Digital Commons Network^™

A Primer On How Al Algorithms Control You, Russell Fulmer

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can control you by exerting heavy influence on your worldview. Your worldview is akin to your personal philosophy, which affects how you perceive and label social systems and structures, groups of people, and politics. Algorithms impact your decision-making, beliefs, mood, relationships, and more. My rhetoric is intentionally strong when discussing algorithms, and I invite you to assess its merit by reviewing related literature and thinking critically.

Building A Virtual Residency: One Program’S Journey, Susan F. Branco, Nathaniel Mason, Rebecca G. Scherer, Heidi L. Henry, Regina Moro

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

The majority of CACREP accredited online counselor education programs are limited residency distance learning programs. Including a residency experience in online programs can help foster community, increase student engagement, and teach important skills needed to be an effective counselor, including counseling and advocacy skills. In this article, the authors describe one program’s approach to developing a two-day virtual residency program in combination with a concurrent course utilizing the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competency framework. Roleplays, guest presenters, and counseling skills instruction and practice were utilized in the residency program. Student feedback, implications, limitations, and future directions are also discussed.

An Autoethnography Of A Social Justice-Minded Teacher In Corrections, Graciela Rubalcaba-Munoz

Dissertations

ABSTRACT The incarceration of women has increased 93% in the last fifty years. This impacts marginalized communities at disproportionate rates. Although the provision of education in corrections became federal law in 1952 as a means to rehabilitate inmates, women’s facilities currently do not receive equitable resources to support education, which puts additional pressure on the educational staff. The legal requirement for education includes county jails, the transitory facilities that house inmates while they await court or transfer to prison. The jail educational system is volatile, making it difficult to engage students when there are constant interruptions, unexpected incidents, lockdowns, and …

Sneak Peak: How Genai Was Used To Create Or Enhance Course Content, Heather J. Leslie Phd

Learning Design Center: Staff Scholarship

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to show the process that was used to create or enhance this course’s content using genAI. This not only provides transparency on the course development process but also serves as a teaching aid so students can see what genAI tool was used, for what purpose, how it was used, and the instructor’s analysis and reflections as she was using the tool. This provides a “behind-the-scenes” window into the instructor’s learning journey as she shares her critical thinking and journaling (in her own words) of using genAI in education so students can gain insight …

Sneak Peak: How Genai Was Used In Assignment, Heather J. Leslie Phd

Learning Design Center: Staff Scholarship

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to demonstrate how genAI was used to complete course assignments. It offers transparency regarding students' use of genAI tools, providing instructors insight into the application of these technologies in academic work. Additionally, it reveals the learning process students undergo while using genAI. By sharing their critical analysis and personal reflections, students offer a “behind-the-scenes” look at their educational journey. This approach not only allows students to gain deeper insights into their own learning but also enables instructors to observe how students' understanding develops through their interaction with genAI in education.

Intentional Innovation: Strategies To Increase Administrative Consistency And Engagement For A Hybrid Faculty Group, Sheri Pickover, Allison Arnekrans, Pamela Sickinger

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

No abstract provided.

Reducing Zoom Fatigue: Improving The Online Classroom Through Andragogical And Technological Enhancements, Karen Roller, Will Snow, Tameeka Hunter, Hannah Button

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Zoom fatigue and its underlying contributors are examined. Next-generation video-conferencing teaching and accessibility strategies to improve the student and faculty experience during live sessions are shared. An affordable next-generation video and audio setup demonstration is linked for review.

Creating Neurodiverse Affirming Spaces In Online Learning Environments, Kailey Bradley

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Neurodiversity is a paradigm that opposes the view that there is one normal view of neuro-cognitive functioning (Singer, 1991; Silberman, 2015). However, implementation of affirming practices for neurodiverse learners in online environments have been limited. As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic there has been increased urgency to provide accessible learning environments in online learning spaces. Within this manuscript, the concept of neurodiversity will be defined with particular attention to barriers and practical suggestions for neurodiverse learners in online learning environments.

Embracing Gaps And Strengthening Connection: The Lived Experience Of Distance Educators In Research, Junwei Jia, Sheedra D. Futrell, Amber Hughes

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

In this conference summary brief, the authors discuss the importance of creating spaces for collaboration in online research communities for counselor education. The authors connect the theoretical foundations for developing a sense of community for research, the importance of these communities and how to build and maintain the areas in counselor education. Finally, the authors discuss the disadvantages and advantages of building online research communities and these distance research communities and the critical role that diversity plays shaping the future of counselor education. This article is based on a presentation at the Counselor Education Distance Learning Conference hosted by Palo …

Are Advanced Counseling Skills Really Valued In Counselor Education And Supervision Phd Programs?, Anjuli Corzine, Kelly Coker, Robyn Simmons, Kristi Cannon

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

No abstract provided.

Effective Student Remediation In Synchronous And Asynchronous Programs, Michael Jones, Derrick Shepard

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Student remediation remains to be an critical topic of discussion in counselor education. This process begins once a student enters a counseling program and continues until the time of graduation. Although remediation can take many forms, the implementation of it will vary depending if the program is offered in a synchronous or asynchronous environment. The current article will identify key components of approaching student remediation for various online environments.

Three Experiential Learning Activities For The Online Environment, Brian Mesimer, Jenny Chien, Stanley Hoover

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Research indicates that counselor education requires experiential instruction to properly facilitate student engagement (Merlin-Knoblich et al., 2020) Specifically, flipped format classes tend to encourage more student engagement than traditional lecture and online asynchronous courses (Merlin-Knoblich et al., 2020). Such activities should be both varied in nature and include proper exposition and context (Young, 2022). Online programs continue to grow in popularity (Snow et al., 2018). However, transitioning on-ground content online can prove daunting for counselor educators and research on online counselor education teaching strategies is insufficient (Dotson-Blake & Glass, 2016; Hale & Bridges, 2021; Li & Wu, 2021). This paper …

Utilizing Generative Artificial Intelligence In The Online Counselor Education Classroom, Jill Brue, Jacob Brue

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created a buzz in education, particularly with fears that students will plagiarize information and their work will not be representative of their own capabilities. Programs such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot are becoming increasingly popular sources for content generation and virtual assistance. Colleges and universities have scrambled to develop policies around the use of generative AI programs for student work. The reality is that generative AI tools will continue to develop, and educators have choices to make about embracing the potential use for this technology or avoiding it altogether. Counselor educators can …

Strengthening And Supporting The Community Of First-Generation Students Of Color, Manuel Pech

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

First-generation students of color overcome many barriers when attending college by finding institutional resources to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. However, students often feel these resources are scarce at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI). Thus, I created a coaching program focused on community building, academic strategies, and mentorship to connect students to campus resources, improve well-being, and lead to high academic achievement. Peer-to-peer coaches for first-generation students of color often find it challenging to coach students from different backgrounds and ethnicities. This is due to the power or cultural dynamics, gender differences, and fears of the unknown they might encounter when …

Leadership And Teacher Agency For Inclusive Classrooms: Insights About Integrating Students With Disabilities Into Inclusive Classrooms From Teachers And School Leaders In Three International Schools, Chad Wood

Dissertations

As international schools continue to flourish, they must consider how to be inclusive and meet the needs not only of multicultural populations of students, but also the needs of students with diagnosed learning difficulties (i.e., students with special needs). Promoting teacher agency is a potentially important component in successfully implementing inclusive practices given that teachers are key actors in the implementation process. Currently, however, there is limited empirical evidence regarding the interconnectedness of teacher agency and inclusion of special needs populations in international schools.

This qualitative research explores the role of school leaders in promoting teacher agency to support the …

The Cultural Dimension Of Structural School Reforms: The Case Of Schedule Changes, Maylen Sullivan

Dissertations

The four-by-four (4x4) schedule—a type of high school block schedule—presents promising prospects for improving teaching and learning. Using a qualitative, single case study methodology, I investigated a school transitioning from a traditional six-period schedule to a 4x4 schedule during its 2nd and 3rd year of implementation. The study aimed to understand the factors that influenced the transition, the stakeholders’ responses to the decision, and the factors that influenced their responses. Some of the main considerations that motivated the decision included the desire to provide more opportunities within the school day for students to meet A/G college eligibility requirements, allow students …

Borderland Voices: Exploring The Educational Journey Of Transfronterizx Students, Families, And Educators For Enhanced Engagement And Empowerment, Sobeida Velazquez

Dissertations

Transfronterizx students and their families cross the U.S.–Mexico border for academic, economic, social, cultural, and linguistic reasons. Socioeconomic disparities, deportation, and work have propelled some families to live in Mexico and enroll their U.S.-born children in U.S. schools to provide more socioeconomic opportunities in the United States. Educators of transfronterizx students are uniquely tasked to work with these nontraditional students. Moreover, transfronterizx students and their families have distinct needs in U.S. schools; as such, there is a need for further research on the transfronterizx experience in the U.S. K–12 system. This qualitative narrative inquiry study aimed to understand the experiences …

Black School Leader Truth: How Black School Leader Epistemology Influences Liberatory Mindset Development In Their Staff, Orpheus Williams

Dissertations

Black students in the United States have consistently been denied access to empowering, culturally affirming, and responsive learning experiences in the traditional public system. The epistemological and pedagogical beliefs embedded in a liberatory mindset can subvert this pattern of disempowerment (Shujaa, 1998). Black school leaders (BSLs) who understand the systemic and institutional pressures Black children may face and have to overcome, having undergone similarly racialized experiences in school, are uniquely placed to create liberatory spaces for Black students by recruiting and developing these liberatory mindsets in their staff. This instrumental case study used qualitative research methods of front-porch pedagogy (McTighe …

Ripple Of Hope: Understanding The Lived Experience And Academic Achievement Of Latinx Students At Arrupe College And Dougherty Family College: A Case Study, Richard P. Virgin

Dissertations

One of the most common and important entry points into higher education for Latinx and other underrepresented students is through community college. However, national completion rates for Latinx community college students have been trailing their white peers. This gap in academic achievement has prevailed since the 1990s. The trailing rates of degree completion for Latinx students can lead to lower lifetime salary earnings, lack of career advancement, greater risk of losing employment, and an increased chance of living in poverty. However, a successful community college model may be seen as a disruptor in the educational sector due to its much …

Black Genius: An Achievement Distortion, Brenda Burgo

Dissertations

Is the achievement gap real? Using a mixed-methods approach, this study reframed standardized testing through a Quantitative Critical and Black Critical lens. It interrogated the deficit framing of Black student achievement by asking the following questions: (1) To what extent do the aggregated standardized test scores for Black students in California correlate with other measures of achievement? Included in this analysis are: (a) To what degree does the ratio of Black students relate to the achievement variables? and (b) To what extent did COVID impact this correlation? (2) What beliefs do Black educators have regarding the standardized test scores of …

Exploring Staff Burnout In College Access And Retention Programs, Yajaira Nunez

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my research was to develop ways to support staff working in access and retention programs in higher education, who are experiencing or prone to burnout. The guiding questions were (a) How could collaboration with administrators working in access and retention programs in higher education facilitate learning to cope with burnout? and (b) How could strategies be developed collaboratively to address burnout in both current and future staff? I conducted three cycles using appreciative inquiry as a guide with six participants from different institutions between January and March 2024. The cycles included a GroupMe chat, a Zoom retreat, …

Should We Move To Suspend Robert’S Rules Forever: A Review And Proposal For Student Government Communication, Harper Estus

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to understand and improve how student leaders in student government (senators) communicate with one another during their meetings. My research question was, how can I effectively work with the Associated Student Government (ASG) at the University of San Diego (USD) to improve the senator’s meeting communication through parliamentary practice? The use of Robert’s Rules (parliamentary procedure) is common for student government. I analyzed mixed-method data through three cycles: focus group, survey, and semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that there are pros and cons to meeting structures, most participants are open to different meeting …

Supporting Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Neurodivergence: University Of San Diego Accommodations And Resources, Carina Mendoza

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

This research focuses on better understanding the unique classroom experiences faced by autistic and neurodiverse students at the University of San Diego (USD) and offers recommendations to improve their college experience. Through a well-studied literature review and data collection through semi structured interviews and focus groups, the overall goal was to have a more holistic understanding of the current support services from faculty and staff that are available for students at USD. The study will provide unique challenges and curated recommendations for students with autism spectrum disorder and neurodiverse identities. This research also identifies specific areas where the USD can …

Supporting International Students' Emotional And Social Wellbeing: Addressing Pressing Issues Related To Tuition And Visa Status Anxiety, Jinyi Chen

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my research was to engage and build community with international students and to find ways to support them emotionally and socially leading to better mental health outcomes. My research question was: how can I support international college students to alleviate common mental health issues many continue to experience as a result of their international status? This occurs particularly when they must deal with tuition and visa status anxiety. I did three cycles in the research process using online surveys, interviews, and a large debriefing group meeting. Findings indicated that visa status anxiety is one of the most …

From Counterspaces To Community:A Qualitative Case Study Analysis Of Black Community Making At A Pwi, Charles Watkins

Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how Black college students build and maintain a sense of community at a predominantly white institution (PWI). Informed by relational sociological methodology and the conceptual framework of Black placemaking, this study foregrounded the nuanced process of community building, focusing on the interplay between Black students and the spaces—physical and digital—they cocreate collectively. This study particularly emphasized the significance of the Black Student Union (BSU) as a foundational Black student organization at PWIs. The following lines of inquiry guided this study: (a) How do Black undergraduate students at a PWI define the Black community? (b) What …

Bridging Usd Graduate Student Life And Mcnair Scholars Program: How To Enhance Mcnair Scholars’ Transition To Graduate School, Emily S. Esquivel

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

Research has shown a need to support graduate students with intersecting identities (e.g., first generation, underrepresented). Further, there is little research on the transition of McNair students to graduate school. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to learn about how McNair students at the University of San Diego (USD) can navigate graduate school preparation with the support of Graduate Student Life (GSL). The research questions that guided this project were: (1) How can I collaborate with GSL to enhance support for USD McNair Scholars as they transition to graduate school? and (2) How can GSL support McNair Scholars’ sense …

Breaking Barriers And Cultivating Collaborative Partnerships For The Torero Renaissance Scholars Program, Ti'shaun Allen

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

There is a high global demand for institutions to implement and maintain supportive programming for system-impacted students. System-impacted students are those who identify as former foster youth, homeless or at risk for homelessness, emancipated minors, or students in legal guardianships. My action research aimed to understand how to improve the Torero Renaissance Scholars (TRS) program model, delivery, and infrastructure to increase student engagement, program awareness, and partner collaboration at the University of San Diego (USD). TRS is a supportive program that assists students who are system-impacted. Findings from qualitative semi-structured 1:1 interviews, group conversations, and focus groups suggested increased employment …

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogical Practices In Early Literacy Classrooms: A Qualitative Case Study Of Two Kindergarten Classrooms, Elizabeth Carlton Phd

Dissertations

Students who attend school possess their own “funds of knowledge” from their home life and prior experiences (Moll et al., 1992). Yet, learners from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds are not viewed from a strengths-based perspective but rather a deficit perspective. The deficit perspective perpetuates the oppression and marginalization of students of color and multilingual students. Using a qualitative comparative case study research design, the study is rooted in the tenets of Critical Pedagogy (Freire, 2000), Critical Literacy, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy as it sought to uncover insights into asset-based instructional strategies that allow multilingual learners opportunities to participate equitably …

Beating The Heat: The Use Of Coral-Benefitting Bacteria For Heat-Stressed Anemones And Inspiring Future Biologists, Navah Eshraghi

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The warming of ocean temperatures has caused mass coral-bleaching events characterized by the expulsion of vital algal symbionts from coral tissues. However, the possibility of algal reuptake and existence of bacteria that support coral-algal symbiosis are two avenues of potential restoration efforts. Using the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana as a model for corals, I tested whether the coral-benefitting bacterium Endozoicomonas montiporae could enhance algal uptake under ambient (27°C) and heat-stressed (32°C) conditions. I then turned acquired results into an article modeled after National Geographic Kids to introduce the experiment to younger ages. While temperature was a larger determinant of algal-uptake …

California School Psychologists’ Assessment Practices With Cld Students: A Phenomenological Study, Hector Manuel Teran Jr.

Dissertations

School psychologists are tasked with assessing students to qualify them for special education, typically using standardized tests. Standardized testing, like IQ testing, routinely used in the psycho-educational process, serves to justify prejudices, as they often mark people of color as intellectually inferior to White people. A closer look at school psychologists’ assessment practices with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students is necessary, as these students have historically been placed in special education at a higher percentage, likely due to misperceptions related to their race, ethnicity, or linguistic background. While IQ tests are regarded as tools that identify the needs of …