Education Commons^™

Are We Prepared? Analyzing Active Shooter Policy Accessibility In New Jersey Institutions Of Higher Education, William G. Petrovey

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The research in this dissertation was conducted to measure the accessibility, presentation, and format of active shooter protocol for college faculty and staff at institutions of higher education in the state of New Jersey. The study further explores the need for availability of active shooter policy given the unfortunate growing problem of active shooters taking place at institutions of higher education across the country. Since the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, the New Jersey Ccampus Ssecurity Ttask Fforce [AS1] made recommendations to then Governor Corzine’s administration. Institutions of higher education have since embraced active shooter protocol from various source materials …

Use Of One-To-One Devices In An Urban School District, Barbara Lewis Mccarthy

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This is a qualitative mixed-methods study of an urban school district in New Jersey. A survey of teachers explored their past and current practices with regard to the use of classroom technology, in particular one-to-one devices; and an interview with the district supervisor for educational technology provided detailed information about district plans during and after the shutdown of schools in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pivot to remote learning during the shutdown forced teachers to learn new technological skills and helped them gain confidence in those skills. Many teachers continue to use these skills in the classroom since …

Physical Therapists Clinical Instructors Perceptions, Practices And Experience When Supervising An Underperforming Student In Clinical Education, Ruth Lyons Hansen

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Physical Therapist (PT) clinical instructors’ (CIs) perceptions, practices, and experiences when supervising an underperforming student.

Background: The experience of supervising an underperforming student (UPS) in clinical education and failure to fail (FTF) are described in health professions such as nursing and medicine but there is little description of it in Physical Therapist (PT) clinical education.

Purpose: To explore the PT clinical instructors’ (CIs) perceptions, practices and experience when supervising an under-performing student, and to determine if failure to fail exists in PT clinical education and if so, what organizational, personal, and demographic factors may be related to it.

Methods: …

Parental Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Synchronous And Asynchronous Online Learning At An Urban/Suburban Elementary School During Covid-19, Bracken Healy

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The aim of this qualitative research study was to examine parents’ perceptions of the effectiveness of synchronous and asynchronous online learning at an urban/suburban elementary school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second goal of this research study was to add to the literature on online learning models through gathering valuable information regarding synchronous and asynchronous online instructional models. The following 3 major themes emerged during the data collection phase of this study: quality of instruction, parental support, and student motivation. Parents overwhelming believed that the quality of instruction was far superior in fall 2020 when the school employed a live …

Faculty, Ferpa, And Covid-19, Marina Kaplan-Iosim

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This qualitative case study was conducted to understand the experiences of ten faculty participants at a private, not-for-profit, 4-year degree-granting, high research institution located in the Northeast United States, who needed to change from in-person instruction to remote teaching due to COVID-19 during Spring 2020, as they prepared to protect student privacy while teaching online. In addition, this study sought to better understand how faculty were protecting and sharing student data, PII, and other personal information during that time. Data for this study was collected through semi-structured interviews. Narrative methods informed my choice of interviewing because this method provided a …

Effectiveness Of Music-Infused Aba Strategies On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Josephine A. Sodano

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Given the nationwide increase in the diagnosis of autism, particularly in the pediatric population, there is obvious value in examining the effectiveness of intervention methods. This research sought to examine the effectiveness of a music-infused approach combined with Applied Behavioral Analysis methodology. The exploratory mixed method design pilot study examined and comprehended the narratives of special education early childhood teachers assigned and trained to deliver a music-infused intervention program within a natural self-contained Applied Behavioral Analysis program, five days a week, 20 minutes a day, for a duration of 6 weeks to a population of ten preschool students, ages 3-5, …

The Intersection Of Student Engagement And Student Achievement: A Study To Determine The Strength Of The Relationship Between The Level Of Athletic Participation And Student Achievement, Matthew Kukoda

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between high school students’ athletics participation, mediated by engagement, and their academic achievement. The study sought to determine if increased athletics participation, and a self-reported increased sense of engagement at school, resulted in higher SAT test scores for high school students. In addition to this, predicators of race and gender were also incorporated into the statistical analysis of the relationship between sports participation and SAT scores. Using the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), this study analyzed the survey respondents scale of student engagement, participation in organized sports and …

Toward A Critical Career Development For African American Men Undergraduate Students At Predominantly White Institutions: Perceptions Of The Influence Of Race In The College-To-Career Transition, Kyle Younger

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This paper studied the college-to-career transitions of African American undergraduate students who are studying in predominantly White institutions (PWIs). African American men have had to fight for their inherent rights because historically, they had been denied the chance to pursue their own personal choices because of their skin color. Their social marginalization has resulted in economic disadvantages. Access to education has also been less than the dominant race. Gaps continue to exist between African Americans and Whites in terms of graduation rates and other post-graduate outcomes and labor market outcomes. The college-to-career transition of African American men has also been …

Persistence Without Resistance: An Exploration Of First-Generation College Students In A Structured Support Program, Naima K. Ricks

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

First-generation college students make up one-third of the undergraduate population of college students in the United States. It is essential to understand all aspects of a first-generation student, their desire to persist in college, and their experiences while in college. Once they are enrolled in college, first-generation students will need additional help and support to guide them throughout this life-changing experience. This study explored the experiences of 13 students enrolled in a program that is specifically designed for supporting first-generation college students academically and socially.

The study used a narrative qualitative research approach. The participants were interviewed to explore their …

Understanding Which College Academic And Social Integration Factors Are Important In Predicting First-Generation College Students’ Retention In The First Year, Nicole Battaglia

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Retention concerns remain high for postsecondary institutions and even more so when focusing on populations such as those who are the first in the family to attend college, first-generation college students. First-generation students account for 34% of the collegiate population, yet 40% of first-generation students do not return for their sophomore year. While prior theoretical frameworks and research points to academic and social integration as key indicators of retention, first-generation students are less likely to integrate into their institution. First-generation students are about 30% less likely compared to their continuing generation peers to be integrated at all on campus.

Utilizing …

The Conditions For Success: How The Future Search Conference Method Uses Dialogue To Spur Stakeholder Integration, Daniel Bender

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

A Future Search (FS) Conference is a systems based large group intervention that utilizes a dialogue process among interdependent stakeholders to analyze the past, understand the present, envision a better future, and agree to action plans to work towards the desired future. This study uses an instrumental case study design (Stake, 1995) to consider two education-based future-oriented conferences to understand the real-life applicability of the conditions for success framework by Weisbord and Janoff (2010). Participants’ perceptions of the action research conferences were positive. The framework illustrated factors related to the core principle of getting the “whole system” in the room …

The Madness Of March: A Quantitative Look At Cinderella Stories In The Ncaa Division I Men’S Basketball Tournament, Joseph J. Fresco

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study looked to determine if being classified as a Cinderella Story team in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, led to a statistically significant change in NCAA Division I men’s basketball spending for that team’s respective institution one, two, and three years after being labeled. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of men’s basketball spending on teams that are Cinderella Stories in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. It aims to understand how spending differs between athletic programs whose characteristics mirror those of Cinderella Stories and how expenses change before …

Acculturation Of Hispanics/Latinos And Its Impact On Public Relations Through The Framework Of Secondary Research, Angela Trejos - Villacres

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Hispanics and Latinos are the largest growing minority in the United States. Despite this, they are less likely to be targeted for public relations (PR) campaigns. Through secondary research of previous literature on the subject, it was established that PR does not implement strategies to address this population successfully. This project aimed to investigate the importance of acculturation, cultural representation, language, and media selection for effective PR practices. Then, a modified PR model was presented for professionals to adopt while targeting this ethnic group.

Academic Advising, Academic Integration And First Year African American College Student Intention To Persist, Cassandra Graham

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The U.S. college persistence rate for African American students, remains lowest in comparison to other race/ethnicities. Academic advising and other forms of academic integration are emphasized in prior research as associated with positively influencing persistence outcomes. However, a gap exists in the literature regarding their impact for four-year African American students and success factors for persistence of these students. Existing academic advisement studies are primarily institutional with a small sample size, as opposed to a national sample, and very few are focused on quantitative data analysis.

Therefore, through the analysis of national data from the 2018 National Survey of Student …

Career Outcomes Of International Master's Recipients From Chinese Institutions: A Study Of Students From Three Asean States, Yanhao Wang

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As the third largest destination country for international postsecondary students, China has received nearly 500,000 international students, and more than 20% of them are from ASEAN member states (Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, 2019). Compared to students from Western society, most ASEAN students are from developing countries and may have stronger needs to generate career benefits via studying abroad. ASEAN students in China and their career outcomes, however, have been always overlooked in existing research.

In this qualitative study, I applied Human Capital Theory (HCT) and Neo Racism Theory (NRT) to investigate the career outcomes of graduated ASEAN students …

A Quantitative Study On The Relationship Between Students' Perceptions Of School Safety And Academic Outcomes In New York City High Schools, Candyce Edwards-Allen

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the 2019 New York City school climate mean safety scores and high school students' academic achievement as measured by the New York State Regents exam mean scores for the 2019 academic school year. This study was conducted utilizing a non-experimental, cross-sectional, explanatory design with quantitative methods to examine the relationship between perceptions of school safety and academic achievement while controlling for the school-level demographics of race, gender, students with disabilities (SWD), English Language Learners (ELL), and the Economic Need Index (ENI) as defined by New York City.

This study …

Exploring Associations Between Self-Concept, Ideal Self, And Assessment Practices Of High School Science Teachers, Jeffrey Celebre

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Despite being faced with major barriers to overcome, local school districts and teachers must work to align their instructional practices in science and their assessment practices to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science (NJSLS-Science). As described in the literature, a three-dimensional approach to assessment design is one of the qualities considered the model for a true and authentic measurement of student aptitude in science. As teachers work to understand NGSS alignment and their ability to meet alignment standards as an assessor while designing and implementing NGSS-aligned assessments, they will undoubtedly encounter …

Black Female Higher Education Administrators: A Perspective On The Influence Of Microaggression On Work Engagement, Renee Ojo-Ohikuare

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of gender and racial microaggressions and how those experiences impact work engagement from the perspective of the Black woman higher education administrator. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Black women with current professional mid- or senior-level administrative positions in higher education institutions who had personal experiences of microaggression in the workplace and its impact on work engagement. A phenomenological methodology was used to reveal the lived experiences of these women. The results of the analysis uncovered six themes that described the experiences of microaggressions, the stereotypes of Black women, impacts …

How Important Are Accommodations? Examining The Retention Of Students With Specific Learning Disabilities In Higher Education, Donna Stanic

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Students with disabilities are entering higher education at higher rates than ever before. However, the retention rates of these students are disproportionately low compared to peers without disabilities. More so, students with learning disabilities are less likely to be retained compared to those with other types of disabilities. This study sought to examine the factors that influence first to second year retention of students with disabilities, specifically those with learning disabilities. Among these factors, the study placed a specific focus on the use of accommodations. Utilizing data from the High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS:09), descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted …

The Impact Of Teacher And Student Racial And Ethnic Matching On Student Outcomes: A Quantitative Study, Daryl Minus-Vincent

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study aimed to investigate the predictive relationship of teacher race on student outcomes in New Jersey public schools, as measured by the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), chronic absenteeism, and graduation rates. Specifically, the relationship between teacher and student race matching with Black students, the schoolwide population of students, and a subset of urban schools was examined. The study investigated the potential of race matching to address the problem of racial and ethnic student achievement gaps. Studies indicate that pairing students with teachers with whom they share the same race and ethnicity can lead to increased cultural understanding …

The Relationship Of Instructional Time On High School Students' Mathematical Achievement In The State Of New Jersey, Natalie Diaz

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This non-experimental quantitative study sought to analyze the relationship between instructional time and high school students' mathematical achievement as measured by the 2019 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) for Algebra 1. In addition to determining to which extent the district factor groups (DFGs) affect the relationship between instructional time on the performance of high school students on the 2019 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) for Algebra 1 when controlling for staff, student, and school variables. The 2018–2019 NJDOE Performance Report provided the variables used in this study. The unit of analysis was public high schools in New Jersey …

"It's A Part Of Who We Are" New Jersey Superintendents' Understandings Of And Approaches To Culturally Responsive District-Level Leadership, Danielle F. Mastrogiovanni

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

A narrative study was used to examine the perspectives and experiences of Superintendents working towards educational justice by addressing the inequities found in schools. Data was collected through a series of semi-structured interviews representing a diverse participant pool of 23 superintendents and assistant superintendents who were currently employed in public school districts throughout the state of New Jersey. Using a primarily deductive coding scheme, the data was analyzed around the tenets of culturally responsive pedagogy and leadership.

Many participants described having impactful experiences as children that subsequently influenced their initial decision to become educators, as well as their leadership practices. …

Care Through The Lens Of Special Education Teachers, Lisa Vale Rebimbas

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Through the theoretical lens of care, this qualitative case study explored special education teachers’ perceptions of how they exhibit care and key factors that support or threaten their enactment of care. Interview and lesson plan data sources were collected from six middle and high school special education teachers in a high performing New Jersey district and analyzed using a priori and descriptive coding strategies for thematic generation. Key findings were teachers perceived academic success as multifaceted, teachers perceived care as interactive, relational, and intentional. They identified organizational factors such as professional learning communities (PLCs) and leadership as supports for care …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of An Alternative Evaluation Model, Karen A. Chase

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The body of research shows the importance of teacher effectiveness on student achievement. To ensure teacher effectiveness, states have enacted legislation that governs the processes for teacher evaluation. However, these systems have not proven to be as effective as once anticipated. One of the flaws pertains to the evaluation system’s inability to differentiate feedback based on teacher ability. For this reason, the New Jersey Department of Education has provided school districts the option to use an alternative evaluation model, The Reflective Practice Protocol. This option is available to teachers who have been rated as highly effective. The purpose of this …

Three Paper Dissertation: Mooc Participation And Experiences Of Women Learners, Kinta Montilus

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Through three distinct investigations, this dissertation provides a unique approach to investigating the engagement of women in MOOCs. According to previous MOOC research, not only 10% of learners who enroll in the course complete it, but the majority of these students appear to be men (Christensen et al., 2013). Women's participation in MOOCs is generally low, but it varies greatly depending on whether the course is STEM or non-STEM (i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics courses—STEM). The first study examines gender participation patterns in STEM and non-STEM MOOCs using data from existing MOOC platforms. The second research study looked at …

Teacher Perceptions Of Transformational Leadership Practices In Urban Charter Middle Schools, Michelle Anderson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Schools today are facing unprecedented demands for school accountability and student achievement. Effective school leadership is recognized as a critical component for overall school success. Consequently, researchers have extensively explored school leadership and identified transformational leadership as an appropriate style for schools (Leithwood, 1992; Hallinger & Heck, 1996; and Jantzi & Leithwood, 1996). According to Burns (1978), transformational leadership is a process in which “leaders and followers help each other to advance to a higher level of morale and motivation.” Transformational leadership is defined as an approach designed to cause change in individuals and social systems. This study explores …

Levels Of Influence: How Teacher Self-Efficacy Reflects Individual, School, And Country Level Variables, Rachel B. Goldberg

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study investigates relationships between teacher self-efficacy and associated factors not previously studied at an international level. This study used the data gathered through the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assessment conducted in 2018, with an initial sample size of 107,367 participating teachers from 6,128 schools across 19 countries to gain a global perspective regarding the individual and environmental factors that impact teacher self-efficacy. A blocked hierarchical regression model was chosen to support the theoretical structure of the analysis by examining the relationships between three levels of independent variables and teacher self-efficacy. The model predicted over 30 percent of …

Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions Of Assessment Literacy In A High Performing School District In New Jersey, Marlena Celebre-Baird

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As teachers gain experience, their assessment knowledge base, personal beliefs, and the educational context come together to shape their identity as an assessor. Therefore, assessment literacy is not simply a stagnant knowledge base of skills but rather that takes shape over time, through reflective teaching continues to develop. This study sought to add to the body of research that highlights and describes, through the lens of the teacher, how beliefs and contextual factors influence a teachers’ assessment literacy in practice.

A qualitative case study methodology was selected for this study to explore how elementary K–5 teachers’ personal beliefs play a …

Principal Perceptions Of Ohio's Edchoice Scholarship Program And The Effect On Time Usage, Adam J. Dufault

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Voucher programs are an important, though controversial, part of the education landscape in Ohio. This study explored the experience of Catholic school principals in Ohio whose schools have participated in the EdChoice Scholarship program. This study employed the lens of principal time usage to examine the experiences of Ohio Catholic school principals with EdChoice. The study focused on the direct experiences of principals participating in the program, the principal’s role in the supervisory aspects of operating the program at a school, and on the connections between workload and principal perceptions of the EdChoice program. This inductive study was designed as …

Teachers’ Perspectives On How One-To-One Devices Influence Their English Language Learners’ Academic Experience, Christine Jimenez-Johnson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) continues to grow in classrooms across school districts, educators continue to seek innovative instructional methods to increase ELLs’ learning outcomes. Technological applications and devices are changing the way society communicates and collaborates, and school districts are incorporating different technologies to enhance teaching and learning. More so, technological devices are increasingly being used to enhance the learning experiences of ELLs and are changing the way teachers are teaching English language instruction.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives on how one-to-one devices influence ELLs’ academic experiences. The population included …