Education Commons^™

A Framework For Building Strong School Culture: A Case Study On The Transformative Impacts Of Ethics Education On High School Students, Peter Cohen

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

Recent education reforms to boost school accountability have overlooked the importance of school culture and have prioritized standardized academic achievement. The literature has highlighted the ways in which school culture can improve academic and behavioral outcomes for students, however, very little attention has been paid to the role of moral development in building strong school culture. The literature often neglects iterations of moral development other than character education, such as ethics education, as effective strategies for supporting students and their school environments. In an effort to fill these gaps, this thesis utilizes an auto ethnographic case study to analyze the …

05.13.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award, Center for Practical Ethics, DARPA Connect, Air Force Internship

Middle Schools In South Carolina: Teacher Retention And Working Conditions, Angela Starrett, Svetlana Dmitrieva, Brian Cartiff

Infographics

Across SC TEACHER research on teacher retention, working conditions, and workforce profiles, data have continuously pointed to a unique story for middle school educators. This infographic synthesizes those findings to unveil the narrative of middle school teacher experiences, including significant challenges and opportunities.

Exploring Inventions In Self-Directed Language Learning With Generative Ai: Implementations And Perspectives Of Youtube Content Creators, Belle Li, Chaoran Wang, Curtis J. Bonk, Xiaojing Kou

Department of Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications

This study explores the integration of generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, in selfdirected language learning (SDLL) as perceived by YouTube content creators. Through thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 14 prominent online language educators with related YouTube videos on ChatGPT, the present study investigates: (1) their perceptions of GenAI as a tool for SDLL, (2) strategies that they recommend to effectively utilize ChatGPT for enhancing SDLL, and (3) the guidelines they suggest for fostering SDLL with AI. The findings show that YouTube-based language educators acknowledged ChatGPT as a vital tool for SDLL as it offers availability, versatility, and transformative potential. Besides …

Open Educational Resources For Community College Health Career Instruction: Identifying Best Practices For Distance Learning, Marybeth Cregger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem explored in this study is the limited use of Open Educational Resources (OER) by health career community college faculty. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate local community college faculty members’ perceptions about the use of OER in their program classrooms, the barriers to its use, and what resources they need to overcome the barriers. The unified theory of acceptance use and technology (UTAT) pertains to attitude, performance, expectancy, technology self-use efficacy, and facilitating conditions; it will be used as the conceptual framework for this basic qualitative study. This study explored community college faculty perceptions about …

Parents’ Perceptions Of Bullying In A Local Middle School, Clifphene Reid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bullying is known to have far-reaching negative implications for students and the school community. One important first step toward successfully preventing and addressing school bullying is to ensure that all members of the school community have a common understanding of the nature of bullying. The problem investigated in this study was the significant disparity between substantiated and unsubstantiated bullying reports made by parents, students, and staff in the local middle school. Given that parents at the local middle school had not received ongoing bullying prevention training, the purpose of this study was to investigate parents’ perceptions of bullying and the …

Building A Data Pipeline And Machine Learning Model For Insurance Data, Connor Weyers

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Insurance telematics is an emerging and exciting field. It combines the advancements in GPS tracking, computational analytics, data processing, and machine learning into a useful tool to help insurance companies make the best product for their consumers. This is why National Indemnity looked to implement a telematics portion to their business processes of underwriting insurance policies and sponsored a School of Computing Senior Design project. In this report, we will first review existing solutions that been used to solve problems and subproblems similar to that we are given in this project. We then propose designs for the data pipeline and …

Mongolian Pastoralist Parents’ Experiences In Managing Their Primary School Children’S Living Arrangements, Batdulam Sukhbaatar Dr, Klára Tarkó Dr, Batkhand Sukhbaatar Mr

The Qualitative Report

Sending children, especially six-year-old ones, to school put pressure on pastoralist or herder households to balance their livestock herding needs and their children’s schooling needs at the same time. Due to remote campsites located in isolated rural areas far from any schools, pastoralists need to arrange a place for their children to stay during the school year. In this interpretive phenomenological study, we explored pastoralist parents’ experiences in managing different living arrangements for their primary school children during the school year. We conducted semi-structured interviews with five pastoralist parents from a remote county (an administrative division under a province) in …

Utilizing Educational Technology For Financial Literacy Learning Outcomes, Eliasz Mccullen

Masters Theses (Archived)

Undergraduate college students were surveyed during education courses at a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Texas A&M University- San Antonio, to investigate whether there is a difference in learning objectives of financial literacy between two types of instructional methods: a simple slide show and a more interactive form of instructional technology. The results of the study indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, however, the control group fared slightly better on the posttest. Possible explanations for these findings include limitations in the quasi-experimental design and factors related to the sample characteristics. Nonetheless, the study provides valuable insights into …

A Systematic Review On The Efficacy Of Video Modeling On Social Interactions Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Miguel Cantu

Masters Theses (Archived)

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of video modeling in increasing social interactions with individuals with ASD (IwASD) in transitional or postsecondary educational settings. The study inclusion criteria included (a) quantitative data must be present, (b) an objective or research question must be stated, (c) video modeling must be an intervention in their study, (d) a minimum of one target behavior must focus on social interactions, and (e) all studies must be published within the last six years. This systematic review analyzed the purpose, sample, methodology, settings, discussion, and results to find the effectiveness of the intervention, resulting …

Navigating Early Literacy Instruction: An Autoethnographic Exploration, Turquoise Martin

Masters Theses (Archived)

This autoethnography explores early literacy instruction through the lens of a Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) teacher in a high-quality Pre-K program in South Central Texas. The author highlights the benefits and challenges associated with explicit and systematic early literacy instruction using critical reflections, anecdotal stories, and content analysis. The research examines instances in which curriculum interpretation led to less effective lesson planning and a desire for early literacy resources. The study shares the impact of teacher collaboration, instructional support, and misinterpretation of a used curriculum, shedding light on the experiences of teaching early literacy instruction.

Administrators’ Views Of Teacher Salary Changes Under The Arkansas Learns Act, Gema Zamarro, Andrew Camp, Josh Mcgee, Miranda Vernon

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

• We surveyed superintendents and principals statewide to understand their perspectives on the salary changes they implemented in response to the LEARNS Act and their future plans related to teacher compensation.
• Administrators reported that the teacher compensation changes required by the LEARNS Act are likely to help them better recruit and retain teachers.
• The primary goals administrators reported they have when designing teacher compensation include: being competitive with nearby districts, retaining existing teachers, and rewarding effective teachers.
• Administrators anticipate offering across-the-board pay increases but also appear open to implementing bonuses for effective teachers in their district.
• Most administrators, 69% of principals …

Sustaining Principals In Native Serving Schools, Marsha Hubbell-Espinosa

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Rural schools struggle to recruit and sustain quality educational leaders and systems that contribute to student success. Rural Native American schools pose more of a challenge because of the unique cultures that play a role in sustaining leaders in their communities. I explored the reasons for high principal turnover in rural Native American serving schools. I conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to collect narratives related to turnover from eight current, former, and retired principals. The stories of these principals provide a direction for recommendations for approach, strategy, and fundamental culturally responsive leadership that is unique to rural Native …

Making Sense Of Learning In Vr, Jason M. Webb

Dissertations - ALL

The goal of this qualitative study was to answer the question: How do educators make sense of learning in virtual reality? This study utilized multimedia learning theory and cognitive load theory to explore how educators understand virtual reality in education. Pre- and postinterviews as well as a VR experience were conducted with 13 educators from higher education institutions. The data was transcribed, coded, and developed into themes that created the data chapters. The findings from this research study revealed that educators identified two themes for extended reality in education. First, the design of virtual reality experiences for students was an …

The Effects Of Perceived Support, Cultural Humility, And Self-Compassion On Psychological Well-Being Mediated By Ethnic Identity Among Asian International Students In Counseling Programs, Yu-Hsun Peng

Dissertations - ALL

The present study used a path analysis to examine the direct and indirect effects of perceived support, cultural humility, and self-compassion as acculturation conditional variables on Asian international counseling students’ psychological well-being and how the relationships mediated by ethnic identity. The study was based on Acculturation Theory which captured the relationships between acculturation conditions, orientations, and outcomes by Arends-Tóth and Van de Vijver (2007) from a protective and strength-based perspective. The final sample, following criteria and snowball sampling, included 83 Asian international students enrolled in counseling programs. The study employed validated and reliable instruments to measure the different levels of …

Urban Latinx Community Engagement In Activism And Advocacy: Community Members Interrogating Educational Systems, Policies, & Practices, Jermaine Soto

Dissertations - ALL

This critical qualitative research study (Denzin, 2017) explores how Latinx community members within the Near Westside neighborhood in Syracuse, NY serve as activists and advocates in interrogating educational systems, policies, and practices. By focusing on a specific neighborhood that houses a significant and diverse Latinx community within a smaller U.S. city, this study adds to the scholarship that oftentimes focus on Latinx communities within larger metropolises. This study also allows for a deep sociohistorical understanding of the ways in which Latinx community members engage educational inequities and injustices. This study utilizes a Lat Crit Constructivist Grounded methodology, influenced by Malagon, …

The Use Of Instructional Materials In Elementary Science Classrooms, Mary Jo Hoeft

Dissertations - ALL

This mixed methods study explored how elementary teachers reported using a commercially published instructional unit to plan and deliver science instruction in their elementary classrooms. Of particular focus is what elements of the program teachers eliminated during planning and instruction, what outside materials teachers added to instruction, what modifications they made to the materials, and their rationales for these changes to the prescribed program. This study consisted of two phases. The first was a survey of elementary science teachers who taught the Smithsonian Science for the Classroom units. Data collected from this phase informed the subsequent interview phase. I used …

Representation Matters: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Media Texts About Eight Black Women College Presidents At 4-Year Institutions, Laura Hazel Jack

Dissertations - ALL

Research has found that diversity has a positive impact on innovation, but the profile of higher education leaders has not become drastically more diverse. Although there have been modest changes, they have not been consistent with the changing demographics of college students. The few high-profile presidential appointments of Black women that have received media attention have been the exception rather than the norm. This dissertation used critical discourse analysis and content analysis to examine how eight Black women college presidents were written about in the media. The research questions explored the discourse about Black women college presidents and their leadership …

The Phenomenon Of The Singleton Educator: Exploring Art Teachers Experiences As Singleton Teachers In Rural Communities, Mary Arlene Podsiedlik

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation documents the storied experiences of seven singleton art educators teaching in small rural school districts in the Central New York region. Participants shared their stories of working as lone art content teachers and the rewards and challenges of being a singleton educator. This phenomenological research study identifies the characteristics of the singleton phenomenon as experienced by those who live and work in this environment. Enlisting a narrative research approach of shared meaning making and phenomenological design, participants described their stories of singleton-ness through a three-interview process of data collection and group panel discussion. Participants identified several characteristics of …

The Impact Of School-Based Education Program On Body Image In Middle School Students, Elizabeth Hendon

Honors Theses

Body dissatisfaction is an emerging public health concern and carries significant health-related consequences. These implications encompass mental health challenges, eating disorders, unhealthy weight management practices, adverse effects on self-esteem, and potential physical health consequences. Because adolescence is a critical period for healthy body image development due to age-related transitions occurring at this time, it is essential to implement an education program to promote positive body image. Educational programs focused on protective factors designed to enhance self-compassion can potentially improve body image, eating attitudes, and body satisfaction. School-based body image education programs aim to provide adolescents with the knowledge, skills, and …

Second Reaction: Letters To A Prisoner, Polly Parkinson

Teacher Education and Leadership Student Research

This article reviews Letters to a Prisoner by Jacques Goldstyn, first published in France in 2015--a picture book without words that tells the story of a peaceful protestor who is imprisoned.

The Interplay Of Professional Identity Development, Theoretical Orientation Development, And Mentorship: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Classical Adlerian Practitioners, Xiaoxuan Qu

Dissertations - ALL

The understanding of professional identity development, theoretical orientation development, and mentorship is evolving in counselor education training. Although continuous efforts to understand these phenomena are made, the interplay of professional identity development, theoretical orientation development, and mentorship is not explored yet. Studies must be conducted on the intricate patterns between these three phenomena critical to counselor preparation and training. This study marks an endeavor to unravel the intricacies of professional identity development, theoretical orientation development, and mentorship. Specifically, this qualitative research explores the professional identity development experiences of practitioners who adhere to a specific theoretical orientation—classical Adlerian—and undertake mentorship-style psychotherapy …

Examining The Mtss Framework Implementation At The Elementary Level, Michelle Santiago

Dissertations - ALL

Current literature exists centered on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework, its components, and ways in which MTSS is intended to support all students. Yet, there is a gap in the literature that examines how elementary schools are implementing it. This dissertation study sought to understand what the MTSS framework implementation at the elementary level looks like in practice. The theoretical framework used to help guide this study was Implementation Science. The research question used to guide this study was: How are elementary schools implementing the MTSS framework? There were three elementary buildings within the same school district in Central, …

Navigating The Dialogic Tensions And Self-Contradictions As A Bilingual Researcher, Eun Young Yeom

The Qualitative Report

This autoethnography delineates how, I, as a bilingual researcher proficient in Korean and English, negotiated the tensions between conforming to English-only academic writing norms for survival in academia and embracing translingual writing practices during the composition of my dissertation. Based on the salient themes and repeating experiences that I penned in analytic memos, field notes and diaries, I meticulously rearranged the thoughts and emotions, weaving them into stream-of-consciousness-style narratives. Through this method, I aimed to vividly portray the inevitable tensions that might be experienced by numerous bilingual researchers speaking English as a second language. This autoethnography particularly portrays the troubles …

Women Doctoral Students In Computer Science: Nevertheless, They Persist, Shannon L. Mccoy-Hayes Edd

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Throughout millennia systemic restrictions have prevented women from full participation in science. Even now, with science ubiquitous to life as we know it, double standards impact women’s access and equal participation in STEM. Computer science (CS) is one STEM field where women remain significantly underrepresented in both academia and the workforce, yet despite decades worth of semi-annual reporting, there is still no consensus as to why. A survey was deployed to twenty-nine institutions inviting women doctoral students in CS to participate in personal interviews. Six women from different institutions at different stages of their programs responded. Qualitative interviews using phenomenological …

Community Colleges And Global Environments: Increasing Visibility, Rosalind Latiner Raby

Critical Internationalization Studies Review

No abstract provided.

Phenomenological Research Examining Administrators And Special Education Teachers' Perception, Experience & Knowledge Of The Mississippi Special Education Growth Rubric, Tricia Pittman

Dissertations

In the current era of accountability, public school administrators’ responsibilities may include evaluating special education teachers and providing them with feedback and support to improve their effectiveness. The problem that exists is that administrators who do not have a background in special education are charged with the responsibility of evaluating special education teachers, resulting in special education teachers not getting the support or feedback necessary to improve their instructional practice.

In addition to administrators not having the background knowledge necessary to effectively evaluate and support special education teachers, the problem of developing an effective evaluation model to evaluate special education …

Understanding The Relationship Between How The Availability Of Vaping Devices And Student Use Are Related: A Quantitative Study, Felicia L. Owen

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The number of teens in Arkansas who are vaping continues to increase despite state and national laws and regulations. The availability of vaping devices to teens continues to occur; but limited research is available that explores if the availability is accessible through peers, families, or community members, or is self-sought. It is crucial to gain a better understanding of why vaping continues to increase among high school students in Arkansas. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between how the availability of vaping devices and student use are related. The analysis of exposure and student use varies …

Professional Learning Communities During The Pandemic, Elizabeth Nichols

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

In 2019 the world experienced a medical emergency that impacted education across the world. Several states in the United States had professional learning communities introduced into their schools as a means to enhance academic achievement prior to COVID 19. In order to show support to the schools and increase student achievement, a state introduced a specific professional learning community (PLC) model to be followed as a guideline to improvement and sustainability during a crisis. This study compares the state specific PLC model schools to schools who did not follow the state specific PLC model to examine the statistically significant difference …

Federal Government: Assessing The Impact Of Lithium Mineral Resource Extraction On Indigenous Communities In The State Of Nevada, Zachary Johnigan

Student Research

The research topic for this project is lithium mining which holds significance to indigenous populations in the State of Nevada and mineral extraction companies seeking to mine there. My research objective is to gain a deeper understanding of the direct impacts that lithium mining has had on indigenous communities, throughout history and today. Overall, the purpose of the project is to expound upon the implications of lithium mining on indigenous communities in response to the recent higher demand for the critical mineral in the United States. If it can be understood exactly how lithium mining has affected Nevada’s indigenous population, …