This ethnographic study of emerging inquiry-based science instruction in an urban, low socioeconomic elementary school science lab was designed to gain insight into the perspectives of the teacher and students. The study involved a Central Florida elementary school whose population was over 80 percent African-American. In this six month study, the researcher examined the classroom setting of a science lab teacher and her fourth and fifth grade students during a six month period of time. Data sources included interviews, field notes, reflections, and student work , which were used to identify the emerging themes and patterns in the study. The emergent themes were grouped into two categories: the perspective of the teacher and students in the inquiry environment and the microculture of the teacher and students in that environment. The teacher’s perspectives on instructional strategies, standard based instructional guidelines, and the realities of teaching in an urban low socioeconomic setting were the major emergent themes. The students’ perspectives into environment and sense-making of elementary school students were the other major emergent themes. Chapter I provides background and the significance of the study. Chapter II provides a research of the literature surrounding inquiry-based instruction in science education. Chapter III describes the methodology, specifically the ethnographic approach to this study. A metaphoric journey down the river of perspectives in science lab classroom sets the tone for Chapter IV. This chapter provides a "view from the shore," an introduction to the general background of the elementary school. Chapter V explores the teacher perspectives, and uses vignettes to analyze instructional strategies, questioning, assessment, standards state and district guideline and the realities of teaching. Chapter VI discusses the student perspectives, and uses vignettes to analyze behaviors and actions, responsibility of learners, assessment, and ways of knowing. Chapter VII pulls together conclusions, implications, and recommendations for further research.This study contributes to the total body of research of science education in two ways: 1. It provides student and teacher perspectives on science in an urban, low socioeconomic elementary school. 2. It provides research with a teacher and student perspective of inquiry-based science instruction.

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED THE EFFECTS OF THE TEACHER'S USE OF GUIDED INQUIRY IN A FIFTH GRADE SCIENCE CLASSROOM. INQUIRY IS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL(2000), AND INDICATES THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD DEVELOP THE ABILITIES NECESSARY TO DO SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND DEVELOP UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY (P.21). THIS STUDY WAS A QUALITATIVE ACTION RESEARCH DESIGN, FOCUSING ON SEVENTEEN STUDENTS AND THEIR RESPONSES TO A GUIDED INQUIRY METHOD OF SCIENCE INSTRUCTION ON MATTER, ENERGY AND MOTION, AND EARTH AND SPACE. AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE AND STUDENTS' ATTITUDES ABOUT SCIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM WAS CONDUCTED ABOUT EACH UNIT OF INSTRUCTION. THE 5-E MODEL OF GUIDED INQUIRY WAS USED TO ELICIT MEANINGFUL UNDERSTANDINGS WHILE COMPLETING THE UNITS OF MATTER, ENERGY AND MOTION, AND EARTH AND SPACE. STUDENTS WORKED IN COOPERATIVE GROUPS TO SUPPORT LAB ACTIVITIES, WHICH REQUIRED EACH MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INVESTIGATIONS, PROJECTS, AND PRESENTATIONS. STUDENTS KEPT JOURNALS, RECORDED THEIR FINDINGS, AND WROTE RESPONSES ABOUT THEIR FINDINGS AND FEELINGS ON THE ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THEY WERE ENGAGED. STUDENTS' ATTITUDES WERE AFFECTED POSITIVELY BY THE USE OF GUIDED INQUIRY IN LEARNING SCIENCE. STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE FOR LAB ACTIVITIES WAS ALSO POSITIVE AND WAS SUPPORTED BY STUDENTS' RESPONSES IN JOURNALS, TEACHER OBSERVATIONS, AND PERFORMANCE TASKS. THIS STUDY SUPPORTS GUIDED INQUIRY IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM FOR IMPROVING STUDENTS' ATTIDUES AND STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE DURING CLASSROOM ACTIVITES.

The National Science Education Standards (1996) support inquiry-based instruction. According to the National Science Education Standards. When children or scientists inquire into the natural world they: ask questions, plan investigations and collect relevant data, and organize and analyze collected data. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inquiry-based instruction on third-grade students' attitudes and participation in an elementary science classroom. Students were encouraged to ask and answer their own questions. In this study, analysis of data gathered form: pre and post survey, student journals, teacher field notes, and student interviews were triangulated to provide the support for findings reported in this study. Findins showed that inquiry-based science experiences positively affected students' attitudes in science and their participation. In addition, student worked collaboratively, made connections to other experiences, and demonstrated confidence in their ability to ask and answer their own questions through inquiry-based experiences.

This study was designed as a collaborative action research study and focused on the use of an inquiry-based unit in an eighth grade honors science class at a middle school with a diverse population in the southeastern portion of the United States in the Spring of 2005. The inquiry-based unit was taught through the use of the electronics unit in Full Option Science System (FOSS). The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of an inquiry based curriculum on the level of participation in, attitudes of, and academic performance of students towards science. This collaborative action research study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative forms consisted of written notes taken by the classroom teacher and I that included observations of the whole class as well as observations of students in smaller inquiry groups and conversation and interview notations of student comments while they were doing inquiry work, both individual and group, as well as my notations of interviews and conversations with the classroom teacher. Although used to a lesser degree, quantitative data was collected from pre and post attitude surveys as well as from students' scores on inquiry-based investigations, paper activities and formal assessments. All data was triangulated across a variety of data sources so that any resulting patterns or themes would be supported. My access to this middle school was based on my role as the science coach assigned to the school. As the science coach, I worked with teachers and students to integrate the FOSS middle school curriculum unit into the school's science curriculum. The FOSS kits, workbooks and related reading books were designed to increase the use of inquiry and hands-on activities within middle and elementary school science classrooms.

Desiring to examine the performance of science process skills such as data analysis and conclusion synthesis in sixth grade Life Science students, I used an inquiry strategy called "guided inquiry" in a series of six laboratory assignments during the normal county-mandated order of instruction for Life Science. I based my analysis upon these laboratory exercises, a survey of student attitudes towards science done before the study began and after the study completed, an assessment of inquiry understanding done before and after the study was finished, routine material tests, and a science final class evaluation done after the study was finished. Emphasis was placed upon examining the content of the laboratory reports which required students to analyze their experiments and draw a conclusion based upon their findings. The study found that while most students did grasp the desired scientific principles the labs were designed to teach, they had difficulty in formulating a structured and detailed account of their experiences without guidance. The study helped to further understanding of student performance and learning in science process skills such as data analysis and conclusion synthesis.

Choral music and public singing was once regarded as an acceptable and popular socio-cultural activity for males. Through centuries of gradual socio-cultural change male choral participation and public singing became marginalized in the United States. During the past century (1914-2014), adolescent female singers have typically outnumbered male singers at the secondary level. The numerical imbalance between adolescent males and females in secondary choral classrooms is a symptom of a more complicated problem that involves a complex web of perceived physiological, psycho-socio, and schooling barriers. If no single perceived barrier accounted for the lack of male choral participation our collaborative group surmised that no one-dimensional approach would likely succeed in increasing male choral participation. Collaborative inquiry provided a more holistic approach to dealing with the lack of male choral singers at the middle and high school levels and answers questions not adequately addressed by other forms of research. The purpose of this collaborative inquiry was to cooperate with five vocal music practitioners, at two different district sites in the Midwest region of the United States. Our collaborative inquiry group set two broad goals for this study: (1) to implement specific action-oriented strategies in our choral classrooms with the intention of encouraging male choral participation at the middle and high school levels; and (2) to learn more about collaborative inquiry as a research approach and adult learning strategy. My collaborators and I realized a very delicate ecosystem is required for adolescent males and females to engage in singing activities at school. The findings of this inquiry suggest that action-oriented strategies (e.g., single-sex choirs, recruitment and retention activities, same-sex peer role modeling and mentoring) can be implemented in the choral classroom to mitigate the perceived physiological, psycho-socio, and schooling barriers and encourage male choral participation at the secondary level. Our inquiry group found that external issues beyond the control of the choral practitioners (e.g., changes in administration, school schedules, class requirements, and elective choices) were difficult to address. While the goal of encouraging male choral participation continues to be an important issue for everyone that was involved in this inquiry, we came to realize the most important outcome was recognizing the power of collaboration.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to illuminate the experiences of six teachers in southwestern Virginia who are working with toddlers and preschoolers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. These young children were those whose first language is not English and their parents were from countries other than the United States. A phenomenological research method was chosen because the main focus of the study was to learn about teachers' experiences and that method is a tool to explore the essence of human experiences. The study was guided by the main research question: What are teachers' experiences working with these children? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six toddler and preschool teachers from two day care and development centers. Observations of classroom teaching added vital information to the data collected through interviews. Other tools for data collection included field notes and a researcher's journal. These tools were used to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Strategies for examining the data for this study were narrative, thematic, and constant comparative analysis. Five major themes emerged from the teachers' experiences: (1) Types of teachers' experiences, which include learning, challenging, interesting and fulfilling experiences, (2) The interaction among experiences and changes in teaching strategies and self-perception, (3) Teachers' relationships with these children, (4) Teachers' relationships with these parents, and (5) Common resources for teachers working with these children. The findings suggested recommendations for future research and practice in the field of early childhood education. The study also generated stories and thick, detailed descriptions of teachers' experiences. The study was intended to inspire other teachers in similar settings to share stories and encourage colleagues. / Ph. D.

This study focused on nine disabled college students' interpersonal interactions with their campus community. Study participants discussed the meaning they took from their interpersonal interactions. Critical disability studies theory and Disability Justice Principles provided a conceptual framework for this study's design. Using narrative inquiry methodology, this study explored the following research questions: (1) How do disabled college students describe their interpersonal interactions with those in their campus community (e.g., staff, faculty members, peers)? (2) What meaning do disabled college students ascribe to their interactions with those in their campus community? (3) How do disabled college students describe their participation in, if any, student organizations at their institutions? Inductive analysis from 18 semi-structured interviews revealed five themes: lower(ed) expectations for support and connection, experiencing oppression, coping with oppression, experiencing interdependent friendships, and in-group friendships. Findings affirm the insufficiency of compliance with disability laws, disabled college students' resiliency in response to ableism, and the need for administrators to foster belonging for disabled college students. Study implications emphasize the urgent need for higher education administrators to foster a sense of belonging among disabled college students with multiple marginalized identities as well as disrupt systems of oppression within higher education institutions. / Doctor of Philosophy / Enrollment of disabled students in higher education continues to rise, but postsecondary administrators still overlook the need for full inclusion of this population in all aspects of college life. Disabled college students have a legal right under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to request accommodations and talk with campus disability service providers about their accommodation needs. It is important for college administrators to foster the social inclusion of disabled students at their institutions. The purpose of this study was to learn about the interpersonal experiences of disabled college students with those in their campus communities. I used a narrative methodology to consider the following research questions: (1) How do disabled college students describe their interpersonal interactions with those in their campus community (e.g., staff, faculty members, peers)? (2) What meaning do disabled college students ascribe to their interactions with those in their campus community? (3) How do disabled college students describe their participation in, if any, student organizations at their institutions? After interviewing study participants, I learned they lowered their expectations for support and connection and experienced oppression. In response, participants found ways to cope with oppression, especially by forming mutual friendships with campus peers. These coping strategies confirmed the urgent need for higher education administrators to foster a sense of belonging among the disabled students on their college campuses.

This dissertation explores implications about teacher inquiry group (IG) practices through the representations of achievement gap (AG) discourses. The study draws from the challenges, struggles, and accomplishments of a middle school inquiry group of teachers and staff that worked collaboratively, as an institutionalized practice, with the intention to develop recommendations for closing the AG. After five years of collaborative work, the group did not get to develop an action plan. This longitudinal, ethnographic, qualitative study unveils multiple and contested representations of AG discourses and unpacks three assumptions about teacher inquiry group practices as a strategy for institutional and/or individual change: (1) that the group can resolve the issue at task; (2) that members embody the role of researchers; and (3) participation in the group can provide opportunities for transforming discourses. Critical discourse analysis provides the lens for analyzing four years of data collection: field notes, audio and written records from monthly sessions, written feedback and reflections, as well as interviews. My dual role, as member and teacher-researcher, and the use of CDA allowed me to identify critical moments. I describe critical moments as instances in which discourses of AG changed, reproduced, but not necessarily transformed. The analytical tools facilitated intertextual and discourse meaning connections. Data analysis indicated relevant findings: that the inquiry group provided opportunity for discourses to reproduce and change; that critical moments provided possibilities for transformation; that members did not always recognize these moments for which transformations may have eluded them; that inquiry groups have the potential to be a transforming intuitional practice. In general, findings suggested the need for structures that support, encourage, and engage members in "Self" reflection praxis for personal, and collective transformations, if the status quo is to be interrupted.

Current research literature reveals that there are numerous benefits such as personal growth, academic success and exposure to multiple perspectives surrounding arts-based learning (Brice Heath, 2001; Cole, 2011; Cote, 2010). According to McMahon, Klopper, & Power (2015) it is important for students to "see themselves as decision makers and understand that they can influence their own learning experiences" (p. 19). Additionally, these same researchers emphasize that teachers need to "focus on the learning experience of the students and understand that the greater value of engaging in the arts resides in the students' art making process" (p. 19). Current research has concentrated predominantly on studies of student experiences at the time that they are enrolled in arts-based programs. My study is unique as I engaged participants retrospectively on their former experiences of learning in an arts-based program. More specifically, my research question asked "what are the effects of attending an arts-based secondary school program on the subsequent lives of six former students, including myself, who graduated two decades ago?" To answer this question, I used narrative inquiry and arts-based methods supported by a social constructivist theoretical framework. More specifically, I analyzed my research through the use of an online whiteboard entitled Miro, and then expressed my findings in the form of a "factional" story (Kallio, 2015) co-narrated by myself and my participants. This 'factional' story is told through fictional characters based on my research analysis, and also includes fictional elements. Though participant stories varied, key themes emerged as they grew as people through the experience, carrying with them lingering memories that continue to influence their lives today.