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Full-Text Articles in Education

Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Kimberly Yulyn Davis Jan 2020

Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Kimberly Yulyn Davis

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an approach to teaching that considers the individual needs of students based on readiness levels, interest, learning styles, and learning profiles. This pragmatic, exploratory, sequential mixed-methods study investigated the conceptualizations of teachers at high-performing elementary schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) regarding DI, the degree of successful implementation, and the extent to which the degree of implementation correlates with student achievement in reading. Data were collected from 29 semi-structured teacher participant interviews, two 90-minute observations of each participant's reading instruction, and a comparison of i-Ready reading achievement data over two diagnostic assessments. The participants conceptualized …


The Relationship Between Instructional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross Case Analysis, Yanelys Canales Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Instructional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross Case Analysis, Yanelys Canales

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Student engagement is an essential component to student learning. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) has focused on providing schools with a unified approach to delivering quality classroom instruction. Despite the alignment and commonalities present, underlying issues still need further investigation. Discrepancies within student proficiency and learning gains exist across schools throughout the district. The purpose of the study was to investigate what patterns exist among fourth- and fifth-grade teachers across four schools within the district concerning the use of instructional practices and how these practices relate to levels of student engagement. This study investigated the relationship between student engagement, instructional …


An Examination Of Benefit And Equity In Community-University Service Learning Partnerships, Mary Jo Callan Jan 2020

An Examination Of Benefit And Equity In Community-University Service Learning Partnerships, Mary Jo Callan

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Service learning is a widespread educational practice, which, at its foundation, deploys students into partnerships with community organizations toward mutual benefit. Thirty years into the practice, there is a substantial body of research pointing to benefits of service learning for students, with less examination on benefits for community partners with whom students are engaged in service. Further, there is a dearth of examination of equity in service learning partnerships between universities and community organizations. This mixed methods program evaluation examined benefits and equity in service learning partnerships brokered and supported by the Ginsberg Center at the University of Michigan. Through …


The Relationship Between Instructional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross-Case Analysis, Yesenia M. Aponte Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Instructional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross-Case Analysis, Yesenia M. Aponte

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Student engagement is an essential component to student learning. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) has focused on providing schools with a unified approach to delivering quality classroom instruction. Despite the alignment and commonalities present, underlying issues still need further investigation. Discrepancies within student proficiency and learning gains exist across schools throughout the district. The purpose of the study was to investigate what patterns exist among fourth- and fifth-grade teachers across four schools within the district concerning the use of instructional practices and how these practices relate to levels of student engagement. This study investigated the relationship between student engagement, instructional …


Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Michael Anthony Lewis Jan 2020

Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Michael Anthony Lewis

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This dissertation explored a growing concern - the lack of retention of early career teachers (ECTs). We investigated the perceptions of a large sample of ECTs regarding how principal support and job satisfaction affects their decisions to remain in or leave the field of education. We employed an exploratory mixed approach based on a framework derived from DiPaola's (2012) work on principal support. Three surveys collected ECTs' perceptions of principal support, job satisfaction, and their intention to remain in teaching. A series of semi-structured focus group interviews were also used to collect data from ECTs across four school-level configurations in …


Mental Health Professsionals: Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders And Moral Development, Benjamin Sean Newman Jan 2020

Mental Health Professsionals: Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders And Moral Development, Benjamin Sean Newman

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Mental health professionals who provide treatment to sex offenders navigate the complex legal, ethics and moral intersections surrounding the population within the professional-personal dialectic. The purpose of this research study was to explore the potential relationship between mental health professional's attitudes toward sex offenders and their level of moral development in order to encourage increasingly effective training and experiential interventions which then may impact treatment outcomes. Research participants included licensed and non-licensed counselors, social workers and psychologists (n = 135). Along with a demographic questionnaire and the Marlowe- Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the Defining Issues Test was used as a …


An Evaluation Of A Global Business Minor Program On The Intercultural Competence And Professional Development Of Students And Faculty, Dawn Marie Edmiston-Strasser Jan 2020

An Evaluation Of A Global Business Minor Program On The Intercultural Competence And Professional Development Of Students And Faculty, Dawn Marie Edmiston-Strasser

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Internationalization has become widely recognized as a critical element of higher education, and study abroad is considered one of the most common methods to achieve it. Yet, despite the perceived value of study abroad for both students and faculty, institutions struggle with committing resources to such opportunities as well as assessing the true impact of these learning experiences. This study evaluated the Global Business Minor (GBM) program at William & Mary (W&M), the first program in the nation to allow students to earn a minor in a single summer through an innovative hybrid learning approach that involved one week at …


Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Tracey Daws Crews Jan 2020

Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Tracey Daws Crews

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This dissertation explored a growing concern - the lack of retention of early career teachers (ECTs). We investigated the perceptions of a large sample of ECTs regarding how principal support and job satisfaction affects their decisions to remain in or leave the field of education. We employed an exploratory mixed approach based on a framework derived from DiPaola's (2012) work on principal support. Three surveys collected ECTs' perceptions of principal support, job satisfaction, and their intention to remain in teaching. A series of semi-structured focus group interviews were also used to collect data from ECTs across four school-level configurations in …


Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Thomas Cornell Fisher Jan 2020

Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Thomas Cornell Fisher

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This dissertation explored a growing concern - the lack of retention of early career teachers (ECTs). We investigated the perceptions of a large sample of ECTs regarding how principal support and job satisfaction affects their decisions to remain in or leave the field of education. We employed an exploratory mixed approach based on a framework derived from DiPaola's (2012) work on principal support. Three surveys collected ECTs' perceptions of principal support, job satisfaction, and their intention to remain in teaching. A series of semi-structured focus group interviews were also used to collect data from ECTs across four school-level configurations in …


Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Tricia M. Fernandez Jan 2020

Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Tricia M. Fernandez

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Research shows that providing teacher leadership opportunities has a positive influence on the capacity building of teachers and is an effective strategy to retain effective teacher leaders. Current reform efforts include creating sustainable career pathways that provide teachers the opportunity to grow professionally while leading from the classroom. However, present trends depict low returns on investment from professional learning programs resulting in reduced funding. The purpose of this study was to determine if Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) human capital investment approach in the M-DCPS Teacher LEADership Academy (TLA) strengthens the capacity of teacher leaders to lead professional learning while …


A Program Evaluation Of A Secondary Peer Tutoring Program, Charles Caldwell Watson Jan 2020

A Program Evaluation Of A Secondary Peer Tutoring Program, Charles Caldwell Watson

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Using a combination of the quantitative and qualitative, a peer tutoring program at a secondary governor's school was analyzed between fall of 2015 to spring of 2019 for efficacy with respect to how participation influenced changes in tutees' quarter scores, when the optimal time to offer peer tutoring would be, and what participants identified as the primary benefits and barriers to attending. Peer tutoring was offered both after school and during lunch during this investigation, and yielded many interesting results. First, peer tutoring was found to have no significant influence overall upon change upon participants' quarter scores compared to a …


Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Milagros Gonzalez Jan 2020

Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Milagros Gonzalez

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Research shows that providing teacher leadership opportunities has a positive influence on the capacity building of teachers and is an effective strategy to retain effective teacher leaders. Current reform efforts include creating sustainable career pathways that provide teachers the opportunity to grow professionally while leading from the classroom. However, present trends depict low returns on investment from professional learning programs resulting in reduced funding. The purpose of this study was to determine if Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) human capital investment approach in the M-DCPS Teacher LEADership Academy (TLA) strengthens the capacity of teacher leaders to lead professional learning while …


Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Concepcion Cepero Santana Jan 2020

Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Concepcion Cepero Santana

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an approach to teaching that considers the individual needs of students based on readiness levels, interest, learning styles, and learning profiles. This pragmatic, exploratory, sequential mixed-methods study investigated the conceptualizations of teachers at high-performing elementary schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) regarding DI, the degree of successful implementation, and the extent to which the degree of implementation correlates with student achievement in reading. Data were collected from 29 semi-structured teacher participant interviews, two 90-minute observations of each participant's reading instruction, and a comparison of i-Ready reading achievement data over two diagnostic assessments. The participants conceptualized …


Critical Consciousness Involving Worldview Inequities Among Undergraduate Students, Amanda Armstrong Jan 2020

Critical Consciousness Involving Worldview Inequities Among Undergraduate Students, Amanda Armstrong

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

College students’ worldviews and (non)religious beliefs continue to evolve and become more nuanced. Thus, it is crucial that college students make meaning of diverse worldview perspectives and recognize the accompanying inequitable experiences that others encounter because of their worldviews. In promoting research on critical consciousness in their 2018 call for proposals, the Association for the Study of Higher Education invited educators to consider, not only how students engage across differences, but how they recognize, make meaning of, and act upon social inequities. To expand topics of pluralism and interworldview dialogue in higher education, it is important to investigate the phenomenon …


Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, John D. Pace Jan 2020

Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, John D. Pace

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This dissertation explored a growing concern - the lack of retention of early career teachers (ECTs). We investigated the perceptions of a large sample of ECTs regarding how principal support and job satisfaction affects their decisions to remain in or leave the field of education. We employed an exploratory mixed approach based on a framework derived from DiPaola's (2012) work on principal support. Three surveys collected ECTs' perceptions of principal support, job satisfaction, and their intention to remain in teaching. A series of semi-structured focus group interviews were also used to collect data from ECTs across four school-level configurations in …


An Exploration Of Gender-Specific Instructional Practices In A Single-Sex High School, John Fredrick Devault Jan 2020

An Exploration Of Gender-Specific Instructional Practices In A Single-Sex High School, John Fredrick Devault

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The achievement gap between school-age boys and girls is creating and adding to multiple contemporary cultural issues where underachieving boys have shown statistical links to decreasing workforce outputs, college enrollment and graduation, violence, and increasing prison populations. Current research suggests that single-sex classrooms contribute to larger gains in both mathematics and reading than co-educational classes for both boys and girls. This exploratory program evaluation used a qualitative design to examine the process of implementation in a single-sex academic high school environment. Teachers with experience in single-sex schools were interviewed to identify perceptions and differentiated teaching methods/strategies. Findings did not fully …


Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Felicia Kristina Joseph Jan 2020

Teacher Conceptualization And Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Felicia Kristina Joseph

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an approach to teaching that considers the individual needs of students based on readiness levels, interest, learning styles, and learning profiles. This pragmatic, exploratory, sequential mixed-methods study investigated the conceptualizations of teachers at high-performing elementary schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) regarding DI, the degree of successful implementation, and the extent to which the degree of implementation correlates with student achievement in reading. Data were collected from 29 semi-structured teacher participant interviews, two 90-minute observations of each participant's reading instruction, and a comparison of i-Ready reading achievement data over two diagnostic assessments. The participants conceptualized …


The Relationship Between Instructional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross-Case Analysis, Mayte Maria Dovale Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Instructional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross-Case Analysis, Mayte Maria Dovale

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Student engagement is an essential component to student learning. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) has focused on providing schools with a unified approach to delivering quality classroom instruction. Despite the alignment and commonalities present, underlying issues still need further investigation. Discrepancies within student proficiency and learning gains exist across schools throughout the district. The purpose of the study was to investigate what patterns exist among fourth- and fifth-grade teachers across four schools within the district concerning the use of instructional practices and how these practices relate to levels of student engagement. This study investigated the relationship between student engagement, instructional …


The Relationship Between Instrutional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross-Case Analysis, Bisleixis Tejeiro Jan 2020

The Relationship Between Instrutional Delivery And Student Engagement In Selected Classrooms: A Cross-Case Analysis, Bisleixis Tejeiro

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Student engagement is an essential component to student learning. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) has focused on providing schools with a unified approach to delivering quality classroom instruction. Despite the alignment and commonalities present, underlying issues still need further investigation. Discrepancies within student proficiency and learning gains exist across schools throughout the district. The purpose of the study was to investigate what patterns exist among fourth- and fifth-grade teachers across four schools within the district concerning the use of instructional practices and how these practices relate to levels of student engagement. This study investigated the relationship between student engagement, instructional …


The Impact Of The Balanced Literacy Approach In Reading Instruction On Student Reading Motivation And Reading Competence, Jami Beth Clements Jan 2020

The Impact Of The Balanced Literacy Approach In Reading Instruction On Student Reading Motivation And Reading Competence, Jami Beth Clements

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the impact Balanced Literacy Reading Instruction had on student motivation to read and student reading competence in the elementary school of one public school district. This study analyzed extant student summative reading assessment data and extant teacher observation data. The study also administered the Self-Regulation Questionnaire-Reading Motivation to measure the reading motivation of students who had received Balanced Literacy Reading Instruction in the district from first grade through fifth grade. The study sought to determine the amount of reading time administered during reading instruction during the implementation, the current level of …


U.S. High School Counselors' Experiences Of Gatekeeping With Underrepresented Students In The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Nancy M. Chae Jan 2020

U.S. High School Counselors' Experiences Of Gatekeeping With Underrepresented Students In The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Nancy M. Chae

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This study explored U.S. high school counselors' lived experiences of gatekeeping in their work with underrepresented high school students enrolled in International Baccalaureate Diploma Programs (IB DPs). A transcendental phenomenological research design was employed with a social constructivist theoretical framework for this study. After conducting a pilot study (N = 5), a purposive, criterion-based sampling method was used to target U.S. high school counselors in IB World Schools with DPs who work with underrepresented students. Twenty-three school counselors (N = 23) participated in the study through three means of data collection to triangulate data sources: semi-structured individual interviews (n = …


Understanding The Lived Experiences, Self Efficacy, And Engagement Of A Group Of Legacy Students At A More Selective University, Grace Hindman Fend Jan 2020

Understanding The Lived Experiences, Self Efficacy, And Engagement Of A Group Of Legacy Students At A More Selective University, Grace Hindman Fend

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the perceptions of a group of legacy students regarding their experiences at a public, more selective institution. Selective institutions have a long history of providing preferential admission review of legacy students. Legacy students are often admitted to selective institutions with lower standardized test scores and lower high school academic achievement than their peers. However, little research exists on how legacy students experience college, in particular their levels of self-efficacy and engagement. My study employed a phenomenological research approach, using a theoretical framework of Bean and Eaton’s (2002) psychological …


Lgbtq Student Experiences On Historically Black College And University Campuses, Kirstin Byrd Jan 2020

Lgbtq Student Experiences On Historically Black College And University Campuses, Kirstin Byrd

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have historically provided a nurturing academic and social environment for African American students. Yet, a pervading homophobic climate exists on these campuses that adversely affects lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning (LGBTQ) students attending. The purpose of this study was to document and explore the experiences of LGBTQ students attending an HBCU. It was designed to provide institutional leaders with information on how to improve their campus environments in becoming more inclusive and responsive to their needs. Documenting student voices helps their campus and community understand the issues they face. This qualitative study included …


Transfer Student Faculty Academic Advising: Understanding Student Perspectives, Ashleigh Everhardt Queen Jan 2020

Transfer Student Faculty Academic Advising: Understanding Student Perspectives, Ashleigh Everhardt Queen

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of academic advising held by junior and senior transfer students who have declared a major within the STEM programs at a small, highly selective, public institution in the Mid-Atlantic Region. A phenomenological case study of Small University was utilized to understand the perception and socially constructed reality and knowledge that vertical and lateral transfer students build through interactions with a faculty academic advisor. Interviews were conducted with a diverse population of 20 junior and senior transfer students who have declared their major in one of the eight STEM departments at …


Teacher Perceptions Of Professional Development Practices And Their Influence On Self-Efficacy: An Action Research Study, Jennifer Mcsweeney Jan 2020

Teacher Perceptions Of Professional Development Practices And Their Influence On Self-Efficacy: An Action Research Study, Jennifer Mcsweeney

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Teachers play a critical role when it comes to impacting student achievement. As a result, quality of teachers is an issue that is being addressed through continuing professional development. Even with this emphasis, current professional development is perceived by teachers as being ineffective and lacking in relevance to student and teacher needs. However, research-based professional development practices do exist, and this study sought to explore which of these features teachers perceive to be effective within the learning experiences of lesson study, book study, and peer observations. Additionally, self-efficacy can affect teacher impact on student achievement. Four sources of efficacy contribute …


Taking A Strengths-Based Approach To School Improvement In A Rural Elementary School, Edward M. Van Dyke Jan 2020

Taking A Strengths-Based Approach To School Improvement In A Rural Elementary School, Edward M. Van Dyke

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Many scholars believe that school improvement and school climate are important aspects in student learning and achievement. This study takes a strengths-based approach to school improvement as well as improving school climate. The Appreciative Inquiry action research method was used to help develop a school improvement plan and attempt to improve school climate at a rural elementary school. The Appreciative Inquiry process uses the 5-D cycle of Define, Discover, Dream, Design and Deploy to help organizations look at how and in what areas the organization is thriving in to help in areas where they are looking for better results. Data …


Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Try K. Diggs Jan 2020

Principal Support: Its Impact On Job Satisfaction And Early Career Teachers' Decisions To Remain In Teaching, Try K. Diggs

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

This dissertation explored a growing concern - the lack of retention of early career teachers (ECTs). We investigated the perceptions of a large sample of ECTs regarding how principal support and job satisfaction affects their decisions to remain in or leave the field of education. We employed an exploratory mixed approach based on a framework derived from DiPaola's (2012) work on principal support. Three surveys collected ECTs' perceptions of principal support, job satisfaction, and their intention to remain in teaching. A series of semi-structured focus group interviews were also used to collect data from ECTs across four school-level configurations in …


Exploring The Interaction Between Appreciative Inquiry And Student Academic Optimism: An Action Research Study, Gwendolyn Baugh Ashworth Jan 2020

Exploring The Interaction Between Appreciative Inquiry And Student Academic Optimism: An Action Research Study, Gwendolyn Baugh Ashworth

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The study's purpose was to examine the degree and manner in which students have experienced a climate of academic optimism in the setting. The study was intended to provide a means for student participants to reflect on the structures currently in place within the setting through the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process. The study investigated three research questions. How does participation in the AI process influence students' perceptions of features of school climate, as measured by shifts in Student Academic Optimism (SAO) and outputs generated during the AI process in the school selected for the study? What themes emerged from participants …


Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Carmen Silvia Concepcion Jan 2020

Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Carmen Silvia Concepcion

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Research shows that providing teacher leadership opportunities has a positive influence on the capacity building of teachers and is an effective strategy to retain effective teacher leaders. Current reform efforts include creating sustainable career pathways that provide teachers the opportunity to grow professionally while leading from the classroom. However, present trends depict low returns on investment from professional learning programs resulting in reduced funding. The purpose of this study was to determine if Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) human capital investment approach in the M-DCPS Teacher LEADership Academy (TLA) strengthens the capacity of teacher leaders to lead professional learning while …


Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Alexandra Martillo Goldfarb Jan 2020

Teacher Leadership: A District's Human Capital Investment Approach For Elevating Professional Learning, Alexandra Martillo Goldfarb

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Research shows that providing teacher leadership opportunities has a positive influence on the capacity building of teachers and is an effective strategy to retain effective teacher leaders. Current reform efforts include creating sustainable career pathways that provide teachers the opportunity to grow professionally while leading from the classroom. However, present trends depict low returns on investment from professional learning programs resulting in reduced funding. The purpose of this study was to determine if Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) human capital investment approach in the M-DCPS Teacher LEADership Academy (TLA) strengthens the capacity of teacher leaders to lead professional learning while …