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Teacher-Student Relationships And Student Behavior, Cassandra Ostergard
Teacher-Student Relationships And Student Behavior, Cassandra Ostergard
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This study addresses the question to what degree do students believe they change their classroom behavior based on teacher-student relationship? This topic is important because it delves into the motivations behind student behavior. This question is tied to past research regarding student-centered learning, teacher-student relationships, and student outcomes related to different classroom factors. The primary method of data collection in this study was a twenty question survey given to four classes of 7th grade students. One student from each class was also interviewed about this same topic. Overall, it was found that teacher-student relationships have an impact on student behavior, …
Effects Of A Nontraditional Multi-Age Learning Environment On Academic And Social-Emotional Learning: A Case Study, Nicole Black
Effects Of A Nontraditional Multi-Age Learning Environment On Academic And Social-Emotional Learning: A Case Study, Nicole Black
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this study was: how are struggling, elementary-aged students’ academic and social-emotional learning impacted by a nontraditional, multi-age learning environment? Topics explored in the review of the literature include struggling learners, academic performance, social-emotional learning, and learning environments. The case study was based on a pilot program, in which 22 students with academic and social-emotional needs were co-taught by three teachers in a multi-age, grades 2-4 environment. To answer the research question, qualitative and quantitative academic and social-emotional data was collected over a nine-week period. Individual goals were set for and with students in the areas …
Social Presence Theory: Creating Engaging And Strong Online Learning Communities At The K-12 Level, Abigail Amundson
Social Presence Theory: Creating Engaging And Strong Online Learning Communities At The K-12 Level, Abigail Amundson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Social presence theory is “the degree to which a person is perceived as a real person in mediated communication” (Gunawardena, 1995). Enhancing student’s perception of social presence increases instructional effectiveness and learning in an online learning environment. To increase perceived social presence, teachers must use techniques and interaction skills to build an online classroom community. There is not a lot of research on social presence theory in K-12 online learning environments so the purpose of this study was to find tools and strategies that create a strong online learning environments and to find if there is a relation between social …
Student-Teacher Relationships In An Alternative Setting, Stefanie Soukup
Student-Teacher Relationships In An Alternative Setting, Stefanie Soukup
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone explores how positive and negative relationships can make a difference in an alternative learning setting and how they impact student’s academic performance and classroom behavior. The paper researches three theories that can impact a student’s relationship with their teacher, those theories are: Attribution Theory, Noddings Theory, and Attachment Theory. A research study that consisted of a student survey and an examination of student’s grades to see if there is a connection between the students' feelings and them passing or failing classes. Ultimately, this study helped identify a connection between the two. Finally, the final chapter of this paper …
Trauma, Trust, And Academic Achievement Stories Shared By High School Dropouts, Vicci Una Johnson
Trauma, Trust, And Academic Achievement Stories Shared By High School Dropouts, Vicci Una Johnson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This qualitative research study is based on interviews with twelve adults who dropped out of high school before earning their diploma. Participants were asked several semi-structured open-ended questions. The Primary research question is: How do adults earning their high school diploma describe what stopped them from graduating on time? The participants shared stories of family trauma. The Secondary research question is: Who did you trust in your family or at school to ask for advice or help with any issue? Nine of the twelve participants responded they would not trust a parent, teacher, counselor, or school social worker to advise …
Tilting The Floor: Uncovering Leadership Factors Teachers And Principals Attribute To Math Growth Rate In Two Title I Schools, Stephanie Hiatt
Tilting The Floor: Uncovering Leadership Factors Teachers And Principals Attribute To Math Growth Rate In Two Title I Schools, Stephanie Hiatt
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This qualitative case study investigated the two highest math growth rates at two Title I schools in a mid-size, Midwestern school district. This research focused on the leadership factors that may have attributed to the math growth rate. Open-ended interviews, structured interviews, surveys, focus groups, and document analysis were used to collect data. This study uncovered the leadership factors teachers and principals attributed to the math growth rate. The focus of this study was on leadership decisions made before and after students walked into and out of the classroom that have an effect on math achievement. This study also explored …
The Influence Of Student Self-Reflection On Academic Mindset Change, Kate Peck
The Influence Of Student Self-Reflection On Academic Mindset Change, Kate Peck
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of my research is to determine how student academic self-reflections influence overall mindset change regarding school. I will be working with small groups of 9th and 10th grade students who are receiving high grades in most of their classes, yet are getting a D or F in 1-2 other classes. These students are invited to attend a 6 school day cohort called Lunch & Learn. During these 6 days, I will guide them through self-reflective strategies to help them recognize differences between their classes with higher grades and their classes with lower grades. I will start by asking …
School Uniform Requirements: Effects On Student Academic Performance, Elizabeth Brobeck
School Uniform Requirements: Effects On Student Academic Performance, Elizabeth Brobeck
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone and subsequent case study were: Do school uniform requirements have an effect on overall student academic performance at one area charter school? In order to gain insight into the complex topic of uniforms, a literature review was conducted. Topics explored included worldwide perspectives on school uniforms, school uniforms in American public schools, the various reasons for and against uniform implementation, and the factors that comprise academic achievement. Upon completing a literature review, a case study was conducted at an area K-8 charter school. The author used a mainly qualitative approach to the case …
Involvement In Extracurricular Activities And Overall High School Experience: Academics, School Belonging, And Career/College Readiness, Mike Richards
Involvement In Extracurricular Activities And Overall High School Experience: Academics, School Belonging, And Career/College Readiness, Mike Richards
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was to find out if there is a connection between extra-curricular (EC) activities and high school belonging, academics, and college/career readiness that makes school a more positive experience overall. The primary focus of this project was on finding if there is a positive impact on involvement in EC activities with regard to school belonging and college/career readiness along with higher achieving academics. An online survey was administered to the student body and there were individual interviews conducted. Along with analyzing literature, the researcher looks into his background of EC activities and how it …
Communicating Student Achievement Through Standards-Based Assessment And Grading, Elizabeth Hennen
Communicating Student Achievement Through Standards-Based Assessment And Grading, Elizabeth Hennen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was: which method of grading is the most effective way to communicate a student's progress and growth through the course of a school year to students, parents, and future teachers? The motivating factor for this project was one teacher’s concern regarding the traditional grading system and the correlation between the grades given to students and what they were actually learning and retaining. This capstone details positives and negatives when implementing standards-based assessment and grading practices. This project was influenced heavily by the work of Dr. Robert Marzano and Rick Wormeli, although differing in …
Effective Note-Taking Strategies In The High School Math Classroom, Michael Swenson
Effective Note-Taking Strategies In The High School Math Classroom, Michael Swenson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this action was, how can I implement effective note-taking strategies to improve my students’ performance on assessments? It details how one teacher implements Cornell notes and Foldables over the course of one trimester in two different Algebra 2 classes. A mixed methods approach was used to better understand effects of each strategy on three unit exams, three vocabulary quizzes, student surveys, and six student interviews. He describes the effects of each strategy on student achievement and concludes that: 1) Cornell notes and Foldables did improve student achievement on unit exams with Cornell notes showing higher …
Barriers To Individuals Of Entering The Field Of Education, Jamie Williford
Barriers To Individuals Of Entering The Field Of Education, Jamie Williford
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Institutional racism is prevalent in our society. It is the researcher’s belief that we must acknowledge the effects of racism in order to address the needs of individuals of color. The schools in our nation are an important place to start. The goal of this research is to create a list of barriers to individuals of color entering the field of education. Mixed methods research data collection and literature review aid in solving the research question: What are the barriers to individuals of color entering the field of education? A significant race gap has been noted by the researcher and …
Influencing Factors For Academic Tracking In High School Mathematics, Matthew Minowitz
Influencing Factors For Academic Tracking In High School Mathematics, Matthew Minowitz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone thesis is: What are prominent influencing factors related to academic tracking in mathematics? The thesis discusses influencing factors through a qualitative analysis of archival school data, student surveys, and student interviews. The research takes place in a “fringe rural” suburban public high school of a Midwest city with graduating class sizes between 200 and 250 students. This research identifies factors which have influenced student placement into high school mathematics tracks which are one year behind grade-level and two years ahead of grade-level. Conclusions from the study include findings related to family influences (eg. …
What Can One Learn By Measuring Assessments Two Ways: Traditional Grading Scale Versus Standards-Based Grading Method?, Lynn Suzanne Gay
What Can One Learn By Measuring Assessments Two Ways: Traditional Grading Scale Versus Standards-Based Grading Method?, Lynn Suzanne Gay
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project is, what can one learn by measuring assessments two ways: traditional grading scale versus standards-based grading method? The author was greatly influenced by her use of the two different grading methods at two different schools. She documents her experiences with both and then compares the outcomes of grading the same assessments using the two methods. Guskey’s extensive research on the subject and Douglas Reeve’s book Ahead of the Curve: The Power of Assessment to Transform Teaching and Learning (2001) guided the author’s creation of a standards-based rubric with which she graded tests that …
Relationships Between Comprehension And Fluency Levels Within Reading At A Second Grade Level, Erika Gregor
Relationships Between Comprehension And Fluency Levels Within Reading At A Second Grade Level, Erika Gregor
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this action research is to investigate the relationship between comprehension and fluency levels in a Spanish Immersion second grade setting and answer the question of: What is the effect of daily use of comprehension strategies, including inferencing, summarizing and visualizing, on fluency within a Spanish Immersion program? The literature review served the purpose to explore and deliver vital components in understanding the process of reading and how comprehension and fluency are achieved. I used a quantitative approach and utilized assessments throughout the school year to observe fluency levels when implementing comprehension strategies and assessments. The data revealed …
The Impact Of Informal Education On Formal Education In Science A Symbiotic Relationship, Colin Johnson
The Impact Of Informal Education On Formal Education In Science A Symbiotic Relationship, Colin Johnson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Classroom science teachers face many obstacles, from standardized exams to including real world concepts in their science units. Informal science educators are looking for ways to expand their mission into school curricula in the form of activities and project-based learning. Incorporating real-world experiences from informal science institutions can supplement and enrich the formal science educator’s classroom learning units. The research in question in this Capstone was to address how formal and informal science educators can work together to increase students’ participation in science and the environment. I interviewed science professionals about why they pursued a career in science and I …
The Impact Of Effective Guided Reading Practices, Emily O'Rourke
The Impact Of Effective Guided Reading Practices, Emily O'Rourke
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This research question purpose was to see how the impact of guided reading can positively improve second grade reading comprehension, fluency and word recognition. Various researchers, such as Jennifer Berne and Sophie C. Degener who have contributed to guided reading research are studied in this capstone. Guided reading is a pivotal element in a child’s journey in the reading process. It explores the specific teacher practices that are necessary to a beneficial guided reading experience. The author used quantitative method of study using district reading assessment and more specifically assessing comprehension, fluency and word recognition. As well as, studying the …
The Impact Of Math Talks On Student Achievement In Kindergarten, Emily Payan
The Impact Of Math Talks On Student Achievement In Kindergarten, Emily Payan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The core goal of this study was to answer the question, How do daily math talks impact student achievement in kindergarten? Math talks were implemented daily in a Title I kindergarten classroom over a period of six weeks. The findings suggest that the use of math talks as an integral part of instruction positively impact student achievement. The average growth in the experimental group was an increase of 42% in the composite scores by the end of the study, compared to a 31% increase in the control group. The experimental group in this study started as a more emergent group …
How Can An Advisory Program Be Implemented Into The Structure Of A Large Suburban High School To Foster Academic Success In Ninth-Grade Students?, Andrew Mccluskey
How Can An Advisory Program Be Implemented Into The Structure Of A Large Suburban High School To Foster Academic Success In Ninth-Grade Students?, Andrew Mccluskey
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can an advisory program be implemented into the structure of a large suburban high school to foster academic success in ninth-grade students? It documents the process from initial failed effort to the completion of a research-based design of an ideal advisory program for a large suburban school in the Midwest. Drawing on research from a wide range of sources and through interviews with teachers of students grades 9-12 the author constructs a well informed program design aimed at creating support structures to help students through the difficult transition from eight to …
Student Engagement And Project-Based Learning In The Social Studies Classroom, Noelle J. Nelson
Student Engagement And Project-Based Learning In The Social Studies Classroom, Noelle J. Nelson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how is student engagement affected through Project-Based Learning in an eleventh grade social studies classroom? It documents one teacher’s ability to incorporate Project-Based Learning in an urban high school social studies classroom. It will show that with the use of Project-Based Learning student engagement does increase. Students are pushed to critically think, problem solve, investigate, and collaborate. The author documents the details of a World War II Project-Based Learning unit and uses related research literature to construct meaning and validate the study. She looks into the different teaching strategies and scaffolding to …
What Makes A Veteran-Friendly College Or University Campus?, Donald W-R Allen
What Makes A Veteran-Friendly College Or University Campus?, Donald W-R Allen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The United States Armed Services has produced some of the finest men and women soldiers in history. After their service, some pursue institutions of higher learning to meet the needs of their continued excellence. Some colleges and universities have failed to meet the slightest requirements of the veteran student: understanding, compassion, respect and college credits for military training and experiential learning. The chapters inside this capstone confirms that veterans must be accepted as a very important part of the campus population. When veteran’s complete college and graduate, they have strategically and successfully completed another important undertaking. To look at a …
The Effects Of Individualized Teacher Meetings On Struggling High School Students, Travis Woulfe Macleod
The Effects Of Individualized Teacher Meetings On Struggling High School Students, Travis Woulfe Macleod
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how does having regularly scheduled one on one meetings between an academically struggling student and one of their teachers effect their success in school? It used a mixed-methods approach to gather data that included interviews, surveys, and academic data collected from students, their teachers, and their parents. The author documents the details of the meetings with the five selected students and uses related research literature to add meaning to and to validate the study. He describes both the successes and weaknesses of the meetings and the study. Conclusions include that these meetings …
What Are You Teaching? Curriculums, Expectations, And Experiences Of High School Writing Teachers And First Year Composition, Kathryn Elizabeth Fullmer
What Are You Teaching? Curriculums, Expectations, And Experiences Of High School Writing Teachers And First Year Composition, Kathryn Elizabeth Fullmer
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to explore the teaching of writing in high school and first year composition. In depth interviews and document analysis were employed to allow five writing instructors to detail their curriculums, expectations, and experiences of teaching writing. Findings suggest that the teaching of writing is nuanced and is affected by many outside variables. Implications for future research include the possibility of developing better communication between high school and colleges, more and better professional development for writing instructors at both levels, and an evaluation of current practices at the high school and college level.
21st Century Literacy: Blending The English 12 Classroom, Natalie Nelson
21st Century Literacy: Blending The English 12 Classroom, Natalie Nelson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can the use of formative and summative assessments be used to understand student achievement and learning within a 12th Grade Language Arts blended environment? It documents one teacher’s creation of a unit that uses technology in combination with assessment to determine student success within a Language Arts classroom unit. This research project integrated multiple kinds of technology to help understand if this type of assessment creates better or higher levels of learning for students. The author documents the application of the unit after creation. She describes both the outcomes of the …
How Can Instructional Staff Be Effectively Introduced To A Standards-Based Grading Policy, Joseph Patrick Millard
How Can Instructional Staff Be Effectively Introduced To A Standards-Based Grading Policy, Joseph Patrick Millard
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Standards-based grading is a style of grading developed over the last 30 years as a means for schools to create agreed upon standards for learning and grading (McMillan, 2000). While there may be school policies and philosophies motivating a teacher’s grading system, there is no universal method or standard for the assessment of American students. Grading practices may vary from school to school, subject to subject, and classroom to classroom. As a result, teachers’ grading policies have the potential to become subjective, based more on teacher experience and preference than a student’s mastery of a subject. Subjective grading is problematic …
How Can Standards-Based Grading Be Implemented Into An English Language Arts Classroom In Order To Give More Accurate Feedback Of Student Achievement, Taunya Kolbinger
How Can Standards-Based Grading Be Implemented Into An English Language Arts Classroom In Order To Give More Accurate Feedback Of Student Achievement, Taunya Kolbinger
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Properly and fairly assessing student work is an important and timely job. This paper will document the background of traditional grading, along with how standards-‐based grading benefits teachers, students, and parents. Key pieces of learning around this pertinent topic of assessment come from the current work of Guskey, as well as Wormeli and Reeves. It will also address barriers to standards-‐ based grading, and what professionals can do to implement this grading system into schools and classrooms, and cover how standards-‐based grading can be implemented into an English Language Arts classroom in order to give more accurate feedback of student …