Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: James Raths, School of Education. Includes bibliographical references.

<p> This qualitative study explored the strategies that teachers use to implement virtual literature circles in middle and high school classes and university Reading programs. Through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis, several strategies that support student learning were identified, including guided questions, rubrics with clear expectations, and targeted feedback. Making the process student-centered rather than teacher-centered, using appropriate platforms with small groups, and including a face-to-face component also supported student learning. </p><p> Additionally, an examination of teacher perceptions of benefits and challenges of virtual literature circles revealed more advantages than disadvantages. Benefits included improved writing, specificity, and critical thinking; connections to other subject matter; peer interactions; ease of differentiation; technology integration; flexibility; teacher collaboration; engagement; and student-centered practice. Challenges included technology access issues and glitches, student apathy, superficial student responses, and time issues.</p>

<p>This study examined the engagements with and the impacts from the intersection of students and texts. Stemming from ethnographic methodology, I implemented a 10-month case study based in a sixth-grade classroom in an urban school with 24 participants. I approached this work with a sociocultural perspective on literacy, which stands in contrast to the deficit ideology often employed in discussion of the literacy of adolescent from low-income, urban areas. Data sources included fieldnotes, recordings, transcripts, and documents. The need for this work came from a lack of research on adolescent literacies broadly, and more specifically on young adolescent experiences with texts that they select. This research offers insight into students&rsquo; experiences with texts and how they see themselves as literate individuals. All of the students had complex reading identities that warranted examination in terms of their experiences with texts, their history with school-based literacy practices, and their own perceptions about reading. There were important concepts that this research found. First, the role of familiarity with texts is important for students as readers. Second, it is important for educators to ask students directly about their experiences with texts and literacy broadly. Third, not only are certain literacy practices such as selecting books and comprehending texts conceptualized differently by teachers and students, but these different perspectives have consequences for students in school. This research examines and reimagines the ways in which adolescent literacy is conceptualized in schools as a way to end practices that marginalize certain readers. </p>

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.77-79).

Thesis (M. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--York University, 2008. Graduate Programme in Education. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-111). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38825

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 25, 2010). Thesis advisor: Dr. Phillip E. Messner. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-71).

Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.