Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Disappearing Acts: The Declining Numbers Of African American Teachers In Public School Settings, Catherine F. Lewis-Brownfield

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

African American teachers are slowly leaving the classroom, causing an imbalance in the student/teacher ratio (NCES, 2019). According to the National Center for Education Statistics, African American teachers make up 3% in California and 7% nationally. This study sought to understand the reasons for the decline in the number of African American teachers in public school settings. Due to the decline in their numbers, African American students have suffered high dropout rates, low standardized test scores, and low college attendance (Gershenson, Hart, Hyman, Lindsey, & Papageorge, 2017). This qualitative study examined the obstacles current African American teachers face and the …

Physical Educators’ Socialization And Self-Efficacy Toward The Behavior Management Of Students With Disabilities, Amelia Chloe Simpson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Intro: Although studies have evaluated how physical educators learn behavior management, little effort has been made to identify the socializing experiences and sources of self-efficacy that influence how physical educators approach the behavior management of students with disabilities (SWD).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand how physical educators develop self-efficacy toward the behavior management of SWD throughout the phases of occupational socialization theory.

Method: Data for the mixed-method study included 85 U.S. public (K-12) physical educators who completed a survey that collected demographic information and responses to the Teaching Students with Disabilities Efficacy Scale (Solomon & Scott, …

Developing Teaching Adaptability In Pre-Service Teachers Using Practice-Based Teacher Education, Kyuil Cho

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine how pre-service teachers (PSTs) develop their teaching adaptive competence through teaching rehearsal and repeated teaching, which is one of the focused teacher education strategies in practice-based teacher education (PBTE). This study was conducted in an introductory teaching methods course of a physical education teacher education (PETE) program. A total of 22 PSTs participated in the study. Fourteen were male, and eight were female. The PSTs had varied coaching experiences ranging from little to no coaching in limited recreational sports settings, and none had teaching or coaching experience in the school setting.

A …

Developing Mathematical Identities: Australian Children’S Gendered Constructs In The First Formal Year Of School, Rachelle Glynn

Theses

Researchers have been intrigued by the dichotomy of similar achievement levels between boys and girls but disparate mathematical attitudes, which show that girls are much less likely to enjoy or engage with mathematics or choose professions involving mathematics (Kyriacou & Goulding, 2006; Vale, 2008). Although studies have explored differences in boys' and girls' perceptions of their mathematical identity from age seven, there has not been research conducted on students as they begin school to see what gendered perceptions they bring to their mathematical learning. This study seeks to answer the question: How are girls’ and boys’ mathematical identities being informed …

Faculty Perceptions On Working With Students With Learning Disabilities, Ashley Jezik

Masters Theses

Students with specific learning disabilities in higher education have been rapidly increasing. Legislation has been a large factor in the equality in education for individuals with disabilities making it easier to attend higher education. College students with disabilities have the hard and important choice of self-disclosing their disability, with many choosing not to. A main role for faculty is to support their students. This qualitative study aims to identify the knowledge faculty have about this student population and how they work with their disability services office. The research shows that faculty's knowledge on students with disabilities are solely based on …

Social Validity And Feasibility Of The Five In 20 Classroom Management Observation Tool, Kaylee Hampton

Masters Theses

The present study aimed to assess the social validity and feasibility of a standardized classroom observation tool intended to assess teachers’ current use of the five features critical to effective classroom management. Forty-three observers who regularly conducted classroom observations (e.g., school psychologists) were recruited to complete 20-min observations in kindergarten through twelfth grade classrooms, and then complete an adapted behavior intervention rating scale to assess their social validity ratings of the tool. Due to COVID-19, observers could either complete a live observation or recall a previously completed observation. Of the 43 observations, 15 were live and 28 were recalled. To …

An Exploration Of Middle School Teachers’ Utilization Of Culturally Responsive Teaching, Samantha Phillips

Masters Theses

Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) can be used as a means for effectively teaching and managing students and decreases the achievement gap between students of Color and their White counterparts. This qualitative study with an ethnographic design examines the utilization of culturally responsive teaching strategies of two middle school teachers and two principals in public schools on the Southwest side of Chicago. The study is guided by one research question: What aspects of culturally responsive teaching practices are teachers using in their teaching strategies? The study has two purposes: To analyze the effectiveness of two middle school teachers’ utilization of culturally …

Course Portfolio For Bioc934: Genome Dynamics And Gene Expression, Nicole R. Buan

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

A graduate degree in Biochemistry or any molecular life science field requires a strong foundation in molecular biology. BIOC934 Genome Dynamics and Gene Expression is a course designed to challenge graduate students whose research interests lie in the areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and systems biology of prokaryote and eukaryote systems. Graduate students in these disciplines require a rigorous and thorough examination of core concepts in addition to practice applying theory to new observations while traversing unfamiliar disciplinary terrain. This portfolio describes the design of BIOC934, its implementation, and observed outcomes to identify strengths of the course …

Cive 440: Reinforced Concrete Design I: Faculty-Led Inquiry Into Reflective And Scholarly Teaching (First) Course Portfolio, Chungwook Sim

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This Faculty-led Inquiry into Reflective and Scholarly Teaching (FIRST) Course Portfolio documents the instructor’s teaching practices and student learning for Reinforced Concrete Design I (CIVE 440) course. The contents of this course portfolio captures the CIVE 440 course that was taught on the Lincoln campus during the semester of Fall 2022. CIVE 440 is a structural engineering design elective offered every year in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering on both Lincoln and Omaha campus at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The course objective is to help students to be able to use theory and experience to proportion and detail …

Early Childhood Teachers' Perspectives Of Their Relationships With Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Tyesha Greene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

General education early childhood (EC) teachers may find it challenging to build positive teacher-student relationships (TSRs) with students with emotional behavioral disorders (EBD). There is a gap in practice regarding general education EC teachers’ TSRs with students with EBD and the support they need when teaching these students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of general education EC teachers regarding their TSRs and the support they need when teaching students with EBD. The conceptual framework was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory of human development. Participants were nine general education EC teachers who were currently …

Using Reflection To Promote Success In Community College Mathematics, Sherilin Ruth Heise

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community college mathematics faculty have instituted changes to address inadequate preparation of incoming students to learn college-level mathematics. However, they could do more to develop student cognitive capabilities to enable underprepared students to successfully learn college mathematics. This basic qualitative study examined the perceptions of community college mathematics instructors who made their classrooms more reflective, including using reflection as an instruction activity for students entering college underprepared to learn college-level mathematics. The conceptual framework consisted of Baxter Magolda’s epistemological reflection model of college student development and Schoenfeld’s theoretical model for teaching mathematics. Open coding of interviews with 10 community college …

Nigerian Teachers’ Perceptions And Experiences Of Integrating Literacy Strategies Into Science Instruction, Joy Oghogho Isa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reading problems among students in Nigeria prompted the implementation of a literacy across the curriculum initiative in a cluster of schools within a district, where all teachers were required to integrate literacy strategies into their lessons. The problem investigated in this study was that the teachers’ instruction of science at Beta Schools had not produced the expected results with respect to integrating literacy strategies into the science lessons. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the teachers experiences and perceptions of literacy integration in science lessons. Grounded in the content area literacy conceptual framework, the research questions …

How Teachers Learn About Using Teacher-Student Relationships In Urban Schools, Cheryl Krapohl

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The teacher-student relationship (TSR) is an important component of instruction that can lead to improved student outcomes, especially in urban schools. Researchers have suggested that instruction in using TSRs is lacking in teacher preparation programs, but there are limited studies examining this claim. The problem addressed in this study is the perceived lack of instruction in using positive TSRs provided by teacher preparation programs. Using Gay’s theory of culturally responsive teaching and Milner’s concept of relationship-centered teaching as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ viewpoints about the instruction received in innovative methods …

Barriers To Technology Integration Perceived By Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Teachers, Jessica Levine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A problem exists in southeastern United States where technology integration is limited in classrooms. Although researchers have found benefits for integrating technology, it was unknown why teachers were not integrating technology into instruction. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers of kindergarten through second-grade students about the barriers for integrating technology into instruction and the support needed to effectively integrate technology. There have been studies about the barriers to technology integration experienced by teachers; however, it was uncertain what these barriers were for kindergarten through second-grade teachers. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory was the conceptual …

Perspectives Of Kindergarten Through Second Grade Teachers Regarding Methods To Promote Student Engagement In Learning, Laura O'Hayer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this basic qualitative study was low levels of engagement in learning exhibited by kindergarten through second (K-2) grade students in rural schools located in the southern region of the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore how K-2 teachers promoted student engagement in learning. The conceptual framework combined constructivist theory and the attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction (ARCS) model. Two research questions guided exploration of how teachers incorporated active instructional practices and provided frameworks for learning; and how teachers incorporated questioning strategies, hands on learning activities, and problem solving exercises. Data were collected …

How Teachers Promote Academic Success Of Primary Grade Students In Rural Schools By Supporting Their Resilience, Miranda Kay Teston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low levels of academic success for primary grade students attending rural schools located in the southern region of the United States may be related to student resilience. Researchers have found that educators can support the development of students’ resilience, which can result in improved academic success, but little is known about how teachers in rural schools promote their students’ academic success by supporting the development of their resilience. Guided by a conceptual framework that combined ecological systems theory with resilience theory, this basic qualitative study explored how rural-school teachers promoted the academic success of primary grade students by supporting the …

Bmi Screening Tool To Identify Elementary School Children At Risk For Obesity, Talia S. Thompson-Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a public health epidemic and is as relevant in the pediatric population as it is in adults. The purpose of this DNP project was to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) that would use existing evidence to support the development of body mass index (BMI) screening in primary schools for the early detection of childhood obesity. Globally, more than 41 million children were obese or overweight by 2018. Due to incidence rates, developing an effective strategy to address childhood obesity is critical. The practice-focused question asked whether the evidence supported the development of a CPG for implementing BMI …

Nontraditional Students’ Perceptions And Experiences Using Technology In A Teacher Preparation Program, Amy Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractTechnology integration is a key part of a 2-year teacher education program at the Canadian university; nontraditional students seemed unprepared to use technology for learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate nontraditional students’ perceptions and experiences about their successes and challenges using technology in the program. The study was guided by Knowles’s andragogy theory, which presents a learner-centred perspective on adult learning. The research questions focused on nontraditional students’ successes and challenges using technology in coursework. A basic qualitative design was used to capture the insights of 10 purposefully selected, nontraditional university students through semistructured interviews. Themes were …

Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act mandated that all Head Start teachers have at least an associate degree and 50% of teachers within each Head Start program should have a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was that Head Start teachers from a Midwestern region encountered barriers as they pursued higher education to meet mandated requirements to continue employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences, barriers, coping strategies and views of support needed by Head Start teachers who were completing their degrees. Tinto’s academic and social integration model and …

Links Between Screen Time, Montessori Preschool Exposure, And Working Memory, Paula Lyn Larsen Mamani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A high-quality, foundational education offers lifelong benefits for young children. The problem is that working memory in pre-school-aged children is declining and could be impaired by the extraneous cognitive load imposed during engagement with screen media apps and/or preschool programs. Although the pedagogical practices associated with Montessori preschool programs have been found supportive of cognitive load germane to learning and improved working memory, they have not been fully considered in relation to preschoolers' screen media use. The cognitive load created by screen media apps could affect their usefulness as learning tools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to discover …

Kindergarten Teachers' Perspectives On School Readiness In Children Who Attended Military Installation Childcare Centers, Juliana Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited literature exists on the effectiveness of prekindergarten programs located on military installations in the United States. The children who attend these programs may not receive school readiness preparation equivalent to that received by their peers who attend community-based prekindergarten programs, which follow different guidelines. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the kindergarten readiness of children who attended preschool on military installations as described by teachers in community-based kindergarten classrooms. Pianta's work on school readiness formed the conceptual framework of this basic qualitative study. The research question addressed how kindergarten teachers describe school readiness in children …

Teachers’ Perspectives Of What They Need From School Administration To Teach Remotely, Destiny Pietra Moretto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an educational shift from traditional teaching to remote teaching. Teachers struggled to adapt to the changes because they were unable to properly prepare, yet administrators expected them to continue successfully teaching from home. Using Garrison et al.’s community of inquiry model, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of early childhood teachers regarding teaching remotely during a pandemic and what they need from school administration to teach children remotely. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 early childhood teachers with experience teaching remotely during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic …

Perspectives Of Parents Of Black Head Start Graduates Regarding The Black-White Achievement Gap, Telisa Pitts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of this study was the achievement gap that exists between Black and White children prior to kindergarten entrance. As children continue in school this gap grows substantially; therefore, it was important to understand perspectives of stakeholders regarding this gap. The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives of parents of Black Head Start graduates regarding the Black-White achievement gap, and how those perspectives shaped parents’ actions in promoting their children’s kindergarten readiness. The conceptual framework for this study was based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory. The research questions focused on parents’ perspectives and how they believed those perspectives …

Supplemental Education Services And Cultural-Linguistic Instruction For Hispanic Students To Improve English Language Proficiency, Joshua William Cochran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to low English language arts (ELA) state test scores among Hispanic students, district administrators in a Title I identified school district implemented a new literacy policy that included both supplemental education services for Hispanic students (SES-HS) and professional development in cultural and linguistic instructional practices (CLIP) for ELA teachers. But the ELA state test scores for Hispanic students who received the SES-HS and CLIP services had not been studied to see if there was any improvement related to the CLIP-HS training. The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in Hispanic students’ ELA scores before and after …

A Qualitative Study On The Fidelity Implementation Of Response To Intervention For K–2 Students In Reading, Sandra Lee Joyner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem that prompted this qualitative case study was a continuous below proficiency level performance of the kindergarten through second-grade students in a U.S. Southern state in reading, despite response to intervention (RTI) being implemented since 2011. The purpose of the study was to explore K–2 teachers’ perceptions regarding the fidelity implementation of RTI procedures in K–2 grades. The theoretical framework for this study was based on constructivist learning theory. The research questions were intended to examine K–2 teachers’ perceptions on how interventions were implemented through RTI to benefit, challenge, and address the needs of Grades K–2 struggling readers. Data …

Early Childhood Education Teachers’ Perspectives Of Their Self-Efficacy And Knowledge In Biliteracy Instruction, Magda Levin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of English language learners (ELLs) in early childhood education (ECE) continues to increase, particularly with students whose first language (L1) is Spanish. Recent studies have shown the connection between teachers’ self-efficacy and student achievement, but very few specifically address early childhood education teachers’ self-efficacy and knowledge of biliteracy instruction. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Krashen’s second language acquisition theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore kindergarten (K) through third-grade teachers’ perspectives of their self-efficacy and knowledge of biliteracy instruction. Nine K through third-grade teachers responded to an online flyer, completed a demographics questionnaire, …

Head Start Teachers' Descriptions Of Inclusion, Lawanda Katrina Lovett-Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA Head Start program in Southeast Georgia, teachers were struggling to provide appropriate services to students with special needs (SWSN) in inclusive settings. The purpose of this study was to explore Head Start teacher descriptions of their roles and the barriers that inhibit implementation of inclusive education for SWSN. McKenzie and Zascavage’s model of inclusion formed the conceptual framework that guided this study. The research questions for this study addressed teacher descriptions of their roles and the barriers that inhibit the implementation of inclusive teaching strategies. A basic qualitative design was used to capture the insights of 12 purposefully selected …

Mediating Effects Of Self-Esteem And Sense Of Flourishing On The Relationship Between Social Network Addiction And Motivated Strategies For Learning, Debbie Denise Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study with college and university emerging adult undergraduates (N = 189) aged 18–24 tested the social learning and flourishing theory hypotheses, examining to what extent the relationship between social networking addiction (SNA) and student-motivated strategies for learning are mediated by self-esteem (M1) and a sense of flourishing (M2). Four instruments were used: the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Diener’s Flourishing Scale, and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. A nonexperimental cross-sectional quantitative parallel mediation research design to assess the literature implications indicated that emerging adults endure biopsychosocial damages when excessive, problematic, or addictive patterns in …

Civilian School Educators’ Perspectives Of Needed Supports For Military-Connected Early Childhood Students, Demetreia D Head Adderley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The support needed for military-connected children in civilian schools remains a largely unexplored subject. Military-connected children and their families face unique stressors due to the nature of military life and culture. The problem is that civilian educators are often unaware of the presence of military-connected students in their schools and of the academic and behavioral support these students require to be successful. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of educators concerning the support needed for military-connected early childhood students in civilian schools to be successful. The three research questions focused specifically on teachers’ perspectives on …

Parents’ And Teachers’ Perceptions Of Collaborative Relationships To Support Kindergarten Students’ Academic Achievement In Jamaica, Kasia Janae Archer-Howell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental involvement is a long-standing challenge that has impeded educational progress for students in the Caribbean region. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of parents and teachers about collaborative relationships that support kindergarten students' academic achievement in Jamaica. The parent and family intervention framework and the ecological systems theory served as the conceptual framework. Research questions addressed how teachers and parents think collaborative relationships can be established to support kindergarten students’ academic achievement in Jamaica and the perceptions parents and teachers have about benefits and barriers to collaborative relationships that support kindergarten students’ academic achievement …