Digital Commons Network^™

Ethnic Differences In Alcohol Use: A Comparison Of Black And White College Students In A Small Private University Setting, Kristie S. Gover

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An identified gap in the literature associated with college student alcohol use is the exploration of the problem based on ethnicity, specifically possible differences in use between Black and White college students. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in alcohol use for Black and White college students at a small private university in the southeast United States. The study was conducted using the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey Long Form, which is designed to collect data related to self reported use of alcohol and perceptions of alcohol use among college students. A quantitative methodology was employed …

Middle School Teachers' Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction : The Complexity, Tonya Rae Vitense Keefer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The needs of students in American schools are increasingly more varied as the school population becomes more diverse. Ensuring that all students receive access to an appropriate education becomes vital to our future. Differentiated instruction has been suggested as one way to provide that access. Differentiated instruction does this by using planning that explicitly addresses students' diverse interests, learning preferences, and abilities. There is plentiful information on what differentiated instruction is and what it looks like in the classroom, but there is little research on the process of teachers implementing differentiated instruction.

Over a seven-month period, this research sought to …

The Civil Behavior Of Students: A Survey Of School Professionals, Keely Wilkins, Paul Caldarella, Rachel Crook-Lyon, K. Richard Young

Faculty Publications

Many authors regard education as a way of increasing civility in society, and some have implemented interventions to improve civility in schools. However, very little empirical data exist on the extent and nature of students' civil behavior. The present study systematically gathered data from 251 school professionals regarding their perceptions of students' civil and uncivil behaviors. Participants perceived students' civil behaviors as occurring more frequently than uncivil behaviors; however, they also indicated a need to increase civil behavior in schools. They provided suggestions on how to accomplish this goal, which include providing direct instruction, modeling civil behavior, incorporating positive behavior …

Empowering Adolescents: A Multiple Case Study Of U.S. Montessori High Schools, Wendy J. Larue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The standards-based, teach-and-test methods that have come to proliferate secondary education since the inception of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) fail to adequately prepare students for higher education and employment. This system lacks opportunities for developing 21st century skills such as higher-level thinking, problem solving, and group dynamics, as well as opportunities for fostering spiritual growth and personal development. This problem impacts graduates of U.S. high schools because they are unprepared for higher education and the 21st century workplace. Using qualitative multiple case study methodology, this study examined five U.S. Montessori high schools through the lens of cultural-historical …

Implications Of Civility For Children, Keely Wilkins, Paul Caldarella, Rachel Crook-Lyon, K. Richard Young

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to review the literature exploring various definitions of civility, along with reasons why civility is vital to children and adolescents in any community. The authors examine definitions and components of civility in both historical and current contexts. The need for increased civility in modern society is described. The authors also explore the relationship of civility education to character and moral education and outline civility interventions suggested in the literature. Finally, suggestions are given for methods and strategies that have been found to be successful in bringing civility into schools.

Parent Involvement In School-Wide Social Skills Instruction: Practice And Perceptions Of A Home Note Program, Michael B. Adams, Sue A. Womack, Ryan H. Shatzer, Paul Caldarella

Faculty Publications

If students are to become proficient at using social skills, parents must be involved in teaching and reinforcing these skills at home. Parent involvement is associated with increased student success, especially when it includes a two-way exchange of information between home and school. As the traditional family has changed, new methods of eliciting parent involvement are needed. This article presents a description and evaluation of a school-wide home note program used to encourage generalization of social skills taught in school to home settings. Teachers (n = 20), parents (n = 107), and students (n = 383) at an elementary school …

Social And Emotional Learning In The Kindergarten Classroom: Evaluation Of The Strong Start Curriculum, Thomas J. Kramer, Paul Caldarella, Lynnette Christensen, Ryan H. Shatzer

Faculty Publications

There has been increasing interest in the promotion of social and emotional learning in schools, and research has shown positive outcomes. However, relatively few studies have been conducted in kindergarten classrooms or considered the feasibility of kindergarten implementation. This study examined the effects of Strong Start on the social and emotional competence of 67 kindergarten students, using a time-series design. Four kindergarten teachers taught the ten Strong Start lessons in their classrooms. Results indicated gains in students' prosocial behaviors and decreases in internalizing behaviors, as rated by teachers and parents. Implementation integrity and teachers' ratings of social validity were high, …

Student Characteristics, Pre-College, College, And Environmental Factors As Predictors Of Persisting In And Earning A Stem Degree: An Analysis Of Students Attending A Hispanic Serving Institution, Gloria Crisp, Amanda Taggart, Amaury Nora

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

This study examined the demographic, pre-college, environmental, and college factors that impact students’ interests in and decisions to earn a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree among students attending a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Results indicated that Hispanic students were well represented among STEM majors, and students’ decisions to declare a STEM major and earn a STEM degree were uniquely influenced by students’ gender, ethnicity, SAT math score, and high school percentile. Earning a STEM degree was related to students’ first-semester GPA and enrollment in mathematics and science “gatekeeper” courses. Findings indicate that HSIs may be an important point …

Principals Perceptions Of Factors Affecting Teacher Collaboration In Secondary Schools, Lonnie E. Myers

College of Education Dissertations

This qualitative multi-case study examined how various practicing secondary principals in the Northwest Region of Arkansas perceive teacher collaboration within secondary schools. Job-embedded opportunities for teacher collaboration have been cited as successful ways for promoting teacher learning, which in turn will promote increased student learning (Little, 1990). Researchers and theorists cite properly supported collaboration as key to lasting school improvement (DuFour & Eaker, 1998; Fullan, 1997; Little, 1990). In order for the practice of collaboration to be embedded in secondary schools, a culture must be created within a supportive environment to support the collaborative efforts. DuFour and Eaker (1998) credit …

Adoption And Integration Of Best Practice Methods In Secondary English Teaching, Gretchen Rumohr-Voskuil

Dissertations

Commencing with a critical examination of the history and rhetorical force of the term "best practice," this dissertation undertakes a qualitative study of three secondary English teachers, considering their adoption and integration of best practice methods. The subjects, represented by urban, suburban and rural secondary schools, were National Writing Project participants identified as "exemplary teachers" by a NWP site director. "Best practice" methods analyzed included the process model for the teaching of writing and literature, student decision-making, and a low-risk writing environment. Factors that were found to influence the adoption of best practice methods included undergraduate and preservice experiences, intern …

Teacher Education Preparation Assessment System And The National Council For Accreditation Of Teacher Education Accreditation, Deborah Lynn Vaughan Stoulig

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the assessment systems of teacher preparation programs have changed since the new NCATE Standards were implemented in 2004, what methods of data collections are being used, and to measure coordinators' perceptions of the assessment systems. An electronic survey was developed by the researcher based upon a review of related literature, the researcher's personal experience, and years of reviewing data collection software. An invitation to the survey was emailed to 631 NCATE Coordinators or equivalent as identified from their institution's website with 221 participants completing the survey for a return rate of …

Child Care Centers On Higher Education Campuses: Director Perceptions Of Internal And External Roles And Director Leadership, Kerisa A. Myers

Dissertations

An increasing focus on early childhood education and brain research offers a prime opportunity for higher education institutions to research and formulate thought concerning quality child care. Currently, there is limited research examining the impact and roles of child care centers on university campuses. To add to the base of knowledge, this nationally-focused study examined the following broad question: "what value do campus child care centers offer to a given higher education institution and its surrounding community, especially from a center director's perspective?"

An on-line survey was sent to over 400 campus child care directors at two- and four-year public …

Interdisciplinary Instruction In American Colleges Of Education: Rhetoric Or Reality?, G Boyd Chitwood

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the status of training for interdisciplinary instruction of K-12 teachers in NCATE-accredited teacher education programs in the United States. Further, program leader beliefs about interdisciplinary instruction were surveyed, and consistency of those beliefs with the actual conduct of their programs was studied. Interdisciplinary instruction has received significant positive mention over the last 80 years with waves of increasing interest identified up to the present. Support for this pedagogy has come from claims about effectiveness, teacher efficacy, nature of human learning and increased complexity in the contemporary world. Studies are lacking, however, on models for and prevalence of …

Exploring The First Year Of Teaching Through Focus Group Discussions, Ethno-Mimesis, A/R/Tography, And Performance Ethnography, Marilyn F. Cullen-Reavill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The United States is focusing on the important and worthy goal of no child being left behind and in order to accomplish this goal, we must ensure that no teacher, including the first-year teacher, is left behind. This study explores the experiences of three first-year teachers on a monthly basis and uncovers the successes, challenges, supports, and needs that they encounter.

Five research questions guided this study: 1. What are the experiences of a group of first-year teachers and in what ways were these experiences challenging, supportive, or detrimental? 2. What are the benefits for the first-year teachers in meeting …

The Assessment Cyberguide For Learning Goals And Outcomes, Thomas Pusateri, Jane S. Halonen, Bill Hill, Maureen Mccarthy

Faculty Articles

The CyberGuide serves as a companion resource for implementing the APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Major in Psychology. These resources should aid psychology departments and their faculty to design the most appropriate and effective assessment plans. We have organized this Cyberguide into four parts that will assist departments in developing assessment plans: I. Understanding Assessment: Departmental, Institutional, Educational, and Societal Perspectives II. Designing Viable Assessment Plans III. Sustaining an Assessment Culture IV. Applying Assessment Strategies in Psychology

The New York City Teaching Fellows Program: A Case Study In Alternative Certification In Mathematics, Brian Evans

NERA Conference Proceedings 2009

The purpose of this study is to understand the mathematical content knowledge new teachers have before and after taking a mathematics methods course in the New York City Teaching Fellows program. Further, the purpose is to understand attitudes toward mathematics Teaching Fellows have over the course of the semester. Findings revealed a significant increase in mathematical content knowledge and positive attitudes toward mathematics. Relationships were found between attitudes and self-efficacy. Finally, Teaching Fellows found that classroom management was the biggest issue in their teaching, and that problem solving and numeracy were the most important topics addressed in the methods course.

Parallel Reflections: The Interdisciplinary Process Of Co-Constructing Meaning, Martha J. Strickland, Jane B. Keat, Jane M. Wilburne, Beatrice Adera

NERA Conference Proceedings 2009

This paper reports the results of a study conducted by four teacher educators who represent four disciplines in education. The purpose was to understand how pre-service teacher reflections influenced teacher educator reflections within a course. Data collection methods included narrative and document review. Data analysis methods included multiple readings and discussions of individual portraits in search of answers to research questions. Findings include a parallel reflection model that illustrates a dynamic process that occurs within the dialogic space as student and professor thoughts and discourse are interwoven to make theory to practice connections, co-construct new knowledge and begin challenging existing …

Diversity Education And Student Perceptions Of Campus Climate, Bethany Zemba, Felice D. Billups

Higher Education

The term diversity refers to demographic variables such as race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, education, and geographic origin (Rynes & Rosen, 2006). Diversity can also include work group affiliation, life-style, career history, and cognitive style (Pendry, Driscoll, & Field, 2007). The demographic diversity found in the United States population can provide opportunities to embrace new customs and expand traditional roles. However, it may also create challenges as people struggle to find common ground in communities composed of individuals and groups with varied backgrounds and values (Rodriguez, 1998; Trauth, Johnson, Morgan, Huang, & Quesenberry, 2007).

Rapidly changing …

What's Inside The Pandora's Box Of Student Teaching? Lessons Learned From Student Teachers Education Personnel Preparation, Lucia Buttaro

NERA Conference Proceedings 2009

The purpose of this critical study is to improve Adelphi University's student teaching program protocol in order to enhance future teacher candidates and cooperating teachers, standard procedural information, as well as factors that contribute to teacher candidate success. Fourteen Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) teacher candidates were observed, completed journals, and shared their personal experiences in their student teaching placement. Data gathered from a variety of sources illuminated the need to improve communication and collaboration between the parties of the student teaching triad (university supervisor, cooperating teacher, and teacher candidate). In order to develop a strong partnership and …

The Relationship Of Self-Efficacy With Gpa, Attendance, And College Student Retention, Stephen P. Becker, Robert K. Gable

Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy or belief in one’s capability (Bandura 1977b, 1986, 1993, 1997) and first-term GPA, attendance, and retention using a modified version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) (Schwarzer, 1992, 1993, 2005; Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1993).

The study “College” is part of one of the world’s largest for-profit career education organizations. At the College, 100% of the students commute to classes and live in the metropolitan area. A large percentage of students live in difficult urban neighborhoods and grow up with low family income, abuse, gang violence, drugs, health problems, …

Meeting The Need For K-8 Teachers For Classrooms With Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students: The Promise And Challenge Of Early Field Experiences, Amy Strage, Susan Gomez, Kari Knutson-Miller, Ana Garcia-Nevarez

Faculty Publications

The writers present the findings of their study focused on teacher learning through early fieldwork experiences to address the problem of teachers working with a culturally and linguistically diverse student population. Data were analyzed from an archive collected from approximately 500 students enrolled in six undergraduate child development courses at three state university campuses located in urban areas of California. Findings suggest that early field experiences provide participants with opportunities for career goal clarification, and the context of field experience is significant and may lead to outcomes beyond the initial goal of the experience.

Table Of Contents - Fall 2009, Fort Hays State University College Of Education

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Academic Leadership Journal Fall 2009 table of contents

Douglas Mcgregor’S Theoretical Models: Their Application In Assessing Leadership Styles, Kwasi Dartey-Baah

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Douglas McGregor (1960) a thinker, leader, management and leadership theorist postulated over three decades ago that every leader has core assumptions about human nature and these assumptions influence the style of leadership practiced by the leader. McGregor’s views on leadership are important because he was the first to apply behavioural science findings to the world of business and leadership. He postulated the core leadership assumptions (Theory X and Theory Y) to assist leaders question their underlying assumptions and perceptions about people.

Educator Perceptions Toward The Iep Meeting, Wade Fish

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The individualized education program (IEP) was the primary component of Part B of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. Through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004), the IEP has continued to direct the educational needs, goals and objectives, placement, evaluation criteria, present levels of educational performance, and duration of programming modifications for students receiving special education services (Drasgow, Yell, & Robinson, 2001; 20 U.S.C. § 1400). The IEP functions as the blueprint for services to be provided for students, as IEP regulations identify meeting dates, parental and student consent and accountability, as well as …

Illuminating Adolescent Voices: Identifying High School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Caring, Ruben Garza, Gail Ryser, Kathryn Lee

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The purpose of the current study was to identify teacher behaviors that secondary students perceived as demonstrating caring. The questions that guided this inquiry were (a) what teacher behaviors do high school students perceive as caring? and (b) what teacher behaviors do high school students perceive as the most important aspects of caring? Whereas previous studies clearly have documented the power and influence of caring teachers on adolescents’ success, we posit that knowing what students perceive as caring behaviors can be used as a springboard to shape the context of caring for all students, especially those who are marginalized, feel …

Stimulating Lecturers’ Innovative Behaviour In Malaysian Polytechnics, Nazidaabd Ghani, Kamaruzaman Jusoff

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Technical and vocational education that has been laid out approximately a century ago provides an important route for secondary school leavers to gain access to post-secondary technical and vocational educational and training and be successfully employed. Polytechnics of Ministry of Higher Education were established to produce semi-skilled employees to fulfil the needs of public and private sectors in the field of commerce, engineering and hospitality. However, a majority of graduates from polytechnics do not join the work force straight away but instead further their studies first to seek their bachelor degrees from universities and colleges before entering the work force. …

An Interview With Anita Woolfolk Hoy And Wayne K. Hoy: About Instructional Leadership, Michael Shaughnessy, Robin Wells

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Anita Woolfolk Hoy received her BA in Psychology in 1969 and her PhD in Educational Psychology both from the University of Texas at Austin. She worked briefly as a school psychologist in Texas, and then joined the faculty in Department of Educational Psychology of the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University in 1979. She remained there until 1993 and served as Chair of the department from 1990 to 1993. Presently she is a Professor in the College of Education at The Ohio State University. Her professional offices include Vice-President for Division K (Teaching and Teacher Education) of the American …

Identifying And Alleviating Stress Of Teacher Candidates In A Secondary Professional Development Schools (Pds) Program, Molly Mee

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Teacher candidate stress is a significant issue for candidates, students, mentor teachers, and the Institute of Higher Education (IHE) representatives who work with the candidates. Stress during this important stage in a new teacher’s career can be detrimental in many ways from causing early burnout (Greer & Greer, 1992; Schwab, 1989) to attrition (Brownell, 1997) and absenteeism. “It is during student teaching that preservice teachers begin to learn the habits of the profession and begin to develop adaptive or maladaptive coping skills for dealing with the stress of teaching” (Gold, 1985; Greer & Greer, 1992 as cited in Fives, Hamman, …

Influence Of Test Anxiety On Performance Levels On Numerical Tasks Of Secondary School Physics Students, Bimbola Oludipe

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The purpose of the current study was to identify teacher behaviors that secondary students perceived as demonstrating caring. The questions that guided this inquiry were (a) what teacher behaviors do high school students perceive as caring? and (b) what teacher behaviors do high school students perceive as the most important aspects of caring? Whereas previous studies clearly have documented the power and influence of caring teachers on adolescents’ success, we posit that knowing what students perceive as caring behaviors can be used as a springboard to shape the context of caring for all students, especially those who are marginalized, feel …

Leading Faculty: Understanding The Connection Between Goals And Values, Frank Grosso

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Faculty can never do enough. We need them to teach, write, advise, mentor, network, and conduct groundbreaking research. And when we are faced with extremely limited budgets, hiring freezes, and increased pressure to bring in research funds, university faculty are counted on to pick up the fallen pieces. Academic leaders find themselves asking faculty to give more time and effort to assist in advancing their institutions, but at what price? Typically, as leaders demand more of the faculty, morale tends to decrease and grumbling skyrockets. In actuality, it is like that in any organization. However, it is no secret that …