Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Secondary Administrators: Looking At Their Experiences And Practices Supporting Science Instruction, Venicia Ferrell

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Secondary school administrators play a vital role as instructional leaders, specifically those that are aimed at improving students’ learning of science content (Hill & Grossman, 2013). Unfortunately, administrators rarely have a background in science (Halverson et al., 2011). Little is known about an administrator's knowledge of science practices and their ability to support science instruction at the secondary level. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore the relationship between the structure and focus of an administrator’s instructional roles and their capacity to foster quality science support and instruction for teachers and students. Administrators' perceptions of effective support actions …

Leading Hispanic Serving Community Colleges: Latinx Faculty Perceptions About The Aacc Competencies, Sanjuanita Chavira Scott

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Latinx students are likely to enter postsecondary education at a community college. This phenomenon has led to the increase in community colleges being designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions. The designation of Hispanic Serving is not driven by mission, but rather by number of enrolled students who identify as Latinx. This preliminary descriptive study examined the perceptions of faculty at four Hispanic Serving community colleges in Texas regarding their proficiency on leadership competencies for faculty, whether there were differences in the perceptions of Latinx and non-Latinx faculty members, and whether certain leadership competencies influence faculty members’ decisions to pursue leadership opportunities. …

The Importance Of Data-Informed Decision-Making When Analyzing And Selecting Resources For Social-Emotional Learning: A Process For Resource Review And Selection, Taylor S. Lindman

Masters Projects

A rise in student behaviors across the nation have forced educators to consider the most appropriate means for reducing impulsive, defiant, oppositional and aggressive student behaviors. Contrary to historical belief, zero tolerance policies and punitive measures that are reliant on office referrals and suspensions make students feel isolated from the school environment and perpetuate behavior. Growing empirical research supports an alternative solution, social-emotional learning programs, that are commonly focused on student competency development specific to self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Through the development of these social-emotional learning skills, students demonstrate improved attitudes, behaviors and academic achievement, as …

Professional Development Workshops On Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (Crp) And Its Impact On The Pedagogical Awareness Level Of Educators At Abc Middle School, Scott Napier Floyd

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of professional development workshops on culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) and its impact on the pedagogical awareness level of middle school educators at ABC Middle School. This study took place during the Fall 2020 semester with seven participants: two eighth-grade social studies teachers, one seventh-grade science teacher, one eighth-grade science teacher, a German language teacher, a physical education teacher, and a front office clerical worker. Data were collected through pre- and post- questionnaires, post workshop journal reflections (written), field notes/researcher notes, and individual interviews. The results revealed that the workshop series had a positive impact on …

Use And Analysis Of 5e Inquiry Activities In Online General Chemistry Courses, John Ray Kiser

Theses and Dissertations

This action research dissertation provides an overview of inquiry-based learning in online general chemistry course. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, many science courses have been converted to an online format. In order to increase student learning and attitudes in online chemistry class, two inquiry-based learning activities were developed and implemented. The results on student learning and attitudes were measured by monitoring discussion forum posts, a student survey, and an assessment test. Results show that students had positive results in both learning and attitudes. Furthermore, the researcher’s understanding of inquiry and ability to implement inquiry learning were studied by use of …

Thinking Like An Historian: Improving Engagement Through Project-Based Learning In A United States History Classroom, George Gray

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study is to determine the efficacy of project-based learning activities for improving students’ critical thinking skills and engagement in the classroom. South Carolina’s creation of the United States History end-of-course assessment has led many social studies teachers to design ‘teach to the test’ lesson plans, which this researcher’s students seem to find mundane and uninspiring. Although these teaching methods have helped some students perform well on the end-of-course test, these tactics have sapped their interest in social studies and have not prepared them to be responsible citizens in an active democracy. The social studies …

Benefits Of Video Feedback On Low Performing Female Cadets In Physical Education: An Action Research Study, John Borman

Theses and Dissertations

Learning novel physical motor skills can be frustrating for some students. A lack of clear feedback further exacerbates the problem for students’ skill development. This study examined the benefits of using video recording as augmented feedback to inform motor skill development in an applied gymnastics course at a service academy. The primary aim was to identify the effects of video feedback on the instructor/student process for skill evaluation and skill improvement. The secondary aim was to examine at what degree does giving video feedback promote female student motivation to learn, use of deliberate practice, autonomy, and competence. This action research …

The Impact Of Plcs On Teacher Self-Efficacy, Paula Lynn Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of a professional learning community on teacher self-efficacy at Elm Primary School in rural South Carolina. The literature suggests that PLCs are an amenable approach to improving individual teacher efficacy beliefs and classroom practices (Corcoran, 2007; Guskey, 2003). For this study, self-and collective efficacy were measured using Likert-scale surveys, semi-open ended interviews, participant journals, observation and field notes, and artifacts. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected, making this a mixed-methods study.

The results confirmed and expanded understandings about PLCs' impact on efficacy. Participants recognized goal setting, actions, and results as important qualities of collaboration …

Formation Of A Professional Learning Community To Promote Metacognitive Teaching: An Action Research Study, Margaret Gregg Long

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study examined how implementing a Professional Learning Community (PLC) supports the development of metacognitive teaching. Participants were ten technical college science instructors. While PLCs are common in K-12 education, they are less employed at the postsecondary level. There is a gap in the literature regarding PLCs in the context of postsecondary education, and the metacognition of postsecondary level educators. A PLC was used as an intervention over a 15-week semester to aid in the development of metacognitive teaching. Instructor use of metacognition was assessed using pre- and post-surveys, questionnaires, and interviews. The study's results supported literature …

A Study Of Prosocial Behavior, Workplace Civility, And Work Engagement Among Employees In Higher Education, Shelley Haddock Dempsey

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative research study examined the relationship between prosocial behavior, work engagement, and workplace civility among higher education professionals. The specific university employees it studied were student affairs staff, academic affairs administrators, and faculty. Responses to a survey by a national random sample allowed the researcher to determine the relationship between a respondent’s prosocial nature and both their workplace civility and their work engagement. In the end, all three hypotheses were supported by the data: (a) prosocial behavior scores of student affairs staff and academic affairs administrators are higher than those of faculty, (b) the prosocial behavior scores were positively …

The Relationship Between Enabling District Structure And Principal Self-Efficacy In South Carolina, Justin Lee Nutter

Theses and Dissertations

The role of the school principal is ever expanding in both scope and complexity. School districts must consider how to recruit, develop and retain principals to lead their schools. Principal self-efficacy (PSE) is primal to the leader’s overall positive effect on teaching and learning, yet the antecedents of PSE are not fully defined. This quantitative study used social cognitive theory to investigate the potential influence of enabling district structure (EDS) on the development of PSE within South Carolina public-school principals. Due to increased focus on consolidation of the state’s schools, the study also explored the potential relationship between EDS and …

The Impact Of Prioritization Of Independent Reading On Male, Struggling Adolescent Readers’ Engagement, Motivation, And Achievement, Meagan Wagner

Theses and Dissertations

To become better readers, students must read more and more, increasing the volume, complexity, and variety of books chosen. While independent reading is the best avenue by which to do this, many teachers still struggle to devote their limited instructional time to independent reading. Specifically addressing the context of my school, there was a clear distinction in gender and reading: boys were falling behind, less engaged, less motivated to read than girls. This research aimed to address the gender gap in reading by making independent reading a priority in the classroom. As a case study, five male eighth graders were …

Examining College-Level Ells’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs And Goal Orientation, Hong Shi

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Modeling Practices On Middle School Science Students, Anna Caspar

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The objective of this extended literature review was to answer the question: What is the impact of modeling practices on understanding phenomena and engaging all students in a meaningful science curriculum and pedagogy in the secondary science classroom? Through research of current literature this paper summarizes how the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) uses modeling to create an engaging and inclusive learning environment for all students. The literature suggests modeling is an effective practice to promote student self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement to help students from diverse backgrounds find success and feel as though they can do science. However, the implementation …

Implementing Outdoor Education Curriculum: The Benefits Of, Barriers To, And Materials Required For Successful Outdoor Education, Jacob Hradsky

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Examining research shows that outdoor education has a number of benefits for students. These benefits range from academic to social emotional to physical (Fagerstam and Blom, 2012; Mygind, 2007; Pretty et al., 2009). Research also shows that many teachers report a variety of barriers to successful outdoor education implementation (Ernst, 2007; Powers, 2004), and that teachers need to understand how to use outdoor spaces to teach effectively (Eick, 2012; House, 2008). As a result, outdoor education is not being implemented widely by teachers and the benefits that come with the outdoor exposure are not being utilized. This project seeks to …

Utilizing Public Involvement As A Driver For Conservation Efforts, Alexander Colling

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Public lands have long been treasured by the citizens and communities that surround them. They provide a multitude of recreational opportunities to the people as well as needed ecological services to the greater ecosystems in which they are located. The management of these lands traditionally on governmental agencies or non-profit organizations. The goal of this project is to explore and develop avenues for public involvement in the natural resource management process and to answer the question of: How can land managers harness public involvement and understanding to advance conservation efforts? The Public Parallel Natural Areas Management System (PPNAMS) was developed …

Increasing Student Creativity And Connection To Nature Through Equitable Nature-Based Experiences During Middle School Distance Learning, Benjamin Olofson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This paper seeks to answer the question: How can middle school teachers increase student creativity and connection to nature through equitable nature-based experiences during distance learning? This paper reviews the history of nature based learning (NBL) and exploratory learning, and examines the positive outcomes of these practices. These benefits include increased engagement and interest in normally uninterested students (Dettweiler et al., 2015; Truong et al., 2016), improved grades (Camassao & Jagannathan, 2018), and reduced disruptive episodes and dropouts among “at risk” students (Ruiz-Gallardo et al., 2013 as cited in Kuo et al., 2019). Although many research studies have shown positive …

Behind The Screens: A Social And Emotional Learning Approach To Social Media, Lauren Koller

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question for my capstone project is: How can social and emotional learning (SEL) be used as a tool in the classroom to address and combat the toxicity stemming from adolescent social media usage? I have designed a student curriculum grounded in SEL methods titled “Digital Life Studies” to be implemented in middle level settings during advisory periods. Researchers and educators alike have observed that an increasing amount of students in middle level settings are gaining access to technology that connects them to the internet. A survey conducted by Common Sense Media revealed that 81% of teenagers (defined as …

Growing Mindset And Goals: A Blog Designed To Lead Intrinsic Motivation In Students, Alison Prahl

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research conducted by Dr. Carol Dweck clearly demonstrates the importance of building a foundation of growth mindset in order to build resiliency in students. Not only does this resiliency help students overcome challenges but also supports students in building lifelong skills, such as: forming and carrying out goals, receiving and utilizing feedback, and increasing intrinsic motivation in a variety of settings. The educational blog designed for this project focuses on sharing research relating to mindset theory, gifted students, goal setting, feedback, intrinsic motivation in adolescents, and curriculum materials. It also provides educators with free resources to begin implementing a combination …

Incorporating Physical Activity In The Kindergarten Classroom, Kendra Buteyn

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Physical activity is something all children need. In today’s world, young children are spending more time on devices and are getting less physical activity at school and home due to busy and overbooked schedules. Research conducted by Abdelbary, Castelli et al., Conyers & Wilson, and Helgelson show that when children move more, they can increase their academic achievement, on-task behavior, and their overall health. Keeping the body active promotes mental clarity by increasing blood flow to the brain, making activity vital to both learning and physical and neurological health (Abdelbary, 2017). The collection of research in this capstone project helps …

Psych 101: Creating An Equitable Psychology Curriculum To Teach Students Dbt Mental Health Skills In An Alc Setting, Cyrus Butler

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Butler, C. (2021). Psych 101: Creating an Equitable Psychology Curriculum to Teach Students DBT Mental Health Skills in an ALC Setting. The research question addressed in this project was, how can we create an equitable psychology curriculum to teach students DBT skills in an ALC setting? The rising mental health needs of modern teenagers were specified. The historical mistreatment of women, people of color, homosexual people, and transgender people in the field of psychology was detailed. Additionally, mental health outcome disparities and misdiagnosis of disorders for people of color were reported. Historical and current realities of education of marginalized populations …

Enlaces In Reflections And (Re)Memberings As Latina Border- Crossers: Journeys Of Childhood And Professional Un/ Welcomings, Ana Carolina Díaz Beltrán, Paty Abril-Gonzalez, Cinthya M. Saavedra, Michelle Salazar Perez

Mexican American Studies Faculty Publications

We are humbled to be part of this special issue honoring the life work of Jonathan Silin. His scholarship and activism have opened spaces for future generations, like our own, to share our testimonios. We are straddling between being former early childhood teachers and current teacher educators—between our profe lives and our everyday lived experiences as Latina border crossers. Testimonios, which we engage in for this piece, have herstorically captured intimate tellings that connect individual struggles and strengths to the larger collective (Delgado Bernal, Burciaga, & Flores Carmona, 2012; Latina Feminist Group, 2001). It is in these testimonios that women …

Saint Mary's Magazine - Spring 2021, Saint Mary's College Of California

Saint Mary's Magazine

No abstract provided.

A Case Study Of Pedagogical Practices That Boost Chinese Students’ Oral English Self-Confidence, Michael D. Knapp

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Practice is necessary for developing oral English proficiency, but many Chinese learners of English lack the self-confidence to practice oral English; furthermore, students’ self-confidence deficiency is perpetuated by insufficient oral English proficiency. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to discover pedagogical practices that break the cycle of the reciprocal effect of deficiencies in oral English and in self-confidence in Chinese adult PhD non-English major students. Six participants who raised their oral English proficiency and self-confidence during their PhD studies described their English learning journeys by responding to interview questions. Analyzation of data from interview responses developed into two …

Increase Enrollment Of Underrepresented Students In Advanced Mathematics Classes: A School Improvement Plan, Sarah Dougherty

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Providing minority students with the opportunity to engage in advanced mathematics courses affords them access to more engaging learning opportunities, increased motivational beliefs towards mathematics, and potentially higher future earnings dependent on the career they pursue. Examining the present enrollment statistics in math courses at the research site, the need to transform the enrollment in advanced math courses to represent the school population demographics is revealed. In response, a school improvement plan was developed using research-based initiatives. This plan includes teaching a mixture of advanced and non-advanced math courses, teachers advising non-AP and non-IB students to enroll in advanced math …

Pella Middle School Technology Integration School Improvement Plan, Morgan Ernst

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The demands and use of technology are constantly changing in the school setting. Teachers in the Pella Community School District felt as though they did not have adequate technology skills to deliver effective instruction virtually and requested further training. This school improvement plan contains a literature review to determine effective components of professional development. The plan also outlines a semester of professional development sessions for technology integration including tools and deliverables to demonstrate evidence of teacher learning.

Interdisciplinary Learning And The Effects On Students, Carrie Hubert

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

In order to be an effective teacher, it is important to prepare students for their future in the 21st century. Students are expected to be able to problem-solve and make connections beyond the silos of single discipline classrooms. The purpose of this literature review was to examine interdisciplinary instruction and how it affects student learning. While researching, multiple themes arose including how interdisciplinary learning improves student engagement as well as efficacy. In addition, studies indicate that interdisciplinary methods help students develop problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills. Last, interdisciplinary learning creates opportunities for students to build relationships with both teachers and …

Participation In Physical Education And The Effect On Mental Health, Kacie O'Connor

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review is an examination of the effects physical education has on students’ mental health. The importance of youth’s mental health is a critical topic. Physical activity is a large part of having good mental health. This literature review aims to provide insights into the effects physical activity and physical education have on students/youth mental health. The mental health issue in the United States is higher than ever before and needs to be addressed. Researchers have determined physical activity is consistent with increased mental health in students. Regular physical activity, whether it is in a physical education class or …

The Effects Of Technology On Student Engagement And Academic Success, Austin Reese

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The prevalence of educational technology has grown exponentially over the last decade. As schools continually increase use of educational technology throughout the various classroom environments and settings, does educational technology actually increase student engagement and academic success? A multitude of research studies regarding educational technology use in various K-12 classroom settings were analyzed while writing this literature review. The research found various educational technologies and methods, when applied appropriately for differentiated populations, can be a contributing factor to yield increased student engagement and increased academic success.

The Impact Of A Classroom Calm Down Corner In A Primary Classroom, Clairissa Thompson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Teachers use social-emotional learning (SEL) practices to help teach students strategies to self-regulate inside the classroom. The practice of mindfulness is an SEL strategy that can be implemented through the use of a classroom calm-down corner to help classroom behaviors. This action research studied the impact of a calm down corner in the primary classroom. Participants included the researcher's class of 23 second-grade students. Students participated in daily mini-lessons for strategies to use in the calm down corner. Data was collected on student behavior and usage of the calm down corner through observations. Negative student behaviors decreased as a result …