Education Commons^™

Principals Perceptions Of Balancing Leadership And Self-Care, Marchelle Latanya Williams-Hines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing demands of educational leadership place significant stress on school principals, leading to challenges in balancing leadership responsibilities with self-care. This study explored principals’ perceptions of three key aspects: the challenges of balancing leadership and self-care, the demands contributing to stress, burnout, and turnover, and the resources that help mitigate these challenges. Guided by the job demands-resources model and mindfulness theory, this qualitative study utilized semistructured interviews with 10 elementary school principals in a southern Jamaican district. Data collection focused on self-care practices, leadership demands, and coping strategies, with thematic analysis identifying six major themes: the unpredictability and overload …

The Impact Of Using Poe Chatgpt-Based Tpack Model On English As A Foreign Language Teachers’ Performance And Their Students’ Vocabulary Learning, Faten Zahran

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the efficacy of the Poe ChatGPT-based TPACK model on EFL teachers’ performance and their students’ vocabulary learning.

Methods: I designed four instruments to gather the research data: a survey of EFL teaching skills, a teaching knowledge test, an observation checklist for assessing teacher performance, and a vocabulary knowledge test.

Results: The statistical analysis of the research data proved that EFL teachers developed their teaching performance. The statistical analysis of preparatory students’ vocabulary tests proved no differences between the experimental and control groups.

Conclusions: Utilizing the Poe ChatGPT-based Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) model …

Exploring Service Quality In Gambian Public Universities In The Dawn Of Massification: Perceptions Of Internal Authorities, Yankuba Yabou, Precious Nyoni

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of our study was to explore the perceptions of internal authorities of public universities in The Gambia—with a focus on the University of The Gambia (UTG)—on service quality amid massification and thereby elicit their recommendations.

Method: This qualitative case study of service quality in public universities in the Gambia employed content analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews to ascertain categories.

Results: The results showed an unfavorable view of the quality of all the factors observed—physical environment quality, core educational quality, and transformative quality. Despite efforts of the university administration to enhance the quality of education, the …

Nature Journaling: A Tool For Designing A Responsive Science Methods Course For Adult Learners, Meenakshi Sharma, Divya Gangadin, Francy Gomez

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

We examined an outdoor, experiential learning approach within a science methods course for nontraditional adult learners who are often career changers or individuals transitioning into teaching later in life. Through immersive, nature-based experiences, the course connected adult learners to science via direct engagement with the natural world. We include reflections from two nontraditional learners who participated in a 6-week nature journaling process, showcasing how they embraced inquiry-based experiences in natural settings. These reflections reveal a supportive learning environment that values diverse learning styles and life experiences and encourages exploration. Insights from these experiences can guide science teacher educators in developing …

Factors Affecting The Educational Status Of Children In Nigeria, Ayima Lott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that irrespective of active involvement of Nigeria in Universal Basic Education, the nation still records the highest number of out-of-school children globally. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine how geopolitical location, socio-economics of the household, parental education, role of the child, age of the child, and gender of the child predict the educational status of children in Nigeria. This study is grounded in conflict and social systems theories. The most recent national secondary data on education from the 2015 Nigerian Education Data Survey was used. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic …

Relationship Between Adjunct Faculty Workplace Inclusion And Burnout In Online Universities, Allisson Kinkade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Online universities rely on adjunct faculty even though including them in institutional processes is challenging and might be related to burnout. The relationship between the level of workplace inclusion and burnout of adjunct faculty has not been investigated. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between the level of workplace inclusion and burnout of adjunct faculty at online universities, moderated by instructor age, gender, and the number of years teaching as an adjunct. The conservation of resource theory by Hobfoll was used as the theoretical framework. For this quantitative nonexperimental correlational research design, data from 104 …

Principal Perceptions Of Advising For The Adoption Of Social Media As An Instructional Application, Ben Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Secondary school principals are seeking to meet students where they are by integrating social media into school curricula to enhance student learning. However, little has been published about principals’ perceptions of the value of social media as an instructional tool or the advising processes they employ to facilitate the adoption of social media as an instructional application. The problem this study addressed was principals’ perceptions of social media as an instructional application and how those perceptions influence decisions to advise for the adoption of social media for instructional purposes. Guided by Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory and Davis’s technology acceptance …

Internet Addiction And Academic Fatigue, Engagement, And Performance Among Undergraduates In Southwestern Universities In Nigeria, Mensah Prince Osiesi, Olutoyin Olufunke Fajobi, Sikeade Mercy Adegboyega, Abiodun Adesope Fadiya, Olaitan Titilayo Akinola, Folasade Oluyemisi Olayinka, Muyiwa Sunday Ajimuse, Sunday Nnamdi Okocha, Tolulope Oluwatoyin Olayiwola-Adedoja, Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun Phd, Atinuke Titilope Babalola, Valentina Grion

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: Internet addiction among university undergraduates may deeply impact their academic lives. This study investigated the association between academic fatigue, academic engagement, academic performance, gender, and internet addiction and how the variables jointly and relatively predict internet addiction among undergraduates in southwestern universities in Nigeria.

Method: The correlational research type of the non-experimental research design was adopted for this study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 1,157 students. The main variables were the Internet Addiction Test (r = 0.82) and the Academic Fatigue Questionnaire (r = 0.85; both adapted), as well as the Academic Engagement Scale …

Comparison Of Levels Of Usage Of Summit K-12 And Language Acquisition Of Emergent Bilingual Students, Paula Cushanick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School districts are required to identify emergent bilingual (EB) students, provide appropriate bilingual education programs, and assess language acquisition progress to ensure equal educational opportunity. The problem investigated in this study was that, in 2022, only 38% of the EB student population in Southwestern School District (SSD, a pseudonym) demonstrated progress in achieving English language proficiency in the composite scores of the TELPAS assessment that included listening, speaking, reading, and writing language domains. The Summit K-12 computerized intervention program was instituted by SSD to address EB student language development. Guided by Sparrow’s holistic biliteracy framework, the purpose of this quasi-experimental, …

Exploring The Use Of Student-Led Conferences In A Title 1 Elementary School, Camille Renee Harris-Wilmot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental engagement is a critical factor in student academic success, yet traditional parent-teacher conferences often fail to achieve meaningful collaboration. This study explored how teachers and parents described the influence of student-led conferences on parental engagement at a public elementary school in southeastern Virginia. Grounded in constructivist theory, particularly the works of Piaget and Vygotsky, the study focused on student-centered learning. A basic qualitative design was employed with purposeful sampling used to recruit 10 teachers and parents with direct experience of student-led conferences. Semistructured interviews were analyzed through open-coding and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns. Findings revealed that student-led …

Jamaican Tertiary Education Lecturers’ Perceptions Of Repurposing Paper Instructional Materials For Blended Learning, Bobsie Sophia Levy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transitioning from paper-based instructional methods to blended learning has rapidly been implemented across higher education institutions in Jamaica. The problem that was addressed through this study was that little is known about the perceptions of Jamaican lecturers regarding their experiences towards repurposing instructional materials for blended learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of Jamaican tertiary education lecturers regarding the experience of repurposing paper instructional materials into digital form for blended learning. The framework for the study was Davis’s technology acceptance model. For this basic qualitative study, seven semistructured interviews were conducted, and a thematic …

The Impact Of Age, Gender, Race, And Socioeconomic Background On Montana Students’ Reading Achievement, Robin Cormier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem in this study was that 88% of local Montana elementary school students were not proficient in reading by the end of the 2023–2024 school year. The study’s purpose was to determine whether a relationship existed between students' performance on standardized reading tests in the local school setting and the key variables: age, gender, race, and socioeconomic background. Grounded in Piaget’s constructivist theory of cognitive development, the analysis explored whether the demographic factors contributed to differences in reading performance. Using a quasi-experimental, ex post facto design, (N = 64) students were categorized by age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. …

Black Online College Students' Perceptions Of Their Unmet Needs During Covid-19, Zanita Gaither

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black college students face unique challenges in achieving academic success, particularly when their unmet needs are not addressed adequately. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these challenges for online learners in this group, impacting motivation and learning experiences. This interpretive phenomenological analysis explored the lived experiences of Black online college students and their perceptions of unmet needs during the pandemic. Despite numerous studies on Black college students during the pandemic, little literature has been focused on their perceptions of unmet needs. To understand their needs and experiences, this study considered internal and external influences based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Rovai’s …

The Perceptions Of Nursing Faculty Who Experience Student Incivility Behavior, Dehlia Abaya Parsons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incivility among nursing students is well documented in the academic, clinical, and leadership literature. Student incivility towards faculty was less studied, and merited investigation because incivility can lead to faculty discontentment, stress, and attrition, exacerbating the scarcity of nursing faculty. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, which was underpinned by the health belief model, was to explore the perceptions of nursing faculty who experience student incivility in the Western region of the United States. Open-ended, semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 nursing faculty who shared perceptions of their experience of student incivility behavior. Open coding and thematic analysis yielded …

K-3 Teachers Implementing Blended Learning For Personalized Student Learning, Olivia Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blended learning combines traditional classroom instruction with online learning experiences, creating a flexible and personalized approach to education. This approach allows teachers to address individual student needs and pacing while fostering greater student engagement. In a large public school district in Colorado, blended learning is being inconsistently implemented. Guided by the complex adaptive blended learning system framework, the purpose of this qualitative project study was to learn how the district policy involving one-to-one devices for all students influenced curriculum, instruction, and assessment experiences of K-3 teachers for meeting needs of individuals in their classes. Eleven classroom teachers participated in semistructured …

Perspectives Of Childcare Directors, Teachers, And Parents Regarding The Risks And Challenges Of Nature Preschools, Mary Lavere Traub

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nature preschools are becoming more widespread but most nature preschools in the United States are not licensed. The problem addressed in this study was that unlicensed nature preschools may present risks and challenges for children because they are unlicensed. Guided by the work of Ernst and colleagues about the safety risks inherent in nature preschools, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of directors and teachers who work in nature preschools and parents who enroll their children in nature preschools regarding the risks and challenges for children that these preschools may present. Interviews were conducted …

Examining Nationality, First Generation Status And Academic Identity Status As A Lens Into Student Achievement, Jennette Allen-Mccombs

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study investigates the relationship between academic identity statuses and academic achievement at a U.S. northeastern college where 55% of the population is first-generation students. Using Was and Isaacson’s (2008) Academic Identity Measure, I assessed four identity statuses (achieved, foreclosed, diffused, and moratorium) among 424 students. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that achieved identity status had the strongest positive effect on grade-point average (GPA), while diffused identity status showed the most significant negative impact. Additionally, birthplace and mother’s educational status emerged as significant demographic predictors of academic achievement. The findings suggest that students with foreclosed or diffused identities struggle with …

The Effect Of Utilizing Nearpod With Guided Reading Strategy On Efl Primary Pupils' Reading Comprehension Skills And Motivation, Faten Zahran

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The current study examined the effect of using Nearpod with a guided reading strategy on primary pupils’ reading comprehension skills and motivation. I designed three tools to accomplish the research, including a reading skills checklist, a reading test, and a reading motivation scale. The results confirmed that the regular technique used in teaching is not as significant as using Nearpod with a guided reading strategy. The experimental group of pupils outperformed their counterparts in the control group in the reading comprehension test and reading motivation scale. Using Nearpod with guided reading improved reading comprehension skills and motivation.

Exploring Pre-Kindergarten Teachers' Experiences With Engaging Black Boys In Literacy Instruction, Airreia Faith Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent studies convey the critical need for teachers to use culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) to engage Black boys in literacy instruction. The problem was that in the Sunshine School District (SSD: a pseudonym), pre-kindergarten (pre-K) teachers found it challenging to engage Black boys in literacy instruction. Framed by Ladson-Billings’s CRP, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how pre-K teachers engaged Black boys in literacy instruction and how teachers’ instructional practices aligned with CRP. To collect data, a purposeful sample of 11 pre-K teachers from SSD participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis, using open coding, was applied …

A Rank-Order Alternative For Non-Parametric Analysis With The General Linear Model, Jeffry White

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Violations of normality and homogeneity are common in educational data. When this occurs, the use of parametric statistics may be inappropriate. A generalized form of nonparametric analyses based on the Puri and Sen L statistic provides an alternative approach. Using a chi-square distribution, this technique is easy to apply and has significant power. Another advantage of the L statistic is its utility to link nonparametric tests with their parametric counterparts. After rank-ordering and analyzing the data, an adjustment is made by calculating L instead of relying on the parametric test statistic. This permits the researcher to choose between parallel strategies …

Integrating Corpus Linguistics In Vietnamese English Education: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Scholarly Perspectives And Practices, Thi Thuy Tran, Trut Thuy Pham, Thanh Thao Le

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: Our qualitative study investigated the integration of corpus linguistics in English education research among Vietnamese scholars, focusing on the experiences and perceptions across different career stages.

Methods: Employing semi-structured interviews, we engaged nine linguistics scholars, including novices as well as those at mid-career and near-end career stages, from two prominent Vietnamese institutions.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) challenges in incorporating corpus linguistics into teaching practices, (2) perceived benefits in enhancing language proficiency, and (3) the importance of institutional support for corpus linguistics research. The findings indicated that despite recognizing the pedagogical benefits of corpus linguistics, scholars …

Empathy And Academic Achievement Among Black/African American College Students In An Hbcu, Hyung Nam Kim

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Empathy is the ability to understand the thoughts, behaviors, and feelings of others. In addition to fostering strong relationships and overall personal growth, empathy plays a crucial role in college students achieving positive academic outcomes. However, a knowledge gap exists concerning the role and impact of empathy among college students, particularly Black/African American students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This research aims to address this gap by examining those students’ empathy levels and their association with academic achievement. The study found relatively low levels of empathy and a negative association between empathy and academic performance. Further research is …

Occupational Therapy Faculty Mentorship And Degree Type As A Predictive Relationship With Student Satisfaction Scores, Gwen R. Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education outlines criteria for occupational therapy graduate programs by degree type but does not require pedagogic knowledge for either degree type. The problem addressed through this study was that the predictive relationship between occupational therapy faculty mentorship in the first 3 years of teaching and degree type with student satisfaction is unknown. The study was grounded by constructivism and occupational adaptation. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine if there is a predictive relationship between occupational therapy faculty mentorship and degree type (independent variables) with student satisfaction (dependent variable) among occupational …

Middle School Mathematics Teachers’ Use Of Diverse Mathematics Educational Technology Tools: Ixl, I-Ready, And/Or Mathia, Dr. Crystal Derika-Mae Matthews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study is the inconsistent use of mathematics educational technology tools in middle school mathematics courses in the United States. The problem was important to address because inconsistent use of mathematics educational technology tools may impact student performance. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore middle school mathematics teachers’ use of mathematics educational technology tools (i.e., IXL, i-Ready, and/or MATHia), the challenges they face, and their recommendations for other teachers. The constructivism concerns-based adoption model served as the conceptual framework. The three research questions were developed to investigate the purpose. Using purposive sampling, …

Early Childhood Faculty Perspectives On Inclusion Of Antibias Curriculum Or Components In Preprimary Teacher Training Curriculum In The United States, Carlotta Conley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that there was the likelihood of a mismatch between preprimary teachers’ racial, ethnic, and cultural make-up and the children and families they educate and care for in the preprimary classroom from birth to 5 years. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine early childhood education (ECE) community college faculty perspectives on the importance of and challenges with implementing antibias curriculum or components into preprimary education training. The conceptual framework was Smyth’s model of reflection and the Learning for Justice organization’s antibias framework. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected …

Breaking The Yoke: A Systematic Unmasking Of Challenges To Sustainable Rural Development In South Sudan, Gai Chol Paul

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

South Sudan, a young nation grappling with the legacy of protracted conflict, faces significant challenges in fostering sustainable rural development. While the immense potential of its vast agricultural lands remains largely untapped, the persistent triple threat of insecurity, deficient infrastructure, and the absence of robust government policy actively hinders progress. The ongoing armed conflict, characterized by inter-communal violence and sporadic attacks, casts a long shadow over rural areas in South Sudan. Thus, I developed this mixed-method multiple-case study, grounded in the sustainable livelihoods framework, to explore challenges that hinder sustainable rural development in South Sudan. I collected data through document …

Perceptions Of Parents And Guardians Regarding Home-To-School Involvement, Brie Merritt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was the decline in home-to-school partnerships within a local, public, and ethnically diverse middle school (DMS) in the Southeastern United States. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore parents’ perspectives on the decline in home-to-school partnerships at a DMS. Using Epstein’s six types of family involvement as a guide, a qualitative, exploratory design was used, with data collected through semi structured interviews with 12 Black mothers of eighth-grade students from DMS in the 2022–2023 school year. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis revealed the following four themes: communication satisfaction, parent-school engagement, …

Perceptions Of Teachers Regarding The Low Biliteracy Scores Of Fifth Grade Emergent Bilinguals In A Dual Language Program, Maria Ines Trevino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that at Nepantla Independent School District (pseudonym) bilingual fifth grade students have not attained biliteracy goals in their dual language program. The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the dual language teachers’ perceptions regarding fifth grade emergent bilingual students’ low levels of biliteracy proficiency and the challenges seen as hindering students’ opportunities to master the dual language program's biliteracy goals. The framework encompassed Krashen, Cummins, Thomas and Collier’s theories which explore language acquisition, learning and bilingual education. The research questions explored the extent to which dual language instructors perceived the inadequate …

Kindergarten Teachers’ Experiences On Strategies To Increase Children’S Phonological Awareness And Phonics Skills In Kindergarten, Taylor Imani Ridley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study pertained to two elementary schools whose kindergarten teachers encountered challenges in meeting phonological awareness and phonics standards. This basic qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of kindergarten teachers regarding effective strategies for enhancing children’s phonological awareness and phonics skills, grounded in the concept of Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development. Data were collected from 12 kindergarten teachers through semi-structured interviews to understand their instructional strategies and the support needed to implement these strategies effectively. Findings indicated that teachers benefit from structured programs, multisensory approaches, differentiated instruction, and collaborative efforts; however, they also require increased …

American Sign Language Educators’ Perceptions Of Incorporating Multicultural Content In U.S. Higher Education Classrooms, Noe Alexander Turcios

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

American Sign Language (ASL) courses in U.S. higher education often inadequately incorporate multicultural content, with many educators lacking knowledge of multiculturalism and relevant cultural resources. The purpose of this study was the exploration of ASL educators' perspectives on the incorporation of multicultural content in ASL classrooms and the identified barriers to doing so. The multilevel inclusion framework and the integrated framework for a culture of diversity offered a conceptual lens for the study. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 ASL educators with at least 3 years of experience. In the reflexive thematic analysis of the …