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(1 - 11 of 11)
- Title
- Academic achievement of black males in a rural middle school.
- Author
- Bozeman, Tonya Dukes
- Abstract/Description
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Educational statistics have consistently recorded low academic performance for Black male students, particularly those in high-poverty settings. Research studies have documented that very few Black male students can perform at the level of their counterparts from other racial categories. Circumstances such as poverty, deprivation, and lack of mentorship affect Black males' academic achievement and underachievement. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to explore the lived...
Show moreEducational statistics have consistently recorded low academic performance for Black male students, particularly those in high-poverty settings. Research studies have documented that very few Black male students can perform at the level of their counterparts from other racial categories. Circumstances such as poverty, deprivation, and lack of mentorship affect Black males' academic achievement and underachievement. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to explore the lived experiences of select Black male students who have been academically successful at a high-poverty rural middle school in the Southern United States. I used, per Bandura's (1977) social cognitive theory (SCT), the framework of the study, human learning and development occur through personal experiences and examination of the actions of others. I explored how behavioral, personal, and environmental factors interact to affect the selfefficacy of 12 Black male students in the school setting. Findings revealed participants perceived positive family support, positive friend or peer network, positive teacher influence, and positive self-image as supportive factors that contributed to their academic success. This study shifts the focus from Black male deficiencies to emphasizing their achievements and how internal factors such as self-perception, attitude, and self-confidence outweigh external factors such as low socioeconomic factors and lack of mentors that could reduce opportunities for success. Study participants' desires for academic achievement created a transformative bridge between their self-efficacious beliefs and their drive for education. Future research should continue to focus on understanding the contributing factors to young Black males' school success and giving them positive voices.
Show less - Identifier
- 1298604350, WFE0000790
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Another brick in the wall: a pedagogical approach to excavations at a 19th-century brickyard.
- Author
- Dietrich, Emily Elizabeth
- Abstract/Description
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Incorporating archaeology within the high school curricula fosters an interest in archaeology and site preservation. The Milton High School Archaeology Project provides students the opportunity to experience and participate in archaeological research. At a 19th-century brickyard, students learn anthropology and their local history through hands-on excavations. Through the use of Project-Based Learning (PBL), students conducted archaeological and historical research and presented their work in...
Show moreIncorporating archaeology within the high school curricula fosters an interest in archaeology and site preservation. The Milton High School Archaeology Project provides students the opportunity to experience and participate in archaeological research. At a 19th-century brickyard, students learn anthropology and their local history through hands-on excavations. Through the use of Project-Based Learning (PBL), students conducted archaeological and historical research and presented their work in the form of a museum exhibit at the Florida Public Archaeological Network's Destination Archaeology Resources Center museum for the public and their parents. The Milton High School Archaeology Project provides an example of how archaeology can easily and effectively be integrated into high school educational standards. Quantitative and qualitative data collected throughout the 2016-2017 school year shows how archaeology education leads to increased awareness of and appreciation for heritage sites.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020, 2020
- Identifier
- 1233055172, WFE0000744
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Bringing books back: A pedagogical inquiry into the bookclub classroom.
- Author
- Pugh, Kylie Ann
- Abstract/Description
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This project proposes book club pedagogy as a framework for altering traditional curricular design and attending to a more egalitarian style classroom. In these settings, students engage with writing that pushes beyond their comfort zone and allows them to see different perspectives, giving them skills to engage in culturally diverse environments. Participation in Book club classrooms enable "critical literacy," which creates student access points to participate and engage with texts and...
Show moreThis project proposes book club pedagogy as a framework for altering traditional curricular design and attending to a more egalitarian style classroom. In these settings, students engage with writing that pushes beyond their comfort zone and allows them to see different perspectives, giving them skills to engage in culturally diverse environments. Participation in Book club classrooms enable "critical literacy," which creates student access points to participate and engage with texts and societal issues that are "interpreted through personal and cultural realities" (Freire & Macedo, 1987; Wood & Jocius, 2013). When utilizing personal experiences and interpretations of texts through various lenses, students participate in conversations regarding disabilities, stereotypes, and social action, and they evaluate their own experiences through reflective writing processes. In addition to affording students with opportunities to utilize their critical thinking skills, book club pedagogy is often conducted in a classroom setting crafted to provide flexible, open spaces rather than orderly rows of desks. To maintain an egalitarian environment, students take turns moderating the class discussion, enabling leadership experience to transfer from student to student. Book club pedagogies encourage students to engage in multimodal ventures when responding to complex texts, either through drawings, videos, blog posts, posters, or interactive games.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- 1152896114, WFE0000696
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Cemeteries as classrooms: Making archaeology education relevant, accessible, and sustainable.
- Author
- Hines, Rachel Louise
- Abstract/Description
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Despite promoting K-12 education initiatives for decades, public archaeologists struggle to reach precollegiate audiences due to archaeology's absence in curriculum standards, a lack of qualified archaeology educators, and barriers within the school system. To investigate replicable and accessible methods of archaeology education and to better understand teacher needs and motivations, I created lesson plans which engage high school students in recording and researching historic cemeteries....
Show moreDespite promoting K-12 education initiatives for decades, public archaeologists struggle to reach precollegiate audiences due to archaeology's absence in curriculum standards, a lack of qualified archaeology educators, and barriers within the school system. To investigate replicable and accessible methods of archaeology education and to better understand teacher needs and motivations, I created lesson plans which engage high school students in recording and researching historic cemeteries. Hands-on efforts are often excavation-based and limited by access to professional archaeologists; however, cemetery recording is nondestructive and offers students a chance to participate in project-based learning. Four educators from Santa Rosa County taught the materials to nine classes in Fall 2019 while I evaluated the lessons through surveys, guided observations, and summative interviews. The materials were revised based on results to ensure they are useful and useable. Every participant indicated the lessons are user-friendly, relevant, and meaningful. Administrative support, passionate teachers, and carefully crafted lessons contributed to programmatic success, indicating collaborative efforts from archaeological and educational professionals can produce hands-on archaeology programming that is mutually rewarding.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020, 2020
- Identifier
- 1201528775, WFE0000707
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Connecting social studies and power: examining Fayette County's Freedom Village.
- Author
- Woods, John Edward II
- Abstract/Description
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Social studies educators often find that creating relevant lessons that will engage students both intellectually and personally is challenging (National Council for the Social Studies [NCSS], 2013; Yilmaz, 2007). By exploring the lived experiences, educators might better understand the nuances of the period being investigated that can benefit lesson plan development (Woods & Jans-Thomas, 2016; Yilmaz, 2007). Also, relevant lessons engage students through connections that could enhance...
Show moreSocial studies educators often find that creating relevant lessons that will engage students both intellectually and personally is challenging (National Council for the Social Studies [NCSS], 2013; Yilmaz, 2007). By exploring the lived experiences, educators might better understand the nuances of the period being investigated that can benefit lesson plan development (Woods & Jans-Thomas, 2016; Yilmaz, 2007). Also, relevant lessons engage students through connections that could enhance historical empathy (Perrotta, 2016; Yilmaz, 2007). To support lesson plan development, this phenomenological study identified connections between social studies and power that existed in Fayette County's Freedom Village. Therefore, this study served a twofold purpose: (a) to aid social studies educators in developing relevant lessons and (b) to enhance students' historical empathy. To accomplish the purpose, the following research question was answered: What connections exist between social studies and power that support lesson plan development and enhance historical empathy when examining the Fayette County Freedom Village? The NCSS College, Career, and Civic Life (NCSS C3) Framework and Foucault's (1994) philosophy of power provided the constructs for the conceptual framework. Historical research methods were employed to collect data, while content analysis was utilized to analyze data. The findings revealed that social studies and power connections exist when examining Freedom Village. For example, history, civics, economics, and geography were connected with Foucault's (1994) power strategy, while civics and geography were connected with power relations and freedom. With the findings, educators can develop relevant and engaging lessons associated with the Freedom Village and other historical events.
Show less - Identifier
- 1130062504, WFE0000681
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The emergence of WAC in first-year composition at UWF.
- Author
- Sanders, Bridgette Dale
- Abstract/Description
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This project proposes that the implementation of a WAC approach to UWF's first-year composition program improves the likelihood that knowledge transfers to different contexts beyond the first-year courses. WAC is an important area of study because it fosters effective communication across majors and disciplines, which will, ultimately, benefit students not only in academics but also in their professional career. This project examines the WAC Inquiry Project assigned to three sections of first...
Show moreThis project proposes that the implementation of a WAC approach to UWF's first-year composition program improves the likelihood that knowledge transfers to different contexts beyond the first-year courses. WAC is an important area of study because it fosters effective communication across majors and disciplines, which will, ultimately, benefit students not only in academics but also in their professional career. This project examines the WAC Inquiry Project assigned to three sections of first-year composition courses and a focus group conversation comprised of students that demonstrate the academic, social, and professional benefits of WAC pedagogical approaches. The deliberate integration of WAC at UWF--in the first-year curriculum--introduces a more robust understanding of writing and rhetoric and demonstrates how writing functions differently across disciplinary contexts, emphasizing a deep study of how textual conventions adhere to the expectations of different audiences and genres.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020, 2020
- Identifier
- 1220943353, WFE0000732
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Examining the educational philosophy of Henriette Delille: a case study.
- Author
- Powell, Charletha D'Lane
- Abstract/Description
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This dissertation explores Henriette Delille's educational philosophy that was developed during the antebellum era of New Orleans and her contributions to modern day education. The researcher investigated the pervasive culture of White privilege, which existed and denied the enslaved Black populace access to education. Within the literature, there was a lack of information examining the foundation of Delille's philosophy of education as a free Black woman in antebellum New Orleans. The...
Show moreThis dissertation explores Henriette Delille's educational philosophy that was developed during the antebellum era of New Orleans and her contributions to modern day education. The researcher investigated the pervasive culture of White privilege, which existed and denied the enslaved Black populace access to education. Within the literature, there was a lack of information examining the foundation of Delille's philosophy of education as a free Black woman in antebellum New Orleans. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the factors that influenced Henriette Delille's educational philosophy as well as her contributions to modern day education through the theoretical framework of W. E. B. DuBois' (1903) theory of double consciousness, which included the theoretical constructs of self-consciousness and racial identity. The researcher developed questions that addressed validity, value, and credibility as well as the depth and breadth of the research through the use of descriptive data. Historical and archival data became the voice of Henriette Delille because she is deceased. Major findings included emergent themes of racialization, political manipulation, religious influence, imperialism, and enslavement. The researcher concluded that race, religious influence, and the social strata of antebellum New Orleans guided Henriette Delille's philosophy of education. Implications of this research resulted in policies to address curriculum inequalities, racialization, and inclusive pedagogy. Future research will benefit from the examination of White privilege, disparities in the availability of quality education, and classroom segregation in modern day New Orleans' schools.
Show less - Identifier
- 1129598851, WFE0000669
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Integrating a cultural fairy tale in a college course through sociocultural theory.
- Author
- Strickland, Robyn Le'An
- Abstract/Description
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This purpose of this action research study was to identify another way to promote cultural diversity in a human growth and development course (HGD) at a college located in Northwest Florida. Under the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), all courses listed in general education degree plans assess student learning outcomes (SLOs). A class assignment guided by Vygotskian sociocultural theory and...
Show moreThis purpose of this action research study was to identify another way to promote cultural diversity in a human growth and development course (HGD) at a college located in Northwest Florida. Under the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), all courses listed in general education degree plans assess student learning outcomes (SLOs). A class assignment guided by Vygotskian sociocultural theory and integrating a fairy tale was another way to promote diverse cultures. The participants in this study consisted of 25 students taking an HGD class. Data collection consisted of two in-class presentation/activities, cultural fairy tale "Little Burnt Face," and reflective journaling of the teacher-researcher. The data obtained were then analyzed for cultural codes, themes, and categories. The teacher-researcher suggests future curriculum and instruction can be modified to identify ways to promote diverse cultures in HGD courses.
Show less - Identifier
- 1130059714, WFE0000676
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Monograde and multigrade special education teachers' sense of self-efficacy beliefs.
- Author
- Tutt, Felix Antonio
- Abstract/Description
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Challenges of teaching special needs students result in high special education teacher turnover (Dev & Haynes, 2015; Linehan, 2013). Bandura's (1977, 1994) self-efficacy theory explains how people remain resilient despite challenges. Resilience is contingent on mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and emotional and psychological states (Bandura, 1994; Tschannen-Moran, Woolfolk-Hoy, & Hoy, 1998). This quantitative study examined a convenience sample of 45 special...
Show moreChallenges of teaching special needs students result in high special education teacher turnover (Dev & Haynes, 2015; Linehan, 2013). Bandura's (1977, 1994) self-efficacy theory explains how people remain resilient despite challenges. Resilience is contingent on mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and emotional and psychological states (Bandura, 1994; Tschannen-Moran, Woolfolk-Hoy, & Hoy, 1998). This quantitative study examined a convenience sample of 45 special education monograde and multigrade teachers to determine if classroom type influenced self-efficacy levels in student engagement, instructional practice, and classroom management. Data collected from the Teacher's Sense of Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) were analyzed. An unpaired, independent t-test assessed any mean differences between variables. The researcher found that multigrade teachers exhibited lower levels of self- efficacy than monograde teachers when assessing how much they can do to get through to and engage the most difficult students. Related to theoretical constructs, lower self-efficacy among multigrade special education teachers may be attributed to lack of individual success engaging these students or opportunities to be observed or be motivated by other successful teachers. The study also highlights that while classroom type may have some influence on teacher self-efficacy levels in student engagement, additional research is needed to identify what other aspects of the learning environment influence special education teacher self-efficacy. Improving special education teachers' self-efficacy may increase teacher resilience in the profession midst of challenges.
Show less - Identifier
- 1130060784, WFE0000677
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Nonnative accent bias in high school: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.
- Author
- Roberts, Sarah Kay
- Abstract/Description
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A problem exists in the inequitable opportunities experienced by nonnative accented students in terms of academics, belongingness, and self-efficacy because of accent bias in the United States high schools. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore accent bias for nonnative-accented students in a high school located in the Southeastern United States. Social identity theory was used as a framework to organize and understand aspects of accent bias...
Show moreA problem exists in the inequitable opportunities experienced by nonnative accented students in terms of academics, belongingness, and self-efficacy because of accent bias in the United States high schools. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore accent bias for nonnative-accented students in a high school located in the Southeastern United States. Social identity theory was used as a framework to organize and understand aspects of accent bias for students. Six high school seniors who self-identified as speaking English with a Haitian Creole accent or a Spanish accent were chosen to participate in observations, individual interviews, and journal writing to explore accent bias experiences in this study. Based on its commitment to context and idiographic detail, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was chosen to be the methodological subtype to make sense of the participants' experiences. The first conclusion was that the participants subscribed to common accent myths which placed a disproportionate amount of responsibility and blame for poor communication on them. Another major conclusion from this study was that these nonnative-accented students perceived explicit forms of accent bias more easily than implicit forms and often denied the existence of both. Third, the participants responded to accent bias through silence. The three major findings that may relate to accent may be an observable characteristic that is to categorize individuals and compare social groups. This research study illuminates new and varied opportunities for future research on accent bias in educational contexts.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020, 2020
- Identifier
- 1233323062, WFE0000749
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Stem field preparedness: comparing the effects of early learning environments.
- Author
- Piper, Kareem David
- Abstract/Description
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Minority underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) perpetuates the income inequality that minorities experience and leads to a lack of diversity in STEM. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to examine the effect of student demographics, STEM, science technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), and traditional middle school learning environments on student preparedness for the STEM fields as measured by student test scores on the...
Show moreMinority underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) perpetuates the income inequality that minorities experience and leads to a lack of diversity in STEM. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to examine the effect of student demographics, STEM, science technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), and traditional middle school learning environments on student preparedness for the STEM fields as measured by student test scores on the eighth-grade Florida Standards Assessment in math (EGFSAM), in an urban school district in South Florida. I adopted Bandura's (1977) social cognitive theory (SCT), consisting of reciprocal causation elements that stimulate learning as follows: "action" school designation, "interpersonal factors," student test scores and demographics, and "environment" type of learning environment. A hierarchical multiple linear regression analyzed the data (n = 597). Four major results are female students outperform male students by 5.309 points, t(1) = 2.967, p = .003; STEM middle school students underperform traditional middle school students (TPMS) with -10.481 points, t(1) = - 4.838, p < .00; STEM middle school students demonstrate the highest unique variance on the DV, (-.195)2 = 4%, p = .000; and only STEM middle school students demonstrate a statistically significant underperformance. Overall, Model 2 (i.e., all triadic elements) is a better indicator of 21stcentury preparedness. The results indicate minority students' 21st-century preparedness occurs at traditional public middle schools, which makes minority students' mathematical aptitude regardless of school type critical. Future research should examine the relationships between minority students' math self-efficacy and actual STEM field preparedness.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2021
- Identifier
- 1298604580, WFE0000792
- Format
- Document (PDF)
