Education Commons^™

Financial Self-Efficacy Among Puerto Rican Women In The United States: An Ethnographic Action-Based Research Study, Melinda Jimenez Perez

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this ethnographic action research study was to better understand the financial self-efficacy of Puerto Rican women in the United States. There is a gap in the literature in identifying the relationship between middle-class Puerto Rican women and financial literacy. In a pilot study, four major findings emerged from the survey about Puerto Rican women and their relationship with finances: (a) as children, mothers taught them to save, and as adults, they rely on the male figures in their families; (b) the traditional education systems did not provide financial education; (c) the childhood culture of poverty and scarcity …

Improving Standardized Test Scores, Spatial Ability, And Interest In Math With The Introduction Of 3d Printers Into High School Math Classes, Charles Moore

Dissertations

Mathematics education faces significant challenges with declining ACT scores, national math proficiency rates, and a prevalent dislike for the subject among high school students. Spatial thinking ability, crucial for success in STEM fields, intersects with mathematical comprehension, suggesting a potential avenue for improvement. This study addresses these challenges by integrating 3D printing technology into secondary mathematics instruction. Employing a quasi-experimental quantitative research design, the study evaluates the impact of 3D printers on ACT math scores, spatial abilities, and attitudes toward mathematics. Results from ANOVA tests indicate marginal increases in spatial test scores and positive shifts in students' interest, self-confidence, and …

Youth Alchemy: Non-Formal Learning Around Identity & Agency, Jayashri Sarkar

Dissertation Collection

The social and educational disruption during confluence of COVID isolation and Black Lives Matter protests was critical to learning and agency amongst Youth of Color. This phenomenological qualitative study centers around Youth of Color in Providence, Rhode Island as they contested formal education and sought to make meaning of these events. Drawing on Amartya Sen’s capability approach, a series of in-depth phenomenological interviews with participants to explore the meaning they gleaned from their engagement in Youth-led emancipatory educational initiatives, particularly in terms of their sense of identity and agency. Although existing literature documents Youth resistance, this study explores Youth reflections …

Entrepreneurship Education: Understanding The Lived Entrepreneurial Experiences Of Community College Students In South Texas, Hussain Y. Sama

Theses & Dissertations

Entrepreneurship education (EE) is a hot topic and has gained the attention and interest of scholars in the United States and globally. Despite the growth of EE, scholars have been marginalizing the impact of EE at the community college level and there is a dearth of studies in this area (Liguori et al. 2019; Mars & Ginter 2012). Therefore, I conducted this study to bridge this indicated gap and contribute to the EE literature through exploring the entrepreneurial learning and practical experiences of community college student entrepreneurs.

The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to better understand the lived …

Decentralization Implementation In Saudi Arabian Educational System: A Qualitative Study, Mohammed Alaklabi

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. In the unique context of Saudi Arabian high schools, this qualitative study aimed to understand how decentralization, a significant reform initiative, was experienced by principals and teachers. It explored their perspectives, challenges, and successes and actively sought their recommendations for enhancing decentralization's implementation. By focusing on the voices of these key stakeholders, the study aimed to provide practical guidance to inform future reforms and improve education quality for Saudi high school students.

Research Methods. This qualitative study employed an interpretive design to explore the experiences and perspectives of high school principals and teachers in Saudi Arabia regarding decentralization …

Idaho School Readiness Project: Year 1 Program Performance Evaluation Report, Evaluation Services

Education

The Idaho School Readiness Project (ISRP) is a system capacity building initiative funded by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and implemented by Idaho State University (ISU) with the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IDAEYC). ISU and IDAEYC work with various public and private partners, including Idaho’s 25 Early Learning Collaboratives (ELCs), to implement project activities. The ISRP aims to advance Idaho's Early Childhood Care and Education Strategic Plan by focusing on locally controlled, high-quality, and family-focused services. The ISRP Year 1 Evaluation Report provides a comprehensive overview of the evaluation findings from the first year …

Developing A Teaching "Toolbox" With Experiential Learning Principles, Kieth Matte

MA TESOL Collection

In this thesis paper, I focus on developing a comprehensive "toolbox" of language teaching techniques and instructional strategies by integrating experiential learning principles, specifically the Experiential Learning Cycle by David Kolb. The primary objectives of my project are to enhance my language teaching practice, foster effective and positive learning experiences for my students, and stimulate discussions regarding the intentional and meaningful application of experiential learning in language teacher training.

Throughout the research process, I gained valuable insights into the practical implementation of experiential learning to enrich my teaching practice and cater to the diverse needs of my students. The findings …

The Active Self: Healing The Perceptions Of Lifetime Physical Activity, Julia Lynn Brookshire

Education Honors Theses

Physical activity is not always perceived in a positive light or feel accessible to all. There are many barriers for individuals to being physically active, but this does not have to be the case. Whether it be the assumed time commitment, energy individuals think it takes or not knowing where to start, these barriers can keep people from a physically active lifestyle. This research breaks down some of the barriers to change people’s perceptions of lifetime physical activity.

Reflections Of Growth As A Reggio Emilia Inspired Arts Integration Educator, Katherine Miriam Briner

Education Honors Theses

The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy that puts children at the center of everything involved. The main principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach covered in this paper include the Hundred Languages, which are the idea that children communicate in multiple different ways, the atelier, which is a space that gives opportunities for exploration and social interaction, and documentation, which is a form of representation that shows a child’s thinking and work. The goal of my work was to reflect on my growth as an educator who incorporates arts into the general education classroom and takes inspiration from the …

Multimodal Communication Support For Word Recognition And Literacy In Children With Language Delays, Mackenzie Elizabeth Beal

Communication Science and Disorders Honors Theses

As the definition of being literate transforms from being able to read and write to being able to decipher a variety of mediums (e.g., music, text emojis, and more!), it is necessary that curriculum is adapted to reflect these changes. This paper discusses 11 preschoolers aged 4 to 6 years with language delays and their ability to recognize one-syllable words. Two different interventions assessed word recognition. One intervention paired gestures with five words. The second intervention had participants create self-interpreted drawings for each of the remaining five words. To determine whether or not gestures and drawing were effective literacy strategies, …

Aleks In High School Mathematics Classrooms: Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions And Use Of This Tool, Tristan Kumor, Lida Uribe‑Flórez, Jesús Trespalacios, Dazhi Yang

Educational Technology Faculty Publications and Presentations

There has been a limited amount of research that has attempted to determine teaching strategies using adaptive learning systems. Most studies have attempted to measure success of the use of these technologies based on improvements in students’ test scores but have lacked to provide any information regarding the pedagogy implemented while using the tool or teachers’ perceptions of it. A basic qualitative study was conducted where five Chicagoland high school mathematics teachers, who used the Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) system, were interviewed three times during one academic school year. This study asked participants to share first-hand experiences …

Personalized Learning For Art Major Students Based On Learner Characteristics, Jiayu Shao

Education (PhD) Dissertations

Recognizing the existing research gaps concerning learner characteristics in the realm of personalized learning in Chinese higher art education, this study initially analyzed prevailing patterns in personalized learning research and its current implementation in higher education through an extensive literature review. Subsequently, a quantitative investigation was carried out at S University in Shanghai, aiming to delve into their learner characteristics, investigate the interrelationships among these characteristics, and propose customizable personalized learning designs. The research included a comprehensive quantitative study using a learner characteristics questionnaire survey involving 455 art students at S University, employing various statistical methods, including ANOVA, factor analysis, …

Retention Of Employees In Student Affairs Positions In Private Higher Education, Lanita Robinson

Leadership Education Capstones

This is a comprehensive exam project for the Leadership Education Department at Winona State University. The purpose of the study was to discover and implement successful strategies that private higher education managers can use to retain support services staff in departments across the university.

Teacher Perceptions Of Gifted Middle School Students, Tom Wimsatt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Middle school students who fall under the gifted and talented category are often perceived as being “self-sustaining, easy to handle” students. Research into the nature of gifted and talented students over the last 40+ years has proven otherwise, demonstrating a wide range of social and emotional issues as well as the need for advanced academic challenges. However, middle school teachers have shown mixed opinions about the specific needs of gifted and talented students, oftentimes seeing GT students at the middle school level to be less student and more “student helper”. This study was conducted to determine the current trends and …

A Review Of Terms Related To Race In School Psychology Journals, Malyra Bendson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Black Lives Matter movement has been an increasing movement since the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Over the next decade there has been an increase in the movement due to Black lives continuing to be lost at the hands of police. School psychologists play a key role in supporting the mental health of students within schools. It is essential that research discuss how to best support students who have been affected by this movement as children have witnessed, so much on television and social media over the years. The current review explores whether these sociopolitical issues have also …

Perceptions Of Students In A Public Child Welfare Certification Program Following A Mock Testimony Intervention, Monica Hines

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Those in the fields of child welfare and social work often face hard work with few rewards. Child welfare workers are faced with the difficult and demanding challenge of working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of children. This study aimed to examine the perceptions of child welfare participants enrolled in a child welfare program following a mock testimony intervention through a one-group pretest-posttest design.

The participants in this study were full-time undergraduate (n= 5) and post-graduate (n = 2) students with ages ranging from 19 to 25 years old. All participants attended a mid-sized university located in the …

Refining The Goals Of Public Education In The United States: An Exploratory Single-Case Embedded Study Of A Student-Centered Path-Goals Setting, Tuan Pham

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The public higher education system in the United States has inherited a multitude of aims and missions in order to fulfill its social and educational objectives. As a result, many higher education institutions suffer from unclear goals. Nevertheless, the researcher identified the student's goal-oriented process as the fundamental aspect of this educational system from its inception until the present. The exploratory single-case embedded study conducted at a regional comprehensive institution highlighted the differences, difficulties, and issues faced by students, administrators, and the institution itself in its pursuit of specific goals in higher education. Indepth interviews were employed to investigate the …

Exploring The Role Of Gender, Race, First-Year College Gpa And Passing Stem Advanced Placement Exams And The Likelihood Of Graduating With A Stem Degree: A Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis, Amar Patel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers are projected to grow beyond the normal pace of job growth (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). Many of these careers will require degrees in STEM fields, but, currently, there is a significant underrepresentation of Blacks and females in both STEM degree programs and careers. The purpose of the current quantitative study was to explore the strength of the association between AP Exams, first-year GPA, race, and gender in science achievement. Research Question 1 investigated the relationship between taking AP Exams and the time taken to graduate. For students who took an AP Exam, …

Student Mental Health During And After The Coronavirus Pandemic, Olivia Harner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The educational setting serves as an influential force when considering the impacts that school can have on student mental health. Following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, research revealed negative effects on mental health for a variety of populations across the globe; however, comprehensive reviews about the effect that the pandemic had on the mental health of American K-12 students are limited. Consequently, the purpose of this specialist project is to evaluate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of American students in grades K-12 through a review of literature. Utilizing PRISMA procedures, 19 articles were selected …

How Parental Involvement Coincides With Student Achievement: How To Get Parents Involved?, Torrence Farmer

University Honors College

Parental involvement is crucial for a child's education, impacting their academic success and overall development. This research examines how parental involvement affects students' learning, social skills, behavior, and long-term success, particularly focusing on elementary school students. By analyzing varying levels of parental involvement, the study aims to identify key factors contributing to student achievement. Understanding the impact of parental involvement is essential for educators, policymakers, and parents. This research provides insights to develop effective strategies for engaging parents in education. By fostering strong partnerships between parents and schools, we can create a more supportive educational environment that benefits all students. …

Parent Experiences In Advocating For Their Advanced Children In Elementary Schools, Kathryn Adams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The amalgamation of underachievement, underidentification, lack of state and national mandates and definitions, and the unique social, emotional, and academic needs of gifted and advanced students has resulted in a system fraught with issues that leave parents with the role of advocating for their child’s best interests at school. According to the National Association for Gifted Children, schools may not be completely effective in providing services for gifted children, leaving many parents feeling that their children’s needs simply are not being met (Harris, 2017). Parents of gifted or advanced children have noted several areas in which they feel unsatisfied with …

A Systematic Review Of Practices Utilized By Administrators To Support Teachers With Classroom Management, Ciara Waggoner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An administrator’s role in supporting teachers has been a topic often discussed in literature. A less mentioned administrative function is their role in supporting teachers in classroom management strategies related to teaching and setting expectations. Problem behaviors in the classroom have a negative impact on student outcomes. Administrators can help address problem behaviors through the use of four effective administrator practices areas identified by Grissom et. al. (2021): (a) instructionally focused interactions (b) building a productive school climate (b) facilitating collaboration, and (c) managing personnel and resources. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify: (1) Which of the …

Office Of Equity And Inclusion Newsletter - May 2024, Office Of Equity And Inclusion, East Tennessee State University

Office of Equity and Inclusion Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Subjective Experiences From The College Remedial Student, Deborah A. Quinones

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to write individual narrative stories about the subjective experiences of six students who entered college and had to take at least one remedial course their first semester. A subjective experience refers to the emotional and cognitive impact of the personal account of an experience (Subjective Experience, n.d.). The participants, including the researcher, were students who entered college for the first time without the minimum requirements for college enrollment; therefore, each was considered a remedial college student. The students were required to take remedial courses in math, writing, and /or reading before taking any credit …

Entrepreneurship Education: Understanding The Lived Entrepreneurial Experience Of Community College Students In South Texas, Hussain Y. Sama

Theses & Dissertations

Entrepreneurship education (EE) is a hot topic and has gained the attention and interest of scholars in the United States and globally. Despite the growth of EE, scholars have been marginalizing the impact of EE at the community college level and there is a dearth of studies in this area (Liguori et al. 2019; Mars & Ginter 2012). Therefore, I conducted this study to bridge this indicated gap and contribute to the EE literature through exploring the entrepreneurial learning and practical experiences of community college student entrepreneurs.

The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to better understand the lived …

Development Projects, Displacement, And Their Impact On The Deterioration Of Indigenous Language And Culture: The Role Of Women In Preserving The Nubian Language, Dalia Mohamed

Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: My study aimed to explore the phenomenon of the deterioration of culture and language in an indigenous population due to the establishment of large development projects. I focused on the historical displacement and forced relocation faced by the Nubian population in Egypt as an example. My study highlighted the role of women in preserving the Nubian language. I used Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as an approach to explore the shared lived experiences and strategies that Nubian women have used to persist in their culture and language after forced displacement.

Context: Nubian women are the children’s main resource for learning …

Faculty And Graduate Students' Practicum Experiences And Challenges In Digital Environments During The Covid Pandemic: A Qualitative Instrumental Case Study, Mary J. Guerrero Munoz

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. The Covid pandemic was an unprecedented event evolving from a novel virus unknown to humans, highly infectious with no human immunity, spreading globally (Bell et al., 2020). With the declaration of a worldwide pandemic in March 2020, graduate students and faculty of colleges and universities nationwide experienced a disruption in their graduate practicum/internship courses. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use a qualitative instrumental case study design to explore the challenges faculty instructors faced with supervising graduate student practicums/internships, and the graduate student barriers with self-directed learning, when limited to digital environments during the Covid pandemic; …

Preparing Students For Adulthood: Comparing The Experiences Of Degree And Non-Degree Seeking Graduates, Lacee R. Boschetto, Brian K. Warnick

Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Faculty Publications

The role of secondary education is critical to preparing graduates for adulthood. This study explored the transition experiences of high school graduates and factors that impacted their preparation for adulthood. This descriptive study focused on the experiences of degree and non-degree-seeking graduates. Surveys were distributed to students enrolled in a general education course at a state university and marketing research participants not enrolled in post-secondary programs. The survey sought to identify overall preparedness, responsibilities deemed necessary to teach in high school, and influence factors that prepared them for adulthood. The overall findings displayed that graduates seeking degrees felt more prepared …

Perspectives On Neurodiversity-Affirming Education For Autistic Children, El Alcalá

Psychology Honors Projects

Rates of autism diagnosis have increased dramatically in recent decades, along with efforts to include disabled students in general education classes. However, there are significant barriers to full educational inclusion for autistic children with all levels of support needs. In Chapter 1 of this project, I review literature on common barriers to educational inclusion for autistic students, as well as the strengths and shortcomings of school-based service delivery models frequently provided in an effort to mitigate these barriers. I then propose an innovative, neurodiversity-affirming model of service delivery for autistic elementary school students in general education classrooms. In Chapter 2, …

Gender Stereotypes In The Elementary Classroom, Mckenna Gill

Master's Theses

This study explores ways to reduce gender stereotypes in the elementary classroom. Specifically, it was designed to collect data on male and female behaviors related to gender stereotypes toward different school subjects, volunteering, peer relationships, and student redirections during lessons. A literature review was conducted to investigate existing research on this topic. A mixed-methods design was used in this study. Data was collected in a fifth-grade classroom, by keeping a tally of each of the subject areas Math, Reading, Science, and Writing, and the students who volunteered. Included in the investigation was a teacher interview regarding her thoughts on gender …