Education Commons^™

Examining The Perspectives Of Rural Secondary Students Who Are And Are Not Considering Music Education As A Collegiate Major, Eugene Talmadge Butler Ii

Theses and Dissertations

A problem exists in recruiting new music educators to the teaching profession. This problem is impacting the quality of instruction students are receiving from teachers in music education. The shortage of music teachers in music education is continuing to grow. This teacher shortage includes both core classes and specialized classes including music education. Many possible factors contribute to this problem, including teacher recruitment at the secondary level. This mixed methods research study attempts to provide in-depth answers to the problem through examining the perspectives of secondary students who are and are not considering music education as a major in college. …

Teacher Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Learning Program Implementation In Rural Georgia Middle Schools, John Kraig Howell

Theses and Dissertations

Social emotional learning (SEL) refers to a set of skills and competencies that allow students to effectively establish, develop and maintain interpersonal relationships with others, as well as to manage their intrapersonal feelings, emotions and responses to social situations. Students who receive SEL instruction have shown higher academic achievement levels and improved behavioral and social competence. Though an increasing demand is being placed on schools and teachers to address the social emotional needs of students, little guidance exists regarding implementation. Research indicates that teacher perceptions of SEL have a direct impact on the implementation of and outcomes associated with SEL. …

School-Based Educators’ Perceptions Of Professional Development And Its Impact On Their Ability To Improve Literacy Instruction For Underperforming K-2 Students, Monica Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine school-based educators’ perceptions of professional learning and its impact on their ability to improve literacy instruction. The perceived role of the principal in the implementation, monitoring, and sustaining professional learning was also explored. A total of eight teachers, two media specialists, two instructional coaches, and five school leaders at two elementary schools in the Southeast United States participated in the study. Findings include the importance of quality, ongoing professional development, the leader’s role in planning, participation in, and supporting teachers through the professional development process, and everyone’s role in …

Teachers’ Conceptions Of Students’ Data Literacy In Life Science And Physical Science Classes, Bridget Nicole Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Data literacy in science is an evolving field of study as students need to be able to collect, analyze, interpret, and make inferences from different sources of data. Much research centers on teachers' use of data to improve instructional practices, but less focus on teachers' conceptions of student data literacy and strategies used to foster data literacy in life and physical science high school classes. Thus, there is a need to address this area as recent Georgia assessments reveal that over 50% of students are performing below proficiency level in science. Consequently, this research sought to understand teachers’ conceptions of …

Factors That Influence The Use Of Culturally Relevant And Responsive Pedagogies For Elementary School Leaders, Stephanie Lindstrom

Theses and Dissertations

The presence of minority students in public schools has highlighted the need for teachers and school leaders to seek and implement exclusive instructional strategies that will foster cultural diversity. The climate, culture, and vision of a school are a direct reflection of the school’s leadership. The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural readiness of elementary school leaders, as measured by the cultural readiness leadership scale (CRLS), and their beliefs and perceptions of culturally relevant and responsive practices. The foundational philosophy used to support this research was the transformational leadership theory. The research methodology entailed a mixed-method approach …

3ddp Engineering Design Intervention Impacts On Student Perceptions, Attitudes, And Interest Towards Engineering, James Robert Kane

Theses and Dissertations

The study, “3DDP Engineering Design Intervention Impacts on Student Perceptions, Attitudes, and Interest Towards Engineering” explored the impact of a culturally responsive, semi-formal 3D printing (3DDP) intervention on middle school students' perceptions, attitudes, and interest in engineering. The intervention aimed to broaden access to engineering education by providing formative experiences outside traditional classroom settings within the regular school day. A multifaceted approach was employed, utilizing quantitative analysis of assessments and surveys, qualitative analysis of written responses, follow-up interviews, and student-produced artifacts. The intervention functioned as a student-driven engineering club, integrating culturally relevant themes and hands-on activities spanning diverse engineering domains. …

An Analysis Of Paid Agent Contracts Utilized In The Recruitment Of International Students At University System Of Georgia Institutions, Jeremiah Lee Pitts

Theses and Dissertations

Many colleges and universities view international student recruitment as the solution to their financial pressures, but they lack the ability to effectively reach international markets. While many students desire to study internationally, they lack the knowledge and resources to explore their options. Paid agents bridge the information and opportunity gaps between institutions and prospective international students. However, the use of paid agents is fraught with many dangers. Paid agent contracts govern the relationships between these entities in the absence of regulations. This study explored the paid agent contracts employed by colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia to …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction With Grade 3 Students In A School District In Central Georgia, Letasha Pope

Theses and Dissertations

It is a promotional requirement for grade 3 students to pass the Reading Georgia Milestones Assessment. Teachers are also expected to implement Differentiated Instruction (DI) with their students. The problem addressed in the study was to examine third grade teachers’ perceived effectiveness of Differentiated Instruction with students who must pass the Reading Georgia Milestones Assessment. The purpose of this bounded, case study was to describe teachers’ perceptions of implementing DI with grade 3 students in a school district located in central Georgia. The research paradigm that was used in this study was qualitative. This study included semi structured interviews of …

The Effects Of Inservice Science Teachers’ Self-Efficacy On Science Achievement Using The 5e Model Of Instruction., O'Tessa Nicole Pelham

Theses and Dissertations

Science achievement has been a major focus in our educational system. While several learning models effectively increase science achievement, the nation is still not progressing adequately. A gap in the literature shows the need to find the effects of teachers’ self-efficacy, specifically with in-service science teachers. A pretest-posttest, non-equivalent control group, quasi-experimental research design was used in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 to find the effects of in-service science teachers’ self-efficacy on science achievement, using the 5E Instructional Model. The study included 38 in-service science teachers who rated items on the pretest/posttest STEBI-A. Teachers in the experimental group consisted of …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Faculty Perceptions And Self Assessments Of Constructivist Teaching Methods At A Regional University In The State Of Georgia, Santha Kumari Jetty

Theses and Dissertations

The study, "A Mixed Methods Study of Faculty Perceptions and Self-Assessments of Constructivist Teaching Methods at a Regional University in the State of Georgia” examined the self-assessments and perceptions of faculty at a regional university in the State of Georgia. The study followed a sequential mixed-methods study with three phases of the study, namely, a quantitative ‘descriptive’ phase, a qualitative ‘bounded case study’ phase, and a mixed-methods phase in a joint display table. The purpose of this sequential mixed methods study was to examine the understanding and implementation of constructivist teaching practices by faculty in their classrooms at a regional …

Delivering Computer-Based Training Within State Prisons, Kunal Jha

Theses and Dissertations

Internet-connected devices are ubiquitous, and our built environment allows us to tap into formerly impossible solutions. As our world increasingly depends on technology to operate, one demographic cannot gain exposure to internet-connected devices or web-based educational programs: incarcerated individuals. The Department of Justice reports that 5 out of 6 State Prisoners are arrested and returned to prison within nine years of their initial release. Research shows that education is a pathway to reducing the U.S. prison population. Individuals who participated in any educational program are 43 percent less likely to return to prison.1 Prisons in the United States often partner …

Assessment Of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides) Condition Using Liver Histopathology, Health Parameters And Water Quality Of The Central Chattahoochee River Watershed, Kari Carmack Goodwin

Theses and Dissertations

The health of Largemouth bass from west-central Georgia was assessed using liver histopathology and the degree of tissue change index (DTC), hepatosomatic indices (HSI), relative weight, condition factors, and intersex. These health parameters as well as water chemistry data were compared across four bodies of water, three within the Chattahoochee watershed, and one pseudo-control located in the Flint watershed. Fish from Lake Oliver, Lake Harding, and West Point Lake had severely impacted liver health compared to Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery, with DTC rankings over 100 for the three lakes within the Chattahoochee watershed, demonstrating severely damaged livers. There was …

Generational Theory As A Lens For Approaching Musical Theatre History, 1943-2023, Or A Strange Loop, Ben J. Lundy

Theses and Dissertations

In 1991, William Strauss and Neil Howe published generational theory in Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584-2069. Though critiqued, Strauss and Howe’s generational theory suggests that American history occurs in cycles characterized by four distinct generational turnings or moods that occur approximately every eighty years, roughly the span of a human life. Though the theory has been applied to American history, usually through a political and economic lens, this thesis will focus on the most recent Millennial Cycle and apply the theory to the development of Broadway musical theatre history. Innovative musicals such as Oklahoma! (1943), Hair (1968), Rent …

Gamification: Game-Based Learning / Serious Games And 21st Century Soft Skill Development In Nursing Education, Stephanie Marie Adams

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the development of 21st century skills through gamification, game-based learning (GBL), and serious games in nursing education in institutions of higher education in the United States. This paper reviews the history of gamification in nursing pedagogy through three domains of research. It includes an overview of research related to the development and implementation of gamification, GBL, and serious games in nursing education as well as the impact on the development of 21st century skills in digital natives. The focus was on the historical literature related to gamification, GBL, and serious games at institutions of higher education in …

The Effect Of Social Stratification On College Students' Academic Performance & Progress, Detrenyona Nekebra Chester

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study is to understand the variables of social stratification, academic performance, and academic progress and how those variables affect a student’s decision to drop out of college. The researcher selected participants for this study from the database at a 4-year private HBCU located in the northern part of Jacksonville Florida. Many students enrolled in college encounter outstanding tuition balances that threaten their ability to obtain adequate housing and remain actively enrolled in college. The researcher explored social stratification as measured by high school Title I status, academic performance as measured by overall institutional …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Implementation Of Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports (Swpbis) In A Rural Southwest Georgia School District, Angela E. Bell

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined teacher perspectives of SWPBIS and how those perceptions impacted school discipline in a rural, Title I middle school located in southwest Georgia. This paper reviewed the history of school discipline policies and discipline practices. The focus was on teacher perceptions of SWPBIS and how those perceptions impacted school discipline in a rural, Title I middle school in a southwest Georgia county. Results were obtained using a quantitative survey and focus groups. Overall, the findings discovered that all respondents believed that SWPBIS had helpful benefits.

Agency Development Of Preservice Teachers Progressing Through An Undergraduate Education Program, Tracy Christina Stockdale

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests student achievement improves when teachers connect with their students and create lessons and instruction based on their needs (Hattie, 2003; Stronge, 2018). Unfortunately, educators throughout the United States report losing control over the educational decisions they make in their classrooms at startling rates (Ingersoll, 2011; Wright, 2020). A recent study by Ingersoll, Merrill, Stuckey, and Collins (2018) found that approximately 50% of educators leave the profession within their first five years of teaching. An analysis of the attrition data showed that teachers often leave the profession due to perceptions of low classroom autonomy (Ingersoll et al., 2018). The …

Professional Learning Communities Effectiveness On Teacher Learning As Perceived By Title I Elementary Teachers: A Case Study, Tiffany Nicole Baisden

Theses and Dissertations

Professional learning communities (PLCs) have undergone decades of research as an improvement strategy for schools. PLCs are known to foster a collaborative culture among educators through shared learning. Teachers can improve their effectiveness by strengthening their pedagogical practices, which will have a positive impact on student achievement. The purpose of this bounded case study was to examine how Title I elementary school teachers who participated in a PLC perceived PLCs and their effectiveness on improving teacher learning. The goal was to gather teachers’ insights and experiences of PLCs to provide state, district, and school leaders with an understanding of how …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Poverty On Instruction And Support With Elementary Students Experiencing Rural Poverty In A Rural Title I Elementary School, Mitzi Mccann Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Nearly 30 million people in the United States live in households with an annual income of less than @25,962 for a family of four. To the United States Census Bureau, this income threshold constitutes a family (or individuals in a family) as being in poverty. Poverty is not solely about income thresholds; rather, how much income levels impact learning, education, and teachers is a greater area of concern. The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers’ perceptions of poverty impact how they instruct and support elementary students experiencing rural poverty, what differences exist in instruction and support between …

Assessing Academic Advisement Preferences Among Master’S Students: A Modification Of The Prescriptive/Developmental Preference Scale, Marian "Gina" Sample

Theses and Dissertations

Academic advisement plays a significant role in enrollment retention and degree attainment. Little is known, however, about what master’s students want and need from their advisement experience, as most research on advisement preferences has focused on undergraduate students. The Prescriptive/Developmental Preference Scale (Yarbrough, 2010) was designed to assess students’ academic advisement preferences, particularly as they relate to prescriptive and developmental advisement. The author of the PDPS, which was piloted with undergraduate students, found that the instrument had construct validity issues, especially regarding the Prescriptive construct. This study aimed to modify and expand the PDPS to reliably assess master’s students’ advisement …

Elementary Teachers’ Experiences And Responses To Student Engagement While Teaching Eureka Math Virtually During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jamika D. Hill

Theses and Dissertations

The Covid-19 Pandemic shifted the structure of public education by forcing public schools in Georgia and across the world to shift from a traditional, face-to-face model to a virtual model. This study was conducted to explore elementary teachers’ experiences and responses to issues with student engagement in their virtual Eureka Math classrooms during the Covid-19 Pandemic. A qualitative research design was used to conduct a hermeneutic, phenomenological study that included a document analysis, classroom observations, and semi-structured interviews using six elementary school teachers as participants. The resulting data was coded and triangulated using the thematic analysis of overarching themes, which …

A Longitudinal Analysis: Interpreting Pbis Sas Results And Disciplinary Patterns In A Middle Georgia School District, Johnathan Andrew Gross

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between staff perceptions of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Office Discipline Referrals (ODR) across elementary, middle, and high schools in a middle Georgia school district over a three-year period (2019-2022). PBIS is a research-based framework that aims to improve school-discipline procedures, effectively reduce ODR, and enhance school climate. The study focused on the Self-Assessment Survey (SAS) data and ODRs to determine whether staff perceptions of PBIS impacted student behavior management across all levels of the district. Using causal-comparative and correlational research designs, the study analyzed staff perceptions obtained through the SAS survey instrument …

Collaborative Lesson Study: A Qualitative Case Study Of Elementary Teachers’ Professional Learning Experience, Arlene D. Harmon

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher collaboration practices in schools have impacted how teachers work together to prevent professional isolation. The mandate of collaborative practices has resulted in some teachers expressing frustration and a lack of benefit from their current experiences. The purpose of this qualitative case study, conducted in the Southeast region of the United States, was to determine if lesson study provided a more meaningful collaborative approach during focused group sessions. Using New London Group’s (1996) designs of meaning concept encapsulated in the Pedagogy of Multiliteracies Theoretical Framework to gauge the relevance of lesson study, I sought to explore a deeper understanding of …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of The Grizzly Success Program At Georgia Gwinnett College: A Quantitative Study, Michael Phillip Poll

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that summer bridge programs are a successful strategy for helping at-risk students succeed in college by offering additional tutoring, mentoring, and advising (Slade et al., 2015). Bridge programs are effective for increasing student success (Bir & Myrick, 2015). However, summer bridge programs may challenge at-risk first-generation students due to limited access and additional fees (Mullen, 2010). The additional costs associated with summer programs combined with the summertime commitment needed for summer bridge programs may present a barrier to enrollment and prove difficult for at-risk students to overcome. Grizzly Success is a program that provides additional academic support, social …

A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study Of Middle School Administrators’, Counselors’, And School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports Team Leaders’ Perceptions Of School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports, Ginette E. Bartlett

Theses and Dissertations

Students' disruptive behavior has become more customary over the last several years. Many school systems have implemented a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) approach to deal with these behaviors proactively. This particular study is focused on behaviorism and operant conditioning. A qualitative exploratory case study design was chosen as the most effective method to understand perceptions of the implementation of the SWPBIS framework in a middle school setting. The three data sources include structured focus groups with school administration, counselors, and SWPBIS team members. Additionally, school climate surveys from 2016-2021 and school discipline referrals from 2016-2021 were evaluated. During …

A Qualitative Investigation Into The Academic Advisors’ Perceptions Of Best Advisement Practices, Tracy Crowder Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to better understand academic advising by examining the perspectives of academic advisors at a Georgia Research 1 institution located in a large city. Initially, the purpose of this case study was to learn more about how academic advisors view effective strategies for boosting their students' performance. Nine academic advisors from a multi-campus institution in the southeastern United States were interviewed for this qualitative study. The participants were asked to complete 30 to 60-minute interviews with the researcher. By evaluating the personal responses used throughout the study, the researcher could identify frequent themes during data collection and analysis. …

A Mixed Methods Examination Of The Relationship Between Workload, Job Satisfaction, And Burnout On Faculty Quitting Intentions At Public, Associate Degree Granting Institutions In Georgia, Amy Fenech Sandy

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract:

Increased budgetary constraints for postsecondary institutions may lead to increased workloads for full-time faculty members. Previous studies have shown that a negative relationship exists between workload and job satisfaction, which may lead to faculty burnout and increased faculty turnover. Identifying factors associated with faculty job satisfaction and burnout and understanding and predicting faculty intent to leave is necessary for the retention of qualified faculty and proper functioning of postsecondary institutions. The theoretical framework that was the basis of this research was Herzberg’s Theory of Motivation, which states that certain factors must be in place to prevent job dissatisfaction from …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Postsecondary Student Affairs Division Employee Job Satisfaction, Commitment, And Engagement, Valerie Edwards Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

Leadership is a transformational process that moves followers to achieve more than is usually expected of them. Research has shown that transformational leadership positively impacts and inspires job satisfaction, organizational commitment and employee engagement among academic lecturers and student populations. But little research has explored the impact of these constructs within the context of non-academic, lower level support staff in higher education. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of Transformational Leadership characteristics on the perceptions of lower level, support staff’s job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and work engagement in a technical college in Southwest Georgia. The target …

Exploring Misinformation Campaigns And How To Defend Against Them, Michelle S. Kuralt

Theses and Dissertations

Misinformation campaigns can have very real and lasting effects. Misinformation has been known to impact elections, create vaccine hesitancy, and increase polarization within societies. This paper reviewed existing literature regarding misinformation research, collected information from research participants to discern factors which may contribute to an increased susceptibility to misinformation, and examined Rule Based Training and a training program which utilized both rules and mindfulness to ascertain if these training programs might be effective in reducing participant susceptibility to misinformation.

Relationships Between And Student Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy, Growth Mindset, And Mathematics Identity Of Adolescents In A Rural South Georgia Charter School, Carrie Cooper Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study investigated the relationships between the constructs of self-efficacy, growth mindset, and mathematics identity among middle school students at a South Georgia charter school. Constructivist grounded theory was used to investigate the strength of these constructs along with student perceptions of what factors make one a math person. The study was an explanatory sequential design consisting of an online survey followed by student interviews. Ninety-one students participated in the survey. Multiple linear regression was used to determine whether a correlation existed between the variables as well as among student subgroups. Self-efficacy was found to be a predictor …