Lecture-only style teaching where a teacher delivers content and students are tested on the retained information is the predominant approach in higher education. Alternatively, active learning is an instructional method in which students become engaged participants in the classroom through the use of in-class written exercises, games, problem…

This research studied the impact of language barriers and cultural experiences on students' perceptions at the University of North Texas. The population of this study were students who had taken a class with a non-native speaking instructor and those who hadn't. Following a mixed-method research approach, online surveys were distributed to the…

University Calculus I courses serve as a means of access into high demand STEM fields and large lecture style passive calculus courses can be difficult for students. A mixed methods research design was used to compare a flipped instructional approach to a traditional lecture approach in large section Calculus I courses. The flipped lecture model…

First-generation students, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, have low persistence rates. Research shows that one of the barriers to their low persistence is a need for a student-centered pedagogical approach. Research has shown that if an instructor incorporates a pause technique during a standard lecture,…

The dominant image of mathematics as an abstract, universal, disinterested, and pure body of knowledge both misrepresents disciplinary practice and alienates many students. Undergraduate proof-based courses such as real analysis, which are supposed to introduce students to contemporary academic mathematics, often contribute to such idealized…

In their popular book "Made to Stick," Heath and Heath (2007) examined characteristics that make an idea sticky, that is, "understood and remembered, and have a lasting impact--they change your audience's opinions or behavior" (p. 8). Lecture-based instruction is a common but debated pedagogical approach in higher education,…

In the United States, traditional lecture-based teaching methods have not effectively met the needs of diverse learners in higher education (HE). This is particularly problematic as diversity is increasing amongst learners, including those with diverse racial, ethnic, gender, academic, and emotional backgrounds. The predominance of the two-tiered…

The effect of class size on student learning has numerous policy implications and has been a major subject of conversation and research for decades. Despite this, few studies have been done on class size in the context of university settings or physics courses. This dissertation helps address that gap in the literature by quantitatively analyzing…

Teaching leadership skills for the modern healthcare environment can be challenging. Nurse educators must plan for unforeseen changes in future healthcare environments, which are increasingly placing nurses in positions to lead interdisciplinary teams and solve complex problems related to quality and outcomes of health services. To prepare…

Lecture methods in higher education continue to be the most often used form of lesson delivery, although they seem to be less effective in promoting adult students' learning and engagement. Many higher education instructors have incorporated inverted classroom (IC) methods to increase student engagement and learning. The purpose of this…

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to evaluate community college faculty use of technology modalities (face-to-face interaction, on-line interaction, e-learning, and social networking technologies) as measured by the CCFSSE 2015 cohort survey. Archival data collected by the Community College Faculty Survey of Student Engagement…

The purpose of this research project was to improve the practice of using online lectures at a small private university. Using action research methodology, the researcher worked with a group of five university instructors to refine the use of online lectures through design and pedagogical practice. Beginning with a template or guide based on the…

The Millennial generation, individuals born after 1982, has been thoroughly characterized and shown to be drastically different from previous generations. This characterization has created change in the way the college classroom is organized. Varieties of pedagogies that address the characterization of the Millennial generation exist and are being…

STEM education reform in higher education is framed around the need to improve student learning outcomes, increase student retention, and increase the number of underrepresented minorities and female students in STEM fields, all of which would ultimately contribute to America's competitiveness and prosperity. To achieve these goals, education…

The researcher surveyed 126 members of the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors (NDEP) group from all six NDEP regions across the country to examine the relationship between their ideologies, commonly utilized pedagogical techniques, and collaborative experiences with colleagues from different professions. The study also examined the…