Exploring The Self-Efficacy And Perceptions Of Virtual Mentoring Of Teachers Participating In A New Teacher Induction Program, Katie Peila

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Teacher turnover is an issue plaguing states and districts around the country, particularly among novice teachers. Research indicates that strong induction and mentoring programs can provide novice teachers with critical support and guidance as they make the transition from the pre-service environment to the professional workforce resulting in higher levels of self-efficacy and performance. Teachers with high self-efficacy exhibit more enthusiasm and persistence and higher levels of organizational commitment. While there is a considerable amount of research on traditional, face-to-face new teacher induction (NTI) programs, there are few studies that investigate the integration of technology for a virtual experience. This …

Capacity Building: A Study Of Career Academies And Student Career Self-Efficacy., Shawn Timothy Hinds Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The phrase “College and Career Readiness” echoes throughout the halls of schools and districts across the United States. Politicians pass legislation aimed at ensuring the readiness of every student graduating from high school. Despite these efforts, the United States is falling further behind in a global race for economic wellbeing and academic preparedness based on one of the most respected global measures of student achievement, the Programme for International Student Assessment (Murphy & Adams, 1998; Tucker, 2016). Even as the social fabric of the country changes and the number of Students of Color and students in poverty increase, there have …

Incorporating Critical Thinking: Self-Perception Of Teachers’ Ability To Promote Critical Thinking Skills In Primary Grades (K-2), Courtney Milligan

Dissertations

The ability to think critically is a fundamental life skill and is an essential part of being a productive and contributing member of society. “Research shows that elements of critical thinking need to be taught explicitly” (Haber, 2020). The practice of developing critical thinking skills while students are initially "developing as thinkers" in primary grades is essential. According to Wagner (2008), his research finds that children should begin developing critical thinking skills as soon as they “are capable of abstract thinking” (p.17). Wagner (2008) argues that students need to develop these essential skills to effectively participate in our democracy and …

An Evaluation Study Of A Youth Entrepreneurship Program’S Influence On Self-Efficacy And Life Skills, Lauren S. Hopkins

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Youth entrepreneurship programs provide opportunities to learn and to practice strategies that are necessary to start and grow a business. In the summer of 2018, a nonprofit organization in central South Carolina facilitated a modified two-week entrepreneurship education program for 18 students who recently completed third through twelfth grades. Program managers wanted to conduct a program evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the modified program and its influence on the self-efficacy and life skills of the youth participants. Quantitative data were collected from measures of young people’s self-efficacy and life skills before and after the program, from entrepreneurial knowledge after …

Through The Lens Of Latinas: The Influences Of An Out-Of-School Time Stem Program, Chaoyi Wang

Theses & Dissertations

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) have been the foundation for discovery and technological innovation in the United States. The United States considers STEM education as a national priority to compete in the global economy and protect the nation’s innovation ecosystem. The high demand for careers in STEM fields promotes the importance of STEM education. However, Latinos, as the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, face many challenges in STEM education relating to a lack of progress, degree attainment, and participation in STEM professions.

This research aimed to explore the learning experience in an out-of-school (OST) STEM program, called …

Exploring The Influence Of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (Pals) In Increasing Reading Comprehension Of Grade-Level Biology Text And Biology Self-Efficacy In Students With Learning Disabilities: A Formative Experiment, K. Lea Priestley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The present study used a formative design experiment framework which does not answer a research question but addresses a pedagogical goal. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) on the reading comprehension of grade-level biology text and biology self-efficacy with students diagnosed with learning disabilities. As a result of this intervention, it was expected that students would better understand biology text and feel better about themselves as a biology student.

Students were separated into pairs, or dyads, with each pair having a stronger reader and a weaker reader. These dyads participated in …

Training, Barriers, And Self-Efficacy To Physical Education Instruction, Stephanie Truelove

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The overall purpose of this dissertation was to explore the physical education (PE) training that generalist and PE specialist elementary school teachers receive during their pre-service programs across the province of Ontario, and the differences between these two types of teachers regarding barriers faced and self-efficacy in instructing PE. Using an online survey, Study 1 aimed to examine and compare the PE teaching self-efficacy of generalist and PE specialist elementary teachers across Canada and the barriers to instruction faced. Study 2 qualitatively explored the experiences of elementary school generalist and PE specialist teachers when instructing PE, and the perceived barriers …

The Twilight Program: A Phenomenographic Study, Chanda Crawley

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

Alternative schools are an important concept in current education. This research describes the qualitatively different ways in which student’s experienced an alternative program, like Twilight. In these phenomenographic inquiry two current students, two Twilight graduates, and four Twilight teachers discuss the qualitatively different ways that students’ experience Twilight. The analysis yielded an outcome space of three qualitatively different ways of experiencing Twilight 1. Culture, 2. Self-efficacy, and 3, Teacher impact. Based on the findings of this research, the recommendation includes studying the shifting role of administrators in alternative education.

Making Elearning Engaging: The Effect Of Technology Strategies On Student Engagement And Content Knowledge Development In A Secondary Mathematics Digital Classroom, Allison Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study employed a mixed-methods design to examine the effect of technology strategies on secondary students’ engagement and development of geometry content knowledge in an eLearning setting. Seeking to understand student preferences of the technology tools, this two-week study was conducted during a geometry unit on quadrilaterals and employed the following technology tools: student response systems (SRS), computer-assisted instruction (CAI), gamification, and teacher-made screencasts. Quantitative data was collected on student engagement, the usefulness of the technology, and student self-efficacy through a Likert-scale survey after each day of using technology. Qualitative data were collected through purposeful interviews with students …

Underrepresentation Of Female And Minority Students In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics Academies In Texas, Darnisha Lanette Carreathers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female and minority student groups are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs and careers. Researchers have attributed this disparity to many factors; however, the primary factors are motivation and self-efficacy beliefs emerging during middle school. The purpose of this study was to examine why female and minority students enrolled and persisted in designated Texas-STEM academies by identifying themes related to Eccles’s expectancy-value model. In this qualitative case study, the researcher classified nine students from designated Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) academies in a North Texas school district as persisters or nonpersisters. The researcher used interviews, …

Examining Role Breadth, Efficacy, And Attitudes Toward Trauma-Informed Care In Elementary School Educators, Mikayla J. Drymond

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children growing up below the poverty line are at heightened risk for developing complex symptoms of trauma caused by repeated exposures to a variety of traumatic events. The detrimental effects of repeated traumatic exposures on developing children living in low-income environments are now considered a public health concern (APA Presidential Task Force on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma in Children and Adolescents, 2008; Crosby, Howell, & Thomas, 2018). Increased awareness of the negative effects of trauma early in life and the need for combative care has accelerated the movement for educators to become trauma-informed, which can be demonstrated through altered …

Bridging The Gap: Increasing Low Student Reading Achievement In A High Poverty School, Jordan Reynaud

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Abstract

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) aims to improve the low student reading achievement at an inner-city elementary community school in Saskatchewan, as set out by the provincial Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP). It is framed around a Problem of Practice (PoP), that is based on concerns relating to the difficulties associated with increasing student reading achievement in a high poverty school. With a central vision to develop a desired state of improving student reading achievement, this OIP is viewed through the lens of critical pedagogy. The use of transformational leadership in partnership with a liberal ideology and a critical …

Surviving In School: A Correlational Study On Teachers' Social Emotional Learning, Self-Efficacy, And Response To Students' Challenging Behaviors, Patricia Cummings

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study explored possible correlations among elementary general education teachers’ knowledge of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), their perceived self-efficacy, and their responses to students’ challenging behaviors. It was hypothesized that teachers with increased levels of SEL knowledge and perceived self-efficacy would respond to students’ challenging behaviors using methods that allowed for students to remain in the classroom. It was reasoned that if these variables were correlated districts could provide professional development that would increase teachers’ levels in these areas and thereby providing them with effective training to respond to students’ challenging behaviors. Although no correlations were found among these variables, …

A Study Of Incarcerated Youth: How Does Interest Affect Comprehension And Engagement, Grace Mutti

Honors Projects

Current research explores the relationship between high-interest reading material and comprehension in classrooms as well as the impact of literacy on recidivism; however, there is a shortage of research on effective instructional reading practices for incarcerated youth. This qualitative study examines the experience of five white, male incarcerated youth as they experience one-on-one reading instruction from five of BGSU’s pre-service teachers. Instructional strategies used in the study were modeled off of an online program called A-Z Reading and focused on developing students’ fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. The study initially aimed to examine the impact of high-interest materials on the …

Self-Efficacy And Its Effect On Student Achievement In Reading And Math, Morgan Van Hulzen

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study investigated the degree of relationship between elementary teachers’ self-efficacy in math and reading and student achievement in math and reading in an elementary school in southeast South Dakota. The participants were 279 students in grades three through five along with 13 third through fifth grade teachers. Using NWEA Growth Map Test data, a comparison in student achievement in math and reading was made between students with highly self-efficacious teachers and students whose teachers reported low self-efficacy. The findings of this research did not show a significant difference between math or reading scores of students with teachers …

A Study Of Empathy And Teacher Self-Efficacy Among Preservice Early Childhood Educators, Amy Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study sought to examine empathy and teacher self-efficacy among preservice early childhood teachers. Participants were selected from two courses in East Tennessee State University’s early childhood education program. A total of 18 students from their second year of study and 33 students from their fourth year of study participated. This totaled to 51 participants (92.2 % white, 2% African American and 2% Native American; 96.1% female, 3.9% male). An online survey that contained three sections, background information, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale was sent to the participants. After online surveys were completed, …

Assessing English Learners For Special Education Eligibility: Evaluator’S Perspectives And Procedures, Brenda Iveth De La Garza

Theses and Dissertations

There is a disproportionate number of English Learners (ELs) in Special Education across the United States (Kligner, Artiles, & Barletta, 2006). When educators are concerned about EL’s lack of progress and their underachievement they turn towards Special Education as a way of finding resources and a solution to their concerns (Kligner, Boile, Linan-Thompson & Rodriguez, 2014). This poses a challenge for evaluators, especially for those who lack or have little knowledge about the differences that exist between typical language acquisition differences and a learning disability. Evaluators who lack this knowledge might be more likely to confuse a student’s second language …

Technology Integration Self-Efficacy Reframed Through The Iste Standards: An Investigation Among Urban K-12 Teachers, Frank C. Gomez Jr.

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing a descriptive research design and a theoretical framework based on self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997), this quantitative study examined self-efficacy as a factor on teachers’ technology use and integration efforts in urban K-12 classroom settings of 327 Catholic school teachers in Southern California. To measure teachers’ self-efficacy in using and integrating technology in the classroom, this study employed an online survey that included the Technology Integration Confidence Scale (TICS) version 3, an instrument developed by the researcher which is aligned to the ISTE (2017) Standards for Educators, and seven key demographic questions. Chief among these is the frequency of technology-oriented …

Community And Collaboration: The Effects Of Participation In An Online Leadership Cohort On The Self-Efficacy Of School Leaders, Jennifer A. Harris

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project was conducted to see if participation in an online leadership cohort would affect the self-efficacy of school leaders. Using an online platform, seven Montessori heads of schools from the United States gathered to discuss topics of greatest importance to them. The schools represented were public, private, non-profit, proprietary and charter. The heads of schools ranged in experience from 3 to 33 years. They met once a week, for four weeks, for an hour each session to discuss four topics most relevant to the group, as determined by their suggestions. Data was collected using pre and post …

Effects Of Mindfulness On Teacher Stress And Self-Efficacy, April Netz, Lauren Rom

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Teachers experience high levels of stress due to the demands of their profession. The purpose of this study is to determine if mindfulness and meditation have an effect on stress levels and self-efficacy. The researcher-participants were two female teachers in public schools. Five days a week for four weeks, the participants practiced mindfulness activities from a curated list including Body Scan, Meditation, Breathing, Yoga, and Journaling.. The participants detailed their stress levels before and after the intervention each day and weekly through different means of data collection. The study used pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, daily journals, and weekly questionnaires to …

Mindfulness Awareness And Leadership Self-Efficacy In Current And Potential Leaders, Kitra J. Nelson

Leadership Education Capstones

Research exists that investigates mindfulness (Ehrlich, 2017), and mindfulness as a strategy to increase self-efficacy (Barling, Carleton, & Trivisonno, 2018). There is also research focused on leadership self-efficacy and its relationship to pursuing leadership positions in employment (Cziraki, et. al, 2018), which will be referred to in this study as motivation to lead. This study seeks to explain how the level of an individual’s leadership self-efficacy and their level of mindfulness awareness relate to one another. Data will be further analyzed by comparing the survey results of two groups: those who are potential leaders (or non-leaders), and those who are …

Self-Efficacy: A First-Generation American Educator Teaching In A Culturally Diverse Montessori Classroom, Esmeralda Cuevas

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research project investigated my teacher efficacy in a multicultural classroom with children ages 3 to 6. This was a self-study that I started during my first year of teaching in a private school in downtown Chicago. As a first generation American, I was the only participant. Throughout the four-week study, I responded to journal prompts where I reflected on daily readings of anti-bias literature and my past schooling experiences. I measured my teacher efficacy and confidence levels through weekly attitude scales and pre and post self-assessments. My emotions were tracked with tally sheets. The data showed an increase …

Effects Of Chair Testing In Orchestra On Student Motivation: Student Perspectives And Applications From Motivational Theories, Rosanna Christine Honeycutt

MSU Graduate Theses

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine how string students perceive achievement on chair testing through the lens of attribution and achievement goal motivational self-theories. A teacher survey was administered to identify the goals of chair testing in two high school and seven middle school orchestra classrooms. A student survey was used to collect data in those same classrooms on (a) the reasons why students do and do not do well on chair tests, (b) the perceived goals of chair testing and (c) the ratings of motivation and self-achievement. Qualitative techniques were used to analyze attributions within both …

Academic Achievement And Development Of Self-Efficacy Of At-Risk Girls Through Mentoring Programs, Latriace Wicks-Williams

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

At-risk girls of color face a variety of challenges; even more when they are in an urban setting. Girls must gain the tools necessary to transition effectively into adulthood. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the effect participating in a mentoring program had on the academic achievement and self-efficacy of girls of color in an urban setting who have been identified as at-risk. The primary focus of the study was academic achievement and self-efficacy. These two traits have been identified as essential to the successful transition into adulthood. The population of this study is girls of …

Social Cognitive Predictors Of Academic Success In First-Year College Students, Mary A. Hershberger

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

Success in the first year of college is due in part to how well students can adjust to the demands of school and integrate into collegiate life. Social cognitive factors such as self-efficacy relating to college activities, academic resilience, social support, and academic stress may contribute to students’ overall feelings of belonging and academic performance, yet most research does not take into account ways that students may change across the first year of school. Two path models investigated relationships between pairs of predictors on belonging and GPA in fall and spring semesters among 212 first-year college students, also examining differences …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training Program, Shantee Henry

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Sexual assault is a growing concern in the United States. Appropriate care of its survivors is essential to controlling the short and long-term effects of this trauma. A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) is a registered nurse that acquires additional training specializing in the comprehensive care of sexual assault survivors. Research indicates that there are not enough SANEs to provide coverage for the increasing number of sexual assaults, especially in rural areas. To increase the number of certified SANEs in rural areas, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. government provided funds through a grant that was …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Self-Efficacy Of Veteran Traditionally Certified And Alternatively Certified Career And Technical Education Teachers, Khristy A. Franklin

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Self-efficacy is important to be a successful teacher. As a result of successful teacher demands, veteran traditionally certified and alternatively certified career and technical education (CTE) teachers must be aware of their perception of their self-efficacy. Bandura’s (1977) foundational theory on self-efficacy was utilized as a conceptual framework to demonstrate the perception of veteran traditionally and alternatively certified CTE teachers. This phenomenological study enlisted 17 participants to investigate their perception of their self-efficacy of veteran traditionally certified and alternatively certified CTE teachers. This phenomenological study utilized interviews as qualitative instrumentation methods to answer the two research questions. Narratives and tables …

Exploring The Impact Of A Professional Identity On Teacher Retention: A Phenomenological Study, Elizabeth A. Cunningham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although there is a great deal of research literature available on the causes for and the impact of teacher attrition and research on professionalism, there is little research to prove what connection, if any, exists between the two. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to determine whether the development of a strong professional identity could positively impact teacher retention in a specific school. The research was conducted by first gathering baseline data from teachers who took 2 established surveys, the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) and the Professional Self-Identity Questionnaire (PSIQ). Focus group interviews with volunteer teachers followed. Survey …

A Case Study: Perceptions Of An Indigenous Stem Nonprofit Contributions To Self-Efficacy And Educational Experience, Tyler Parisien

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Native American people and Indigenous people are underrepresented in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. According to the National Science Foundation (NSF, 2015), Indigenous people represented 1.7% of the United States population, but only accounted for 0.6% of bachelor’s degrees, 0.4% of master’s degrees, and 0.2% of doctoral degrees in science and engineering. The low participation of Indigenous people in STEM disciplines have been attributed to reasons such as (a) lack of exposure, (b) lack of interest, (c) lack of confidence, (d) lack of a sense of belonging, and (e) lack of goal congruency. This qualitative research study …

Teacher Self-Efficacy In A Multicultural Alternative Education Program, Angela Marie Trowers

Theses and Dissertations

As the United States embraces cultural diversity, educators need to feel a sense of preparedness to effectively master culturally responsive teaching which is vital to students’ academic growth and development. Drawing on the interpretivist- constructive paradigm and self-efficacy theory, this narrative inquiry study, examined teacher’s beliefs, attitudes and perceptions, with regards to their culturally relevant pedagogy and the impact on their multicultural students’ academic achievement and social success. Eight teacher candidates, seven females and one male (Caucasian), who teach at a multicultural alternative education program in New York State participated in two interviews, one face to face and the other …