Education Commons^™

Lincoln's Carnegie Library: A History Of Community And Philanthropy, Emily Blomstedt

Honors Theses

Nebraska received 69 Carnegie libraries from the Carnegie foundation between 1899 and 1922. The first and most expensive Nebraska Carnegie library was granted to Lincoln in December 1899, after a fire destroyed Lincoln’s previous library. Lincoln’s main Carnegie library served the community between 1902 and 1960 before it was torn down in 1961 to build the present-day Bennett Martin library. This thesis explores the 60-year history of Lincoln’s Carnegie library, how it connects to national trends surrounding Carnegie libraries, and the role community and philanthropy played in the development of Lincoln’s public library system. These themes are examined through a …

Censorship Of Lgbtq+ Books: Causes And Consequences, Merrick Glass

Honors Projects

Censorship in the United States of America has accelerated over the past four years. LGBTQ+ books are specifically being targeted and banned within high school classrooms. Banned books are nothing new--court cases today are influenced by Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982) plurality decision on censorship. Students and professionals alike have power in their rights and voices. In the framework of bell hooks, the classroom can be perceived as a site of resistance in order to take power back into students' hands. Without a diversity of books, students will lack cognitive development and community.

Mentorship Experiences Of College Level Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca M. Arsenault

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact that mentorship had on the retention of ten participating educators working at various post-secondary educational institutions. The theory guiding this study was Dansereau’s leader-member theory guided as it pertained to the interactions between a dyadic relationship such as the one represented by one-on-one mentorship. The central research question for this study asked about the mentorship experiences of educators in higher education who have been in the field of education for five years or more. This study used transcendental phenomenological to study the essence of the experiences of 10 educators …

Getting Involved: Navigating Rural Student Supports In Higher Education, Lucy Karpukhno

Culminating Experience Projects

Rural students face unique challenges in navigating opportunities to find community and access support in higher education, despite these opportunities being critical to success. Factors such as geographic isolation, limited resources, and unfamiliarity with campus environments can exacerbate these challenges, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to enhance rural student outcomes in higher education. Getting involved on campus and having a sense of belonging has long been cited as important facets to promoting student success. This project seeks to develop a targeted orientation program with informative presentations, inclusive social events, and hands-on opportunities to experience a variety of clubs and …

Unlv Mental Health Initiatives: Unifying Through Innovation And Collaboration, The Lincy Institute, Unlv Practice, Behere Nv, Unlv Department Of Psychology

Lincy Institute Events

Nevada persistently ranks at or near the bottom in the country for overall access to mental health services despite the need (Mental Health America, 2015-2023). UNLV faculty are developing initiatives to change this unacceptable situation. The Lincy Institute, in partnership with UNLV PRACTICE, BeHERE Nevada, and researchers from the Department of Psychology, offered a community forum showcasing three mental health initiatives harnessing faculty collaboration and innovation to drive overdue changes in Nevada’s mental-health landscape. Following the presentations policymakers engaged in open discussion with UNLV presenters and the audience. The three main initiatives showcased in this forum …

Mindfulness: The Missing Link In Education, Ashley L. Baer

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Were you asked to pay attention or behave in school? As educators, we must stop expecting focus and self-regulation, and instead we must teach it. Learn how in this experiential session to connect and regulate students using the breathing ball, games, breath, and movement. Let’s practice!

A Review Of The Business Capstone: Working With An Education Program, Hanna Tran

University Honors Theses

This review thesis walks through the business capstone process which is a hands-on experience with a local business client. The business client, Company A, is an arts and education program that has reached out to the School of Business's capstone class to help them improve their reach to potential customers and find alternative funding other than student tuition and donations. To achieve these goals, our group conducted several analyses and thorough research combined with our existing business education. Our findings and final recommendations are shown in presentations and a final report that the business client can utilize for their future …

Improving Belonging And Connectedness In The Cybersecurity Workforce: From College To The Profession, Mary Beth Klinger

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

This article explores the results of a project aimed at supporting community college students in their academic pursuit of an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Cybersecurity through mentorship, collaboration, skill preparation, and other activities and touch points to increase students’ sense of belonging and connectedness in the cybersecurity profession. The goal of the project was focused on developing diverse, educated, and skilled cybersecurity personnel for employment within local industry and government to help curtail the current regional cybersecurity workforce gap that is emblematic of the lack of qualified cybersecurity personnel that presently exists nationwide. Emphasis throughout the project …

Literacy Across The Disciplines: A Way To Re-Engage Secondary Students, Jenelle Williams

Michigan Reading Journal

In this article, the author describes the opportunities present with leveraging disciplinary literacy approaches, in terms of re-engaging teens with learning. The author also provides several cautions for literacy leaders to keep in mind.

Dordt Community Thankful For Record Enrollment, Again, Bethany Van Voorst

The Voice

No abstract provided.

It's Hip To Be In The Squares, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

A Community That Is Deeper, Erik Hoekstra

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Bell: Rebuilding Care, Civic Learning And Creativity Within Youth Spaces, Michelle R. Haapala

Culminating Experience Projects

The purpose of this research is to investigate high school age students’ opportunities within formal classroom settings to engage in care, civic learning, and creativity within a suburban, publicly-funded charter school. This study used thematic analysis and coding methods to organize and find patterns in the qualitative data from surveys distributed to education professionals at Canton Preparatory High School in Canton, Michigan. The goal is to establish a foundation of the perception of care, civic learning, and creativity within school environments and classroom settings. Overall, education professionals rated these categories positively, but with a closer investigation, a disconnect is found. …

Authentic Adolescent Education: A Phenomenological Study About Adolescent Emotional Development And Its Relationship To Meaningful Learning Community Engagement And Transformative Education That Values Adolescent Leadership, Edwin R. Diaz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of high school teachers who teach high school students to determine if, through their experience with the current curriculum, adolescents develop feelings of emotional disconnect with public education at a Bronx high school. The central research question guiding the study is: What are the reasons high school teachers are content or discontent with the current curriculum at a public high school in the Bronx? The guiding questions are: How is the current state of our current public education affecting the adolescent’s emotional well-being and identity identification …

Book Review Rural Education In America: What Works For Our Students, Teachers, And Communities, Sunshine L. Brosi, Marilyn M. Cuch, Spencer Spotted Elk, Julie Stevens, Gustavo A. Ovando-Montejo

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

Book review of Marietta, G. & S. Marietta. (2020). Rural Education in America, What works for our students, teachers, and communities, Harvard Education Press. Statewide faculty teaching in rural Utah review this book and focus on actions to meet the specific needs of their demographic of rural students in rural communities. The reviewer’s reflections on the book developed from a Spring 2022 Empowering Teaching Excellence Learning Circle led by the primary author.

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 7, Issue 2, Fall 2023

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Fall 2023 issue (Volume 7, Issue 2) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Fall 2023 issue presents research and guidance on topics related to educational adaptation. The first article by C. Farrell describes an adaptation of the interteaching method to the hybrid delivery method. The second article by C. C. Loose and R. Jagielo-Manion describes a study of modules on personalized learning to preservice teachers and its impact on their comfort level and preparation to implement personalized learning in their classrooms. The third article by B. …

Sustaining The Growth Curve: How Christian Schools Can Sustain The Post-Covid Growth Surge, Jared B. Johnston

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Prior to the 2019-2020 school year, the Christian school movement as a whole was in decline. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a surge in enrollment growth to Christian schools across the country. While this is encouraging news, Christian school leaders must be cautious and work to sustain the current growth surge. To maintain the growth surge, Christian school leaders can implement financial and non-financial factors of sustainability. Financial factors of sustainability include budgeting effectively, developing strategic plans, forecasting economic futures, and adhering to sound financial practices. Non-financial factors include a vibrant biblical worldview and Christian culture, effective leadership, a conducive …

Keynote: Notions Of Writing Center Community And Some Challenges To Them, Carol Severino

Writing Center Journal

It is crucial for writing center professionals who discuss community to ask ourselves what we mean by the term as applied to writing centers. In this keynote, I explore various notions of community that are influenced by writing center growth, expansion, and complexity, especially in relation to Iowa’s writing center. After relating a personal story about our new tutors’ traditional notion of community and an account of our own center’s expansion and growing complexity over the decades, which challenges their traditional notion, I discuss other obstacles to community, bringing in the critiques of writing center scholars. Finally, I synthesize what …

Food For Thought: Rituals In Place Based Learning, Natalia Pilato

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

In my mother’s kitchen lasting bonds among family, friends, and newcomers are created. Using that space as a point of departure, I explore the significance of pedagogical places outside of classrooms that serve as flavorful ingredients for performative and participatory learning. This article articulates ways in which rituals associated with Sicilian cultural traditions are interwoven and complicit in establishing dispositions for socially engaged learning and teaching in the arts, showing how an ethic of care can transcend generations. With a focus on place-based learning, making art and enjoying food are investigated to show how healthy productive relationships, appreciation for beauty, …

The Spiritual Impact Of Disability On Parents And Caregivers, Grant Azbell

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

This study was designed to examine the impact of disability on the faith and faith communities of parents and caregivers of persons experiencing disability. This study proceeded by asking nine parents or caregivers of persons experiencing disability a series of seven questions to evaluate the impact of disability on their faith and on their relationship to their faith community. The interviews were conducted on Zoom and the recordings were transcribed and coded to observe discernable patterns and themes amongst the participants. What emerged from the data is important for ministers, church leaders, and anyone wanting to know more about the …

An Exploration Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Usage Within The Vietnamese Community In Lincoln, Nebraska, Helen Duong

Honors Theses

Lincoln, Nebraska is home to over 5,000 Vietnamese refugees and immigrants, many of whom practice complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a result of healing traditions passed down through family members. This thesis explores the use of CAM among the Vietnamese population of Lincoln. The study employs an analysis of the literature on CAM among Vietnamese populations and thematic analysis of interviews conducted with members of the Vietnamese community of Lincoln, NE. Interviews explore perceptions of healthcare quality and access within this community as well as investigate the link between CAM and allopathic (Western) medicine. Findings suggest that certain CAM …

Academic Librarians' Opinions On Social Justice Advocacy, Judith L. Brink Drescher

Librarian Presentations

This session presented the results of 113 academic librarians surveyed regarding their views on social justice advocacy. As part of a mixed-methods exploration, quantitative, qualitative, and integrated elements were revealed. Beyond a comprehensive survey administered, librarian advocates describe how they approach issues of social justice, what the benefits are of addressing inequities within academic libraries, what barriers they've encountered in their advocacy efforts and initiatives, and what advice a more experienced advocate might offer to a peer with less knowledge who is interested in becoming more involved.

Addressing The Opioid Crises: An Evaluation Of The Community Opioid Education Pilot Program, Gabriela Murza, Cris Meier, Lily Ward, Sydney O'Shay, Dru Faldmo

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah's opioid crisis presents unique challenges as progress was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of a brief webinar-based professional development program aimed at improving knowledge and confidence among health and behavioral healthcare professionals. Results indicated positive changes in participants' confidence and knowledge regarding opioid treatment options, misuse, and connecting individuals to resources.

Families Engineering Together In Communities And At Home: Facilitation Guide, Amber Simpson, Adam V. Maltese, Peter Knox, Jungsun Kim, Jing Yang, Sawsan Werfelli, Kelli Paul, Monika Mayer

Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership Faculty Scholarship

In this publication, we present a program that serves as a bridge between families and learning environments of all kinds, and provides a pathway for engineering design to be incorporated into the everyday lives of families and kids. Supporting families in their home environment, the program offers a fun and approachable introduction to thinking about engineering and bringing these concepts to life. Conversation and engagement between children and caregivers is so important during elementary school years - this program encourages families to think about, discuss, and experience engineering in a fun and accessible way in their home and community environments. …

Diversity Among Educators In Minnesota, Gabrielle Wiest

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Diversity Among Educators in Minnesota Wiest, G. (2023) Diversity Among Educators in Minnesota The research question addressed in this capstone project is: ‘How can Minnesota cultivate a more racially diverse teaching workforce that represents our BIPOC students?’In this capstone, research is discovered about the lack of diversity among educators in America’s teaching staff. The foundational research for this project explores current efforts that have been implemented to create more diverse teaching staffs as well as the impact diverse teachers have on students. The topics of focus are: representation in schools, student perception, and past and present. The website designed for …

Improving School Community Cohesion Through Restorative Justice Practices, Megan Wagaman

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Van Allen Elementary is one of 21 elementary schools in the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). Van Allen Elementary serves 455 students and has 32 certified educators on staff. ICCSD is a High Reliability School (HRS) with a current focus on level one, which includes leading indicator 1.6: safe, supportive, and collaborative culture. As of October 2023, Van Allen Elementary has 75 total behavior referrals for the 2023-24 school year. There is a restorative team made up of certified educators and the building principal; however, the problem is teachers and administration do not have an adequate amount of training …

Preparing Future Leaders In The Arts Through The Community Arts Engagement Certificate Program: What I Learned From Teaching The First Introductory Seminar, Sharon Davis Gratto

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

The University of Dayton’s Community Arts Engagement certificate program was recently launched with the teaching of its first introductory seminar. The program and this course were conceived to be broader in scope for arts majors than the more familiar arts administration minor program. Several of the outcomes of the seminar—both those planned and those unforeseen—can be informative in thinking more expansively about experiential learning and community collaboration in arts education or other disciplines. This article represents a narrative description of the program and its introductory seminar and a personal reflection after teaching the seminar for the first time.

The Impact Of Collaboration, Problem Solving, And Creativity On Computer Programming Education For Middle School Girls, Amanda Meek

Dissertations

Despite high scores and abilities, girls lose interest in science and math throughout middle school. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the computer science research field will grow 19% by 2026; however, only 18% of the bachelor’s degrees in computer science are earned by women in the United States (ComputerScience.org, 2021). New technology and inventions are being created without the benefit of more diverse perspectives and input from females. There is a need to engage girls and maintain their interest throughout middle school and beyond. Additional research needs to be conducted about the impact and best practices …

Using Restorative Practice To Decrease Behavior And Increase School Community, Kaylee West

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this school improvement plan (SIP) is to address the student behavioral concerns at Huntington Elementary School using restorative practices. Studies suggest that restorative practices can improve student behavior and social emotional skills. The restorative practices that the author intends for the school to use are described within the plan. The SIP aims to use training on restorative practices and restorative circles to improve school culture, community, and student behaviors.

Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2023: Cultivating Community, Cedarville University

Cedarville Magazine

No abstract provided.