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Preschool Teachers' Lived Experiences Embracing Challenges In Preparing Students For Kindergarten: A Phenomenological Study, Rhodora A. Alonzo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to describe pre-school teachers’ lived experiences embracing challenges in preparing students for kindergarten at a public school district in Mid-Atlantic State. The theory that guides this study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory keying in on the zone of proximal development (ZPD), which represents the amount of learning possible by a student, given the proper instructional conditions. The research questions include, “What do pre-school teachers perceive as challenges to preparing students for kindergarten?” “What are teachers’ perceptions about the importance of alignment between the pre-school and kindergarten programs?” “What are markers of pre-school students that …

A Collective Case Study Of Teachers’ Perceptions Of Factors That Impact Teacher Retention At A Title I High School In A Southern U.S. State, Laronica Deniece Gilmore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand secondary teachers’ perceptions of the factors that influenced teacher retention at a Title I high school in a southern U.S. state. Although researchers have investigated the problem of teacher retention, few have studied factors that have influenced teacher retention in Title 1 high schools. The theories that guided this study included job demands-resources theory which analyzes employee well-being. This collective case study captured the insights of 10–15 current and former teachers at a Title I high school in a southern U.S. state. Data were collected through interviews, focus groups, and …

Navigating Two Worlds: A Phenomenological Study Of Lived Experiences Of High School Teachers Instructing Dual Credit Courses In South Texas, Cynthia F. Cid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the experiences of high school teachers instructing dual credit courses for which they serve as college adjunct faculty in South Texas. The central research question addressed in this study is: What are the experiences of adjunct faculty teaching dual credit courses in South Texas? The theory guiding this study is Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory. This study used a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. The settings of the research were three high schools that offer dual credit courses in Arroyo Nordville, located in South Texas. In this study, …

Is Being Respectable Enough?: A Critical Investigation Of Code-Switching And The Lived Experiences Of Black Leaders Who Work At Nonprofits In Bridgertown, Ramona Crawford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current literature on Black nonprofit leaders is scarce, causing little to be known about the experiences that they have encountered when navigating their roles and responsibilities. Even less literature is available on these Black leaders and their usage of code-switching strategies when attempting to navigate those same nonprofits. Based on themes uncovered during the literature review this study employs an in-depth narrative inquiry qualitative methodology. While using theories such as critical race theory (Delgado & Stefancic, 200; Ladson-Billings,1998), the politics of respectability (Higginbotham, 1993) and the theory of capital (Bourdieu, 1985; 1996) the researcher examines the leadership experiences of …

Gender Stereotyping In The Eyes Of Preschool Teachers And Teacher Candidates, Aysun Dogutas

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The purpose of this study was to discover what male preschool teachers and preschool teacher candidates face in the field of early childhood education. It was a qualitative study involving interviews with 10 volunteers: Five were preschool teachers and five were preschool teacher candidates. Four main themes emerged from the results: responses of participants’ parents, difficulties at the university, difficulties in the profession, and prejudices of children's parents. The results of the study also showed the following: (a) Teachers faced gender stereotypes, and teacher candidates believed they would eventually face them; and (b) if male teacher candidates could not perform …

Turtle Island (North America) Indigenous Higher Education Institutions And Environmental Sustainability Education

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Making Sense Of Inclusive Leadership In Public Higher Education: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Herbert L. Thompson Iii

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

This study’s purpose was to generate a context-specific analysis and description of the inclusion process at a Midwestern university, and how leaders make sense of said process. The participants in this study are members of an inclusion training program; these participants represent the perspective of stakeholders as well as designated leadership for organizational inclusion. This study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Data generation occurred through a series of semi-structured interviews. Analysis of data provided a detailed description of the sense making of inclusive leadership is provided to explain how educators experience the phenomenon contextually. Five superordinate themes emerged from this …

Starting School Socially And Behaviorally Ready: The Impacts Of Malleable Home- And School-Based Relationships And Community Setting, Rachel Schumacher

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Children growing up in disadvantage often enter school without the requisite social, emotional, and behavioral skills to be successful. Considering the importance of social-emotional skills for school and later life success, it is critical to understand factors associated with social-emotional development across the transition to elementary school. The current study will utilize an ecological approach to identify the influence of malleable home- (i.e., parent-child relationship [microsystem]) and school-based (i.e., home-school connection [mesosystem]) contextual factors over time (chronosystem) on children’s school readiness and social-emotional adjustment to early elementary school, and uncover the role of community setting (exosystem) in understanding children’s school …

Teaching Learning Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 3, Sastra Deemed To Be University

TLC Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Student Chronic Absenteeism And Perceptions Of School Climate, Misty Keller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there were significant differences in student chronic absenteeism between schools with high positive scores for perceptions of central components school climate and schools with low positive scores for perceptions of central components of school climate. This study assessed the difference in student chronic absenteeism among elementary schools rated high positive or low positive as well as among high schools rated high positive or low positive for perceptions of school engagement, school safety, and school environment. A series of chi square analyses were used to analyze data to determine if there …

Predicting Parent Attendance For Group-Delivered Pcit Workshops In Head Start Centers, Jennifer Tannehill

Dissertations

Group PCIT was offered to parents of Head Start children as part of a larger study that investigated the Impact of a Preschool Obesity Prevention (IPOP) Program Enhanced with Positive Behavioral Supports. The dependent variable (DV) in this study was number of group PCIT sessions attended. The independent variables were marital status, income, education level, parenting practices measured by the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire-PR, and responses from the Caregiver Feeding Style Questionnaire. Predictions were made regarding the impact each of these variables had on attendance to group PCIT sessions. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. No …

Transition Planning For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Transition Coordinator’S Perspective, Stephanie Quarles

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perception of transition coordinators as they help students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transition from high school to college or post-school activities, including postsecondary education and employment. This research study considered practices of transition coordinators and determined if they were aligned with current best practices, while highlighting challenges and barriers to good transition planning. Semi-structured interviews were used which revealed four major themes: (a) transition process differences, (b) financial issues, (c) parental/family involvement, and (d) transition planning practices. Findings revealed that poor transition outcomes are influenced by lack of standardized …

The Effects Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction On K-12 Educator Stress, Burnout, And Well-Being, Carmen Gumina

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this randomized, controlled study was to examine the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention, on educator stress, well-being, and burnout. A total of 44 educators volunteered to participate in this study: 22 were randomized into an 8-week MBSR intervention using a 100% virtual platform, and 22 were randomized into a control group that did not receive the MBSR intervention. Preand post-intervention assessments were collected from each participant using validated scales that measured the participants’ overall well-being, stress, and components of burnout. This study conclusively shows that MBSR can reduce the levels of self-reported stress, anxiety, and …

Rediscovering Hope: An Empirical Phenomenological Exploration Of The Veteran Peer Support Provider Journey Through Recovery And Beyond, Bobbi Smith

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this empirical phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the experience of United States military veteran peer support providers. Veterans are an at-risk population when it comes to mental illness, substance use, and suicide. Veterans in recovery for mental illness or substance use can become peer support specialists and use their own recovery as a model to help other struggling veterans. However, providing peer services exposes veteran peer providers to the traumatic stories and suffering of their peers. Per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5, such exposure can cause secondary trauma symptoms in the provider. Person-centered …

Leadership Qualities Of Female Presidents Serving The Tennessee Colleges Of Applied Technology System, Kelli Kea-Carroll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the leadership styles and characteristics of leadership of 11 female presidents in the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology system. The administrators’ perceptions of successful leadership, desirable outcomes of institutional leadership, and improvements resulting from perceived successful leadership styles that guided each participant’s work as a technical college president were examined. Using the research questions guiding this study, data were collected from individual, in-depth interviews with each female, technical college president. The analysis of the interviews identified the leadership styles of democratic, situational and participative as being the most common among …

The Impact Of Natural Playscapes On Toddler Play, Laura J. Pearce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A distinct lack of data related to the impact of natural environments on children birth to age 3 was identified by a thematic review of the existing literature. With this in mind, the researcher designed a limited scope quantitative study to explore the potential for extending the existing body of research to include this younger age. The study used a time sampling method to code behaviors that occurred in videos collected of children from 12 to 35 month who were playing on the playground at their childcare facility. The playscapes were classified as naturalistic or manufactured. The data was then …

Evidence-Based Program Selection And Duration Of Implementation Of Social-Emotional Learning As Related To Student Growth And Non-Academic Outcomes, Colleen K. Weems

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, nonexperimental study addressed the gap between research-established benefits and outcomes of social-emotional learning implementation as compared to actual instances of implementation. It has been suggested that social-emotional learning as a systemic initiative is necessary for school health (Elias et al., 2013). Additionally, most educators relay some confidence in the importance of social-emotional learning; however, around half report actual implementation within their school (Atwell & Bridgeland, 2019).

Focusing on social-emotional learning as a whole as well as the specificity of use of CASEL SELect programs, the research questions of this study explored differences between implementation and usage, length of …

Educator Perceptions Of Generational Poverty, Adverse Childhood Experiences And Student Learning, Rachel Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine educators perceptions of the effects of generational poverty and adverse childhood experiences on student learning and to understand the factors that might facilitate breaking the cycle of generational poverty and adverse childhood experiences with respect to student learning.

Data collection strategies included individual interviews and document review. Analysis of data occurred in three phases: categorization of data, building the explanation in narrative form and reexamination of the data. The analysis of the data was based on Payne’s idea of generational poverty and the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACE) study.

The credibility …

Against Sex Education Pedagogy, Sex Work, And State Violence, Caitlin Howlett

Education Studies Faculty publications

Why do we have sex education? For whom does it exist, and who is it against? This book explores these questions, ultimately calling into question the very existence of sex education itself. The analysis is centred on the marginalised lives of sex workers. This focus allows us to see sex education and sex work in a new light and provides insights into the implications of sex education in public schools and teacher education. By considering the relationship between sex education and sex work, Caitlin Howlett reveals the way in which sex education exists as a form of state violence, and …

Mental Health Awareness Training Manual: For Faculty To Help Students, Ricardo Vega

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health issues and stigma can affect students in many ways. The teacher-student relationship can be affected by the fear and inconsistent thoughts to be successful in college settings caused by mental health issues. First-generation college students face mental health issues due to support, education degree expectations, inhibition of uncertainty, and resources (Pascarella et al., 2004). This project is about providing communication strategies for faculty to help reduce stigma and provide students with resources to support their mental health.

The Resilience Of Black Female Leaders In Higher Education And Racial Microaggression, Simone P. Flowers-Taylor

All Theses And Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of Black female leaders in higher education and their encounters with racial microaggression. Additionally, the opportunity to understand the effects of racial slights within the workplace as either a mid to senior level leadership was also explored. Regardless of the multiple diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trainings within higher education, Black female leaders are experiencing their share of racial inequality based on their race, gender, or both (DeCuir-Gunby et al., 2019). The unique experiences of racial microaggression encountered by Black women, aligned with the framework of both the Black feminist theory and intersectionality theory respectively. …

Articulating The Importance Of Broader Relevance In Cures: From Definition To Actualization, Nikki T. Donegan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have emerged as a means to foster student' scientific reasoning, promote positive attitudes and motivations toward research, and increase persistence in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. In contrast to prescriptive laboratories, students enrolled in CUREs employ techniques and skills to collaboratively and iteratively address novel questions of broad relevance to audiences beyond the scope of the course itself. While many of the core components of CUREs are perceived to be relatively straightforward, definitionally-speaking, this latter dimension of broader relevance has, in contrast, remained largely ill-defined. In the series of studies presented herein, …

Understanding Teacher Sense-Making Discourse During Collaborative Professional Development Of An Expansively-Framed Computer Science Curriculum, Courtney Stephens

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Elementary school teachers are being increasingly asked to teach computer science—something that most teacher certification programs do not prepare them for. In an attempt to study how elementary teachers learn to teach computer science, I analyzed the ways that teachers behaved during a professional development accompanying the implementation of a fifth-grade computer science curriculum. My findings suggest that teachers benefit from professional development that encourages collaboration and active participation in teachers through discussion and modeling. Furthermore, my findings suggest that teachers benefit from using curriculum that deliberately connects new concepts to content that they are already familiar and comfortable with—a …

When The Desert Meets The Classroom: A Mixed Methods Study On Experiential Learning And Andragogy For Design-Situated Curricula, Julie K. Lamarra

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study’s significance examined how outdoor experience in place can influence students’ designs in the context of outdoor recreation. Historically, experiential education and outdoor education have been used widely across curricula but are not so commonly accepted in design education except in the form of internships. This study sought to examine how being in the place that activity occurs and learning about the cultural aspects of place, activity, and community impacted students’ designs.

This study looked at how existing theories such as Landscapes of Practice and the development of boundaries, knowledge, and identity are formed within communities of practice and …

Creating A Safe And Supportive School Climate For Transgender Students, Taylor Dewilde

Masters Projects

Research has shown that transgender students do not feel safe at school and as a result experience negative outcomes. An effective teacher training program on transgender students will help these students feel a greater sense of safety at school. Additionally, this project will explore inclusive curricular resources for educators. The research reviewed for this project includes the key findings for why transgender students feel unsafe that included bullying & harassment, untrained and unprepared staff, and unsafe spaces in school. It is imperative for transgender students to feel safe at school so they may have the same opportunities for success in …

Secondary Music Educators’ Perceptions Of And Relationships With Dominant Narratives Through Personal Philosophy, Pedagogy, And Practice, Kara Levchenko

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Recent calls for contemporary change in music education demand more than just an inclusive environment that prepares artistic citizens for lifelong music after public school. Our society has experienced overwhelming shifts since the introduction of music in the public schools in 1838. Yet, dominant narratives of secondary music ensemble education (SMEE) have been performed and expected as the norm since the establishment of large ensembles (e.g., bands, choirs, and orchestras), taking the stage to perform music of the traditional Western canon. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to discover ways in which secondary music ensemble teachers …

New York Paid Family Leave: Private-Corporation Employer Perspectives In Western New York, Dr. Theresa M. Roma

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this descriptive, empirical, phenomenological qualitative study, using corporate social responsibility theory, was to gain insight on 15 private employers’ experience of mandated Paid Family Leave (PFL) policy within 17 counties in Western New York. Business leaders and human resource representatives were placed in focus groups, divided by industry. New York’s mandated PFL was implemented on January 1, 2018. The policy enhanced the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by (a) adding a paid component, (b) expanding the definition of family, and (c) providing easier eligibility for employee utilization. The empirical research showed the positive and negative outcomes …

The Effect Of Self-Efficacy On First-Generation African American College Students, Benita Lynn Cabbler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As students transition into college, some matriculate with more family, social, and academic support structures than others. Students who are the first in their families to attend college may not have the support necessary to help them succeed, influencing a need for more college resources to assist students with becoming academically successful. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if there were significant differences in perceived self-efficacy between first-generation and non-first-generation African American college students. The independent variable was African American college student status: first-generation African American college students and non-first-generation African American college students. The dependent …

Don't Kill Mockingbird: An Educator's Guide To Teaching To Kill A Mockingbird In The 21st Century, Rachel Mayes Allen

Masters Theses

While To Kill a Mockingbird is easy to misinterpret and difficult to read at times, today’s students are capable of appreciating the novel just as much as previous generations; we as teachers simply have to give them that chance. By grounding our students in the novel’s historical context, navigating controversies gracefully and rationally, and creating meaningful learning experiences around the novel, we can help our students see To Kill a Mockingbird for what it is.

Teaching In The Age Of Covid-19—1 Year Later, Sahar D. Sattarzadeh

Education Studies Faculty publications

No abstract provided.