Education Commons^™

Effects Of Professional Development Delivered In A Blended Format On General Education Elementary Teachers' Knowledge Of The Response To Intervention Process, Laura Jensen

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Research within the last decade suggests that in-service general education elementary teachers’ understanding of and skills in administering Response to Intervention (RtI) practices are limited. A review of literature revealed a shortage of professional publications investigating the effects of RtI training for these teachers on their knowledge and skills. This project examined the effects of professional development delivered in a blended format on elementary general education teachers’ knowledge of the response to intervention process. Participants included female general education teachers with a current teaching assignment in grades one or two with a range of teaching experience from preschool through sixth …

Meeting The Needs Of Adult Language Learners: A Focus On Communication And Literacy, Jessica Hercules

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is a compilation of the author’s perspectives and reflections about teaching and language acquisition during her time in the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program at Utah State University. The portfolio includes samples of writing on a variety of topics surrounding second language teaching and acquisition developed through study and teaching experience.

This collection of papers begins with the author’s perspectives on teaching, including a description of her desired professional environment, a reflection on her experiences observing other language teachers, and the author’s teaching philosophy statement. In the second section, the author presents two research papers and …

Teaching In The Digital Age: Creating A Student-Centered Classroom, Becca Huber-Jackson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio compiles the work of the author during her time as a student in the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program at Utah State University (USU). It highlights her personal pedagogy as well as provides supporting research. The different components of this portfolio are separated into two sections: teaching perspectives and research perspectives.

In the teaching perspectives section, she introduces her desired professional environment, outlines her teaching philosophy statement, and provides an analysis based on teaching observations. Research perspectives consist of two research papers and an annotated bibliography written throughout the course of the program that support the …

Understanding Teacher Sense-Making Discourse During Collaborative Professional Development Of An Expansively-Framed Computer Science Curriculum, Courtney Stephens

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Elementary school teachers are being increasingly asked to teach computer science—something that most teacher certification programs do not prepare them for. In an attempt to study how elementary teachers learn to teach computer science, I analyzed the ways that teachers behaved during a professional development accompanying the implementation of a fifth-grade computer science curriculum. My findings suggest that teachers benefit from professional development that encourages collaboration and active participation in teachers through discussion and modeling. Furthermore, my findings suggest that teachers benefit from using curriculum that deliberately connects new concepts to content that they are already familiar and comfortable with—a …

Examining The Use Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In Undergraduate Mathematics Learning Modules With Students Of Color, Thomas A. Mgonja

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In mathematics, Students of Color have persistently performed lower than their White counterparts, thus creating a need to explore instructional methods that could reduce performance disparities. This study investigated culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) to understand how it might support students’ mathematics learning in undergraduate mathematics learning modules. The overarching research question focused on how CRP in undergraduate mathematics Learning Modules supported students’ mathematics learning. There were also two main questions that focused on participants’ evaluations of the CRP modules and how those evaluations were reported based on subgroups (Students of Color and White). The researcher employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods …

The Moderating Effect Of Intraoffice Group Dynamics On The Ambulation Of Sms-Prompted Utah Tech Professionals, David Collins Moore

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research examined the extent to which group membership affects the impact of text message activity prompts on daily step count. Two 17-member convenience samples were recruited from various software companies in Utah. The participants in the cohesive group unit sample worked in close proximity to one another in a single office, while the lone participants were recruited from and worked in separate offices. Participants’ daily step count baselines were established during the initial 2 weeks of the experiment, after which they were sent text message activity prompts twice per workweek day for the remaining 4 weeks. Step count data …

When The Desert Meets The Classroom: A Mixed Methods Study On Experiential Learning And Andragogy For Design-Situated Curricula, Julie K. Lamarra

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study’s significance examined how outdoor experience in place can influence students’ designs in the context of outdoor recreation. Historically, experiential education and outdoor education have been used widely across curricula but are not so commonly accepted in design education except in the form of internships. This study sought to examine how being in the place that activity occurs and learning about the cultural aspects of place, activity, and community impacted students’ designs.

This study looked at how existing theories such as Landscapes of Practice and the development of boundaries, knowledge, and identity are formed within communities of practice and …

A Multilevel Meta-Analysis Of Paired Oral Reading Methods In Elementary Classrooms, Jacob D. Downs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

For decades, researchers and practitioners have supported developing readers via synchronous oral reader with a stronger peer or adult tutor. These methods–collectively known as Paired Oral Reading—are purported to promote reading achievement for tutee readers. However, despite nearly 60 years of investigation, no known research has adequately reviewed and synthesized the effects of similar practices commonly known as Paired Oral Reading. This dissertation systematically reviewed the published literature on the various methods of Paired Oral Reading with elementary-age students then meta-analyzed the quantitative studies that met pre-established inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis calculated the effect of Paired Oral Reading outcomes on …

Relationships Between High School Students' Performance In Aleks Placement, Preparation, And Learning (Ppl) Modules And Performance On The Aleks College Mathematics Placement Exam, Jenny V. Nehring

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The misalignment between the mathematics taught in high school and the mathematics expected at colleges and universities has created a difficult transition for high school students in the U.S. from high school to college level mathematics. Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) have been used to help high school students transition from the mathematics taught in high school to the mathematics expected at colleges and universities across the country. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between high school students’ performance in Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Placement, Preparation, and Learning (PPL) Modules and …

Examination Of Enrollment Patterns And Behaviors Of High School Graduating Seniors At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Gustavo Monzon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) are seeking new methods of improving efficiency and effectiveness in recruiting new undergraduate students. The investment of resources can be optimized through the use of predictive modeling. For example, the IHE may consider using predictive modeling as a means of determining where it may achieve optimal marginal returns on investment of marketing and operational resources. Through an understanding of factors influencing college choice, and the impact these factors have on the college choice process and subsequent participation in post-secondary education, it is hypothesized that the application of predictive modeling may support IHEâ??s in advancing opportunities …

Inform, Educate, And Guide: A Study On The Impacts Of The Law School Preparation Institute At The University Of Texas At El Paso, Rachel Serrano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Between 1998 and 2018, the Law School Preparation Institute (LSPI) at The University of Texas at El Paso helped send four-hundred and nineteen students to law schools across the United States. The mission of the LSPI aims to prepare its students to be competitive in the application process and in law school. The preparation is accomplished by providing help with the law school application. The preparation is also accomplished by creating an environment where students feel supported and prepared for the rigorous workload of law school. The techniques students acquire in the LSPI intend to make the life altering transition …

Student Learning Behaviors In A Biology Gateway Course: A Mixed Methods Examination Of An Adaptive Courseware Environment, Ross C. Teller

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how student behaviors, while using an adaptive courseware system, influenced performance in a gateway biology course. This study used a mixed methods approach. Quantitative data was collected from the courseâ??s learning management system (LMS) and the adaptive courseware. This data was analyzed using correlations between several metrics, including student course average, exam scores, total time spent using the adaptive courseware, the number of times the participants accessed both LMS content and adaptive courseware content, and the average score of activities and assessments within the adaptive courseware. The quantitative data included semi-structured interviews …

J Mich Dent Assoc August 2021

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Every month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover story on “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Dentistry: Understanding the MDA’s Perspective”.
• A feature article, “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Dentistry: Its Impact on Oral Health — You Can Make a Difference!”.
• A feature article from the Journal’s DEI series, “Welcoming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Students Considering Careers in Dentistry”.
• A feature clinical article …

An Examination Of The Role Of Total Instructional Alignment And The Impact On Teacher Confidence And Student Success, Catherine Cushway

Masters Projects

Research has revealed alignment in curriculum and expectations is beneficial to all stakeholders within an educational system. Recent projects have focused on the alignment of standards and curriculum but districts, including Coopersville Area Public Schools, have neglected to put together a strategic plan for total instructional alignment hence seeing adverse effects in both teacher confidence and student success. Total instructional alignment can be reinforced through vertical teaming, professional development, and the use of common language for behavior and academic expectations.

This project explores the importance of total instructional alignment and challenges districts to implement this alignment. This project provides a …

Differentiating Instruction Through One-On-One Literacy Conferences, Rebecca Sue Klenk

Masters Projects

Today's classroom has a wide range of diversity. To meet these needs, students need individualized instruction. Many classrooms today still present instruction through whole-group. However, research has found this does not benefit students the way differentiated instruction can. Differentiated instruction has two significant misunderstandings. One, teachers see it as they must provide different lessons plans for each student's needs. Secondly, teachers think differentiated instruction is only needed for students working below proficiency. However, with the use of one-on-one reading conferences, teachers can meet all their students' diverse needs and provide differentiated instruction.

Conferring is tailoring instruction to meet students' strengths …

Providing High-Quality, Diverse Literature For Kindergarten Classrooms, Tamara Powell

Masters Projects

There is a need to utilize more high-quality, diverse literature in kindergarten classrooms across the United States to ensure that students are being exposed to culturally relevant texts. The purpose of the Diverse Story Kinder Kit is to provide educators with access to authentic, culturally relevant literature that can be shared with kindergarten students to help develop identity, awareness of other cultures, and appreciation of other cultures. The project is framed under the Reader Response Theory and the Critical Literacy Theory to examine how high-quality literature has a positive impact on student response to literature that reflects students own experiences. …

Culturally Responsive Classroom Libraries In Middle School And High School English Language Arts Classrooms, Brandy Coleman

Masters Projects

Research shows that the cultural makeup of students in classrooms today in the United States has changed from classrooms of the past. These changes demand teachers to create classroom libraries that are culturally responsive. Culturally responsive classroom libraries can increase student engagement, shape students’ reading identities, and provide opportunities for students to create meaning with a text. This project examines what research literature has studied regarding how culturally responsive pedagogy impacts student identities, engagement through choice, books as window, mirrors, and sliding glass doors (Bishop, 1990), and instructional practices. Using reader response theory, the project focuses on tools to identify …

Implementation Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports Model: Impacting Perceptions Of School Climate, Olivia L. Johnson

Masters Projects

The perceptions of the individuals involved in a school organization shape the overarching view of school climate. School climate shapes the way in which the organization functions, specifically analyzing the attitudes and behaviors of those involved. The opinions of stakeholders are shaped on experiences had, relationships formed, visions portrayed by the organization, and the feeling of safety the school provides. Studies have revealed the need for a program that focuses upon the listed areas, creating a framework for all stakeholders to follow, in order to enhance school climate. This project examines evidence-based strategies surrounding Positive School Interventions and Supports (PBIS) …

Creating A Safe And Supportive School Climate For Transgender Students, Taylor Dewilde

Masters Projects

Research has shown that transgender students do not feel safe at school and as a result experience negative outcomes. An effective teacher training program on transgender students will help these students feel a greater sense of safety at school. Additionally, this project will explore inclusive curricular resources for educators. The research reviewed for this project includes the key findings for why transgender students feel unsafe that included bullying & harassment, untrained and unprepared staff, and unsafe spaces in school. It is imperative for transgender students to feel safe at school so they may have the same opportunities for success in …

Educator Burnout And Coping Styles: A Case Study, Jennifer Mendicino

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study is to discover the perceptions of high school and middle school teachers in south shore Massachusetts on the extent of workplace burnout they have experienced and to discover whether they are using effective coping styles to prevent burnout. Data was gathered through an anonymous survey composed of short answer and Likert scaled questions and analyzed utilizing Creswell’s 5 Steps (Creswell & Poth, 2018). The anticipated outcome would be two-fold: to improve retention of seasoned teachers and increase awareness for teachers, and to inform school leaders on how to reduce workplace burnout. Seven …

A Framework For Guiding Transformative Growth After High School Shootings, Lucienne Lunn, Karen Campion, Steven James, Gabriel M. Velez

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

For the last 20 years, gun violence has severely compromised safety, learning outcomes, social development, and psychological well-being in many high school communities. An emerging body of international research describes strategies developed to support students and staff members in the wake of school shootings. However, these protocols are typically designed to help administrators manage the immediate sequelae of these incidents, leaving survivors to handle the lasting consequences of their experiences on their own. This article presents a broad framework for facilitating long-term psychological growth that can be integrated into high school curricula. It is based on the complementary theories of …

A Quasi-Experimental Study On How Free College Influences Educational Equity In The United States Based On Analysis Of The Excelsior Program, Zhuoyao Liu

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

ABSTRACT

Educational equity has long been an important issue to which the U.S. government, academia, and the public have paid great attention in past decades. The federal government and state governments have successively promulgated policies to reduce the equity gap between well-represented and underrepresented students. As such, the Promise Program (a representative of free college policy) has become a popular tool to address the educational equity issue. New York was the first state in the United States that announced a statewide Promise (called the Excelsior Program) applying the free college policy to all public higher education sectors for its state …

Don't Kill Mockingbird: An Educator's Guide To Teaching To Kill A Mockingbird In The 21st Century, Rachel Mayes Allen

Masters Theses

While To Kill a Mockingbird is easy to misinterpret and difficult to read at times, today’s students are capable of appreciating the novel just as much as previous generations; we as teachers simply have to give them that chance. By grounding our students in the novel’s historical context, navigating controversies gracefully and rationally, and creating meaningful learning experiences around the novel, we can help our students see To Kill a Mockingbird for what it is.

Secondary Music Educators’ Perceptions Of And Relationships With Dominant Narratives Through Personal Philosophy, Pedagogy, And Practice, Kara Levchenko

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Recent calls for contemporary change in music education demand more than just an inclusive environment that prepares artistic citizens for lifelong music after public school. Our society has experienced overwhelming shifts since the introduction of music in the public schools in 1838. Yet, dominant narratives of secondary music ensemble education (SMEE) have been performed and expected as the norm since the establishment of large ensembles (e.g., bands, choirs, and orchestras), taking the stage to perform music of the traditional Western canon. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to discover ways in which secondary music ensemble teachers …

“Remember The Ladies” In The “Secret Garden”: Perceptions Of Female Local Political Committee Members On The Recruitment Of Female Candidates For Local Elected Office: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Janette A. Mccoy-Mckay

Education Doctoral

In the United States, female underrepresentation has been linked to fewer women running for and winning elected offices. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to investigate female candidate recruitment by local political committees. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 female local political committee members from 20 committees in 17 municipalities across five counties in New York State. Public election data from these municipalities revealed low female candidacy rates and comparatively low levels of female representation. Phenomenological data found candidate recruitment to be gendered and indicated that the recruitment of women for local political office is difficult despite a …

New York Paid Family Leave: Private-Corporation Employer Perspectives In Western New York, Dr. Theresa M. Roma

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this descriptive, empirical, phenomenological qualitative study, using corporate social responsibility theory, was to gain insight on 15 private employers’ experience of mandated Paid Family Leave (PFL) policy within 17 counties in Western New York. Business leaders and human resource representatives were placed in focus groups, divided by industry. New York’s mandated PFL was implemented on January 1, 2018. The policy enhanced the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by (a) adding a paid component, (b) expanding the definition of family, and (c) providing easier eligibility for employee utilization. The empirical research showed the positive and negative outcomes …

Reproducing The Status Quo In The Middle School English Classroom: A Critical Examination Of Literacy Learning Via Personalized Learning Technology, Michele Mcconnell

Dissertations

Personalized learning technology (PL Tech) is a growing educational reform movement supported by federal grant dollars. As a bourgeoning educational movement, no research has been conducted to explore the potential effects of such structures in supporting student literacy learning. Additionally, current education reform research often lacks the perspective of the students experiencing the reform. Therefore, this study sought to examine the lived experiences of middle school students using PL Tech to understand what structural and cultural arrangements influenced students’ literacy learning.

Portraiture, a qualitative methodology, was employed to conduct the study at a charter school in Fresno, California implementing PL …

Educator And Administrator Perceptions Of Sheltered Instruction In Stem Courses, Tommy D. Duncan Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions held by educators and administrators regarding sheltered instruction of English Language Learners (ELLs) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms; relevant professional development; and the use of the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) within lesson plans. ELLs represent a subpopulation of students with significant achievement gaps in STEM, ultimately affecting student engagement and career interest in STEM. Ten STEM teachers and two administrators from a midsized middle school in west Texas participated in the study. Online semistructured one-on-one interviews and document analysis of submitted lesson plans from …

A Qualitative Study Of Department Chairs’ Perceptions Regarding Job Role Transition In Christian Colleges, Tiniesha La'shae Menete

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the department chairs’ perceptions regarding their job role transition in Christian colleges and universities. Previous studies have focused on department chairs’ perceptions in public colleges and universities across the world. However, there were limited studies regarding the perceptions of department chairs in Christian colleges and universities. This study aimed to explore the department chairs’ perceptions in Christian colleges and universities to add to the body of knowledge. Exploring this problem was critical due to the immense potential department chairs have to negatively affect the future of their institution because of the number of responsibilities they hold …

First-Year Seminar And Its Impact On Retention At A Small Liberal Arts College In South Carolina, Michael A. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First-Year Seminar (FYS) courses have been the foundational building blocks for academic and nonacademic success for first-year college freshman since the late 1970s. With the focus on improving retention and persistence, FYS courses have been viewed as the resource that connects freshmen to the faculty, staff, student, and campus environment. Therefore, it is vital to see the impact that it has had on students and how it can further develop persistence through graduation. The researcher conducted this basic qualitative study to look for emerging themes of sophomore experience in the FYS courses and how that impacted their persistence and retention …