Exploring Part-Time Teacher Professional Development And Best Practices On Adult Learners' Outcomes,
2017
Walden University
Exploring Part-Time Teacher Professional Development And Best Practices On Adult Learners' Outcomes, Sandra Kay Brown
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The issue of limited part-time teacher professional development and its effect on adult learners' success at an adult education center in the northeast United States was addressed in this study. At the research site, almost 50% of the teaching staff are adjuncts. Professional development opportunities have been limited, with only 1 opportunity recorded during the 2014-2015 school year. When teachers are provided appropriate and relevant support for the curriculum and student needs, they realize their own craft growth, with measureable student achievement as a result. Knowles's adult learning theory served as the conceptual framework and provided structure for exploring and …
A Case Study Of Student Success In Physical Therapist Assistant Programs: A Systems Approach,
2017
Walden University
A Case Study Of Student Success In Physical Therapist Assistant Programs: A Systems Approach, Penelope Lescher
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Graduating sufficient numbers of healthcare providers to fill the needs of an aging population in the United States is a major social concern. To address this problem physical therapist assistant (PTA) programs need to improve their graduation rates to keep up with the demand for qualified personnel. Applying Senge's theory of effective systems, 1 medium-sized community college with an average pass rate of over 90% on the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTAE) was selected to address the research question: What are the systems factors and how do they operate together to support student success in an associate degree PTA …
The Gap Between Engineering Education And Postgraduate Preparedness,
2017
Walden University
The Gap Between Engineering Education And Postgraduate Preparedness, Abdulla Farah Warsame
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Engineering students entering the workforce often struggle to meet the competency expectations of their employers. Guided by constructivist theory, the purpose of this case study was to understand engineers' experiences of engineering education, deficiencies in practical skills, and the self-learning methods they employed to advance their technical and professional competencies. Working engineers were asked about their experiences overcoming practical skill deficiencies and bridging the gap between education and practice. Interviews with 15 chemical, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers were analyzed by coding for common statements and identifying themes. Firsthand experiences of the participants captured 3 themes: overall perceptions of engineering …
College Instructors' Experiences Transitioning To Inverted Classroom Instruction,
2017
Walden University
College Instructors' Experiences Transitioning To Inverted Classroom Instruction, Glenda Maria Brown
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Lecture methods in higher education continue to be the most often used form of lesson delivery, although they seem to be less effective in promoting adult students' learning and engagement. Many higher education instructors have incorporated inverted classroom (IC) methods to increase student engagement and learning. The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to gain an understanding of college instructors' decision-making processes and experiences transitioning from lecture-based instruction to IC and the factors attributed to that transition. Knowles's andragogy theory, Kolb's experiential learning theory, and Rogers's diffusion of innovations provided the conceptual framework for the study. Eight college-level instructors …
University Educators' Instructional Choices And Their Learning Styles Within A Lesson Framework,
2017
Walden University
University Educators' Instructional Choices And Their Learning Styles Within A Lesson Framework, Lucille Mazo
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Research on learning styles often focuses on the learning style of the student; however, the learning style of the educator may affect instructional choices and student learning. Few studies have addressed the lack of knowledge that exists in universities with respect to educators' learning styles and a lesson framework (development, delivery, and debriefing). This sequential mixed methods study explored university educators' conscious, reflective instructional choices as they related to learning styles application within a lesson. Two theoretical frameworks and one conceptual framework drew on Kolb's experiential learning theory; Bloom's, Reigeluth's, and Gagné's instructional design theories and models; and Fiddler and …
Overcoming The Challenges Of Retaining Novice Teachers In A County Public School By Ernst Albert,
2017
Walden University
Overcoming The Challenges Of Retaining Novice Teachers In A County Public School By Ernst Albert, Ernst Albert
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Retaining novice teachers in a Northeast Florida county public school is an ongoing challenge. Research indicates that 14% of new teachers will leave the field within 5 years. The purpose of this case study was to investigate the major factors that contributed to this unique group of novice teachers' decisions to continue to teach at the school during their first 5 years in the field. The societal model served as the conceptual framework for this study of factors affecting teacher turnover, with emphasis on teacher and school characteristics in relation to teacher attrition. Data collected from 9 interviews and an …
The Predictive Relationship Between Naturopathic Basic Science Curriculum And Nplex I Performance,
2017
Walden University
The Predictive Relationship Between Naturopathic Basic Science Curriculum And Nplex I Performance, Tammy Marie Aragon
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Naturopathic medical schools are concerned with low first-time pass rates on the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam Part I (NPLEX I) that may impact schools' accreditation with the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). At a North American school of naturopathic medicine first-time pass rates have been a concern for 3 of the last 5 years. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether students' naturopathic basic science content area scores predict NPLEX I scores at this this school. Grounded in general systems theory, a predictive correlational research design utilizing multiple logistic regression analyses was used. Archival data were …
Nursing Student's Breast Cancer Knowledge And Breast- Self Examination Technique Confidence,
2017
Walden University
Nursing Student's Breast Cancer Knowledge And Breast- Self Examination Technique Confidence, Lydia E. Gaud
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. Several factors have been identified that interfere with women's breast cancer screening practices, including lack of knowledge and confidence in the breast self-examination (BSE) technique, and lack of information provided by health care provider. One of the reasons nurses do not teach breast cancer detection could be the little emphasis given to breast cancer examination in nursing schools. The BSE is a measure of significant value in detecting cancer of the breast. However, less than half of the women in the United States are …
Student Veterans And Their Transition To Becoming A College Student,
2017
Eastern Illinois University
Student Veterans And Their Transition To Becoming A College Student, Paul R. Higgerson
Masters Theses
This study sought to understand how student veterans view their transition to becoming a college student. A small, but increasing, amount of studies have been conducted on this topic. A qualitative approach, specifically a narrative method, was utilized to better understand how student veterans made meaning of the life events they experienced during their transition. Six student veterans in at least their second semester at their current institution were interviewed one-on-one, and their narratives are included here. This study revealed that student veterans and adult learners share many characteristics and that by viewing the student veteran as a student in …
Resilience And Thriving In Homeless College Students,
2017
Eastern Illinois University
Resilience And Thriving In Homeless College Students, Cayla C. Maurer
Masters Theses
Homeless college students face many obstacles in higher education. These students are the invisible population on campuses that are sometimes forgotten. Despite facing many challenges and barriers, these students continue to pursue a degree of higher education. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences and obstacles homeless college students face while they word toward a degree. Understanding how successful homeless college students overcome barriers and utilize resources will provide information that may change the fate of future homeless college students. A phenomenological approach was utilized to explore the qualities and characterizes that allow homeless college students to …
An Investigation Of State College To University Transfer Students' Sense Of Belonging,
2017
University of Central Florida
An Investigation Of State College To University Transfer Students' Sense Of Belonging, Claire Brady
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the sense of belonging of state college transfer students who enroll at a large research-intensive university through structured and unstructured transfer pathways using the Sense of Belonging Instrument (SBI; Hoffman, Richmond, Morrow, & Solomon, 2002). The SBI includes five subscales (Peer Support, Faculty Support, Classroom Comfort, Isolation, and Empathetic Faculty Understanding). To date, no systematic investigation has considered the construct of belonging with this population or transfer pathway. The findings from this study (n = 54) found a positive statistically significant correlation between Peer Support and Isolation (r(52) =.801, p …
An Investigation Of The Help-Seeking Behaviors Of Women Student Veterans,
2017
University of Central Florida
An Investigation Of The Help-Seeking Behaviors Of Women Student Veterans, Tanya Armstrong
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Women with military experience are attending colleges and universities across the United States. It is important to understand how they describe their experiences as students and how their help-seeking behaviors impact their success (DiRamio & Jarvis, 2011; Baechtold & Da Sawal, 2009). Using Schlossberg's Adult Transition Theory (1981, 1984) as a framework, this qualitative phenomenological study explored the help-seeking behaviors of women student veterans. In addition, the events that caused them to seek help and the resources they utilized are described. The research questions were: (1) Does the prior military experience of women student veterans influence their willingness to seek …
A Comprehensive Study Of The Learning Styles Of Student Athletes And Academic Advisors At Three Institutions In The American Athletic Conferences And The Tools And Resources Used To Ensure Academic Success.,
2017
University of Central Florida
A Comprehensive Study Of The Learning Styles Of Student Athletes And Academic Advisors At Three Institutions In The American Athletic Conferences And The Tools And Resources Used To Ensure Academic Success., Dianna Lampitt
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Collegiate athletics plays an important role in higher education. As a result of this importance student athletes also play a significant role in higher education. However, due to their athletic responsibilities they face a number of challenges while enrolled in a college or university. An academic advisor for student athletes is responsible for not only helping the student athletes with their academics, they also play an important role in ensuring the eligibility of college student athletes so they are able to compete. As a result, academic advisors for student athletes use a number of tools and resources that help ensure …
Examining The Experiences Of Latino/A Parents Of First-Generation College Students Pursuing A Doctoral Degree,
2017
University of Central Florida
Examining The Experiences Of Latino/A Parents Of First-Generation College Students Pursuing A Doctoral Degree, Natalia Toro
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Research points to Latino/a parents as an important source of motivation and support for high achieving Latino/a students who are the first in their families to go to college (Arellano & Padilla, 2006; Gandara, 1982; 1994; Hurtado & Sinha, 2006; Zalaquett, 2005); however, very little is known about their experience as they parent children whose educational paths are so different from their own. Cultural values such as collectivism and familism play a unique role in the level of connection between these parents and their children (Suarez-Orozco & Suarez-Orozco, 1995), creating dynamics that merit exploration. This dissertation qualitatively examines how seven …
Exploring The Experiences Contributing To The Success Of High-Achieving Black Female Undergraduate Students At A Predominantly White Institution,
2017
University of Central Florida
Exploring The Experiences Contributing To The Success Of High-Achieving Black Female Undergraduate Students At A Predominantly White Institution, Whitney Watkins
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Much of the literature regarding Black students at predominantly White institutions (PWI) focuses on these students' academic difficulty, while there is far less attention paid to the performance of higher achieving Black students (Fries-Britt, 1998; Fries-Britt & Griffin, 2007). Therefore, this study explored the lived experiences of high-achieving Black female students, focusing particularly on the experiences which contribute to their success at a PWI. The qualitative phenomenological research design was used to highlight emergent themes revealed during the study. Eight purposely selected students participated in one-on-one semi structured interviews and a Sister Circle group process. The participants' stories were highlighted …
Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2016-2017,
2017
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2016-2017, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity
Internal Funding Newsletters
Each year, University of Nebraska at Omaha faculty and students conduct globally relevant research and creative activity that reflects the metropolitan mission of the university. The Office of Research and Creative Activity’s internal funding programs support those scholarly endeavors through the Fund for Undergraduate Scholarly Experiences (FUSE), Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA), the University Committee on Research and Creative Activity (UCRCA), and the Award for Distinguished Research and Creative Activity (ADROCA).
Attracting, Recruiting, And Retaining Qualified Faculty At Community Colleges In Sierra Leone,
2017
Walden University
Attracting, Recruiting, And Retaining Qualified Faculty At Community Colleges In Sierra Leone, Gloria Betts
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This case study was designed to explore policies that were in place to attract, recruit, and retain qualified faculty for 4 community colleges in Sierra Leone. The research was necessitated by the apparent inability of Sierra Leone educators to train and retain faculty possessing the required academic credentials. The research questions were designed to address the policies and strategies used to attract and recruit faculty, better prepare faculty, improve the quality of classroom instruction, and retain qualified faculty at community colleges. The literature review yielded results about the benefits of community colleges in developing countries, thus reinforcing the need for …
Program Evaluation Of A Competency-Based Online Model In Higher Education,
2017
Walden University
Program Evaluation Of A Competency-Based Online Model In Higher Education, Karen Digiacomo
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In order to serve its nontraditional students, a university piloted a competency-based program as alternative method for its students to earn college credit. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to conduct a summative program evaluation to determine if the program was successful in order to make decisions about program revision and expansion. The conceptual framework for the study was grounded in Knowles's adult learning theory and Bandura's social learning theory as they relate to adult learners being self-directed and self-motivated to complete their educational goals. The pilot program involved 60 students taking 12 different courses over 3 semesters. Quantitative …
Faculty Self-Efficacy Instructing In A Hybrid Learning Environment At A Career College,
2017
Walden University
Faculty Self-Efficacy Instructing In A Hybrid Learning Environment At A Career College, Donna Gosselin Gosselin
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Since the inception of the hybrid instruction model at a career college in the western United States, there has not been an exploration of faculty members' understanding of hybrid instruction. Therefore, campus administrators do not have a clear understanding of the faculty perception of teaching in a hybrid learning environment. Using Bandura's social cognitive theory, this qualitative narrative inquiry study was conducted to explore faculty self-efficacy instructing in a hybrid learning environment at the career college. A purposeful sampling method was used to select 9 faculty who have taught less than 2 hybrid learning courses and attended the college professional …
Faculty Perceptions Of Instructional Strategies That Foster Student Engagement In Online Courses,
2017
Walden University
Faculty Perceptions Of Instructional Strategies That Foster Student Engagement In Online Courses, Sharon M. Hope
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Developing online instructional strategies for increasing student engagement and success is significant locally and nationally due to growth in the online field, advances in technology, and the need for colleges to maximize student success. This study stemmed from the desire of administrators at an upstate New York private college to discover additional ways to design and deliver effective online instruction. The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to discover faculty perceptions of and experiences with instructional strategies that they used to foster student engagement in online learning. Kearsley and Shneiderman's engagement theory formed the study's conceptual framework. Ten …
