Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting The Integration Of Vocational And Academic Skills Using The Principles Of The Let Me Learn Model: A Case Study Of Transformational Leadership, Debra Ihunnah

Theses and Dissertations

Two educational models, the Let Me Learn Model (TM) and the Integration of Academic and Vocational Skills Model IV were implemented at the Cumberland County Technical School in New Jersey. The purposes of the study were (a) to introduce and enhance the teachers' knowledge about the two educational models (b) to assist teachers in using that knowledge gained from implementation of the models as a catalyst to change their teaching practices and (c) to enhance student learning. This was an action research study that examined the implementation of the two models and examined my transformational leadership skills. The Let Me …

500 Million Frenemies: A Phenomenological Study Of The Prevalence And Perceptions Of Female Students And Male Students As It Relates To Cyber Bullying On Social Networking Websites, Dana Manzi-Schaed

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover the lived experiences of male and female high school students regarding cyber bullying on social networking websites. Previous research has shown that male and female students have very different experiences with traditional bullying; the current phenomenon of cyber bullying has yet to be widely researched. In addition, this research sought to better understand what, if any, the gender differences were in how students perceive adult prevention of cyber bullying as well as how both genders behave in informing adults of instances of cyber bullying. The goal of this research was …

Through The Lens Of A College Success Seminar: Developing Workshops For Eof Students, Yesenia Madas

Theses and Dissertations

The body of research on first-year seminars has grown considerably and there is much evidence to support that college success seminars have increased student persistence and degree attainment (Fidler, 1991; Keenan & Gabovitch, 1995; O'Gara, Karp, & Hughes, 2009; Zeidenberg, Jenkins, & Calcagno, 2007). While most success courses come packaged with content such as study skills, test-taking, and time management, little assessment of the effectiveness of these areas has been conducted. Therefore, this study investigated the specific course components of the College Success Seminar that contribute to student success and used that information to create workshops for students in the …

Open Source Software As Applied In Higher Education: At One Four-Year University, Muneerah Wakeel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of my study was to explain the implementation process of open source software (OSS) in a higher education setting, including any challenges that the faculty encountered during professional development, and implementation during instruction. This study was conducted at a four-year university in the southern region of New Jersey. In addition, as a participant observer I investigated my leadership throughout the research process so that I could employ reflective practice in order to determine if my espoused beliefs were aligned with my theory-in-use. I reviewed literature that discussed both OSS and distance education and connected them to the social …

Utilizing Teacher's Perceptions Of Professional Development To Inform District Level Programming, Gina Friedman

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers' beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes toward professional development initiatives have a powerful impact on the effectiveness of those programs after implementation. Specifically, teachers in first order change schools perceive inhibiting factors (i.e. lack of faculty buy-in, scheduling conflicts, limited time for trainings within the calendar, lack of leadership support, etc.) as a hindrance to the success of program implementation. Concurrently, Cedar Creek teacher's perceptions identify many of the same inhibiting factors to effective professional development that are found on a national level. These perceptions suggest a first order mental model perspective. This mixed methods action research study identified a second …

The Professional Staff And Librarian Learning Community At Rowan University, Katherine Boland

Theses and Dissertations

As powerful forces of change continue to exert pressure on institutions of higher education, scholars are calling for strategies to sustain our most valuable asset, the academic community. One promising response is Milton Cox's work. He created the Miami University model for faculty and professional learning communities, a nationally-recognized strategy for supporting faculty development, addressing institutional needs, and promoting meaningful change. This mixed methods action research project introduced a new version of Cox's technology, a project-based learning community. This project-based version was the basis of my work with the Professional Staff and Librarian Learning Community (PSLLC). The PSLLC engaged in …

The Transformation Of Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum: A Multicultural Approach To Optimize Clinical Competence, Sharon Burke

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study sought to address the need for multicultural awareness in nursing education. The purpose of this action research study was to improve baccalaureate nursing students' cultural competence and multicultural awareness through infusing multicultural awareness education in the JSN curriculum. Education sessions were implemented to increase multicultural awareness to improve nursing practice. This mixed method action research project was conducted during the 2009-2010 academic year. Data collection techniques included surveying nursing faculty, administrators and baccalaureate students in the Jefferson School of Nursing as well as conducting student focus groups. Descriptive statistics and thematic coding were used to analyze …

Online Courses At A Community College: A Study Of Student Characteristics, Nancy Kegelman

Theses and Dissertations

Over five and a half million students in higher education were taking online classes in fall 2009. The annual growth rate (21%) in online enrollments from 2002 to 2009 far exceeded the enrollment growth (2%) in higher education for that seven year period (Allen & Seaman, 2010). Continued rapid growth in online enrollments is predicted despite students' significantly lower success rate in online classes than in face-to-face classes. This action research study was conducted to correlate student characteristics with online success in one community college. The researcher also examined the researcher's leadership growth and style through the design, development, and …

The Professional Learning Community: An Educational Construct To Improve Student Learning Through Effective Teacher Collaboration, Lynn Barberi

Theses and Dissertations

This limited practical action research study was designed to address a problem of practice at one Pre-K - third grade school located in a suburban community on the east coast of the United States, wherein teachers work the majority of the time in isolation from their peers and where collaboration is the exception, not the rule. Teachers have few opportunities to share teaching strategies and build on the strengths of their peers to improve the learning outcomes of their students as they practice the art of teaching in the classroom. The goal of this study was for the school principal …

Teachers, Teamwork, And Technology: An Introspective Look At Leadership And Change, Robert Rossi

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher convictions and doubts about the process of integrating technology into instruction have a major influence on the degree to which the teacher applies technology in the classroom. Teacher paradigms, in addition to federal, state, and local policies, can create barriers that inhibit the incorporation of technology-based initiatives. The purpose of this action research study was to create/design a process of technology integration that takes into account the needs of all stakeholders by identifying the pedagogical beliefs of elementary school teachers with regard to the implementation of technology in their classrooms. The research was conducted using a qualitative methodology approach …

Good To Great: A Framework For Improving Instruction In A Ninth Grade Academy, Donna Marable

Theses and Dissertations

This participatory action research project explores the leadership of a female African American high school principal in an urban district who applies the principles in Jim Collins' Good to Great (2001, 2005) to improve academic performance in a ninth grade academy. Participatory Action Research (PAR) is defined as planning, acting, observing, reflecting, and repeating each cycle in a spiral of self-reflective cycles. The data was captured through qualitative and quantitative data collection strategies. The study is written as an autoethnographic self-narrative and is a self-reflective study of my leadership. The findings of this study suggest that applying the principles in …

An Exploratory Assessment Of A Graduate Early Childhood Special Education Dual Certification Program, Claudia Mejia

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this action research study was to assess an urban university's graduate Early Childhood Special Education dual certification program and find ways to improve the program in order to facilitate growth and success for all of the students. The research design included both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, which were in the forms of a questionnaire and interviews. Other colleges' and universities' graduate programs in Early Childhood Special Education dual certification were also analyzed to determine if they were similar to the urban university and met the students' needs and standards. Data collected from the questionnaire …

Professional Development Reform: A Shift From Traditional Practices To A New Paradigm, Janine Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study investigated a shift in professional development program delivery that incorporated adult learning theory and PLCs. The study included opportunities for collaboration, self-reflection, and empowerment of teachers, intended to improve attitudes and increase classroom quality. The research questions tested these outcomes along with the impact of the researcher's leadership. The participants were a sample of preschool teachers in a large urban school district. The data were collected through quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The data resulted in favorable attitudes towards the program model and increased classroom quality was reported. Finally, the participants indicated the leadership style contributed …

Building Instructional Leadership Capacity Of School Leaders Through Technology Integration, Joy Carey

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggested that the acquisition of technology instructional leadership skills develops principals' abilities to become agents of change. "A firm foundation in technology knowledge, skills relative to the instructional process, and leadership and managerial skills in technology are required" (Geer, 2002, p. 57). It was critical for principals to enhance their technological communication skills, managerial applications, knowledge on information processing, and promote technology instruction methods in order to increase student learning (Daresh, 2006). The purpose of this action research project was to provide six school district principals with technology professional development, which enabled them to become effective instructional leaders for …

Changing Times: Engaging Faculty In Online Education, Steven Farney

Theses and Dissertations

The Internet has become a popular vehicle for the delivery of programs and courses among institutions of higher education. Nevertheless, it appears that many faculty members are still resistant to engage in online delivery based on biases and preconceptions rather than facts. The purpose of this action research project was to learn positive and negative views of faculty at Rowan University regarding online delivery of courses in an attempt to increase their participation in this mode of delivery. Additionally the researcher sought to explore if faculty concerns about online education could be addressed, clarified, or dispelled. The research was conducted …

Cogent Leadership: Transitioning To Professional Learning Communities, Donna Markiewicz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between traditional professional development and the implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) in one suburban middle school in New Jersey. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather data. Quantitative and qualitative results were gathered from surveys from teachers (N=59) that attended the in-house professional development workshops. Twenty interviews were also used to gather data on the teacher perspective. Most of the teachers appreciated the paradigm shift from traditional professional development to a more collaborative model. They appreciated the time to work in their professional learning communities to develop common goals …

How Do First Graders Define A Family?, Kelly Ann Mcgrail

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to determine how first grade students define a family. Qualitative research was used as the methodology for this inquiry. The participants were thirteen first grade inclusion students in a school that is located in Southern New Jersey. An instructional unit depicting various family constellations was implemented along with authentic discussions, a student survey, an interactive bulletin board, a classroom library containing family books, and writing prompts contained in My Family Journal. The data collected and analyzed was from student discussion, the subjects' work, direct observation of pupils, the instructional unit, and a teacher research …

Building School Connections Through Integrating Extracurricular Programs, Grete E. Gerber

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop an integrated extracurricular program and evaluate its effectiveness on improving middle school students' emotional connectedness to the school. The integrated extracurricular program provided an opportunity for a diverse group of students to work cooperatively as a team toward a common goal.

The program's first extracurricular activity was a Haunted House event which was utilized for this study. Participants in the study included 232 students and 21 staff members. Two separate surveys were administered to the student and staff participants. Each survey resulted in general opinions about the effectiveness of the integrated extracurricular …

Evidence Of Heterarchical Planning Within Higher Education Institutions: Learning Garden Planning And Development At Rowan University, Sheri K. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes during the early stages of planning for an educational garden at Rowan University. This study also attempted to fill the gap in the literature that exists between garden planning and development and planning at higher education institutions. The investigator surveyed 20 committee members involved in this large-scale project, in addition to interviewing six committee members who were considered key stakeholders and have displayed high levels of involvement during the initial stages of the project. Participants were administered a Likert-scale survey that looked for the emergence of heterarchical practices during the development …

Impact Of Integrated Marketing Communications: From The Lens Of Public Relations Educators And Scholars, Vijaya Singh

Theses and Dissertations

The researcher viewed Integrated Marketing Communications through the lens of the Public Relations educators and scholars to determine whether IMC is beneficial or detrimental to the field of public relations.

The purpose of this thesis was to explore (a) impact of IMC on public relations education (b) perceived advantages and disadvantages of an IMC approach to a public relations curriculum (c) determine if a need exists to revise public relations education at the university level.

To examine the impact of IMC on public relations education the researcher conducted a formal quantitative content analysis of the curricula of 13 graduate programs …

Identifying Social, Cultural, And Pedagogical Factors That Contribute To Minority Students' Low Academic Achievement, Deborah C. Shoemaker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify, evaluate, and develop strategies to eliminate barriers in the educational setting that negatively impact minority students' motivation to achieve academic success. Major aspects of the methodology plan included a self-guided survey with two open-ended questions. The sample size was approximately 106 elementary school students from Oak Valley Elementary School in Deptford, New Jersey. The data analysis method assessed students' and parents' beliefs as to the cause of poor academic motivation and performance in relation to the academic achievement gap. The survey responses revealed several ideas and suggestions that may be instrumental in …

Occupational Stress In Child Protection Social Workers, Kristina M. Narcum

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine if social workers in a child protection agency report greater levels of stress than individuals working in other professions. Paper-and-pencil versions of the Pressure Management Indicator (PMI) questionnaire were distributed to all participants as a measure of occupational stress. Participants' responses were analyzed using an independent samples t-test to examine whether there was a statistically significant difference between the responses of the two groups. There were significant findings in nine out of twenty-four subscales of the PMI. The results from these areas show that the social workers feel more insecure about …

Learning For All, Barry Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that all students acquired similar learned material without considering their socioeconomic background. Through social interaction and technology, the intern provided an environment of equal learning between both groups. Through a case study, both third grade groups identified one's academic, cultural, economic, and historical backgrounds. In addition, this study demonstrated that the teachers' expectations were vital in the students' learning process. By setting attainable expectations, both groups were exposed to an academic and social learning experience.

Public School Uniforms: Will School Uniforms Fit The Growing Needs Of A Regional High School?, Jeanette Seeman

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the need for a uniform dress policy at Clearview Regional High School. The subjects included 285 students along with 3 high school administrators and 65 teaching faculty and staff. The students completed a 7-item survey consisting of five structured multiple-choice questions, and two unstructured open-ended response questions. The survey also provided the opportunity for the students to express additional comments. The survey measured the students' grade level while measuring the students' opinions regarding a uniform dress policy at Clearview Regional High School. The administration and faculty completed a 7-item survey consisting of five structured multiple-choice questions, and …

The Effectiveness Of Successmaker For Title I Students In Grades Three And Four, Lynn Marcus

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract available.

Feasibility Of Privatizing Custodial Services, Thomas P. Grossi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if it would be feasible to privatize custodial services within the district. This study resulted in a decision as to whether privatizing custodial services would be beneficial to the school district. The privatizing of custodial services means the hiring of an outside contractor to handle the entire operation of cleaning the building and no longer using in-house employees to do these functions.

The intern used interviews and research to support the findings and conclusions of the study. The intern believes that the study showed that privatization of custodial services would not be …

Peer Coaching For History Teachers At Oakcrest High School, James M. Reina

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the utilization of Peer Coaching as a tool for increasing teacher communication and promoting the sharing of methodology and content knowledge. Within a high-school setting, scheduling and multiple course-loads kept teachers from capitalizing on the greatest resource that surrounded them; each-other. This program allowed teachers to observe and be observed in a non-threatening, supportive environment outside the domain of supervisors and administrators. Originally designed to focus solely on the History Department, the study came to also include members of the English and Special Education Departments, who work with the history teachers through …

A New Beginning Teacher Induction Program, Thomas P. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a new and effective beginning teacher support network at Paulsboro High School using an action research approach. During the study, a total of ten teachers participated ranging from one to two in years of experience in teaching at Paulsboro High School. The primary data collection techniques used in the study was surveys and one-on-one interviews with all of the teachers. The survey instrument was given to all of the teachers and one-on-one interviews were conducted before school, after school, or during common planning periods. The major finding of the project …

The Preparation Of Special Needs Students For Transition From High School To A Post-Secondary College Setting, Christine M. Saputo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to review the curricula, programs, and supports offered at Washington Township High School for the purpose of determining if the necessary transition skills are being taught to prepare special needs students for a successful transition to college. The participants included teachers, guidance counselors, principals, child study team members, a "504" Officer, and a Supervisor of special education.

Data was collected through a survey that was developed by the intern and approved by the IRB. The intern was also able to gather information through discussions held with the staff at WTHS and a "504" Officer. …

A Helping Hand: A Mentoring Program Between Staff And Students, Beth Frances Norcia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a mentoring program in increasing academic success, improving self-esteem and decreasing disciplinary infractions. Data collection and initial interviews conducted with the mentors indicated the program was successful in improving the self-esteem, social skills and academic performance of most at-risk students. However, these evaluations need to be further developed and expanded in order to make a more conclusive judgment on the program's effectiveness, due to several factors.

Results were determined by using two methods of research. The first method used interviews from program participants. The second method was data collection. …