Term
Summer 2017
Capstone
Dissertation
Degree Name
EdD
Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Barbara Swanson, EdD
Secondary Advisor/Reader One
Letitia Basford, PhD
Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two
Rachel Endo, PhD
Abstract
A qualitative research design was used to inform the question: How do graduates and educators in a former alternative education program describe their sense of community and how did it inform their experiences? Four graduates and four educators, as members of an alternative education program, participated in semi-structured interviews. All participants were White. This study used the central concepts of two motivational theories: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory and self-determination theory as analytical frameworks. Six themes emerged from these eight interviews. These themes identify the importance of meeting students’ basic needs, especially their need for community and belonging. Results of this study identify the significant role being part of a community can play in informing the educational experiences for students and the professional experiences of educators. Specifically, the development of sense of belonging and the development of meaningful relationships appears to positively inform the learning process.
Research Methodology
Qualitative Interview Study
Keywords
At-risk Students, Community Building, Motivation, Teachers/ Teaching
Recommended Citation
Janey, Elizabeth A., "Sense Of Belonging And Community In An Alternative Education Program: Perceptions Of Former Graduates And Teachers" (2017). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 4327.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/4327