Digital Commons Network^™

Lessons Learned From Texas' Special Education Cap, Raj Salhotra

Marquette Benefits and Social Welfare Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Executive Functions In High School Aged Students, Julia Barta

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Childhood adversity and executive function deficits pose significant concerns for those who experience these issues directly, as well as the educators, parents, medical providers, and communities in which they live. Much research has outlined negative physiological effects on typical brain development and health, as well as negative behavioral, social, and emotional outcomes stemming from early life trauma. Similarly, individuals with executive function deficits are more likely to struggle with behavior, emotions, and cognition. Little is known about the self-reported relationship between early life trauma and executive function. This study was designed to learn more about the relationship between adverse childhood …

The Effect Of Poverty Simulation Participation On Attitudes Toward Children Living In Poverty For Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Amanda Moore, Leah Struhsaker, Kaylee Gutschow

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Poverty is a major issue in the United States. Because perceived discrimination can impact health and willingness to seek care, it is important for healthcare providers to be educated on and exposed to issues that poverty presents to individuals who are poor. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a poverty simulation on attitudes of undergraduate nursing students towards children living poverty. The study was guided by Albert Bandura’s social learning theory and used a longitudinal, quasi-experimental design and convenience sampling of undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a community health nursing course. Attitudes were measured at …

Observed Quality And Consistency Of Fifth Graders’ Teacher–Student Interactions: Associations With Feelings, Engagement, And Performance In School, Jennifer Locasale-Crouch, Faiza Jamil, Robert C. Pianta, Kathleen Moritz Rudasill, Jamie Decoster

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

This study examined how overall quality and within-day consistency in fifth graders’ teacher-student interactions related to feelings about, engagement, and academic performance in school. Participants were 956 children in a national study. Students who experienced higher quality interactions reported more positive feelings about school, were more engaged, performed better in math and reading, and had more closeness and less conflict with teachers. Independent of overall interaction quality, students who experienced less consistency in their interactions with teachers, whether it was with the same teacher or across teachers, were less engaged and had more teacher-reported conflict. Findings emphasize the separate contributions …

Elementary Art Education, Innovation, And Darwin's Paradox, Mark Graham, Stephen Moore

Faculty Publications

Innovation and learning come together in a vibrant manner during dynamic arts education classes led by teachers who understand the importance of collaboration and student improvisation.

Student Involvement: A Comparative Study Of Eastern Michigan University And Oxford-Brookes University, Meaghan Lynch

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Through a comparative analysis of Eastern Michigan University and Oxford-Brookes University, it has been determined that despite being similar in size and reputability, student organizations look significantly different. The researcher determined a strong first step in discussing why the two universities have such differing approaches to student involvement would be to investigate the value found in extra-curricular participation for students that occur in both countries. The researcher explored this difference and discusses what each institution could learn from the other and continue to grow and develop their extracurricular programs.

Nursing Candidates' Perceptions Of The Greatest Challenges To Becoming A Professional Nurse, Lee Ann Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing candidates' overall goal is to become a professional nurse. To reach this goal, the student must graduate from an associate or baccalaureate nursing program and pass the state board, National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Student retention in nursing programs and passing the NCLEX continue to be a problem for educational institutions throughout the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine nursing candidates' perceptions of their greatest challenges in becoming a professional nurse. Wenger's social learning systems and the community of practice comprised the conceptual framework that guided this study. The research questions pertained to nursing students' …

An Analysis On English Comprehension, Samuel Black, Jerry Rylance, Matthew Sielaff, Aaron Gorman

Math 365 Class Projects

Books and Buddies is a program run by Spread the Word Nevada (StWN) designed to help students who struggle with reading. As part of the program, students are given pre and post tests which measure comprehension, accuracy, and words correct per minute (WCPM).

A data set was provided that included students' scores on the pre and post test, as well as some general demographic information. A Python program was created to perform linear regressions on subsets of the data, measured on the three attributes listed above. The data was also divided into various categories for the sake of the regressions. …

Aboriginal Women Yarning About Experiences As Undergraduate Nursing Students In Western Australian Universities, Melanie Robinson

Theses

The inequities and poor health outcomes experience by Aboriginal people in Western Australia are well documented. It has been suggested that such issues could be better addressed if more Aboriginal nurses are employed, as there appears to be a link between improved health outcomes and the inclusion of Aboriginal health professionals in practice. In recent years the number Aboriginal nursing students undertaking tertiary studies has increased, but their completion rates could be improved. Aboriginal nursing students continue to struggle to achieve success.

The aim of this study was to investigate factors that enabled (supported) or inhibited (prevented) the progress of …

Psychosocial Impacts On Young Adult Haitian Immigrant Students In The United States, Lucien Eugene Pierre, Ph. D.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Many young adult Haitian immigrant students (YAHIS) move to the United States

hoping to achieve better lives. This growing population faces many challenges when

acculturating to a new country and educational system. Some obstacles include

inadequate family and social support, language barriers, limited education, distinct

cultural values, a lack of academic materials, a shortage of Haitian teachers, and

inadequate educational programs. These psychosocial factors often prevent Haitian

immigrants from succeeding in U.S. schools. This study explored YAHIS' experiences of

acculturation and education as they relate to these psychosocial factors. Qualitative

phenomenological techniques, guided by Adlerian theory, revealed the assumptions, …

Emotional Self-Management Experiences Of Practical Nursing Students, Cindy Ko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Ontario, Canada, practical nurses (PN) are educated through a 2-year diploma program. A review of PN program curricula in Ontario suggested that emotional intelligence (EI) and the core concept of emotional self-management are not specified in curriculum outcomes or courses. The study explored PN students' lived experiences with emotional self-management in the clinical settings where they are exposed to stress related situations using van Manen's orientation to hermeneutic phenomenology. The original four-branch ability model of EI by Mayer and Salovey was used as the theoretical framework to guide the explorative and interpretative processes of the study. Face-to-face interviews were …

College Students And Corporate Social Responsibility: An Examination Of Corporate-Social Responsible Behavior In College Athletics From The Students’ Perspective, R. Jacob Gilbert

Theses and Dissertations

Much research has been done on corporate social responsibility in the business world. Additionally, while there are major gaps in research on the sports side of corporate social responsibility, there has been very little - if any - research done into corporate social responsibility in college athletics. With approximately 130 major Division I football programs with operating budgets rivaling major corporations, in addition to a plethora of other revenue sports, the actions of these institutions also need to be studied. Thus, in an effort to understand the socially responsible actions of these institutions, this paper dives into the student perspective …

The Play’S The Thing: Engaging 6th Grade Social Studies Students Through Movement, Karen Clinkert Paggi

Theses and Dissertations

This paper is a description of a proposed action research study driven by a problem of practice. The problem for this action research is that the teacher-researcher’s sixth-grade social studies students lack critical thinking skills. Critical thinkers are engaged and learners who analyze complex issues and challenges within society. The teacherresearcher observed her students performing well on standardized benchmarks that rely on recalling facts, while simultaneously struggling to analyze explicit and implicit information from primary and secondary sources in order to make relevant and logical conclusions. After observing sedentary teaching practices in her classroom, the teacherresearcher began to review a …

Audio Books’ Impact On Students’ Reading Experiences, Anne W. Hartell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of audio books on students’ reading experiences in a public elementary school in rural upstate South Carolina. This study was conducted to address the problem of practice reported by teachers as low motivation and engagement during independent reading in classrooms that contributed to negative experiences during independent reading. This action research study utilized interviews, a focus group, a survey, and classroom observations to gather qualitative data on the reading experience before and after the introduction of audio books from three resources. Adult support, access, interest, focus, and difficulty were themes …

The Perceptions Of School Counselors, Special Education Teachers, And Principals On Their Preparedness To Be On Anti-Bullying Policies Actors For Students With Disabilities, Sara J. Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

Effective bullying prevention programs are essential for schools, particularly with respect to students with disabilities (SWD). Improving the preparedness of counselors, special education teachers and principals can advance efforts to recognize and to address the bullying of students with disabilities. Unfortunately, schools’ disciplinary processes and procedures are often complex and diffuse, and school stakeholders often know little about preventative methods for bullying and supportive measures for the victims. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of counselors, special education teachers and principals in middle schools on their preparedness to be effective anti-bullying policy actors. This research is …

The Impact Of Scaffolding On The Historical Thinking Skills Of Middle School Students, William R. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

This work is dedicated to some incredibly important people in my life. First, to my students everywhere, you have challenged me to become a better curriculum leader and a better historian. Many of you have inspired me beyond anything that you can imagine. Second, to my colleagues, you have helped create a drive inside of me to seek the best in my students and myself. You have also put up with my seemingly unending impromptu lectures about the newest thought I had on pedagogy.

Finally and most importantly, to my family, it is you that I owe an indescribable debt. …

The Impact Of Number Talks On Third-Grade Students’ Number Sense Development And Mathematical Proficiency, Nicole D. Gaillard

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study employed a mixed-methods design to examine the impact of a number talks intervention on the number sense development and mathematical proficiency of students in one third-grade mathematics class. The number talks strategy was also studied to determine its impact on third-grade students’ development of a productive mathematical disposition. Number sense is “a person’s general understanding of numbers and operations along with the ability and inclination to use this understanding in flexible ways to make mathematical judgments and to develop useful strategies for handling numbers and operations” (McIntosh, Reys, & Reys, 1992, p. 3). This eight-week study …

Time For Change: A Study Of Enrolment Decision Dynamics For Admission Into English Secondary Education, David Andrew Carter

Plymouth Business School Theses

Cross-sectional studies suggest a prevalence of mental health problems from the age that children change to English secondary schools but there are few longitudinal appraisals of these issues and how enrolment policies influence psychological wellbeing. This research focuses on key factors linking competition for secondary schools and family responses to such challenges to determine enrolment policies that can sustain wellbeing longer-term. Integrated, model-based multimethodology was used in this urban, case-based study. Views were induced from multi-agency, expert practitioners to agree a system dynamics concept model. Parental decision-making behaviours were deduced by survey to understand key factors for model calibration. Dynamic …

Supporting Transgender Students In Higher Education: Opportunities For Mental Health Professionals, Tracy G. Marsh

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

During the last decade, there has been a significant increase in visibility of transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) individuals, particularly in Western cultures. However, this increase in visibility has also prompted a concomitant surge in hate crimes and violence against TGNC persons and anti-TGNC legislation throughout the United States. Extant research, framed largely by Meyer’s minority stress model, has shown that TGNC persons experience greater rates of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation and intent when compared to cisgender and lesbian, gay, and bisexual peers. Furthermore, TGNC students in higher education face specific challenges with regard to …

Identification And Preliminary Review Of Doctoral Theses In Engineering Education That Have Used Phenomenological Methods, Shannon Chance, I. Direito

Conference papers

46th SEFI Annual Conference 2018. Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship for engineering education excellence.

Exploring The Academic, Social, And Cultural Experiences Of English Language Learners From Saudi Arabia At A Midwest University In The U.S., Sukainah A. Al Subia

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The world is experiencing an increasing number of international students who leave their countries to study abroad. The value and benefit of studying abroad influences many students to go on this educational journey. Research conducted over the past 20 years indicates that studying abroad provides both rewarding and challenging experiences. For example, studying abroad exposes students to exciting new cultures and places, developing academic/language skills and gaining social and cultural exposures which in turn enrich their global experience (Geeraert et al., 2014; Lillyman & Bennett, 2014; Wu et al., 2015). However, studying abroad can also pose certain challenges, including loneliness, …

An Exploration Of Faculty And Staff Mentoring On High-Risk Community College Student Self-Efficacy, Support Systems, And Persistence, William E. Ashcraft

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of faculty and staff mentoring on high-risk community college student self-efficacy, support systems and persistence and identifying the attitudes and behaviors of successful faculty and staff mentors. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, twenty-two successful high-risk students from one urban community college were interviewed and asked to identify and describe someone on campus who had been most influential in their ability to persist. The twenty-six community college faculty and staff personnel identified by these students were interviewed to learn what they do to help students succeed and persist. Four themes emerged …

Collaboration In The Midst Of Change: Growing Librarian-Archivist Partnerships For Engaging New Students And Faculty, Karen E. Viars, Amanda G. Pellerin

Collaborative Librarianship

Collaboration between librarians and archivists is a valuable way to share expertise and effort when instructing first-year English students on research skills they will need to succeed in college. It is also vital to orienting new faculty to library and archive resources for their scholarship and teaching, as well as encouraging students to value the library and archives resources and knowledge. The unique first-year English program at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) provides a constantly renewing pool of both new students and faculty members. This article identifies common themes in library and archive instruction and key elements of …

Food Plight, Pauliina Siniauer, Rahimon Nasa, Lizeth Beltran, Jeremy Ibarra

Capstones

At Public School 398 in East Flatbush, elementary school children on March 20 were offered a lunch of beef patties, zucchini and pears.

A city health inspector found conditions were not appetizing: in the cafeteria and kitchen, the inspector spotted live roaches and close to 600 fresh mice droppings, ample evidence of rodent infestation – all conditions primed to cause illness.

http://foodplight.nycitynewsservice.com/home/

Influencers Experienced In The College Search Process By International Chinese Undergraduate Students Who Use Educational Agents, Brocdyl Joseph Porta

Open Access Dissertations

This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews of five International Chinese Undergraduate (ICU) students attending a research university in South Florida to better understand how they experienced the college choice process. Unlike traditional U.S. native-born students, the literature indicates that some international students may have influencers linked to the financial costs associated with hiring educational agents in the college choice phases (Pimpa, 2003; Hossler & Gallagher, 1987), parental and familial aspirations for student, and institutional ranking information connected to marketing materials. Using thematic analysis, the following two major themes associated to four subthemes emerged as general findings from these analyses: 1) …

Promoting Student Success: Bilingual Education Best Practices And Research Flaws, Lillian Fassero

Senior Honors Theses

This paper first determines the benefits which bilingual education offers and then compares transitional, dual-language, and heritage language maintenance programs. After exploring the outcomes, contexts, and practical implications of the various bilingual programs, this paper explores the oversight in most bilingual studies, which assess students’ syntax and semantics while neglecting their understanding of pragmatics and discourse structures (Maxwell-Reid, 2011). Incorporating information from recent studies which question traditional understandings of bilingualism and argue that biliteracy requires more than grammatical and vocabulary instruction, this paper proposes modifications in current research strategies and suggests best practices for transitional, dual-language, and heritage maintenance programs.

An Examination Of Factors Influencing Persistence At Columbus State University, Varonika Brown Hardman

Theses and Dissertations

The researcher designed the mixed method study to contribute to the field of study on persistence and provide information to CSU leadership, faculty and staff that may benefit efforts to reach and retain students. A better understanding of the factors influencing persistence may become vital for funding. Some form of performance-based funding is in place in 32 states. Georgia policymakers are considering factors such as student progression and degree completion.

For the study, the researcher asked:

1. What are the reasons graduating CSU students give for persisting at CSU? 2. What are the reasons incoming CSU students give for choosing …

An Examination Of First Generation Students And Program Administrators' Perceptions Regarding Academic And Social Support Offered At Albany Technical College, Wendy Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the perceptions of first generation students and program administrators regarding the academic and social support offered at Albany Technical College(ATC). This is a mixed-methods study that offered insight into the programmatic practices designed to improve the retention and graduation outcomes of first generation (first gen) students at ATC. This study complements the current body of literature about the challenges and conditions that influence the matriculation and graduation of the underserved population. Post-secondary institutions that enroll first generation students can benefit from learning about the experiences shared by student and program administrator participants.

Prospective participants were identified with …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Use Of A Selected Phonics Curriculum And The Oral Reading Fluency And Nonsense Word Fluency Scores Of First-Grade Students, Bryce B. Day

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effects, if any, of a supplemental phonics curriculum, Saxon Phonics, on the reading achievement of first-grade students in one mountain-west, semirural, school district. The design was casual-comparative and ex post facto, and answered the questions: (1) Do students taught using a traditional basal program and students taught using both the traditional basal program and a supplemental phonics program (control vs. treatment) differ on selected end-of-year reading achievement scores (i.e., portions of the DIBELS Next assessment—nonsense word fluency [NWF], oral reading fluency [ORF], and accuracy [ACC])? (2) do any possible …

Slipping Through The Cracks: A Look Into Special Education Referrals, Courtney Musselman

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Special Education is offered in many schools today and more and more students are being referred to this type of education. For this capstone project three local special education teachers were interviewed about the referral process and what could be done to improve it. This is an important issue because many students are slipping through the cracks when it comes to be identified and others are being overly identified. The referral process is important because it provides students with an equal opportunity for education. Findings from the interviews and information from a relevant literature review were used to develop an …