Educational Methods Commons^™

Teaching Smarter, Not Harder: Using Google Ai Studio & “Vibe Coding” In The Middle School Classroom, Dr. Phadmaka Patankar, Lindsey Herlehy

Professional Learning Day

Curious about how AI can actually save you time and boost student engagement? In this interactive session, you’ll explore Google AI Studio and learn how to use “vibe coding”— describing your ideas in everyday language and letting Gemini generate classroom materials for you. We’ll share sample activities and tasks and practical classroom resources that demonstrate how AI can help create engaging, interactive lessons. You’ll also learn how to craft effective AI prompts that align lessons to targeted learning objectives and standards-based outcomes, ensuring AIgenerated content supports intentional instruction. Join us to discuss how these tools can be used in multiple …

Standards-Based Grading In Technical Theatre, Tetta M. Askeland

Essays in Education

This paper explores the implementation of standards-based grading in theatrical education as an alternative to traditional grading methods. The background section discusses the limitations and biases of conventional grading scales, highlighting issues such as the emphasis on point collection over knowledge acquisition and the problematic use of zeros. The paper then introduces standards-based grading, outlining its key features and benefits, including a focus on learning standards, clear feedback, and emphasis on mastery. A detailed explanation of how to integrate this approach into a theatrical classroom is provided, along with a grade translation system to align with traditional letter grades. The …

Client Feedback Effects On Enjoyment, Motivation And Self-Efficacy In A Project-Based Learning Course, Krista Stacey, David M. Bourrie

University Faculty and Staff Publications

This paper reports a mixed-methods evaluation of how feedback/project source (faculty-led versus client-led) shapes student outcomes in a two-course undergraduate game and simulation development sequence (N = 29 across two academic years). Quantitative measures (enjoyment, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy) were collected with a six-point Likert survey and analyzed, but due to small sample sizes were not used to empirically evaluate the constructs. Instead, qualitative data comprised of de-identified focus-group transcripts and open-ended survey responses were analyzed with a keyword-assisted codebook and manual validation. Year 1 (faculty feedback) exhibited more consistent post-course gains, especially in self-efficacy, while Year 2 (client feedback) produced …

Examining The Impact Of Individual And Group Piano Instruction On Students’ Learning: Teachers’ Perceptions, Pavithra Madapatha

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Group and individual piano instruction are the most common piano teaching approaches in Sri Lanka. This research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these techniques help to improve students’ learning skills. The study was based on qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews from five (05) piano teachers. Teachers were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the interview data. The themes included are: (1) advantages and disadvantages of individual piano teaching; (2) benefits of group piano teaching; (3) challenges of group piano teaching; (4) teaching approaches and strategies used under each method …

Research As A Reciprocal Act: How Rural Grade 5 And 6 Co-Researchers Transformed Their Adult Research Mentors, Bonnie Stelmach, Leah Peters, Rae Ann Van Beers

The Qualitative Report

Including children and youth in research contributes to their academic and life skills development, but how do co-researching experiences transform adult mentors?  Walkerdine (1997) stated that research “provides not only ways of seeing others, but ways of understanding ourselves” (p. 15). In this spirit, we report on our experiences to share how co-researching with eight Grade 5 and 6 students in a rural K-9 school in Alberta, Canada, which gave us insights into research and teaching assumptions and practices. Data were collected from observations of the students co-conducting interviews with K-6 research participants, students’ self-assessments of their co-researching experiences, transcripts …

Examining Self-Direction In Learning Programming Among First-Year Students, Abigail Blalock

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

In this poster, we present empirical insights into first-year students’ self-direction in learning programming. In this study, we use a 25-item Personal Responsibility Orientation to Self-Direction in Learning Scale (PRO-SDLS) to assess the self-direction of first-year students in learning programming. The PRO-SDLS is comprised of 4 constructs: self-efficacy, initiative, motivation, and control. Additionally, this study examines the results of the PRO-SDLS across different demographic groups (i.e., first-generation, students with employment, financial aid, etc.). A pre- and post-survey was administered during the Fall 2024 semester in an introductory programming course for first-year engineering students. Data was collected from seven course sections, …

Face And Content Validation Analysis Of The Professional Pain Preparation Questionnaire For Use In Physical Therapist Education, Rodiel Kirby Baloy

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Physical therapy educational preparation for the management of individuals in pain may be determined based on the themes of: (1) level of academic preparation, (2) educational hours spent studying pain, including postgraduate training and certification, and (3) clinical experience. This study assessed the face and content validity of a tool, the Professional Pain Preparation Questionnaire (PPP-Q), to assess expert perception as to the value and relevance of each of the identified domains.

Methods: Twelve respondents were enlisted for face validity, and five experts were recruited for content validity. Descriptive statistics, specifically frequency and percentage, were used to describe …

Bridging Pedagogy And Technology: Integrating Artificial Intelligence Into Elementary Classroom Practice, Shauna J. Mayer

Essays in Education

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education presents new opportunities for teachers to enhance creativity, efficiency, and student engagement. While much of the existing research focuses on secondary and postsecondary applications, AI use in elementary can integrate AI tools such as ChatGPT, MagicSchool.ai, Curipod, and Diffit into daily practice to support lesson planning, differentiation, and classroom community building. Guided by the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework and grounded in constructivist learning theory, this paper connects technology integration to pedagogical decision-making and reflective teaching. The goal is to bridge the gap between research and practice by offering evidence-based …

Fostering Psychological Ownership And Self-Authorship In Higher Education: Pathways To Student Engagement, Growth And Knowledge Creation, Noora Heino, Markku Ikävalko, Anssi Tarkiainen, Terhi Virkki-Hatakka

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study explores the intersection of psychological ownership (PO) and self-authorship (SA) in the context of university students’ project-based learning. It examines how students develop a sense of ownership over their course projects, ideas, and knowledge they create, and how this engagement shapes their learning, identity, and sense of self. The findings highlight the role of control and perceived idea quality in fostering psychological ownership, as well as the importance of intimate knowledge and perceived object quality in supporting self-authorship. The study underscores that when students feel connected to their ideas, their motivation, persistence, and engagement increase, especially in creativity-driven …

Motivating Passion And Purpose In Grade Six Students Through Game-Based Learning, Violet H. Harada, Patricia Louis

Learning Hub

This article examines how a sixth-grade pathways course at Kamehameha Schools in Hawai‘i leveraged Game-Based Learning (GBL) and Indigenous knowledge to foster student agency, creativity, and environmental stewardship. Designed and taught by school librarian Patricia Louis with support from a multidisciplinary instructional team, the Nā Lawai‘a Hawai‘i (Fishing, Hawaiian Style) elective engaged students in researching the ‘Ama‘ama (Hawaiian striped mullet) and the ecological challenges it faces, then translating their learning into the design of a board game, ‘Ama‘ama Escape. Grounded in constructivist, learning-by-making principles, the course guided students through an iterative design process that included inquiry, collaboration, prototyping, and playtesting. …

Fostering Agency In Future Educators: Redesigning Instruction For Children's Literature Discovery Amidst Policy Changes, Rae Mair

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Recent changes in Florida policy led to the removal of several locally developed library resources. These resources had supported the discovery of children’s literature reflecting a range of cultural and social perspectives, along with the lesson plans created by students and faculty to accompany them. The shift placed greater emphasis on helping undergraduate teacher education students locate books on their own using advanced search strategies and available tools. Strengthening these skills has become increasingly important for supporting student agency in selecting materials for their classrooms. However, motivating students to engage with advanced search techniques in library catalogs and databases can …

The Power Of A Formative Experiment In An Inclusion Science Education Classroom, K. Lea Alexander, Marla K. Robinson

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Formative experiments offer a novel approach to research educational interventions

in inclusion science classrooms. This research examined whether using a formative experiment design with an intervention called Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) increased reading comprehension in grade-level biology text and science self-efficacy of students who had learning disabilities in reading in an inclusion biology classroom. Despite the small n, the results showed that there were statistically significant increases in the comprehension of grade-level biology text and science self-efficacy for the students with learning disabilities who participated in the study.

Development And Initial Validation Of The Comprehensive Ai Integration Readiness Survey (Caiirs), Richard D. Amoako, Jennifer A. Morrow

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in higher education, improving learning and optimizing administrative operations. However, the adoption and integration of AI in learning environments have received limited research attention until recently. Consequently, this research aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess readiness and preparedness among higher education faculty members for the integrative adoption of AI in learning and teaching practices. A nationwide survey was used to collect data from faculty at universities and colleges in the United States. The CAIIRS scale was developed after an extensive review of scholarly literature. Exploratory factor analysis was …

Seeing Beyond The Words: What Interdisciplinary Methodologies Reveal About International Law, Matthew S. Erie, Mark Pollack, Wolfgang Alschner, Beth Simmons, Katerina Linos

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

INTRODUCTION: On April 24, 2025, the International Law and Social Science Interest Group debuted at the ASIL Annual Meeting with a panel that posed a deceptively simple question: how can social science tools advance the work of international lawyers? Chaired by Chantal Thomas, the session brought together Matthew Erie, Wolfgang Alschner, Beth Simmons, and Katerina Linos— scholars who bridge doctrinal and empirical inquiry—to show how ethnography, computational text analysis, counterfactual inference, and mixed-method design can illuminate legal puzzles that doctrine alone cannot solve. The four short essays in this symposium provide parallel illustrations of this core theme: Erie’s ethnographic approach …

Coaching In Undergraduate And Graduate Medical Education: A Scoping Review Of Success Factors, Barriers, And Outcomes Data File, Binata Mukherjee, Jenna Pfleeger, Haidee Custodio, Maria Renee Roca, Gurupreet Khalsa, Clista Clanton

University Research Data and Datasets

The data in this file support the findings of the following study.

Purpose: Wanting to implement a sustainable learner coaching program in academic medicine and prior exposure to coaching initiatives raised questions including planning, implementation and assessment, and resource allocation. This scoping review examines coaching across medical learners, reported program elements, success factors, and barriers.

Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, informed by Levac et al. on Arskey and O’Malley’s framework and Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, PubMed, Scopus, and ERIC was searched through May 2024. Articles were screened, data extracted, and coded. A mixed methods analysis included descriptive statistics and thematic …

Greater Newark Stem Ecosystem - 2026 Convening - Small Group Outcomes & Action Plan, Brad Schenker

STEM for Success Showcase

In January 2026, GNSE convened ecosystem partners for a co-design session focused on identifying shared challenges, opportunities, and near-term actions to strengthen STEM education and career-connected learning. Participants engaged in small-group discussions to surface barriers, enablers, and potential areas for coordinated action.

From Classroom To Field: Rural Teachers’ Integration Of Science And The Outdoors, Steph N. Dean, Julieanne A. Wenner

Publications

This study explored how rural educators in the US use outdoor environments to enhance science instruction, addressing the educational marginalization of rural students. Using rural cultural wealth as a theoretical framework, we investigated how rural teachers integrate local nature-based resources and students’ out-of-school experiences into science learning. We conducted interviews and observations with rural teachers, using reflexive thematic analysis as our qualitative approach. Three key themes emerged that highlight the ways our participants use the outdoor environment to teach science: (a) harness rural community partnerships, (b) engage students through relational teaching, and (c) design learning opportunities that honor students as …

Secondary School Students' Engagement In Learning Activities: Validation Of A Short Scale, Feliciano Henriques Veiga, Zi Yang Wong, Johnmarshall Reeve, Shane Jimerson, Antonio Leite, Joan Perales, Sonia Valente, Isabel Martinez

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Student engagement is a multidimensional construct strongly associated with learning outcomes and academic success. However, its measurement remains challenging, as existing instruments often conflate engagement in learning activities with engagement in the school community. In addition, brief measures are scarce despite their increasing value, and most available instruments do not incorporate agentic engagement. Assessing student engagement in learning activities is, therefore, crucial for monitoring academic progress, identifying students at risk of dropping out, and predicting academic success. This study aimed to validate the 12-item Secondary School Student Engagement in Learning Activities: Short Scale, adapted from a higher education measure, which …

The Powerful Teacher: A Power Hypothesis For The Benefits Of Learning-By-Teaching, Sarah Shi Hui Wong, Stephen Lim

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Why does teaching others enhance one's learning? This study advanced a novel power hypothesis of learning-by-teaching: When assuming the role of a teacher, students experience a heightened sense of power in influencing others, which increases their own learning. University students (N = 242) studied a scientific text using one of three learning methods: notetaking, explaining, or teaching. The notetaking group prepared to be tested and wrote study notes about the topic; the explaining group prepared to explain and wrote an explanation about the topic as how they would write a textbook for their peers; the teaching group prepared to teach …

Higher Education Student Engagement In Learning Activities: Clarifying Concepts And Introducing A Short-Scale, Feliciano Veiga, Johnmarshall Reeve, Carlota M. Veiga, Zi Yang Wong, Isabel Martinez, Anabela Pereira Nuno Archer De Carvalho

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Student engagement plays a vital role in higher education due to its significant influence on academic outcomes, such as academic achievement and course completion. However, the concept of student engagement is often ambiguously defined, with a lack of distinction between engagement in learning and involvement in the academic community. Although the current student engagement measures have contributed to advancing knowledge in the area, they are often too long and exclude agentic engagement, which is seen as a key dimension in higher education. This research aimed to (a) clarify the concept of student engagement and the conceptual problems of the existing …