Education Commons^™

Computer Assisted Language Learning For Spanish Oral Proficiency, May Ritta Bluestein

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING FOR SPANISH ORAL PROFICIENCY

by

MAY RITTA BLUESTEIN

December 2017

Advisor: Dr. Jazlin Ebenezer

Major: Curriculum and Instruction

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

This three-article five-chapter dissertation is focused on improving high school students’ Spanish oral proficiency through computer assisted language learning (CALL) voice-recordings, and examining the effect of the intervention on foreign language anxiety and integrative motivation. The main goals of the study as a whole were to (1) investigate students’ CALL voice-recordings to determine students’ Spanish oral proficiency development, (2) identify significant differences between the experimental and control group in terms of Spanish oral …

Mobile Learning Technology Acceptance Among Saudi Higher Education Students, Talal Mohammed Alasmari

Wayne State University Dissertations

The rapid development of technology has encouraged Saudi universities to establish initiatives to improve learning. Mobile learning technology is one of the technologies targeted by eLearning and distance education deanships among Saudi universities. However, few studies have been done in investigating mobile learning technology acceptance in the Saudi context. This study aims to provide policy and decision makers in the Saudi higher education with reliable data in order to employ mobile learning technology in learning process. Therefore, this study modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to investigate students’ acceptance of mobile learning technology. To this end, …

An Analysis Of Gateway Programs On African American Student Retention: A Case Study In An Urban Higher Education Setting, Janice Cook Johnson

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

AN ANALYSIS OF GATEWAY PROGRAMS ON AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT RETENTION: A CASE STUDY IN AN URBAN HIGHER EDUCATION SETTING

by

JANICE COOK JOHNSON

MAY 2017

Advisor: Dr. Carolyn Muriel Shields

Major: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Existing policies and processes have not gone far enough to eradicate the persistent academic achievement gap at Wayne State University. Nor has identifying poor student academic preparation prior to enrollment. By accepting this reality and responsibility, officials and members within the university community can affect change, bringing parity to retention through graduation, by becoming proficient at serving the students …

Reliability And Validity Of An Arabic Version Of The Self-Determination Assessment – Internet (Sda-I), Mona Alamri Alamri

Wayne State University Dissertations

Self-determination is related to the desirable transition outcomes of an individual. It has gained an increasing amount of attention in numerous fields, including education, sociology, psychology, and other fields related to human behavior. However, there are no measures originally written in Arabic that accurately measure an individual’s self-determination. Thus, during this study, an Arabic version of the Self-Determination Assessment – Internet (SDAi) was developed from the regular English version of the assessment. The SDAi measures the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors related to self-determination. The purpose of this study was to develop and then test the reliability and validity of …

Middle School And High School Students Who Stutter: A Qualitative Investigation Of School Experiences, Tiffany Cobb

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO STUTTER: A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF SCHOOL EXPERIENCES

by

TIFFANY COBB

MAY 2017

Advisor: Dr. Derek Daniels

Major: Speech-Language Pathology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and further understand the ways in which middle school and high school students perceive their school experiences within the school environment.

School has an important impact on the social development of children (Milsom, 2006). Learning is not done individually as classrooms are inherently social places. This suggests that students do not learn alone, but rather in the presence of many …

Adolescent Achievement: Relative Contributions Of Social Emotional Learning, Self-Efficacy And Microsystem Supports, Meghan Elizabeth Fairless

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine the roles of select intrapersonal and microsystem factors in high school adolescents’ academic achievement. The selected combination of factors was hypothesized to be unique in their ability to explain greater proportions of variance in academic achievement in adolescents. A specific model through an ecological framework was proposed. Participants included 379 high school students (176 males, 193 females) from a midwestern, suburban high school that enrolls approximately 1,500 students. A variety of variables emerged as significant predictors of academic achievement, with social emotional learning, selfefficacy, socio-economic status, parental involvement, peer support, and …

Reliability And Validity Of Michigan School Libraries For The 21st Century Measurement Benchmarks, Natosha Nicole Floyd

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century Measurement Benchmarks (SL21). The instrument consists of 19 items with three subscales: Building the 21st Century Learning Environment Subscale, Teaching for 21st Century Learning Subscale, and Leading the Way to 21st Century Learning Subscale. The sample consisted of 54 respondents who were administered the instrument in 2014 and 2015. Cronbach’s alpha for the total instrument was 0.807 (n = 19 items). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to measure construct validity. The findings derived from the EFA did not tend …

The Effects Of Various High School Scheduling Models On Student Achievement In Michigan, Russell Edward Pickell

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study reviews research and data to determine whether student achievement is affected by the high school scheduling model, and whether changes in scheduling models result in statistically significant changes in student achievement, as measured by the ACT Composite, ACT English Language Arts, and ACT Math scores. The high school scheduling models included in this study are: six period semester (SPS), five period trimester (FPT), seven period semester (VPS), standard 4x4 block (SB), and alternate day block (ADB). Supportive and non-supportive research are discussed in regard to the impact of the student scheduling model on student achievement.

Examination Of Microsystem And Intrapersonal Variables Associated With Academic Achievement In Middle School, Jennifer Porcaro

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the unique and combined contributions of a variety of contextual variables and intrapersonal variables that influence academic achievement in middle school within a contextual framework. The contextual variables included parent support for learning, teacher support for learning and peer support for learning. Intrapersonal variables included metacognition and behavioral engagement, and student organizational behaviors. Participants were 200 students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades from a suburban school district in Michigan. The intrapersonal variables were found to explain a significant portion of variance in academic achievement. The main contributor in explaining the variance …

High School Adolescents' Academic Engagement, Behaviors, And Achievement: Associations With Intrapersonal Factors And Academic Support Systems, Elizabeth Suzanne Robtoy

Wayne State University Dissertations

The current study investigated the roles of select intrapersonal and environmental factors in high school adolescents’ academic engagement, behavior, and achievement. This aforementioned combination of factors has not been considered for their combined ability to explain greater proportions of variance in academic engagement, behavior, and achievement, despite the fact that ecologically, there are multiple life contexts that interact to explain academic achievement development and this selection may provide important information. Participants were 415 high school students (171 males, 244 females) from a mid-western, suburban high school that enrolls about 1,285 students. Future educational goals, as well as executive functioning, emerged …

Digital Literacies And “Glee”: The Role Of Fan Fiction Virtual Writing And Social Commentary In Response To Bullying Themes With Adolescent Writers, Mandy Rita Stewart

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

DIGITAL LITERACIES AND “GLEE”: THE ROLE OF FAN FICTION VIRTUAL WRITING AND SOCIAL COMMENTARY IN RESPONSE TO BULLYING THEMES WITH ADOLESCENT WRITERS

by

MANDY STEWART

May 2017

Advisor: Dr. Gina DeBlase

Major: Curriculum and Instruction

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

As the education system turns its attention to climate, bullying, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) issues in the classroom, there is a focus on developing our student population abilities to be more accepting and tolerant of diversity. This study explored how ten students, aged 16-17, interacted with virtual literacy events on www.fanfiction.net, and how that contributed to their refinements …

Robustness And Comparative Power Of Welch-Aspin, Alexander-Govern And Yuen Tests Under Non-Normality And Variance Heteroscedasticity, Ayed A. Almoied

Wayne State University Dissertations

Classical statistical tests are used in many disciplines such as education and psychology. Such tests are based on certain assumptions (e.g., normality and homoscedasticity) that are must to be met in order to produce accurate results. Violation of such assumptions is a common problem researchers encounter, particularly when analyzing real data. When such assumptions are violated, the effectiveness and efficiency of tests to control over the probability of a Type I error and maintain a relatively level of statistical power will be substantially affected.

Alternative modern and robust statistical tests such as Yuen test for trimmed means and the Alexander-Govern …

The Prevalence And Needs Of Homeless Undergraduates At A Large, Urban University, Corissa Carlson

Wayne State University Dissertations

Empirical research has been limited with respect to homelessness among college undergraduates. Research on educational outcomes has been limited to K-12th grade, but what is known points to worse outcomes for people who are homeless. The National Coalition for the Homeless (2014) reported that 75% of homeless or runaway teenagers drop out of school. Furthermore, while federal funding though the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act has been able to help younger students, funding for homeless youth considering or attending college is minimal. Recently, some more attention has been given to this issue through the College Cost Reduction Access Act (CCRAA) which …

What Keeps Bringing The Kids Back? An Exploration Of High School Video Game Clubs., Nicolas Lenk

Wayne State University Dissertations

With the current trend of K-12 student interest in video games increasing, schools have a responsibility to take measures to meet their students’ passions that fall outside of state curricula. Extracurricular activities have historically filled this need; therefore, an after-school approach with video games is an appropriate way to address this student interest. The purpose of this multiple case study was to identify the qualities that students and teachers participating in high school after-school video gaming clubs report as being important to their experience. Using a theoretical framework of student engagement, this study explored the experience of the participating students …

Teachers’ Pedagogical Resistance To Prescribed Curriculum, Darya Owens

Wayne State University Dissertations

Research indicates that teachers feel intimidated into fully implementing prescribed literacy curriculum at the expense of their own praxis which may indeed be effective in boosting student literacy achievement. This perceived intimidation may serve to compromise students’ literacy outcomes. The objective of the study was to recognize the different forms of resistance teachers demonstrate in order to take responsibility of their own pedagogical practices as it helps develop students’ literacy skills. This paper analyzes teachers’ praxis and use of integrated methods of prescribed literacy curriculum in relation to teacher resistance. It answers four key questions: 1) What forms of resistance …

An Urban Mid-Western Adult Education Program: Perspectives Of All Stakeholders, Dedria Lynette Willis

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study is two-fold: (1) to narrate the realities and perspectives of adult students’ learning experiences in a General Education Development (GED) preparation program in a Mid-western urban city; and (2) to document the thinking of the former director of adult education at the state level to understand the reforms of adult education program he envisioned. Data sources to achieve the first objective comprised of classroom observations, researcher’s journal entries, and transcripts of individual interviews of three adult education students, one teacher, and one counselor. The data source to realize the second objective was the …

Factors That Influence Teachers' Use, Or Non-Use, Of Small Group Discussion, Julie Snider Snider

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE TEACHERS’ USE, OR NON-USE,

OF SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

by

JULIANNE SNIDER

August 2016

Advisor: Dr. Karen Feathers

Major: Reading, Language, and Literature

Degree: Doctor of Education

This qualitative study explored teacher answers to one question: What factors influence teachers’ decisions to use, or not use, small group discussion. Research supports a variety of small group discussion approaches to meet a range of curricular goals. Despite the philosophical move to student-centered discussion approaches, and research supporting small group discussion as an effective literacy approach, teacher led whole class discussion continues as the dominant approach. An online teacher …

Self-Efficacy: Understanding African American Male Students Pathways To Confidence In Mathematics, Lisa Ann Williams

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation is about the stories of African American male undergraduate students who have experienced success in mathematics. Bandura’s (1997) social cognitive theory and Tillman’s (2000) culturally sensitive research approach which promotes qualitative methods, recognizes ethnicity, and positions culture as central to the research were applied. Student interviews, parent interviews, teacher interviews, and mathematical autobiographies were used to investigate African American men self-efficacy, the sources of their beliefs, and societal factors that impacted their motivation and academic achievement in mathematics.

The descriptive portraits and the interviews revealed five broad themes: (1) college experiences, (2) K-12 experiences, (3) access and equity, …

A Quasi-Experimental Research Study Examining The Impact Of Reflection On Self-Efficacy In Graduate Design Students, Christina Marie Chateauvert

Wayne State University Dissertations

While the concept of reflection is not new to education, researchers suggest that students be given more space to engage in meaning-making activities (Sambrook & Willmott, 2014). In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis placed in education on self-reflection. In part, because of Donald Schön’s (1983, 1987) work on reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action. Schön’s view of reflection-in¬-action puts students in the “midst of action,” reshaping the problem or experience, and making fresh decisions to guide next steps. Reflection-on-action allows students to think back on what has occurred and how that experience will shape future decisions. Taking a similar approach …

The Predictive Value Of Admissions Standards For Student Success At An Independent College Of Art And Design, Daniel Long

Wayne State University Dissertations

Identifying the right students starts for admission to an institution of higher education begins with the institution’s admission criteria. Each institution must establish criteria for admissions that support their mission and their educational philosophy. Common standards for higher education admission include high school grade point average, transfer college grade point average, and standardized test scores (ACT or SAT). At an Independent College of Art and Design, the entrance or admissions portfolio is utilized evaluate applicants in a hope to identify those students that best meet the long list of desired attributes that admissions representatives are looking for. Little research has …

Schools And Families Empowering Learning (Safe-Learning): An Intervention Feasability Study, Lilia Elizabeth Mucka

Wayne State University Dissertations

For parents, academic achievement is an important part of their child’s development. Generally, parents, teachers and the community are expected to play a supporting role in learning, yet many students struggle in an educational system some believe is in crisis (Dunlosky, Rawson, Marsh, Nathan, & Willingham, 2013). Low-income minority youth are particularly at risk for negative outcomes, such as higher absence rates in school and lower achievement scores (Hochschild, 2003; Zhang, 2003), as compared to suburban White middle/upper-income youth. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of implementing the SAFE-Learning intervention, an adaptation of the Family Check Up, with urban …

Readin', Writin', An' 'Rithmetic: Literacy Strategies In High School Mathematics, Angela Margaret Principato

Wayne State University Dissertations

Stagnant growth on national standardized tests in mathematics and reading and a focus on disciplinary literacy in the Common Core State Standards in ELA, history/social studies, science, and technical subjects has prompted a resurgence in utilizing literacy strategies in the content areas in high school. While literacy standards in mathematics are not explicitly identified in the Common Core State Standards, there may be a place for the use of literacy strategies in high school mathematics. This study explored the relationships between students’ mathematics and reading achievement scores at a small, suburban high school and the implementation of a school wide …

Synchronous Communication And Its Effects On The Collaboration Of Professional Workplace Employees Engaged In A Problem Activity, Michele R. Rochester

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

SYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE COLLABORATION OF PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN A PROBLEM ACTIVITY

by

MICHELE R. ROCHESTER

December 2017

Advisor: Dr. Monica W. Tracey

Major: Learning & Design Technology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Asynchronous communication may have a profound impact on employee collaboration and productivity in the workplace due to the loss of face-to-face interaction and the relationships these opportunities may foster. However, as broadly defined within the literature, synchronous communication is a rich media that supports this type of collaboration and social interaction. Synchronous communication methods that encourage collaboration lead to deeper level learning, …

Aligning Talent Development Performance Outcomes With Organizational Objectives, Iris Ware

Wayne State University Dissertations

*The value proposition for learning and talent development (LTD) is often challenged due to human resources’ inability to demonstrate meaningful outcomes in relation to organizational needs and return-on-investment. The primary role of human resources (HR) and the learning and talent development (LTD) function is to produce meaningful outcomes to support organizational change, performance improvement and organizational impact.

This study proposes an empirically-based descriptive process model to align LTD performance outcomes with organizational objectives. This study builds on the knowledge base of previous studies and seeks to enhance the application of research and theory. This study supports multidisciplinary knowledge enhancement and …

Justice... Not Just Us: How One District-Level Social Justice-Oriented Transformative Leadership Team Addresses Marginalization And Oppression, Thomas Arnold Zook

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Our democracy depends upon an educated populace; thus, educators have an ethical and a moral obligation to provide equitable opportunities for all children to obtain an education “worth wanting” (Howe, 1997). Yet, too often the pleas of countless children yearning to be accepted go unnoticed. In the U.S., millions of students fail to realize similar academic success and social inclusion simply because of their (self or imposed) identification with a non-dominant identity group, and this can only be understood as institutionalized injustice. Often hiding in plain sight, marginalization and oppression take many forms, yet for their victims the results …

An Exploration Of The Factors That Contribute To The Success Of African American Professionals In Stem-Related Careers, Yolande Kristine Alexander Nealy

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

AN EXPLORATION OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS IN STEM-RELATED CAREERS

by

YOLANDE KRISTINE ALEXANDER NEALY

May 2017

Advisor: Maria M. Ferreira

Major: Curriculum and Instruction; Science Education

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

This study examined factors that contribute to the success of African American professionals in STEM careers. Data were collected through a survey from 40 participants and in-depth interviews with eight of them. The survey was used to explore the participants’ educational experiences from elementary school through college and on their STEM-related careers, whereas the individual interviews were used to gain insights …

Maternal Attachment Representations Of The Infant In The First Year Of Life: The Influence Of Prenatal Factors., Fatimah Hussain Alismail

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictability of prenatal factors, including maternal depression, reflective functioning, and romantic attachment style, on maternal mental representations at seven months postpartum. The participants were 74 mothers, a subsample of the Perinatal Imaging of Neural Connectivity study (PINC). Data from the current study were collected using semi-structured interviews, including the Pregnancy Interview-Revised (PI-R) (Slade, Grunebaum, Huganir, & Reeves, 1987) and the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI; Zeanah, Benoit, Barton, & Hirshberg, 1996); and self-report questionnaires, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (Cox, Holden, & Sagovsky, 1987) and the Experiences …

Using Google Applications As Part Of Cloud Computing To Improve Knowledge And Teaching Skills Of Faculty Members At The University Of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Bandar Abdullah Alshihri

Wayne State University Dissertations

Dissertation Abstract

By

Bandar A. Alshihri

March, 2017

Advisor: Dr. James L. Moseley

Major: Learning Design and Technology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Cloud computing is a recent computing paradigm that has been integrated into the educational system. It provides numerous opportunities for delivering a variety of computing services in a way that has not been experienced before. The Google Company is among the top business companies that afford their cloud services by launching a number of business and educational Apps. Google runs these Apps for free to be used for educational purposes, which saves a huge amount of expense for …

The Role Of Collaboration And Performance-Based Assessment In Engaging Leaners To Promote Real World Proficiency In Foreign Languages For An Increasingly Multilingual World, Sabrina Ficano

Wayne State University Dissertations

Despite the need in our global society to know more than one language to communicate, learning a second language is not a highly-valued skill. Moreover, while the understanding of language acquisition has continued to evolve over the past 30 years, our teaching and assessment practices have remained relatively stagnant and many foreign language classrooms continue to employ more “traditional approaches” to teaching and assessment. If U.S. foreign language educators, however, make a commitment to effective instruction and assessment practices, we can promote students’ proficient, life-long second language skills. Therefore, this study explores the ways in which collaborative learning and performance …

Parental Perceptions Of Effective Educators For Emotionally Impaired Students, Helane Marie Folske-Starlin

Wayne State University Dissertations

The voices of families with children identified as EBD needed to be heard. This dissertation study allowed those families to express their joys, needs and concerns. Included with the voices of families are the voices of educators that are teaching a struggling population of children and usually in an inclusive classroom.

This dissertation study was qualitatively driven and employed an ethnographic process with a case study format. Data was viewed in a naturalistic style to preserve the voices of the subjects.

Conclusions supported from the study were the need for more effective communication training provided educators and administrators. Educators need …