Stakeholders' Roles In Prioritizing Technical And Vocational Education And Training In Postconflict Liberia,
2011
Walden University
Stakeholders' Roles In Prioritizing Technical And Vocational Education And Training In Postconflict Liberia, Edward S. Forh
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Postconflict governments and counterparts have collaborated to provide skills training to communities as a critical postconflict development strategy. In these undertakings, the role of community members remains largely undefined. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to understand the perceptions held by rural community members regarding the role they played in influencing government's policy priority for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a local human development strategy in postconflict Liberia. The conceptual framework was based on human capital theory and concepts of motivation and achievement. Fourteen participants were purposefully selected for the study. Data were collected …
The Effect Of Two Reading Programs On First Grade Students' Reading Fluency,
2011
Walden University
The Effect Of Two Reading Programs On First Grade Students' Reading Fluency, Christy Stewart Bowling
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
School districts struggle to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading in first grade. Nine percent of first grade students at the study site were not meeting state performance standards in the area of language arts. Specifically in the area of fluency, 38% of first grade students were not achieving AYP. Because of the close connection between oral fluency and early reading achievement, first grade students need to be more fluent to attain state standards. Based on LaBerge and Samuels theory of automaticity within reading fluency, the purpose of this study was to identify the impact of the Scholastic Guided …
Female Students' Experiences In An Old Testament Bible Course At A Christian University,
2011
Walden University
Female Students' Experiences In An Old Testament Bible Course At A Christian University, Janet K. Puls
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Previous research has shown that 80% of college students have reported they are interested in spirituality. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of female students while studying Old Testament scriptures as part of their required liberal arts curriculum and to describe how their experiences affected their lives, spiritually or in other ways. While there is a small but growing body of survey data about students' interest in spirituality, a gap exists regarding how or in what ways required biblical curriculum affects students spiritually at Christian liberal arts universities. Fowler's faith stages, Gibson's model for spiritual …
Effectively Using Presentation Technology In The History Classroom,
2011
Walden University
Effectively Using Presentation Technology In The History Classroom, Scott Louis Johnson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In spite of increased use of technology in the history classroom, the impact of technology remains low on student retention and comprehension of historical information. This project study examined the manner in which PowerPoint slides in history classes are formatted and the elements they contain for effective use. The literature related to best methods was reviewed to reveal practices that lead to the highest levels of comprehension and retention and how those practices could be implemented in PowerPoint presentations. This grounded theory study in the field of cognition and instruction centered on a high school that successfully implements technology in …
A Case Study Of Differentiated Instruction In Upper Elementary Mathematics And Reading Classrooms,
2011
Walden University
A Case Study Of Differentiated Instruction In Upper Elementary Mathematics And Reading Classrooms, Laponya Alexandria Burris
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Elementary students in one school have shown a decline in proficient and advanced performance on statewide assessments. This decline increased for reading and mathematics achievement from 2003--2008, especially for disabled and minority students in grades 3--5. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine the extent to which differentiated instruction was implemented in instructional practices to increase student academic performance. Vygotsky's theory of constructivism, Bruner's theory of problem solving, and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences provided the conceptual frameworks for this study. The research questions focused on the instructional strategies and resources used by teachers. Data included interviews, …
Scaffolding English Language Learners' Reading Performance,
2011
Walden University
Scaffolding English Language Learners' Reading Performance, Lolita D. Mckenzie
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
English language learners (ELLs) spend a majority of their instructional time in mainstream classrooms with mainstream teachers. Reading is an area with which many ELLs are challenged when placed within mainstream classrooms. Scaffolding has been identified as one of the best teaching practices for helping students read. ELL students in a local elementary school were struggling, and school personnel implemented scaffolding in an effort to address student needs. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine how personnel in one diversely populated school employed scaffolding to accommodate ELLs. Vygotsky's social constructivist theory informed the study. Research questions were …
The Effects Of An Integrated Health And Physical Education Program On Student Achievement,
2011
Walden University
The Effects Of An Integrated Health And Physical Education Program On Student Achievement, Myralynn B. Catchings
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In recent years, several schools have addressed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 by focusing on promoting skill acquisition in reading and math, often overlooking physical education (PE) as a significant part of a child's education. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated health and physical education (HPE) program on student achievement. This study was grounded in action-based learning theories. The research question examined differences in posttest scores, adjusted for pretest differences, from 204 freshman students enrolled in a Biology-1 class at an urban high school. Students in Group A …
Teacher Experiences With Credit-Related Finance Education,
2011
Walden University
Teacher Experiences With Credit-Related Finance Education, Nikan Arapoff
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Recent financial problems have highlighted the portion of financial literacy classes related to credit and spending. The recent bursting of the real estate asset bubble and the ongoing economic crisis framed the research question for this study regarding the experiences of social studies and business teachers in teaching coursework in credit-related finance management. The purpose of this study was to understand teacher experiences in the classroom that involved teaching financial information related to consumer credit. The study was based on the theoretical foundations of constructivism and a synthesis of related economic and educational thought. A qualitative, constructivist, and interpretive case …
The Development Of Tracking And Its Historical Impact On Minority Students,
2011
Walden University
The Development Of Tracking And Its Historical Impact On Minority Students, Deberae Culpepper
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In the 1920s, high school students were placed on one of three tracks: high, average, and low. Over the years, vocational education was transformed into a low track assignment for students, often racial minorities, who were perceived as less intelligent. However, the interaction between vocational education and tracking policies and practices remained unclear. Using critical race theory, this study produced an historical analysis of the interaction of these two programs. This included a systematic identification of the originating factors influencing tracking and contemporary tracking policies and practices to understand how tracking affected racial minority students' access to equal educational opportunities …
Teachers' Perceptions Of Reading Achievement For Kindergarten-3 Rd Grade Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status,
2011
Walden University
Teachers' Perceptions Of Reading Achievement For Kindergarten-3 Rd Grade Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Vicki L. Curtis
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The three tiered reading model and the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) are two initiatives being used to identify struggling readers of low socioeconomic status. While there is abundant information with statistical reports from various researchers, there is little research available as to what educators implementing DIBELS in the school environment perceive about the instrument, what it measures and what it fails to take into account. It is important to examine all aspects and views of an initiative being widely used across the nation to close the reading achievement gap. Educators working with students of low socioeconomic …
The Application Of Adult Learning Principles In Effective Preaching,
2011
Walden University
The Application Of Adult Learning Principles In Effective Preaching, Randall C. Deville
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Evidence suggests that a disconnect is growing between the information provided in Christian sermons and the life challenges faced by those church attendees. To bridge that divide, the purpose of this study was to better understand the characteristics of a sermon that enhance learning for churchgoers in Christian churches. The guiding question focused on churchgoing adults' perception of the sermon. Additional sub questions explored the relationship of the principles of adult learning, communication theory, and ambient teaching with churchgoers' and preachers' experiences with sermons. A qualitative case study design included one-on-one interviews with 5 preachers, 5 focus groups with 9 …
Content Area Literacy: Relationship Between Lesson Design And Professional Development,
2011
Walden University
Content Area Literacy: Relationship Between Lesson Design And Professional Development, Jodi Owens-Kristenson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Despite Minnesota's investment in professional development in content area literacy, secondary students are not showing expected literacy gains. A lack of literacy proficiency limits future options for students. The purpose of this study was to examine content-area literacy strategy inclusion and its relationship to professional development in the context of complexity theory, efficacy theory, transformational learning theory, structured teaching, and constructivism. A cross-section correlation survey research study was conducted to investigate the relationship of time spent in systematic professional development, type of professional development, rate of strategy inclusion, and confidence in literacy strategy inclusion in lesson design. Convenience sampling was …
A Case Study Investigating Teachers' Knowledge And Implementation Of Response To Intervention,
2011
Walden University
A Case Study Investigating Teachers' Knowledge And Implementation Of Response To Intervention, Regina Sims
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The local school district in the current study was struggling to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) targets in reading because secondary students were scoring below the basic level in reading and their content area teachers had little or no training in reading deficiencies. What had been speculated, yet never tested, was the utility of teacher training in research-based reading programs and interventions on increasing reading achievement scores. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine issues hampering RTI implementation. This case study focused on analyzing the perceptions of secondary RTI teachers within an urban school district in Texas. …
Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: An Alternative Reading And Response,
2010
University of South Florida
Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: An Alternative Reading And Response, Diane Kroeger
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
In this qualitative case study, I constructed interpretations of the meanings conveyed by state-level discourse communities as they were manifested in the primary and secondary speech genres of Florida’s adolescent literacy policy. Meanings (or values, beliefs and feelings) are highly tacit understandings embedded in the language, actions and objects of policy (Yanow, 2000), and are conveyed through informal and formal speech (Bakhtin, 1986). Results revealed (a) state policy meanings convey multiple versions of literacy with a heavy focus on receptive aspects of literate practice; (b) a typology of students and their fit within the institutional system; and (c) an emphasis …
Atwater Ag Mechanics Shop Rennovation / Cte Plan,
2010
Atwater High School
Atwater Ag Mechanics Shop Rennovation / Cte Plan, Samuel J. Meredith
Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports
This internship report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are used during the review process conducted by subject matter experts from the California Department of Education. The internship included the documentation to receive state/local funding, the development of a welding and fabrication facility, floral design classroom, and wood shop facility to accommodate student SAE projects, and to support instruction.
Using An Audience Response System (Ars) A.K.A. “Clicker” To Do Attention Research,
2010
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Using An Audience Response System (Ars) A.K.A. “Clicker” To Do Attention Research, Roger A. Kendrick
Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research
This study makes an effort to examine whether a student’s attention or engagement is increased by possession of an Audience Response System (ARS, or clicker). This experiment tested a difference in performance. This study makes an effort to examine whether a student’s attention or engagement is increased by possession of an Audience Response System (ARS, or clicker). This experiment tested a difference in performance between students who possessed an ARS and those who did not. The experiment was conducted at a small state college in the Midwest where small class size is typical. Approximately half the students in each tested …
Does Socio/Economic Status Affect Environmental Awareness In Elementary School Children Interacting With School Gardens?,
2010
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Does Socio/Economic Status Affect Environmental Awareness In Elementary School Children Interacting With School Gardens?, Grady C. Erickson
Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses
This is a case study involving three elementary schools in the greater Lincoln, Nebraska area. These schools were chosen to provide insight to three different economic backgrounds. Saratoga and Randolph from Lincoln Public Schools, and Norris Elementary part of Norris Public Schools 160 was the third school involved in the study. This case study focused on seeing whether socio/economic background had any effect on environmental awareness. To do so, surveys were handed out to each school to help measure environmental awareness. These surveys also helped determine where the environmental literacy standards were in the elementary schools of Lincoln, Nebraska. The …
Educators' Attitudes Toward Outdoor Classrooms And The Cognitive Benefits In Children,
2010
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Educators' Attitudes Toward Outdoor Classrooms And The Cognitive Benefits In Children, Carlie Speedlin
Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses
A case study was organized at a K-5 elementary school in Lincoln, Nebraksa. This school is Saratoga Elementary School and is a United States Title I Distinguished School1 under No Child Left Behind. It has a population of 266 students, with 47% being minority, 1% gifted, and 28% special education (LPS School Profile Brochure). 80% of the student population is eligible for free/reduced meals, implying that it’s a school with a lower socioeconomic status. At this school a garden space was constructed and an after school garden club was implemented for this case study. The club had been running since …
Dianna Krebs,
2010
University of Mississippi
Dianna Krebs, Dianna Krebs, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.
Oral History Project (all interviews)
Dianna Krebs has had an interesting path to school nutrition. After majoring in finance in college she worked as a bookkeeper, first at a bank, and then as the bookkeeper for her local school district, eventually becoming the bookkeeper for the child nutrition programs, where she rose through the ranks, becoming a coordinator, an assistant to the director, and finally the school nutrition director, where she currently supervises eighteen schools.
Lark Christian,
2010
University of Mississippi
Lark Christian, Lark Christian, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.
Oral History Project (all interviews)
Lark Christian has worked as a child care supervisor and statewide coordinator for child nutrition programs for the State of Mississippi. She is now the food service director for Jackson County, Mississippi.
