Education Commons^™

The Facilitated Individualized Education Program Process: State Perspectives, Jennifer Wagner

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Conflict between parents and school personnel continues to be an area of concern for students with disabilities, despite efforts by lawmakers to provide more parental input into the process of identification and continuation of special education services. Recent data suggest that unresolved conflict at the local level can cost a school district thousands of dollars to resolve the conflict in court, without consideration to the emotional costs that can be involved with this type of conflict resolution. Through mandates from IDEA 2004, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) strategies, such as facilitated individualized education program (FIEP) meetings, have been utilized to reduce …

Chasing Polys: Interdisciplinary Affinity And Its Connection To Physics Identity, Tyler Scott

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This research is based on two motivations that merge by means of the frameworks of interdisciplinary affinity and physics identity. First, a goal of education is to develop interdisciplinary abilities in students' thinking and work. But an often ignored factor is students interests and beliefs about being interdisciplinary. Thus, this work develops and uses a framework called interdisciplinary affinity. It encompasses students interests in making connections across disciplines and their beliefs about their abilities to make those connections. The second motivation of this research is to better understand how to engage more students with physics. Physics identity describes how a …

The Emotional Impact Of Teaching In A High Poverty School On First-Year, Early Childhood Teachers In Rural South Carolina: A Photo Elicitation Study, Kimberly Jedlicka

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The purpose of this research study was to understand the emotional impact of teaching in a high poverty school on first-year, early childhood teachers in rural South Carolina. The research also explored the extent to which these emotions either empowered or constrained the teachers in their work. The study used photo-elicitation with interviews to generate data. Participants in this study took photographs that represented emotional experiences, wrote captions and discussed their images in an interview session. The data analysis focused on honoring the participants' voices and included first and second cycle coding strategies. In Vivo coding and Emotion coding were …

Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers' Knowledge Development And Belief Change Within A Technology-Enhanced Mathematics Course, Vecihi Zambak

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With the adoption of Common Core State Standards, mathematics teachers have been expected to emphasize conceptual understanding as much as procedural and computational fluency in their teaching. Development of a sound mathematical content knowledge during their teacher education could enable mathematics teachers to meet this expectation. The infusion of technology into the domain of mathematics education has also modified the nature of mathematical content knowledge. Regarding the expectations and changes in the nature of mathematical content knowledge, in this dissertation, I examined the influence of Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) on pre-service middle grade mathematics teachers' Specialized Content Knowledge (SCK); how their …

A Content Analysis Of Implicit Legislator Discourses Within The Passage Of The South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act (2008): Implications For Opportunity And Access To Higher Education, Katie Smith

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On June 4, 2008, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act into law. According to the Act (Section 59-101-430), 'an alien unlawfully present in the United States is not eligible to attend a public institution of higher learning in [South Carolina]'. After the passage of this legislation, public colleges and universities in South Carolina were prohibited from enrolling (or reenrolling) undocumented immigrants as students, and are now required to verify the legal status of all students, through the federal e-verify system. This legislation represents a true limiting of higher education opportunities, as well as …

University Response To The Dear Colleague Letter On Sexual Violence: A Case Study, Kimberly Poole

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Sexual violence at institutions of higher education has been a problem of concern for several decades. In April 2011, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights issued the Dear Colleague Letter on sexual violence. This document offered guidance and recommendations to schools on ways to educate about and respond to sexual harassment including sexual violence. Since its release there has been limited research on its impact and university response. The purpose of this study was to learn more about one institution's administrators' response to the Dear Colleague Letter on sexual violence. A case study design was used to complete …

A Comparison Of Adolescents' Digital And Print Reading Experiences: Does Mode Matter?, Heather J. Mccrea-Andrews

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The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to investigate the comprehension and motivation of 36, sixth-grade students reading moderately challenging text under two conditions: Nook or book. Using a Sequential Explanatory Design model, quantitative data were collected prior to qualitative data collection (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011). A Matched Pairs Design model (Hinkle, Wiersma, & Jurs, 2003) was employed for the quantitative portion of the study with 18 participants randomly assigned to the Nook group and 18 participants randomly assigned to the book group. Nook group participants were instructed to use the following electronic features during reading: highlighting, note …

Identifying The Effects Of Narcissistic Leadership On Employee Job Satisfaction: A Study Within The Accounting Profession, Susan Shurden

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Narcissism is a personality disorder now identified in professionals in both education and business. The disorder is diagnosed when an individual possesses five of nine characteristics listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders/ (fourth edition, text revision version). Narcissism is prevalent in most successful leaders and is both destructive and constructive. The focus of this Dissertation is on the destructive characteristics and how narcissistic leadership affects job satisfaction among employees within the accounting profession.

South Carolina Public High Schools: Leadership, Network Dynamics And Innovation, Brandon Blackwell

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The purpose of this study was to identify and model the role of leaders in a complex organization. This paper analyzed the spread of innovations through use of Complexity Theory, Complexity Leadership Theory, and Social Network Theory. Complexity Leadership Theory suggests that certain 'conditions', 'attractors', or relationships must be present during the early stages of innovation, causing the emergence of innovation, long before an innovation reaches institutionalization. A Dynamic Network Analysis will be used to explore the inner workings and relationships that are present that influence the innovation as it moves through from emergence to possible institutionalization.

The Implications Of A University Brand: Institutional Brand Alignment And The Experience Of Honors Students Attending Clemson University, Lori Pindar

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In this research, the process by which honors students interact with the institutional brand and become part of their university is examined. Branding and the brand experience is the process by which institutions differentiate themselves from other competing organizations. It was assumed that the degree to which honor students consume the brand impacts not only how they understand their student identity on campus but also their beliefs about their education, their campus community, and their own intellectual and social development. A single-site case study approach was employed to illuminate and provide an in-depth description and analysis of the effects of …

A Phenomenological Study Of Two-Year College Students' Transition Experiences At A Four-Year Institution, Mary Von Kaenel

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Two-year college students experience challenges as they transfer to a four-year institution. To investigate these documented challenges, the present study used Weidman's Model of Undergraduate Socialization (1989) and Deil-Amen's (2011) notion of socio-academic integrative moments to examine these transitions. Specifically, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore the experiences of twelve two-year college students during their transition to a four-year university in the fall 2013. The results include four themes, which were developed through an iterative data analysis process. These emergent themes were: (a) A student's age impacted their transition and social integration, (b) the academic transition was challenging, …

Stem Career Cluster Engineering And Technology Education Pathway In Georgia: Perceptions Of Georgia Engineering And Technology Education High School Teachers And Ctae Administrators As Measured By The Characteristics Of Engineering And Technology Education Survey, Mark Vanburen Crenshaw

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This study examined the perceptions held by Georgia Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Cluster Engineering and Technology Education (ETE) high school pathway teachers and Georgia’s Career, Technical and Agriculture Education (CTAE) administrators regarding the ETE pathway and its effect on implementation within their district and schools. It provides strategies for ETE teaching methods, curriculum content, STEM integration, and how to improve the ETE pathway program of study. Current teaching and curricular trends were examined in ETE as well as the role ETE should play as related to STEM education. The study, using the Characteristics of Engineering and Technology …

Perceptions Of Academic And Social Integration Of First-Generation College Students At A Less-Selective Private Faith-Based University, Ann Watson

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The overarching goal of this qualitative research project was to fill a gap in first-generation retention literature pertaining to the particular academic and social integration issues weighting the probability of persistence for first-generation students who choose to attend a less-selective, private, faith-based university with strictly limited resources available to support high-risk students. This project was a single case study of a university that serves an undergraduate population where close to 60% fit the first-generation student profile of primary interest in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a purposeful sample of 12 first-generation college students at the university during their …

A Computational Model Of Memetic Evolution: Optimizing Collective Intelligence, Noah Welsh

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The purpose of this study was to create an adaptive agent based simulation modeling the processes of creative collaboration. This model aided in the development of a new evolutionary based framework through which education scholars, academics, and professionals in all disciplines and industries can work to optimize their collective ability to find creative solutions to complex problems. The basic premise follows that the process of idea exchange, parallels the role sexual reproduction in biological evolution and is essential to society's collective ability to solve complex problems. The study outlined a set of assumptions used to develop a new theory of …

Public School Credits For Devotional Courses In Religion: The Evangelical Reconceptualization Of Released Time, Benjamin James Bindewald

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Released time is an arrangement through which students are excused from public schools, during regular hours, to participate in devotional lessons conducted by local religious organizations. The courts have upheld this practice as long as classes are held off public school premises, with parental permission, and without government aid. South Carolina has become the center of operations for a movement of evangelical Christians to expand proselytizing released time programs throughout the United States. As a result of the movement’s lobbying efforts, in 2006 South Carolina became the first state to enact legislation allowing public schools to award graduation credits for …

The Role Of The Senior Student Affairs Officer In Creating And Sustaining A Culture Of Assessment: A Case Study, Lindsey Ridgeway

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The purpose of this research study was to examine the role of the senior student affairs officer (SSAO) in promoting assessment practice within the Division of Student Life at Randal University. A qualitative, single-case study research design was employed to conduct this study. The case for this investigation was the Vice President for Student Life at Randal University. Randal University is a private, liberal arts college located in the southeastern United States with an approximate enrollment of 2700 students. Data for this study was comprised of interviews, documents, and researcher notes. Fifteen Randal University employees participated in this qualitative case …

Reading Graphically: Examining The Effects Of Graphic Novels On The Reading Comprehension Of High School Students, Michael Cook

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There have been few empirical studies investigating the uses of graphic novels in education, fewer still in English Language Arts (ELA). As a result, there remain misconceptions about possible uses and potential benefits of graphic texts in ELA classrooms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of graphic novels on the reading comprehension of high school students in English classrooms. The study specifically examined the potential benefits and effects of a graphic adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe short story, 'The Cask of Amontillado.' This study explored the effects of the graphic adaptation in two ways: one, …

Assessing College Students' Understanding Of Acid Base Chemistry Concepts, Yanjun Wan

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Typically most college curricula include three acid base models: Arrhenius', Bronsted-Lowry's, and Lewis'. Although Lewis' acid base model is generally thought to be the most sophisticated among these three models, and can be further applied in reaction mechanisms, most general chemistry curricula either do not include Lewis' acid base model, or quickly mention it at the end of the acid base chapter, because of the concern that Lewis' model may confuse general chemistry students (Shaffer 2006). While such a disconnection in curriculum might put students to disadvantage as they try to construct solid and coherent acid base mental models, there …

University Administrators' Attitudes And Perceptions Of State Authorization For Online Learning, Penelope Vassar

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The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the differences in attitudes and perceptions toward state authorization of online learning among higher education administrators situated at different levels of policy involvement. The population for this study was higher education administrators at 153 institutions in the United States that hold the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation and offer degrees online. The study was conducted during the 2013-2014 academic year. A mixed-methods approach to data collection was selected for this study. The findings revealed the following: a) attitudes and perceptions toward state authorization of online …

Growing Pains: Exploring The Transition From A Community College Into A Four-Year Comprehensive College, Edna Martinez

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The highest degree awarded by the community college has generally been the associate in arts or the associate in science degree (Cohen & Brawer, 2008); however, an increasing number of community colleges have expanded their missions to award baccalaureate degrees (Levin, 2004; Russell, 2010; Walker, 2005). Although some community colleges have adopted the four-year degree function while maintaining their community college mission, others have become full baccalaureate degree granting colleges. In fact, this trend contributed to a 70% increase in the number of baccalaureate colleges from 1995-2006 (Longanecker, 2008). Nevertheless, little research exists on what this process looks like (Longanecker, …

Life After Study Abroad: A Narrative Inquiry Of Graduate Student Study Abroad Returnees, Meredith Wilson

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The number of graduate students who chose to participate in study abroad experiences has grown within recent years. As this population of study abroad participants continues to expand, it is necessary for study abroad faculty and staff to understand the learning outcomes that graduate students experience after their study abroad program. This study sought to uncover the long-term impact of a study abroad experience on a graduate student participant. By utilizing narrative inquiry as a methodology, the researcher collected lived experiences from four graduate student study abroad alumni. Each participant's narrative story was re-told and analyzed for growth experienced as …

Demonstrating Reflection: A Content Analysis Of Reflection That English Teacher Candidates Demonstrate In Writing, William Kerns

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This study is an analysis of the depth of reflection exhibited in written documents produced by English teacher candidates. Description and insights were drawn into the reflective thinking of the undergraduate teacher candidates in the context of teacher research essays that they produced. Reflection is widely viewed as enabling teacher candidates to make connections between actions and consequences as well as between theory and practice. Teacher education programs are encouraged by accreditation agencies to adopt a framework that helps teacher candidates to reflect on practice. However, there is no broadly accepted protocol in place for determining depth of reflection that …

Processes Utilized By High School Students Reading Scientific Text, Alicia Clinger

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In response to an increased emphasis on disciplinary literacy in the secondary science classroom, an investigation of the literacy processes utilized by high school students while reading scientific text was undertaken. A think-aloud protocol was implemented to collect data on the processes students used when not prompted while reading a magazine article and a selection from a textbook. Following the think-aloud, participants provided an oral summary that was analyzed for content and quality to assess the effectiveness of the strategies. The data showed that familiarity with text structure and prior knowledge of the content affected the processes utilized. Differences between …

An Examination Of The Role That Academic, Athletic, And Social Integration Play In The First-Year Freshman Student Athlete Experience, Adam Mcfarlane

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The focus on student athlete experiences continues to be a growing area of inquiry for researchers in higher education. While much of the focus for student athletes is on their academic performance in relation to their retention and persistence, there is an increasing concern for educational administrators to understand the experiences of student athletes in higher education settings. This study sought to gain a better understanding of the student athlete experience in higher education. To capture an understanding of the student athlete experience, the researcher asked: How do academic, athletic, and social experiences integrate to affect the freshman student athlete …

Understanding Facilitation: A Study Of Knowledge, Skills And Behaviors In Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation, Leasa Evinger

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Institutions of higher education have recently articulated the value of creating environments where diverse individuals can interact. However, 'educators have been challenged to articulate clearly the educational purposes and benefits of diversity' (Gurin, Dey, Hurtado, & Gurin, 2002, p. 330). Intergroup dialogue is one approach that has been utilized in academic settings to further social justice education (Dessel & Rogge, 2008). This approach 'combines experiential learning and dialogic bridge-building methods with critical analysis of socially constructed group differences and the systems of stratification that give rise to intergroup conflicts and social injustice' (p. 10). While there is a body of …

The Perceptions Of Increased Student Loan Debt On The College Choice And Enrollment Of Rural Low-Income Students, Chinasa Ordu

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The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the college choice experience of rural low-income students and how their potential use of student loans influenced their college choice decisions. In order to conduct this research study, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were used as the primary data source. Additional data sources included demographic surveys, a site visit, online resources, and meeting with key informants. The primary research question used to guide this study included: * How do rural, low-income students describe their experiences with their college choice process? The following secondary questions included in this study were: * …

Lottery Tuition Assistance As A Predictor Of Retention At A Public Two-Year College, Joel Darby Welch

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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between unmet financial need, lottery tuition assistance and retention. This study considered whether unmet financial need served as a predictor of retention and how the addition of lottery tuition assistance (LTA) to a financial aid package reduced unmet financial need. Retention was defined as a student who started in Fall, 2008 and returned in Fall, 2009.The two-year college, Greenville Technical College, considered in this study was a mid-size, public, two-year college in the southeastern United States.

A secondary data sources was used in the study of first time students taking …

Effects Of Teacher Training On Preservice Teachers' Knowledge, Personal Beliefs, And Attitudes, Sloan Smith Huckabee

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This study examines the effects of the NAMI Parents and Teachers as Allies training on the Mental Health Literacy, Personal Beliefs, and Stigmatizing Attitudes of preservice teachers. A researcher developed survey was administered three times to the training group prior to, immediately following, and two weeks after the training. A nonequivalent control group was administered two surveys—a preliminary measure and a follow up measure—to provide comparison data for investigating the effects of the intervention on the group of preservice teachers receiving the intervention. Results of the study indicate the Parents and Teachers as Allies training is an inexpensive, relatively short …

Examining The Effects Of School-Level Variables On Elementary School Students' Academic Achievement: The Use Of Structural Equation Modeling, Matthew Robert Della Sala

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School finance scholars have called for the alignment of accountability policies with state finance formulae to allocate resources toward student learning goals (Adams, 2008; Ryan, 2008; Superfine, 2009; Verstegen, 2002). With the presence of accountability policies that focus on improving students’ academic achievement, state finance systems must be repurposed to allocate educational resources to schools based on research-based practices that are linked to student achievement. The purpose of this study is to test the sufficiency of a new conceptual model of the effects of educational resources on student achievement using structural equation modeling. The goal of this study is to …