Education Commons^™

The Interactions Of Relationships, Interest, And Self-Efficacy In Undergraduate Physics, Remy Dou

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This collected papers dissertation explores students’ academic interactions in an active learning, introductory physics settings as they relate to the development of physics self-efficacy and interest. The motivation for this work extends from the national call to increase participation of students in the pursuit of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. Self-efficacy and interest are factors that play prominent roles in popular, evidence-based, career theories, including the Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) and the identity framework. Understanding how these constructs develop in light of the most pervasive characteristic of the active learning introductory physics classroom (i.e., peer-to-peer interactions) has …

The Role Of Language In Anatomy And Physiology Instruction, Angela M. Chapman, Hsuying C. Ward, Ashwini Tiwari, Amy Weimer, Jaime B. Duran, Federico Guerra, Robert Paul Sale

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research indicates that student learning of science, student attitudes toward science, and their motivation to learn science and pursue science-related careers is related to classroom instruction. This study examined anatomy and physiology (A&P) classes in a south Texas high school where 97 percent of students are Hispanic bilingual learners. Classes were assigned to control or treatment groups, with the treatment group receiving instruction designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of anatomy vocabulary related to brain structures by making connections to these words in everyday life as well as to their understanding of Spanish. Main effects between group and …

A Blended Basic Course Examination Of Communication Apprehension And Self-Efficacy: A Comparative Analysis, Michael G. Strawser, Amy. L. Housley Gaffney, Allyson Devito, Sarah E. Kercsmar, Michael Pennell

Basic Communication Course Annual

Students desire rich subject-matter and relevant pedagogy despite rising tuition costs, greater demands for flexibility, and unique learning preferences (Allen & Seaman, 2014; Donnelly, Rizvi, & Summers, 2013; Reed & Sork, 2009; Moore, 2007). As higher education modalities have evolved a careful examination of these newer approaches is necessary. This study is a comparative assessment of communication apprehension and self-efficacy of students in traditional (face-to-face) and blended (face-to-face and online instructional components) basic course modalities. Parallel sections of a basic communication course are assessed and results indicated no significant differences between the two groups with minor exceptions.

Effects Of A Computer-Based Simulation On Chemistry Self-Efficacy, Yolanta V. Kornak-Bozza

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Self-efficacy (SE) is a measure of belief in a person’s own ability to complete a task and reach a certain goal (Bandura, 2006). It is a significant area in the field of educational psychology because it can be used to predict performance in the area being measured. Chemistry represents a challenging field of study although the skills learned from it are necessary to move forward in STEM (Luzzo, Hasper, Albert, Bibby, Martinelli, 1999). It is not uncommon for students to enter this course with feelings of low SE. Increasing SE could result in improved educational outcomes and have a long- …

Impact Of Mindset On Literacy: What Happens To Literacy Skills When A Growth Mindset Is Taught To First Graders, Katherine Saia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the type of mindsets held by first graders and to determine what happens when they are exposed to ways to have a growth mindset. The goal is to see what happens when children use a growth mindset when asked to engage in challenging literacy activities. First graders were first evaluated using a mindset survey and reading levels were determined. Logic puzzles were given and timed to determine if work effort matched that of the mindset survey. Students showed a change in mindset and growth in reading abilities. Implications for future research are …

Self-Efficacy And The Interaction Model As Predictors Of Student Satisfaction And Perceived Learning In Online Learning Environments, Emtinan Alqurashi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the relationship between four predictor variables (online learning self-efficacy, learner-content interaction, learner-instructor interaction, and learner-learner interaction) and student satisfaction and perceived learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which the four variables are predictive of student satisfaction and perceived learning. A total of 167 students completed the survey; the survey assessed self-efficacy for completing an online course, interaction with the content, interaction with the course instructor, interaction with other students, student satisfaction, and perceived learning within an online learning environment. The independent variables were self-efficacy, learner-content interaction, learner-instructor interaction, and …

The Factors That Contribute To Success In College Freshmen With Specific Learning Disabilities A Descriptive Study In Learner Characteristics, Caleb J. Conklin

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Once students graduate from high school and enter postsecondary education the academic support services change. This study uses a qualitative methodology to investigate the perceptions of students’ with specific learning disabilities (SLD), particularly the students’ perceptions of student motivation, success, and psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy, self-advocacy, and the stigmas related to having an SLD in an effort to identify the factors that impact success in college students who have specific learning disabilities. The researcher will interview students with a SLD regarding the length of time their disability has been identified, the accommodations previously accessed in the secondary educational setting …

African American Female Principals At Urban Turnaround Arts Schools: Identification Of Characteristics That Contributed To Their Success, Leona Robinson-Derden

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this qualitative study were to (a) identify leadership characteristics of female African American principals at successful Turnaround Arts schools and (b) explore the leadership factors that allowed these principals to improve academic and behavioral outcomes among students. The theories applied in the study were self-efficacy, transformational leadership theory, and culturally sensitive educational leadership theory. Using a sample of four African American female principals drawn through convenience sampling and a one-on-one interview format, it was found that (a) there are specific orientations among African American female principals that are shared, (b) these orientations have a positive impact on …

Passion For Teaching: Self-Efficacy Of Elementary Special Education Teachers Who Have Persisted In The Special Education Teaching Field For At Least 5 Years., Lisa Diane Stewart

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology study was to gather perceptions of elementary general curriculum special education teachers who have persisted in the special education teaching profession past the 5-year mark. Based on Bandura’s (1977) Social Cognitive Concept of Self-Efficacy Theory, this study sought to understand self-efficacy in elementary general curriculum special education teachers who have remained in special education for at least 5 years. Lived experiences of nine elementary general curriculum special education teachers were gathered through three in-depth interviews. Follow-up interviews provided rich, thick description and member checking was utilized to triangulate the data.

In Their Words: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experience Of The Mentees In The Citizen Scholars Program, Margaret Kane Lee

Education Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examined the mentoring experience of five students involved in a community-based mentoring program developed to guide high ability, low-socioeconomic students from sixth grade through high-school graduation and on to college acceptance and graduation. This study explored, from student perspectives, how each student experienced and interpreted their personal mentoring relationship. Additionally, it explored each student’s perception of how the mentoring experience influenced his or her academic achievement and academic self-efficacy. The study followed an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach and was guided by Rhodes’s mentoring model and Bandura’s work with self-efficacy. Following the analysis protocol developed by Jonathan Smith, …

Learning Spaces And Self-Efficacy In Undergraduate Statistics, Renae Mantooth

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Learning environment research has typically focused on factors other than the physical environment (e.g., student/teacher relationships, organizational structure). This study investigated the relationship between the physical classroom environment and entry-level undergraduate statistics students’ (N = 844) academic beliefs and performance. Students were taught in either a technology-enhanced active learning classroom or a traditional lecture hall. This study investigated how undergraduate students in an entry level statistics course a) perceived the importance of the physical learning environment, b) conveyed expectations for and experiences of active engagement within that environment, and c) self-reported their personal capability judgments. Data were analyzed by …

Students' Mathematics Self-Efficacy, Anxiety, And Course Level At A Community College, Scott Reiner Spaniol

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research suggests that student success in mathematics is positively correlated to math self-efficacy and negatively correlated to math anxiety. At a Hispanic serving community college in the Midwest, developmental math students had a lower pass rate than did college-level math students, but the role of math self-efficacy and math anxiety on these students' learning was unknown. This causal comparative, correlational study, guided by social cognitive theory and math anxiety research, hypothesized that students in developmental math would have lower levels of math self-efficacy and higher levels of math anxiety, and that significant correlations would exist between course level, self-efficacy, and …

The Effect Of The Teaching Practicum Setting On The Beliefs Of Pre-Service Physical Educators About Inclusion In Physical Education, Jacob Cheek

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Abstract

The effect of the teaching practicum setting on the beliefs of pre-service physical educators about inclusion in physical education

Jacob Cheek

BACKGROUND: In order for students with disabilities to be successful in physical education, pre-service physical educators need to gain experience in applying the necessary skills and knowledge. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of placement experience on the beliefs of pre-service physical educators about inclusion and teaching students with disabilities in physical education. METHODS: The ‘Physical Educator’s Judgments on Inclusion’ (PEJI) instrument was completed prior to, and after, involvement in a practicum experience …

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Advanced Stem Coursework In Female Secondary Students, Bethany Marie Bernasconi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite years of attention, gender inequity persists in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Female STEM faculty, positive social interactions, and enrollment in advanced STEM secondary coursework are supportive factors in promoting female students' persistence in STEM fields. To address the gap in understanding these factors, this study employed a sequential mixed method design using a framework of social cognitive theory. Research questions focused on how levels of self-efficacy and perception of personal and social factors among female secondary students related to their enrollment in advanced STEM coursework and extracurricular activities in a rural New England school where gender parity …

Careers In Stem Begin With Elementary Student Interest In Mathematics, Linda Ertrachter Brimmer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I investigated why math capable students are not entering science, technology,

engineering, and math (STEM) careers. To research the problem, I explored how highly

effective elementary math teachers (HEMT) create student interest in mathematics using the self-

efficacy (SE) theory and information and communication technology (ICT). The purpose

of the study was to discover if teacher training and instructional strategies can influence

student interest in mathematics to improve STEM career entry. The theoretical

framework adopted for this study was the SE theory, and the 4-phase model of interest

development was the conceptual framework. Participants in this multi-case qualitative

study included …

Self-Efficacy: Understanding African American Male Students Pathways To Confidence In Mathematics, Lisa Ann Williams

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation is about the stories of African American male undergraduate students who have experienced success in mathematics. Bandura’s (1997) social cognitive theory and Tillman’s (2000) culturally sensitive research approach which promotes qualitative methods, recognizes ethnicity, and positions culture as central to the research were applied. Student interviews, parent interviews, teacher interviews, and mathematical autobiographies were used to investigate African American men self-efficacy, the sources of their beliefs, and societal factors that impacted their motivation and academic achievement in mathematics.

The descriptive portraits and the interviews revealed five broad themes: (1) college experiences, (2) K-12 experiences, (3) access and equity, …

A Quasi-Experimental Research Study Examining The Impact Of Reflection On Self-Efficacy In Graduate Design Students, Christina Marie Chateauvert

Wayne State University Dissertations

While the concept of reflection is not new to education, researchers suggest that students be given more space to engage in meaning-making activities (Sambrook & Willmott, 2014). In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis placed in education on self-reflection. In part, because of Donald Schön’s (1983, 1987) work on reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action. Schön’s view of reflection-in¬-action puts students in the “midst of action,” reshaping the problem or experience, and making fresh decisions to guide next steps. Reflection-on-action allows students to think back on what has occurred and how that experience will shape future decisions. Taking a similar approach …

Teacher Candidates In Context: Investigating Inquiry Learning, Self-Efficacy And Stress Within Teacher Education, Sarah Coppersmith, Glenda Mccarty

Educator Preparation & Leadership Faculty Works

Global changes since the 2008 economic collapse continue to impact teacher candidates worldwide who are facing unparalleled challenges as they prepare for service in educational systems experiencing reform. Research exists on college student stress, yet absent is data showing teacher candidates in relation to stress and self-efficacy as they engage in socio-constructivist inquiry learning. Teacher candidates hold employment while taking classes and serving in schools, yet research shows that cognitive practices and critical thinking are impacted by work hours. Research demonstrates that inquiry learning can be an anxiety-producing activity for professors and teacher candidates as well. Collaboratively we examined elementary …

Let's Address Low Visual Arts Self-Efficacy, Gai M. Lindsay

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Visual arts pedagogy and the place of visual arts in the curriculum are determined by the collision of teachers' visual arts self-efficacy beliefs, pedagogical beliefs about children's learning processes and visual arts content knowledge.

Professional Development And Self-Efficacy Of Nurses Who Care For Patients Requiring Biocontainment, Denise Occhiuzzo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increasing global occurrences of highly infectious, easily transmissible diseases unfamiliar to nurses affect the learning environment and the required skill set for professional nurses. The global threat of Ebola Virus Disease and other high-risk diseases requiring biocontainment necessitates competency in the management of complex patient needs, while ensuring safety measures that prevent spread of the potentially fatal disease. Guided by Bandura's social cognitive theory, this quantitative correlational study addressed the relationships between nurses' professional characteristics and their perceived self-efficacy when providing care to highly infectious patients requiring biocontainment. A full census of 92 nurses was used to recruit participants from …

First-Generation College Students Experiencing The "Sophomore Slump:" The Need For Continued Support, Sarah J. Bacio

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Students navigating their sophomore year can expect to declare a major, narrow their career options, and find their purpose as a college student. Also, during this time students can experience the “Sophomore Slump”, a time where students encounter dissatisfaction, confusion and uncertainty with college. Due to the well documented experiences of first-generation college students, this study examines the experiences of first-generation and continuing-generation students experiencing the “Sophomore Slump.” Through quantitative and qualitative methods occurring over spring and fall 2016 and spring 2017 semesters the results identify areas where first-generation students experience challenges in relation to the “Sophomore Slump” to a …

Parental Involvement During College : Student Perceptions And Relationship With College Self-Efficacy, Deepti Marathe

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

With advances in communication technology, reports of frequent parental contact among college students are on the rise. Anecdotal sources label this type of involved parenting as “helicopter” parenting, creating an image of parents who constantly “hover” over their children ready to solve all their problems and to monitor them. This study was designed to measure parental involvement, which includes positive as well as negative parental behaviors. The goals of the present study were: 1) to examine the specific parental involvement that college students experience, 2) explore students’ perceptions of such parenting, and 3) to investigate the relationship between parental involvement …

Improving Literacy For Diverse Low Socio-Economic Status Middle School Students, Vivian Fowler Means

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an urban district, Surfside School personnel were concerned that student literacy proficiency levels were low during 2011-2014 and teachers had not been able to close the achievement gap despite a focus on literacy practices and literacy professional development (PD) provided by the district. The purpose of this case study was to explore the perceptions of teachers and administrators in relation to the best instructional practices for increasing self-efficacy when teaching literacy skills and related literacy PD for teachers. Knowles' andragogy theory and Vygotsky's social learning theory formed the theoretical foundation of this study, which hold that PD should provide …

Middle School Literacy Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Self-Efficacy To Teach Reading Standards, Marcia Lohan Whyte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the implementation of more rigorous reading standards nationwide, teachers are feeling less secure about their abilities to teach students to become proficient readers. Utilizing Bandura's theory of self-efficacy as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how teachers perceived their self-efficacy to teach complex reading standards to struggling readers. Seven middle school English language arts teachers from 2 schools in a southern school district participated in this study. The research questions addressed teachers' understanding of the recent Common Core literacy standards and perceptions of their own self-efficacy to teach mastery of these standards …

The Effect Of Two Modes Of Aerobic Assessment On Fifth Grade Students' Self Efficacy, Debra Roth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Declining youth physical activity levels and lack of aerobic fitness have been well documented with a corresponding rise in obesity levels and health issues. Based on Bandura's social cognitive theory, healthy physical activity levels and aerobic fitness are strongly connected to positive physical activity self-efficacy beliefs. This study examined whether student physical activity self-efficacy, motivation, and effort were different for the FitnessGram-® (FG) 1-Mile Run when compared to the 15-minute Aerobic Assessment Based on Improvement (AABI). A concurrent mixed method quasi-experimental approach measured 5th grade students' physical activity self-efficacy beliefs through a pretest and posttest survey while aerobic assessment scores …

Special Education Teachers' Voices On Co-Planning In A Suburban School District, Corinne Jeffers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited co-planning between special education and general education co-teaching partners has been documented in professional literature as a significant problem. Special education teachers do not adequately co-plan for the implementation of accommodations for students with disabilities educated in the general education classroom. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze the perceptions of special education teachers in one suburban elementary school district in the United States regarding co-planning with regular education teachers. The theory of self-efficacy was utilized as the conceptual framework to understand how teachers' beliefs and experiences influenced planning and goal setting for special education students. …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy When Using A Scripted Reading, Misty Leigh Mukherjee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers report that implementation of scripted reading programs has been inconsistent. Although administrators need to understand teachers' experiences with scripted reading instruction to make decisions about best practices for implementation of those programs, little research on those experiences exists. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe teachers' lived experiences and self-efficacy when using a scripted reading program. Bruner's constructivist theory, the concept of pedagogical content knowledge, and self-efficacy theory were used to frame the study. Eight elementary teachers in Grades K-3 from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States each completed 4 individual interviews. Template-based iterative …

Inclusion In Jamaican Primary Schools: Teachers' Self-Efficacy, Attitudes, And Concerns, Jillian Samms

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inclusive education has become an international phenomenon; however, many developing countries struggle with its implementation. At last assessment of the Jamaican educational system in 2004, findings revealed exclusionary practices which are in contrast to international standards on education. Many children with special needs may not be receiving adequate support for education. Using Bandura's social learning theory as a foundation, this study examined whether there is a predictive relationship between grade level, type of school, location of school, access to support resources, perceived school climate, pedagogical beliefs, extent of inclusion training, attitudes to inclusion, and teachers' ratings of self-efficacy for inclusive …

Improving The Computational Thinking Pedagogical Capabilities Of School Teachers, Matt Bower, Leigh N. Wood, Jennifer W.M. Lai, Cathie Howe, Raymond Lister, Raina Mason, Kate Highfield, Jennifer Veal

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The idea of computational thinking as skills and universal competence which every child should possess emerged last decade and has been gaining traction ever since. This raises a number of questions, including how to integrate computational thinking into the curriculum, whether teachers have computational thinking pedagogical capabilities to teach children, and the important professional development and training areas for teachers. The aim of this paper is to address the strategic issues by illustrating a series of computational thinking workshops for Foundation to Year 8 teachers held at an Australian university. Data indicated that teachers' computational thinking understanding, pedagogical capabilities, technological …

The Impact Of Standardized Patients On Physical Assessment Skills, Clinical Judgment, And Self-Efficacy In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Allison Mueller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The healthcare industry is seeing constant changes in patient acuity, expanding care environments, new healthcare policies, and continual advancements in research and technology. To overcome these challenges, nurses must receive education that adequately prepares them with confidence, clinical judgment, and the proper skills to provide safe and quality care to patients. More specifically, nurses must have strong physical assessment skills, sound clinical judgment, and high levels of self-efficacy (Chong, Lim, Liu, Lau, & Wu, 2016; Institute of Medicine (IOM), 2010). Peer physical assessments are generally the standard for practicing and validating physical assessment skills (Slater, Bryant, & Ng, 2016). Standardized …