Education Commons^™

Best Practice Resource Manual For New Social Workers At District 77, Shelby Lenzen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

When starting a new job many places of employment have new employee orientation. During this process many employers educate the new employee on the background of the company or organization, policies and procedures, what their job entails and the employers expectations of the new social work employee. However, currently in the Mankato School District 77 there is no orientation specific for incoming school social workers or interns to help guide them in their job. This would also benefit MSW practicum students as they enter the school district. Also, when the social worker or intern starts with District 77 they do …

The Good Teacher: A Qualitative Analysis Of Perceptions Of Asian American Parents, Mariam Zia Qureshi

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research study examined the general question "What do Asian American parents believe to be important characteristics of an effective elementary teacher?" In order to investigate this question, the researcher used a qualitative research design employing a semi-structured interview which probed into the personal perceptions voiced by a sample of twelve Asian American parents on the characteristics of good teachers. The twelve Asian American parents who participated in this study were from nine different Asian countries covering the three main regions defined as Asian according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Far East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian sub-continent. Also, …

Examining Culture And Structure: A Case Study Of Three Middle Colleges, Anne F. Weyandt

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine and extrapolate the primary design elements of middle/early colleges in Minnesota that are most likely to support expanded statewide implementation of the model. These middle/early colleges are presently located in Anoka and Rochester and on the Iron Range in the northeastern region of the state. Through a case study analysis of each location, the cultural attributes of each community or region influencing the structural design of each early/middle college were examined in the context of the common design elements represented in the review of literature. A cross-case analysis examined the themes …

Truancy Intervention And Prevention Programs For The Marshall Middle School, Gayle Chandler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

After completing a field practicum at the Marshall Middle School in Marshall, MN it was realized that like many other schools in the nation; the truancy problem is growing at an alarmingly fast rate.

• The Marshall Middle School is comprised of grades 5-8.
• Under the age of 12 would be considered educational neglect.
• 12 years of age and older is considered truancy per Minnesota State Statute.

This project aims to research intervention and prevention programs for both truancy and educational neglect that have been tested, compare them to the needs of the Marshall Middle School, and make a recommendation as …

Trait Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Discrimination, And Academic Achievement Among African American And Latina/O High School Students: A Study Of Academic Resilience, Nicholas Russell Abel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The goal of academic resilience research is to identify factors and processes which lead to academic success among groups of students generally found to be at-risk, including those of African American and Latina/o descent. The present study investigated a possible risk factor (perceptions of discrimination), a possible protective factor (emotional intelligence), and the role of gender in predicting academic achievement (as measured by high school GPA) in a sample (N = 79) of African American and Latina/o high school students attending one high school in Minnesota. Through the use of multiple regression, neither emotional intelligence nor perceptions of discrimination was …

Contextual Pedagogy: A Praxis Engaging Black Male High School Students Toward Eliminating The Achievement Gap, Timothy Alan Berry

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Problems facing black male students in K-12 education are as multiple as they are complex. Regarding this issue, the research literature revealed three major themes that came to the foreground: 1) the lack of school engagement, 2) academic achievement gaps, and 3) racism. In response, the purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the contextual pedagogical influences of Project-Based Learning (PBL) on school engagement, creativity, and problem solving for fourteen black male students in a suburban Minnesota high school. The methodology for this was an instrumental case study (i.e., seeking understanding of phenomena beyond the case itself). Findings …

Measuring Success For English Language Learners From A Multi-Dimensional Perspective, Randy Haley

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research study used a sequential mixed methods design to examine the perceptions and assumptions of educators working with ELL students in Southwest Minnesota. The study employed a conceptual lens based in critical education research with the intention that the results can be used to transform ELL education and promote equality for ELL students. The study is grounded in a multi-dimensional perspective for measuring success which incorporates four main constructs: parental involvement, quality instruction, school climate and student's sense of belonging. The participants in the study included building administrators and ELL teachers working in K-12 public schools in Southwest Minnesota. …

Organizational Culture As A Function Of Institutional Type In Higher Education, Jason Alexis Kaufman

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether organizational culture varies as a function of institutional type in higher education, and to identify whether there exists congruence between organizational culture type and leader behavior. Utilizing the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) developed by Cameron and Quinn (2011), data were collected from a sample of academic deans (n = 84) representing the colleges and universities across five states of the Upper Midwest. The results indicated a general trend toward clan cultures and congruent leader behavior for all institutional types (i.e., associate's colleges, baccalaureate colleges, master's colleges and universities, and …

Building A Culture Of Innovation: A Case Study In Digital Integration, Anthony H. Vonbank

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This case study dissertation examines the implementation of digital technology in a mid-sized public school district in southern Minnesota. The methodology involved unstructured interviews and close observation of several teachers, administrators and related staff in the junior-senior high building. These observations were presented in informative vignettes that help to tell the story of the culture of innovation in this school, as well as highlight some of the implementation strategies that aid this school and district in meeting its goal to meet all learners in a 21st century society. The study identifies common barriers such as staff resistance, funding, and technology …

Students' Perceptions Of The Usefulness Of Glossing Sheets In Revision Process, Erin Johnson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research explores student perceptions of the effectiveness of grammar glossing sheets. Research methods included the creation of two surveys that were administered to ninth grade students at an American high school in Kuwait. The first survey sought background information on students' perceptions of their abilities when using grammar and the second asked if the students found the grammar glossing process beneficial to their writing and understanding of grammar. Research findings suggest that students do believe there are benefits to the grammar glossing process. Student response shows that grammar glossing sheets are a practical tool to help students increase their …

The Impact Of Matrix Notes On Textbook Comprehension In A College-Level Introductory Psychology Course, Kathryn Gonier Klopfleisch

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This paper examines whether matrix notes, a graphic form of note taking, helped lower ability students in a college level introduction to Psychology course develop self-regulation and deep processing skills that would increase exam scores. Throughout the semester, students were surveyed and 16 were interviewed about study habits and perceptions of matrix notes. Exam scores and class averages were also considered. The study supported the hypothesis that students would develop deeper processing skills and earn higher exam scores. While the data shows that students grew in self-regulations ability, it is not clear if they did so as a result of …

Choice Amount And Choice-Making In Children: A Comparison Of Children With And Without Symptoms Of Adhd, Liesa Klein

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Research has demonstrated that increased options can have a negative impact on choice experience, post-choice affect, and purchasing behavior in adults. While the use of choice and choice interventions is sometimes used in educational settings, this negative impact, the choice overload hypothesis, has yet to be examined in children. Further, if the presence of choice overload were to be identified in this population it may have further implications on children with ADHD who exhibit deficits in executive functioning. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to examine choice duration in children with and without symptoms of ADHD; (2) to …

Prevent-Teach-Reinforce For Function-Based Behavior Intervention Planning In Positive Behavior Support, Brett William Dejager

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The present study assessed the effectiveness of Prevent-Teach-Reinforce (P-T-R), an assessment-based model for students with behavior problems, using an A-B-A-B design with follow-up. Participants included three students in grades kindergarten, fourth, and fifth in a rural Midwestern school district. Results indicated that PTR was effective in reducing disruptive behaviors and increasing academic engaged time across all three participants. The results also indicated that the teacher participants were able to implement the behavior interventions with fidelity and with high levels of perceived social validity.

International And Cross-Cultural Application Of The Good Behavior Game, Julene Douty Nolan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Disruptive classroom behavior is frequently cited as a critical component in teacher job dissatisfaction and burnout. As corporal punishment is eliminated in many classrooms worldwide, teachers report a perception of increased disruptive classroom behavior that many feel ill equipped to address. Teachers also often report a lack of training in evidence-based behavior management tools that have been studied with international populations and culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse populations. The Good Behavior Game offers teachers a classroom-wide behavior management tool that has been studied both in the United States and abroad with students from diverse backgrounds, primarily in developed countries or …

The Relationship Between Musical Ability And The Perception And Production Of L2 Prosodic Features, Jun Akiyoshi

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Studies in L2 acquisition have indicated that musically trained individuals are apt to demonstrate better L2 pronunciation skills. As for music, it was recently clarified that some amusiacs demonstrate selective impairment in L1 prosody discrimination. The purpose of this study was to investigate a relationship between amusical L2 learners and their perception and production of L2 prosody. To investigate this, 24 native-Japanese learners of English either in EFL (n=22) or ESL context (n=2) were examined in terms of their musical ability and L2 intonation perception and production. The musical test indicated that there was one amusiac and 10 low-level musical …

Cross Cultural Pragmatics: A Study Of Apology Speech Acts By Turkish Speakers, American English Speakers And Advance Nonnative Speakers Of English In Turkey, Mehmet Aydin

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The study aims to identify and compare apology strategies used in Turkish, American English, and advanced non-native speakers of English in Turkey. In order to identify and compare the norms of apologizing in Turkish, English, and non-native English speakers in Turkey, apologies given to the same situations from these three different groups of participants were analyzed. The results from the Native Speakers of Turkish (NST) and Native Speakers of English (NSE) groups were used to identify the norms of apologies in these languages. Then, NNSE participants' responses were compared to the norms to be able to identify transfers from L1 …

A Systematic Analysis Of Paraprofessional Job Expectations: Development Of The Paraprofessional Survey Of Expectations Tool (P-Set), Angela Maxine Christenson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With increased accountability due to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), the provision of services to children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment is necessary to ensuring an inclusive, free appropriate public education. Paraprofessionals are increasingly utilized as service providers for children with disabilities in the schools. In fact, there are over a million paraprofessionals jobs nationally according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010) and the upward trend is steadily rising. Yet, the role of the paraprofessional is not well defined, nor agreed upon by school personnel. The Paraprofessional Survey of Expectations …

The Development Of An International Medical Education Program With An Emphasis On English For Specific Purposes, Qian Chen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Medical international programs are becoming a new trend across China. With this trend comes the difficulty of implementing and designing an international medical program to meet the educational, cultural, and social needs of the students and teachers within a given context. The present case study researched the factors that contributed to successful international medical programs and through a survey and interviews, found both strengths and needs of a specific international medical program in the College of Medicine at Shihezi University. Specific recommendations are then given in order to assist the program and school with the design and implementation of their …

English For Science And Technology In The German Technical Industry - A Needs Analysis, Kristin Hueneburg

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In light of the recent financial and Euro crisis, many immigrants have arrived on the German employment market with adequate English, but no German language skills, requiring German natives to use content-specific English in their work environment. This thesis seeks to explore the bases for potential curriculum and course design with a focus on English for Science and Technology (EST) in the German technical industry. This needs analysis in the form of an online survey was administered to a maximum variety sample in the German technical industry, which included different sizes and products/services of companies and position variations of employees …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between School Failure And At-Risk Students' General Self-Efficacy, Academic Self-Efficacy, And Motivation, Marguerite Josephine Wentzel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This quantitative study explored the roles of general self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, and motivation and its effect on at-risk students' course failures. Deci and Ryan's (1996) Self-Determination Theory and Bandura's (1977) Self-Efficacy Theory were explored as well as the risk factors of at-risk students. A multiple regression analysis determined that there was not a significant relationship between the number of courses failed and the independent variables: general self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, and motivation. The moderator variable of working at-risk students was found to negatively impact the number of courses failed. While there are some limitations, this study contributes to the growing body …

Building Self-Directed Teachers: A Case Study Of Teachers' Perspectives Of The Effects Of Cognitive Coaching On Professional Practices, Kevin S. Bjerken

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This case study of a single school district aims to identify teachers' perceptions of how their professional practices have been affected after four years of receiving Cognitive Coaching. Cognitive Coaching was used in participants' professional development as a part of an Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System and included three observational cycles per year for four consecutive years with a certified Cognitive Coach. Through focus group interviews and surveys, Cognitive Coaching was found to have multiple positive effects on professional development, according to the perspectives of the sample group. Themes of an increase in reflective practice, increased awareness level, and greater …

An Examination Of The Influence Of Formative Self-Assessment On College Student Mastery Orientation In College Courses, Jamie Lynn Mahlberg

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study examined the hypothesis that mastery orientation would increase for college students enrolled in courses that incorporated self-assessment. Early in the spring 2013 semester, 216 community college students enrolled in 16 different general education and developmental courses volunteered to participate and completed a demographic/goal orientation questionnaire. During the semester, 10 of the courses implemented self-assessment and 6 did not. At the conclusion of the semester, 143 of the original sample completed the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) which provided post-test goal orientation scores along with measures of additional motivational and self-regulatory variables. Results indicated a trend in the …

Undergraduate Sport Management Students' Perceptions Of Leadership Behaviors Through Service Learning: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental Study, Bryan Romsa

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This quantitative, quasi-experimental study examined the effectiveness of a service learning activity on the perceived leadership behaviors of sport management undergraduate students at a mid-sized, Midwestern, public university. The participants in the study were 74 undergraduate students who were enrolled in four undergraduate sport management courses. The first research question analyzed how a service learning experience affects the self-reported perceptions of leadership behavior in sport management undergraduate students. The findings indicated that the students who participated in a service learning activity (experiential group) self-reported a decrease in all five leadership practices. The second research question asked how not having a …

Peer Evaluation As An Effective Tool To Improve Twelfth-Grade Students' Writing, Jenna R. Ebersviller

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study investigated the effects of peer evaluation on twenty-four twelfth-grade students' writing performance, attitudes, and information learned. Previous research revealed that peer evaluation improved students' writing; their experiences with peer evaluation were positive; and that through evaluating peers' writing, students were able to learn from one another. Both research groups made significant improvements from their first writing assignment, where no peer evaluation was used, to their second writing assignment, where thorough peer evaluation was used. The author concludes that the improvement in writing can be attributed to peer evaluation. Students' attitudes about peer evaluation throughout the process also improved.

Development Of A Social Understanding Group Resource Manual, Tristann Carter

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Social Understanding Group Resource Manual was developed to address the expressed need for a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum resource manual which would provide facilitators with easy reference to access categorized materials, activities, worksheets, and resources for Wayzata West Middle School’s Social Understanding Groups.

School Social Work: A Vital Link In Schools: A Report On School Work Services For The Mankato Area Public School District, Rachel Johnston

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

• The purpose of this research project was to obtain additional information, beyond the school social work job description, and document the job responsibilities, roles, activities, challenges, and contributions of the three school social workers working in the Mankato Area Public School District.
• The primary research question was: To what extent does the school social work job description match the work actually performed by the school social workers?
• The recommended ratio of school social worker to students by the National Association of Social Work (NASW) is 1:250 general education students or 1:50 at-risk or intensive needs students 16 The 3 school …

An Analysis Of The Re-Education Philosophy And The Applicability To Individual And Group Therapy, Psychoeducation And Skills, Sarah Manthei

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

An evaluation was conducted of the Re-Education philosophy, current practices of individual and group therapy, skills training, and psychoeducation for Level IV special education students diagnosed with an emotional behavioral disorder and/or mental health diagnosis. An assessment of current evidenced based practices for school-based mental health services was integrated. This provided the foundation for recommendations that are congruent with the Re-Education philosophy and for an evaluation tool to measure student success in learning and comprehending the skills curriculums.