Education Commons^™

An Examination Of Movement Between Preschool And Kindergarten Classrooms For Young Children With Developmental Disabilities, Faith Ezekiel-Wilder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The researcher in this investigation describes the similarities and differences of movement in preschool and kindergarten classrooms for young children with developmental delay. Through the use of a mixed method research design, the researcher examined how movement is integrated throughout a school day and integrated into teacher-directed mathematics activities. This study used a multiple case study method that included observations of preschool (n = 3) and kindergarten (n = 3) classrooms to determine similarities and differences in movement. In addition, a quantitative measure was embedded within the multiple case study design to compare movement of children with developmental delay. A …

An Examination Of The Algebra 1 Achievement Of Black And Hispanic Student Participants In A Large Urban School District's Mathematics Intervention Program, Elethia Bronson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The mathematics achievement gap between Black and White as well as Hispanic and White students has been well documented nationwide and in the school district of study. Much has been written in observance of the achievement gap, yet markedly less research has focused on practices and interventions that have improved mathematics performance for Black and Hispanic students. Consequently, this study examined the Algebra 1 achievement (indicated by student scale scores on the Florida Standards Assessments Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam) of Black and Hispanic students participating in a mathematics intervention program as compared to the Algebra 1 achievement of their similar …

An Exploration Of Representations Of Race And Ethnicity In Three Transitional Series For Young Children, Sonia M. Balkaran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis seeks to explore the related research literature surrounding representations and portrayals of protagonists of various multicultural backgrounds in series or transitional books. As teachers, it is essential to acknowledge the lack of multicultural characters in children's literature among elementary classroom bookshelves and learn how to incorporate literature featuring strong main characters of varying races and ethnicities so that children can see role models who mirror their own contexts. Prior studies, such as Gangi (2008) and Green and Hopenwasser (2017) have examined the deficiency of multicultural literature in the classroom, particularly among transitional stories, which shows the importance of …

Surveying Educations Professionals To Explore How To Incorporate Trauma Education In Ucf's Teach Preparation Program, Jordan Doman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Traumatic events do not discriminate based on economic status, race, culture, or age. This is true for the hundreds of thousands of students who walk into classrooms every day having experienced trauma. Our teachers are then challenged to support these students in a time when their ability to learn may be affected by trauma.

The goal of my thesis is to show the need to educate preservice teachers in the University of Central Florida's elementary education teacher preparation program about students experiencing trauma and how to best support these students. By analyzing existing literature and through interviews with professionals working …

Exploring The Portrayals Of Modern First Ladies In Children's Picturebook Biographies, Kaitlin N. Elmore

Honors Undergraduate Theses

No study to date has been uncovered in regard to the presence of First Ladies in children's biographies. However, related prior studies, such as a study on the effect of gender in scientific children's biographies (Owens, 2009) have stated that the portrayal of women in children's biographies has evolved over time. Therefore, I wondered how First ladies were portrayed in children's books, specifically biographies, for elementary aged students. Therefore, this study examined a collection of picturebook biographies written for children about First Ladies in order to explore how First Ladies are portrayed. For the purpose of this study, I chose …

An Exploration Of Elementary Student Responses To The Interest Inventory For Informational Texts Based On The Teacher Disposition Delivery, Alison Elk

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The impact that a teacher can have on their students is monumental. Teachers often are the only consistent figure of authority that a student sees. Therefore, a vulnerable and conformable environment is crucial for students, so they can share their needs and in return have them met. With this in mind, teachers must consider forming their classroom environment, because of how it is received by the students. This study examined the impact that a teacher’s disposition can have on the response of a student through a six-question interview by analyzing the number of words spoken by the students depending on …

An Analysis Of The Representation Of Hispanic Students In Gifted Programs In Florida's K-12 Public Schools, Dalena Luis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-method study was conducted to investigate characteristics influencing the representation of Hispanic students in gifted programs across Florida K-12 school districts. Characteristics included school district enrollment, school district poverty level, school district percentage of minority students, grade level, and policies and practices relevant to gifted identification. Results showed a statistically significant positive relationship between school district enrollment and the percentage of Hispanic students identified for gifted education in 2016-2017, indicating that Hispanic gifted representation was higher in Grades 6-8 than in Grades K-5 or Grades 9-12. Qualitative methods were utilized to analyze exceptional student education (ESE) policy manuals in …

Transitioning From A Monolingual To A Dual Language Program: A Case Study Of An Elementary School, Alex Davies

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of administrators, teachers, and parents from an elementary school that was in its first year of dual language transition. The majority of past studies conducted on dual language education focused on students' linguistic and academic outcomes (Lindholm-Leary, 2012). Studies investigating dual language schools' planning, policies, and classroom implementation are significantly less, and those that have, were at schools that were already functioning as dual language with the intent to examine what made the school successful (Alanis & Rodriguez, 2008; Freeman, 1996; Hunt, 2011). Through a phenomenological and case study approach, the current study …

A Causal Comparative Analysis Of A Computer Adaptive Mathematics Program Using Multilevel Propensity Score Matching, Justin Seabolt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a computer adaptive mathematics program, i-Ready® Mathematics Instruction in Central Florida School District (CFSD) using a variety of quantitative analyses. In particular, students in the fifth grade at CFSD were examined in relation to the gains made on their end-of-year statewide mathematics assessment, known as the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA Math). Per i-Ready®, students who use i-Ready® Mathematics Instruction for a minimum of 45 minutes per subject per week for at least 25 weeks show significantly greater gains than those who do not (Curriculum Associates, 2017b). Therefore, two propensity …

Learning Opportunities And Challenges Of Sensor-Enabled Intelligent Tutoring Systems On Mobile Platforms: Benchmarking The Reliability Of Mobile Sensors To Track Human Physiological Signals And Behaviors To Enhance Tablet-Based Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Luis Vazquez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Desktop-based intelligent tutoring systems have existed for many decades, but the advancement of mobile computing technologies has sparked interest in developing mobile intelligent tutoring systems (mITS). Personalized mITS are applicable to not only stand-alone and client-server systems but also cloud systems possibly leveraging big data. Device-based sensors enable even greater personalization through capture of physiological signals during periods of student study. However, personalizing mITS to individual students faces challenges. The Achilles heel of personalization is the feasibility and reliability of these sensors to accurately capture physiological signals and behavior measures. This research reviews feasibility and benchmarks reliability of basic mobile …

International Students' Expectations Of And Satisfaction With Academic Advising At A Community College, Marieta Chemishanova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to identify what expectations international students' had with regards to academic advising and how satisfied they were with their advising experience at a large community college in a southeastern state in the United States. Previous research on academic advising services (e.g. Belcheir, 1999; Hale, Graham, & Johnson, 2009; Mottarella, Fritzsche, & Cerabino, 2004; Propp & Rhodes, 2006; Lynch, 2004; Smith & Allen, 2006) had not distinguished between domestic and international students' expectations of and satisfaction with advising especially at the 2-year and community college levels and in organizational structures where the foreign student advisors serve as both …

Examining Faculty Socialization Through The Lens Of Transformative Learning, Jennifer Plant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Socialization may be described as a process in which an individual learns and takes on the knowledge, values, attitudes, and expectations of a group within an organization (Corcoran & Clark 1984; Staton & Darling, 1989), ultimately leading to the development of a professional identity that includes attributes of the group (Merton, Reader, & Kendall, 1957). Much of the literature regarding professional and organizational socialization experiences of new faculty focus solely on either clinically trained faculty or academically trained faculty, with minimal research comparing the professional and organizational socialization experiences of both degree types. Therefore, this research study explored the professional …

Designing A Virtual Embedded Scenario-Based Military Simulation Training Program Using Educational And Design Instructional Strategies, Christina Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation in practice was to develop and implement a new training program for designers of military intelligence simulation scenarios used to train soldiers. The use of education and design instructional strategies assisted in the ability for designers to gain mastery skills in creating realistic, high-fidelity scenarios that are applied in the training process. The use of simulation scenarios to train adult learners has increased significantly with improvements in technology and its fidelity to engage learners in a realistic way. Despite these advances, the lack of effective design, implementation and analysis of military simulation training programs in …

Interpersonal Behavior Traits And Their Relationship To Administrator-To-Teacher Feedback: A Quantitative Study, Robert Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore what, if any, relationship exists between the interpersonal behavior traits held by administrators and the quality of the feedback they provide to teachers. The Interpersonal Behavior Survey (IBS) was used to develop interpersonal behavior profiles for all the school-based administrators from a moderately sized school district who consented to participate in the study. Additionally, the comments submitted as feedback to teachers by the participating administrators were reviewed and scored using a rubric. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine what, if any, relationship exists between the traits measured by the IBS and …

Water Consumption Of Children In Head Start Classrooms, Bingbing Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) identifies the importance of water consumption and suggested that children need to consume water each day (IOM, 2011). Head Start Performance Standards requires that the children have free access to drinking water throughout the program day (DHHS, 2016a). The first goal of this study was to identify the quantity of water consumed by children during the program day (8am-2pm). This study employed a person-centered approach to explore the water consumption of the children through observations and direct measurement to identify the amount of the water consumed during a program day. Four classrooms from a Head …

The Unheard Voices Of Nontraditional Students In Higher Education: Learning To Become A Student, Marcelo Julio Maturana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the lived experiences of older students who work and have family responsibilities while attending an undergraduate program full-time. Research indicates that this segment of the student population is the only one that is growing today and is projected to grow in the future; this also is the largest the group of students that does not finish their studies in spite of the many services aimed at supporting students' academic success. This study critically investigated the category of the nontraditional student and reviewed the literature about students' college experiences, including the limitations of its theoretical assumptions to describe …