Secondary Education Commons^™

Through The Lens Of School Culture: Perception Versus Reality At An Early College, Samuel Glenn Cook Ii

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Numerous research studies have been conducted identifying the benefits of the early college model, yet none have connected the end goal of the early college to meeting the needs of the community and stakeholders it serves. This multiple methods research study used a survey and focus groups to investigate the perceptions of various early college stakeholders regarding the end goal(s) of the early college through the lens of school culture. Despite the benefits associated with attending an early college, additional research was needed to determine if the school’s mission and vision were in alignment with the community it served. Thematic …

Motivating Students Through Problem-Based And Project-Based Learning, Dennis J. Moore

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

As educators, motivating students can be a difficult task.Sixteen eighth-grade students discuss their perceptions of what makes educational programs motivating. In teacher-centered classrooms, teachers lecture while their students take notes, quizzes, and tests and practice memorization skills in preparation for high-stakes testing. Is this a fair assessment of a student's knowledge, and does this type of instruction fulfill students’ needs for a successful future? Research for this case study focused on students' perceptions of an agricultural program that utilizes problem-based and project-based learning with a sustainability focus.

In problem-based learning (PBL) classes, students are given real-world problems and asked …

The Effects Of Reciprocal Teaching On Improving Reading Comprehension In Secondary Students With Learning Disabilities, Christopher Gilmartin

Education Masters Theses

I was introduced to a reading strategy called reciprocal teaching. Placing an emphasis on group work, reciprocal teaching allows students to investigate the text and deepen understanding of it. Since I am an actor and I thoroughly analyze text daily, I wanted to thread the concepts together and to impart my knowledge. This made me wonder what would happen if reciprocal teaching was implemented in a secondary special education classroom in the hopes of improving reading comprehension. The research question I sought to answer became: Does the strategy of reciprocal teaching help improve the reading comprehension skills of high school …

Bridging The Gap: Fostering Emotional Expression Through Teaching Strategies In The Middle School Choral Classroom, Jacob Brown

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study investigates the impact of teacher-elicited expression strategies (i.e. emotionally evocative metaphor, technical elements through modeling, body of the conductor, understanding the emotional content) on the emotional expressivity of my middle school choral students. Using a mixed-method approach, data was collected through surveys of students' self-evaluations of the expression strategies, and their overall value of expression before and after learning processes that emphasized emotional expressivity. I found that each teacher-elicited expression strategies impacted student expressivity positively. Concrete strategies (i.e., body of the conductor and technical elements through modeling) were highly effective, particularly in my beginner and intermediate choirs, while …

Evaluation Of Ste(A)M Education: An Analysis Of Research And Practices From 2014 To 2023, Billy T.M. Wong, Kam Cheong Li, Mengjin Liu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and STEAM (by including Arts) education (hereafter STE(A)M education) has been widely studied and practiced. Evaluation plays an important role in assessing and improving the effectiveness of relevant initiatives. Although there has been extensive research on evaluating STE(A)M education, little attention has been paid to examining the patterns of said evaluations. To address the research gap, this paper analyses relevant work on the evaluation of STE(A)M education practices with respect to their countries/regions, levels of education, discipline domains, pedagogical approaches, objectives of evaluation, evaluation areas, as well as data collection and analysis methods. It …

The Effect Of Immersive Virtual Reality-Enhanced Experiential Learning On Middle School Students’ Knowledge Retention, Creativity, And Perceptions, Yang Liu, Xiaoxia Huang, Jing Lei

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

While immersive virtual reality (IVR) shows promise as an educational tool, its effectiveness in facilitating cognitive achievement and learning experiences among young learners remains underexplored. This study adapted Kolb’s experiential learning theory to design, develop, implement, and examine an IVR-supported experiential learning model (IVR-ELM) within middle-school Arts lessons. Using a quasi-experimental method, quantitative and qualitative data indicated IVR-supported experiential learning facilitated middle school learners’ cognitive and affective outcomes. Quantitative results revealed significantly higher knowledge retention, creative design abilities, engagement, interest, and perceived competency in the IVR group compared to a traditional classroom. Qualitative data revealed students’ overall positive learning experience …

Supporting English Language Learners In Agricultural Education: A Document Analysis, Ellie Chitwood

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In Nebraska’s rural agricultural education classrooms, increasing numbers of students learn English as a second language, yet support tailored for these learners remains limited. This study explores how English Language Learner (ELL) resources are organized, accessed, and utilized within Nebraska’s agricultural education system. Drawing on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and leadership education frameworks, a qualitative document analysis examined state policies, Educational Service Unit (ESU) supports, and professional development materials. Findings reveal a coherent statewide policy overshadowed by uneven regional implementation and limited agricultural contextualization. Despite resource disparities and technological constraints, agricultural educators demonstrate leadership by innovating bilingual supports and fostering …

The Impact Of Behavior Skills Training On Secondary Math Teachers’ Use Of Evidence Based Classroom Management Strategies, Molly E. Jouflas, Kimberly Dean Dr., Peggy Hickman Dr.

Capstone Showcase

School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SW-PBIS) is a research-based approach that improves student engagement, behavior, and school culture, primarily in elementary schools, but is growing in secondary schools. Secondary teachers often resist SW-PBIS due to perceptions that it’s meant for younger students and the belief that high schoolers should already know socially appropriate behavior. One significant barrier to its implementation is the lack of time and space for effective teacher training at the secondary level (Estrapala et al., 2021; Swain-Bradway et al., 2015). Behavior skills training (BST), derived from applied behavior analysis, has proven effective in training educators to …

Incorporation Of Citizen Science In Classrooms To Enrich Learning, Ryan Moellendick

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper explores the use of citizen science experiences as a method of enriching content in middle school and high school science classrooms. This article explores my own experiences working with the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast (DEB) Initiative and the application of available citizen science experiences in the classroom in alignment with Ohio's Learning Standard's for Science.

Purpose-Driven Curriculum For 9th-12th Grades For Adulthood Careers & Life Gratification, Destiny Krystle Chioma Nnadozie

Theses and Dissertations

A purpose-driven or purpose-based curriculum is not the standard required for high schools in the United States. Students in grades 9th-12th are educated based on a curriculum that covers mathematics, English, science, and social studies (De Roux & Riehl, 2022; Xiao et al., 2018). The unique individual purpose of each student, realized while in high school, is not considered a priority, leaving students to enter their adult careers lacking true career fulfillment due to this misalignment (Baroudi et al., 2017; S. Lyons et al., 2015; H. Wu, 2024).  Using a qualitative systematic review research design, this study aimed to explore …

Student Success, Suicide Rates: A Correlational Study Of Pressures On, And Expectations For High School Students In The United States, Matthew Baham

Theses and Dissertations

Suicide among high school students has become a growing health crisis, with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation increasing at an alarming rate. The purpose of this quantitative research is to explore the correlation between high school graduation requirements, pressures associated with college applications, and rising suicide rates among high school aged students in grades 9 through 12. With the increase in academic demands, standardized tests, extracurricular activities and a competitive college admissions process, has created an enormously high-pressure environment in high school education. These stressors are shown to have an intense impact on high school …

Exploring The Stem Career Identity Development Of Black Women Across Their Lifespan, Veronica Hurd

Theses and Dissertations

Although STEM is the fastest-growing career sector, Black women are grossly underrepresented as they account for 2.5% of the workforce. Research highlights that this underrepresentation is due to racialized structures in K-12, postsecondary, and career settings that restrict Black girls’ and women’s STEM opportunities. While macrosystems such as hegemonic ideologies, attitudes, and social conditions shape Black girls’ and women’s opportunities in STEM, they continue to persist and achieve their career goals. To explore these barriers and Black women’s persistence in this industry, this study draws from the autobiographical memories of 10 Black women in the field or formerly in the …

2024-2025 Ucf Center For Community Schools Progression Data, Ucf Center For Community Schools

Community Partnership Schools Annual Progression Data

No abstract provided.

Greenhouse Management For The Smaller Structure--Educational And Hobby, Stacy A. Adams

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Greenhouses used for teaching or by hobbyist are smaller than those used for commercial production or found in the retail environment. Structural materials, covering, mechanical equipment, and control systems often are packaged as a kit made available through greenhouse suppliers. Supplier construction services may not be available, in which buyers must use local contractors to complete the installation. Greenhouses are unique structures that differ greatly from sheds or other outbuildings. They have coverings that allow maximum light transmittance, protected from UV degradation, and can handle wide inside to outside temperature extremes. This extension circular provides valuable information on the character, …

An Examination Of The Effects Of School-Based Experiences On High-Achieving Black Female High School Students Using Photovoice 2.0, Kameron R. White Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

This study used a youth-led participatory action research inquiry and Photovoice 2.0 methodology to investigate the school-based experiences of seven high-achieving black female students across two public high schools. The objectives of the project were to explore how high-achieving Black high school girls perceived their academic identity within their school setting, and to determine any school and/or classroom contextual factors that affected these participants' school-based learning experiences and outcomes. The demographic makeup of each school was also evaluated through qualitative analysis to consider if it served as a moderating variable in participants’ reported school-based experiences. It is through gained insight …

A Review Of Research On Engineering In K-12 Science Education, Allison Antink-Meyer, Ryan A. Brown, Margaret E. Parker, Jennifer Smith

Faculty Publications - College of Education

The purpose of this study is to explore trends in interrelated engineering education and science education research within six science education research journals across the first decade since the release of the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards. Journals were selected using a combination of impact factors and random sampling. The resulting qualitative systematic review exposes trends that arose and fell among science education journals and scholars as reflected in 141 articles published between 2011 and 2024 in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education, the International Journal of Science Education, School Science …

Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Student Capabilities And Their Relationships To Learning Experiences In A High-Poverty Rural School, Amanda J. Zullo

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background and Purpose. This study was designed to identify, delineate, and explain the significant factors contributing to high school students’ relatively better graduation outcomes in a high-poverty rural region in New York State. Emphasis was placed on identifying key characteristics of the relationships between students’ and teachers’ perceptions of student capabilities and the qualities of student learning experiences. This study drew upon secondary data from a two-phase study of positive outlier schools identified as having significantly better graduation rates than other schools with similar demographic profiles. Informed by Mindset Theory and Authentic Learning Theory, the study examined how personal, social, …

Teacher Moves For Building A Mathematical Modeling Classroom Community, Ayse Ozturk

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This study investigates the role of teacher talk moves in cultivating a mathematical modeling classroom community. From the models and modeling perspective, it explores how specific teacher talk moves promote student participation in modeling phases and the exchange of ideas with other students. Through a four-week after-school program involving eight secondary students, data were collected from small-group and whole-class discussions. The findings reveal that teacher talk moves can be categorized into three core types: eliciting students’ ideas, introducing key terms and ideas used in mathematical modeling, and encouraging students to take a position during discussions. These moves are shown to …

The Continuing, Resistance Popularity Of Critical Race Theory- Informed Pedagogy, Kaavonia Hinton, Karen Chandler

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

The article focuses on the ongoing commitment of educators to incorporate critical race theory (CRT)–informed pedagogy in English classrooms despite legislative efforts to suppress it. Topics include the historical and political context of anti-CRT policies, the personal and professional responses of educators to these restrictions, and student-centered strategies used to navigate and resist such limitations in meaningful and legally cautious ways.

A Deep Dive In Preservice Teacher Self-Efficacy Development For Teaching Robotics (Rtp), Jennifer Jill Kidd, Kristie Gutierrez, Min Jung Lee, Danielle Marie Rhemer, Krishnanand Kaipa, Pilar Pazos, Stacie I. Ringleb, Orlando M. Ayala, Francisco Cima, Isaac Koduah Kumi

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Nationwide K–6 engineering and coding standards have made it increasingly important to prepare elementary preservice teachers (PSTs) to teach these subjects confidently and effectively. Robotics, which combines coding and engineering, provides a rich context for developing PSTs’ expertise and self-efficacy. This study builds on prior work in which PSTs in an instructional technology course collaborated with undergraduate engineering students to co-teach robotics lessons to fifth graders. Using a multiple-embedded case study approach, we examine how the interactions and teaching roles within these partnerships influenced PSTs’ teaching self-efficacy. Drawing on reflections, lesson recordings, surveys, and interviews, we present the cases of …