Digital Commons Network^™

Decreasing Barriers To Learning: Understanding Cognitive Load In The Modern Classroom, Rory Cantwell

Virginia English Journal

This article applies Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) to investigate current classroom uses of technology and how these may support or hinder student learning. First, the article explores the current understanding and application of CLT. Then, focusing on cell phone and laptop computer use, it examines how current evidence surrounding the most prevalent educational technologies may suggest strategies for classroom technology use. The article concludes by offering implications for current practitioners, including a decision tree educators can use to determine situational classroom technology usage.

Moving Forward In Education, Reese Whitlock, Hannah-Evette Burruss, Kiley Mccleary

Virginia English Journal

This article examines the growing presence of artificial intelligence in secondary English Language Arts classrooms and argues that educators must approach AI integration through a human-centered framework. While technological advancements continue to reshape literacy instruction, the role of teachers as guides and relationship-builders remains essential. Drawing on educational research and classroom examples, the article explores how tools such as generative AI and audiobooks can support student learning when used intentionally rather than as replacements for critical thinking or teacher involvement. The discussion highlights concerns surrounding overreliance on AI, including diminished writer’s voice, reduced cognitive engagement, and ethical issues such as …

From Pack Horse Librarians To Large Language Models: Grounding Ai Literacy In Appalachian Place And Community, Amanda Biviano, Anna Marie Rayne, Paige Hubbard, Maya Alvarez, Brooke Stiles, Isabella Giocondo

Virginia English Journal

As artificial intelligence reshapes literacy education, teachers face the challenge of preparing students to engage critically with new technologies while honoring the cultural and community knowledge they bring to the classroom. This article proposes a critical, place-based pedagogical framework rooted in rural Appalachian literacy traditions as a means of guiding students toward reflective engagement with AI — particularly large language models (LLMs). Drawing on the theoretical foundations of Freire's critical pedagogy, Giroux's cultural literacy framework, and place-based education, we examine historical Appalachian literacy practices as models for resisting the standardizing and dehumanizing tendencies of AI-generated writing. We then outline a …

A Media Literacy Approach To Ai In Secondary Ela, Matthew Korona

Virginia English Journal

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into academic, civic, and personal contexts requires students to develop the skills and dispositions necessary for ethical and critical engagement with AI‑mediated texts. While AI literacy is often framed as a technical competency associated with computer science, this paper argues that secondary English language arts (ELA) classrooms are uniquely positioned to support AI literacy through media literacy practices. Drawing on constructivist pedagogy, existing research on media literacy and AI literacy, and the Virginia English Standards of Learning, the article presents a framework that aligns core media literacy competencies with human–AI interaction. To …

20261007: Photos Of Marshall, 1918-1998, Photos Of Marshall

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials across the campus community in the form of photos of Marshall, campus, and its respective student body. Items were received at an earlier date and include photos from 1918-1998. These materials including Fairfield Stadium paving, the medical center and Cabell Huntington Hospice, photos of Drinko Library, Morrow Library, the President's House, the Science Building Construction, Old Main restoration, the 50th anniversary of the Artists Series, Homecoming from 1980, "Jesse Stuart Day" from 1975, some early cheerleading pictures, and some aerial photographs from Dr. Samuel Clagg. Please download this finding aid full a full list of contents.

Spectrum, Volume 57, Issue 4,, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: Writing History: Students Earn Journalism Awards -- Flossing into Fall 2028! -- Floods of Families -- It's Sweater Weather! -- Nobody Walks Alone -- Bump, Set, Spike: Women’s Volleyball Starts Strong -- What the Cornell Case asks of Catholic Students

Voices From The Field: Perspectives From High School Financial Educators, Karen L. Franck, Christopher Sneed, Ann A. Berry

Journal of Extension

High school personal finance courses provide youth with skills to successfully manage money and finances. Extension programs have been vital partners to help develop and implement personal finance courses through resource development and trainings. To strengthen these classes, we conducted a comprehensive needs assessment with high school teachers. The needs assessment included surveys, focus groups, and interviews with high school teachers with current or previous experience teaching personal finance classes. Teachers identified major challenges related to engaging students in the program, especially students living in poverty. Recommendations include changes to the overall program and tips for replicating this needs assessment.

Does Farm Size Matter In Agricultural Extension Programs? Insights From Us Agriculture Census Data, Pilja Vitale, Joshua Campbell, Jeffrey Vitale, Michael Patrick, John Garlisch

Journal of Extension

This commentary examines how farm size influences agricultural Extension programs in the United States, highlighting disparities between large and small farms. While large farms dominate production through advanced technologies and economies of scale, small farms are vital for food security, community well-being, and cultural preservation. Key differences include water use, labor, machinery, marketing, financial management, and food safety practices. Extension programs address these disparities through tailored initiatives such as financial literacy training for small farms and technology adoption workshops for large ones. This analysis emphasizes the need for targeted and inclusive Extension programming to enhance sustainability and equity across farm …

Academics’ Experiences Of Integrating Open Educational Resources Into Study Guides In Sri Lankan Distance Education, W.M.A.P. Sandamini Fernando, Fareed Mohamed Nawastheen

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Open educational resources (OER) can provide additional learning materials for distance education students. However, limited research has examined academics’ experiences of using OER in distance teacher education study guides. This study examined academics’ perceptions and experiences of integrating OER into the study guides of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme at a university offering open and distance education in Sri Lanka. The study used a survey design with 30 purposively selected academics involved in developing courses for the programme. Data were collected through a questionnaire containing 25 items rated on a five-point scale and three open-ended questions. The responses were …

October 2026 Faculty Senate Packet, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Packets

No abstract provided.

Realities Of Engendering Federalization: Political Commitment To Gender Equality, Resources, And Policy, Christine S. Diaz

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Amid several initiatives to federalize the Philippines, discourse on engendering federalization remains scarce. This gap forms the basis of this study, which examined the realities of engendering federalization. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and key informant interviews with research participants from various sectors in Davao City. Guided by Caren Levy’s Web of Institutionalization Framework, the study focused on three core dimensions: political commitment to gender equality, resources, and policy. The findings revealed that engendering federalization, particularly political commitment to gender equality, requires advocacy, institutionalization, gender awareness, and gender-sensitivity formation. Institutional mechanisms, policies, and resources are important for advancing gender-responsive …

The Virtual Clinical Training Center: New Frontiers In Telemental Health Training, Rodney E. Harris, Loriann S. Stretch, Susan J. Foster, Katie Kesterson

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Telebehavioral health has become an essential competency for counselors, yet counselor education programs often have limited structures for supervised telehealth clinical training. This article describes the Virtual Clinical Training Center (VCTC), a three-tiered model developed within an online counselor education program to prepare counselors in training and doctoral supervisors in training while expanding access to counseling in medically underserved communities. Tier I offers synchronous skills-based live labs and examination review, Tier II provides peer role-play practice, and Tier III places fieldwork students with community partners to deliver supervised telebehavioral counseling. We describe the application and training process, tiered supervision, partnership …

Designing For Who Actually Shows Up: A Signal Framework For Online Adult Learners In Cybersecurity And Information Technology, Chad Whistle, Mayyada Al-Hammoshi

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Online adult learners pursuing cybersecurity and information technology credentials represent one of the fastest-growing student populations in American higher education, yet the frameworks institutions use to support their success were not designed for them. This population, disproportionately drawn from the 41.9 million Americans who hold some college credit but no credential, arrives workforce-embedded, time-constrained, and skeptical of institutional systems that previously failed to serve them. Existing persistence models grounded in traditional student integration theory inadequately account for the behavioral patterns, motivational structures, and credential expectations that define this learner. This paper proposes the SIGNAL Framework (Skills-based credential architecture, Integrated AI-informed …

Horticultural Diplomacy: A Framework For Growing Culturally Aware Gardeners, Stephen Stresow-Cortez, Stephen Reiners, Ashley Miller Helmholdt

Journal of Extension

Derived from person-to-person diplomacy models, a ``horticultural diplomacy'' framework was implemented in a statewide vegetable variety trial program for two seasons to introduce Master Gardeners to diverse crops and cultures. Scaffolding learning with relevant recipes, bed groupings, community tasting events, and collecting community (citizen) science data helped participants build garden skills, gain a greater appreciation for other cultures, and inform new educational materials. Horticultural diplomacy is part of a deliberate effort aimed at growing food and building understanding among (primarily White) volunteers. The techniques that helped make this program successful, adaptable to other garden programs, and aspects that require improvements …

Navigating Text-To-Speech (Tts): Ethical Leadership In The Use Of Generative Ai For Extension, Xue A Dong, Paul A Hill

Journal of Extension

Text-to-speech (TTS) AI technology transforms written content into natural-sounding speech, offering a useful tool to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in Extension work. This article examines the role of TTS AI in bridging communication gaps, particularly for diverse and multilingual communities, and demonstrates the importance of ethical leadership in its adoption. By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, Extension professionals can leverage TTS AI to foster greater connection and engagement. Practical applications and examples are provided to guide the integration of TTS AI into programs. The article also offers recommendations for experimenting with innovative technologies to improve educational outcomes and increase the …

The Evolving Wildfire Crisis: The Need To Adapt Statewide Extension Efforts To Address Diverse Challenges, Alison L. Deak, Kathryn E. Low, Luca Carmignani, Ryan E. Tompkins, Barbara Satink Wolfson

Journal of Extension

There are many factors that contribute to wildfire preparedness in California. Although effective wildfire preparedness requires tailored regional approaches, it is crucial to understand how statewide Extension programs can address shared challenges while augmenting region-specific strategies. For the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network to meet the growing demands for fire-related Extension programming, a team of advisors surveyed California residents to refine the goals of our Extension programs. Survey results highlight key gaps in fire-related Extension education that residents in California and beyond need to reduce their wildfire risk.

From Anatomy To Safe Action: The A2d And Scope-D Frameworks For Teaching Clinical Reasoning And Referral Communication In Physical Therapist Education, Arvie Vitente, Pamela Taylor, Christopher Dela Rosa, Art Lubinski

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. Physical therapist learners may accurately recall anatomy yet struggle to translate it into testable hypotheses, recognize discordant findings, select proportionate actions, and communicate uncertainty within scope. Existing frameworks address clinical reasoning or structured communication, but limited guidance connects anatomy-based hypothesis testing directly to patient-centered referral communication when findings do not fit. This theory piece pairs Anatomy-to-Decision (A2D) with SCOPE-D to address that curricular gap.

Methods. Integrative conceptual design drew on literature concerning physical therapist clinical reasoning, illness scripts, cognitive load, dual-process reasoning, hypothesis-oriented patient management, safety screening, and communication of diagnostic uncertainty. These foundations were translated into features intended …

Learning From Curricular Innovations In Health Professions Education: A Scoping Review, Andrew J. Notebaert Dr., Sherrill Morris, Elizabeth Sterner, Beverly W. Henry

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: It is important to learn how health professions education (HPE) programs respond to recommendations across countries and disciplines, including their preparation of students to work in health care systems, the reorganization of programmatic curricula, and strategies to overcome challenges encountered in the change process.

Methods: Following the JBI scoping review methodology, we systematically reviewed literature from 2013 to 2024. We selected articles that specifically mentioned HPE curriculum modification for pre-licensure and clinical programs to address health care system problem(s). Data extraction included: aim/purpose of the study, intervention/implementation components, curricular scope, study population, context and participants, types of data …

Artificial Intelligence As A Tool To Enhance High-Leverage Practices In Special Education, Kanisha Porter, Viveca Grant Ed.D., Delilah A. Gonzales

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Special education teachers face instructional, documentation, and compliance demands that often impede the fidelity of High-Leverage Practices (HLPs). While HLPs are central to promoting positive academic and behavioral growth for students with disabilities, a significant research-to-practice gap persists because educators lack the time and resources to implement these evidence-based strategies consistently within increasingly complex classrooms. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers emerging opportunities to mitigate systemic burdens by serving as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement for professional judgment. This manuscript examines AI’s potential to enhance HLP implementation across the domains of instruction, data-driven practice, collaboration, and intensive intervention. Drawing upon …

“None Of Them Use Facebook Anymore, It’S Just For Us, Internet Dinosaurs” Czech Media Education Teachers And Social Media, Karolína Šimková, Ana F. Oliveira, Annamária Neag

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

In today’s digital age, media education teachers are expected to be at the forefront of guiding young people through the complex digital world. This study aimed to explore how media education teachers’ personal and professional engagement with social media shapes their teaching practices in Czech primary schools (teaching pupils aged 11–15). Through 17 semi-structured interviews, we delved into teachers’ social media use, classroom discussions, and pedagogical approaches to media education to identify the distinct attitudes these teachers hold toward social media. The study shows that Czech media education teachers’ diverse strategies for integrating social media into their curriculum are primarily …

Related Arts Teachers In A Professional Learning Community: On The Phenomenon Of Implementation, Noah Friedman

Journal of Practitioner Research

In recent decades, the popularity of teacher collaboration and data-driven instructional practices has seen the increased use of the professional learning community (PLC) model as a method for school improvement. Within the PLC framework are singletons, educators who are the only ones who teach their subject in their buildings (Hansen, 2015). In elementary school settings, related arts teams (e.g. music, art, physical education, and so on) are often included in a PLC as an afterthought. To accommodate the distinctive needs of this team, I created an intervention tool and method to provide support to related arts teams as they implement …

The Role Of Emotions In Understanding Inquiry As Stance, Yun-Chen Yen, Rachel Wolkenhauer

Journal of Practitioner Research

This case study of a Taiwanese teacher candidate’s inquiry experience during her internship uses emotions as a lens for analyzing how she developed and refined her inquiry stance as a critical habit of mind. Using emotions as points of reflection and action, the teacher candidate came to see herself as a responsible and critical generator of knowledge, understood practice as a synthesis of reflection and action, and reframed the purpose of inquiry as elevating student voices and cultivating teacher curiosity. An inquiry community played a critical role in sustaining her engagement and commitment. This study suggests that teacher emotions can …

Preparing Relational Leaders In Teacher Education: Graduate Student Perspectives On Leadership Practices, Mary Louie Stahl Phd

Journal of Practitioner Research

This practitioner research study examines how graduate education students prioritize relational, professional, and reflective leadership practices within a leadership framework used in a graduate teacher education course. While scholarship on care-centered leadership emphasizes the importance of relational trust, authenticity, and kindness in educational leadership, little research has explored how aspiring educators interpret and prioritize these leadership practices during their teacher preparation programs. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this study. Ten graduate students enrolled in a Human Learning, Development, and Motivation course completed an optional structured reflective survey based on engagement with a leadership framework. Data were analyzed using …

Urban Secondary Teachers’ Perspectives On Their Experiences With Ai-Generated Lesson Plans To Support Instructional Practices, Jennifer Amend

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban secondary schools are increasingly encouraged to integrate AI tools into instructional planning. The problem many teachers remain uncertain about the effectiveness of AI-generated lesson plans. Grounded in Hall and Hord’s concerns-based adoption model, the purpose of this project study was to explore urban secondary teachers’ perspectives of their successes, challenges, and resource needs related to the use of AI-generated lesson plans to support instructional practices at PUHS. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 11 secondary teachers and analyzed using first-cycle coding and second-cycle pattern coding. Six themes emerged: AI as an Efficiency and …

Women Leaders In Higher Education Amidst Crisis: A Narrative Inquiry Exploring Ethical Decision-Making, Jacqueline Hawkins

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Women leaders in higher education navigate complex institutional environments in which ethical decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty, urgency, and competing responsibilities (Gigliotti, 2020; Riggio & Newstead, 2023). The problem addressed in this study was to explore how women leaders navigated ethical complexities, balanced competing responsibilities, and made meaning of crisis leadership experiences within higher education contexts. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore how women leaders in higher education describe their experiences with ethical decision-making during crisis situations. Guided by the ethic of care described by Noddings (1984, 2013), the study examined participants’ ethical reasoning, …

L’Insécurité Linguistique Selon La Perspective Des Élèves D’Immersion Française En Saskatchewan, Olushola Adedeji, Michael Akinpelu

Tête à Tête: Journal of Francophone Studies

Cet article examine l’insécurité linguistique (IL) chez des élèves d’immersion française (IF) en Saskatchewan en s’appuyant sur la sociolinguistique pour le changement. À partir d’un devis mixte (un questionnaire à large échelle auprès d’élèves de 7e–12e année et des groupes de discussion focalisés avec des élèves de 11e–12e année), l’étude décrit les différentes manifestations de l’IL, ses causes et ses effets sur les élèves tout en recensant des stratégies d’adaptation. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que l’IL est moins liée à une compétence linguistique objective qu’à des conditions sociales et pédagogiques modifiables. Des recommandations concrètes sont proposées, notamment la légitimation …

But Mommy, I Can See!, Paul B. Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Book Review: Slotnick S, But MOMMY, I can SEE! Illustrations Daniel W. Miller, Newman Springs; 2024. 76 pages, Paperback, $20.95, ISBN: 979-8-88763-556-9, Hardcover, $32.95, ISBN: 979-8-89617-040-2, eBook, $9.99, ISBN: 979-8-88763-557-6

The Other Visual Acuity, Paul B. Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Editorial

Grieving While Becoming: Examining Where Grief, Whole Person Formation, And Student Support Meet, Tynia J. Albea

Papers

College is often a pivotal period in young adults’ lives. Adulthood may seem like a distant concept. However, grief and trauma appear to affect young adults significantly, often without a safe space to digest or comprehend. Thus, current student support may limit and disrupt a student’s ability to understand their emotional regulation, virtues, and identity. This analysis aims to understand how student support services provide resources and spaces for students experiencing grief and/or trauma and identify how grief intersects with student success. Using student development theory with an empathetic, trauma-informed lens, faculty and staff will be able to support students …

Retention Rates: A Qualitative Study Exploring Teachers’ Perspectives Of Teaching In Northeast Florida, Dawn J. Kell

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This qualitative phenomenological study explored workplace experiences and motivational factors influencing teacher retention among Northeast Florida charter school educators. With nearly half a million teachers leaving the classroom annually and approximately 41% leaving within their first five years, understanding why educators remain in the profession is imperative for sustaining student success and educational quality. The purpose of this study was to explore motivational factors that lead teachers to remain in the profession despite current challenges. Using a purposeful sampling method, 12 certified Northeast Florida charter school teachers participated in 30-minute semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. Each 30-minute interview was recorded, …