According to the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (1996), "... learning cannot occur in college classrooms divorced from schools" (p. 31). University coursework that is paired with carefully coordinated field experiences as well as being supported by university faculty that are skilled in helping the teacher candidate…

The aim of this research is to discover what science teachers' opinions about outdoor education learning environments are. Outdoor education learning environments contribute to problem-solving, critical and creative thinking skills of students. For this reason, outdoor education learning environments are very important for students to learn by…

This study explores how first-year students experience, perceive, and make sense of institutional culture in higher education during the transition from high school to college. Examining institutional culture during the first year remains relevant because nearly 25% of all students who depart higher education do so within their first year (Nalbone…

The purpose of this study was to explore developmental reading students' abilities and attitudes in reading, as well as the role literacy played in their lives. As higher education is funded based on student performance, it is in all college stakeholders' interest to help all students, including developmental learners, succeed. Learning from…

Small businesses with emphasis in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are catalytic in launching the United States' global presence and competitiveness into the twenty-first century through innovation and technology. The projected growth compared to non-STEM occupations, is almost twice as high for STEM occupations which further…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experience of 11 public school professionals in positions of leadership within the San Mateo County public school system. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of how public school leaders enact change in their districts and schools. Four superintendents, one assistant…

Special education teachers are in high demand and greatly needed to meet the needs of the growing population of students qualified for special education services under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004. The increasing attrition rates of special education teachers are a social justice issue that needs attention. The…

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of novice nursing faculty members at one Midwestern Technical college, who were in formal mentoring relationships with seasoned nursing faculty members. A total of nine faculty members participated in a single, sixty minute, semi-structured interview exploring the lived experiences of being…

Many first-year teachers who enter teaching are not prepared to fulfill all of the daily teaching requirements. This is especially true of teachers assigned to Title I classrooms where the teaching challenges are often magnified. Although first-year teachers in Title I classrooms may have different learning needs than their non-Title I…

This study explored the narrative of new Philadelphia Police recruits' experiences within a training program that used storytelling techniques to positively influence their knowledge and assumptions about social justice and fairness. Prior research has suggested that storytelling can be an effective way to engage learners in understanding…

For the last thirty years research has unfailingly shown that teacher efficacy has a positive impact on student outcomes, making teacher efficacy an critical element in quality mathematics instruction. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a math methods course on the mathematics teaching efficacy beliefs of elementary pre-service…

The entry of a child with a disability into the family system can contribute to unique challenges, and potentially, joys for their families. Designed from a psychological resilience framework, this post-intentional phenomenological study specifically focused on the process of adaptation for five older siblings who had a younger sibling with an…

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine online learner self-efficacy in terms of instructional strategies and course supports. Prior studies have focused primarily on factors within learners (e.g., motivation, satisfaction, achievement). The current study, with a foundation in adult learning theory, bridged the gap between…

Nursing education programs are experiencing many trends impacting the preparation of students including a nursing faculty shortage and a lack of quality clinical sites. In addition, literature is finding new nurse graduates unprepared when entering practice, lacking the required critical thinking, delegation, and prioritization skills necessary to…

Colleges and universities throughout the country have seen an influx in enrollment amongst African American women. Many of these women are characterized as non-traditional students. In addition to possessing non-traditional traits, these women occupy two oppressed groups in society; African Americans and females. Along with them being a part of…