Education Commons^™

English Language Learners And Cultural Responsivity In The Art Classroom, Jessica Wycoff

Masters Theses

English Language Learners are a heterogeneous population of students that face social, emotional, and academic obstacles as they assimilate into a new culture while learning new subjects in a new language. In this study, I discuss the educational, social, and emotional needs of English Language Learners (ELLs) in PK-12 education and offer strategies to support kindergartener’s social and cultural identity while improving their language and academic skills in the unique environment of the art classroom.

A Program Evaluation Of The Implementation Process Of A Phonics First® Initiative, Amanda Picard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the Phonics First® program within one district to inform district level curriculum team decisions and program planning moving forward. As a level 4 Directed State Support district, the studied district was looking for ways to close the achievement gap and raise overall academic achievement in reading. To do so, the implementation of core reading program initiatives such as Phonics First® was assessed to determine how best to utilize and monitor the Phonics First® program to achieve the district’s desired outcomes. This study utilized a decision-oriented program evaluation using a …

Evaluating School Counseling Site Supervisors’ Level Of Preparedness To Supervise, Amanda G. Stuckey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate school counseling site supervisors’ level of preparedness to provide adequate supervision to school counselors in training and determine if any variables could predict the level of preparedness. Professional School Counselors in the United States (N=86) were asked to complete a survey about how prepared they believed themselves to assist a supervisee in developing each ASCA (2019c) School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies, as well as their training and experience with the supervisory process and supervision models.Results from this study indicate a clear need for continued training, as well as specialized training relevant …

Elementary Teachers’ Experiences With Remote Learning And Its Impact On Science Instruction: Multiple Cases From The Early Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Beth Pesnell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teachers across the United States and worldwide found themselves in unprecedented educational situations during the early response period to the COVID-19 pandemic in spring of 2020. Efforts to quarantine and provide social distancing to prevent the spread of the disease brought mandated school closures throughout the United States, and teachers were required to pivot from their traditional, in-person instructional methods and deliver instruction remotely. This phenomenological multiple-case study explored the experiences of 10 elementary teachers with remote learning during the early response period and sought to understand the delivery of science instruction in the remote learning experience. Weekly interviews were …

Arts Integration And Teacher Collaboration In An Unprecedented Era Of Online Learning, Natalie Hahn

Theses and Dissertations

The unexpected halt of in-person teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic added another layer to an already sizeable and imperative gap in research on arts integrated teacher collaboration. Research shows that teacher collaboration is essential to effective arts integration and can have powerful, positive outcomes for students and teachers (Burnaford et al., 2007; Burton et al., 1999; Carney et al., 2016; Duma & Silverstein, 2014; Lynch, 2007; Snyder et al., 2014; Upitis et al., 1999; Vitulli et al., 2013), but less is understood about the characteristics of and teacher experiences with collaboration in arts integrated environments. The reconceptualization of …

Assessing K-12 Leaders’ Level Of Critical Consciousness And Social Justice Predisposition In An Effort To Address Inequity In Suburban School Districts, Lucia Kaempffe

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive phenomenological research study was to identify the level of critical consciousness of kindergarten through Grade 12 building leaders (principals and assistant principals) in suburban districts with graduation rates of 90% or above. The study also sought to understand the leaders’ predisposition toward social justice in an effort to redesign and implement educational structures that attend more holistically to a diverse student population. Through nine semi-structured interviews, reflection, and sharing, this study was able to gauge the participants’ existing levels of critical consciousness based on their past experiences. The data was coded and interpreted to …

Secondary Content Area Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teaching Explicit Reading Strategies On Reading Comprehension And Student Academic Performance, Sandra Dance Weaver

Education Doctoral

Many students are entering high school unable to read proficiently. Other students are graduating from high school with reading skills below proficiency and are unprepared to meet the literacy demands of college or the workplace. The negative outcomes for these students graduating from high school and entering society as young adults with reduced literacy skills include an increased dropout rate, affiliation with the criminal justice system, unemployment, and reduced income earning power. Federal and state education reforms and standards continue to be implemented in an effort to improve the literacy crisis and academic performance of students. Secondary content area teachers …

The Role Emergency Medical Services Organizations Play In Preparing And Supporting Emergency Medical Technicians To Minimize The Effects Of Peritraumatic Dissociation, Stephen Knapp

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological research study was to identify the role of emergency medical services (EMS) organizations in preparing and supporting emergency medical technicians (EMTs) with the effects of peritraumatic dissociation (PD). Specifically, the aim was to gain insight into the shared phenomena of PD and the impact of occupational stress on EMTs and EMS managers, in a county in Central New York State, to identify, from the perspective of a total of eight practicing EMTs and EMS managers, the services, the employee benefits, and the activities that assist in destigmatizing and minimizing the effects of PD. …

Supervision And Evaluation Practices That Impact Teacher Learning: A Case Study Of Rural Teachers’ Perspectives, Jennifer L. Sinsebox

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to gain an in-depth understanding of what factors of the teacher supervision and evaluation process in a small, rural school district impacted the extent to which teachers learned and improved instructional practices. The case study explored if teachers in a small, rural school district experienced formative supervision practices that helped them learn or improve their teaching practices. Three implications emerged from the study. First, authentic leadership promotes teacher growth. Second, authentic leadership ensures empowered postconferences, and third, authentic leadership participates in walkthroughs to provide teachers with feedback. This study provides recommendations …

Medical Marijuana In Public Schools: A Narrative Study Of Parents’ Experiences With Policy Implementation, Donise Robinson Dr.

Education Doctoral

Parents of children with conditions such as epilepsy, cancer, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can choose medical marijuana (MM) as a treatment plan for their children. The purpose of this narrative study is to describe parents’ experiences when implementing medical marijuana treatment plans in K-12 schools in New Jersey, Maryland, and Colorado. This study addressed the success and challenges parents faced with the chosen treatment plan. Many schools grapple with allowing the administration of MM to students because of the conflict between federal and state laws. This study identifies the experiences of parents of children prescribed MM as they …

Literacy Approaches In Montessori 3-6: An Action Research Project, Margaret Beagle

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research study was to examine connections between the early introduction of Montessori phonograms and increased student-led writing with the Movable Alphabet. This paper discusses the politics of literacy instruction and common literacy approaches used in Montessori early childhood settings, and examines best literacy practices for early childhood students. The study gathered data from Montessori early childhood educators and 19 students in a Montessori early childhood classroom. The classroom data was collected over four weeks, introducing phonograms alongside individual Sandpaper Letters. Children were then given the choice between using objects to guide their writing with the Movable …

Teaching Peace: The Effects Of Concentrated Interaction With Anti-Racist/Anti-Bias Media On A Montessori Guide’S Practice, Sarah Streyle

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this self-study was to examine the effects of concentrated interaction with anti-bias/anti-racist media on a Montessori guide’s practice. It was conducted over a total of six weeks. The intervention included a pre- and post- survey of understanding, nightly media interactions, daily reflection journaling, daily tallies of anti-bias/anti-racist thoughts during the school day, and a daily confidence scale to measure the participant’s confidence to integrate anti-bias/anti-racist concepts into her teaching practice. The study was completed at a private Montessori school in a medium-sized midwestern town, with an early childhood classroom of fifteen three- to five-year-old students of diverse …

Teacher Perceptions Of Blended Learning To Support 21st Century Learners, Nikki Hensley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand teacher perceptions of blended learning as an instructional methodology for addressing the needs of diverse learners. The researcher explored the perceptions of teachers who were participating in an ongoing professional development program within their school district. This program focused on improving teaching and learning through the implementation of a blended learning approach. The researcher examined the experiences of teachers as they learned to adapt pedagogical practices to address the learning needs of 21st century students through blended learning. The researcher sought to gain a better understanding of how teachers perceived that …

Mapping A Course To Success: The Relationship Of A College To Career Navigation Exploratory Course To Academic Success, Patrick D U Davis Sr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative, comparative study was to determine the relationship between retention and academic success of students who participated in a College to Career Navigation exploration course and students who did not participate in the course at a rural, community college serving a 14-county area in the Southeast U. S.

Archival data were collected from the participating community college’s student information system. Other data examined for this study included the student’s gender, at-risk status, and age. Retention data of the first-year, full-time students were collected and measured in accordance with the enrollment requirements of the community college’s governing …

Teacher Retention In Secure Residential Settings, Daniel Froemel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A phenomenological study was conducted to identify the factors associated with job retention among teachers in secure residential treatment centers in Tennessee. Central to this investigation was the exploration of how residential teachers perceive they are supported in their position, how teachers in residential settings perceive the culture of the facility, and what factors are associated with teacher retention in secure residential settings. Through a series of fifteen interviews, common themes emerged from the coding that provided insight into these questions.

Teachers who had worked in residential settings for more than five years seemed to have very strong internal belief …

Influence Of Curricular Organization On Cognitive Load And Student Performance In Online Learning Environments, Michael Wilder

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of curricular organization on student cognitive load and student performance in online learning environments. The findings of this study contribute to the development of usable instruction design principles for online education.

This research study used the lens of cognitive load theory to examine how online course organization affects student learning. A review of the literature included the elements of cognitive architecture that have been measured in prior studies, various methods in which cognitive load has been measured, and the basic requirements for measurement of cognitive load in instructional research.

A …

Pre-Entrance Factors And Student Success In An A.A.S. Nursing Program, Connie Marshall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of pre-entrance factors and the success of students in an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree nursing program at a community college in East Tennessee. The criterion variable was success in the nursing program. Success was defined as academic success in all nursing courses and completion of the nursing program to graduation. The predictor variables of pre-entrance factors were gender, age, Health Education Systems, Incorporated (HESI) A2 scores, Pell Grant eligibility, pre-nursing GPA, and prior licensure. The data for this non-experimental secondary analysis were derived from the electronic database in …

The Relationship Between The Amount Of Time Spent In The Block Center And Gender Differences In Preschool Children’S Spatial Performance, Narges Sareh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated whether there is a relationship between the amount of time children spend in the block center and their spatial skills, as well as the gender differences in the amount of time children spend in the block center and in their spatial skills. In addition, other factors influencing spatial skills were examined (e.g. child’s age, parents’ level of education). Using a correlational quantitative design, 75 preschoolers in eight Head Start classrooms were observed three times during their free play time. An existing instrument was used (TOSA: Verdine & Golinkoff, 2018) to measure children’s spatial skills. In addition, …

A Survey Of Pre-Service And In-Service Teachers On Training And Knowledge Of State Anti-Bullying Laws And Policies Related To Students With Disabilities, Molly Henry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bullying is a serious problem on its own but emerging research suggests that bullying may present differently in students with disabilities and affect them more severely than previously thought. The purpose of this study was to explore the multi-layered issue of bullying involving students with disabilities, examine the programs and legislation developed around this issue, and determine the training and knowledge teachers and teacher candidates have regarding the problem. An exploratory survey was completed by 105 teachers and teacher candidates in northeast Tennessee. Descriptive statistics and T-tests revealed that in-service teachers were more knowledgeable in identification of bullying and the …

Newsroom Convergence In A College Journalism School: Are Students Prepared For A Job?, Travis Feltner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to examine the current state of broadcast journalism education at the college level. It will also ask if college broadcast journalism students are receiving sufficient education and experience in their university newsrooms to get a job after graduation. The study surveyed professional television news directors from the 210 Designated Market Areas (DMA) in the United States. Most respondents agreed to some extent that converged college newsrooms better prepare students for a job as prior research suggested. However, it does not appear that those same applicants would be preferred over ones with traditional broadcast journalism education. The survey …

Development Of An Effect Size To Classify The Magnitude Of Dif In Dichotomous And Polytomous Items, James D. Weese

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A standardized effect size for the SIBTEST/POLYSIBTEST procedure is proposed, allowing for Differential Item Functioning (DIF) to be classified with a single set of DIF heuristics regardless of whether data are dichotomous or polytomous. This proposed standardized effect size accounts for both variability in responses and whether participants are included in the SIBTEST/POLYSIBTEST calculations. First, a new set of unstandardized effect size heuristics are established for dichotomous data that are more aligned with Educational Testing Service (ETS) standards using two and three parameter logistic (2PL and 3PL) models. Second, a standardized effect size is proposed and compared to other DIF …

Implementing Change: A Case Study Of Adaptive Leadership, Tina Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Persistent low levels of student achievement is a concern that has been the focus of many school improvement initiatives. Research has demonstrated that Professional Learning Communities are an initiative that leads to improved academic outcomes. Additionally, research has demonstrated the importance of effective leadership for a change initiative to be successful.

Using the conceptual framework of adaptive leadership as applied to implement a school improvement initiative, this study was conducted to understand how instructional leaders perceive their leadership changed as a result of implementing professional learning communities in their school. The participants were instructional leaders who led schools participating in …

Legislating Social Inclusion: Social Interaction And Perceptions Of Middle Level Students Toward Those With Disabilities, Deidre Necol Whitehead

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recognition of the need for students with disabilities to receive free and appropriate education was brought to the forefront with the passage of Public Law 93 – 112, Rehabilitation Act in 1973. In 1975 Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was enacted requiring all schools to develop and provide a free, appropriate public education for all children and youth with disabilities in the regular classroom to ensure an appropriate education. However, mandating inclusion in classrooms does not ensure social interaction, which is an integral part of learning, especially for early adolescents.

This dissertation uses the Chedoke-McMaster …

Lowering Language Learner Anxiety: The Impact Of Collaborative-Dynamic Assessment In The Intermediate University Spanish Classroom, Lynda Mcclellan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a new framework for the application of Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory (SCT) in the second language (L2) classroom called Collaborative-Dynamic Assessment (C-DA). C-DA is a melding of Collaborative Learning (CL), Dynamic Assessment (DA), and Group Evaluation (GE) in all aspects of L2 instruction and assessment. A study was conducted with 64 university students in an intermediate Spanish classroom to determine if the application of C-DA would lower Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA). Horwitz’ (1986) Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) was administered to the participants at the beginning of the course and then again at the end of …

A Study Of Black Family Members’ Perceptions Of Substance Use Supports, Tanya M. Henderson

Education Doctoral

Empirical literature shows the number of substance users has increased in the United States in the last 5 years. Support services are often limited to substance users only, leaving out families affected by addiction. Black individuals and families of substance users are underrepresented in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of substance use support services for Black family members of substance users. Data were collected using a qualitative interpretive phenomenological analysis, semi-structured, virtual interviews, and purposive sampling. The data from 10 participants in New York State was analyzed through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological …

Recalibrating Normalcy: Healing Perspectives Of Provisional Critical Care Nurse Leaders, Johaun T. Jackson

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this research was twofold: to explore the paradox existing between nursing as a healing occupation and the normalized violence occurring within the profession, as such, to inform from the perspectives of healing and cultural recalibration; and, secondly, to investigate the perspectives of charge nurses who may or may not have recognized psychological trauma, transformed pain, or transcended woundedness from lateral violence in the workplace. With the deployment of a lifeworld, phenomenological method, combined with the nurse as wounded healer theory, this study qualitatively measured and thematically captured the descriptive essence of nine provisional critical care leaders or …

Millennial Job Satisfaction And Retention In Technical And Business Professions In The United States, Amy Jean Considine

Education Doctoral

Millennials have been found to have higher turnover than previous generations, costing organizations and the U.S. economy over $30 billion annually (Adkins, 2016). Higher turnover for millennials has both short-term and long-term implications for organizations. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of job satisfaction, demographic characteristics, and retention for millennials working in technical and business professions in the United States. Using a quantitative, postpositivist paradigmatic design, this study employed the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) short form (University of Minnesota, 2016), the Turnover Intention Scale (TIS-6) (Roodt, 2004), and demographic questions that were adapted into an electronic …

A Case Study On The Efficacy Of Stem Pedagogy In Central New York State: Examining Stem Engagement Gaps Affecting Outcomes For High School Seniors And Post-2007 Educational Leadership Interventions To Reinforce Stem Persistence With Implications Of Stem Theoretic Frameworks On Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning, Andrew L. Drozd Dr.

Education Doctoral

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has gained significant notoriety and momentum in recent years. STEM literacy highlights the vital connection between an educated STEM workforce and U.S. national prosperity and leadership. STEM educational and job placement goals have been a national priority for over the past 20 years. However, the STEM gap is widening—contributing to increasing STEM pipeline leakage and the social injustice milieu of a noncompetitive workforce— undermining efforts to create prosperity and sustain global leadership. The pace of STEM jobs filled lags the rate of technological advancement and the surges in skilled STEM labor demand. The aggregate …

The Leader’S Mind Matters: The Effect Of Mindful Leadership Development Programs On Leadership Effectiveness, Mindfulness, And Well-Being Among Global Manufacturing Leaders, Lisa M. Critchley Dr.

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this quasi-experimental quantitative study was to examine the effects of mindful leadership development programs and mindfulness practices on wellbeing, dispositional mindfulness, and leadership effectiveness among 102 global manufacturing leaders facing volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) business environments. Organizations worldwide report challenges to develop leaders to lead effectively and maintain well-being in VUCA environments. Evidence points to the benefits of mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety, in addition to providing behavioral and cognitive improvements to support leadership effectiveness. Although a few global organizations are offering mindful leadership development programs, there is a gap between industry practices and …

Job Satisfaction And Turnover Rates Of Women Assertive Community Treatment (Act) Team Leaders In Nyc Nonprofit Organizations., Sasha-Marie Robinson

Education Doctoral

Job satisfaction and turnover of five former female assertive community treatment (ACT) team leaders and five current female ACT team leaders heading ACT teams within NYC was examined. Female ACT team leaders, as a specific subgroup, are often excluded from research within the general behavioral health cohort of providers. This study used a qualitative method and an exploratory case study design to gain greater insight into these phenomena. The researcher formulated an in-depth, rich description of the ACT team leaders’ roles, responsibilities, and work experiences using a demographic questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and field notes. Participants were employed in the role …