Soft Skills Perceived By Students And Employers As Relevant Employability Skills,
2015
Walden University
Soft Skills Perceived By Students And Employers As Relevant Employability Skills, Ann-Marie Claudia Williams
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Local employers believe the lack of prerequisite soft skills is inhibiting the graduates from a local community college from securing employment. The rationale of this phenomenological study was to investigate the perceptions of students and employers related to the soft skills needed to be successful in future employment. The theoretical framework was based on Mezirow's transformational and Daloz's mentorship theories. Individual face-to-face, semistructured interviews were used to gather data from 12 business and computer students and 7 employers (N=19) who were selected using purposeful random sampling. The typewritten transcripts of participants' responses were imported in MAXQDA 11, then were open …
The Effect Of Researched-Based Practices On Reading Achievement Of Title Î? Students,
2015
Walden University
The Effect Of Researched-Based Practices On Reading Achievement Of Title Î? Students, Oliver Lorenza Phipps
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Title Î? schools are supported to improve student reading achievement and to bridge the achievement gap between low-income students and other students. The researched-based practices of professional learning communities, coteaching classrooms, and the RtI 3-tiered model were added to a Title Î? school to improve students' reading achievement; however, the effects of these research-based practices on students' reading achievement were unclear. The purpose of this quantitative causal comparative study was to examine the impact of these research-based practices on reading scores of students. Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0) reading achievement scores were compared between students (n = 98) in …
Classroom Management Strategies As A Cornerstone Of Elementary Teachers' Self-Efficacy,
2015
Walden University
Classroom Management Strategies As A Cornerstone Of Elementary Teachers' Self-Efficacy, Niamh Kathleen Conner
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In the local school district under study, there has been a lack of professional development (PD) in classroom management, and challenging student behaviors in the classroom are increasing, eroding teachers' self-efficacy. The purpose of this correlational study, guided by a constructivist theoretical framework, was to examine the relationship between teachers' self-efficacy in the classroom when addressing challenging student behaviors and the amount of PD that the teachers have had in classroom management. The convenience sample comprised 99 teachers from 8 elementary schools; this total was based upon a response rate of 45%. The instrument, the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale …
Effects Of Single-Gender And Coeducational Learning Environments On Middle School Mathematics Achievement,
2015
Walden University
Effects Of Single-Gender And Coeducational Learning Environments On Middle School Mathematics Achievement, Tasha Graves Henderson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
As a result of the increased number of schools failing to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP), school districts are searching for innovative ways to raise student achievement and meet the rigorous performance standards set by state governments. Using the theoretical framework provided by brain research and the theory of multiple intelligences, the purpose of this quantitative study was to compare 2 middle school classroom structures for differences in mathematics achievement among students. The study examined whether a significant difference existed in mathematics achievement scores on the state-mandated mathematics test for 2 groups (single gender classes versus coeducational classes) in 6 …
A Program Evaluation Of A Remediation Program For Underprepared College Students,
2015
Walden University
A Program Evaluation Of A Remediation Program For Underprepared College Students, Jane Neuenschwander
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This participant-oriented program evaluation study was prompted by the problem that a cohort remediation program for underprepared freshmen at a small, private university in Appalachia was implemented for 1 year and dropped without any review of the program's impact on retention. The purpose of this project study was to conduct a summative program evaluation that recorded perceptions from the cohort program's participants and to compare their retention rates with underprepared students' retention rates from the subsequent year's individualized remediation. The study was guided by Tinto's retention theory, which posits that academic and social integration is critical to retention. A Chi-square …
An Outcome Evaluation Of An Evidenced-Based Leadership Framework On Nursing Retention In A Tertiary Medical Center,
2015
Walden University
An Outcome Evaluation Of An Evidenced-Based Leadership Framework On Nursing Retention In A Tertiary Medical Center, Robbie Gail Robbie
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
An evidence-based leadership (EBL) framework is an intervention designed to facilitate organizational changes such as the reduction of nursing turnover and the improvement of nursing job enjoyment. This project provides an overview of the effect of nursing turnover on an organization, presents the components of the EBL framework, and provides an evaluation of the influence of EBL on nursing turnover and job enjoyment. The EBL framework provided a method for reducing variance in leadership skill and behavior by outlining specific methods necessary to reduce inconsistency. The project objective was to determine if the implementation of an EBL framework for 820 …
Challenges African American Students Face When Adjusting To Predominantly White Institutions,
2015
Walden University
Challenges African American Students Face When Adjusting To Predominantly White Institutions, Argyle Jeanine Smallwood
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The purpose of this case study was to explore the challenges African American students face when adjusting to predominantly White institutions and to review these institutions' diversity policies to determine whether the institutions are aligned with African American students' needs. The study was based on critical race theory to examine whether and how racial microaggressions influence racial tension at the predominantly White institutions selected for this study. The research questions were used to gauge (a) the level of comfort among African American students attending one of these predominantly White institutions, (b) their overall satisfaction with their decisions to attend the …
Teaching Culture In Foreign Language Classrooms Of International Baccalaureate,
2015
Walden University
Teaching Culture In Foreign Language Classrooms Of International Baccalaureate, Marlene Cabrera Culpepper
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
There is an increasing number of International Baccalaureate programs in the United States that require instruction in an additional language to prepare culturally responsive global citizens, but there is little research on how the teaching of culture is addressed in elementary additional language programs. This study was guided by Vygotsky's and Dewey's social constructivism and investigated how the teaching of culture is integrated in additional foreign language classrooms in the State of Georgia's International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programs (IB PYP). It also investigated how personal, professional, or organizational factors such as values, beliefs, teacher training, or time constraints impact the …
Partial Inclusion Effects On Students With Special Needs In English,
2015
Walden University
Partial Inclusion Effects On Students With Special Needs In English, Jayna Michelle Jensen
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
A special education population failed to meet the state target in English. This occurrence drove educational leaders to review their program options to address the problem. Their decision to offer a partial inclusion English program setting is important because it supports using data to provide students a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The purpose of this study was to examine if the new setting was supported by an increase in student academic achievement scores. The theoretical framework included the social relationship model by Reindal and Gürgür and Uzuner's successful inclusion practices theory. The guiding …
Challenges Of A Novice Nurse Educator's Transition From Practice To Classroom,
2015
Walden University
Challenges Of A Novice Nurse Educator's Transition From Practice To Classroom, Tori Brown
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This project study addressed the lack of formal preparation encountered by novice nurse educators within a nursing program located in the southeastern region of North Carolina. This problem is significant at both the local and national levels because expert clinicians are needed to fill nurse educator vacancies that have led to qualified students being denied admission to nursing programs. A qualitative case study research design was employed to explore the perceptions of novice nurse educators in one nursing program transitioning from clinical nursing practice to the nurse educator role. The theoretical framework to guide this study was Benner's novice to …
Principal Leadership Behaviors And Teacher Efficacy,
2015
Walden University
Principal Leadership Behaviors And Teacher Efficacy, Patricia Ellen Gallante
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The attrition rate of teachers in an urban/suburban school district in a northeastern state caused schools to fail to attain annual yearly progress. To reverse this problem, administrators must understand the importance of their leadership and teacher efficacy and the need to nurture teachers to increase student performance. The purpose of this sequential mixed-methods study was to determine whether a relationship existed between leadership and efficacy. Total-population sampling was used to obtain 19 elementary and middle teachers who completed two surveys to examine the relationship between principals' behaviors (human relations, trust/decision making, instructional leadership, control, and conflict) and teacher efficacy …
Nurse Educators' Perspectives Of Supplemental Computer-Assisted Formative Assessment In An Associate Degree Nursing Program,
2015
Walden University
Nurse Educators' Perspectives Of Supplemental Computer-Assisted Formative Assessment In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Jennifer Buehler Sugg
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Despite the implementation of various strategies to improve outcomes, the pass rates for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for an associate degree nursing (ADN) program continue to decrease. This study examined the use of a supplemental computer-assisted formative assessment (SCAFA) as a strategy for NCLEX-RN success. A qualitative case study with a theoretical framework based on constructivism was designed to investigate nurse educators' perspectives of this particular strategy for successful outcomes. To explore these perspectives, data were collected from face-to-face interviews with nurse educators and from program documents from 1 ADN program in the southeastern United …
Relationship Between Whole-Person Learning And Growth Mindset In First-Generation Learners,
2015
Walden University
Relationship Between Whole-Person Learning And Growth Mindset In First-Generation Learners, Marian Willeke
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Growth mindset is an important component for a journey towards self-actualization. It is unknown if whole-person learning can assist development of that growth mindset for first-generation learners. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine if exposure to whole-person learning positively influences a growth mindset by exploring the relationship between whole-person learning and a growth mindset in first-generation learners. Whole-person learning was presented as a vehicle for developing that growth mindset towards self-actualization. Dweck's Mindset Survey scores were collected from first-generation learners who participated in orientation courses either with or without whole-person learning in 4 institutions (n = 177) …
Measuring Dimensions Of Professional Learning Communities To Predict Secondary School Climate,
2015
Walden University
Measuring Dimensions Of Professional Learning Communities To Predict Secondary School Climate, Patrick A. Ward
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Schools are experiencing many reform initiatives, yet creating positive school climates as a way to promote increased student achievement has been omitted from the policy discussion. Whether the professional learning community (PLC) construct can predict school climate is a gap in the current literature. Using change theory and distributed leadership as a framework, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationships between the dimensions of a PLC (shared values and vision, intentional learning and application, supportive and shared leadership, supportive conditions and shared personal practice) and school climate variables (academic emphasis, initiating structure, consideration and morale). Four …
The Link Between Leadership And Reduced Dropout Rates,
2015
Walden University
The Link Between Leadership And Reduced Dropout Rates, Kathy Evans-Brown
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Urban high schools that predominantly service at-risk students have not been faring well, with disproportionate numbers of minority children and poor White children are dropping out. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the relationship between leaders' successes and the number of reduced dropout initiatives in 2 urban schools. This research was guided by empirical literature that included a review of various successful leadership practices. Case study interviews were conducted with 2 principals and 3 directors and were analyzed for common themes. Quantitative survey data were collected from a purposeful sample of 195 students and 7 administrative …
A Phenomenological Study Of High School Teachers' Motivation As Related To Teacher Performance Management,
2015
Walden University
A Phenomenological Study Of High School Teachers' Motivation As Related To Teacher Performance Management, Richard Hugh Wildman
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Teacher motivation factors prominently in the sustainable development of educational institutions, and relate to self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and retention. Prior motivational research in education has addressed factors relating to teacher motivation, but there is a dearth of research into the impact of performance management on motivation. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of 5 teachers in relation to the performance management process in the selected school. The project study was guided by Bandura's social cognitive theory, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory. In-depth, semistructured interviews were used to extract the essence of the lived experiences as expressed …
The Effects Of Differentiated Instruction On The Achievement Scores Of Struggling Fourth Grade Readers,
2015
Walden University
The Effects Of Differentiated Instruction On The Achievement Scores Of Struggling Fourth Grade Readers, Carol Elaine Boges
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Identifying an effective instructional strategy to remediate struggling readers is a goal for educators. Differentiated instruction (DI) has received much attention as a possible strategy to rectify literacy problems, but quantitative research on its effectiveness is limited. This quantitative study used a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent, pretest-posttest design to determine if DI provided a significant difference in reading comprehension scores between struggling readers instructed with DI strategies and students instructed with whole group strategies. Philosophies grounded in cognitive constructivism constituted the theoretical framework for this study which examined the archival STAR reading assessment pre- and posttest instructional reading level scores of 120 …
Teachers' Experiences Concerning The Rise In Student Aggression,
2015
Walden University
Teachers' Experiences Concerning The Rise In Student Aggression, Doris Massey Works
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This research study addressed the problem of aggressive and disruptive behaviors for kindergarten through Grade 12 students in a school district located in Southeastern United States. The study examined classroom teachers' daily lived experiences with student aggression. Using a phenomenological design and guided by the frustration aggression theory and the social learning theory, the research questions explored teachers' responses to what can be done to help with disruptive and aggressive students and how social learning could help students with these behaviors. Data were collected from interviews with 5 individual teachers who had experienced aggressive and disruptive behaviors; data were also …
Professional Development Effects On Teachers' Perceptions In Analyzing And Using Student Data,
2015
Walden University
Professional Development Effects On Teachers' Perceptions In Analyzing And Using Student Data, Toni Johnson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In a school district in Southern New Jersey, teachers have struggled to analyze student district data to make informed instructional decisions. There is a demand for teachers to use data to inform instruction, but teachers often lack sufficient knowledge in data disaggregation. The purpose of this study was to note the effects of professional development (PD) on data-driven decision making practices by collecting survey data before and after participation in a training module. Guided by the theories of knowledge management (KM) and data literacy, the research questions examined teachers' perceptions on PD's impact toward using data. A quasi-experimental quantitative study …
Examining Barriers With Implementing Augmentative And Alternative Communication In A Midwest School,
2015
Walden University
Examining Barriers With Implementing Augmentative And Alternative Communication In A Midwest School, Ashley Renee Fields
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Many speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in a Midwest urban public school system have experienced barriers that prohibit the effective use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The result has left some students with speech language impairments (SLI) without the communication skills for meaningful relationships and success in and out of school. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to determine the perceived barriers of 8 local school SLPs regarding the successful implementation of AAC and their suggestions for addressing the problem. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with the SLPs. Data collection and analysis were grounded by Ely's conditions of …
