Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Role Of Cine-Virtual Reality In Empathy And Awareness Of Social Determinants Of Health Among Occupational Therapy Students, Leah M. Stade, Madison Mckeever, Emma Gardner, Jana L. Wardian Phd

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Understanding social determinants of health (SDOH) is crucial for Occupational Therapy students to develop empathy and deliver optimal healthcare. This study explores using web-based 360° cinematic virtual reality (cine-VR) simulations in Level I fieldwork to address SDOH education and occupational engagement before community-based exposure.

This mixed methods study involved surveys and thematic analysis of written reflections from fifty students in a distance-based program at a Midwest university. Students viewed 12 web-based immersive cine-VR modules about a client experiencing multiple SDOH impacts. Surveys were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-weeks post-intervention, measuring empathy using the Jefferson Empathy Scale and attitudes toward …

Bridging Libraries And Classrooms: Co-Teaching For Student Success, Joy Urbina, Isabel Baca

Librarian Conference Presentations

An instructional librarian and writing professor describe their collaborative approach to co-teaching. Learn how integrating information literacy with writing instruction strengthens students' critical thinking and research skills and discover practical strategies from this successful cross-disciplinary partnership.

The Role Of Mentorship: The Lived Experience Of Black Women In Higher Education Leadership, Joseph Fahrney

JWU Dissertations & Theses

The persistent underrepresentation of Black women in higher education leadership raises important questions about how institutional environments shape leadership advancement, belonging, and sustainability. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the role of mentorship in the lived experiences of Black women leaders in higher education in shaping leadership trajectories, professional development, and institutional engagement. Participants included senior leaders serving in roles such as president, vice president, chief officer, and other executive administrative positions across higher education institutions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants (N=17), generating narrative data reflecting their experiences navigating leadership environments and mentorship relationships. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis …

Hands-On Learning And Design Thinking In Secondary Design And Technology Education, Carol K. Puddicombe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Design and Technology (D&T) education occupies a distinctive position within the secondary curriculum through its historical emphasis on designing, making, and evaluating tangible artefacts. Drawing on a doctoral study, this article examines how the secondary school experiences of ten pre-service D&T teachers in Western Australia shaped their engagement with the subject. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, data were generated through in-depth interviews. Analysis revealed three interrelated themes: the power of practical engagement, experiences of success in the workshop, and limitations in opportunities for explicit design thinking. Findings indicate that hands-on, workshop-based learning played an important role in fostering confidence, motivation, and …

Considerations For Cherenkov Radiation Imaging In External Beam Radiotherapy For Diverse Populations In A High Throughput Cancer Clinic, Diego A. Hernandez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cherenkov radiation imaging is a burgeoning field of optical imaging that has become a promising, non-invasive, technique that allows the visualization of radiation delivery during external beam radiotherapy. This form of imaging has opened the door to real-time and retrospective treatment verification and sparked a plethora of research aimed at improving the utility. This dissertation investigates possible clinical implementations and limitations of Cherenkov radiation imaging within a high-throughput cancer clinic serving a diverse patient population. The central motivation is the need to advance Cherenkov radiation imaging as a reliable tool for clinical use by improving its quantitative accuracy and applicability …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Adaptive Learning Strategies Among Deaf Students In Inclusive Higher Education: A Thematic Analysis, Mayasari Manar, Murni Winarsih

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of learning adaptation strategies implemented by students with hearing impairments in the context of inclusive higher education. The study employs a qualitative approach using an open-ended survey design involving 15 students with hearing impairments who are currently enrolled in or have previously attended higher education institutions. Data were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach to identify thematic patterns related to perceptions of the effectiveness of the adaptation strategies employed. The findings indicate that the majority of respondents perceived the adaptation strategies they used as “fairly effective,” although not yet fully optimal. The …

The Design Of Chatbot Learning Media For Arabic Vocabulary Learning For 7th Grade Students At Mtsn, Rizki Alifia Putri, Alif Cahya Setiyadi

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Arabic language learning at the Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTsN) level often faces challenges such as limited curriculum time allocation and the dominance of conventional teacher-centered methods. This research aims to produce a design for chatbot-based learning media using the Smojo.Ai platform, focusing on vocabulary (mufradat) mastery for 7th-grade students. The approach used is Research and Development (R&D) with the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation); however, this report is limited to the Design and Development (expert validation) stages. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, documentation studies, and validation questionnaires. The results indicate that the characteristics of the "Mufrodaty" chatbot integrate …

The Effectiveness Of Animal-Assisted Interventions On Social And Communication Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In The Uae, Shamsa Ali Almarzooqi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) on the social and communication skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study is organized into four connected phases, each building on the findings of the previous stage. Phase 1 explored parents’ perceptions of how companion pet ownership contributes to their child’s social interaction, communication, emotional well-being, and daily activity routines, using focus groups with mothers of children with ASD. Phase 2 employed a mixed-methods design to observe how students with ASD engage with different animal species (cat, rabbit, and fish/birds) …

Examining The Impact Of Professional Development On Paraprofessional Self-Efficacy In Rural Settings, Elise Murray, Moriah Smothers, Tori L. Colson, Stacey Keown-Murray

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Due to an increasing reliance on special education paraprofessionals in rural schools, this study examines their self-efficacy beliefs before and after professional development. Using a mixed-methods approach, findings suggest no significant change in self-efficacy post-training. Paraprofessionals’ confidence was more influenced by on-the-job experiences than by a single professional development session.

Shared Power, Shared Purpose: A Boundaryless Servant-Leadership Model For Early Childhood Education Programs, Stephanie Akers, Beth Morton

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This article proposes a model for a boundaryless early childhood program grounded in servant leadership and responsive to Kentucky’s regulatory and quality context. Drawing on research about boundaryless organizations, servant leadership, equity, inclusion, and program quality, the model reimagines the early childhood program as a collaborative community rather than a strictly hierarchical, compliance-driven organization (Ashkenas et al., 2015; Friesen et al., 2024; Greenleaf, 1977; NAEYC, 2019, 2020). The early childhood program maintains clear roles (director, assistant director, education coordinator, teachers, and support staff) but loosens rigid boundaries among classrooms and stakeholder groups. State licensing and Kentucky’s quality rating and improvement …

Exploring “Isms” In Teacher Preparation: What Are The Views Of Teacher Candidates?, Michelle A. Gremp

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Teacher preparation programs are charged with preparing educators who understand biases and work toward fostering inclusivity in their classrooms. This study explores the knowledge and perceptions of teacher candidates in an education of the deaf and hard of hearing program related to ableism, audism, and inclusivity. and suggest next steps for developing competencies in these areas. Teacher candidates indicated varying levels of familiarity, views of impact, and the ability to provide accurate definitions of these terms, indicating the need for explicit and scaffolded exposure to the ideas of ableism, audism, and inclusivity across multiple courses within teacher preparation programs.

Critical Incident Analysis: A Methodological Approach For Teaching Trauma Informed Practices, Penny B. Howell, Mary S. Thomas, Shantel D. Crosby, Khirsten Scott

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Drawing on sociocultural theory, a transdisciplinary, multi-racial team of teacher educators, a social work educator, and a scholar of English and rhetoric, designed a study focused on developing teacher candidates’ understanding of trauma-informed practices during their teacher preparation program. Qualitative data from teacher candidates’ reflections on Critical Incident Descriptions (CID) completed during student teaching reveal their developing understanding of trauma-informed practice with Timing, Maintaining Relationships, Holding High Expectations, and Engaging Students so they Remain in the Classroom as prevalent themes across all CIDs. Findings suggest that Critical Incident Analysis promotes teacher candidates’ reflection practices as they make connections …

Marketing Art To Children, Jon Littlefield, William P. Williams

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Generational Perception Differences Among Faculty Regarding Smartphones And Tablets In The College Classroom, Ronda G. Henderson

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Whose Job Is It To Foster Inclusivity In Higher Ed? Everyone!, Michelle Carpenter, Kaitlyn Ukleja

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Can You Teach Professionalism?, Kirsten Passyn

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

A Nudge For Marketing Education To Be More Intentional About Inclusion, Mario Norman

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Centering Joy And Connection: Returning To Instruction After Hurricane Helene, Megan Keiser

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This descriptive essay focuses on one teacher educator's response to a disrupted academic semester after a natural disaster that threatened to erode a service-learning designated interdisciplinary methods course for middle grades educators. This essay shares the process of pivoting to retain critical elements of the course. Reinforcing the use of resilience-informed pedagogy and modeling use of advisories, the instructor focused on developing a cohesive classroom community. Other aspects of the course revamp include offering differentiated service-learning opportunities. Centering teacher candidates’ joy and modeling best practices for middle level educators, the instructor describes project-based learning, a multidisciplinary literacy experience with a …

Reday Program 2026, Bryant University

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

Program for the 2026 Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day). Program includes schedule at a glance, descriptions for panels, workshops, and presentations, along with sign-up links for specific sessions in the electronic version of the program. Printed program was in color with double-sided printing on 8 1/2" x 11" paper stapled together in the upper left corner.

Bridging Theory And Practice: Experimental Learning Measurement And Evaluation, Hayley Bertrand, Brooke Befort, Ty Adams, Derek Mesa, M. Camarena, Aniya Stierlen, Justin L. Montney, Emily Washburn

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Title: Bridging Theory and Practice: Experiential Learning in Measurement and Evaluation Background: Experiential learning plays an important role in helping students apply classroom knowledge in real world settings. In the HHP 340 Measurement and Evaluation course at Fort Hays State University, students are taught testing protocols in class, but limited research has explored how hands-on combined experiences influence student confidence and practical skill development. This project was designed to examine whether participation in a live athletic combine improves students’ preparedness, confidence, and ability to administer performance tests effectively. Methods: A pre post design was used in HHP 340 students enrolled …

Bridging The Gap In Patient Attendance: A Dnp-Led Quality Improvement Project To Reduce No-Show Rate By Implementing Text Message Reminders, Charles D. Rogers

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Missed medical appointments contribute to revenue loss, workflow inefficiencies, increased staff burden, and reduced patient access to care in primary care settings. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project evaluated the impact of an automated text message (SMS) reminder system on no-show rates in a privately owned, medium-sized family practice in a rural setting, aiming to reduce the baseline no-show rate of 11.4% to 10% or less. Guided by the Model for Improvement and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, automated SMS reminders were sent 48 hours prior to scheduled appointments. Existing 24-hour phone call reminders were maintained. Formative assessments …

Bridging The Gap: Design And Evaluation Of Skillbridge: A Case Study In Ai-Assisted Cybersecurity Curriculum Development, Patrick W. Gonzalez

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the aequirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Patrick W. Gonzalez on April 8, 2026.

Bridging Theory And Practice: Experimental Learning Measurement And Evaluation, Broke Befort, Ethan Stambaugh, Lilliana Ramierez-Johnson, Kooper Tichenor, Hayley Bertrand

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Title: Bridging Theory and Practice: Experiential Learning in Measurement and Evaluation Background: Experiential learning is an important component of student development because it allows students to apply classroom knowledge in authentic settings. In the HHP 340 Measurement and Evaluation course at Fort Hays State University, students are introduced to testing protocols and performance assessment procedures; however, less is known about how hands-on combined experiences influence students’ confidence, anxiety, motivation, and readiness to administer testing. This project was designed to examine whether participation in a structured experiential learning opportunity improves student outcomes across the training process. Methods: A repeated-measures design was …

Supporting Relationships Through Wholehearted Teaching, Betsy L. Crawford, Latisha Haag, Linda Ganstrom

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Educators face growing political, cultural, and personal pressures that shape classroom relationships and student support. This study explores Wholehearted Teaching, a pedagogical approach influenced by Brené Brown and adapted for educational practice, to examine how faculty enact authenticity, empathy, flexibility, and accountability in higher education courses.

April 8, 2026 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Social Isolation On Community College Students' Learning Modality Preferences, Melinda F. Walker

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Melinda F. Walker on April 8, 2026.

2026 Diversity Climate Survey Report, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Resources

No abstract provided.

Hispanic Students As Environmental Scientists: Culturally Sustaining Stem Pathways Through Raíces Y Ciencia, Uma Ganesan

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This study examines how culturally and linguistically sustaining environmental STEM education (CLSE-STEM) fostered student agency and environmental consciousness among Hispanic/Latinx students in Rio Grande Valley border schools. Through qualitative analysis of the Raíces y Ciencia project's water quality investigations, the research explored how teachers integrated students' cultural and linguistic resources with environmental science learning. Data from conference panel presentations, educator surveys, and classroom artifacts revealed three key themes: linguistic border-crossing as scientific understanding pathways, connecting family knowledge to environmental justice advocacy, and positioning students as community researchers. Findings demonstrate that centering Hispanic students' cultural assets while addressing local water quality …

Street-Level Bureaucrats In Public Higher Education: The Ethical Obligations To Support Psychologically At-Risk Students, Michael Turtz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

To fill the gap in the current literature, the purpose of this dissertation was to explain how and why Street-Level Bureaucrats (SLBs) in public higher education helped psychologically at-risk students during the pandemic. This qualitative study was intended to examine the role of SLBs in public higher education as it relates to their utilization of administrative discretion when advising psychologically at-risk students. In addition to administrative discretion, this dissertation also explored the role of ethical obligations and the use of a therapeutic lens when SLBs are faced with some of the most difficult situations for which they were not equipped …

Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions Of School Counselor-Principal-Teacher Collaboration, Collective Teacher Efficacy, And Leadership, Rachel Louise Geesa, Sherri Barrow, Rochelle Maynard, Derien D. Kunce

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Efforts to support students' academic, social/emotional, personal, and future professional well-being often rely on the collaboration among educational leaders, educators, and community partners. In this study, we examine teachers' perceptions of collaboration among school counselors, principals, and teachers to enhance school culture, with a focus on collective teacher efficacy. We also provide insights for school leaders (e.g., principals, school counselors, and teachers) to implement systemic changes that promote collaboration and student success. This study is framed through the social cognitive theory, where self-efficacy shapes how educators perceive their ability to impact the learning environment and engage students. Using a mixed-methods …