Digital Commons Network^™

Grades And Grading Practices And Their Associations To Student Motivation, Rob Tesmond Iii

Dissertations of Practice

This study’s purposes are to understand how students perceive grades and their impact on their motivation to learn, how students perceive different grading practices, and how students who typically experience academic success respond compared to how students who typically do not experience academic success respond. Utilizing qualitative research methods, two rounds of focus groups were conducted. The first round consisted of five focus group sessions made up of a total of nineteen students who typically experience high academic success, including an overwhelming representation of students who take honors and AP classes. The second round consisted of three focus group sessions …

Grading Practices In Secondary Classrooms: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Teacher Decision-Making, Student Outcomes, And Implications For Educational Equity, Lauren Lay

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

GRADING PRACTICES IN SECONDARY CLASSROOMS: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY EXPLORING TEACHER DECISION-MAKING, STUDENT OUTCOMES, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. Lay, Lauren, 2026: Dissertation, Long Island University. Grading practices remain one of the most influential yet inconsistent aspects of secondary education. Despite increased interest in equitable grading, little research has examined how teachers make grading decisions within a common institutional context while exploring relationships among grading practices, student outcomes, motivation, and educational equity. The purpose of this convergent mixed-methods study was to examine how grading decision-making among 9th and 10th-grade teachers across five core content areas within one suburban New York high …

Towards Food Sovereignty In Cameroon: Indigenous Food Practices And Community Grain Banks In The Mayotsanaga Division Of The Far North Region, Prudencia Ayamba, Chimene Tankou Nkouamou Epse Nukunah Dr

Journal of Critical Global Issues

Food security is a term defined in 1996 by the World Food Summit as a situation where everyone has both economic and physical access to nutritious and safe food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. This concept also became a priority during the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and later the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to combat world hunger by 2030. However, the term ‘food security’ has faced criticism for overlooking indigenous knowledge and practices in addressing the food crisis and for misrepresenting marginalized populations. Because of these limitations, the term …

Evaluating The Effects Of Autonomous Learning, Goal Orientation And Self-Efficacy On The Academic Performance Of Ethiopian Stem Students’ Through Structural Equation Modeling (Sem), Jerusalem Yizengaw, Asnake Tarekegn Nigussie

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The study investigates the relationships among self-efficacy, goal orientation, and autonomous learning and how these factors affect Ethiopian STEM students’ academic performance. A descriptive survey design using mixed-methods research was used. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were employed to gather data from eight teachers and 151 STEM students. CFA and EFA attested to the validity and reliability of the questionnaires. Quantitative data were assessed using structural equation modeling (SEM), and qualitative data were analyzed using word descriptions. Self-efficacy was positively correlated with STEM students’ academic performance (β = .12, p < .01), whereas autonomous learning and goal orientation were negatively correlated (β = -.01, p < .01) and (β = -.04, p < .01), respectively. Findings suggest that techniques that help Ethiopian STEM students develop self-efficacy should be prioritized, with implications for curriculum design and instructional approaches. According to the findings, methods that support Ethiopian STEM students in developing self-efficacy should be prioritized, with consequences for instructional strategies and curriculum design. Although self-belief appears crucial for success, further research is required to fully understand the complex interaction of these factors in Ethiopia and other contexts.

Ai-Generated Content In Education: Moving Beyond Theory Toward Data-Driven And Actionable Insights, Huong Thi Pham, Nhung Thi Phuong Nguyen

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The emergence of AI-powered content such as text, images, and videos generated by large language models (LLMs) has rapidly transitioned from an experimental novelty to a structural force in higher education. Yet, previous reviews have remained largely conceptual or focused on the early stages of the AI wave. This study offers an updated, multi-faceted overview of AI-generated content in education based on data from 2022 to 2025. Following the PRISMA protocol, we systematically identified and reviewed 64 peer-reviewed studies to examine usage, transformation of teaching practices, impacts on learning outcomes, and challenges related to academic integrity, bias, trustworthiness, and teacher …

Development And Psychometric Validation Of A Short-Form Critical Thinking Scale In Generative Ai Contexts (Genai–Crt): Evidence From Vietnamese Efl Learners, Ngo Cong-Lem, Thang T. Nguyen, Khanh N. H. Nguyen, Quyen N. H. Nguyen

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in education has intensified concerns about its impact on learners’ critical thinking, underscoring the need for reliable instruments to assess how students engage critically with AI-generated content. This study adapted, developed, and initially validated the Generative AI–Critical Thinking (GenAI–CrT) scale, an eight-item short-form instrument designed to capture EFL learners’ critical thinking in AI-enhanced learning contexts. Data from 233 Vietnamese undergraduates and graduates underwent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, supporting a theoretically grounded four-factor structure comprising analytical skills, logical reasoning, evidence evaluation, and open-mindedness. The scale demonstrated excellent model fit (χ²(14) = 23.49, …

Trends And Innovations In The Development Of Immersive Technology In Science Education (2019-2024): A Literature Review, Aziz Kurniawan, Hartono Hartono, Bambang Subali

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact, including the change in learning methods from face-to-face to non-face-to-face learning. This change in method accelerates innovation in the use of technology to support non-face-to-face learning. Immersive technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Virtual laboratories, have offered authentic and interactive non-face-to-face learning experiences in science education. This study employed a systematic literature review (SLR) method to map trends and innovations in the development of immersive technology in science education from 2019 to 2024. The literature data were obtained from the Scopus database and then selected using the PRISMA …

Speaking Up Online And Offline: The Effects Of Social Media-Based E-Portfolios In Empowering Efl Students' Speaking Performance, I Putu Indra Kusuma, Luh Indrayani

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Although e-portfolios are widely acknowledged for enhancing EFL students’ speaking skills, most studies assessed performances offline, leaving limited evidence of their impact across both modes. This study examined the effects of social media-based e-portfolios combined with classroom instruction on students’ speaking performance in online and offline contexts. A mixed-methods experimental design was employed, involving 46 Indonesian university students divided into an experimental and a control group. Data were collected through online and offline pre- and post-speaking tests, a speaking performance rubric, and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis using One-Way MANOVA, Univariate ANOVA, paired sample t-test, and effect size revealed significant improvements …

Case-Based Learning In Biology Education: A Systematic Literature Review, Elsje Theodora Maasawet, Jullya Christin Kolow

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Biology education often relies on content-intensive instructional materials that may encourage rote memorisation rather than conceptual understanding, potentially contributing to misconceptions. Case-Based Learning (CBL) offers an alternative by engaging students in applying biological concepts to authentic, real-life cases and promoting meaningful learning. Despite growing empirical interest in CBL, no systematic literature review has specifically synthesised its application in biology education. This study therefore examined publication trends, learning skills addressed, and conceptualisations of CBL in biology education. Relevant literature was retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science using “Case-Based Learning” as the search term. Following PRISMA-guided screening, 42 articles were included …

Understanding Ai Usage On Campus: Perspectives Of Faculty, Staff, And Students At A Regional Comprehensive Institution, Sudarshana Bordoloi Dr., Brooke Burk

Essays in Education

The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped teaching, learning, research, and administrative work across higher education. To better understand how campus communities are engaging with AI, this study examines the perspectives and practices of faculty, staff, and students at a regional comprehensive university in Minnesota. Drawing on survey data from 143 respondents, the study explores patterns of AI usage, perceived benefits and challenges, and the training needs required for ethical and effective integration of AI tools. Findings indicate that students primarily use AI for tutoring, idea generation, and drafting written assignments; faculty rely on AI for research, …

Early Childhood Classrooms And Higher Education Faculty: Partnerships With Far-Reaching Benefits, Anita Weisburger

Essays in Education

The relationship between a community college early childhood teacher education faculty member and the director of an early learning center grew into a deep and meaningful partnership that went beyond the two main participants.  This description and analysis of their collaboration demonstrates the value of these partnerships to the early childhood classrooms and the faculty at the college, but it also highlights the positive impact on the college students, the young children, the school families and the community at large.  The goal of this article is to reflect on the benefits and challenges in these collaborative endeavors and highlight lessons …

Finding Aid For The Melody Musgrove Collection (Mum00840)

Archives & Special Collections: Finding Aids (alphabetical)

Dr. Melody Musgrove served as Director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education from 2010 until 2016.  The collection primarily consists of her subject files from this period.

Student And Faculty Outcomes And Experiences In High School Career And Technical Education: A Vocational Program Evaluation, Ayana E. Moore

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive program evaluation of vocational schools in Duval County, with the goal of laying the groundwork for assessing effectiveness of vocational education. This study utilized exploratory mixed-methods approach, gathering quantitative and qualitative data about high school graduation rates, career readiness, college enrollment, experiences, and satisfaction levels from students and faculty at fully accredited vocational high schools. By synthesizing findings from existing literature and analyzing data, the study sought to elucidate the impact of vocational high school programs and offer insights into the benefits and areas for improvement in vocational programs. Ultimately, the research aims to inform …

Ecce Leadership Development: Supports, Barriers, And Identity Formation, Andrea Weidele

Open Access Dissertations

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) leadership development is not given the attention it deserves. Despite the proven link between high-quality ECCE programs and positive societal outcomes, leadership development within the sector is significantly under-resourced. Because program quality is inherently tied to leadership efficacy, there is an urgent need to investigate the supports and structures that foster effective ECCE leadership. This study addressed that gap by using a qualitative multiple case study to explore how six ECCE program leaders of licensed ECCE programs from a New England state describe their leadership development, including supports and barriers they encountered and how …

Book Reviews, Mea Boykins, Kimberly F. Monroe, Denzel Oliver, Latif A. Tarik

The Griot - Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc.

No abstract provided.

¡Adelante! The Path To Success Community Brief (¡Adelante! El Camino Hacia El Éxito Informe Comunitario), Dina T. Garcia, Jacky Alvarez, Alexia Muñoz-Moctezuma, Kristal Parada, Jorge Piocuda, Pablo De Cuba Soria

Social and Behavioral Sciences Publications

This community brief describes the development, implementation, and impact of ¡Adelante! The Path to Success, a first-year student success course at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) designed to support Latine/x/a/o students in their transition to college. Developed through collaboration among faculty, staff, and student support professionals, the course centers community building, identity exploration, wellness, academic success, and career development within a culturally responsive learning environment. Rooted in VCU’s commitment to student success and belonging, Adelante provides structured opportunities for students to connect with peers, mentors, campus resources, and Latine/x/a/o professionals. The brief highlights the program’s origins, ongoing sustainability through the Adelante …

In Their Own Words: Why First-Generation Minority Students Take On Leadership Roles At Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Suzette Ramsundar Ed.D

Theses and Dissertations

While there is an abundance of research on student leadership and how it impacts student retention (Tinto, 1987 and Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005), it is typically from the university's perspective. This phenomenological study, however, investigated the experiences and perceptions of first-generation minority students who commuted to campus and pursued leadership roles at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Utilizing phenomenological methodology, this research examined the lived experiences of eight student leaders to understand how they made meaning of their leadership engagement.

Student leaders in this study shared the details of the significant challenges they navigated, including financial pressures, commuting demands, cultural barriers, and …

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Language Tools In English Language Learning For Flight Attendant Learners, Qianying Pu, Amelia Binti Alias, Khairul Azhar Bin Jamaludin

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study analyzes AI language tools aiding English learning for aspiring flight attendants, focusing on fluency, pronunciation, and communication skills. Considering the aviation industry’s very high language requirements, this research examines how AI language tools help flight attendants master English and improve their speech and pronunciation.  A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews was adopted for the present study with flight attendants and aviation English educators. The study highlights major themes such as Increased Confidence through Repetition and Feedback, Pronunciation Improvement Enabled by an AI-specific feature, Pedagogical Gaps and Instructor Apathy, and Limitations in Contextual Appropriateness. This study concludes that …

A Hierarchical And Multidimensional Approach To Profiling Students’ Digital Skills In Educational Technology, Emil S. Frashëri, Eleni F. Vangjeli

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates university students’ digital competence through a multidimensional and person‑centered analytical framework grounded in bifactor–Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (B‑ESEM). Digital competence was conceptualized across four functional skill domains and a general competence factor, reflecting contemporary perspectives on technology‑enhanced learning and student readiness. To overcome a common limitation in traditional Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), the conflation of overall competence levels with relative skill configurations, this study employed B‑ESEM–derived factor scores to preserve both hierarchical structure and multidimensionality. Using data from 599 university students, a four‑profile solution emerged, capturing distinct patterns of digital skill strengths and weaknesses. Gender and programming …

Ethical Dilemmas Of Generative Ai In Education And Their Implications For Sdg 4: A Systematic Review From A Global And Inclusive Perspective, Eva García-Beltrán

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examines the ethical dilemmas associated with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in education and analyses their implications for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), with a focus on inclusive and equitable quality education. The review draws on 24 peer-reviewed studies published between December 2022 and December 2024, covering diverse educational levels and geographical contexts, with a predominance of Global North perspectives and limited representation from the Global South. The analysis reveals four primary themes: academic integrity, algorithmic equity, data privacy, and the potential contribution of …

Application Of Artificial Intelligence In Case-Based Teaching: A Qualitative Study In Mba Education, Tianjiao Xu, Mohd Nazir Bin Zabit

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study examines the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into case-based teaching (CBT) within Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in China, amidst the rapid digital transition in higher education. Guided by the Context–Input–Process–Product (CIPP) evaluation framework, the study adopted a qualitative design and conducted semi-structured interviews with five instructors from three core MBA courses. The findings indicate that AI enhanced classroom interaction and reduced teachers’ workload by supporting real-time feedback and dynamic discussion processes. Institutional support, including teacher training, digital infrastructure, and technical assistance, was recognized as a vital facilitator of effective implementation. Despite its various benefits, the study …

Bangladeshi Students' Experiences With Formative Feedback At West Virginia University, Habiba Jahan Seam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines how Bangladeshi international graduate students at West Virginia University experience, interpret, and utilize written formative feedback within higher education in the United States. It explores how students' prior educational and cultural experiences in Bangladesh shape their engagement with feedback in a different academic context. I used a qualitative approach to collect data through two rounds of semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions with Bangladeshi graduate students to better understand how individuals make sense of formative feedback throughout their academic journey. Findings indicate that prior educational experiences play a meaningful role in shaping how students interpret and …

Humanizing Education Through Subject-Centered Instruction: A Mixed Methods Case Study Of Engagement And Achievement In An Exploring Hip-Hop As Literature English Elective, Alicia Hyman-Peters

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how humanizing education through relationally-driven, subject-centered teaching affects student engagement, literacy, and achievement in an Exploring Hip-Hop as Literature English elective at a diverse high school in Northeast Florida. Drawing on Freire’s concept of humanization, Noddings’ Ethic of Care, Palmer’s focus on subject-centered learning, and the culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies of Ladson-Billings, Paris, and Alim, the research investigated how humanized education restores meaning and connection to learning. Using a Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Design, data from thirty students were gathered through surveys, participation and assignment records, standardized assessments, interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations. Quantitative findings …

The Impact Of Censorship On Curriculum And Black Women Secondary English Language Arts Teachers In Florida, Crystal Parker

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the instructional, curricular, and school climate impacts of book censorship on Black women secondary English Language Arts teachers, exploring how they navigate and/or resist content restrictions. Using educational criticism and portraiture, this qualitative study captures the nuanced narratives of these educators. Grounded in Bourdieu’s Field Theory, along with Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Historically Responsive Literacy, Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors, and Cognitive Pluralism, the research addresses the following questions: How do Black women teachers describe the influence of recent book bans on their curriculum choices? In what ways do their identities shape their responses to censorship? Data …

Clifton Photo Service Photographic Negatives, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of 106 photographic negatives created by the Clifton Photo Service of Statesboro, Georgia. The images primarily depict local school life at Statesboro High School, Georgia Teachers College and Southeast Bulloch. Subjects include campus buildings and classrooms as well as student life, athletics, school events and student portraiture.

(2026) Desegregating The Community Of Inquiry In Philosophy For / With Children: A Dialogue On Racism, Maughn Rollins Gregory, Darren Chetty

Collected Papers of Maughn Rollins Gregory

This dialogical article examines persistent challenges in engaging racism, colonialism, and white supremacy within the theory and practice of Philosophy for/with Children (P4/wC). Framed as a mutual interview between two long-standing colleagues, the dialogue revisits formative encounters in the P4/wC community and situates them within broader intellectual traditions, including American pragmatism, deliberative democracy, and Africana philosophy. Drawing on personal experience, archival material, and critical scholarship, the authors interrogate the metaphilosophical assumptions underpinning the “community of inquiry,” particularly its commitments to reasonableness, consensus, and democratic dialogue. Concepts such as the “gated community of inquiry,” white ignorance, nonideal theory, and insurrectionist ethics …

Caregiver Training: Improving Social Determinants Of Health, Patient Safety, Empowerment Through Improving Elder Care Education And Skills, Kathleen Thimsen

Nursing Faculty Research

Caregiver training (CaGi TRaining) is a time-tested intervention aimed at improving safety in elders living and aging in place in the community. While elder abuse and maltreatment was the intial purpose of the project, with over 3500 Caregivers graduated from this program since 2009, the course has addresses social determinants of health, and improved workforce pipelines by providing stable employment, improved self-efficacy, and confidence demonstrated by self-reports at graduation and in follow up surveys. Previously learners without a high school diploma retruned to school to obtain a GED (40%), with an additional return to school for bacalaureate and degrees (27%) …

Middle Grades English Language Arts Teachers’Experiences Of Care: A Narrative Case Study, Kathleen Rose O’Farrell

Theses and Dissertations

This narrative case study examined how four middle grades English Language Arts (ELA) teachers enacted care in a suburban Northeastern U.S. middle school. Drawing on interviews, classroom observations, instructional artifacts, and notes, the study developed narrative portraits to examine how care was experienced and enacted within daily instructional practices. Guided by Nel Noddings’s (2013) care theory and Geneva Gay’s (2018) culturally responsive care framework, the study explored how teachers sustained meaningful and equitable instruction amid post-pandemic academic, social-emotional, and technological shifts. Findings revealed care as the instructional foundation, making equitable and meaningful literacy learning possible with three interrelated dimensions: trust, …

The Burden Of (Hand)Writing: The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Students With Dysgraphia, Eleesha S. Romasko

Theses and Dissertations

Developmental dysgraphia is a disability that impacts the writing of students and has long-term effects on their education. While past research has primarily focused on clinical aspects, there is scarce qualitative research. The purpose of this study was to give a voice to the experiences of secondary students (grades 6-12) with dysgraphia using a phenomenological approach. The study was grounded in Piaget’s cognitive constructivism and uses a Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach to understand the lived experience of students with dysgraphia. The research utilized purposive sampling to find four participants with dysgraphia who were in grades 6-12. Data was collected through …

Multi-Tier Systems Of Support: A K–12 Case Study, Christopher Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) has emerged as a widely adopted framework intended to address student academic and behavioral needs through tiered intervention systems and data-informed decision making. While many school districts have implemented MTSS frameworks, variability in implementation across grade levels and school contexts continues to affect the consistency and effectiveness of these systems. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the implementation of MTSS across the K–12 continuum within a public school district in the northeastern United States. The study explored three central areas: the structural features supporting MTSS implementation, stakeholder perceptions of MTSS effectiveness, …