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Striving To Increase Bipoc Family Participation In Early Childhood Family Education, Ayuko Boomer
Striving To Increase Bipoc Family Participation In Early Childhood Family Education, Ayuko Boomer
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Boomer, A. U. (2023). Striving to Increase BIPOC Family Participation in Early Childhood Family Education. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a public education program designed and available for all parents and families in Minnesota. Despite these intentions, many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families remain unaware of ECFE's existence and its significance. The purpose of this study is to understand the current methodologies of parent education outreach and collaboration with other programs, in particular, BIPOC communities, and explore and process what efforts have been made to increase BIPOC participation in traditional ECFE parent education group classes (non-affinity …
Teacher-Student Relationships And Student Behavior, Cassandra Ostergard
Teacher-Student Relationships And Student Behavior, Cassandra Ostergard
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This study addresses the question to what degree do students believe they change their classroom behavior based on teacher-student relationship? This topic is important because it delves into the motivations behind student behavior. This question is tied to past research regarding student-centered learning, teacher-student relationships, and student outcomes related to different classroom factors. The primary method of data collection in this study was a twenty question survey given to four classes of 7th grade students. One student from each class was also interviewed about this same topic. Overall, it was found that teacher-student relationships have an impact on student behavior, …
Food Justice And Urban Agriculture: Using City Spaces To Foster Equity, Jessica Giese
Food Justice And Urban Agriculture: Using City Spaces To Foster Equity, Jessica Giese
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
In an increasingly urban society, urban agriculture creates opportunities to address inequalities in access to healthy foods and bridge gaps in our food systems. While solving the problems of food and environmental injustice demands large-scale changes at a systemic level, urban agriculture can promote community engagement, education, and sovereignty, empowering city residents to gain control over their resources and access to nutritious foods. This research seeks to explain how two very different urban agricultural projects are impacting their communities through access, engagement, and education. Intersections Food Forest is a neighborhood project that utilizes an empty city lot to cultivate perennial …
Social Presence Theory: Creating Engaging And Strong Online Learning Communities At The K-12 Level, Abigail Amundson
Social Presence Theory: Creating Engaging And Strong Online Learning Communities At The K-12 Level, Abigail Amundson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Social presence theory is “the degree to which a person is perceived as a real person in mediated communication” (Gunawardena, 1995). Enhancing student’s perception of social presence increases instructional effectiveness and learning in an online learning environment. To increase perceived social presence, teachers must use techniques and interaction skills to build an online classroom community. There is not a lot of research on social presence theory in K-12 online learning environments so the purpose of this study was to find tools and strategies that create a strong online learning environments and to find if there is a relation between social …
The Impact Of Home Language Maintenance And Acculturation Gaps Amongst Somali-American Families, Morgyn Wade
The Impact Of Home Language Maintenance And Acculturation Gaps Amongst Somali-American Families, Morgyn Wade
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this thesis was: What impact does home language maintenance and acculturation gaps have on Somali-American families? The purpose was to understand the impact of language loss and acculturation gaps and to see what teachers and others could do to help encourage home language maintenance amongst Somali-American families. It discusses previous research in the field; such as Brown and Carpenter’s (2018) study of a community of Somali-Americans in Barron, Wisconsin, and Gonzalez and Mendez-Pounds’(2018) study on Mexican-American families and parents’ approaches to home language maintenance. In addition, this thesis explores the various connections between language, culture, …
Impacts Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Strategies Programs On Educator Practices, Charles O’Donnell
Impacts Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Strategies Programs On Educator Practices, Charles O’Donnell
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Positive Behavior Interventions and Strategies has been a driving force in reshaping educator responses to student behavior and promoting equity since 1997. As a non-prescriptive initiative that varies across settings, implementation styles and effectiveness can also appear differently. In its overall aim to keep students out of the school-to-prison pipeline and promote positive behavior management techniques over punitive ones, PBIS has caused many educators to re-evaluate old attitudes about school discipline and learn new, more effective and equitable strategies to set students on the path to greater behavioral self-management and success. This action research encapsulates educator attitudes about PBIS on …
Teacher Participation In Extracurricular Activities: The Effect On School Culture, Mikayla Hensch
Teacher Participation In Extracurricular Activities: The Effect On School Culture, Mikayla Hensch
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
How does teacher involvement in extracurricular activities affect overall school culture in high schools? This case study sought to examine high school teachers’ perceptions about their participation (or lack thereof) in extracurricular activities as well as their perceptions about whether participation in extracurricular activities has an impact on school culture. Using a mixed-methods approach, data revealed that teachers see their own extracurricular involvement as a positive way to build relationships with their students and that participating in extracurricular activities could be a beneficial way to build a positive school culture. However, teachers often struggle to participate due to time constraints …
Student Affective And Cognitive Environments In A Classical School, Ryan Meaney
Student Affective And Cognitive Environments In A Classical School, Ryan Meaney
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone thesis used a qualitative research approach to answer the question of how middle school students in a classical education setting described their affective and cognitive environments. Students in a classical school have different standards and expectations, as the school approach and philosophy are somewhat different than other public schools. The purpose of this thesis question was to see how students felt both emotionally and academically about being in this classical environment. The literature review that accompanied this thesis touched on each aspect of the question individually. Studies on student affective and cognitive environments displayed the role that student …
Examining Group Dynamics Of High School Adminstrative [Sic] Teams: How Individual And Group Leadership Traits Foster Integration Of Ideas And Actions In Learning Organizations, Steven Brady
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation examines the complexity of leadership teamwork and focuses on high school administration teams. These teams are complex and support multiple stakeholders throughout their educational institutions. The primary purpose of this study is to understand how high school administration teams construct strong group dynamics that foster integration of ideas and actions across a learning organization. The secondary focus is understanding leadership traits that teams and individual leaders of high school administration teams possess and how teams utilize communication to support effective leadership teams. The study analyzed high school administration teams, of three or more members, looking at the team …
Effects Of Evaluative Praise Versus Behavior Descriptive Praise On Intrinsic Motivation And Behavior, Stacie Mccormack
Effects Of Evaluative Praise Versus Behavior Descriptive Praise On Intrinsic Motivation And Behavior, Stacie Mccormack
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The author’s research inquiry was: what is the impact of behavior descriptive praise and evaluative praise on intrinsic student motivation and behavior? The literature states that using evaluative praise can cause a ‘fixed mindset’ where a child is fearful of trying new tasks, and confused on the desired behavior of the educator. Moreover using behavior descriptive praise allows children to view effort and working hard a positive aspect of learning, while the educator is able to easily establish clear expectations for the students. This study took place over a four month period with two different third grade art classes. Through …
School Uniform Requirements: Effects On Student Academic Performance, Elizabeth Brobeck
School Uniform Requirements: Effects On Student Academic Performance, Elizabeth Brobeck
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone and subsequent case study were: Do school uniform requirements have an effect on overall student academic performance at one area charter school? In order to gain insight into the complex topic of uniforms, a literature review was conducted. Topics explored included worldwide perspectives on school uniforms, school uniforms in American public schools, the various reasons for and against uniform implementation, and the factors that comprise academic achievement. Upon completing a literature review, a case study was conducted at an area K-8 charter school. The author used a mainly qualitative approach to the case …
Educator Reaction To Secondary Students Having Leadership Roles, Noel R. Cronin
Educator Reaction To Secondary Students Having Leadership Roles, Noel R. Cronin
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how do a diverse group of educators react to the idea of assigning secondary students leadership roles in teaching their peers and communicating information in the classroom environment? This capstone used a qualitative research design. An anonymous electronic survey was sent out via Survey Monkey to eighty participants. A total of forty were included in the analyses. The survey gathered information from five groups of educators. These included secondary teachers, military officers, flight instructors, coaches, and corporate trainers. Data analyses calculated the mean, median, and mode for each survey question. The mean …
Sense Of Belonging And Community In An Alternative Education Program: Perceptions Of Former Graduates And Teachers, Elizabeth A. Janey
Sense Of Belonging And Community In An Alternative Education Program: Perceptions Of Former Graduates And Teachers, Elizabeth A. Janey
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
A qualitative research design was used to inform the question: How do graduates and educators in a former alternative education program describe their sense of community and how did it inform their experiences? Four graduates and four educators, as members of an alternative education program, participated in semi-structured interviews. All participants were White. This study used the central concepts of two motivational theories: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory and self-determination theory as analytical frameworks. Six themes emerged from these eight interviews. These themes identify the importance of meeting students’ basic needs, especially their need for community and belonging. Results of …
How Can An Advisory Program Be Implemented Into The Structure Of A Large Suburban High School To Foster Academic Success In Ninth-Grade Students?, Andrew Mccluskey
How Can An Advisory Program Be Implemented Into The Structure Of A Large Suburban High School To Foster Academic Success In Ninth-Grade Students?, Andrew Mccluskey
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can an advisory program be implemented into the structure of a large suburban high school to foster academic success in ninth-grade students? It documents the process from initial failed effort to the completion of a research-based design of an ideal advisory program for a large suburban school in the Midwest. Drawing on research from a wide range of sources and through interviews with teachers of students grades 9-12 the author constructs a well informed program design aimed at creating support structures to help students through the difficult transition from eight to …
Impact Of Mindset Interventions During Morning Meeting On Student Motivation And Classroom Community, Megan Schoaf
Impact Of Mindset Interventions During Morning Meeting On Student Motivation And Classroom Community, Megan Schoaf
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The(research(question(addressed(is what impact do mindset interventions during Morning Meeting have on students’ motivation and building community in a kindergarten classroom? It studies the work of Carol Dweck and other researchers who have theorized that the human mindset can play a pivotal role in motivation to learn and persevere past challenges. It also examines the effects of teaching about the brain and how the brain can grow and change with effort and persistence. The author used a qualitative method of study using interviews, anecdotal notes, and classroom observations to obtain perspective of preliminary mindsets and mindsets at the end of the …
Building Capacity: How A Local Government Agency Can Support Partners In Offering Environmental Education For Youth, Alisa Reckinger
Building Capacity: How A Local Government Agency Can Support Partners In Offering Environmental Education For Youth, Alisa Reckinger
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This project addressed the research question: what are the most effective strategies for a local government agency to support partner organizations in implementing environmental education for youth? Environmental education partners from a large county in Minnesota participated in group conversations to explore questions related to the definition of, benefits of, barriers to and strategies for environmental education. Additional research methods included a pre-questionnaire to learn more about the group conversation participants and an online survey to get broader participations and prioritize the goals, key elements, topics, benefits, barriers and strategies for environmental education. The project results were compared to information …
Connecting Environmental Stewardship, Youth Development, And Community Engagement, Through A Student-Centered Pollinator Curriculum, Elizabeth Huerta Ortiz
Connecting Environmental Stewardship, Youth Development, And Community Engagement, Through A Student-Centered Pollinator Curriculum, Elizabeth Huerta Ortiz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The goal of this capstone was to find the means to engage inner city youth in outdoor experiences that would help them form a deep connection to nature. The research question that I focused on was: how can national parks, native plant nurseries, and school districts work together to inspire inner city youth to become active stewards of the natural world? The analysis of the literature review guided me to find one possible answer, which is to develop and implement a student-centered pollinator curriculum in partnership with the national parks, native plant nurseries, and school districts. The pollinator curriculum is …
A Family Literacy Approach In A Second Grade Classroom, Katie R. Coder
A Family Literacy Approach In A Second Grade Classroom, Katie R. Coder
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how does a family literacy approach affect students reading comprehension growth in a second grade classroom? It documents one teacher’s creation of a before and after school family literacy program. The family literacy program focused on teaching students and families explicit reading comprehension strategies that were being used in the classroom. The author documents the research analyzed that led to the creation of a family literacy program based on the parent involvement family literacy model. The author describes the implementation of the program and concludes that: 1) using a family literacy approach …
How Can A Self-Esteem Curriculum In A Mathematics Classroom Increase The Confidence And Ability Of Female Students?, Shelly Jean Chermack
How Can A Self-Esteem Curriculum In A Mathematics Classroom Increase The Confidence And Ability Of Female Students?, Shelly Jean Chermack
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The teacher in this research decided to look at both single-sex groups and self-esteem curriculum and how they can help female students’ confidence, self-esteem, self-concept, and math grades or ability. Over the course of a quarter, the teacher incorporated self-esteem and community building activities that are identified and the subjects (high school geometry students) were given pre- and post-assessments as well as surveys to assess their emotional states in terms of selfesteem and self-concept. The participants were given surveys at the beginning and the end of the research and comparisons were sought between the two surveys.
What Makes A Veteran-Friendly College Or University Campus?, Donald W-R Allen
What Makes A Veteran-Friendly College Or University Campus?, Donald W-R Allen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The United States Armed Services has produced some of the finest men and women soldiers in history. After their service, some pursue institutions of higher learning to meet the needs of their continued excellence. Some colleges and universities have failed to meet the slightest requirements of the veteran student: understanding, compassion, respect and college credits for military training and experiential learning. The chapters inside this capstone confirms that veterans must be accepted as a very important part of the campus population. When veteran’s complete college and graduate, they have strategically and successfully completed another important undertaking. To look at a …
Effects Of Incorporating Multiculturalism In A High School Civics Classroom For Increased Student Interest And Engagement, Alison Beatt Ellertson
Effects Of Incorporating Multiculturalism In A High School Civics Classroom For Increased Student Interest And Engagement, Alison Beatt Ellertson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this study is, what are the effects of incorporating multiculturalism in a high school civics classroom for increased student interest and engagement? This action research study was conducted in a ninth grade civics classroom over the course of three weeks and in three separate class periods. There were 85 students included in the research. Students were observed, interviewed and participated in a survey. The research compared a unit that had limited multicultural elements to a unit that fit a multicultural framework and curriculum. Findings suggest that relevancy is key to keeping students interest and introducing …
Expeditionary Learning Curriculum For The Seventh Grade Classroom, Nora Denise Krings
Expeditionary Learning Curriculum For The Seventh Grade Classroom, Nora Denise Krings
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how are the components of Expeditionary Learning used to design an interdisciplinary, project-based expedition at a middle school grade level? It documents the creation of an interdisciplinary unit for a seventh grade classroom using components from Expeditionary Learning. The author uses research on Expeditionary Learning and related educational philosophies to incorporate different structures and components into the design of the curriculum. The unit includes such components as community connections, fieldwork and case studies. It also outlines different classroom structures and protocols that can be used to deliver instruction. The capstone documents some …
An Analysis Of English Language Learning Needs For Latino Adults Associated With A Church Outreach Program, Ellen Elizabeth Keesling
An Analysis Of English Language Learning Needs For Latino Adults Associated With A Church Outreach Program, Ellen Elizabeth Keesling
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to examine the English language learning needs of Latino adults in a rural suburb of a large metropolitan area in the Midwest United States. Participants in the research are primarily of Mexican heritage, ranging in age from 20 to 62. The target population for this study is Latino adults associated with a local church outreach program who are not currently attending ESL classes. Barriers to attending existing ESL classes are identified and hypothetical scenarios for community-based, family-oriented programs are investigated. Data were collected primarily from personal interviews with seven Latino adults who act as …
Using Critical Literacy To Build Community Among Minority Adolescents, Julia Quinn Moe
Using Critical Literacy To Build Community Among Minority Adolescents, Julia Quinn Moe
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Studies continue to show the alarming achievement gap between white and minority students throughout the United States. The purpose of this capstone was to explore how critical literacy can be used to build classroom community among minority adolescents, with the intention of helping diverse learners feel successful in school. Included is research on the effectiveness of and how to use critical literacy practices, the importance of building community in the secondary classroom, and the state of minority education as a whole, encompassing the unique difficulties encountered by minority students in a primarily white school. Three major themes emerged from the …
What Makes An Effective Bullying Prevention Program In Urban Middle Schools?, Diane Louise Durnick
What Makes An Effective Bullying Prevention Program In Urban Middle Schools?, Diane Louise Durnick
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to investigate anti-bullying curriculums and programs available for middle schools to reduce bullying behaviors among students. Research involved identifying what has been proven to reduce bullying behaviors in schools, as well as, what students say best reduces bully behaviors at school. The curriculums were then evaluated against proven best practices, and a whole-school plan was created to apply at an urban middle school incorporating the best strategies to be most effective in reducing bullying behaviors.
Speaking And Pronunciation Confidence Of Middle School Esl Students At Various Proficiency Levels, Marian Rose Gagliardi
Speaking And Pronunciation Confidence Of Middle School Esl Students At Various Proficiency Levels, Marian Rose Gagliardi
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Speaking and pronunciation confidence can aid a student’s ability to participate and learn in the classroom. This study investigated middle school English as a Second Language (ESL) students’ perceptions of their speaking and pronunciation confidence in relationship to their overall and speaking English proficiency levels. Although there are many adults and some teenagers who confess to the desire for more confidence in their speaking and pronunciation, there is little to no information about middle school students in this regard. The data collected for this research was through a two part survey, which included statements for students to rate their opinions, …
Exploring The Implementation Of Project-Based Learning At An Alternative High School, Mairead Kathleen Beane
Exploring The Implementation Of Project-Based Learning At An Alternative High School, Mairead Kathleen Beane
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research questions addressed in this project were: What are teachers’ and administrators’ experiences with implementing a project-based learning curriculum in their high school? And, what are students’ experiences of participating in a project-based learning curriculum in their high school? The author documents the necessity and rational of using a project-based learning approach in secondary schools. She documents one specific school’s early implementation of project-based learning pedagogy: its perceived successes and failures from teachers and students. In a time of high stakes testing and school accountability, the author concludes that project-based learning is a viable and valuable option for secondary …
Graduate Students’ Perceptions Of Sense Of Community And Contributing Factors, Amy Lynn Watters
Graduate Students’ Perceptions Of Sense Of Community And Contributing Factors, Amy Lynn Watters
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Research indicates that a strong sense of community has many benefits for the learner, including increased engagement, persistence, satisfaction, and perceived learning. The growth of online learning requires that effective strategies be identified to establish a strong sense of community in a virtual environment. This mixed method study investigated the following primary and secondary question: What are graduate students’ perceptions regarding sense of community in the online graduate programs at a small, private college? What contributes to graduate students’ sense of community in the online graduate programs at a small, private college? A quantitative survey using Likert-type questions was sent …
How Does The Current Educational Climate Impact The Teacher’S Ability To Build And Maintain Quality Teacher Student Relationships?, Kymberly Nicole Saba
How Does The Current Educational Climate Impact The Teacher’S Ability To Build And Maintain Quality Teacher Student Relationships?, Kymberly Nicole Saba
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this study was, how does the current educational climate impact the teacher’s ability to build and maintain quality teacher student relationships? The motivating factor for this capstone was that while research has shown that the teacher student relationship has a positive impact on student achievement the current trend is to focus on assessments. This study looked at the student teacher relationship from the perspective of the teacher. The author surveyed teachers from a k-6 elementary school and found while teachers do feel that the teacher student relationship is important they felt that there is limited …