Education Commons^™

Impact Of A State Sponsored Intervention Program On Reading Comprehension Scores, Rolonda Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the impact of the state sponsored Ramp-Up Literacy intervention program on reading comprehension test scores as measured by Mississippi's Subject Area Test Program (SATP) and the Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT 2). There were 252 participants representing three school districts over three testing years. Each school district selected program participants based on reading test scores, teacher recommendations, and grades. A paired samples-t test was the statistical analysis used to determine significance through pretest and posttest outcomes for each program year. The effect size d was also used to determine whether …

Conversational Circles Influencing Athletic Policymaking During Development, Implementation, Litigation, And Enforcement Of Title Ix Of The Education Amendments Of 1972 Of The Civil Rights Act Of 1965, Jeannie Mae Lane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this historical research was to identify and describe distinct conversational circles developing in separate and overlapping decision-making communities during the implementation and enforcement of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the study focused on identifying conversational circles that emerged in legislative, judicial, print media, and educational spheres. These Conversational Circles appeared to influence gender equity policy making in college and university athletics throughout the United States. Specific attention in this dissertation was turned to legislative, judicial development and media coverage in The New York Times, The Chronicle …

A Comparison Of Online And Face-To-Face Discussions In An Elementary Mathematics Methods Course, Julie Stephens James

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if there is a difference between online and face-to-face discussions in terms of quality of responses. The researcher analyzed discussions among teacher candidates enrolled in a web-enhanced undergraduate elementary mathematics methods course. Data was collected through surveys, audio-recordings of face-to-face discussions and asynchronous discussion board transcripts. Transcripts from online and face-to-face discussions were analyzed for evidence of critical thinking using the practical inquiry model (Garrison, Anderson & Archer, 2001). The researcher found that discussions that utilized the asynchronous discussion board elicited more critical thinking from participants than face-to-face discussions. Also, the …

An Examination Of The Impact Of Smart Pen Technology On Mathematics Achievement And Attitudes Of Community College Students, Amy Marie Marolt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to examine the impact of instructional use of smart pen technology on the mathematics achievement and attitudes of community college students enrolled in a College Algebra course. This quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study utilized a nonequivalent control-group design. In this study, two sections of College Algebra were analyzed with one section serving as a treatment group which had access to an online archival of smart pen documents. The other section served as a control group which had access to an online archival of digital documents which did not have smart pen capabilities. The first hypothesis sought to analyze the …

Factors That Shape The Crisis Management Styles Of Former And Current Senior Level Student Affairs Administrators At The University Of Mississippi, Shannon Baker Richardson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Campus crisis intervention and management are hot topics among student affairs professionals and the world of higher education. Policies and protocols surrounding crisis preparation and response have received much publicity through research studies and peer-reviearticles. However, little material has been published regarding the factors that contribute to the crisis management styles of student affairs administrators—leaders that are on the front lines when a crisis occurs. This dissertation is a phenomenological study of seven past and present senior-level student affairs administrators at The University of Mississippi. These seven administrators were intervieand asked questions about their crisis experiences, crisis training, institutional culture, …

The Impact Of Pre-K Programs On Student Achievement And Instructional Leadership In Rural Mississippi School Districts, Jeremy Eugene Stinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2011, Mississippi continues to be the only state in the southern region without a single state-funded pre-k program (NIEER, 2007), and all preschool funds in the state are currently allotted to Head Start. Witte and Trowbridge (2004) warned that the combination of pre-k programs could be the reason for highly fragmented systems of state funding, policies, and regulations. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate whether differences exist between preschool groups in three North Mississippi school districts and to determine the degree to which stakeholders in the programs practice instructional leadership. From a quantitative perspective, the …

An Examination Of Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching In Professional Development Settings, Shannon Harmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have laid the foundation for what mathematics teachers need to know, a construct referred to as Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (Ball, Thames, & Phelps, 2008). There is, however, a lack of robust research regarding how Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) is developed within professional development settings. The purpose of this qualitative research study, therefore, was to examine how different foci of professional development revealed different domains of MKT. In the immersion setting, the professional development focused on engaging teachers in discourse surrounding teachers' completion of mathematical tasks. In the practice-based setting, the professional development focused on engaging teachers in …

Differentiated Phonics Lessons Effect On Fluency And School Culture, Margaret Quinlan Boyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study investigates the effect of differentiated phonics lessons on reading fluency and examines the effect of these lessons on student and teacher perceptions of school culture. The study examines quantitative data on the effectiveness of the skill lessons. The qualitative findings examine the impact of the lessons on the dynamics of school culture as perceived by students and teachers given the opportunity to interact with wider and varying school groups. The understandings gained from the combination of the quantitative and qualitative data interpret the effect of the structure of differentiated across grade-level lessons on school culture.

Beyond The Bubble: Study Abroad And The Psychosocial And Career Development Of Undergraduates, Vera V. Chapman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parents, as important constituents, along with accrediting bodies, are seeking to know more about how students are prepared “to work and ethically interact in an increasingly complex global community” (Rexeissen & Al-Khatib, 2009, p. 193). Exploration into the career developmental gains associated with study abroad is therefore of increasing importance. This study was driven by the following research question: What experiences and perspectives inform the psychosocial development [as defined by Chickering and Reisser (1993), including: developing competence, managing emotions, moving through autonomy toward interdependence, developing mature interpersonal relationships, establishing identity, and developing purpose] and career development (including career choice and …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Reading Instruction And Male Students' Reading Scores In Single-Gender Elementary Classrooms, Chrystal Michelle Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of single-gender grouping on the reading performance of fourth grade male students and explore the levels of use of research-based reading strategies for their influence on reading achievement of male students in single-gender and mixed-gender class settings. The study population consisted of 195 student participants, from 4 different schools in one mid-South school district, and 9 teacher participants of these students. The control group consisted of 98 students from two of the four schools in the study. Data was collected using the results from the Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition …

Secondary Mathematics' Teachers Perceptions Of Their Integration Of Instructional Technologies, Jessica Taylor Ivy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study explored the beliefs and practices regarding integrations of instructional technologies by seven secondary mathematics teachers. The researcher conducted an initial interview, a classroom observation, and a follow-up interview with each participant. Participants also submitted sample lessons and completed a TPACK Development Model Self-Report Survey. The interviews and observations were analyzed using deductive analysis, using the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) Development Model to assess technology-related practices. Through responses to the TPACK Development Model Self-Report Survey, the participants revealed their perceptions of their practices and beliefs regarding technology integration. These perceptions were compared to the researcher's analysis …

A Survey Of Teacher's Beliefs Regarding The Importance And Implementation Of Formative Assessment, Diane Lawrence Lowry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined teachers' beliefs of the importance and implementation of formative assessment in one north Mississippi school district. There is a limited amount of research related to teachers' beliefs of formative assessment. Heritage, Kim, Vendlinski, and Herman (2009) defined formative assessment as a planned process during instruction. This process involves collecting information throughout instruction and providing feedback to the student and the teacher and results in changes to instruction to meet the needs of the learner. The purpose of this study was to determine the mean scores, standard deviations, and percentages of teachers' responses to survey items concerning …

Equity In Mississippi: A Study Of Public School Funding, Michael Lee Putnam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study analyzes the level of equity of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program funding formula through an analysis of the base per-pupil per district allocation system. This study researches the levels of horizontal equity, vertical equity, and fiscal neutrality in relation to the equity designed in the original 1993 proposal. The relationship between the current levels of equity found in the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and the proposed levels of equity holds significant interest for the Mississippi state legislature and educational leaders throughout the state of Mississippi. The funding formulas for Fiscal Year 2004 and Fiscal Year 2010 are …

The Relationship Between The Learning Styles Of Middle School Students And The Teaching And Learning Styles Of Middle School Teachers And The Effects On Student Achievement Of Students' Learning Styles And Teachers' Learning And Teaching Styles, Vanessa Mae Morrow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study of a rural West Tennessee school district examines the relationship of the learning styles of middle school students and the learning and teaching styles of middle school teachers and the effects on student achievement. With the use of the index of learning style survey (ILS), the paragon learning style inventory (PLSI), and the survey of teaching styles questionnaire, 577 students and 30 teachers were surveyed to explore if there is a relationship between the learning and teaching styles of teachers, as well as, determining if students' learning styles impact their achievement. The study finds that there is …

An Examination Of Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Tpack Development Through Participation In A Technology-Based Lesson Study, Julie Whitten Riales

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study used a layered case study (Patton, 2002) to examine the technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) of a group of inservice secondary mathematics teachers as they participated in a technology-based lesson study. Using the TPACK Development Model (Niess, 2009) as a lens, this dissertation examines interactions of the group members during lesson study meetings as well as individual case studies of four of the six participants. Data were gathered from initial surveys, initial and post-interviews, initial and post-classroom observations, writing prompts, and transcriptions of lesson study group meetings. Data were analyzed to determine the TPACK development …

An Examination Of Attitudes And Actions Of Regular Classroom And Gifted Teachers Toward Differentiating For Gifted Learners Involved In A Pullout Gifted Program, Melissa Nicole Logan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bridging the gap in student performance has changed the teaching practice in classrooms across America. Educators have the responsibility to teach all learners. There is a need for instruction to be tailored to boost the higher-level achievers and balance the gaps. This study examined the attitudes and actions of regular and gifted teachers toward differentiating instruction for gifted learners to find out: (a) the types of differentiated instruction regular classroom teachers use for gifted learners, (b) the differences in gifted teachers' lesson plans from regular teachers' lesson plans, (c) the evidence in lesson plans that demonstrate differentiated instruction, and (d) …

Teachers' Experiences With English Language Learners In The K-5 Classroom, Anita Williams Mcgraw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teachers across the nation face challenges in today's diverse classrooms. To add to the pressure of meeting all of the students' needs and being successful on high-stakes tests, the growth in the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the regular classroom has grown tremendously over the last several years. This study examined teachers' experiences in working with ELLs and their families in the K-5 classroom. Research on teachers' attitudes in working with this population was reviebecause teachers' attitudes have an effect on the quality of the education ELLs receive. Evidence based strategies to help teachers with ELL instruction were …

College And University Developmental Education: The Professional Development Needs Of College And University Remedial Instructors, Kyle Trevor Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed method study, which utilized both survey data and personal interviews, was to determine if Murray's (2001) theory of six constructs applies to faculty who instruct remedial students at both four and two-year institutions. The research study used both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. A survey that included 23 items concerning college and university remedial faculty's perceptions about professional development at their institutions was administered to 300 remedial instructors. Ninety seven participants' responses were analyzed for the study. Survey answers were analyzed using factor analysis with Cronbach's ? reliability tests. Survey responses from college and …

The Effectiveness Of The Response To Intervention Plan On Third Grade At-Risk Readers In A Rural School District Measured By The Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (Mct2), Tamisha Estes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a response to intervention plan program on students' reading achievement scores on the Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT2). It explored gender differences in reading achievementto determine whether differences existed between males and females on the 2010–2011 MCT2 reading achievement tests.

The Effects Of Professional Development On Implementation Of The 2010 Mississippi Science Framework On Teachers' Attitudes About Teaching Science In Elementary School, Kimberly Lanette Carroll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to determine the effects of professional development on teachers' attitudes about teaching the 2010 Mississippi Science Framework in elementary school. Subjects were elementary teachers in grades three through eight. A sample size of 26 teachers was selected from two school districts; one was rural and the other was an urban school district. The selected participants were then randomly assigned to either the control or treatment group. Teachers in the treatment group met once a week for four weeks for at least 90 minutes per session that focused on improving knowledge and attitude toward science inquiry. The treatment …

The Educational Implications Of Dibels Oral Reading Fluency Assessments And Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 In Reading First Schools, Debra A. Dace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Perception Of Role Delineation Between Mississippi Public School Board Presidents And Superintendents, Glenn Franklin Boyce Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study's purpose was to survey the perceptions of Mississippi's elected and appointed public school superintendents and board presidents concerning their decision-making roles and responsibilities. Of the 298 surveys mailed 61 (74%) of the 83 appointed superintendents and 40 (60%) of the 66 elected superintendents responded. Seventy-three (49%) of the board presidents responded to the survey.

The survey instrument was divided into four decision-making areas: policy and procedure, curriculum and instruction, personnel, and school business management. The study tested eight hypotheses at the.05 level of significance. Four of these hypotheses stated that there is no significant difference in the role …

Hemisphericity And Reading Comprehension: A Study Of Black Students From Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds, Linda Hampton Wesson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine relationships between cognitive asymmetry, gender, and reading achievement of black students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The sample consisted of black students from Central High School, a school of 1300 students located in an economically deprived area in eastern Arkansas. The sample was administered tests to determine right/left cognitive asymmetry and level of reading comprehension. The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between cognitive asymmetry and reading comprehension for males, females, and the total population of black, low socioeconomic students. The study also investigated differences in cognitive asymmetry between the male and female …