Educational Methods Commons^™

Edu 30 Introduction To Special Needs, School & Society Syllabus, Propa Akter

Open Educational Resources

The syllabus for EDU 30 contains a course description, course objectives, course readings divided by week and a link to OER textbooks and ZTC readings.

Pastoral Listening Skills Training In The Black Baptist Church: Equipping Clergy To Better Support Congregants, Regina Pair Allen

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

This study engages a historical survey of qualitative studies of perspectives of Black pastors regarding pastoral care, examining various avenues for training in pastoral listening and the role of ministers as theological clinicians in supporting church ministries and community needs. The findings highlight the ongoing need for professional development among pastors as primary educators and theological clinicians. The study underscores the importance of equipping Black Baptist pastors to address the clinical pastoral needs of African American congregants. The significance to this field of study is providing Black Baptist clergy with practical skills and tools, grounded in theological principles, to better …

Asset And Deficit Thinking In English Instructors’ Mindsets And Feedback On Student Writing, Rebecca R. Simataa

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Educators are trained to diagnose and fix gaps in students’ skills and knowledge. This pedagogy often leads to deficit thinking, where instructors blame students’ identities or backgrounds for challenges in school. With deficit thinking leading toward inequitable outcomes, recent research has responded with asset thinking to recognize students’ strengths, yet its intersection with instructors’ feedback remains largely unexplored. Drawing on deficit thinking scholarship (Davis & Museus, 2019; Valencia, 1997) and Yosso’s (2005) community cultural wealth model, this qualitative phenomenological study explored asset and deficit thinking in instructors’ mindsets and feedback practices. Participants consisted of five higher education English Language Arts …

Beyond The Podium: Transformative Learning And The Student Experience In High School Debate, Daniel J. Sleiman

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This qualitative study explores how historically underrepresented high school debaters understood their experiences in an independent high school debate league, particularly in relation to growth, challenge, shifting self-perceptions, and belonging. Drawing on narrative inquiry (Clandinin, 2016) and interpreted through transformative learning theory (Mezirow, 2000) and currere (Pinar, 1994), this study focused on recently graduated students from Central High School’s debate program. Screening questions adapted from King’s (2009) Learning Activities Survey identified participants who self-reported perspective-shifting experiences. Semi-structured interviews informed by the phases of currere elicited reflective narratives, and reflexive journaling supported the research process. Data were analyzed thematically to identify …

Resonant Cracks In The Music Curriculum: Integrating Social And Emotional Learning In The Secondary Music Classroom, Margaret E. Lerch

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Music education has long been recognized as a subject that encourages student learning beyond the walls of the music classroom. While elementary music programs often foster language development and social awareness, secondary music instruction tends to emphasize performance skills and technical development. The explicit secondary orchestra curriculum for this middle school includes only instrument skill-development standards and learning-target descriptions. In this fourth-marking-period sixth-grade orchestra class, coursework—including students’ journal reflections, classroom dialogue, and comparison soundscape projects—operated intentionally “within the cracks” of the formal curriculum to create opportunities for the students to express and engage with emotions, identity, belonging, empathy, perspective-taking, and …

Edu 40 Field Work Seminar, Tonya L. Johnson

Open Educational Resources

The syllabus for EDU 30 contains a course description, course objectives, course readings divided by week and links to OER textbooks and ZTC readings.

Think First, Chatgpt Later: Guiding Human-Ai Collaboration For Learning Gains In Independent Human Creativity, Sarah Shi Hui Wong, Sophia Xuefei Qiu

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT can boost creative performance, but do these boosts translate into learning gains? This study examined whether the benefits of ChatGPT for creativity persist even when its assistance is removed, and how people can effectively use ChatGPT to enhance their learning and independent creativity. University students (N = 196) solved a creative product improvement task either independently (human-only group) or using ChatGPT freely (general-AI group) or using ChatGPT in a guided way (regulated-AI group). Specifically, the regulated-AI group used a novel “think first, ChatGPT later” approach—they first generated their own ideas, then collaborated …

The Implementation Of A Manufacturing Curriculum In Secondary Education, John Chieyung Kim Ii

Theses and Dissertations

American manufacturing cannot find workers. By 2030, 2.1 million positions will go unfilled, at a projected cost of one trillion dollars. Secondary schools are not solving this problem. At Ypsilanti Community High School, only 23.7% of graduates pursue postsecondary education. The rest enter the workforce without credentials or technical skills. No manufacturing curriculum existed at YCHS. This Dissertation in Practice built one.

The study used improvement science methodology. Two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles designed, tested, and refined a precision measurement curriculum aligned to NC3 industry certification standards. Thirty-three students participated across both cycles. Cycle 1 used a traditional theory-first sequence over ten …

Role Of University Staff In Fostering Graduate Student Engagement, Elizabeth Ellen Caulder

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate student disengagement has increased in higher education, especially after changes from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as automation, remote work, and less face- to-face interaction. This dissertation-in-practice investigated whether relationship-focused interventions could boost student engagement. Guided by Social Exchange Theory and Improvement Science, it used a Plan–Do–Study–Act framework to develop and refine a professional development lunch program. The intervention aimed to promote reciprocal interactions between students and staff based on shared goals. Data from observations, attendance, surveys, and interviews were analyzed across three cycles.

This study illustrates how improvement science serves as a practical, systems- focused approach to tackling problems …

Strengthening Students' Political Thinking Skills By Researching The Annexation Of Texas, Rebecca Macon Bidwell, Jeremiah Clabough

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The unit plan in this manuscript uses best practices from the C3 Framework published by the National Council for the Social Studies and Wayne Journell’s ideas about political thinking to engage students in discussion of the politics leading to the nomination of Governor James K. Polk as the Democratic Party nominee for president in the U.S. 1844 presidential election. Students explore the impact of candidates’ views of the annexation of Texas during this election as well as the influence of President Jackson on the nomination process in the Democratic Party. Ultimately, the election pitted Governor James K. Polk, the dark …

Making Social Studies Work In The Age Of Ai, Angelo Letizia

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The purpose of this paper is to first outline a more embedded stance toward AI use, which I have labeled invisible philosophy and history as DNA and use this embedded framework as a backdrop for a more concrete discussion of skills and dispositions in regard to the use of AI in the social studies classroom and beyond. This dual positioning, one more theoretical and one more concrete, calls attention to the fact that AI should not simply be seen as some flashy tool divorced from a more nuanced and embedded understanding of its role in society. A list of practical …

Hitler Must Be Killed: A Wwii Case Study, Jeffrey Byford, Presley Shilling, Alisha Milam

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Social studies education during the 1960s experienced an educational renaissance known as the new social studies movement. Over 50 projects were funded by the National Science Foundation or private corporations to interject a student-centered curriculum into K-12 classrooms during this period. Nearly 60 years later, can student-centered decision-making activities be used in an era of high-stakes testing and planned curriculum? This article attempts to rekindle students' interest in decision-making and discussion by exploring elements in Moral Reasoning: The Value of Life from the Harvard Social Studies Project (HSSP). The activity called "Hitler Must Be Killed" helped students bring the content …

Ready-To-Teach Reads: Standards-Aligned Novel Studies For Seventh Grade Using Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction, Elizabeth Duvall

Senior Theses

This project aims to provide middle school English teachers with an easy way to update their curriculum to be culturally relevant using ready-to-teach unit plans based on diverse novels. Since research shows students benefit from reading texts from diverse cultures, each novel features minority voices. Both units include lesson plans for each day, and resources like slideshows, worksheets, and discussion questions. They were created using the South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards for English Language Arts. While these units are tailored to South Carolina teachers, they can be used by any educator whose standards align with the units’ learning …

Effectiveness Of A Problem-Solving Framework That Incorporates Equitable Pedagogy, Three Reads Comprehension Strategy, Cra, And Schema-Based Instruction On Students’ Math Word Problem Solving Abilities, Amanda Julia Laborde

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a problem-solving framework that incorporated the Three Reads comprehension strategy, Concrete- Representational-Abstract instructional strategy, Schema-Based Instruction, as well as the implementation of equitable pedagogical practices. This mixed-methods action research study was guided by three research questions for which both qualitative and quantitative data had been collected. The first question focused on determining teacher or student strategies within the intervention course that would be a hinderance to the implementation of the prescribed intervention. The second question focused on the impact of the problem-solving framework. The third question focused on the …

Book Creator In A Dual Language Classroom: The Impact Of A Digital Multimodal Writing Tool On Second Graders’ Spanish Informational Writing Skills And Attitudes Toward Writing, Adriana Hart

Theses and Dissertations

Second grade students in dual-language immersion programs often experience limited vocabulary development and fluency in Spanish, which can affect their ability to comprehend texts and express ideas in writing. In many dual-language settings, Spanish writing instruction receives less instructional time than English literacy, resulting in limited opportunities for students to engage in sustained, structured writing. As a result, there is a need to examine instructional approaches that intentionally support Spanish writing development. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of a digital multimodal writing tool on second grade students’ informational writing skills in Spanish, as well …

Strengthening Competency-Based Grading Through Principal Leadership: Developing And Testing A Plc Support Protocol, Kristen Ann Holly

Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice addresses inconsistent scoring and grading practices during Charleston CUSD1’s transition to a competency‑based education (CBE) system. Using improvement science, the study identified root causes, including varied teacher interpretations of proficiency scales, limited resources, and a lack of principal‑led structures for support and accountability. In response, the researcher and an improvement team designed and tested a principal protocol aimed at strengthening Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as the primary mechanism for developing shared understanding and consistent grading practices. Through three Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles, the protocol was refined for clarity, feasibility, and impact. Findings show that …

Increasing Equity In Technology Integration, Whitney Anne Colley

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice focuses on unequal integration of technology across the district. This action research study aimed to understand teachers’ experiences and promote equitable use of technology in classrooms by implementing a coaching cycle centered on co-teaching and collaboration, which supports teachers beyond simply substituting traditional tools with technology, toward more meaningful integration that improves learning. Teachers often use technology as a direct substitute due to limited time and rushed professional development, which can affect their confidence and effectiveness. The study took place in a public elementary school serving 700 students, in which all students from second to fifth …

From Sounds To Success: Multi-Sensory Parent–Child Engagement For Early Phonics Among 4-Year-Olds In Rural Jamaica, Kyc-Ann Denise Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Early literacy disparities remain a persistent challenge in rural Jamaican communities, where many young learners begin school with limited exposure to systematic phonics instruction despite the rich cultural and linguistic resources present within their families. This Dissertation in Practice examined how a multi-sensory parent– child engagement approach could improve phonemic awareness among four-year-old learners in a rural early childhood classroom in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Anchored in an equity-oriented improvement science framework, the study used two iterative Plan–Do– Study–Act (PDSA) cycles to test strategies that integrated systematic phonics instruction with culturally responsive parent engagement practices.

The intervention included daily multi-sensory phonics …

Teaching The Teachers: A Responce To Legal Illiteracy In Education, Landon Lee Kekoa Fielder

Theses and Dissertations

This action research dissertation aimed to examine the impact of teachers’ knowledge of education law and their perceived understanding of how it impacts their daily functions. This mixed methods study was conducted using digital data collection methods and analysis. The findings of this study revealed an increase in legal literacy among both pre-service and in-service teachers. Quantitative findings indicated an improved understanding of key legal concepts amongst participants. Additionally, qualitative findings expressed a heightened awareness and clarity surrounding legal responsibility for teachers. Across both in-service and pre-service teacher participant groups, participants identified gaps in their understanding and recognized the value …

Exploring The Impact Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy On Student Cultural Capital, Jessica Asten Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the intersection of cultural capital and culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) within the context of eighth-grade social studies education. Grounded in a theoretical framework of Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory, Ladson-Billings’ theory of culturally relevant pedagogy, and principles of critical curriculum theory, this research study investigated how elements of objectified and embodied cultural capital manifested in student participants and how those elements may have been influenced using culturally relevant instructional strategies. Within the context of a mixed methods design, a qualitative survey instrument was administered to students enrolled in South Carolina and United States history courses and sought to …