Digital Commons Network^™

Artificial Intelligence Tools And Job Performance Among Secondary School Administrators, Adebola Oladiji Alaba, Abosede Boladale Olukayode

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This study investigated the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and job performance among secondary school administrators in Egbedore and Osogbo Local Governments, Osun State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study assessed the extent of AI tools usage, the relationship between AI tools usage and administrators’ job performance and differences in AI tools usage between public and private secondary school administrators. The study was motivated by the growing expectation for school administrators to improve administrative effectiveness through digital technologies. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, involving 252 respondents comprising 162 administrators and 90 teachers drawn from 18 secondary schools (nine schools …

The Impact Of Iterative Scientific Modeling On The Development Of Scientific Reasoning In Middle School Students, Dan Tinklenberg

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study examined the impact of iterative scientific modeling on the development of scientific reasoning in middle school students. Twenty-five 7th and 8th grade students participated in an eight-week intervention in which they built, tested, and then revised scientific models followed by reflection questions. A pre- and post-assessment was used to measure growth in student ability to explain science phenomena, to make predictions, and to construct evidence-based arguments. Quantitative data shows a statistically significant improvement in post-test scores (p = 1.067E-9). Qualitative data from student interviews shows increased attention to detail, improved clarity in scientific communication, and enhanced …

A Phenomenological Study Of Black College Students’ Belonging Built Through Meaningful Interactions With Black Staff At Predominantly White Institutions, Katelyn A. Hanley Semelbauer

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore how Black students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) describe meaningful interactions with Black staff and how they make meaning of those interactions as it relates to building a sense of belonging. The conceptual framework for this study incorporates Strayhorn’s (2019) college students’ sense of belonging theoretical model as a foundation with Museus’s (2014) culturally engaging campus environment model as a lens for analysis of the findings.

Using a hermeneutical phenomenological approach, 12 Black undergraduate students were recruited to participate. Each of the students attended a public 4-year PWI in the Great …

Making Sense Of The Faith-Based School’S Mission: An Instrumental Case Study Exploring How The School’S Espoused Mission Is Enacted, Richard Mingerink

Dissertations

What happens in the space between a school’s espoused mission and the enactment of that mission in the classroom? For faith-based schools—institutions whose very identity rests upon a religiously grounded purpose—this question is not merely technical but existential. While these schools publicly espouse missions centered on a religious faith, research consistently suggests that what is proclaimed on paper is not always what is practiced in classrooms. The persistent gap between espoused mission and enacted practice raises a critical question: how do educators actually make sense of their school’s religious mission, and how does that sensemaking shape what they do?

This …

Small College Registrars As Leaders: A Multiple Case Study Of Shared Leadership, Kyle John Wigboldy

Dissertations

This study investigates the leadership relationship between the small college registrar and the people with whom they work most closely. The college registrar is not structured to be a strategic leader within the small college, but their leadership contributions across the campus are constantly felt. This research uses a qualitative case study approach to explore how three college registrars lead and participate with coworkers.

This investigation used a multiple case study design where data collection involved exploring three small colleges of fewer than 1,000 students. The study used semi-structured interviews with the registrar at each of the three colleges, and …

Teacher Perceptions In Early Childhood Classrooms: Understanding The Disproportionate Suspension Of Black Girls In Preschool, Lachelle Dionne Walker

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this interpretive qualitative study was to examine eight preschool lead teachers’ perceptions of the behaviors of Black girls, with a specific focus on those leading instruction in classrooms of 3- and 4-year-old learners, to assess if their perceptions of the behaviors of Black preschool-aged girls influenced their discipline practices and behavior management. The findings of this study revealed that preschool lead teachers held positive perceptions and early adultified views, also known as adultification bias, of Black girls in preschool settings. Furthermore, early adultified views of preschool lead teachers toward Black preschool-aged girls did not correlate with discriminatory …

Beyond The Bell: Young Black Male Reflections On Teacher Expectations And Postsecondary Outcomes, Raina Lewis

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of seven young Black males after their graduation from high school, focusing on how they recalled and interpreted their high school teachers’ expectations. Using semi-structured interviews with the Black males, aged 18–25, this study sought to understand how participants made meaning of these experiences and the lasting impact on their identity development. Grounded in Tichnor-Wagner’s culture of care theory, this study looked through the lens of culturally responsive, emotionally supportive, and equity-driven educational environments. This culture of care theory framework is particularly relevant for young Black males who …

Careers That Feel Like Plinko And A Labor Of Love: A Phenomenology Of Full-Time Contingent Faculty’S Development As Instructors At A University In Transition, Anne Ogburn

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Instructors in higher education often do not study or practice teaching before entering the classroom (Flaherty, 2019; McMurtie, 2021). Instead, instructors may develop their teaching knowledge and skills in a variety of ways (Hora & Smolarek, 2018; Kennedy, 2016; McCrickerd, 2012; Oleson & Hora, 2014). Despite this haphazard approach, instructor development is particularly important in higher education given that effective teaching practices improve success outcomes for students (Kilgo et al., 2015; Loes et al., 2019; Umbach & Wawrzynski, 2005). Researchers have focused on the impact of introductory courses on students’ long-term success in a given subject or major (Xu, 2019). …

National Assessment Program – Ict Literacy 2025. Technical Report., Kate O'Malley, Steven Kambouris, Dulce Lay, Amira Mahmood, Frances Eveleigh, Jorge Fallas

ICT - Digital Literacy

The primary purpose of the NAP–ICT Literacy 2025 technical report is to detail the technical aspects of the assessment. It outlines the key activities undertaken in the design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and reporting phases of the national sample assessment. The 2025 cycle marks the seventh national assessment of ICT literacy. Notably, the 2025 assessment was administered in May, a shift of 5 months from previous cycles, which were held in October. For this reason, changes in achievement between 2025 and previous cycles of the NAP–ICT Literacy assessment should be interpreted with some caution. The NAP–ICT Literacy 2025 assessment was …

National Assessment Program – Ict Literacy 2025. Public Report, Tim Friedman, Kate O'Malley, Frances Eveleigh, Wolfram Schulz

ICT - Digital Literacy

This report presents the findings from the seventh National Assessment Program – Information and Communication Technology Literacy (NAP–ICT Literacy) assessment cycle. The assessment was conducted in May 2025 with representative samples of Year 6 and Year 10 students across Australia. The report includes comparisons, where appropriate, with findings from previous NAP–ICT Literacy assessment cycles. NAP–ICT Literacy assesses students’ ability to use ICT and digital tools appropriately, safely and effectively across a range of real-world contexts. The assessment evaluates a broad range of skills, including: accessing, managing and evaluating information, developing new understandings, applying computational, design and systems thinking, communicating and …

Flipping The Format: A Comparative Analysis Of Pedagogy’S Performance On Comprehension In Introductory Financial Accounting Education, Allison Drozd

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Education is an ever-evolving field, and accounting education is no different. Introductory financial accounting is a required business course at universities that is characterized by high failure rates (Kealey et al., 2005). Evidence suggests that active learning and constructivist approaches improve comprehension of introductory financial accounting concepts as measured by exam performance. All methods studied produced statistically significant positive results on comprehension learning outcomes. Many professors' experiences support the studies' sentiment that active learning is important for teaching course concepts. The evidence reviewed in this thesis supports positive learning outcomes for comprehension of accounting concepts through active learning and constructivist …

Having Our Say: A Sociological Examination Of English Instruction In Urban High Schools And Effects On Black And Latino Identities, Jena Marie Escareno

Dissertations

This interdisciplinary study integrates a macro‑sociological perspective on language bias with an examination of English language instructional policies and practices that shape the identities of Black and Latino former urban high school students. Its purpose is to apply a sociological framework capable of illuminating the intersections of language, race, and social justice. By bridging linguistic, sociological, and educational theories, the study seeks to explain why current approaches to language instruction remain ineffective for urban learners and may inadvertently harm minority cultural identities.

Persistent disparities in urban academic achievement often highlight race and ethnicity as explanatory factors without acknowledging how these …

The Impact Of Place-Based Education Professional Development On Faculty Identity And Perceptions Of Nature-Culture Dichotomies, Reyt Middleton

Master's Theses

This qualitative study analyzes how implementing place-based education (PBE) in undergraduate coursework shapes faculty identity narratives and nature–culture positionalities across conceptual lenses of past, present, and future. Three faculty members at a regional Mississippi university engaged in a PBE professional development program; narratively driven pre- and post-implementation interviews were given to participants, then examined via thematic analysis. Framed primarily through lenses of constructivism, with support from critical pedagogy of place, relational and ecological epistemologies, and scholarship on faculty identity, this study posits two research questions—1: How does teaching PBE influence faculty identity narratives across past, present, and future temporalities? 2: …

Inequity In Education Through The Lens Of Social Studies Curriculum Using Studies Weekly, Emma Roy

Honors Theses

This study examines the representation of the Civil Rights Movement within the Studies Weekly elementary social studies curriculum and evaluates its alignment with culturally relevant pedagogy, critical race theory, and civic education frameworks. Through a qualitative content analysis of twelve assessment questions and accompanying lesson materials, the findings reveal consistent patterns of oversimplification, limited historical nuance, and an overreliance on factual recall. Key themes including systemic racism, collective activist, and diverse historical perspectives are minimized or omitted altogether. These omissions contribute to what scholars identify as curriculum bias, where dominant narratives are privileged while marginalized voices are unheard. The results …

Skill Growth And Development In An Honors Experiential Learning Course, Julia D. Lyashevskiy

Honors Theses

Problem-solving skills are crucial for students in both schoolwork and the workforce as they help individuals and groups work through obstacles and come up with solutions to a problem. To help prepare students, the Innovation in Honors Lab at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a hands-on, interdisciplinary course that provides an experiential learning opportunity to practice skills while working directly with community partners to find and solve a local issue. This research tracks the development of six specific skills that students use throughout the class. The skills included communication, creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, conflict resolution, and …

Exploring The Alignment Between Medical School Outcomes With Residency Competencies: A Modified Delphi Study, Sally A. Santen, Luan Lawson, Jose A. Negrete Manriquez, Marjorie Westerveld, Laurah Turner, Anita Wilson, Phd, Yoon Soo Park, Eric S. Holmboe, Michael S. Ryan, Medical School Outcomes Milestone Study Group

JeffMD Academic Affairs

PURPOSE: Facilitation of competency-based medical education adoption would benefit from alignment between medical school (undergraduate medical education [UME]) and residency (graduate medical education [GME]) assessments. This study explores the strength of an a priori alignment of medical school assessments with residency competency domains to guide programmatic assessment and research.

METHOD: In fall 2023, the authors (US faculty with UME and GME expertise) used a 2-phase Delphi consensus approach (9 participants in phase 1 and 16 in phase 2) to independently map medical school assessments to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competency domains (0, no association; 1, some or …

Techno-Imagination: Elevating Creativity Through Xr And Ai, Christopher Spitzer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Techno-Imagination: Elevating Creativity Through XR and AI explores the history of creativity and computing technology, supported by research and academic literature, and looks at the possibilities of a convergence between the two. In parallel, a brief biographical story of the author shares how a passion for creativity emerged, along with a growing interest in science and technology—specifically extended reality—which ultimately came together in the creation of this master’s project. The project also highlights how the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) process was used alongside AI bots and twenty research-based creative thinking skills in developing the business model canvas. Finally, the outcome …

Leading The Choreography: Preserving Creative Agency In Ai-Supported Problem-Solving, Mikhaila Ackerbauer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly present in creative and problem-solving contexts, a critical question emerges: how can users engage with AI in ways that preserve rather than erode their own creative capacity? This project explores that question through research synthesis, practitioner conversations, coursework, international conference presentations, and the development of custom AI chatbots trained in the Creative Problem-Solving process. The central finding is a theoretical triangle comprising three interdependent capacities: autonomy, creative self-efficacy, and critical thinking. Grounded in Rhodes' (1961) Four P's framework, the triangle sits within the Person dimension. Convergent themes across the literature, practitioner conversations, and direct …

Systemic Barriers To Educational And Employment Attainment Among Individuals With Substance Use Disorders, Mollie B. Mccann Poblocki

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Substance use disorders (SUDs) and opioid use disorder (OUD) represent one of the most pressing yet poorly understood public health crises in the United States. Despite decades of clinical intervention, recovery outcomes remain deeply unequal, not because individuals lack motivation, but because the structural systems surrounding them are fundamentally broken. This project explored that reality through a comprehensive literature review examining how systemic barriers across educational systems, labor markets, poverty dynamics, and healthcare infrastructure shape vulnerability, treatment access, and recovery outcomes for individuals with SUDs. Major findings revealed a consistent socioeconomic gradient of harm: individuals with lower educational attainment, unstable …

The Impact Of Sensory Processing Disorder On Elementary-Aged Students In The Classroom And Proper Teacher Responses, Sophia Slater

Senior Honors Theses

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is when an individual cannot correctly process an incoming stimulus from the surrounding environment. This is prevalent in young children as they are beginning to learn about the world around them. Their inability to properly process information through their senses affects their daily lives and creates a challenge for them. There are also co-occurrences of SPD with both autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Since most of a child’s time is spent in the classroom, it is imperative that teachers understand the disorder and proper strategies to assist these students as they learn. Occupational …

The Effectiveness Of Utilizing An Arts-Integrated Approach With Students With Ieps In Grades K–5 Self-Contained Classrooms And Why An Arts-Integrated Approach Is Not Widely Implemented In The United States, Alexandra Leff

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines arts integration as an approach for K–5 students with IEPs. Drawing on research from Western and non-Western and data from two programs, it shows gains in academic achievement and social-emotional learning. Despite cultural and systemic barriers, findings support expanding arts integration through teacher training and policy reform.

Learning From Practice: Autoethnographic Reflections & Practitioner Perspectives On Inclusive Engagement For Bipoc, Mml, And Special Education Students, Mikayla A. Aquino

Program in Community Action (PICA)

This study examines how educators conceptualize, enact, and experience inclusive engagement for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, multilingual learners (MLLs), and students with disabilities, and how structural conditions shape their capacity to implement equity-oriented practices. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with ten educators from Lakewood, Illinois, and Harborview, Connecticut, alongside autoethnographic reflection, this qualitative study centers practitioner voices to investigate the gap between educational policy and classroom practice. Grounded in Bettina Love's abolitionist teaching framework and Alison Kafer's political-relational model of disability, the analysis situates educator experiences within systems shaped by racism, linguistic hierarchy, and ableist normativity. Thematic …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Second-Career Educators, Kyle Avink

Dissertations

School districts across the United States face a persistent teacher shortage driven by high attrition rates, declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs, and increasing demands on educators (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017). Teacher attrition is especially high within the first three to five years, with nearly 40-50% of new teachers exiting within their first five years (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017; Cells et al., 2023; Gray et al., 2015; Ingersoll et al., 2025). In response, many states have expanded alternative certification pathways that allow professionals from other fields to enter teaching, making second-career educators a potential solution to workforce challenges (Afacan, 2022; …

Exploring Online Social Capital Through The Lived-Experiences Of Students At A Southern Hispanic Institution: A Transactional Distance Approach, Marc Anthony Zamorano

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study examines how first generation Hispanic doctoral students at a southern Hispanic Serving Institution experience online engagement as a context for generating bonding, bridging, and linking social capital. Semi structured-in-depth interviews with 17 participants explored interactions with instructors, peers, course content, and technology. Analysis followed phenomenological reduction procedures to identify the essence of participants lived experiences. Key findings revealed that instructor presence and responsiveness strengthened bonding and linking capital; peer collaboration fostered belonging and bridging capital; and technology mediated tools reduced transactional distance when paired with clear course design and timely feedback. These relational and technological …

Empowering Latinas In Computer Science: Success Stories And Challenges, Martin Jalomo

Theses and Dissertations

Latina women remain significantly underrepresented in computer science, and limited research centers their lived experiences within the field. This qualitative narrative inquiry examined how Latina women who completed computer science degrees and secured employment persisted in predominantly male and non-Latina environments. Guided by Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth framework, the study explored how participants leveraged forms of capital to navigate structural, relational, and psychological barriers. Data were collected through narrative interviews with five Latina graduates and analyzed using thematic and cross-case analysis. Findings indicate that underrepresentation shaped participants’ sense of belonging while persistence was supported through aspirational, familial, social, navigational, …

“Sometimes I Feel That Going To College Was A Waste Of Time”: Latinas’ Lived Experiences Navigating Culture, Gender, And Marriage Post-College Degree, Nancy Peña

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative critical narrative study explores how Latinas navigate and make meaning of gender roles within their heterosexual marriages post-college graduation. Data are collected via semi-structured interviews with 10 Latina participants: an initial plática focus group, followed by individual interviews, and a final plática focus group for member checking. Key findings reveal that despite Latinas acquiring autonomy, stability, negotiated power, personal growth, and social development as a result of attaining a degree in higher education, overall development is limited due to heightened responsibilities, persistent gender hierarchies, continuous religious norms, and constant gender role guilt. The evidence suggests that although attaining …

Skills, Challenges, And Career Outcomes: A Quantitative Study Of Early-Career Experiences In Research Administration, Jennifer Juliet Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

Research administration as a field lacks clearly defined entry pathways, with many professionals entering through indirect routes. These conditions contribute to variation in early-career experiences and may influence long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine how entry pathways and skills at entry relate to early-career challenges in research administration, and how those challenges are associated with career dissatisfaction.

This study used a quantitative, cross-sectional design. Data were drawn from the U.S. subset of the Research Administration as a Profession (RAAAP-3) survey. Key variables included entry pathways, skills at entry, early-career challenges, and career dissatisfaction. Findings indicate that …

The Relationship Between Secondary School Principals’ Ethical Leadership Behaviors And School Climate, Ericka Julie Carranza

Theses and Dissertations

Limited research explains how teachers in culturally and socioeconomically diverse secondary school settings experience principals’ ethical leadership behaviors and how those behaviors are perceived as shaping school climate. This qualitative study examined teachers’ perceptions of secondary school principals’ ethical leadership behaviors and the ways in which those behaviors were experienced as influencing relational, emotional, and professional dimensions of school climate.

Grounded in Social Learning Theory, the study employed a qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with secondary school teachers from diverse educational contexts. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns related to ethical leadership behaviors, …

Typing Proficiency And Its Relationship To Outcomes In Online Writing Assessments, Agustin J. Cantu

Theses and Dissertations

As writing assessment increasingly occurs in digital environments, students must demonstrate not only composition skills but also sufficient transcription fluency to produce responses under timed conditions. This quantitative study examined the relationship among structured typing practice, transcription fluency, and writing performance among students in Grades 3 and 4 at IDEA Public Schools. Specifically, the study investigated whether engagement with Typing.com was associated with improvements in words per minute (WPM) and accuracy, and whether transcription fluency was associated with performance on Internal Assessment (IA) Writing Percent Correct.

Archival district data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, hierarchical regression, moderation analyses, …

My Journey As A Migrant Bilingual Learner From Student To Teacher: Lessons Learned, Sylvia Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

These reflections in this thesis are an analysis of narratives based on my lived experiences as an immigrant, migrant student who is now a certified Bilingual & Special Education teacher servicing students, many of whom are bilingual, in public school classrooms. My goal is to connect my life experiences to teaching practices and thus embrace and celebrate my linguistic identity. Bilingual educators have a language learning journey that drives their classroom practices. When bilingual teachers reflect on their bilingual trajectory and connect their life experiences to research, they may provide spaces for stronger positive impacts on bilingual students, and their …