Education Commons^™

Effects Of Professional Development On Secondary School Teachers’ Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, And Attitudes About Adhd, Rebecca Jeanne Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Educators in general are not likely to have an accurate understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including its etiology, how it presents, or how it is treated. Teachers also report lower satisfaction with students who have ADHD, including frustration with classroom experiences. Additionally, teachers express a desire to learn more about ADHD and how to manage related behaviors in their classrooms. Students with ADHD report wishing their teachers liked them more and understood that they aren't trying to be difficult. Accurate knowledge of ADHD has been shown to improve teacher efficacy. The current research study is adapted from Latouche …

High School Teachers' Perceptions Of The Factors That Foster And/Or Inhibit Self-Efficacy During Emergency Remote Teaching, Andrea Padelsky

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

This qualitative research study explores high school teachers' perceptions of the factors influencing their self-efficacy during emergency remote teaching (ERT) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, conducted in a New Jersey high school, investigates the immediate transition from traditional in-person instruction to fully remote learning. By utilizing semi-structured interviews, the research focuses on five emergent themes: Adaptability and Flexibility, Student-Centered Approach, Communication and Transparency, Resourcefulness and Connection, and Challenges and Uncertainty Management.

The research study aligns with Albert Bandura's self-efficacy theory, examining how mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and physiological arousal contribute to teachers' self-efficacy during …

Understanding Parents’/Caregivers’ Experiences With School-Based Technology At Home, Marcus J.W. Borders

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to understand parents’/caregivers’ experiences as supporters of their elementary-aged children’s use of school-based technology at home. Research questions of this case study focused on the experiences, perceptions and needs of parents/caregivers within their support of school-based technology. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, along with digital document collection, and a focus group interview. Transcripts for each interview and the focus group were analyzed as a means of establishing parents’/caregivers’ unique experiences, their perceptions of their ability to support the use of school-based technology, and the needs they required to be successful within …

Using Efficacious Content Area Literacy Practices To Support Student Improvement And Perception Of Self-Efficacy, Christine Mccabe

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how students’ self-efficacy, confidence, and motivation change when students use content area literacy practices in math. This study was guided by the affective theories of Bandura, Maslow, and Guthrie & Wigfield. This study used qualitative research, focusing on collecting data through anecdotal evidence, student self-evaluation surveys, student journal responses, and a teacher research journal. Throughout the six week study, students participated in lessons focused on improving self-efficacy, confidence and motivation. Additionally, students learned to make connections between math and literacy through math literacy tasks, such as numberless word problems. Following the study, data was analyzed through triangulation …

Campus Ministry And Spiritual Self-Efficacy: A Phenomenological Study Of Academic Achievement Among Black Male Students At An Historically Black College And University, Mitchell Stevens

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation

Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy in motivation and achievement (Bandura, 1994), provided a lens through which to analyze the influence of Historically Black Colleges and University’s (HBCUs) campus ministry on the development of spiritual self-efficacy and academic achievement among Black males. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a long history of providing higher education opportunities to Black students, and they have been instrumental in fostering academic, personal, and social growth (Smith & Allen, 2014). However, little is known about the specific impact of campus ministry programs on the development of Black males’ spiritual self-efficacy and …

Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Investigation Of Teacher Perspectives, Shanda Salvant Theriot

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation

This qualitative study explored the self-efficacy of middle school teachers as they address cyberbullying in the classroom. A phenomenological research design using a purposive sampling method was used. To understand the teachers’ lived experiences and perspectives on cyberbullying, open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventh-grade teachers from two parochial schools and three charter schools. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, which was used to gather additional information regarding the teachers’ background and experience. Seven themes emerged from coding the data collected from the teacher interviews and focus group session: 1) collaboration and communication, 2) professional development and training, 3) support and …

Exploring The Connection Between Self-Efficacy And Preparedness Among First-Year College Students, Marianne Hale

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

The goal of the American education system is to prepare students for college. I wondered, “Do students feel ready?” That question led me to investigate the literature on the development, implementation, and effectiveness of our current standards. The gap I found was that the standards do not address an important aspect of student achievement, that of student self-efficacy. Self-efficacy in writing helps students have the confidence to engage in the task of writing, regardless of the situation. I focused my study of student writing self-efficacy on one English 1010 class. I administered a self-efficacy evaluation in class and conducted a …

Returning To School After A Pandemic: K-6 Education Teachers Perspectives On Low- Income Students Returning To School With Regard To Academic Achievement, Behavior, Mindset, And Social Connections, Sarah Orendorff

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine K-6 educators’ perceptions of the impact on low-income students returning to school after the trauma of a pandemic for 2 years with regard to behavior, academic achievement, mindset, and social connections.

Methodology: This qualitative study interviewed 12 K6 teachers who taught before, during, and after the pandemic in Orange County, CA. Semi-structured open ended interview questions was the main source of data collection with other sources including observations, and artifacts. Data was coded and the researcher analyzed the data for themes and patterns.

Findings: After analyzing data, codes, and themes …

Best Practices In Professional Learning Communities That Influence Teacher Self-Efficacy, Silian Molly Hornsby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined best practices in professional learning communities (PLCs) that influence teacher self-efficacy. Participants were primary and intermediate teachers and teacher leaders from a large suburban elementary school in Texas. Participants had to have at least 1 year of teaching and PLC experience. The semistructured teacher and teacher-leader interviews were recorded and transcribed in real time using Otter.ai software. After members checked the transcription, the transcription was uploaded into the NVivo software for coding and identifying common themes. The findings were separated into themes based on the study’s research questions. Research question 1 explored what teachers and …

Impact Of Financial Literacy And Financial Capability On Students' Self-Efficacy, Darren Scott

Dissertations

Low-income, first-generation college students experience unique obstacles in their pursuits of a college degree. One of the biggest stressors that exist within this population is financial stress which has led to money being the number one reason students do not persist to graduation. Despite this being one of their biggest stressors, many higher education institutions do not put an emphasis on financial literacy initiatives that research has shown can help alleviate this type of stress. This mixed methods study explores the impact financial literacy and financial capability has on a students’ self-efficacy. This research is guided by Albert Bandura’s Self-Efficacy …

Physical Educators’ Self-Efficacy To Teach Students With Disabilities Across Instructional Placements, Lindsey Ann Nowland

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Although there are several well used self-efficacy instruments designed to measure PE teachers’ self-efficacy to teach students with disabilities, limitations to these scales exits, such as a narrow focus on integrated instructional placements and an absence of theoretically relevant sources of self-efficacy information built within the scales. These limitations translate to a significant gap in the literature between measuring PE teachers’ self-efficacy and understanding how sources of self-efficacy information interact to shape PE teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, as well as understanding how different instructional placements may inform efficacy. This dissertation was structured in a two-manuscript approach. The purpose of the first …

Classical Growth Grid: A Proposal For Classical Formative Assessment, Kristen Hampton

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

This research endeavor seeks to explore how to assess a classically educated student. A classical Christian education differs from modern education, and the evaluation of the student must differ. This research focuses on determining how a classical student could best be assessed using strategies already proven by educational research. Overall, there needs to be more tools to equip a classical educator to evaluate students, and the existing tools need to be supported by research. This research seeks to give sound evidence to develop a potential method of classical assessment to measure a student’s academic growth that could be utilized by …

Understanding Teacher Perceptions Around Feedback, Cari Ann Sloan

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This narrative research study sought to better understand teachers’ perceptions around feedback, specifically the significant drivers of quality teacher feedback and the effect of the evaluator/teacher relationship. The theoretical frameworks of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, adult learning theory, social learning theory, and self-determination theory were examined to determine what the research reveals about adults’ incentive to improve. Research around accepted best practices in feedback was also reviewed in order to understand current implementation in educational settings, specifically what motivates teachers when given feedback on instruction. Four teachers, chosen for their specific characteristics, gave first-hand accounts of their experiences with the …

Enhancing Teachers’ Tpack And Self-Efficacy Through Content-Based Technology Professional Development, Chloe Wilson

Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine the impact of content-based instructional technology on teacher’s TPACK, specifically the technology related knowledge domains, and instructional technology self-efficacy. Demographic data was compared for correlations with TPACK or self-efficacy ratings. Additionally, the professional development model was evaluated by gathering teacher perceptions. A pre- and post-intervention survey was conducted to gather TPACK, self-efficacy, and perceptions of professional development. Findings were consistent and built upon previous research. Teachers experienced growth in all TPACK technology knowledge domains and displayed increased instructional technology self-efficacy ratings. Additionally, suggestions from previous research regarding best practices for …

Returning To School After A Pandemic: K-6 Special Education Teachers Perspectives On Students With Disabilities Returning To School In Regard To Mindset, Behavior, Social Connections, And Academic Achievement, Andrea Xenios

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine K-6 special education educators’ perceptions of the impact on students with disabilities returning to school after the trauma of a pandemic for 2 years with regard to behavior, academic achievement, mindset, and social connections.

Methodology: This qualitative study interviewed 10 special education teachers who taught before, during, and after the pandemic in Orange County, CA. Semi-structured open ended interview questions was the main source of data collection with other sources including observations, and artifacts. Data was coded and the researcher analyzed the data for themes and patterns.

Findings: The study …

Educating The Whole Child: The Transformative Power Of Self-Efficacy, Hannah Wallenta

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examined research on the teaching strategies that impact self-efficacy and student achievement. This topic was explored through a multitude of quantitative and qualitative studies which provided a comprehensive understanding of overall benefits of increasing self-efficacy, teachers' roles in development, and multitude of strategies used in the classroom to support teachers in creating student learning experiences that promote self-efficacy. This research goes beyond what structures are needed for student success and delves into the methods used to support the whole child from a psychological perspective that prepares them for success outside of the classroom. Further research is needed to …

Returning To School After A Pandemic: K-12 School Mental Health Practitioners’ Perspectives Returning To School In Regard To Mindset, Behavior, Performance, And Social Connections, Viridiana Benitez Esparza

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine K-12 school mental health practitioners’ perceptions of their experiences working with students following the 2-year educational/social/emotional trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to the mental health practitioners’ mindset, behavior, performance, and social connections. Methodology: The researcher conducted a phenomenological study examining particular experiences of participants to understand their perspective during a phenomenon (McMillan & Schumacher, 2006). This qualitative study interviewed 12 school mental health practitioners who served in K-12 public schools after the pandemic in Los Angeles County, California. Semi-structured interview questions were used for data collection and aligned …

Transformational Leadership Behaviors Of Department Leaders As A Predictor Of Collective Teacher Efficacy, Jason Stanton

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Researchers generally credit Albert Bandura for providing the theoretical framework for studying collective teacher efficacy. Research shows that principals using transformational leadership behaviors significantly impact collective teacher efficacy. Policies, such as Every Student Succeeds Act, increasingly put pressure on school districts to improve student achievement or lose funding. Supporting literature and research shows that improving collective teacher efficacy improves student performance regardless of student socioeconomic status. Therefore, a department leader’s ability to increase collective teacher efficacy amongst staff directly influences the student achievement within their school district. This researcher investigated the relationship between transformational leader behaviors of department leaders and …

First Grade Teachers’ Self-Efficacy During Transformational Changes In Literacy Instruction, Amy M. Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

Schools across the county are transitioning from balanced literacy to researched based reading instruction. This shift impacts not only instructional practices in reading, but the fundamental understanding of reading development. Teachers are on the frontline of this huge endeavor. This research examined five first grade teachers’ self-efficacy through this transformational change. One-on-one interviews were conducted to explore teachers’ perspectives as they make this shift. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, (IPA) four themes emerged; lack of training, feelings of disconnect, teacher overwhelm, and passion for change. Recommendations for practice include clear and concise communications of the shifts that are necessary when moving …

Understanding Preservice Teacher Self-Efficacy Toward Science And Science Instruction After Completing An Online Science Methods Course: A Case Study, Bradley T. Rhew

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Preservice educators are required to enroll in multiple methods courses to prepare them to effectively teach content to students. With the increase of online teacher preparation programs, methods courses are also being offered virtually. This study sought to investigate the overall attitudes, beliefs, and preparedness of candidates after completing an online science methods course. A mixed methods study was conducted to gain insight into these topics. The case study was conducted at a small, southern, private university to better understand the self-efficacy of undergraduate elementary education candidates who completed an online methods course. The study also investigated the instructor’s perceptions …

Educational Attainment: American Indians/Alaska Natives Phenomenological Study Of A Northeast Nebraska Indian Reservation, Stacy Brasch

Dissertations and Theses

This phenomenological study explored the perspectives of American Indian/Alaska Native students who had all graduated from the same Northeast-Nebraska public school located on a federally recognized Indian reservation and completed at least a four-year degree. To that end, the central research question addressed by this dissertation is, “Why were these individuals successful in their educational attainment pursuits when so many of their contemporaries were not?” The two sub-research questions were (1) What supports do American Indian/Alaska Native graduates perceive as having helped to ensure their resilience and successful educational attainment? And (2) What challenges do American Indian/Alaska Native students identify …

The Influence Of Faculty Mentorship On Graduate Student Development Through The Lens Of Self-Efficacy, Connor Lynn Ferguson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This exploratory sequential mixed-methods case study explores the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and faculty mentorship with biomedical sciences graduate students. The intent of the study was to understand the extent at which faculty mentorship contributes to self-efficacy development in the population of biomedical sciences doctoral students enrolled at a mid-Atlantic R1 institution. Data collected consisted of a survey assessing perceived self-efficacy and mentoring, interviews and documents. Data analysis explored themes related to the perceived academic and professional development of the students through their responses. The research highlights the significance of the mentor-mentee relationship and influence of the mentor on the …