Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Gamification: Game-Based Learning / Serious Games And 21st Century Soft Skill Development In Nursing Education, Stephanie Marie Adams

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the development of 21st century skills through gamification, game-based learning (GBL), and serious games in nursing education in institutions of higher education in the United States. This paper reviews the history of gamification in nursing pedagogy through three domains of research. It includes an overview of research related to the development and implementation of gamification, GBL, and serious games in nursing education as well as the impact on the development of 21st century skills in digital natives. The focus was on the historical literature related to gamification, GBL, and serious games at institutions of higher education in …

Resident Assistants And Title Ix: Perceptions, Beliefs, And Experiences Impacting Ra Help-Seeking Behavior, Beth Paris

Theses and Dissertations

Resident Assistants (RAs) are student employees on campus with significant responsibility for the safety and success of their peers. While studies are beginning to evaluate the effects of this complex peer leader role on the wellbeing of student staff, there is little discussion about their role in Title IX compliance or how they feel about the resources they are trained to provide to their peers following an incident of prohibited sexual harassment or assault. Tangential references to the impact of sexual violence response on student staff wellness, and evaluations of student perceptions of Title IX policy are frequent in the …

Exploring The Role Of Institutional Culture In Student Affairs Assessment Practitioners’ Experiences Implementing Equity-Centered Assessment, Jaime L. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Student affairs assessment is a field in higher education that emphasizes the measurement of effectiveness and student learning in student serving programs that take place outside of the classroom. Outcomes-based assessment is the basis of most assessment practices in student affairs, and focuses on the continuous improvement of out-of-classroom programs, services, and student learning. Many assessment practices stem from traditional research methods, which have been developed by people who hold mostly majority identities. These methods were not created with the rapidly changing demographics of today’s college-going students in mind. To help address the increasing diversity of college students and the …

The Impact Of Job Demands And Job Resources On Clery Officers’ Feelings Of Self-Efficacy, Jacqueline Pontius-Hogan

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to better understand how to support university administrators serving in a compliance role. Safety on university campuses is of utmost importance and many collaborators work toward this endeavor. Generally, on any given college or university campus, there is one administrator tasked with compliance with the Clery Act. Administrators had varying direct experience and interest in serving in this role, though all understood the importance of compliance and the consequences of noncompliance.

The researcher interviewed Clery Officers from multiple campuses. Utilizing semistructured interviews, information was gathered as to how self-efficacious these administrators felt. The intent behind …

A Generic Qualitative Study Of District, School, And Teacher Leader Experiences With Increasing Reading And Writing Achievement, Jennifer Fowler

Theses and Dissertations

English Language Arts (ELA) test scores have declined since the 2020 COVID-19 virus caused schools and districts in the United States and around the world to shut down for substantial periods of time. School and district leaders and teachers across the country are working to increase ELA achievement.

In this generic qualitative research study, local district, school, and teacher leaders were interviewed and asked questions about their experiences with increasing reading and writing achievement using semi-structured interview protocols.

Four research questions were addressed. They concerned the challenges, successes, supports, guidance, mandates, and advice offered by district, school, and teacher leaders …

A Phenomenological Study To Explore Educators’ Perceptions Of Recruitment And Retention Of African American Teachers In Advanced Placement Courses, Tangela Lashon Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was designed to provide positive perspectives regarding recruitment and retention practices in an urban school district. Recruiting and retaining African American teachers for Advanced Placement (AP) courses is a vital educational issue in the U. S. The number of African American teachers teaching AP courses was low.

A phenomenological research design guided the study’s investigation. The phenomenon in the investigation was the underrepresentation of African American instructors of AP courses. Zoom semi-structured interview data for 15 AP teachers were analyzed with a thematic analysis approach to answer six qualitative research questions.

The theoretical framework was the Critical Race …

A Qualitative Case Study On Perceived Readiness For The Diffusion Of Blended Learning In Tvet Institutions In Jamaica, Roxanne M. Hinds

Theses and Dissertations

Blended learning is seen as a promising innovative instructional approach for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to reduce costs, increase flexibility, and reach marginalized learners in developing countries. However, lack of understanding about how key stakeholders who are expected to adopt and implement the innovation perceive readiness for the innovation can make it difficult for institutions to maximize its benefits. This qualitative case study sought to understand the perceptions of students, instructors, and administrators about the readiness of the key stakeholder groups, institutions, and the organization for blended learning and the role of readiness in the diffusion process. …

Critical (Re)Approach To Higher Education Admission Policy: The Impact Of Open Enrollment Policy Implementation, Shirdonna Yvonne Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

Federal and state policies affecting higher education, like the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1832, Brown vs. Board of Education, and Higher Education Act of 1965 have posited change regarding the proliferation of diversity and expansion of access (Thelin, 2011).

I analyzed BOT policies for enrollment and conducted a socio-diagnostic CDA on the implementation of admission policy to understand the impact of the policies’ implementation. I focused on 1) exploring how open enrollment (OE) policies were constructed, 2) how institutions adopt and interpret these policies, and 3) how individuals at the institution enact these policies, by conducting a discourse-historical analysis …

The Effect Administrators Have On Employee Morale Within The University Of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Sherry L. Beaty-Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between Arkansas County Extension County staff morale and their perceived relationship county staff had with their County Staff Chair. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (UAEX) can utilize the results from this research to identify individuals who have the capacity to build high-quality relationships with staff members, thereby promoting higher levels of morale within the organization. Administrators can use this study to identify current or future leaders within the organization by identifying those who can promote high-quality relationships with county-level staff. Results from this study may also be used …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of The Grizzly Success Program At Georgia Gwinnett College: A Quantitative Study, Michael Phillip Poll

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that summer bridge programs are a successful strategy for helping at-risk students succeed in college by offering additional tutoring, mentoring, and advising (Slade et al., 2015). Bridge programs are effective for increasing student success (Bir & Myrick, 2015). However, summer bridge programs may challenge at-risk first-generation students due to limited access and additional fees (Mullen, 2010). The additional costs associated with summer programs combined with the summertime commitment needed for summer bridge programs may present a barrier to enrollment and prove difficult for at-risk students to overcome. Grizzly Success is a program that provides additional academic support, social …

A Qualitative Investigation Into The Academic Advisors’ Perceptions Of Best Advisement Practices, Tracy Crowder Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to better understand academic advising by examining the perspectives of academic advisors at a Georgia Research 1 institution located in a large city. Initially, the purpose of this case study was to learn more about how academic advisors view effective strategies for boosting their students' performance. Nine academic advisors from a multi-campus institution in the southeastern United States were interviewed for this qualitative study. The participants were asked to complete 30 to 60-minute interviews with the researcher. By evaluating the personal responses used throughout the study, the researcher could identify frequent themes during data collection and analysis. …

A Mixed Methods Examination Of The Relationship Between Workload, Job Satisfaction, And Burnout On Faculty Quitting Intentions At Public, Associate Degree Granting Institutions In Georgia, Amy Fenech Sandy

Theses and Dissertations

Increased budgetary constraints for postsecondary institutions may lead to increased workloads for full-time faculty members. Previous studies have shown that a negative relationship exists between workload and job satisfaction, which may lead to faculty burnout and increased faculty turnover. Identifying factors associated with faculty job satisfaction and burnout and understanding and predicting faculty intent to leave is necessary for the retention of qualified faculty and proper functioning of postsecondary institutions. The theoretical framework that was the basis of this research was Herzberg’s Theory of Motivation, which states that certain factors must be in place to prevent job dissatisfaction from occurring. …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Postsecondary Student Affairs Division Employee Job Satisfaction, Commitment, And Engagement, Valerie Edwards Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

Leadership is a transformational process that moves followers to achieve more than is usually expected of them. Research has shown that transformational leadership positively impacts and inspires job satisfaction, organizational commitment and employee engagement among academic lecturers and student populations. But little research has explored the impact of these constructs within the context of non-academic, lower level support staff in higher education. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of Transformational Leadership characteristics on the perceptions of lower level, support staff’s job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and work engagement in a technical college in Southwest Georgia. The target …

The Salvation Of The Africana Child: Via The Role Of The Black Woman In Educational Leadership, Tamara S. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Black Women principals have unique experiences that they have lived that influence the way they lead schools. Strong and committed leadership creates school environments where children can thrive.

This study illuminated the connectivity of race, class, and gender to the lived experiences of Black Women principals according to the Africana Womanism paradigm set forth by Dr. Clenora Hudson-Weems (2020). The question my research sought to answer was: How do the lived experiences, as they relate to race, class, and gender, of Black Women principals impact the way they lead? The sub-question for the study was: How do the lived experiences …

A Case Study Exploring The Motivating Factors And Needs That Influence Older Adult Learners’ Decisions To Enroll And Persist In One University System Of Georgia Emajor Collaborative Program, Jennifer Angela Hayes

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study seeks to examine older adult learners' views toward technology use and their motivation, needs, and experiences while enrolled in the eMajor online Organizational Leadership bachelor's degree program offered by the University System of Georgia (USG). The research will investigate what motivates students to enroll in and advance through a degree program and their present technological competencies in relation to online learning management systems. The case study will also strive to identify the demands of older adult learners and the influence online learning has on their drive for program completion. Qualitative data were collected from twelve older …

Examining The Effects Of A Well-Being Therapy Protocol On Sexual Minority Individuals’ Psychological Well-Being, Thomas M. Toomey

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual minority individuals are at higher risk of mental health concerns than heterosexual individuals due to the impacts of minority stress. Previous counseling interventions for sexual minority individuals have focused on pathology and reducing negative symptoms. However, there is a need for more empirical counseling interventions that address these disparities from a positive psychology perspective. Utilizing a multiple baseline single case research design, the current study examined the impact of a wellbeing therapy protocol for improving the psychological well-being and decreasing depressive symptoms for three sexual minority individuals. There was no functional relationship observed for the Well-Being Therapy protocol on …

Uniquely Persistent: Examining The Experiences Of Undergraduate Students Who Attend Multiple Institutions, Susannah Waldrop

Theses and Dissertations

Today’s college student has a wide variety of enrollment choices and is increasingly choosing different routes to degree completion. The purpose of this research is to understand the experiences of students who attend multiple universities (more than two) during their undergraduate enrollment to better understand the reasons behind their decisions. Nine students participated and shared their college journey. Using narrative inquiry to analyze their interviews, their unique stories through higher education unfold and provide insight into how these students could be better helped on campus. Schlossberg’s (1981, 1984, 2011) transition theory and the 4 S System provided a theoretical framework …

Perceptions Of Gifted Male Underperformance, Laura Bryant Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The underperformance of gifted students is a concern facing all educators. Having students who do not work up to their potential, who make grades lower than test scores show they could, and who choose to focus on other interests instead of academics are issues that occur in many schools. This study sought to learn the perceptions of educational leader in regard to this underperformance. The Palmer Model, a proposed intervention plan, was developed based on a Response to Intervention (RtI) model using a 3-tier intervention approach. Using online questionnaires and focus groups, perceptions were examined and critiques of the proposed …

Examining The Relationship Between School Policing Behaviors And The Depressive Symptoms Experienced By Black Students, Collin Perryman

Theses and Dissertations

The school policing literature has two major themes: (a) the negative safety outcomes of school safety (Gottfredson et al., 2020) and (b) the central role that school police play in placing Black students into the school-to-prison-nexus (Morris, 2016; Turner & Beneke, 2020). The study of school police roles, how school police interact with educators, and the safety effects of school police presence is important. Just as important is knowing the mental health effects of physical and nonphysical school policing behaviors on Black students. This dissertation sought to fill this gap in part by studying the relationship between school police behaviors …

Looking Ahead And Behind: Information Literacy Framework Perception In Secondary And Postsecondary Education, Elizabeth S. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Today’s information environment is profoundly different from that of previous generations. The information excess of the 21st century requires information consumers to have a honed set of skills to be successful in their information seeking behaviors in academic, workforce and everyday life. This study used a mixed method, concurrent, exploratory design to investigate secondary and postsecondary library staffs’ perceptions of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Frameworks to close the information literacy gap. Library staff, in this study, perceived both levels’ frameworks as very important and very relevant to …

A Dynamic Capabilities Approach To Ceo Involvement In Performance Funding Policy Development, Zachary Evans Perrine

Theses and Dissertations

Performance funding has become a popular policy structure for public higher education institutions across the United States. The implications on budget and student success are considerable. This study examines performance funding through the perspective of chief executive officers (CEOs) at public community colleges in a southern state. Utilizing the theoretical lens of dynamic capabilities and political management strategies, this study investigates the involvement CEOs have within the policy development process.

Academic Misconduct: Its Importance To Persistence And Graduation, Tabor Lancaster Mullen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of an act of academic misconduct on transfer student GPA, retention and completion. Three groups were compared from data compiled from 2009-2015: freshman and new transfer, transfer and native student in honor code violations, and transfer student between violators and non-violators. The outcome determined if not committing an act of academic misconduct benefits students’ immediate academic success as seen through a maintained or higher GPA, retention from one semester to another, as well as completion.

The study utilized the quantitative, quasi-experimental study design. The research was conducted using descriptive statistics …

The Interplay Of Aggregate Faculty Hiring, Aggregate Faculty Retention And Student Graduation At Community Colleges In The United States, Jared Burns

Theses and Dissertations

This research study was conducted to determine if there was a difference in community college graduation rates based on aggregate faculty hires, aggregate faculty retention and community college size. The study employed a non-experimental quantitative research design with three independent variables (aggregate faculty new hires, aggregate faculty retention and community college size) and one dependent variable (graduation rate).

The study utilized a one way ANOVA, independent t test, and factorial ANOVA to analyze differences in graduation rates based on aggregate faculty new hires, aggregate faculty retention, and community college size. Results of the one way ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences …

The Decision To Depart: Black Women Faculty's Experience With Departure And The Academy, Herlanda L. Hampton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to examine how the concept of departure influences the lack of diversity among higher education faculty. More specifically, what factors are currently influencing Black women faculty’s decisions to depart academic positions across two institution types, Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). A phenomenological method of inquiry supported the research and included two research questions. The primary research question asked what influences impacted the decision to depart for each faculty member. A secondary question examined the similarities and differences of these influences for departure decisions from the PWIs and …

School-Level Administrator And Teacher Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teacher Evaluations On Classroom Instruction, Sabrina Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher evaluations have a substantial impact on student achievement. Students rely on their teachers to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in today’s ever- changing world. Teachers are required to meet the needs of every student and perform to the best of their ability. Administrators support and evaluate teachers to help them make important decisions about their instructional practices. The purpose of the current study explored teacher and administrator perceptions of teacher evaluation ratings and its impact on classroom instruction. The current study utilized the principle of personal mastery as it assessed the impact teacher evaluations …

Special Education Due Process: An Analysis Of Decisions In New Jersey From July 2005 - June 2012, Renee A. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

With every reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) since its inception in 1975, parents and school districts have been encouraged to mediate differences through non-legal means, whenever possible. This study assessed Special Education due process in the State of New Jersey between July 2005 and June 2012. The goal was to identify common patterns that led to due process and assess how former litigants described their experience and feelings about due process. I used a qualitative case study approach to collect and analyze data. First, I conducted a document analysis of 187 due process case results. I …

“Forward—Upward—On!”: Black Student And Educator Experiences In The Early Years Of School District Five Of Lexington And Richland Counties, Charles A. Holden

Theses and Dissertations

This research utilized historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and oral history to document and analyze Black educational experiences in the Chapin, Dutch Fork, and Irmo communities during segregation and desegregation. Archival materials from the local school district offered insight into district leaders’ attitudes towards Richlex, the only public school available to the area’s Black students between 1953 and 1966, as well as the conditions that district leaders created for Black students and educators. Former students’ stories were centered in both the examination of what the local Black communities accomplished in spite of the unequal conditions of the segregated era and in …

A Case Study Of Rural Southern Desegregation: How Black Students In A South Carolina Community Experienced Segregated Schooling And The Integration Process, Margo Mcdowell Gore

Theses and Dissertations

My purpose for this study is to shed light on how the African-American community in a small Southern rural community experienced segregated schools and the long school desegregation process. Conflicts over school integration in urban centers like Little Rock drew the media's attention, but how small communities beyond the glare of the media fared is less well understood and documented. Archival data and contemporary media coverage provide a timeline and context for the experiences of this Black community, and oral history interviews were collected and analyzed to document the range of desegregation experiences.

Although the Brown v. Board of Education …

For Colored Girls Who Have Experienced Institutional Racism Because The Discipline Code Is Not Enuf: Principals And Assistant Principals, School Discipline Policies, And Discipline Disparities Faced By Black Girls, Lecinda R. Jennings

Theses and Dissertations

For many years, school discipline has been a research focus, particularly the disparities in discipline between Black and White males. Black girls are suspended at a rate that is 5.3 times that of White girls and approximately the same rate as Black boys. Black girls represent the fastest growing group of students who receive discipline disparities. The goal of this case study was to explore if and how principals and assistant principals contribute to discipline disparities faced by Black girls. I discussed the lived experiences of high school administrators to capture their encounters with race, gender, and the implementation of …

Higher Calling: A Qualitative Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Black Women Presidents Of 4-Year Colleges And Universities, Rushondra Janeé James

Theses and Dissertations

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), women are out earning men in the numbers of associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees awarded. When separated by race, Black women are the largest proportionally, representing 64 percent of bachelor’s degrees among Black women and men. Moreover, Black women account for 15 percent of all master’s degrees and 10 percent of earned doctoral degrees among all women. Given the most recent NCES statistics, the student body of degree granting institutions includes a significant number of Black women students. Conversely, about 9 percent of all college presidents and 3 percent of full-time …