Digital Commons Network^™

Resourcefulness, Ingenuity, And Community Strengths In Meeting Rural Youth Mental Health Needs: A Multiple Case Study, Aaron Leo, Jessie Tobin, Paul Guay, Kristen Campbell Wilcox

The Rural Educator

This study investigated how 133 educators in six rural schools experience and address youth mental health challenges and the adaptations they use to meet students’ needs. Interview and focus group data were examined through the lens of rural community wealth to draw attention to the ways educators support their students and the resources on which they draw in their efforts. Findings illustrate that rural educators shift to providing as many services to students as possible on their school campuses; increase the capacity of staff members to address students’ mental health through targeted professional development and training; and integrate social-emotional learning …

Challenges And Opportunities In Rural Education: The Case Of La Araucanía, Chile, Katerin Arias-Ortega, Viviana Villarroel

The Rural Educator

The article reports on the challenges that rural education has been facing in La Araucanía, Chile, from the perspective of Mapuche parents. The study’s methodology was qualitative and involved Mapuche families who sent their children to rural, single-teacher schools located in an Indigenous context. The findings indicate that Mapuche mothers perceive the education that their children receive in rural schools to be of lower academic quality. Furthermore, they acknowledge that rural education receives less economic support than education in urban settings, which creates a disadvantage for Indigenous and peasant children. This disparity limits their ability to acquire the same resources …

Juntos: Together: Annual Report, Ay 21-22, Lindley Mcdavid

Evaluation and Learning Research Center Reports

No abstract provided.

Juntos 4-H: Daviess County Annual Report: 2024-25, Lindley Mcdavid

Evaluation and Learning Research Center Reports

No abstract provided.

Indiana 4-H Annual Report 2022-2023, Lindley Mcdavid

Evaluation and Learning Research Center Reports

No abstract provided.

Aligning Perspectives: Exploring Parent-Youth Agreement On Well-Being And The Impact Of Positive Psychology On Communication & Relationship Habits, Daijah N. Hines

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As research calls for best practices in assessment of psychological constructs from multiple informants, more information is needed for secondary reports of subjective experiences such as perceptions of life satisfaction. Adolescence is a vital period for intervention and assessment supports to promote well-being, yet there is a gap in the research on how to interpret multi-informant data for mental health constructs such as subjective well-being especially within this population. Research has shown support for and validated the use of parents/caregivers as secondary informants (Dew & Huebner, 1994; Hines et al., 2023; Shoshani & Slone, 2017) yet there is still vague …

Leadership Challenges With Multilingual Education Programs Implementation For English Language Learners In K–5 Public Schools, Suzanne Youveup

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Interdisciplinary Conceptual Framework For A Dialogue-Based Formative Intervention For Transformative Social And Emotional Learning For Adolescents, Rebekah Pollock

The Qualitative Report

I use the plug-and-play method to draw from Vygotskian social learning theories, the participatory culture-specific intervention model, the transformative social and emotional learning framework, and cultural-historical formative interventions to develop a conceptual framework for research that centers dialogue-based data collection and aims to study the associated processes and outcomes. First, I describe how I identified the need for a new conceptual framework. Second, I examine the historical roots, philosophical beliefs, conceptualization of processes related to learning and development and successful outcomes, and methodological requirements of each contributing theory or framework to determine a compatibility of perspectives and complementarity of goals …

Constructing Evidence And Epistemic Agency In Science, Katherine S. Misar

The Language and Literacy Spectrum

This microethnographic discourse analytic study uses an academic literacies theoretical lens to examine how a highly regarded urban high school biology teacher taught students to write from scientific data and positioned of students with epistemic agency using modeling instruction. Drawing on 6 lessons from one instructional unit over the course of two weeks; data sources include audio and video recordings, 30 transcribed literacy events, students’ written work, teacher interviews, case study student interviews, and photos. Participants included an experienced teacher and a student teacher using modeling instruction and 23 “accelerated” biology students in an urban high school. This study addresses …

Objectively And Subjectively Measured Physical Activity Levels Among Children And Adolescents In Poland (2012–2022): A Systematic Review, Jarosław Herbert, Vasylyna Petrovets

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of research on physical activity levels among children and adolescents in Poland from 2012 to 2022, considering both objective and subjective assessment methods. A systematic review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA reporting recommendations. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases, as well as Polish scientific databases were searched. The review included studies published from 2012 to 2022, on children and adolescents aged 3–18 living in Poland, assessing physical activity levels using objective and/or subjective methods. This analysis of the selected studies showed that physical activity levels …

Printing Press Renewal, Ashley Mcguire, Margaret Wood Balch, Anna Kaetz, Timothy M. Wick

Libraries Professional Work

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Libraries are home to a Chandler & Price printing press, originally built in 1885. Unfortunately, this press was not whole or fully operational when it was acquired by the UAB Libraries in the 1970s. Among its defects, the press lacked the treadle, Pittman arm, and crankshaft to power the press, a functioning rotating ink plate, a chase for holding the type in place, and the pin that keeps the large wheel turning in time with the gears that lead the machine to function. Members from the UAB Libraries Historical Collections and Reference and …

Covid-19'S Impact On Student Behavior In Rural-Urban Fringe Elementary Schools, Chanel V. Leslie

College of Education

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on student behavior in rural-urban fringe schools in Northern Alabama. The qualitative narrative inquiry research centers the lived experiences of teachers from four different schools as they navigate and explain this shift during this time. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory, the study is guided by three research questions that address the changes in student behavior and classroom dynamics; teacher preparedness and the ability to manage post-pandemic behavioral challenges; and effective interventions and support strategies. This research offers further insight into the erosion of foundational social skills, widespread emotional dysregulation, and patterns …

June 24, 2026 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Supporting The Wellbeing Of Multilingual Learners A Case Study On Secondary Teachers’ Use Of Transformative Social Emotional Learning Practices, Jaclyn Sparks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This qualitative case study investigated how bilingual and monolingual English-speaking teachers support the wellbeing of Multilingual Learners (MLs) and which aspects of Transformative Social Emotional Learning (TSEL) these teachers perceive themselves incorporating with MLs. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted using open coding, axial coding, and constant comparative methods.

Findings indicate that teachers support MLs’ wellbeing by creating inclusive environments through intentionally planned lessons that center equitable opportunities for MLs to engage with the content. Furthermore, teachers perceive to utilize decolonizing practices to make the curriculum accessible for MLs. This …

Philanthropic Grantmakers’ Roles In Transforming Higher Education: A Narrative Inquiry, Elizabeth Jean Larkin Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Philanthropic foundations have become influential actors in higher education reform, often supporting initiatives to improve student success, advance equity, and promote systemic change. Yet limited research has examined how philanthropic grantmakers understand and navigate their roles in shaping long-term change across the higher education field. This narrative inquiry explored the personal and professional experiences of eight philanthropic grantmakers working across different foundations, roles, and organizational contexts in the United States. Guided by organizational change theory, Strategic Action Fields theory, and sustainability planning in dynamic systems, the study examined how grantmakers made sense of their responsibilities, influence, and contributions to systemic …

Hospitality As A Languageless Movement: Mapping The Interconnectedness Of Inclusion, Disability, And Hospitality, Alycia M. Bobak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation thinks with post-qualitative inquiry to explore how inclusion, disability, and hospitality move through spaces in higher education and how their meanings shift between policy, practice, and personal ethics and dispositions. Using Derrida’s notion of hospitality and Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of the Body without Organs, this study presents the consideration of how university spaces welcome students with disabilities and how feelings of belonging, receiving, and acceptance are produced within those spaces. Rather than viewing inclusion and disability as fixed concepts, this research considers how language and personal ethics continuously reshape their meaning through interactions and affect.

This study …

Success In Student Leadership: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach To A Student Leader Program, Ana M. Tayeb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the strengths and successes of a Student Leader Program within a Physician Assistant (PA) program at a large southeastern university, using an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) framework to understand how the program positions students for success. The program, established to support leadership development, academic engagement, and professional growth, includes elected student roles such as class president, vice president, wellness champion, volunteer liaison, and class liaisons. Through semi‑structured interviews with faculty, administrators, current Student Leaders, non‑leader students, and a Student Leader alumnus, the study examined lived experiences and perceptions of the program’s impact. Guided by the AI 4‑D cycle, …

Exploring Ninth–12th Grade Teachers’ Experiences And Supports Needed When Using Trauma-Informed Practices, Kimberly C. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Adaptation Of Moral Integrity Scale To Kazakh Language: A Psychometric Investigation, Madina Ishkibayeva, Nesrullah Okan, Zhazira Abdykhalykova, Nursulu Makhambetova

Higher Learning Research Communications

The present study has been designed to adapt the Moral Integrity Scale (MIS), originally developed by Schlenker (2008), into Kazakh and to examine its psychometric properties among undergraduate students. Moral integrity, a critical component of ethical behavior, is essential in tertiary education, yet few culturally validated tools exist in the Kazakh context. Following a rigorous scale adaptation process (including translation, back-translation, expert review, and pilot testing), the scale was administered to three independent student samples. The results of the exploratory factor analysis (n = 470) revealed a single-factor structure explaining 52.13% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis ( …

Navigating The Cocoon: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Mothers’ Experiences Of Seeking Diagnosis And Services For Children With Disabilities In Insular Rural American Samoa, Elizabeth Cutrer, Ocean K. Akau, Lorena Seu, Isabel Medina Hull, G. E. Kawika Allen, Ofa H. Kanuch, Cameron W. H. Hee, Melia Fonoimoana Garrett

Faculty Publications

This study examines how mothers raising children with disabilities in American Samoa experience the processes of seeking diagnosis, navigating special education, and advocating for services within an insular rural context. American Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. territory located 2600 miles from Hawaiʻi with a population under 50,000, represents a case of what we term insular rurality—a condition in which the structural disadvantages of rurality are intensified by oceanic isolation, territorial governance, and colonial history. Data were collected through three focus groups with fifteen mothers whose children hold a range of disability diagnoses, with a card sort activity at the outset of …

Developing Robust Human Formation For Ministerial Training, Mary L. Parks

Obsculta

The Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis recognizes that effective ministerial formation is holistic, attending to all aspects of a minister’s being. The document therefore outlines four pillars of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. In Co-Workers In the Vineyard of the Lord, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) extends the same four pillars of formation to the development of lay ecclesial ministers. The USCCB also applies these pillars to diaconal formation in The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America.

Beyond Autonomy: An Actor-Network Theory Study Of A Solo Exhibition In Indonesia, Rendy Pandita Bastari, Patra Aditia, Ganesha Puspa Nabila

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

In many exhibition artists are often perceived as singular and autonomous actors. Departing from the critique of this tendency, this study examines the solo exhibition Toyscapes, After Us by Indonesian artist Hilman Hendarsyah (November 2025) as a case study through the lens of Actor-Network Theory (ANT), in order to understand art exhibition as relational and socio-material practices. This study traces how exhibitions are produced through interaction between human and non-human actors within heterogeneous network. The analysis was conducted by following the actors and mapping processes of problematization, translation, and network stabilization. The findings elucidates that solo exhibition cannot be understood …

Self-Determination Skills In Inclusive Education In Riyadh City; Perceptions Of Intellectual Disabilities Teachers, Samirah Alzahrani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literature indicates that self-determination is critical for success in all aspects forstudents with intellectual disabilities. Nonetheless, gaps remain in research on self-determination in the KSA special education context, and the implementation of practices for teaching self- determination skills is notably constrained. As a result, this qualitative study explored the perspectives of special education teachers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the concept of "self-determination" among students with ID in inclusive education, and examined their perceptions of the significance of incorporating these skills into instruction for students with ID. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using …

Preparing Preservice Teachers: Developing Skills For Working With Students With Disabilities In The Social Studies Classroom, Melissa Waugh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was aimed towards investigating the extant research, best practices, and teacher preparation standards related to working with students with disabilities in the social studies classroom. The study was guided using three research questions: Are students with disabilities’ learning needs reflected in the National Council for Social Studies National Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers?; How do preservice social studies teacher programs prepare their candidates for teaching students with disabilities as evidenced by Social Science Education methods course syllabi?; and, What might a college-level course aimed towards social studies teaching methods centering around students with disabilities’ learning …

Emergency Action Plan: Home, Family, Pets, And Livestock, Kristin Black, Michael Pate, Callahan K. Adams

All Current Publications

This document is an emergency family action plan designed to help your entire household prepare for emergencies. It aligns with the Youth Emergency Preparedness and Animal Project Safety Program available through Utah State University (USU). It can be taught by FFA teachers, 4-H leaders, Extension faculty/staff, and afterschool program educators. The Emergency Action Plan is intended for youth to bring home, lead their families in completing the sections, and guide them in preparing for and practicing emergency preparedness.

English Language Arts Teachers’ Perceptions Of Artificial Intelligence, Andrew J. Hookie, James P. Concannon

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

We explored secondary English Language Arts teachers’ perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in the classroom. Using a mixed methods research design process, one hundred and forty-one secondary teachers were surveyed from several urban and suburban school districts in the state of Missouri. Respondents were comprised of forty-three English Language Arts teachers and ninety-seven non-English Language Arts teachers. Data were collected using a Qualtrics survey, focusing on three variables: Experience, Knowledge, and Awareness of AI (EKA); Perceived Outcomes of Using AI (PO); and Perceived Ability and Self-Efficacy with AI (PA). Independent t-tests were conducted and revealed a statistically significant difference in AI …

Advocating For A Care-Based Ethic: Stories Of Pregnancy And Birth From Caregivers Of Children With Down Syndrome, Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg, Nayma Sultana Mim

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Down syndrome (DS) impacts about 1 in every 640 childbirths in the United States. While quality of life has improved for people with DS, systemic inequities and deficit-based perceptions have persisted throughout history, with material impacts on people with DS and their caregivers. Researchers have documented how caregivers of children with DS have had negative experiences with healthcare providers and genetic counselors, whose biased views about DS translate into subtle and overt pressures. Few studies explicitly focus on the experiences of Caregivers of Color, multilingual families, as well as families with varying economic experiences who have children with DS. This …

Visionarium, June 2026, Full Issue

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

No abstract provided.

Metacognition As Disciplinary Infrastructure In Ai-Mediated Learning, Tina R. Austin, Jason Gulya, Nick Potkalitsky

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

Metacognition is often presented as a response to generative AI’s disruption of teaching and learning, yet the term has become too generalized to guide practice. In AI-mediated environments, asking students merely to “reflect on your thinking” is insufficient. Because AI tools can redistribute cognitive labor, their educational value depends on how students use them and whether that use supports disciplinary forms of reasoning. This essay argues that metacognition must be understood as disciplinary infrastructure: students cannot effectively monitor their thinking without understanding the epistemological and ontological demands of the field in which they are working. Classrooms therefore become sites where …

Optimizing Human Capital In Ai-Enabled Architectures: A Systems Constraint And Capability Analysis, Jeremy A. Schlegel, Jennifer Daffinee

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

Artificial intelligence (AI) comprises not only models, but full socio-technical systems involving data pipelines, instrumentation, human-machine interfaces, deployment architectures, and organizational processes for design, monitoring, and evaluation. Using a systems-oriented analytical framework, this paper argues that despite accelerating advances in AI capabilities, human capital remains the enduring and dominant system constraint. Human interfaces define throughput limits in areas such as prompt engineering, data-stream curation, adjudication of model outputs, and the orchestration of hybrid automation workflows including robotics, scraping, and digitization. Synthesizing emerging research across human-AI interaction, machine-learning lifecycle management, organizational adoption, and adult learning theory, we present a socio-technical evaluation …