Digital Commons Network^™

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 1, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Strategies To Use Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Programs To Increase Employee Performance And Profitability, Kecia Bailey Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective strategies for implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to increase employee performance and profitability is a concern for leaders in the education industry. This problem is significant to educational leaders because, without effective strategies for implementing DEI programs, they cannot address the gap in practice that hinders improvements in employee performance and organizational profitability. Grounded in Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry identified and explored the effective strategies educational leaders used to successfully implement DEI programs to increase employee performance and profitability. Participants were six leaders from both for-profit and non-profit educational …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Digital Citizenship In A Local U.S. Public Middle School, Rebekah A. Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that although there are computer science standards requiring teachers to integrate digital citizenship skills to practice safe and ethical behaviors, local U.S. public middle school teachers were struggling to develop students’ digital citizenship skills. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore local rural public middle school teachers’ perceptions of building students’ digital citizenship skills, and to identify the training and supports teachers need to improve performance in this area. Ribble’s theory of digital citizenship was used for the conceptual framework. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with nine …

Racial Differences In Global Satisfaction At A Predominantly White Regional Comprehensive University, Philip B. Mason, Michelle Petrie

Teacher-Scholar: The Journal of the State Comprehensive University

In the face of tightening state funding and increased reliance on tuition and growing enrollment, regional comprehensive universities continue to focus on the retention of students. Underserved students continue to represent areas of growth in college enrollment at regional comprehensive universities; yet these students are often at the highest risk of attrition. Overall institutional satisfaction is among the most useful indicators of student persistence, but research demonstrates that students of color report lower levels of overall satisfaction than their white counterparts. Scholarship on college student persistence documents several variables that predict higher retention, progression, and graduation rates among students. Research …

Teachers' Difficulty Factors In Implementing Differentiated Learning In Geography Subjects, Aulia Nindy Fadila Gastama

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The implementation of differentiated learning in geography subjects provides benefits for teachers and students. On the other hand, teachers still have difficulty implementing differentiated learning elements. This research aims to analyze the factors related to teacher difficulties in implementing differentiated learning in geography subjects. The research method used descriptive qualitative research with semi-structured interviews. The informants used were geography teachers of SMAN Malang City. Data analysis was conducted by 1) data reduction, 2) data presentation, and 3) conclusion drawing. The results showed that geography teachers in Malang City State Senior High School faced difficulties in implementing differentiated learning. In content …

Social Thought From The Ruins: Quixote’S Dinner Party, David A. Westbrook

Books

Through stories, conversations, and essays, this book pursues interwoven critical and philosophical inquiries into the nature of the contemporary in the North Atlantic, asking how are we to live as intellectuals, individually and in community? Social Thought From the Ruins: Quixote’s Dinner Party is the product of informal discussion and academic work done over the last two decades among an international group of social scientists. An extended critique of academic life today and the context of our own thinking, this book interrogates aspects of our modernity, with its pervasive sense of crisis and uncertainty, and the difficulty of thinking clearly …

Periodic Evaluations Indicate Increased Effectiveness Of Oregon Master Woodland Manager Volunteer Program, Alicia Christiansen, Lauren Grand, Norma Kline, Tiffany Hopkins

Journal of Extension

The Oregon State University Extension Service Master Woodland Manager (MWM) volunteer program trains landowners in core forestry and natural resource topics. Landowners participate in the MWM program to increase their forest management knowledge, improve their own management practices, and prepare them to volunteer in their community (Bowers, 2000). We surveyed MWM volunteers to understand the effectiveness of the program and what barriers exist to volunteering. Volunteers find the program to be increasingly adequate for personal management and answering questions, but time continues to be the biggest barrier for completing required volunteer hours.

Time To Talk: Facilitating Health Care Cost Conversations Between Patients And Providers, Christopher Sneed, Karen L. Franck, Lisa Washburn, Ann A. Berry

Journal of Extension

Defined as discussions between patient and health care provider regarding costs patients face when obtaining care, cost of care conversations can help mediate financial challenges while improving health care decision-making. Few educational tools are available to help patients engage in cost conversations. This article chronicles the development of an Extension program, Time to Talk. Time to Talk provides community friendly tools that empower older adults and their providers to have cost of care conversations. Results demonstrate the program was successful. A summary of lessons learned are offered to assist others in their consideration and adoption of cost of care programming.

Stress Management Is ‘In The Cards’ For Farmers And Ranchers: The Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum, Alison L. Brennan, Katharine Sutphen, Parker T. Webb, Michelle U. Grocke-Dewey

Journal of Extension

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers need practical, culturally appropriate stress management resources. The Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum (MWCC) is a novel approach to health promotion that relies on community facilitators to share stress management information using a customized deck of playing cards organized around specific wellness themes. We implemented and evaluated two facilitator trainings in 2023. Training participants reported increases in relevant knowledge, as well as improved confidence about leading mental wellness events. The MWCC is currently being adapted for use with additional, diverse audiences. Future research should explore the implementation and impact of this innovative health promotion modality.

Transforming Text To Images: Prompt Engineering Principles For Generative Ai Use In Extension, Paul Hill, Xue A. Dong, Aubree L. Miller

Journal of Extension

Generative AI (GenAI) systems facilitate the creation of visual images by utilizing extensive datasets to interpret text-based instructions. Effective prompt engineering is essential for optimizing the output of AI-generated images. This article examines various GenAI systems and their functionalities, explores text-to-image prompt engineering principles and their application in Extension work, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of visual content creation with respect to educational materials, data visualization, and promotional content. The article also provides guidance and examples to assist Extension professionals in leveraging GenAI for improved communication and engagement. Recommendations include crafting detailed prompts and continuously refining them for desired results, …

Unlocking Professional Success: The Power Of Workforce Resilience & Cooperative Extension, Rachel Brauner, Andrew Bronson Crocker, Lakshmi Mahadevan, L. Chris Plein

Journal of Extension

OneOp, a virtual professional development platform dedicated to bolstering the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness System, offers valuable insights into strategies that Cooperative Extension can adopt to enhance workforce resilience. Workforce resilience refers to the capacity of employees to effectively navigate challenging circumstances, cope with stress, adapt to new conditions, and sustain motivation within their work environment. An assessment based on the OneOp webinar series on resiliency delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic identifies best practices that Cooperative Extension can employ to impart essential resilience skills to both individuals and service providers, contributing to a more resilient and adaptable workforce.

Facilitating Farmer-To-Farmer Elearning: An Evaluation Of Climate And Wildfires Online Courses In California, Natalia Pinzon, Caitlin Brimm

Journal of Extension

This study assesses the effectiveness of two online courses tailored for farmers and ranchers in California, with a particular focus on the role of farmer-to-farmer pedagogies. Utilizing live sessions, a social-learning platform, and multimedia content, we draw insights from engagement metrics, lesson and end-of-course survey evaluations, and course outcomes. Key findings highlight the pivotal role of peer interactions, featuring farmers and completion incentives. Based on the findings, we advocate for the integration of farmer-to-farmer education methods within online learning environments to cultivate regional learning networks, and promote the timely exchange and co-creation of agricultural knowledge amid environmental change.

Evaluation Of South Carolina’S Extension And Outreach Agents’ Knowledge Of Harmful Algal Bloom Management And The Impacts Of One-Day Training, George Strickland, Debabrata Sahoo, Michael Vassalos, Heather Nix, Sarah White

Journal of Extension

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) impact livestock producers. Most Extension agents have limited knowledge about HAB management. Our study goal was to assess agent readiness and training on HABs. We used data from in-person surveys of South Carolina (SC) Extension personnel. We examined how training influenced HAB knowledge using pre/post-tests. Training improved agent knowledge of HAB management, but water resource agents learned more. The results of this study can be used to identify Extension training shortfalls and drive policy to better prepare agents throughout the state. Further research should involve prioritizing additional extension topics and assessing knowledge in a similar manner.

Effects Of A Wellness Program On Perceived Stress And Occupational Balance With Occupational Therapy Students, Sean M. Brim, Kristian Llaca, Arlenys Loffredo, Jacqueline Achon, Marcia Hamilton

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Abstract

Occupational therapy (OT) students often experience elevated stress and burnout due to the demanding nature of their academic programs, which can negatively affect their occupational balance and overall well-being. Promoting student wellness is essential to supporting both academic success and mental health. This quantitative pilot study examined the effects of a wellness program on perceived stress and occupational balance among graduate OT students in Southern Florida. Participants attended one of four structured sessions—Prioritization, Organization Strategies, Mindfulness Training, or Yoga—and completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) before and after each session. Data was collected from …

Exploring The Visibility Of Mission, Vision, And Values In Allied Healthcare Education, Matthew Vraa

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: This study investigated the visibility and accessibility of mission, vision, and values statements on websites of entry-level allied health care programs (occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology). The primary objective was to determine the ease of locating these statements on program websites and how their visibility varies by program characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 300 randomly selected accredited programs (100 per profession) across the United States. Each program’s website was evaluated to determine the visibility and accessibility of its mission, vision, and values statements, defined by their presence within two clicks of the homepage. …

Anti-Ableist Teaching: Centering Disabled Perspectives In Collaborative Content-Creation, Suzanne Stolz, Toni Saia

Feminist Pedagogy

Although many service professionals (teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, counselors) learn that disability inclusion is important, much of what they learn is still rooted in deficit terms. This paper describes why and how a collaboration of disabled scholars uses centering as a strategy in content development for an anti-ableist teaching resource website.

De/Colonizing Education Research With Lessons From The Field, K. Kayon Morgan

Feminist Pedagogy

Academia is a reproductive site of settler colonialism (Mayorga et al., 2019) with practices and systems that exclude diverse identities. For universities to become more inclusive spaces, we must dismantle colonialist ideologies. One way is to consider alternative research approaches (Smith, 2021). This paper presents narratives from lessons in the field of research and teaching. The narrative encourages faculty and students to disrupt the status quo and normalize de/colonized research approaches in academia (Bhattacharya, 2021).

Building An Inclusive Classroom: Digital Humanities (Dh) And Critical Disability Studies (Cds) In The Francophone World, Vidya H. Surti, Kaliane Ung

Feminist Pedagogy

The purpose of this co-authored article by a teacher and student is to contemplate the feminist implications of infusing Critical Disability Studies and Digital Humanities into the traditional humanities classroom. Furthermore, this article implements strategies for inclusive and flexible pedagogy. This article will contribute a case study for an interdisciplinary project of academic rigor, while mitigating student wellbeing through mechanisms of classroom autonomy.

August 15, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Summer Symposium 2025, Student Inquiry And Research (Sir)

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

For nearly four decades, IMSA has worked to advance the human condition through educational innovation. The Summer Symposium is our annual showcase for the research projects that were conducted in IMSA’s experiential learning programs between May and August. These programs include Student Inquiry and Research (SIR), IN2 Business Internships, and the Student Research and Experiential Learning Opportunity (SRELO) program.

Teacher Perceptions Of Instructional Coaching Impacts On Instructional Practice And Student Learning, Alpaslan Ozdogan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This exploratory study investigates the role of instructional coaching in elementary education through the lens of teacher perceptions, with a focus on its influence on professional development, instructional methodology, educator well-being, and student academic achievement. The research pivots around four key questions examining the perceived impact of instructional coaches on:

1. Teachers' professional growth within elementary educational settings.
2. The evolution of instructional strategies and classroom practices.
3. The emotional and mental well-being of educators.
4. The academic performance and learning outcomes of students.

A narrative research approach was adopted, collecting and analyzing data through elementary teacher surveys, in-depth interviews with both teachers and …

The Influence Of Remote Instruction On Middle School Ell Students' New Jersey State Learning Assessment English Ela And Math Achievement, Marie Chezuette Dort

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This correlational study explained the influence of remote instruction on English Language Learner (ELL) students' middle school grades on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This study focused on data collected in two separate school years and analyzed middle school grades with the ELL Subgroup. It indicated the correlation between remote instruction and ELL students' ELA and mathematical performance in the NJSLA Grades 6, 7, and 8. This study also included controlled variables, Grades 3, 4, and 5, from 2018-2019 and other student characteristics, the percentage of economically disadvantaged students and …

Does The Literature Empirically Support The Use Of Behavior Analysis In The Treatment Of Sports Related Concussions: A Systemic Review, Kayla Mckoy

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Although the literature supports the use of applied behavior analytic (ABA) interventions in the treatment of traumatic and acquired brain injuries, the question remains as to whether or not ABA procedures are an effective treatment option specifically for TBI associated with sports related concussion (SRC). The purpose of the present study was to review the literature available on the use of ABA with individuals diagnosed with sport related TBI to determine if there is enough research to empirically support the use of behavior analysis in the treatment of sport related concussions. The PRISMA method for systematic reviews was used to …

Experiencing Race, Racism And Racialization In Transnational Contexts: Racial Literacies Of First-Year International Asian Students., Nasiba Norova

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This research focused on exploring the racial literacies of first-year international East Asian (EA) students, specifically examining their perceptions of and experiences with race, racism, and racialized groups in various social and educational contexts in both their home countries and the United States. The study used critical ethnography to examine the perspectives of EA international students and composition faculty. It involved multiple semi-structured interviews, journal entries, racial literacy autobiographies, site document analysis, and class observations to understand how students perceived exposure to race, racism, and racialized groups and how faculty viewed the importance of racial education for international students in …

Evaluating Current Practices In Operative Nontechnical Skills Training And Feedback In General Surgery Residency: A Mixed Methods Approach, Madeline Cloonan

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Non-technical skills (NTS) are the interpersonal and cognitive abilities that are critical to accomplishing high-risk tasks. Deficiencies in NTS, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making, are linked to errors in the operating room. Structured training and feedback in NTS remain inconsistent and have not been integrated into daily training. This dissertation addresses this gap by evaluating current NTS training and feedback practices and developing a rubric to enhance the effectiveness of NTS feedback.

Methods: We conducted five complementary studies to assess current NTS training and feedback. The first was a systematic review aimed at identifying intraoperative NTS training interventions …

Navigating Tumultuous Waters: The Role Of Faculty In A Politically Charged Higher Education Landscape, Will Miller

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This article critically examines the increasingly complex role of faculty in today’s politically charged higher education landscape. It begins by emphasizing the significance of academic freedom as a fundamental pillar in preserving the integrity and purpose of higher education. Amidst heightened external pressures and societal polarizations, it delves into the challenges faculty face, including navigating biases and stakeholder pressures while maintaining impartial scholarship. The article presents strategies for faculty to safeguard their institutions against undue political influence and ensure their academic pursuits remain true to critical inquiry and intellectual freedom. Moreover, it highlights the crucial role that accreditation professionals play …

Exploring The Connection Between Teaching Frameworks And Policies For Assessing Teaching, Barbara J. Bird, Beate Brunow, Eric Kyle, Shawn R. Simonson

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Most faculty policies aimed at faculty review or assessment of teaching do not include specific teaching criteria and standards but instead lean heavily on student evaluations and peer review of teaching. This approach provides no concrete path for using assessment in a feedback loop that enables teachers to improve teaching. Implementing teaching frameworks can improve feedback loops and assessment policies by providing specific criteria and standards. Developing teaching effectiveness frameworks and connecting them to teaching assessment policies can be a critical step in advancing institutional change initiatives focused on teaching effectiveness. This critical alignment enables sustainable and meaningful change. This …

Scholars And Changemakers: The Vital Role Of Graduate Students In Campus Women's Centers, Kate J. Freeman, Amber Byrd Ndukwe

Journal for Women and Gender Centers in Higher Education

On college campuses, Women’s Centers serve as a safe space for many marginalized students, faculty, and staff members across campus. These Centers are active spaces that serve a wide variety of individuals including graduate students who play multifaceted roles that are essential to the Center’s work. These students contribute significantly to the functioning of the Center while also gaining professional and personal development from their involvement. In this article, we reflect on our own experiences as two graduate students working within a campus-based Women’s Center while simultaneously integrating literature on the function of graduate students within these spaces. Employing a …

Innovative Instagram Education: A Tool To Prevent Relationship And Sexual Violence, Allie Moore, Tillie Powell, Jillian Mcbane, Ollivia Webster, Chris Linder

Journal for Women and Gender Centers in Higher Education

During the 2024 Fall semester, at the McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Utah, our team solidified an educational plan to create Instagram posts on topics related to relationship and sexual violence. The Instagram Educational Series Programming consists of weekly posts addressing the primary prevention of relationship and sexual violence on the @uofucvp Instagram. This educational series aims to break down research and complex ideas to make them accessible to a wider audience. The posts with the most engagement address more complex topics. People’s thinking starts to shift when we address topics in a way that is …

Integrasi Accera Pare Bagi Kehidupan Masyarakat Parigi Dalam Membangun Solidaritas Peserta Didik, Inas Tahirah, I Komang Astina, Yuswanti Ariani Wirahayu

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Accera pare is a harvest party of the Parigi Village community which is held as a form of gratitude of the farmers for the gifts given by God for being given a smooth harvest. The purpose of this research is to explore the meaning of the accera pare ceremony for the people of Parigi Village and the integration of accera pare in building students' sense of solidarity. The research method used descriptive qualitative with ethnographic approach where the data were analyzed by domain analysis, taxonomy, components and cultural themes. Data sources were obtained through participant observation and in-depth interviews. The …