Digital Commons Network^™

Teacher Awareness, Perspectives, And Implication Of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (Cr-S): Exploring And Describing Education Decision-Making For English Language Learners (Ells), Dilrabo Dina Kenkes

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

With more immigrant students in American classrooms, it is more important than ever to use culturally responsive teaching. Even after years of policy changes, English Language Learners (ELLs) are still placed in special education programs at higher rates than expected. This quantitative study examines how teachers’ understanding and use of New York State’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-S) framework affect their decisions when referring ELL students for special education evaluation. Many educators struggle to distinguish between language-learning challenges and real learning disabilities. This frequently happens because they are not fully aware of cultural differences or do not use culturally responsive teaching …

Chatgpt In Secondary English Language Learning: Educators' And Students' Literacy, Perceptions, And Experiences, Victoria Brenes, Sierra Outerbridge, Xinyue Ren

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has shown the potential of transforming teaching and learning practices in various educational settings, such as in English language learning (ELL). As English language learners (ELLs) often experience many challenges and barriers in schools in the United States, it is urgent to leverage the educational affordances of GenAI in fostering the effectiveness of ELL. Given the limited research investigating GenAI adoption, especially ChatGPT literacy within K-12 ELL, this convergent mixed methods research aims to investigate students' and teachers’ perceptions of using ChatGPT and their ChatGPT literacy in secondary ELL contexts. We will …

Disproportionality: The Impact Identifying Students For Special Education, John M. Bradford

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on the topic of disproportionality as it relates to the special education population. Disproportionality is an area of interest for this researcher, who wanted to explore and learn more about disproportionality, the true numbers behind it, the consequences of overrepresentation, and the consequences of our current system for addressing it. Some populations of students have been seemingly overidentified for special education, and current thinking suggests that these services may have negative consequences for the groups that are overidentified. Disproportionality data were reexamined, along with the concept of whether proportional representation in special education should be expected. Additionally, …

Humanizing Education Through Subject-Centered Instruction: A Mixed Methods Case Study Of Engagement And Achievement In An Exploring Hip-Hop As Literature English Elective, Alicia Hyman-Peters

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how humanizing education through relationally-driven, subject-centered teaching affects student engagement, literacy, and achievement in an Exploring Hip-Hop as Literature English elective at a diverse high school in Northeast Florida. Drawing on Freire’s concept of humanization, Noddings’ Ethic of Care, Palmer’s focus on subject-centered learning, and the culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies of Ladson-Billings, Paris, and Alim, the research investigated how humanized education restores meaning and connection to learning. Using a Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Design, data from thirty students were gathered through surveys, participation and assignment records, standardized assessments, interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations. Quantitative findings …

The Impact Of Censorship On Curriculum And Black Women Secondary English Language Arts Teachers In Florida, Crystal Parker

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the instructional, curricular, and school climate impacts of book censorship on Black women secondary English Language Arts teachers, exploring how they navigate and/or resist content restrictions. Using educational criticism and portraiture, this qualitative study captures the nuanced narratives of these educators. Grounded in Bourdieu’s Field Theory, along with Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Historically Responsive Literacy, Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors, and Cognitive Pluralism, the research addresses the following questions: How do Black women teachers describe the influence of recent book bans on their curriculum choices? In what ways do their identities shape their responses to censorship? Data …

Fostering Reading: Review Of A College Bridge Program For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing High School Students, Cara Wilmot

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods formative program evaluation examined the reading component of a summer College Bridge Program (CBP) designed for high school students who are deaf and hard of hearing (d/Dhh). Persistent disparities in reading outcomes among d/Dhh students have been linked to differences in language access, communication access, and opportunities to receive specialized instruction. Using the Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) evaluation model, this study evaluated how the CBP identified and addressed students' reading needs, implemented evidence-based instructional practices, and supported reading development through a three-week summer program.

Participants included 45 d/Dhh high school students from 12 southeastern states, as well …

Novice Teachers' Perceptions Of Clinical Experience And Their Preparedness To Teach In High-Need Urban Schools, Robin D. Renelus

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This hermeneutic phenomenological study examined novice teachers’ perceptions of how clinical experiences in a teacher preparation program prepared them to teach in high-need urban schools. The study included 12 novice teachers with three or fewer years of teaching experience who completed their clinical experience at the same university in Northeast Florida. Data were collected using Seidman’s (2019) three-interview approach, which explored participants’ backgrounds, day-to-day teaching experiences, and reflections on their sense of preparedness. Data were analyzed to develop textural descriptions of what participants experienced and structural descriptions of how those experiences were shaped (Moustakas, 1994).

Participants described clinical experiences as …

The Role Of International Student Office Directors In Facilitating The Transitional Adjustment Of International Students In U.S Higher Education, Agnes Afi Yigah

Masters Theses

This qualitative study explored how International Student Office Directors facilitate the transitional adjustment of international students in U.S. higher education institutions. Guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (1981) and Schlossberg’s Mattering and Marginality Theory (1989), this study examined the challenges international students face, the support strategies implemented by International Student Office Directors, and the institutional factors influencing student adjustment and well-being. International students experience challenges related to housing and logistical adjustment, financial and immigration-related stressors, academic system adjustment and self-advocacy, and social integration and emotional adjustment. Proactive and holistic support approaches, including pre-arrival communication, orientation programs, academic support, emotional support, and …

Pig In The Spigot (2000) By Richard Wilbur, Peter Shea

Picture Books

The Pig in the Spigot informs the reader that a pig in the spigot is no big problem; a little extra water will flush him out. An ox in the phlox is more worrisome. The elf in the belfry has a problem; a belfry is too gloomy for an elf. And the rat on Ararat has no problems at all; he should go make friends with the lady rat. In short verses, the poet Richard Wilbur invites the reader to find friendly little words inside big words, and then to imagine why they’re there. These games are very good — …

Teachers Teaching Teachers: Sharing The Genius Already In Our Classrooms, Joseph Wierderhold, Whitney Lindsey Sorensen

The Utah English Journal

The purpose of this article is to share two simple—but revolutionary—truths that have shaped us and our classrooms:

1. Teachers who write make better writing teachers (and happier people)

2. Teachers make the best teachers of other teachers (that means you)

Complete Issue, Christopher Tremblay, Patrick J. O'Connor Phd, Laura Owen, Diana Camilo, Moya Malcolm

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

From Designation To Implementation: A Qualitative Study Of Support Structures For Latinx Students At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Steven A. Freeman

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This study addresses the persistent misalignment between the enrollment-based designation of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and the extent to which these institutions implement intentional practices that support Latinx student success. As HSIs continue to grow nationally, it is critical to examine whether institutional efforts move beyond symbolic designation toward meaningful “servingness,” particularly given the increasing reliance on these institutions to advance social mobility and educational attainment for Latinx students. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the support structures an HSI provides to promote Latinx student success and to examine Latinx students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of these supports. …

Ai In Pk-12 Education: Implications For Teaching And Learning, David Naff, Meleah Ellison, Casey Bailey, Tzu-Wei Wang, Kiana Bradford

MERC Publications

This research and policy review from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) explores the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching and learning in public PK-12 education. It is part of a two part series with a companion report focused on AI implications for PK-12 policy. The report explores two questions:

1. How is AI shaping teaching and instructional practice?
2. How is AI shaping student learning and development?

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for PK-12 policy and practice.

Student Centered Approaches To Analyzing Engagement And Discourse, Kamil Hankour

Theses and Dissertations

Student engagement and participation in classroom discourse are widely recognized as powerful predictors of meaningful science learning, yet students’ own perspectives on the factors that shape their engagement and participation are currently underexamined. Prior research has established strong links between engagement, discourse and outcomes such as academic achievement (Bae & DeBusk-Lane, 2019; Fredricks et al., 2004; Sedova et al., 2019), but less is known about how students understand and interpret their experiences across individual, group-level and classroom contexts, particularly within historically marginalized populations (Cook-Sather, 2013; Schaefer et al., 2024). This three paper dissertation advances a line of inquiry integrating a …

From Cultural Binaries To Coexistence: A Graphic Autoethnography Of Individualism And Collectivism In An International Context, Shahad Alsubaie

Theses and Dissertations

This arts-based autoethnographic study investigates individualism and collectivism, specifically through my study-abroad experience traveling from Saudi Arabia to the United States. Through arts-based reflective practice, I depicted the diasporic experience of being ontoepistemologically collectivistic while navigating a primarily individualistic society. I use the medium of a graphic memoir to illustrate and develop frameworks of confluence that embrace the two distinct cultural orientations simultaneously. This arts-based self-study not only contributes to the body of transnational scholarship but also serves as a reference for international students, researchers, and educators to use arts-based subgenres and data analysis methods to gain better insights into …

Dodgeballs And Dragons: Gamified Live Theatre In The Service Of Community Betterment, Teddy Mcpherson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis qualifies and documents a new genre of interdisciplinary, interactive theatre called Dodgeballs and Dragons. It covers a brief history of Dungeons and Dragons and Theatre of the Oppressed (the two foundational works for the new genre) as well as previous uses of D&D as a form of theatrical entertainment. After establishing the precedence used to create this product, the rest of the thesis breaks down how to write, lead, and play these shows on a regular basis. The document culminates in collected data providing concrete evidence for the future of the form and its many applications.

Foreign-National Families, Education, And Parenting: Unpacking The Influence Of Cultural Transitions On Child-Rearing And Expectations, Yuqi Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how highly skilled foreign-national parents navigate parenting and educational decision-making within the context of cultural transition in the United States. While existing research on foreign-national parenting has largely focused on socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, less is known about families who possess substantial educational and professional capital. Despite these advantages, these parents encounter unique challenges related to institutional navigation, identity negotiation, and social constraints. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory, Coleman’s social capital theory, Berry’s acculturation framework, and Yosso’s community cultural wealth model, this study explores how cultural background and migration experiences shape highly skilled foreign-national families’ parenting beliefs …

Exploring Novice Teacher Readiness For Urban Classrooms: A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Education Programs, Thomas Virgona

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This phenomenological study investigates the preparedness of novice educators transitioning from higher education programs to urban school settings, addressing high teacher attrition rates in under-resourced urban communities. Through the lens of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and a phenomenological framework, the research explores how novice educators perceive their preparedness for urban classroom challenges and which elements of their preparation proved most beneficial. The study analyzes in-depth interviews with 10 novice teachers across four Title I school districts in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York. Findings revealed that participants perceived themselves as underprepared for the socioeconomic realities, behavioral complexities, and cultural diversity of …

The Impacts Of Technology-Based Student-Centered Learning On Students’ Perception Of Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning (French, Spanish, And Chinese), Gideon Yeboah

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study investigates the perceptions of 21 university students enrolled in first- and second-year foreign language courses - French 102 & 202, Spanish 102 & 202, and Chinese 102 & 202 - regarding the effectiveness of technology-based learning tools in vocabulary acquisition compared to traditional methods. Data were collected through an online survey questionnaire voluntarily completed by participants across three courses taught by four instructors. Findings indicate a generally positive view of digital tools such as flashcards, language apps, and online platforms, valued for enabling self-paced learning, interactive engagement, immediate feedback, and increased motivation, which enhanced vocabulary retention. Traditional methods …

Alternative English Language Development Scheduling In High School: Long-Term English Learners’ Attitudes And Perceived Control, Kira Rashada

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined whether an alternative English Language Development (ELD) scheduling model influenced ninth-grade Long-Term English Learners’ (LTELs) attitudes toward school and perceived control at a California high school operating on a block schedule. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000), the study explored how differing ELD scheduling models may shape students’ experiences related to autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Specifically, the study compared ninth-grade LTEL students who participated in a traditional 90-minute ELD course during the 2023-24 school year with students who participated in an alternative scheduling model during the 2024-25 school year in which designated …

The Limits Of Daca: Affordability- And Access-Related Barriers To Health Professions Education, Nicole Perez, Laura Hirshfield

Journal of College Access

The U.S. is currently facing a shortage of health professionals from underrepresented backgrounds. One potential pathway to decrease this shortage is through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a policy that provides temporary relief from deportation for individuals who migrated to the U.S. before age 16. This study, using 15 life-history narrative interviews, investigates the experiences of Latinx young adults who were pursuing health professions education or working as health professionals. Nine of the participants were DACA recipients, while the remaining six were second-generation (i.e., children of immigrants). An iterative, inductive approach to data analysis was used to …

Making Their Community Proud: First-Generation Latinx Students' Participation In Clep, Michelle Van Beek, Abby Holland

Journal of College Access

This study explores the impact of earning Spanish CLEP credit on first-generation Latinx students' levels of self-efficacy, college-going mindset toward earning a post-secondary degree, and their perceptions of bilingualism. Study participants (n=47) were all enrolled or previously enrolled in a college access program in high school. All participants received the opportunity to take the Spanish CLEP exam. Participants (n=33) completed a pre/post survey, and a paired sample t-test showed self-efficacy, college-going mindset, and language perceptions remained neutral for participants. Five semi-structured group interviews (n=26) were conducted after the post-survey. Participants showed that earning Spanish CLEP credit impacted their way of …

Security-Oriented Voice Authentication Using Machine Learning, Ifeoluwa Stella Elegbe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study develops and evaluates a machine learning and deep learning-based voice authentication system for secure identity verification. As traditional authentication methods such as passwords, PINs, and security tokens continue to face challenges, including identity theft, forgetting, and unauthorized access, voice biometrics offers a more secure, convenient, and user-friendly alternative, especially for remote, hands-free, and accessibility-focused applications. The study adopts a closed-set speaker identification framework, where the system determines the most likely speaker from a predefined group of enrolled users. A structured methodology is implemented, beginning with audio preprocessing and feature extraction. Key acoustic features, including Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs), …

Equity And Inclusion For Students With Disabilities In Spanish Immersion Programs, Karla C. Sindt

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As Spanish immersion programs continue to expand, more students with disabilities are participating in bilingual educational settings. Although research has demonstrated the academic, linguistic, and cognitive benefits of bilingual education, limited attention has been given to how these programs effectively support bilingual learners with disabilities. This literature review synthesizes research on Spanish immersion, bilingual learner development, disability identification, and inclusive instructional practices to examine how bilingual education and special education intersect. The review identifies strategies that promote equitable access, meaningful participation, and academic success for bilingual learners with disabilities in Spanish immersion environments. The literature highlights the importance of culturally …

Supporting Early Literacy In Preschool: The Influence Of Activity Settings, Shared Reading, And Teacher–Child Interactions, Megan Turnquist

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review explores current research about the activities and settings currently in place in preschool classrooms across North America. While a majority of the preschool day is spent in whole-group and free-choice activities, research indicates that instruction provided in small groups and book reading are two important ways to harness engagement and deliver high-quality instruction. Different kinds of teacher-child interactions during book reading can support the development of crucial early literacy skills, such as vocabulary and print knowledge. While time spent on literacy content varied widely across classrooms, teachers responded well to training in both print referencing and dialogic …

Assessing Supports And Barriers To Equitable Participation In Occupational Therapy Fieldwork For Students From Minoritized Backgrounds: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Kristin M. Nxumalo, Coalition Of Occupational Therapy Advocates For Diversity Cotad, Alexia Rebne, Janis Yue, Ryan Thomure, Ricardo D. Ramirez

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork experiences in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) education introduce students to novel environments that they must successfully navigate. When examining the experiences of OT and OTA students from minoritized backgrounds, it is critical to understand their fieldwork experiences so that fieldwork educators and partners can create inclusive, supportive environments that promote success for all students. Within this study, a needs assessment was conducted to explore factors that impacted the OT and OTA fieldwork experiences of students from minoritized backgrounds. Using a mixed methods design, a cross-sectional survey was completed by non-faculty OT practitioners (n=48), Academic Fieldwork …

Validity And Reliability Of The Professional Belonging Scale For Occupational Therapy Students Version 2, Sarah Corcoran Otd, Otr/L, Pooja Patel Drot, Otr/L, Izabela Dubiel Drot, Otr/L, Theresa Rhett-Davis Edd, Otr/L, Nancy Green Ms, Drot, Otr/L, Emily Pasqualetto Drot, Otr/L, Amanda Carter Drot, Otr/L

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

A strong sense of belonging supports student engagement, motivation, clinical competency, retention, and overall well-being; yet few tools specifically assess this construct in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs. To address this gap, Corcoran et al. (2025) developed the Professional Belonging Scale for Occupational Therapy Students (PBSOTSv1). The current study aimed to revise the PBSOTSv1 for clarity, inclusivity, and alignment with emerging theoretical frameworks and to evaluate the revised version (PBSOTSv2) for content validity and internal consistency reliability. Revisions involved expert cognitive interviews and Content Validity Index (CVI) ratings, guided by Allen et al.’s framework of belonging, …

Developing A Serious Game-Based Platform To Support Programming Learning, Noven Indra Prasetya, Nia Saurina, Arief Ardiansyah

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Programming learning, especially among informatics students, faces significant challenges related to understanding concepts and syntax, as well as low engagement in programming courses. To address these issues, this research developed DolananCoding, a serious game-based learning platform specifically designed for C++ programming learning. The platform integrates a live coding feature, enabling students to write code directly, along with a leaderboard to motivate them through healthy competition. The immersive concept in DolananCoding is designed to provide an interactive and enjoyable learning experience, aiming to enhance students’ engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes in C++ programming. This research aims to test the effectiveness of …

Large Language Model-Based Automated Item Generation In Stem Assessments: Historical Mapping And A Scoping Review Of Empirical Studies, Moses Oluoke Omopekunola

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Educational assessments, from low-stakes classroom tests to high-stakes national examinations, require item pools that are valid, fair, and secure. Automated Item Generation (AIG) aims to efficiently produce large pools of calibrated test items. This paper adopts a two-part design: (1) a brief historical mapping situating LLM-based AIG within the broader AIG trajectory; and (2) a scoping review of empirical studies on LLM-based AIG for STEM assessments, published between January 2022 and January 2026. A structured search of ERIC, Lens and OpenAlex yielded 1,267 records; after deduplication and screening, 7 studies were retained for synthesis. In all studies, LLMs were primarily …

Digital Transformation And Artificial Intelligence In Education In Vietnam: A Bibliometric And Systematic Review, Minh-Anh Thi Nguyen, Van-Quynh Ha

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Globally, digital transformation (DT) is reshaping education through data-driven innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging learning technologies. These transformative forces are influencing not only instructional methods but also governance, equity, and sustainability in education. Within this context, the study provides a comprehensive review of DT and AI in Vietnam’s education sector. Combining bibliometric mapping with a systematic content analysis, it synthesizes recent scholarly developments to reveal key research trends, methodological orientations, and conceptual structures. Five thematic clusters are identified, including digital competence, institutional transformation strategies, AI literacy, and learner engagement, potentially reflecting a shift from institutional readiness toward learner-centered innovation. …