Digital Commons Network^™

Health Literacy, Children's Health

Book Recommendations

Book recommendation list from the digital library collection focused on the topic of health literacy for all ages.

Espanol Young Adult, Children's Health

Book Recommendations

Book recommendation list from the digital library collection focused on young adult books in Spanish.

Manga, Children's Health

Book Recommendations

Book recommendation list from the digital library collection focused on manga.

Sharks, Children's Health

Book Recommendations

Book recommendation list from the digital library collection focused on the topic of sharks.

Superheroes, Children's Health

Book Recommendations

Book recommendation list from the digital library collection focused on the topic of super heroes.

Transportation, Children's Health

Book Recommendations

Book recommendation list from the digital library collection focused on the topic of transportation.

Factors Shaping Data-Based Decision-Making: The Role Of Self-Efficacy, Anxiety, And School Culture In Mississippi’S State Tested Subjects, Cymone E. Bradford

Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the factors influencing Mississippi state-tested teachers’ engagement in data-based decision-making (DBDM). The purpose of the study was to explore how self-efficacy, anxiety, and school culture shape teachers’ experiences using data to guide instruction. A researcher-developed instrument measuring four constructs self-efficacy in data interpretation, anxiety related to DBDM, self-efficacy and engagement in DBDM, and school culture and DBDM was administered to Mississippi teachers of state-tested subjects. Descriptive statistics, a one-way ANOVA, correlation analysis, and multiple regression were used to analyze the data.

Results revealed significant differences in demographic characteristics of age and frequency of data use when …

Supporting The Efficacy Of Admission Counselors When Working With Neurodivergent Students: A Study For An Equitable Review Process, Rose Llanos

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The focus of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of utilizing a universal design learning training module for college admission professionals to help assess student fit during the application review process. The conceptual framework in the research design followed that of the Universal Design of Learning (UDL) framework, which upholds the United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals (UN-SDG), specifically goal four of quality education and goal 10 of reduced inequalities. The hypothesis for using an equitable training module is that an improved understanding of working with diverse students will lead to more confident admission professionals holistically recommending an admission decision …

Enhancing Crna's Knowledge Of Radiation Safety Through Online Education, Angela Iledan, Madeline Pousson

Doctoral Projects

Although ionizing radiation is frequently used in anesthesia-related procedures, many CRNAs receive minimal training in radiation safety principles and protective measures. This knowledge gap increases the risk of cumulative radiation exposure for providers and patients. To address the issue, this doctoral project developed and implemented an online educational intervention designed to enhance CRNAs’ understanding of radiation safety, ultimately promoting safer practices in radiation-prone environments.

The doctoral project follows a QI and EBP approach that incorporated diverse adult learning styles to enhance engagement and knowledge retention of CRNAs. The online educational module was designed and delivered to CRNAs that currently practice …

Weathering Of Black Doulas In Hospitals: Challenges And Opportunities, Denise Elaine Bolds

Education Doctoral

Black maternal health continues to face significant disparities in the United States, highlighting the crucial role of Black Doulas in promoting birth equity (Declercq & Zephyrin, 2020; K. Taylor et al., 2023). This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 certified Black Doulas working in hospital settings nationwide. Guided by the weathering hypothesis (Geronimus, 1992, /2023), critical race feminist theory (Wing, 2020), Black feminist theory (Collins, 2000), Sojourner syndrome (Bailey, 2017), and the looking-glass self (Cooley, 1902), the study examined how systemic racism, occupational challenges, and advocacy fatigue intersect to shape their professional experiences.

Using semi-structured interviews, participants …

Exploring The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Servant Leadership In Community Corrections: A Probation Officer’S Perspective, Shamira B. Gambrell

Education Doctoral

Probation officers work in demanding environments marked by high caseloads, role conflict, and organizational pressures that can negatively affect job satisfaction and workforce stability. Leadership practices at the frontline supervisory level play a critical role in shaping these experiences, yet limited empirical research has examined servant leadership within community corrections. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between probation officers’ perceptions of servant leadership demonstrated by their direct supervisors and their level of job satisfaction.

Data were collected from probation officers affiliated with departments connected to the American Probation and Parole Association using an anonymous …

Finding Utopia: An Examination Of Pedagogical Approaches To Teaching Utopianism In U.S. College Classrooms, Brittany Page Brake

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how, and if, utopianism is being taught in college classrooms across the United States. Long considered impractical, overly idealistic, and/or politically dangerous, utopianism has been largely marginalized in political science and American culture. However, this project finds that there are instructors teaching utopianism and they are using the concept to challenge students to think differently about governance, justice, and institutional design. Drawing from political theory literature, course syllabi submitted by faculty from different U.S. universities, interviews with instructors, and personal case studies of my own courses at Central State University and Manchester University, I explore how utopian …

Accessing Community Needs In The Tri-County Area Of Rural Utah, Cara Murray, Yvette Rea, Lendel K. Narine

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension conducted a needs assessment in the Tri-County area of Utah, encompassing Uintah, Duchesne, and Daggett Counties, to identify key community priorities. Using a three-phased approach, the assessment identified mental health, strengthening relationships, and financial literacy as top concerns. These findings will inform resource allocation to Extension programming to address the region’s most urgent needs.

Tricounty Vaccine Improvement Program (Tc-Vip): Enhancing Vaccine Confidence And Uptake In Rural Utah, Aaron Hunt, Yvette Rea, Annalyz Castro

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah State University Extension TriCounty Vaccine Improvement Program addressed low rural vaccination rates across a three-county area through bilingual social media campaigns, health fairs, training in motivational interviewing, and neuromarketing. Evaluation results showed improved skills, broad community reach, and positive participant feedback, demonstrating a replicable model to reduce vaccine hesitancy and strengthen rural health systems.

Pilot Results Of The Teens Lifting Teens: A Statewide Youth Development Program, Megan O. Hall, Vernon C. Parent, Cris Meier, Kaitlyn Line

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Youth mental health and teen suicide prevention are among the highest needs in Utah communities. The Teens Lifting Teens (TLT) pilot program seeks to equip Youth Councils with resources and education through training, near-peer mentoring, and service-learning opportunities to build protective factors among teens. Evaluation results showed that TLT youth exposure to near-peer mentoring and service-learning opportunities positively impacted their lives.

Daily Life Therapy: Daily Living Skills Training (Handwashing, Brushing Teeth, And Getting Dressed) For Parents Of Autistic Children, Christpher T. Fontecchio

Instructional Design Capstones Collection

The Boston Higashi School founded by Dr. Kiyo Kitahara in 1987 has been utilizing Daily Life Therapy to teach residential autistic children daily living skills. Parents, whose children attend the Boston Higashi school just in the day program, have expressed challenges in teaching daily living skills when their children are home and have asked for strategies to carry over what is being taught at school into their home. Utilizing the tenets of “Kimochi Zukuri,” to prepare the child’s mind for a task, the training proposed with this project is to bridge the gap in teaching daily living skills from Boston …

Experiences Of Title Ix Hearing Panel Members., Amanda Gage Stonecipher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of allegations of sexual misconduct on college campuses has been increasing over the past decade and higher education institutions are charged with addressing the misconduct. Addressing student behavior on college campuses through a conduct process is woven into the fabric of higher education, and many institutions use a hearing panel model to determine if institutional policies were violated. My research aims to explore how student conduct hearing panel members process the tension between the emotional management required when hearing intimate and traumatic details of a sexual misconduct case. The data for this research were collected via semi structured …

Attention And Generosity In Medical Education, Elizabeth Cunio, Laura Barry, Christina Brown-Wujick, Jeanette Rodriguez

be Still

This essay was an interprofessional collaboration among members of the Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic medicine. Faculty share their insight into student advising, faculty development and education.

Empowerment Through Creating An Adaptive Sports And Recreation Program For Persons With Disabilities, Sarah Kadri, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Fall 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Adaptive sports and recreation (ASR) refers to recreational and competitive physical activities modified to be inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities (PWD), adjusting equipment, rules, instruction, and environmental setup to support participation across a wide range of physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities. PWD often report feeling disempowered due to social stigma, inaccessible environments, and limited opportunities to make meaningful choices about leisure and community life. A lack of diverse and consistent ASR opportunities within communities collectively hinders participation and negatively impacts overall well-being. Utilizing the Person Environment Occupation Performance (PEOP) theoretical framework, this capstone project developed a 10-week swimming …

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report- Liberty High School, Brittany N. Johnson

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This document documents the AGED 539 Internship in Agricultural Education and examines the Liberty High School–Brentwood FFA and Agriculture Department’s alignment with the three-component model of agricultural education: classroom instruction, FFA leadership development, and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Grounded in experiential learning theory, the report reflects on program strengths, challenges, and growth across all twelve California Career Technical Education (CTE) Quality Criteria, supported by narrative reflection and evidence. The internship project focused on developing a formal FFA Program of Activities (POA) to improve chapter organization, goal-setting, and long-term sustainability. Overall, the project highlights intentional program planning and leadership development as …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors, Job Burnout, And The Blurred Lines Of The Profession, Cecilia Angelica Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the lived experiences of school counselors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on job burnout, role ambiguity, and the blurred lines of the profession. Through semi-structured interviews with practicing school counselors, the study identifies common themes including role overload, manifestations of burnout, coping and resilience strategies, and the impact of administrative support. Findings highlight the systemic factors contributing to counselor stress and the importance of self-care, peer collaboration, and role clarity for counselor well-being and student outcomes.

Provenance: The History Of Ownership Of A Valued Object Or Work Of Art Or Literature, James C. Schaap

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Exploring Hiring Managers’ Strategies For Recruiting Diverse Educators In A Southeastern State, Keisa K. Davis Ma

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the strategies applied by hiring managers within one state in the southeastern United States to recruit diverse teachers. The purpose of the study was to explore hiring managers’ experiences and knowledge of minority teacher recruitment. The primary research question for this study was: What strategies do hiring managers in the school district under study find most effective in overcoming barriers to recruiting minority educators, and how do they measure their success? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and thematic coding was used to arrive at emerging themes, patterns, and perceptions. The findings revealed that while hiring managers …

Investigating Programming Behaviors To Understand Student Engagement And Experience In Introductory Programming Courses, Marcus Eugene Gubanyi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Introductory programming courses are foundational to developing students’ problem-solving abilities and shaping their persistence in computing pathways. Engagement with programming tasks plays a central role in student learning and experience. Many research measures, including self-reports and code submissions, offer only a limited view of student engagement with programming tasks. This dissertation leverages programming process data, consisting of keystrokes and compilation events, to capture the programming process as it unfolds and to investigate observable programming behaviors. Guided by educational theories, three studies examine how students’ programming behaviors vary across instructional and assessment contexts, how they relate to motivational profiles, and how …

Evaluating The Perceptions, Barriers, And Impact Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports (Pbis) In Grades K-12, Serena Sowin

Dissertations

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is designed to promote positive behaviors and prevent behavioral challenges. Despite widespread adoption, implementation fidelity, especially at Tier 2 and Tier 3 levels, remains inconsistent, impacting students who require the most intensive support. This study was conducted in one middle school. The purpose of the program evaluation was to investigate the perceptions of, and barriers to, PBIS implementation, with a specific focus on evaluating the impact on student behavioral and disciplinary outcomes, identifying the training and support provided to educators, and examining how data are used to drive decisions. Overarching research questions assessed educator …

Digital Literacy And Family Engagement For Student Success, Genesis B. Mendoza

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The North Monterey County Unified School District (NMCUSD) in Castroville, California, serves a student population in which 87.5% are identified as low-income and nearly half are designated as English Language Learners. Families face significant barriers to accessing educational and community resources, barriers worsened by limited digital literacy and technology access. The NMCUSD Castro Plaza Family Resource Center serves as a vital hub supporting families in the predominantly rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged region. This project aimed to strengthen family engagement and digital inclusion through hands-on workshops. Workshop topics included online student registration and data verification, training on essential district digital tools …

A Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of Introverted Teachers, Bambi A. Hamel

All NMU Master's Theses

Behavior management has long been a challenge for teachers in general, but there has been a lack of research on behavior management through the lens of personality type, such as introversion. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the strengths and skills of introverted teachers to facilitate positive behaviors in their classrooms, as well as challenges they encountered. In a semi-structured interview, five teachers from a school district in the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan were presented with a specific set of questions (See Appendix C) targeting their experiences in behavior management as introverted teachers. The results highlighted the teachers’ unique traits …

Assessing The Effects Of Leaderboards On Motivation And Math Achievement Of 5th And 6th Grade Students, Michele Alfieri

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Traditional teacher-led instructional methods are increasingly disconnected with the learning preferences of students raised in digital environments. These learners often require information to be delivered more rapidly and engagingly, prompting educators to incorporate strategies such as gamification to maintain student motivation and interest. Gamification, which involves integrating game design elements into non-game settings, has been shown to enhance engagement. A common feature of gamification is the use of leaderboards, which are visual displays that show individual and peer performance rankings. While leaderboards can foster motivation through competition, their effect on student morale and achievement outcomes is mixed. The purpose of …

An Investigation Of High School Students' Perceived Well-Being In A Flexible Blended-Learning Program Through The Lens Of Self-Determination Theory, April Burton

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored how participation in a flexible blended learning (FBL) program relates to high school students’ sense of well-being, as defined by self-determination theory (SDT). SDT suggests that fulfilling three basic psychological needs is considered essential for well-being and optimal functioning. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study investigates how an FBL program affects high school students’ perceptions of the fulfillment of psychological needs — autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The study involved high school students enrolled in FBL courses in a midwestern school district in the USA. Data were collected through surveys adapted from the Students’ Basic Psychological Needs Survey …

Understanding Students’ Psychological Needs Satisfaction And Frustration In A Gamified Biology I Course: A Mixed Method Study, Shakiyla Huggins

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how gamification impacts student motivation in higher education through the framework of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). While previous research has linked gamification to engagement, this study addressed a gap by directly measuring students' satisfaction and frustration with their basic psychological needs — autonomy, competence, and relatedness — in a gamified undergraduate Biology I course. A convergent parallel mixed methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected using the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) from 22 students who completed both pre- and post-course surveys. Qualitative data were drawn from student reflection …