Education Commons^™

Exploring Pragmatic Functions And Linguistic Features Analysis For Some Terms Of Endearment In Egyptian Colloquial Arabic As Discourse Markers, Samar Abdeltawab

Theses and Dissertations

In Arabic and many languages, terms of endearment are used as discourse markers to express affection. However, their meanings differ depending on the pragmatic context in which they are said.

Despite the abundance of research on terms of endearment in various languages, there is a noticeable lack of studies examining the pragmatic functions and linguistic features of these terms in Arabic. This research aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive exploration of the pragmatic functions and investigating the syntactic and morphological characteristics of selected terms of endearment in Egyptian colloquial Arabic. It offers a detailed analysis of their …

Optimizing The Pass Program: Using Improvement Science To Enhance Holistic Support For First-Year Medical Students, Suzanne Julia Mosko

Theses and Dissertations

Medical students often face unique academic and personal challenges that can hinder their success and well-being, particularly in the first year. This dissertation examines the impact of the Proactive Academic Support System (PASS) Program, a program designed to provide timely, holistic support to first-year medical students. Guided by improvement science and the Universal Design Principles for Student Development Programs and Services framework, the study implemented two change ideas aimed at reducing the time between grade release and PASS meeting completion, thereby enhancing communication and engagement with students. The study focuses on one Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle that assessed …

Autistic Female University Students And Their Experiences With Depression: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Rosemarie Joy Hopkins Keenan

Theses and Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (autism) can have significant impacts on the lives of those who experience it. However, as autism can affect each person in unique ways, the exact impacts of the condition on a person's experiences are not well understood. This is especially the case for women and girls with autism, who are on diagnosed later in life and have historically been neglected in research studies when compared to autistic men and boys. Autistic people are underrepresented in university populations, and characteristics of a university education present new challenges for autistic students. Little research has been done to inform supports …

School Mental Health Partnerships: A Case Study, Rebecca Bilski

Theses and Dissertations

Education in the United States continues to evolve in response to technological advancements, such as the widespread use of the iPhone, and societal changes in a post-COVID-19 world. Youth mental health challenges are at an all-time high, impacting students’ ability to succeed academically and socially (CDC, 2023). Schools are in a unique position to address these challenges, yet untreated or unidentified mental health issues can hinder students’ progress (Sanchez et al., 2018). This study examines the potential of school mental health partnerships to provide educators with the tools, training, and resources necessary to support students with diverse and complex mental …

A Case Study Exploring Elementary Teacher Job Satisfaction: What Are The Implications For School Leaders?, Nancy E. Pickford

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers are leaving the profession at an increasing rate, thus posing a serious threat to the effectiveness of the American educational system. Teacher job satisfaction is at the root of this problem. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the factors that contribute to teacher job satisfaction and how school leadership actions, behaviors, and practices may influence these factors for elementary teachers in a suburban school district in the northeastern United States. The study was based upon the theoretical framework of Herzberg’s Two Factor Motivation theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory and Daniel Pink’s Motivation theory. The …

The Existence Of Critical Thinking Skills In Higher Education: Evolving Or Vanishing, Michele Monroe

Theses and Dissertations

This study will encompass research on how and why a void has evolved in students' critical thinking skills between the secondary and higher education realms. The research questions that will be addressed are whether instructional methods, tools, and strategies meet the demands of our 21st-century students and how assessments facilitate students' analytical and critical thinking beyond content. The participants for this study will be four English professors from a suburban area private university. The design for this research will be a qualitative methods approach using an interpretative phenomenological design. Qualitative data will be collected through the use of interviews asking …

The Science Or Art Of Teaching Reading: Literacy Educators’ Professional Identity In The Wake Of The Accountability Era, Christine M. Haight

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explored literacy educators’ levels of curriculum autonomy, teaching self-efficacy, collegiality, collaboration, differentiation of instruction, and adaptive teaching with respect to school district socio-economic status, degree status, curriculum delivery mode, curriculum used most often, and career stage. The present study also examined the extent to which curriculum autonomy, teaching self-efficacy, collegiality, and collaboration predicted literacy educators’ differentiation of instruction and/or adaptive teaching after accounting for statistically significant background variables (demographic or curricular). Levels of curriculum autonomy, teaching self-efficacy, collegiality and collaboration were explored as characteristics associated with teacher professional identity. Levels of differentiation of instruction and adaptive teaching …

It’S Complex: Teacher Praxis And Critical Pedagogies, Annmarie Dull

Theses and Dissertations

This feminist, critical research uses a bricolage of case study, principles of phenomenology, and autoethnography to examine teachers’ and researchers’ praxis with engaging in critical pedagogies. Through a case study with principles of phenomenology, this research examines two public school kindergarten teachers’ experiences with using critical pedagogies—namely culturally responsive teaching and social justice education—in their classrooms, and offers portraits of their praxis. Through the autoethnography, this research examines the researcher’s experiences with engaging in a critical feminist research with friends-as-participants, and shares reflections on ways to examine and share examples of teacher praxis with engaging in different approaches to critical …

A Teacher Like Me: Perspectives Of Hispanic English As A New Language (Enl) Teachers On The Impact Of Cultural Representation In Schools, Stephany Contreras

Theses and Dissertations

As the cultural and ethnic makeup of the United States rapidly evolves, the disproportion of diversity in education is becoming a common phenomenon. This gap is particularly evident on Long Island, New York, where staff demographics are inconsistent with the diversifying student population. This phenomenological study explored how Hispanic English as a New Language (ENL) teachers use their language, customs, traditions, beliefs, and culture to positively impact their Hispanic students. It also examined the benefits of teacher-student cultural and ethnic matching and the challenges Hispanic ENL teachers face in predominantly White-staffed schools. Guided by culturally relevant pedagogy and the concept …

My Writing Makes It So Others Can Feel Seen: A Queer Phenomenological Study Of Lgbtq+ College Students Affective Experiences In An Out-Of-School Poetry Workshop, Jenna L. Lynch

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the affective experiences of LGBTQ+ undergraduates in an out-of-school poetry workshop. Through the lens of queer and affect theories, the study asks the following research questions: 1) How does reading and writing poetry foster community in an LGBTQ+ out-of-school poetry workshop? (2) How can participation in an out-of-school poetry workshop with members who identify as LGBTQ+ engender a love of writing in queer students? (3) How do LGBTQ+ college students’ affective experiences manifest in a queer out-of-school poetry workshop? Using queer phenomenological methods (Ahmed, 2006) to engage with such data sources as audio and video class recordings, …

Impact Of Different Leadership Styles On Job Satisfaction Of Private Sector School Teachers In Private Schools In Pakistan, Saira Ali

Theses and Dissertations

he present study aims to investigate educational leadership styles i.e. Transformational and distributed leadership style, teacher job satisfaction, and student outcomes in secondary schools in Pakistan. The present study employed phenomenological interviews with a sample size of 5 teachers and 1 principal in order to investigate the potential relationship between transformational leadership styles and indicators of teacher satisfaction and student success. The findings of this research revealed a positive association between transformational leadership styles and both teacher satisfaction and student success. Positive school climates conducive to growth were fostered by leaders who demonstrated empathy, collaboration, and transparency. The challenges encountered …

The Role Of Colleges Of Pharmacy In Student Mental Health Support, Diana J. Patino

Theses and Dissertations

The college journey is not easy, particularly within the pharmacy program— students undergo significant transitions that include meeting new rigor levels and pace in professional coursework, establishing new peers and faculty relationships, and coping with high stress levels (Choi et al., 2019). This qualitative case study will investigate how a pharmacy program and its associated resources relate to student mental health support and how pharmacy students perceive the importance of mental health initiatives in their academic program experience.

Teachers Perception Of Student Engagement Using Face-To-Face And Remote Instructional Methods, Anika Mcintosh

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenology examines the instructional practices of high school teachers and the changes the challenges of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic have wrought, with a focus on strategies to promote student engagement. The more students are engaged, the more they may see the relevance of their experiences, feel connected to their school experiences, and develop more positive attitudes and attributes, both inside and outside of the school walls (Bridgeland, Dilulio, & Morison, 2006). Six big themes emerged through qualitative analysis were instructional strategies, adaptation to online learning, teaching practices post 2020, perceptions of the teachers, teacher-student relationships, and barriers …

From The Words Of Our Fathers: Black Paternal Perspectives On Literacy And Recommendations For Literacy Instruction For Black Males, Imani A. Irving

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the literacy experiences of Black fathers and their recommendations for enhancing literacy instruction for Black male children from birth through Grade 12. Grounded in African American Male Theory, the research aimed to address knowledge gaps in understanding Black male literacy experiences and provide insights for improving Black male literacy education. Using participatory action research with an initial modified Delphi approach, the study gathered potential areas of consensus among Black fathers on essential curricular revisions to promote positive Black male literacies. Participants included a purposive sample of 10 Black fathers with Black sons from birth to adulthood. Through …

First-Semester College Students’ Perceptions Of Their Postsecondary Experiences With Learning Soft Skills, Malcolm M. Ebanks

Theses and Dissertations

Underprepared low-income students in the first semester of college may benefit from using soft skills to help them successfully negotiate college expectations. The importance of social, emotional, and affective skills is gaining momentum to increase student engagement and achievement (Randolph, 2014). This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore underprepared low-income first-semester college students’ perceptions of their experiences of learning and using soft skills. The research methodology embraced a qualitative approach aligned with the study’s theoretical framework rooted in attribute theory (Heider, 1958). The study’s significance lies in its focus on students rarely studied in areas of research related to …

Critical Literacy Engagement Of Elementary Multilingual Learners: A Mixed Methods Study, Abigail Wilson Luger

Theses and Dissertations

As the number of students identified as multilingual learners (ML) continues to increase in schools across the United States and the accountability for states to provide rigorous and meaningful instruction rises, the daily instructional experiences of students identified as ML need more focused research. Existing research on students identified as ML often focuses on their acquisition of English. Students identified as ML often experience rote instruction and do not have access to critical literacy practices, especially in the elementary school grades. Critical literacy practices are cognitively rigorous and can include analyzing current structures of power, equity, and facilitating student talk. …

The Implementation Of Social-Emotional Learning: The Role Of Leadership And Administrative Support In Producing Change, Joann M. Luisa

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the administrative implementation and organizational change required for effective social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in K-12 schools. Through interviews with school educators, psychologists, social worker, deans, administrators and assistant superintendents along with analysis of implementation documents from multiple district buildings, this research examines the key factors, challenges, and best practices in implementing comprehensive SEL practices. The findings of this study imply that successful SEL implementation requires several collaborative alignments to be successful. District-wide commitment, planning for individual schools, and ongoing support and professional development for staff are vital to the success of this implementation. Strong leadership from …

Exploring The Shared Lived Experiences Of Elementary Principal Leadership As A Result Of The Pandemic: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Jeremy Garritano

Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study, the researcher explored the shared lived experiences of elementary building principals as they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aimed to extrapolate themes and common threads of the impact on elementary building-level principal leadership in the areas of leadership challenges, leadership adaptations, and leadership changes. The timeframes for these shifts in these areas were before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The following research questions guided the study: 1. What were the perceived difficulties/challenges of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of elementary principals? 2. How did elementary principals’ leadership change, adjust, …

Looking Back And Looking Ahead: Veteran Teachers Reflect On The Impact Of The Online Educational Marketplace On Professional Identity, Natalie N. Malone

Theses and Dissertations

Increasingly complex, diverse, and inclusive classrooms require the direction of a highly skilled teacher who is committed to continual professional growth. Although many research studies have addressed professional growth and identity development among pre-service and early career teachers, few have investigated the long-term evolution of professional identity. Understanding the influences and characteristics that shape professional identity throughout the career can yield important insight into why some teachers continue to thrive and grow while others stagnate. The purpose of this multiple case study is to explore the evolution of the professional identity of elementary school teachers (K-5) in the northeastern United …

Perspectives From Mentees And Mentors: A Study Of How Mentor Programs Influence Teacher Self-Efficacy, Patricia Sihksnel

Theses and Dissertations

School districts often implement teacher mentor programs to support educators new to teaching. The components of mentor program frameworks require further research to determine their effectiveness in supporting new teachers. This non-experimental correlational study used Kram’s Mentor Theory and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy theory to determine if there is a significant influence of mentor programs on new teacher self-efficacy, classroom environment, instruction, and preparation and planning. The participants were teachers who have served as a mentor or mentee from suburban school districts in the northeastern United States. This study used a survey to collect participants’ demographic data and mentor program characteristics. Data …

A Case Study Of Italian Teachers’ Culturally Responsive Pedagogy When Teaching U.S. Undergraduate Students Studying Abroad In Rome, Italy, Massimiliano Tomassini

Theses and Dissertations

For over two decades Italy has been the second destination, first non-Anglo-Saxon, for U.S. undergraduate students studying abroad, with 36,945 students in academic year 2017/2018 corresponding to a 10.8% share and a 4.5% increase from 2016/2017 (IIE, 2019). With over 150 North American college and university programs present in the country (AACUPI, 2019), a specifically designed law (Art. 2 of Law N. 4 of 14 January 1999) created to support study abroad in Italy, and a 40-year-old nonprofit association (AACUPI) focused on promoting and supporting American universities and colleges with programs in Italy, Italy is, and will be for some …

Interpreting Technology Proficiency In Stem Education: A Qualitative Study Of Teachers In The New York Region, Zachary Rosch

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the technology integration divide perceived by high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers within a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting a community of STEM educators across the New York region. The study examined educators' integration of technology in their classrooms, their challenges, professional development needs, and the impact of teaching experience on technology integration. Semi-structured interviews captured teachers' lived experiences regarding subject-specific technology integration, pedagogical strategies, and technological proficiency. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework guided the study, providing a lens to analyze how educators navigated the intersection of content knowledge, pedagogy, …

Mental Health Education Literacy In Schools: An Exploratory Analysis Through A Qualitative Multi Case Study And Phenomenological Approach, Joanne Pisani

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the significant rise in student mental health concerns, schools are now challenged to find better ways to support students’ overall well-being. The critical importance for schools to include mental health education into their curricula is due to the substantial behavioral changes in students. Educational systems are seeing an increase in student school refusal, suspensions, and cyberbullying, as well as mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety which result in elevated crisis response and emergency room visits due to suicide ideation. The purpose of this study was to understand existing mental health education literacy programs in schools and …

Digital Tools: How Specific Digital Tools Support Special Education Teaching Practices, Denise C. Pascullo

Theses and Dissertations

Early childhood education is intrinsically multimodal, involving many different digital tools. With such a big shift towards technology, this study is focusing on teaching strategies with the integration of flexible digital tools. It also presents how specific technologies can support different teaching strategies in elementary special education. The participants in this study are elementary special education teachers, working as special education teachers in an elementary school on Long Island, NY. The essential features of the research methodology are a digital survey for special education teachers to fill out. The researcher also conducted post-survey interviews about the use of flexible digital …

Exploring Students’ Feedback Literacy Through Asynchronous Writing Center Tutoring Sessions: A Mixed-Methods Study, Bobby Pelphrey

Theses and Dissertations

MLLs face linguistic and cultural complexities when engaging with writing feedback; however, writing center practices often follow monolingual models. This study examines how MLLs develop and apply feedback literacy—the ability to seek, interpret, and use feedback—compared to their non-MLL peers in asynchronous writing center consultations. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, the study integrates survey data from the Feedback Literacy Behavior Scale (FLBS) (N = 532; n = 146 MLLs, n = 386 non-MLLs) with qualitative case studies. The survey measured feedback-seeking behaviors, sense-making strategies, emotional regulation, and feedback application, while case studies used think-aloud protocols, semi-structured interviews, and revision analysis. …

Shaping The Future: Exploring Motivations And Challenges In Asian American Teachers’ Career Choices, Jea Lizz Noonan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations and reasons behind why Asian Americans choose to enter the field of education as professionals. Additionally, this research could help identify any obstacles or challenges that Asian Americans face when choosing to enter the teaching profession. To guide the study, three research questions were developed: (1) What are the personal, cultural, and societal factors that influence Asian Americans’ decision to become teachers?, (2) What are the most significant challenges and barriers, in the eyes of Asian educators in the state of New Jersey, to entering the teaching profession and remaining …

Finding Their Way: The Experiences Of Students Enrolled In A Career Pathways Program, Laura March-Retenski

Theses and Dissertations

Due to many sociopolitical factors such as an inequitable public-school education, many students do not graduate from high school in the United States. In 2018 “approximately 2.3 million 16- to 24-year-olds were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or alternative credential” (McFarland et al., 2018, p. 12). There is inequity in school funding and resource allocation. Barker and Weber (2016), Cascio and Reber (2013), and Kim and Taylor (2008) have found that the inequitable resource allocation in public schools is a causal factor of dropout. This is problematic because “college graduates find better …

Undergraduate Student Decision-Making: Pursuing Graduate Studies At The Same Institution That Granted The Undergraduate Degree, Anthony C. Marziliano

Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities are under pressure to increase enrollment and avoid attrition. It is clear that institutions need to increase efforts to work against decreasing graduate enrollment trends and focusing on students already in-place on campus may be an avenue to do so. Research is lacking concerning factors that may be related to the decision by undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies at the same institution that granted the undergraduate degree. Understanding key characteristics of the group that remains at the institution allows us to identify a student profile to focus on to increase graduate enrollment, especially in light of …

English Language Learners’ Perceptions And Experiences Using Multimodal Tools To Prepare And Deliver Video Presentations Of Digital Portfolios, Mara M. Marino

Theses and Dissertations

With the increase in digital literacies in schools and the rise in the number of English language learners (ELLs) in US colleges, it is important to examine the affordances of multimodality as it relates to students’ digital literacy practices while advocating for this diverse population. Using a multiliteracies framework, this qualitative action research study made multimodal tools available to ELLs for the preparation and delivery of video presentations of digital portfolios in a higher education English course. The participants in this study were six ELLs from a small private college. The primary research question and two sub-questions were answered using …

Examining Adhd Diagnosed Young Adults’ Self-Perceptions Of Personal Reading Behaviors During Pleasure Reading Experiences, Nicole Cheramie Lobello

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impacts the lives of individuals with neurodivergent brains in varied and personal ways. This phenomenon mirrors the diversification of the minds I have been intrigued by for decades. In an effort to better understand the relationships between ADHD and pleasure reading, the lived experiences with pleasure reading of six young college students were examined. Participants were formally diagnosed with some form of ADHD before the study, yet did not have a reading disability diagnosis. One-on-one interviews were conducted to explore in-depth each participant’s experiences with pleasure reading. Through interpretative phenomenological study (IPA), four themes emerged: (a) perceptions …