Digital Commons Network^™

June 13, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Foldit Education Mode, Brett Schulz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Foldit education mode is a puzzle campaign within the protein folding video game Foldit. Education mode, initially designed as a classroom supplement for undergraduate biochemistry courses, has been expanded to provide a more comprehensive learning tool to players without a background in biochemistry. The edited and added levels teach players about protein biochemistry through playing puzzles designed to convey information and gameplay mechanics. The new Foldit education mode campaign features 49 levels grouped into 11 categories. The campaign has 6 new levels designed specifically for education mode and 4 levels adapted from the traditional Foldit campaign for use within education …

Exploring The Effects Of Africana Studies On Black Undergraduate Students: A Qualitative Case Study, Lanaya M. Butler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Particularly in the context of American K-12 schools, education has been manipulated to control—rather than liberate—students through the erasure and distortion of Black history, experiences, perspectives, and capabilities. Additionally, American schools prioritize memorization and obedience while failing to equip students with critical thinking skills. As a result, students are trained to become workers rather than innovators, worldbuilders, and change-makers. For nearly a century, Black educational critics have stated that these systems were designed to subjugate Black community members through dehumanization and enslavement of the mind. These critiques are foundational to the aims of Afrocentric education which posits the life experiences …

Conceptualizing The Explanatory Fully Longitudinal Mixed Methods Case Study Design: A Demonstration With An Arithmetic Education Trial With Kindergarten Children, Menglong Cong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In employing longitudinal mixed methods designs, researchers have commonly used the fully longitudinal mixed methods design. This has occurred mostly in the health sciences but less in education. The current investigation proposes a novel longitudinal mixed methods research design, explanatory fully longitudinal mixed methods case study design. It demonstrates its potential for addressing research inquiries in educational research using the arithmetic learning trajectories datasets. This study is presented in three components. The first is a quantitative phase, selecting an exploratory case from a previous arithmetic learning trajectories study (Clements et al., 2021) for qualitative analyses based on maximizing the …

Excellence Gaps: A State-Based Review Of Policies, Jonathan M. Jennings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how state education policies address excellence gaps among student subgroups in gifted education. Using a multiple case study design, it examines the policy mechanisms, identification practices, and funding models employed across states to promote equity in advanced academic access. Grounded in critical policy analysis, the study highlights systemic disparities perpetuated by inconsistent definitions, underfunding, and limited accountability structures. Findings reveal that while some states adopt promising interventions - such as universal screening and dual enrollment support - many fall short in ensuring sustainable, inclusive practices. This research calls for reform grounded in transparency, comparability, and justice for …

From Deficit To Asset: Developing An Equitable Early Warning System For Ninth Grade Success, Stephanie Mann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I explored the design and implementation of an asset-based Early Warning System (EWS) to support ninth-grade students at The Academy, a PK-12 charter school, during their critical high school transition. Using Practical Action Research, I addressed the question: How might a comprehensive EWS leverage student assets and systemic support to ensure success? Over one academic year, the study unfolded in two phases: Phase I employed qualitative methods—interviews, focus groups, and data reviews—to identify gaps, while Phase II developed an enhanced EWS, integrating map and street data for richer student profiles and staff collaboration. Findings underscore a human-powered EWS rooted in …

Language Style Evaluation Validation For Implementation On Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices, Meghan A. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored various methods of evaluating language style for integration into prompts designed for a sophisticated augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. A total of 395 individuals without a language disorder were recruited via a crowdsourcing platform to complete five surveys. The initial four surveys were designed to assess individuals' language style using different approaches (questionnaire developed with ChatGPT, self-written, questionnaire developed by Hartman and McCambridge, and choosing tags). Following the completion of these four surveys, a fifth survey was dynamically created based on the responses in the previous four surveys. Each possible response in the fifth survey was …

A Toolkit For Improving School Climate: Lessons Learned From Action Research In A Network Of 16 Charter Schools, Grant E. Erwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Educators today face daunting challenges, especially in addressing persistent gaps in outcomes for historically underserved students from low-income and minority backgrounds. Practitioners often cite school climate as a key barrier to student success—an assertion supported by research linking school climate to students’ academic and personal outcomes. This study sought to improve school climate across 16 urban middle and high schools within one charter network. Using a mixed methods Collaborative Action Research (CAR) design over multiple years, the study triangulated academic research, external resources, and on-the-ground lessons to provide practical guidance for other educators. Data were collected from multiple stakeholders and …

Peering Into The Past And Future: Connection, Challenge, Growth, And Rural Peer Mentors, Tinker Elizabeth Jacobs Duclo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peer mentoring is a recognized strategy for supporting student success, academic persistence, and belonging in higher education. However, while mentee benefits are well-documented, the long-term effects on peer mentors (PMs) remain underexplored, particularly at Rural-Serving Institutions (RSIs). My evaluation bridges that gap by examining the lasting impact of PM service through a qualitative evaluation of the Rifle Colorado Mountain College (CMC) Peer Mentor Program. Guided by Rural Cultural Wealth (RCW) theory and using the Most Significant Change (MSC) model within a constructivist framework, my evaluation centers alumni PM voices, gathering their reflections on the significant changes and impacts of their …

Survival Guide For Queer Families In Heteronormative Healthcare: Liberatory Consciousness And The Paradox Of Dependent Healthcare, A Critical Policy Discourse Analysis, Dwenna A. Holden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study I explored and analyzed how the queer experiences of an anonymous higher education institution in the western United States’ self-identified queer faculty and staff intersected with the discursive framing of the college’s dependent healthcare structure and documents. Within a critical paradigm I designed research around a high-density theoretical approach to weaving various branches of queer theory together with critical theory around policy and law in relation to queer bodies and hostile heteronormative policy environments. I arrived at solutions based in complaint, survival, and transformation. I used critical policy discourse analyses to interrogate the college’s dependent healthcare documents …

Cultivating Resilience In The Anthropocene: Evaluating A Gssw Ecological Justice Curriculum, Windy Selig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice evaluated the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) Ecological Justice Pathway to examine how resilience is conceptualized and cultivated within the curriculum. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm and guided by an ecological justice framework, this evaluation explored the pedagogical and curricular strategies designed to prepare social work students for the emotional, ethical, and professional demands of practicing in the Anthropocene—a time marked by ecological degradation, climate crisis, and compounding social inequities.

Through qualitative methods, including faculty interviews and curriculum document analysis, the evaluation identified both explicit and implicit components that foster student resilience. …

Perceptions Of Exclusionary Discipline In Inclusive Classroom: A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Co-Teachers’ Experience With Special Education Students Of Color, Tino Tomasi

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Exclusionary discipline practices in public middle schools disproportionately impact students of color in special education, disrupting their academic progress and social development. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how public middle school co-teachers in inclusive classrooms perceive the use of exclusionary discipline for special education students of color. The study explored the lived experiences of eight public middle school co-teachers through three research questions: (1) How do public middle school co-teachers in inclusive classrooms perceive the use of exclusionary discipline for special education students of color? (2) How do public middle school co-teachers in inclusive classrooms …

Exploring K-12 Educators Remaining In The Profession In Louisiana Public Schools: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Brittany Benoit

Student Theses and Dissertations

School systems across the United States and worldwide face significant challenges due to a shortage of qualified teachers. These conditions negatively affect student outcomes and place additional financial burdens on school systems. Teacher shortages often lead to larger class sizes and increased workloads for existing educators, further exacerbating the issue. Addressing teacher retention is crucial to improving educational quality and stability within school systems. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the experiences and perceptions of relationships that influenced K-12 Louisiana Public School educators to remain in the profession. Guided by Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, the research emphasized intrinsic factors that contributed to …

Building A Collaborative Culture Among A Remote Staff In K-12 Virtual Schools, Jamie L. Droegemeier

Student Theses and Dissertations

The rise of full-time virtual K-12 schools presents unique challenges for administrators in cultivating a collaborative staff culture among remote staff members. Collaboration among educators is essential for trust, professional development, and student achievement; however, existing research primarily focuses on traditional school settings. The problem addressed in this study is the difficulty K-12 virtual school administrators face in fostering collaboration among staff who work in different locations, potentially affecting instructional quality, job satisfaction, and student outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to identify the best practices K-12 virtual school administrators had implemented to build a collaborative culture …

Examining Teachers’ Perceived Effectiveness Of Marzano’S Teaching Strategies For Enhancing Student Engagement In Secondary Level Ela Classes, Casey Chantel Grinder

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interview questions and a teacher questionnaire to explore 10 secondary ELA teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of Marzano’s strategies on student engagement. Participants included experienced teachers with a minimum of five years of classroom instruction—who had received formal training in the Marzano framework provided by their school district. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the study examined five central themes: implementation of Marzano’s strategies, impact on student academic competence, student engagement and motivation, challenges and barriers, and support mechanisms used by educators. These themes provided a comprehensive lens to better understand how the Marzano …

Perceptions Of Teacher Recruitment And Retention Programs That Focus On Financial Incentives In Rural Georgia School Systems, Ronald Hill

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the perceptions of teacher recruitment and retention programs in rural Georgia, emphasizing the role of financial incentives. Rural school districts face persistent challenges in maintaining a stable educator workforce, largely due to low retention rates. Using Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, this study examines how salary as a function of job satisfaction influences teachers' decisions to enter and remain in the profession. Through a qualitative case study, interviews with 24 rural Georgia educators, document analysis, and member checking were conducted to assess perceptions of recruitment and retention. The findings highlight the critical impact of salary, with competitive pay being …

College And Career Readiness Of Students With Autism In The Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, James Daniel Hobbs

Student Theses and Dissertations

Autism is a spectrum disorder involving individualized disabilities in social interactions, self-expression, and behavior control. Those diagnosed typically exhibit challenges in at least two of these areas. Many individuals with autism are identified through evaluations in public schools. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools must provide disabled students with a free and appropriate public education through special education. In Texas, autism is one of 13 disabilities that qualify a student for special education services. Once in special education, students receive an individualized education plan, which includes goals for life after high school. The Texas Education Agency tracks …

Impact Of A Dance Education For Secondary School Students, Kimeka T. Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

As the education system has grown, so has arts education, but not with great ease (Fegley, 2010). Dance education and associated curriculums are designed to allow students an opportunity to express themselves through creative movement. The Kennedy Center stated that arts integration is “an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate learning through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area meeting evolving objectives in both” (Silverstein & Layne, 2014). Kassing (2013) states that today, the dance scene is quite different from how it was a century ago. …

Self-Efficacy Of Kindergarten, First, And Second Grade Educators Teaching Students With Behavioral Issues In South Carolina Public Schools, Kathryn Sommer-Gough

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teaching students with behavioral challenges can impact elementary school teachers’ self-efficacy. This study examined the perceived lack of preparation among educators in managing such students. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this qualitative phenomenological study explored the experiences of kindergarten through second-grade general education teachers. Ten South Carolina teachers participated in three Zoom interviews each, discussing their self-efficacy and administrative support. Analysis revealed five key themes: self-efficacy, training, effects of students with behavioral issues, support, and frustrations. Teachers reported increased confidence after developing classroom management strategies, though these techniques were largely self-taught rather than formally provided. Future research should examine the …

Exploring Consequences Of The Double Empathy Problem Across The Autistic Trait Spectrum: First Person Accounts, Cammy C. Peck

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, individuals on the autism spectrum were believed to have deficits in empathy. However, recent research suggests that empathy-related issues occur on both sides of the communication dynamic. This concept known as the Double Empathy Problem (DEP), posits that the perceived lack of empathy is not exclusive to autistic individuals; rather, neurotypical (NT) individuals also experience difficulty empathizing with autistic individuals (Milton, 2012). Milton et al. (2022) describes this as a "breakdown in mutual understanding". Such mutual misunderstanding can have adverse consequences for both autistic and neurotypical individuals. To our knowledge, no studies have directly examined these consequences in relation …

The Effect Of Personalized Profiles On Generating Customized Content In Artificial Intelligence Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices, Rachel Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), several augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices have begun incorporating AI with the purpose of accelerating and improving message transmission for users. The results have shown that AI can significantly reduce a user's keystrokes, but the generated responses may lack personalization. The objective of this study was to investigate whether integrating a personalized profile containing user information enhances the perceived accuracy and personalization of AI generated messages. Various methods of collecting profile information and differing levels of information within the profile were evaluated. One hundred eighty-one neurotypical English-speakers with no history of language disorder …

Teacher Perspectives On The Impact Of School-Based Mental Health Services On Academic Performance, Attendance, And Behavior, Carol Ingram

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative instrumental case study explores teacher perspectives on the impact of school-based mental health services on student academic performance, attendance, and behavior in a northern Mississippi school district. Understanding their influence on key student outcomes is crucial given the increasing integration of school-based mental health services in educational settings. Framed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) five core competencies, this study examines how school-based mental health services support these competencies through teachers' insights. Data were collected using criterion sampling, focusing on eight high school teachers through focus groups, individual interviews, and a review of the …

Arkansas High School Teacher Perceptions About Declining Enrollment And Learning Experiences In Advanced Science Courses, Tanya Lynette Ruble

Student Theses and Dissertations

Student enrollment in advanced high school science courses in Arkansas, specifically Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics has declined since 2014. Colleges across the nation recommend that students take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in high school to prepare for rigorous science majors in college. Decreased enrollment in these subjects can lead to fewer college science majors and impact the preparation of students for careers in STEM fields such as engineering and healthcare. This qualitative phenomenological study utilized three research questions to explore the reasons for the decline in advanced high school science course enrollment in Arkansas. It …

No Evidence For Pape-Induced Jumping Performance Enhancement Following Isometric And Treadmill Warm-Ups In Team Sport Athletes, Artur Terbalyan, Adam Maszczyk, Robert Krzysztof Roczniok

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study aimed to determine whether an isometric PAPE‐based warm-up could enhance jumping performance compared to a traditional treadmill jogging warm-up in team sport athletes. The primary focus was on assessing neuromuscular activation and performance indicators such as jump height and force asymmetry. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three athletes from basketball, volleyball, handball, and soccer participated in a controlled, parallel-group experiment. Participants performed either a unilateral isometric warm-up protocol – comprising two sets of four exercises per leg– or a 5‐minute treadmill jogging session, with jump performance assessed via countermovement jump tests on dual force plates. A split-plot ANOVA was …

Interprofessional Education: A Geriatric Immersion Experiential, Emily J. Balog, Jennifer Degennaro, Lisa Bodenheimer, Stephanie Berdugo-Hernandez, Isabella Berdugo-Hernandez, Matthew Mclaughlin, Kevin Overbeck, Elyse Perweiler

Rowan-Virtua SOM Faculty Teaching & Learning Seminar

The Geriatric Interprofessional Education Immersion (GIPEI) course was developed using a mixed methods design guided by the Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Framework and embedded data-driven decision-making (DDDM). The eight-week, tri-weekly immersion integrates Experiential and Adult Learning Theories, the 4Ms Framework, IPEC competencies, and TeamSTEPPS to foster age-friendly clinical decision-making. Quantitative and qualitative data, including pre/post-tests, rubrics, observations, and student interviews, inform iterative improvement. The somato-psycho-socio-semiotic model of health further anchors student reflection and care planning. Findings aim to demonstrate improved learner ability to recognize and apply age-friendly care, while supporting evidence-informed curriculum refinement. The course is funded by the geriatric workforce enhancement …

A Guided Board Preparation Initiative To Support Struggling Students' Success In Board Exams, Dyron J. Corley, Shiyuan Wang

Rowan-Virtua SOM Faculty Teaching & Learning Seminar

The Guided Board Prep Initiative was created to synthesize all the board preparation resources and provide more organized guidance for students we identified in MS1 who would struggle to pass COMLEX Level 1. Among at-risk students between 2023/4-2024/5 cohorts (N=169), the cohort of 2024/25 had significantly higher COMLEX Level 1 pass rate than 2023/24 cohort (chi-square 4.8, p-0.03)

Teaching Students To Provide Effective Feedback With The Situation-Behavior-Impact (Sbi) Framework, Steve Garwood

Rowan-Virtua SOM Faculty Teaching & Learning Seminar

We often ask medical students to provide feedback to each other and the faculty. However, we do not necessarily teach them to provide effective, actionable feedback. This research focused on the impact of providing students with a 1-hour session training them to utilize the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) feedback model.

Lecture Capture Transcripts: Use And Perceptions On Utility, Steven Garwood, Dawn Shell, Jackie Giacobbe

Rowan-Virtua SOM Faculty Teaching & Learning Seminar

This project focuses on student use and perceived utility of the transcripts created for all recorded lectures in the Synergistic Guided Learning (SGL) curriculum track. This poster will present our findings from a survey conducted with first year Osteopathic Medical Students (OMS-1) in Spring 2025.

June 11, 2025 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Experiences Of Black Women In Black Colleges Voluntarily Seeking Psychiatric Services, Linda Jarvis Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black Americans face significant barriers to psychiatric services including a lack of access to culturally competent care. Mental illnesses continue to be the leading causes of disability in the United States. This qualitative phenomenological study, guided by the health belief model, explored the experiences of Black women in Black colleges who voluntarily seek psychiatric services. My study addressed a gap in understanding the facilitators and barriers for Black women voluntarily seeking mental health services. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine participants who were Black women attending Black colleges who voluntarily sought psychiatric services. Data analysis was accomplished using …