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Analyzing Environmental Education In Northern Mississippi And Its Impact On Student Outcomes, Vishnu S. Gadepalli

Honors Theses

This thesis examines environmental education in public high schools in northern Mississippi, investigating how educators describe its presence, delivery, and institutional support in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harm. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with high school teachers across four northern Mississippi schools, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through iterative thematic coding under Institutional Review Board approval. Five themes emerged: opportunistic curricular integration, time and standards as overriding structural constraints, passive institutional support, student receptivity tempered by limited awareness, and significant variation across school contexts with one magnet school as a clear outlier. The study concludes that environmental education in these …

Bridging Research And Practice: A Mixed Methods Study Of Principals' Use Of Implementation Driver Strategies To Support The Adoption Of Evidence-Based Literacy Practices In Minnesota K-12 Public Schools, Jamie L. Nord

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Despite a substantial research base identifying effective reading instruction, some schools continue to struggle to translate evidence-based literacy practices into consistent classroom use. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study examined the relationship between Minnesota K–12 public school principals’ self-reported use of implementation driver strategies and their self-reported adoption of evidence-based literacy practices, while also exploring how principals perceived implementation within their school contexts. Guided by the Implementation Drivers framework, the study included a statewide survey of 138 principals using the researcher-developed Leadership for Literacy Implementation Scale, followed by two focus groups with 10 participants. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive, …

The Impact Of Generative Ai Training On Teachers’ Curriculum Adaptation Using Reflective Practices, Areej Elsayary

All Works

Generative AI tools offer teachers opportunities to adapt curricula to meet diverse student needs. However, many educators lack the structured training and reflective frameworks necessary for effective and critical use of these tools. Numerous studies have examined the appropriate use of generative AI (GenAI) tools in facilitating differentiation, feedback, and personalized learning. However, teachers need to be trained on the “what” and “how” of integrating GenAI into curriculum adaptation to ensure a positive impact on student learning. This study evaluates the impact of training in-service teachers to use GenAI tools for curriculum adaptation. Specifically, the study investigates three research questions: …

Integrating Student-Mined Data In Youth Computer Science Learning: An Investigation Of Learning Outcomes And Educational Strategies, Alex Acquah

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As data increasingly shapes participation in society, there is growing emphasis on preparing youth to engage with data through computer science education. Existing K-12 computing and data science curricula have expanded opportunities for learners to analyze and interpret data; however, many learning experiences continue to rely on datasets and inquiry structures designed by others, limiting authentic engagement, personal relevance, and learner agency. This dissertation investigates the integration of student-mined data in youth computer science learning and examines its influence on computational thinking, epistemic agency, and learning experiences among high school students. Using a qualitative approach, data collected from youths of …

Enhancing Teachers’ Intercultural Literacy: Examining The Impact Of A Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program To Indonesia, Paul R. Wallace

Journal of Global Education and Research

The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program offers institutional grants to support overseas experiences and curriculum development for educators. The study reported here focused on changes in the intercultural literacy of participants involved in a 4-week Fulbright-Hays GPA Program to Indonesia. Participants in this study included K-12 teachers from public schools and teacher education majors. Before and after traveling to Indonesia, eight participants completed a self-assessment of intercultural literacy, which measured competencies, understandings, attitudes, language proficiencies, participation, and identities deemed necessary for successful living and working in a cross-cultural environment. This article presents the results of the assessment survey, along …

Navigating Japanese Expatriate Children’S Linguistic, Cultural, And Psychological Adjustments To Their Host Communities In Southeast Michigan, Kiyotaka Suga

MITESOL Journal: An Online Publication of MITESOL

This case study explored how three Japanese expatriate children who moved to Southeast Michigan because of their parents’ job-transfer reacted and adjusted linguistically and culturally to new communities. Based on their experiences and perspectives, this study investigated what kind of potential supports can be provided to navigate their linguistic, cultural, and psychological adjustments to their new host communities in Southeast Michigan. To address these research questions, the three participants’ trajectories of their cross-linguistic, cultural, and psychological adjustments were examined through retrospective semi-structured interviews. Content analyses on their interview comments highlighted the following themes: (1) language-related challenges; (2) cross-cultural experiences and …

Piloting Translation Earbuds With Newcomer Multilinguals: An Exploratory Case Study With Teachers In Michigan Public Schools, Robyn Edwards, Joe Terantino

MITESOL Journal: An Online Publication of MITESOL

This exploratory case study examines how in-service teachers (n = 6) piloted translation earbuds to support WIDA Level 1-2 newcomer multilinguals in Michigan K–12 public schools. Grounded in Sociocultural Theory, the study highlights teachers’ perceptions of how the earbuds mediated classroom participation and access to instruction. Teachers identified the earbuds as most effective during content-heavy teacher talk, where real-time interpreting supported newcomers’ comprehension of grade-level content and reduced communication barriers. Teachers also reported that the earbuds increased student participation, encouraged socioemotional engagement, and helped strengthen teacher-student relationships by enabling more immediate and meaningful interaction. At the same time, teachers emphasized …

Expanding Ai Literacy: The 5cs Of News Literacy In The Era Of Generative Ai, Seth Ashley, Adam Maksl, Paul Cook

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

This article adapts the 5Cs framework of news literacy—context, creation, content, circulation, and consumption—to media environments shaped by generative artificial intelligence. We argue that prevailing discussions of AI literacy overemphasize technical or functional competencies while underemphasizing the social, cultural, political, and communicative systems in which AI operates. Drawing on previous research, we define AI literacy as knowledge of the technical, social, and ethical dimensions of AI-mediated content production, distribution, and consumption, along with the critical capacities needed to exercise agency within those processes. We show how the 5Cs can be reinterpreted for generative AI environments and integrate pedagogical implications for …

Using Scenario-Based Generative Ai In A Social Studies Methods Course, Timothy Lintner, Ellis Reeves

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming the landscape of educator preparation. This shift is especially evident in social studies. As emerging technologies like AI reshape how social studies is taught and learned, it is essential to incorporate them into course design and student outcomes. Simply put, we must ensure that the next generation of social studies educators can effectively use AI to create real-world, scenario-based learning experiences that foster inquiry and encourage student action-taking. This article examines how AI-supported, scenario-based learning was strategically integrated into a secondary social studies methods course at the University of South Carolina Aiken. From concept …

Book Review: Creating A Sense Of Belonging For Immigrant And Refugee Students, Emma L. Johnson

Virginia English Journal

This review examines Creating a Sense of Belonging for Immigrant and Refugee Students, by Mandy Manning, Ivonne Orozco Sahi, Leah Juelke, and Sarahí Monterrey, which explores strategies to foster inclusive classroom communities that support newcomer and multilingual learners. The authors argue that belonging is foundational to students' academic success and outline personal anecdotes that influenced the authors' instructional methods. This review considers the book's key themes: community-building practices, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and the role of schools in supporting students navigating displacement and resettlement. It evaluates the text's anecdotal evidence as support for expanding the ELA curriculum to better serve …

From Pack Horse Librarians To Large Language Models: Grounding Ai Literacy In Appalachian Place And Community, Amanda Biviano, Anna Marie Rayne, Paige Hubbard, Maya Alvarez, Brooke Stiles, Isabella Giocondo

Virginia English Journal

As artificial intelligence reshapes literacy education, teachers face the challenge of preparing students to engage critically with new technologies while honoring the cultural and community knowledge they bring to the classroom. This article proposes a critical, place-based pedagogical framework rooted in rural Appalachian literacy traditions as a means of guiding students toward reflective engagement with AI — particularly large language models (LLMs). Drawing on the theoretical foundations of Freire's critical pedagogy, Giroux's cultural literacy framework, and place-based education, we examine historical Appalachian literacy practices as models for resisting the standardizing and dehumanizing tendencies of AI-generated writing. We then outline a …

A Media Literacy Approach To Ai In Secondary Ela, Matthew Korona

Virginia English Journal

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into academic, civic, and personal contexts requires students to develop the skills and dispositions necessary for ethical and critical engagement with AI‑mediated texts. While AI literacy is often framed as a technical competency associated with computer science, this paper argues that secondary English language arts (ELA) classrooms are uniquely positioned to support AI literacy through media literacy practices. Drawing on constructivist pedagogy, existing research on media literacy and AI literacy, and the Virginia English Standards of Learning, the article presents a framework that aligns core media literacy competencies with human–AI interaction. To …

Navigating Text-To-Speech (Tts): Ethical Leadership In The Use Of Generative Ai For Extension, Xue A Dong, Paul A Hill

Journal of Extension

Text-to-speech (TTS) AI technology transforms written content into natural-sounding speech, offering a useful tool to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in Extension work. This article examines the role of TTS AI in bridging communication gaps, particularly for diverse and multilingual communities, and demonstrates the importance of ethical leadership in its adoption. By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, Extension professionals can leverage TTS AI to foster greater connection and engagement. Practical applications and examples are provided to guide the integration of TTS AI into programs. The article also offers recommendations for experimenting with innovative technologies to improve educational outcomes and increase the …

Artificial Intelligence As A Tool To Enhance High-Leverage Practices In Special Education, Kanisha Porter, Viveca Grant Ed.D., Delilah A. Gonzales

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Special education teachers face instructional, documentation, and compliance demands that often impede the fidelity of High-Leverage Practices (HLPs). While HLPs are central to promoting positive academic and behavioral growth for students with disabilities, a significant research-to-practice gap persists because educators lack the time and resources to implement these evidence-based strategies consistently within increasingly complex classrooms. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers emerging opportunities to mitigate systemic burdens by serving as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement for professional judgment. This manuscript examines AI’s potential to enhance HLP implementation across the domains of instruction, data-driven practice, collaboration, and intensive intervention. Drawing upon …

Beyond Intent: Teacher Capacity, Opportunity To Learn, And The Persistence Of Math Equity Gaps In Tennessee (2000-2025), Soso Dede

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

For a quarter-century (2000–2025), Tennessee pursued mathematics reforms aiming for equity, yet stark racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps endure. Framed by Opportunity to Learn (OTL) and Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT), this study investigates the intersection of equity, teacher capacity, and policy. By synthesizing assessment data, program evaluations, policy documents, and research literature, this study reveals that systemic OTL inequities—disparate access to quality instruction, adequate resources, and teachers possessing strong MKT—are primary drivers of these enduring gaps. Such inequities deny marginalized students a fair chance at mathematical proficiency. The interplay between OTL and MKT is critical: inadequate OTL constrains knowledgeable …

The Role Of Emotions In Understanding Inquiry As Stance, Yun-Chen Yen, Rachel Wolkenhauer

Journal of Practitioner Research

This case study of a Taiwanese teacher candidate’s inquiry experience during her internship uses emotions as a lens for analyzing how she developed and refined her inquiry stance as a critical habit of mind. Using emotions as points of reflection and action, the teacher candidate came to see herself as a responsible and critical generator of knowledge, understood practice as a synthesis of reflection and action, and reframed the purpose of inquiry as elevating student voices and cultivating teacher curiosity. An inquiry community played a critical role in sustaining her engagement and commitment. This study suggests that teacher emotions can …

Urban Secondary Teachers’ Perspectives On Their Experiences With Ai-Generated Lesson Plans To Support Instructional Practices, Jennifer Amend

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban secondary schools are increasingly encouraged to integrate AI tools into instructional planning. The problem many teachers remain uncertain about the effectiveness of AI-generated lesson plans. Grounded in Hall and Hord’s concerns-based adoption model, the purpose of this project study was to explore urban secondary teachers’ perspectives of their successes, challenges, and resource needs related to the use of AI-generated lesson plans to support instructional practices at PUHS. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 11 secondary teachers and analyzed using first-cycle coding and second-cycle pattern coding. Six themes emerged: AI as an Efficiency and …

From Homes To Classrooms: Cultural Wisdom As A Guide For Stem Lesson Planning, Miriam Ortiz, Uma Ganesan, Angela Chapman, William Medina-Jerez, Ruby Lynch Arroyo, Mourat Tchoshanov

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This article describes innovative elementary science instructional approaches based on cultural wisdom developed by preservice teachers enrolled in a teacher preparation program at a university in the U.S.-Mexico border region. As a part of a larger study, three Latina preservice elementary teachers were a part of a teacher residency in conducting community interviews and reflection activities to uncover cultural backgrounds that could inform culturally relevant STEM lesson planning, centering on family and home knowledge. This project began with family interviews during winter break and culminated in lesson planning and implementation during their science methods course in the spring semester. The …

The Effects Of Pluss: Adapting An Evidence-Based Reading Intervention For Multilingual Learners, Amanda K. Sanford, Christopher J. Pinkney, Sheldon Loman, Julie Esparza Brown, Theresa Just, Kendall Flori, Camila Swift, Holly Ramstead

Educator Licensure Faculty Publications and Presentations

The effects of an evidence-based literacy intervention with and without added supports to address the unique needs of multilingual learners (MLs) were assessed through an ABAB single-case withdrawal design. The dual dependent variables were reading fluency/accuracy and performance on the workbook that included spelling, vocabulary, and reading comprehension tasks. Three students (one each in second, third, and fourth grades) who qualified for English language development services and exhibited low reading performance (second and third graders) or were identified with a reading disability (fourth grader) participated. From the initial baseline phase (A1) to the final intervention phase (B2), adding supports specific …

Defining Teacher Envelopment: A Non-Aristotelian Approach To Meta-Practices In The Philosophy Of Teacher Education, Rob Blom

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

The late Jonathan Neufeld argued that redefining teacher development required meta-practices, yet he never defined what these meta-practices were. To define them rigorously requires grounding teacher cultivation practices within coherent structures of truth capable of withstanding philosophical scrutiny—a challenge intensified by post- truth discourse that flattens epistemological depth in secularised educational theory. This paper advances a theory of teacher envelopment to complement conventional teacher development through identifying mindfulness and discernment as foundational meta-practices grounded in non-Aristotelian systems. The framework rests on three interrelated concepts: (1) truth paradigms encompassing contemplative, articulatory, and embodied dimensions; (2) epistemological depth as extensional practices that …

No Mud, No Lotus: Ways To Metabolize Suffering, Heesoon Bai, Heather Williams, Renata Cueto De Souza, Mel Voulgaris, Charles Scott, Anna Rumjahn, Avraham Cohen, Zuzana Vasko Dr.

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This paper builds on the foundation of mainly Buddhist and existential contemplative philosophies a theoretical and practical framework for understanding and working with suffering as a transformational setting for human development and maturation. The authors propose that the first step in this path of transformation is radical acceptance of suffering as fundamental “truth” about human life, which could re-orient us from the usual mindset of avoidance, denial, dismissal, moralizing, or aggressive elimination of suffering. The next step in this reorientation is seeing suffering as containing valuable “nutrients” for human development and maturation, just as, analogically speaking, mud can grow lotus …

Hear My Voice As Who I Am: Theorizing The Essence Of Poetry In Holistic Global Citizenship Education, Shue-Kei Joanna Mok

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Poetry as an imaginative language art has long been perceived as the core of humanity, the foundation of human advancement (Arnold,1880; Rorty, 2007). By composing, critiquing, and sharing/performing poems, not only does the process enrich and deepen one’s relationship to oneself, understanding and reflecting on the contextual, historical, cultural, social, and creative backgrounds of the poems and poets allows one to have greater connections with the broader environment across temporal, spatial, and social dimensions with human and non-human beings.

This paper first frames the core concepts and values of global citizenship from a Confucius perspective to emphasize the significance of …

Servingness In Solidarity: How Filipina/X/O American Student Organizations Cultivate Belonging, Clarissa Mae Lico Calimbas

Dissertations

Filipina/x/o American college students represent one of the largest Asian ethnic subgroups in the United States, yet their educational experiences remain underexamined within institutional research and higher education scholarship. Aggregated under the broader Asian American category, Filipina/x/o American students are rendered invisible by data practices that obscure the distinct colonial histories, socioeconomic realities, and identity negotiations. This qualitative study examined how Filipina/x/o American students at Pacific State University (PSU) describe their involvement in Filipina/x/o American Student Organizations (FASOs) and how that involvement shapes their sense of belonging, cultural identity development, and academic persistence. Guided by a critical race phenomenological framework …

Vision With Grace: Intersectionality Of Education And Spirituality, Preeti Jha

Dissertations

Contemporary educational leaders face increasingly complex challenges, systemic inequities, educator burnout, and demands for transformation, yet existing leadership frameworks fail to address the inner lives and spiritual practices that sustain such demanding justice work. While research demonstrates spirituality's role in leadership effectiveness, this dimension remains largely unexplored in educational research, particularly regarding how spiritual consciousness shapes daily practices and social justice engagement. This qualitative study will examine how spirituality shapes educational leadership and social justice engagement through portraiture methodology and in-depth interviews with three spiritually aligned educational leaders in Northern California. Drawing upon the Bhagavad Gita, Spiritual Leadership Theory, and …

The Cognitive Construction Of Sustainable Environmental Awareness Through Green Language Pedagogy In Second Language Acquisition, Meral Yavuz Kartal, Osman Yılmaz Kartal

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

The escalating global ecological crisis highlights the need for new approaches to sustainability education, while the cognitive role of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) remains underexplored. This study employs a critical literature review with a systematic search and qualitative thematic synthesis to develop a proposed Green Language Pedagogy (GLP) model. The review followed a four-stage screening protocol (identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion) and analyzed 50 theoretical and empirical sources published between 2014 and 2025. This analysis of the selected literature reveals a stark disparity: an estimated 85% of the reviewed environmental education research focuses on factual knowledge transfer, whereas only 15% …

Translation Techniques And Meaning Equivalence In The Novels ``It Ends With Us'' And ``Akhir Antara Kita'' By Colleen Hoover, Tanty Aidullia Nasution, Rusdi Noor Rosa, Erikson Saragih, Rudy Sofyan, T. Thyrhaya Zein

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

Translating literary works addressing sensitive issues such as domestic violence (DV) and psychological trauma requires careful strategies to preserve meaning, emotional nuances, and pragmatic effects in the target language. This study examines translation techniques, levels of meaning equivalence, and relevance in dialogues concerning domestic violence and personal trauma in Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us and its Indonesian translation, Akhir Antara Kita. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, 451 dialogue segments were analyzed using the frameworks of Molina and Hurtado Albir (2002), Baker (1992), and Gutt (2010). The findings identified 17 translation techniques, predominantly established equivalent (26.60%), modulation (20.45%), and …

Owning The Mission: Reconciling The Past, While Implementing The Science Of Reading In An Education Preparation Program, Paula J. Adams

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

This reflective inquiry examines the first year of a two-year initiative to more explicitly align an established educator preparation program with the Science of Reading (SoR). Situated within a small private university in New York State, the article considers implementation as both curricular revision and institutional change. The process included faculty professional learning, curriculum mapping, alignment of student learning outcomes, revision of common course assessments, development of SoR-aligned models of candidate work, and consideration of clinical experiences. Particular attention is given to tensions that emerged around policy fatigue, academic freedom and responsibility, differing professional cultures, candidates’ prior experiences with literacy …

The Ketupat War As A Cultural Performance: Ritual, Community Participation, And Cultural Preservation In Tempilang, Bangka Belitung, Fawarti Gendra Nata Utami, Budi Setiyono, Muhammad Fazli Taib Saearani

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

This study examines the Perang Ketupat tradition in Tempilang Village, Bangka Belitung Province, Indonesia, as a form of cultural performance. It aims to analyze the tradition through five dimensions: ritual, performing arts, community participation, cultural education, and community-based safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Employing a qualitative approach based on performance ethnography, data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, document analysis, and a literature review during the 2024 Ketupat War Festival. The findings reveal that the tradition functions not only as a ritual for warding off misfortune but also as a living cultural performance that reinforces cultural identity, strengthens …

Effects Of Flipped Task-Based Learning On Grammatical Achievement And Learners’ Perceptions Among Pre-Service Efl Teachers, Phayao Nusen

Journal of Education Studies

This study aims 1) to compare the English grammatical achievement of students taught through flipped task-based learning and that of students taught through communicative language teaching, and   2) to examine learners’ perceptions of flipped task-based learning. The research employed a quasi-experimental design. The samples were 60 first-year undergraduates majoring in English Education at a public university, divided into an experimental group and a control group. The researcher assessed the students’ technological readiness and then divided them into the experimental group and the control group. There were 30 students in each group. The research instruments were 1) learning management plans, 2) …

Forecasting Trends In Educational Measurement And Assessment Topics In The Ai Era : Text Mining Analysis With Bayesian Multilevel Piecewise Regression Model, Siwachoat Srisuttiyakorn, Kanit Sriklaub, Yotsawee Saifah

Journal of Education Studies

This study aimed to 1) identify latent research topics in educational measurement and evaluation from academic databases covering the years 2008–2025 using Structural Topic Modeling (STM), 2) analyze topic prevalence trends and forecast their growth trajectories for 2027 using Bayesian Multilevel Piecewise Regression (BMPR), and 3) synthesize strategic research themes from the topic classification and forecasting results. The dataset consisted of 1,695 research articles from the proceedings of three international conferences. The data were processed to extract 10,858 standardized keywords and key phrases, which were then analyzed using STM to identify latent research topics. Topic labeling and interpretation were conducted …