Digital Commons Network^™

Anorexia-Bulimia, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with anorexia and bulimia.

Arfid, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder or ARFID.

Brain Tumors, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with brain tumors.

Congenital Heart Defects, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with congenital heart defects.

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (Adem), Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis or ADEM.

Sickle Cell Disease, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with sickle cell disease.

Osteosarcoma, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with osteosarcoma.

Special Education (Sped), Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Parent guide about special education or SPED.

Multiple Sclerosis, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with multiple sclerosis.

Developing An Educational Session And Epic-Based Tools To Help Nurses Provide Culturally Sensitive Care To Their Muslim Patients, Laila Albutmeh

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in the world and the chances of nurses having a Muslim patient is exceptionally high yet many nurses lack the knowledge and resources on how to accurately provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients. Hospitals lack educational sessions/training as well as Epic tools to help nurses provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients which leads to a knowledge deficit in cultural sensitivity of Islamic beliefs, values, and practices. Purpose: This thesis paper proposes a research design for a nurse education/training program on Islamic beliefs, values, and practices along with an implementation of …

Health Matters: Advancing Pediatric Health Equity Through Accessible And Engaging Health Literacy Activity Books, Lorraine Sheldon

2026

This poster describes the development and implementation of the Health Matters activity book series, a health literacy initiative designed to provide engaging, accessible, and developmentally appropriate health education for pediatric patients and their families. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, audience-centered design, and distribution across more than 30 departments, the project demonstrates how interactive educational materials can advance pediatric health equity, support family engagement, and improve health literacy outcomes.

Success Stories From Ecd Educators And Community Lead Facilitators, Yasmeen Mehboob, Kausar Waqar, Tahira Jabeen, Bibi Salima, Zakir Ahmad

Books

These stories are intended to inspire learning and reflection. As each context is different, the approaches and outcomes described may not apply in the same way elsewhere. Readers are encouraged to thoughtfully adapt these insights to their own settings.

Teacher Perceptions Of Administrative Support, Student Behavior, And Work Environment: Effects On Morale, Commitment, And Retention Of High School Teachers In A Mid-Sized School District In North Carolina, Joseph M. Serviss

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Teacher attrition remains an ongoing challenge in secondary education, often linked to declining motivation or commitment. This mixed-methods sequential explanatory study aimed to explore high school teachers’ perceptions of administrative support, student behavior, and work environment factors, and how these elements impact job satisfaction and retention. Quantitative data were collected through an internal Teacher Working Conditions Survey distributed to high school teachers within a single public school district. For qualitative insights, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 high school teachers, and inductive thematic analysis was used to interpret the survey findings. Quantitative results showed mostly positive views regarding administrative support, …

Moral Distress Of The Professional Adn Gatekeeper During Early Covid-19: An Interpretivist Qualitative Study, Kimberly Triche

Dissertations of Practice

MORAL DISTRESS OF THE PROFESSIONAL ADN GATEKEEPER DURING EARLY COVID-19: AN INTERPRETIVIST QUALITATIVE STUDY

This interpretivist qualitative study examines the experiences of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) faculty at two-year institutions in Illinois navigating the “Regulatory Pincer,” the intersection of state-mandated lockdowns and rigid licensure requirements, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research illustrates how the sudden transition to online modality and the abrupt dismantling of the traditional “gatekeeper” model forced faculty to navigate high stress environments with negligible preparation. The findings reveal that the necessity of maintaining instructional continuity while stripped of tactile verification tools created a profound state of “moral …

“Don’T Let Your Disability Be Your Weakness, Let It Be Your Greatest Strength”: A Phenomenological Study Of Nursing Students Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Randa Melms

Dissertations of Practice

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of nursing students who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) as they navigated nursing education and the clinical learning environment. Using critical disability theory (CDT) as a guiding framework, the study explored how participants understood, negotiated, and redefined their identities within a profession historically shaped by hearing norms. Four essential themes emerged: reframing disability as expertise, navigating institutional supports and structural barriers, negotiating clinical spaces designed around hearing bodies, and drawing strength from relational networks. These findings can inform more inclusive practices among higher education professionals and clinical educators, helping reduce disparities …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Pilot Program For Telemental Health Access To Rural Underserved Localities, Traci Brickhouse Jones, Sarah Kott, Oswaldo Moreno, Aneida Winston

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This proposal recommends legislation directing Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish a two-year pilot program focused on expanding telemental health access in rural Virginia. The purpose of the pilot is to address persistent behavioral health disparities in areas where residents face major barriers to obtaining timely mental health care.

The legislation is designed to build on existing telehealth infrastructure and aligns with Virginia’s Statewide Telehealth Plan under § 32.1-122.03:1, which already supports broader use of telehealth services across the Commonwealth. By creating a focused pilot first, the state can test implementation strategies before considering broader expansion.

Civic Engagement Education & Voter Preparedness Act, Monica Callahan-Smith, Elia Molina-Valenzuela, Kevin Starlings, Raven Sharrieff

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Objective: To establish a structured, equitable, and consistent approach to civic education for all Virginia high school students.

Focus: Concentrates on practical voter readiness and high school instruction to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and active participation.

Trauma-Informed Approach In The Carceral System, Katherine Means, Adrienne Jackson, Tayia West, Kenneth Hunter

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

This proposal seeks to establish a foundation to drive the development of a comprehensive, trauma-informed framework for Virginia Department of Corrections by identifying opportunities and recommendations for implementation.

This proposal aims to improve VADOC’s adherence to a true structure of rehabilitation, leading to the adoption of a statewide trauma-informed corrections statute.

A Path Towards Housing Sustainability: Eviction Record Expungement Reform, Frank Molina-Valenzuela, Taisha Steele, Brandi Daniels, Tamara Del Rosario

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

The Problem: Confronting the "Scarlet Letter" of Housing

No Virginian should be denied a home because of a dismissed legal filing or a resolved financial hurdle from the past. In Virginia, the mere filing of an unlawful detainer (eviction) creates a permanent public record regardless of the outcome. The new permanent record acts as a "scarlet letter" in the form of a 7 to 10 year shameful blemish on their public record.

How Does Inclusive Education Affect Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Elementary Schools?, Kacie M. Coe

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children diagnosed with autism are at an all-time high of 1 in 31 children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2025). What does this mean for our schools and students with autism? Inclusive education is more renowned than ever. What is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted in 1975, and guarantees every child with a disability access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Inclusion, in theory, appears to be the right decision for all our students, but what are the schools doing to prepare for these exceptional …

Performing Democracy, Carliss N. Chatman

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

American universities are frequently portrayed as stewards of democracy—sites where dissent is protected, truth is pursued, and diversity is championed. Yet these institutions often betray these ideals, especially under the pressures of donor influence, reputational risk, and political retrenchment. This Essay interrogates the internal contradictions of the university by centering one of its most guarded rituals: faculty hiring. Building on my 2021 article The Soft Shoe and Shuffle of Law School Hiring Committee Practices, I argue that hiring serves as both a performance of inclusion and a mechanism for preserving institutional whiteness, elite networks, and gatekeeping norms. I extend …

Beyond The Classroom: Exploring High School Graduates' Perceptions Of How Extracurricular Activities Influence College And Career Readiness, Miranda B. Grigg

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study explored high school graduates’ perceptions of how participation in extracurricular activities influenced their college and career readiness. Grounded in Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory and Deci and Ryan’s (1985) Self-Determination Theory, the study examined how experiences in athletics, clubs, organizations, and leadership roles contributed to graduates’ development of confidence, motivation, leadership skills, belonging, and real-world competencies. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was employed. The quantitative phase consisted of a 20-item survey completed by 67 graduates of a rural South Carolina high school, with responses analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square goodness-of-fit tests. Reliability was further …

Table Of Contents

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

No abstract provided.

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

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

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Traumatic Life Events And Substance Use Among Black Men Who Are Incarcerated, Jasmine K. Jester, Brittany Miller-Roenigk, Paris B. Wheeler, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

The current study examined associations between traumatic life events, current and lifetime importance of mental health and substance use treatment, and crack cocaine use among 201 Black men who were incarcerated and nearing community reentry. Results indicated age, sexual trauma and lifetime importance of drug treatment were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of crack cocaine use. Substance abuse treatment in correctional settings should consider culturally tailored assessment and treatment for history of unaddressed sexual trauma among Black men who are incarcerated and use crack cocaine.

¡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 …

Leveraging Virtual Reality And Haptics To Teach Surgical Skills: A Usability Study On Retropubic Midurethral Slings, Lauren Siff, Ginger S. Watson, Jerome Dixon, Moshe Feldman, Franklin Bost, Philippe J. Giabbanelli

VMASC Publications

Traditional methods to learn soft-tissue surgical procedures rely on cadaver labs or patient-based learning, which are costly and geographically limited, and raise ethical questions. Virtual reality (VR) with haptic feedback offers a scalable alternative, but most current platforms emphasize bone-based rather than soft-tissue procedures learned by feel. We developed a VR+haptic simulation for preoperative training of retropubic midurethral sling (MUS) surgery. This study examines the usability of this platform with thirteen expert urogynecologic surgeons and subsequently makes improvements (e.g., in haptics) to evaluate the platform with twelve trainees based on the NASA Task Load Index for workload and a UTAUT-informed …