Education Commons^™

Creating Authentic Literacy Tasks Influences Children's Engagement And Motivation, Carly Rothfusz

Innovations and Critical Issues in Teaching and Learning

The academic task assigned to students often dictates what the student will learn, and it plays a vital role of student’s motivation and engagement of learning (Turner & Paris, 1995). Thus, the creation and usage of authentic literacy tasks is critical for students’ learning (Parsons, Malloy, Parsons, & Burrowbridge, 2015). There are three types of motivation to consider: intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and autonomous motivation. The use of authenticity, student choice, collaboration, and challenge are all components within a task that can promote student engagement and motivation. Project-Based Learning (PBL) is another way to bring in authenticity. Project-based instruction allows …

A Study To Determine The Relationships Among Grit, Engagement, And Student Achievement, Jill Dennison

Dissertations

In the absence of high quality and impact interventions, undesirable consequences of poverty will be seen to fruition. In this study, the Golden Circle business model (Sinek et al., 2017) served as the framework to understand how students’ grit, engagement, and achievement are related in Title I elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between grit and engagement, engagement and student achievement, and finally grit and student achievement. The relationship between grit and engagement was measured by teacher and student perceptions, respectively. Student engagement and achievement were analyzed using student self-perceptions of …

Student Perception On Flexible Seating And Their Engagement: A Descriptive Research Study, Christina Marie Castro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This descriptive study examines students’ perspectives of their engagement when seated in flexible seating with choice. The researcher analyzed interview and survey data to answer the following research questions: 1.) What are students’ perceptions of flexible seating with choice? 2.) What are students’ perceptions on their level of engagement with flexible seating with choice?

The purpose of this study was achieved by interviewing and surveying first grade students who have experienced flexible seating in their Title 1 school within Southern California. Using the data from the interviews, this study identified common themes around the perception of flexible seating

among randomly …

Engaging Nursing Students And Older Adults Through Service-Learning, Christine S. Gipson, Julie A. Delello, Rochell Mcwhorter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine nursing students’ (n = 18) perceptions of interrelating with older adults to understand how such interactions might improve students’ levels of cultural competence and enhance their future nursing practice. Additionally, the study sought to contribute to a higher level of technological competency in older adults.

Design/methodology/approach

A basic qualitative study design (Merriam and Tisdell, 2016) was used to direct the data collection and analysis to achieve the aims of this study.

Findings

Four themes emerged from the data collected based on cultural knowledge, cultural skills, cultural desire and engaging in …

Gamification Strategies For Music Educators: An Online Continuing Education Course, Luis Enrique Espinosa

Masters Theses

This curriculum project is designed to provide music educators in the public and private sector with introductory knowledge about the topic of gamification and game-based learning, framed within the scope of an online continuing education course. It is meant for adult learners who teach young musicians in the K-12 range. The course offers a set of strategies and step-based processes that help transform a traditional music lesson plan into an interactive and meaningful learning experience that leverages games. The games created by the students in the course can serve to motivate music students by incorporating a sense of competition and …

An Examination Of Two-Year College Student-Athletes’ Perceived Engagement In Academic Advising, Supplemental Instruction, And Academic Alert Systems, Michael Kiefer

Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of higher education face challenges to improve the student success measures of retention, progression, and graduation, which are metrics used to evaluate colleges and universities. One way in which many institutions have sought to increase accessibility to higher education and student engagement is through athletics; however, limited research exists regarding the lack of academic success of student-athletes at two-year colleges. Drawing upon a student engagement theoretical framework presented by Coates, the purpose of the causal-comparative research study was to examine the differences in perceived usage and impact of academic support services by two-year college student-athletes in Florida. The data …

Engaging Students In The Virtual Classroom: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Teacher Leaders Creating Connections Through Virtual Learning Communities, Michaine Suzanne Ashley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The core problem that drove this study was high attrition rates and low student academic growth in virtual students when compared to their brick and mortar peers. To investigate this issue, the study focused on one issue related to the core problem: student engagement. The purpose of the study was to determine what pedagogical practices and instructional strategies were utilized by teachers in their virtual learning communities (VCLs) in order to engage students in the virtual classroom. This explanatory-sequential, mixed methods, single case study was conducted through the collection of archival data and through a teacher questionnaire and follow up …

The Flipped Spanish Classroom: Student Engagement, Satisfaction And Autonomy, Ana Garcia-Allen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation investigates how the implementation of a pedagogical innovation in the foreign language (FL) classroom enabled me to explore student engagement, autonomy and course satisfaction and understand preferred practices for FL development. The ‘flipped classroom,’ formally known as the ‘inverted classroom,’ has become ‘the’ new phenomenon in pedagogical innovations in the last few years (Jensen, et al., 2015). In a Flipped Classroom, direct instruction is moved out of the classroom and takes place at home, by means of reading text or viewing a video or a digital presentation. This appears, at least superficially, positive in that it maximizes class-time …

No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships, Annie P. Spear

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Let's Read A Story!: Collaborative Meaning Making, Student Engagement, And Vocabulary Building Through The Use Of Interactive Read-Alouds, Shaya Helbig, Susan V. Piazza

Michigan Reading Journal

The interactive read-aloud has long been a practice during early literacy instruction in schools and in homes. Reading aloud to children provides a platform for teachers or caregivers to model meaning-making interactions with text. Students are able to collaboratively engage in conversations to create a collective understanding of texts. Interactions during a read-aloud can foster engagement, create meaning, and promote vocabulary acquisition. This article examines current research that supports the use of interactive read alouds to engage learners in meaning-making processes and translates research and theory into practical recommendations for effective interactive read-alouds.

Engaging Non-Arts Students In Arts Administration, Elise L. Kieffer Phd

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

This article explores the unique challenges and opportunities experienced while teaching an Introduction to Arts Administration class with undergraduate students who are largely unfamiliar with the arts. After a review of current academic literature on the topic of student engagement and retention, the conversation will turn to specific strategies and methods utilized by one adjunct professor at a Research One university. These strategies are informed by Lev Vygotsky’s theory on the Zone of Proximal Development and the idea of student constructed scaffolding. Making arts administration relevant to this group of students requires considerable attention to learning their individual experiences and …

Culturally Responsive Teaching In The Classroom, Deanna Cuffee

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research study investigates the relationship between culturally responsive teaching and the impact on student engagement. For six weeks, the researcher implemented culturally responsive teaching strategies in a virtual first-grade classroom. The participants included fourteen six- and seven-year-olds who attended public school in Northern Virginia. The instruction was completed in a virtual setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the start and conclusion of the study, students were given a survey to measure the class climate. Student engagement was observed daily and documented on a weekly observation tally sheet. The study found that implementing culturally responsive teaching in the …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Computer-Assisted Science Vocabulary Modules With Students With An Intellectual Disability And Autism: An Action Research Study, Jamie Lee Taber

Theses and Dissertations

Students with disabilities are struggling to meet expectations in science at the national and local level. Many studies have linked difficulties with science content to difficult and technical vocabulary, and this has been evident at the local level, too. To try to improve science instruction for students with disabilities, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of computer-assisted science vocabulary modules with students with an intellectual disability and autism in an adapted environmental science class. This study aimed to answer how the implementation of computer-assisted vocabulary modules, which adhere to evidence-based practices of special education vocabulary instruction, …

Does Anywhere + Anytime = Success? Mobile Learning, Engagement, And Student Success In Higher Education, Sarah Nichter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This study aims to understand the possible impact of mobile learning on engagement and student success in the online environment. The research questions ask what impacts mobile learning has on student engagement, measured with Self-Regulated Learning (SRL); what impact mobile learning has on the SRL constructs of environment structuring, task management, and time management; and what associations mobile learning might have with student success and persistence. One hundred sixty-two undergraduate online students participated in the study through the survey instrument, utilizing the Online Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire (OSLQ). ANOVA results showed that lower levels of mobile learning use engaged in SRL …

Chronic Absenteeism: The Problem, The Participants, The Panacea, Markenya L. Williams

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This study examined some of the historical challenges and barriers of chronic absenteeism that has plagued the United States K-12th grade educational system for several centuries. The brutal impact that chronic absenteeism has on students’ academic achievement, the school, community, and society were described and categorized by various demographics and subgroups. Additionally, the primary stakeholders for overcoming chronic absenteeism were identified; interventions and accountability measures were also explored. Furthermore, this study analyzed the current attendance policies/procedures of five school districts from a large Midwestern state, with similar demographics and varying chronic absenteeism rates. Practical strategies and recommendations to reduce chronic …

Dawn Of The Undead Classroom: Pop-Culture In The First-Year Composition Classroom, Sierra A. Ellison

English (MA) Theses

Supplemented by the findings of her IRB certified research project, Sierra A. Ellison delves into the positive effects pop culture and genre have on the first-year composition classroom, exploring how engaging students through a common discourse that is relatable and comfortable can aid in their writing and composition progression. She explains how teaching under a framework such as the undead and examining these types of thematic material can engage students in the material and give students the space to open up about key issues like race, sex, politics, morality, and consumerism that they might be reluctant to discuss otherwise.

Advancing Employee Engagement With Internationalization Through Networked Leadership Approaches At A Canadian Community College, Inga Wheeler

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This organizational improvement plan, undergirded by social network theory, addresses the lack of engagement by many organizational members with an ambitious internationalization goal at Sky College (a pseudonym). The institutional climate is one in which day-to-day challenges prevail and motives for internationalization are questioned. Drawing on system and adaptive leadership, and within the functionalist paradigm, the case is made for advancing 4 factors to increase engagement with internationalization: a shared vision and understanding of internationalization, improving internal communication systems, fostering knowledge creation and sharing, and increasing connections in the network. The proposed solution is a 12-month series of focus on …

Utilizing Mentor Texts In Elementary Literacy Instruction, Allie Duellman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can elementary teachers utilize mentor texts in elementary literacy instruction? This project documents how teachers can select mentor texts and utilize them in literacy instruction. The literature review focused on five main topics. These topics were, the definition of mentor texts, selecting mentor texts, role of mentor texts, student engagement with mentor texts, and student achievement with mentor texts. Additionally, research (Bates & Morgan, 2018) was done on creating professional developments. The literature review showed that utilizing mentor texts is a successful way to teach young writers. In addition, it showed …

Making Elearning Engaging: The Effect Of Technology Strategies On Student Engagement And Content Knowledge Development In A Secondary Mathematics Digital Classroom, Allison Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study employed a mixed-methods design to examine the effect of technology strategies on secondary students’ engagement and development of geometry content knowledge in an eLearning setting. Seeking to understand student preferences of the technology tools, this two-week study was conducted during a geometry unit on quadrilaterals and employed the following technology tools: student response systems (SRS), computer-assisted instruction (CAI), gamification, and teacher-made screencasts. Quantitative data was collected on student engagement, the usefulness of the technology, and student self-efficacy through a Likert-scale survey after each day of using technology. Qualitative data were collected through purposeful interviews with students …

The Motivations Toward Decisions In Delaying To Apply For College: High School Seniors Of Single Parent Households, John R. Leach Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It has been said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 30% of students who graduated from high school do not enroll in college (NCES, 2018). This phenomenological study integrates several instruments to identify the motivational elements of amotivation, autonomy, extrinsic, and intrinsic motivational stimuli. The research data reveal that intrinsic motivational factors play a more significant role in the decision-making process. The participants in this study revealed their extrinsic and intrinsic motivation for postsecondary endeavors by articulating how they perceive decision-making for their actions. Participants of dual- …

Student Involvement As A Predictor Of Alumni Engagement, Ryan J. Aloi

Theses and Dissertations

The role of this study is to research the role that student involvement plays on alumni engagement. In an attempt to answer the following questions, a case study was conducted looking at the engagement and giving records of 10 randomly selected profiles from the graduating classes of 2016 through 2019 (N = 40) as well as reviewing the involvement patterns of the general qualifying student population within the ProfLink student involvement platform (N = 4237) and the qualifying engaged population (N = 805). What is the relationship between undergraduate co-curricular experiences and a student's engagement as alumni? What types of …

Law School News: A Fond Farewell To Dean Michael Yelnosky 06-26-2020, Michael M. Bowden

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Success Plan For The Online Learning Experience: Student Engagement, Teacher Accessibility, & Relationships, Ruchelle Combs

Middle Grades Review

Online teaching in the time of COVID-19 is a new and sometimes scary experience for even the most seasoned educator. It is certainly apparent that many students are struggling to make this instantaneous adjustment. Teachers have a duty to mitigate this stress as they continue to provide relevant instruction. Based on my experience, this can be achieved by fostering student engagement, staying highly accessible, and maintaining the relationships that were formed face-to-face in the conventional classroom.

Teachers' Instructional Decisions And Student Agency In New Purposefully Designed Learning Spaces, Yanira Oliveras Ortiz, Dalane Bouillion, Lizzy Asbury

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Learning that promotes student agency and active, cognitive student engagement has a positive impact on students’ self-efficacy, learning, and achievement. When designing lessons that foster student agency and active engagement, educators must consider multiple variables, including the space where learning will take place. In order to understand how students perceive the impact of spaces in learning and how designed areas are being used by teachers, a qualitative study was conducted at a newly designed energy industry-focused high school. This manuscript presents the students' perspectives related to student agency, the value of learning, students' role in their learning, and how cognitively …

Preparing To Cocreate: Using Learning Circles To Readyextension Professionals For Meaningful Stakeholderengagement, Bob Bertsch, Jill Heemstra, Doug Golick

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Extension professionals are being asked to address complex public issues. Doing so requires cocreativeapproaches that engage, in a significant way, the people affected by these issues. Successful engagement,however, requires specific skills and a cocreative mind-set. Extension professionals in two states participatedin learning circles to improve their engagement skills. Using a survey and interviews, we studied the impact ofthe learning circle experience on participants. We found that learning circles helped participants practicecolearning, build relationships, and change their mind-sets in ways that could move their work toward morecocreative efforts.

Effective Teaching Practices By Acue, Module Reflection, Lida Ahmadi

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

The online course,Effective Teaching Practicesis offered byThe Association of College and University Educators’(ACUE’s). This is a comprehensive course on teaching methods that are centered on improving student engagement and learning. This work is a summary report of my reflections on selected course modules.

The Power Of Workshop, Stephanie Nagl

Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research

This action research explores the use of Readers’-Writers’ Workshop (RWW) in the secondary English classroom. RWW often requires a paradigm shift on the part of the teacher to allow for more student autonomy and limiting direct instruction time. The researcher sought to discover whether or not this model would impact the engagement level and the attitudes toward reading of high school seniors. Findings suggest RWW can be an effective tool for engaging students, as well as, helping students to develop positive attitudes with reading practices.

The Effects Of Multiple Accommodations On Student Engagement And Work Completion In Fifth Grade Students With Reading Disabilities, Allison Ternes

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of several accommodations that may benefit fifth grade students who have been identified with a reading disability in the general education classroom in order to increase engagement and work completion during English Language Arts instruction. Data was collected through teacher surveys, teacher interviews, and on-task/off-task observations. Surveys were conducted prior to the study, mid-study, and post-study. Teacher interviews were conducted at the planning meeting biweekly and observations were completed prior to the study, mid-study, and post study. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study was not able to be conducted …

Examining The Mediating Effect Of Job Crafting On The Relationship Between Managerial Coaching And Job Engagement In The Skilled Trades, Jennifer H. Duplessis

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Employee engagement continues to gain considerable attention owing to its positive correlation with numerous desired work-related outcomes (Saks, 2019; Shuck et al., 2017). Engagement in one’s job has become of particular interest in industry sectors experiencing shortages, such as the skilled trades (Bilginsoy, 2003). The skilled trades have reportedly been the most difficult segment of the employee market to staff globally year over year (Schwartz, 2015; Wright, 2013).

As organizations wish to improve engagement in one’s job, they have looked to developmental antecedents of engagement (Ellinger, Musgrove, & Ellinger, 2012). Managerial coaching has been supported as having a significant direct …

The Impact Of Residence Hall Construction Type On Student Engagement, Gene Jabar Washington

Theses and Dissertations

College and university student housing has changed dramatically since the opening of Harvard College in 1636. Despite these changes, student housing professionals are still tasked with engaging their students. This can sometimes be difficult depending on outside forces such as the physical structure of a building. The purpose of this study was to determine what physical aspects of a residence hall do students and undergraduate live-in student staff value in terms of engaging their students and building a community. For this study focus groups were conducted for student and staff of traditional residence halls and public-private partnership residence halls. Common …