Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

“It's Because Of Me – I Made Myself Get Here”: First-Generation College Students In Stem Motivations For, And Experiences With, Academic Advising, Desiree Forsythe, Amy C. Moors, Quaylan Allen, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Academic advising plays a major role in shaping undergraduate life sciences students’ experiences through college. However, despite the critical nature of advising, there have been relatively few studies examining students’ experiences with advising and how these experiences may influence their academic journeys. Here, we investigate first-generation college students’ experiences with academic advising in biology and throughout STEM. Through the lens of community cultural wealth, we found several themes such as balancing independence and pressures to succeed, identity as a source for empowerment and motivation, wanting reassurance and support from advisors, as well as negative outcomes during interactions with advisors. We …

Place-Based Education: A Rural Solution For Student Achievement, James A. Chamness

College of Education

Rural secondary students in the United States continue to demonstrate lower academic outcomes on standardized assessments compared to their non-rural peers, highlighting the need for contextually responsive instructional approaches. This concurrent mixed methods study examined the relationship between place-based education (PBE) and academic achievement among rural secondary students and explored rural teachers’ perceptions of PBE. Guided by social cognitive theory, the study investigated differences in ACT composite scores between students exposed to PBE and those receiving traditional instruction, as well as perceived challenges and opportunities associated with PBE implementation. Quantitative data included archived ACT scores, which were analyzed using descriptive …

Layers Of Representation: A Multidimensional Book Analysis, Mariah Pfundheller, Nikki Logan, Amy E. Lein, Sydney Bueno

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This study evaluates how educators interpret the Multidimensional Framework for Inclusive Literature (MDFIL), a tool for evaluating and selecting multicultural literature for their classrooms. Participants self-identified as current, former/retired, or student teachers, or as undergraduates pursuing a teaching license at the time of the survey. Incorporating multicultural literature into educational settings has a positive impact on children's development. Multicultural literature fosters feelings of acceptance, cultural awareness, and empathy among students. By exposing children to diverse cultural perspectives, multicultural literature not only enhances their understanding of their own identities but also cultivates a greater appreciation of others' experiences. The benefits of …

Measurement Invariance Of An Affective Engagement Scale Across Genders In Urban And Rural Secondary Schools In Cross River State, Nigeria, Victor Bassey Akpan Dr, Nsikak-Abasi Udofia Prof., Joy Dianabasi Eduwem Dr, Joseph B. Offiong, Mfonobong E. Umobong Prof., Godian Patrick Okenjom Dr

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study examined the measurement invariance of an affective engagement scale across gender and school location among secondary school students in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study was premised on the critical role of affective engagement in educational equity and quality. Three research purposes, each with corresponding research questions and hypotheses, were formulated in the study. We used a stratified random sampling to select 500 respondents from a diverse group of students (gender and school location). The Student Engagement Instrument by Appleton et al. (2006) was the instrument adopted for data collection. The instrument underwent a validation process, resulting in …

Examining The Use Of Digital Journal Entries In A Special Education Course To Build Understanding Of Global Competence, Lema Kabashi, Leslie Rogers

Journal of Global Awareness

Teacher education programs increasingly emphasize the development of global competence (GC), particularly within experience-based learning contexts such as study abroad. This mixed-methods study examined teacher candidates’ (TCs) development of GC during a four-week study abroad experience by analyzing evidence from digital reflective journal entries and changes in self-reported perceptions across three time points. Data were collected from teacher candidates across two four-week summer sessions using digital journals and a Global Competence Self-Evaluation Survey. Qualitative content analysis was employed to identify the frequency with which three global competency areas were evidenced in the journal entries, while quantitative analyses examined changes in …

Developing Clear Guidance For Student Use Of Generative Ai In Academic Programs, Steve Baule

Essays in Education

As generative artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in academic life, institutions need clear, consistent guidance for students and faculty. This paper describes how Winona State University’s College of Education developed complementary AI guidance documents through a collaborative, community-informed process. Following a college-wide symposium and student requests for clearer expectations, faculty leaders drafted documents and gathered feedback from faculty, current students, recent graduates, library faculty, and university committees. The resulting guidance emphasizes transparency, disclosure, privacy, verification of learning, and the distinction between AI as a tool and AI as a source requiring citation. Public dissemination of the documents helped promote consistency, …

Generative Ai And Student Engagement, Motivation, And Learning: Exploring The Use Of Generative Ai In Higher Education Online Courses, Jeffrey L. Simmons

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The rapid emergence of Generative AI (GenAI) large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT in higher education has left many institutions unprepared to assess their potential benefits and risks. This mixed-methods study examined how ChatGPT and Google’s NotebookLM were integrated into online course development and delivery at a small private nonprofit university in California, and assessed their perceived impact on student engagement, motivation, and learning.

Data were collected from post-course Likert-scale surveys completed by students across three online master’s-level courses and from pre-course prediction surveys by instructors in the two NotebookLM courses. Quantitative analyses included one-sample t-tests against a …

Elevating Voices: Exploring The Impacts And Experiences Of Required Workplace Dei Training, Marika Barto

Dissertations

Mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training is a common element institutional DEI initiatives in their response to dismantling racial inequity in government organizations; yet, the lived experiences of racially marginalized participants remain critically underexamined—particularly in government settings, where the bureaucratic structures implementing these trainings are themselves racialized. This research was conducted during one of the most politically hostile environments for DEI work in recent memory. Federal executive actions in 2025, specifically the “Bondi memo,” directed entities subject to federal antidiscrimination laws to cease DEI practices, creating immediate chilling effects that directly impacted this study and reminded us that the …

For My Oklahomies: Educators’ Perspectives On Policy, Public Discourse, And Professional Wellbeing, Cassandra Herndon

Dissertations

This critical qualitative study examines how ideologies rooted in ultra-conservative movements shape the professional lives of Oklahoma K–12 educators, and how they maneuver, resist, or accommodate ideological forces within a climate of surveillance and professional delegitimization. Grounded in critical social theory and drawing on Foucault (1977) and Leonardo (2003), the study applies a recontextualized model of transformational resistance (Hannegan-Martinez et al., 2024) to analyze educators’ acts of agency within a restrictive policy landscape.

Drawing on semi-structured interviews with eight Oklahoma K–12 teachers and administrators, this study employs critical narrative inquiry alongside reflexive thematic and critical policy analysis to ask: (1) …

Critical Connections: An Evaluation And Envisioning Of Partnership Between Art Museums, Schools, & Central Offices, Bennett R. Portillo

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates systemic impediments to implementing partnerships between schools, art museums, and school districts’ central offices. This research suggests cross-sector connection and worker solidarity as strategies for resisting extremists efforts to de-coordinate the U.S. education system. Research methods include a review of existing literature and interviews with practitioners for the purpose of identifying shared values, challenges, and misconceptions in partnerships. From an anti-deficit perspective, the data analysis critically evaluates educational non-profits’ corporate values and re-centers practitioners' interpersonal investments.

Reclamando Corazón Y Voz: Latinas Speak Their Truth Through Plática As Resistance In California Community College Learning Disabilities Assessments, Maricela Becerra

Dissertations

Although California Community Colleges (CCCs) offer learning disability (LD) assessments to determine eligibility for academic accommodations, for Latina students navigating converging forces of race, gender, language, citizenship, and ableism, these assessments often surface unspoken histories of harm. This study advanced Chicana feminista DisCrit (CFDC), extending disability critical race theory through Chicana spirituality and cultural intuition to examine possibilities when an educadora situates assessments in a plática grounded in consideración—respectful, relational, and unhurried care.

Rooted in Chicana feminist pláticas methodology and authored from the positionality of a disabled Latina scholar–practitioner, this qualitative decolonial dissertation explored how Latina students reflected on …

From Learners To Leaders: A Peer-Led Simulation Program For Anesthesia Procedural Skills Training In Medical Students, Noah S. Kos, Ryan Beyers, Chloe Sutlick, Benjamin Sun, Tochi Mbagwu, Dr. John D. Mitchell Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: From Learners to Leaders: A Peer-Led Simulation Program for Anesthesia Procedural Skills Training in Medical Students

Authors: Noah Kos, Ryan Beyers, Chloe Sutlick, Benjamin Sun, Tochi Mbagwu, John D. Mitchell, M.D.

Background: Procedural skill competency is vital in medical education, but limited faculty availability poses challenges. We implemented a peer-led simulation program teaching peripheral IV insertion (PIV) and endotracheal intubation, with a focus on student leadership.

Methods: Sixteen peer educators, trained by attendings, conducted monthly workshops from July-October 2025. Students practiced at PIV and intubation stations, assessed via validated rubrics (17 items for PIV, 21 for intubation; 5-point scale). …

Second Annual Advances In Business Education Conference 2026 Proceedings, Kelsey Metz

Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference Proceedings

Conference Overview: The Second Annual Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference was held on May 21–22, 2026, at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Hosted by the LMU School of Business, the ABE Conference exists to promote teaching excellence, scholarly inquiry, and regional engagement through innovation and collaboration in business education.

With a focus on fostering meaningful dialogue among educators, researchers, students, and industry professionals, the conference welcomed more than 70 attendees representing 11 institutions from across the Appalachian region and beyond.

The event was structured around four key tracks:

Pedagogy and Teaching Excellence: Showcasing innovative teaching methods, instructional technologies, …

Social Determinants Of Low Educational Attainment, Isabelle Graham, Kevin Lieng, Aubriana Weisbach

Undergraduate Economics Working Paper Series

This paper examines how socioeconomic and demographic factors influence low educational attainment across U.S. cities. The analysis estimates both a linear regression model and a semi-log model to evaluate how poverty, unemployment, family structure, age composition, overcrowding, racial and ethnic minority share, broadband access, and housing cost burden affect the percentage of adults without a high school diploma. The results show that poverty, overcrowding, and minority share are the strongest predictors of low educational attainment, each exhibiting positive and highly significant effects. Overall, the findings highlight the role of social factors in shaping educational outcomes in high school.

Predictors Of Leadership Self-Efficacy: Racial Identity-Related Ideological Values, Racism-Related Stress, And Resilience Among Asian American Educators In K-12 Schools, Chong Lor

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the underrepresentation of Asian American educators in K-12 leadership and the limited leadership pipeline available to them. Specifically, this study examined the extent of the relationships between Asian American racial identity-related ideological values (AARIIV), Asian American racism-related stress (AARRS), resilience, and leadership self-efficacy (LSE) among Asian American educators in K-12 schools.

This study was grounded in three theoretical perspectives—AsianCrit, the Racial Triangulation of Asian Americans, and Social Cognitive Theory—that provided the theoretical rationale for examining the racialization of Asian Americans in relation to leadership. This theoretical foundation guided the development of the …

Effects Of An International Teaching Experience On Pre-Service Teacher Self-Efficacy, Janet George, Jared Johnston

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This study investigated the effect of faculty mentoring on the self-efficacy beliefs of pre-service teacher (PST) candidates. Between 2023 and 2024, eight PSTs took part in a two-week international teaching experience. The overall experience was built on Bandura’s sources of self-efficacy (1997). For the study, we used Tschannen-Moran and Woolfolk-Hoy’s Teacher Sense of Self-Efficacy Scale (1998) to measure the PSTs’ sense of self-efficacy before and after the experience. We utilized a convergent mixed-methods research design to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effect of faculty mentoring upon the PSTs’ sense of self-efficacy. The results of our study showed that faculty …

Can We Digitize A Soul? A Study Of Ai And Ethics, Spirituality, And Humanity, Debra S. Espinor, W. Scot Headley, Linda Samek

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The rapid advancement of computing technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping both society and the educational landscape. This study examines faculty experiences and attitudes toward the role of AI in teaching and research within the distinct context of Christian higher education. While recognizing the potential of AI to drive educational innovation, this research also addresses significant faculty concerns regarding the implications for academic integrity, critical thinking, and intellectual property. Specifically, the study investigates faculty perspectives on data security and privacy, the reproduction of creative expression in art and music, and the broader impact of AI on the liberal …

Perceptions Of Novice Career And Technical Education Teachers Regarding Teacher Evaluations, Felix Quayson, Chris Zirkle

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

As states expand funding for alternative teacher-licensure pathways, this qualitative descriptive case study examined how 38 novice Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers in a Midwestern research university’s alternative licensure program perceived teacher evaluation during their first years in the profession. Analyses yielded ten major themes with three subthemes each, which were synthesized into the DEEPS conceptual evaluation framework: Development, Evaluation, Engagement, Partnerships, and Skills. We arranged the acronym DEEPS based on data analysis for conceptual coherence rather than order of occurrence. Participants described evaluation as misaligned with the specialized demands of CTE instruction and called for tools that better …

Interest Requires Knowledge: Initial Development Of A Measure Of Career Knowledge, Sarah Ferguson, Marjorie Blicharz, Kara Ieva, Christopher J. Winkler, Theresa Cann

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This paper details a measurement development study conducted in multiple phases to establish the reliability and validity of scores from a measure of career knowledge that can be specified to career fields. The initial development study focused on surveying and mapping careers in the engineering technician cluster, in alignment with a larger intervention study on career exploration of STEM technician and technologist careers. A short seven-item measure of perceived career knowledge was developed and piloted to address the need for empirical data on students' career knowledge, an outcome of interest to practitioners and researchers in career development. Exploratory and confirmatory …

Making Data Usable For Schools And Colleges: The Regional Data Collaboratives Approach, Benjamin Boer

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

This white paper outlines a strategic initiative by the Education Systems Center (EdSystems) to establish regional data collaboratives that improve how schools and colleges use information. Unlike traditional top-down accountability models, these collaboratives focus on longitudinal data sharing to help administrators understand student transitions from ninth grade through postsecondary completion and into the workforce. The framework relies on four core competencies: legal data agreements, secure management, linking analytics, and meaningful presentation of results. By examining factors like dual credit, pathway participation, and 9th-grade performance, these partnerships aim to identify and eliminate educational inequities. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to create a …