Education Commons^™

Multilingual Tutors' Experiences And Practices In Online Sessions, Petra Jurova

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

This thesis explores multilingual tutors’ diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and examines how those elements affect their tutoring practices in online sessions. While previous scholarship has examined multilingual student experiences, direct experiences of online multilingual tutors are relatively unexplored. For this study, four tutors were interviewed. The interviews revealed that tutors perceive their multilingualism as a strength in how they relate to multilingual students and their writing while also experiencing challenges related to assumptions made about their linguistic abilities. In online sessions, clarity and purposeful communication is key and multilingual tutors communicate clearly, often code-switching, which enhances understanding, efficiency, and …

Male Educators Implementing Instructional Practices That Academically Engage Students, Kenneth B. Beneby

Theses and Dissertations

Male Educators Implementing Instructional Practices That Academically Engage Students. Kenneth Bernard Beneby, 2019. Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: teacher, African American male teachers, academic engagement, secondary teaching profession, pedagogies, African American male students

This phenomenological research explored how a selected group of African American male educators understood their own experiences while implementing strategies to academically engage African American male students. The research explored the public secondary education experiences of African American male educators to better understand their occupational understandings; how having more African American educators were helpful in …

Investigating The Use Of Web-Based Vocabulary Acquisition Programs As A Tool To Strengthen Vocabulary Skills For 11th And 12th-Grade Students, Deborah Ashraf

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the need to improve vocabulary and increase reading comprehension for remedial high school students in 11th and 12th grades. Methods or interventions included in-context, out-of-context vocabulary acquisition using web-based tools (Achieve3000 & Freerice) or teacher-directed instruction.

The study used the three methods of treatment or intervention to determine which treatment group was most effective in improving vocabulary and increasing reading comprehension. There are several different theoretical frameworks used in this study. Vocabulary in-context and out of context theories included Schema theory, self-teaching hypothesis theory, and the Matthew effect theory. These theories had in common an emphasis …

Conflict, Stress And Faith Experienced By Caregivers Of Bipolar Family Members, Sharonrose Bollers

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Mental health issues present challenges to the mentally ill, and to the family members who are their caregivers. Among the challenges faced by caregivers are conflict and stress. This transcendental phenomenological study explored the experiences and perceptions of caregivers of conflict, stress, and the role of faith. In addition, this study sought to learn what lessons and strategies caregivers utilized and often created while caring for their family member with bipolar disorder. In this study ten caregivers were interviewed, telephonically or face-to-face, using a semi-structured interview format. Coming from four states, some were employed, some were retired, and one was …

From Horse Walk To Therapy Talk: Exploring The Effects Of Equine Assisted Family Therapy Coursework On Self Of The Therapist Development Of Mft Student Therapists, Tiffany De Leon

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

The Introduction and Advanced Equine Assisted Family Therapy (EAFT) courses offered at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) provide graduate Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student therapists the space to learn about collaborating with horses for therapeutic and educational purposes. However, these courses also offer the potential for a unique dimension to self of the therapist development. Through these courses, student therapists are able to learn theory and application of an innovative experiential model for clients, but also utilize the activities to get to know themselves better as emerging therapists.

The purpose of this study was to explore if and how the …

An Instructional Designer Competency Framework For Complex Learning Designs, David Alan Schubert

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Learning design competency frameworks published by professional organizations, exist for typical instructional design efforts. However, a review of literature revealed a lack of frameworks available for the creation of complex learning designs (CLDs). The goal of this research was to develop a competency framework for the creation of CLDs. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in the four phases of the design and development research approach In phase one, a survey based on the Educational Technology Multimedia Competency Survey (ETMCS) was sent to instructional designers who self-reported as having experience creating CLDs. The purpose of phase one was to identify …

Comprehending The Safety Paradox And Privacy Concerns With Medical Device Remote Patient Monitoring, Marc Doyle

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Medical literature identifies a number of technology-driven improvements in disease management such as implantable medical devices (IMDs) that are a standard treatment for candidates with specific diseases. Among patients using implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD), for example, problems and issues are being discovered faster compared to patients without monitoring, improving safety. What is not known is why patients report not feeling safer, creating a safety paradox, and why patients identify privacy concerns in ICD monitoring.

There is a major gap in the literature regarding the factors that contribute to perceived safety and privacy in remote patient monitoring (RPM). To address this …

Teacher Perspectives On Performance Pay In One Southeastern State, Wendy B. Firtell

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated teachers’ perceptions of a teacher performance-pay initiative. Despite implementing a performance pay initiative at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, the target school district had not investigated teachers’ perceptions of the initiative. The researcher included a convenience sample of 54 teachers who worked at a Title 1 elementary school located in the southeastern United States.

This applied dissertation used a descriptive survey research design. The researcher found Pre-K, kindergarten, and Grade 1 teachers were slightly more supportive of performance pay initiatives than Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5 teachers (TPPP difference of 0.17 …

Youth’S Conceptualization Of Peace, Violence, And Bullying And The Strategies They Employ To Address The Violence And Bullying In Their Lives, Charles H. Goesel

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation allowed the researcher to analyze 171 pieces of youth-created artwork and narratives by children aged six to nine who took part in the peace education, mentorship, and literacy program, READING PEACE PALS, implemented with an underserved population at a Boys and Girls Club in the U.S. Qualitative content analysis (Krippendorf, 1980; 2004) was used to analyze the artwork and narratives to gain insight into children’s conceptualization of peace, violence, and bullying and their strategies for addressing bullying and violence.

The findings uncovered the myriad of unique ways youth conceptualize and define peace and the strategies they employ to …

The Concrete Rose: A Phenomenological Study Of African American Women’S Postgraduate Matriculation Experiences, Anne-Marie L. Soto

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the educational matriculation experiences of African American (AA) women in pursuance of postgraduate degree status from the pre-kindergarten to doctoral levels. This study used a transcendental phenomenological approach, guided by the following research questions: 1) What are the elements within academia that define and influence the educational experiences for post-graduate degreed AA women? 2) What (if any) challenges to post-graduate degree attainment, were experienced by the population; what meaning do they find in those experiences? And 3) What are the perceptions of this population regarding how their intersecting identities pertaining to …

Improving Student Achievement Through The Implementation Of A Classroom Performance System, Stacy Maria Artis

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to implement and examine the impact of a classroom performance system (CPS) on student achievement for Grade 9 mathematics students. Seventy-five students in 4 Coordinate Algebra classes were observed during the regular school day for 9 weeks. The treatment group received CPS-based instruction, and the control group received traditional mathematics instruction without the use of a CPS. The teacher was the same for all classes.

Data from benchmark assessments as well as quarterly grade reports were compared for both groups. The findings of this study showed mixed results in relation to the impact of CPS-based …

Instructional Designers As Project Managers: A Phenomenology, La Keshia Lynn Nall

CCE Theses and Dissertations

The ability to effectively manage learning design projects, consult with stakeholders (such as sponsors, subject matter experts, and learners), and direct projects to completion is a vital part of an instructional designer’s role. Although the need for project management education and experience is reiterated in the literature and in cross-industry instructional designer (ID) job postings, it was unclear how these professionals acquired and used project management skills and tools in their profession because project management is not a focus in many higher education programs intended to prepare instructional designers.

The goal of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived …

A Newborn Screening Disorders Online Portal For Primary Care Providers And Parents, Jean Becky Whittemore

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Parents do not always receive accurate, timely and comprehensive information regarding a positive newborn screening from their infants’ primary care providers. The dissertation outlines the investigation of this problem. The methodology of the study is discussed including the survey of parents and primary care providers using the past system, the development of a web portal with a focus on plain language and action focused handouts. Without a simple to understand parent handout the newborn screening process is more stressful to families. Review of the literature is detailed including newborn screening, patient education, health literacy, Internet usage, online health education, design …

Competency-Based Clinical Supervision In Applied Behavior Analysis, Yulema Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation evaluated a new method that provided a systematic way of training and evaluating supervisors in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Using a single-case multiple- baseline across supervisors and supervisees research design, this study assessed the use of a modified behavioral skills protocol (BST) in the training of master’s and doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs/BCBA-Ds) in the supervision of DTT. Additionally, this study evaluated supervisee’s performances before and during the implementation of the modified BST protocol. Included in the new supervisor training curriculum outline (2.0) released by the BACB in 2019, BST is an evidence-based protocol whose efficacy …

Federal Offices Of Inspectors General: The Relationship Between Per Capita Staffing Levels And Performance Results, Craig Yuen

Theses and Dissertations

Each year, the federal government spends trillions of dollars on operations and in awarding contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. Federal Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) are charged with auditing and investigating fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct affecting the government. There are 73 such OIGs – 40 of which have law enforcement authority and oversight responsibilities for a parent agency – and each is a separate organization with varying staffing levels and performance results. This study examined, on a per capita level, the relationship between staffing levels and performance results (criminal charges filed, financial recoveries, and questioned …

Confidence In Law Enforcement When African-Americans Are Underrepresented On The Force: An Exploratory Study, Charles E. Maclean

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the prediction that when African-Americans are underrepresented among sworn officers in a community’s local law enforcement agencies compared to the African-American proportions in that community’s overall population, African-American civilians’ confidence in their local law enforcement agencies may suffer, leading to impaired respect for law, reduced civilian cooperation with law enforcement, and civilian impressions of weakened procedural justice and fairness. With low civilian confidence, the argument goes, one could expect an enhanced sense of disenfranchisement among the underrepresented sub-populations.

The purpose of this study is to consider the impact of underrepresentation of African-Americans among sworn officers serving a …

Stakeholders’ Perceptions Of An Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Program In Special Education In Jamaica, Keitha Ava Marie Osborne

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was that stakeholders (i.e., graduates, cooperating teachers, principals, and heads of special education departments) of a teacher preparation program in special education at a teachers’ college in western Jamaica had not been asked their perceptions of the effectiveness of the undergraduate program that was started in 2011.

The purpose of the study was to determine stakeholders’ perceptions of the preparedness and effectiveness of graduates of a teacher preparation program in special education at a teachers’ college in western Jamaica. The stakeholders were the recent fulltime graduates of the program, cooperating teachers, principals, and heads …

Measuring Employee Job Satisfaction During Workplace Downsizing, Trina Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the effects of workplace downsizing on employee job satisfaction among men and women and employees of different age groups. Results from an employee survey conducted annually by the organizational site indicated that employees had high stress levels, low employee satisfaction and morale, negative attitudes, and a lack of trust of leadership following employee downsizing at the company. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effects of workplace downsizing on employee job satisfaction to determine any differences by gender or age group.

The study utilized a quantitative, descriptive, comparative methodology using …

Grado De Satisfacción De Estudiantes Con El Uso De Simulaciones Clínicas Y Su Percepción Sobre El Aprendizaje Logrado En Una Universidad Al Norte De Puerto Rico, Mónica Cerejido Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación fue diseñada para medir el grado de satisfacción de estudiantes con el uso de simulaciones clínicas en una universidad al norte de Puerto Rico. Esta universidad adquirió dos tipos de simulaciones para los programas que ofrece de Sonografía Médica y Tecnología Radiológica. Sin embargo, hasta el momento que se hizo la investigación, no se conocía la opinión de los estudiantes usuarios sobre la utilización de estas tecnologías de enseñanza. El marco teórico de esta investigación fue la Teoría del aprendizaje experiencial de Kolb (1984) y la teoría de la Difusión de Innovaciones de Rogers (1983). Se plantearon tres …

A Case Study: Meeting The Needs Of English Learners With Limited Or Interrupted Formal Education, Michelle Ivette Marrero

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing numbers of English-language learners with limited or interrupted formal education are entering schools across the United States. This new trend is affecting school districts with new challenges as high school teachers of English speakers of other languages are not prepared to address the beginning literacy needs of students with limited or interrupted formal education. In addition, students with limited or interrupted formal education are encountering challenges in high school as they are simultaneously learning a new language and academic content in a new culture in addition to learning how to read and write for the first time in their …

The News Through Facebook: Discovering The Prevalence Of Rape Myths In User Comments, Leigh Anne Clay

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to ascertain the prevalence value of rape myths located within social media user comments on the website Facebook. Research using existing Internet-based comments may provide insight into current attitudes and beliefs surrounding sexual violence. Using a quantitative content analysis, this study gauged the prevalence of rape myths in user comments by referencing a preset code list created with rape myths from the Acceptance of Modern Myths About Sexual Aggression scale (AMMSA) and the Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMA) and by locating emergent codes in the dataset.

Early Childhood Educators’ Perceptions Of Using Conscious Discipline To Promote Executive Function Development In Preschool Students: A Case Study, Annette C. Oswald-Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore teacher perceptions of the use of Conscious Discipline in the classroom to promote desirable behaviors and influence the development of EF skills in children. Using self-assessment surveys, qualitative interviews, and direct observations, the researcher explored teacher perceptions of the use of Conscious Discipline as a behavioral management system to develop EF in preschool children.

Conscious Discipline is an emotional intelligence behavior-management system that promotes desirable behaviors in children, embracing those skills found in the prefrontal lobes of the brain, which control the mechanism for self-regulation and problem-solving skills. Conscious Discipline promotes the development …

A Multiple Case-Study Approach To Examine Police Officers Perceptions On Narcan® Policies, Casey Gnann

Theses and Dissertations

In October 2017, President Trump officially declared the opioid epidemic to be a public health emergency. Reports from the CDC indicate that over 140 Americans die per day as a result of an opioid overdose (NPR, 2017). This statistic alone highlights the tragic effects of the current opioid climate. To date, an abundance of research has been conducted on opioid addicts, family members, doctors approach to addiction, etc. However, there is a gap in the research regarding law enforcement officers and their ever-changing role in the fight against opioids. As the opioid epidemic has continued to worsen, many law enforcement …

The Role Of Supervised Community Service And Socio-Economic Status In Recidivism Pertaining To Financial Crimes Among Ex-Convicts, David Adu-Boateng

Theses and Dissertations

An individual’s economic situation impacts the commission of crimes, and ex-convicts inability to earn a living and integrate into society increases their propensity to commit financial crimes. Researchers indicate that the high rate of recidivism points to the fact that ex-convicts face significant challenges in their bid to adjust to life outside prison. Prior research and extant literature show that most ex-convicts re-offend within three years after their initial release from prison. Generally, the propensity to commit a financial crime increases after prison time among convicted felons. However, an elevated socio-economic status reduces an ex-convict’s propensity to commit financial crimes …

Exploring Experiences Of Diverse Faculty With Diverse Students In Distance Education, Theresa West

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to explore faculty’s experiences regarding teaching methods and student-teacher interaction. The interaction between the majority groups and diverse (minority) groups on the college and university campuses needs to be addressed in order for colleges to achieve the universal goal of education for all (Akombo, 2013). Such interactions can be achieved through a curriculum that fosters cultural perspectives within the college communities (Akombo, 2013). Due to the diversity and pluralism of educational environments, academic faculty must be able to discuss multiple cultural perspectives in the classroom (Akombo, 2013). For this reason, the Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation Theory will …

Exploring Factors Related To Customer Service Representatives’ (Csrs) Performance In Call Centers., Ruth R. Jayson-Polk

Theses and Dissertations

This study provides critical research on individual change and its impact on individual performance using the ADKAR change management model. This applied dissertation was designed to research improvement in call monitoring performance scores between two groups of customer service representatives’ (CSRs): the experimental group receiving the ADKAR change management intervention, and the control group, who did not receive the ADKAR change management intervention. The ADKAR change management model (Hiatt, 2006) provided the theoretical framework for the study.

The literature review revealed that change management is a critical component of organizational change but is driven by individual change. The literature informs …

A Qualitative Study Exploring Motivation And Engagement Among Millennial Volunteers In Nonprofit Organizations, Joanne Quinones

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation focused on capturing the lived experiences of Millennials and explore their motivation and engagement for volunteering in a nonprofit organization. This study illustrates the importance of civic and social engagement in our society. The Millennials have been labeled as “Genme or the me generation” (Twenge, Campbell, Hoffman, & Lance, 2010, p. 1117; Twenge, 2006, p. 1), as they have been criticized for focusing on their own self-interest. While millennials have been considered as being technologically savvy, since they grew up with the internet. The millennials, have a social interest in offering support to a cause versus an …

An Analysis Of Selected Clusters Of Fires In Florida (1996 - 2018), Thomas Riley Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Hidden within the day-to-day routine responses of fire departments are possible multiple fires set by individuals in a small area with an unusual frequency. These fires may be the initial announcement of an emerging serial offender who is declaring a wound, an intolerable life situation, or is triggered by unknown events. This study sought to predict incendiary fires within a known cluster by using observable variables, both prior to and after the cluster event. This was done to further our understanding of the characteristics of clusters of intentionally lit fires. This was accomplished by examining the Florida Fire Information Reports …

African-American Male Teachers: Examining The Insight, Encounters, And Best Teaching Practices, Brandon Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

The experiences students have in schools has a large effect not only on their career choices but also on the way they interact with other members of society in the future. Specifically, the K-12 education system has an objective of ensuring that all students are adequately prepared to become responsible and productive members of society. Unfortunately, research shows that African-American male students and teachers face comparatively high levels of societal challenges compared to their Caucasian counterparts. General demographic trends reveal a serious concern.

While the number of black students entering the education system is increasing, there is a reduction in …

Religion In Incarcerated, Jewish, Female Inmates, Marcia Janine Kesner

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the role religious belief and practice played amongst Jewish, female inmates during their incarceration. A group of ten correctional chaplains who work with Jewish, female, inmates and a comparison group of ten chaplains who work with Protestant, female inmates were interviewed. The study determined the reasons for and benefits of religious observance among these inmates and included assisting in dealing with fear, providing a sense of peace, and deceitful motives for personal gains. Religious practice also assisted inmate populations in healing from trauma, improving self-respect and self-esteem, building support systems, and additionally for Jewish, female inmates constructing …