Education Commons^™

Does Postsecondary Persistence In Stem Vary By Gender?, Barbara King

Department of Teaching and Learning

The underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is often explained by women’s greater likelihood to leave STEM at each key juncture from elementary school into the workforce. It is important to examine this more closely and look for points in the pipeline where gender equity exists. This study uses nationally representative data from a recent cohort of college students to investigate thoroughly gender differences in STEM persistence. Results indicate that no significant gender differences in persistence exist. This finding holds among those in computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physical science, and for those in life science. …

Sacked For Dollars: The Exploitation Of College Football Players In The Southeastern Conference, Ramsey Dahab

Class, Race and Corporate Power

This study seeks to answer if academic clustering occurs in the SEC and if race and field value are significant indicators of this phenomena. The academic majors players select or are steered towards may lend credence to the claim that universities possess an avenue for fast tracking an athlete’s eligibility status. At stake in college football’s competitive market are complex streams of revenue ranging from television exposure and merchandise sales to increased student applications and alumni contributions. This market places enormous pressure on SEC football programs to not only keep pace with other programs within the conference, but more importantly, …

Latina Lesbian Students: Understanding Their Experiences And Perceived Sexual Identity Development At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Gisela P. Vega

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of 15 Latina lesbian students and their perceived sexual identity development at a predominately Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI). Participants for this study were purposefully selected using criteria, convenience, and snowball sampling.

Using a conceptual framework comprised of the four tenets consistent across the spectrum of all sexual identity development models, participants’ experiences were described, analyzed, and interpreted to inform the study. Data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews, using an interview protocol, and were analyzed using inductive, deductive, and comparative analyses.

Three themes emerged during the inductive analysis: (a) the …

Childbirth Education In Jordan: Content, Feasibility And Challenges Of Implementing A Childbirth Education Program In Jordan, Fatima Malkawi Ms

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No childbirth education (CE) programs are available in the public sectors in Jordan. Many studies from Jordan recommended that pregnant women be educated about their health needs during pregnancy and childbirth. From the literature, CE programs were found to have positive effects on pregnancy and childbirth outcomes. Four focus groups with pregnant women, midwives and physicians were conducted to examine the perceptions of pregnant women, midwives and physicians regarding the content, feasibility, and challenges of implementing a CE program in Jordan. The 4 focus groups, two with pregnant women (one group with 8 primiparous women and one group with 6 …

Using A Repeated Measures Anova Design To Analyze The Effect Writing In Mathematics Has On The Mathematics Achievement Of Third Grade English Language Learners And English Speakers, Zoe A. Morales

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The gap that exists between English language learners and English speaking students’ achievement in mathematics continues to grow. Moreover, students are now required to show evidence of their mathematics knowledge through writing in standardized assessments and class assignments.

The purpose of this study was to analyze students’ writing in mathematics and the metacognitive behaviors they portrayed through their writing as they solved mathematics problems. The instruments included a pretest, two biweekly tests, and a posttest. The writing instruction encompassed students learning to solve problems by using Polya’s four phases of problem solving which was completed in 12 sessions over a …

Travel Education: A Phenomenological Study On Self-Directed Learning And Personal Enrichment Through Foreign Travel Experiences, Richard Jason Dapko

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the broad field of education, studies have been done to understand the ways in which adult learning, development, and transformation are fostered in travel contexts. Such studies mainly used the experiential learning and transformational learning theoretical frameworks to look at participants’ lived learning experiences from travel. However, there is a void when one searches for studies that examine the intersection of self-directed learning and travel. This study used self-directed learning theory to explore the essence of learning from foreign travel experiences. The aim of this study was to understand the role of self-directed learning as a learning process that …

Predictors Of English Reading Comprehension And Performance In College-Level Composition Among Generation 1.5 Students, Ildiko Barsony

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Generation 1.5 students, foreign-born children of first-generation immigrants, complete some or most of their K-12 education in the United States. Their oral communicative competence may be advanced, but their academic language proficiency may still be underdeveloped when they enter college. In 2013, SB1720 made placement testing optional for most Florida public high school graduates, including generation 1.5 students, making them eligible to enroll directly in the college-level English Composition 1 (ENC 1101) course. In order to succeed in this course, generation 1.5 students may need additional support appropriate to their unique needs.

This study first described the literacy backgrounds of …

An Investigation Of The Link Between Nonverbal Aptitude And Academic Achievement, John E. Althoff

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When a private school works to serve a diverse student population and provide excellence in education, academic aptitude is important to evaluate to better predict whether a student will be provided an education that is appropriately leveled.

Comparing the previous grades of a diverse applicant pool may prove problematic because of the differing scaling and grading methods utilized in differing educational systems. A nonverbal aptitude test may be utilized to fill this purpose by not only gauging a student’s aptitude, but also by minimizing bias associated with cultural or linguistic differences, as well as differences that may present themselves because …

Using Culturally Responsive Teaching With Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students With Specific Learning Disabilities To Increase Performance In Algebra I, Lorena R. Munoz

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the United States (U.S.) population continues to change and become racially/ethnically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse, so does the population in public schools (Institute of Education Sciences, 2010). Additionally, the number of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students has been overrepresented in the subgroup of students with learning disabilities (SLD) (Artiles & Ortiz, 2002; Kalynpur & Harry, 2012; Klingner & Harry, 2014). Therefore, there is a need to adapt the curriculum and pedagogy to teach the growing number of diverse students in public schools. The results of national assessments show that students of color have lagged behind their White …

Beyond Special And General Education As Identity Markers: The Development And Validation Of An Instrument To Measure Preservice Teachers’ Understanding Of The Effects Of Intersecting Sociocultural Identities, Mildred Boveda

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intersectionality can advance an understanding of the gap created by the lack of an integrated treatment of diversity in teacher preparation research. Intersectionality is a frame that explores the complexities of the interactions of markers of difference. It holds great potential as a concept for preservice teachers’ understanding of diversity because it can inform collaborative efforts with diverse stakeholders and facilitate preservice teachers’ understanding of diverse learners. The researcher uses the term “intersectional competence” to describe preservice teachers’ understanding of diversity and how students, families, and colleagues have multiple sociocultural markers that intersect in nuanced and unique ways. In this …

Meaning Negotiated Through Independently-Written Summaries And Oral Academic Conversations: Enhancing Comprehension Of Science Text By Ninth-Grade, English Learners, Edward C. Burke

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

English Learners experience challenges related to comprehension of science text particularly at the high school level. The language of science differs significantly from that of conversation and expository text. Students benefit from collaborative interpretation of readings. Additionally, there appears to be a need to train adolescents in the oral language skills requisite for academic discourse.

This study employed a sample of high school physical science students (N = 75) whose first language was Spanish and who were currently developing English language proficiency. It used quasi-experimental methodology with treatment and comparison groups, during the normal operations of the public school …

Role Of Students’ Participation On Learning Physics In Active Learning Classes, Binod Nainabasti

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students’ interactions can be an influential component of students’ success in an interactive learning environment. From a participation perspective, learning is viewed in terms of how students transform their participation. However, many of the seminal papers discussing the participationist framework are vague on specific details about what student participation really looks like on a fine-grained scale. As part of a large project to understand the role of student participation in learning, this study gathered data that quantified students’ participation in three broad areas of two student-centered introductory calculus-based physics classes structured around the Investigative Science Learning Environment (ISLE) philosophy. These …

A Value-Driven Exploration Of Online & In-Person Learning For Professionals, Tammy S. Sanders

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to undertake a learner-centered exploration of delivery mode relevance in professional learning. Given the increasing pervasiveness of technology-mediated online delivery in nondegree professional learning at the individual and enterprise levels, this study has a particular focus on learning value ascribed by learners to online and in-person delivery in relation to their professional development.

Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this study to collect and examine data from adult professionals in an effort to determine how value is ascribed to learning. With this aim in mind, this study focused on the following research questions: …

The Effects Of A Visual Activity Schedule On Students With Asd Multiplication Fluency, Luis Antonio Figueroa

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Frustration And Task Avoidance In Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lauren A. Vivar

South Florida Education Research Conference

Frustration and task avoidance is seen often in classrooms that have students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of explicitly taught strategies for properly coping with frustration.

Use Of Video Modeling To Improve Independent Functioning Skills And Decrease Prompt Dependency In Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pilar Villegas

South Florida Education Research Conference

In a school setting, students are expected to continually transition, which may cause behavioral problems and prompt dependency to complete transitional routines. The purpose of this study is to analyze whether using video modeling will improve independent functioning skills and decrease prompt dependency of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Figurative Language And Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Michael Vergara

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Teaching English Language Learners With A Specific Learning Disability, Olga M. Torguet

South Florida Education Research Conference

This poster is related to students with disabilities who are English Language Learners (ELLs). It explores the effectiveness of implementing differentiated instructional strategies through multiple modalities in small groups.

Initiation Of Communication In Students With Autism, Jennifer Sauer

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Oral Reading Fluency And Comprehension, Shekeyla D. Roberts

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Tracing With Dots As A Strategy To Teach Writing To Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Yanirys Rios

South Florida Education Research Conference

Developing preschoolers’ control of the muscles of their hands is known as fine motor skills (Huffman & Fortenberry, 2011). This skill enables young children to make accurate movements required for drawing and writing. The purpose of this study is to explore the use of connecting dots intervention to improve the ability to trace letters in students with autism spectrum disorder.

Reading Comprehension And Students With Learning Disabilities, Egleevelyn Nunez

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Functional Communication Skills For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deborah Mclaughlin

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Using Ipads To Motivate Reluctant Readers During Literacy Instruction In Elementary School, Keri A. Mccarthy

South Florida Education Research Conference

In today’s classrooms, iPads are used as innovative devices that provide opportunities to help motivate and engage reluctant readers. The purpose of this action research is to explore the benefits of using iPads for literacy learning support and the effect they have on student engagement, motivation, and comprehension reading skills.

Self-Monitoring Behaviors In Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Ana Mas

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Improving Mathematics Fluency, Helen Martinez

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Closing The Reading Gap, Bria Lundy

South Florida Education Research Conference

Changes in federal regulations regarding phonics instruction show that there is an ongoing problem concerning early reading difficulties. This research looks at how the Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons reading program can benefit phonics skills and phonemic awareness of first graders who are not yet reading.

Academic Success Centers: Improving Resource Utilization Using Grounded Theory Methodology, Itauma Itauma, Terri Bubb

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Intervention For Struggling Writers In Elementary School, Jennifer L. Freesland

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Autism Spectrum Disorder And Reading Comprehension, Alexis Duarte

South Florida Education Research Conference

No abstract provided.