Digital Commons Network^™

Bookmarked: A Study Of Reading Engagement, Miranda W. Dickson

Dissertations

In many Science of Reading programs, the focus on foundational skills like phonics and fluency can overshadow the importance of reading engagement in elementary classrooms. This dissertation investigates the effects of a balanced literacy intervention designed to incorporate purposeful engagement strategies across 12 lessons for at-risk third-grade readers. The six-week intervention integrated skills instruction with reading engagement strategies in the subcategories of social, cognitive, affective, and behavioral engagement. Grounded in Engagement Theory (Guthrie & Wigfield, 2000), the study's instructional framework and literature review explore foundational theories of reading engagement within these subcategories: behavioral, cognitive, affective, and social. The research was …

Toward A Welcoming Classroom: Assessment Of Student Perceptions Of Writing Education In Introductory Honors College Courses, Hilary K. Snow

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This study examines student perceptions of an introductory-level writing program in honors at a large, public R1 university. Author considers the efficacy of pedagogical interventions aimed at identifying gaps in the experience of writing for students from BIPOC and first-generation backgrounds and at developing more inclusive teaching practices. Collective revisions to the program’s writing philosophy, objectives, and rubrics helped instructors gain clarity and consistency across sections. A two-part survey was conducted at the beginning and end of the semester, and metrics were calculated for all respondents (N = 176) and targeted subgroups (n = 37; n = 30). …

Honors In Practice, Volume 21, 2025: About The Authors, National Collegiate Honors Council

Honors in Practice Online Archive

About the authors, Honors in Practice, volume 21 (2025).

Teaching Object-Oriented Design Through Interactive Uml: A Dual-Approach Framework For Code-Based Generation And Direct Diagram Manipulation, Moses Kayuni

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis introduces an interactive educational framework for teaching object-oriented design through UML class diagrams. The framework implements a dual-approach methodology: code-based generation, where students write Java code that automatically transforms into UML diagrams, and direct diagram manipulation, where students build diagrams by interacting with highlighted terms in problem descriptions. This approach addresses common challenges in teaching UML, including cognitive load difficulties, visualization problems, and the disconnect between code implementation and visual design. Built on the Mermaid diagramming framework, the system features a React frontend for diagram creation and manipulation, and a Flask backend that handles some code parsing and …

Literacy Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Instructional Choice Within A Structured Literacy Approach, Brianna Horst

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

In the United States over the past two centuries, differing views on reading instruction have fueled public and scientific debate. In the mid-2020s, Structured Literacy has become a central focus in education policy, pre-service teacher preparation, professional development, and curricular design. While Structured Literacy offers a strong foundation for early literacy, it does not fully capture a holistic view of literacy.

This mixed-method explanatory sequential design examined teachers’ stance on Structured Literacy, their instructional practices, and self-efficacy in literacy instruction. Participants included 30 survey respondents and 5 interviewees. Albert Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory (1978, 1997) informed the analysis. Phase I involved …

Layers Of Influence: Examining Teacher Experiences In The Selection And Implementation Of Multicultural Texts In Secondary English, Marine Feron Leabeater

Curriculum and Instruction (Ed.D.) Dissertations

This qualitative collective case study explored high school English teachers’ experiences selecting, planning with, and teaching using multicultural texts. Existing research highlights the benefits of culturally centered theories and models of teaching, and high school English teachers’ first-hand experiences in navigating the systems within which they work while implementing these practices provide valuable first-hand accounts to contribute to research. This study focused on the experiences of high school English teachers as they selected, planned with, and taught using multicultural texts within their complex layers of influence, framed by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. In semi-structured interviews, teacher participants shared their lived …

Evaluating Pulmonary Tuberculosis Knowledge Deficits Among Nursing Students In The United States, Jamie Lynn Woo

Nursing | Senior Theses

The healthcare field consistently faces patients with a wide range of diseases and illnesses. Pulmonary Tuberculosis is an infectious lung disease with established tools to prevent, detect, and treat it. Yet, there has been a significant rise in cases within the past year. Amidst this troubling situation, it is crucial that all healthcare workers, nursing students, and nurses in particular, are properly educated on caring for TB patients. This research proposal aims to determine if there are TB treatment knowledge gaps among nursing students in the United States by conducting a 20-question survey utilizing the Likert Scale. If results show …

Teacher Training For Diversity: Analyzing Inclusive And Intercultural Education In Early Childhood Degrees Of Three Universities Located In Spain, France And Columbia, Odet Moliner, Aida Sanahuja, Daniel Niclot, Mariaangelica Yazzo

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study examines the integration of inclusive and intercultural education principles in the Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at three Universities located in Spain, France and Colombia. An analysis of 116 course syllabi is conducted to identify the specific references to Universal Design for Learning, accessibility, inclusion, diversity and interculturality. A second content analysis was conducted to categorize the units of meaning into four categories and determine the predominant underlying approach to the use of the term 'inclusion' in each degree program. The results indicate that the concepts of accessibility and UDL are the least represented, followed by …

Voices Of High School Writers: Exploring Perceptions And Experiences In Secondary Writing Education, Emily Wisniewski

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This study explores how high school writers develop their writing identities and how their writing identities impact students' writing self-efficacy. This study emphasized how high school writers’ experiences with academic and creative writing, teacher and peer feedback, and personal beliefs about writing shape how they view themselves as writers and their abilities to create and complete a writing task. Utilizing a hybrid methodology through hermeneutic phenomenology and social cognitive theory, this study examines the lived experiences of eight participants in southeastern Pennsylvania. Through journals, interviews, and artifact collection, this study identified key themes such as writing identity development, influences in …

Flags As Symbols Of Place: Unpacking Geographic Meaning And Identity In Student Flag Designs, Carlos A. Morales-Ramirez

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Flags have been around for centuries; however, vexillology, the study of flags, was not officially coined until the 1960s. Despite this, there is still a need for more scientific and empirical research. Using qualitative arts-based research (ABR) methodology, this study investigates the creative journey of students in an undergraduate geography course as they design a flag for a place of their choosing. Students were asked to interpret the concept of ‘place’ through their flag designs while also incorporating flag design principles. The results showed that participants selected places tied to themes such as hometown, family, love, memories, and culture often …

Eng 110: Narrative Essay, Justine Matias

Open Educational Resources

This assignment asks students to compose a reflective narrative essay examining a significant moment in their language and literacy development. Drawing from literacy studies and linguistic justice frameworks, the assignment positions students' diverse language experiences—including multilingualism, code-switching, and various communication modes—as valuable resources for meaning-making rather than deficits requiring correction. Students select a meaningful personal moment related to language or literacy, develop it through rich sensory detail and narrative techniques, and analyze its broader social significance by connecting individual experience to larger cultural, educational, or societal patterns. The assignment incorporates Universal Design for Learning principles through multiple pathways for success: …

Chaos To Confidence: Claiming Your Classroom, Lashae Tietsort, Dasha Glover, Keyana Jackson, Shanel Beason

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

Nearly half of educators reported that students' behaviors were “a lot worse” than in 2019 before the pandemic (Peetz, 2025). Since COVID, teachers report that students are more prone to misbehavior and defiance, less socially skilled and emotionally mature, less motivated, focused, and present in class, and academically behind, struggling with attendance (Macias, 2024).

The goal of this professional learning module is to equip educators with research-based strategies for establishing a clear classroom vision, implementing effective procedures and expectations, and fostering strong relationships with students and their families. These strategies aim to enhance student engagement and create a supportive learning …

Beyond The Bin: Transforming Relationships With Waste Through A Collaborative Inquiry-Based Environmental Education Curriculum, Kaylee V. Morris

Pitzer Senior Theses

This thesis presents Beyond the Bin, a collaborative inquiry-based environmental education curriculum designed to transform how young learners understand and interact with waste. Motivated by the limitations of current downstream waste education—focused primarily on consumer behavior and individual disposal practices—this project argues for an upstream approach that identifies the underlying cause of these prevalent systems of disposability. Grounded in environmental education theory, affective learning, and ecological literacy, the curriculum encourages students to rethink waste as a material with creative potential rather than something to discard. Through creative engagement, experiential learning, and community-based initiatives, the curriculum fosters collaboration between students, teachers, …

The Impact Of Pre-Kindergarten Programs On Literacy Achievement In Primary Grades In Rural Southeast Alabama Title I Schools, Courtney Sonntonya Thorton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how pre-kindergarten impacts the literacy achievement of students in Alabama Title I schools. This quantitative study employed a causal-comparative (ex post facto) research design to examine the impact of Alabama’s First-Class Pre-K (FCPK) program on early literacy and school readiness, as measured by the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and the Alabama Early Learning Inventory (AL ELI). The design was selected due to its appropriateness for studying naturally occurring groups and its capacity to explore potential cause-and-effect relationships without researcher-controlled intervention.

The independent variable was Pre-K attendance (attendee vs. …

How Do School Counselors And School Social Workers Support High School Bullying Victims: A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study, Dalentina N. Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

Bullying and student aggression are increasing in public high schools. Bullying and cyberbullying are a safety concern, and victims of bullying have shown a decline academically and emotionally. Additionally, high schools need increased support with bullying behaviors. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore school counselors’ and school social workers’ insights and perspectives regarding the support they provided to bullying victims in two school districts in rural Georgia. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory was the framework used to focus research on understanding how environmental systems influence an individual’s development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from a purposeful sample of …

Conversations In The Classroom: Increasing Dialogic Inquiry To Dismantle Compliance-Based Teaching And Learning, Jill Rivera

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Verbal interpersonal communication has been diminishing from the teaching and learning process over the past decade in public-school classrooms. School district administrations mandate teachers to utilize digital learning platforms and standardized tests due to the ease at which this technology can quickly gather data. While the transition to digital platforms and test-based education may be well-intended, the result has often been a decrease in dialogic inquiry-based pedagogy which removes teacher autonomy, student agency, and has negative effects on students’ ability to critically think and effectively engage in communication and instruction. The over-emphasis on collecting data based solely on a digitized …

Researching English Teacher Development And Classroom Instruction In Indonesian Madrasahs And Pesantren, Anne-Coleman Webre, Editor, Donald Freeman, Editor, Gloria Romero, Abdul Syahid, Didin Nuruddin Hidayat, Lois Scott-Conley, Martha Epperson, Dedi Irwansyah, Siti Nurul Azkiyah, Atik Yuliyani, Agus Sufyan, Diana Erlina, Rahmah Firthriani, Hanung Triyoko, Faishal Zakaria, Anne Burns, Waliyadin Waliyadin, Nur'aeni Nur'aeni

World Learning Publications

This collection is an account of the research network, and resulting research studies, that were part of the English Language Teacher Training Project, organized by World Learning, a U.S-based non-governmental organization, with funding through the U.S. Embassy’s Regional English Language Office in Jakarta, and with the support of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs. The network had a shared research focus—to examine the experiences of English language teachers in Indonesian madrasahs and pesantren in the Project. These teachers were completing National Geographic Learning’s ELTeach Program, a suite of two on-line courses, while also receiving support and coaching from local university-based …

Measuring Emotion In Education Using Gsr And Hr Data From Wearable Devices, Qian Dong, Qingyun Wang, Rong Miao

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The pivotal role of emotions in education is universally recognized, leading to a surge of interest in emotion recognition. Wearable devices that collect real-time and nuanced subjective physiological data make it possible to delve into the intricate emotional dynamics in education. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of research exploring its potential role in tracking the emotional shifts among students of varying levels in response to specific pedagogical strategies in face-to-face chess classroom. By analyzing both objective GSR and HR data from wearable devices and subjective data from students and teachers in chess classrooms, students at different levels had experienced distinct …

Vietnamese Efl Lecturers’ Perceptions Of The Role Of Chatgpt In Facilitating Language Acquisition Among Their Students, Thanh Thao Le, Phuong Hoang Yen Dr, Trut Thuy Pham, Ngoc Bao Chau Tran, Thi Thuy Linh Nguyen

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This qualitative study investigates the perceptions of Vietnamese EFL teachers regarding the role of ChatGPT in Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Amidst the growing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, this research focuses on understanding how educators at different career stages perceive the effectiveness of ChatGPT in enhancing language learning experiences. Employing semi-structured interviews, the study engaged nine teachers from two educational institutions in Vietnam. Thematic analysis, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Constructivist Theory of Learning, revealed multiple roles of ChatGPT in SLA. These include its use as a conversational partner, a tool for immediate feedback, …

Analyzing Teachers' Perceptions Of Mobile Learning In Senior Secondary Schools: A Frame Model Perspective In Sub-Saharan Africa, Dennis Kealeboga Mabalane Junior

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The paper focuses on a systematic review of existing literature regarding the teachers’ perceptions toward mobile learning (mLearning) in public secondary schools across sub-Saharan Africa. It emphasizes that this research synthesizes previously published work rather than presenting original findings. The review identifies significant challenges and opportunities associated with mLearning implementation, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the adoption of mobile technologies in education. Despite the growing body of literature on mLearning trends in sub-Saharan Africa, there remains a notable lack of systematic reviews specifically addressing stakeholder perceptions. This study aims to fill that gap by …

Smart Education Across Academic Disciplines: A Systematic Literature Review, Billy T.M. Wong, Kam Cheong Li, Mengjin Liu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Smart education has been practiced in many academic disciplines. To investigate the relationship between the implementation of smart education and the nature of academic disciplines, this paper presents a systematic review to address the literature gap. The study synthesized 110 journal articles collected from Scopus, which were published between 2010 and 2022 and reported smart education practices in higher education. Academic disciplines involved in the practices were categorized into Hard-Pure, Soft-Pure, Hard-Applied, and Soft-Applied based on the Biglan’s classification. The results illustrated that the practices were implemented mainly at the undergraduate level, and most frequently in the language and computer …

Enhancing University Students’ Listening Comprehension Using The Toefl Learning English Application (Mall) : A Quantitative Study, Andrian Nuriza Johan, Sri Wuli Fitriati, Januarius Wuli Mujiyanto, Widhiyanto Wuli Widhiyanto

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates the effectiveness of the TOEFL Learning English Application in enhancing the listening comprehension skills of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners and explores students’ perceptions of its use. A descriptive quantitative design was employed involving 45 English Education students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo. Pre- and post-tests measured listening comprehension gains, while a questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model assessed student perceptions. Results showed a statistically significant improvement in listening scores, as well as generally positive perceptions regarding the application’s accessibility, usability, and ability to reduce learning anxiety. These findings support using the TOEFL Learning English …

The Rescue Of Wahutedew’Á And The Epistemological Reforestation: An Analysis Of Time In A Terra Dos Mil Povos, By Kaká Werá Jecupé, Ivo Cruz

The Coastal Review

It is estimated that in 1500, the year the Portuguese arrived in America, there was a population of 2,431,000 inhabitants, according to historian John Hemming (1978), who occupied the lands that we now know as Brazil. These peoples had their own culture whose cosmology was destroyed and erased over time by a violent process of colonization. Even though entire groups were decimated, much of their influence is still alive in Brazilian culture. This influence can be found in vocabulary, cuisine, and even religious practices. With the aim of rescuing ancestral narratives and knowledge of various native peoples, Kaká Werá Jecupé …

Light And Darkness For Aesthetic Pleasure: An Exploration Of J.M.G. Le Clézio’S Early Writings And Jun’Ichiro Tanizaki’S In Praise Of Shadows, Kenichiro Otani

The Coastal Review

Building upon comparative principles, this semantic reading of Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s essay In Praise of Shadows and J.M.G. Le Clézio’s early writings illustrates how both the Franco-Mauritian author and the Japanese writer problematize modern Western perception laden with concepts stifling flexible imagination through the mysterious worldview of light/darkness. They also simultaneously express the hope that another way of life leading to liberation is possible. Delving into the spiritual confinement of the subject, they demonstrate how keeping rich creativity within one’s heart can be an escape from a stagnant society. Albeit in very different mediums, Tanizaki and Le Clézio assert that the …

Effectiveness Of Multimodal Communicative Practices In Higher Artistic Education: An Analysis Of Contemporary Approaches, Mariia Tkach, Alla Kozyr, Mykhailo Mymryk, Nadiia Holubytska, Iryna Khomych

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The relevance of the study is driven by the fact that in today’s world, higher education is increasingly oriented towards interactivity and the utilization of various resources. The aim of this article is to explore various aspects of multimodality and formulate key communicative practices in higher artistic education. Addressing the stated problem is based on theoretical methodology, including methods such as surveys, analytical approaches including historical and hermeneutic analysis, comparative methods, and systematization. Research findings demonstrate that multimodality effectively enriches the learning process, fosters critical thinking, and deepens understanding of subjects. Digital technologies contribute to enhancing students’ technological literacy, preparing …

Assessing Middle School Teachers' Digital Innovation Skills In Bisha Province: A Comprehensive Study, Ahmad Mohammad Aldaleel

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study aims to assess the digital innovation skills of 400 middle school teachers in the Bisha Province and evaluate their significance in the educational process. The survey reveals that instructors exhibit a high level of technological expertise and proficiency, namely in utilising search engines and databases to locate information. Nevertheless, their proficiency in using artificial intelligence applications in school is deficient. In terms of digital security, instructors are competent at generating strong passwords, but they lack understanding of cybercrimes and prevention solutions. Teachers have exceptional communication and cooperation abilities, emphasising ongoing learning and active involvement in professional development programs. …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The Readi System In Helping Non-Native English-Speaking Preschoolers In Sarawak Learn The Alphabet: A Pilot Study., Yen Vee Tan, Julia Ai Cheng Lee, Rehman Ullah Khan, Chwen Jen Chen, Kartini Abdul Ghani, Sarah Flora Samson Juan, Brian Chung Shiong Loh

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

In Sarawak, Malaysia, many children come from multicultural backgrounds and are predominantly non-native English speakers making preschool education essential for developing early literacy skills in English. However, high teacher-child ratios can impede effective learning. The READi system—a module-based, multisensory, web-based early literacy intervention—was introduced as a supplementary classroom tool to address this challenge. This pilot study specifically evaluated the effectiveness of the "Alphabet Adventure" module within the READi system on enhancing alphabet knowledge, with a focus on letter recognition and letter name knowledge. The research design employed a pretest-posttest control group approach grounded in the positivist paradigm. [YT1] Participants were …

Enhancing Efl Learners' Vocabulary Acquisition Through Digital Storytelling: Effects On Breadth And Depth, Behnam Behforouz, Ali Al Ghaithi

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This paper aims to assess the impact of digital storytelling on enhancing undergraduate students’ vocabulary breadth and depth. For this purpose, 40 Omani intermediate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners from a higher education institution were randomly selected and divided into two equal groups: a control group and an experimental group. The Updated Vocabulary Level Test, adapted from Webb et al. (2017), and the Word Associate Test, adapted from Read (1998), were conducted as pretests and posttests. The experimental group created digital stories during the treatment using various multimedia applications. The findings revealed that the experimental group demonstrated significant …

Peace Education: Exploring Educational Possibilities, Erica Ferrer Ariza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Peace Education is a growing field of study that includes different approaches to understanding and promoting peace, conflict resolution, and social justice. Peace education can be a strategic area for societies that have experienced various forms of direct or indirect violence as is the case of Colombia, South America, which has undergone prolonged periods of violence and internal conflict. Considering that peace is contextual and should be defined and decided on by the people involved in the target context, this work aims to illuminate how a peace education process can be experienced by teachers and students and the forms it …

Personalized Physics Learning Through Ai: Insights From Problem Generation, Chatbot Dialogues, And Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Atharva Dange

Physics Dissertations - Archive

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to transform science education, yet questions remain on how best to integrate these technologies into teaching and learning. This dissertation investigates the use of AI-driven tools in university physics courses through three complementary studies. In the first study, a generative language model (ChatGPT) was used to create novel physics homework problems aligned with course objectives. Analysis showed that, after expert vetting, AI-generated questions can foster higher-order problem-solving and reduce student reliance on solution memorization, though careful instructor oversight is required to ensure accuracy. The second study embedded an AI chatbot as a learning aid in …