The classroom is an important resource for effective teaching and learning. The classroom does not only address the physical structure but also the emotional parameters of the room. However, focus must be placed on the physical aspects of classroom design. This qualitative phenomenological study was designed to explore the perceptions of higher…

There is scarce nationwide evidence of the impact of instruction on student achievement in the area of writing (Coker et al., 2018; Persky et al., 2003; National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2002). Standardized writing assessment has shifted to text-dependent analysis, which requires students to read and analyze a passage and then compose…

Innovative learning environments are increasingly built and implemented in schools, but are not necessarily being used according to designers' intentions. The goal of this study was to examine teacher perceptions of the innovative learning spaces they were charged with using and to determine if they were being used effectively and as designed. The…

Special education comprises specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities (IDEA, 2017, Sec. 300.39). IDEA further states that specially designed instruction can be implemented in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings. Placement decisions are…

Relatively little research has considered how tasks are performed and experienced by students in different types of classrooms. Research shows that innovative classroom designs can lead to higher levels of cognitive engagement, connections between form and meaning, and more diverse forms of input (Schmidt, 1990; Svalberg, 2012) and are…

The purpose of this study was to explore and attempt to understand the experiences, along with the efforts and perceptions of those efforts, of teachers who implemented flexible seating during the COVID-19 pandemic. A semi-structured interview protocol was used and aligned with the theoretical framework, constructivist learning theory.…

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the personality traits, learning environment and academic achievement of children in mixed-grade versus traditional classrooms. The conflicting existing research on the efficacy of mixed-grade classrooms suggests there may be characteristic differences between children that impact…

Soft rot diseases cause crop losses all over the world. These losses can have large economic impacts and threaten international food security. Soft rot bacterial pathogens produce pectolytic enzymes that attack the pectin around plant cells resulting in smelly, wet, and mushy tissue maceration. Once symptoms are visible, the crop cannot be used or…

Little has changed about the physical properties of public schooling in the United States since the industrial revolution--desks, rows, and teachers at the front of the room (McCoy, 2007). Foote (2019) has argued there is no better way to create a more modern learning space than to do a complete redesign. Given the dramatic redefinition of…

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of flexible seating in southwest Missouri classrooms. Four research questions guided the study based on the conceptual framework of Eric Jensen. The work of Jensen (2005) was selected as the conceptual framework due to his focus on the use of movement and how it impacts the brain. The research…

While the physical environment is widely understood as being a critical consideration for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), limited research is available to guide the design for these specialized classrooms. A two-phase case study explored teacher's perceptions of the classroom experience at a state-funded charter elementary school for…

Technology in the classroom is seen as being impactful on student performance. Purchasing and maintaining classroom technology often represents a challenge for districts facing budgetary shortcomings. Selecting and implementing appropriate technology is important to a district both in terms of its impact on students and the district's bottom line.…

This dissertation includes three essays on school choice. In Chapter 1 we consider the priority-based affirmative action policy in school choice. We weaken the responsiveness to affirmative action policy by requiring at least one minority student to be weakly better off when their priorities are improved. We find that under both the…

This qualitative phenomenological research study was based on interviews with 12 persons who had experienced a transition into a new school facility. Six of the individuals were administrators, ranging from superintendents to principals to assistant principals to consultants; six of the individuals were classroom teachers, and all twelve…

This study examined the classroom management and/or training that influenced the implementation of flexible grouping in upper elementary classrooms. The goal of the study was to identify classroom management strategies that would enable upper elementary teachers to effectively implement flexible grouping as a method of differentiated instruction.…