Education Commons^™

The Introductory Geoscience Experience: A Study Of Undergraduate Attitudes And Engagement At Suny Buffalo State, Heather J. Mccarthy

Multidisciplinary Studies Theses

Educational priorities in STEM at the undergraduate level include sparking leadership and innovation in emerging and rapidly changing fields and educating a scientifically literate populace. These priorities depend on the nature and quality of the undergraduate educational experience (NSF IUSE Program, 2015). This study focuses on investigating student attitudes and department engagement with the resulting data offering a snapshot of student interests, values, and resource awareness.

During the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters, 359 students studying Introductory Geology, Introductory Geology Lab, Introductory Astronomy, or The Solar System and two professors who taught those classes were asked to take part …

From Foster Care To College: Student Stories Of Success, Tory Nicole England

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the different factors that empower young adults that were in foster care to be successful in a college environment. It has been documented that foster youth have significant challenges during secondary education (Conger & Rebeck, 2001; Geenen & Powers, 2006). Due to these challenges, foster youth attend and graduate higher education at a lower rate than their peers. The perspectives of foster youth currently enrolled in higher education is critical to determining which factors and programs have helped with their educational success. Five participants completed semi-structured interviews about their secondary education, …

Adjunct Faculty On The Fringes: The Quest For Recognition And Support In Community Colleges, Amy Mech

Education Doctoral

Although there are a growing number of adjunct faculty teaching the majority of students at many community colleges, some institutions have not initiated practices to cultivate and support adjunct faculty. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to use the voices of the adjuncts to gain insight into their lived experiences and expectations of support and recognition by the institutions they serve. Ten participants from four Central New York Community Colleges participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews were utilized as the primary source of data collection. Eight themes emerged, representing the participants’ experience that included: (a) inclusion, (b) inspiring …

Barriers To Pursuing The Role Of Head Of School As Perceived By Female Administrators In Independent Schools, Kathleen Gallagher

Education Doctoral

The current representation of women as heads of schools in accredited National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) schools is significantly less than that of men. Further, the percentage of women in these top positions remains far below their representation in the profession of teaching. This phenomenological study examined the perspectives of female administrators from the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) on the underrepresentation of women as heads of school in independent schools. This qualitative study was framed through social role theory (Eagly & Wood, 1988), and was guided by three research questions: What supports and/or constraints do women in …

A Mentorship Model For Nursing Faculty In A Hospital-Based Associate Degree Nursing Program, Patricia Spoto

Education Doctoral

There is a nursing faculty shortage that affects enrollment in nursing schools and direct patient care. Although adjunct, dual-role, and clinical nurses transitioning to the nursing faculty role are being utilized to help with the nursing faculty shortage, clinical nurses may not necessarily be skilled as classroom teachers. Mentoring can be an effective vehicle used to increase the competency of qualified nursing faculty. The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological, qualitative study was twofold: to examine best mentoring practices and to create a structured model for hospital-based associate degree nursing programs. To investigate best practices surrounding mentoring, the researcher used purposive …

Music And Dementia: A Caregiver’S Perspective Of The Effects Of Individualized Music Programming On Quality Of Life For Seniors Living In Assisted Living Environments, David James Gentner

Education Doctoral

For senior-care and service providers, the issue of quality of life has moved beyond marketing to, in effect, the measuring of health-related outcomes. Particularly when the challenge of caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is daunting, as it cannot be prevented or cured and treatment possibilities are framed in a broader perspective to include alternative interventions such as music. Through the eyes of the caregivers, this 6-week, longitudinal quantitative study investigated individualized (passive) music programming and its effect on the health-related quality of life of residents in assisted living. The Alzheimer’s Disease Related Quality of Life instrument …

Examining The Development And Implementation Of Functional Behavior Assessments And Behavior Intervention Plans Through The Experiences Of School Personnel, Chastity R. Murray

Education Doctoral

For school personnel, dedicating energy to addressing problem behaviors within the school setting becomes important when behaviors threaten the safety or disrupt the learning of the student and/or others (Anderson, Rodriquez, & Campbell, 2015). Not addressing problem behaviors may lead to a pattern of discipline referrals, which is likely to result in increased time out of the classroom (Anderson et al., 2015). Removal from the classroom further interrupts students’ ability to learn as they are missing valuable instruction while out of the classroom setting (Stephan, Connors, Arora, & Brey, 2013). At times school personnel are faced with working with students …

The Impact Of Incivility On Hospital-Based Student Nurses, Retention As Licensed Registered Nurses And Their Post-Graduation Employment Choices, Melissa Di Natale

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the perceived experiences of incivility, and the impact of those incidences, which occurred during the clinical training portion of the participants’ nursing education. Six newly graduated nurses were identified through referrals from nursing faculty and nursing colleagues. Research was conducted through the use of qualitative research methodology, which included in-depth written feedback, one-to-one interviews, and a focus group. Rich descriptive data was captured and coded to answer the posed research questions. Nursing graduates reported that widespread uncivil behavior existed throughout their clinical nursing training. Three major findings include: recent graduates …

Measuring The Effects Of Youth Participation In A Government-Funded, Urban After-School Employment And Training Program: A Case Study Summative Evaluation, Damia Harris-Madden

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to conduct a case study summative evaluation of a municipal agency’s employment and training program that receives federal, state, and local government funding to prepare urban youth for eventual economic self-sufficiency. This is the first summative evaluation of a local government’s after-school youth employment and training program, which was designed to address the unemployment problem in general and, specifically, the employability and soft skills gap between youth and employers. This study measured the effects of youth participation in a 6-week intervention that incorporated three distinct elements: work-based experience, job-readiness skills training, and soft skills …

K-2 Teacher Perception Of Anxiety, Beth Kramer

Education Doctoral

Research has indicated that anxiety adversely affects learning. Schools charged with student learning and achievement need to address anxiety. However, determining the efficacy of anxiety prevention programs or strategies may be problematic. School leaders that wish to address anxiety with students will have difficulty in finding an anxiety prevention program or strategies that are evidence-based. This places a burden on school leaders’ decisions regarding the allocation of additional resources to implement such services. The purpose of the current study is to examine the perceptions of K-2 school teachers’ perceptions on school anxiety in the children they serve. Information obtained from …

Defining Shared Values In Patient-Centered Care: A Case Study, Nancy J. Williams

Education Doctoral

There are limited studies that turn the lens on an organization’s chosen patient-centered care program, and there is a gap in the literature that exists for defining shared values within these models. The purpose of this research was to identify and analyze emergent themes related to various stakeholders. This includes exploring the definition of patient-centered care from the perspective of medical professionals and patients to determine if an association of shared values exists. The research was accomplished through a descriptive, single, embedded-case study to develop defining characteristics of the phenomenon of patient-centered care for patients and medical professionals in a …

Teaching, Leading, And Learning In The 21st Century Classroom, Karen A. Tesik

Education Doctoral

One critical challenge facing our public school system is the urgent need to transform traditional classrooms into 21st century learning environments. To understand what is impacting this transformation in schools, this quantitative case study used survey data to identify the impact of a teacher’s level of transformational leadership on student engagement in the 4Cs of the 21st century: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. The results build a case for teacher preparatory programs and policymakers to require the teaching of the transformational leadership theory as a core component of teacher preparatory programs. In addition, this research looked at the impact …

E-Leadership In Practice: The Components Of Transformational Leadership In Virtual Business Environments, Wei Xin Vought

Education Doctoral

Today more and more organizations increasingly conduct business using globally distributed teams, also called virtual teams, because of the availability and ubiquity of information and communication technology. E-leadership refers to leading through computer-mediated communication. In the field of e-leadership, transformational leadership has been studied for the past two decades and has been the most-often-cited leadership theory. The literature review discusses how transformational leadership behaviors affect team performance in the context of virtuality, in particular interpersonal trust and organizational commitment of the virtual team members. The researcher conducted a quantitative research study to examine (a) the relationships between transformational leadership and …

Pathways To Success At Four-Year Institutions As Perceived By Black First-Generation College Students, Raymond L. Warren Jr.

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to examine the pathways to success at 4-year institutions from the perspective of Black first-generation college students (FGCS). This study was designed as a response to the large body of research that highlights the disparity between enrollment and degree attainment for Black first-generation college students. Specifically, Black FGCS are 4 times more likely to drop out after their first year at a 4-year institution compared to their non-first-generation college student (non-FGCS) counterparts. The research sought enlightening insights and lived experiences of Black FGCS who persisted to their junior and senior years of college at …

Perceptions Of Enrollment Employees In Community College: An Exploration Of Organizational Climate And Organizational Effectiveness, Ronish Hamilton

Education Doctoral

This study investigated the type of organization climate and extent of organization effectiveness perceived by the enrollment division employees at a community college in the northeast United States, as well as the potential relationship(s) between and among descriptive categories and organizational climate, in relation to organizational effectiveness. Using a quantitative survey research design, this study applied field theory and used two instruments; the Work Group Climate Assessment (WCA) and the Organizational Effectiveness Index (OEI). The WCA identified enrollment employees' perceptions of their department and division's organizational climate, also known as work environment, collecting two sets of data on actual performance …

Exploring The Development Of Core Teaching Practices In The Context Of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction: An Interpretive Case Study, Jill Mcnew-Birren, Leigh A. Van Den Kieboom

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

This paper describes our reflection on a clinical-based teacher preparation program. We examined a context in which novice pre-service teachers and a mentor teacher implemented inquiry-based science instruction to help students make sense of genetic engineering. We utilized developmental models of professional practice that outline the complexity inherent in professional knowledge as a conceptual framework to analyze teacher practice. Drawing on our analysis, we developed a typography of understandings of inquiry-based science instruction that teachers in our cohort held and generated a two dimensional model characterizing pathways through which teachers develop core teaching practices supporting inquiry-based science instruction.

2017 August, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for August of 2017.

Heart Is Active Citizenship: Reimagining Civic Education, Seungho Moon, Jenna Mortensen Nelson, Yeorim Hwang, Mary Danley

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

The ARtS (Aesthetic, Reflexive thoughts, & Sharing) Initiative is an innovative program for engaging children in reflexive thought about active citizenship in urban communities. This article explicates how children use art to imagine the alternatives in civic education. Using the heart metaphor as active citizenship, the authors illustrate how this organ connects citizens and pumps our desire for a better community through our veins, thus instigating social change. This article demonstrates the power of imagination to inspire students to conceptualize a more just society.

A Systematic Reveiw Of Student Self-Report Instruments That Assess Student-Teacher Relationships, Kate L. Phillippo, Jerusha Conner, Shannon Davidson, Denise Pope

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: A large body of survey-based research asserts that the quality and strength of student-teacher relationships (STRs) predict a host of academic and nonacademic outcomes; however, advances in survey design research have led some to question existing survey instruments’ psychometric soundness. Concurrently, qualitative research on STRs has identified important developmental and sociocultural variation in the ways students define, understand, and react to relationships with their teachers. The questions raised by survey methodologists, together with the conceptual elaboration of STRs, suggest that survey instruments used to assess STRs are due for a systematic review.

Purpose/Research Questions: This review of survey instruments …

Writing Attitudes And Practices Of Content Area Teachers After Participating In The Central Utah Writing Project Summer Institute, Joseph P. Anson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study of four case studies looks at how secondary math, music, science, and social studies teachers' attitudes and classroom practices were affected by their participation in the Central Utah Writing Project (CUWP) summer institute. Participant interviews, observations, and artifacts were analyzed by looking at themes for effective professional development: a participant's personal interpretation of the experience (phenomenon), construction of one's own learning, active learning/participation in the professional development, the inclusion of authentic tasks, collaborative support community, inclusion of prior knowledge and/or experience, self-efficacy regarding one's own writing and the teaching of writing, motivation as a teacher, motivation as a …

Cio Updates - 08/2017, Office Of Information Technology

Tech Talk

• Can I share music and movies?
• Securing the Human IT security education for WMU faculty and staff
• IT Security education for WMU students and student employees
• Gartner for Technical Professionals (GTP)
• Technology Help Desk improvements

Data Management Services Newsletter

Library Publications (1999-2023)

No abstract provided.

University Honors Program Newsletter, Honors College, Georgia Southern University

Honors College: News & Publications (2008-2020)

• Honors Welcomes the New School Year
• Our Fourth Summer in Ireland
• Honors in Action: Summer Research

The Influence Of Instructional Coaches On Special Educators’ Skills And Effectiveness, Julie Olsen

All Theses And Dissertations

Instructional coaching has been a practice in public schools since the early 1990’s and began in the area of reading coaching. While coaching has expanded nationally to include other content areas over the years, there is little information regarding the use of Instructional Coaches who are experts in the field of special education. This qualitative study, grounded in Vygotsky’s (1934) sociocultural theory of human learning and Jim Knight’s (2007) partnership theory, examines the ways in which Instructional Coaches influence special educators’ skills/effectiveness and the experiences special educators have with coaching models in a K-8 public school district. Thirteen special educators …

Middle School Engagement Benefits Of Offering Extracurricular Activities During The School Day, Angela Coffman Ringley

All Theses And Dissertations

Extracurricular activities are a significant part of the school experience for many students, but there are concerns about the demands placed on students and the overscheduling of their after-school time. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine longitudinal middle school student outcomes based on one school’s efforts to provide the benefits of extracurricular activities by offering those activities during the regular school day. This study explored the nature of the relationship between middle school, school-based extracurricular participation and subsequent student views of school connection. The study was conducted in an independent, private, Pre-K through 12th grade school …

Principal And Instructional Coach Partnerships For Instructional Leadership: A Case Study Of Interactions And Teacher Perceptions, Sharron Helmke

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined conversations and interactions between an intermediate school principal and a team of content specific instructional coaches to investigate the presence of shared instructional leadership and how the interactions and responses of the two actors might support teachers’ professional growth and refinement of instructional practices. An initial interview with the campus principal was used to establish her goals for instructional leadership. Over a six-week period, these goals were tracked through observations and coding of weekly meetings between the principal and coaches and then traced through the coaches’ work with teachers. Findings indicated that the principal was …

Public Education Fuels The Debate: Academic Outcomes Of Students Socially Promoted From Eighth Grade To High School, Lisa Janosik

All Theses And Dissertations

Using archival data, this cross-sectional, descriptive study investigated the path of core course enrollment and completion of middle school students socially promoted from eighth grade to high school in a small, urban school district during 2008 to 2012. Supported by research surrounding the development of public education, the debate of retention versus social promotion, and adolescent development, this study delved into social promotion and whether it was an equitable and socially-just educational practice. Though this study quantitatively portrayed a positive outcome for students socially promoted from middle school, the data also showed that a majority of these students continued to …

Occupational Therapy Faculty Perspectives On The Use Of Telehealth As A Delivery Method For Healthcare Services, Holly Wasserman

All Theses And Dissertations

The use of telehealth for healthcare delivery is on the rise and is expected to increase due to the expansion of technological advances and the shortage of healthcare professionals to serve rural and remote communities. The use of telehealth by occupational therapists (OT) is relatively new, and it is unknown whether educational programs are adequately preparing OT students to practice in this context or if OT faculty members are adequately trained to deliver this content to their students. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to examine how faculty members teaching in a master’s level occupational therapy program …

Social Media In A High School English Class: A Collective Case Study, Angela M. Wells

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative collective case study sought to describe the perceptions and experiences of an 11th-grade English teacher and her students when incorporating social media into the classroom. The teacher introduced social media into four classrooms, wherein the students answered questions and interacted with each other on a discussion board. The teacher’s fifth classroom remained a traditionally taught class, wherein the teacher lectured about class material. After six weeks of instruction, the researcher interviewed the teacher and provided anonymous surveys to the students to determine their perceptions and experiences when incorporating social media into the classroom. The researcher analyzed and coded …

Support Resources For Student Success Report, Morehead State University. Office Of First Year Programs.

Faculty Senate Records

Support Resources for Student Success Report issued in August of 2017.