Education Commons^™

Factors Influencing College Attendance Of Appalachian Kentucky Students Participating In A Federal Educational Talent Search Program, William Bowling

Online Theses and Dissertations

Post-secondary education is quickly becoming a requirement for many growing careers. Because of this, an increased focused on post-secondary enrollment and attainment has been seen in the education community, particularly in the K-12 systems. To that end a large number of programs and organizations have begun to provide assistance to these students in the form of academic advising, college coaching, and personal enrichment. Since the enactment of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, there has been a burgeoning population of such programs like the TRIO family.

The purpose of this study was three-fold. The first objective was to determine the …

Choice Of College Major: An Exploration Of Appalachian Female Choice Of An Early Childhood Education Major, Lisa Newton Gannoe

Online Theses and Dissertations

First generation Appalachian female students are exposed to gender differences in roles and career choices that are modeled in the family. A case study approach was used to obtain qualitative data from five students at Eastern Kentucky University and their mothers regarding why these students chose to major in child development and early childhood education. Bandura's Social Cognitive Learning Theory and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory were used as frameworks for the study. The findings of the study are valuable in advising college students' on selection of a college major and recruitment of dedicated child development and early childhood education professionals …

Kentucky Sro Programs: An Examination Of Impact On Reported Criminal Violations And Board Violations, William John Sullivan

Online Theses and Dissertations

School violence has become a focal point throughout the United States, sparked by violent mass killings at schools throughout the nation. In response to these horrific attacks, school officials, law enforcement, parents, and others have taken measures to improve school safety. One of the most substantial efforts includes the utilization of specially trained police officers (SROs) in our schools. Currently, there are approximately 230 SROs assigned to Kentucky schools (KASRO, 2013) and an estimated 20,000 SROs nationally (Myrstol, 2010). Regardless of the importance of maintaining safe schools and an environment that is conducive to learning, relatively little research has been …

Exploring The Utilization Of Applications As A Form Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication By Speech-Language Pathologists, Joselyn Rae Gilbert

Online Theses and Dissertations

This pilot study consisted of two main purposes: 1) to examine whether SLPs who are already using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in therapy are using apps as a form of AAC, and within what parameters, and 2) to explore possible reasons SLPs are using apps as AAC, and possible sources for their clinical decision making using AAC apps. A nationwide survey was sent out to speech-language pathologists who were members of four ASHA Special Interest Groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data gathered from the survey. Results from this study suggested some SLPs use apps as a form …

A Case Study Of Two Rural Elementary Schools: What Are The Identified Characteristics That Make School A Outperform School B In Reading?, Emily Taylor Finley Levey

Online Theses and Dissertations

The research objective was to gain a greater understanding of schools in rural Kentucky communities. Through interviews and surveys the investigator studied two schools with a similar populations facing many of the same obstacles, such as, a low socioeconomic status. The 2007-2008 Kentucky Performance Report stated that School A had an Academic Index of 105.7 in the area of reading and that School B had an Academic Index of 82.4.

Through the research, the investigator expected to better identify the gaps between lower performing and higher performing elementary schools in the region. My research question was, A Case study of …

The Effectiveness Of An Emergency And Defensive Driving Techniques Course Component: Analyzing Student Response To Searching, Identifying, Predicting, Deciding And Executing Skills, Christopher Bradley Millard

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of an Emergency and Defensive Driving Techniques Course by measuring the students' visual and perceptual skills. The final analysis involved 117 students who participated in Eastern Kentucky University's (EKU) Traffic Safety (TRS) 233. Records were obtained through the Traffic Safety Institute and contained no identifying information. Records obtained included a generic unique identification number, gender, pre-test scores and post-test scores.

Differences In Training Programs And Time Trial Performances Of Teenage Sprint Freestyle Swimmers, John Andrew Stratman

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of three different training programs on timed swims made by competitive teenage sprint freestyle swimmers of both genders during a typical five-month high school season. Coaches from five teams assigned 49 female and 38 male swimmers from age 13 through age 17 (M = 14.97 years) into one of three training programs. The programs were P1 (swim only, n = 20), P2 (swim plus plyometrics, n = 59), and P3 (swim plus plyometrics and weights, n = 8). Competitive swim experience ranged from novice to seven years or more (M …

The Relationship Between Teacher Leadership And Student Achievement, Sally Ann Sugg

Online Theses and Dissertations

This paper is a study of the relationship between teacher leadership and student achievement outcomes. English/Language Arts scores were collected from two, large urban middle schools under NCLB consequences and receiving School Improvement Grant (SIG) funding. Scaled scores from the state's Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) in English/Language Arts serve as the measure of student achievement. These student achievement scores were linked at the student level to the teacher primarily responsible for each student's English/Language Arts instruction. Forty-two teachers (N=42) were connected to their students (N=2292) to determine the relationship between teacher leadership and student achievement. In addition, other student characteristics …

The Relationship Between Kentucky High School Principals' Leadership Behaviors And Student Outcomes, Carolyn Camille Towns

Online Theses and Dissertations

Educational leadership and its effects on student achievement have been topics of increasing interest over the past four decades. This quantitative study researched the effects of the duties and responsibilities of high school principals on ACT scores and graduation rates. Independent variables include socioeconomic status and five of the seven standards from the Principal Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (PPGES): Instructional Leadership, School Climate, Human Resources Management, Organizational Management, and Communication and Community Relations. Teacher responses for the 2011 Kentucky TELL Survey on the school level were utilized to rate the effectiveness of high school principals on each of the …

The Implications Of Accountability Models Weighing The Same Student Data Differently, Neely Traylor

Online Theses and Dissertations

There is little debate about whether or not the U.S. education system is in need of reform. Some people believe that public education reform will come about with high-stakes accountability and policies like No Child Left Behind (2001). States around the nation are facing similar questions. For example, how do we best determine college and career readiness and assess the quality of the education provided by our schools? The most common indicator of quality in public schools has been achievement test scores. This study examined three elementary and two high school drafts of the Kentucky educational accountability system known as …

The Effect Of A Student Support Services Program On Academic Success At An Appalachian Comprehensive University, Ryan Martin Wilson

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of the NOVA program, a Students Support Services program at Eastern Kentucky University, on academic success for first-generation and low-income college students. An archival database was used to identify differences in the level of academic success among first-year students in the NOVA program from fall-to-fall of their freshmen year compared to non-NOVA students of comparable backgrounds. Additionally, a survey was administered to identify which services provided by NOVA as rated by participating students predict academic success. Results showed that NOVA students have higher cumulative GPAs, retention rates, and percentage of credits earned. Analyses of the …

Effective Methods Of Formative Assessment, Chelse Rae Bugg

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to explore the implementation of formative assessment in the mathematics classroom. Formative assessment is considered to be any data-driven activity that an educator uses to help guide and improve instruction. While there is an abundance of research that concludes that formative assessment does indeed improve student achievement, practical methods of implementation are not thoroughly discussed. To partially determine which methods of formative assessment most positively impact student achievement, a study was conducted at Lafayette High School. The researcher compared two popular methods of formative assessment: daily exit slips and unit probing (pre-, middle-, and …

The Effects Of An Education Recovery Team On Teacher Professional Practices, Collective Teacher Efficacy And Student Achievement In Persistently Low Achieving Schools, Stella Ann Burns

Online Theses and Dissertations

This paper is an exploration of the daily work of education recovery teams in turnaround schools in eastern Kentucky. Data used for this analysis were collected from the Kentucky Department of Education. Data from the identified persistently low achieving schools was compared to pre and post-test over one school year to determine the effectiveness of the turnaround practices on the low achieving schools. Forty-one schools have been identified in the state as low performing; sixteen in the eastern service region. Findings from this study lend insights into the work of education turnaround and best practices of education recovery teams. The …

Increasing Automaticity, Sara Burns

Online Theses and Dissertations

Automaticity is defined as the process of developing fluency in mathematics and the ability to answer a basic math problem routinely. Automaticity is one of the most important skills that a student can possess in mathematics. While there are many ways that an educator can implement strategies to increase automaticity in the classroom, the purpose of this study was to determine which of these methods of implementation is more effective: requiring students to practice automaticity three times per week or requiring students to practice automaticity five times per week.

Relationships Between Teacher Perceptions Of Principal Leadership And Student Achievement In Kentucky Appalachian High Schools, James I. Dantic

Online Theses and Dissertations

High Schools located in Kentucky's rural Appalachian region have historically performed below average on national and state assessment instruments. These schools are located in a geographically isolated region with high unemployment, almost stagnant population growth and limited economic resources. Principals of these Kentucky Appalachian Schools are charged with raising student achievement and ensuring college and career readiness for all students in this challenging environment.

This correlational research examines principal leadership as determined by teacher responses on Kentucky's 2011 TELL survey and its relationship with student achievement as defined by school level performance on 2011 ACT and gains in student performance …

The Impact Of Orientation Programming On Student Success Outcomes At A Rural Community College, James M. Davis

Online Theses and Dissertations

Economic and fiscal challenges, increased public scrutiny, and calls for accountability from stakeholders necessitate that community colleges work diligently to improve student success outcomes. Programs, services, and initiatives need to be developed and implemented that will increase student retention. Orientation is an important intervention service that can help new students to acclimate and make a more successful transition to college. There is a need to study programs that increase student success, and new student orientation programs have demonstrated their promise in reducing student attrition. This quantitative study examined a first year new student orientation program at a rural community college …

Understanding Playground Behaviors And Injury Potential To Elementary Children, Ronald Gene Dotson

Online Theses and Dissertations

Injuries on school playgrounds have increased in recent times despite widespread adoption of playground equipment standards published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The cost of increased insurance premiums and a moral obligation to protect children on a playground while at recess increase liability exposures for a school district. This study explored the behaviors exhibited by elementary school children and playground monitors and the subsequent occurrence of increased or decreased risk potential. The project utilized analytic induction and unobtrusive observations to observe critical incidents that occurred during recess. The behaviors of the children and the monitors were targeted to produce …

An Examination Of Teacher Efficacy On Student Achievement In Regional Juvenile Detention Centers And Youth Development Centers In Kentucky, Scott Tyrone Ferguson

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the self-efficacy of teachers who work in the juvenile detention and youth development centers in Kentucky and how their level of self-efficacy influences their students' efforts to complete high school. This study is important because it provides information that contributes to the improvement of education for students incarcerated in juvenile detention and youth development centers in Kentucky. A quality education for these students ensures they will have the same opportunity for success that was afforded them in their regular school.

Youth committed to the juvenile detention and youth development centers are considered …

Backboards And Browsers: A Qualitative Examination Of The Experiences Of Division I Student-Athletes In Online Courses, Jonathan Patrick Healy

Online Theses and Dissertations

This research explored the experiences of student-athletes in online education. Interviews were conducted with scholarship student-athletes enrolled at a Bowl Championship Series level, Division I institution. Participants had completed at least one online course while actively participating in their sport. A conceptual framework was developed to describe the experiences of student-athletes in online education from course selection through completion, describing the nature of course work, perceived challenges and advantages, and the influence of athletics. The resulting themes included: flexibility, the student-athlete affect, use of technology, time management, and lack of interaction.

A Bridge Program's Effect On Non-College Ready Student Veterans, Brett Eugene Morris

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether a bridge program designed to remediate academic deficiencies for a cohort of student veterans has any bearing on their post-secondary success and persistence. Specifically, this study examined the Veterans Bridge to College Success (VBCS) pilot program at Eastern Kentucky University, which provides an admission pathway for student veterans with low ACT or SAT test scores, no test scores, or marginal high school or college GPAs. The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative analyses to determine whether student veterans with known academic deficiencies prior to enrollment would persist and perform at similar rates as their academically proficient …

The Relationship Between Teacher Efficacy And Use Of Data To Inform Instruction In Two Turnaround Middle Schools, Peggy Conrad Petrilli

Online Theses and Dissertations

Schools across our county must ensure that an increasing percentage of students meet state-specified proficiency standards for the schools to be rated as making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The longer a school fails to make AYP, the more severe are the corrective actions that must be undertaken.

This study looks at two turnaround middle schools in the western United States, which were determined to be among the lowest-performing five percent in their state. The turnaround model adopted by this school district is the transformational model of school turnaround. This model requires replacing at least 50% of the staff and principal, …