This study investigated the nature of transformative learning experiences as qualitative shifts in identity by employing a basic interpretative qualitative methodology using data from semi-structured interviews with eight participants in a re-entry job skills program, that is, with participants in a program that was designed to aid them with their…

The first year of college is a critical time for students, as their early experiences can determine the path of their educational journey. Students are most at-risk for dropping out of college during their first year, and first-generation students have higher rates of departure than their continuing-generation peers. Student engagement, sense of…

This research investigates significant moments in college students' drawn life stories in mathematics with the aim of examining implications for STEM engagement and potential reasons for gender-related differences in participation in mathematics intensive STEM fields. My research employs drawn life stories in mathematics specifically focused on…

Increasing students' performance in school-based mathematics is a constant focus that is fueled by differences in students' performance outcomes. Research that examines students' experiences with learning mathematics has shown that students take on different ways of knowing that either align or are at odds with the type of classroom instruction…

The Metropolitan Council for Education Opportunity (METCO) has operated in the Boston and Springfield areas since 1966 and was developed as a means to fuel racial integration and provide students with greater educational opportunities. Since its existence, few studies have examined the social and emotional experiences of students participating in…

This study seeks to illuminate and describe the experience of students engaging in mathematical portfolios. In particular, this study reveals key insights into how students demonstrate their mathematical identity and metacognition. Portfolio assessment has been described as an intentional collection of evidence that captures student…

The more students read, the better they read, and students are more inclined to read when they are motivated to read. Students' interests and their confidence as readers contribute to their motivation. Confidence is impacted by how students view themselves as readers, an identity which can be influenced by the environment surrounding them. The…

The present dissertation is a synthesis and meta-analysis of the 15-year-old research domain of the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) model initiated by Dornyei (2005). The study is based on data from 100 studies involving 144 unique samples and 51,905 participants, and it addresses the inter-relationships of L2MSS elements (i.e., the Ideal L2…

Second language learner motivation research has witnessed a transition from a historically static approach to a more dynamic approach, yielding extensive research during the past decade. Dornyei (2005, 2009) proposed a vigorous motivation framework, the Second Language Motivational Self System (L2MSS) that highlights the dynamic nature of learner…

This dissertation uses an anti-deficit perspective to explore the academic experiences of Black men who have completed their bachelor's degrees at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Despite the reality that only 34% of Black men achieve their undergraduate degrees within six years, this study shifts the narrative from focusing on obstacles…

Research in mathematics education has described learning and identity development as dynamic, negotiated, and cultural. However, disciplined ways of engaging in school mathematics remain most valued, resulting in positioning only some learners as successful. Research that investigates mathematics learning and identity has predominantly occurred in…

University mathematics classrooms are continuing to become more linguistically and culturally diverse. Students in these courses bring rich language resources for learning and engaging in classroom mathematical practices. Despite this diversity, little research has examined the role of language in post-secondary mathematics education. Using mixed…

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of 6th grade students with learning disabilities educated in their least restrictive environment (LRE) to the maximum extent appropriate sitting next to their non-disabled peers. Two theories guided this study, social identity theory and the social model of disability.…

This study aimed to explore how participation in small-group discipleship fosters a transformative learning experience among undergraduate students in a selected Christian university in Indonesia. Seven semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 20 undergraduate students and nine very recent graduates from various schools, males…

This qualitative narrative inquiry aimed to learn about the experiences associated with adapting to post-secondary life when students graduate from high school with work-related skills. A narrative inquiry was used to interview graduates who participated in a work-based learning program while attending a public high school in the coastal Northeast…