Digital Commons Network^™

From The Stage To The Classroom: Reflections On A Psychology Of Musical Theater Class, Jill M. Swirsky

Journal of Thematic Instruction

Thematic instruction, which uses a central popular culture theme to bridge theoretical concepts and lived experience, is a powerful tool for engaging students in complex subject matter. This paper explores the design, structure, and outcomes of a Psychology of Musical Theater course that uses popular musicals as a lens for examining key psychological theories and themes. Utilizing a hybrid course design, students explored psychological themes in musicals (e.g., racism in Hairspray) through reflective writing, small and large group discussion, and a final project. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this approach enhanced engagement and promoted deeper learning, as students reported personal growth, …

A Phenomenological Study On The Influence Of Teacher Perceptions On Play-Based Learning, Courtney Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of implementing play-based learning for teachers at early childhood settings in Georgia. The theory guiding this study was Jon Dewey’s theory of experiential learning, as it addressed the significance of children learning through play. The Central Research Question was: What are the experiences of teachers implementing play-based learning in early childhood settings in Georgia? A qualitative methodology approach utilizing transcendental phenomenology was taken to describe the lived experiences of 13 teachers implementing play-based learning. The setting included early learning centers and schools in Georgia. A combination of snowball …

Secondary Teacher Experiences Of Classically Taught Students’ Social-Emotional Development: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Kirby Elizabeth Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the experiences of 7th-12th grade educators at George Washington Academy who teach solely through classic literature and primary accounts of historical and social significance, focusing on their perceptions of their students’ social and emotional development. The theory that guided this study was Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, which provided a framework for appropriate social-emotional development across all ages. The central research question was, “What are the experiences of secondary (7th-12th grade) educators who utilize classic literature and primary accounts of historical and social significance regarding their students’ psychosocial development?” The phenomenological …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Teachers’ Growth Mindsets In Low, Middle, And High Socioeconomic Schools, Molly Bettencourt-Courtright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if a significant difference exists among teachers’ growth mindsets among those teachers employed at low, middle, or high socioeconomic status schools. This study is important because teachers’ growth mindsets have an impact on students’ academic achievement through factors such as motivation and self-efficacy. Research has demonstrated the correlation between belonging to a low socioeconomic status and poor academic achievement or learning. Therefore, this study adds to the literature regarding the effects of teachers’ growth mindset by examining the differences in mindset among teachers employed at low, middle, and high socioeconomic …

Development Of Artificial Intelligence-Based Learning Media Using Powtoon Animation With A Joyful Learning Approach To Support Ppl Activities For Pre-Service Ppg Students, Zihan Novita Sari, Evania Yafie, Muhammad Alfan, Qorry Armen Gemael, Paundra Wangsa Fajar Kusuma

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to create adaptive and engaging instructional media, its application in the teaching practicum of pre-service teacher education students remains suboptimal. During field teaching practice, most pre-service teachers still rely on conventional methods and non-interactive media, resulting in learning that is teacher-centered, less engaging, and unable to accommodate diverse student needs. This condition leads to limited student participation, low classroom interaction, and ineffective delivery of material. Therefore, the development of AI-based learning media is necessary to support more interactive, personalized, and meaningful teaching practices aligned with 21st-century learning demands. This study aims to develop …

Systematic And Scoping Reviews: What They Are, Why They Matter, And How To Do Them Right, Sharon Duffy Mlis, Rowan Marye Mlis, Lsu Health Libraries

Library Instruction

Curious about evidence synthesis? This session offers a practical introduction to literature reviews and explains their role in evidence-based scholarship. You’ll learn the types of research questions they address and the structured six-step process for conducting them effectively. Recorded session from the information session that took place on November 12, 2025.

E-Pocket Book Of Angiosperms Diversity Of Ghimbo Pomuan Sacred Forest To Improve Students’ Species Literacy And Plant Awareness, Hikmah Hidayah, Siti Zubaidah, Frida Kunti Setiowati

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Students' low species literacy and limited awareness of plant diversity highlight the need for contextualised learning media based on local plant resources. This study aims to develop, assess the feasibility, and evaluate the effectiveness of an e-pocket book on Angiospermae diversity in Ghimbo Pomuan Sacred Forest, Kampar, Riau, Indonesia, as an innovative learning tool for higher education. This e-pocket book was developed using the Lee & Owens multimedia development model, which includes the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The feasibility test results showed that this e-pocket book was rated as very valid with an average score of …

Effectiveness Of An Outcomes-Based Education Module In Electrochemistry For Engineering Students, Reden E. Nolasco

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study investigated the effectiveness of an Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) module in electrochemistry for engineering students. Students' conceptual knowledge and problem-solving abilities were assessed using a quasi-experimental design that included pre-and post-tests. The experimental group used the OBE module, while the control group received traditional instruction. Statistical tests, including t-tests and correlation analysis, established the module's impact. The post-test scores of the experimental group differed significantly from those of the control group. Faculty and student assessments verified the module's effectiveness in content quality, instructional approach, and learning effectiveness. The study concludes that OBE instructional materials improve learning outcomes and suggest …

Fostering Student Enthusiasm In Ecoprint Pounding As An Environment-Based Learning Technique, Livia Sugiastutih, Arina Restian, Kuncahyono Kuncahyono

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The lack of learning interest and environmental awareness among students poses a particular challenge in the school learning process. This study introduces ecoprint pounding as an alternative environment-based learning medium that is not only educational, but also enjoyable and contextual. The research employed a descriptive qualitative approach with a participatory method. The research subjects were elementary school students who were directly involved in the ecoprint-making process, starting from selecting leaves to printing patterns on fabric using the pounding technique. The findings indicate that this activity was effective in increasing students’ enthusiasm and engagement in learning. Additionally, students appeared more creative, …

Virtual Reality-Based Learning Performance In Civil Engineering Education, Tri Kuncoro, Dwi Siswahyudi, Jehad A.H Hammad

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The focus of this research is the design and implementation of VR based learning media for building construction classes and exam ining its efficacy on how it helps the students comprehensively grasp the concepts taught in those classes us-on. It is however important to note that two major misconceptions regarding virtual reality that persons may hold are that students act like passive observers in a virtual environment and un-derstand theory without practice or visual representation. This is the reason why VR is the chosen option. The development processes used were needs analysis design development testing and evaluation. The end product …

The Impact Of Religiosity On The Morality Of Islamic Education Students, Tri Yaumil Falikah, Zalik Nuryana, Anaas Tri Ridlo Dina Yuliana, Shazia Malik

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Religiosity is an important aspect in shaping student morale, especially for Islamic Education (IE) students who are future educators. The purpose of the study was to look for the influence of religiosity on the morale of Islamic Religious Education students at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan. This research is a quantitative study with the population of IE students from 2019 to 2021 amounting to 699 students. The technique of taking sample uses the Slovin formula, namely as many as 90 students who were taken randomly (random sampling). The primary data collection tool used is a 4-scale Likert scale questionnaire. The instruments were …

Mentoring First-Year Stem Students Through Collaborative Research In The Haynes Scholars Program, Alex Capaldi, Laura Tipton

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Volume Cxlv, Number 7, November 7, 2025, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Exploring Teachers’ Perspectives On Digital Storytelling As A Tool In Saudi Kindergarten Classrooms: A Qualitative Multicase Study, Ouhuud Alahmdi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasizes the importance of integrating digital technologies into early childhood education, with the goal of developing children’s skills for the 21st century from an early age and preparing them for the future. Digital storytelling is an effective and interactive multimodal strategy to enhance young children’s skills in the classroom. However, there is limited research examining how kindergarten teachers design and utilize digital storytelling in their classrooms. This qualitative multicase study aimed to explore how Saudi kindergarten teachers perceived and implemented digital storytelling as a tool to promote engagement and comprehension among young children. The study focused …

Program Transition Success: A Practical Guide For Educators Moving Sbae Programs, Evey Choat

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

What tools, strategies, and support systems can help agriculture educators navigate leadership transitions and sustain program success when moving between schools or communities? Teacher mobility and leadership transitions within School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) present unique challenges to program continuity, community relations, and professional sustainability. Unlike other subject areas, SBAE teachers often manage multifaceted responsibilities—as classroom instructors, FFA advisors, and community liaisons—making transitions between programs especially complex. This project addresses the lack of structured support for educators navigating these transitions by developing a Program Transition Guide specifically tailored to the needs of agricultural educators in Nebraska.

Guided by Transformational Leadership Theory …

Volume 8 (2025) The Spanish Language, Language Variations, Cultures And Responsibility

International Journal on Responsibility

This issue reflects an intentional and profound commitment to linguistic inclusion, cultural diversity, and the shared responsibility of scholars to broaden the scope of academic dialogue beyond the boundaries of English. The essays collected here invite us to reimagine bilingualism not only as a communicative skill but also as a moral, social, and institutional responsibility.

Esta edición representa un compromiso intencional y profundo con la inclusión lingüística, la diversidad cultural y la responsabilidad compartida de ampliar los horizontes del diálogo académico más allá de los límites del inglés. Los ensayos aquí reunidos nos invitan a reimaginar el bilingüismo no solo …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Literacies Of Resistance: How Florida Teachers Story Policy Navigation And Response, Katharine E. Hull

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teachers are inundated with education legislation and the policy texts and discourses that surround them. Over nine months beginning in March 2024, I collaborated with three Florida P-12 teachers to explore their literacy practices and stories as they engaged with policy in a state that has recently passed an astounding amount of education legislation. This study explored how (1) teachers story the current policy context and their roles within it; (2) teachers use literacy practices to understand and respond to P/policies that impact their labor/working lives; and (3) teachers’ literate identities, agency, and collectivity intersect and shape one another. Guided …

Fraggin’ The Superhero Genre: Parody And Carnival In Dc’S Lobo, Ryan L. Johnson

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This essay examines the DC anti-hero Lobo as an ideal example of the constructive, creative power of parody and Bakhtinian carnival. Unlike Bakhtin’s assertion that carnival since the Renaissance has lost its spirit of play and become purely destructive, Lobo uses grotesque violence to create just as much as he destroys social norms. Ultimately, the mini-series under consideration provide a valuable tool for students to understand carnival, parody, and its power as criticism.

Systematic Review Of Elementary Cybersecurity Education: Curriculum, Pedagogy, And Barriers, Na Liu, Siyu Long, Florence Martin

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Abstract -As children increasingly engage with digital platforms, the need for effective cybersecurity education has become urgent. This systematic review synthesizes 81 studies published between 2017 and 2024 to examine global curricula research focus and topics, pedagogical approaches and assessment methods, and key challenges in elementary cybersecurity education. The findings reveal six major thematic categories: student awareness, parental mediation, teacher engagement, curriculum design, community and policy support, and pedagogical innovation. Among instructional strategies, game-based learning and narrative storytelling emerge as the most frequently explored. Despite this growth, major gaps remain in curriculum consistency, teacher preparation, assessment rigor, and stakeholder coordination. …

Ethical Leadership: Rooted, Open, Generative, And Mindful, John Arthur Nunes

Intersections

No abstract provided.

From The Editor, Colleen Windham-Hughes

Intersections

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Intersections

No abstract provided.

Understanding Ai Literacy: Implications For Practice​, Devon Olson, Janet Anderson, Sara Westall

Librarian Publications

Presentation from the 2025 Mountain Plains Library Association Tri-Conference, held in Grand Forks, ND. This presentation provides an overview of basic AI concepts and frameworks for AI literacy, discussing the impact of different patron and learner demographics on learner needs, competencies, and instructional strategies.

Beyond Phonics: Neuroaesthetic And Symbolic Divergence In Culturally Responsive Dyslexia Screening, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Recent advances in neuroscience and educational technology have challenged the traditional phonological-deficit model of dyslexia, revealing the profound influence of visual-symbolic processing, neuroaesthetic resonance, and cultural context in the reading brain. This article interrogates prevailing assessment paradigms by synthesizing research on the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA), cross-linguistic literacy systems, and emerging neurodiversity frameworks. The study addresses the urgent need to reconceptualize dyslexia as a heterogeneous divergence in symbolic processing—rooted as much in neuroaesthetic and visuospatial alignment as in phonemic awareness. Existing screeners, predominantly optimized for English and other Latin-based scripts, systematically neglect the cognitive realities of learners in multilingual …

Provost's Scholarly Dissemination Report: October 2025, Une Office Of The Provost, Sonya Durney

UNE Provost's Reports

Scholarly dissemination report of UNE-authored publications during the period of May through October, 2025. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Report November 2025.

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #68 November 2025

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

President's message, Deb VanOverbeke
Membership Information
2025 Outstanding Graduate Student Award Nomination Solicitation
2025 Teaching Award nomination solicitation
2025 Research Award nomination solicitation
2025 Extension Award nomination solicitation
2025 Award of Merit nomination solicitation
Gamma Sigma Delta Committees 2025
Annual Dues Notice
Membership Info and Dues
Student Award Fund solicitation
In Memoriam: Wayne W. Oberg (September 8, 1948 - February 21, 2025); Robert M. "Bob" Scriven (June 26, 1936 - August 29, 2025)
Pledge and Honor Cords
Save the Date: Initiation and Awards Reception

A Comprehensive Overview Of Chronic Wound Infections And Current Treatment Methods, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Chronic wound infections pose significant healthcare challenges due to persistent biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and impaired healing pathways. These wounds are characterized by prolonged inflammation, microbial colonization, and disrupted tissue regeneration, leading to substantial morbidity and healthcare costs. This article reviews current knowledge on chronic wound types, their pathophysiology, and the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation to examine the latest advancements in antimicrobial-based strategies aimed at addressing these challenges. It highlights how diverse materials and technologies have been engineered to improve infection management, enhance tissue regeneration, and overcome the limitations of traditional treatments as well as advances that leverage innovations such as …

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, November 2025

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, November 2025

Message from the ERA President Pam Edwards

Welcome to new members

Give to the ERA scholarship fund

Wake up to well-being

Book review, The Intentional Life

Medicare open enrollment

Announcements and notices

Upcoming programming

Programming recap

Connecting through recipes

Memory moments

Proceedings Of The Global Conference On Business And Economics, Bhuvan Unhelkar, Valentina Della Corte, Cihan Cobanoglu, Mehmet Erdem

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

This is the third volume of the Global Conference on Business and Economics Proceedings Series. This volume also includes papers presented at the Global Conference on Technology & AI in Hospitality and Tourism.