Education Commons^™

Exceptional Connections : A Cross-Cultural Exploration Of The Actual Teacher Behaviours That Contribute To Positive Relationships With Gifted Secondary Students And Secondary Students With Emotional/Behavioural Disorders, Trevor Capern

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This cross-cultural study examined the teacher behaviours that contributed to positive student-teacher relationships with gifted secondary students and secondary students with Emotional/Behavioural Disorders (EBD) in Western Australia and Canada. The study also examined which categories of social support (emotional, instrumental, informational, appraisal) were considered most important in developing positive relationships according to the exceptional students and their teachers. Behaviours were identified through a mixedmethods approach that included surveys, teacher interviews, and student focus groups. Participants included gifted secondary students (N = 133) and their teachers (N= 49), and secondary students with EBD (N = 89) and their teachers (N=23) in …

E-Learning Implementation Strategies For An Ict-Challenged Environment : Case Of The University Of Ghana, Legon, Isaiah T. Awidi

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

E-learning implementation in higher education continues to gain prominence in both developed and developing countries, and while most universities in ICT-rich environments are exploring different ways of using ICT and multimedia resources to enhance teaching and learning, the same cannot be said about ICT-challenged environments. Nevertheless, the question of successful and sustainable e-learning implementation continues to remain a challenge, particularly in ICT-challenged environments.

The primary purpose of this research was to examine policy and strategy issues that have influenced the process of e-learning implementation at the University of Ghana (UG), given that previous ICT and e-learning initiatives failed to improve …

Impacts Of The Changing Nature Of The Vocational Education And Training (Vet) System On Educators Within The Vet System In Australia, Mairead Dempsey

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia has experienced an unprecedented rate of change in recent times dominated by economic discourses that point to the need for the VET system to contribute to economic development. This discourse includes increasing the competence of the present and future workforce to meet the emerging needs of the economy so Australia can compete in the global market. The VET sector in Australia operates within a National Training Framework that has been constantly changing over the past decade.

This study considered the impact of the changing nature VET policy on trainers of VET. The study …

Improving Classroom Discourse In Inquiry-Based Primary Science Education, Prudence Smith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Teachers‟ capacity to use classroom discourse to deepen student learning through sustained conversation is considered crucial to increasing students‟ intellectual development. Learners actively construct knowledge and develop understandings from their shared experiences and via interaction with others (Driver, Asoko, Leach, Mortimer & Scott, 1994). However, talk that fosters students‟ capacity to reason is lacking in many classrooms (Alexander, 2006) and, what is more, teachers tend to control the discourse by asking a predominance of closed questions and using a question-answer recitation script which limits the exploration of students‟ ideas (Nystrand, Gamoran, Kachy, & Prendergast, 1997). The purpose of this study …

Student English Achievement, Attitude And Behaviour In Bilingual And Monolingual Schools In Aceh, Indonesia, Khairiah Syahabuddin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Following the tsunami in 2004, the education system in Banda Aceh, Indonesia,was reconstructed and revitalised, and part of this involved foreign intervention in setting up bilingual schools alongside state-run monolingual schools. The purpose of this study is threefold. The first is to investigate the achievements of first year middle school students in Banda Aceh (Indonesia) in English essay writing, English reading comprehension, and attitude and behaviour with regard to learning English, as dependent variables, in the context of differences in gender and school types (bilingual and monolingual schools). The second is to investigate attitude and behaviour of students with regard …

Key Stakeholders’ Experiences Of International Education At One Australian University, Sophia A. Harryba

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Aim: This study aimed to explore the experiences which influenced the perceptions of three key groups of stakeholders: academic and support staff, international students, and their domestic peers, when engaging in International Education at one Australian university. The original research questions for this study were:

1. What experiences influence staff members’ perceptions of International Education at one Australian university?

2. What experiences influence international students’ perception of their education at one Australian university? As directed by theoretical sampling, the views of domestic students were then also sought, to shed light on the following research question:

3. What experiences influence domestic …

Service Learning And Social Justice: A Qualitative Study Of International Service Learning And Students' Perceptions Of Social Inequality, Sara Boro

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology the researcher analyzed the perspectives of students on service trips taken to Haiti by the Newman Catholic Center in (1) educating students about social injustice and (2) cultivating a desire for students to advocate for social change. Overall participants were impacted by their experience in Haiti. Participants articulated a deeper awareness and understanding of social inequality and of their own privilege. Participants also communicated a commitment to continue service, change their career plans and change their lifestyles. Student development occurred in three phases including pre-departure, experience, and re-entry. Engaged preparation, reflection, consequential connection, and human connection were …

"Feels Like Racial Battle Fatigue": Managing Divesity Crisis Moments In Higher Education, Chaunda Myretta Allen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Higher education was founded over three hundred years ago for a specific group, affluent, White men in mind. In the past five decades, however, the demographics of Higher Education Institutions have changed drastically from those early homogenous origins. The increased access of underrepresented populations attending Predominately White Institutions necessitated the need for offices that serve these groups. Offices of Multicultural Affairs or Multicultural Centers were created to address issues of diversity but they did not fully address issues of equity on college campuses. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to understand the ways in which mid-level diversity management …

Closeness And Conflict In Schools: Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports (Pbis) And Teacher Perception Of Student Behavior And Student-Teacher Rapport, Christopher James Cochran

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study measured elementary teachers' perceptions regarding the fidelity to which PBIS has been implemented in their school, and the impact that PBIS has had on student behavior and student-teacher rapport. Participant responses (N=175) were analyzed using correlation, regression, t-test, and ANOVA. Demographic variables included teacher gender, current grade taught, Title I/non-Title I school placement, years of teaching experience, years of PBIS implementation, and teacher perception of PBIS implementation fidelity. The primary focus of this study was to compare teachers' perception of the impact PBIS has on student behavior and the impact PBIS has on student-teacher rapport. The study's primary …

A Study Of The Faith Experiences Of Concordia University Wisconsin Lutheran Education Trained Teachers In Public Education, Adam D. Paape

Doctor of Education (EdD)

In this study of Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod (LCMS) education graduates teaching in public education, I examined the following research questions: Do the participants identify challenges in living faithfully in public school settings? How have the participants made it possible to express their faith in public school settings? How has the faith of the participants grown as a result of serving in public school settings? How have the participants nurtured faith in others as they have served in public school settings? CUW and the LCMS trained the participants in this study to be teachers within …

The Nature Of International Cross-Cultural Experiences As Articulated By U. S. Secondary Teachers, Kirsten A. Barnes

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The purpose of this microethnographic qualitative study was to explore the nature of international cross-cultural travel experiences as articulated by U.S. secondary teachers, through in-depth personal interviews and personal self-reflections. The purposive sample included eight licensed secondary teachers from a rural high school in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, who had traveled internationally with each having more than 16 years of teaching experience. Through the two interviews and reflective journal entries of each participant, I explored the nature of international cross-cultural travel experiences: (1) how did participants describe their international cross-cultural travel experiences (2) what did international cross-cultural travel experiences …

The Effects Of Exercise Participation On Cognition In Adults, Marisa L. Hastie

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Current research supports that regular participation in exercise not only benefits physical fitness parameters, but also that there are multiple beneficial effects on cognition and brain health. Few studies have been conducted on adults and many lack the specifics of the exercise prescription needed in order to elicit improvements in cognition. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the different dimensions of physical fitness and cognitive improvements. Thirty-seven adults enrolled at a northwest community college were recruited for this study. Participants were divided amongst three exercise treatment groups: cardiovascular training (CVT), strength training (ST), and mixed …

Hearing The Voices Of Those Who Are Educating For Shalom: What They Are Saying About Institutional Vision, Missional Goals, And Educational Models, Patricia R. Harris

Doctor of Education (EdD)

For the past 30 years, philosopher and educator, Nicholas Wolterstorff, has been speaking and writing about the multi-faceted, biblical idea of shalom and the phrase, educating for shalom. This study describes and analyzes the content of more than 100 voices of Christian higher educators who have written about the idea of educating for shalom as it refers to institutional vision, missional goals, and educational models. Within the context of this study, Wolterstorff's ideas about educating for shalom frame these educators' ideas in Chapter 3, as a summary of his ideas from his writings and speeches are presented in Chapter 2, …

Preservice Teacher Perspectives On Field Experience, The Development Of Teacher Identity, And Professional Practice, Brian Kaelin

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This qualitative study examined the experiences of ten preservice teachers during the first semester of student teaching in Oregon public schools. The purpose of the research was to examine preservice teacher perspectives on how field service impacted professional identity development, instructional methods and the use of instructional technology. The results strongly suggest that field service contributed to the teachers' sense of professional identity. Field placement also largely determined the quality and nature student teaches' instructional practice, as well as the extent to which teachers were able to integrate technology. The study considered factors which influenced the nature and quality of …

Examining The Career Experiences Among Oregon Female School Superintendents, Heather Hutchinson Cordie

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Despite representing the majority of the teaching ranks in our K-12 public school systems, women continue to be underrepresented in the position of K-12 superintendent. Women make-up approximately 65% of the educational workforce, yet they only fill about 14% of the superintendent positions (Brunner, 2000). Research indicates that women experience different career paths from their male counterparts, their opportunities to benefit from mentors and other, formal/informal support structures are quite different, and the definition and description of their role varies considerably as the ascend to the role of superintendent. This study explores the experiences of four women who serve as …

Understanding The Motivations Of Teachers At High-Poverty Schools What Draws Them And How Do We Keep Them?, Julie Ann Owens

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The purpose of this narrative qualitative study was to explore the motivation of teachers who enter the teaching profession and stay in the profession in a high-poverty, diverse, Title I school. This study involved interviews with a small sample of elementary teachers and included the use of personal self-reflections. Through purposive and snowball sampling, the researcher selected six licensed, elementary teachers from a school in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Each of these participants had more than three years of teaching experience in the identified setting. Through interviews with and reflective journal entries from each participant, this researcher explored three …

An Evaluation Of The Literacy Program At Garibaldi Grade School, Heather Thomas

Doctor of Education (EdD)

In 2006, the Neah-Kah-Nie School District developed and, subsequently, implemented a comprehensive Literacy Program in the district's two elementary schools. This evaluation investigated the effects of the Literacy Program at Garibaldi Grade School focusing specifically on teachers' perceptions of the Literacy Program and the impact of the Literacy Program on student performance. The findings of this study suggest that student performance on both the DIBELS assessment and OAKS reading assessment did improve since the implementation of the Literacy Program. The researcher did note that student performance on the DIBELS assessment was much lower than that on the OAKS reading assessment. …

Preparing School Administrators: An Exploratory Study Of How The Educational Leadership Constituent Council Standards Are Reflected In The Practices Of School Principals, Doris Springer Vickery

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This qualitative study explored school administration preparation through the use of personal interviews and survey results from Oregon school administrators. The researcher interviewed five second-year principals in order to better understand students' perceived leadership preparation for the role of school principal. The Educational Leadership Constituent Council Building-level Standards (ELCC), adopted by the state of Oregon for administrative training, were used as a guide to analyze the content of the interviews and surveys. Findings include four themes: professional development, time in classrooms, school vision with collaboration, and effective school management. There was also strong alignment between the four themes and the …

The Relationship Between Double Dosing And Middle School Math Student Achievement, Jon Franco

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study examined the following research question: Is there a significant difference in math performance between the total sample of below grade level 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students engaged in double dosing and the sample of below grade level 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students not engaged in double dosing? Double dosing means pulling struggling students from elective classes during the school day in favor of an extra remediation class generally in the areas of reading, writing and math. The practice of double dosing is more prevalent within the elementary schools; however, as a result of the high stakes …

The Relationship Between The Nature Of Perceived Communication, Student Achievement And District Size, Rick Molitor

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study examines the role communication plays in relationship to student achievement levels and the student enrollment of school districts. The following primary research question was examined: What is the relationship between high schools' staff's perception of positive communication between the district office and schools and levels of students meeting state reading/language arts and math assessment standards? The foundation of this study is based on the hypotheses that an increase in a staff's positive perception of two-way communication between their school and the central office will be associated with an increase in student achievement. Existing survey data (N = 3132) …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Professional Development Activities Which Result In Successful Integration Of Classroom Instructional Technologies, Lisa Blackmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent research demonstrates the expectation of the use of technology in schools. Advances in technology often require teachers to learn new methods of teaching while trying to keep up with rapidly increasing technological changes. Unfortunately, many teachers report being inadequately prepared to utilize instructional technologies in their classrooms. School leaders have the complex task of providing effective training that meets their teachers’ needs. In this quantitative study, the author sought to determine teachers’ perceptions of professional development activities which result in successful classroom integration of instructional technologies in schools. Teachers from two school districts in Georgia were surveyed. Data were …

Transferability And Alignment Of Program Exemplars In Teacher Preparation, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher preparation needs to be revamped to adequately prepare teachers for P-12 classrooms. Public charter schools are experiencing challenges that include high teacher attrition rates and staffing difficulties in a rapidly growing sector, as well as obstacles for teachers to obtain certification. Thus, charter school teachers are seeking a “choice” in teacher preparation to meet the innovative needs of the sector. To address critical shortages of highly effective teachers, states are offering both traditional and nontraditional teacher preparation to earn licensure. The goal of this study was to determine if program exemplars from traditional teacher preparation were transferable to, and …

Two Small Rural Schools Under Siege: An Oral History 1969-2012, Deborah Costlow Cartee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is an oral history of the small rural community of Portal, Georgia, its two local schools, and its residents’ successful fight to keep these community schools. Guided by the theoretical framework of critical theory and the works of critical researchers, namely Paulo Freire (1998), Michael Apple (2006), Jean Anyon (2005), and Henry Giroux (2001), one purpose of this study was to discover what we can learn from the experiences of citizens in one small rural community who have been affected by consolidation. Since the account of the relationship between the Portal community and its hometown schools remains untold, …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Impact Of Reduced School Budgets On Their Ability To Meet Instructional Needs Of Their Students, Brenda D. Edenfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While federal and state leaders have been calling for increased instructional time, the U.S. has been undergoing an economic decline that has resulted in decreased education budgets. This decreased funding has resulted in fewer instructional days, fewer planning and professional learning days for teachers, and smaller school staffs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the economic downturn on elementary instruction in southeast Georgia classrooms. The study design was quantitative non-experimental and employed a survey to gather data from elementary teachers across three southeast Georgia school systems. Results were examined to determine the impact of the …

The Voices Of Reason: Counterstories Of The Urbanization Of A Suburban Black School In Georgia, Shana Hunt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This inquiry explores the discrepancy of educational opportunities in a Black suburban public school near Atlanta, Georgia. Predominately Black suburban schools in the South have become increasingly similar to Black urban schools. Both Black urban and suburban schools have become places of complacency for teachers and students. There is an incessant fluctuation of teachers and an increase in low expectations for academic success in Black suburban schools. Both Black urban and suburban schools have limited funding while White schools, many times less than ten miles away, experience the benefits of magnet programs, cutting-edge technology and rigorous curricula. Many Black suburban …

The Intersection Of Culture And Cognition: A Comparison Of Common Core State Standards Argumentative Writing Responses Of Elementary-Aged Hispanic/Latino And European-Origin White Students, Erin O'Hara-Rines

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This exploratory study employed statistical analysis and response excerpts to locate points of intersection between culture and cognition in a comparison of argumentative writing work samples of 74 Oregon fourth and fifth grade Hispanic/Latino and European-origin White students. Major findings indicated that Hispanic/Latino students more often 1) employed a diffuse, recursive organizational style that may be related to traditional features of Mexican discourse, 2) utilized elements of indirect language, a feature that has been associated with collectivist cultures, and 3) incorporated narrative elements, echoing a cultural mode for connection, while White students more often 1) evidenced use of a sequential, …

Examining The Journey And Experiences Of Females Who Become Oregon School Superintendents, Rachael George

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This qualitative study explored the journey of female superintendents within the state of Oregon through the use of personal interviews, field notes, and researcher’s reflections. Six women currently serving in the capacity of superintendent were interviewed in order to better understand the opportunities and challenges females experienced during their journey to becoming a superintendent, as well as their experiences in the position. Findings included opportunities presented to them through their hard work and dedication, the challenge of balancing personal and professional lives, understanding the importance of holding true to personal values, and the encouragement of more women to pursue the …

The Extension Process Of National Panhellenic Conference Sororities On Southeastern Conference College Campuses, Stevie Farrar

Honors Theses

The definition of a sorority has evolved significantly from its origins in the mid-1800s. From their beginnings as secret literary societies to their current standing as corporate networks of sisterhood, sororities have grown from groups of a handful of women to chapters of over three hundred members. The National Panhellenic Conference's outline of the formal extension process has helped structure this growth, enabling the process to meet the needs of growing collegiate Panhellenic communities and allow NPC member sororities to continue to expand the reaches of their sisterhood. The process can be highly competitive, characterized by applications, interviews, and presentations, …

Validation And Descriptive Analysis Of The System For Observing Dance Activities In The Classroom Environment (Sodance), Meredith E. Sims

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The first part of this study sought to validate the System for Observing Dance Activities in the Classroom Environment (SODANCE) based off the System for Observing Fitness Instructional Time (SOFIT). Female students age 11-17 years (N=42) participated in an activity protocol of SOFIT activities and common dance activities to validate appropriate coding categories. Each student wore a heart rate monitor and accelerometer while participating in the activities lying, sitting, standing, walking, running, single leg balances, leg swings, pirouettes, and leaps. Heart rate, maximum heart rate percentage, heart rate reserve percentage, vertical axis accelerometer counts, and vector magnitude accelerometer counts for …

Great Expectations: Twenty-First Century Public Institutions And The Promise Of Technology Based Economic Development: A Case Study, Tara K. Baas

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

American research universities, especially over the past 30 years, have increasingly become involved in technology transfer activities. For public land grant institutions, involvement is largely inspired by a desire to maximize revenue opportunities and demonstrate economic relevance. This intrinsic case study addresses the efforts of a public, land grant and flagship institution, the University of Kentucky, to augment its technology transfer activities, with a specific focus on its attempts to spin off university technology-based firms. The data were gathered primarily through oral history interviews with technology transfer personnel, entrepreneurs, and spinoff personnel. Its purpose is to understand better the structure …