Many scholars have studied the problem of persistent inequitable educational opportunities and outcomes in the U.S. They have presented analyses of the causes of these inequities and proposed solutions ranging from increasing school funding to studying participation structures in classrooms. This dissertation takes the perspective that inequities…

A basic challenge for research into the neurobiology of language is understanding how the brain combines words to make complex representations. Linguistic theory divides this task into several computations including syntactic structure building and semantic composition. The close relationship between these computations, however, poses a strong…

The purpose of the present study was to (1) explore which distinct student profiles emerge from measures of science epistemic beliefs and implicit theories of science ability; (2) investigate how these emergent student profiles relate to science motivation and achievement; and (3) explore how these emergent student profiles differ by…

Globally, approximately 208 million people aged 15 and older used illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months; 2 billion consumed alcohol and tobacco consumption affected 25% (World Drug Report, 2008). In the United States, 20.1 million (8.0%) people aged 12 and older were illicit drug users, 129 million (51.6%) abused alcohol and 70.9…

School districts are hiring literacy coaches to provide professional development and follow-up support for teachers as a means to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement in reading. A paucity of research exists reflecting a clear analysis of the factors which can be used to determine the effectiveness of a coach. According to a…

There has been an increase in the number of high school graduates who lack "college-readiness" skills and require more remediation. This study purposed to report the impact of a learning strategies course on first-year students' academic success and persistence as indicated by first semester, second-semester, and third semester grade point…

Research suggests low mathematics achievement is due to unfocused, unbalanced methods of instruction teachers have used in traditional methods of instruction. Balanced mathematics programs were developed as an answer to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of traditional math instruction…

The purpose of this research was to determine if the implementation of a county-wide math coordinator would have a significant impact on students' scale score on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, mathematics test, for the 2008-2009 cohort when compared to those students in the cohort of 2007-2008. The results of the study revealed…

The purpose of the research was to determine the effects of academic optimism on student academic achievement through measuring the individual and collective effects of academic emphasis, collective efficacy, and faculty trust in clients. Data for this study were obtained from the School Academic Optimism Scale and the reading section of the…

This study investigated the effect of two models of professional development concerning Assessment for Learning on teacher perception of the effectiveness of Assessment for Learning strategies and student achievement as measured by standardized Georgia End of Course Tests. The study hypothesized that a positive relationship exists between teacher…

A literature review revealed a lack of academic research related to cultural dynamics within organizations that influence information technology investments. The goal of this single descriptive case study of a for profit international company was to examine one area of cultural influence on investments. The aim was to gain an understanding of…

Though information technology adoptions have been always referred to as innovations in firms, much of the business value literature has concentrated on the tangible and immediately measurable impacts of information technology (IT) adoptions. This study aims to explore the impact of information technology investments on the innovativeness of a…

German language teachers are gaining increased access to smart classrooms and digital technologies that offer teachers and students greater access to authentic cultural and language materials and enable more student target language communication. Teaching with technology changes the teaching and learning environment in many ways. Little is known…

Internationalization plays an increasingly important role in many universities today. Not only do institutions engage in efforts to inject an international component into the curriculum and to expand study abroad, but also undertake more complex partnerships and forms of cross-border education, in some cases with significant risk. The expanding…

The internationalization of distance learning in special education is at a pivotal point in expansion. Even with concerted efforts through traditional means to increase the supply of special educators, shortages persist; therefore, teacher preparation programs are turning to online education. This dissertation study was a formative program…