Browsing by Author "Glenn, William J."
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- Administrator, Teacher and Parent Perceptions of Students' Sense of Community in One Elementary SchoolSheers, Kelly L. (Virginia Tech, 2010-03-17)Researchers have found that schools that support a students' sense of community (SOC) positively affect students' academic achievement, behavior, motivation, and social and emotional competencies (Bryk & Driscoll, 1995; Schaps, 2003; Schaps, Battistich & Solomon, 1997; Goodenow & Grady, 1993; Ladd, 1990; Resnick & Bearman, 1997; Wentzel, 1997). The purpose of this study is to explore, analyze, and describe characteristics of an elementary school that reports a high sense of community among students and to describe adult perceptions on the school's program, activities, and practices that are in place to contribute to the SOC. Schools that provide a high SOC appear to have certain collective key characteristics that have been identified in the research literature: respect, trust, and kindness; a sense of belonging; caring; regular contact; shared governance; and order and discipline among the students of the school. The following overall research questions focus this study: 1. How does an elementary school identified as having a strong SOC support its students' sense of community? 2. What are the administrator, teacher, and parent perceptions of why the students have a SOC within the selected elementary school? 3. What evidence is there that these six key characteristics (respect, trust, and kindness; a sense of belonging; caring; regular contact; shared governance; and order and discipline) are present within the selected elementary school? 4. What similarities and differences are seen between the perceptions of teachers, administrators, and parents regarding these key characteristics (respect, trust, and kindness; a sense of belonging; caring; regular contact; shared governance; and order and discipline) within the selected elementary school? A mixed methods approach was used. The study used surveys, interviews, observations, and document analysis to investigate administrator, teacher, and parent perceptions of the students' SOC at the selected school. The researcher identified and examined distinct characteristics that can assist schools in supporting a student's SOC. The study describes a school program and identifies key activities and practices of a school that reports a strong SOC among students.
- A Case Study of Middle Class African American Males Taking Advanced Mathematics Classes in High SchoolJones, Zella Higginbotham (Virginia Tech, 2011-03-22)African American males in all socioeconomic levels are underperforming in school. Many researchers have conducted studies hoping to find reasons for the underperformance. This study focused on three middle class African American males in a suburban school district. These African American male students took upper level math courses that included Algebra III, Math Analysis, AP Calculus, and AP Statistics. This study modeled the study by E. Wayne Harris. He believed students were influenced by eight factors to include parents, past and present achievement, teachers, love of math, counselors, high school graduation/college admissions requirements, peers, and future plans. I conducted a qualitative case study in which students, parents, teachers, counselors, and the math department supervisor were interviewed. The interview questions provided data that were analyzed to determine the influences of the factors listed above. The data gathered during the interviews was used to assess the influence of the factors in the decision making process of the middle class African American males in the study to take upper level math classes. This researcher concluded 1) The parents expected their children to attend college, but the school staff did not have goals that directed the students to take courses that would prepare them for college, 2) Students had post secondary plans. 3) Two of the three parents advised their sons on what math classes to take, 4) There were no policies or practices in place to influence African American males to take more than the required three years of math or upper level math classes, 5) The school culture did not encourage student to take more academic classes, 6) There was no negative peer pressure for taking upper level math classes, and 7) Parents, teachers, counselors and the math department supervisor need to provide more input to African American male students to increase their participation in upper level math classes. In addition, factors such as love of math, high school graduation/college admissions requirements, peers, and future plans must also be addressed if schools hope to increase the number of African American males taking upper level math classes.
- A Case Study Of: Leadership Practices of the Turnaround PrincipalFawcett, Yvonne Bennett (Virginia Tech, 2008-04-30)When George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation in 2002, each state sought to individually address the challenges of higher standards and more stringent accountability measures. While NCLB and state accountability programs are clear about the student performance results that schools are expected to achieve, they often do not provide schools with much guidance in terms of how to accomplish these objectives. Schools that fail to meet NCLB accountability standards in Virginia are at risk of a plethora of interventions. One of these sanctions is the installment of a turnaround principal to a low-performing school. The context of turnaround schools is a relatively new area of research and, as such, contains little by way of additive data on the subject. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to determine through principal interviews, teacher focus group interviews, observations and document review, whether the major instructional leadership practices identified in the research as impacting student achievement (setting direction, communication, curriculum and instruction, collaboration and shared leadership, family and community connections, and organizational structure) were evident in the practices of the turnaround principal. Findings of the study revealed that all of the major instructional practices identified in the research as impacting student achievement were evident in the practices of the turnaround principal. Two additional leadership practices were identified as a result of this study's findings.
- Critical Literacy and Podcasting in a 2nd Grade ClassroomFelderman, Carol Branigan (Virginia Tech, 2010-12-03)Research with young children, critical literacy and new technology is limited (Burnett, 2009; Carrington, 2006; Marsh, 2005.) The purpose of this study is to describe the literacies produced in a second grade classroom, through podcasting, where the teacher attempted to frame my teaching from a critical literacy perspective. The study of this classroom reveals the literacies that come within a critical literacy structure for learning as well as those developments that were significant during the classroom's creation of a podcast. Such efforts also reveal the social practices of a teacher and her students as well as the identity and positioning work of selected individuals. A case study approach was used to provide the unique details that describe the classroom experiences of students engaged in such literacy work. The information that this study provides will be useful to researchers and educators as they seek to understand the shifts and possibilities of what critical literacy involves in a second grade classroom. Key findings include changes in the children's literacy learning when engaged in critical literacy and the literacy work that occurs with the use of technology.
- A Cross-case Analysis of Mentee Change in Leadership Behavior during a Mentoring and Coaching Program in VirginiaMiller, Gwen Elizabeth Dudginski (Virginia Tech, 2008-09-05)The purpose of this study was to determine in what ways the mentees’ behavior changed during a formal mentoring and coaching program conducted during the 2006-2007 school year in Virginia and what accounted for the change(s). Because a sharp increase in responsibilities in recent years has made the job of the principal more demanding and stressful, it is imperative that principals get help from a mentor coach to sharpen the leadership skills that they need to be successful. Information obtained in this study pertaining to a formal mentoring and coaching program and whether or not it changed the leadership behavior of mentees can be used to develop future mentoring and coaching programs for high school principals. This qualitative study took a collective case study approach that focused on collecting information regarding the leadership skills of high school principals who had worked with a mentor coach during the 2006-2007 school year. This study involved six high school principals who formed three dyads during the formal mentoring and coaching program. Triangulation of data sources included interviews with participants, data from the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) 360 Self and Observer Assessments, reflection log protocols of the mentor coaches, and mentee shadowing protocols. Data were analyzed using a logical analysis approach which included coding data, finding patterns, labeling themes, and developing category systems. Results of this study were presented as categories and discussed using both the conceptual framework and the 10 leadership skill dimensions identified by NASSP and closely related to the standards endorsed by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC). This collective case study reveals that the three mentees who participated in a formal mentoring and coaching program in Virginia experienced change, meaning improvement, in the following eight of the ten NASSP leadership skill dimensions: (a) setting leadership direction, (b) teamwork, (c) sensitivity, (d) organizational ability, (e) judgment, (f) results orientation, (g) developing others, and (h) understanding own strengths and weaknesses. Two mentees improved slightly and one not at all in the two leadership skill dimensions, oral communication and written communication. The history of the mentee, some characteristics of the mentor coaches, and several variables pertaining to the administrative mentoring and coaching program accounted for their change in leadership behavior.
- Cultural capital and the impact on graduation for African American men in community collegesBrawner, Robtrice D. (Virginia Tech, 2014-01-15)The purpose of this study was to focus on the theoretical framework of cultural capital as a potential catalyst for the graduation rates of African American men in community colleges. Cultural capital is being defined as 'institutionalized, i.e., widely shared, high status cultural signals (attitudes, preferences, formal knowledge, behaviors, goods and credentials) used for social and cultural exclusion' (Lareau and Weininger, 2003, p. 587). Unfortunately, cultural capital as a construct has been difficult to measure quantitatively due to varying interpretations of the variable structure (Dika and Singh, 2002; Pishghadam, Noghani, and Zabihi, 2011; Sullivan, 2001). Consequently, researchers have indicated the need to better operationalize cultural capital, to provide better avenues for both replication and extension of the constructs measurement (Noble and Davies, 2009). Therefore, this study first employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with the National Education Longitudinal Survey (NELS:88/00) to determine the latent variable structure of a measure of cultural capital in the community college field. Second, a factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted based on the new variable structure to determine whether there are differences in the self-reported levels of cultural capital for African American male students as compared to male and female students of other races within community colleges. Third, a binary logistic regression was conducted to determine how well the variables of cultural capital predict graduation for African American men in community colleges. The EFA, utilizing a sample of 3097 participants, extracted six factors indicative of the latent variable structure of cultural capital: (a) parental involvement, (b) habitus, (c) engagement with parents, (d) educational level of parents, (e) high school extracurricular activities, and (f) awareness of college norms. The resultant variable structure was then used to determine that there were no significant differences between the self-reported levels of cultural capital for African American male students and both male and female students from other races within community colleges. Similarly, the variables of cultural capital were not found to be a significant predictor of graduation for African American males within the community college field. As a result, implications for future research were outlined to include replicating the study with a more current dataset and replicating the study with a four-year student population. Additionally, implications for counselors in community college settings included highlighting an awareness of college norms, encouraging student engagement with parents, increasing parental involvement, and promoting collaboration with high school counselors and college counselors in high school environments.
- Data-Focused Decision Making: One School's JourneyKretzer, Sandra A. (Virginia Tech, 2012-03-28)The use and analysis of data has become a keystone in national policy for educational improvement and a foundational condition in the award of federal grant monies (U.S. Department of Education, 2008, 2009a, 2009b, 2010). Principals are expected to lead their schools in the use of data and are accountable for adequate yearly progress (AYP) for the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Effective use of data can move educators toward student centric learning plans and interventions which improve achievement. While current literature emphasizes the importance of assessment data used to guide sound instructional decisions, gathering scores and generating reports by grade and level does little at individual schools unless there is strong site-based leadership to guide faculty and staff in targeting areas of improvement, implementing a plan, monitoring progress, and adjusting actions. This qualitative case study describes how the principal's leadership guided a journey of data-focused decision making at one middle school. This dissertation describes use of data in decision-making processes to promote student learning from the perspective of a school which has been implementing data-focused decision making for several years and was selected for its established use of student assessment data. This research focused on the processes individuals and groups use to better understand and use data within a school context and the role of school leaders in supporting these actions. The intent of this case study is to describe and understand how school leaders make the use of data an integral part of the operation within a middle school in a large suburban mid-Atlantic school district. By looking at how principals embed data analysis and interpretation in the decision-making processes of the school and engage teachers in the use of data to promote student learning, findings could be useful as a guide to other educational leaders as they implement site based actions and related professional development for school-based leaders and teachers.
- Elementary School Counselors' Situational Motivation, Perception of Importance, and Level of Implementation of Personal/Social Development Standards as a Strategy for Supporting Student Academic AchievementBarna, Jennifer S. (Virginia Tech, 2009-04-03)This study explored the relationships between school counselors' motivational orientation, perceptions of the importance, and levels of implementation of Academic and Personal/Social Development Standards as a strategy for supporting academic achievement. A secure online survey was sent to 539 Virginia elementary school counselors; 212 completed the questionnaire reflecting a response rate of 39%. Participants rated their perceptions of the importance and their levels of implementation of 26 Virginia Academic and Personal/Social Development Standards (Virginia Department of Education, 2004). The Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS; Guay, Vallerand, & Blanchard, 2000) assessed participants' type of motivation for incorporating personal/social development interventions into their programs as a strategy for supporting academic achievement. Participants' ratings confirm both types of Standards are perceived as highly important for supporting academic achievement and are implemented at relatively high levels. A correlation matrix demonstrated three of the four motivation scores were not related to either perceptions of importance or to levels of implementation of either type of Virginia Standard. Four regression models indicated that the motivation predictor variables accounted for no more than 6.3% of the variance in participants' perceptions of the importance and levels of implementation of either type of Virginia Standard. Finally, the hypothesis that Intrinsic Motivation would be the most salient type of motivation for implementing Virginia's Personal/Social Development Standards as a strategy for supporting academic achievement was not supported. However, high mean scores on the Identified Regulation subscale suggest participants do possess internal motivation for incorporating personal/social development into their programs. Based on the results, several recommendations were offered. School counselors should collaborate with school leaders, embrace accountability practices, and advocate for the necessity of maintaining a comprehensive program focus. Counselor educators can familiarize students with research pertaining to the contributions of different types of development on achievement and emphasize the importance of utilizing the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model (ASCA, 2005). Implications for future research include replicating this study with principals and secondary school counselors, evaluating how Standards are interpreted and applied between school counseling programs, and examining other constructs found in the motivation literature that may better explain school counselors' desire to maintain a comprehensive program focus.
- Examining Educational Initiatives to Increase Minority Student Enrollment in Advanced Placement Program CoursesLipp, Jane H. (Virginia Tech, 2011-03-30)A pertinent educational issue in our country today is the minority achievement gap. One specific program that has been developed and implemented over the last several years in an effort to provide strong academic curriculum and to raise student achievement, including minority student achievement, is the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Program. The AP Program courses are widely recognized as providing students with academically challenging curriculum, facilitating their acceptance to colleges and supporting their preparation for and performance in post-secondary education. The emphasis of this research relates to the specific concern that although the AP Program has been in existence for several decades and is an integral part of most high schools' curriculum for at least ten years, there is an under-representation of minority students in high school Advanced Placement (AP) Program courses. This qualitative research involved completing an in-depth case study of a designated secondary school in the Mid-Atlantic region that has been successful in recruiting and enrolling students, majority and minority, in the AP Program. Guiding questions for this case study related to identifying the individuals who influenced enrollment, as well as the policies, procedures, interventions, and strategies used to recruit students and increase their enrollment in AP courses. These research findings revealed various key factors that contributed to the success of increasing student enrollment in these academic courses and the factors are similar to those identified in the literature and other research studies. These factors include: (a) shared and distributed leadership demonstrated across the school; (b) collaborative vision and mission; (c) an AP Program with high expectations and a relevant and rigorous curriculum; (d) strong academic advisement, data-driven decision making, and specific school policies and procedures related to the AP Program; (e) extended student learning opportunities and individualized support; and (f) varied professional development and training for faculty. This case study highlights a group of dedicated and committed leaders with collaborative vision who implemented an academic program with focused initiatives and interventions. Between 2003 and 2009, this school increased overall student enrollment in the AP Program by 15.2%, with the Black student enrollment increasing by 11.9% and the Hispanic student enrollment increasing by 10.5%. They accomplished their goal and commitment to increasing minority enrollment in the AP Program and providing enriched academic learning opportunities for all students.
- Fatherless Households: Factors Contributing to the Academic Outcomes of High School Male StudentsBrent, Eric Von Sr. (Virginia Tech, 2017-03-28)High school males from fatherless households are less likely to receive the needed support to succeed in school than their peers from two parent households (Astone and McLanahan, 1991). Research indicated that the biological father's influence will sway the male child's overall development (Jones, 2004). This qualitative study explores the connections between fatherless households and school achievement among high school males. Its purpose is to enlighten school leadership about strategies for assisting high school males from fatherless households with obstacles that may affect their school performance. The grounded theory study includes findings from one-on-one interviews of seven adult males from fatherless households, ages 28 and older, with varying careers, education, and marital status backgrounds who currently work or previously worked in some capacity with high school males from fatherless households. During the interview, common words, responses, shared experiences, and patterns emerged that identified factors that contribute to the academic outcomes of high school male students. Findings include the following: 1) Relationships with the biological father, biological mother, as well as the relationship between the father and mother, have a positive or negative emotional effect on high school males; 2) High school experiences and factors, such as academics, attendance, discipline, and various obstacles were impacted by fatherless households; 3) The influences of biological and other adult males are critical to the academic success of high school males from fatherless households; 4) There are positive and negative factors that affect high school males from fatherless households; and 5) Various roles, strategies, and programs contribute to the academic success of high school males from fatherless households. In addition to these findings, this study identifies further research needed for educators to explore other facets of high school males from fatherless households and school performance.
- A History of Establishment Clause Jurisprudence With Respect to Parochial School FundingNoonan, Peter James (Virginia Tech, 2010-11-30)Since the drafting of the Establishment Clause, a pronouncement contained within the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The United States Supreme Court has debated how to interpret the meaning of, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." In Everson v. Board of Education (1947), the Court took its first action in an Establishment Clause case concerning funding for parochial school students that set a course that has been marked by confusion in the Court, inconsistent decision-making, and ultimately the creation of a policy of accommodation that provides opportunities for parochial school students to receive public financial assistance, including tuition reimbursement for their attendance at parochial schools. This study tracks the history of Establishment Clause jurisprudence with a research emphasis from Everson v. Board of Education (1947) to Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002) and illustrates how the philosophy of the United States Supreme Court has changed over time. Further context of the shift is provided with a discussion of the Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) decision that served as an effective court-interpreted barrier to the use of public resources and funds for parochial schools for several years. Subsequent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have eroded gradually the barrier, coined the Wall of Separation between Church and State by Thomas Jefferson, culminating currently with Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002). The purpose of the study is to analyze the aforementioned shift in the context of public funding flowing for private church schools. It became clear through this study that the decision in Everson v. Board of Education was the decision which led to a history of conflict and confusion in the Court which set off a chain of events that ultimately led to public funding for parochial schools where allowable by State Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that public funding for a sectarian school is allowable so long as the funding is neutral and at the personal discretion of the parents receiving it as opposed to directly supporting a sectarian school.
- The Impact of a Transition Program on Ninth Grade Students' PerformanceBlackwell, Shawnrell Denise (Virginia Tech, 2008-11-20)Transition programs designed to ease the middle to high school transition are becoming a necessity in high school because ninth grade is deemed as a critical year for determining students’ success in high school. Few studies examined transition programs’ impact on students’ educational outcomes, and transition research is typically conducted in inner-city or urban settings. The purpose of this case study was to examine the impact of a full transition model program on ninth grade students’ performance in a rural high school. A comparison of the students who participated in the transition program to those who did not was examined by using a mixed method approach. The qualitative data consisted of the ninth grade teachers and administrators’ perceptions and the program documents. The quantitative data consisted of a chi-square analysis of the transition and nontransition program students’ pass rate of high stakes tests, earned credits, retention status, out-of-school suspensions, dropout status, and attendance. The study also examined if specific groups of students as categorized by race, gender, and socioeconomics were impacted more by the transition program. The findings of this study suggested that the transition program may have eased the transition by providing support to ninth grade students to improve their conduct. The quantitative evidence does not show other significant benefits from the transition program, however. Improving academic performance still remains a challenge for this rural high school.
- Instructional Leadership for a School-Based InnovationMercer, Nancy Anne (Virginia Tech, 2011-12-09)This study looked at the leadership style of one public elementary school principal that chose single-gender education as an innovation to manage and improve student behavior and the leadership of the principal during the implementation process. The anticipated outcome was that the researcher would discover that the principal followed steps outlined in professional research, however, what was learned were that some principals do not adhere to those guidelines. In this study, the principal researched, implemented, and oversaw the implementation, and she strategized a short-term plan for teacher training and support. Outside complexities, such as the simultaneous implementation of the Responsive Classroom® program and looping, influenced the implementation of the innovation as well as the principal's leadership of the program. Another influential factor affecting the principal's leadership was the lack of long-term planning for ongoing training and support of the initiative. Leading an innovation as unique as single-gender education is a multi-faceted process. Assessment of a principal's leadership of an innovation has multiple layers of complexity as well. These stem from the principal's rationale for the innovation and the methods used to initiate, implement, and sustain it. When leading an innovation, leaders rarely follow a prescribed path as outside factors arise that either enhance or derail the innovation. The leader must have the ability to analyze these factors and make essential alterations while maintaining integrity to the innovation. The leader must also have the ability to analyze individual participant needs during the implementation process and provide re-direction when the innovation deviates from its desired outcome.
- An Investigation of the Principal's Communication in the Comer School Development ModelCrawford-Patterson, Virginia T. (Virginia Tech, 2008-11-04)The principal's role has evolved over the past two decades with the accountability demands that are forcing changes in school practices. In the age of school reform, the principal of the twenty-first century must provide the structure; resources and support that schools need to succeed. Research indicated that successful school leadership makes important contributions to the improvement of student learning (Leithwood & Riehl, 2003). One common trait identified that principals consistently demonstrate when exercising leadership is highly developed communication skills (Gurr, Drysdale, & Mulford, 2006). Some principals are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of all students, reduce the achievement gap, find viable strategies for reaching adequate yearly progress, and have chosen to address these critical concerns by implementing school reform models. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the characteristics of the principal's communication in the operation of the Comer School Development model. The Comer School Development model's emphasis on certain conditions improved the characteristics of the principal's communication with all stakeholders. This information can be beneficial to principals in any school as well as a Comer School Development model to improve school effectiveness. Data collection included: (a) descriptive data, (b) one principal interview, (c) focus group (n=6) (d) seven observations, (e) and the results discussed in themes.
- Leadership and Adoption of Instructional Technology in a Military Medical Learning Environment: A Case StudyTarpley, Jr, Lorenzo (Virginia Tech, 2010-04-21)The leadership traits necessary in today's military medicine learning environment involve recognition of the rapid changes in technology, and possession of the ability to ensure continuous transformation and adaptability to that change. Understanding the culture of military medicine is an essential leadership capability, coupled with effective communication and visionary skills (Chambers, 1991). Medical organizations that adopt new technologies in their training can expect better productivity and medical readiness (von Lubitz, Beier, Freer, Levine, Pletcher, Treloar, Wilkerson, & Wolf, 2001). United States medical school programs have recognized the need to introduce new technologies to allow clinicians to stay competent and reduce lethal medical mishaps (Elwyn & Lewis, 1998). The purpose of this study is to examine the adoption of instructional technology by faculty members at a military medical education program (Interservice Physician Assistant Program – IPAP). Within the case study, factors that facilitated or inhibited the adoption of instructional technology were examined. Additionally, IPAP program leadership behaviors were examined to describe its association with faculty member's adoption of instructional technology. Multiple methods were used to gather data including interviews, observations, and document analysis. This research used the grounded theory qualitative method approach to develop a theory deductively from the data. Fifteen faculty members participated in this study, 12 faculty members and three program leaders. The findings suggest that significant efforts and positive attitudes toward the use of instructional technology existed among faculty members. However, the process of instructional technology integration at this military medical training facility faced impediments that affected its adoption rate by faculty members. The impediments included unreliable infrastructure, lack of training and technical support of new technologies, time commitment constraints that hindered training accessibility, compatibility with existing instructional technologies, complexity of the technology, and inadequate technical support. The data analysis was based on Rogers' theory of diffusion and adopter categories (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability). The results of this study indicated that Roger's five variables of adoption of innovations were not effectively met. Moreover, the results identified specific issues from these categories that either influenced or inhibited the adoption rate of technology innovation at this training facility; such as organization factors, personal motivation, and social factors. The following recommendations were made: (1) emphasis on conducting faculty training and professional development on instructional technologies, (2) extending the physician assistant program curricula to accommodate built-in staff development training times, (3) encourage peer-to-peer mentorship training by supporting instructors with limited instructional technology experience, (4) develop a technology personnel qualification standards (PQS) check-in process for new faculty members, (5) provide sufficient infrastructure and technical support to meet the demands of an expanding technology-based curriculum, (6) an establishment of dialogue between organizations responsible for coordinating infrastructure, technical support, and training, and (7) provide competent technicians that are trained to troubleshoot all aspects of technology support.
- Online Teaching and Learning: Student-Student and Teacher-Student Discourse for Student Learning in Asynchronous Discussions of High School CoursesTownsend, Linda Marie (Virginia Tech, 2009-01-22)The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of student discourse in asynchronous computer-mediated communication and its relation to student learning. From in-depth investigation of teacher design, facilitation and direction for asynchronous discussion, implications for high school online instruction guidelines and the need for evaluation standards of online courses and teacher instructional practice are made. Examining student discourse provides information related to the social construction of knowledge. Teacher presence and its relation to higher levels of student discourse provides information for best practices in online teaching. This information can be used to determine specific standards and guidelines for evaluation of online instruction which can contribute to quality online high school courses. The context of this study was two high school online AP English courses. The multiple case study approach analyzed student discourse within asynchronous discussion forums and the relation to student learning outcomes. Observation of teacher facilitation and course documents were examined in relation to levels of student discourse and student learning outcomes. Triangulation of data sources included discourse analysis, interviews with teachers, and archival documents. Results from comparing and contrasting multiple cases are presented as basis for implications to guide course design, facilitation and evaluation.
- Phenomenology of School Leaders' Experiences of Ethical DilemmasGuy, Timothy M. (Virginia Tech, 2016-06-23)This research study explores the intersection of school leadership and ethics. This study used the hermeneutic phenomenological approach described by Max Van Manen (1990, 2014) to explore the question: How do school leaders experience ethical dilemmas in their role as school leaders? Hermeneutic phenomenology seeks to find the meaning of a phenomenon, which in this case is the experience of an ethical dilemma. Hermeneutic refers to the interpretive-reflective-analytical component and phenomenological refers to the descriptive concrete life-experience phenomenon component (Creswell, 2007; Van Manen, 1990, 2014; Vagle, 2014). This study looked at experiences recounted by four practicing school leaders and found that the experience of an ethical dilemma involves contemplating (cognition) the uncertainty (chance) about the moral merit (values conflict) of a situation and ones capacity (power) and opportunity (options) to act in response. The lived experience themes of time and being watched were also found to be of particular relevance. These hermeneutic themes were drawn from experiences that the school leaders who participated in the study shared during rounds of conversational and analytical interviews. 'Lived experience is the starting point and the end point of phenomenological research....[which] is to transform lived experience into a textual expression of its essence' (Van Manen 1990, p 36). The experiences include experiences of ethical dilemmas regarding student behavior, teacher supervision, program changes, decisions that other school leaders make, parents, and complex systems with multiple actors.
- Planning to Create a Culture of Continuous Improvement with the Department of Defense Education ActivityKaufman, Eric K.; Cash, Carol S.; Coartney, Jama S.; Ripley, Dana; Guy, Timothy M.; Glenn, William J.; Mitra, Shreya; Anderson, James C. II (International Society for Educational Planning, 2019-11-26)While continuous improvement is not new to education, implementing it with fidelity in various educational contexts remains difficult. This article provides a framework of the necessary components in planning for and implementing continuous improvement, based on current literature in the field of education. Key characteristics for consideration include: (a) purpose-driven; (b) change as a complex process; (c) data-based practices, structures, and systems; (d) relationships for professional collaboration; and, (e) capacity building. Utilizing a qualitative case-study design and aspects of action research, the framework is used to outline efforts of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) in becoming a continuous improvement organization. Although implementation of continuous improvement is still in early stages, many lessons have been learned. As education researchers and policy makers continue to wrestle with best practices and strategies for continuous improvement, we encourage further investigation of successful case studies, including the potential of research-practice partnerships.
- A Principal's Leadership in the Implementation and Support of InclusionSmith, Thelma Gray (Virginia Tech, 2011-03-21)The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) 2004 requires schools to provide students with disabilities with all the academic opportunities, services, and extracurricular involvement afforded non-disabled peers and with non-disabled peers. Accountability measures resulting from the law, No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), place increased emphasis on the performance of students with disabilities who must be included in the state assessment system, and meet the levels of proficiencies identified by the state for Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and math no later than 2013-2014. According to the literature, principals felt unprepared to provide the leadership in special education. The purpose of the case study of the leadership of a principal was to provide descriptions of practices in implementing and supporting inclusion so that instruction for children with disabilities can be delivered in general education classrooms. The data were triangulated from an interview with the principal, a focus group discussion of general and special education teachers, and examinations of physical artifacts. The findings revealed that the principal organized the school to support instruction of children with disabilities in general education classroom, planned intentionally for scheduling and grouping of students, expected general education and special education teachers to share equal responsibilities for instruction, used data to monitor the progress of students, developed visible and written procedures for academic and behavioral expectations, and collaborated with parents. Underlying each of the findings was the expectation that the faculty collaborate in understanding the impact of the disability upon learning, and problem solve interventions to positively affect academic outcomes for children with disabilities.
- Professional Development for New Middle School Teachers to Use Constructivist Pedagogy in the Block PeriodMcCarty, Ann M. (Virginia Tech, 2010-04-02)In the 1980s and 1990s, publications like A Nation at Risk and Prisoners of Time were highly critical of the American public school system. In response, school administrators reviewed their master schedules to evaluate how time was scheduled and the majority of them chose block scheduling to secure longer, uninterrupted periods of instructional time. Upon implementing block scheduling, schools noted a need for a change in pedagogy. Constructivist teaching, shown to be effective with multiple ages, has become a preferred pedagogy for elementary and middle school teachers during a block period. The review of literature includes a description of the forces behind block scheduling and provides a background of constructivist theory and teaching practices based on the writings of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Combining constructivist teaching with block scheduling creates an environment conducive to young adolescent learning; however, properly preparing teachers through professional development is key to effective implementation. The purpose of this action research study was to facilitate the professional growth of new teachers by providing job embedded professional development opportunities that were grounded in constructivist practices and demonstrated to be effective with young adolescent learners while teaching in a block period.