Theses/Dissertations from 2019
The Intersection of Social and Emotional Learning, Shy Students, and the Flipped Classroom, Magdalene Augusta Guzik
The importance of social and emotional learning has become a mainstream tenet at the same time that technology advancements have reached the classroom. One such advancement, the flipped classroom, has turned the modern classroom upside down...
Critical Success Factors for Teaching a Second Language in an Online Setting, Anna Hendrickson
In our society, learning in an online setting is on the rise and learning a second language is becoming increasingly beneficial. The following text presents a review of the critical success factors for teaching a second language in an onlin...
The Use of 1:1 Technology to Motivate and Engage Students, Adam Huppert
Growth of technology in the past decade has changed the educational system forever. Technology has been integrated into education to incorporate new tools for students to connect with the outside world. Students now have the opportunity to ...
Addressing the Educational Challenges of Latino Students, Molly A. Ireland
One of the largest minority student populations in the United States is Latinos. Despite the large population, there is a significant achievement gap between Latino students and their white classmates. This literature review examines the is...
Understanding and Developing Motivation within an Academic Setting, Katarina Marie Klem
Developing, supporting, and encouraging academic motivation within the classroom through a wide variety of internal and external forces that develop and support academic motivation is essential in providing all students with a successful le...
The Impact Project-Based Learning has on Student Motivation and Academics, Haley Larson
In an effort to find new ways of motivating and engaging students this literature review aims to understand the main concepts of Project-Based Learning (PBL), what motivation is, and how it affects student academics. PBL is a teaching metho...
Understanding the Adult Correctional Education Student: A Review of Inhibiting Factors, Motivating Factors, and Effective Instructional Strategies for the Classroom, Kayla Ann Larson
In efforts to understand how to motivate adult learners within the correctional education setting, educators must be aware of the inhibiting and motivating factors that either hinder or improve student self-efficacy. While there are numerou...
Teaching Controversial Issues: Overcoming Obstacles and Using Best Practices, Maggie LeMay
The teaching of controversial issues—those issues which have sparked a prolonged public debate or dispute, and usually, concerns matters of conflicting opinions or points of view—is a necessary and important aspect of any civics education p...
Best Practices for Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary Dual-language Immersion Setting, Jonathan Mitchell
Teaching Social Studies in the Dual-Language Immersion setting provides unique challenges and opportunities. This paper’s introduction provides a brief explanation of the classifications, terminology and history of Dual Language Immersion p...
Physical Activity in the Secondary Classroom, Rebecca Streit Nelson
The purpose of this thesis is to review literature related to exercise breaks in the secondary classroom. There is a current nation-wide effort to increase active behavior in our youth. Secondary teachers and administrators are finding new ...
Effects of Mindfulness Practice on the Academic, Cognitive, and Psychological Outcomes of First and Second Language Learners: A Literature Review, Tami L. Noblet
The purpose of this literature review on Mindfulness and metacognitive studies conducted in a school setting between 1983-2018 was twofold. The first was to investigate the effects of mindfulness on the academic, cognitive, and psychologica...
Utilizing Technology to Leverage the Improvement of 21st Century Skills, Jon Reker
As technology integration becomes the norm in society, the field of education must adapt to the usage of technology, to prepare future citizens in the workforce. Educators can use a framework of 21st-century skills, to assess if they are pr...
Student Achievement Outcomes, Classroom Engagement, and Perceptions of the Flipped Classroom, Laura M. Sandberg
The purpose of this thesis was to review the literature surrounding the flipped classroom in K-12 and post-secondary education levels. The literature review highlighted the effects of the flipped classroom on student achievement outcomes an...
Factors Impacting Mathematically Literate Students, Erika Schmieg
The question analyzed within this literature review is: what are common traits of mathematics learners and how can we utilize this information to promote mathematical literacy in the classroom? Mathematical literacy is a large factor in thi...
Methods of Creating an Effective Self-guided Mathematics Classroom, Jody Jean Sielski
There are a variety of ways to offer student-centered learning, self-guided is the one this literature review examined. Through research, a classroom with a self-guided system should include a way for students to access new content without ...
Impact of art education on student development and achievement, Shanna Marie Slice
The significance of art education as a part of public education in America has been greatly debated since public education’s inception. While the most recently passed education bill includes art as a part of a well-rounded education, there ...
Teacher-Student Relationships and Their Impact on Student Achievement in School, Cassandra Ann Woodis
This literature review addresses teacher-student relationships (TSRs) and their impact on student achievement in school. Research was collected from peer-reviewed articles and journals on the importance of TSRs, barriers that can make it di...
Theses/Dissertations from 2018
The Acquisition of Slang by ELL/EFL Learners, Mandi Berndt
This thesis investigated the use and acquisition of slang by ELL/EFL learners. Additionally, it sought to better understand if slang is being taught in ELL/EFL classrooms, what are effective methods to teach slang, and if learning environme...
Youth Participatory Action Research and Diet Decolonization to Improve Student Learning and Community Health: a Literature Review, Lyle S. Dandridge Jr.
The present study reviews the current literature related to culturally relevant nutrition education and its applicability to student learning within a secondary school setting. Specifically, this study examines how a youth participatory act...
Assessment of Financial Literacy Education Importance and Practices, Matthew Goodwin
The topic of financial literacy has attracted many researchers to study the various aspects regarding this issue. The importance of being financially literate has been shown by statistics throughout multiple studies. However, financial lite...
Student Engagement and Text Choice in the High School English Classroom, Emily M. Hagerman
Student book choice in the high school English classroom is often limited by curricular constraints, the pressure of statewide and national tests, and the personal reading preferences of the teacher or department, with a bias towards an est...
Key Components in the Financial Literacy of College Students, Michel B. Humphrey
There appears to be a severe lack of financial literacy education for young people today. This problem is compounded by the increasing complexity of adult’s financial lives. This is a literature review to analyze current design of financial...
Teacher Practices and Behaviors That Increase Student Achievement When Implementing 1:1 Technology in the Classroom, Jared P. Jacobs
This paper examines the research related to the impact of 1:1 technology initiatives on student achievement. There are studies that show students using 1:1 technology have improved test scores in a variety of subjects, and there is literatu...
Literacy Support Through Visual Art for English Language Learners, Claire E. Kiewel
There are many academic, emotional, and social benefits that Visual arts curriculum has on K-12 students. Among those students, English Language Learners (ELL) have very specific language needs that may prevent them from being able to stay ...
Unrecognized Talent: Guiding Secondary Students with Autism Towards Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Torry Robert Kraftson
Individuals with Autism have strengths and abilities that are often overlooked in light of their disability. With strengths in the area of systemizing, individuals with autism have the opportunity to excel in educational and career opportun...
The Best Ways to Increase Reading Comprehension Skills for Middle School English Language Learners, Taylor J. Lindeman
This paper inspects the role of storyboards and graphic organizers, vocabulary, cultural relevancy/responsiveness, reading fluency and reading engagement, as each relates to reading comprehension growth in middle school English Language Lea...
The Art of Reading, Laura Rose Lindquist
The product of this literature review with application emphasis is an Art of Reading class which addresses reading comprehension and the role that art teachers can play in contributing to achievement. The class is based on research findings...
An Evaluation of Co-teaching Models and Best Practices to Meet the Needs of Providing Equitable Educational Opportunities for English Language Learners, Sophie M. Ly
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate and evaluate best practices in a co-teaching setting between two licensed educators, one being the content teacher and the other an English Language Learner (ELL) specialist. The focus is on main...
Benefits of Art as Therapy in a K-5 Inclusive Classroom, Kristina K. Makousky
The present literature review is guided by the question: What benefits would the inclusion of art as therapy techniques in a k-5 classroom setting bring to all students, regardless of their mental health status, including students who are t...
Positive School Culture: Facilitating Changes to Cultivate Learning and Change Perceptions, Melinda J. Mallinger
There are a variety of things to consider when facilitating changes to a school culture. First of all, it is important to understand the differences and nuances between school culture and climate. It is also imperative to understand the rol...
How Flipped Classrooms Impact K-12 Student Achievement: Flipping a Middle School Geography Classroom, Jenna Norman
The purpose of this thesis is to apply knowledge gained from reviewing the literature on flipped classrooms to a middle school geography unit. The history of the flipped classroom model, varying models of flipped classrooms, the need for fl...
Summer Learning Loss and Summer Programming: How to Build a Cohesive Mathematics Education, Jill Osborne
Students across the world are learning at an incredible rate. By the end of each academic school year, most students have amassed a large amount of knowledge. But what happens to that knowledge over the summer? Research shows that most stud...
What's My Motivation? Teaching Strategies for Fostering Student Perseverance in the Classroom, Adam R. Satterlie
Motivation is a hot topic in education. It is not uncommon for many students give up when challenges arise, while others rise to the occasion to overcome challenges. This literature review addresses many studies showcasing the benefits of a...
Beyond the Carrot: Strategies to Increase Reading Motivation in Students from Low Income Schools, Brenna D. Schueller
This thesis investigates the role that motivation has on reading amongst students in low income schools. Research regarding specific strategies to engage learners from low income schools shows that using a wide variety of higher-order think...
The Impact of Financial Education on High School Students' Current and Future Financial Behaviors, Deidra M. Van lith
Financial literacy is an essential skill, necessary to lead a prosperous life. This paper explores the impact of financial education on high school students' current and future financial behaviors focusing on the history of financial litera...
Barriers to Effective Technology Adoption and Integration, Tyler Wiegert
This study reviews the available literature to identify the barriers to technology adoption, which encompasses professional, efficiency-driven uses of technology by teachers and students, and to technology integration, which encompasses ped...
Teacher’s Block: Embracing the Challenge of Improving Students’ Writing, Neil Witzig
This paper will explain the overall trend of worsening writing abilities in the past twenty years of education. The purpose of the paper is to analyze this downward trend, examine different methodologies for teaching writing, and propose so...
Theses/Dissertations from 2017
Effectiveness of Project-based Learning as an Instructional Method in Middle and High School Education, Charise Aeikens
Based on the theoretical framework of experiential learning, this thesis focused on whether project-based learning (PBL) is an effective instructional method for middle and high school education. This review of the literature examined the d...
Trauma Sensitive Schools, Maria Bowker
Recent research has shown that an astounding number of children have faced adverse childhood experiences. Due to this fact, many of the students sitting in American classrooms have traumatic backgrounds that can cause a variety of side effe...
Technology in the Second Language Classroom, Sylvie Carrier
This thesis explores the history and effectiveness of technological tools present in a second language classroom. Comparing research from the beginning of the 20th century to today’s research shows the progression and current use of technol...
Art Education: How the Visual Arts Are Critical in Student Social-emotional Development, Nicole Justine Dickenson
This literature review explores the different components that make up art education and how they impact student social and emotional development and well-being. Social and emotional development is defined before going into detail about what...
What Impact Does Technology Integration Have on the K-12 Classroom?, Nicole Jean Elliott
Technology use is part of our everyday lives and as technological advances continue at a rapid pace, school districts are integrating technology into the K-12 classroom. This paper explores how technology integration may impact four areas i...
Determining the Optimal Amount of Physical Activity for Promoting Academic Benefit Among School-aged Children, Matthew Edwin Fiscus
This paper explores the relationship between physical activity and academic performance, the optimal amount of physical activity to enjoy these benefits, and the best way to measure this optimal amount of activity. Research yielding positiv...
Malts: Mucho Acquisition of Language by Teaching With Songs, Matthew J. Hanson
Fluency in a foreign language (FL) increases when curriculum concentrates on the most common and frequent vocabulary. The following research hypothesizes that songs in the FL can replace curriculum textbooks when combined with storytelling ...
The Reform and Influence of Standards-based Grading in Secondary Schools, Leah K. Heck
Standards-based grading is being utilized in many secondary schools across the United States. Research shows that there are many benefits that students are afforded, such as the ability to have a more personalized learning approach, be prov...
An Analysis on the Research in Relation to the Methodology of Comprehensible Input, Brenna K. Hoeg
The purpose of this thesis was threefold. First, it examined what research concludes concerning the best ways to use the Comprehensive Input (CI) methodology to teach grammar, vocabulary, literacy, and culture. Second, it explored and evalu...
School Start Times: Is Later Better for High School Students?, Rodney Paul Kimbler
This thesis seeks to answer the question: School start times: Is later better for high school students? Research for this study focuses primarily on high school start times in the United States from 1988 to 2017. Factors include changes at ...
Failing Forward: How Student Failure Builds a Framework for Lifelong Learning, Andrew R. Kurkowski
Humans have been dealing with the issue of failure since their existence. No matter the field, whether it be business, athletics, science, mathematics, etc., students and professionals are going to experience minor and major failures in the...
Montessori Adolescent Program Design in a Non-farm Environment, Rhonda Michelle Lovette
This thesis explores the idea of constructing a Montessori adolescent program outside of the prescribed curriculum of living in a working farm environment. There is a focus on Maria Montessori’s life and influence. The Montessori Method is ...
The Benefits of Creative Abilities in Education for 21st Century Learners, Emily E. Natrop
Creativity is defined as the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work. Creative abilities, while less defined, include abilities such as independent or divergent thinking, problem solving, curio...
Stimulating Creativity, Originality, & Divergent Thinking, Julia Ohmann
This thesis explores research relating to the growth and promotion of creative uniqueness and original ideation in the visual arts classroom. The research reveals a number of strategies that teachers can put into practice to increase studen...
Game-based Learning’s Effectiveness in the Middle School, Bradly Gene Scherer
This project offers an overview of GBL and an example of GBL curriculum created for middle school math students. The study explores the question: What effects do GBL practices within curriculum have on middle school (grades 5-8) students to...
Parental Involvement: Importance, Reality and Application, Paul Stiles
Parents have always been actively involved in their child’s education. As researchers continue to explore factors that drive academic success, parental involvement has emerged as a factor that promotes positive outcomes. Just how they are i...