Digital Commons Network^™

Using Ai-Generated Multimedia To Teach Leisure Choice Making, Charles Thull

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This learning representation introduces an AI-developed, multimedia assessment for identifying leisure preferences among middle school students with developmental disabilities. Grounded in instructional design, ecological systems, and multimedia learning theories, the activity integrates ChatGPT, InVideo AI, Sora, DALL·E, and Gemini to create guided-choice visuals, short videos, and a structured, teacher-facilitated paired-choice activity using visual prompts across home, school, and community interest contexts. The technology-developed design fosters engagement, accessibility, and self-expression as students participate in a structured, teacher-facilitated paired-choice activity. Outcomes include enhanced student voice in leisure planning, increased self-awareness, and the identification of potential leisure interests. Assessments include student responses to …

Lived Experiences Of Special Education Teachers Of Color In Minnesota Charter Schools: A Phenomenological Study Of Factors Influencing Retention, Gigi Krause

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Special education faces a critical shortage of licensed educators, a crisis intensified for teachers of color, who remain underrepresented and experience disproportionately high attrition rates. Although Minnesota has implemented initiatives to diversify the teaching workforce, the retention of novice special education teachers of color, particularly within charter school settings, remains underexamined. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of novice special education teachers of color in Minnesota charter schools to identify factors influencing their decisions to remain in or leave the profession. Guided by Critical Race Theory and Mentorship Theory, the study employed a transcendental phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews …

The Relationship Between Culturally Responsive Teaching (Crt) Training, Teachers’ Children’S Book Choices, And Perceptions Of Censorship In Kuwait, Norma Gina Lombardi Sciarra

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teachers who are culturally responsive use classroom materials that reflect their students' ethnicities, traditions, and values. Western teachers have access to diverse books and classroom tools. They have the agency to choose materials that support the curriculum. However, when Western educators work abroad, they must adapt their teaching methods and tools to local norms. Working abroad may require censoring or omitting information and content they believe in and support. As a result, teachers may feel dissonance or conflict when censoring. Censoring may impact their ability to teach comprehensively. Little research examines the relationship between culturally responsive teaching (CRT), perceptions of …

Antecedents Of Trust: Emotional Intelligence And Organizational Justice As Predictors Of Faculty Trust In Principals, Brandon Wolf

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trust between school principals and faculty is critical to school effectiveness, influencing teacher job satisfaction, engagement, and ultimately, student achievement. While the importance of trust in educational leadership is well-documented, limited research exists on the specific practices that cultivate this trust. This study examines two potential antecedents of faculty trust in principals: Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Justice. Emotional Intelligence, encompassing self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management, is hypothesized to enhance faculty perceptions of a principal’s benevolence, reliability, and openness - all components of trust. Organizational Justice, which reflects fairness in decision-making and resource distribution, is expected to strengthen faculty trust by …

Phonetic Attrition As An Outcome Of L1-L2 Phonetic Interaction: Effects Of L2 Exposure In Arabic-English Bilinguals, Dema Smadi

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how length of second language (L2) exposure shapes the phonetic relationship between the first language (L1) and the L2 in adult Arabic-English bilinguals. Focusing on the production of voiced stops /b/ and /d/, the study examines how L1 Arabic and L2 English interact within a shared phonetic system and how this interaction develops as a function of increasing L2 exposure. Building on the Speech Learning Model and its revised version (SLM, SLM-r), the study adopts a relational perspective in which L1 and L2 are not treated as independent systems, but as dynamically interacting components of a shared …

The Association Between Learned Helplessness And Future Outlook And The Mediating Effects Of Parental Support, Engagement, And Closeness, Allison N. Loosle

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The present study examined the direct and indirect associations between learned helplessness and future outlook among emerging adults, with parental support, engagement, and closeness as potential mediating factors. Using data from 375 participants drawn from G3, Wave 4 of the Youth Development Study, two path analytic models were tested: one including a composite measure of learned helplessness and one examining its components (contingency, cognition, and behavior) individually. Results indicated that higher levels of learned helplessness were associated with a less positive future outlook. When separated, the cognition and behavior components were negatively associated with future outlook, whereas contingency was not …

“They Don't Care If I'M Here Or Not”: The Impact Of Exclusionary Discipline On Black Boys In Elementary Schools, Arielle Gulley

DSW Capstone Projects

Disproportionate and exclusionary school discipline practices continue to affect African American boys as early as elementary school, with significant implications for their mental health, academic engagement, and long-term educational trajectories. This capstone project examines how racially biased discipline contributes to disparities in belonging, emotional well-being, and student-teacher relationships, and advances the need to reframe discipline as a site of mental health intervention rather than punishment.

The systematic literature review synthesizes peer-reviewed research to examine the relationship between exclusionary discipline and mental health outcomes among African American boys in elementary settings, with particular attention to patterns emerging in early educational environments. …

Basc-3 Adolescent Version For American Indian / Alaska Native (Ai/An) Adolescents With Learning Difficulties: Identifying Comorbidities, Benjamin L. Shannon

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Deficiencies in cultural sensitivity among popular psychological assessment instruments can have significant consequences for diverse test takers, leading to inaccurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention. The present study aimed to explore possible differences in mean raw scale scores between an AI/AN adolescent sample and BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A normative sample data, as well as to establish preliminary evidence to suggest an increased prevalence of social/emotional dysfunction for AI/AN adolescents diagnosed with multiple specific learning disabilities (SLDs). Archival BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A data, collected from students and teachers at a residential school for American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents from …

Family, Stability, Mentors & Money: Student Definitions Of Success, Arturo Caldera

CMC Senior Theses

This research takes a deep dive into the factors shaping marginalized communities’ educational experiences, particularly for low-income Latino students from migrant backgrounds navigating public schooling spaces. Across sixteen qualitative interviews, participant narratives reveal how a systemic lack of resources at the institutional, interpersonal, and structural levels undermines the quality of support students receive and shapes their academic trajectories. Grounded in student-centered practices and informed by scholarship in multicultural education, Chicanx/Latinx studies, feminism, and psychology, this study contributes to ongoing efforts to move beyond deficit-based frameworks and instead recognize the cultural wealth, knowledge, and resilience students bring from their homes and …

The Impact Of Teachers’ Roles As Boundary Crossers And Boundary Objects In Post- Covid Composition Instruction, Tammie Marie Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined secondary English Language Arts (ELA) teachers’ perceptions of rapid technology integration and its influence on composition instruction and cognitive load in physical, digital, and hybrid spaces. Grounded in theories of boundary crossing and the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, the study conceptualized teachers as both boundary crossers, navigating instructional spaces, and boundary objects, serving as the support tools for their students’ transitions into digital composition. Data were collected from five ELA teachers in a rural school district through surveys, individual interviews, and questionnaires, and analyzed using a two-phase coding process. Findings indicate that teachers perceived …

From Pañales To Partnership: An Ethnographic Investigation Of Knowledge, Gender, And Power Within A Family Literacy Program, Sara Mohler

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Within research on family literacy programming (Lynch & Prins, 2021), few studies bring together assets-based perspectives on knowledge and power alongside critical feminist lenses. This qualitative case study (Dyson & Genishi, 2005; Yin, 2018) informed by ethnography (Alonso Bejarano et al., 2019; Desmond, 2014; Günel & Watanabe, 2024) aimed to understand the culture of one family literacy program serving primarily Mexican-American families, named here the Treehouse Preschool, giving particular attention to the intersecting elements of knowledge, gender, and power as they are enacted across the roles and relationships of families and personnel participating in in the program. Data for this …

Visual Aids And Numeracy In Healthcare: Leveraging The Drawing Effect, Zephyr J. Markley

Capstone Showcase

Healthcare decisions often require patients to interpret numerical risk information under stress, yet many struggle with low numeracy, which can distort comprehension and undermine informed consent. Well-designed visual aids can improve diagnostic inference, calibrate confidence, and support better choices, especially for patients with limited numeracy, but their impact depends on whether users can actually interpret the format accurately. Drawing may further enhance these tools by adding a tactile, generative layer that engages visual, semantic, and motoric processing while helping patients organize information into concrete models.

Passive visual aids appear useful but limited because they often position patients as observers rather …

The Reggio Emilia Approach: Exploring Implementation And Challenges In An American Classroom Setting, Karoline S. Kniel

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

Over the past decades, the Reggio Emilia Approach has gained popularity as an early childhood pedagogy due to both its child-led approach and its inherent inclusive nature. An innovative alternative to traditional early childhood education practices, the Reggio Emilia Approach focuses on fostering a deep relationship between the child and teacher wherein the child takes the lead on choosing classroom projects, themes, and topics for exploration. Emphasis is placed on the child’s self-expression, ideas, and emotions, culminating in a child-driven classroom agenda with a strong focus on the arts. According to the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA) data, there …

Perceptions Of Prek-Eighth Grade School And District Administrators On The English Language Learner Reclassification Criteria, Impacting Long-Term English Learners, Elma Adelina Rodriguez

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of school and district administrators regarding English Language Learner (ELL) criteria that affect the academic trajectories of Long-Term English Learners (LTELs). ELL criteria differ across states and are used to demonstrate not only English language proficiency but also ELL students' academic performance. While English-only students are not required to demonstrate their academic use of English, ELL students are required to demonstrate English-language academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to be reclassified as English proficient. If ELL students remain classified as ELL for multiple years, they are labeled as LTEL. …

Perception Matters: A Case Study Exploring How Belief Systems Affect Family-School Partnerships And Family Literacy Initiatives In A Title I School, Kwtay Calvin

Dissertations

Family-school partnerships have been shown to have positive effects on students’ overall performance in school. However, in many instances schools have not used partnerships effectively to support literacy learning, particularly for Black families. Teacher bias, negative perceptions, and lack of cultural responsiveness hinder teachers’ effort to build meaningful relationships with Black families to best support family literacy. This qualitative study aimed to examine family-school partnerships through the experiences of school principals, teachers, and Black families to gain insight into the factors that impact collaborative relationships and family literacy support. This study is framed in critical race theory, the theory of …

Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Emerging Themes, Stephanie Yelder-Stovall

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is a research-grounded pedagogical approach for educational equity centering cultural knowledge to make learning meaningful and relevant (Gay, 2002). However, a persistent gap remains between CRT as a concept and classroom implementation. Research suggests translating the principles of CRT frameworks into classroom practice remains challenging (Gay, 2000, 2010; Sleeter, 2012). Guided by the research question and using Schreier’s (2012) qualitative content analysis approach, I analyzed a dataset of 14 varied sources through a deductive coding frame derived from four theoretical frameworks: (a) Gay’s (2000, 2010) CRT, (b) Hammond’s (2015) ready for rigor, (c) Paris and Alim’s …

Empowering Pre-Service Ecse Teachers Through Ai Simulation: Strengthening Family-Centered Iep Facilitation, Jody L. Shong

Essays in Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping instructional practice across educational contexts, yet its role in preparing early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers for complex relational work remains underexplored. Facilitating Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings requires educators to integrate legal knowledge, developmental data, interdisciplinary collaboration, and family priorities within emotionally nuanced conversations. Many pre-service teachers enter the profession without structured opportunities to rehearse these responsibilities.

This article argues that AI-supported simulation represents a practical and equity-oriented approach to strengthening teacher preparation. Grounded in family–professional partnership theory, anti-bias education, and practice-based pedagogy, this manuscript examines how simulation can support relational competence while …

“Don’T Let Your Disability Be Your Weakness, Let It Be Your Greatest Strength”: A Phenomenological Study Of Nursing Students Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Randa Melms

Dissertations of Practice

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of nursing students who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) as they navigated nursing education and the clinical learning environment. Using critical disability theory (CDT) as a guiding framework, the study explored how participants understood, negotiated, and redefined their identities within a profession historically shaped by hearing norms. Four essential themes emerged: reframing disability as expertise, navigating institutional supports and structural barriers, negotiating clinical spaces designed around hearing bodies, and drawing strength from relational networks. These findings can inform more inclusive practices among higher education professionals and clinical educators, helping reduce disparities …

Development And Psychometric Validation Of A Short-Form Critical Thinking Scale In Generative Ai Contexts (Genai–Crt): Evidence From Vietnamese Efl Learners, Ngo Cong-Lem, Thang T. Nguyen, Khanh N. H. Nguyen, Quyen N. H. Nguyen

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in education has intensified concerns about its impact on learners’ critical thinking, underscoring the need for reliable instruments to assess how students engage critically with AI-generated content. This study adapted, developed, and initially validated the Generative AI–Critical Thinking (GenAI–CrT) scale, an eight-item short-form instrument designed to capture EFL learners’ critical thinking in AI-enhanced learning contexts. Data from 233 Vietnamese undergraduates and graduates underwent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, supporting a theoretically grounded four-factor structure comprising analytical skills, logical reasoning, evidence evaluation, and open-mindedness. The scale demonstrated excellent model fit (χ²(14) = 23.49, …

Speaking Up Online And Offline: The Effects Of Social Media-Based E-Portfolios In Empowering Efl Students' Speaking Performance, I Putu Indra Kusuma, Luh Indrayani

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Although e-portfolios are widely acknowledged for enhancing EFL students’ speaking skills, most studies assessed performances offline, leaving limited evidence of their impact across both modes. This study examined the effects of social media-based e-portfolios combined with classroom instruction on students’ speaking performance in online and offline contexts. A mixed-methods experimental design was employed, involving 46 Indonesian university students divided into an experimental and a control group. Data were collected through online and offline pre- and post-speaking tests, a speaking performance rubric, and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis using One-Way MANOVA, Univariate ANOVA, paired sample t-test, and effect size revealed significant improvements …

Case-Based Learning In Biology Education: A Systematic Literature Review, Elsje Theodora Maasawet, Jullya Christin Kolow

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Biology education often relies on content-intensive instructional materials that may encourage rote memorisation rather than conceptual understanding, potentially contributing to misconceptions. Case-Based Learning (CBL) offers an alternative by engaging students in applying biological concepts to authentic, real-life cases and promoting meaningful learning. Despite growing empirical interest in CBL, no systematic literature review has specifically synthesised its application in biology education. This study therefore examined publication trends, learning skills addressed, and conceptualisations of CBL in biology education. Relevant literature was retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science using “Case-Based Learning” as the search term. Following PRISMA-guided screening, 42 articles were included …

Integrating Digital Tools To Foster Soft Skills In Vocational Education: A Flipped Classroom Approach In China, Shanshan Wu, Renee Shiun Yee Chew, Yanhua Bi, Hui Jin

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Changes in the global demand for labor have highlighted the need for vocational education and training (VET) systems to develop not only technical skills but also soft skills like critical thinking, communication, and adaptability. This research investigates the use of digital technologies in a flipped classroom (FC) model and their impact on the development of soft skills in vocational students with particular attention to the growing VET ecosystem in China. With data gathered from a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 270 students from a Chinese vocational college, the research seeks to assess the impact of specific digital tools, such as video …

Early Childhood Classrooms And Higher Education Faculty: Partnerships With Far-Reaching Benefits, Anita Weisburger

Essays in Education

The relationship between a community college early childhood teacher education faculty member and the director of an early learning center grew into a deep and meaningful partnership that went beyond the two main participants.  This description and analysis of their collaboration demonstrates the value of these partnerships to the early childhood classrooms and the faculty at the college, but it also highlights the positive impact on the college students, the young children, the school families and the community at large.  The goal of this article is to reflect on the benefits and challenges in these collaborative endeavors and highlight lessons …

Do Your Perceptions Of Minority Students Influence How You Teach Them? How Does A White Teacher's Racial Identity Affect Academic Outcomes Of Students Of Color?, Vivianease Major

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative research study examined the relationship between White teachers and students of color, focusing on how teachers' racial identity awareness influences their instructional practices and relationships. Using Helms's (1990) White Racial Identity Development Theory and principles of culturally responsive pedagogy, the study explored how teachers perceive their roles in advocating for the academic and relational needs of diverse students. Participants described their experiences with students of color, relationship-building strategies, and how their backgrounds and training affect their teaching practices. Semi-structured interviews and inductive thematic analysis were employed to analyze teacher perceptions and experiences. Findings revealed that participants made significant …

In Their Own Words: Why First-Generation Minority Students Take On Leadership Roles At Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Suzette Ramsundar Ed.D

Theses and Dissertations

While there is an abundance of research on student leadership and how it impacts student retention (Tinto, 1987 and Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005), it is typically from the university's perspective. This phenomenological study, however, investigated the experiences and perceptions of first-generation minority students who commuted to campus and pursued leadership roles at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Utilizing phenomenological methodology, this research examined the lived experiences of eight student leaders to understand how they made meaning of their leadership engagement.

Student leaders in this study shared the details of the significant challenges they navigated, including financial pressures, commuting demands, cultural barriers, and …

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Language Tools In English Language Learning For Flight Attendant Learners, Qianying Pu, Amelia Binti Alias, Khairul Azhar Bin Jamaludin

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study analyzes AI language tools aiding English learning for aspiring flight attendants, focusing on fluency, pronunciation, and communication skills. Considering the aviation industry’s very high language requirements, this research examines how AI language tools help flight attendants master English and improve their speech and pronunciation.  A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews was adopted for the present study with flight attendants and aviation English educators. The study highlights major themes such as Increased Confidence through Repetition and Feedback, Pronunciation Improvement Enabled by an AI-specific feature, Pedagogical Gaps and Instructor Apathy, and Limitations in Contextual Appropriateness. This study concludes that …

A Hierarchical And Multidimensional Approach To Profiling Students’ Digital Skills In Educational Technology, Emil S. Frashëri, Eleni F. Vangjeli

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates university students’ digital competence through a multidimensional and person‑centered analytical framework grounded in bifactor–Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (B‑ESEM). Digital competence was conceptualized across four functional skill domains and a general competence factor, reflecting contemporary perspectives on technology‑enhanced learning and student readiness. To overcome a common limitation in traditional Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), the conflation of overall competence levels with relative skill configurations, this study employed B‑ESEM–derived factor scores to preserve both hierarchical structure and multidimensionality. Using data from 599 university students, a four‑profile solution emerged, capturing distinct patterns of digital skill strengths and weaknesses. Gender and programming …

Ethical Dilemmas Of Generative Ai In Education And Their Implications For Sdg 4: A Systematic Review From A Global And Inclusive Perspective, Eva García-Beltrán

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examines the ethical dilemmas associated with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in education and analyses their implications for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), with a focus on inclusive and equitable quality education. The review draws on 24 peer-reviewed studies published between December 2022 and December 2024, covering diverse educational levels and geographical contexts, with a predominance of Global North perspectives and limited representation from the Global South. The analysis reveals four primary themes: academic integrity, algorithmic equity, data privacy, and the potential contribution of …

Reframing Narratives, Reclaiming Futures: Antiracist School Counseling And Black And Brown Girls In Stem, Renae D. Mayes, Lia D. Falco, Shontell Zenon, Dequindre Hughes, Yijia Chen, Lydia Ross, Medha Dalal

Journal of College Access

Black and Brown girls often have educational experiences that stifle their career aspirations, especially in STEM fields. These experiences can be exacerbated by educators who misunderstand and refuse to recognize their STEM potential, thus limiting their opportunity to build STEM identities. School counselors can disrupt these experiences through antiracist practices that cultivate homeplace and joy for Black and Brown girls to heal and grow while working to address harmful policies and practices. In this paper, authors discuss how school counselors can specifically use antiracist school counseling practices to support Black and Brown girls in STEM as a part of multi-tiered …

Religious Education In Bulgaria: Historical Development, Values, And Public Role In Contemporary Society, Ioannis Kaminis

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper examines the historical development, contemporary legal framework, and public debates related to religious education in Bulgaria. The analysis traces the role of Christian (Orthodox) education from the Middle Ages to the present day, paying special attention to the dramatic changes during the communist period and the transformations after 1989. At the heart of the study is the question of the place of religious education in a context of democracy, pluralism, and constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience. The article examines the current regulatory framework, the religious landscape in the country, and the various models for teaching religion in Bulgarian …