Gifted Education Commons^™

Teacher Perceptions Of Advanced Ability English Language Learners (Ell), Dena Redmond

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explored teacher perceptions of English language learners and giftedness. High school content teachers participated in an interview identifying behaviors that indicate advanced abilities from a series of three vignettes about English language learners. A total of four participants were interviewed. The four emergent themes were (1) critical thinking (2) rate of language acquisition, (3) motivation, and (4) use of language. The themes were behaviors that teachers perceived as demonstrating potential or demonstrating limited potential for advanced learning in English language learners.

Giftedness In Dance: Equitable Audition Procedures & Program Development, Lauren Case

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explored the perspectives of dance specialists and gifted and talented resource teachers in a large school district in the southeastern region of the United States. Six educators who teach dance, work in auditioning and identification of gifted and talented dancers, and provide service options for gifted and talented identified dance students were interviewed in this qualitative study which focused on best practices in gifted and talented dance identification. Dance specialists’ perspectives of audition structures and characteristics of dance giftedness were examined. Three themes emerged from interviewees in this field of education: audition structures, opportunities and access of dance …

Educator Beliefs On Procedures For Identifying Gifted And Talented Students In General Intellect And Specific Academic Areas, Katherine Perraut

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explored teacher beliefs regarding procedures used to identify students as gifted and talented in the areas of general intellect and specific academic areas. Measures were identified that educators indicated most effective for identifying gifted and talented students as well as the measures that educators felt were less effective in identification. Educators across one school district were given the opportunity to complete a survey and/or an interview in this mixed method study. Representatives from all grade and school levels have been represented in the data. This research study revealed themes related to bias in nomination, understanding gifted characteristics, choosing …

Potential For Shared Vision: What Gt Middle School Teachers Say They Need In Times Of Transition, Michelle L. Leverette

School Leadership Review

"Potential for shared vision: What GT middle school teachers say they need in times of transition" aims to provide relevant data that speaks to current campus needs in a time of pandemic-affected era transitional learning in PK-12 public education. As current educational leaders seek to address the academic and behavioral needs of students, the findings from this research study taken during Covid protocols express three areas of need: (a) a need for open lines of communication between teachers and parents of GT students, (b) a need for clarification of the definition of GT middle school student “success”, and (c) a …

Mathematical Identities And Tracking: An Exploration Of Efficacy In Children And Women, Emma Hagan

Education | Master's Theses

This study seeks to understand the impact of elementary school mathematical identities and mathematics tracking on the identities of women and girls. “Tracking” is an institutionalized education method developed in the 1960s and 1970s in which schools sort their students into smaller class-sized groups based on their observed achievement (Domina et al., 2016). Too often, when students test onto the lower track, they are confronted with a sense of futility and a lack of self-efficacy (Domina, Hanselman, Hwang & McEachin, 2016; Houtte & Stevens, 2015). Further, in STEM disciplines, students who identify as female report lower self-efficacy rates than those …

Ua64/2 The Challenge: Magazine For The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 54, Summer 2023), Elizabeth Joyce Editor, Western Kentucky University

Gifted Studies Publications

Magazine created by and about the WKU Center for Gifted Studies.

The Role Of Cultural Capital In Improving Advanced Placement Outcomes, Kolbe Ricks

Education Theses and Dissertations

This work delves into the potential benefits and criticism of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, with a specific focus on the necessity of cultural capital to address disparities in access and success. The researcher argues that the broad content coverage in AP courses often leads to conventional lecture-based instruction that does not value cultural capital and limits student engagement and outcomes. To rectify this, recommendations are made to incorporate pedagogical approaches like culturally relevant teaching and providing teacher feedback and support that allows for the successful implementation of these practices. Numerous studies indicate that participation in AP courses predicts success in …

Mattel Strategic Audit, Ellie Anderson, Samuel Gertner, Logan Connealy, Julia Michner, Chris Payant

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This case study focuses on Mattel, Inc., a prominent company in the toy industry. To complete the case study, we conducted a strategic audit utilizing different theories and principles used in management. We conducted significant research using publicly available information, including the company’s website, SEC filings, news articles, industry analysis, and more. The goal of the report is to analyze data and use a real-world company to apply management concepts.

We looked at many factors for Mattel, including industry analysis, external analysis, internal analysis, performance analysis, competitive dynamics, business level strategy, and corporate level strategy to complete the case study. …

General Electric Renewable Energy Strategic Audit, Jarod Fox

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

General Electric (GE) is a large multinational conglomerate in various industrial machinery industries. Currently, GE operates through four main sectors - Aviation, Power, Healthcare, and Renewable Energy. This report specifically focuses on the Renewable Energy sector and analyzes General Electric’s ability to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in this complex industry. The paper provides a background on GE, information on the industry and rivals within the industry, and how GE has a competitive advantage. To demonstrate this sustainable competitive advantage, an external and internal analysis has been created through the frameworks of Porter’s Five Forces and PESTEL Analysis. Additionally, strategic …

Equine Nutrition: Pasture Planning In Nebraska, Emma Vazquez

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This paper describes the rationale behind four infographics on equine nutrition and pasture planning. These infographics are intended to provide Nebraskan horse owners with general advice on setting up and maintaining their pastures. The first three infographics cover pasture basics when building, pasture care, and ideal grass types. These grass types are further broken down between Western and Eastern Nebraska. Additionally, the fourth infographic gives some insight into why forage is a staple in the equine diet based on the digestive system.

All four infographics have been posted to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Horse Program social media pages in an …

Applications Of Financial Mathematics: An Analysis Of Consumer Financial Decision Making, Alyssa Betterton

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Students always ask, “How can this be applied to the real world?” Mortgages, car loans, and credit card bills are things that almost everyone will have to make decisions about at some point in their lives. This research discusses the many different financial choices that consumers have to make. Consumers can use this information to understand how interest rates, the length of the loan, and the initial amount being borrowed affects the amount that is paid back to the companies. The intent of this thesis is to present the mathematical theory of interest. A web-based application has been built based …

A Qualitative Study Of Facilitators And Barriers Perceived By Black Students And Their Effect On Advanced Placement Course Enrollment In High School, Austin R. Cole

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advanced Placement (AP) classes can provide many benefits to students. The rigorous curriculum gives students an academic challenge to expand their educational abilities (The College Board, 2014). However, students of color are often underrepresented in AP participation (The College Board, 2014). Research has investigated factors among students of color that predict participation and success in AP courses, suggesting that family SES and prior academic achievement (Dixson et al., 2017; Ndura et al., 2003), and racial barriers impact students’ ability to choose to take AP courses (Jeffries & Silvernail, 2017; Walker & Pearsall, 2012). This study addressed a gap in the …

“Young, Gifted, And Black”: Understanding The Complex Experiences Of High-Achieving Black Students In Ap Classes At A Diverse Suburban High School, Jody Elliott-Schrimmer

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the social and academic experiences of Black students in AP English classes at a diverse suburban high school. This study aimed to illuminate their experiences while giving voice to this traditionally marginalized group. Students provided recommendations for increasing academic success and belonging for future students as schools continually work toward gender and racial equity in the AP classroom. In this Critical Race Theory (CRT) oriented study, I sought to understand the essence of the Black experience in predominantly White academic spaces through a phenomenological methodology. I analyzed the significant moments and …

Shifting Educational Paradigms To Match Learners: Sustaining Cultures, Languages, And Paradigms Through Educational Sovereignty, Lona R. Running Wolf

The Montana English Journal

The U.S. system of education was developed by visionary forefathers that knew American democracy would be stable only through educated citizens. The system was developed to produce citizens that would carry on the new world's vision and values. The educational system was built within that paradigm. Simultaneously, Indigenous tribes in America were being stripped of their traditional educational systems whose purpose was also to develop productive citizens of their communities and carry on their values. Traditional educational systems among tribes developed children with positive self-identity carrying the pride of their culture, language, and paradigm. That is not the case for …

Rethinking Bibliotherapy: Portraits Of Gifted Adult Readers, Jervaise M. Pileggi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gifted individuals have unique socioemotional needs due to their sensitivity and intensities. Bibliotherapy is often recommended to gifted persons to help them understand themselves and others and to address affective needs. However, bibliotherapy’s roots are embedded within a clinical background, thus requiring an element of discussion. Instead, I argue that gifted adults use metacognition to replace the need for discussion. Portraits of gifted adult readers (N=7) in their 30s-50s illustrate that metacognition has occurred over their lifespan regarding their reading, with only one participant actively engaging in discussion, and book selection meets the socioemotional needs of the reader. The findings …

Is Gifted Education And Its Program A Brand?, Farzana Begum

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The education system has been under constant construction. What will make our students successful has driven education to make a number of changes, and therefore, over the years, the importance of differentiation evolved, mandating the education system to acknowledge that education should not be standardized and that all students learn and retain knowledge differently. As a result, a number of classroom environments and programs have been established to cater to these differences. One example of this is the establishment of the Gifted and Talented Program or Gifted Education in the education system.

Gifted Education provides identified students with a stimulating …

Union Pacific Railroad Company Strategic Audit, Alison Steger

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific, UP, UPRR) is a freight railroad based in Omaha, Nebraska, servicing 23 states in America, with additional ports and country interchanges. The 160-year history of this railroad began with Abraham Lincoln and continues into 2023, with the recent announcement of CEO Lance Fritz’s departure. A PESTEL analysis provides an in-depth look at UP's external operating environment, and Porter’s Five Forces industry analysis assesses the industry's competitive environment. Analyses of Union Pacific's competitive advantages, essential resources, and projected roadblocks are followed by strategic recommendations for UP to remain a Class I freight railroad industry leader.

Contryman Associates, P.C. Strategic Audit, Macy Baldwin

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Contryman Associates, P.C., is a small accounting firm located in central and western Nebraska. After its founding in 1939, the firm has expanded to seven locations servicing accounting, auditing, tax, business advising, and financial planning needs. A PESTEL analysis was done to analyze the external environment. Porter’s Five Forces analysis guided the analysis industry forces. Current strategy, competitive advantages, resources of Contryman Associates, and any major issues of the firm are also discussed. This information recommends Contryman Associates to keep working to expand if possible while passing industry knowledge to future generations.

Audio-Technica Strategic Audit, Caleb Druckemiller

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Audio-Technica is a multinational audio equipment design and manufacturing company specializing in the production of headphones, microphones, and turntables. The company has been a gold standard for professional use since its inception and has recently ventured into consumer markets. Using both internal and external analysis tools, this audit aims to evaluate how Audio-Technica has established itself in the highly competitive audio equipment industry. Specific techniques include Porter’s Five Forces and PESTEL analyses. After conducting this examination of Audio-Techinca and its industry environment, strategic recommendations will be made to best position the company moving forward.

A Comparative Study On The Design Typology Of Dense, High-Rise Housing, Nikita Mansinghani

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The three case studies are multi-unit residential buildings located in three vastly different European cities and designed in different times periods of architectural transformations and technology help us understand the value and development of these units and the significance of them in the future design typologies. The understanding of housing complex has been occupied with the exercise of control as a design tool for demarcating variation to further the purpose of housing and shift in approaches from typical architecture to non-standard creative practices, this article focuses on three precedents: the Unite de habitation, VM houses and The Whale. The three …