Digital Commons Network^™

Leveraging Social Media Recruitment In Health Science Education: A Scoping Review, Crystalyn Richard, Natalie Nguyen, Luong Thien Nguyen, Alison Hansen

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Background: Equitable recruitment practices are essential to the diversification of health science educational applicant pools. This scoping review aimed to understand the existing literature supporting the use and implementation of SM (SM) for recruitment in various health science educational programs. Methods: A comprehensive search utilizing the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework was used to collect and analyze existing articles. Keyword selection followed by an iterative process for article inclusion using Covidence application for article analysis and inclusion/exclusion. A thematic analysis method was employed to synthesize findings from the studies that met our inclusion criteria. Results: The initial keyword …

Developing A Framework For Mooc Dropout: The Role Of Utilitarian And Hedonic Values In Student Retention, Bipllab Roy, Mave D'Souza, Madhura Laghane

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have expanded access to higher education but continue to face persistently high dropout rates, raising concerns about their long‑term effectiveness and sustainability. This study develops and empirically tests a structural framework that links utilitarian values (perceived usefulness, certificate value, time flexibility), hedonic values (enjoyment, variety and novelty, personal interest alignment), and individual characteristics (goal orientation, self‑efficacy, motivation type) to MOOC student retention. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 200 MOOC learners from Christ University, Lavasa Campus, and analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in AMOS. The results show that goal orientation, self‑efficacy …

Utilizing Research Narratives To Advance Systems Thinking In Doctoral Education, Ryan Charles Weber, Kathleen Teresa Scott

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study examines how narrative storytelling functions as a pedagogical mechanism for advancing systems thinking in doctoral education. Drawing on a qualitative narrative synthesis of publicly available scholarly literature, the analysis explores how narrative practices support sensemaking, complexity integration, and collaborative learning among doctoral students. Grounded in Senge’s (2006) learning organization framework, the study investigates how storytelling contributes to the development of mental models, shared vision, personal mastery, and team learning in advanced academic contexts. Findings indicate that narrative engagement enhances cognitive integration, deepens understanding of systemic interdependence, and strengthens collaborative discourse among emerging scholars. The study extends leadership and …

Analyzing The Impact: Foster Grandparent Program, Shanetta Weatherspoon, Miyue Chen, Monica Pereda

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is a multigenerational approach to community volunteerism. The study uses intergenerational solidarity to conceptualize the impact of the FGP. The study aims to examine the impact of two dimensions by analyzing data from the Assignment Assessment Forms and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Paired t-tests were conducted to determine whether there is a difference in the mentees’ behavior pre- and post-intervention over four years and by way of three priority areas. Results indicated that the FGP has an impact on both the mentees and volunteers. Findings suggest that the program’s activities are the vehicle for …

Equity, Identity, And Representation In Community College Leadership, Jacob Fry, Tashaka Merriweather, Jennifer Hoeger

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Community colleges provide important access to higher education for many diverse student populations, yet aspiring leaders still face equity, representation, and structural barriers for women and underrepresented groups. Prior research highlights the persistence of gendered norms, gatekeeping practices, and underdeveloped leadership pipelines despite the increased attention to diversity within leadership in community colleges (Eddy & Khwaja, 2019; Hines, 2023; Burmicky & Hartman, 2023). This qualitative phenomenological study examines how leadership perceives the role of women and underrepresented groups in leadership. The study focused on the School of Continuing Education at Santa Ana College and involved semi-structured interviews with 11 leaders …

Leadership Practices And Subordinate Perceptions In Continuing Education: A Case Study At Santa Ana College, Jacob Fry, Jennifer Hoeger, Tashaka Merriweather

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Community colleges play a critical role in expanding access to higher education and workforce development for diverse populations, yet traditional leader-centric models remain prevalent, despite growing calls for collaborative and distributed leadership approaches (Eddy et al., 2023; Fulton-Calkins & Milling, 2005). This qualitative phenomenological study explores leadership, styles, strategies, and perceptions of subordinates among continuing education leaders at a California community college. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 administrators, faculty, and classified professionals at Santa Ana College’s School of Continuing Education. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase thematic analysis approach. Findings identified four dominant leadership approaches: collaborative/participatory, …

Black Joy And The Mother Connection: An Evaluative Case Study Of A Graduate Book Club, Shandria Hill, Meredith A. Rausch, Megan Buning, Janny Liu, Tyler Gray

Journal of Graduate Education Research

This article reviews an evaluative case study of implementation of a six-session virtual book club on connection, attachment, and Black joy in women who identify as Black and African American. Participants included six women and one group leader, all but one of whom were currently enrolled in a higher education setting. Members read selected chapters from two books--What my mother and I don’t talk about: Fifteen writers break the silence (Filgate, 2019), and You are your best thing: Vulnerability, shame resilience, and the Black experience (Burke & Brown, 2021). We present the qualitative summary of the potential impact of …

Researcher Identity In Non-Conventional Research Settings: An Autoethnography, Irina Berry, Robin Hardin, Hunter B. Porter

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Scholars have emphasized reflexivity as a key practice for addressing potential biases and enhancing the credibility of research. Although reflexivity has been recognized as essential to qualitative rigor, limited attention has been given to its theoretical integration with broader social identity processes, particularly in non-conventional settings. This manuscript extends social identity theory and demonstrates how the insider/outsider model adds additional layer of complexity to the understanding of researcher identity negotiation. In this study, the researcher used an autoethnographic approach to examine the experiences of an able-bodied researcher conducting research in adaptive sport settings and featuring adaptive athletes. Strategies that emerged …

Research To Praxis: Transdisciplinary Skill Development In Graduate Education, Demikia Taylor, Tiffany Drape, Amy Pruden, Todd Schenk, Leigh-Anne Krometis

Journal of Graduate Education Research

This study examines how graduate students' perceptions of transdisciplinary team science evolve as they progress through a graduate training program at a university. Students participated in a series of workshops that built on and reinforced various aspects of training in transdisciplinary team science, including Team Science, Science Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, and International Case Studies in Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring. Students also took accompanying coursework towards a certificate and worked together in collaborative teams in advancing an array of transdisciplinary research projects focused on various dimensions of antibiotic resistance. A qualitative case study approach was taken, systematically examining participants’ reflections following each …

Exploring The Simultaneous Processes Of Academic Job Search And Dissertation For Culturally Diverse Doctoral Candidates In Counselor Education Programs, Galaxina G. Wright, Jasmine Griffith, Jasmine Garrison, Inga Antrobus

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Doctoral candidates face several challenges as they complete their academic journeys, particularly as it relates to the unique balance of applying for faculty positions while completing their dissertations. Though both processes have been explored separately within some educational fields, minimal research exists within the field of counselor education (CE) examining simultaneous experiences, particularly those from historically marginalized populations. Guided by the Career Self-Management (CSM) framework and an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), we explored the perspectives of 11 CE candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds engaged in both processes. We identified five main themes and four subthemes that participants experienced. We discuss …

Ai-Augmented Pedagogy In Higher Education: An Ethical And Equitable Framework For The Governance And Operational Integration Of Ai In Teaching And Learning, Asrat G. Amnie

Publications and Research

Abstract

Higher education faces a convergence of pressures that no single institutional response has yet resolved: widening demographic diversity, pandemic-exposed structural fragility, and the persistent inequity of whose learning gets supported and how. Artificial intelligence (AI) has entered this landscape not as an optional enhancement but as an infrastructural reality— embedded in adaptive platforms, feedback systems, and early-alert protocols at institutions worldwide. Yet adoption has consistently outpaced governance, and tools celebrated for democratizing access carry real risks of encoding and amplifying the inequities they promise to address. This article introduces the AI-Augmented Pedagogy (AAP) framework, developed through a Sequential Explanatory …

Parent Perspectives On Primary And Secondary Online Learning, Barbara Tanner Sandberg

Theses and Dissertations

Given the growth of K-12 online learning and the expanded responsibilities parents often assume in this learning context, the purpose of this dissertation is to understand parents' perspectives on K-12 online learning. The first article reviews and synthesizes literature documenting parents' perspectives on how instructional modality affects parental support. Instructional modality affects parental support roles, parental perception of online school support, parents' lives outside the online course, and students' online learning support needs. Hence, parents expect modality decisions to account for modality affordances, student engagement, and personal circumstances. The second article examines parent perspectives on the decision to leave a …

Content-Based English Language Development Instruction Through Evidence-Based Practices Advancing Comprehensive English Language Development (Eld) Implementation Brief Series, Neida Ahmad Ph.D., Linda R. G. Kaminski Ed.D., Aline Matias, Elvira G. Armas Ed.D., Magaly Lavadenz Ph.D.

Center on English Language Proficiency Implementation Briefs

Advancing Comprehensive English Language Development: Content-Based Instruction Through Evidence-Based Practices is the first in a four-part series assisting educational agencies in implementing high-quality, comprehensive English Language Development (ELD) systems. This brief bridges the gap between research and practice by illustrating what implementation looks like for evidence-based practices for content-based ELD curriculum, instruction, and assessment. It introduces a framework of foundational practices—understanding students' backgrounds and aligning instruction to standards—alongside four critical domains: Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum, Interactions, Comprehensibility, and Connections. Finally, the brief outlines the leadership and collaborative systems necessary to sustain these practices and improve long-term outcomes for English Learners.

Teachers' Experiences With Helping Students Master Mathematics Competencies Postpandemic In A Southeastern U.S. School District, Sherry Y. Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Understanding Teacher Perceptions Of Arts Integration In A Midsized U.S. Caribbean Territory School District, Jeuné Bernice Provost

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Lessons Learned Through Braving Discomfort, Rhys Z. Vulpe

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Serendipitous, Calculated, And Fated All At Once: My Lead Story, Veronica Murray

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Philosophical Orientations And Their Influence On Responsive Curriculum Development In Tanzanian Universities, Ibrahim Barnaba Mtweve, Ignasia Mligo, Alcuin Mwalongo

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

This study aimed to explore how the selected universities in Tanzania apply underlying philosophies to make their curriculum development process more responsive.  Curriculum responsiveness has gained significant importance in university education; however, most universities still struggle to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly evolving society, particularly in social, technological, and labour-market needs. Having a clear understanding of how philosophical orientation affects curriculum development can help create a more flexible and meaningful curriculum. Nevertheless, studies on the impact of philosophical orientation on the development of responsive curricula in Tanzanian universities remain scarce. This study, therefore, aims to fill this …

Improving The Science Curriculum: A Uae Middle School Case Study, Fatima Husain

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

United Arab Emirates Public Schools in Abu Dhabi implement curricula developed by the Ministry of Education (MOE). This qualitative case study research aimed to explore the perspectives of both teachers and students regarding the obstacles impacting student academic achievement in Science classes. The study was conducted in one middle school in Abu Dhabi, EARTH School (pseudonym) that faced challenges in the first trimester of the 2023 academic school year. The students identified teacher quality and well-being as obstacles and suggested improving student motivation and teaching strategies. The teachers identified professional development and student language barriers as core issues and suggested …

“I Don’T Think We Do A Good Enough Job Acknowledging How Much This Space Is Needed By The Adults”: Making Intergenerational Futures At Camp Fyrefly, Ontario Ontario, Mayera Chazan, Megan Hill, Rachael Nicholls, Ziysah Von Bieberstein

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

This paper examines the liberatory potential of intergenerationality at Camp fYrefly, Ontario—an overnight summer camp for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth that is unique within its rural region. In 2023, we conducted research in partnership with Camp fYrefly, including one arts-based workshop, two focus groups, and five key informant interviews. The analysis explores one core finding: participants experience this youth-focused program as an intergenerational future-building project. Extending scholarship on queering mentorship, generativity, and futurity, the article concludes that Camp fYrefly’s intergenerationality binds past, present, and future in the collective project of queering education and making better futures possible. Intergenerationality is also what sustains …

Designated Pilot Examiner System Study - 2025, Michael Gref, Wendy Beckman

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In recent years primary flight training in the United States has experienced a significant bottleneck in the form of long waits to schedule check rides with Designated Pilot Examiners. This challenge has been significant enough to warrant Congressional attention, with reforms mandated in the past two FAA Re-authorization Acts.

In 2022 a first national survey of flight schools and DPE’s was conducted to determine their perceptions of the DPE system, including feedback on the recommendations from the then recently concluded DPE Reforms Working Group. Given the anecdotal evidence of continuing long waits for check rides, a second survey was conducted …

Extending The Global Impact Of Dnp Education: Integrating Scholarly Dissemination And International Practice Projects, Cynthia Plonien, Pricilla Muisyo, Deborah Behan, Kristine Cope, Cathy Brown

Nursing Faculty Publications & Presentations

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at the University of Texas at Arlington initiated a global outreach effort in 2024 through two complementary strategies: expansion of a digital repository to support dissemination of DNP scholarly work and implementation of pilot DNP projects in Kenya. Together, these initiatives represent an integrated model for global engagement that combines knowledge dissemination with application of practice-based scholarship. The repository has facilitated international access to DNP projects, demonstrating significant global reach across multiple countries. Concurrently, a pilot project in Kenya was established through a strategic in-country professional partnership, enabling culturally relevant and sustainable implementation …

Urban Removal: The Long-Term Impacts Of The Displacement Of Denver’S Auraria Neighborhood, Sophia Krout, Reginald A. Byron

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

In the early 1970s, the Auraria Center for Higher Education was developed, displacing a well-established Denver Latino neighborhood, which encompassed a 38-block district at the time, including 155 families, 49 single individuals, and 237 businesses, and clearing the way for the establishment of the Metropolitan State University of Denver, the University of Colorado Denver, and Denver Community College. The implementation of remedial measures for the displacement has fallen short of meeting the needs of displaced residents. The residents were promised affordable education through a program named the Displaced Aurarian Scholarship, which has similarly stated intentions of improving the educational attainment …

Effects Of A Complexity-Based Expressive Language Treatment On Comprehension In Children With Down Syndrome: A Preliminary Investigation, Aliese M. Pedro

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether a complexity-based expressive morphosyntactic intervention targeting auxiliary BE questions improves morphosyntactic, vocabulary, and narrative comprehension in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). Two participants (ages 15;11 and 14;2) received intervention delivered over 15 and 12 sessions, respectively, using a structured narrative-based protocol. Comprehension was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fifth Edition (CELF-5) Following Directions subtest, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Fifth Edition (PPVT-5), the Test of Narrative Language-Second Edition (TNL-2), and the Test of Early Grammatical Impairment (TEGI) Grammaticality Judgment (GJ) task. Results indicate no reliable or clinically significant improvements in comprehension across …

An Exploration Of The Lived Experience Of Married Couples Impacted By Aphasia, Summer Ewell

Theses and Dissertations

People with aphasia and those closest to them experience changes in their lives and relationships due to aphasia. These changes may be particularly impactful for married couples. The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the dynamic and complex experiences of couples impacted by aphasia and to add personal perspectives to the creation of practical treatments and resources. Twenty-eight participants (14 married couples) participated in both individual and couples' semi-structured interviews, resulting in 42 total interviews for analysis. Participants answered open-ended questions about aphasia's influence on the couple's communication and relationship. Interviews were then transcribed orthographically and coded …

Unlocking The Colleague Next Door, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

The structural barriers that isolate faculty from one another—individualistic reward systems, professional identity protection, disciplinary silos, fragmented time—have been documented in detail elsewhere. This paper begins where that analysis ends. Its sole focus is solutions: what actually works, what you can do without waiting for your institution to change, and most importantly, what you can do today. It is organized in three movements: evidence-based institutional strategies, community-level structures any group of faculty can build, and a granular map of the smallest possible individual first steps—the ones that cost almost nothing and have an outsized probability of changing how you experience …

Leading In The Classroom Empowering Educators In Paraguay, Carissa State Gober, Donna Zerr, Jason Clemensen, Aaron Hurt

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Here’s a simplified version of the abstract with clear, straightforward language:

Abstract

In May 2026, faculty and staff from Pittsburg State University gave presentations in Asunción and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. The sessions focused on practical topics for educators and students, including strategies for teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), ways to use artificial intelligence in education, leadership tips, and international opportunities available at Pittsburg State University. Each session encouraged participation and discussion, helping connect Paraguayan educators and students with new ideas and resources. These events showed the university’s commitment to building international partnerships, supporting teachers with useful …

The Relationship Between Musical Ability And Perceptual Skills For Speech Motor Learning In Young Adults, Emily Catmull

Theses and Dissertations

Speech motor learning is the multimodal process of acquiring speech sounds. Speech motor learning is trained through speech-language pathologist intervention in individuals across the lifespan. Previous research has explored which factors can influence speech motor learning, such as musical experience or training, which is the subject of this study. Sixty young adult participants (four male, 56 female) were recruited as part of a larger study that examined four possibly influential factors: bilingualism, phonetic knowledge, perceptual skills, and musical experience. Since the adult population has already acquired all the speech sounds in English, learning was measured using nonnative consonant clusters. Participants …

The Importance Of Career And Retirement Services For Student Athletes, Vincent R. Giuliano

Masters Projects

There are hundreds of thousands of collegiate student-athletes competing in organized sports in the NCAA. Research shows the different resources that are available to them during their time competing, as well as how sports can open different opportunities for them during their competitive years. However, once this is over, an individual may realize they spent their time becoming an athlete and not enough time on their holistic well-being and professional development due to time constraints, identity engulfment, etc. While institutions do well in nurturing students during their competitive years, they lack in considering the retirement of these student-athletes. This project's …

From Double Absence To Double Presence: Video-Selfie As Empowerment In A Multicultural Italian Classroom, Maria Ranieri, Ilaria Bucciarelli, Giulia Cuozzo

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

This paper examines the video-selfie as a tool for empowerment in multicultural secondary school classrooms. We draw on data from the European ICME project, focusing on a vocational secondary school in Italy, where 17 of 18 first-year students – approximately half of whom had migration backgrounds – produced short videos presenting themselves through personally meaningful objects. Students then participated in a structured reflection activity after watching each other's videos in class. We combine three theoretical frameworks: critical media literacy, identity and self-representation studies, and Mezirow's transformative learning theory. Our argument is that the video selfie empowers in multiple ways: it …