Education Commons^™

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Plagiarism In International High Schools And Divisions In China’S First-Tier Cities, Katie Marie Thomas

Master of Education Research Theses

This paper explores perceptions of plagiarism among the diverse faculty in international high schools and divisions in China’s first-tier cities. In survey and interviews, participants reflected previous research in their punitive attitudes and identified obvious expressions but lacked consensus on subtler forms, suggesting institutions should develop precise policies that are reevaluated and revised annually to mitigate the effects of high faculty turnover. A discrepancy was noted between low frequency of offenses reported and more than half of participants believing plagiarism was a “big issue” in their institutions. The oft-implemented parental contact as a punishment was seen as ineffective and thus …

An Examination Of Fourth-Grade Teachers’ Trade Book Selection, Kristin M. Norman

Master of Education Research Theses

Children’s trade books are a pervasive force in elementary school classrooms. Teachers utilize these trade books for various instructional purposes. Research studies revealed that teachers’ selection of children’s trade books is a complex process involving many factors. This study examined the factors that influenced three fourth-grade public school teachers’ selection of trade books for classroom instruction. Each teacher met one of these criteria: five years or less of teaching experience, six to 15 years of experience, and 16 years or more of experience. Interviews were conducted with each teacher to determine the trade books they selected for teaching purposes and …

Discovering Dyslexia: A Phenomenological Study Of Dyslexia Experiences Across Age Groups, Shauna A. Karloski

Master of Education Research Theses

This phenomenological study focuses on this research question: What types of experiences do students identified early with dyslexia have in comparison to those identified at a later stage in life? Five children and three adults ranging in age from 8-years-old to middle-age were asked to participate in this study. Each participant was interviewed about their diagnosis of dyslexia and what it is like to cope with the disorder in school and everyday life. Participants' accounts were reviewed and organized according to 11 major themes. These themes were compared and contrasted across age groups to look for similarities and differences in …

A Quantitative And Qualitative Investigation Of Content-Area Literacy Instruction Integrated Into Social Studies Content For Kindergarten - 4th Grade Students, Jennifer E. Lee

Master of Education Research Theses

The objective of this study was to research the impact of short term intensive instruction of content-area literacy strategies on students’ academic success, students’ reading attitudes, and teachers’ perceptions of literacy integration into content-area learning of social studies with Kindergarten through 4th grade students at a private, Christian school. The experimental group of students did not show any statistically significant improvement over the control group of students. However, there was a trend in the experimental Kindergarten and 1st grade groups in which their content-area knowledge post-test scores slightly increased (5% and 10% increase in post-test scores, respectively) with additional literacy …

An Analysis Of Technology Integration Within A Play-Based Learning Environment At The Preschool Level, Dana M. Anderkin

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this study was to research this question, “Is technology use appropriate for preschool instruction within a play-based pedagogy and philosophy of education?” The definition of the play-based preschool learning environment is provided, the technology debate outlined, along with a qualitative research study, illustrating the opinions and beliefs regarding technology use of teachers within a play- based learning environment. This study relates research findings to the literature review and suggests that technology use within a play-based learning environment is possible when technology is used appropriately and with balance, to enhance and extend the curriculum. A balanced approach to …

Indiana Choice Scholarships And Their Impact On A Christian School, Rebekah Read

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative thesis project was conducted under the direction of Cedarville University and with the cooperation of the Christian Academy of Madison, in Madison, Indiana. The purpose of the project was to identify and analyze changes that occurred in a private school due to a significant increase in enrollment from students that received vouchers from the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program. Data was collected from third grade IREAD-3 and ISTEP+ state test scores from the previous four years. Additional data was gathered from surveys and interviews with the administration, teachers, non-voucher families and voucher families at the school. Student test scores …

How Are Teenage Students In A Private Christian School Using Social Media And What Are The Implications For Education?, Kimberly K. Beavers

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this study was to research this question in a private Christian high school, “How are teenage students using social media and what are the implications for education?” The definition(s) of social media are provided, along with a qualitative research study, illustrating the information concerning the participants in a private Christian high school, relating the research findings to previous compiled literature reviews concerning incorporating social media in a high school educational classroom. The methods, instrumentation, and procedures used are described. The results provide agreements and disagreements from the influence of social media. The analysis section of the research …

Automated Proficiency Indicators To Improve Non-Proficient Scores, Nick C. Maile

Master of Education Research Theses

This action-research study compared improvement data for 9th grade Algebra students. The study entailed the use of automated proficiency indicators to guide intervention with students not meeting proficiency standards after an initial assessment. Data from the previous school year was compared and results revealed questions and implications of multiple levels of non and low proficient students. The goal of this study was to show if using a gradebook with automated proficiency indicators would help improve proficiency scores to a greater degree.

A Comparison Of Teaching Methods In Taiwan For Young Learners Of English, Marilyn E. Hodgin

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this research is to investigate what instructional methods are effectively being used in Taiwanese primary school classrooms to increase the abilities of students’ speaking and listening of English. The data for this qualitative study was collected from three sources. One was from a short survey of eight local teachers in the sample population. Another was from individual interviews with each of those instructors. The third was personal observations from the English classrooms while teaching in Taiwan. Most of the teachers were from the public schools, but two were private English instructors. Three themes emerged from the coding …

Educational Reform: A Case Study Of Teachers’ Attitudes, Perceptions, And Engagement Throughout Curricular Reform, G. Colin Castelow

Master of Education Research Theses

This applied research project uses a mixed method approach to analyze curricular reform at a private Christian school in Chesapeake, Virginia. The study aimed to answer two questions regarding curricular reform at the school. Are the teachers seeking to improve the curriculum to which they have been entrusted? Have their attitudes and perceptions regarding the change in template evolved over time? Using the Concerns-Based Adoption Model, two separate surveys were coded based on the model’s Stages of Concern and Levels of Use. An initial teacher survey provided data and open-ended responses on the participant’s willingness to implement the reformed device. …

Critical Influences That Encourage Adolescent Boys To Engage In Leisure Reading, Adam Wyse

Master of Education Research Theses

This mixed-method study identifies influences on the literacy habits of adolescent boys. The study sought to answer the question: what factors influence adolescent boys to pursue or not pursue leisure reading? Leisure reading has been found to have a positive impact on academic success (Hughes-Hassell & Rodge, 2007) and boys tend to lag behind in engaging it (Smith & Wilhelm, 2004). A Likert scale survey was given to 137 students, boys and girls, from an upper-middle class, private Christian school in the Midwest. Questions focused on why students do or do not read and what could encourage them to increase …

An Analysis Of Pre-Service Versus Experienced Special-Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Attrition, Derek M. Kreider

Master of Education Research Theses

In this quantitative study, I assessed the presence of factors related to attrition in pre-service special educators. I surveyed 23 pre-service special educators regarding various attrition factors identified in the research literature and then compared their responses to the perceptions of 32 seasoned special educators to test for statistical significance. Participants were located at a large, public university in the southeast United States and the largest public-school system in proximity to the university. The results of the study indicated that attrition factors may be evidenced in pre-service educators and therefore detectable prior to entering the teaching field. The study also …

Armed Employees And School Policy: The Issues And Perspectives Of School Employees Regarding Armed Personnel In A Rural High School Setting, Mark A. Ratliff

Master of Education Research Theses

This mixed-methods study examines the perceptions of classified and certified staff members at a rural, Southwestern Ohio high school and was based on results from a 27-item questionnaire. The study covered three main topics: (1) perceptions of safety, (2) perceptions of armed employees, and (3) views on what procedures and limitations should be in place if a school were to adopt an armed employee policy. With results similar to previous nationwide surveys, 94.4% of participants believe their school is a safe place to work, however only 66.7% believe their school has sufficient procedures in place should a school shooting occur. …

The Efficacy Of Repeated Reading On Secondary Students' Oral Reading Fluency And Retell Fluency, Cynthia S. Driggs

Master of Education Research Theses

Abstract

Driggs, Cynthia S. M.Ed., Education Department, Cedarville University, 2013. The Efficacy of Repeated Reading on Secondary Students’ Oral Fluency Rate and Retell Rate.

Today’s secondary students need effective reading instruction in order to meet the demands of The College and Career Readiness Standards. Since fluency and comprehension comprise essential components of effective reading instruction, this quantitative research is a controlled experiment with a pretest-posttest control-group design. The questions asked include the following: (a) Does repeated reading improve secondary students’ oral reading fluency as measured by increase in the number of words read per minute? (b) Does repeated reading improve …

Evaluating Learning Styles And Personality Type: Guidance For Home School Families Selecting High School Curriculum, Sarah J. Cook

Master of Education Research Theses

“The diagnosis and identification of the strengths and weaknesses of each student, both cognitive and emotional structure, establishes the teaching prescription of instruction” (White, 1998, p. 145). Along with achievement and aptitude tests and portfolios, home school parents can delve into personality and learning styles to gain a greater understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknesses and also to guide in curriculum choices. Can evaluating personality and learning styles aid home school parents in the curriculum decisions? This study included nine upper elementary home schooled students. Each participant completed a self-assessment questionnaire. The data gained from the questionnaire and the …

Teacher Retention In The Low-Income Diverse Community Of Immokalee, Florida, Ashley M. Buehler

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative ethnographic study explores the background characteristics and motivations of nine long-standing teachers in the small migrant community of Immokalee, Florida. Each teacher participated in a standard open-ended interview consisting of 55 questions. Common background characteristics exist among the teachers. The teachers are life-long learners, embrace challenges, possess a familiarity with their school context, and interestingly the majority of the teachers pursued another profession before becoming an educator. All the teachers communicated their love for the students and community of Immokalee, however, four dissatisfying factors emerged throughout the interview process these include: insufficient time, the negative perception directed towards …

A Qualitative Study Of The Motivating Factors, Perceptions, And Experiences Of Mentors Involved With Elementary Students During In-School And After-School Programs, Aaron D. Berning

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative study focused on the thoughts, attitudes, and opinions of mentors working with elementary age students. Volunteers were taken for the study from two mentoring programs; an academically based tutoring program which took place during the school day and a more relationally oriented program involving teens working with students after school. Both programs took place in a public school with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged children. Participants were asked questions about their perceptions of student needs, their successes with their individual mentee(s), the strength of the program they were involved in, and about their personal thoughts and opinions …

A Study Of Fifth Grade Students’ Perceptions And Attitudes Of A Self-Contained Versus A Departmentalized Middle School Classroom, Mitzi Hanks

Master of Education Research Theses

This study examines students’ perceptions and attitudes toward entering a departmentalized middle school program after experiencing a self-contained elementary setting and if those perceptions and attitudes are reflected in their overall grades. In this longitudinal qualitative study, forty students were surveyed at the end of their last year in a self-contained classroom regarding their perceptions of entering the focus school’s departmentalized fifth grade program. Students remaining in the study group were surveyed again at the end of their fifth grade year to gain information on their attitudes toward departmentalization after completing the program. Data was collected from students’ end of …

Worldview-Building Potential Of Ukrainian Abc Bukwar Textbooks, Ganna Valentynivna Izyumtseva

Master of Education Research Theses

Izyumtseva, Ganna V. M.Ed., Educational Department, Cedarville University, 2013. Worldview-Building Potential of Ukrainian ABC Bukwar Textbooks.

The research study examined the worldview foundation undergirding the content of Soviet and contemporary Ukrainian ABC Bukwar textbooks (hereinafter referred to as theBukwar) to define whether, if at all, contemporary Bukwar has moved from the Soviet control beliefs, whether it stimulates the formation of a new conceptual vision of reality, necessary for building democratic society and formation of a new human resource. To conduct the study, I employed the grounded theory as a leading theoretical paradigm. The analysis has identified the position …

Influences Of An Honors Program On Students At A Faith-Based University: A Qualitative Study, Carla Gaines

Master of Education Research Theses

American colleges and universities, including faith-based institutions, continue to actively recruit gifted college students through educational opportunities such as honors programs. Other research also indicates that the college campus context, challenging academic experiences, and diverse social interactions can have varying effects on students’ psychosocial development. Understanding the influences of these multiple factors on honors students can potentially provide insights into the effectiveness of these programs and their objectives. Using a qualitative research design, this study investigated the experiences and perceptions of honors students at a faith-based university. The participants indicated that through the honors program they were encouraged to pursue …

Decision-Making Perspectives For Kindergarten Entry, Kathlene S. Watkins

Master of Education Research Theses

This study investigated the factors teachers utilize when recommending parents delay or not delay kindergarten entry for their child. Fourteen preschool and kindergarten teachers representing the demographic areas of rural, urban, suburban, and private schools, were interviewed to gather data concerning school readiness skills, learning differences between genders, kindergarten screening, state standards, and situations for recommended kindergarten delay. Consistently among all demographic groups, teachers are of the same opinion in the following issues: first, children need to be evaluated individually for kindergarten entrance; second, social-emotional growth is the greatest readiness factor; third, academic rigors of kindergarten require attention of parents …

Lagging Behind: The Current State Of Females In Physics, Elisabeth A. Myers

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative study will provide insight into the lack of interest of female high school students in the field of physics. After participating in the GCCS Science Challenge Day, high school juniors will be surveyed as to their potential interest in the different STEM fields, particularly physics. Themes will be identified from evaluating their experiences. Data from the survey will be used to design an enhanced science curriculum, with the goal of motivating more students in general, and females in particular, to major in physics.

An Analysis Of The Mathematics Program At Jackson Christian School, Ruth E. Howdyshell

Master of Education Research Theses

This analysis of a small private school’s K – 12 mathematics program for about 325 students looks at the credentials and teaching methods of the faculty, the curriculum and its alignment to state standards, and the assessment scores of students. It gives suggestions for continuing to improve the stable program.

Residual Effects Of An Elementary Theatre Program, Karen D. Dietry

Master of Education Research Theses

This qualitative study reports student perceptions regarding residual effects of participation in an elementary school theatre program. The study was based on interviews of 22 students who were 11-16 years old and who attended a public school in a rural Midwestern community. Results showed that students perceived the following effects of participation in an elementary play: development of academic and personal life skills that were transferred to other areas of life, increased development of personal traits, such as self-confidence, development of positive social networks, and stimulated desire for continued involvement with performing arts.

Bible Department Gender Issues: A Study Of Ohio Christian High School Bible Departments, Elizabeth A. Hacker

Master of Education Research Theses

This mixed method study examines the Bible department staff make-up of Ohio Christian high schools and examines administrators, parents, and students' views about females teaching Bible. Surveys were sent to 37 administrators to examine the cunent faculty make-up of their Bible departments and to evaluate administrators, parents, and students' perceptions of female Bible teachers. Fourteen female students wrote their perceptions of an all girls Bible class in their journals. Analysis of the surveys and journals found that \vhile few females teach in Bible departments, administrators are not necessarily opposed to females teaching. Parents prefer an all girls Bible class taught …

Social Enterprise And Christian School Finance: Receptivity Of Acsi Christian School Leaders In Mid-America, Eric D. Schroeder

Master of Education Research Theses

This pioneering study draws on literature from both the educational and the nonprofit sectors to integrate the concept of social enterprise with the financial challenges faced by Christian schools. It then explores the receptivity of administrators and board chairmen of Association of Christian Schools International affiliated schools in the Mid-America region to social enterprise based fund raising practices. Findings show that while school leaders are cautious overall, interest varies widely with some school leaders being very receptive and other very opposed to these approaches. Analysis of specific subcategories indicates that school leaders have a greater interest in pursuing opportunities that …

A Qualitative Study Of Overseas Cooperating Teachers' Perceptions To Student Teachers' Experiences, Cynthia L. Reilly

Master of Education Research Theses

As the world becomes a closer-knit economic and academic community, teachers who have worked or completed their student teaching requirements overseas are sought after for their international experience and multicultural understanding. Previous research has explored the observations of overseas student teachers in order to understand better the classroom and foreign community experiences and to help develop overseas internship programs. In consideration of the important role cooperating teachers perform in the student teaching experience, this current research examined the inductive perceptions of cooperating teachers in order to corroborate and develop further what has been reported in student teacher studies. This research …

Assistive Technology: A Study Of The Benefits Of Ipad Applications In The Classroom, Rachel N. Janssen

Master of Education Research Theses

Based on research in the educational divisions of language arts and technology, the purpose of this project was to examine the effects of technology, namely iPad applications, on the instruction of language arts with an emphasis in spelling. In a 3'd classroom of 22 students, 8 students were an experimental group receiving additional iPad app instruction on top of the traditional methods of teaching used in the classroom. The remaining 14 students served as a control group only receiving traditional teaching methods. Pre-tests and post-tests in an A-B-A design form compared the scores of the students before and after the …

Colored Overlays And The Reading Fluency Of Middle School Students With Cognitive Disabilities, Emily Raymond

Master of Education Research Theses

Reading is an essential life skill that is a struggle for many students with cognitive disabilities. This quantitative study will examine the effects of colored overlay on the reading fluency of students with cognitive disabilities compared to students with Specific . Reading Disabilities. The experiment is an ABA design to test for reversal where reading . fluency baselines were collected before and after the application of the treatment of a colored overlay. Data is analyzed through multivariate tests of repeated measures ANOVA. Previous studies have shown colored overlays to be an effective intervention tool for increasing reading fluency rates in …

A Study Of Phonics Instruction: Teaching Phonics Dance To At-Risk Elementary Students To Improve Decoding Skills, Brittany Phipps

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the Phonics Dance as an effective tool to aid low achieving students in their ability to decode words. Student and teacher perceptions of the Phonics Dance were also investigated to find out if this method is something that students enjoyed and preferred. A quantitative approach was used to determine the effectiveness of the Phonics Dance using a Pretest/ Post-test approach with a control and a treatment group. Thirty-nine students received phonics instruction for four weeks. Students were assessed in their ability to read the sounds and digraphs taught to …