Education Commons^™

Addressing The Problem Of Student Engagement In The Classroom, Levi R. Urias

Culminating Experience Projects

The problem of student engagement is one that is faced by teachers everywhere. While multiple strategies exist for combating this issue, project-based learning and inquiry-based learning are two that stand out in the multitude of research. Additionally, these strategies are ideal in the science classroom as they align very well with the Next Generation Science Standards that are used in Michigan, including rural Southwest Michigan school, Eau Claire High School. This project explores these instructional strategies and their various benefits which include improved critical thinking, improved social skills, and improved questioning skills.

Understanding The Role Of Institutional Support For Student Academic Engagement In Higher Education Online And Blended Learning Settings Through The Lens Of The Academic Communities Of Engagement Framework, Sara Hirschi Tuiloma

Theses and Dissertations

This multiple-article dissertation explores institutional support for student academic engagement through the lens of the Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) framework. A literature synthesis explores the current research on teaching assistant (TA) support in online and blended environments in higher education, with a special emphasis on their role in providing support for affective engagement, in addition to supporting cognitive and behavioral engagement. The review suggests that additional research needs to be done in this area to better understand the role of TAs in online environments and how institutions can prepare them for this role through meaningful training. The second article …

Algebraic Reasoning And Conceptual Understanding: A Mixed Methods Comparison Of In-Person And Virtual Classroom Strategies, Erneice J. Jackson

Dissertations

Algebraic reasoning is the beginning school of thought to critical thinking. Employers are looking for this 21st century skill. The purpose of this research was to investigate equity in mathematics education using the NCTM Teaching and Learnings Beliefs Survey. Four area were studied: the number of years in education, the degree earned, the grade level taught in education, and the number of years in an educator’s teaching position. A mixed methods inventory was used. Most results were not rejected in this study. Two statements in the survey warranted a discussion. Recommendations were made for further research.

Engagement Through Emancipation, Empowerment, And Equity: Heutagogy And The 21st-Century Classroom, Stephen R. Perchard

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Low student engagement has become a problem for Engagement Academy (a pseudonym), as well as for most schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. Data indicates that approximately 70% of graduating students are disengaged and feel their educational experience is not adequately preparing them for life in the 21st-century. Issues related to student engagement reflect the failure of the province’s school system to adapt to societal trends and remain relevant in the 21st-century. Although a 21st-century workforce values competencies such as creativity, critical-thinking, and collaboration, traditional school systems value and reward compliance and conformity. Worse, a critical examination of traditional education systems …

The Relationship Between Introverted Student Behavior And Teacher Perception Of Student Engagement, Megan M. Dubee

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to investigate if a relationship exists between introverted student behavior and teacher perception of student engagement. The purposive sample was composed of high school teachers in the United States. Using the Engagement Rating Scale, teachers scored student engagement across four domains when considering two descriptions of students. One student was described using characteristics of an introvert; teachers then completed an identical version of the scale for a second student who was described using characteristics of an extravert. Independent samples t-tests were used to analysis differences in scores by personality type and revealed …

A Holistic Approach To Culturally Relevant Education In Biology To Examine Student Engagement, Robyn Brooke Biery

Theses and Dissertations

Recognizing that many students were disengaged in my grade-level biology class, this study sought to improve student engagement as a result of the implementation of CRE-enriched instruction and to describe themes associated with CRE and engagement. This qualitative action research study used a survey, exit tickets, and observations to discover emergent themes as a result of implementing CRE-enriched lessons. This action research study used member checking and disconfirming evidence to increase rigor and transferability. The results were that the use of CRE-enriched lessons increased the engagement of grade-level students in biology, and that engagement requires a two-pronged approach – cultural …

Increasing Student Engagement And Comprehension In The Elementary Classroom Through Text-Based Discussions, Lisa Newberry

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has illustrated that students are not performing at or above basic proficiency levels in reading. Several factors contribute to this lack of student achievement. Students need a comprehensive approach to understanding complex text, and teachers need assistance in facilitating this. Implementing a classroom discourse approach is an effective way to enable student engagement, build essential literacy skills, and promote reading comprehension to increase student academic achievement in all content areas. Currently, however, providing a discourse approach with fidelity has not been a top priority among stakeholders. Thus, this project focuses on the implementation of a professional development pilot program …

Effects Of Excessive Student Technology Usage On Student Cognitive Engagement, Kristina Leah Loveland

Dissertations

Technology in the classroom has educators asking the question of whether technology engages students on a deep cognitive level or whether technology is holding students back. Educational technology has the potential to increase student engagement (Norris & Coutas, 2014). Wexler (2019) found technology is holding students back because they prefer the virtual setting to a real-world setting. The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to determine if there is a connection between student cognitive engagement and excessive technology use. Developed by Antonetti and Stice (2018), the four components of Powerful Task Design were identified as the conceptual framework that …

Students’ Uptake Of Written Feedback In An Egyptian University Language Program, Isabel Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Feedback is by no means a straightforward path; rather, the feedback on the writing process involves several factors on the part of both educators and students at a university level. It is important to note that feedback can be given in different ways to each student, while uptake may vary across educational institutions. This study explored students’ perceptions on engagement strategies, uptake, and emotional responses to the feedback phenomenon. Past studies on feedback and uptake prompted the investigation of this area.

The study includes tentative answers to the wealth of questions that have contributed to the field of feedback. This …

The Intersection Of Student Engagement And Student Achievement: A Study To Determine The Strength Of The Relationship Between The Level Of Athletic Participation And Student Achievement, Matthew Kukoda

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between high school students’ athletics participation, mediated by engagement, and their academic achievement. The study sought to determine if increased athletics participation, and a self-reported increased sense of engagement at school, resulted in higher SAT test scores for high school students. In addition to this, predicators of race and gender were also incorporated into the statistical analysis of the relationship between sports participation and SAT scores. Using the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), this study analyzed the survey respondents scale of student engagement, participation in organized sports and …

Zest For English: Teaching Esl Content-Based Instruction Through The Culinary Arts, Melinda Joan Wright

Master's Projects and Capstones

ABSTRACT As only one-third of all degree-seeking California Community College English as a Second Language (ESL) students successfully complete transfer-level English within six years, new approaches ought to be considered to better meet the needs of these students. As most ESL classes are skills-based, offering more Content-Based Instruction (CBI) may be one solution to increasing successful student outcomes in ESL classes and pathway programs. The purpose of this project was to develop a content-based curriculum for community college and adult education students who are interested in the culinary arts as a way of engaging learners who may not be as …

Understanding The Perceptions Of African American High School Students On The Development Of Student-Teacher Relationships, Michael Hensley

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Studies have shown the positive associations between academic achievement, student engagement, and student-teacher relationships (Willms, 2003; Roorda et al., 2011). However, limited research exists on the subject of student-teacher relationships from the student perspective, and virtually no literature focuses on student-teacher relationships from the student perspective in the southern United States. This qualitative study was designed to collect and examine the perceptions of African American high school students in Arkansas on the development of student-teacher relationships. Data was collected through focus group meetings held with African American students in two diverse high schools. The constant comparative method of data analysis …

Latino Engagement: Investigating The Effects Of High Impact Practices Participation On Students' College Outcomes, Noelia N. Pacheco Diaz

Doctoral Dissertations

Latino students are a growing minority in higher education in the United States, but they still lag behind their peers to have a successful college experience (Hussar et al., 2020; Schack et al., 2019). On the other hand, research has indicated that participation in purposeful educational activities such as so-called High Impact Practices (HIPs) is an effective way to foster college success (Kuh, 2003; Kuh, Schneider, et al., 2008). Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate how participation in high-impact practices influences student engagement, satisfaction, perceived learning gains, and self-reported GPA in college for Latino students. Also, this …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Different Media To Enhance Mathematical Discourse, Kyle Och

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This qualitative and quantitative study compared the effect of paper-pencil work in a mathematical discourse with problems and prompts presented virtually through various technological tools. The participants of this study were ninth and tenth grade students in two separate blocks of geometry class. These classes consisted of predominantly White students split into class sizes of 26 and 21. Since students were separated into two different geometry classes, one class was given paper problems and discussion prompts while the other received problems and prompts through Desmos Classroom Activities. This way, a quantitative analysis of three data points could be compared between …

A Case Study The Effects Of Student Engagement On Academic Achievement In African American Women: Comparing Undergraduate Stem Majors To Non-Stem Majors From A Historically Black College And University, Zenora E. Gay

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The nation is at a critical juncture in history as it seeks to increase the number of students who enter the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. The national push to have a properly trained STEM workforce was at the forefront of the past administration’s top priority list. The higher education community has a unique opportunity to contribute to the creation of a sustainable U.S. STEM workforce. Although significant progress has been made in STEM fields, some argue that movement has been too slow in certain cases, as shown in degrees earned by women in engineering (National Academies of …

Northern Illinois University Student Government Association: How Currently Involved Undergraduate Latino Students Engage, Understand, And Interact With The Student Government Association, Jacob Burg

Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore the varying experiences of involved Northern Illinois University Undergraduate Latino students and their engagement with their Student Government Association. This study attempts to analyze the research question, to what extent are involved undergraduate Latino students aware of the Student Government Association (SGA), and what is their past and current level of engagement with the organization? The goal is to analyze the current levels of understanding and engagement, understand breakthroughs in marketing, determine areas of opportunities and threats to involvement, and to determine the best course of action for future administrations to provide …

The Journey To Improving Student Connectedness: Exploring Teacher Self-Efficacy, Use, And Perceptions Of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Christopher F. Cipriano

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

This Dissertation in Practice investigated to what extent professional learning impacted teacher perceptions, instruction, and self-efficacy of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) at a Catholic high school. The dissertation followed an Improvement Science framework to address a specific problem of practice: a lack of universal student connectedness at the high school level. As students begin ninth grade, the connectedness to school many experienced on the elementary level often wanes, with academic, social, and emotional impacts. To build connectedness, the researcher selected a specific change idea focused upon CSP. The intervention consisted of two professional development (PD) sessions and several opportunities for …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Self-Efficacy To Engage Elementary Students In Learning Science, Stacie I. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Science teachers in the local area lacked self-efficacy to teach science and were struggling to engage students in science learning, which resulted in student underachievement. Principals reported that teachers’ lack of self-efficacy in teaching science may be limiting students’ goals for scientific careers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of their sense of self-efficacy to teach science and what they thought were the challenges to enhancing student engagement in science. The conceptual framework was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, which connects instruction to the confidence teachers possess in the classroom. Data were collected from individual …

Understanding Chinese International Students' Engagement And Belongingness In U.S. Universities, Yingying Jiang

Theses and Dissertations

Little research has been conducted on Chinese international students’ engagement and belongingness in U.S. universities. This study used a non-experimental quantitative survey research design and adapted survey items from past literature to target Chinese international students’ experiences. Prior to the survey administration, pretesting including expert reviews and a think-aloud were carried out to validate the survey. A total of 76 Chinese students from various universities participated in the survey data collection. The quantitative analytical processes included Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to ensure construct validity; measurement invariance testing between groups and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) included four major factors/predictors (English proficiency, …

Teacher Experiences And Perceptions In Implementing Instructional Strategies For Fostering Student Engagement In Upper Elementary Mathematics, Gail Willis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to investigate the factors that influence mathematical instruction of upper elementary teachers in school districts within Southern California. More specifically, this research study examined teaching strategies of upper elementary teachers’ experiences and perceptions regarding implementing student engagement in mathematics in school districts within Southern California. This qualitative phenomenological research study involves teachers who utilize instructional strategies based on their best practices that foster students engaging in upper elementary mathematics. In this research study, the participants explained their lived experiences and perceptions of utilizing their chosen strategies to engage students in mathematics …

High School Counselors In Low-Performing Schools And Their Perceived Impact On Student Engagement And Outcomes, Genevieve Lyons

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study illuminated the experiences and perceptions of high school counselors in low-performing schools. The study specifically explored the impact of the role of high school counselors on student engagement and outcomes (i.e., chronic absenteeism, dropout rate, and graduation and completion). A literature review revealed a need for research to probe the experiences and perceptions of high school counselors to determine how they regard their roles and discern if their assigned responsibilities impact school performance. Quantitative results revealed that the high school counselors in low-performing schools in Virginia prioritize student academic performance by advocating and developing strategies to change policies …

How And Why Design Education Instructors Use Place-Based Education In Their Courses, Michael Flynn

Online Theses and Dissertations

Place-based education (PBE) is a pedological approach that takes learning outside of the classroom into the local community. Allowing students to not only explore their physical environments but also the history, people, and culture of a place. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the use of PBE by design education instructors in higher education. This focus on PBE in design education is significant because PBE has not been extensively examined in a design context. The results should extend knowledge about ways that local learning environments can create opportunities and experiences for design students that cannot be …

Addressing High School Student Stress: Exploring Student And Teacher Perceptions Of A Modified Dbt Steps-A Curriculum, Greg C. Hatzis

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The problem of practice investigated is high school student stress and the many detrimental effects. The setting is a public high school in Southwestern Connecticut in a community that places a high value on academic achievement and college acceptance. A root cause analysis identifies two actionable drivers of change in teacher practices and the lack of student self-management skills. A review of scholarly knowledge and local practices leads to an investigation of strategies to mitigate the problem. This review identifies Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A) as a high leverage strategy to address …

The Relationship Between Online Learning And Student Motivation And Engagement, Sarah Mieczkowski

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The switch to online learning during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic impacted the educational world in many ways. University students were moved from traditional in person classroom settings to an online format. This change may have been accompanied by stress, anxiety, and social isolation. Research suggests that a student’s learning environment can either generate success by contributing to motivational strategies through quality of educational support or a learning environment can generate boredom, stress, and confusion. In addition, research demonstrates that personality plays a factor in many outcomes such as education and mental health. There is a lack of research on connecting …

The (Millennial) Times, They Are A’Changin’: Understanding Gen Z’S Expectations In The Classroom, Hayley C. Hoffman

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Drawing from over a decade of research, it can be said with relative certainty what millennial learners expected of their instructors when they were in the college classroom. But what about the expectations and needs of our current group of students, Generation Z? Because few studies exist on Gen Z in higher education spaces, this dissertation establishes a baseline of what these students might need and expect from market and generational research on this group of students and establishes expectancy violations theory as a sound theoretical base for instructional research. This dissertation’s longitudinal, two-phase study, then, seeks to determine Gen …

Exploring The Effects Of Masks On Student Engagement In Ece And Ese: A Literature Review Of Related Research, Anna M. Frahm

Honors Undergraduate Theses

During the advancement of COVID-19, safety protocols (including facial masks) were incorporated into public settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), due to safety regulations, recommend wearing face masks when in close contact with other people in public environments, such as in a classroom, where social distancing is difficult. Understanding these CDC recommendations is still critical when looking for effective and safe alternative forms of masking for particular industries. Many industries smoothly transitioned to daily use of traditional cloth masks, but other industries (such as education) serving clients with high communicational needs and communication-centered services sought masking alternatives. …