Impact Of Childcare Center Programs On Reading Achievement Of English Language Learner Students,
2017
Walden University
Impact Of Childcare Center Programs On Reading Achievement Of English Language Learner Students, Valerie Keil
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Some children struggle to learn the academic skill of reading. Providing effective assistance to struggling students, especially to English Language Learners (ELLs), can be a challenge for teachers. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of childcare programs on the reading achievement of ELLs in kindergarten and first grade. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory along with developmentally appropriate practices constituted the theoretical framework. The overarching research question examined differences in overall reading achievement of ELLs based on the completion of formal childcare programs. A causal-comparative design was used with a cluster sample drawn from a United States federal database …
Content Area Teacher Perspectives On Integrating Literacy Strategies,
2017
Walden University
Content Area Teacher Perspectives On Integrating Literacy Strategies, Lynette Smith Smith
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The Common Core State Standards recommend that all educators prepare students with the literacy skills needed for college and careers. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine 7th and 8th grade content area teachers' perspectives towards teaching literacy. The research questions addressed teachers' capabilities in the role of literacy instructor as well as the actual application of literacy. The conceptual framework included Bruner's constructivist, Bandura's self-efficacy, and Knowles's andragogy theories. These theories informed the investigation of adult learners' perspectives regarding the way they learn and gain confidence to provide literacy instruction. Eleven English, math, science, and social …
Relationships Between Early Academic Indicators And Accelerated-Baccalaureate Student Nurse Success,
2017
Walden University
Relationships Between Early Academic Indicators And Accelerated-Baccalaureate Student Nurse Success, Bonnie J. White
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In 2013, the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses' (NCLEX-RN) passing standard was increased, leading to a decrease in NCLEX-RN pass rates. The passing standard increase was prompted by an advisory panel's determination that a gap in safe, competent practice existed among new graduate nurses. New graduates' success on NCLEX-RN is critical to meet workplace demand for new nurses. The purpose of this study was to examine whether cumulative grade point average at completion of 200-level nursing courses and scores on the standardized final exam in the 200-level fundamentals course were related to on-time nursing program completion and a …
Relationship Between Student Characteristics And Attrition Among Associate Degree Nursing Students,
2017
Walden University
Relationship Between Student Characteristics And Attrition Among Associate Degree Nursing Students, Wendy Elizabeth Watson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
High nursing student attrition has been a pervasive problem in the nursing program at the research site of this study. The purpose of this project study was to investigate the relationship between attrition and nursing student characteristics, including age, gender, ethnicity, English as Second Language (ESL) background, licensed practical nurse (LPN) licensure, grade point average (GPA), the number of preadmission college credits, and the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) scores. This correlational study of archival data was guided by Jeffreys's nursing undergraduate retention and success model and included a convenience sample of 240 students admitted to the program between …
Faculty Roles In Student Retention At Historically Black Colleges And Universities,
2017
Walden University
Faculty Roles In Student Retention At Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Dorothy Langley
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Implications for student dropouts include fewer career options and lower earning potential. The purpose of this study was to investigate faculty perceptions of their roles in the student retention process at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the Southeast United States. Guiding the phenomenological study was Lewin's theory of change model. Data were collected using a questionnaire, interviews, and faculty-student intervention logs. The questionnaire was completed by 32 full-time faculty at the study site. Interviews with 5 participants were conducted after the completion of the questionnaire, and 5 participants provided information via a faculty-student intervention log about strategies …
Differentiating Successful And Unsuccessful Nursing Students,
2017
Walden University
Differentiating Successful And Unsuccessful Nursing Students, Trilla Mays
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Administrators of nursing programs in community colleges are aware of the need to retain and to graduate students to meet the growing demand for licensed practical nurses (LPNs). High attrition in a 2-year nursing program in South Carolina affected the number of students either graduating as a LPN after completing the third semester, or continuing in the program to become a registered nurse (RN). Guided by Jeffreys's nursing undergraduate retention and success model, this causal comparative study investigated the differences between students who were and were not successful in the initial 3 semesters of the program. Archival student records for …
Elementary Instructional Best Practices For English As Secondary Language Teachers,
2017
Walden University
Elementary Instructional Best Practices For English As Secondary Language Teachers, Terrance Michael Bigley
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
A trending national concern is the increasing number of English language learners (ELL) who are being reclassified as long-term English language learners (LTELL) instead of progressing to the general education classroom. This trend is a local problem for the study elementary schools. Guided by sociocultural learning theory that outlined ESL best instructional practices, the purpose of this case study was to examine the instructional practices of elementary ESL teachers. Ten ESL teachers from each grade level from 1st to 5th grades were interviewed and observed. Analysis and organization of the data through its transcription and coding led to the emergence …
New Teacher Mentees' Perceptions Of Mentorship As An Assimilation Strategy,
2017
Walden University
New Teacher Mentees' Perceptions Of Mentorship As An Assimilation Strategy, Konstance Laverne Grimble
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Attrition among new teachers with fewer than 5 years of experience was high in an urban high school in Texas. The high attrition rate is a problem for students, because high teacher turnover can result in teachers with low expertise. In this study, the conceptual framework used was Hord's professional learning community (PLC) model, which emphasizes trust and a utilization of a cycle of inquiry among colleagues to prepare lessons and assessments that affect student achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine new high school teachers' perceptions of assimilation techniques used by their mentors in the new teacher …
Literacy Training In An Urban High School Professional Learning Community,
2017
Walden University
Literacy Training In An Urban High School Professional Learning Community, Vicki Sandra Ross-Norris
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The purpose of this study was to explore the essence of professional learning experiences shared by teachers who participated in a professional learning community (PLC) at a New York City high school in the South Bronx. Guided by Hord's PLC characteristics and Bruner's constructivism theories, this phenomenological study addressed the research questions of what PLC practices urban high school teachers employ to support the academic-literacy achievement of their students of low social economic status (SES); the role of administration in the PLC process; and the roles of a shared mission, values, vision, norms, and collaborative knowledge on the functioning of …
Impact Of Audio Feedback Technology On Writing Instruction,
2017
Walden University
Impact Of Audio Feedback Technology On Writing Instruction, Martha Marie Bless
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
High school writing teacher self-efficacy has suffered because the workload and emotional energy of grading papers is arduous, and despite their efforts to provide formative written feedback, many teachers believe students ignore or misunderstand it. Although audio feedback holds promise for improving the clarity of instructor feedback and the self-efficacy of writing instructors in higher education, its usefulness for improving high school teacher self-efficacy has remained unexplored. This multiple case study investigated how high school teachers believed Kaizena, a digital audio feedback technology, influenced their writing instruction and self-efficacy. Participants, who were drawn from the global Kaizena user base, included …
Principals' Perceptions Of Student Performance On The Nigerian Senior Secondary Certificate Examination,
2017
Walden University
Principals' Perceptions Of Student Performance On The Nigerian Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, Comfort Fubara Oghu
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Failure of high school students on the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in Nigeria is severely limiting the number of students qualified to enroll in college. The purpose of this multiple case study of 6 high schools in southern Nigeria was to describe principals' perceptions of student performance on the SSCE and the principals' influence on school climate, teacher expectations and approaches, and student performance. The theories of reasoned action and planned behavior provided the framework for the study. The research questions focused on the extent to which principals developed and sustained a school climate that supported positive outcomes. Qualitative …
Secondary Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of A Professional Learning Community,
2017
Walden University
Secondary Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of A Professional Learning Community, Catina Shontelle Stewart
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) in schools has been shown to serve as a catalyst in transforming school culture and increasing the academic performance of students. Our school district mandated that PLCs were established at the research site, an urban Louisiana school, for the primary purpose of closing the achievement gap. Yet, recent data from the local district indicate that these PLCs have not resulted in capacity building for sustainable improvement. Ineffective implementation of the current PLCs may have contributed to the poor outcomes. One purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine teachers' perceptions of the …
Students' Participation In An Alternative To Suspension Program,
2017
Walden University
Students' Participation In An Alternative To Suspension Program, Yolanda Jordan Stovall
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Black and Hispanic students in the United States are suspended at a higher rate and lag behind White students academically. This project study examined student achievement and behavior in an alternative to suspension (ATS) program at a Midwest U.S. high school. The purpose of this mixed methods, concurrent embedded strategy study was to determine if participation in the ATS program decreased disciplinary referrals and improved student performance. This study was guided by social control theory, which suggests that when students are disengaged in the school environment, student/teacher and peer relationships are damaged and students turn toward delinquent behavior. The study …
Personality Factors That Influence Administrative Assistants' Participation In Continuing Education And Training,
2017
Walden University
Personality Factors That Influence Administrative Assistants' Participation In Continuing Education And Training, Rose Friend Schmitt
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Administrative assistants (AAs) provide critical office support for modern businesses, yet many do not participate in the continuing education and training (CE&T) required for rapidly changing technologies and new office procedures. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative correlational study was to investigate whether a significant predictive relationship exists between AAs' general self-efficacy (GSE), locus of control (LOC), and their participation in CE&T activities. The primary research question examined whether a significant predictive relationship existed among these variables, factoring in generation cohort and education level. Bandura's self-efficacy theory and Rotter's LOC theory provided the theoretical foundations. Volunteer AAs (n = 125) …
Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Perspectives On Instructional Practices,
2017
Walden University
Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Perspectives On Instructional Practices, Cindy Ziegler
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In a local middle school, students were not meeting standards on the state mathematics tests. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore mathematics teachers' perspectives on effective mathematics instruction vis-Ã -vis the principles of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Within this framework, the 6 principles in the creation of quality mathematics programs included equity, curriculum, teaching, learning, assessment, and technology. Seven teachers from around the country participated; all met the criteria of a graduate degree in education, at least 5 years of experience teaching adolescent learners, and at least 3 years teaching mathematics. Participants were …
French Speaking Students' Challenges In Academic Literacy At International University Of Grand-Bassam, Cote D'Ivoire,
2017
Walden University
French Speaking Students' Challenges In Academic Literacy At International University Of Grand-Bassam, Cote D'Ivoire, Laurent Bassa
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
International University of Grand-Bassam (IUGB) first opened its doors in Cote d'Ivoire, in a sociocultural context where a significant number of freshmen students were French speakers. Because the instructional language was English, students were faced with a language barrier that triggered more issues including difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The purpose of this study was to uncover French speaking students' challenges in academic literacy at IUGB and to suggest some solutions that would benefit students and instructors. The research questions focused on faculty members' perceptions of French speaking students' challenges in academic literacy, and their suggestions for improving …
Experiences And Barriers For Patient Safety Officers Conducting Root Cause Analysis,
2017
Walden University
Experiences And Barriers For Patient Safety Officers Conducting Root Cause Analysis, Cynthia Lightner
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Research shows that, when unintentional harm to patients in outpatient and hospital settings occurs, root cause analysis (RCA) investigations should be conducted to identify and implement corrective actions to prevent future patient harm. Executives at a small healthcare consulting company that employs patient safety officers (PSOs) responsible for conducting RCAs were concerned with the low quality of RCA outcomes, prompting this postinvestigation assessment of PSOs' RCA training and experiences. Guided by adult learning theory, the purpose of this study was to assess PSOs' RCA training and investigation experiences by examining self-reported benefits, attitudes, barriers, and time since training, and the …
The Effect Of Common Core Standards On Elementary Students' Learning,
2017
Walden University
The Effect Of Common Core Standards On Elementary Students' Learning, Christine Arner Macdougall
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
After implementing the Common Core Standards in 2012, local school districts faced additional costs in their annual budgets to train staff how to teach using these standards. One of the problems that faced the school district under study was whether to retain the Common Core Standards and to continue to fund the expense of training teachers . The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the Common Core Standards on student achievement in a local Pennsylvania school district using scores from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) for Grades 3 through 8. The research question addressed …
Perceptions Of Novice Elementary Teachers Regarding Retention,
2017
Walden University
Perceptions Of Novice Elementary Teachers Regarding Retention, Nathaniel Morris
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Teachers at the local study site continue to leave the elementary school and profession at increasingly high rates creating a teacher shortage. The school staff consists of 33 teachers, with an average of 10 resigning each year. Because of the shortage, state and local school boards, school districts, and school-based administrators share the need to understand this phenomenon. Guided by Herzberg's 2-factor theory, which noted that people are motivated by attributes such as recognition and by Maslow's motivational theory, which refers to human needs and personal beliefs as motivational factors, this study investigated factors that contributed to teacher attrition and …
Oversight And Quality Assurance Of Academic Programs Under F-1 Visas,
2017
Walden University
Oversight And Quality Assurance Of Academic Programs Under F-1 Visas, Faye Janine Pleso
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
An F-1 academic visa is required for foreign students studying at academic institutions in the United States. While requirements for acquiring the F-1 visa are a matter of federal policy, some of the principles regulating orientations, host families, and home-stays do not align with best practices found at the university level, which include quality student orientations and thorough trainings with a vetting process for host families and home-stays. This lack of regulation may place visiting students at risk in terms of personal safety and wellbeing and have negative impacts for program credibility and lost revenue. Using Stone's regime theory as …
