Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Course Portfolio: Csce 478/878 Introduction To Machine Learning, Hongzhi Guo

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio was developed for CSCE 478/878: Introduction to Machine Learning, offered by the School of Computing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, as part of the Faculty-led Inquiry into Reflective and Scholarly Teaching (FIRST) project. The course provides an introduction to foundational machine learning concepts, models, and programming tools. It enrolls both undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, biological systems engineering, chemical engineering, business-related fields, etc. Offered in Spring 2025, the course was peer-reviewed to support continuous improvement in teaching. The primary goals of this portfolio are …

Personalized Nutrition Program For Microbiome Restoration: A Functional Approach To Gut Health, Digestive Function, And Weight Management, Maria Camila Trujillo

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

The gut microbiome has emerged as a fundamental influencer of digestion, metabolism, human health, and weight management. Dysbiosis and imbalance in gut microbial composition are associated with various health disorders, including obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Considering the high incidence of weight-related health concerns among dietary clients, personalized microbiome interventions offer a promising therapeutic approach. This project aimed to develop evidence-based medical nutrition therapy guidelines grounded in individualized microbiome analysis via stool testing. As a structured protocol, the RISE method (reset, identify, support, excel) was established based on the current literature review and specialized microbiome training. The methodology incorporates …

Using Fantasy Sports To Connect Process With Product In Adpr/Spmc 464/864 – Sports Media Relations And Promotion, Brian Petrotta

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The purpose of this portfolio is to analyze the relationship between assignments and desired learning outcomes in ADPR/SPMC 464/864 – Sports Media Relations and Promotion. ADPR/SPMC 464/864 Sports Media Relations and Promotion remains a challenging course to navigate but the process of developing this portfolio demonstrates that it has many strengths. The first of these strengths is the simple structure that centers the course around a fantasy football team (NFL in fall, EPL in spring). Most students were already familiar with fantasy sports and, in general, appreciated the inherent competition within this structure. Feedback from students’ year-end self-assessments from two …

Analyzing Florida’S Lgbtqia+ Censorship Laws And Their Anti-Democratic Attack On Education, Peyton Sibert

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

The past four years (2021-2024) have seen an increase in academic censorship laws and anti-LGTBQIA+ rhetoric across the United States. Florida, specifically, has established itself as a leader in discriminatory legislation. In this paper, the author analyzes four Florida laws: HB 1557, HB 1069, HB 7, and SB 266, along with the rise in book bans to consider both the pedagogical effects and negative impacts on the LGBTQIA+ community. These analyses will be juxtaposed with extant political rhetoric around these laws to expose a) the intent of the law b) the contradictions within and across laws and thereby c) the …

Early Childhood Music Education By Formal Design: Idea To Experience, Ladislao D. Prado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Academic readiness, measurable growth, and reflective transferable knowledge are hallmarks of a successful music classroom. Yet sound pedagogical and curricular practices are the catalyst for achieving this success. Across the U.S., music programs are thriving in settings where these themes coalesce, save for one: the early childhood music program. At present, no comprehensive music program frameworks exist for this learning environment. Thus, this study aims to identify gaps in early childhood music education literature and national pedagogical and curricular practices, determine why formal music instruction is deficient for this demographic, and examine ways to address this learning community’s needs. As …

Exploring The Role Of Professional Development In Reviving The Passion Of Teaching: A Case Study, Brandi Renee Cook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine professional development as a means of restoring passionate teaching for in-service K-12 teachers at Cresthill Public Schools (CPS). The theory guiding the study was the Learning-Oriented Leadership Model, as it explores how professional development fosters continuous teacher growth and retention. The central research question for the study was: How do teachers describe the ways professional development may help them stay in the profession? The study utilized a qualitative case study design. A purposive sample of 15 teachers who participated in required professional development was selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, …

The Degree To Which Science Teachers In The Sultanate Of Oman Practice Social -Emotional Learning Skills In The Classroom Situation From The Students’ Point Of View., Abdullah K. Ambusaidi Prof., Mohammed Shahat Dr, Huda M. Al-Dayri Dr., Abir M. Al-Busaidi

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed to reveal the degree to which science teachers in the Sultanate of Oman practice social-emotional learning skills in the classroom from the students’ point of views. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach to achieve its aims based on a questionnaire which consisted of comprising (27) statements distributed over five main domins (enhancing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, social relations, and responsible decision-making). The reliability coefficient reached of the questionnaire is (0.939). The study was adminstered to a sample of (1470) male and female students from the ninth and tenth grades in the six Omani governorates. The results …

Metaverse Technology-Based Educational Program And Its Effectiveness On Developing Digital Future Skills And Enhancing Them Among University Students, Abdulaziz F. Al-Osail

International Journal for Research in Education

This research aimed to design an educational program based on Metaverse technology and measure its effectiveness on developing digital future skills and enhancing them among university students in KSA. To achieve this purpose, a random sample of (40) preparatory-year students from King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa was selected, along with (6) students from the research group for a case study. The research employed a descriptive method to design the program, develop its materials and tools, an experimental method with a quasi-experimental design to measure effectiveness, and a case study approach to enrich the research with qualitative data.

Quantitative data were …

Youth’S Experiences In Trauma-Informed Writing Instruction: A Narrative Inquiry Analysis, Shantell Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of high school age youth who engage trauma-informed writing instruction in an afterschool setting. Trauma-informed writing instruction can aid youth in processing their lived experiences and the after-school program utilizes a curriculum that connects traditional aspects of the writing workshop with trauma-informed writing instruction. Participants in this study included youth who were enrolled in the after-school program and their adult facilitator. For this study, data was collected through observations, semi-structured individual interviews, my research journal, and students’ written pieces. These data sources were then analyzed through the narrative inquiry methodology which resulted in the participants’ …

Ai And Ethical Use Implication For Research, Kelley Plass, Sierra Campbell

May Institute

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives, especially for students. While there are valid debates about the advantages and disadvantages of students using AI for their assignments, such as comparing tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT, one aspect that often goes unexamined is the information sources that AI relies on. AI is now integrated into search engines like Google and Bing, making it accessible to everyone. Additionally, with the emergence of AI research tools like ResearchRabbit, AI's role in everyday activities continues to expand beyond easily accessible resources such as subscription databases. AI is now an optional …

Fan Perceptions Of Dynamic Ticket Pricing In Professional Sports: The Impact Of Transparency, Incentives, And Demographics, Joshua Greer, Nicholas Zoroya

The COSMA Journal

Abstract

Dynamic Ticket Pricing (DTP) has become a widely implemented strategy in professional sports, allowing organizations to adjust ticket prices based on demand fluctuations. While DTP optimizes revenue generation for teams, its impact on fan perceptions, purchasing behavior, and loyalty remains a crucial consideration. This study examines the influence of age, gender, pricing transparency, and promotional incentives on fans’ perceptions of fairness, trust, and purchasing decisions within a dynamic pricing model.

A total of 57 participants completed a survey assessing their attitudes toward DTP. Key areas of analysis included perceived fairness, willingness to pay for high-demand games, trust in pricing …

Benefits Of Informal Practical Experiences As A Central Teaching Method In A Literature Of Adolescents Course, Jillian Harpster

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio includes the course context and organizational format of a junior-level required course for pre-service secondary English teachers. Formatting and context information include teaching methods and course materials. As a central teaching method of the course, students are required to attend a practicum that is additional to their observational practicum (sophomore year) and their clinical practicum (senior year). In this way, the praxis of the coursework and the informal practicum serve as an intentional moment of praxis, while also scaffolding students towards their senior year practicum and beyond (student teaching, early career teaching). Ultimately, the argument of the portfolio …

A Qualitative Study Of The Impact Of Racial Segregation On The Schooling Of One African American Family, Leatre Y. Cooper

Masters Theses (Archived)

This qualitative case study examines the impact of social, economic, and racial biases, that Black students experienced in the United States public school system, focusing on the author's three generational journey. The author's experience highlights the challenges of racialized residential segregation stemming from city-wide redlining practices in New Orleans, which kept Black people geographically isolated from employment opportunities and exposed them to risks to their well-being, crime, and violence (Bloom, 2014; Englund, 2022; Platt, 2019; Seicshnaydre et al.,2018). Despite the tremendous progress made by the Civil Rights Movement and federal and state policies aimed at addressing these inequalities, housing segregation …

Using Robot Toys To Play With Math, Space, And Coding: Children's Development Of Computational And Mathematical Thinking, Jessica Shumway, Jody Clarke-Midura, Deborah Silvis, Boram Lee, Anahita Ashineh, Camille Lund, Asmaa Yazidi Alaoui, Alissan Sarturato Firão, Makayla Rogers

Spatial Activities and Robot Coding (SPARC)

• CT as "the thought processes involved in formulating a problem and expressing its solution(s) in such a way that a computer—human or machine—can effectively carry out" (Wing, 2014)

A Seat At The Schoolhouse Table: Reimagining Education Through Afrofuturist And Womanist Theory, Natasha M. Capers

Student Theses

“A Seat at the Schoolhouse Table: Reimagining Education Through Afrofuturist and Womanist Theory” critically examines how curriculum, even when well-intentioned, can perpetuate harm by excluding the lived experiences of marginalized communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ students. Using a real middle school immigration assignment given to the author's son as a case study, this capstone deconstructs the structural biases embedded in curriculum design and proposes a radical reimagining through the liberatory lenses of Afrofuturism and Womanism. Blending scholarly inquiry, personal narrative, and community-based interviews, this project offers a restructured assignment that centers joy, identity, and speculative storytelling as tools for educational …

How We Show Up Matters: Transformative Adult Social Emotional Learning To Build Equity-Centered Schools, Samantha L. Rummage-Massey

Dissertations

Transformative Social Emotional Learning (tSEL) expands traditional SEL by integrating equity and social justice to cultivate student development and as a framework for educator growth and systemic change in education (Jagers et al., 2019). Unlike traditional SEL, which primarily targets students, tSEL emphasizes educators’ role in disrupting inequitable practices, making it a powerful tool for reimagining schools as justice-oriented spaces. This qualitative case study explores how tSEL professional development influences educators’ sense of identity, agency, and belonging, along with their reflections on systemic inequities and application of Critical Pedagogy (Freire, 1970) in personal and professional contexts. Data collection included semi-structured …

Challenging Dominant Mindset Ideologies: Transforming Teaching And Learning That Impact Latinx Students, Francisco Lopez

Dissertations

Teacher identity poses a central connection to social justice education as researchers call for studies to pay attention to the cultural identities of those teaching in our schools when practices like color blindness are a common practice amongst teachers that keeps racial and social power intact. Despite the overwhelming presence of White teachers nationwide, we must pay attention to the specific needs of Teachers of Color in our classrooms. The assumption is often made that teachers of Color already have the knowledge on how to enact culturally responsive pedagogy. This study investigates the relationship between Critical Race Theory (CRT) and …

Beyond The Exam Score: An Examination Of The Kenyan Education System, Its Reforms, Inefficiencies, And Impact On Individuals And Society At Large, Olivia M. Pederson

Honors Projects

In Kenya, secondary education plays a decisive role in shaping students’ university and career opportunities as well as their social mobility. The national exam, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), acts as a key gateway to higher education and employment. The quality and accessibility of education for Kenyan youth, however, has been impacted by systemic inefficiencies ranging from underfunding and disparities in resource allocation to an exam-centric curriculum. This study takes a qualitative approach, using both purposive and convenience sampling to gather data through a questionnaire sent to university students and adults that have graduated from a Kenyan secondary school. …

Small-Groups To Enhance Student Achievement And Confidence In Mathematics, Catie Tangeman

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

The purpose of this study was to focus on enhancing math instruction for a group of second-grade students. I saw a large gap in students’ skills at the beginning of the year and wanted to identify a way to strengthen instruction for their success. This study specifically focused on implementing differentiated small groups in math instruction to see if student achievement and confidence would increase. Data was collected in these small-groups through a pre/post-test, exit tickets, and surveys. The surveys helped measure confidence. All three methods helped progress monitor and track the effectiveness of small-group instruction for students. When the …

Fostering Critical Thinking In The World Language Classroom, Madeline Sossi-Jones

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

In education, the lack of critical thinking (CT) in students has become increasingly evident in classrooms of all contents. There are a multitude of factors that have contributed to this issue over the last ten years, so just one is not solely to blame. This study examines the prevalence of a CT deficit in world language classrooms. Data from Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) and classroom observations proposed a need for students to increase their CT skills in the Spanish language. The study consisted of 21 students in a Spanish 2 course in grades 9-12 throughout 6 weeks. The research analyzed …