Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Pre-Kindergarten Education: Is There A Relationship Between Pre-Kindergarten Participation And Student Achievement?, Carol Goldate Barlow

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the intervention of attending public school pre-kindergarten had an impact on student achievement as measured by the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) considering gender, socioeconomic status, and grade retention. This research study included both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data included all 2009-2010 fourth-grade LEAP math and English language arts scaled scores collected from a specified public school district. To determine the impact of pre-kindergarten attendance on student achievement, the LEAP scores of students who attended public school pre-kindergarten were compared to LEAP scores of students in the same school district …

Administrators’ Perceptions Of Alternative School Characteristics And Their Relationship With Recidivism, Lori Elaine Burkett

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed between secondary and alternative school administrators’ reported perceptions on the importance and existence of 26 alternative school effectiveness characteristics and if the administrators’ perceptions were related to alternative school recidivism. The administrator groups were in agreement that 25 of the 26 characteristics were important; they also agreed that the characteristic student enrollment is by choice, not a mandate, was not important. Significant differences were identified between the administrator groups on reported existence of the characteristics; alternative administrators reported the existence of the characteristics to be significantly higher than the …

The Influence Of Classroom Instruction And Test Preparation On School Accountability Levels, Karen Adair Carter Bryant

Dissertations

Federal and state educational agencies provide guidelines for public schools across the United States to follow (Linn, 2008; Levy, 2008). During a time of highstakes testing fueled by school accountability standards, educators strive to meet requirements for academic growth in order to maintain a successful accountability level and avoid being labeled as a school under improvement (Behrent, 2009; Hardman & Dawson, 2008). Some argue that the demands of accountability standards pressure administrators and teachers to provide less than adequate instruction in order to focus on the content of mandatory state tests (Abrams & Madaus, 2003; Anderson, 2009; Behrent, 2009; Hamilton, …

Manufacturing Mississippi's Workforce: An Assessment Of Employability Skills As Perceived By Faculty And Senior Students Of Four Year Manufacturing Related Degree Programs, Mamie Yvette Griffin

Dissertations

A worldwide concern exists that undergraduate programs are not producing graduates with the kind of lifelong learning and professional skills needed for workplace success. Numerous research studies indicate new employees lack needed employability skills such as teamwork, decision-making, and communication.

Similarly, recent national and state findings suggest that graduates of Mississippi‟s manufacturing-related degree programs may not be fully prepared to meet the needs of manufacturers in the state. Hence, this research proposes to determine the degree to which Mississippi‟s four-year manufacturing-related degree programs address employability.

To answer this question, the present study utilizes descriptive non-experimental research to assess the perception …

The Relationship Of Servant Leadership On Teacher Satisfaction And Teacher Retention, Elizabeth F. Engelhart

Dissertations

High performing schools with exceptional leaders are needed today in America. School leaders are expected to come to the job equipped with the ability to address curriculum issues, face dire budget constraints, and turn around school culture and climate. Financially, schools are suffering from the cost of teacher turnover. Students are suffering academically from the revolving door of teachers moving in and out of classrooms. By investigating and addressing such issues, district administrators will be able to recognize which elementary school principals will be able to solve problems because they possess the necessary leadership skills. The purpose of this study …

A Multidimensional Perspective Of Faculty Mentoring And Job Satisfaction During The First Year Of Teaching At Lindenwood University, Carla Mueller

Dissertations

Higher education requires exemplary faculty to provide a high quality education to college-level students. When faculty is new to an institution, issues of transition can affect job satisfaction negatively. The literature concludes that job satisfaction can affect retention of quality personnel. As a result, college and university administrators have addressed this concern with the development of mentoring programs for faculty new to their institutions. One of the goals of mentoring programs is based on the assumption that mentoring can affect job satisfaction in a positive way; thus, involvement in such programs will ensure faculty members are more likely to be …

A Holy Curiosity: Transformative Self-Directed Learning To Breakthrough New Knowledge In The Case Of Einstein, Deanna Lynn Vogt

Dissertations

The case of Einstein’s discovery of the relativity theory, explored with grounded theory methodology, illustrates a type of self-directed learning characterized by personal and non-personal, or technical, transformative learning, the result of which is iconic original, breakthrough learning. This dissertation explores three aspects of adult learning which are novel in adult education.

First, this study of breakthrough process, for which there is only one apparent precedent in adult education, considers how an individual goes about a self-directed learning project that revolutionizes a field. In this regard, the concept of original learning, as opposed to transmitted learning, presents itself as a …

The Relationship Between The Pedagogical Use Of Differentiated Instructional Strategies And 3rd, 4th, And 5th Grade Language Arts Achievement, Kenitra Lasha Barnes

Dissertations

Today’s classrooms are comprised of students who perform on a myriad of levels. As a result of both state and federal mandates, educators have been charged with the task of ensuring that all students master the required grade level benchmarks at the end of each school term. The challenge in carrying out that duty is finding strategic ways of reaching all students, regardless of their performance levels. The stricter state mandates have placed many classroom teachers in a compromising position that leaves them with no time to remediate students who may struggle with mastering a skill and minimal time to …

The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities On Student Achievement At The High School Level, Steven Wesley Craft

Dissertations

The pressure applied on public schools to increase test scores and student achievement are reaching the highest levels ever seen in the United States. School systems are trying to find ways to increase student achievement while dealing with severe budget cuts. Many school systems are exploring the possibility of decreasing or suspending funding for extracurricular activities. This study explored the relationship between student achievement and participation in extracurricular activities. The study focused on the impact that participation in extracurricular activities had grade point average, absentee rate, SAT scores, and success on the Georgia High School Graduation Test. In order to …

An Analysis Of Factors Impacting K-12 Technology-Infused Design, Wesley A. Waddle

Dissertations

Public education in the 21st Century can be characterized as being in a period of unparalleled change, including the adoption of Common Core State Standards, increased public accountability, and renewed emphasis on the educational needs of every student. Simultaneously, as public education seeks to address these demands, the digital divide between traditional classroom instruction and learning needs of 21st Century students continues to grow, despite considerable fiscal investments in educational technology.

This study examined two questions: What teacher-related factors positively impact the level of technology-infused lesson design? and To what degree does the use of an instructional framework to guide …

Evaluation Of Electronic Assessment Systems And Their Ability To Meet Ncate Standard 2, Anthony Kirchner

Dissertations

The pressures relating to accountability and data collection, not only from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) but also from other national organizations, continue to increase the demand for educator preparation programs to systematically collect, analyze, and report on the success of their students and their programs. Many educator preparation programs have turned to electronic assessment systems (EASs) to help ease the data collection burden, to allow for the collection, aggregation, disaggregation, and reporting of data for programmatic improvement, as well as to meet the needs of the accreditation process.

The purpose of this study was to …

Factors Influencing The College Choice Of Music Majors Attending A Four Year Institution: A Comparative Study, Ryan Curtis

Dissertations

The purpose of this research sought to investigate and compare the factors influencing the college choice of music majors attending four-year private and four-year public universities. A comparison of college choice data among four universities was completed in the following areas: academic, institutional, financial, and personal/social. These influences leading to college choice are based on the study of real-life decision-making (Galotti, 1995) and the factors which influence the music majors choice of institution (Locke, 1982). The four main factors deemed important in college choice, surveyed through a 31 question survey and a follow up interview, focused on which of these …

Predictors Of Academic Success For Optometry Students, Robert S. Buckingham

Dissertations

Optometry school admissions are very competitive. With more applicants than available slots, admission committees must choose those students whom they feel will be successful graduates. Previous studies in the health profession schools have demonstrated that the predictors of academic achievement are preadmission science grade point average (GPA), preadmission cumulative GPA, and standardized entrance tests. However, with the advent of the Optometry Centralized Applications Service (OptomCAS), no research could be found on the predictors of success as it relates to those variables. This study, therefore, evaluates the ability of these variables to predict the GPA and graduation of students in the …

Teaching And Understanding The Concept Of Critical Thinking Skills Within Michigan Accredited Associate Degree Dental Hygeine Programs, Kimberly S. Beistle

Dissertations

This study explores dental hygiene faculty's perceptions regarding the issues surrounding the concept of critical thinking skills integration within Michigan accredited associate degree dental hygiene programs. the primary research goals are to determine faculty understanding of the concept of critical thinking, identify personal and departmental rational and support for integrating critical thinking into the curriculum, describe teaching strategies used to teach critical thinking skills, and identify challenges by incorporating critical thinking skills into the curriculum. Using the Critical Thinking Model developed by Paul and Elder (2005), along with their research-based teaching strategies promoting critical thinking, a qualitative study approach is …

A Cost Benefit Analysis Of Retention Of K-2 Students In An Urban District, Debra Ann Davenport Yonke

Dissertations

With increased educational accountability, the rate of student retention has risen in the United States. The purpose of this study was to analyze the costs and benefits of retaining primary (K-2) students in an urban district by using a methodological triangulation. Academic growth in reading was compared from the year prior to retention to the year retained to establish if there was a significant academic growth difference. Trends were also identified in regards to gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status (SES), and school type. Elementary principals were surveyed to gain their perspective in regards to benefits and costs of retention. Principals reported …

An Inquiry Into Workplace Incivility: Perceptions Of Working Graduate Students, Ashley E. Greene

Dissertations

The purpose of this sequential mixed methods study was to examine and determine the level of incivility in the workplace as a growing problem from the perceptional views of graduate students enrolled in accelerated degree programs for graduate studies in Business Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, Gerontology, Health Management, and Human Resource Management at a private Midwestern university. Modest research on the subject of incivility in the workplace has emerged only recently to identify the problem exists in today‘s workforce, while studies inclusive of diverse populations of employees with short and long term career paths and ranges of employment service years …

A Study Of Support Services And Their Relationship With School Effectiveness In American Public Schools: Findings From The School And Staffing Survey (Sass) 2007-2008, Diane J. Gibbs

Dissertations

This study inquires into support services in schools and their relationship to school effectiveness by using data from the National Center for Education Statistics 2007–2008 School and Staffing Survey (SASS). Students’ ability to learn is impacted by their physical and mental health. It is more difficult to measure the influence of nonacademic factors on academic achievements than traditional academic factors. This study focuses on (a) the extent support services, beyond regular classroom instruction, are provided, (b) how provision is affected by school background, (c) whether and, if so, how providing support services relates to school effectiveness, and (d) whether and, …

Missouri Educator Perceptions On The Use Of Smartphones/Cell Phones In A Secondary School Setting: Their Relationship To Instruction, Christopher Birch

Dissertations

This mixed methods study evaluated the differences in the perceptions of educators in the state of Missouri on cell phone use in the classroom setting and its relationship to instruction. Specifically, this study analyzed the difference in perceptions and relationships that exist among educators (teachers and counselors) and administrators in Missouri public schools. Furthermore, this study also examined relationships between region (rural versus suburban), school setting (middle school versus high school), and education level (bachelors and masters/specialist/doctorate) and interest level in using cell phones as an instructional tool. In addition, this research investigated current instructional practices involving mobile technology. Through …

Patterns Of Interaction And Mathematical Thinking Of High School Students In Classroom Environments That Include Use Of Java-Based, Curriculum-Embedded Software, Karen L. Fonkert

Dissertations

This study analyzes the nature of student interaction and discourse in an environment that includes the use of Java-based, curriculum-embedded mathematical software. The software CPMP-Tools was designed as part of the development of the second edition of the Core-Plus Mathematics curriculum. The use of the software on laptop computers in small groups of students, and in whole-class interactive lessons with a single computer at the front of the classroom was explored. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and selected items from the students’ regular assessments. During the observations, classroom discussion was audio-taped and videotaped, and field notes were taken. The …

The Perceptual Difference In Roles And Responsibilities Of Special Education Paraprofessionals, Carmen Renee Harris

Dissertations

Based on the researcher's experience as a coordinator of special education, general and special education administrators are challenged with creating, implementing, and supervising special education services addressing the diverse needs of students with disabilities in the general education setting. The researcher has collaborated with principals to review programming options for students with disabilities participating in inclusive general education classrooms and found that often this inclusive programming involves the use of a special education paraprofessional. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine if there was a difference in perception between a student's team members (general education teacher, special …

Accelerated Degree Completion Programs: The Effects Of Core Professors In Nontraditional Higher Education, Dale Frederick Gadd

Dissertations

Nontraditional Accelerated Degree Completion Programs (ADCPs) became popular in the 1980s at many private, higher education institutions, and involved cohort groups facilitated by core or major professors. There has been little research addressing the effectiveness of a core-professor or multiple-professor approach within ADCPs, or research on how students view their learning experiences under this unique concept. This study therefore examines: (1) the effects of using a core-professor concept within nontraditional ADCPs, and (2) students' experiences under the core-professor and multiple-professor concepts.

Two sources of data were used, as obtained from students who had been involved in an ADCP program at …

Outcome Evaluation Of The Instant Word Notebook, Adrienne Lynn Bland

Dissertations

The Instant Word Notebook study was a program evaluation completed by two educators who saw a need for an instructional tool to teach and assess Instant Words. In order to address reading deficits of students in first and second grades, teachers were expected to teach Instant Words. Unfortunately, teachers did not have a systematic process to teach and assess Instant Words for mastery. The two educators of this study responded to the teachers’ need for an instructional tool by creating The Instant Word Notebook. The Notebook was used by teachers to teach and assess Instant Words to first and second …

Correlation Of Conditional Admittance And Student Achievement In An Undergraduate Higher Education Setting, Joe Parisi

Dissertations

This paper explores several research questions that identify differences between conditionally admitted students and regularly admitted students in terms of achievement results at one institution. The research provides specific variables as well as relationships including historical and comparative aggregate data from 2009 and 2010 that indicate evidence related to student achievement. This paper examined several research questions related to any possible differences between conditional admission and student achievement. This was a quantitative study that provided results indicating that the conditional admit population ended with a first-year overall institutional Grade Point Average in the 70th percentile and the regularly admitted population …

First-Year Superintendents‘ Perceptions Of Preparation And Practice, Brady D. Quirk

Dissertations

Through this qualitative study, the perceptions of first-year superintendents in Missouri were obtained regarding their graduate preparation program and the types of supports they sought in their new position. The superintendency is a complex role, requiring the school district leader to work within the often-conflicting framework of organizational manager versus instructional leader. The superintendents, both male and female from districts of varying sizes, were interviewed within this framework in order to make comparisons with the existing related literature. Certain themes emerged from the data, notably, a relationship between district size and the perception of the primary responsibilities of the superintendent. …

The Disconnection Between High School And College: A Study Of Retention Of Students Who Are At Risk Of Leaving College Before Completing A Degree, Peggy R. Sherwin

Dissertations

The number of students graduating high school and entering community colleges academically unprepared has increased. The problem is that they are at risk of leaving before degree completion. The community college in this study requires remedial no credit courses for unprepared students transitioning from high school based on an academic assessment test. There is no follow up once they are placed into the remedial courses. In contrast, non-traditional “returning learners” who test into remedial courses additionally receive follow-up in the form of an orientation workshop, a study skills course, and mentoring. The purpose of the study was to (a) review …

The Challenge Program: A Quantitative Analysis Of Strategies Designed To Eliminate The Achievement Gap, Diane L. Moore

Dissertations

The achievement gap is one of the most daunting challenges educators face in U.S. schools today. Researchers have identified many factors that contribute to the persistence of this gap in public schools. Family backgrounds, cultural environment, and socioeconomic status appear to be the main environmental factors perpetuating the achievement gap. A review of literature also revealed poor quality teachers, ineffective school leadership, course tracking in high schools, and a lack of parental involvement were the main school factors identified. This quantitative study examined one public high school’s effort to reduce the achievement gap between African American students and Caucasian students. …

Investigating Staff Morale In An Elementary School Setting, Bethany Pendino

Dissertations

The way that employees feel about their workplaces and their jobs has implications not only for each individual but for the success of the workplace as well. In a school setting, investigating how teachers and other staff members feel about their jobs and their workplace and then seeking to improve employee morale may benefit schools. This action research investigated staff morale at Sparkling Springs Elementary School. The investigation examined how efforts to improve staff morale influenced staff members, students, and parents. Through staff surveys and focus groups, the researcher obtained information on staff members‟ feelings and attitudes related to the …

An Ex Post Facto Study On The Relationship Between Self-Reported Peer-To-Peer Mentoring Experiences And Instructor Confidence, Institutional Loyalty, And Student Satisfaction Among Part-Time Instructors, Carolyn A. Watson

Dissertations

Problem. The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Educational Statistics estimate that part-time faculty now comprises almost half of the faculty labor force; many believe this statistic has been gravely underestimated. Powerful unions like the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) believe that universities are relying too heavily on part-time faculty members and that this over-reliance threatens the quality of higher education today. The debate surrounding the use of part-time faculty seems to focus on issues of instructor confidence, loyalty, and student satisfaction. Many question whether a part-time faculty …

The Role Of Professional Learning Communities In Developing And Using Common Formative Assessments, Diane Gmitro Betts

Dissertations

The goal of professional learning communities (PLC) is for teachers to come together to discuss and examine student learning and ultimately to make instructional changes that can lead to improved student learning. The formative use of assessments that are commonly agreed upon by this community of teachers is believed to enhance their improvement efforts. This study used a multi-case study qualitative approach to examine how elementary teachers working within a PLC apply the tenets and utilize the structure of DuFour, DuFour, Eaker and Many's (2006) PLC model to develop and use common formative assessments as a means for improving learning. …

Contributions Of The Kentucky Comprehensive Universities To The Goals Of Postsecondary Education Reform, Cindy L. Ehresman

Dissertations

Kentucky is well known for its education reform efforts; the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 ushered in an era of intense focus on higher education in the Commonwealth. Specific and measureable goals for each sector of the state’s higher education institutions were included in the legislation; however, goals set for the comprehensive universities were less well-defined than those for both the research institutions and the community and technical colleges. Through an analysis of changes in capacity and mission, this study identified the ensuing contributions of Kentucky’s six comprehensive universities as they addressed the goals of the landmark reform. …