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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Theses/Dissertations

2021

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction With Autistic Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heather Ann Marzenski Jan 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction With Autistic Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heather Ann Marzenski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Families and educators have voiced concerns about the literacy skills of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the situation. Pandemic era studies have demonstrated the ramifications that students with ASD have faced, including regression of literacy skills, lower grades, lack of support services, and subpar instruction. Teachers' perceptions remained unexamined in the pandemic era studies. The purpose of this basic qualitative dissertation was to examine teachers’ perceptions about the materials and strategies used to deliver literacy instruction during the pandemic for students with ASD. The conceptual frameworks that underpinned this study were self-determination theory …


Leadership Strategies Used To Reduce Turnover In Turnaround Settings, Sharafdeen Olatunde Saidu Jan 2021

Leadership Strategies Used To Reduce Turnover In Turnaround Settings, Sharafdeen Olatunde Saidu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher turnover continues to contribute negatively to academic achievement of a majority of turnaround schools serving students with low socioeconomic status, and many school leaders lack effective strategies to reduce teacher turnover, especially during the school turnaround process. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies, behaviors, and practices used by turnaround principals in reducing teacher turnover during school turnaround. The framework for this study was based on Herzberg’s motivation and hygiene theory. The population in the study consisted of eight school principals who have implemented effective strategies that increased teacher retention in turnaround schools. …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of Junior Secondary Education And Student Academic Performance In Central Ethiopia, Mulugeta Haile Jan 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Junior Secondary Education And Student Academic Performance In Central Ethiopia, Mulugeta Haile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite Ethiopia’s rapid economic growth and its attempts at different educational models, there is a significant problem with junior secondary school education and student academic performance. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of junior secondary school education in central Ethiopia and what innovative academic approaches are necessary to increase student academic performance. The study used self-determination theory as its foundation. The main research question was focused on junior secondary school education, current policies, and students’ academic performance. A nonprobability purposive sampling method was used to select 10 teachers from two schools. The study used semi structured …


Perceptions Of Novice Teachers Applying Differentiated Instruction In Heterogeneous Elementary Classrooms, Jessica Ann Meadows Jan 2021

Perceptions Of Novice Teachers Applying Differentiated Instruction In Heterogeneous Elementary Classrooms, Jessica Ann Meadows

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Differentiated instruction (DI) is an effective approach to maximize students' academic success in diverse elementary classrooms. But a current concern in educational research is an insufficient understanding of how novice elementary teachers perceive and apply DI to support student success, especially as student diversity continues to increase, creating challenges to meeting students' needs. Novice teachers are expected to positively influence student learning through their teaching methods at the same level as experienced teachers. Yet, it is unclear how they use DI to do so. The purpose of this study was to provide a deep understanding of how novice teachers perceive …


Secondary Educator Experiences Using Social Media To Influence Students’ Empowerment Skills, Jacqueline Mary Roehl Jan 2021

Secondary Educator Experiences Using Social Media To Influence Students’ Empowerment Skills, Jacqueline Mary Roehl

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media is a sociopolitical phenomenon with the potential to impact people’s psychological empowerment. The problem is that little is known about the experiences of secondary educators who teach students to use social media in empowering ways for social change. The purpose of this study was to explore secondary educator experiences using social media to influence students’ psychological empowerment skills to understand diverse opinions about community issues and proactively work for social change. This study’s conceptual framework was connectivist theory that learning occurs through online connections and the psychological empowerment principle that people feel in more control when they understand …


Teacher Efficacy In Bermuda Middle School Geometry Classrooms, Tamashwar Budhoo Jan 2021

Teacher Efficacy In Bermuda Middle School Geometry Classrooms, Tamashwar Budhoo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Geometry is a complex subject to teach and learn at all levels in education. Poor performance in geometry in Bermuda has raised concerns about whether teachers are fully prepared to deliver content effectively. The purpose of this research was to examine teachers’ efficacy in the geometry classroom using a basic qualitative study design. The study is grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory and involved middle school mathematics teachers’ self-efficacy in terms of teaching geometry. A purposeful sample of five middle school mathematics teachers volunteered and participated in semi-structured zoom interviews. Data were analyzed using a basic qualitative methodology approach led …


An Exploration Of Principal Instructional Leadership Increasing Instructional Capacity Through Collaborative Relationships, Michael Henry Myers Jan 2021

An Exploration Of Principal Instructional Leadership Increasing Instructional Capacity Through Collaborative Relationships, Michael Henry Myers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

State and federal mandates designed to increase student learning and development through principal instructional leadership are based on research that demonstrates the potential benefits teacher collaboration can have on teacher efficacy, school culture, and student learning; however, many principals are inadequately trained for instructional leadership roles that utilize collaboration. The problem this study investigated is the lack of research about successful instructional leaders using collaboration to increase the instructional capacity of the teachers in high-achieving, suburban high schools. High-quality teaching is important and requires the collective skills and expertise of well-trained teachers. The organizational development theories of McGregor, the adult …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of Self-Regulated Learning In A Technology-Supported Collaborative Learning Environment, Sharon Davenport Jan 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Self-Regulated Learning In A Technology-Supported Collaborative Learning Environment, Sharon Davenport

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a local school district, sixth- through eighth-grade students were reading and performing on reading tests below grade level, and teachers started using strategies to promote self-regulated learning (SRL) in their classrooms. However, students continued to struggle with reading comprehension when asked to read independently. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the instructional strategies teachers used to implement SRL for reading and to explore the perspectives of middle-school teachers regarding how an SRL environment could affect students’ learning outcomes. Winne’s conditions, operations, products, evaluations, and standards (COPES) theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Data …


Elementary Principals’ Behaviors And Actions For Retaining Teachers, Sharonda Gregory Jan 2021

Elementary Principals’ Behaviors And Actions For Retaining Teachers, Sharonda Gregory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPrincipal support is critical in promoting teacher retention, which has continued to be a challenge in elementary schools in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to ascertain how principals described their strategies for retaining teachers at elementary schools in a large, urban-suburban school district in the Eastern United States. The conceptual framework was based on Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory and transformational leadership theory. The research questions addressed challenges, supports, and leadership practices principals identified that increased teacher retention in the elementary school setting. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight elementary school principals who had at least …


Teacher Perceptions Of Second Step In Third And Fourth Grade, Sarah Lewis Jan 2021

Teacher Perceptions Of Second Step In Third And Fourth Grade, Sarah Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavior problems among third- and fourth-grade students have become an issue of concern among stakeholders in the education sector. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of Second Step, a socioemotional curriculum with practices used to address behaviors with third and fourth graders. The study’s theoretical framework was Bandura’s social learning theory. Research questions focused on third and fourth-grade teachers’ perceptions of Second Step’s benefits on student behaviors and socioemotional practices. Interviews, document reviews, and photographs were used to collect data from 10 third- and fourth-grade teachers. Open coding and thematic analysis were used …


Preventing Injuries And Fatalities In Inherently Dangerous Work Environments, Markeith Porter Jan 2021

Preventing Injuries And Fatalities In Inherently Dangerous Work Environments, Markeith Porter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Shipyard safety programs have uncertainty and vulnerability. Shipyard program managers are concerned with safety to mitigate negative business system performance because of unplanned safety events. Grounded in the contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies managers use to mitigate liability claims associated with the high numbers of injuries and fatalities in dangerous work environments. The participants were three program manager representatives in the American Southwest who use successful strategies to reduce injuries and fatalities in the shipyard industry. The data were collected using semistructured interviews, public documents and analyzed using a six-step …


Hospital Employer Perceptions Of Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Competency-Based Education To Meet Workforce Needs, Regina Cash Jan 2021

Hospital Employer Perceptions Of Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Competency-Based Education To Meet Workforce Needs, Regina Cash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Competency-based education (CBE) is an alternative educational system of instruction that allows students to earn academic credit based on demonstration of learned skills and knowledge. This study addressed a gap in research related to the differences between the way hospital employers currently perceive potential employees’ educational credentials through traditional degrees and through CBE credentialing programs. The purpose was to explore the way hospital hiring employers perceive potential employees’ registered nurse Bachelor of Science in nursing (RN BSN) CBE credentials relative to traditional degrees to meet their workforce needs, which the research questions were focused on. Bailly’s model of employers’ beliefs …


Mathematics Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge And Its Relation To Student Achievement, Michelle Emmalyn Peters-George Jan 2021

Mathematics Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge And Its Relation To Student Achievement, Michelle Emmalyn Peters-George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students' performance in national assessments of mathematics at Grades 2, 4, and 6 has been a cause for concern in the Eastern Caribbean. Researchers have called for studies to focus on primary mathematics teachers' pedagogies rather than on laptops and curriculum; however, it is unclear how primary mathematics teachers' pedagogical knowledge influences these student’s achievement. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between primary mathematics teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (mathematical knowledge for teaching, quality of instruction, and pedagogical qualifications) and student achievement, measured by national assessment scores in Grenada, controlling for teachers’ age, gender, and experience. …


Exploring Community College Student Persistence In Mandated Developmental Coursework, Karen Lynn Beck Jan 2021

Exploring Community College Student Persistence In Mandated Developmental Coursework, Karen Lynn Beck

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this study was the low completion rates of students in mandated developmental education courses at a local community college in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may contribute to the persistence of community college students who have completed mandated developmental education courses. The qualitative study uses Tinto’s student departure theory as the conceptual framework to examine the lack of persistence of students in developmental education classes. The study included interviews with eight students who have completed at least one developmental education course in the past …


Head Start Program Staff Perspectives On Fully Engaging Families, Taylor Lashay Reid Jan 2021

Head Start Program Staff Perspectives On Fully Engaging Families, Taylor Lashay Reid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates family engagement yields positive outcomes for children. However, data indicate that educators struggle to engage families. Current evaluation methods assess the number of family services offered and not how families are engaged. It is not known how the Head Start program staff fully engages families. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate how to fully engage families in Head Start programs as perceived by staff. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and the complexity theory comprised the conceptual framework. The research question explored perspectives of Head Start staff about how to fully engage families. Selection criteria for …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of Strategies For Parents To Improve Reading Development, Chiekara Shaniecious Grace Waters-Jackson Jan 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Strategies For Parents To Improve Reading Development, Chiekara Shaniecious Grace Waters-Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in the study is the significant numbers of elementary school students who fail to demonstrate proficiency in reading/language arts as determined by the Georgia Milestones English Language Arts Test. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of effective research-based parental involvement strategies, materials, and training programs that may enable parents to help their children develop grade-level reading skills. Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory and Epstein's parental involvement model are the conceptual frameworks that guided this study. The research questions addressed effective strategies, materials, and training programs for academic success. Data were collected from individual …


District Scores And Demographics As Predictors Of State Mathematics Assessment Scores, Carlos Alexander Bocel Jan 2021

District Scores And Demographics As Predictors Of State Mathematics Assessment Scores, Carlos Alexander Bocel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior research in mathematical assessments has indicated varying results of predictive variables and further research has been recommended to support students, parents, teachers, and school administration. The purpose of this research was to determine how well a student’s performance on a mathematics domain at the state level may be predicted based on student’s midyear and end of the year assessment scores, race, gender, and socioeconomic status. The constructivist theoretical foundation was reviewed because of the impact that this theory has on the assessments being researched. Archival records (n = 100) for eighth grade students were received from suburban South Florida …


Perceptions Of Acculturative Stress And English Language Learning In Latino Immigrants, Jamilah L. Byrom Jan 2021

Perceptions Of Acculturative Stress And English Language Learning In Latino Immigrants, Jamilah L. Byrom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe process of English language learning (ELL) is a phenomenon, within the acculturation process, that poses challenges for first-generation Latino immigrants and potentially contributes to the susceptibility to acculturative stress. There has been little research on how second language acquisition influences acculturative stress. This study examined the perceptions of the experiences of young adult Latino immigrants who completed an English language learning program in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. A generic qualitative study using face-to-face virtual interviews inquired about first-generation, young adult Latino immigrants’ perceptions of acculturative stress relative to experiences in adult ELL programs. Berry’s model of acculturation guided …


College Readiness: Rural High School Graduates, Brian M. Corey Jan 2021

College Readiness: Rural High School Graduates, Brian M. Corey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

College readiness involves not only academics but emotional preparation, study skills, and time management and can be affected by students’ backgrounds. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate perceptions among rural high school graduates and their college teachers regarding these students’ levels of college readiness. The conceptual framework included Astin’s involvement theory, Bandura’s social learning theory, and Tinto’s student integration model. Research questions focused on perceptions of students who graduated from a rural school district and college teachers’ perceptions of these students’ levels of college readiness. Data for this qualitative case study were collected through qualitative surveys …


Retention And Employability Of Native American And Alaskan Native Undergraduates In Public Universities, Dottie Hines Chicquelo Jan 2021

Retention And Employability Of Native American And Alaskan Native Undergraduates In Public Universities, Dottie Hines Chicquelo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scholars have called for generalized academic and social change for the United States Native American and Alaskan Native students (the U.S. NA/AN) and the need for reform continues. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore strategies used at the U.S. public universities to support U.S. NA/AN students and identify strategies to improved students’ employment pathways after graduation. The management problem was the lack of retention strategies used to support the U.S. NA/AN student engagement within communities after graduation. The general management problem looked at how the lack of retention strategies affected the U.S. NA/AN student employability after …


Perspectives Of Transitioning Students With Disabilities From Pre-K To Kindergarten, Josette Joanne Farmer Jan 2021

Perspectives Of Transitioning Students With Disabilities From Pre-K To Kindergarten, Josette Joanne Farmer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with disabilities (SWDs) and their parents, teachers, and early intervention service providers face problem in a southern state about the transition process from Pre-K to Kindergarten. During transition SWDs and the stakeholders experience challenges with the Individual Educational Program, the physical environment of the new classroom, and new relationships resulting in delays or gaps in required services. The purpose of this bounded qualitative case study was to explore the perspectives of parents, teachers, and service providers on transitioning SWDs from Pre-K to Kindergarten and factors that influence the transition process. This study was guided by Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of …


Online Teaching Self-Efficacy And Faculty Ict And Computer Attitudes In Higher Education, Sharifa Jomoke Simmons Jan 2021

Online Teaching Self-Efficacy And Faculty Ict And Computer Attitudes In Higher Education, Sharifa Jomoke Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The digital age is reshaping learning and instruction and encouraging educational technology advances within higher education institutions. However, online faculty are not integrating technology into their classes despite the technology related professional development they receive. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if a relationship exists between online teaching self-efficacy and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and computer attitudes and faculty participation in technology professional development activities, gender, and age within the context of institutions of higher education. Alfred Bandura’s social learning theory and Roger’s diffusion of innovations theory framed the study. Using Qualtrics, survey data were collected …


College Readiness Of Freshman Students From Inner-City Schools, Shanitra Jones Barnes Jan 2021

College Readiness Of Freshman Students From Inner-City Schools, Shanitra Jones Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A problem that exists in higher education is that many students are not college and career ready. Many students enter college without being academically prepared to succeed. The purpose of this study was to explore the academic college readiness barriers and supports of freshmen college students from a Midwestern inner-city college. The conceptual framework of this study was Bourdieu’s social capital theory. The research questions address what college freshmen who graduated from inner-city public high schools perceive to be the barriers and necessary supports to reaching their academic goals. The basic interpretive research design was used to investigate the problem …


Basic Qualitative Investigation Of Teachers’ Preparedness, Perceptions, And Experiences Regarding Inquiry-Based Instruction, Wilhelmina M. Jordan Jan 2021

Basic Qualitative Investigation Of Teachers’ Preparedness, Perceptions, And Experiences Regarding Inquiry-Based Instruction, Wilhelmina M. Jordan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At an urban high school in Georgia, test scores of incoming ninth graders were especially low. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore language art teachers' preparedness for, perceptions of, and experiences with inquiry-based teaching at that school to determine if inclusion of such methods could improve student learning. Identifying means of improving students’ English language arts proficiency is important to not only academic success but also to success in the workplace later in life. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the discovery learning theory of Bruner. Research questions guiding this study focused …


Examining Instructional Fidelity Of State Standards In Project-Based Learning Units, Megan Correia Jan 2021

Examining Instructional Fidelity Of State Standards In Project-Based Learning Units, Megan Correia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this study was the decline in student achievement since the implementation of project-based learning (PBL) by the third- through sixth-grade teachers at the local elementary school. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions at the study location about their knowledge of PBL and its application in third- through sixth-grade classes. The study was rooted in Jean Piaget’s cognitive learning theory of constructivism. The study location was an urban school district in the Southern United States. Data on teacher perceptions was gathered through structured interviews, conducted via Zoom, with eight elementary teachers …


Striving For Homeostasis: Balancing The Inclusion Of Students With An Emotional/Behavioral Disorder, Rob Mcgarva Jan 2021

Striving For Homeostasis: Balancing The Inclusion Of Students With An Emotional/Behavioral Disorder, Rob Mcgarva

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social justice advocates have championed inclusive education, leading to its adoption in many jurisdictions. Despite policy changes designed to support learners with disabilities and research on inclusive education, students with an emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD) experience significantly poorer outcomes than their peers. Teachers often describe including this group of students as impossible and attempts to achieve inclusion often result in extreme stress. Research has identified proven inclusion strategies, but there are often problems with implementation in real-world settings. There is a research gap concerning how teachers understand and select interventions. Classic grounded theory methodology was used to identify the primary concern …


Urban School District Principals’ Perceptions Of Job Satisfaction, Darcy Lynn Woodcock Jan 2021

Urban School District Principals’ Perceptions Of Job Satisfaction, Darcy Lynn Woodcock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Principals in urban school districts directly and indirectly affect school communitiesthrough student achievement, teacher retention, and school climate. When a high-quality school principal leaves a school, it can negatively affect these areas due to the interruption of progress toward school improvement goals to increase student achievement. Seeking to address this issue, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the perceptions of job satisfaction among urban school district principals. The conceptual framework was Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory. The key research question concerned investigating the perceptions of job satisfaction among urban school district principals. Qualitative data were collected via virtual, …


The Freshman Academy And Its Effect On Ninth Graders’ Attendance, Discipline, And Academic Achievement, Dedrey D. Elam Jan 2021

The Freshman Academy And Its Effect On Ninth Graders’ Attendance, Discipline, And Academic Achievement, Dedrey D. Elam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transition from middle school to high school is challenging for students and canmanifest in poor academic performance, chronic absenteeism, and increased discipline incidents. The Freshman Academy (FA) is designed to improve these outcomes. The problem is that FA has been mainly studied in suburban and urban schools, not rural schools. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to compare the FA program on rural 9th graders’ attendance, behavior, and end-of-course achievement test scores to a control-group school. Eccles and Midgley’s stage-environment fit theory framed this study. Research questions focused on whether there were any significant differences between the two …


Teacher Perceptions About Instructional Delivery For Chinese International Students, Valerie Lorraine Marchione Jan 2021

Teacher Perceptions About Instructional Delivery For Chinese International Students, Valerie Lorraine Marchione

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that prompted this study was that teachers at a local private school werestruggling to identify and implement appropriate instructional strategies to promote international student academic and social engagement. The purpose of this study was to examine teacher perceptions and experiences about instructing international students. The conceptual framework of this study was based on Vygotsky’s theory of social constructivism. The research questions explored teachers’ perceptions about their knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of students’ school acculturation and teachers’ instructional processes. A case study design was used to capture the insights of 12 high school teachers of international students through semistructured …


Student Retention At The Community College Level, Davia Debisha Ramgeet Jan 2021

Student Retention At The Community College Level, Davia Debisha Ramgeet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student retention has been a serious issue for many community colleges globally for several decades. In a community college in Jamaica, persistence rates have been steadily declining within the last several years. The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ experiences with the pre-college program that was designed to prepare students to enter and successfully complete college undergraduate programs. Astin’s conceptual framework on involvement was used for this qualitative project study. Key questions for this study included what in-class experiences and what student support services students participating in the pre-college program perceived to be most useful to their college …