Education Commons^™

Supporting A Growth Mindset In High School Classroom Teachers, Peter Abboud

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify and describe the strategies that California public high school principals utilized to develop a growth mindset in classroom teachers.

Methodology. This qualitative case study used interviews from 12 high school principals to gain an understanding for how they supported a growth mindset in their classroom teachers. The population for the case study was northern California high school principals, and the sample included high school principals from Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties. To participate in the study, principals needed to be serving in at …

Effects Of Lep Status, Gender, Instructional Type On Positive Student Engagement And Motivation Of Middle School Students, Holly Harris Cothren

Dissertations

The researcher used a causal-comparative, 2 x 2 factorial between-groups research strategy for all four hypotheses. The two independent variables for the Hypotheses 1 and 2 were gender and LEP status (students designated as LEP versus students not designated as LEP). The dependent variable for the first hypothesis was positive student engagement, and the dependent variable for the second hypothesis was positive student motivation. The two independent variables for Hypotheses 3 and 4 were gender and instructional type (traditional instruction and small group pull-out with hybrid computer-based instruction). The dependent variable for the third hypothesis was positive student engagement, and …

Effects Of Participation Status In The Arkansas Aaims Program By Gender, Race, And Ses On Ap Calculus Achievement, Wayne Fawcett

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore whether the Arkansas Advanced Initiative in Mathematics and Science (AAIMS) as implemented by schools within the state of Arkansas had an effect on mathematics achievement as measured by the 2015 AP Calculus AB exam. In 1955 the College Board created the Advance Placement program to be implemented in high schools in an attempt to address the growing gap between secondary education and college curricula. Then, in 2007 the Arkansas Advanced Initiative in Mathematics and Science was established in Arkansas to further train high school AP teachers, support AP programs throughout the state, …

A Mixed-Methods Study: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Private Social Media Participation And Accountability, Adherence, And Social Connectedness In, Diana A. Cabori

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was to examine the influence of private social media usage on accountability, adherence, and social connectedness in weight loss and fitness program participants.

Methodology: This study utilized a mixed-methods sequential explanatory research design comprised of a multi-state quantitative survey of weight loss and fitness participants and subsequent qualitative interviews to elucidate the influence of private social media on weight loss and fitness program participants regarding program accountability and adherence, and social connectedness to others. The population included 3,000 participants of The Camp Transformation Center and 1,000 participants of Warrior Fitness and …

Exploring Students’ Use Of Learning Contracts In Preparing For The National Athletic Training Board Certification Examination, William Dill

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the application of learning contracts in the process of preparing to take the AT BOC exam. The goal of this study was to investigate best practices to assist students in being successful when taking the BOC certification examination. Self-directed learning in medicine was an important skill in the ever-changing healthcare landscape. One self-directed learning tool, learning contracts, had been studied in other healthcare fields. However, little research had been conducted utilizing learning contracts in athletic training. In addition, providing students with a research based instrument that could be used to improve success …

Inclusive Special And General Education Secondary Teachers’ Attitudes Towards The Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities In The General Education Setting, Barbara Portwood

Dissertations

The passage of The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (2002), formerly known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, sparked a significant rise in the number of students with disabilities receiving their instruction in the inclusive setting. While previous legislation mandated that students with disabilities be included in standardized testing, NCLB called for closing the achievement gap between students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers. Research indicated the success of students with disabilities in the general educational setting was influenced by teacher attitude. This qualitative study addressed secondary general and special education teacher attitudes and beliefs surrounding the practice …

16th Century Shakespeare And 21st Century Students, Sheridan Lynn Steelman

Dissertations

Drawing on examples from the author’s and colleagues classrooms, this dissertation shows how an historical approach to teaching Shakespeare, drawing on primary documents from the period, opens meaningful interpretations, issues and questions for secondary students. Chapter One reviews current pedagogical approaches to teaching Shakespeare, close reading, reader response, and performance to set forth the rationale for teaching Shakespeare using primary documents. Chapter Two highlights ninth grade students studying Romeo and Juliet and includes classroom stories about engagement with documents about gender, sexuality, violence, and potions. Chapter Three describes two general English 11 classes and their successes and challenges with Hamlet …

High School Seniors' Educational Experience Lnfluencing The Decision To Pursue A Career In Nursing, Ryan L. Rowe

Dissertations

Many high school students interested in nursing as an occupation choose to engage in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and subsequently progress through the exploration stage of Super’s Career Development Theory in a succinct, deliberate, and intentional manner. While CTE continues to serve as an educational option for many high school students interested in nursing, its value as a means for students to crystallize, specify, and implement the choice to pursue the high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand career of nursing is not understood to the extent possible. CTE is regularly overlooked as a viable educational option by high school …

A Qualitative Investigation Of The Interpersonal Changes White Psychology Trainees Experience During Their Race-Based Learning And Development, Molly K. Beagle

Dissertations

The current study expands upon prior research that has explored how white psychology and counseling graduate trainees are impacted by their learning about racism. Prior to this study being conducted, research primarily addressed the psychological impact of learning about racism for white trainees. There was minimal acknowledgment and exploration of how learning about racism impacted the interpersonal aspects of trainees’ lives, such as their relationships and larger social networks. The current study addresses this gap within previous research, with it being the first to have an intentional, exclusive focus on the interpersonal impact of learning about racism. The primary purpose …

The Effectiveness Of Using Leadership Practice Lnventory (Lpl 360) Feedback On Leaders' Lnsight Into Their Leadership Behaviors In Higher Education, Abdulrahman S. Alajlan

Dissertations

One of the most popular 360-feedback processes for leadership development is the Leadership Practice Inventory (LPI 360). According to the Leadership Challenge website the LPI tool has been translated into six languages. In addition, it has been implemented in a variety of organizations around the world and there are about 500 studies that have been built around it. However, the popularity of the LPI 360-feedback is not enough reason for it to be adopted for higher education without assurance that it aligns with a higher education organization’s specific vision and goals. After reviewing approximately 153 LPI studies across 766 databases …

Consistent Coaching And Alignment: A New Way Of Work For College Readiness System Staff, Christie L. Mcmullen

Dissertations

As an answer to a missing system of interaction and accountability between College Readiness System (CRS) Staff and school systems across the country, a coaching framework was created. This framework provides a repeatable, consistent model for CRS staff members to use with each school implementing CRS across the nation. This paper outlines the new coaching framework, the need for having a framework and the process for getting all stakeholders to support the new system. This process would be applicable for implementing any type of change within a large non-profit organization. This change leadership project includes ways to get organizations to …

An Evaluation Of Full-Day Kindergarten Programming, Amy Houlihan

Dissertations

The purpose of this program evaluation document is to provide a rationale and structure for implementing full-day kindergarten. The persistence of the achievement gap in the United States requires considerable and deliberate action to narrow and eliminate the gap over time. With the evolving educational landscape and the adoption of the Common Core State Standards, early education, including systematically designed and implemented full-day kindergarten are one way to afford children the opportunity to begin their education on pace to succeed. This program evaluation examines the differences between half-day kindergarten and full-day kindergarten programs including data analysis from the first year …

Improving Teacher Evaluation Through Enhanced Support For Teachers And School Based Administrators, Dywayne Hinds

Dissertations

It is no secret that school accountability is a common theme heard in discourse among governmental and local officials. This theme reaches across educational institutions throughout the Nation. Parents, policymakers, and educators are calling for and demanding educational reform to improve the quality of instruction taking place within schools. Improving student achievement scores on standardized tests is the driving force behind the demand for educational reform. Consequently, education reform efforts must focus on teacher quality and improved student performance.

The relationship between the evaluation ratings of classroom teachers and student achievement is an ongoing topic of leaders in and outside …

Wicor Walkthroughs And Teacher Practice, Christie L. Mcmullen

Dissertations

Watching experts execute their craft allows for learning. In four schools, this type of learning, teachers watching one another teach, was made available and the feedback from those interviewed showed positive results. This paper explains the process each school used for allowing teachers to watch others teach and the results that they got in the process. This program evaluation was designed to provide guidance to principals on some specific ways to ensure that they can avoid pitfalls if they were to employ a similar strategy with their staff. Teachers using high yield strategies with confidence in their classrooms has the …

An Evaluation Of One School District's Ged Instructional And Assessment Program Following The Revised Ged 2014 Test, Marc Hutek

Dissertations

In 2014 the GED^® test was reintroduced for the fifth time in its history. Despite aligning its adult education program content to the Common Core State Standards, one school district still found exceptionally low initial success rates by students. By obtaining quantitative and qualitative data on behalf of the districts’ stakeholders within the GED^® program, this study has identified the overall effective aspects of the program and areas that can be improved to enhance student success. It has created a foundation for the development of a change project for continual program growth and improved performance. In constructing change …

A Collaborative & Systematic Approach To Implementing An Effective Standards-Based Grading And Reporting System: A Change Leadership Plan, Hector Freytas

Dissertations

This mixed methods study examined the collaborative efforts between the Standards-Based Grading and Reporting Committee (SBGRC) at Mountain West High School (MWHS) and the Leadership District Team (LDT), which consisted of the following stakeholders: the district superintendent, the chief business officer, the chief financial officer, multiple principals and assistant principals, students, and parents of Mountain West School District (MWSD). These groups researched effective grading and reporting policies and procedures for possible implementation, and worked toward developing a specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely (SMART) goal. In addition, a multiyear action plan was cocreated to streamline the process (DuFour, 2006). This …

Policy Advocacy: Standards For Professional Learning, Emily Crement

Dissertations

This paper advocates for a district level policy the Standards for Professional Learning as a way of defining what high quality professional learning should look like. The Standards for Professional Learning represent a compilation of decades of research on what characterizes effective professional learning. Since improvements in professional learning will lead to large scale school improvement, this paper concludes that the Standards be used to define effective professional learning. Presented in this paper is an analysis of need from the educational, economic, political, social and ethical perspectives. An argument in favor of adopting the standards is presented, and a counterargument …

An Evaluation Of Avid As A Supplemental Education Program At The Middle School Level, Lori Bradner

Dissertations

This is a study of AVID as a supplemental education program at the middle school level that includes a quantitative evaluation of the academic efficacy of AVID utilizing anonymized, longitudinal student achievement data. The second section is a qualitative evaluation of the AVID program at one middle school within a district to determine the perceived efficacy of the AVID program among stakeholders using surveys and interviews. This also includes a discussion of the necessary change in leadership determined by the evaluation portions of this project. The third portion outlines a policy change essential for satisfactory outcome as defined by AVID …

Advocacy For Compliance With Existing Policy In Social Emotional Learning, Emilie Correa

Dissertations

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards were adopted by the state of Illinois in 2004. Local SEL policy was adopted by District 1234 in 2010. This policy advocacy work presents how findings from a district’s SEL Audit helped a team of administrators identify areas for growth and advocate for compliance of existing state and local SEL policy. This work documents how a district went from no SEL programming, to the creation of an SEL Task Force, the powering of SEL standards, and the planning for systemic implementation of SEL. According to research (Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor, & Schellinger, 2011), students who …

Policy Advocacy: Adoption The 4 C’S Rubrics Into Illinois Vision 20/20, Michael Marassa

Dissertations

The focus of this policy advocacy is to add evaluation language to the Illinois Vision 20/20 policy specific to 21st Century Learning. The Illinois Vision 20/20 policy pillar of 21st Century Learning already identifies that students in Illinois develop skills of critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. The policy does not provide an explanation for school districts on how to achieve this goal. This policy advocacy adds language to the 21st Century Learning pillar through rubrics. These rubrics, specific to the skills described above and referenced throughout this dissertation as the 4 C’s, provide standard definitions for each of these …

Teachers' Perceptions On Professional Learning: A Mixed Method Program Evaluation In A Middle School Setting, Emily Crement

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was evaluate the program of teacher professional learning at Hamlin Middle School to guide formative improvement, therefore maximizing the potential of increasing teacher effectiveness and results. By facilitating evaluative thinking among teachers on the topic of teacher professional learning, the goal was to change how teachers conceptualize teacher professional learning. The discussion of professional learning was based on the Modes of Learning Framework (HarvardX, 2014), which organizes learning along two continua: hierarchical-distributed and individual-collective. Methodology included a survey on teachers’ perceptions on the modes of learning, and focus group discussions in which participants interpreted survey …

Exploring Teacher Effectiveness As Measured By The Danielson Framework For Teaching And Student Achievement Outcomes: Pursuing An Understanding Of Leading Students To Excellence-Pulse Study, Caletha White

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The idea of teacher excellence is the guiding principal of exploring the teacher evaluation ratings of effective teachers. Using the Danielson Framework for Teaching as a tool for measuring teacher effectiveness through common goals, language and practices is the core of this study. Adding value to the teacher evaluation process through measures of student achievement supports the ideals around effective teaching and learning and teacher evaluation. As an educator and researcher, the goal is to understand what combination of teacher behavior, student learning and academic outcomes contribute to overall success for our students. Analyzing data in the school district …

Kindergarten For Equity: A Policy Advocacy Statement, Amy Houlihan

Dissertations

The urgency to close the achievement gap means it is our moral imperative to provide all children with the opportunities necessary to succeed as early as possible. Knowing the critical timing of a child’s brain development from birth to age five, we cannot afford to wait until a child is six or seven years old to begin developing their academic and social emotional capacity. This policy advocacy document supports a statewide mandate for children to attend kindergarten at age five throughout the state of Illinois. With little need for increased resources to accommodate the mandate, the social, moral and ethical …

Effects Of Early Childhood Education On Reading Preparedness In Third Grade Of Elementary School, Kimberly A. Williams

Dissertations

Reading has been found to not only build student motivation but to increase community involvement in education (Hudson & Williams, 2015). Children who grow into lifelong readers were less likely to be incarcerated, became more successful members of society, and created greater futures for themselves and their families (Obama, 2013). With exposure to early childhood education opportunities, children found a greater propensity to attain foundational reading skills; therefore, positive habits for education lead to thriving outcomes in the future (DeHaan & Leuven, 2016). This study analyzed variations in preschool programs in order to detect curricular, facility, and instructor distinctions (DeHaan …

Redesigned Adult Learning To Create An Environment Of Deep Understanding Of The Danielson Framework For Teaching And The Shifts Required To Lead Students To Excellence, Caletha White

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Using Wagner’s (2006) change leadership model to assess culture, context, condition and competencies of a small suburban school district to create a change plan for value-added teacher evaluation is the central idea to this study. The four arenas of change together allow for a systematic analysis of teaching and learning. This research study represents the current state of the school district with gaps in the connectedness of opportunities for building competency toward enhancing teacher quality as measured by the Danielson Framework for Teaching and value added NWEA MAP achievement outcomes. Ninety-six percent of the teachers are rated effective while …

Ongoing Professional Learning Opportunities, Christie L. Mcmullen

Dissertations

As an answer to a lack of policy around follow up training between CRS Center Staff and school systems across the country, a policy needs to be created around providing follow up training opportunities nationally. This policy provides a repeatable, consistent model for CRS Center staff members to use with each school implementing CRS across the nation. This paper outlines the policy for allowing teachers to see other teachers implementing CRS strategies in their schools, therefore increasing the use of these strategies in classrooms nationally. This process will be applicable for school districts that works with CRS nationally. This policy …

Emotional Wellness And Learning, Emilie Correa

Dissertations

“Education has two great goals: to help students become smart, and to help them become good” (Lickona & Davidson, n.d., p. 15). This program evaluation is an evaluation of the Emotional wellness (EW) program in District 1234 (pseudonym). Through this program evaluation, one can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the original program goals, framework, and effectiveness, based on district-wide culture and climate surveys. The primary research questions for this program evaluation are to determine if the emotional wellness program (EWP) is being implemented with fidelity, and how the EWP is impacting stakeholders in D1234. This program evaluation serves …

Perceived Ideal Traits Of A Mentor As Viewed By African American Students In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics, Mary L. Smith

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines perception of traits an ideal mentor should possess, and to determine if these traits had positive results on their identification with science. With a large number of workers in STEM disciplines retiring, there is a projected need for more underrepresented minorities to fill these positions. In order to increase diversity in the workforce, efforts must be made to retain underrepresented minorities in STEM education beginning at the undergraduate level and continuing throughout the graduate level. This intervention should begin as early as …

Teachers Appraisal Of Their Relationship With Instructional Coaches And Interpretation Of The Instructional Coaches Role, Sandra Lawson Higgins

Dissertations

The need for high quality teachers has increased over the past years with the new mandates for college and career ready students. School administrators are providing job-embedded professional development to ensure quality teaching is taking place in classrooms. Instructional coaching is a form of job-embedded professional development that is being used to offer an opportunity with support for teachers to implement best learning practices into their classroom teaching.

This quantitative non-experimental research study used survey methodology to collect data from the two districts that participated. This study involved asking teachers to report if the relationship between the coach and the …

Institution-Specific Music And Sense Of Belonging Of Undergraduate College Students, Jousha Berthelot

Dissertations

Institution-specific music is any song or piece of music which is performed by a college or university ensemble such as a marching band, basketball pep band, orchestra, or choir and conveys college/university traditions, arouses enthusiasm and emotions, inspires school spirit, and promotes unity within the college community (Studwell, 1995; Studwell & Schueneman, 2013). Places where one can hear institution-specific music are pep rallies, athletic events, and ceremonies such as commencement. Research that has been conducted in the past has focused on those performing in an ensemble setting (Kokotsaki & Hallum, 2007, 2011). This study looked to better understand how hearing …