A Phenomenological Study: The Self-Efficacy Of Twice-Exceptional Students, Lisa Ann Glover

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to describe the perceived self-efficacy of twice-exceptional students in a singular school district located in the southeastern United States. The theories which guided this study are Swain and French’s affirmative model of disability, Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory because students who view their disabilities in a positive sense may have greater self-determination and thus increased self-efficacy. The guiding research question for the study examined the shared perceptions of self-efficacy among twice-exceptional students. Data to examine this question were collected from 10 high school students at East Lake School …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers’ Motivations To Use Instructional Technology, Aishia Nicole Daffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to identify and describe the factors that motivate teachers to integrate instructional technology in a district that has a 1:1 Chromebook program and tech-rich classroom environments. The research questions guiding this study were: How do middle school teachers describe the impact of access to contemporary technology resources on their motivation to integrate technology in their classrooms?; What are middle school teachers’ perceptions of how professional development experiences impact their motivation to integrate technology in the classroom?; How do the lived experiences of middle school teachers impact how they integrate technology in …

How Christian Teachers Perceive Their Engagement Facilitates Spiritual Formation Within At-Risk Male Students: A Case Study, Stephanie Eldridge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to understand the experiences of teacher’s perception of their engagement to facilitate spiritual formation within at-risk students at Southeast Christian Alternative School (pseudonym). This participating school is recognized by the North Carolina Department of Administration as a non-public school. The program uses a Wilderness Therapeutic approach to learning. Four essential elements were explored. Teacher’s engagement concerning behavior management was assessed through processes that tactically managed disorderly conduct or acts of misbehavior. Implementation of any behavior plans or behavior models were applicable. Teacher’s engagement concerning spirituality was assessed through active practices of …

An Evaluation Of The Responses Of Self-Studies For Aeth Certification Of Hispanic Bible Institutes, Marta Noemi Luna

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current literature on accreditation of theological education institutions does not include studies focused on the self-studies phase of the accreditation processes (Hernandez et al., 2016; Ramirez, 2019; AETH, 2020b). Little information was found on the number of incomplete self-studies or incomplete certification or accreditation processes (AETH, 2020b). The purpose of this exploratory sequential study was to evaluate the AETH Certification program and the self-study responses by collecting data to determine the factors that prevent Hispanic Bible institutes from successfully fulfilling the requirements, exploring the effects on the stakeholders and the AETH Certification program. The study implemented the CIPP Evaluation …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Teachers In Addressing The Social And Emotional Learning Needs Of Students, Justin Allen Whittenbarger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of teachers related to social and emotional learning (SEL) in a rural public school district in Tennessee. This study examined individual, explicit experiences of educators related to addressing the SEL needs of students. Bandura’s social cognitive theory primarily guided this study as it relates closely to the behavioral, personal, and environmental factors that all play a role in the way a teacher responds to professional learning. The data collection involved a qualifying survey, a questionnaire, interviews with participants (novice teachers and veteran teachers), and a focus group. Data …

Teachers' Experiences With Interactions In Online Classes: A Case Study, Adam M. Bozarth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to describe the experiences of teachers interacting with students in an online learning environment at Township School District. The theory guiding this study is Moore’s transactional distance theory as it examines how meaningful interactions can minimize the transactional distance in distance learning or remote learning environments. Data from teacher interviews, focus groups, and teacher generated writing samples were used to provide an understanding of how teachers support and promote interactions in online learning environments. Participants were teachers with at least one-year experience teaching remotely or online. All participants were from the same …

Common Attributes Among Highly Effective Middle School Teachers, Stacey Dejean-Bowie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective classroom management and delivery of quality classroom instruction is a complex task that every teacher has to face. It is not enough to have well thought out, planned lessons. To be a highly effective teacher, an educator must inspire, motivate and captivate their students all while delivering quality information and rigorous assignments that equip students with the skills and abilities needed in the twenty-first century. At the heart of student achievement is effective teaching. A teacher's effectiveness has been traditionally measured by the level of classroom control, delivery of quality instruction, and student achievement scores. Classroom management has consistently …

Teacher-Student Relationships Influencing Classroom Management Of Challenging Behaviors: A Case Study, Kristen Slifko

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand how teacher-student relationships influence classroom management of students with challenging behaviors for teachers of ninth- grade Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) students at Blue High School. The theory guiding this study was Glasser’s choice theory. All human behavior is driven by the desire to satisfy the five basic needs: survival, freedom, fun, power, and love. Behaviors happen because of personal choices made in an attempt to fulfill those needs. This idea served as a framework for all research and data collection. The method used for this case study was qualitative with …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Student Engagement Experiences Of African Americans Formerly Attending Urban Public High Schools, Sohn A. Butts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the student engagement experiences of African Americans formerly attending urban public high schools in a major city in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Self-determination theory, established by Ryan and Deci (1985), is the theoretical framework for this study, and was used to understand motivation in terms of basic psychological needs satisfaction and fulfillment, and how those motivations influence human behavior. The central research question was: What were the student engagement experiences of African Americans formerly attending urban public high schools? The three research sub-questions were: (1) what instructional …

Be Who You Are: Social Identity And Social Disability As Experienced By 6th Grade Students With Learning Disabilities Educated In The Least Restrictive Environment: A Phenomenological Study, Kimberly P. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of 6th grade students with learning disabilities educated in their least restrictive environment (LRE) to the maximum extent appropriate sitting next to their non-disabled peers. Two theories guided this study, social identity theory and the social model of disability. Social identity (Tajfel, 1970) addresses individuals' self-worth and self-esteem based on the group they associate with and their rank in the group. Oliver's (1990) social model of disability addresses disability as a social problem rather than a personal problem. The central research question is as follows: what are the …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Food And Housing Insecurities At A Historically Black College, Melissa Massey Lockard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine the prevalence of food and housing insecurities at one historically Black college and explore whether these insecurities influence students’ academic performance or their mental health quality. The study also explored possible predictors of students at risk of experiencing these basic needs challenges. A convenience sample of 175 participant surveys was collected in the fall 2021 semester at the small, private, liberal arts college in urban South Carolina. The instruments used in the survey included the USDA’s 6-item Household Food Security Survey Module, the Housing Insecurity and Homelessness Module, the …

Factors Predicting Identification Of Giftedness Resulting From Universal Screening, Lisa M. Ferguson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Giftedness occurs in all sectors of society, but children from underprivileged backgrounds are often underrepresented in gifted programs. Universal screening for giftedness is a strategy employed by some school districts in an attempt to provide equal access to gifted programs. The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to determine if the linear combination of race, socioeconomic status, and English language learner status predicted the designation of gifted students located in the northeastern United States. The sample was all fourth-grade students from one school during the 2019-2020 school year in the school district because the district universally screens all …

The Impact Of A Leadership Development Plan On Future Leadership Preparedness: A Descriptive Case Study Of The Lead Teachers Program At Owl Elementary School, Matthew C. Jobe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to describe the ways the development leadership plan impacts leadership preparedness for teachers in the Lead Teachers program at Owl Elementary School. The departure of experienced employees potentially impacts an organization negatively and impedes the fulfillment of the leadership positions. A leadership development plan will be generally defined for this study as a systematic and continuous effort to support institutional stability by identifying and developing the appropriate employees to fill the key positions at the suitable time. The transformational leadership theory by Kouzes and Posner framed this case study because it was based …

The Relationship Between The Amount Of Training Time And Perceived Training Effectiveness To Teacher Perceptions About The Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports Framework, Victoria Leigh Harr Morley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With a rise of behavioral concerns in the classroom, education systems have turned to positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) to reinforce positive behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational study was to examine the relationship between the fidelity of PBIS implementation, teacher perceived effectiveness of the programs, and time spent implementing the program. The theoretical framework for this study came from the applied behavior analysis theory. The researcher used a quantitative predictive correlational design to examine the relationship between the fidelity of implementation of PBIS programs, teacher perception of effectiveness of the PBIS framework, and time spent implementing …

The Difference Between Grade 7 Female And Male Test Scores Based On One-To-One Technology Access: A Causal-Comparative Study, Windy Simonne Hammond

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative study sought to determine whether there was a relationship between the use of one-to-one technology and student achievement among female and male students in Grades 6 and 7 in public schools in South Carolina. This study adds to the body of literature that indicates academic gains occur from using one-to-one devices in classrooms and that these didactic technology tools are beneficial to all students. The current study analyzed the science and social studies achievement scores of 3,747 Grade 7 students, comparing females and males who had access to one-to-one technology to those who did not during the 2016–2017 …

Reflections On Lessons Learned During Covid-19: Re-Envisioning Middle School Band Programs After Covid-19, Mckinley Stinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite increased accessibility regarding instructional technology for music education classrooms, an achievement disparity continued to broaden amid COVID-19. When school districts began to close their buildings, curriculum and instruction transitioned to online platforms. Varied student and teacher participation indicated multiple challenges. Experimental virtual learning concluded the 2019–2020 school year and continued in variations through summer 2021. This qualitative historical study examined perspectives concerning teaching during COVID-19 as held by music teachers, secondary band directors, school administrators, and university music educators. Individuals reflected on four periods between 2019–2021. The initial phase detailed instructional and experiential goals for the 2019–2020 school year. …

Anxiety In Healthcare Actors Post Difficult Topic Healthcare Simulation Based Learning Activity, Sarah Elizabeth Pearce

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Difficult topic healthcare simulation-based learning activities help to prepare healthcare profession students in a manner which is consistent with the experiences they will face in their careers. However, while these types of simulation-based learning activities need to be simulated, little to no research has been conducted regarding the topic of the psychological effect on standardized patients (SP) who participate in these activities within simulation-based learning experiences. The purpose of this study was to provide a quantitative examination, of the anxiety related effects of difficult topic simulation-based learning activities on standardized patients. This study utilized an experimental quantitative post-test only control …

Understanding The Quality Of Life Of Parents Whose Young Adult Children Diagnosed With Asperger's Syndrome Live In A College Residential Setting: A Phenomenological Study, Faye Mcravion

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand, as a lived experience, the parents’ quality of life (QoL) with young adult children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) residing on a college campus. In addition, this study helped understand parent experiences related to factors about transition and their QoL. For parents of adult children with ASD in a college residency setting, many stressful and challenging times were attributed to their child living outside the home, which ultimately impacted parental stress and the parents’ QoL. The theory guiding this study is the Schlossberg Transition Theory (1981), and the 4 …

A Review Of Standardized Testing And Its Relevance To Public Education, Johnny Salinas, Cassia Guajardo

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

In this paper, we seek to understand the complexity of standardized testing while promoting the inclusion of cultural representation within the current curriculum and effects. In the past decades South Texas schools have been forced to use standardized testing as a form of teacher and student classroom assessment. Good measurement and classroom management for the improvement of teachers and students’ achievement levels need to be supported with other styles forms of testing. Our methodology is based on the analysis of literature and current strategies. The significance of this study is to implement possible enhancements to the current curriculum and testing. …

The Role Of Poetry In Cultivating Attentiveness, Curiosity, And Affinity In The Science Classroom, Albert Cheng, Rian Djita

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

Poetry is endemic to classical education and often studied for its own sake. However, poetry is also posited to possess a pedagogical power not shared by prose or formal scientific language. Poetry’s distinctive effects on learning outcomes have been well articulated by philosophers since Plato and Aristotle, but their claims have not been subjected to an empirical test. We fill that gap in this study. We collaborated with a local classical grammar school and divided kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classrooms into two groups for a two-week science unit. One group of classrooms integrated poems about the topic of …

Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now? An Analysis Of Pension Structure And Retirement Timing, Dan Goldhaber, Cyrus Grout, Kris Holden, Josh B. Mcgee

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

Over the last two decades, twenty-two states have moved away from traditional defined benefit (DB) pension systems and toward pension plan structures like the defined contribution (DC) plans now prevalent in the private sector. Others are considering such a reform as it is seen as a means of limiting future pension funding risk. It is important to understand the implications of such reforms for end-of-career exit patterns and workforce composition. Empirical evidence on the relationship between pension plan structure and retirement timing is currently limited, primarily because, most state pension reforms are so new that few employees enrolled in those …

Critical Pedagogy For Health Professions And International Learning Experiences, Courtney Queen, Sarah Schiffecker, Valerie Osland Paton

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Experiential and community-based learning is common in health sciences education as a transition from conceptual level coursework to application of learning at the practical and practice levels. Programs typically focus on knowledge acquisition and obtaining a conceptual level understanding of the material for the initial curriculum, followed by experiential learning and application of that conceptual knowledge in a clinical setting. To address the nuances of health sciences education in the international, community-based context, this study proposes a pathway to facilitating the adoption of a new critical pedagogy accounting for an increasingly globalized and connected world and the need for mediation …

The Smell, The Emotion, And The Lebowski Shock:What Virtual Education Abroad Cannot Do?, Wei Liu, David Sulz, Gavin Palmer

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In response to the international mobility challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions have tried to shift to virtual programs in an attempt to provide continued education abroad experiences. This situation has amplified discussions about online education abroad programs as a way to address some equity issues in the internationalization of higher education. However, there seem to be few discussions about differences between physical and virtual programing with regard to students’ intercultural learning experiences. Fundamentally, what dimensions of traditional education abroad programs can and cannot be replicated by online programing? Through a narrative inquiry with three international educators on their …

Faculty Experiences Of Higher Education Internationalization In Post-Conflict Iraq And Tajikistan, Hayfa Jafar, Emma Sabzalieva

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

As Iraq and Tajikistan recover from the impact of conflict and international isolation, spaces are being created for higher education to internationalize by opening up and (re)connecting with the international academic community. Drawing on 25 field-based interviews, this article examines how academics in these two countries interpret these processes of higher education internationalization. Four main themes emerged: bridging the gap created by conflict, reconnecting with the world, importing prestige, and integrating into the international academic community. Most respondents viewed internationalization processes positively even while recognizing that national political and economic factors are constraining how these processes develop.

International Doctoral Students’ Sense Of Belonging, Mental Toughness, And Psychological Well-Being, Shaoan Zhang, Chengcheng Li, Daniel L. Unger

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This study describes international doctoral students’ experiences and examines the relationships between their academic goals and psychological well-being and their sense of belonging and mental toughness. We used a multiple case study design based on three international doctoral students enrolled in education programs in the United States. Findings from six interviews about their experiences with their faculty mentors and peers showed that their sense of belonging and mental toughness related to academic goals and psychological well-being. Their sense of belonging impacted their academic goals or psychological well-being based on communication and relationships with their mentors and support from their peers. …

What A Difference A Zoom Makes: Intercultural Interactions Between Host And International Students, Helen Collins, David Callaghan

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

International students contribute to the academic and cultural life of universities yet they often face discrimination and isolation. Studies highlight that support from the host students can make the difference between an easy or difficult transition. This article is part of a larger project about host student perceptions of international students. Initial analysis indicated that social interactions among international and host students do not become intertwined informally and work best through planned interventions. During the pandemic institutions transitioned from face-to-face to online learning using zoom. We noticed a marked increase in interaction among students online and returned to our research …

Playing With Push Toys And Technology: Solving A System Of Linear Equations, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

When students are given the opportunity to utilize technology and engage in hands-on activities within a mathematics class, they can experience mathematics in action. Mathematical action technologies “offer students opportunities to interact...in ways that are not possible (alone) with paper and pencil” (McCullough et. al, 2021, p. 739). One such mathematical action technology, for instance, involves a calculator-based ranger (CBR) which collects and displays motion data in real-time. As CBR activities impact students’ abilities to interpret and model “physical phenomena” which enhances graphical understanding (Kwon, 2010), I have incorporated various CBR activities that involve students walking in front of a …

“We Are So Much Alike, But Nobody Wants To Admit It”: Reactions To A Critical Bernalillo Nuevomexicano Language And Culture Curriculum, Joseph Moreno

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This study gauges how adult Bernalillo Nuevomexicanos reacted to a critical curriculum that addresses how race, class, power, and identity influence Nuevomexicano language use, and an understanding of history and culture, with emphasis on the Bernalillo Matachines Dance, Las Fiestas de San Lorenzo and associated customs. In addition, the study aims to discover what elements they find positive, negative, and what they would revise about the curriculum. This study is an attempt to create agency through the creation of a critical curriculum unit by a community researcher, teaching the pilot unit to a group of community members, and gauging their …

Community School Implementation, Melanie Blea

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

A community school model is one way that struggling schools can restructure under the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act. Schools operate under the idea that the needs of the whole child must be met before academic advancement can begin. Implementation of a community school model includes obtaining feedback from all stakeholder groups in a school community (students, staff, parents, and community organizations) and examining data to make collective decisions that generate shared responsibility and accountability. The four pillars of a community school (integrated student supports, expanded learning time and opportunities, family and community engagement, and collaborative leadership and practices) …

U.S. Muslim College Students' Spatialization Of Their Muslimness: An Exploration Of Muslim Linguistic And Cultural Identities Across Social Spaces, Ibrahim Demir

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore how four US-born Muslim college students spatialized their linguistic and cultural identities within and across their social, academic, and religious spaces. The data were collected through detailed and in-depth data collection methods involving multiple sources of information: observations in the above-mentioned spaces, focus group interviews, autobiographies, drawings, images, and narratives. The data were analyzed through spatial analytical perspectives.

This study was drawn on Lefebvre's (1991) Spatial triad of perceived, conceived, and lived spaces, Soja's (1996) interpretation of spatiality and Thirdspace, and Bhabha's (2004) concept of Hybridity. This study presented how …