Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Professional Learning Activities On Implementation Of California’S Quality Professional Learning Standards In Alignment With The Local Control Funding Formula Priority 2, Sadie Pinotti

Dissertations

The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the professional learning activities that experts perceive are necessary for local education agencies (LEAs) to effectively implement California’s Quality Professional Learning Standards (QPLS) in alignment with the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Priority 2. The study also examined the degree of importance that the identified professional learning activities will have and those most likely to be implemented. This study involved descriptive statistics using a Delphi study method. The Delphi panel consisted of 18 experts in the field of education and professional learning activities. The Delphi study consisted of 3 rounds of …

Undergraduate Sport Management Students’ Perceptions Of Leadership Skills Through Service Learning, Bryan Romsa, Katelyn Romsa, Jon Lim, Scott Wurdinger

Counseling and Human Development Faculty Publications

Researchers have discovered that service learning affects students’ academic, personal, and social development. However, currently there is a gap in literature analyzing ways in which service learning affects students’ perceived leadership skills. This study examined the effectiveness of service learning on the perceived leadership skills of 74 sport management undergraduate students at a mid-sized, Midwestern, public university using Kouzes’ and Posner’s Student Leadership Practices Inventory instrument, which examines leadership practices in five areas: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. The results of this study may help faculty members …

Educational Entrepreneurs: The Professional Experiences Of Five Edupreneurs, Audrey Nieswandt

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This dissertation aims to understand and elucidate the journeys of educational entrepreneurs in the K-12 education space. This qualitative investigation was motivated by three research questions: (1) What are some of the instigating, contributing, and continuing factors that motivate a business or an educational professional toward educational entrepreneurship? (2) How do the studied individuals describe and analyze their journeys from professionals to edupreneurs, and what were key turning points along the way? (3) How can individual stories of educational entrepreneurs help illuminate the topics surrounding educational reform, student and community needs, and teacher professionalism? To date, the literature examining educational …

A Mixed-Method Study Of Psychologists’ Use Of Multicultural Assessment, Lisa M. Edwards, Alan W. Burkard, Hadiya A. Adams, Shirley A. Newcomb

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Despite practice guidelines and ethical standards that provide imperatives for clinicians to utilize multicultural assessment (MCA), little is known about how the average psychologist actually conducts MCA. The current mixed-method study was designed to investigate clinicians’ training and use of MCA practice strategies. Participants were 239 (107 male, 131 female, 1 other gender) licensed psychologists residing in the United States and Canada who were recruited from the American Psychological Association practice directory to complete an online survey. Quantitative items on the survey included questions about the number and utility of MCA-related graduate courses and supervision experiences, and strategies and frameworks …

Conflicts Based On Race/Ethnicity Among Latina/O Students In Schools, Michael James Martinez

Dissertations (1934 -)

Conflicts based on race/ethnicity continue to occur today in a wide range of settings. Of particular interest are racial/ethnic conflicts that occur in schools due to the impact they can have on students’ emotional well-being, academic achievement and the overall and racial school climate. Evidence exists that indicates the occurrence of racial/ethnic conflicts in schools but little attention has been specifically given to within-group or intra-racial/ethnic conflicts. Latina/o students are particularly fitting for such an examination given the clear within group diversity that exists within the population. This study sought to gain a better understanding of conflicts based on race/ethnicity …

Single Gender Programming In A High School Setting: A Program Evaluation Project., Agnes Ghansah, Agnes Ghansah Ed.D.

Dissertations

This project discusses the effectiveness of single-gender classes in a secondary school setting. Stakeholders efficiently leverage all available time for highly engaged, innovative learning in a variety of interconnected contexts as a means for improving student-learning gains. This research project investigates deeper into how student academic achievement can be enhanced and by so doing, reduce disciplinary problems or see if there is a correlation.

The project analyzes student test scores data of those in single gender classes and those in mixed classes and compares the result. Attendance and disciplinary issues are investigated among students of single-gender classes and their counterparts …

Implementing A Cohort Model For Algebra 1, Geometry, And Algebra 2 At One High School: A Change Leadership Project., Agnes Ghansah, Agnes Ghansah Ed.D.

Dissertations

This project addresses a high school that has low test scores in the mathematics department. The scores, especially of the core math courses are at or below that of the district level. I investigated into potential causes of the problems and how this could be rectified by proposing a change.

I collected some students’ tests scores data of the math courses, and then conducted surveys and interviews of the teachers of these courses to gain a better insight into the problem. The results prove my previous notion that the scores were not good and that both teachers and administration would …

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 …

Making The Best Better: Assessing The Professional Development Needs Of Kentucky 4-H Agents, Charles E. Stamper

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Charles E. Stamper on March 31, 2017.

Vision, Mission, And Technology Implementation: Going One-To-One In A Catholic School, Vincent Cho

Journal of Catholic Education

As one-to-one computing initiatives become commonplace, some Catholic school educators might find themselves wondering what, if anything, such technologies might have to do with Catholic identity. This case study drew upon survey and interview data to explore the intersection of Catholic vision and mission with the implementation of a one-to-one (BYOD) initiative. The study finds that Catholic values informed the school’s support of teachers, as well as its efforts to help students navigate the personal and social issues associated with devices. In the end, teachers were positive about one-to-one. Many teachers had experimented with devices in their classrooms, and some …

Developing The Skills Of Principals In Low-Performing Schools, Stephen R. Jenkins, Randall D. Peffer

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Stephen R. Jenkins and Randall D. Peffer on March 20, 2017.

Interest-Based Bargaining: Changing Employer-Employee Relations At Youngstown State University, Patrick W. Carlton

Public Policy and Leadership Faculty Research

This study is based upon interviews conducted with over two dozen individuals centrally involved with the collective bargaining movement at Youngstown State University of Ohio. (YSU) The experiences and memories of several participants extend back to the 1960’s, at which time they were newly appointed faculty members. Within the group are several retired persons who spoke from the comfortable position of relative political invulnerability. Others were at the time of their interviews actively engaged in university teaching and administration. Initial interviews concerning the newly-established Interest-based bargaining process took place within eight months of the negotiatory events, well before the “ravages …

Hbcus: Accreditation, Governance And Survival Challenges In An Ever-Increasing Competition For Funding And Students, Jerry Crawford Ii

Journal of Research Initiatives

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are facing challenges to their continued existence on several fronts. One is fiscally, as federal funding for education has been cut and the responsibility for paying for higher education has been levied on students and parents. Another challenge is the amount of endowment dollars available to them and lastly, there are questions today as to if HBCUs are still needed in a society that has allowed African-Americans to enroll in Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Both of these challenges are contingent on the most critical issue – accreditation. The loss of accreditation of units and …

Characterizing Exceptional Superintendent Leadership In Ethnically And Economically Diverse School Districts, Nicholas Henkle

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined ‘exceptional’ superintendent leadership in ethnically and economically diverse school districts. The purpose of the study was to use comparative case studies to better understand the beliefs and strategies these proven leaders employ to positively impact achievement and close the opportunity gap for students in ethnically and economically diverse school districts. The study examined three superintendents from the state of Illinois with respect to their philosophy, identified district strengths, culturally responsive attitudes and actions, leadership style, core beliefs, direct impact on students, and decision-making process to identify commonalities and differences that exist.

Culturally responsive leadership was the theoretical …

Content Trends In Sustainable Business Education: An Analysis Of Introductory Courses In The U.S., Nancy E. Landrum, Brian M. Ohsowski

School of Environmental Sustainability: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Purpose – This study aims to identify the content in introductory business sustainability courses in the USA to determine the most frequently assigned reading material and its sustainability orientation. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 81 introductory sustainable business course syllabi reading lists were analyzed from 51 US colleges and universities. The study utilized frequency counts for authors and readings and R analysis of key words to classify readings along the sustainability spectrum. Findings – The study reveals the most frequently assigned authors and readings in US sustainable business courses (by program type) and places them along the sustainability spectrum from weak …

The Impact Of A Community Of Practice On The Development Of The Three Tiers Of Organizational Intelligence In The Institutional Research Professional, Rebecca S. Fidler-Sheppard

Theses and Dissertations

The demands and expectations on Institutional Research (IR) have continued to expand over the years, yet there have been no studies on cost effective ways to develop and maintain the knowledge and skills needed by professionals in the field. This quantitative study supplemented with limited qualitative data explored the impact of participating in an Institutional Research (IR) affinity group on the development of the three tiers of organizational intelligence and the strength and nature of the social network that exists among the participants. Surveys were collected from members of a community college IR affinity group in New Jersey along with …

The Role Of The Principal Walk-Through, Karen Lee Holgersen

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the principal's perspective of the efficacy of the principal walk-through as a tool to improve and gather formative feedback about teaching. Principals from selected schools in one district were interviewed to further clarify their feelings and provide insight into how they engaged in the process. The findings suggest that the principals in this study have adapted the classroom walk-through to meet the current requirements of an instructional leader.

Revitalizing The Hero Within Teachers: An Analysis Of The Effects Of The Psycap Development Training, Mahmut Kalman, M. Semih Summak

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of the study was to investigate middle school teachers’ perceptions of the effects of a teacher-targeted intervention, that is, Psychological Capital Development Training Intervention (PCDTI), aiming at enhancing positive psychological capacities of teachers. The PCDTI was prepared and implemented by the researchers at a state university in a large city in Turkey during the academic year of 2014-2015. The implementation of the PCDTI lasted for 2 months, once in a week, and after completing the training intervention, interviews were conducted with twelve teachers who were the participants in the experimental group. Data were gathered through one-on-one interviews and …

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of The Impact Of Transitioning To Personalized Learning, Laura E. Hurtienne

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This study focused on the lived experiences of a team of four rural middle school teachers as they made the transformation from traditional classrooms to personalized learning classrooms. The teachers were beginning their third year of personalized learning implementation as the study took place. The researcher investigated participants’ perceptions of the implementation of personalized learning in their classrooms. Three research questions focused on the changes that occurred during the transformation to personalized learning. Participants provided data through document review consisting of reflections, coursework, presentations, newspaper articles, and the school district video on personalized learning. In addition, individual interviews and a …

What Gets Lost In The Numbers: A Case Study Of The Experiences And Perspectives Of Black And Latino Faculty In Academic Medicine, Sylk M. Sotto Santiago

Higher Education: Doctoral Research Projects

The doctoral research examines the experiences and perceptions of underrepresented minority faculty in academic medicine through a case study approach. The study focuses on several stages as presented through a model referred to as the faculty life cycle. Specifically, the study addresses the socialization, mentoring, and professional development experiences of URM faculty in academic medicine. How do URM faculty experience their environment, culture, and climate in academic medicine? And what is their perception of the impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives and offices in academic medicine? This study utilizes the conceptual frameworks of Inclusive Excellence (IE} and Culturally Engaging Campus …

A Capacity Building Framework For Community-University Partnerships, Katherine S. Hogan, Jacqueline M. Tynan, Virginia J. Covill, Ryan P. Kilmer, James R. Cook

Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice

With a focus on organizational capacity building, community-university (CU) partnerships have the potential to yield valuable resources for community nonprofits, which increasingly have to accomplish more with fewer resources. Although a growing body of literature documents the success of such arrangements, both community agencies and universities often face challenges in managing such partnerships. With a focus on student involvement, this paper describes a framework for conceptualizing CU partnerships around capacity building, with efforts designed to address particular program needs as related to the organization’s capacity goals. These needs can be viewed as involving five levels of capacity building: 1) monitoring …

The Role Of Communication In Strategic Planning At California Community Colleges, Linda M. Carvalho Cooley

Dissertations

Purpose: Community colleges continue to face an ever-changing environment. California Community Colleges are confronted with state initiatives, accountability, and accreditation changes that require integrated planning processes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the role of communication as perceived by community college planning committee members with regard to the strategic planning processes at California Community Colleges. A secondary purpose of this study was to explore the differences between the perceptions of administrators, faculty and classified committee members involved in planning processes at California Community Colleges.

Methodology: For this qualitative study, committee members directly involved in the planning process …

The Revolving Door Of Education: Teacher Turnover And Retention Amongst The Graduates Of A Liberal Arts Teacher Education Program, Gregory W. Dachille, Chloe Ruff

Education Faculty Publications

In the United States, elementary and secondary education teachers comprise 4% of the entire civilian workforce (Ingersoll, 2001). The composition of that 4% is changing because of teacher turnover. According to recent statistics, 46% of teachers leave the classroom within the first five years of teaching and 9.5% of teachers leave the classroom within their first year (Rinke, 2014; Riggs, 2013; Zheng & Zeller, 2016). This study is designed to examine the teaching experiences of graduates of one teacher education program and the potential differences between graduates who stay in teaching and those who leave. Throughout this study, the guiding …

Students With Intellectual Disabilities Accessing Postsecondary Education Settings: Promoting Education Equity: Seeing Students For Their Ability First And Supporting Their Development As Contributing Members Into A Diverse Society, Kathleen N. Mercier

Dissertations

The purpose of this ethnographic study was to examine and describe the lived experiences of seven students with intellectual disabilities (ID) participating in two postsecondary education (PSE) settings in Southern California that were aligned to the Think College Standards-Based Conceptual Framework for Inclusive Higher Education.

Through a qualitative approach of ethnography, the researcher examined various stakeholders’ awareness and ability to support students with ID in higher education settings in an effort to support future development of PSE programs for students with ID. Methodology tools included classroom observations, individual interviews, and examination of artifacts from the sample of PSE settings in …

The Impact Of Learning Communities On Student And Faculty Engagement: The Case For Linking College Success And Basic Skills English Courses At "A" Community College, Mary Beth Boylan

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this action research study were to: examine the (a) impact of linking basic skills English and College Success courses on the engagement and satisfaction of students and faculty at a branch campus of a large community college, (b) chronicle changes in scheduling, registration, and assignment of faculty as the initiatives are grown, and (c) examine my espoused servant leadership and social justice orientation, as I lead the project using Kotter's (1996) eight-step process for creating major change.

The quality of the relationship between the learning community faculty members had an impact on satisfaction for students and faculty. …

Stem High School Teachers’ Views Of Implementing Pbl: An Investigation Using Anecdote Circles, Aimée L. Dechambeau, Susan E. Ramlo

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) has been gaining in popularity, especially within the context of STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) schools. Program assessments for these schools typically focus on student standardized test scores rather than the needs of the teachers. This study utilized anecdote circles, storytelling via moderated group discussions, to investigate teachers’ needs related to developing and implementing authentic, interdisciplinary PBL activities in an urban, public STEM high school. Teacher experiences and viewpoints were explored within three broad themes: assessment; coaching and training; and authentic learning. The analyses provide insights for transitioning a school for effective PBL implementation as well …

Reading Achievement: A Study Of Perceptions Of First-Grade Teachers And The Relationship Between Attendance And Reading Achievement, Mykie C. Nash

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study included an in-depth look at the perceptions of first-grade teachers in southwest Missouri to gain insight into the knowledge, understanding, and perceptions of teachers when considering reading achievement and how it relates to Reading Recovery, student engagement, professional development, and socioeconomic status. A second piece to the study included a quantitative examination of the correlation between reading achievement and attendance. Focus groups were formed and an 11-question interview was conducted to gather insight into the perceptions of first-grade teachers across five different counties. Additionally, reading data and attendance from 249 students in those schools were used to …

The Relationship Between Teacher Evaluation Ratings And Student Achievement In A Rural, Midwest School District, Margaret A. Mathus

Dissertations

While many factors have been identified as influencing student academic performance, previous studies consistently determined effective teaching as the most significant factor, within the control of educators, leading to improved student achievement. Nonetheless, educational experts, statisticians, and policy-makers alike acknowledged the complexity of isolating the contributions of individual teachers on their students’ achievement. Converging with these changing beliefs about teaching and learning, the landscape of education faced an additional challenge — marked by an increased demand for schools and individual teachers to be held accountable for the academic growth of his/her students. Local districts have been empowered to create and …

The Impact Of A Professional Development Initiative On Technology Integration Within Instruction, Angela M. Daigle

Student Work

The purpose of professional development is to give teachers the skills and dispositions that they need to increase student achievement. There are many programs and initiatives that school districts can follow, but do they actually work. This is the question that school districts have to be asking themselves in order to determine if the professional development is worth the investment. Does the training that we give our teachers make a difference in what they do every day with students? This research seeks to answer the question ”Did the professional development initiative developed and implemented by this Midwestern suburban school district …

The Perceptions Of High School Principals In Three Central And Northern California School Districts On The Implementation Of Restorative Practices And Resistance To Change Through The Theoretical Lens Of Kotter’S Eight-Stage Change Model, Dena M. Fiori

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe the perceptions of high school principals in three Central and Northern California school districts on the implementation of restorative practices and resistance to change through the theoretical lens of Kotter’s eight-stage change model.

Methodology: For the purpose of this study, the case study method was used to answer descriptive and explanatory questions that focus on the what, why, and how the research occurred during the implementation of restorative practices (Yin, 2011). The purpose of conducting a descriptive case study was to understand further, via interviews, the perspectives …