ERIC Number: ED553291
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 259
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-3030-5088-6
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Bridging the Divide: A Case Study Investigating Digitally-Wise Teacher Perceptions of Middle School Cyberbullying
Graves, Tiffany Nicole
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Liberty University
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of middle school, technologically proficient, or digitally-wise teachers, regarding how they defined, prevented, recognized, and handled incidences of cyberbullying in four middle schools located in Southern Virginia. Data was collected using an open-ended questionnaire, archival data, including school public records and lesson plans, and interviews. Data for this study were triangulated and synthesized following Stake's data analysis procedures to create naturalistic generalizations for the readers. All data was coded and 10 emergent themes developed. Digitally-wise middle school teachers voiced confidence about their ability to define cyberbullying; they shared that they utilized multiple strategies to prevent cyberbullying, and they relied on their students' self-reporting to recognize cyberbullying cases, yet voiced that they were unsure of the exact prevalence of cases in their school environment. The participants shared that when handling cyberbullying they relied on their past experiences, felt empowered by Hilltop County rules, but would like further training on how to effectively handle cyberbullying. Implications of the study were to provide cyberbullying faculty training, conduct a school-wide survey to further explore stakeholder knowledge of cyberbullying, and provide an online method for teachers to have access to cyberbullying school data and resources. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Case Studies, Teacher Attitudes, Middle School Students, Middle School Teachers, Middle Schools, Computer Literacy, Internet, Bullying, Computers, Social Networks, Computer Mediated Communication, Prevention, Questionnaires, Interviews, Lesson Plans, Self Esteem, Incidence, Teacher Empowerment, Faculty Development
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A