Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Rockford Public Schools' Master Scheduling Process As An Open System To Achieve Sustainability, Renee E K Schott

Dissertations of Practice

Master scheduling is a high-stakes process that plays a critical role in a school’s ability to effectively deliver instruction to students. Proper care is required to ensure students have equitable access to courses and staff assignments are maximizing the functionality of the schedule. Despite its significance, however, there is little extant literature or research on the topic of master scheduling itself or its agents, Master Schedulers. The scope of this research strives to fill that gap by analyzing the master scheduling processes of a Midwest, urban, public school district through the lens of Systems Theory. Through this study, strengths and …

Implementing The Least Restrictive Environment Through Co-Teaching: The Role Of Administrative Support, Maureen Hatfield

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation investigates the perspectives of educators with the aim of enhancing support for the practice of co-teaching. Co-teaching, an inclusive instructional strategy involving collaboration between general and special educators, holds promise for diverse student populations. However, its effective implementation requires adequate support structures. This research employs a qualitative approach, employing interviews grounded in narrative inquiry and supplemented by a corresponding survey. The key findings illuminate critical areas where principals can enhance support for co-teaching practices within their schools. Through analysis, three primary categories emerged: resources, autonomy, and efficacy. General and special educators identified these areas as pivotal for successful …

Driving On Empty: Exploring Principal Burnout And Intent To Turnover, Colleen Cook

Dissertations of Practice

This study used a quantitative design analyzing extant data from the NTPS distributed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This is a national survey distributed to principals to gather information about the principalship, individual factors, and organizational factors for the school they lead. Using extant data, analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among individual factors, situational factors, and overall levels of burnout.

Overall, 17.5% to 19% of the public school principals across the nation reported experiencing feelings of burnout. While there was a moderate level of burnout reported, principals were generally satisfied with their role, reporting an …

Can High School Gpa Predict College-Level Course Success At Community Colleges?, Joseph M. Bergman

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

CAN HIGH SCHOOL GPA PREDICT COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSE SUCCESS AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

Joseph M. Bergman, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Xiaodan Hu, Director

In an effort to find a more convenient, lower-cost college readiness measure to increase access to college-level courses for more students without increasing student stress and sacrificing student success, Aurum Community College piloted the use of high school GPA as a college readiness measure while continuing to use the established standardized placement exam. Based on the placement measure used, this quantitative study examined student success in an introductory college-level composition course, …

Mentorship Matters: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders Today, Thomas Davidson

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation explores the advantages and disadvantages of both tightly and loosely defined principal mentorship programs from the perspective of secondary principals, focusing on how they assess the effectiveness of these programs during their inaugural year. The dissertation is divided into three distinct papers. Paper One reviews existing literature on mentoring, teacher mentorship, principal mentorship, and principal turnover. Paper Two presents an empirical study that investigates how first-year principals view the effectiveness of different mentorship program structures. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 first-year principals; 8 participated in the Illinois Principals Association mentorship program, while 4 had a mentor …

An Exploration Of Teacher-Student Writing Conferences In A Fourth-Grade Classroom, Tracy Beling

Dissertations of Practice

Through the theoretical lens of Vygotsky’s social development theory, this qualitative research study sought to provide insight into the suggestions a fourth-grade teacher provided during teacher-student writing conferences, the changes students made to their writing, and how students internalized the information learned during the conferences. Over the course of five assignments, three students participated in teacher-student writing conferences that were recorded for later review. The teacher received no training in writing conferences but used his own professional development to learn how to implement the writing conferences. Student writing samples were collected and analyzed both with-in and cross cases. Data collected …

Investigating The Perceptions Of The Professional Development Experience Of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (Siop) In A Pk-8th Grade District, Joseph Trsar

Dissertations of Practice

INVESTIGATING THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE OF SHELTERED INSTRUCTION OBSERVATION PROTOCOL

(SIOP) IN A PK-8TH GRADE DISTRICT

This dissertation explores the perceptions of staff members who have received professional development in Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) and their motivation to implement the strategies learned during the training. There is an increasing number of non-native English speakers in the Illinois education system and a large emphasis on how to best serve this growing population. Providing educators with professional development in SIOP is one strategy many districts utilize to meet this growing population. This dissertation investigated the experiences of several …

Paresthesia Due To Peripheral Neuropathy: Anxiety And Wellbeing, Nikolas Cirillo

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Neuropathic pain has been linked with mental health concerns such as anxiety and wellbeing, but specific symptoms of neuropathic pain have had much less attention than the construct as a whole. Paresthesia, meaning “abnormal sensation” (tingling, numbness, pins and needles, impaired sensation, and itching) is a neuropathic pain symptom. Tissue compression is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy (PN) as well as paresthesia. This study aimed to test the following hypotheses: (1) if paresthesia due to PN is positively correlated with anxiety, negatively correlated with wellbeing, and if (2) anxiety and (3) wellbeing varied significantly by level of …

Del Arquetipo Al Tropo: Guía Para La Creación De Intereses Románticos En Dating Simulators (2024), Álvaro Espinosa Barrero

Grado en Diseño y Desarrollo de videojuegos

En la última década, los simuladores de citas (dating simulators) han experimentado un crecimiento significativo en popularidad dentro de la industria de los videojuegos. Estos juegos, que combinan elementos de simulación y romance, permiten a los jugadores interactuar con personajes virtuales y desarrollar relaciones románticas a través de elecciones narrativas y estratégicas. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es analizar el diseño narrativo de los personajes romanceables en estos simuladores, con un enfoque particular en el juego "Monster Prom".

El diseño de personajes en los dating simulators es un aspecto crucial que influye en la inmersión y satisfacción del jugador. …

Aplicación De Técnicas De Gestión De Grupo Deportiva En Entornos Laborales: Impacto En El Bienestar Y Productividad De Equipos De Trabajo (2024), Óscar Llano Higelmo

Grado en Diseño y Desarrollo de videojuegos

Uno de los retos actuales en cualquier empresa es el de la implementación de estrategias de gestión para buscar equipos de trabajo con mayor valor humano. Ante la necesidad de mejorar la dinámica de los equipos de trabajo y fomentar un ambiente laboral positivo, surge la pregunta de si las técnicas de gestión de grupo ampliamente utilizadas en el ámbito deportivo pueden ser adaptadas y aplicadas de manera efectiva en entornos laborales formales. Este trabajo de fin de grado busca explorar la posibilidad de implementar técnicas de gestión de grupo y teambuilding, sacadas de ambientes más deportivos y probar su …

Entre Colores Y Siluetas: Psicología De La Composición En Los Key Art De Videojuegos (2024), Carlota De La Prida Cogollos

Grado en Diseño y Desarrollo de videojuegos

This investigation seeks to understand how to create efficient Key Arts in terms of narrative by focusing on various patterns in composition and their emotional effect. It will also cover the psychology behind colors and the cultural associations made to them. The lighting in a scene and the importance of characters and their body language will also be relevant in this analysis. We will accomplish this by studying different compositions in some games' Key Arts both visually and psychologically. The results will conclude the importance of these elements when it comes to creating an emotional bond with the target and …

Report Of The County Commissioners County Treasurer And Other Officers Of Cheshire County, New Hampshire For The Year Ending December 31, 2023, Cheshire County Representatives

Cheshire County, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a county in the state of New Hampshire.

Determination Of Genetic Variation In Opioid-Resistant Hospice Patients Using A Pharmacogenomics Approach, Daniel Bianculli

Theses and Dissertations

Managing pain requires a delicate balance between the advantages of opioid analgesia and the possible adverse effects. This balance becomes even more difficult in hospice and palliative care environments where dosage regimens are frequently ambiguous. Some hospice patients experience opioid resistance, in which opioids no longer produce an analgesic effect on a patient. Evidence-based analyses frequently omit this vulnerable population, resulting in a need for concrete procedures. The emergence of pharmacogenomic analysis and personalized treatment presents a solution to this problem by using each patient's genomic data to interpret opiate dosing. This pharmacogenomic study aimed to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) …

In Support Of A Read-Aloud Accommodation: A Meta Analysis Study, Sarah Elizabeth Ryan

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the read-aloud accommodation benefits for students with disabilities (SWD) and students without disabilities (SWOD). In this study, researchers recommend ways in which to remove encumbrances faced by SWD in reading comprehension. In general, research has shown that both SWD and SWOD have met some degree of success from the read-aloud accommodations. Further, this meta-analysis will attempt to reveal important factors that influence the effects of read-aloud accommodations. For example, how the accommodation effect size influences the subject area of reading versus that of math. This study will also show that the effect of read-aloud accommodations is significantly …

School Psychologists’ Training, Engagement, And Legislative Involvement In Return To Learn Procedures For Students With A Mtbi, Jessie Marie Beshara

Theses and Dissertations

Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs), are increasingly affecting school-age children in the United States. Despite this rising incidence, comprehensive return-to-learn plans for affected students are often inadequate and not utilized to the degree needed. This deficiency may stem from school psychologists' insufficient training, knowledge, and awareness regarding how to support these students effectively. This is further impacted by school psychologists’ exclusion in legislation or school district policies addressing concussion management, specifically in mandated professional development training. This is despite being recognized as essential members of the concussion management team (CMT). This study aimed to investigate school psychologists' familiarity …

Towards A Theory Of Sobriety Barriers: The Development Of A Novel Measure Of Alcohol Sobriety Barriers, Lindsay L. Arader

Theses and Dissertations

At present, there is no formal theory of barriers to sobriety from alcohol, and subsequently no standardized way to assess such barriers in the population. The goal of the current study was to formalize both a sobriety barriers theory and sobriety barriers measure via psychometric analysis. Researchers designed a sobriety barriers theory based on available literature, generated a multidimensional item-set representing this theory, administered the item-set to a sample of 1,187 respondents (56.4% female), and evaluated the extent to which the structure and contents of the item-set corresponded to the proposed theory using psychometric analysis. Structural analyses revealed a bifactor …

Comparison Of Professional Impressions Of Hikikomori Across Cultures: A Secondary Data Analysis, Marko Lamela

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impressions of two hikikomori vignettes by professionals across different countries to determine possible similarities or differences across countries. Originally viewed as a cultural disorder, hikikomori has been observed in different countries. This study used an existing data set of a 2010 study to review diagnostic impressions using the ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR coding systems, as well as a free response. Additionally, this study reviewed professional impressions on the best treatment for hikikomori. This study reviewed these responses based on country of origin and cultural type. A correlation was found between ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR diagnosis, country, and cultural …

Change In Blame Attributions As A Mediator Of Symptom Reduction In Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Michelle Cusumano

Theses and Dissertations

Youth exposed to interpersonal violence often develop maladaptive posttraumatic cognitions about the event(s), the world, and themselves. These maladaptive cognitions have robust associations with onset and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and internalizing symptoms (Mitchell et al., 2017). Growing literature suggests changes in cognitions, particularly appraisals about control, vulnerability, and personal change following trauma exposure, serve as a mechanism of change in trauma-specific psychotherapy interventions for youth (Meiser-Stedman et al., 2017; Smith et al., 2007). Little research has examined change in blame attributions as a mediator of treatment outcome, despite their importance in understanding how youth process their trauma …

Identity Denial And Food Choice: Do Chinese Americans Reassert Their American Identity Through Food?, Shelagh Mahbubani

Theses and Dissertations

Food choice is impacted by a variety of different factors, including cultural, social and socioeconomic (Chen & Antonelli, 2020; Contento, 2008; Rozin, 2015). Food choice has a major impact on an individual’s health, and research has shown an association between the prototypical “American diet” and an increased risk for health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and stroke (Liu et al., 2020). One important social factor that can influence food choice is the desire to appear as a prototypical member of a social group (Cruwys et al., 2012). For example, when an individual’s social identity is questioned (identity threat), they may …

Kindergarten Teachers’ Perspectives About Literacy And The Relevance Of Assessments: Impact On Students’ Success And First Grade Transition, Claudia T. Watts

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to investigate kindergarten teachers’ beliefs about literacy and the relevance of assessments at the kindergarten level, the literacy skills kindergarteners should possess, how these skills are acquired, to what extent their beliefs about literacy influenced their instructional methodology, and their perspectives on the role of parental involvement. This study was guided by six research questions. The participants consisted of twenty kindergarten teachers from various elementary public schools within a large and diverse school district in Virginia. The participants are from two ethnic backgrounds and had ranges of experience teaching kindergarten. Over a …

Examination Of Reading Motivation Levels And Associated Factors In Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Adolescents, Sarah Carlton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine self-rated levels of reading motivation and reading activity among Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) Adolescents and the relationship to overall Language Arts skills. This study is framed by social learning theory and self-determination theory. DHH Adolescents (n=38), between the ages of 11 and 17, with bilateral hearing loss, located in Southern California participated in the study. Data collection included administration of the Motivation for Reading Questionnaire (MRQ), Reading Activity Inventory (RAI) and a demographic survey. Phase 2 included a focus group of Phase 1 participants (n=5). Survey data was analyzed quantitatively for mean …

Globalizing Local History: Giuseppe Garibaldi In New York And The Politics Of Memory, 1884-1932, Daniel Falcone

Theses and Dissertations

Globalizing Local History: Giuseppe Garibaldi in New York and The Politics of Memory, 1884-1932 examines local historical societies and public historical sites and describes how commemorators utilized Giuseppe Garibaldi's (July 4, 1807- June 2, 1882) legacy as a symbol and form of patriotic, political, and revolutionary speech and action. This dissertation explains how his life was appropriated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. My work explores how New Yorkers and Italian Americans used spaces, collective memory, and identity, to produce a form of world history through local historical events. This dissertation thematically describes how Garibaldi was collectively recalled …

Decodable Deliberations In Early Reading Instruction: A Mixed-Methods Study Of First-Grade Teachers’ Perceptions, Selection, And Use Of Decodable Texts, Patricia Gallery

Theses and Dissertations

The fundamental significance of literacy achievement cannot be overstated. However, the 2022 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) divulges alarming findings, with a mere 33 percent of the nation’s fourth graders performing at or above proficiency in reading (NAEP, 2022). Exploring the nexus of research-informed pedagogy and practice is imperative to disrupt this deleterious trajectory. This mixed-method study will examine how first-grade teachers select and use texts for beginning reading instruction with a critical lens on teachers' perceptions of decodable text to fully understand the complex intersection of intentionality and attitude when choosing texts for early reading instruction. This study …

What Motivates Authors To Include Religious Identity In Children's Picture Books?, Kenneth J. Eiker

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores children's authors' experiences of and motivations for including religious and spiritual themes in their picture books. It investigates the intricate connection between authors' backgrounds, including their cultural, spiritual, or religious, and familial roots, and how these elements permeate their writing. The study examines these authors' lived experiences and personal narratives, uncovering how their unique identities shape the portrayal of complex spiritual or religious themes in children's literature. Across the interviews, several themes were identified, including family teachings, religious upbringing, and personal spirituality. Authors draw from a wealth of personal experiences, such as Matt de la Peña's Christian …

Exploring Science And Mathematics Teachers’ Professional Identity Development During Arts Integration Processes, Lulu Sun

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, studies on STEAM education or arts integration focus on students’ experiences rather than teachers’ challenges. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation is to set an example for policymakers, educators, and researchers, to provide better support for art-integrated mathematics and biology teachers by understanding their professional identity growth and their informal art learning. In this qualitative study, I employ case study as my research methodology by conducting interviews, observation, and physical artifacts. My sample consists of a high school mathematics teacher and a biology teacher who bring art to the teaching. My research findings highlight the significance of artistic thinking …

Teacher Perceptions Of Their Preparedness To Teach Early Literacy Skills Using Developmentally Appropriate Practices In Universal Prekindergarten Programs, Tara A. Sokol

Theses and Dissertations

Early childhood education is a dynamic field, constantly evolving with the introduction of new curriculums, initiatives and programs. The classroom teacher is the constant, providing essential early literacy instruction amidst all of these changes. Universal Pre-Kindergarten is a vital program that provides access to quality early childhood education for New York City residents. According to the Office of Early Childhood Education, there were nearly 68,000 students enrolled in these free, full-day, high-quality programs in the 2018-2019 school year (2022). Universal Pre-Kindergarten is described as using Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) as the basis for its teachings. Educators are responsible for using …

Vocabulary Acquisition In High School Classrooms Utilizing Emerging Trends In Literacy Development: Perceptions Of Teachers And Students, Inviolata Lunani Sore

Theses and Dissertations

Current global trends demand that we remain conscious of how distinct norms in groups we affiliate with affect decisions. Among developmental aspects, childhood language acquisition depends heavily on epigenetic interactions between the innate and the immediate environment (Sinha, 2017). This explanatory sequential mixed methods study explored how high school students acquire and incrementally build their vocabulary while utilizing emergent learning trends divergent from traditional curricula. The study leans on schema theory, critical race theory, whole-language theory, and reciprocal model. The independent variable is literacy curriculum, while the dependent variable is vocabulary acquisition. The researcher utilized classroom lesson observations, one-on-one interviews, …

First Grade Teachers’ Self-Efficacy During Transformational Changes In Literacy Instruction, Amy M. Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

Schools across the county are transitioning from balanced literacy to researched based reading instruction. This shift impacts not only instructional practices in reading, but the fundamental understanding of reading development. Teachers are on the frontline of this huge endeavor. This research examined five first grade teachers’ self-efficacy through this transformational change. One-on-one interviews were conducted to explore teachers’ perspectives as they make this shift. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, (IPA) four themes emerged; lack of training, feelings of disconnect, teacher overwhelm, and passion for change. Recommendations for practice include clear and concise communications of the shifts that are necessary when moving …

Prospective Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of The Importance Of Nutrition Literacy: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, John J. Spano

Theses and Dissertations

Proper nutrition is essential to the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. It is also important during the recovery period from disease as well as in the maintenance of general good health. In many health care settings, nurses are the initial health care provider with whom patients have contact. All forms of literacy require a solid foundation in fundamental literacy concepts that must be reinforced to fully develop content-specific literacy, such as nutrition literacy. Nutrition literacy is defined as the extent to which nutrition information is acquired, processed, comprehended, and applied in ways that benefit …

Nostalgia For The Never Was: Ideals Of Family, Nation, And Masculinity In The Blockbuster Films Of The Reagan Era, Patrick M. Zwosta

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation offers a cultural history of the symbiotic relationship between consumerism, nuclear war and the ideal of the nuclear family as these concepts are reflected in popular film franchises launched in the 1980s during the heyday of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Each chapter studies the strong correlation between blockbuster film and Reagan’s militarism, his invocations of family values, and most importantly, his investment in turning American politics into a nostalgic movie promising a happy Hollywood ending. Chapter One discusses James Cameron’s The Terminator as a warning for what can happen if a society is too reliant on technology and consumption …