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in subjects: "Education, Curriculum and Instruction"

open access

School System Improvement through Building Leadership, Adult Learning, and Capacity: A Consideration of Instructional Rounds as a Systemic Improvement Practice

The problem of the study was determining the supportive conditions related to instructional rounds (rounds) to understand better what conditions may allow for sustained systemic improvement over time. Three Texas school districts were studied to understand the perceptions of district leaders, principals, teacher leaders, and teachers with regard to the sustainability of instructional rounds as a systemic improvement practice, the supportive conditions necessary for sustainability, the salient … more

Date: December 2017

Creator: Warnock, Teresa Georgeanne

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Supportive Systems for Building Capacity of the Elementary Instructional Coach

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the systems in place to build the capacity of elementary instructional coaches in a fast-growth district. Through syntheses of research from educational scholars, the conceptual framework was developed with a focus on building capacity of instructional coaches in an ever-changing environment of fast-growth through the lens of professional learning communities, human and social capital, and support from district and campus administration.… more

Date: December 2017

Creator: Fiori, Christy

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Understanding the Perceptions and Indications of the Goals and Unique Aspects of the Foundations for Success (FFS) Curriculum Model: A Case Study in a North Texas Private Preschool

This quantitative and qualitative case study examined the educators' perceptions of both the goals and unique aspects of the foundations for success (FFS) curriculum model. Specifically, this study was designed to explain the experiences of 55 early childhood educators and administrators who all had similar exposure to the FFS curriculum model. This study sought to understand the educators' perceptions of the specific goals of using pertinent curriculum and instruction terminology and the paral… more

Date: December 2017

Creator: Jackey, Lisa

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Preservice Teachers' Beliefs about Writing and Their Plans to Teach Writing: The Apprenticeship of Observation

Preservice teachers (PSTs) bring a plethora of knowledge and experiences to their educator preparation courses. The PSTs have also formed ideas about how to teach based on their observations during the thousands of hours they spent as students in the classroom from kindergarten through high school graduation. This phenomenon, coined by Lortie, is called the apprenticeship of observation. Past research has focused on the apprenticeship of observation in general while neglecting to specifically e… more

Date: December 2017

Creator: Thompson, Emily Kyle

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Comparative Study of Perceived Barriers to Faculty Participation in Distance Education at a Four-Year University

The purpose of this Bailey study was to identify perceived barriers of faculty participation in distance education courses in a four-year university and identify the differences in perceived barriers between the Hebert 2003 study and this Bailey study. The literature review covers numerous studies and articles written within the last 10 years that are related to a variety of barriers perceived by faculty and administrators. There were no statistically significant relationships found between fa… more

Date: May 2016

Creator: Bailey, Elizabeth, 1963-

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

The Implications of Social Media: Secondary Teachers' use of Social Media for Personal, Professional, and Instructional Purposes

Social media has the potential to be a critical force in creating connected educators. The collaborative nature of social media encourages personal connection, professional enrichment, and learning through co-creation of meaning. Secondary teachers are in a place that would permit them to harness these affordances, not only in their personal and professional environments, but also in their classrooms. This qualitative phenomenographic study aimed to uncover how secondary teachers used social me… more

Date: August 2016

Creator: Quintanilla, Brenda U.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Evolving Curricular Models in Culinary Arts: An Instrumental Case Study of a Technical Field

The purpose of this research study was to examine how chefs and other individuals in the food industry understood the field of culinary arts. This study used an instrumental case study with purposeful sampling of multiple cases. Through a series of open-ended interviews using snowball-sampling strategy that concluded with 45 participants sharing their experiences in culinary education and employment, several themes emerged across all of the interviews: (1) Disempowerment of those who have been… more

Date: December 2016

Creator: Cossio, Allison

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Instructional Coaching in a Small District: A Mixed Methods Study of Teachers' Concerns

This study utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods design to study teachers' concerns during implementation of instructional coaching for math in a rural PK-12 district in north Texas over a three-year time period. Five campuses were included in the study: one high school (grades 9-12), one middle school (grades 6-8), and three elementary campuses (pre-kindergarten through grade 5). In a school district of 3,400 students and 241 teachers, fifty-two math teachers were surveyed and interview… more

Date: December 2016

Creator: Mayfield, Melissa J.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Social and Emotional Learning and Preservice Teacher Education: Assessing Preservice Teachers' Knowledge, Beliefs, and Attitudes

In response to the main federal K-12 law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the teacher education program standards, teacher education programs have tried to address social and emotional learning (SEL) content in their curricula. Adding information on SEL alone may not be enough to overcome the shortenings of many existing early childhood programs. The current study attempted to address these shortenings through the inclusion of specialized SEL strategies and sample activities in additi… more

Date: August 2017

Creator: Dolzhenko, Inna Nickole

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Transfer of Learning in a K-8 STEM Academy Project Based Learning (PBL) Environment

The multiple case study investigated levels and types of transfer observed in a K-8 STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) academy in a project-based learning (PBL) environment. The academy was constructed two years prior to the study and conducive to PBL instruction. The students and teachers were in the second year of using PBL in the subject of science at the time of the study. The grade levels observed were second, fourth, and sixth grade and each grade level had three PBL units exam… more

Date: August 2017

Creator: Fuller, Mary A.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

A Case Study of Mathematics Teachers' Use of Short-Cycle Formative Assessment Strategies

A single case study was used to examine two middle grades mathematics teachers' use of short-cycle formative assessment strategies. Data was collected using multiple sources to provide a description of this single case. Participant change in knowledge of short-cycle formative assessment strategies was collected and analyzed through participant pre- and post-interviews and targeted instructional support was provided through professional development sessions designed to meet diverse needs of part… more

Date: August 2017

Creator: Davis, Adreana A

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Urban Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of Multicultural Education and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Current literature calls for more culturally responsive pedagogy and multicultural education to connect with what students know, do, and believe outside of school and to utilize this to foster their academic achievement. This study investigated elementary teachers' perceptions of culturally responsive pedagogy and multicultural education in an urban school with a predominantly large minoritized student population (African American and Hispanic students). The study focused on four elementary tea… more

Date: August 2022

Creator: Davis, Vickie Domonique

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Urban Elementary School Students' Conception of Learning: A Phenomenographic Mapping of Variation

For decades, urban public schools have been plagued by systemic and structural challenges that continue today. Scholars, policymakers, and the general public have pointed to problems of learning in urban schools and to low expectations for urban students' learning, but little attention has been given to how urban students themselves conceptualize learning. This study sought to fill the void by asking a group of urban students about their views of learning. A phenomenographic approach was emp… more

Date: May 2018

Creator: English, Sherril H

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Perceived Impacts of a Study Abroad Experience on In-Service Teachers' Practices

This phenomenological multiple case study provides the details, reasoning, and discussion of the role of study abroad experience and its perceived impact(s) on three in-service teachers. Two research questions were posed: What are the perceived impacts on in-service teachers' practice of a study abroad program experience and how does the in-service teacher's perception of impact change over time within a teacher's career? Results of this study suggest that the teaching practice of in-service te… more

Date: August 2018

Creator: Felts, Mark T

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

African-American Achievement in Charter Schools and the Impact of Connectedness, Alignment, Rigor, and Engagement (C.A.R.E.) on School Effectiveness: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of charter schools on African-American students, this study sought to determine if the practice of connectedness, alignment, rigor, and engagement (C.A.R.E.) influenced academic outcomes. The research methodology employed a meta-analysis in conjunction with a systematic review as a cross-reference and to address variables not covered in the meta-analysis. Utilizing a meta-analysis allowed for a synthesis of the existing quantitative publishe… more

Date: December 2018

Creator: McCloud, Margie J

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Educator Perceptions of Forces Influencing Implementation of a Statewide Writing Portfolio Assessment

Leaders of the 84th Texas Legislature drafted and ratified HB 1164 (2015), prompting the Texas Education Agency to pilot a portfolio assessment option for assessing student writing growth and proficiency. The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions, characterize the experiences, and identify the forces that influenced initial implementation of the statewide writing pilot. Through interviews with district leaders and the collection of open-ended questionnaires from participating e… more

Date: December 2018

Creator: Morgan, Christi A.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Student Perceptions of Advanced Academic Coursework and Its Impact on College and Career Readiness

Although students have more opportunities than ever before to participate in advanced academic programs while in high school, it is unclear whether this has affected their ability to succeed in college. To determine what impact the students' experiences in Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit coursework had on their level of college and career readiness (CCR), students were asked to recall what factors influenced their ability to succeed in postsecondary education and describe what informati… more

Date: May 2023

Creator: Doty, Rachel A.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Industry Challenges for an Under-Skilled Workforce

This study examined the challenges companies encounter attempting to fill job vacancies with applicants having the requisite skills. Of the 115 journals evaluated as part of the literature review, 64% of the documents identified issues related to workplace skills development deficiencies in industry and academia. Additional findings related to vocational training programs, training for youth, training content issues, and investments in skills training are evaluated. The literature review sugges… more

Date: May 2023

Creator: Osborne, Mark S.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

The Impact of Reading Intervention on Student Achievement in Mathematics

With high stakes testing in public schools, pressure for success prompts schools to implement intervention programs for reading and mathematics, often at the expense of extra-curricular and elective activities. Previous literature indicated a correlation between reading comprehension and mathematical understanding. This study examined the specific intervention programs being utilized by two rural Texas school districts and the impact these programs had on student mathematic scores as measured b… more

Date: May 2023

Creator: Farnsworth, Cara

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Students' Attitudes toward Educational Gamification in Online Learning Environments

This study explored undergraduate and graduate students' attitudes toward the pleasurability of educational gamification in online learning environments. The study is a sequential explanatory mixed-methods research that investigated students' attitudes quantitatively, then qualitatively. In the quantitative phase, an online survey, the Pleasurable Learning Experiences scale (PLLEXs), was administrated at one of the largest public southwestern universities in the U.S. (N = 119). The qualitative … more

Date: May 2019

Creator: Abu Dawood, Sumayah Mohammadlutfi

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Differentiation: A Taxonomy of Online Learner Types in Higher Education

Online learning is no longer considered novel within higher education. It has emerged as an accepted distinct channel and environment for instructional engagement. There is a notable deficit of works and theoretical constructs specifically addressing the identification and differentiation of online learner types and examining them as a distinct system within the learning environment. Learning effectiveness within an online instructional environment is affected by the individual student engaged … more

Date: May 2019

Creator: Darby, Douglas

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Viewing Colorblindness through the Eyes of Black, Female Early Childhood Educators: A Photovoice Project

The rationale of color-blind ideology in the socializing space of the early childhood classroom encourages that racial, cultural, and ethnic differences remain unrecognized. Demographic shifts of diverse marginalized populations within majority, White suburban schools require the analysis of dominant ideologies that potentially leave biases unchallenged. This photovoice project centered the voice of three Black, early childhood educators working within majority White suburban schools in the Sou… more

Date: May 2019

Creator: Rideaux, Kia S.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Framing the DREAM Act: An Analysis of Congressional Speeches

Initially proposed in 2001, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) continues to be relevant after nearly 20 years of debate. The year 2010 was significant because there seemed to be some possibility of passage. This study investigated the ways in which the DREAM Act discourse was framed that year by supporters and opponents. Selected Congressional speeches of three supporters and three opponents were analyzed using the approach to frame analysis developed by Sch… more

Date: May 2018

Creator: Koo, Yilmin

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Perceptions about Student Diversity and Equity in Early Childhood Science Education: A Teacher Preparation Study

Using a mixed-methods approach, the current study examined the relationship between early childhood preservice teachers' cultural awareness and their self-efficacy in equitable science education. It further aimed to determine if the relationship between these two constructs was moderated by their race/ethnicity or the number of languages they speak. Finally, it sought to identify preservice teachers' understanding of equity in science education, as well as how they planned to incorporate the eq… more

Date: May 2018

Creator: Lee, Eun Young

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries