The Impact Of Blended Learning On Social Presence, Cognitive Presence, Teaching Presence, And Perceived Learning,
2017
Liberty University
The Impact Of Blended Learning On Social Presence, Cognitive Presence, Teaching Presence, And Perceived Learning, Kyleigh Harrell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The quantitative study examined how blended learning influences high school learners’ social presence, cognitive presence, teacher presence, and perceived learning in comparison to online instruction. The study answered the following research questions: (a) Do differences exist among the social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence of high school students enrolled in a blended course as compared to those enrolled in an online course? (b) Does a difference exist between perceived learning of high school students enrolled in a blended course as compared to that of those enrolled in an online course? The researcher used a causal-comparative research design and tested …
A Case Study Of Grade 12 International School Students’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of A Bible Curriculum And The Teachers’ Delivery Of That Bible Curriculum In A Christian International School,
2017
Liberty University
A Case Study Of Grade 12 International School Students’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of A Bible Curriculum And The Teachers’ Delivery Of That Bible Curriculum In A Christian International School, Rachael Peterson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the perceptions of the impact of a Bible curriculum and the teachers’ instructional delivery of that Bible curriculum on grade 12 international school students at an open enrollment Christian international school in Asia. The theories that guided this study were Kohlberg’s moral development, Fowler’s faith development, and Piaget’s cognitive development theories (Fowler, 1991, 2001; Kohlberg & Hersh, 1977; Piaget, 1972). The study’s central question is: How does the perception of both the content of a Bible curriculum and the teachers’ instructional delivery of that Bible curriculum affect students at an …
An Analysis Of Perceptions Of Dropout Factors And Interventions By Middle School And High School Teachers In A Southeastern School District,
2017
Liberty University
An Analysis Of Perceptions Of Dropout Factors And Interventions By Middle School And High School Teachers In A Southeastern School District, Christopher Kennedy
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Although graduation rates are increasing in the United States, high school dropouts remain an issue of significant concern. Much of the focus of research in this area has been on describing the characteristics of dropouts rather than on developing effective interventions. Moreover, emerging research shows that potential dropouts can be identified with confidence as early as the sixth grade. High school is the time in which dropouts are typically identified and interventions begun, but the seeds of dropping out are often planted well before ninth grade. This survey research study with quantitative analysis used an instrument titled Teacher Perceptions of …
The Impact Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports On Attendance Rates And Office Discipline Referrals At The Middle School Level,
2017
Liberty University
The Impact Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports On Attendance Rates And Office Discipline Referrals At The Middle School Level, Amy Gill
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
When the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and more recently the College and Career Ready Performance Index, was put into effect, schools felt pressure to increase student achievement and bring up attendance rates in order to make adequate yearly progress or now high index scores. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach that many schools have implemented in an attempt to decrease disruptive student behavior and possibly increase student attendance. The purpose of this quasi-experimental causal comparative study was to examine the impact of the treatment of PBIS, with its basis in behavioral theory, on …
Effectiveness Of Blended Learning In A Rural Alternative Education School Setting,
2017
Liberty University
Effectiveness Of Blended Learning In A Rural Alternative Education School Setting, Robin Skelton
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this non-experimental, causal-comparative study was to examine the impact of a blended learning format on the academic achievement of at-risk 9 - 12 grade students in a rural Northeast Georgia school system. After obtaining IRB approval and district curriculum director and superintendent approval, data was obtained for evaluation. Student Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) eighth-grade scores from the content areas of math, language arts, science, and social studies were obtained and served to control for previous achievement. Students in the control group received instruction in the traditional face-to-face classroom with content instruction designed and provided by …
A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of First-Year College Students’ Perceptions Of Direct And Symbolic Inputs Influencing Sense Of Identity,
2017
Liberty University
A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of First-Year College Students’ Perceptions Of Direct And Symbolic Inputs Influencing Sense Of Identity, Jonathan Butler
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The research describes a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological investigation of students’ perceptions of the reflected appraisals they receive from the college community regarding their behaviors. The study includes 11 first-year college student participants from the School of Education at Higher Matters University, a pseudonym. A pseudonym was assigned to each participant to protect privacy. Data collection utilized focus groups with the sample in two groups, and semi-structured interviews with each participant. Both efforts were accurately transcribed. Observations of the students in the classroom setting served as a third means to gather data, focusing on students’ body language, appearances of comfort, engagement, …
A Grounded Theory Study On Middle School Students' Perceptions Of Teacher Approachability And The Influence Of Those Perceptions On Student-Teacher Interactions,
2017
Liberty University
A Grounded Theory Study On Middle School Students' Perceptions Of Teacher Approachability And The Influence Of Those Perceptions On Student-Teacher Interactions, Kathryn Teston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this grounded theory study was to investigate how middle school student perceptions of teacher approachability influenced their interactions with teachers. The fourteen participants were sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade general education middle school students from three school models (public, private, and Christian) in the metro area of a city in the southeastern United States. The Approach-Avoidance Theory, first proposed by Kurt Lewin, (1935) provided the theoretical framework for this study. The central research question that shaped this grounded theory study was: How do general education middle school students’ perceptions of teacher approachability influence the students’ interactions with their …
Single-Parents’ Persistence In Pursuit Of Higher Education: A Case Study,
2017
Liberty University
Single-Parents’ Persistence In Pursuit Of Higher Education: A Case Study, Beryle Poindexter
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative case study is an exploratory study to examine what contributes to the failure of the persistence of non-residential single-parents pursuing a college degree. The participants of this study included ten non-residential single-parent students between the ages of 21 and 50. The site of the interviews was in the Community Assistance Agency located in central Virginia. The theoretical framework guiding this study includes both the Student Integration Model Theory by Vincent Tinto (1975) and the Human Capital Theory by Theodore Schultz (1961). This framework provides a connection that explains the obstacles that exist for non-residential single-parents …
Factors That Predict Persistence For Non-Immigrant, International Students At A Private, Four-Year University In Georgia,
2017
Liberty University
Factors That Predict Persistence For Non-Immigrant, International Students At A Private, Four-Year University In Georgia, Shawn Adams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study was to explore factors that predict the persistence of international, non-immigrant students in higher education. A sample of international students from a four-year private university in Georgia served as the focused population for this study. Persistence research asserts that six factors predict persistence: academic integration, social integration, support services satisfaction, degree commitment, institutional commitment, and academic conscientiousness. These six predictor variables were measured via the College Persistence Questionnaire (CPQ). However, cultural intelligence (CQ) is another predictive factor that merited consideration for the unique population of international students. The Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) quantifies CQ and …
Foreign Language Anxiety In Traditional And Distance Learning Foreign Language Classrooms,
2017
Liberty University
Foreign Language Anxiety In Traditional And Distance Learning Foreign Language Classrooms, Anastasia Bollinger
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research sought to examine the differences between students’ foreign language anxiety levels (high, moderate, low) and student achievement in different learning environments (traditional or distance learning) in a college setting. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) was administered to students of Spanish and French at a community college in central Georgia. Foreign language achievement was measured using students’ course final grades. This study was conducted using a causal-comparative design, and data were analyzed and interpreted using t tests and a one-way ANOVA. The results for the study showed that there were no significant differences in student achievement between …
Relationship Between Teacher-Student Rapport And High-Stakes Testing Performance In Science,
2017
Liberty University
Relationship Between Teacher-Student Rapport And High-Stakes Testing Performance In Science, Nathan Kimbro
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to determine if a predictive relationship existed between teacher-student rapport, as perceived by students, and biology achievement scores. The Teacher-Student Likert Scale Questionnaire was used to measure students’ perceptions of rapport with their science instructor. Students’ scores on the Maryland Biology High School Assessment were used to measure students’ testing performance in science. This study implemented a linear regression analysis to determine if the predictor variable (teacher-student rapport) had a statistically significant predictive relationship with the criterion variable (high-stakes testing performance in biology). A linear regression produced the prediction equation: biology HSA …
Empowered Intersectionality Among Black Female School Leaders: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study,
2017
Liberty University
Empowered Intersectionality Among Black Female School Leaders: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Carla Mcneal
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Black female school leaders remain underrepresented as educational leaders in the K-12 context as marginalizing factors persist in the field. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Black female school leaders through the lens of intersectionality. For this research study, intersectionality was defined as the intersecting realities of oppression. For the Black female, it is her race and gender. The following research questions were addressed: How do Black female school leaders describe their experiences with the intersectionality of race and gender? How (if at all) do participants’ experiences w/intersectionality influence their leadership practices? …
Extracurricular Participation And Self-Concept In Rural Elementary Students: A Causal-Comparative Study,
2017
Liberty University
Extracurricular Participation And Self-Concept In Rural Elementary Students: A Causal-Comparative Study, Donna Sexton
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this ex post facto, causal comparative study was to test the interactional framework of self-concept theory and Gibson’s ecological theory of perceptual development with Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development by investigating the overarching research question, Is there a statistically significant difference between mean scores for self-concept (academic, social, and overall) based on extracurricular participation portfolio (sports only, non-sports only, mixed activity types, or no participation) in rural elementary students? The relationship of extracurricular participation to positive outcomes in adolescents has been established in prior research. This study is significant because it ameliorates the paucity of research on …
Serving God Under The Stained-Glass Ceiling: A Phenomenological Study Of Female Clergy Experiences In The United Methodist Church In West Virginia,
2017
Liberty University
Serving God Under The Stained-Glass Ceiling: A Phenomenological Study Of Female Clergy Experiences In The United Methodist Church In West Virginia, Kathy Danberry
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of female clergy in the United Methodist Church in West Virginia. Two theories were used as the framework for this study: Eagly and Karau’s (2004) role congruity theory, and Bandura’s (1977) theory of self-efficacy. Role congruity theory is grounded in Eagly and Karau’s social role theory, which suggests that “most behavioral differences between males and females are the result of cultural stereotypes about gender” (Eagly, 2004, p. 218). In Bandura’s (1985) self-efficacy theory, it is asserted that “personal mastery expectations are the primary determinants of behavior change” (p. …
Real-Time Data As An Instructional Tool: Examining Engagement And Comprehension,
2017
Liberty University
Real-Time Data As An Instructional Tool: Examining Engagement And Comprehension, Eric Blanton
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The integration of technology within the lives of all people has continued to expand and also impacts the education systems around the world. The purpose of this study was to study how real-time data impacted the educational achievement of students in a senior level economics class who participated in game-based learning through the Marketwatch Game. The sample for this study was 107 senior level economic students ranging from age 17 to 18 years old. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design (Patten, 2012), the students were divided into two groups and were to play the Marketwatch Game. The experimental …
The Relationship Between Elementary Teachers' Background In Mathematics, Teaching Self-Efficacy, And Teaching Outcome Expectancy When Implementing The Common Core State Standards,
2017
Liberty University
The Relationship Between Elementary Teachers' Background In Mathematics, Teaching Self-Efficacy, And Teaching Outcome Expectancy When Implementing The Common Core State Standards, Jennifer Stuart
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this correlation study was to identify a possible relationship between elementary teacher background in mathematics as measured by completed college math credit hours, district-provided professional development hours of training in Common Core math standards, and years of teaching experience, and teacher efficacy in math as measured by personal teaching self efficacy and outcome expectancy. The sample in the present study consisted of 69 elementary (K-5) math teachers in a medium-sized semi-rural district located within a southern state. The data was collected using the Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (MTEBI), an online survey that was sent to the …
The Effect Of Blended Learning On Math And Reading Achievement In A Charter School Context,
2017
Liberty University
The Effect Of Blended Learning On Math And Reading Achievement In A Charter School Context, Terry Chaney
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In spite of its growing popularity, researchers have focused little attention on the effectiveness of combining traditional classroom instruction and online learning, a practice generally referred to as blended learning. The modest research on blended learning to date has tended to focus on higher education, leaving a significant gap in the research regarding K-12 education. Even less attention has been given to blended learning in charter school K-12 education. Framed within Vygotsky’s theory of social development, the purpose of this causal-comparative research study was to determine if there were any significant differences when comparing charter school students who participated in …
The Effects Of Contract Activity Packages On Boredom In A Sixth-Grade Accelerated Math Class,
2017
Liberty University
The Effects Of Contract Activity Packages On Boredom In A Sixth-Grade Accelerated Math Class, Joanna Bartlett
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There is currently a lack of research aimed at determining the boredom level experienced by sixth grade students participating in an accelerated math class, as well as suitable strategies aimed at helping students avoid it. This quantitative quasi-experimental static-group comparison study investigated boredom levels with the implementation of Contract Activity Packages (CAPs), a strategy specifically related to combatting boredom for gifted and talented students, into a sixth-grade accelerated math class. Data were collected from 138 sixth-grade students participating in an accelerated math class via the boredom scale of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire – Mathematics (AEQ-M) and analyzed using a two-way …
Experiences Of First-Year Online Community College Students On Academic Probation: A Phenomenological Study,
2017
Liberty University
Experiences Of First-Year Online Community College Students On Academic Probation: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Beck
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of first-year online community college students on academic probation at a small, rural community college in central North Carolina. Four research questions guided the study: (RQ1) How do first-year, online community college students who are on academic probation describe their academic experiences? (RQ2) What do participants identify as reasons for receiving poor grades and being placed on academic probation? (RQ3) How do participants on academic probation describe what they could have done differently to avoid being placed on academic probation? (RQ4) What do participants who are on academic probation …
African American Males' Descriptions Of Stereotypes In Classrooms: A Phenomenological Study,
2017
Liberty University
African American Males' Descriptions Of Stereotypes In Classrooms: A Phenomenological Study, Donald Stewart
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the stereotypes experienced by select African American males in a South Texas classroom. Descriptions based on the experiences of 11 African American males over the age of 18 regarding the stereotypes presented between themselves and their teachers assisted in understanding the phenomena. Three research questions guided this study: (RQ1) How do African American males describe their experiences with stereotypes in a South Texas K-12 classroom? (RQ2) How, if at all, did participants’ experiences with stereotypes in the classroom contribute to their academic achievement? (RQ3) What, if any, emotions toward classroom …
