Education Commons^™

Language Attitudes, Linguistic Knowledge, And The Multicultural Education Of Pre-Service Teachers: A Sociolinguistic Study, Maria Elisa Paredes

Dissertations

Abstract This research created, implemented and evaluated the impact of a language unit designed to increase linguistic knowledge and change attitudes toward linguistic diversity for pre-service teachers taking an education class that focused on child and adolescent development at an urban university in Missouri. Both quantitative and qualitative measures were used to document learning and attitude change toward linguistic variety during 4-8 hours of instruction. The language unit included a pretest/posttest design, an overview of general linguistics, phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics, language acquisition and bilingualism; the unit utilized multiple digital tools (DVD & CD) created by the researcher. Demographic correlates to …

Mezirow's Transformational Learning Theory And Alternative Health Therapeutics Of Mind, Body, And Spirit, Lewis Edward Blackwell

Dissertations

An illness, like prostate cancer, brings crisis to our experience and confuses the structure of our reality as well as disturbs our meaning which is upheld by interpretive imagery. Hence, recovery involves a learning experience that consists of a reflective, educational, and spiritual process to rebuild and reconstruct meaning through the use and transformation of our images and themes to create meaning. The purpose of the research was to investigate the meaning of the illness experience through the lens of transformational learning theory. As such, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 10 African American men who lived in large metropolitan areas …

Teacher Efficacy And Its Impact On Student Achievement, Carissa Freeman

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

It is apparent that student achievement is of great concern to the stakeholders of the U.S. educational system. School reform not only heavily depends on teachers, but their belief in their own ability to impact student achievement, otherwise known as teacher efficacy. Teacher leaders, administrators, and policy makers have examined various philosophies, methodologies and strategies to support efficacious teachers so that their talent and skills are retained within the classroom, and thereby positively impact student achievement.

The Effects Of Art Therapy On Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Amy V. Krueger

Theses and Graduate Projects

The process of creating art is considered to be a therapeutic method for students with emotional behavioral disorders (E/BD) to non-verbally express their thoughts and feelings. It has also been used by therapists and at times collaboratively with special education teachers to assess thoughts, feelings and also state of mind. Research suggests that art assessment offers an uncensored view of a child's thoughts and feelings and is a nonverbal method of assessment for children who are still developing language skills or who are unwilling to verbalize their feelings or emotions (White, Wallace, Huffman, 2004). Art psychotherapy with students with E/BD …

The Effects Of A Research-Based Intervention Program On Kindergarten Student Achievement, Melvin J. Bishop Jr.

Dissertations

The current system for identifying at-risk students, which employs the wait-and-see method, provides teachers no formal way of getting the necessary interventions needed in order for their students to be successful. The purpose of this study was to determine if the implementation of a research-based intervention program, Response To Intervention, would increase the academic performance of kindergarten students identified as at-risk.

Kindergarten students entering school for the first time were tested for basic knowledge of alphabetical letter recognition and letter sound recognition. Children who demonstrated a deficit were given a series of research-based reading interventions by an intervention specialist to …

A Competition Module For A Small Business Management Class, Thomas C. Moore

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In this study, the author evaluates a condition that exists among many college students, the lack of either willingness or ability to compete with one another in order to achieve objectives. The review of literature indicates that students' inability to compete was predicated by a trend, in recent decades, among educators to focus on students' self image and self esteem rather than on one's accomplishments relative to one's peers. This educational focus has yielded a preoccupation with a concern that no student should ever experience losing. However, with this trend, something was lost, students' capacity to realistically assess their skills …

The Interplay Among Prospective Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Affect, Metacognition, And Mathematical Cognition In A Problem-Solving Context, Belinda Pickett Edwards

Middle-Secondary Education and Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore the interplay of prospective secondary mathematics teachers’ affect, metacognition, and mathematical cognition in a problem-solving context. From a social constructivist epistemological paradigm and using a constructivist grounded theory approach, the main research question guiding the study was: What is the characterization of the interplay among prospective teachers’ mathematical beliefs, mathematical behavior, and mathematical knowledge in the context of solving mathematics problems? I conducted four interviews with four prospective secondary mathematics teachers enrolled in an undergraduate mathematics course. Participant artifacts, observations, and researcher reflections were regularly recorded and included as part …

The Diffusion Of Innovative Technologies Among Elementary And Middle School Teachers: Examining The Relationship Between Access To Social Capital And Level Of Technology Adoption, John Patrick Bayerl

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between public school elementary and middle school teachers’ access to social capital (the independent variable) and their level of adoption of innovative technologies (the dependent variable). The study was founded on both diffusion of innovations and social network theory.

Study participants were teachers from three schools, sharing two buildings in a single school district. The initial phase of the research involved informal interviews with key policy makers from each school, conducted for the purpose of identifying innovative technologies present at each study site. An existing survey instrument was …

Client Change In Multi-Model Treatment: A Comparison Of Change Trajectories In Group, Individual, And Conjoint Formats In A Counseling Center, Bryan K. Mickelson

Theses and Dissertations

Providing clinicians with a clearer understanding of how clients' recover over the entire course of therapy has important implications for referral and treatment strategies. The present study compares rates of change in 160 clients in group therapy with 6632 clients in individual therapy and 864 clients receiving both individual therapy and group therapy. Therapeutic outcomes were measured using the Outcome Questionnaire-45. Data was analyzed using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), also called Multi-Level Modeling (MLM), to produce recovery curves for clients in each group. Recovery curves showed that most change occurred in the early part of group therapy and slowed near …

Examination Of How Attraction Dimensions Predict Collaborative Mentoring Relationships In College Students., Ashlee Lorraine Poppo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research has identified that one limitation of traditional mentoring occurs when there is a mismatch between the mentor and the protégé in work styles and personalities. Further, most of the literature on mentoring has not examined the informal mentoring that occurs between college students. Recent research has identified this type of peer mentoring as collaborative mentoring. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of interpersonal attraction in the development and success of collaborative mentoring relationships and to further examine which attraction dimension was the best predictor of the success of the relationship. Multiple regression analysis showed task …

The Problem With Tracking In Secondary Schools, Suzanne M. Rogers

Education 589 Projects

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Multicultural Counseling Competencies By Using Service Learning, Denise K. Sommers

Dissertations

Forty-six counselors-in-masters-level-training (n = 46) from the Southeast and Midwest provided demographic information and responded to the self-report Multicultural Counseling Inventory (MCI) and to multicultural counseling scenarios at the beginning of their multicultural counseling class and again at the end of their class. The primary question asked in this study was whether multicultural counseling graduate classes with service learning were more effective than those without service learning in developing multicultural counseling competencies. Consistent with the literature, racial/ethnic self-designation were found to be significantly related to MCI and Cross Cultural Counseling Inventory-Revised (CCCI-R) scores. Findings regarding the research questions were inconclusive …

Supporting E-Learning Within A Social Framework, Barbara J. Keene

Dissertations

E-learning has become a major delivery platform for higher education, continuing education and corporate training. The majority of e-learning research to date has taken place in academic environments using survey or qualitative research. This study used an experimental design (N = 99) to view three different models for supporting asynchronous e-learning in a corporate setting where learners are geographically distributed. The support interventions were rooted in andragogical principles of learning. Two treatment groups were provided socially engaging proactive models while the control group used a learner directed reactive authoritarian model. The purpose of this study was to see if different …

Twelve-Month Administrative Leadership Development Program At The University Of Missouri: Perceived Outcomes By Staff Participants And Participants' Supervisors, Lea-Ann Morton

Dissertations

This study examined the perceived outcomes of a national institute or internship program focused on leadership development at a postsecondary institution by conducting in-depth, qualitative interviews with participants who completed the program and supervisors who oversee these participants in the workplace. The program selected for study was the Administrative Leadership Development Program (ALDP) hosted by the University of Missouri. The perceived outcomes by both populations converged and were identified as Feeling Valued, Relationship Building, Self-Awareness, and Skill Development. The data indicated perceived outcomes by ALDP participants and participants? supervisors were positive in nature and observable differences in participant performance occurred. …

Action Research As Professional Development: A Study Of Two Teachers, Wade R. Glathar

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of two teachers in a public charter school who implement action research in their classrooms. The study explored the key elements of professional development as well as action research and makes the case as to why action research is an effective tool for teacher development. Participants were selected based on having little teaching experience and familiarity with action research. The study examined the experiences of teachers who have had limited professional development as they use action research in their practices. Data for the study were drawn from interviews as well as researcher and participant journals.

Increasing Student Participation At Iep Meetings: A Case Study, Jerrilyn K. Henderson

Theses and Graduate Projects

At age 14, students in special education are expected to participate and contribute to decisions concerning their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) yet most do not understand the IEP. Nor do they understand how the IEP process works. This study is an effort to see if student participation in the IEP can be influenced by the direct teaching of the IEP process to the student before the IEP meeting. The study follows one student from the beginning of the IEP instruction through his IEP meeting and ends with his transition meeting into high school. The findings show that the student increased …

Views And Use Of Theory By Practicing Instructional Designers, Joseph B. South

Theses and Dissertations

Formal instructional design (ID) theories, intended to guide instructional designers' decision-making and design practices, have grown in abundance in recent years. These ID theories are based on learning theories that form the foundation for applied work in the field. However, researchers are concerned that these theories may not be applicable to the day-to-day practice of instructional designers. While some studies investigate the application of ID process models, studies of learning theory and ID theory in practice are rare. Consequently, there is little information about the nature and extent of the gap between our field's theory and its practice. This qualitative …

The Relationship Between The Maturity Level Of Professional Learning Communities (Plcs) And Student Achievement, Eric Brett Arbetter

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between schools' maturity as professional learning communities (PLCs) and student achievement in mathematics and communication arts. Teachers from all 333 public elementary schools in Missouri serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade were invited to participate by completing Hord's School Professional Staff as Learning Community Questionnaire. Each question was directly related to one of Hord's five critical dimensions of PLCs: "...supportive and shared leadership; a shared vision and values; collective learning and application of learning; shared personal practice; and supportive conditions" (Hord, 1997a, p. 6, passim). …

The Impact Of A Character Education Based Interactive Discipline Program On At-Risk Student Behavior In An Alternative School, Michael G. Hylen

Dissertations

Student problem behavior is incompatible with academic achievement and positive interpersonal relationships. It has become necessary for schools to develop codes of conduct to address inappropriate student behavior. But, current school disciplinary policies are ineffective instruments for effecting positive change in student problem behavior (Goodman, 2006). In response to this problem, public school districts are developing a wide variety of approaches to dealing with the needs of problem behavior students. One approach has been the development of alternative high school programs - school district initiatives specifically designed to meet the needs of students lacking success in the traditional high school …

Value Conflicts In Psychotherapy: Psychology Graduates' Perspectives, Shannon Vincent Wilde

Theses and Dissertations

Although psychotherapy has been viewed historically as value-neutral, developments over the last half-century have led to the generally accepted position that values are inescapable in therapy. However, many questions remain as to how values should be managed in psychotherapy in order to protect client autonomy. These issues are of particular concern to training programs, which bear the responsibility of instructing new psychologists in ethical values management and of helping trainees manage personal values when those values are in conflict with those of their clients or with the values of the field in general. One aspect that has not previously been …

Gretchen's Family, Barbara A. Soard

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Humanities at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Barbara A. Soard in December of 2008.

Student Success In College: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Institutional Expenditures And Persistence, Ibironke Lawal

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationships between 1. institutional expenditures on academic support as measured by total amount and student persistence; 2. institutional expenditures on academic support as measured by amount per student FTE and student persistence; 3. institutional expenditures on student services as measured by total amount and student persistence; and 4. institutional expenditures on student services as measured by amount per FTE. It also explored the relationship between student engagement as measured by the five benchmarks (Academic Challenge, Active & Collaborative Learning, Student Faculty Interaction, Enriching Education Experience, and Supportive Campus Environment) and student persistence. Finally, it explored relationships …

Self-Determination For Students With Disabilities From A Hispanic Background In Transition From School To Work, Elin Cortijo-Doval

Theses and Dissertations

the author did not submit an abstract

A Quantitative Study Of The Effectiveness Of Positive Behavior Support In Secondary Schools, Rebecca Lynn Raftery

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a second tier intervention on at risk students' behaviors and academic success. The study included 113 middle school and junior high students identified as being at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders using the Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD). The participants were assigned to a control group (no treatment), one, two, or three semesters of the intervention. The intervention integrated components of social skills instruction, self-management techniques, and social and emotional awareness. Students' behaviors and academic success were measured using school data (i.e. GPA, Office Discipline Referrals, attendance, and …

A Comparison Of Reading Interventions Based On Preference To Reading Interventions Identified By Brief Experimental Analysis, Debborah Eda Smyth

Dissertations

The available literature on children's acceptability of interventions is rather sparse and offers little support for the link between acceptability and effectiveness (e.g., Foxx & Jones, 1978; Shapiro & Goldberg, 1986; Turco & Elliot, 1990). The present study compared the effects of treatment preference to treatment effectiveness using a brief experimental analysis to select skill-based oral reading fluency interventions. The use of a brief experimental analysis (BEA) (Daly, Martens, Hamler, Dool, & Eckert, 1999) has been demonstrated to be an effective procedure for selecting oral reading interventions. However, the studies on brief experimental analysis to date have not examined student …

The Effect Of Inquiry-Based, Hands-On Math Instruction Utilized In Combination With Web-Based, Computer-Assisted Math Instruction On 4th-Grade Students' Outcomes, Jason D. Plourde

Student Work

Results indicated that 4th-grade students ( n = 19) participating in the inquiry-based, hands-on math instruction used in combination with web-based, computer-assisted math instruction group and 4th-grade students ( n = 19) participating in the inquiry-based, hands-on math instruction alone group did not significantly improve their pretest-posttest Problem Solving/Data Analysis, Concepts/Estimation, Math Total, and Math Computation norm-referenced normal curve equivalent achievement test score results. However, 4th-grade students participating in the inquiry-based, hands-on math instruction alone group posttest-posttest scores were statistically significantly greater than students who participated in the combination instruction group across all four subtests. Moreover, all posttest norm-referenced, Normal …

The Effect Of A Yearlong One -To -One Laptop Computer Classroom Program On The 4th-Grade Achievement And Technology Outcomes Of Digital Divide Learners, Daniel H. Bird

Student Work

A yearlong one-to-one computer laptop classroom instruction intervention program used to prepare 4th-grade students for participation in computer learning activities was evaluated. Students used computers to complete daily reading, writing, and Internet search assignments. Students were divided into two groups according to past computer access; Digital Divide Learners (n = 10) who did not have computers and Internet access at home, and Digital Native Learners (n = 15) who did have computers and Internet access at home. Reading, writing, total technology skills domain scores, and keyboarding speed and accuracy outcomes were evaluated. Results indicate reading vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing …

The Consequential Effects Of High-Stakes Testing On Teacher Pedagogy, Practice And Identity: Teacher Voices Disrupt The A Priori, Janice Ellen Blake

Doctoral Dissertations

Today, under the federal mandates of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), test scores are being used for ways and means in which they were never designed, normed or intended (Linn, 2003). As a result, the purposes and uses of high-stakes tests have become a source of concerned debate among stakeholders, who see the consequences of high-stakes testing as having significant effects within the larger educational reform known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (Amrein & Berliner, 2002b). Allington (2002) has stated that NCLB has dramatically changed the testing story, making high-stakes tests one of the leading and central characters of …

A Comparative Philosophical Feminist Identity Study Of Chinese Women Intellectuals And The Educational Implications, Yan Cao

Doctoral Dissertations

As a female cross-cultural educator and scholar in the third space, I am deeply concerned about issues related to Asian Americans and especially Chinese women intellectuals. Problematic misinterpretations of Chinese women from Euro-western perspective center on Orentalism and newly arising problems during the post-Mao era in China such as problems with rising gender consciousness, invisibility issues of homosexuality, ethnic minorities, rethinking of class, and added social contexts in Chinese indigenous works. These problems demonstrate the need to pay attention to Chinese feminist scholarship and Chinese women’s academic contributions. A better way to theoretically understand Chinese women and their scholarship from …

A Comparative Study Of Faculty Expectations Of New Hires In Mathematics Education And Qualifications Of Doctoral Students In Mathematics Education, Randy L. Collins

Doctoral Dissertations

There is a critical need to attract more students into doctoral programs in mathematics education. Those in the doctoral programs in mathematics education have many career options outside of academics and research shows that 20% of those seeking the doctorate in mathematics education go into other areas besides higher education (Glasgow, 2001). Thus, there has been a shortage of qualified applicants for academic positions (Reys, 2000; Glasgow, 2000; Reys & Kilpatrick, 2001; Reys, 2002). Complicating matters is the fact that 80% of faculty in mathematics education are eligible to retire in 2008 (Reys, Glasgow, Ragan, & Simms, 2001; Reys, 2006). …