Digital Commons Network^™

From Courseroom To Competency: Are Ai-Reliant Graduates Truly Prepared?, Rebecca J. Armstrong, David Hart Jr

FDLA Journal

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a form of technology that has become a significant component in all our lives, especially those of students and instructors. AI serves as an automated, robotic entity that simulates human learning; it is able to rely on basic input to generate outlines and ideas for papers meant to satisfy any academic requirement and is seen as a helpful addition to the modern classroom. However, instead of relying on AI to enhance critical analysis and ethical reasoning, this artificial language model is frequently used to complete entire academic projects with little input on the part of the …

Implications For Digital Leadership In Higher Education In The Dominican Republic / A Bibliometric Approach, Pedro J. Tavarez-Dacosta Dr.

FDLA Journal

Abstract This work involves the use of bibliometric techniques to evaluate the metadata of the literature on digital leadership published during the last decade (2015-2025), with documents relevant to the analysis from our campus, the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, and specifically from the School of Languages, our area of teaching and research activity. A research database on digital leadership in higher education in the field of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) was established, both in the Dominican Republic and in other countries. Bibliometric techniques allow us to summarize descriptive trends, uncover underlying intellectual and academic structures, and identify …

Implications For Digital Leadership In Higher Education In The Dominican Republic / A Bibliometric Approach, Pedro J. Tavarez-Dacosta Dr.

FDLA Journal

Abstract This work involves the use of bibliometric techniques to evaluate the metadata of the literature on digital leadership published during the last decade (2015-2025), with documents relevant to the analysis from our campus, the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, and specifically from the School of Languages, our area of teaching and research activity. A research database on digital leadership in higher education in the field of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) was established, both in the Dominican Republic and in other countries. Bibliometric techniques allow us to summarize descriptive trends, uncover underlying intellectual and academic structures, and identify …

Navigating Ethical Ai Use In Online Education: Leveraging The Framework For Information Literacy For Higher Education, Grace Kaletski-Maisel

FDLA Journal

As generative AI transforms online education, students are confronted with the many ethical quandaries that this technology poses. A document known as The Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (Framework) has great potential to serve as a tool for educators who strive to guide students towards ethical decision-making in AI use. Information literacy is “the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.” This definition was posed by the Association of College …

The Role Of Trauma-Informed Care In Supporting At-Risk Students In Alternative Education, Jar'mel D. Taylor Dr.

Transformations

Students with traumatic experiences commonly fail to meet educational goals and control their emotions while also losing their involvement in classes. Standard trauma-informed care practices remain absent from numerous alternative educational institutions, which leaves their teaching community without adequate support to help traumatized students effectively. The application of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) strategies toward student outcomes requires investigation to develop effective educational approaches that enhance school success. The researcher used qualitative exploratory case study methodology to study TIC practices in alternative education for Black and Brown adolescent students (aged 12–18) in Washington, D.C. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group with 16 …

Sociology Of Mind Trap In Nepal, Makar Bahadur Sarki

Transformations

Nepali society is multilingual, culturally and ethnically diverse. It holds great potential for development and thought. However, the existing mental traps in society are creating obstacles to fulfilling those potentials. Mental entrapment is a problem in which people follow someone's words with complete faith, just like someone who runs after a crow without touching their own ears after hearing that it has ears. This forces people to live in illusion. This leads to individuals mistrusting their own abilities and pushing society towards inaction. This situation is not only due to individual thinking, but is the combined result of social structural …

General Education Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Supporting Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Inclusive Elementary Mainstream Classrooms In Central California, Leah Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was a gap in practice about general education teachers’ support of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in inclusive elementary mainstream classrooms in Central California, where regional inclusion rates fall below state and national averages. Grounded in Universal Design for Learning, the purpose of the study was to explore general education teachers’ perceptions regarding inclusion and recommended support for students with ASD in inclusive elementary mainstream classrooms. For this basic qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 general education teachers who taught grades 1 through 6. Through open, in vivo, and subsequent axial …

Placement Scores As A Predictor Of Math Success For Students With Learning Disabilities, Latosha Knighton Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) are not appropriately placed in college math courses at Southern State Community College (SSCC, a pseudonym). Guided by Piaget’s constructivist learning theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the predictive relationships between American College Testing (ACT), Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) standardized placement exams math scores and Intermediate and College Algebra course success. The sample in this study consisted of 946 SWLDs who completed at least one standardized placement math exam and enrolled in either an Intermediate …

How Texas Early Childhood Teachers Collaborate To Support Students With Disabilities, Anna Weathers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was it was not known how Texas early childhood special education (EGSE) teachers and early childhood general education (ECGE) teachers use collaboration to identify, place, and support students with disabilities (SWDs). Framed by Colby’s collaboration theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of Texas ECSE and ECGE teachers when collaborating regarding identification, placement, and support for SWDs. Data were collected in semstructured interviews with 11 ECSE and 11 ECGE teachers who taught in Texas early childhood settings. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with open coding, leading to …

Higher Education Instructors’ Perspectives On The Challenges Of Implementing Competency-Based Learning In Coursework, Sammie Leo Davis Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Higher education instructors face challenges in implementing competency-based learning (CBL) in their coursework. Grounded in Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of higher education instructors on the challenges and their needs to implement CBL in coursework. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 higher education instructors who had at least 2 years of experience teaching CBL courses. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and inductive coding to identify codes and categories, with the following five themes emerging: CBL implementation depends on (a) aligned assessment, curriculum …

Multimodal Digital Libraries: A Response To Culturally And Linguistically Sustaining Classrooms, Abigail Lopez

Masters Projects

Poorly represented minority groups fail to connect reader identity backgrounds

with the characters in texts due to curriculum traditionally relying on English dominant

translations. This system challenge deficit fails students by placing limitations on the

exposure of rich vocabulary, cultural awareness and sets up lack of engagement. This

project is grounded in Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogy, Sociocultural

Theory, Constructing Reader Identities and Engagement theories that transforms

student diversity into an instructional practice that empowers multilingual learners.

To empower students, this digital culturally relevant library optimizes educator

planning time. This digital library provides immediate access to multicultural books

alongside a …

Experiences Of Novice Assistant Principals: Perceptual Evidence From Texas, Gregory Vidal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Assistant principals play essential roles in supporting instructional leadership and campus operations. However, limited research has examined how novice assistant principals experience their transition into administration and interpret their preparation and support. This study addressed the gap in understanding how novice assistant principals in a suburban Texas public school district made sense of their preservice preparation and early leadership practice, and how these experiences shaped their perceptions of training and organizational supports. The purpose of this qualitative, experiential, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of novice assistant principals during their first three years in the role. The study …

Pemberdayaan Pik-R Berbasis Permainan Make A Match Untuk Meningkatkan Pengetahuan Dan Sikap Pencegahan Anemia Remaja Putri Di Smpn 5 Kota Bengkulu, Madu Sarah Fadhilah, Reka Lagora Marsofely, Lissa Ervina

Perilaku dan Promosi Kesehatan: Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior

Background. The prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls at SMPN 5 Bengkulu City increased from 26.8% (2023) to 32.9% (2024). Low knowledge and unfavourable preventive attitudes are key determinants, while the integration of the Youth Information and Counselling Centre (PIK-R) with the cooperative “Make a Match” card method has rarely been evaluated in a structured manner.

Aim. To analyse the difference in knowledge and attitude scores on anemia prevention among adolescent girls before and after PIK-R empowerment using the “Make a Match” game at SMPN 5 Bengkulu City.

Methods. A quantitative, pre-experimental study with a one group pretest-posttest design. The …

Enhancing Nutrition Communication Skills Through Community-Based Learning To Create Cooperative Extension Resources, Elizabeth Lucas Combs, Anna Cason, Courtney Luecking, Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Journal of Dietetic Education

Strong communication and transferable skills are essential for future dietitians. This Best Evidence Teaching Strategy describes a community-based approach within an upper-level community nutrition course that partnered with the Cooperative Extension Service. Over six weeks, scaffolded assignments emphasized written, oral, and digital media skills, aligning with current trends in scientific communication. Students created information releases, podcasts, and short videos to translate evidence-based nutrition content into accessible formats for public audiences. Collaboration with Extension provided authentic context and motivation, as high-quality projects could be disseminated statewide.

Measuring The Empathy Of Nutrition And Dietetics Students With The Jefferson Scale Of Empathy – Health Professions Student Version: A Pilot Study, Sara Tamsukhin, Youn Seon Lim

Journal of Dietetic Education

The purpose of this study was to learn about undergraduate nutrition and dietetics students’ empathy scores. The study was a descriptive quantitative design with a web-based, cross-sectional survey. Participants were undergraduate nutrition and dietetics students from two universities who completed a survey with demographic questions, clinical experience questions, and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy – Health Professions Student version (JSE-HPS©). Seventy-one nutrition and dietetics students completed the survey. Most respondents were female, white, and non-Hispanic. The mean total empathy score was 114.69 (SD=11.09) with a range of 81 to 137. Welch’s t-test did not show significant differences by gender, ethnicity, …

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist’S Implementation Of Dysphagia Screening In Clinical Practice: A Commentary, Nicole Wiksten, Holly Estes-Doetsch, Laura C. Boucher, Sarah Rusnak, Kristen M. Roberts

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) amended the competencies for the future education model (FEM) in dietetic education to include competency 3.6 stating that the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) must be able to "Initiate and conduct bedside swallow screenings". There is no clear process for RDNs to implement dysphagia screening in practice or academia. The aim of this review is to inform clinicians and educators on current literature discussing current RDN and speech language pathology approaches to dysphagia screening and to provide a proposed curriculum for implementation of competency 3.6 in clinical practice and academia.

Disability-Related Educational Content In Nutrition And Dietetic Programs: An Exploratory Study, Wendy Medunick, Allison Gomes, Joachim Sackey, Laura Byham-Gray, Jane Ziegler

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Health disparities experienced by people with disabilities (PWD) are partly attributed to inadequate knowledge, training, confidence and competence regarding disabilities among health professionals. While registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are key members of the healthcare team, it is unclear how pre-professional nutrition and dietetics (ND) programs prepare future RDNs to care for PWD. This study examined the status of disability-related education within ND programs in the United States. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to 570 directors of accredited ND programs. The survey, which adapted questions from a previously validated instrument and published studies, included questions assessing disability-related …

Assessing And Addressing Cultural Competence And Cultural Humility In Dietetic Education, Zoe Duran, Nicholas Slagel, Lisa Caldwell, Katie Kage

Journal of Dietetic Education

Limited theory-informed, dietetic-specific resources are available to guide the development, evaluation, and refinement of culturally competent (CC) curricula. This pilot study used a mixed-methods, theory-informed approach to evaluate CC integration within an undergraduate dietetics curriculum and examine the applicability of existing CC self-assessment tools for dietetic students. A senior-level undergraduate community nutrition curriculum was evaluated using the Tool for Assessing Cultural Competence Training (TACCT), guided by the Campinha-Bacote Model of Cultural Competence in Healthcare Delivery. James Banks’ Model of Multicultural Curriculum Reform was then applied to refine curricular content and learning activities. In addition, 74 students enrolled in a didactic …

Virtual Reality: The Future Of Didactic And Experiential Education For Nutrition And Dietetics, Michael Holik, Dexter Richardson

Journal of Dietetic Education

The integration of virtual reality (VR) into nutrition and dietetics education provides an innovative answer to challenges in accessing experiential learning. This study examined student perceptions of immersive VR experiences designed to simulate hospital foodservice operations and nutrition counseling sessions, guided by the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI). A quasi-experimental design involved 55 participants who engaged with 360° VR modules featuring interactive elements, avatars representing key healthcare roles, and embedded critical-thinking questions. Results demonstrated strong support for VR’s educational value across DOI’s five key attributes: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Participants reported enhanced understanding of registered dietitian roles, …

Editors' Message, Volume 4, Issue 2, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

In this edition, you will find research on the use of virtual reality in experiential food service learning, instruments to assess cultural competency and humility in dietetic students, and tools for measuring empathy—an area of growing importance in dietetic pedagogy. Additionally, this issue explores the inclusion of disability-related curricula in education programs and features a commentary on RDNs implementing swallow screenings within clinical practice, highlighting how this procedure falls within an RDN’s scope of practice when supported by proper training and demonstrated competency.

Cover, Table Of Contents, About The Journal

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Parks Coble, Jr., Unl History; Chinese Nationalists & Business, Chinese-Japanese Relations, Mark A. Griep, Parks M. Coble Jr.

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Dr. Parks Coble, Jr. was awarded the ORCA in 2005. He was born in Waterloo, South Carolina in 1946 but he grew up in Columbia. He earned his bachelor’s in history at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Next, he traveled 740 miles northwest to earn his doctorate at the University of Illinois in Champaign. In 1976, he became an assistant professor of history at the University of Nebraska, where he quickly rose through the ranks. His early work focused on the relationship between Chinese business elites and leaders of the Chinese National Government movement during a very interesting …

Eksplorasi Pemanfaatan Aplikasi Miraa Berbasis Transkripsi Ai Dalam Pembelajaran Menyimak Bahasa Mandarin, Dewi Permatasari Mulyono, Aiga Ventivani, Iwa Sobara, Aisyah Yasmin, Aulia Miftahul Jannah, Keiza Jasmine Aprilanadja

Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts

This study explores the use of Miraa, an AI-based transcription application, in Mandarin listening instruction and students’ responses to its use in a Chinese Comprehensive 2 course. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed involving 21 students from the Mandarin Language Education Program at Universitas Negeri Malang. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively selected students, documentation, and exercise scores as supporting data. The data were analyzed through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification, supported by source and technique triangulation. The findings indicate that Miraa was used as multimodal scaffolding by integrating audio, automatic …

Preparing Inclusive Educators: The Impact Of Fieldwork Experience On Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge, Skills, And Confidence In Working With Students With Disabilities, Adrian Jung

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This study examined preservice teachers’ confidence in working with students with disabilities across Elementary (n = 44), Secondary (n = 43), and Special Education (n = 52) programs. Using a quantitative pretest–posttest survey design, participants completed an adapted version of the Special Needs Confidence Scale before and after student teaching. Descriptive statistics and Tukey post hoc analyses were conducted. Results indicated overall increases in confidence following fieldwork, with Special Education preservice teachers reporting consistently higher confidence than Elementary and Secondary peers. Findings highlight the role of targeted preparation and field-based experiences in supporting inclusive teaching readiness.

From Curriculum To Career: A Grounded Theory Of Ai-Driven Employability In Higher Education, Sandra Baroudi, Christina Davison, Maryam Juma

All Works

This study examines how undergraduate students navigate employability within an AI-driven labor market, highlighting the role of digital social capital, personal branding, and multicultural identity management in a rapidly modernizing, culturally diverse setting. Employing a constructivist grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 undergraduates across STEM and humanities disciplines. Data were coded iteratively using constant comparative methods until theoretical saturation. Five major categories emerged: experiential learning, professional networking, digital self-promotion, cultural identity tensions, and technological adaptability. The study proposes an ‘AI-Driven Employability Framework’ that integrates Human, Social, and Cultural Capital theories and develops two context-specific extensions: digital social …

How A Lack Of Curriculum Framework Impacts The Effectiveness Of The K-12 Visual Arts Curriculum, Ashley Breiler

Masters Projects

Visual arts education provides meaningful opportunities for students to develop creativity, self-expression, cultural understandings, and social-emotional competencies. However, the K-12 visual arts curricula do not intentionally integrate student choice, cultural responsiveness, and social-emotional learning (SEL) into a cohesive instructional framework, resulting in inconsistent implementation of these components across classrooms. As a result, students may receive varying opportunities to engage in meaningful art-making experiences that help to foster these skills. The purpose of this project was to address this gap by developing a research-based curriculum framework that intentionally integrates student choice, cultural responsiveness, and SEL into K-12 visual arts instruction. The …

Student Teachers Are Watching: What Are They Seeing?, Sarah J. Kaka, Taylor M. Kessner

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This article examines the apprenticeship of observation that shapes preservice social studies teachers during clinical placements. Grounded in Lortie’s apprenticeship of observation and Bourdieu’s habitus, we draw on classroom observations collected by student teachers across several states. Findings suggest that cooperating teachers most often modeled traditional, teacher-centered instruction, including lecture and textbook-based work, while offering fewer examples of inquiry, discussion, or primary-source analysis. We argue that these everyday observations shape preservice teachers’ professional dispositions and that teacher educators, cooperating teachers, and field personnel should more intentionally provide access to ambitious, student-centered social studies practice.

Rethinking Teacher Education Programs: (Mis)Understanding Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Among Teacher Candidates, Shirley M. Sommers

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This article draws from a study conducted on pre-service teachers enrolled in a teacher education program. The study examines students’ understanding and misunderstanding of what constitutes culturally responsive teaching. This is a mixed methods study. A Likert-type survey and qualitative questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey data, and a thematic coding method was used for analysis of qualitative data. The results of the study show that pre-service teachers are aware and knowledgeable of the term culturally responsive teaching as the term is widely used in the teacher education program in which they were …

Evaluating Gender Equity In The Berenstain Bears Picture Books, Christy Tisnawijaya, Geni Kurniati

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

Picture books serve as a foundational medium in early childhood education, utilizing interrelated visual and verbal elements to foster linguistic, cognitive, and social development. Despite their pedagogical utility, certain literary works inadvertently perpetuate traditional gender roles, constraining children's conceptualizations of identity. This study evaluates gender representation within eleven selected titles of The Berenstain Bears series. Employing a qualitative multimodal content analysis, the study integrates Butler's gender performativity framework (1990), Callow's multimodal narrative approach (2020), and Adam and Harper's evaluative criteria (2021) to examine how domestic, social, and recreational roles are constructed. This study offers novelty by establishing a dual-lens multimodal …

Cross-Curricular Project-Based Learning As An Answer To Disengagement In Middle School Students, Jessica Blauwkamp

Masters Projects

Students are often disengaged with traditional classroom teaching practices and experience decreased academic and social emotional outcomes at school as a result. This project offers a solution to student disengagement at the middle school level by providing teachers tools to build cross-curricular project-based learning units that follow standards set by the state of Michigan while also giving students the opportunity to learn in more authentic ways. Authenticity, voice and choice, and collaboration are the cornerstones of the cross-curricular project-based learning model designed in this project. In addition to the tools provided to help teachers build their own project-based learning units, …