Digital Commons Network^™

Chicano Studies Courses: Latina/O Student Engagement In Community Colleges, Marisol Celeste Madrigal Uribe

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Community colleges play a vital role in expanding access to higher education for historically marginalized students, particularly Latina/o and first-generation college students. However, many students arrive carrying the effects of cultural erasure, racial marginalization, and deficit-based schooling experiences that shape their academic engagement, sense of belonging, and future aspirations. This qualitative study examines how Chicana/o Studies courses foster student engagement, identity development, belonging, and future orientation within the community college context. Guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the concept of racial microaffirmations, the study conceptualizes Chicana/o Studies as a transformational educational space that affirms students’ lived experiences, challenges Eurocentric …

Exploring The School-Family-Community Partnership: How Do Parents Perceive Its Influence On The Reclassification Of Long-Term English Learners In Middle School?, Luis Enrique Galván

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study explored middle school parents’ perceptions of school-family-community partnerships and their influence on reclassifying long-term English learners (LTELs). LTELs often face limited access to the full curriculum, increasing risks of dropout and reduced college-prep opportunities. The California Department of Education (2023a) reported that English learners graduate at significantly lower rates than non-EL peers. While parent involvement is widely linked to academic success (Heymann & Earle, 2000; London, 2018; Norris, 2018; Panferov, 2019; Walker, 2012; Wei & Zhou, 2012), little research has addressed LTELs in middle school, particularly regarding reclassification. To address this gap, the researcher conducted semi-structured Zoom …

Social Justice In The Linguistics Classroom, Reed Blaylock, Miranda Mccarvel, James A. Berry, Evan D. Bradley, Emily Graham, Jill Hallett, Sarah E. Hercula, Lisa Morgan Johnson, Kahdeidra Monét Martin, Ebi Poweigha, Md. Abusalah Sakender, Allison Taylor-Adams

Education and Child Study: Faculty Publications

In the current political and social climate, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice initiatives in higher education face pushback and at times abolition. Educators within the field of linguistics face a paradox: vulnerability of the classroom versus the fundamental duty to promote linguistic and social justice. This organized session aimed to support community and coalition building, helping linguists build capacity to engage in the work of linguistic and social justice through their teaching. The session was structured into four areas: diversity and inclusion, justice and equity, resistance and response, and lifelong learning and engagement. The first session introduced strategies for decentering …

The Relationship Of Federal Title V Funding To Retention And Graduation Rates Of Hispanic-Serving Institutions In The Southeastern United States, Julio Cesar Llanos Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The number of Latino/a or Hispanic students, also known as Latinx students, are expected to grow demographically in various regions of the United States over the next several years. To ensure Latinx students are progressing toward graduation in their respective cohorts, it may be beneficial to anticipate and prepare for the increase in this student demographic. This study focused on institutions in the Southeastern region of the United States. This study compared the relationship of federal Title V funding and retention rates and graduation rates of students; it also compared degrees awarded to Hispanic students and enrollment of Hispanic students …

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2025-2026, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Objective Assessment In Experiential Learning Contexts, Lily M. Brutger

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Experiential learning is widely recognized as a powerful approach to education; however, empirical evidence demonstrating its effectiveness remains limited. This gap in the literature is due less to the value of experiential learning itself than to the challenges of assessing learning within experiential contexts. Drawing on the foundational experiential learning theories of Kolb (1984) and Joplin (1981), as well as contemporary research on assessment validity and practice, this paper examines the relationship between assessment and experiential learning. It argues that purposeful, objective assessment is essential for maximizing student learning and supporting the credibility of experiential education. The paper synthesizes current …

Reading Comprehension And Secondary Education, Noah W. Hillman

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review is designed to look at how reading takes place in a classroom setting and how teachers might support students as they read - primarily in secondary education (middle and high schools). Students at all levels need scaffolding and support to be successful when interacting with challenge texts. The instructional role of the teacher as it pertains to reading comprehension impacts the success of students’ skills. The literature review examines teacher practices and instructional strategies that can be used to support students’ reading comprehension at the secondary level.

Ai-Supported Socratic Questioning And Instructional Scaffolding: Effects On Student Comprehension, Reshma John

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines how the intentional use of artificial intelligence (AI) designed for Socratic questioning and instructional scaffolding affects students' comprehension of course content. The literature suggests that AI is most likely to support comprehension when it prompts students to explain their reasoning, respond to guided questions, reflect on their understanding, and receive support adapted to their needs. In contrast, systems that primarily provide direct answers may encourage overreliance and mask gaps in students' understanding. Overall, the educational value of AI depends less on its availability and more on how it is designed and implemented.

Implementing Gestures Into Vocabulary Instruction To Aid Recall And Retention, Emma Dilley

Masters Theses

This study highlighted the idea of incorporating gestures into vocabulary instruction to help the students recall and retain the new vocabulary words. The researcher predicted that with the incorporation of the strategy of gestures into instruction, kindergarten students will be able to retain more vocabulary words compared to vocabulary instruction that does not include gestures. A total of 22 students and one teacher from a rural town in central Illinois participated in the study. This study was a mixed methods study, which included quantitative data in the form of pretest and posttest and qualitative data in the form of a …

The Role Of Academic Vocabulary Instruction In Supporting Secondary English Learners' Science Proficiency, Chue Seng Her

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines the extent to which academic vocabulary instruction influences secondary English learners’ (ELs’) science proficiency. Science learning requires students to interpret complex texts, engage in academic discourse, and construct evidence-based explanations using discipline-specific language, which may present challenges for ELs. This review provides an overview of research on language demands in science and instructional approaches that support vocabulary development. Findings indicate that academic vocabulary plays a critical role in students’ ability to comprehend scientific content, participate in discourse, and communicate reasoning effectively. Instructional approaches such as explicit vocabulary instruction, scaffolding, discourse-based strategies, reciprocal teaching, cognitive strategy instruction, …

The Relationship Between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms And Reading Abilities And The Moderating Roles Of Parent-Teacher Involvement And Family Emotional Expressiveness, Tatiana Lombana Mims

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The present study focuses on how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms influence reading abilities and whether parent-teacher relationships and family emotional expressiveness moderate that relationship. This study provides further knowledge on the relationship between mental health struggles and academic performance and possible risk/protective factors. Structural equation modeling through AMOS 31 was used to construct path analysis models to analyze the significance of OCD symptoms on reading abilities with parent-teacher involvement and family emotional expressiveness, both positive and negative, as moderators. The relationship between OCD symptoms and reading abilities indicated a consistent negative association though not statistically significant. Parent-teacher involvement did indicate …

The Utah English Journal, Volume 54, 2026: Full Issue

The Utah English Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Other Side Of Tomorrow, Adam Hellewell

The Utah English Journal

Yunho and Myunghee, the young protagonists of The Other Side of Tomorrow, written in verse by Tina Cho and illustrated by Deb JJ Lee, have not experienced a traditional happy childhood. For them, North Korea is the backdrop of their impoverished, lonely, and brutal adolescence.

Book Review: Pursuing Language And Metalinguistics In K-12 Classrooms: A Framework For Critical Engagement, Leah Day

The Utah English Journal

The linguistic diversity that exists in many classrooms in the United States, and Utah more specifically, creates the perfect opportunity for teachers and students to discuss the intersection between power, language, and identity. As the number of multilingual learners in our classrooms increases, the need for these talks grows more and more urgent. This book offers extensive professional development for practitioners hoping to incorporate more discussions of language and linguistic awareness in their classrooms with their students. It is an overview of a wide variety of research as well as practical applications in a teaching context. Throughout, there is an …

Exploring Factors Predicting Teachers’ Intentions To Use Digital Games In Saudi Elementary Schools, Thamarah M. Alqahtani

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Despite the potential benefits of integrating digital games in teaching and learning environments, little research has been carried out to understand the perception of elementary school teachers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) towards integrating digital games into the classroom. This study aims to understand Saudi elementary teachers’ intention of using the digital games in elementary school classrooms using Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model, and to provide crucial insights for the KSA’s Ministry of Education’s (MOE) administrators in developing evidence-based teacher training and effective school technology-integration policies. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used to assess Saudi …

Cultivating Positive Emotion Through Gratitude: A Mixed-Methods Study Of World Language Teachers, Allyson Magrath Power

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Teacher well-being is an increasingly urgent concern, particularly in shortage-area subjects such as World Languages. This study examined whether a structured gratitude intervention could support the well-being and resilience of World Language teachers. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, the study collected quantitative and qualitative data from participants who completed weekly gratitude journaling across four themes: Acknowledgment, Attention, Appreciation, and Action. Quantitative findings revealed a positive trend on the Gratitude Questionnaire, with results approaching statistical significance, suggesting a meaningful improvement in participants’ positive emotions. Qualitative analysis indicated increased emotional awareness, more intentional self-care practices, and greater reflection on supportive relationships in …

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring The Processes And Criteria For Presidential Leadership Selection In Three United States Higher Institutions Of Learning, Gabriel Kofi Boahen Nsiah

Dissertations

Background of the Problem

Today, research on U.S. higher education presidential search processes is limited, and existing literature characterizes these searches as reactive postures that are secretive, closed-door practices that have not adapted to the early signals of external seismic change. According to Quincy Martin (2021), “the world has evolved (p. 99).” Therein lies the problem. Quincy Martin insists, “Higher education has entered a period of upheaval, aided by new technologies, but hampered by political and cultural shifts. These are only amplified by modern, warp-speed information-sharing practices. All of this has exacerbated the consequences of scandals that threaten the stability …

Values-Based Behavioral Frameworks As Contributors To Organizational Culture In Higher Education: A Literature Review, David J. Park Do

Papers

Colleges and universities almost universally publish statements of organizational values, yet a gap often persists between those stated values and the regularly observed behaviors. This review examines how that gap relates to culture in higher education institutions and specifically explores how translating values into observable behaviors contributes to organizational culture. This literature review used a structured, criteria-guided approach to source identification, selecting sources against three constructs: 1) institutional adoption of values-based behavioral frameworks, 2) organizational culture in higher-education settings, and 3) the perceptions through which organizational members perceive culture. The resulting corpus of 40 sources spans organizational culture scholarship, virtue …

An Imperative For Leadership & Institutional Transformation: Going Back To Code, Jonikka Charlton

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Digital Learning For English Learners: A Selected Annotated Bibliography For English Learner Research, Policy, And Practice, Center For Equity For English Learners

Annotated Bibliographies

Digital Learning for English Learners: A Selected Annotated Bibliography for English Learner Research, Policy, and Practice is comprised of 17 annotations from recent and seminal literature regarding digital learning resources for English Learners (ELs) and Multilingual Learners (MLs). These annotations build on the annotations regarding digital learning in CEEL’s 2022 annotated bibliography, Ensuring Equity and Excellence for English Learners: An Annotated Bibliography for Research, Policy, and Practice (Center for Equity for English Learners, 2022) to include publications from 2022-2025. This selected annotated bibliography serves as a resource for researchers, policymakers, educators, and advocates who are working for equity and …

A Qualitative Study Of Spanish Speaking Latino/A Teachers And Their Impact On Spanish Speaking Latino/A Students, Catherine Bennett Nwosu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Despite the rapid growth of Spanish speaking students in U.S. schools, Spanish speaking educators remain underrepresented in the teaching workforce. This qualitative study examines the perceived impact of Spanish speaking educators on Spanish speaking students and families. Guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Latino/a Critical Theory (LatCrit), this study explores how language, identity, and lived experience shape educators’ practices within school communities. Data was collected through focus group interviews with four Spanish speaking educators working in public schools in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States serving Spanish speaking students. Thematic analysis revealed that Spanish speaking educators serve as …

Pláticas Of Latinas In Educational Leadership: Stories Of Identity, Resilience, And Transformation, Vanessa Davalos

Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations

Despite federal and state equity laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex and national origin, women remain significantly underrepresented in K–12 educational leadership, with Latina leaders experiencing even greater disparities. While the number of Hispanic students in public schools continues to grow, the representation of Latina leaders has not kept pace, creating a critical gap between those leading schools and the communities they serve.

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to provide insight into the lived experiences of Latina educational leaders in order to deepen understanding of how identity, role, and leadership intersect (Hernandez & Murakami, 2016). Centering …

Identifying Barriers To High School Graduation Based On Experiences Of Former Students With Limited Or Interrupted Formal Education (Slife): A Case Study, Marcia Gaudet

Dissertations and Theses

Multilingual students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE) were underrepresented in the professional literature. Accordingly, the purpose of this research brief was to contribute to an emerging line of research by documenting the voices of SLIFE with regard to barriers to high school graduation they experienced during their educational experiences alongside what supports they experienced that helped remove such barriers. Data was collected through interviews and focus groups, where participants provided first hand accounts of their high school experiences. The researcher’s results showed the importance of personal relationships with teachers, administrators, and mentors from the community. The researcher’s findings …

The Broken Promise Of The Idea: How Delays And Disparities Undermine Special Education Rights, Silvia C. Montiel Morales

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted to guarantee children with disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education. In practice, that promise is too often broken. Students, especially those from low-income families and communities of color, wait months or years for evaluations, attend underfunded schools that lack qualified staff, and face systemic barriers to enforcing their rights. Meanwhile, families with resources can sidestep delays through private testing, attorneys, and advocacy, leaving others behind. This Note examines how systemic delays, underfunding, and inequities in special education services undermine children’s rights under the statute. It argues that these …

Seeking The Goodness In Culturally Responsive Practices Of New Jersey Suburban Public Elementary Teachers, Kimya S. Jackson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In the United States, suburban elementary schools continue to diversify, while teaching staff remain predominantly White, creating urgency for culturally responsive practices (CRP) in non-urban settings (Stanford, 2023). In this study, I examined CRP’s goodness enacted by four teachers in New Jersey suburban elementary schools, a context shaped by state mandates for diversity and inclusion (New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), 2022). The question guiding my research was: In what ways do New Jersey suburban elementary (kindergarten through fifth grade) schoolteachers engage in culturally responsive practices? Using Lawrence-Lightfoot and Hoffman Davis’s (1997) portraiture methodology, I developed portraits of four suburban …

Closing The Literacy Gap: Comparing Student Outcomes Based On Three Phonemic Awareness Programs, Juanita Diaz

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The nationwide literacy crisis has been in existence for decades. Numerous governmental acts, research, and studies have yet to positively affect the nationwide literacy policies and instruction in schools. The Science of Reading, a body of research from many disciplines inclusive and exclusive of education, has illustrated how structured literacy can positively affect reading outcomes. One of the skills under literacy, phonemic awareness, is an instrumental foundational reading skill that researchers have identified as critical to early literacy and eventual reading proficiency. Historically, many districts have not been mandated to utilize instructional tools or practices grounded in research or evidence. …

A Regional Multimethod Study On The Impact Of Identification Practices For Diverse Populations In Academically Gifted Programs During The 2022-2025 Aig Plan Implementation, Stephanie G. Revis

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Historically, many North Carolina Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have not prioritized diversity in Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) programs, and local control over funding and policies has led to wide variations in how identification and services are implemented. As a result, persistent equity gaps exist between the proportion of culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse (CLED) students in the overall population and their representation in AIG programs. The purpose of this study was to examine identification practices implemented by LEAs and determine their impact on the Relative Difference in Composition Index (RDCI), as well as to identify which practices contribute to …

The Level Of Faculty Members' Awareness At The University Of Tabuk Of The Importance Of Using Artificial Intelligence Applications In Teaching According To Selected Demographic Variables, Mufleh Bin Qublan Bin Bajad Al Judea

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The present study investigates the level of awareness among faculty members at the University of Tabuk regarding the importance of employing artificial intelligence (AI) applications in teaching. To achieve this aim, the study examines the influence of several demographic and professional variables, including academic rank, gender, years of teaching experience, and the level of training in artificial intelligence. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, and data were collected through a questionnaire administered to a sample of faculty members in the College of Education. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in awareness levels attributable to academic rank, gender, or teaching experience. …

The Role Of Kindergartens In Promoting Educational Moral Values In Children Through Storytelling, Reem Al-Hajj, Marwan Abu-Alrob, Osama Tawfeeq Jarrar

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study examines the role of kindergartens in promoting educational moral values in children through storytelling. The research employs a quantitative approach with questionnaires as a study tool. The study sample, selected randomly, consists of 135 kindergarten teachers from Jenin Directorate, Palestine, analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (Smart-PLS4). The results show that kindergartens have a significant role in fostering educational moral values through storytelling, supported by strong path coefficients (e.g., β = 0.361, p = 0.002 for proposed suggestions) and a high explained variance (R² = 0.673). This framework, which positions children as active meaning-makers rather than passive recipients of …

Framings Of Intercultural Competence In Australian Teacher Education: Conceptual Bases And Implications, James F. Toohey, Michael D. Carey, Peter R. Grainger

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Developing an interculturally competent teaching workforce remains an ongoing priority in Australia, yet preparation practices vary in their conceptual grounding. This theoretical paper examines four broad paradigmatic framings that inform strategies to develop intercultural competence in preservice teachers: cognitive, dispositional, critical, and linguistic. We analyse how each paradigm foregrounds particular assumptions about culture, communication, and development, and consider the implications of their partial application in teacher education. Rather than positioning these paradigms as competing models, the paper argues that they function as complementary lenses through which intercultural preparation can be understood and refined. Particular attention is given to the linguistic …