The Internet is poised to open access to higher education for students no matter where they live. However, many students still live in places where barriers keep them from getting and staying connected to online coursework. These barriers include power outages, high internet data costs, and lack of computers or smartphones. BYU-Pathway Worldwide's…

The low academic learning outcomes and persistence rates among students starting in developmental mathematics at community colleges are concerning. Improving the teaching and learning of developmental mathematics is imperative. This Action Research study aimed to investigate and improve developmental mathematics students' low retention rate and…

This dissertation consists of a literature review and two empirical studies that focus on the forethought phase of self-regulated learning. The overall goal was to provide a more thorough understanding of the processes students engage in prior to initiating their academic tasks. This dissertation is composed of five chapters. Chapter One…

Noncognitive factors, such as persevering, having grit and self-control, using metacognition and setting goals, and exhibiting a growth mindset, are considered intrapersonal characteristics necessary for lifelong success both in and out of school. However, most U.S. elementary schools do not concentrate specifically on developing most noncognitive…

Projected qualified nursing deficits and high student attrition levels highlighted need to investigate cultivation of grit, a malleable trait involving perseverance and passion despite challenges and difficulties. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to investigate how second-year nursing students with high levels of…

Developmental education is a subject of increasing interest, and many current educational reforms are aimed at helping developmental students to succeed. As such, outcomes for developmental students are important for evaluating programs and supports offered to students in this situation. One such support is learning strategies coursework. Prior…

Osteopathic medical students experience academic challenges during their preclinical years of medical school due to the rigorous medical school curriculum. Prior research identified several challenges experienced by these students and the need to explore resilience strategies which can be employed to address those challenges. The purpose of this…

The purpose of this study was to determine effects of growth mindset strategies on the perseverance and engagement of students in a middle school setting. Participants were surveyed before and after and were asked their perceptions about the use of these strategies. The participants also completed weekly surveys to determine the levels of…

Every year we join in on the celebration of high school students all over the country graduating and preparing for the next phase of their adult life, whether starting their careers or entering college. Some students who choose to continue their educational journeys by enrolling in college are shocked to discover that they are not as prepared as…

High Impact Practices are defined as teaching and learning strategies designed to benefit college students through challenging yet confidence-building coursework, and through establishing connections to faculty, peers, and community, among other positive impacts. The ten High Impact Practices recognized by the American Association of Colleges and…

More than two-thirds of first-year community college students require remediation in reading and/or mathematics before they can take college-level courses. Among these underprepared students who take the recommended developmental mathematics courses to become college-ready, less than one-third successfully complete these courses, posing a barrier…

Demand is high for graduates entering the professional aviation and aerospace workforce with resilience competencies like adversity persistence, contextual awareness, being self-directed and autonomous, handling change, and ability to establish peer relationships. Research shows resilience competencies are particularly emphasized as essential…

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of international-student English language learners (ELLs), situated on a language learning plateau (L2P), who have been exposed to a Growth Mindset Pedagogy with Deliberate Practice. The researcher used a qualitative research design, to document the experiences of five adult English language…

A large proportion of students in the United States is international students. Thus, educational leaders need to facilitate the learning process for this population. This study investigated the characteristics of international students that affect their academic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine how individual characteristics…

The study used a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design to examine the motivational and behavioral factors that underlie underrepresented female Ph.D. students' decisions to enroll and persist in STEM-related fields. Quantitative survey data were collected using the Motivated Student Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) along with five…