance In 3rd And 4th Grade Students, Adrianne S. Blackwelder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if a 15-week mindfulness curriculum, MindUP, impacted participants’ performance on a standardized mathematics word problem measure. The study was conducted in two elementary schools in a large public school district in North Carolina during the 2020-2021 school year. Participants included 74 third- and fourth-grade students who received a supplemental mindfulness curriculum and 77 students who received only business as usual instruction (N = 151). The research question and null hypothesis were tested using a quantitative, quasi-experimental, pretest posttest, nonequivalent, control group design. The TOMA-3 Word Problems subtest was administered by school personnel …


Continuous Enrollment Experiences Of Nontraditional Career And Technical Education Students At The Community College, Natunya Johnson Apr 2021

Continuous Enrollment Experiences Of Nontraditional Career And Technical Education Students At The Community College, Natunya Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study described the continuous enrollment experiences of nontraditional career and technical education (CTE) students at the community college. The focus was on understanding the collegiate experience to decrease students' chances of dropping out of college and contribute to the retention scholarship in higher education. The theory guiding this study was Bean and Metzner’s (1985) conceptual model of nontraditional undergraduate student attrition. It explains how background, academic, environmental, psychological outcomes, and social integration affect student retention. The design of this study was grounded in transcendental phenomenological research that explored the continuous enrollment phenomenon from the personal lived experiences …


Incorporating Scripts With Cooperative Learning To Promote Critical Thinking Skills In Secondary Science, Jaime L. Wetherby Apr 2021

Incorporating Scripts With Cooperative Learning To Promote Critical Thinking Skills In Secondary Science, Jaime L. Wetherby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A drastic growth of scientific and technological advancements in the 21st century have allowed for new jobs with innovative processes that require individuals who possess the ability to think deductively, reason through problems, and obtain information that can support the potential solutions to these problems. Many of the technological advancements have reduced the necessity to only memorize rote facts; rather, much of this information can be found through a quick internet search. What is needed, therefore, is education which requires students to think deeper than before – to examine new information through a more critical lens. The purpose of this …


A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Efficacy In Career And Technical Education Coaching And Mentoring Programs, Sharon Louise Largent-Necessary Apr 2021

A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Efficacy In Career And Technical Education Coaching And Mentoring Programs, Sharon Louise Largent-Necessary

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

School districts are tasked with improving teacher performance in response to an overwhelming need for students who are both college and career-ready (Brand, Valent, & Browning, 2013). A lack of quality professional development programs specifically designed for Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers that promote the development of teacher efficacy and instructional skills is a significant concern. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences with self-efficacy of CTE teachers who have participated in the Vision of Excellent Instruction in Career and Technical Education Coaching and Mentoring Program in Northeast Tennessee. This research study utilized …


An Applied Research Study On Improving Parental Involvement At A School In Southeastern North Carolina, Jacqueline Susan Hahn Mar 2021

An Applied Research Study On Improving Parental Involvement At A School In Southeastern North Carolina, Jacqueline Susan Hahn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied research study was to solve the problem of low parental involvement for school stakeholders at a school in southeastern North Carolina and to formulate a solution to address the problem. The central research question for this study was “How can the problem of low parental involvement be improved at a school located in southeastern North Carolina?” The theoretical framework for this study was comprised of Piaget’s cognitive development theory and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. Accordingly, the philosophical assumption that guided this research study was an ontological assumption through the interpretive framework of social constructivism. This study …


Improving Students' K-Prep Reading Scores By Investigating The Reading Culture At Harrison Independent School, Rebecca Anne Grace Mar 2021

Improving Students' K-Prep Reading Scores By Investigating The Reading Culture At Harrison Independent School, Rebecca Anne Grace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study is to examine the problem of low reading performance among Kentucky middle school students by exploring the reading culture of Harrison Independent School with the aim of identifying positive practices that can be endorsed as viable solutions to the problem. The researcher reviews the existing research to define the components of a positive reading culture and provide evidence of the link between a school’s reading culture and the reading performance of its students. The ensuing study examines teachers’ perceptions of their roles in promoting independent reading, strategies used by ELA teachers to improve students’ …