Digital Commons Network^™

The Analysis Of Barriers And Motivators Of Early Care And Education English As A Second Language Students Enrolled In A State College Customized Ece Esl Course, Edwiygh Franck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

An intrinsic case study was conducted to understand what helps Early Care and Education (ECE) English as a Second Language (ESL) students to enroll in a customized ECE ESL course at a local state college and what barriers may hinder their success in the course. This research examined whether the following were either motivators or barriers or both in ECE ESL participants enrolling in an ECE ESL customized course: course design and delivery, student support systems, student self-motivation, student self- efficacy, time and schedule commitment, instructor and student relationship, availability of resources, and level of classroom involvement. The results revealed …

Understanding How National Board Certified Secondary Mathematics Teachers Integrate Academic And Social Knowledge Of Students Into Their Practice, Karen Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

This qualitative case study investigated how six National Board Certified secondary mathematics teachers integrate knowledge of students into their practice to create socio- academic spaces for learning. Individual audiotaped interviews were utilized to generate data about what knowledge these teachers had of their students, how they gathered this knowledge, and how this knowledge of students influenced their decisions related to curriculum and instruction. The data were used to form an understanding of the nature and function of the socio- academic spaces that teachers create in planning for and delivering instruction. The study revealed that as teachers interact independently with the …

The Emotional Experience Of Language In English Spanish Bilinguals, Uribe Idaly Velez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019

Bilinguals commonly report experiencing emotions differently depending on which language are they speaking. Emotionally loaded words were expected to be appraised differently in first versus second language in a sample of Spanish-English bilinguals (n=117). English (L2) ratings were subtracted from Spanish (L1) ratings; the resulted scores were used as dependent variable in the analyses. Three categories of words (positive, negative and taboo) were appraised in both languages (English and Spanish)and two sensory modalities (Visual and auditory). The differences in valence scores in Spanish (L1) and English (L2) were expected to be significantly higher when presented aurally than when presented visually. …

Designing A Data-Tracking System For A Private Therapeutic Day School, Olin J. Bittner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The Children's Institute on Mercer Island (CHILD) is a private therapeutic day school in the Seattle area serving students in elementary and secondary education. Their stated mission is to "provide innovative school programs and therapies that promote social, emotional and academic development for children with special needs." In the fall of 2012 they engaged in a program evaluation that in many respects resembles a needs assessment in order to explore and improve aspects of their functioning. Through preliminary evaluation processes, including dialogue with CHILD's Leadership Team and a survey of internal stakeholders, an area of interest in student mental health …

Current Grading Practices For Indiana Elementary Grades K-5 And The Impact On Communication, Assessment, And Student Mindset, Paula Rae Concus

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study involved elementary teachers in Indiana who were actively teaching during the spring of 2015. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there is a significant difference between the perceptions of teachers using traditional report cards and those who use standards-based report cards in the areas of assessment of students, communication from the viewpoint of teachers and from the viewpoint of parents, and mindset of students. Results were viewed through the lens of students of affluence (< 35% free/reduced lunch) and students of poverty (≥ 50% free/reduced lunch). Standards-based responses in the areas of assessment, communication from the viewpoint of teachers and parents, and student mindset were statistically significant factors for students of poverty; assessment was also significant for students of affluence. Traditional report cards offered statistical significance only for students of affluence in the area of communication from the teacher viewpoint. Communication from the parent viewpoint (reported by teachers) and student mindset were not statistically significant factors for students of affluence in either reporting system, meaning teachers of students of affluence did not find traditional report cards or standards-based report cards as more important. Implications of these findings are of particular importance to teachers of students of poverty, as the use of standards-based report cards are significant when teachers look at student assessment, teacher communication, parent communication, and student mindset. Although traditional report cards actually showed significance in one area (teacher communication) for one student group (students of affluence), more consideration should be given to the use of standards-based report cards for all students.

At The Heart Of The Classroom: Teachers' Experience Of The Suffering And Success Of Students For Whom They Care, Randall Kenyon Bartlett Jr.

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The core of teaching is the relationship of care between the student and the teacher. A community can be created in the classroom that honors and respects the inherent worth of each individual and through such mutual respect students and teachers can experience success. The suffering and the successes that teachers experience are central to the way they care for their students. There is currently a great deal of focus on education and schooling in the United States and generally this focus ignores the necessity and vitality of the relationship of care. Teachers must daily support and care for students …

Fine-Scale Plant Species Identification In A Poor Fen And Integration Of Techniques And Instrumentation In A Classroom Setting, Dylan Schiff

Honors Theses and Capstones

Refining carbon flux measurements in the carbon cycle is an ongoing challenge. This study attempted to identify plant species in Sallie’s Fen, a nutrient-poor fen in Barrington, New Hampshire, at a fine scale in order to better model and understand carbon exchange between plants and the atmosphere in this type of ecosystem. A protocol for estimating percent cover of species in plots via ground measurements was developed. The next stage of this project was to compare these measurements with measurements derived from spectral images using ImageJ computer software. Statistical tests of the ground measurement data revealed that patterns of seasonal …

Factors Affecting Parental Involvement In Education: The Analysis Of Literature, Javid Jafarov

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study examines the factors affecting parental involvement by evaluating and analysing literature about parental involvement in education. It also answers the questions: a) What does parental involvement mean? and 2) Why is parental involvement important? In this article more than five hundreds literatures related to the factors affecting parental involvement were evaluated and analysed. The result of the analysis of literature showed that there are many factors influencing parental involvement or the level of parental involvement and these factors can be parent related, school related or student related.

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Professional Development On Music Integration, Marcy Thurmond Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

International Baccalaureate (IB) schools are focused on a school-wide approach to developing inquiring students who are motivated to succeed. The problem explored in this case study was based on a local IB elementary school's response to a reform model to integrate music into other content areas. The curriculum lacked an interdisciplinary approach to music education even though teachers had participated in some professional development (PD) to help them integrate music into content areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of elementary teachers regarding the influence of professional development on music integration at the IB elementary school. …

Administrator Perceptions Of How Developmental Education Impacts Student Attrition, Jennifer Michelle Price

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nationally and locally, developmental education students attending community colleges are not persisting at a high rate. This growing attrition problem affects many aspects of a local community college including enrollment, completion rates, and tuition revenue. The purpose of this study was to analyze community college administrators' perceptions of developmental education and how developmental education affects student attrition. The conceptual framework of this study, social constructivism, provided a foundation to better understand the role each administrator plays in this social group. A qualitative study through structured interviews was conducted, targeting 10 college administrators from 1 local community college, from each of …

High School Students' And Scientists' Perceptions Of A Student-Scientist Partnership, Karla Singh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The idea of getting high school students to work with scientists has become a hot topic. There have been many programs that get students involved with scientists to gain experience. Having students work with scientists allows students to practice authentic science. These programs also aim to get more students interested in science and hopefully inspire these students to go into a science career. Researchers have looked at several aspects during these interactions. These aspects include students' interest, students' ability, students' career choice and students' perceptions of the scientific community. However, few studies are known that include trying to understand students' …

Iron Tower, Laura Bult

Capstones

The current state of higher education in prisons in the U.S., as a reflection of our changing attitudes about the purpose of incarceration, as told by the story of Clyde Meikle, a man with a life sentence in Connecticut who is a student in Wesleyan's Center for Prison Education, a liberal arts program.

The Effects Of Gamifying Optional Lessons On Motivation, Aaron Zemach

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Adding video-game elements to non-video-game interfaces (“gamification”) has become a common engagement strategy over the past several years in the domain of education. While prior studies have found that adding game elements to mandatory educational materials can increase students’ motivation to complete the materials, there has yet to be a study to investigate if game elements can make users more likely to engage with optional educational materials. In this study, we investigate whether users of a gamified educational interface are more motivated than users of a non-gamified interface to voluntarily complete educational materials. We found users of a gamified interface …

Language Skill Development In Japanese Kokugo Education: Analysis Of The Television Program Wakaru Kokugo Yomikaki No Tsubo, Ruri Yoshii

Dissertations and Theses

Any type of education implemented by a modern nation-state is, at least in part, a tool for socializing its people. In this regard, Japanese language and literature education, kokugo, has played an important role in Japan by emphasizing nationalism and the integrity of a Japanese identity. According to Ishihara (2007) and Lee (1996 [English translation 2010]), kokugo, since its inception in 1900, has promoted moral awareness and assimilation of Japanese ideals across the country. However, responding to unsatisfactory test results in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2003 and 2006, Japan's Ministry of Education Culture, Sports, Science and …

An Observation Of Displaced Manufacturing Workers In Their Transition For Successful Reemployment Through Community College Education/Retraining Programs, Christina Granderson

Theses and Dissertations

The economic changes that have occurred in this country over the course of this past decade have had a grave impact on manufacturing workers, which has forced many of these workers to transition into new career fields. As workers are faced with having to start new career paths, the community college has served as a hub of information and a source of inspiration to begin new careers. Through programs such as the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, these dislocated workers are able to acquire a new skill or trade. A qualitative study will investigate how dislocated workers make a …

Reach To Teach, April R. Cowles

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Multiple intelligences theory of Howard Gardner are used as a foundation of research in order to explain how educating students of all learning styles should include interdisciplinary methods and creative applications. Primary and secondary research of Howard Gardner’s theory and interdisciplinary methods, specifically the Integration Model and Broad Model approaches were completed. Two different lesson plans demonstrating how to teach students integrating two disciplines while including creativity were generated as examples of thesis. Qualitative research on creativity and motivation identified connection between the two and why interdisciplinary methods enable more possibilities of adding creativity to lessons taught. Advantages include reaching …

Perfomance Pedagogy, Dana Hareli

Architecture Thesis Prep

The deterioration of performance-based learning in contemporary educational practices, fostering one-to-one teaching models, prompts a discussion of the implications of theatricality on design education and the role of performance pedagogy in the architectural discipline. The Montessori method of education is a child-centered educational approach, which views the child as eager and capable of initiating learning in a supportive and prepared learning environment

Implementation Of The Essential Elements Of Standards-Focused Middle-Level Schools And Programs And Their Relationship To Student Achievement, Jeffrey Craig

Dissertations - ALL

In New York State, there are regulations that describe many of the practices that middle-level schools are supposed to implement. Yet, little is known about the effectiveness of these middle-level practices in schools in the state. Without definitive information about the impact of middle-level practices on student achievement, it's difficult for practitioners and leaders to know if the school improvement decisions they make are the right ones and whether they will have the desired impact on student achievement.

This study compares the implementation of the middle-level guidelines for New York State, known as The Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle-Level Schools …

Middle Grade Academic Achievement And Socioeconomic Status On North Carolina State Report Cards, 2012 - 2013, Lauren Dotson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the era of accountability in our nation‘s public schools, high-stakes standardized testing is the primary methodology for determining academic achievement; results from end-of-grade standardized testing are published annually in state and national report cards that are used as an instrument for determining school and teacher quality. What standardized tests do not take into consideration, however, are external environmental factors that have an impact on academic achievement; this research project focuses upon the effects of socioeconomic status on academic achievement on the middle grade student in North Carolina in 2012 and 2013. These years were chosen to comparatively analyze student …

The Impact Of The Gradual Release Of Responsibility On Graduate Teacher Education Candidates’ Self-Efficacy With Ipads, Wendy L. Loewenstein

Student Work

Keeping up with technological innovations is a challenge for educational intuitions as they strive to prepare students to be competitive in a future workforce. This is an overwhelming task for educational leaders that extends beyond which technological device to purchase. This study examines the barriers to iPad integration in education and how the gradual release of responsibility method of instruction can be used to increase participants’ self-efficacy with iPads. The participants (N = 41) were teacher education graduate candidates enrolled in a Children’s Literature course in which they were provided access to iPads. Survey results revealed that candidates’ efficacy prior …

Executive Function In Early Childhood: Qualitative And Quantitative Patterns Of Development Among Students Within A Montessori Classroom, Ashley Darcy

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

This mixed methodology study observed five executive function components (working memory, attention, planning, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control) in a Montessori preschool environment for three to five year olds. The purpose of the study was to understand patterns of development for three, four, and five year olds in a natural environment. There were five findings found after analysis: 1) a cluster of components of working memory/planning/attention, 2) patterns of frequency of components, 3) the role of interest in EF components, 4) patterns within each of the five components and 5) patterns of data triangulation between the parent, teacher, and researcher. …

Opportunity And Access: High School Coursework And Its Impact On Student Self-Perceptions, Cassie K. Ferguson

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The skills taught and the courses offered to the United States’ public high school students have changed drastically over the past 20 years. Career-based electives have given way to college preparatory classes. Gone are the auto shops, construction and home economics classes—courses that many view as outdated, dangerous or unnecessary at the high school level. Arts and humanities-based courses have also disappeared; even courses that can train students to enter the robust fields of healthcare or technology are diminishing (Dare, 2006).

The communities in which many of these courses are disappearing are often diverse and economically disadvantaged. This “second-generation segregation” …

Chasing Polys: Interdisciplinary Affinity And Its Connection To Physics Identity, Tyler Scott

All Dissertations

This research is based on two motivations that merge by means of the frameworks of interdisciplinary affinity and physics identity. First, a goal of education is to develop interdisciplinary abilities in students' thinking and work. But an often ignored factor is students interests and beliefs about being interdisciplinary. Thus, this work develops and uses a framework called interdisciplinary affinity. It encompasses students interests in making connections across disciplines and their beliefs about their abilities to make those connections. The second motivation of this research is to better understand how to engage more students with physics. Physics identity describes how a …

Sign Me Up! Determining Motivation For High School Chemistry Students Enrolling In A Second Year Chemistry Course, Nilda N. Camarena

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A sample of 108 Pre-AP Chemistry students in Texas participated in a study to determine motivational factors for enrolling in AP Chemistry and University Chemistry. The factors measured were academic attitude, perceptions of chemistry, confidence level in chemistry, and expectations/experiences in the chemistry class. Students completed two questionnaires, one at the beginning of the year and one at the end. Four high school campuses from two school districts in Texas participated. Two campuses were traditional high schools and two were smaller magnet schools. The results from this study are able to confirm that there are definite correlations between academic attitudes, …

A Game Of Skill: Video Game Enthusiasm And Confidence With Computers, Rebecca L. Sevin

Masters Theses

This study explores the relationship between recreational involvement with video games and an interest in computer science as well as confidence with computers. Multiple works have acknowledged that the content in video games and the video game culture is presently very hostile towards women. Simultaneously, the number of women pursuing computer science has been decreasing since the 1980s. Past studies have suggested that playing video games can increase confidence with computers and may lead to an interest in computer science. Using data collected from 1,124 college students, this study addresses this issue by using a variety of measures to gauge …

The Phenomenon Of Abstract Cognition Among Scholastic Chess Participants: A Case Study, Brent C. Laws

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative investigation was conducted to explore the phenomenon of abstract cognition among a purposive sample of 5 secondary scholastic chess club participants. The case study enabled the researcher to explore the faculties of abstract cognition among students of contrasting skills and abilities in playing chess. The study also allowed for the consideration of potential visual-spatial, logical, academic, social competency and life benefits of chess play. Through analysis of interviews, chess simulations, blindfold chess play, and narration of chess lines and sequences, the investigator was able to extract meaning and code schemata into a holistic understanding of the phenomenon of …

Teachers' Making Meaning Of Reduced Class Sizes: A Phenomenology, Brenda Ludy Snow

Dissertations

It is every teacher’s dream to have a classroom full of students who come to class each and every day highly motivated to learn. However, in all reality teachers know that this is not always the case. Researchers continue to search for reasonable alternatives to improve students’ learning. As children enter school a good start is imperative if they are to succeed in school, (Achilles & Finn, 2000). Class size reduction is a strong alternative and should be considered as part of a reasonable plan for student learning.

For this qualitative study, I examined and described the experiences of 12 …

Propaedeutic To Philosophy: Dialogue And Truth In Philosophical Practice, Lauren Nelson Hesse

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

This dissertation advocates a model of dialogue as an approach to education and to philosophical discourse itself that is capable of acknowledging and accommodating the manifold possibilities for human thought. Contemporary philosophy is permeated by a loss of certainty and the increasingly problematic nature of the concept of truth, and the complication of these concepts exposes significant limitations in the ways we conceptualize thought itself. Working in this vein, Gilles Deleuze identifies what he calls an " image of thought," which characterizes the forms we have traditionally allowed thinking to take. His critique of this image, along with its subsequent …

Educational Practices, Funding, And The Implementation Of A Reading First Program, Maria Maricela Rodriguez-Salaiz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The National Reading Panel (NICHD, 2000) found that too many children struggle with learning to read. Through a Congressional mandate, the panel identified key skills and methods that were central to reading achievement in the grades kindergarten through third grade. According to the United States Department of Education (USDE) Summary of Discretionary Funds (2008b), over $6 billion were allocated to the schools to implement the research based strategies from 2002 to 2008. States throughout the country showed gains from the states’ first year of implementation to 2008 in grades 1-3 in comprehension assessments. The Reading First: Student Achievement, Teacher Empowerment, …

A Vision For Change In Bioscience Education: Building On Knowledge From The Past, Nancy J. Pelaez, Trevor R. Anderson, Samuel N. Postlethwait

PIBERG Publications

High quality undergraduate education is central to the success of all life scientists. Several major bioscience educational issues are the targets of much debate, research, funding, publications, and reports (e.g. Vision and Change). Surprisingly, these issues are considered by modern bioscience instructors as unresolved despite historical reports that claim the contrary. Here we illustrate with evidence how, more than 50 years ago, Sam Postlethwait successfully instituted strategies to address several issues in plant biology education with his audio-­‐tutorials. These strategies succeeded in individualizing instruction of students with diverse educational backgrounds in large classes, incorporating authentic and active learning, integrating lab …