Education Commons^™

A Case Study Of The Interactions Amongst The Elements Of An Elementary Teacher's Educational Belief System, Goals, Enactment, And Reflection, Phillip Pittman

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Contemporary educational reform has attempted to improve teaching quality and raise student achievement through high-stakes teacher evaluation and through the introduction of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). However, to advance teaching and learning, instructional leaders must shift their focus from teacher evaluation and the CCSS themselves to how teachers attempt to meet the CCSS in their classrooms through decisions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment and why they make those decisions. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study is to develop a deep understanding about the elements of, and interactions between, a fifth grade teacher’s educational belief system (consisting of …

Perceptions Of Cultural Competency Skills Among Professional Housing And Residential Life Staff At Postsecondary Institutions, William Washington Iii

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Student demographics on college campuses continues to change. The globalization of the student population brings challenges to providing optimal services from staff throughout higher education and particularly from professional housing and residential life (HRL) staff, who may be the first level of support for many students. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand HRL staffs’ perceptions about their ability to support diverse students. Responses to the Multicultural Competence for Student Affairs Preliminary 2 scale (MCSA-P2) survey instrument provided a basis to compare the level of cultural competence of HRL staff across six demographic variables: gender, age, ethnicity, professional …

Curriculum Implementation: A Phenomenological Study Of A Reading Curriculum Adoption And Power Relationships In One School District, Lester Culver Sharon Jr.

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding the underlying issues that drive the success or failure of curriculum enactments is an important step in redesigning school reform efforts. This paper describes a phenomenological study of five elementary teachers as they participated in the selection and enactment of a new reading curriculum for a period of two and a half years. Steven Searle’s theory on status functions and the role that binding operational decisions and language play within social systems describes the process by which attenuating mythologies arise and ultimately threaten the viability of curriculum initiatives. The connection between status functions, the leaders that declare them and …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Teacher Performance Evaluation System Ratings And Student Achievement, Lisa Hilberg

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study was guided by the question: Is there a statistically significant relationship between the teacher evaluation tool (using the summative ratings of teacher evaluations from the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 school years for teachers of Grades K-5 using the Danielson Framework for Teaching model, 2007) and student achievement (as measured using the Northwest Evaluation System (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) in that same period of time) in a selected Michigan school district?

Quantitative methods and a Spearman correlation were utilized to determine if there was a positive, negative, or no relationship between the independent variable, teacher evaluation ratings, and …

Self-Efficacy And The Interaction Model As Predictors Of Student Satisfaction And Perceived Learning In Online Learning Environments, Emtinan Alqurashi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the relationship between four predictor variables (online learning self-efficacy, learner-content interaction, learner-instructor interaction, and learner-learner interaction) and student satisfaction and perceived learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which the four variables are predictive of student satisfaction and perceived learning. A total of 167 students completed the survey; the survey assessed self-efficacy for completing an online course, interaction with the content, interaction with the course instructor, interaction with other students, student satisfaction, and perceived learning within an online learning environment. The independent variables were self-efficacy, learner-content interaction, learner-instructor interaction, and …

Connecting Teachers’ Buy-Into Professional Development With Classroom Habits And Practices, Joshua B. Fagan, Kathleen Mary Melhuish, Eva Thanheiser, Brenda Rosencrans, Layla Guyot, Jodi I. Fasteen

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

While professional development (PD) provides an opportunity for teachers to cultivate skills that are consistent with best practices in the field, it is their buy-into the PD that ultimately determines the effectiveness of the PD. We examined how teacher buy-in affected the classroom habits and practice of four elementary teachers who took part in a district wide PD. Using baseline and first-year implementation video recordings, in conjunction with frameworks for discourse analysis, cognitive demand, and tools built specifically to measure PD implementation, we found that varying combinations of teachers' beliefs served as a mitigating factor for PD implementation.

Parental Input To Children With Asd And Its Influence On Later Language, Aparna Nadig, Janet Bang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In this chapter, we review evidence on parental input to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), moving from quantitative measures of linguistic features to qualitative measures of interaction. First, we examine lexical and syntactic features (e.g., number of utterances, mean length of utterance [MLU]) in the input provided to children with ASD compared with TD [typically developing] children matched on language level. Second, we turn to work on parental responsiveness, or the tendency to provide verbal or gestural input in sync with the child’s focus of attention, and how this compares across dyads including a child with ASD or a …

De Los Derechos Humanos: Reimagining Civics In Bilingual & Bicultural Settings, Melissa L. Gibson

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Dominant approaches to teaching social studies often marginalize bilingual and bicultural students. This is particularly troubling because the explicit goal of the social studies is to cultivate civic participation. Educational inequalities are thus tied to political inequalities. In light of this, this article shares a narrative case study of the author's own bilingual and bicultural approach to teaching middle school civics at a dual-language American school in Mexico. Through the illustration of a comparative civics curriculum that incorporates translanguaging practices, the author argues that embracing bilingualism and biculturalism in the social studies can lead to more expansive possibilities for justice-oriented …

Social Class Bias: A Phenomenological Study, Jennifer M. Cook

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Nine licensed professional counselors participated in semi-structured interviews about social class and socioeconomic status, including their experiences with classism. Phenomenological analysis revealed both participant classism experiences and use of language that expressed social class bias. Implications and recommendations for future research for counselor educators and supervisors are provided.

The Adolescent Substance Use Risk Continuum: A Cultural, Strengths-Based Approach To Case Conceptualization, Alexis Miller, Jennifer M. Cook

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Many theories are used to conceptualize adolescent substance use, yet none adequately assist mental health professionals in assessing adolescents’ strengths and risk factors while incorporating cultural factors. The authors reviewed common adolescent substance abuse theories and their strengths and limitations, and offer a new model to conceptualize adolescent substance use: The Adolescent Substance Use Risk Continuum. We posit that this strengths-based continuum enables clinicians to decrease stigma and offer hope to adolescents and their caregivers, as it integrates relevant factors to strengthen families and minimize risk. This model is a tool for counselors to use as they conceptualize client cases, …

Education Deans’ Beliefs About Essential Ways Of Thinking, Being, And Acting: A National Survey, Bill Henk, Shelley B. Wepner, Sharon Lovell, Steven A. Melnick

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Home-Based Parent Child Therapy For Young Traumatized Children Living In Poverty: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Joanna R. Love, Robert Fox

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

A randomized control trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based, parent-and-child therapy program specifically developed for toddlers and preschoolers living in poverty with trauma symptoms. Sixty-four children 5-years of age and younger were referred to a community-based clinic for behavior problems and emotional difficulties. All children had experienced one or more potentially traumatic events and met the DSM-5’s criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children Six Years of Age and Younger. All families received government assistance indicating that their income met the federal definition for poverty. Participants were randomly assigned to either immediate treatment or wait …

Review Of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: Teaching And Learning For Justice In A Changing World By Django Paris & H. Samy Alim, Melissa L. Gibson

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Counselors As Advocates: Effects Of A Pilot Project Designed To Develop Advocacy Knowledge And Confidence In Trainees, Lisa M. Edwards, Kevin A. Tate Phd, Jennifer M. Cook, Michelle P. Toigo, Abigail C. Yeomans

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

While there has been increased attention to advocacy within counseling and counseling psychology, it has been noted that trainees generally feel unprepared to engage in advocacy and do not participant e in this type of work to a large extent, even with increased age or professional experience). The qualitative study summarizes the findings of a project within a graduate multicultural counseling course designed to increase trainee knowledge and confidence related to advocacy. This project required students (N = 19) to complete individual advocacy projects in the community, with opportunities for self-reflection and evaluation of their progress throughout the semester. Student …

A Case Study Of The Design And Implementation Of A New Teacher Evaluation System In A Northern Michigan School District, Scott Moore

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify how one district attempted to meet the need for greater accountability in the teacher evaluation process as mandated by law and to describe strategies that were employed by the district to ensure the integration of student achievement data. This research highlighted how a teacher evaluation instrument evolved over a 5-year period from 2011 to the end of the 2014–2015 school year. This qualitative, single-case study comprised examination of interview responses of 17 stakeholders including a former superintendent, technology director, two board of education members, three former principals, and ten teacher-leaders. Open-ended interview …

Perceptions Of The Paraprofessional’S Roles, Rachela Nicholls

All Capstone Projects

This action research project was designed to survey the perceptions of special educators and paraprofessionals on the various paraprofessional roles and levels of training offered. The most common paraprofessional roles and types and amounts of training opportunities available were analyzed so that school districts would have the essential data to make programming decisions regarding the effectiveness of the paraprofessional programs within their schools. By using a survey process, paraprofessionals and special educators were asked a series of questions pertaining to the frequency of participation in each paraprofessional role, levels of formal and/or on-the-job training provided, and how the paraprofessionals’ jobs …

Shifting Paradigms: Faculty's Navigation From The Classroom To Technology Enhanced Learning, Sheree Y. Sanderson

All Capstone Projects

Higher education is experiencing a decline in institutional resources, a change in student demographics, and a shift in teacher-to-student-centered learning. The impact of technology on faculty roles and the paradigm shift from the industrial age to the technological age has had a major influence on faculty and online teaching. This quantitative study was based on faculty technology experience, faculty’s attitude toward online teaching, the perceived quality of online teaching, and the institutional challenges; and how they impact faculty teaching modalities. It examined the training and support institutions provide to faculty as higher education becomes increasingly dependent on online teaching. Specifically, …

Assessing General Education Teacher Training On Idea And Section 504 Law, Yolian Cintron

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to assess how much general education teachers actually know about the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in order to identify training needs for general education teachers regarding these two laws. A survey was created to cover several areas within the legal mandates of IDEA law (2004) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Results showed that teachers have a lot to learn about 1) the referral, assessment, and placement process; and 2) requirements of the IEP team meeting and the IEP document; and …

Teacher Knowledge And Use Of Universal Design For Learning, Katherine D. Mavrovic-Glaser

All Capstone Projects

Today's classrooms are composed with a wide variety of students. It is important for all teachers, both special and general education, to have the ability to teach a diverse group of students. In recent years, Universal Design for Learning {UDL) has gained a positive reputation as a scientifically validated teaching method that considers individuality. The purpose of this investigation is to assess teachers on their knowledge and use ofUDL. A small pool of licensed teachers in the Chicago metropolitan area were polled by means of an electronically disbursed, anonymous survey. The results show 55% of participants claim to be familiar …

Discovering A Predictor Of Reading Comprehension Difficulties, Ann L. Nowak

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Engaging Everyday Science Knowledge To Help Make Sense Of Data, Susan B. Kelly, Luettamae Lawrence, Emma Mercier

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Making sense of data to inform decisions is an important skill emphasized in current curriculum documents (NRC, 2012). Making sense of data through personal experiences and prior knowledge is one way that students can begin to understand multiple and unfamiliar data sources. This paper examines how middle school students used different data sources when engaged in a collaborative problem solving activity using a multi-touch table during classroom science instruction. In this study, we found that students made personal connections when talking about data. Students engaged in data talk across all conversation quality levels, but the ways students interacted and talked …

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Teachers' Ability To Integrate Technology, Robert Hickson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to evaluate the self-efficacy of teachers with regard to the integration of technology within the curriculum. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between teachers’ self-efficacy within the classroom and their ability to integrate the technology available in the classroom. A quantitative, correlational study was performed. The sample was a convenience sample of 64 instructors at the middle grade level of a South Georgia school district. Middle school teachers were surveyed at one point in time, using Media and Technology Usage Attitude Scale (MTUAS) and the Teachers’ Sense of Self- Efficacy …

Self-Stigma, Attitudes, And Preferences When Seeking Mental Health And Sport Psychology Services: A Student-Athlete Point Of View, Rena Marie Goodwin

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This study explored student-athletes’ attitudes, stigmas, and preferences toward mental health and sport psychology services. Previous research has identified that student-athletes report similar rates of distress compared to the general student population (Davoren & Hwang, 2014; Frank, Hautzinger & Beckmann, 2013). While student-athletes are in need of mental health services, previous research has also found that student-athletes can benefit from the use of sport psychology services. Previous research has demonstrated the need to support student-athletes as people, students, and athletes (Andersen, Miles, Robinson, & Mahoney, 2004; Bond, 2002; Friesen & Orlick, 2010; Miller & Kerr, 2002). However, not all athletic …

College Of Health Professions Annual Assessment Report 2016-2017, College Of Health Professions

News, Magazines and Reports

The College of Health Professions (CHP) Assessment Plan was developed in the spring of 2016 to assess the CHP student learning outcomes (SLOs) which were developed and approved in the spring 2015. The student learning outcomes were developed based on the CHP mission statement and core values. The mission statement, core values, and student learning outcomes are included on the CHP website.

Relationships Between Access To Mobile Devices, Student Self-Directed Learning, And Achievement, Scott R. Bartholomew, Edward M. Reeve, Raymond Veon, Wade Goodridge, Victor R. Lee, Louis Nadelson

Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Faculty Publications

Today’s students are growing up in a world of constant connectivity, instant information, and ever-changing technological advancements. The increasingly ubiquitous nature of mobile devices among K–12 students has led many to argue for and against the inclusion of these devices in K–12 classrooms. Arguments in favor cite instant access to information and collaboration with others as positive affordances that enable student self-directed learning.

In this study, 706 middle school students from 18 technology and engineering education classes worked in groups of 2–3 to complete an open-ended engineering design challenge. Students completed design portfolios and constructed prototypes in response to the …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Mathematics Instruction In Montessori And Traditional Classrooms, Linda Kofa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Students in grades 3 and 4 attending a traditional public elementary school in a northeastern state did not meet proficiency levels in mathematics as measured by the state's assessment system. Published reports indicated that students attending the Montessori programs were more proficient in solving math problems compared to students in traditional schools. However, researchers had not compared Montessori and traditional teachers' perceptions of teaching elementary mathematics. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of traditional and Montessori teachers regarding teaching basic problem solving skills in mathematics. Koehler and Grouws' model provided the theoretical framework. …

Students' Perceptions Of Persistence In A Florida Associate Degree Nursing Program, Shivanie Saith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At a community college in Florida, the associate of science in nursing (ASN) program has experienced low persistence rates especially after the first semester of study. Framed by Jeffreys's nursing undergraduate retention and success model, a mixed-method approach was used to investigate first-semester and final-year ASN students' perceptions of factors influencing persistence and successful persistence strategies. In the quantitative sequence, first-semester students (N = 95) completed the Student Perception Appraisal-Revised-2 (SPA-R2) survey measuring perceptions of 5 persistence factors (environmental, institutional integration, personal academic, college academic, and friend support persistence). ANOVA and t tests were conducted by age, gender, language, ethnicity, …

Special Education Teachers' Voices On Co-Planning In A Suburban School District, Corinne Jeffers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited co-planning between special education and general education co-teaching partners has been documented in professional literature as a significant problem. Special education teachers do not adequately co-plan for the implementation of accommodations for students with disabilities educated in the general education classroom. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze the perceptions of special education teachers in one suburban elementary school district in the United States regarding co-planning with regular education teachers. The theory of self-efficacy was utilized as the conceptual framework to understand how teachers' beliefs and experiences influenced planning and goal setting for special education students. …

Responsibilities Of General And Special Education Teachers Serving Students With Learning Disabilities, Antonia Lynn Kittrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Third-grade students in a small rural school district in North Carolina are not meeting reading benchmarks on End-of-Grade Tests. Parents and educators have concerns regarding the service delivery plan for students with disabilities who have deficits in reading. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the roles and responsibilities of special education and general education teachers in relation to Common Core Reading Standards instruction for students with disabilities. Vygotsky's theory of social constructivism and concept of the zone of proximal development formed the conceptual framework for the exploration of how students' academic needs are met with appropriate support …

Knowledge For Games, Games For Knowledge: Designing A Digital Roll-And-Move Board Game For A Law Of Torts Class, Gary Kok Yew Chan, Swee Liang Tan, Timothy Khe Foon Hew, Bernie Grayson Koh, Li Siong Lim, Jose C. Yong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Game-based constructivist learning has gained considerable attention as educational institutions aim to move from traditional instructional teaching to interactive and collaborative methods. The question is less asked of whether games should be used in teaching but rather how games should be used to create deep learning in students. In light of this movement, the Grade Inflation Game, or GIGAME, was developed. This case study tackles the research question of how games may be designed to harness the benefits of constructivist learning. It first documents the conceptualization of GIGAME and next proposes theoretical frameworks that can be used to guide the …