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The Pivotal Significance Of Attentiveness To Standards And Assessment In South Carolinian School Libraries, Joanna Tine

South Carolina Libraries

The Pivotal Significance of Attentiveness to Standards and Assessment in South Carolinian School Libraries provides an overview of the history of the initial development of librarian standards and an in-depth look at the South Carolina Standards of Learning, the American Association of School Librarians’ Standards for Learners, and the International Society for Technology in Education Standards for Students. Information on the organizations’ covered standards is supplied, along with a brief examination of their potential application within school libraries. Additionally, a synopsis of South Carolina’s ADEPT Performance Standards for Classroom-Based Teachers, TE21 CASE Benchmarks, and South Carolina’s CTE Standards is provided. …

How Can Equity-Focused Inquiry Uncover The Causes For The Opportunity Gaps Our Students Of Color Experience?, Stephanie Becks

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how equity-focused inquiry could uncover gaps in opportunity for our students of color and determine root causes for those gaps. Through Inquiry as Stance and Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the driving frameworks, this study used practitioner inquiry to understand what gaps, if any, were present for students of color within our school. If gaps in opportunity were present, this study also aimed to discover what school level factors were contributing to the gaps. Three cycles of inquiry were used to help answer the following questions: (1) What common gaps in opportunity …

The Effects Of Affirming And Constructive Peer Editing Feedback On High School Student Perceptions And Essay Revisions, Lorin Koch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a novel strategy for peer editing of student essays in a high school English language arts classroom. The peer editing method used in this study provided more positive feedback to lower-level writers and more negative feedback to higher-level writers, with grade-level writers getting a blend of both positive and negative feedback. Incorporating an action research design, this study included data collection through student standardized test scores, student writing samples, comments left on other students’ papers, responses to peer editing sessions, and individual interviews. Qualitative data were collected over the …

The Implementation And Impact Of The Leveled Literacy Intervention System On Middle School Students In Special Education, Krystin Mccormick Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods action research study was to determine the effects of a direct, individualized, and intensive reading intervention on middle school students with identified learning disabilities in the area of reading. The Leveled Literacy Intervention System was used as the reading intervention in this study. Oral reading fluency and reading comprehension skills were measured, as well as the student participants’ attitude toward reading. Data collection methods included LLI system assessments, district level benchmark reading assessments, and student questionnaires. The teacher-researcher analyzed the data and determined the 18-week LLI intervention had positive impacts on the student participants’ oral …

A Project-Based Learning Approach To Community-Based Learning: Action Research To Explore Transformative Change In 1st Year Occupational Therapy Students’ Awareness About Contextual Barriers, Occupational Justice, And Advocating For Community Health And Wellness, Patricia Ann Wisniewski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing reflexive photography as a means for a transformative community-based learning (CBL) experience. CBL is an experiential teaching pedagogy that helps prepare college students for a rapidly changing and diverse society that fosters social, health, and cultural awareness about individuals and populations. Students engage collaboratively within the local community to help solve societal problems.

This study focused on three research questions, each exploring how a reflexive photography project (RPP): (a) changes how students view occupational justice, (b) influences students awareness about contextual barriers that may impact community residents …

Impact Of Student-Led Discussions On Student Engagement And Involvement, Samantha Hefel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to investigate the relationship between student engagement and student-led discussions for middle school students, focusing specifically on seventh graders. There was increased student engagement for the students that participated in the discussions. The study was based on both cognitive and social constructivism, where students are developing their critical thinking as well as socializing with their peers. This research explored three questions related to the impact of student-led discussions. The first question looked at how discussions impacted student engagement and involvement. The second question centered on students’ willingness to voice their ideas. Finally, the …

Helping High School Students Succeed Academically By Meeting Their More Basic Needs, Karen Eyler Martin

Theses and Dissertations

In this action research, I seek to show the connection between breakfast consumption and student academic achievement. Students skip breakfast for a variety of reasons, including not allowing enough time and not having enough resources for it. Others eat what they can obtain, including snack foods that are highly processed. In addition, school districts have gotten away from making their meals from scratch, and instead, use a third-party catering service that often serves food that is cheap and easy to heat up, which often means it is highly processed and does not have the same nutritional content as whole foods. …

An Action Research Study Implementing A Livescribe™ Pen And Cornell Note-Taking Strategy In A Personal And Community Health Course To Support Note-Taking And Comprehension Of College Student-Athletes With Learning Disabilities, Ivana Rich

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the Livescribe™ Symphony smartpen and the Cornell note-taking strategy on the lecture comprehension and quality of written notes of college student-athletes with learning disabilities. To explore educational tools and strategies that can assist students with learning disabilities in overcoming academic challenges, this study focused on three research questions: (1) how does the use of the Cornell note-taking strategy supported with a Livescribe™ pen affect the note-taking quality of student-athletes with learning disabilities (2) how does the use of the Cornell note-taking strategy supported with a Livescribe™ pen affect the …

Supporting The African American Prekindergarten Student Through Standard Academic English Instruction, Trent Gibson Rogerson

Theses and Dissertations

The objective for this research was to determine if prekindergarten African American students would show gains on English language assessments after receiving targeted Standard Academic English instruction. The research question asks, “How can a specialized English language intervention be utilized to identify the strengths and areas of improvement for African American preschool students?” The hypothesis was the students who received targeted instruction in Standard Academic English would perform better on the post-test than on the pre-test given before the instruction period. For this study, eight prekindergarten students were allowed to participate in the research. The students were administered an English …

The Role Of The School-Based Speech-Language Pathologist In The Identification, Assessment, And Remediation Of Dyslexia In Secondary Students, Lisa Marie Alves

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods action research study was to increase the awareness and knowledge of secondary school professionals on dyslexia, including the role of the school-based speech-language pathologist. Two research questions guiding the quantitative data collection centered on the impact of a PowerPoint dyslexia training on the participants' knowledge and attitudes about dyslexia in the schools. In addition, two qualitative research questions guided the study involving the participants’ perceptions of the role of speech-language pathologists in a dyslexia protocol, and how to implement a dyslexia protocol in secondary-level schools. The results of the study indicate that the training …

Student’S Perspectives Of Chronic Absenteeism In A Suburban High School, Herbert Allen Gray

Theses and Dissertations

For many students, school attendance is a critical issue. There have been several studies conducted concerning attendance numbers. These studies have shown that poor attendance often affects grades, graduation rates, and socioeconomic status post-high school. The purpose of this study was to first investigate the reasons behind absences and attitudes towards school and classes because of missed days. The second purpose was to determine if a weekly mentoring meeting had any noticeable effect on attendance. The targeted pool of students consisted of those who had been identified as chronically absent the previous semester. An initial set of open-ended questions and …

Individualized E-Book Experiences: Personalized Reading Plans’ Impact On First-Grade Students’ Reading Motivation And Engagement, Hannah Brunson Miles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to address the issue of first-grade students being unengaged and unmotivated to read independently for the recommended 20-minute block of time in class. Students were also not electing to read independently during any free time they had in class. This research was designed to investigate how implementing a personalized e-book reading plan (PRP) affected students’ reading motivation and engagement during independent reading. The research questions that guided this study were: (a) How and to what extent do the personalized e-book reading plans impact students’ motivation to read? (b) How and to what extent …

It Takes One To Know One: Authentic Learning And Multiple Literacies In A 100 Level, Technical Writing Classroom, Matthew Sterner-Neely

Theses and Dissertations

At Ciudad Community College (pseudonym) and across the Colorado Community College System, the course competencies for Technical Writing I (ENG 131) have more than tripled to accommodate ENG 131 as a guaranteed transfer course equivalent to ENG 121: English Composition I. Unfortunately, this has had the effect of increasing the workload for students, and the increase in competencies plus the struggle that students already had in meeting course competencies demanded the need for an intervention. The purpose of this convergent, mixed methods, action research study was to examine the effects of authentic learning on the competency levels of technical writing …

Classdojo And The Effects Of Gamification On Student Engagement Within The Third-Grade Art Classroom: An Action Research Study, Amanda Wrenn Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of technology integrated gamification strategies on third-grade students’ engagement in an art classroom at an elementary school with a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) based curriculum. To increase student engagement, educators and evaluators not only need to understand how engagement has been defined, but also how to assess the options for measuring it. Appropriate use of technology and gamification in classrooms may increase aspects of student engagement, evidenced by taking initiative and responsibility for learning, using resources wisely, and having an interest and desire to pursue information …

Personalized Geometry Instruction: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study Implementing An Adaptive Web-Based Learning Environment To Support High School Students’ Geometry Problemsolving Skills, Catherine D. Jordan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to evaluate the implementation of an adaptive web-based learning environment to personalize geometry instruction and practice for high school students at a private school in North Carolina. This study was guided by the following three research questions: (1) How and to what extent does implementing personalized geometry instruction and practice through an adaptive web-based learning environment affect high school students’ knowledge of geometry? (2) How does using personalized geometry instruction and practice through an adaptive web-based learning environment affect students’ motivation to learn geometry as well as their mathematics self-efficacy, anxiety, and …

An Action Research Mixed Methods Study For The Development Of Information And Communication Technology (Ict) Programming For First-Year Students At A Historically Black University, Krystinq Mccauley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to explore the information and communication technology (ICT) literacy skills of first-year minority students at Saint Augustine’s University in order to develop a plan for an ICT professional development program. ICT skills are essential in our rapidly changing and technology-driven society. While there is a growing awareness of the importance of ICT, universities are lagging behind in their approach to provide students with the much-needed digital competencies (Murray & Perez, 2014). This study focused on three research questions to determine (a) the ICT skills of first-year minority college students at Saint Augustine’s University, …

Inquiry-Based Teaching In A Secondary English Classroom, Jennifer L. Norman

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching and learning need to move away from a transactional model found in a traditional classroom to support the growth of 21st century skills and abilities. Inquiry-based teaching is a model that places the student at the center of instruction and allows the teacher to facilitate and guide learning. The classroom fueled by inquiry is a classroom that (a) breaks free from the traditional and transactional model to promote connections to past knowledge and build new understandings, (b) allows students to direct their own learning, and (c) promotes moments of self-reflection and metacognition. The purpose of this study was to …

Exploring Adult Basic Education Student Satisfaction: Influencing Factors And Programmatic Responses, Carol Current Hill

Theses and Dissertations

With the goal of improving student satisfaction, one local program, the Frances County Adult Education (FCAE) system, chose to create a systemic initiative named Honoring Adult Behaviors and Influencing Thinking Skills. This dissertation in practice explored two questions: 1) What benefits do students expect to receive as a result of student participation in the Frances County Adult Education program? and 2) How does implementation of the Honoring Adult Behaviors and Influencing Thinking Skills (HABITS) initiatives, inclusive of Habits of Mind curriculum and Integrated Educational Training, impact student satisfaction with Frances County Adult Education? Based on two theories, three-factor satisfaction and …

Factors To Integrate Technology For Student Collaboration In The Elementary School: An Action Research Study, Lisa Roseanne Goldey

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice in this research study focused on the inconsistent use of Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals (formerly G Suite for Education) for student collaboration. The purpose of this action research was to investigate how elementary teachers used Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals for student collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to make recommendations for technology integration in Grades 3 through 5 in a school in central New Jersey.

The focus of this study was on three overarching research questions: 1. How do elementary teachers at a school in central New Jersey integrate technology using Google …

Scaffolding Teacher Candidates In Developing Discourse And Acquiring Praxis, Laura Potuto Kaufmann

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines what scaffolding practices impacted how teacher candidates assume teacher Discourse and develop teaching praxis. Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, Bruner’s Scaffolding, and Gee’s Discourse are used as a framework for this research. Using data from surveying and interviewing six new practicing teachers from two educator preparation programs, the qualitative analyses suggest that scaffolding through modeling, practice, and reflection have the strongest impact on how teacher candidates develop their Discourse and praxis.

Using Graphic Organizers And Spreadsheets To Increase Quantitative Literacy Skills In High School History Students, Bruce Alexander Thames

Theses and Dissertations

Students are leaving high school and college with insufficient Quantitative Literacy (QL) skills to fully understand lifelong decisions about citizenship, personal finances, and healthcare. These quantitative skills are not taught consistently across the curriculum, which prevents students from making connections across multiple courses and correctly applying math skills beyond the classroom. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effectiveness of graphic organizers, spreadsheets, and authentic data on the QL skills of 11th grade students enrolled in an honors level United States History class enrolled at a suburban NJ high school (SHS).

This study focused on two overarching …

An Action Based Approach To Analyze Factors That Impact Academic Major And Career Choice Of Low-Income First-Generation College Students, James Kerry Winfield

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study analyzed career and major choice perceptions among low-income first-generation college students or FGCS while using self-efficacy as the primary metric. This study instituted a mixed-methods methodology to understand further student-related challenges and factors that affected their career and major decisions. Using a pretest-posttest design, participants’ self-efficacy levels were assessed using the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Assessment - Short Form (CDSE-SF). After analyzing the student performance in the five sub-factors of this instrument, these data were used to inform the individual interviews and focus groups. All participants were first-year students enrolled in a federally funded TRIO program, which …

Investigating The Influence Of Mentors With National Board Certification On Mentees’ Perceptions Of Their Own Teaching Practice And Attitudes Of Remaining A Teacher, Joshua Michael Mcgoun

Theses and Dissertations

In Maryland, 47% of new teachers do not see a third year of teaching. Maryland also imports more teachers from neighboring states than it produces on its own (Kirwan & Hise, 2020). In order to improve new teachers’ skills and hopefully retain them, The Maryland Commission on Innovation and Excellence has proposed creating the position of “Master Teacher” to mentor new teachers. The “Master Teachers” need to earn National Board Certification (NBC) to be considered for the position. This research study examined mentees’ reflections and analyzed the presence of themes relating to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ Five …

The Impacts Of An Online Planning Tool On Online Co-Teaching Practices During A Pandemic, Jeffrey Todd Harrell

Theses and Dissertations

Co-teachers at three Atlanta area schools are not providing the appropriate instruction to students with disabilities in the co-teaching setting due to the lack of collaboration in planning and teaching. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of the use of Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) as an online planning tool on the practices and responsibilities of general and special education co-teachers in the online co-teaching setting along with exploring teachers’ perceptions of the use of this online planning tool during a pandemic at three Atlanta area schools to make recommendations for its future use.

The study …

The Effects Of A Dialogic Pedagogy In A Hybrid Advanced Placement Environmental Science Course On Students’ Learning Experience, Blake Alspach

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study evolved from the sudden shift in schools and districts in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Shifting from a traditional face-to-face AP Environmental Science classroom to a hybrid classroom required evaluating and revising the pedagogical choices made to create a positive learning experience. A hybrid classroom consists of face-to-face students in the classroom and online students attending the class simultaneously through video conferencing software. Teachers and students had little to no experience engaging in a hybrid learning model, thus creating a need to develop and implement effective instructional practices to support student learning. This qualitative action …

The Impact Of A Professional Learning Community (Plc) On 10 Early Career Teachers Who Seek To Understand The Meaning And Practice Of Teacher Leadership, Laura Alsbrooks Goldzung

Theses and Dissertations

Early career teachers are eager to engage in leadership given supportive cultural conditions, relevant training and development, and school structures encourage all members to contribute to the teaching process. The aim of this action research study was to explore the meaning and practice of teacher leadership with 10 early career teachers through participation in an eight-week professional learning community (PLC) book study. Selected readings informed group discussion topics and reflections in journal entries. Qualitative data analysis revealed three themes that work in concert to create conditions that support teacher leadership at ABC Elementary School (ABCES): communication, professional trust, and a …

Student Perceptions Of Their Engagement With Online Writing As Influenced By Their Teacher’S Presence At A Virtual High School: A Mixed Methods Study, Adrienne Harvie

Theses and Dissertations

This convergent mixed-methods action study explored the virtual high school student perception of how their engagement on writing assignments is affected by the presence of their English teacher in an online class. Research questions specifically focused on how teacher presence in the virtual classroom affects student engagement in online writing assignments. Another question asked how students perceive teacher presence in the virtual classroom and the third question examined how students perceived their engagement in online writing assignments is affected by teacher presence.

In this study two English teachers at a virtual high school were mentored by the researcher to increase …

Evaluation And Implementation Of The C-Pen On The Reading Level, Comprehension, And Oral Reading Fluency Of Third-Grade Students With Learning Disabilities: An Action Research Study, Kawanna Mckenzie

Theses and Dissertations

Third-grade students with learning disabilities struggle to meet reading proficiency levels at both the national and local levels. The appropriate support, services, and instruction of students with learning disabilities can help them achieve reading proficiency. Specific educational laws have been implemented to enable students with learning disabilities to use assistive technologies such as text-to-speech tools to support their reading. The purpose of this action research study was to evaluate the impact of a text-to-speech tool—the C-Pen—on the reading skills of third-grade students with learning disabilities at an elementary/middle school. The focus of this study was on three main research questions …

Influential Factors Of School Culture On Teacher Self-Efficacy And Motivation: An Ethnographic Case Study, Katrina Washington Rouse

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this qualitative study was to determine the influence of teacher perception of ownership and empowerment on teacher self-efficacy and motivation. Tools of ethnography were used to create a descriptive narrative of teacher perceptions. Data was collected through focus group and individual interviews.

Results show that teacher perception of ownership and empowerment can influence teacher self-efficacy and motivation. Even though most teachers are intrinsically motivated, teachers still wanted to feel valued. Other factors that influence teacher perceptions of ownership and empowerment included relationships with colleagues and opportunities for shared leadership

This study concludes that teacher perception of ownership …

Mix It Up: Blended Collaborative Professional Development To Impact High School Teacher Efficacy, Briana Ghan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to explore how a blended collaborative approach to professional development can influence teachers’ efficacy, collective efficacy, and collaboration in high school teachers. Three questions guided this study: (a) How and to what extent does teacher efficacy change with participation in a blended collaborative form of professional development?, (b) How and to what extent does collective teacher efficacy change with participation in a blended and collaborative form of professional development?, and (c) How does participation in a blended collaborative form of professional development affect sharing amongst participants?

Bandura’s sources of efficacy and the characteristics …