<p> This study examined the social class of African American students in an upper middle class high school and their engagement in school influenced by a parent advisory group consisting of upper and middle class African American men. Student engagement has become a hot topic for school policy makers, administration, teachers, and parents at all educational levels. The question of how best to engage students for academic success is the priority. Although research suggests middle and upper class students do well in school as compared to lower class and working class students, the upper and middle class African American students in this particular school were failing until a group of parents intervened. The school experienced increased student engagement resulting in higher GPA, increased graduation rates, increased numbers of college enrollments and graduation rates, and a reduction in the achievement gap. Using the narrative inquiry method, a qualitative approach, the researcher listened to the participants' authentic voices and conveyed their story. Using a semi-structured conversational interview protocol, the participants shared their "lived" stories about the impact that a parent advisory group had on student engagement at the high school of interest. Findings suggest that when adults exhibit care, build meaningful relationships, and communicate that students are valued, student engagement increases and students are successful in school. The participants explained how the identity, behavior, and status of a group of parents gave options to a group of students in order to increase their academic success and hope for the future.</p>

<p> This dissertation examines the influence of social capital through social relations on student engagement. Specifically, it examines how the resources of social capital through the social relations developed with a group of high school students may have influenced their engagement in school. A narrative inquiry method was used to elicit the voices of students, teachers, administrators, community members, and parents belonging to an advisory group. Open interviews were conducted with participants so they could freely express their insights concerning the influence of social capital through social relations on student engagement. Data from the "authentic voices" of the participants were gathered and analyzed to discover commonality in the experiences and perceptions of the participants. Common themes were found concerning the influence of building positive social relations through social capital resources by looking at social interactions in group memberships, networks and social connections, and personal relationships. The investment of social capital resources through social relations reflected positive student engagement, according to responses of the participants interviewed. Bourdieu claimed, "The economic, social and symbolic 'profit' that follows from belonging to the associations establishes a concrete base for the growth of solidarity," according to Siisianen (2003, p. 294).</p>

<p> College faculty members are often inadequately prepared to use technology in their classrooms. They often learn technology without institutional support, and without understanding technology's impact on student learning. As a result of these shortcomings, the use of technology in the college classroom is often not systematic or focused on improving learning. This study used a conceptual framework based on Wenger's learning community or community of practice idea. This study examined a Midwestern university where faculty made only limited use of classroom technology and did not demonstrate contemporary approaches to student learning. The study set out to determine the impact of technology-based faculty learning communities on student engagement. Five university faculty members served as research participants; all agreed to form a learning community and participate in a series of interviews that examined the impact of technology integration and the role of learning communities on adopting technology. Interview data were analyzed using an emergent and exploratory approach where themes and trends were identified through direct observation and examination of interview transcripts. One of the emergent themes was that increased faculty technology use depends primarily on positive prior experiences with technology. Another theme was that students' self-reported technology competency does not accurately reflect classroom uses, which may have a significant impact on educational technology integration strategies. The study's findings provide guidelines for a best practice model of faculty professional development to improve and enhance classroom learning with educational technology.</p>

<p> Latino/a students currently have lower graduation and higher dropout rates than their white peers. This population of students also performs lower on state exams. This qualitative study explored teacher-student relationships and their impact on Latino/a student populations. Using Funds of Knowledge and a social justice perspective, the study characterized positive teacher-student relationships and ways that schools can support their formation. This dissertation study consisted of two rounds of interviews; participants were interviewed individually and then as part of two focus groups. The first phase consisted of one-on-one interviews, where the participants were asked questions on effectiveness, teacher-student relationships, and administrative support. The results from these interviews were analyzed for themes. The themes were then brought to the participants in forms of two focus groups for further exploration and clarity. Findings indicate that teachers characterize six themes in positive teacher-student relationships; student voice, humanization, trust, openness, respect, and personal connections. Three areas of school support were also uncovered; this included community circle, time to connect, and opportunities outside the classroom. The findings support the need for educators to be aware of the elements of positive relationships and to include these areas of school support in teacher and leader preparation programs.</p>

<p> This qualitative study examined the cognition and practices of four teachers teaching in low-SES schools. The four case studies were comprised of three elementary teachers and one middle school teachers in the state of Columbia*. The study explored how the teachers' schooling, professional coursework, classroom practices, and contextual factors affected their teaching practices. The conceptual framework for the study came from Borg's (2003) representation of teacher cognition for language teachers.</p><p> Data were triangulated and collected from interviews, documents, and classroom observations. The four teachers were interviewed three times each. The documents collected were professional correspondence, pertinent papers, homework, or other artifacts that demonstrated the teachers' cognition.</p><p> The findings of the study showed the teachers' cognition was primarily influenced by schooling, classroom practices, and contextual factors, but not professional coursework. The findings also suggest that the teachers in the study found relationships with students and a student reflexive curriculum to be paramount in their classroom practice in a low-SES school. In addition, three of the teachers all regarded the contextual factor of equity in their schools to be of importance in their cognition of teaching.</p><p> *pseudonyms.</p>

<p> Users play a key role in many training strategies, yet some organizations often fail to understand the users&rsquo; perception after a simulation training implementation, their attitude about acceptance or rejection of and integration of emerging simulation technology in medical training (Gaba, 2007, and Topol, 2012). Several factors are considered to contribute to the acceptance level of simulation training by the users, including cost, the existing training and certification policies, technical issue, realism of training, values of it, concerns about it, and its effect on the patients outcome, and medical errors (Clever, 2011and Dawson, 2006).An often overlooked factor in the success of a simulation training merger is the impact on the users and medical profession (Dickemen, 2007). This qualitative phenomenological research study explored the lived experiences of a purposeful sampling of medicals simulation training users in the decision and none decision making roles, who had been involved in simulation training at least for one year. The study obtained their perceptions, their lived experiences, feelings associated with the experience, and interactions. And then how those feelings, perception, opinions, attitudes, and interactions evolved. Data suggested that the presence of feelings attached to experience, preconceived views, existing training policies, affect the level of effectiveness, users&rsquo; view of its outlook, impact on the decisions, and the medical profession. In addition the users&rsquo; perception, beliefs, and feelings all affect the interpersonal dynamics, interactions, communications, of simulation training users during adoption of simulation technology and its implementation. Understanding the medical simulation training phenomena through the understanding of users&rsquo; perspective can redefine how they communicate, interact, share, learn in simulated environment , and from one another that help with the subsequent additions and modifications to the existing simulation training strategies. </p>

<p> While there is an abundant amount of research relative to coaching and mentoring programs, there is little understanding about the interaction between coaches/mentors and students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate student perceptions of their academic coaching and mentoring experiences at two Southern California community colleges. Alexander Astin's input-environment-output (I-E-O) model and theory of involvement was used alongside an interpretive model to help explain students' understanding of their experiences with coaches and mentors. One-on-one interviews and a focus group were conducted and provided data that led to the emergence of themes related to role models, empowerment, and motivation. In addition, the one-on-one interviews and the focus group also illustrated students' strong desires to pursue advance and professional degrees. In addition the findings highlighted the importance of race and ethnicity in the establishment of rapport and the need to validate individuals as college students with the abilities to peruse advance degrees in higher education. Lastly, the research identified role modeling, cultural connectedness, opportunities for mentoring, and the various institutional agents who may occupy the status of a mentor or coach as important factors in the mentoring and coaching experiences. </p>

<p> Commuter students, or students who do not live in institutionally owned or operated housing, have consistently struggled to persist to graduation. Since commuter students make up the collegiate majority, identifying ways to support this student population's academic success is imperative. Because of the positive association between social integration and student persistence, this study examined the relationship between student involvement in extracurricular activities and sense of belonging among commuter students at 4-year institutions set in urban areas. Student involvement and sense of belonging were measured using scales from the fourth edition of the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ). A random sample of 712 was drawn from the 2012 administration of the CSEQ. Structural equation modeling, including latent means and multiple group analyses, was used to answer the study's research questions. The findings suggest that commuter student involvement mirrors Astin's theory of student involvement; sense of belonging is heavily influenced by meaningful relationships with faculty and administrators; there is a positive relationship between student involvement and sense of belonging; parental education, race, transfer status, and employment patterns are background characteristics that account for student subgroup differences; and employment patterns impact student involvement, sense of belonging, and the relationship between these variables. These findings can inform institutional practice and direct future research efforts in order to further support the commuter student population.</p>

<p> In this study, a multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the effects of a social narrative on teaching appropriate social skills to three students with autism. Currently, guidelines for Social Story&trade;, as established by Carol Gray, have become very popular despite minimal scientific evidence to support their efficacy (Bellini, Peters, Benner, &amp; Hopf, 2007; Sansosti, Powell-Smith, &amp; Kincaid, 2004; Reynhout &amp; Carter, 2006). This study deliberately deviates from Gray's guidelines in an attempt to evaluate the contribution of the narrative to social literacy in students with autism.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between bullying others, perceived school connectedness, academic achievement, and selected demographics among female high school athletes. A purposive sample of all in-season (Fall 2012) female athletes enrolled in three schools located in an urban school district in Northeast Ohio was recruited to participate in this study. Subjects completed a 54-item instrument designed to assess their self-reported involvement in bullying others. Further, subjects were asked to provide responses about the construct of school connectedness. Data were obtained using a one-time anonymous paper/pencil instrument. Data were analyzed using the one-way and two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) techniques and Correlation analysis. </p><p> Findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between bullying others and race, and bullying others and current achievement. Also, the data revealed a statistically significant correlation between bullying others and perceived school connectedness. The results from this study support the current body of literature dedicated to this relationship between bullying others and perceived school connectedness. Interestingly, much less is known about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables used in this study as it occurs among female high school athletes. More research with athletes is recommended to better elucidate the effects of sports participation on these variables.</p>