Digital Commons Network^™

Power, Positionality, And Questioning Corporal Punishment: Caste Dynamics And The Ethics Of Anthropological Research In Indian Schools, Jessica Chandras

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

This reflection critically examines corporal punishment in Indian schools, highlighting how pedagogical violence perpetuates caste and socioeconomic class inequalities. Drawing from my fieldwork experiences, I explore how my insider/outsider positionality helped me to understand systemic oppression and frameworks of modernity within the neoliberal education system I was studying. Additionally, I interrogate the limitations of cultural relativity by emphasizing a need for anthropologists to confront ethical dilemmas entrenched within the power dynamics in our field sites.

Special Education Disproportionality In Illinois: What Are We Doing?, Kaelyn Chanel Green

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined special education disproportionality in Illinois to determine current trends, root causes, and responses to significant disproportionality as reflected in Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CCEIS) plans. Quantitatively, repeated measures analyses of risk ratios over a five-year span revealed that although many districts had reduced overall risk ratios, racial and disability-based disparities persisted. Qualitatively, inductive content analysis of 32 CCEIS plans identified four primary root causes—deficiencies in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Response to Intervention (RTI), inadequate Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) supports, cultural and linguistic barriers, and vague or misaligned problem statements. Most action plans …

A Content Analysis Of Pronunciation And Spelling Activities In Action Pack Ten, Sana’ Al-Smadi, Ruba Bataineh, Mohammad Al-Hawamdeh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

Pronunciation and spelling are crucial skills for any intelligible form of spoken or written communication. Both serve as important indicators—among others—that determine the quality of speech or writing. However, EFL learners often face challenges with these fundamental skills during real-life communication. This content analysis aims to examine whether pronunciation and spelling are adequately covered in the Student Book and Activity Book, the extent to which these activities are emphasized, and their focus within Action Pack 10. To achieve these objectives, a mixed-methods approach was employed, including the development of four content analysis sheets. Frequencies and percentages were used for analysis, …

Psychometric Properties Of The Jordanian Picture Test From The Wexler-4 Intelligence Scale In Sign Language For The Deaf (Ages 6–16.11 Years), Samer Abu Drea, Farouq Al-Rawsan

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study focuses on developing and validating a Jordanian version of the WISC-4 intelligence scale in sign language for deaf children aged 6 to 16.11 years. The aim is to assess the psychometric properties, including validity and reliability, of this version to serve as a trustworthy tool for measuring the cognitive abilities of deaf children in Jordan using sign language, aligned with their linguistic and cultural characteristics. A descriptive approach was employed, and the sample consisted of 413 deaf children from various regions across the country. The results demonstrated that the Jordanian version exhibits high content validity, with strong correlations …

The Effect Of An Electronic Collocation-Based Instructional Program On Jordanian Efl Tenth Graders’ Word Knowledge, Marouf Assaf, Dina Al-Jamal, Ebtesam Rababah

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of an electronic collocation-based instructional program on Jordanian EFL tenth-grade students' word knowledge. Two sections of 25 students each, from a government school in Irbid, were randomly assigned as experimental and control groups. A word knowledge pre-test, which included a section measuring word meaning and another assessing word collocation, was administered to determine whether the two groups were homogeneous before implementing the program. Lexical collocations in Action Pack 10 were identified through a content analysis of selected reading passages, and these collocations were taught to the experimental group using Quizlet, a flashcard mobile application. …

Assessing The Assessors: A Study Of Teachers' Assessment Knowledge For Dhh Students, David R. Meek, Ashley N. Greene, Holly V. Metcalf, Erich A. Tucker, Sonia B. Arora

JADARA

This descriptive study examines Teachers of the Deafs’ (TODs) self-reported assessment knowledge, classroom practices, and preparation experiences. Using a survey based on the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PKC) framework, we collected data from 89 certified TODs across the United States. Results indicate that while TODs understand the importance of assessment, many report inadequate preparation from their teacher training programs and rely primarily on on-the-job learning. Participants expressed concerns about the limited availability of appropriate assessments for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students and challenges in adapting existing assessment tools. The findings highlight a need for enhanced assessment training in teacher …

Missing The Mark: The Cost Of Overlooking Black Students’ Cultural Capital, Christine L. Quince

Teacher Education

Historically, educators and policymakers have viewed Black students from a deficit lens, often presuming they lack the necessary skills needed to become academically successful. Today, teachers have countered deficit framing of Black students by learning more about and incorporating Black students’ assets and critical views of the world into their learning. One issue teachers run into, however, is knowing how to incorporate Black students’ cultures in their classroom learning. Using an embedded case study, this study analyzes how one white teacher draws on Black students’ cultural capital and the ways it impacts students’ classroom experiences. Findings reveal that disconnecting Black …

Challenges In Providing Equitable Education For Primary School Students With Learning Disabilities In Zimbabwe: Teachers’ Experiences., Joyce Madzinga

Dissertations

This study examines the challenges primary school teachers in Zimbabwe face when supporting students with learning disabilities (LDs). Many learners with LDs are excluded from adequate classroom support due to systemic, cultural, and resource limitations. Learning disabilities are often under-recognized as compared to other disabilities because they are invisible. Raising awareness and empowering educators are crucial steps toward addressing these hidden needs and ensuring they are recognized and met. Six teachers were interviewed using a qualitative ethnographic approach. Findings reveal obstacles, including insufficient training in special education, limited teaching resources, high pupil-teacher ratios, negative societal attitudes, and poverty-related constraints. Additional …

Black And Latino Male Alumni Perceptions Of Educational Opportunity Program Impact On Campus Engagement, Social Capital, And Persistence At A Public University, Kashonda Watson

Education Doctoral

Black and Latino male students continue to graduate at lower rates than their White and female peers, particularly at PWIs in the Northeastern United States. To address these disparities, many institutions have adopted educational opportunity programs (EOPs) to provide academic, financial, and social support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Although EOPs have demonstrated effectiveness in supporting underrepresented students broadly, limited research has focused on the impact of EOP from the perspectives of Black and Latino male recent graduates. Using the theory of student involvement (Astin, 1984) and social capital theory (Bourdieu & Passeron, 1986; Coleman, 1988), this qualitative case study …

Eece 311 Educational Psychology Oer, Sunghee Shin

Open Educational Resources

This course will examine the major learning theories and general principles underlying effective instruction. Students explore classroom structures and management, intelligence, learning styles, individual assessment, and the impact of culture and class.

Does Writing Have A Future?, David J. Gunkel

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Professor David J. Gunkel is the Chair of the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University – but that is his latest achievement in an extensive list of accomplishments. He is an award-winning educator, researcher, and the author of more than ninety scholarly articles and thirteen books. And it is his latest book, AI for Communication, and his latest thinking about what we have called artificial intelligence and writing that brought him to our 82^nd annual conference.

In his keynote address on Saturday, October 9^th, 2024, Dr. Gunkel argues that AI does not signal the “end …

Teaching And Technology: "You Can't Just Do The Same Thing Online", Sakina Laksimi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines how faculty at the City University of New York navigated the abrupt transition to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing how pedagogy is shaped by technological, institutional, and social conditions. Drawing on twenty-two interviews with twelve faculty across eight disciplines, I use a grounded theory approach to analyze how instructors adapted courses, reimagined assessment, and sustained connection with students amid crisis. Three overlapping pedagogical orientations emerged: improvisational, relational, and design-based teaching. These approaches highlight how faculty balanced responsiveness, care, and intentional course design in environments mediated by digital platforms and marked by inequity. The study situates …

Online Resources For Oral Communication Courses, Sean P. Palmer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Online resources focusing on oral communication skills are lacking, even as online education itself expands. While I was aware of this lack, I didn’t realize its severity until LaGuardia Community College went fully remote during the 2020 global pandemic, and I was looking for online tutoring aids for oral communication. Furthermore, the information presented online is frequently unsuitable for the purposes of online pedagogy due to its specialized and jargony mode of presentation. Also, many existing assignments involving oral communication assume public speaking as the default model, despite the growing importance of emergent digital modes of oral performance, like podcasting …

Learning Camp, Language Of Instruction, And Education Outcomes: Evidence From A Field Experiment In Malawi, Hyuncheol Bryant. Kim, Kim

Research Collection School Of Economics

We conducted a randomized experiment to study the impacts of a summer learning camp and the language of instruction on education outcomes. The program, covering social studies and mathematics, provided additional high-quality learning time for 4th and 5th graders in Malawi. The program significantly increased test scores in social studies and mathematics (0.24–0.36 standard deviations). We find suggestive evidence that the impact on test scores in social studies was greater for students instructed in Chichewa, the local language, than for those instructed in English. However, we find no such evidence of differential impacts on test scores in mathematics by the …

Khaled Hosseini’S Judgment In The Kite Runner Towards Pashtun And Hazara Identities, Bilal Waziri, Dawod Mangal, Kamaldeen Kamal

Journal of Research Initiatives

This book review offers a compelling examination of Khaled Hosseini's portrayal of Pashtun and Hazara identities in his acclaimed novel, *The Kite Runner*. Through a literary-ethnographic lens, the research delves into how narrative techniques can construct, amplify, or distort ethnic representations, particularly within the tumultuous backdrop of Afghanistan. The novel is scrutinized for its stark depiction of Pashtuns as oppressors and Hazaras as perennial victims, which risks perpetuating a simplistic and problematic singular narrative. Employing a library-based qualitative approach, this paper thoughtfully interprets textual evidence within the rich sociocultural and historical landscape of Afghanistan. The findings reveal that while the …

Pre-K Teachers’ Perceptions About Professional Learning: Influence On Instructional Methods, Classroom Management Skills, And Student Outcomes, Victoria Abakah Korsah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to solicit pre-K teachers’ perceptions about professional development and its influences on instructional methodology, classroom management skills, and student outcomes. Interviews conducted with 11 teachers from childcare centers in a major urban city of Illinois provided insight into experiences of types of PL and development engagement, such as online courses, webinars, learning communities, coaching, mentoring, professional conferences, and content selection. Other experiences involved social-emotional learning, lesson planning, project-based learning, and how to teach children with special needs. The interview data collected from the participants yielded five themes using Colizzi’s data analysis …

Career Advising Utilization: A Quantitative Archival Analysis Of Student Engagement Across Academic Levels And Colleges At A Southeast University, Edward Raimundi Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative ex-post facto study examined patterns of career advising utilization at a large, R1 public university in the southeastern region of the United States. Institutional advising data from the 2023–24 advising year was utilized to identify usage patterns across different demographics such as college affiliation and academic level. The descriptive stats from the archival data were used to measure topic distributions, undergraduate–graduate usage by college, and contact engagement. The sample size included over 35,000 students with 10 different college affiliation labels. Significant differences across advising usage in the different colleges were found during the study. Undergraduate students had higher …

From Homeland To Hostland: Language Ownership Of Heritage Dialect And Narratives Of Third Culture Kids Of The Gulf, Maryam Aref

Theses and Dissertations

The main purpose of this study is to examine Arab Adult Third Culture Kids’ sense of heritage language ownership and their identity constructions in relation to their transnational Arab Gulf context. The present study has three main aims: to ascertain their sense of ownership towards their heritage dialects, to understand the basis for their claimed or denied ownership, and to investigate the positions they ascribed to themselves and others in relation to their belonging and transnational and linguistic experiences. The study aims to fill the gap where there is a scarcity of sociolinguistic research around Arab Third Culture Kids in …

Developing An Instrument To Measure Teacher Attitudes Toward Multilingual Pedagogies, Lauren H. Ramers

Dissertations

In an increasingly globalized world, substantial numbers of multilingual learners occupy K–12 and higher education spaces bringing diverse linguistic resources that, when intentionally and appropriately leveraged, can significantly enhance English language learning outcomes. Multilingual pedagogies, which honor and build upon students' full linguistic repertoires, are essential for fostering equitable and inclusive learning environments. This quantitative exploratory study investigated teachers' attitudes toward multilingual teaching with the goal of developing a reliable survey instrument—the Multilingual Pedagogy Scale (MPS)—to measure how teachers perceive language learning in multilingual classrooms and what they report doing in their classrooms.

First, a review of the research helped …

Racial Identity And Belonging Among Asian American Undergraduate Students In The Midwest, Seema M. Dahlheimer

Dissertations

Asian American students are often deemed overrepresented in higher education, leading to inequities in admissions, scholarships, and student support. This perception feeds and is fed by the model minority stereotype, which characterizes Asian Americans as hard-working and high-achieving and creates intense pressure to succeed academically (Poon et al., 2016). In addition, Asian American college students often experience racism and xenophobia, which can undermine their sense of belonging on campus. However, in the Midwest, where their immigration is more recent and conversations about race are often framed in terms of Black and white, Asian Americans often feel invisible and othered (Lee, …

Preparation, Development, And Refinement Of The Interview Protocol In Qualitative Research, David C. Coker, Adebowale Akande

The Qualitative Report

Interview protocols are by far the most common method utilized in qualitative research data collection. Novice and experienced researchers, from working on dissertations to grant proposals or other publications, often lack detailed interview design methods, as many educational programs do not require specific coursework on interview protocols and question development. To improve qualitative research, we make a proposal to incorporate an interdisciplinary approach that operationalizes three stages: preparation, development, and refinement. Preparation involves mapping the extant literature to define broad, narrow, and focused topics to write actionable standards, goals, and objectives. Development uses instructional design and educational psychology to construct …

Bridging The Gap: Harnessing Emerging Technology To Narrow The Academic Achievement Gaps Of Minority Students, Dionne Williams, Terence Vinson, Kristi Young, Danielle Williams, James R. Mixon

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

The academic achievement gap of Black, Hispanic, and Native American students has historically lagged as it relates to Caucasian students. This work defines academic achievement as standardized test scores, graduation rates, and college completion rates. The persistent educational disparities faced by minority students remain a significant challenge for school systems. The integration of technology offers a promising solution to help narrow these academic achievement gaps and provide equitable learning opportunities. Technology offers educators the ability to utilize self-paced instructional programming, ensuring that the educational needs and deficiencies of minority students are addressed. This work explores how innovative technological tools, ranging …

It's Deeper Than Rap. Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Faculty With Hip-Hop Epistemologies Through Counterstory, Austin Ashe

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation study explores the experiences of Black professors who carry Hip-Hop epistemologies and utilize Hip-Hop as a method to navigate the social and structural systems within their predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Grounded in Critical Race Theory, the study utilizes narrative inquiry and counterstorytelling. The analysis involved the development of a composite counterstory featuring the fictional protagonist, Hampton Franklin. The findings highlight common experiences among participants. Findings suggest that Black faculty are insiders whose positions grant them access and influence. Second, they are outsiders that navigate hypervisibility, invisibility, and racial battle fatigue. Third, each participant was a “pedagogue of the …

Learning How To Interview For Qualitative Research, Kathryn Roulston, Brigette A. Herron, Caprial Farrington

The Qualitative Report

A key component of qualitative methods coursework has been the interview assignment, which typically prepares scholars to conduct in-person, individual, and open-ended interviews. This study examined what novice researchers did and learned during an interview assignment in an introductory qualitative methods course. Interview transcripts and reflections from 12 graduate students who enrolled in an online or face-to-face section of the course were analyzed. Findings review students’ reflections on the process of conducting the interview project, beginning with the preparation phase, what they discussed concerning how the interviews transpired and their experiences of the transcription process. The article reports on how …

Visual Narrative Through The Wimba Approach In Tahilalats Comic With Campaign Theme Bersama Stop Judi Online, Rangga Pangkuluhur Gumelar, Basnendar Herry Prilosadoso

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

Comics, as a medium for conveying ideas and concepts through imagery, integrate textual and visual elements to construct meaning and communicate messages effectively. Their distinctive visual communication enables the delivery of complex social issues in an accessible manner through characters, panels, layouts, and visual representations of sound and dialogue. This study analyzes the Tahilalats comic (2024 edition), which incorporates the hashtag #bersamastopjudol as part of a visual campaign against online gambling addiction. The narrative is presented entirely through images without verbal language. The research applies Primadi Tabrani’s Wimba theory to decode visual language and Roland Barthes’ semiotics to interpret symbolic …

Morality In The Manuscript Hikayat Prabu Anom Volume 2: A Study Of Immanuel Kant's Deontological Ethics, Dedi Supriadi, Palendika Alandira

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

This study examines the representation of moral values in Hikayat Prabu Anom Volume 2 through the lens of Immanuel Kant’s deontological ethics. The analysis focuses on three main categories of moral values: divine moral values, social moral values, and personal moral values. The method used is descriptive qualitative with content analysis techniques applied to selected passages in the text that reflect ethical dimensions. The data is analyzed by identifying the actions and dialogues of central characters that embody moral principles such as duty, goodwill, and moral autonomy. The findings reveal that divine moral values are reflected in the characters’ submission …

Reimagining Arts Education: Empowering Deaf Learners Through The Visual-Musical Innovation Of Gawang Angklung, Saprudin Saprudin, Yudi Sukmayadi, Julia Julia, Rita Milyartini

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

This study examines the role of the Gawang Angklung (Galung) application, a visual-based digital tool integrating traditional angklung music with interactive visual cues, in supporting inclusive music education for deaf learners. Designed to bridge the gap between sound-based musical instruction and the learning needs of students with hearing impairments, Galung enables ensemble participation through synchronized visual signals. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, data were collected from 24 deaf students, four music educators, and two application developers through interviews, classroom observations, and questionnaires. Quantitative results showed significant improvements in rhythmic accuracy (p < .01) and tempo recognition, while qualitative analysis revealed increased motivation, collaborative engagement, and communicative confidence. The integration of Galung aligns with constructivist and aesthetic …

Comparison Of Javanese Lexicon In Banyumas And Banyuwangi Dialect Bilingual Dictionaries, Muhamad Rizki Darmawan, Satwiko Budiono

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

The Banyumas and Banyuwangi dialects of Javanese exhibit notable lexical similarities, particularly in their retention of Old Javanese vocabulary, consonant endings, the specificity of vowel phonemes, and syllabic structures. These linguistic commonalities necessitate further research at other linguistic levels to substantiate the similarities between these two geographically distant dialects. This comparison also serves as a basis for reinforcing the hypothesis of a historical migration of Javanese speakers from Banyumas to Banyuwangi. Furthermore, this study confirms that the varieties of Javanese spoken in Banyumas and Banyuwangi constitute distinct dialects. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies …

A Content Analysis Of The Cultural Content Of Reading Texts And Dialogues In Action Pack Eight, Considering The Inclusion Criterion, Bassmah Fraihat

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study aimed to analyze the reading texts and dialogues in the Student's Book of Action Pack Eight to determine the extent to which they incorporate cultural content. Frequencies and percentages were used to present the results related to the study’s questions. The findings revealed that the reading texts in Action Pack Eight include all types of cultural content: target cultural content, intercultural content, Arab-Islamic cultural content, and national (Jordanian) cultural content. On the other hand, the dialogues in the Student's Book include all types of cultural content except for the Arab-Islamic content. Overall, the presence of Arab-Islamic content in …

Play-Based Learning: A Motive Or An Impediment? A Historical Review, Osama Al-Salahat, Dina Al-Jamal, Raed Khdair

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study aimed to identify the most critical periods that led to the emergence of play-based learning as a language instruction tool in the modern era. Additionally, it sought to investigate the effectiveness of using this method in English language instruction. Both chronological and thematic approaches were employed to present the data. The results indicated that the use of games to enhance language learning dates back to ancient societies such as Greece and Rome. However, key pioneers in this field include John Locke, Maria Montessori, Vygotsky, and Piaget. The study also found that utilizing play-based activities to improve language learning …