Education Commons^™

Teachers’ Perspectives Of What They Need From School Administration To Teach Remotely, Destiny Pietra Moretto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an educational shift from traditional teaching to remote teaching. Teachers struggled to adapt to the changes because they were unable to properly prepare, yet administrators expected them to continue successfully teaching from home. Using Garrison et al.’s community of inquiry model, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of early childhood teachers regarding teaching remotely during a pandemic and what they need from school administration to teach children remotely. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 early childhood teachers with experience teaching remotely during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic …

Developmental Evaluation Of A Clinical In-School Counseling Program For At-Risk Students In Crisis, Anthony Andrew Mormile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A K–12 public school district in the northeastern United States implemented its own clinical in-school counseling program (CISCP) to help at-risk students in Grades 7–12 who were experiencing a crisis. The problem was that the district was unaware of whether the CISCP is helping its students through their crises. The study was important as it provided insightful data into the CISCP’s perceived effectiveness to meet the students’ needs. The purpose was to examine the perceived program effectiveness of the CISCP in helping its at-risk students in Grades 7–12 through their crises. Through a program evaluation using the developmental evaluation model, …

African American Or Black Nurses’ Perceptions Of Incivility In Nursing Education, Selena M. Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incivility in nursing education can affect morale, adversely affect patient care, or cause nurses to leave the profession. Bullying, rude comments, and disruptive behaviors are all examples of incivility. These may be perceived as lower in schools like Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), where students share the same or similar racial or ethnic background. The purpose of this study was to determine if the perceived levels of incivility experienced in nursing school differ between African American or Black nurses who attended HBCUs and African American or Black nurses who attended non-HBCUs, where the population of nursing students may have …

Staff Education Program: Increasing Nursing Knowledge Of Exclusive Breastfeeding, Leigh Anne Panek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the initial postpartum period, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) improves women's and children's health status and outcomes. Gaps in nursing practice that decrease the rate of EBF during hospitalization at this site were identified by the lactation consultant using a standard chart audit during the last two years. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice education project was to provide a comprehensive education program that included the purpose, philosophy, nursing practice, and evaluation tools for increasing the EBF rates to meet the Joint Commission’s standard of improvement for perinatal care core measures. A formal educational program that included didactic and …

Pedagogical Practices And Digital Tools Used By Online Tutors With Students In Grades K-5, Alison Marie Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about the experiences of K-5 online tutors. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of online tutors regarding their pedagogical practices and digital tools used when tutoring students in Grades K-5. The community of inquiry model served as the conceptual framework. Data included online tutor profiles, websites, and one-to-one interviews with 16 participants. Data were coded and analyzed using NVivo. Findings were interpreted within the contexts of the conceptual framework and the literature. The study revealed five themes: K-5 online tutors as educational entrepreneurs, rewards of being a K-5 online tutor entrepreneur, …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Young Adults Who Self-Identify With Primary Complex Motor Stereotypies, Vanja Maria Popovic

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Primary complex motor stereotypies (p-CMS) are repetitive, rhythmic, and predictable involuntary movements which occur in typically developing individuals. To date, research has focused on observational data involving parents, leaving a lack of first-hand information about the effect of p-CMS on experiencers’ quality of life and wellbeing in adulthood. This phenomenological study, grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, explored lived experiences of six young adults, ages 21 to 29 years, who self-identified with p-CMS, through in-depth telephone and Zoom interviews. I aimed to answer how p-CMS affected participants in academic, work, and social settings, what meaning participants assigned to their p-CMS, and …

Administrators’ Perspectives On Teacher Attrition In Large Urban Public School Districts, Carolyn Marsha Prato

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition is higher than the national average in various large urban public school districts in the United States and some districts lose teachers every year, which makes teacher attrition a legitimate concern for many public school districts. The purpose of this study was to explore school administrators’ perspectives on why teachers leave large urban public school districts and to identify strategies and approaches that might be used to decrease teacher attrition. This study’s conceptual framework was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which explains human motivation and determination. The first research question focused on school administrators’ perspectives about the reasons for …

Mediated Effect Of Perceived Supervisor Support On Leader-Member Exchange Quality And Employee’S Commitment, Jeffery Proby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social exchange relationship quality can influence an employee’s commitment to supporting continuous improvement (CI) initiatives. Researchers have established that leader-member exchange (LMX) quality and perceived supervisor support (PSS) can reduce employee commitment, affecting an organizational outcome. Based on the theoretical foundation of LMX quality theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between the independent variables (LMX quality) and the dependent variable (affective commitment [AC]) through the mediated variable (PSS) and moderated mediation variable (workplace ostracism [WO]). Employee age, gender, tenure with the company, ethnicity, certification level, and the manufacturing sector were control variables of …

Urban School Board Members’ Perceptions Of Their Roles In Improving Student Achievement, Jacinto Arturo Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem explored in this study was that the state education agency recommended school board members of low-performing school districts participate in a governance training called student outcomes governance to address student achievement, yet no data suggested the training changed school board members’ understanding of how to create policies advancing student achievement. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how urban school board members perceive their roles in improving student achievement using the new model. General board theory and the theory of adaptive leadership informed this study. Six school board members who had completed the student outcomes …

Black Female Students’ Perspectives And Experiences With School Resource Officers, Kimberly M. Redding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black female students are disciplined disproportionately compared to other female students in the Georgia public school system. Negative interactions with school resource officers (SROs) may leave Black female students feeling unsafe at school. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore seven Black female students’ perceptions and interpretations of their experiences with SROs in the school setting in the state of Georgia. Purposive sampling strategy was used to solicit Black female students ages 18 to 22; interviews were conducted via Zoom. Labeling theory and the theory of self-fulfilling prophecy provided the framework for explaining how Black female students …

Education For Ltach Nurses On Clinical Monitoring Systems, Deneen Stokes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alarm fatigue is a patient safety issue. The gap identified in practice is that nurses did not know how to navigate the monitoring system properly such that improper use of the alarm system was the result, which compromised patient safety. The goal of this project aimed to fill the gap in knowledge and skill among the staff and improve the confidence level among nurses by providing an educational program. The practice-focused question focused on whether knowledge, skills, and confidence would increase among nurses after receiving education on the clinical monitoring system. The model to facilitate organizing and analyzing this project …

Junior High Teachers' Perception On Consistent Implementing Technology-Based Gamification, Ali Tootian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated was many junior high teachers do not consistently implement technology-based gamification (TBG) within class activities despite evidence showing it as a useful learning tool for student engagement. This study aimed to explore why junior high teachers do not consistently implement TBG and identify the barriers and potential solutions from teachers' perspectives. A modified technology acceptance model and diffusion of innovation theory were combined with cultural and local aspects to generate a comprehensive gamification acceptance model. A basic qualitative approach was suitable for the study. The research questions sought junior high teachers' perceptions about consistently implementing TBG, the …

Challenges Faced By Executive Leaders At Schools For The Deaf, Michelle Therese Tanner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hiring and sustaining qualified executive leaders at schools and programs for the Deaf continue to be challenging for board members and communities. More information is needed to understand issues contributing to the retention and recruitment of these executive leaders. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand factors that contribute to retention and recruitment in these positions and to learn possible solutions for overcoming challenges. An economic labor market theory for superintendents informed the study. Data were collected via interviews with 11 executive leaders from public and private schools for the Deaf from different regions of the United …

Understanding Instructional Needs Of Entrepreneurs Learning Social Media Marketing, Kathryn A. Tomlinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResearch has shown that early adoption of innovations often converges with the need for knowledge. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was understanding what types of instruction small business owners and their employees required to fill a gap in learning necessary skills to launch and maintain social media marketing campaigns. The conceptual framework was based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model, which originated from social cognitive theory, the technology acceptance model, diffusion of innovations theory, and other sentinel studies. Research questions explored the needs and experiences of entrepreneurs learning how to launch and maintain …

Lived Experiences Of African American Middle School Males Taught By A Different Race, Pamela Lee Ward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhile considerable research has explored the effect of teacher’s racial group on educating African American students from the teacher’s perspective, little is known about the students’ thoughts. The purpose of this study was to describe the feelings of African American middle school males who were taught by teachers of a different race. The bases for this qualitative study were critical race theory (CRT) and oppositional cultural theory (OCT). Purposive sampling strategy and snowball sampling were used to recruit seven African American middle school males for in depth semi structured interviews. The responses of the participants were coded, the analysis method …

Teacher's Implementation Of Play-Based Learning Practices And Barriers Encountered In Kindergarten Classrooms, Emily Acevedo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Play-based learning practices contribute to oral language development, social-emotional development, literacy, and communication skills development in young children. Public schools struggle with the implementation of play-based pedagogy practices to meet culturally diverse students’ academic needs. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how kindergarten teachers implement play-based learning practices and curricula in kindergarten classrooms in a public elementary school in the Northeast United States. The conceptual framework included the situated learning theory and Fullan’s educational change theory. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with nine kindergarten teachers who implemented play-based learning practices and curricula in kindergarten …

Effects Of Educational Curricula On Recidivism In A Community-Based Correctional Facility, Todd Angello

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recidivism in a community-based correctional facility (CBCF) was high. The average recidivism rate was 32.7%; however, in a Northeast Midwest U.S. state, the CBCF was 44%. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the effects of three educational curricula on recidivism at one CBCF. The Positive Reentry for Midwestern State Offenders certificate courses (vocational), the credit-bearing courses (college), the ASPIRE General Education Degree (GED), and no additional courses taken were tested on their predictive power of recidivism. The theoretical framework was Hirschi’s social bond theory. A binomial logistic regression was conducted to determine the effects of each …

Educators’ Perceptions Of The Reading Initiative For Student Excellence Professional Development, Arkadia Johnson Armour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Grade 3–5 students in southeastern Arkansas are reading below grade level despite the efforts of educators. The study explored educator perceptions of the Reading Initiative for Student Excellence (R.I.S.E.) professional development, in which educators learn about Science of Reading (SOR) instructional strategies and how to implement them in the classroom. The conceptual framework used for the study was Bandura's social cognitive theory. Research questions addressed how the R.I.S.E. professional development improved teaching methods to support students' reading achievement in low socioeconomic schools, as well as educators' perceptions of the R.I.S.E. professional development to support student achievement in low socioeconomic schools. …

Effect Of Covid-19 On Comprehensive Predictor Exam Scores And Nursing Program Scores And First Generation College Students, Heather Marie Austin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic forced nursing education programs to change traditional face-to-face teaching to virtual education and simulated experiences. Therefore, research is needed to determine how this change affected nursing students’ academic performance and their performance on standardized exams. The purpose of this three-part study, guided by Knowles’s adult learning theory, was to determine if there was a difference in Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students’ performance on: (a) Assessment Technology Institute (ATI) Comprehensive Predictor (CP) scores, (b) end of program scores, and for (c) CP scores for first generation students before the COVID-19 pandemic compared with nursing students’ scores …

Teacher Perceptions Of Disproportionate Suspensions Between Minority And White Students, Tanika Rachelle Barr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Throughout public schools in the United States, minority students continue to receive more disciplinary consequences compared to other groups of students. The problem addressed in this study was the persistence of discipline disproportionality between minority students and White students at a public U.S. middle school, even with recent efforts such as the implementation of the positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) framework. Guided by the theory of behaviorism, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions about the persistence of this discipline disproportionality between minority and White students and ways to improve the use of PBIS …

How College Faculty Experience Designing Blended Courses They Teach, Judy Bauer Puritt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blended learning has been growing and evolving in higher education since the early 2000s. Despite extensive quantitative research examining blended course use and exploration of how students experience blended-courses, more situated, local research about faculty members’ experiences was needed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a deeper understanding of faculty members’ experiences during the decision-making process in designing blended courses they teach. The conceptual framework was grounded in Engeström’s activity theory to allow an exploration of individual agency within a specific community setting. Faculty members’ decision-making experiences and perceptions were explored using an interpretive description methodology. A …

College Students’ Perceptions Of The Importance Of Student Engagement In Online Courses, Alicia Beasley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have identified high dropout rates in online courses for the past several years with few strategies for improvement. The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that peer socialization and engagement are challenges in online courses. The purpose of this study was to understand how far utilizing social media improved student socialization and engagement in online courses thus resulting in increased student success. This study used the conceptual framework of engagement theory, which states that students must be meaningfully engaged in learning activities through interaction with others and worthwhile tasks. The research questions addressed student perceptions about the …

Perceptions Of Experienced African American Male Principals Of Supports Needed To Improve Their Instructional Leadership Skills, Vance M. Benton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American male principals frequently are placed in low-achieving schools but provided limited support. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of experienced African American principals regarding the support they receive to improve their instructional leadership skills as a way to improve student academic achievement. The social cognitive career theory and the transformative learning theory served as the conceptual framework for this basic qualitative study. The research questions for this study examined principals’ perceptions of how they were being supported, the challenges of getting support, and how their support could be improved. Nine experienced African …

Midwestern K-8 School Principal Perceptions On Retention Strategies For African American Teachers, Sherrie Berry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Attrition of African American teachers which outpaces the effectiveness of existing retention strategies used by principals is a documented issue in U.S. public schools. The problem addressed through this study was that K-8 principals in one midwestern school district were challenged to implement strategies to retain African American teachers. Guided by transformational and distributive leadership theories, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of K-8 school principals in the local setting about the challenges they faced retaining African American teachers and strategies required to increase retention. Five K-8 school principals who had at least one …

Exploring Student Loan Borrower’S Financial Decisions After Florida Enacted Statute 1009.45, Vijantie Michelle Boodoo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Florida implemented Statute 1009.45 as of July 1, 2017, to require colleges and universities to provide annual student loan debt notifications to students to inform them about their student loan obligations. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine how college students in the State of Florida make financial decisions about their education, focusing on the influence of the notifications and what additional supports would help them improve their decision-making. There was a gap in the literature in identifying what information students were using from the notification. Rational choice and human capital theories were used for the conceptual …

Prodigy Game And Third-Grade Mathematics Achievement In An Urban Setting, Christina D. Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students in Urban District 1 were not meeting grade level learning outcomes in mathematics on state- and district-administered benchmark assessments. The purpose of this study was to determine if including a specific educational video game (EVG), Prodigy, in mathematics instruction with third-grade students would influence students’ math achievement as measured by the districts quarterly Star Math benchmark assessments. The research question looked at the difference in students’ benchmark assessment scores for mathematics between third-grade users and non-users of the video game learning software Prodigy during the 2017–2018 school year. The use of EVGs as an instructional strategy was examined through …

Human Service Professionals’ Perceived Ability To Support Title I Schools During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael Dewayne Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human service professional practitioners (HSPPs) who work in Title I schools help students overcome challenges including absenteeism and behavioral problems and serve as liaisons between the school, family, and student. The pivot to online education during the COVID-19 school shutdowns meant that HSPP services also pivoted. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand how HSPPs perceived their ability to serve Title I students during the pandemic through the lens of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 HSPPs who delivered services to Title I students before and during the pandemic. Participants reported their service delivery …

Campus Administrators’ Perceptions Of Their Influence On The Success Of Instructional Coaching Programs In Urban Elementary Schools, Sakinah S. Burroughs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Education and Human Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral study by

Sakinah S. Burroughs

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.

Review Committee Dr. Robert Flanders, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty Dr. Kenneth McGrew, Committee Member, Education Faculty Dr. Cleveland Hayes, University Reviewer, Education Faculty

Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D.

Walden University2022

An Exploration Of The Longevity Of High School Principals Tenure In California, Steven David Caminiti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has focused on the various reasons why high school principals leave their positions, yet minimal research has been done on the reasons why they stay. The problem of inconsistency of high school principals’ tenure within the first 4 years of service was addressed in this study. Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory was used in this exploratory case study to explore the perspectives of eight high school principals in one region of California who continued to serve for 4 years or more through a strengths-based approach to the problem. Research questions were focused on the motivators that high school principals …

Women Superintendents’ Mentoring Experiences And Attainment Of The Superintendency, Araceli Chavarín

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The underrepresentation of women in the school superintendency in the United States may be attributed to a lack of role models, mentoring, and educational networking. The problem that this study addressed is the lack of insight into how mentoring influences women’s attainment of the superintendency. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the mentoring experiences women superintendents identified as important in their lives and work. The conceptual framework of this study was based on Higgins and Kram’s developmental network. The research questions in the study explored how women superintendents describe mentorship experiences in their careers and describe …