Digital Commons Network^™

A Multi-Case Study Examining The Practices Of Fourth-And Fifth-Grade Teachers In Title 1 Schools Who Use Specific Reading Strategies To Teach The Comprehension Of Informational Text, Candice Maureen Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multi-case study was to examine the practices of fourth- and fifth-grade teachers in Title 1 schools who use specific reading strategies to teach the comprehension of informational text. One theory that guided this study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory focusing on the zone of proximal development as it applies to what a learner can do with and without help, and his concept of learning and development, whereby a child does not develop independently of his or her environment. In addition, Bandura’s social cognitive theory served as a guiding theory for this study. The design was a multiple …

An Ex Post Facto Study Of The Glass Cliff Phenomenon In Higher Education Presidencies, Michelle Louise Samuel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study reviews if the glass cliff phenomenon is occurring in U.S. higher education presidential hires. This topic is essential to review as U.S. higher education institutions are primarily presided over by male presidents. Female presidents do exist, but more often at more risky institutions. One reason for the lack of equity may be the glass cliff phenomenon, which asserts that women are more likely to be hired into leadership roles at riskier institutions. This inequity in hiring practices places women in leadership positions at considerable career risk. This study is a nonexperimental study using an ex post facto, causal-comparative …

Texas Accountability System: The Relationship Between English Learners And The Ability To Meet Post-Secondary Readiness Standards, Zaida Saldivar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Every Student Success Act (ESSA) provides explicit College Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) standards requiring state and local district's responsiveness to ensuring all students meet given expectations. ESSA does not exempt at-risk students from meeting expectations; however, at-risk students such as English Learners (ELs) are under-represented in this area. Research shows that ELs are capable of performing and meeting given expectations as their non-EL peers with the appropriate linguistic accommodations. Unfortunately, the pressures for not meeting federal and state accountability standards has led educators to address the needs of ELs appropriately and others to ignore this fragile population. Researchers present …

The Effects Of A Dialogic Pedagogy In A Hybrid Advanced Placement Environmental Science Course On Students’ Learning Experience, Blake Alspach

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study evolved from the sudden shift in schools and districts in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Shifting from a traditional face-to-face AP Environmental Science classroom to a hybrid classroom required evaluating and revising the pedagogical choices made to create a positive learning experience. A hybrid classroom consists of face-to-face students in the classroom and online students attending the class simultaneously through video conferencing software. Teachers and students had little to no experience engaging in a hybrid learning model, thus creating a need to develop and implement effective instructional practices to support student learning. This qualitative action …

2021-July-01-Bluegrass Artists In Residence, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

Brittany Haas is widely regarded as one of the most influential fiddlers of her generation. She has performed with such artists as Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Bela Fleck, Dierks Bentley, Steve Martin and more, and currently tours with Hawktail.

JOHNSON CITY (July 12, 2021) – Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies and the Department of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University announce two new artists in residence for the 2021-2022 academic year: Brittany Haas and Mike Compton.

Haas is widely regarded as one of the most influential fiddlers of her generation. She grew up in Northern California, honing …

Learning Assistantships In College Mathematics: Value For Preservice Teacher Development, Kelly Gomez Johnson, Paula Jakopovic, Janice Rech, Angie Hodge-Zickerman

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

Increasing the participation and achievement of students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) from early grades to college coursework continues to be at the forefront of educational transformations and research. Faculty members at Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) plan, implement, and investigate how program structures might aid in the development, retention, and overall success of undergraduate students in STEM. Active learning classrooms, especially in mathematics, are one way IHE are reforming student learning experiences, and these environments also provide a unique opportunity to engage undergraduate learning assistants with faculty to support near - peer students and deepen their own …

Consulting Place As Stakeholder: Accessing The Input Of Ecological Community, Hunter Adkisson

Landscape Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This is a project about how landscape architects approach the landscape in their design process. Indigenous worldviews hold that the world is living and animate in its own right. When we consider stakeholder engagement in this light, the need arises to extend the definition of stakeholders to include the ecological communities of place – the flora, fauna, soils, and other non-human elements of place. To gather that input, I experimented with techniques to access a greater awareness of ecological community at two sites with different levels of urbanity and types of land management practices. This experimental approach was surprisingly successful …

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2021 - 2022, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

A Secondary Transition Planning Tool To Enhance The Needs Of Students With Disabilities Beyond High School: Case Study, Kamyka Glenn

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Youth with disabilities such autism, emotional disorder, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities are less likely to exit high school with a diploma, more likely to drop out of school and be unemployed, and less likely to enroll in postsecondary education and to live independently (Department of Education, 2011; Labor of Statistics, 2016). “The percentage of students with disabilities who spend at least 80% of each school day in general education has increased from 34% in 1990 to 63.5% in 2017, their levels of academic achievement, rates of school exit, and post school outcomes still fall well below those of their …

Technology Use In Education By Students And Teachers, Cody Dyhrkopp

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Technology in education is becoming more and more common in the digital era that we now live in. The purpose of this literature review is create awareness of students and teacher's feelings towards technology in education. In addition to their feelings, an abundance of positive ways to integrate technology in the educational setting were also identified. The ways to use technology in the classroom include play, digital storytelling, games based learning, blogs, coding, robotics and virtual field trips. Teachers can also use technology to make significant changes to their classroom settings by flipping the classroom, making their classrooms one to …

Crosssections, Summer 2021, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Physics.

CrossSections

Contents:

A Message from the Department Head, Dr. Paul Shand --- 1
Faculty Profile: Dr. Paul Shand --- 3
Department Happenings --- 4
Student Focus --- 6
Student Research --- 8
Alumni Profile --- 9
Alumni News --- 10
Science Education --- 11
In Memoriam --- 12
New Physics --- 15

Handwriting Correction System Using Wearable Sleeve With Optimal Tactor Configuration, Dhanya Nair, Grant Stankaitis, Sean Duback, Robert Geoffrion, Justin B. Jackson

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Handwriting remains an elusive skill with practice worksheets being the common method of learning. Since these worksheets provide only visual feedback and no quantitative feedback, it can often be a challenge to improve. For children with learning disabilities, learning handwriting skills is one of the most difficult tasks. We propose a handwriting training system that uses off-the-shelf webcam, a pen tracking software and a haptic sleeve which provides active feedback to the user based on their deviation from the original pattern. The sleeve has 4 individual motors that vibrate at different intensities based on the direction (right, left, up or …

Open Pedagogy: A Systematic Review Of Empirical Findings, Virginia Clinton-Lisell

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Open licensing used in open educational resources allows for teaching and learning practices that are not possible with traditional copyright. There is a growing body of empirical research on open pedagogy. However, definitions and instantiations of open pedagogy vary in the literature. The purpose of this review was to systematically search and synthesize empirical findings on open pedagogy. In this, the definitions of open pedagogy across empirical reports were examined. Generally, open pedagogy was defined in the context of open licensing affordances; however, there were exceptions particularly when examining faculty experiences with open pedagogy. Synthesized findings may be used by …

Finding Fit In The Science Classroom: Applying Self-Determination Theory To Twice-Exceptional Students, John Burrell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

In line with self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan, 2000; Ryan and Deci, 2017), this thesis explored how practices employed in a classroom between November 2020 through January 2021 affected satisfaction of students’ basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Thirteen twice-exceptional students (gifted and learning disabled) between grades 4-10 participated in this mixed-methods study at an independent school in the upper midwest. Additionally, four of the thirteen students were selected as case studies to be interviewed and observed throughout the study period. This study explored how the implementation of needs-supportive practices, along with COVID-19 mitigation strategies (including distance-learning), affected …

Awareness, Advocacy, And Activism: A Self-Study Of Social Justice Supervision Of Secondary Science Teacher Candidates, Stephanie A. Arthur

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the demographics of public K-12 schools continue to shift towards a wider representation including students of color and students from low-income households, it is critical for new secondary science teachers entering the field to be prepared to teach science that is culturally responsive to their students’ needs and communities. As teacher candidates continue their pedagogical growth while in their final clinical internships in high-needs schools, there is great potential for the university supervisor to support their development within a social justice framework. By encouraging and supporting teacher candidates to include culturally responsive approaches in the biology, chemistry, physics, and …

The Cost Of Being Black In Social Work Practicum, Nia Johnson, Paul Archibald, Anthony Estreet, Amanda Morgan

Publications and Research

The social work profession is not exempt from fueling institutional racism, which affects the provision of social work practicum education for Black social work students. This article highlights how the historical and current social cost of being Black in the United States presents itself within social work education’s signature pedagogy. Social workers who hold bachelor’s degrees in social work (BSW) are more likely to be Black than those holding master’s degrees in social work (MSW; Salsberg et al., 2017). It takes Black students longer to earn an MSW degree though they are more likely to hold a BSW while also …

The Impact Of Using An Online Learning Management System On Student Biology Achievement In A Hispanic Rural High School, Brent J. Burkott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose for this study was to determine the effect of using online Learning Management Systems with a Blended Learning pedagogy on state assessment achievement of high school biology students with interactions analyzed based on teaching method (Face-to-Face/Blended Learning), course type (Honors/Regular) biological sex (Male/Female), risk factor (At-Risk/Not At-Risk), and socioeconomic status (High/Low). The research questions were: (1) What is the difference in achievement scores between students taught in a Blended Learning environment with a Learning Management System verses a traditional Face-to-Face learning environment, and (2) What differences in achievement exist on the Texas assessment based on teaching method, course …

Exploring Teacher Agency And Literacy Practices In A Border-Region Secondary English Language Arts Classroom, Monica Sifuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers in the 21st century public school classroom are often faced with systemic pressures—from the state and district level—that may influence their instructional practice. With the increasingly globalized country and exponential increase in emergent bilingual students, it has become imperative that teachers reflect on the types of literacy pedagogy employed with their students, especially those teaching in border regions. Teachers must begin to view themselves as agents of change and as facilitators of learning.

This case study takes place in two high school settings that are in the same district and are located roughly 10 minutes from the US Mexico …

An Action Based Approach To Analyze Factors That Impact Academic Major And Career Choice Of Low-Income First-Generation College Students, James Kerry Winfield

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study analyzed career and major choice perceptions among low-income first-generation college students or FGCS while using self-efficacy as the primary metric. This study instituted a mixed-methods methodology to understand further student-related challenges and factors that affected their career and major decisions. Using a pretest-posttest design, participants’ self-efficacy levels were assessed using the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Assessment - Short Form (CDSE-SF). After analyzing the student performance in the five sub-factors of this instrument, these data were used to inform the individual interviews and focus groups. All participants were first-year students enrolled in a federally funded TRIO program, which …

Exploring The Relationships Between White Teachers And Black Students: A Qualitative Study On The Impact That Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And Positive Relationships Can Have On Student Success, Lindsay Johnson-Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study began as a way to investigate the impact of the relationships that White teachers have on their Black students and what strategies can be implemented to promote success in the absence of a positive relationship. Historical information provides the reader with the basic understanding of why academic deficiencies exist and continue to exist in the Black community and what strategies inside and outside of school can remedy the achievement gap. This qualitative study provides information directly from the students who experienced the inequities as told through interviews and an anonymous survey. The lack of diversity among …

Embedding Scientific Literacy In The Intermediate Elementary Classroom In Schools With High Underperforming Groups, Mia Clark

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Clark, M. How can educators embed scientific literacy into the intermediate classroom of disadvantaged groups? (2021) The achievement gap has been a widespread problem amongst minority groups, specifically African American students. The data reflects a continuous trend of underachievement caused by environmental factors at home and in school. As the state transitions to the 2019 Minnesota Science standards, teachers must learn to develop scientific literacy into the intermediate classroom and attempt to close the achievement gap amongst minority students. The capstone project uses the Sheltered Intervention Observation model, Marzano Framework, and A Framework for K-12 Science Education to answer the …

How Food Insecurity And Malnutrition Affect Academic Development And Success In School Aged Students, Quinn Davis

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Davis, Q. F. (2021). How Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Affect Academic Development and Success in School Aged Students. The question addressed in this Capstone is: How does food insecurity and malnutrition affect school success among elementary school students, and how can teachers combat food insecurity and malnutrition in schools with knowledge of community resources? This Capstone is the documentation of one educator’s exploration of the importance of food and nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Capstone explores effects of malnutrition and how it alters brain development, the importance of proper nutrition, and the importance of educator involvement in solving this …

Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning Into A High School Science Classroom To Improve Student Engagement And Learning Outcomes, Brianna Gasterland

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Inquiry-based learning is the practice of teaching and learning through asking questions and discovering answers through scientific processes. Rooted in progressive education, inquiry-based learning focuses on giving students the opportunity to actively engage in their learning, and improve learning outcomes. Inquiry-based learning has been met with skepticism due to the required resources and training to prepare educators to effectively implement inquiry lessons.The Next Generation Science Standards were written to implement inquiry-based learning methods in science curriculums across the United States. Due to the Minnesota Department of Education’s decision to draft the 2019 science standards using the Next Generation Science Standards, …

Incorporating Mathematics Stations Into The Current Curriculum, Stacy Moua

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Meeting the needs of every single student in a classroom is a struggle. However, providing a variety like math stations will help students succeed. Providing students with interactions, movement, independence, and small groups are some ways to solve that problem. Thus, I came up with the research question: How can mathematical stations be incorporated into the current curriculum and increase students’ math skills in a kindergarten classroom? The project will be a revision of Unit One of the Math Expressions curriculum for kindergarten. The project will include math stations and include what math stations are, what to do, and how …

Promoting Student To Student Discourse In Mathematics Classrooms, Kayla Kraska

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Within mathematics education, teachers are constantly looking for ways to better support and engage their students. Secondary mathematics teachers can do a lot of different things to promote engagement and achievement. One idea that is often overlooked in traditional classroom settings is the power of discourse. Giving students the opportunity to talk to one another about their mathematical ideas and engage in conversations with their classmates can have a lasting impact on, not only their achievement in mathematics, but also their mindset. Chapter one of this Capstone gives background information about the author and why this topic is so important …

Creating An Equity Based Genetics Unit Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And The Next Generation Science Standards, Katherine Quattrini

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that BIPOC (Black, Indigineous, People of Color) students often feel disconnected from science learning. Teacher bias, the way “achievement” is viewed, a lack of role models, and the traditional way in which science is taught has contributed to a lack of engagement among BIPOC students and thus a disproportionate amount of these students not entering into STEM fields as careers. Changing this narrative will involve reframing the way that science is taught and the way in which curriculum is created, and increasing interest in the sciences needs to start with creating a more equitable science curriculum for …

How Can Music Most Effectively Be Used In The English Learner Classroom, Robert Ryden

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Music is an omnipresent part of everyday life. Whether it’s in the background or the foreground, music is everywhere. This capstone project aims to deliver the best answer to the question: How can music most effectively be used in the EL classroom? Effectively using music in the EL classroom involves understanding how to thoughtfully select the right music for the right situation, how to use music to build community and social skills among students, and how music can be used to positively impact the language learning process. Through this project, educators are also given the opportunity to participate in a …

How Does Teaching In Outdoor Classrooms Impact Secondary Student Learning Of Environmental Science Concepts?, Robert Cole

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Learning in context through experiential learning is a widely recognized method of teaching students of all ages new content that allows for better comprehension of new concepts and ideas. In spite of this, many environmental science courses are taught in classrooms without utilizing nature as an additional aid to better student understanding. This capstone project asks the question, how does teaching in outdoor classrooms impact secondary student learning of environmental science concepts a nd includes a review of literature relating to experiential learning and outdoor classrooms. The second part is a curriculum unit that utilizes the framework: “backwards design” (Wiggins …

Promoting Early Literacy Learning, Margaret Baird

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone addresses the importance of early literacy exposure for later literacy development and academic achievement. Literacy levels when students enter school have been shown to be related to later reading achievement and academic success. Caregiver involvement is a significant part of early literacy development. The influence of caregiver involvement is the primary focus of the project. The website created for this project provides caregivers of children birth to age 5 with activities to facilitate the development of early literacy, and community resources dedicated to promoting early literacy. The project is intended for anyone who spends an extended amount of …

Engaging Middle Schoolers: Teaching Strategies For Boosting Independent Reading Motivation In Middle School, Hannah Schrempp

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone investigates and describes the factors that impact adolescent reading motivation. With access to modern technology, limited resources at home, and a shift in teaching practices, adolescent readers do not find value in reading. Many guardians struggle with supporting their middle school readers at home due to social and economic factors. A combination of articles, studies, and assessments, help answer the question, What factors impact reading motivation in middle school students to help them identify as readers? Research concludes that creating a print-rich environment, giving access to high-interest books, building a positive relationship with family members, and giving students …