Education Commons^™

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Successful Instructional Strategies To Improve The Language Arts Proficiency Of Third Grade African American Boys, Kristen Elena Gregg

Theses and Dissertations

The qualitative study examined instructional strategies that supported the academic achievement of African American boys. These are needed to increase reading proficiency. The study explored how K-6 teachers describe the unique academic needs of African American boys and the instructional strategies and activities teachers used to meet those needs to influence reading growth within the United States.

The study's theoretical foundation is guided by Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory. The qualitative study explored whether teachers’ perceptions of pedagogical strategies they use when teaching reading and language arts. The qualitative study identified what instructional strategies teachers find most successful when attempting to …

Factores Que Inciden En Docentes Para Integrar Competencias Digitales En La Enseñanza De Educación Agrícola En Escuelas Del Norte De Puerto Rico, Adiris Román Vázquez

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudio indagó si los docentes de cursos de Educación Agrícola en escuelas públicas de la región Norte de Puerto Rico poseen competencias digitales y dominio de la tecnología para integrarlas en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Se trabajó un enfoque cuantitativo con diseño no experimental descriptivo y correlacional. Se implementó en escuelas de la región norte, de Puerto Rico. La muestra seleccionada fue no probabilística conformada por 35 docentes del programa de educación agrícola. Para medir las competencias se implementó un cuestionario dirigido a medir las competencias digitales, aceptación y factores de uso de la tecnología en el proceso de …

Problemas Del Habla Y Lenguaje En Niños Menores De Cinco Años A Causa De La Pandemia Del Covid-19, Taisha M. Serrano Vargas

Theses and Dissertations

La disertación se centró en el impacto de la pandemia del COVID-19 en el desarrollo del habla y lenguaje en niños menores de cinco años en Puerto Rico. Se investigó cómo las restricciones de socialización y las alteraciones en las rutinas cotidianas pudieron contribuir a problemas de comunicación en esta población. El aumento en el uso de tecnologías y la disminución de interacciones cara a cara, debido a las medidas de distanciamiento social y cuarentenas, estuvieron asociados con retrasos en el desarrollo lingüístico de los niños.

El propósito de esta investigación fue identificar y documentar las posibles consecuencias que la …

A Front-End Analysis Of Teacher Retention At A High Poverty K-5 Public School, Nicole Gray

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the experiences of educators impacted by teacher retention issues at a high-poverty K-5 public school. Researchers have studied the decline in individuals entering into the education profession as well as the high rates of individuals exiting the profession. With individuals leaving the profession at high rates, and not enough entering to replace those that are leaving, there is now a massive shortage with not enough teachers to meet the needs of students in public schools. The few individuals that are entering into the profession are not being retained, especially at high-poverty schools. This study explored the thoughts …

Implementing Effective Reading Strategies To Improve Reading Comprehension Among Minority Students, Mirlene Georges Moreau

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teachers' perceptions of instructional strategies used to support reading comprehension among minority middle school students. The purpose of the quantitative, non-experimental correlational study was to examine relationships among teacher-reported instructional strategies, differentiated instruction, culturally responsive teaching practices, and perceived student reading comprehension outcomes. Because the study relied on survey perception data rather than direct achievement data or experimental intervention, findings were interpreted as associations rather than causal evidence. Data were collected through a researcher-developed survey administered to middle school English Language Arts, ESOL, and reading teachers. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) summarized demographics …

Cultural Heritage Curriculum And Student Identity Development: A Mixed-Methods Study, Alexus Corley

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the influence of a cultural heritage curriculum on first-grade students’ cultural knowledge, awareness, and understandings of culture. Specifically, the study investigated the extent to which participation in a 4-week cultural heritage curriculum influenced students’ knowledge of cultural history and contemporary contributors, their understandings and perspectives about culture, and the convergence of quantitative and qualitative findings.

Using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods research design, the study was conducted with 19 first-grade students enrolled in a Title I elementary school in Central Florida. Quantitative data were collected using the researcher-developed cultural knowledge preintervention and postintervention assessment and …

Capacitación Docente Para Generación De Entorno De Aprendizaje En Alumnos De Preescolar, Thamara Pérez Barreto

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio es establecer la correlación si es que existe, entre la capacitación sobre la organización del aula preescolar y el conocimiento del docente antes y después de ser capacitados. Para ello, se utilizó una pre prueba antes de la capacitación y una posprueba después de participar en el proceso formativo. La investigación utilizó un diseño no experimental con enfoque cuantitativo de naturaleza correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta de 20 docentes de un Programa Head Start ubicado en la zona noroeste de Puerto Rico. Los participantes cuentan con alguna certificación para ejercer a nivel preescolar.

La investigadora …

Teachers’ Perceptions Towards The Impact Of Reading Plus On 10th-Grade Intensive Reading Students, Melvia Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ experiences and perceptions regarding the impact of the Reading Plus program on 10th-grade students in intensive reading courses. The research was aimed to understand how teachers perceive the program’s effectiveness in enhancing reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, as well as their reports about student engagement and the challenges and successes encountered during implementation. The data was gathered from semi structured interviews with 8 teachers with at least 2 years of experience teaching with Reading Plus in intensive reading programs. Themes for teachers' experiences were generated by inductive analysis.

Findings …

Improving Middle School Students’ Scores On Math Word Problems Through Reading Comprehension, Diane M. Burgess

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to address the poor performance of middle school students on math word problems attributed to the lack of reading comprehension skills. A review of standardized math assessments for middle school students confirmed that the greater proportion of questions is made up of word problems. Despite having strong mathematical skills, middle school students are likely to fail to find the correct solutions for math word problems. In the middle school classroom, the development of reading comprehension skills and mathematical abilities are tasks required of different teachers. Math teachers at a middle school in Florida did not …

Higher-Level Questioning In Elementary English Language Arts, Charity Zawatski

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory case study addressed the difficulty with higher-level metacognition and questioning in a primary level elementary English Language Arts. This case study was determined as a need based on underperforming scores from the state assessment in ELA.

The research method look at the social phenomenon through inquiry around the rigor in higher-level questioning and the use of hand signals to support connections in learning. The researcher applied a semi-structured interview, an observation checklist, and a random sample of student artifacts as instruments for data collection. The researcher analyzed teachers’ lesson plans for a unit, observed a virtual classroom lesson …

Análisis De Los Factores Asociados A La Valoración Docente Sobre La Integración, Regulación Y Ética De La Inteligencia Artificial En La Educación A Nivel Postsecundario En Puerto Rico, Pablo M. Colón

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue examinar los factores asociados al grado de valoración que los docentes de instituciones postsecundarias de Puerto Rico otorgan a la integración, la regulación y la aplicación ética de la inteligencia artificial (IA) en su práctica educativa. La investigación respondió a la limitada evidencia empírica disponible sobre estos factores en el contexto de la educación superior puertorriqueña, situación que dificulta el diseño de políticas institucionales y estrategias para promover el uso responsable de estas tecnologías.

Se adoptó un enfoque cuantitativo con un diseño descriptivo-correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 76 docentes de instituciones postsecundarias de …

Using Sports Performance Assessment Technologies To Help Narrow Achievement Gaps Of Black Male Adolescent With Other Racial Groups, Patavious R. Sorrell

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory qualitative collective case study explored how sports performance assessment technologies (SPATs) may support the development of self‑regulatory and motivational processes associated with self‑efficacy among Black male adolescent student‑athletes. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model, the study examined the perceptions of eight coach‑teachers in the Southeastern United States who integrated video analysis, data analytics, goal‑setting and tracking applications, wearable devices and gaming platforms, and reflective communication tools into their coaching practices.

Data were analyzed thematically, revealing three major themes: self‑regulation, self‑mastery assessment, and academic transfer. Findings indicated that SPATs were most effective when used as …

Beyond The Classroom: Examining The Relationship Between Student Engagement, Academic Motivation, And Retention, Jeanine Marie Dinardo

Theses and Dissertations

Student retention rates at community colleges have remained low across the United States in recent years. Student engagement is important because it increases motivation and improves academic performance and retention. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationships between student engagement, academic motivation, academic performance, and retention among students at a small community college in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The study was guided by self-determination theory. The sample consisted of 80 community college students. Data were collected through a questionnaire given to participants through their college email. The data were collected using SurveyMonkey and …

Percepción Y Satisfacción Laboral Del Docente Sobre El Liderazgo Escolar En Contextos De Crisis, Ricardo Cruz-Acosta

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada examinó la relación entre la percepción docente sobre el lide-razgo escolar y la satisfacción laboral en escuelas rurales de Puerto Rico durante contex-tos de crisis. El estudio respondió a la necesidad de comprender cómo las prácticas de li-derazgo influyen en el bienestar del personal docente y en la continuidad de los procesos educativos ante eventos adversos, tales como huracanes, terremotos, pandemias y fallas prolongadas en los servicios esenciales. Asimismo, se reconoció que las escuelas rurales enfrentan mayores desafíos estructurales y limitaciones de recursos, lo que incrementa la vulnerabilidad institucional y profesional del magisterio.

La investigación se sustentó …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Decline In Reading Scores Among Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Students, Brigetta Foules-Sims

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of the factors contributing to the decline in reading achievement among fourth- and fifth-grade students in a rural elementary school in a southern state. The study explored teachers’ perceptions of the causes of declining reading performance, the instructional challenges they encounter when addressing reading difficulties, and the resources and supports they believe are necessary to improve student outcomes.

Data were collected through semi structured interviews with eight certified fourth- and fifth-grade teachers. Five themes emerged from the data: (a) increasing academic demands reveal foundational reading gaps, (b) …

Embarazo Prematuro Y Abandono Escolar En Jóvenes Inmigrantes Hispanas: Estudio De Caso En Una Academia De Educación En Español, Danays Carbonell Dieguez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada tuvo como propósito explorar las experiencias de jóvenes inmigrantes hispanas que abandonaron sus estudios debido a embarazos prematuros mientras participaban en el programa Success Management Academy (SMA), una academia de educación en español ubicada en el contexto de Miami-Dade County Public Schools. El estudio se desarrolló desde un enfoque cualitativo mediante un diseño de estudio de caso, con el fin de comprender los factores personales, familiares, educativos, socioeconómicos y culturales que influyeron en la interrupción de sus trayectorias escolares.

La investigación incluyó cinco jóvenes inmigrantes hispanas provenientes de Centroamérica que estuvieron vinculadas al programa SMA y experimentaron …

Reading Achievement And Response To Intervention Participation Among Socially Promoted Elementary Students In Grades 3 To 5: A Comparative And Predictive Analysis, Paige Griffin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined reading achievement among socially promoted elementary students in Grades 3 to 5 by investigating the relationship between Response to Intervention (RTI) participation and Spring I-Ready Reading Diagnostic scaled scores. Although RTI is widely implemented as a multi-tiered framework to provide targeted instructional support for struggling readers, limited research has examined reading outcomes among socially promoted students in rural elementary schools using standardized reading assessment measures.

This quantitative, non-experimental, causal-comparative study analyzed secure, de-identified archival student data obtained following approval from the Nova Southeastern University Institutional Review Board and authorization from school district personnel. The study included …

Integración De La Inteligencia Artificial Generativa En La Enseñanza Secundaria En Prácticas Docentes En Escuelas Públicas Chárter Del Estado De La Florida, Axel R. Casillas

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación cualitativa de estudio de casos múltiples analizó cómo docentes de educación secundaria en escuelas públicas chárter de Florida interpretan los desafíos, beneficios y dilemas éticos asociados al uso de la inteligencia artificial generativa (IAG) en su práctica pedagógica. El fundamento teórico integró la Alfabetización Digital Crítica de Hinrichsen y Coombs, la Teoría de Agencia Docente, el Modelo de Aceptación Tecnológica y el marco TPACK, abordando de manera coetánea la integración instrumental, ética y pedagógica de la tecnología.

 Los hallazgos revelaron que los educadores adoptaron la IAG, primordialmente, para optimizar la eficiencia operativa, mitigar la carga burocrática y facilitar …

Estilos De Liderazgo Docente Y Perfil Académico En Educación Superior, María Del Rosario Orta De González

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada tuvo como propósito analizar las implicaciones formativas y profesionales atribuibles a la relación entre los estilos de liderazgo docente y el perfil académico de profesores universitarios. El estudio se desarrolló bajo un diseño cuantitativo, no experimental, transversal y correlacional predictivo. La muestra estuvo conformada por 40 docentes de educación superior, quienes respondieron un instrumento de autopercepción que evaluó nueve factores de liderazgo y cinco componentes del perfil académico.

Los resultados descriptivos mostraron una predominancia de prácticas asociadas al liderazgo transformacional, caracterizadas por la influencia idealizada, la motivación inspiradora, la estimulación intelectual y la consideración individualizada. Los estilos …

Exploring Excessive Absences In An Urban School Setting: Implications For Student Academic Success And High School Graduation, Tamieka Mclaughlin

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perspectives of parents and teachers regarding excessive student absenteeism in an urban high school setting and the implications of persistent absences for students' academic success and high school graduation. Excessive absenteeism remains a major challenge for schools in urban communities where children experience multiple personal, family, school and community factors that may influence attendance. Understanding how parents and teachers perceive these factors can provide insight into the experiences and challenges associated with chronic absenteeism, as well as the strategies they believe may support improved student attendance, academic success, and progress towards high school graduation. …

Preferred Practices For A Student Support Services Program To Improve Retention Of African-Caribbean Students Enrolled In U.S. Universities, Jean F. Edouard

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this research was the high attrition rate of African-Caribbean students enrolled in U.S. universities. This study aimed to ascertain preferred practices in student support services programs to improve the retention of African-Caribbean students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions. African-Caribbean students come to the United States with premigration experiences (e.g., language, cultural differences, and financial constraints). This generic qualitative study used semistructured Zoom interviews lasting 45–60 minutes with 12 African-Caribbean students who left their country of origin after age 12; interviews offered insight into their lived experiences and perceptions of U.S. higher education institutions. This study …

Analyzing Challenges Women Face In Leadership Roles In Higher Education, Ashley Saingilus

Theses and Dissertations

The applied dissertation was designed to provide an analysis of the challenges women face obtaining leadership positions in higher education. History has shown an evolution of women in the workplace. Reviewing the identified challenges provided insight while giving the opportunity for recommendations to institutions to make appropriate changes. The theoretical concept for this study centered around social congruity theory, also known as role congruity theory, providing insight as to how social views have defined roles, especially those related to gender and women. The study looked at how real life experiences align with such challenges. It also looked at how higher …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Strategic Plan Implementation: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Process And Metrics Of Success Through The Lens Of Nonprofit Leadership, Nicole L. Melendez

Theses and Dissertations

Nonprofit organizations invest significant time and financial resources into developing strategic plans that paint a vision for the organization’s future. However, research suggests that approximately 60–90% of strategic plans are not successfully implemented. As nonprofit organizations face increasing demands, understanding the factors that contribute to successful strategic plan implementation is essential.

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand the lived experiences and perceptions of nonprofit executives and board leadership regarding best practices for successful strategic plan implementation, providing insights that can assist with identifying and understanding the efficacy and impact of strategic plan initiatives within the …

Low Early Reading Skills In Children Entering Kindergarten In An Urban K-8 Center, Shelly D. Smith-Harding

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate the preparedness of kindergarten children in early reading skills, drawing comparisons from their experiences in comparable preschool programs and to gain insight about how to address the problem of low early reading skills among children entering kindergarten. Using archival data from i-Ready reading diagnostic tests over a 4-year period (2021-2022 to 2024-2025), the researcher compared students who attended an urban K-8 Center Head Start program (n=47) with students from other preschools (n=33).

The researcher conducted an independent t-test with SPSS, version 30 software, to analyze differences at the baseline (Assessment Period 1) and …

Integración De Dispositivos Móviles En El Proceso De Enseñanza En Educación Superior En Puerto Rico, Ayeisha Caraballo Caraballo

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue examinar el tipo de relación que podría existir entre las diferentes formas y usos de dispositivos móviles como innovación educativa, el conocimiento tecnológico-pedagógico y la percepción de docentes universitarios sobre la integración de estos dispositivos en el proceso de enseñanza en educación superior en el sur de Puerto Rico.

El estudio fue de tipo cuantitativo con un diseño descriptivo-correlacional. La muestra fue no probabilística y estuvo compuesta por docentes de distintas facultades de la institución en la cual se llevó a cabo esta investigación. Se administraron instrumentos de autoforme dirigidos a medir el nivel …

Experiencia Del Consejero Profesional Estableciendo Una Alianza Terapéutica En Entornos Virtuales, Rosa E. Conde Paz

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación explora a profundidad la experiencia subjetiva de un grupo de consejeros profesionales en el proceso de establecimiento de la alianza terapéutica en entornos virtuales. El estudio parte del interés de ampliar la comprensión de este fenómeno desde la perspectiva de las personas que lo han vivido, ante un mundo donde predominan otros enfoques. El objetivo principal consiste en generar conocimientos que contribuyan al campo de la salud mental, especialmente exponiendo el significado que los participantes atribuyen a sus experiencias.

Para esta investigación se adoptó un enfoque cualitativo mediante el Análisis Fenomenológico Interpretativo (IPA), una metodología que facilita examinar …

La Relación De La Estructura Organizacional Del Programa De Transición En La Efectividad De Los Servicios De La Secretaría Asociada De Educación Especial En Puerto Rico, Janet López De Jesús

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada examinó la relación entre la estructura organizacional del Programa de Transición y la efectividad de los servicios ofrecidos por la Secretaría Asociada de Educación Especial (SAEE) del Departamento de Educación de Puerto Rico. El estudio surgió ante la necesidad de comprender cómo los elementos estructurales del sistema educativo influían en la prestación de servicios dirigidos a estudiantes con discapacidades durante su proceso de transición hacia la vida adulta, particularmente en áreas como el empleo, la educación postsecundaria y la vida independiente. La investigación se desarrolló mediante un enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño descriptivo correlacional. Los datos se …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Differentiating Tier 1 Reading Instruction Within A Multi-Tiered System Of Support Framework, Ivonne Ciresi

Theses and Dissertations

This generic qualitative dissertation explored elementary teachers’ perceptions and experiences of implementing Tier 1 differentiated reading instruction within a Multi- Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. Establishing effective systems and supports for comprehensive reading instruction in the Tier 1 classroom is a critical component of MTSS. Given the range of structures required, including instructional routines, resources, and ongoing professional development, it is important to understand how teachers navigate the challenges of differentiating reading instruction. The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers implement differentiation during core reading instruction, the challenges they encounter, and the role of professional learning …

Perceptions And Experiences Of Teachers Regarding How Their Students’ Attendance Rate Impacts Their Academic Achievement, John Logan Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism has emerged as a critical educational concern nationwide, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. National data indicate that chronic absence rates increased from 15% in 2019 to 28% in 2022, and in the targeted rural South Carolina district, 25% of students were chronically absent in 2022–2023, rising to 28% in 2023–2024. Persistent absenteeism is associated with lower academic performance, widened achievement gaps, and diminished long-term educational and workforce outcomes, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority students.

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine teachers’ perceptions and experiences regarding how students’ attendance rates influence academic achievement in …

La Correlación De La Tecnología Educativa, La Gamificación Y La Enseñanza Multisensorial En El Desarrollo Académico Y Socioemocional De Estudiantes Autistas En Puerto Rico, Ainé Andino Dávila

Theses and Dissertations

El incremento de estudiantes con autismo en Puerto Rico exige prácticas pedagógicas más inclusivas, innovadoras y basadas en evidencia. Sin embargo, persiste una brecha entre las necesidades sensoriales y socioemocionales de estos estudiantes y el uso integrado de estrategias tecnológicas, lúdicas y multisensoriales en el aula. El propósito de esta disertación es analizar la relación entre la tecnología educativa, la gamificación y la enseñanza multisensorial con el desarrollo académico y socioemocional de estudiantes autistas del nivel elemental, según la percepción de docentes de Puerto Rico.

Este estudio sigue un diseño cuantitativo correlacional de corte transversal. La muestra estuvo compuesta por …