Digital Commons Network^™

Developing Digital Literacy And Online Safety Skills For Middle Schoolers, Alana Rose Rowley

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The increasing use of technology and social media among adolescents has introduced a range of risks, including cyberbullying, mental health challenges, and physical health concerns related to excessive screen time. Many young students lack the digital literacy skills necessary to navigate online environments safely and responsibly, and remain unaware of the risks. This project addresses this issue by developing a one-day educational lesson for students in grades five through eight at the YMCA of the Central Coast in Monterey, California. The lesson focuses on building digital literacy, promoting mental health, and educating students about the physical effects of excessive technology …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence Into Academic Writing: Development Of A Student-Centered Ethical Toolkit, Matteo Landais

Theses

The rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence in higher education has introduced new challenges surrounding authorship, academic integrity, and the role of writing in student learning. While institutional responses have often focused on restriction, surveillance, and AI detection, students continue to incorporate AI tools into their writing practices in increasingly normalized ways. This project argues that the issue is not simply whether students use AI, but how they use it and whether that use supports meaningful engagement with the writing process.

This applied project proposes a process-oriented and student-centered framework for the ethical integration of AI into academic writing. Learning …

Ai Institute Summer Camp Webinar Summary, Dora Nguyen

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This report summarizes the AI Institute Summer Camp informational webinar hosted by the Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (PEAAII) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The webinar introduced the structure, curriculum, learning objectives, and student outcomes associated with the 2026 AI Institute Summer Camp. In addition to summarizing the webinar content, this report analyzes participant questions, engagement trends, and areas of audience interest. Findings indicate strong interest in coding accessibility, mentorship opportunities, student outcomes, research experiences, and program flexibility. The report also identifies opportunities for improving future webinar delivery, including expanded eligibility guidance, pre-camp learning resources, enhanced presentation of …

Low-Vision Students’ Experiences With And Suggestions To Improve Desktop Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Study, Tanveer Mansur Syed

Theses and Dissertations

Visually impaired students have faced challenges in the field of education, particularly in science education. Not surprisingly, the unemployment rate for working-age visually impaired people has been above 70%. This persists despite federal laws to support the education and employment of visually impaired people,

Virtual Reality (VR) technology has evolved for several decades. Its use has proliferated in areas that include education. Today, VR science lab simulations are presented as a cost-effective alternative to traditional science labs. Research shows these to be viable substitutes to traditional science labs without a significant drop in learning outcomes. However, this researcher was unable …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Participation In Early Childhood Education On Readiness Outcomes, Pre- And Post-Covid-19 In A South Texas District, Maria J. Valadez Gonzales

Theses and Dissertations

This study will investigate and gather quantitative data noting if a learning gap exists when evaluating reading data of students participating in a high-quality learning program in 2020 due to the pandemic. RQ1: What gaps are evidenced by progress monitoring TPRI/TJL data from 2019 Beginning of Year (BOY) Kinder pre-pandemic when compared to 2020 post-pandemic BOY data in First grade for educationally disadvantaged students in a South Texas school district? RQ2: Do students who attend these ECE high quality prekinder programs show differing levels of academic achievement utilizing progress monitoring assessments in reading for Kinder – First grades (Wyse et …

Shifting The Gaze: What Do High School Ela Teachers Mean When They Talk About Literacy For Students In Their On-Level Classes?, Yvonne Ceynow

Theses and Dissertations

This critical narrative inquiry explored how six high school English Language Arts (ELA) teachers defined literacy for students sitting in their on-level classes. By shifting the focus from student performance to teacher meaning-making, this research sought to understand how foundational beliefs about literacy shaped instructional and pedagogical decisions. Data was collected through digital journal entries, semi-structured interviews, and instructional artifacts. Using a thematic analysis approach, five interconnected themes emerged: the pervasive use of deficit-based language to describe on-level students; the perception of this group as high-need, requiring extensive scaffolding; the belief that socioeconomic status and parental support were key differentiating …

Teacher Narratives Of Curriculum Implementation In Bilingual Education: A Vygotskian Analysis, Jose F. Orozco

Theses and Dissertations

This narrative inquiry explores bilingual educators' experiences implementing the Amplify Reading curriculum in a diverse, Title I-funded urban district. As schools adopt standardized curricula, tensions emerge between monolingual standards and the needs of bilingual students. Using a Vygotskian framework with Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Knowledge Structures (KS), the study examines how teachers navigate systemic contradictions and how these tensions influence their professional identities.

Using an interpretivist approach, data were collected via semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and a researcher’s journal from six experienced bilingual educators. Thematic analysis reveals profound structural fractures within the activity system: a primary contradiction between …

Beyond Moving Hands: Narratives Around Deaf Education, Sara Simpson

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative study explored the experiences and perspectives of deaf educators and educational interpreters working in high school settings. Participants shared narratives about their professional experiences, training, and roles in deaf education. By considering their professional histories, backgrounds, and cultural perspectives, this study examined how these experiences shaped participants’ perceptions of the current state of deaf education.

Using a qualitative narrative research design, three participants with experience working in high school deaf education settings were interviewed individually and later participated in a focus group discussion. The interviews and focus group centered on participants’ perspectives regarding key issues in deaf …

Voices From The Classroom: Elementary Teachers’ Perspectives On Teaching And Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Case Study And Autoethnography, Alicia Lopez-Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Guided by constructivist learning theory and sociocultural theory, this qualitative case study and autoethnography examines how bilingual educators constructed knowledge, adapted instructional practices, and utilized mediational tools within face-to-face, online and hybrid learning environments. These frameworks informed the study’s design, data analysis, and interpretation of findings related to pedagogy, technology integration, and student engagement. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, naturalistic observations, and autoethnographic reflective journaling.

Elementary Teachers' Culturally Responsive Strategies For Fostering Critical Thinking In Science Instruction With Emergent Bilinguals, Lydia Stella Ratel

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESOL)-certified elementary teachers as they fostered critical thinking among emergent bilingual (EB) students in grades 3–5 science classrooms. Grounded in culturally responsive pedagogy, translanguaging, funds of knowledge, and critical thinking theory, the study examined how teachers made sense of instructional decision-making and EB students’ scientific reasoning within accountability-driven educational contexts.

Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with elementary teachers serving emergent bilingual students in South Texas public schools. Phenomenological analysis was used to identify shared meanings across participants’ descriptions of instructional practices, language use, …

Exploring Servingness Through Pedagogy: A Critical Case Study Of An Hispanic Serving Institution, Yemin Sánchez

Theses and Dissertations

This critical ethnographic case study advances current understandings of what it means to teach at an Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and how faculty enact servingness within an HSI enrolling high indices of Latin@/Hispanic students. Drawing on decolonial, culturally sustaining and liberatory pedagogical frameworks, this study interrogates how constructs such as Hispanic, Latin@/Latinx, or coloniality shape the pedagogical conditions under which faculty operate. Using pláticas with ten faculty members, this research study demonstrates servingness is not a technique or an institutional designation, instead, it is a fluid and deeply humanizing ecology with five mutually reinforcing dimensions: Servingness as Relational Praxis, Servingness …

Investigating Pre-Service Teachers’ Readiness For Early Reading Instruction: A Mixed Methods Study Of Quantified Knowledge In Phonemic Awareness And Lived Experiences, Kristin Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of pre-service teachers as they develop their knowledge and instruction skills during a three-week module within their first literacy course in a teacher preparation program. Literacy courses play an important role in equipping pre-service teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote reading development. Research suggests that phonemic awareness is a crucial skill that predicts later reading achievement; however, many teachers lack the necessary experience and knowledge. This gap raises concerns about teacher preparation programs and how pre-service teachers learn. Guided by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study sought to understand …

A Case Study Of One-To-One Mobile Teaching And Learning Environments Measuring Creativity In A Rural Elementary School In Deep South Texas, David Warren Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how creativity is enacted within rural one-to-one mobile teaching and learning environments in Deep South Texas. Grounded in the frameworks of mobile learning affordances (Klopfer et al., 2002), the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, and the SAMR model, the study explored how instructional practices, student agency, and contextual conditions influenced creative learning experiences in an elementary school setting. Data were collected from five elementary teachers at a rural South Texas district and included semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and samples of student-created artifacts. Data analysis followed a systematic process of first-cycle coding, second-cycle axial …

The Impact Of Community On Professional Identity In Computer Science Education, Ian A. Kollipara

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores the application of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in Computer Science Education. The work consists of two qualitative studies examining related but distinct populations: (1) K–12 CS teachers and (2) undergraduate CS students. The first study presents a retrospective analysis of conneCTION, an online CoP for K–12 CS educators, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and design considerations that inform future platform development. The second study investigates how participation in a CoP can mitigate negative and exclusionary stereotypes in CS. This study was conducted in an under-explored context: a small, private, religious, Midwestern university, and examines an existing community, the Programming …

Technology-Supported Literacy Instruction In Elementary Classrooms (K-5): Perspectives Of Student Teachers In Western Kentucky, Ila B. Shirrell

Honors College Theses

The use of technology in elementary classrooms (kindergarten–fifth grade) has increased significantly with the goal of enhancing instruction. Additionally, educational technology is being used to improve literacy skills, reading recovery, and comprehension. This study examined how technology supports literacy development and instruction in elementary classrooms by drawing upon the perspectives of current student teachers. Student teachers from Murray State University, placed in third through fifth grade classrooms in Western Kentucky, were interviewed. The interviews assessed how technology was used for literacy instruction, including the extent of its effectiveness and potential challenges. Responses were transcribed and analyzed. The themes of evidence-based …

School Levy Passage Strategies, Brody Schaad

Honors Projects

This research was conducted on the impact of community support on school levies, strategies that impact levy passage, and the impact of levies on student success. Research was done through interviews with K-12 superintendents from various Ohio public school districts, following a review of the current literature available on this topic. It was found that transparency with voters of details such as use of funds and outcomes of levy success is the most important strategy to increase levy passage rate. The increased transparency leads to voters having trust in the district and a better understanding of repercussions, leading to a …

Through The Eyes Of Alumni: Transformative Power Of Eof For First-Generation College Students From Racially/Ethnically And Economically Marginalized Backgrounds, Sabrina Magliulo

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study used the Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework to describe the impact participation in New Jersey’s Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program had on the life trajectories of thirteen first-generation Black and Latina/e/o alumni. Findings suggest that authentic relationships between participants and EOF institutional agents created non-judgmental healing spaces where students could honor their cultural wealth and use it to enhance their college experiences. As higher education practitioners seek to increase positive outcomes for students from marginalized backgrounds, this study’s findings provide evidence for adopting EOF practices and investing in intentional screening and hiring practices to identify professionals equipped …

Perceptions Of Effective Co-Teaching Partnerships In High School Inclusive Classrooms, Korri-Lee S. Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the characteristics and contextual factors that general education and special education teachers perceive as essential for effective co-teaching partnerships in high school inclusive classrooms. The study, which involved in-depth interviews with general and special education teachers in co-teaching partnerships, was conducted within a constructivist paradigm to shed light on interpersonal, communicative, and systemic variables that contribute to a positive, productive co-teaching experience. Purposeful sampling was employed to select general and special education teachers who were part of co-teaching partnerships. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data from semi-structured interviews, and an …

Attendance Matters: Incentive Programs And Chronic Absenteeism In Elementary Schools, Aubryn Street

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism is a common challenge in elementary education. Schools often use attendance incentive programs, such as rewards or recognition, to encourage students to attend regularly. However, it is not always clear whether these programs actually improve attendance. This study examined whether attendance incentive programs are effective and how school staff view and use these programs.

This mixed-methods study used both school attendance data and interviews with school personnel. Attendance data from two school years showed that schools with incentive programs did not have lower absenteeism rates than schools without them. However, attendance improved overall from one year to the …

Parent Engagement And Advocacy In Individualized Education Programs In Rural Appalachian School Districts, Mollie Rutledge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore parent engagement and parent advocacy in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation in rural Appalachian school districts. Parent engagement and parent advocacy in Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation are persistent challenges in special education. By intentionally grounding this research in rural Appalachia, the researcher responded to calls for education research that is attentive to the complexity and diversity of rural communities. Parents in rural areas face unique challenges related to poverty, isolation, and limited resources that can influence their engagement and advocacy in the IEP process. The …

Navigating Mixedness As A Multiracial Teacher, Casey S. Kraichoke

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study utilized Critical Multiracial Theory (MultiCrit) to construct a counternarrative that amplifies the voices of Multiracial teachers, focusing on the development of personal and teacher identity. Specifically, the study critically examines the trajectory of Multiethnic-Racial (ME-R) identity transformation following experiences teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in participants’ heritage Asian countries. Data were collected through one-time semi-structured virtual interviews with fifteen purposefully selected Asian-White Multiracial EFL teachers who had completed a one-year Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) within the past decade. Each participant also provided a written artifact to support the analysis. Participants reflected on …

Unpacking The Tension: A Study Of Teacher Experiences With School District Data Use Processes, Mindi Gates

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to understand why data conversations and processes at Wildcat School District (WSD) created discomfort for teachers. The research utilized both survey and interview data to understand teachers’ experiences as they engage in data use conversations. Participants of this study included certified teachers at WSD who participated in monthly collaborative team meetings. Grade and content level meetings are commonplace at WSD. In many cases, teachers are given time at least once per week to engage in collaborative conversations about their work (DuFour & Fullan, 2013). However, as a principal at WSD I have …

Ꭰꮎꮰꭶ (Missing): A Phenomenological Study Of Native American Student Experiences In The Law School Setting, Christina Allene Shaw

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The legal landscape for Native American people in the United States is ever evolving and highly nuanced, with its historical foundation anchored into the classical pilasters of American legal jurisprudence. Federal Indian law scholars place that historical foundation within the written opinions of Chief Justice Marshall dating back to the 1820s and 1830s (Fletcher, 2024). Although few law students will likely find themselves closely examining the unassigned readings of the Marshall Trilogy or contemporary federal Indian law, there is one small group of students in law school doing exactly that: Native American law students. American Indians and Alaska Natives are …

Evaluating The Role Of Hosa–Future Health Professionals In Addressing The Healthcare Workforce Shortage, Amy Warner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States continues to face a significant healthcare workforce shortage, particularly in rural and underserved communities, with implications that extend globally. As a practitioner in health science education, this study was driven by a problem of practice: understanding how HOSA–Future Health Professionals contributes to developing the future healthcare workforce. While the need for effective workforce pipeline strategies is widespread, this study is centered specifically on Oklahoma HOSA as a model of practice within one state. HOSA is designed as an intracurricular extension of health science programs, providing students with opportunities to apply classroom learning through leadership development, competitive events, …

Belongingness And Motivation Among College Students, Noah Seiter

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background/Introduction: Student motivation is influenced by a plethora of variables and factors in educational settings which include the student’s sense of belongingness; however, belonging is often treated as a single construct rather than a dimensional idea. This study addresses the need to differentiate student belongingness into its distinct components of peer belonging and institutional belongingness and examine their unique contributions to levels of student motivation in the collegiate level. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine this distinction between levels of institutional belongingness and peer belongingness as well as their independent and collective influences on motivation among college …

Analyzing Educators’ Roles In Preparing Students For Civic Engagement In Arkansas Communities, Mia L. Hastings

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study identifies practical strategies educators can implement in their instruction to strengthen students’ political efficacy and civic engagement in Arkansas communities. This qualitative research study sought to answer the question, “How do educators prepare students for civic engagement in Arkansas?” The research was conducted within the framework of a practice-based experience with the Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy (ACCLA), a seven-month program hosted by the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. I participated in five seminars on topics such as public service, journalism, and local governance, to analyze how engagement with these experiences can inform educators’ roles in promoting civic engagement. After …

Characterizing Negative Academic Experiences, Danae M. Gaytan

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

According to the 2024 National College Health Assessment, roughly one in five college students experience serious psychological distress (ACHA, 2024). High levels of psychological distress among college students are well-documented (Emmerton et al., 2024; Eisenberg et al., 2013; Bewick et al., 2010), yet less is known about the specific experiences that contribute to this distress. Grounded in multiple theoretical frameworks, this study examines students’ negative academic experiences, their perceived causes, and associated outcomes. Using an online crowdsourcing platform, current higher education students (N = 215) described their most negative academic experience (NAE) and then answered questions about their reactions and …

Dungeons And Dragons As Game-Based Learning, Moses Allen

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This phenomenological qualitative study explored the use of the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Role-Playing Game as a Game-Based Learning (GBL) model, measuring middle school student perceptions of engagement, motivation, and skill development through interactive storytelling. The study used a Practitioner Research theoretical framework and Thematic Analysis to identify emergent themes from the collected data. The study included gameplay of D&D after school with a small group of participants grades 6-8. Results indicated that participants reported consistently high levels of motivation and engagement. Participants perceived that D&D gameplay promoted the development of 21st Century Skills and middle school curricula skills, specifically …

At The Intersection Of Policy, Mission, And Student Needs: How New Mexico Higher Education Professionals Make Transfer Decisions, Roberto P. Vasquez

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Transfer is a critical step for community college students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, yet it remains a complex and inconsistent process. Transfer research highlights tensions related to student experience, institutional mission, and state transfer policy that higher education decision-makers must navigate.

This qualitative study examined how New Mexico higher education decision-makers experience these tensions in practice. Using narrative inquiry, thematic analysis was conducted on interviews with purposively selected decision-makers. Decision-maker stories were interpreted through a Critical Leadership Theory lens, examining how power, discretion, and institutional context shape transfer practices.

Findings indicate that policy is unevenly enacted, with institutional discretion significantly …

An Evaluation Of The Onboarding Ambassador Program, How Sense Of Belonging Impacts Quit Intentions, Utamu Lackey

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the hospital’s onboarding ambassador program. The problem to be investigated was the rate of organizational members quitting within the first year of employment. The goal of learning from the program evaluation was to understand how the onboarding ambassador program and sense of belonging affected quit intentions among newcomers. Organizational socialization, also referred to as onboarding, is a crucial aspect of a newcomer’s experience as they acclimate to a new organization. The onboarding experience is a newcomer’s first impression of the organization (Cesário & Chambel, 2019). Effective onboarding provides role …