Education Commons^™

A Program Evaluation Of The Career Pathways Cte Program At One High School, Terrace Brown

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

A leading solution to many education problems in our country is Career and Technical Education (CTE). Jacob (2017) indicated that by combining traditional academic skills with hands-on experience that provide hands-on training, students can acquire the "soft skills" necessary to succeed in today's workplace. As the 21st-Century economy grows more complex, the role of career and technical education is critical to the success of America's future through increased student engagement, innovative math, science, and literacy integration, and meeting employer and economic need. In my study, I sought to determine the perceptions of administrators and instructional staff at one school …

Designing And Delivering K-12 Education Professional Development: A Delphi Study, Christalle Hart

Dissertations

Purpose: This futures Delphi study aims to determine what experts in professional development predict the delivery and content of K-12 education and how K-12 educational organizations will need to structure themselves to deliver predicted professional development in 2026 and beyond. Also, the purpose was to have the experts rate the likelihood of the predictions made to be enacted by 2026 and beyond. Methodology: The research design for this study used a Delphi approach which allowed for data collection from a panel of experts in K-12 education leading professional development in a public school district. The Delphi study collected data during …

The Impact Of Academic Advisor Behaviors On Persistence Of Pregnant And Single Mothers At 4-Year Nontraditional Universities: A Mixed Methods Study, Kristina King

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential exploratory mixed methods study was to identify and describe academic advisor behaviors that had the greatest impact on persistence perceived through the lens of students who were both pregnant and single mothers while enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at a 4-year nontraditional university. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify factors that pregnant and single mothers perceived to have impacted their persistence.

Methodology: The qualitative phase of this study consisted of one-on-one interviews to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of single mothers who recently graduated from a 4-year …

Mentoring: The Factors That Contribute To Persistence To Graduation For African American Males In Predominantly White Institutions In Missouri, Paula Miller

Dissertations

Due to several decisions by the United States Supreme Court in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, African Americans were granted access to PWI’s of higher education. However, African Americans still face challenges in obtaining post-secondary education. For example, in 2019 – 2020, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2021), 13.1% of African Americans graduated with master’s degrees. Additionally, in 2020, 19% of African Americans attained a post-secondary degree in Missouri (Towncharts.com, 2021).

Despite access, the number of African Americans obtaining degrees remains low. And, when the lens is focused on African American males, the numbers are …

Working For Justice: A Black Educators Journey Of Supporting Black Males In An Urban School District, Carey Cunningham

Dissertations

Abstract

This autoethnographic dissertation focuses on my journey as a Black male educator and administrator working in an urban school district. I highlight some of my accomplishments and challenges in dedicating my life to the field of education in the same urban school district that I attended from kindergarten to twelfth grade. This dissertation points out how my journey allowed me to support students, mainly Black boys, who faced challenges in a school district that I know very well. I have increased my, and hopefully others, understanding of the challenges Black male students and Black male administrators face in an …

Applying Retrieval Practice In Climate Change Education: How Retrieval-Based Learning May Enhance High School Students’ Conceptual Understanding On Climate Change Topics, Mengyu Wang

Dissertations

This dissertation explored ways to apply retrieval practice strategy on climate change learning at the high school level. Three studies presented that retrieval practice could be used broadly on different topics of climate change and in different learning scenarios. The first study focused on the effect of question placement on learning when students studied sea level rise from an educational video lecture. The results suggested that applying retrieval practice in a style of embedded short-answer questions in videos has clear advantage over restudying the video lecture in both immediate and delayed tests, but no difference in students' performance was found …

Where Are The Black Teachers? There Should Be More To Make It Even, Harolyn Harris

Dissertations

For years, Black teachers lived and worked in the communities that they served. I was one of those teachers who lived and worked in my community, but I noticed that there were not many of us. As a Black woman, mother and teacher, I was fully aware of the numbers of Black teachers declining. I wanted to know why.

In this study, I utilized my experience as a Black student, a Black teacher, and a Black administrator to reflect my feelings. I used Critical Race Theory as the theoretical lens on my stories using autoethnography as the research method. I …

A Mixed Methods Study Regarding The Impact Virtual Education Had On Teachers During Covid-19, Brandon Richard Foley

Dissertations

Virtual learning and COVID-19 drastically changed the landscape of education. School districts were forced to think about education differently, and COVID-19 led schools and communities into unfamiliar territory with daunting trials and tasks (Pressley & Ha, 2021). The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to add to existing research and examine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted teachers and school districts during their transition to virtual learning. The social cognitive theory and self-efficacy theory were utilized as the conceptional framework of the study. Phase one of the study included a quantitative survey from one Southwest Missouri school district. A focus group …

A Mixed-Methods Study Examining The Impact Of Incentivized Medical Insurance Premiums On Wellness Program Participation And Results At A Four-Year, Private, Midwestern University, Candace L. Terry

Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the impact that incentivized medical insurance premium rates have on wellness plan participation and aggregate wellness results at a Midwestern private, four-year university. Leveraging the Health Belief Model, the researcher sought to compare aggregate wellness results and wellness program participation before and after the medical insurance premium incentive program was implemented. The researcher utilized Likert-scale questions followed by open-ended questions to gain insight into participants’ perceptions of the wellness incentive program. The quantitative portion of this study applied Thorndike’s theory of connecting “A specific response is connected to a specific stimulus …

Beliefs About Homework, Elizabeth Rose Taylor Smith

Dissertations

This mixed-methods research study aimed to learn the perspectives regarding homework of parents and teachers of students in grades two, three, and four. The definition used to define homework was based on Simplicio’s (2005) definition of homework as a period set aside to put in a plan to expand learning skills and support information that the student gained while in the classroom. There were three research questions that guided this mixed-methods research study; What are the parents’ perceptions of second, third, and fourth-grade students regarding homework? What are the perceptions of second, third, and fourth-grade teachers regarding homework? What are …

School Leadership Behaviors And Practices, Teacher Turnover, And Teacher Retention In The United Arab Emirates: A Triangulation Approach, Ayeda Abdulla Al Shebli

Dissertations

School leadership and school leaders' behaviors and practices can significantly affect the behavior of teachers. Retaining teachers in the teaching profession is important. Unfortunately, many teachers around the world have left or are deciding to leave this profession, a phenomenon called “teacher turnover”. High teacher turnover affects the overall quality of teaching and learning. Based on 2015 data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, teacher turnover is high in the United Arab Emirates. There are many factors that contribute to teacher turnover. This study investigated the factors affecting teachers' turnover by exploring the role of school leadership behaviors …

Particular Pains, Particular Sufferings: Using Sista Circle To Explore Belongingness As A Factor Affecting The Academic Persistence Of Black, Women Doctoral Recipients At Predominantly White Institutions In The South, Jasmine Denise Thornton

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand if belongingness, or the need to belong, is an inhibiting factor for Black women to the completion of doctoral programs, specifically at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) in the South. This qualitative study employs the Sista Circle methodology to discuss the lived experiences of Black female doctoral recipients from Southern PWIs. The Sense of Belonging Model and the Sista Circle Methodology is used to inform the experiences of Black women doctoral students in relation to their academic persistence and overall programmatic experience. The findings from this study can also provide insight for diversity, …

Chess, Robotics, And Speech And Debate: An Analysis Of Critical Thinking-Oriented Afterschool Programs, Marc Leffler

Dissertations

Many high school students graduate lacking several key 21st-century skills needed for college, career, and life. Among 21st-century skills, researchers deem critical thinking fundamental to meeting life’s increasingly complex challenges, as it underlies primary thought processes such as reasoning, analyzing, and decision-making. This quantitative, quasi-experimental study compares the critical thinking ability of high school students involved in three programs: robotics, chess, and speech and debate. The study aims to determine whether these groups have statistically significant differences in critical thinking levels. Critical thinking ability was measured by scores on the Critical Thinking In Everyday Life assessment, a valid measure of …

A Delphi Study Of The Most Effective Actions Taken By Rural Superintendents In California To Improve Achievement For English Learners, Diana Jimenez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to have rural school superintendents whose districts have shown academic improvement as measured by the California School Dashboard identify the actions they have taken to improve academic achievement for English learners. In addition, it was the purpose to rate the effectiveness of the identified actions, and to describe the best methods for implementing the five most effective actions identified from the ratings. Methodology: This study employed a Delphi method, comprising three rounds to collect data. In Round 1, participants were asked to identify what actions they have taken to increase academic outcomes …

Principals' Knowledge Of Special Education Policy And Procedure And The Special Education Teachers' Intent, Tara Clark

Dissertations

Teacher shortage has been a growing problem. With the increase of teacher shortages, some areas are being impacted more intensely. Special education is one of the areas most impacted by the shortages. Common reasons exist as to why teachers are leaving the field or profession. These reasons may be personal or professional related. Some of the professional reasons for leaving pertain to the school’s administration and the way special education teachers are treated. Principal support is cited as one of the primary indicators of teacher satisfaction. Literature supports the analysis that a principal’s leadership heavily determines a teacher’s job satisfaction. …

Communicating Student Outcomes: A Mixed Methods Study Of Communication Effectiveness, Nicholas Branson

Dissertations

Assessment, Communicating evidence, Education, Evaluation, Higher education, Student outcomes

Influences Of Child And Caregiver-Directed Home Visitor Behaviors On Caregiver Engagement And Caregiver-Child Interactions, Mary Kienstra Frese

Dissertations

Home Visiting, Parent Support, Prevention

Resisting A Political Ontology Of Threat By Embracing Stories Of Survivance Through Storytelling, Conversation, And Joy: An Intimate Insight Into The Lives Of Undocumented Students, Julia F. Mendes

Dissertations

political ontology, storytelling, survivance, undocumented students

Understanding Teacher Reported Experiences Of Trauma Professional Development/Training, Mayra Alejandra Gaona

Dissertations

trauma informed education, trauma informed practices, trauma informed schools, trauma professional development

Teaching Presence In Online Discussions: Relationship-Based Learning By Design, Mary Quest

Dissertations

Activity Theory, Community of Inquiry Model, Interaction Analysis Model, Online learning, Social Construction of Knowledge, Teaching Presence

A Qualitative Study On Teachers' Perceptions Of Virtual Instruction During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Midwest Public School District, Tina Lauer

Dissertations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools closed to in-person instruction and forced teachers and students into virtual learning environments. Schools and districts had to create new ways to deliver curriculum to their students, and most chose to switch to an online/virtual learning environment. In this learning environment, the teachers taught from a distance, and students received their instruction through synchronous and asynchronous methods. This change in content delivery was a new experience for most educators. Teachers worldwide expressed their frustrations with virtual instruction and dissatisfaction with student engagement through social media and mainstream media outlets. The study aimed to determine teachers’ …

The Effect Of Universal Design For Learning On Student Engagement And Achievement In A Southwest Missouri School District, Amber D. Hainline

Dissertations

The researcher’s primary purpose in this mixed-method study was to investigate if teachers who applied Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to a unit of study noted increased engagement in students overall and in teacher-identified students considered “disengaged” compared to students in the same unit of study without the UDL methods applied. Additionally, the researcher sought to determine if students in a UDL course had more significant achievement than students in the same unit of study without the UDL framework applied. Primarily, the researcher aimed to ascertain if UDL would benefit the participating district's students, particularly those not utilizing special services. …

A Comparison Of Education In Post-Revolutionary Mexico And Post-Independence India, Yver Alonso Melchor-Hernandez

Dissertations

Comparison, Education, History, India, Mexico

Measuring What They Value: Exploring The Meaning Of Student Success For Community College Students Of Mexican Origin, Destiny M. Quintero

Dissertations

accountability, Latino, Mexican, Phenomenology, Photovoice, Student success

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Relationships Between Teachers And Students And Possible Effect On Standardized Test Scores, Rachel Quintana

Dissertations

This research study sought to determine correlations between the perceptions of teacher and student relationships and personality traits with academic achievement as measured by End-of-Course (EOC) summative exams in a rural midwestern high school. As a firm believer in the importance of relationships in the classroom, the researcher created a survey instrument and provided it to teachers and students who enrolled in courses that took End-of-Course (EOC) exams in the Spring of 2021. The researcher-designed instrument categorized teachers and students based on their perceptions of relationships and four common personality traits to determine if correlations to EOC scores existed.

The …

Teacher Leadership: A Delphi Study, Critical Leadership Skills And Personal Dispositions Necessary For Teacher Leaders To Effectively Lead Educational Change Initiatives In Tk–12 Public Schools, Jennifer E. Larson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-method Delphi study was to identify and rate the most important leadership skills and personal dispositions that effective teacher leaders use in leading educational change initiatives based on the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP) Teacher Leadership Skills Framework. Additionally, this study explored how effective teacher leaders describe the leadership skills and personal dispositions that are most important in leading education change initiatives.

Methodology: This mixed method Delphi study identified and described the most critical leadership skills and personal dispositions used by expert teacher leaders in public schools in Sonoma and Marin County. Round …

The Phenomenological Study On The Impact Of Servant Leadership For Establishing A Culture Of High Performance As Perceived By Middle School Principals Of Title I Middle Schools, Freddie Chavarria

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe Title I middle school principals’ perceived impact of the seven servant leadership constructs developed by Patterson (2003) on establishing a culture of high performance.

Methodology: The qualitative phenomenological method was used to describe and explore the middle school principals’ perceived impact of the seven servant leadership constructs developed by Patterson (2003) on establishing a culture of high performance. This method was selected by a thematic team of eight peer researchers to best examine the core meanings of K-12 leaders lived experiences. The sample for this study was middle …

The Relationship Between Equity Funding Levels And Success Of African American Students At California Community Colleges, Yulian Ligioso

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine what relationship exists between equity fund spending and the student success measures of graduation rates, associate degrees and certificates awarded, and transfers completed by African American students in single college community college districts in California.

Methodology. This study employed a quantitative research design using archival data. Correlation and regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between funding and student success outcomes. The study population was the California community college (CCC) system, and the sample was 49 single college districts.

Findings: As expected, funding was positively correlated with total number …

A Student-Designed Learning Management System: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Undergraduate Student Ideas For Improving The Lms, Erin P. Manott Morris

Dissertations

Learning management systems (LMS) are digital tools used to comprehensively deliver education in various settings, including higher education. Using LMSs has been shown to support learner-centered instructional practices and, when used well, to support positive learning outcomes in students. While previous research has examined student use and satisfaction with an LMS, little research has explored student perceptions regarding LMS design. The study evaluated undergraduate students’ perceptions and opinions of an LMS’s design. The study also sought to compare students’ attitudes regarding their LMS during pre-COVID and following the pandemic’s onset. Forty-five students participated in a survey, and three participated in …

American Education And The Black Girl, Hyacinth Dyer

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

American educators often view the Black girl as aggressive, defiant, and too challenging to educate, leading to disparities in disciplinary responses between the Black girl and her peers. This study aimed to examine the experiences of the Black girl in the K-12 system and to determine effective strategies teachers can use to establish productive educational relationships with the Black girl. The context of this inquiry was various states throughout the United States. In this study, I used a mixed method research design. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected through surveys. One group of participants were Black girls who are …