Digital Commons Network^™

Designing Writers: A Self-Regulated Approach To Multimodal Composition In Teacher Preparation And Early Grades, Qi Si, Tracey S. Hodges, Vahid Mousavi

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Reading and writing in the 21st century have evolved from traditional text-based formats to multimodal literacy, integrating linguistic, visual, auditory, and spatial modes to enhance communication and comprehension. While multimodal reading has been widely studied, multimodal writing remains underexplored, despite its growing importance in K–12 education across disciplines. Multimodal composing demands advanced self-regulation as students navigate multiple digital tools and platforms. Self-regulated learning strategies, particularly the self-regulated strategy developmental model, offer a promising approach to support students in planning, monitoring, and revising multimodal compositions. However, a comprehensive framework linking self-regulation and multimodal composition is lacking. This article addresses this gap …

Assessing University Students’ Self-Reported Vocabulary Learning Strategy Use, Yirgalem Girma

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Learning vocabulary is certainly a vital component of language learning and without this integral component of language communication becomes hardly meaningful. Thus, students are expected to have rich vocabulary power that enables them to communicate successfully via listening, speaking, reading, and writing; it assists students in expressing a range of meanings in various communicative situations for various purposes. This demands students to learn vocabulary using diverse vocabulary learning strategies that assist them in learning (internalizing, storing, recalling, and using) words properly. However, several students barely manage vocabulary learning tasks and/or use appropriate and diverse vocabulary in English classes. Consequently, this …

The Influence Of Artists And Artworks On Identity Development: The Student Perspective, Celeste M. Boseman

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This study investigates the ways in which the artists and artworks depicted throughout their K-12 art education influence students’ personal sociocultural identity development. By utilizing a self-reporting survey and individual interviews, this study explores the perspectives of current university students; their exposure to diversity in their K-12 art education; and the curricular perspectives that influence their identity. The artists and the artwork that art educators show in the classroom are only one aspect of what makes up a student’s art curriculum; this research project demonstrates the impact those artists can have on students’ identity development. The results of this study …

Reflections Of Chinese International Postgraduates’ Conceptualisation Of Critical Thinking In A Uk University, Luman Zhou

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Some literature often highlights Chinese international students’ challenges in conceptualising critical thinking, contributing to a partial and stereotypical representation of them as deficient (Lomer & Mittelmeier, 2021; Moosavi, 2022). There is limited research on how Chinese international students conceptualise and develop their CT over time. The study aims to explore Chinese international students’ conceptualisation, development, and application of critical thinking at the master’s level at a UK university over time. Nineteen participants in the MA International Education program at a UK university are taken as an example. The participants are interviewed in three rounds, using their drawings and draft assignments …

The Effectiveness Of Pre-Packaged Literacy Curriculum: A Document Analysis Of The Culturally Responsive Tenets In Pre-Packaged Literacy Curriculum, Grace Ghazzawi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The introduction of the Common Core State Standards in 2010 sought to standardize educational expectations across the U.S., aiming to promote equity by ensuring all students received a high-quality education. However, educational disparities persist, particularly for historically marginalized students, leading to a continued achievement gap in literacy, especially among low-income students of color. While pre-packaged curricula have emerged as tools to align instruction with the rigor of the Common Core State Standards, their effectiveness in addressing the diverse needs of students from marginalized backgrounds remains uncertain. This study explores the intersection of pre-packaged literacy curricula and Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) …

The Influence Of Remote Instruction On Middle School Ell Students' New Jersey State Learning Assessment English Ela And Math Achievement, Marie Chezuette Dort

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This correlational study explained the influence of remote instruction on English Language Learner (ELL) students' middle school grades on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This study focused on data collected in two separate school years and analyzed middle school grades with the ELL Subgroup. It indicated the correlation between remote instruction and ELL students' ELA and mathematical performance in the NJSLA Grades 6, 7, and 8. This study also included controlled variables, Grades 3, 4, and 5, from 2018-2019 and other student characteristics, the percentage of economically disadvantaged students and …

Experiencing Race, Racism And Racialization In Transnational Contexts: Racial Literacies Of First-Year International Asian Students., Nasiba Norova

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This research focused on exploring the racial literacies of first-year international East Asian (EA) students, specifically examining their perceptions of and experiences with race, racism, and racialized groups in various social and educational contexts in both their home countries and the United States. The study used critical ethnography to examine the perspectives of EA international students and composition faculty. It involved multiple semi-structured interviews, journal entries, racial literacy autobiographies, site document analysis, and class observations to understand how students perceived exposure to race, racism, and racialized groups and how faculty viewed the importance of racial education for international students in …

Exploration Of Language And Identities Among Study Abroad Participants In Non-Anglophone Context: Experience Of Asian International Students Studying Abroad In Belgium, Long Yat Ding

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This Research Summary examines the study abroad experiences of Asian international students who study in non-anglophone Belgium. This research investigates how the experiences of mobility programme participants impact individual identity, with a focus on national, regional, and global citizenship identity. Eighteen qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were implemented. Mixed lived experiences and reactions towards national, regional and global identity after participation in mobility programmes were identified. Findings showcase non-anglophone European Higher Education and the study abroad experience of non-anglophone speakers from Asia in the post-COVID-19 era. The Research Summary provides a critical snapshot of Asian International students’ lived experience, especially under …

Exploring The Connection Between Teaching Frameworks And Policies For Assessing Teaching, Barbara J. Bird, Beate Brunow, Eric Kyle, Shawn R. Simonson

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Most faculty policies aimed at faculty review or assessment of teaching do not include specific teaching criteria and standards but instead lean heavily on student evaluations and peer review of teaching. This approach provides no concrete path for using assessment in a feedback loop that enables teachers to improve teaching. Implementing teaching frameworks can improve feedback loops and assessment policies by providing specific criteria and standards. Developing teaching effectiveness frameworks and connecting them to teaching assessment policies can be a critical step in advancing institutional change initiatives focused on teaching effectiveness. This critical alignment enables sustainable and meaningful change. This …

Integrasi Accera Pare Bagi Kehidupan Masyarakat Parigi Dalam Membangun Solidaritas Peserta Didik, Inas Tahirah, I Komang Astina, Yuswanti Ariani Wirahayu

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Accera pare is a harvest party of the Parigi Village community which is held as a form of gratitude of the farmers for the gifts given by God for being given a smooth harvest. The purpose of this research is to explore the meaning of the accera pare ceremony for the people of Parigi Village and the integration of accera pare in building students' sense of solidarity. The research method used descriptive qualitative with ethnographic approach where the data were analyzed by domain analysis, taxonomy, components and cultural themes. Data sources were obtained through participant observation and in-depth interviews. The …

Advancing Literacy Instruction: Bridging Evidence-Based And Culturally Responsive Practices To Serve All Learners, Jamie L. Nord

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

As Minnesota's student population becomes increasingly diverse, persistent literacy achievement gaps among students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income backgrounds demand urgent attention. While the state's READ Act mandates structured, evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading, its successful implementation must not overshadow the equally vital need for culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy. This white paper argues for a comprehensive, dual-framework approach that integrates both evidence-based literacy practices and culturally affirming instructional strategies

Unlocking Reading Success: Addressing The Literacy Crisis In The United States, Jennifer Kaczrowski-Taylor

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper addresses the literacy crisis in the United States. Currently, in the educational system, millions of children lack access to research-based reading instruction and, as a result, struggle to become proficient readers. Despite decades of academic and reform efforts, national reading achievement has been declining. This literacy crisis can be traced back to outdated or inconsistent instructional practices, socioeconomic background, lack of research-based instructional curricula, as well as inconsistent and ineffective implementation of these approaches. Based on recent research and national data, this white paper advocates for aligning teacher education and professional development with the Science of Reading. …

Ai-Enabled Innovations In Automated Essay Scoring And Feedback Systems, Michael J. Murff

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the evolution and educational implementation of Automated Essay Scoring (AES) systems, with particular focus on generative artificial intelligence integration in educational assessment. Through a two-article format, this research addresses the persistent gap between technical capability and educational adoption that has characterized AES development over seven decades. The first article presents a comprehensive methodological review analyzing 122 studies spanning AES evolution from foundational computational linguistics through contemporary hybrid systems. Despite achieving strong correlations with human scoring, modern AES systems face resistance due to validity concerns and misalignment with pedagogical values, revealing an "adoption paradox" where technical sophistication often …

Developing Cross-Cultural Competence And Media Literacy Through Multi-Modal Instruction And Projects, Michelle Verbitskaya, Alla Kourova, Irina Pidberejna

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

We explore the integration of Media Literacy in the 2-year Russian language STARTALK program, “How Words Shape People: Understanding Business Russian Through Proverbs.” Given the current geopolitical climate, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine, fostering critical engagement with media has become more essential than ever. By encouraging students to interact with multimedia resources—including animated videos, podcasts, news articles, and the Russian National Corpora—the curriculum aims to enhance both language and media literacy skills. Media Literacy’s Five Key Framework is applied to guide students in analyzing media critically while producing academic projects and cultural responses. We present a curriculum that fosters …

Teachers’ Challenges In Implementing The New Mexican School’S Educational Model, Mayra Margarito Gaspar

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This scholarly essay explores the challenges that teachers face in implementing the Nueva Escuela Mexicana (NEM) [new Mexican school] educational model, which prioritizes project-based and interdisciplinary learning over subject-based instruction. The NEM’s flexible approach requires teachers to independently structure lessons, ensuring continuity without a predefined thematic sequence. Collaboration is essential, yet many educators struggle with interdisciplinary coordination, especially in secondary education. Limited planning time and curricular flexibility further complicate implementation. Teachers in marginalized areas also face resource constraints, which hinders project-based learning. Additionally, the NEM’s textbooks, which are designed for integrative learning, lack clear organization and guidelines and make them …

Creating A Framework: Integrating Podcasting Into English For Academic Purposes Instruction, Holly Milkowart

Sabbatical Projects

This article presents a sabbatical-based investigation into the role of podcasting in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instruction at a community college. With a focus on real-world application, this project combined formal academic training in audio production with student-centered lesson planning and classroom implementation. Via student surveys and reflective practice, the project reveals how podcasting can give EAP students meaningful listening and speaking opportunities, promote language acquisition, and foster a sense of belonging within their communities. While enthusiasm for podcast creation was mixed, students showed high interest in academic podcast content. The project is ongoing and will continue through further …

Embedding Self-Determination In Transition Planning For Young Adults With Autism, Kade Lane

Graduate Teacher Education

Despite decades of legal mandates under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continue to face disproportionately poor postschool outcomes in employment, independent living, and higher education. Research consistently identifies self-determination as a critical predictor of positive adult outcomes, yet transition planning in many educational settings remains procedural, adult-driven, and disconnected from student agency. This capstone explores how self-determination can be meaningfully embedded into transition planning by synthesizing literature across legal foundations, structured interventions, culturally responsive practices, and implementation strategies. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the literature review reveals that student-led IEPs, autonomy-supportive instruction, and …

Impacts Of Digital Game-Based Learning On Elementary Student Achievement, Alaina Larson

Graduate Teacher Education

Online learning games have become increasingly common with the rise in use of technology in the classroom. The purpose of this paper was to examine the use of digital game-based learning in the general education setting, with a focus primarily on how digital game-based learning impacts students’ achievement at the elementary level. The resources analyzed were a mixture of qualitative, quantitative, quasi-experimental, and mixed-method studies, all focused on how student achievement is impacted by the use of digital game-based learning. The conclusion of this paper found that digital game-based learning has a significant impact on student enjoyment and engagement (Nadeem …

Digital Transformation In Jamaica's Education Sector, Grace Willis

Capstone Collection

Digital transformation in Jamaica’s education sector, significantly spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, represented a seismic shift on this small Caribbean island I call home. This transformation was central to national education reform and involved multiple projects aimed at modernizing educational delivery, infrastructure, and the supporting ecosystem. This study explored the multifaceted implications of these initiatives through qualitative research conducted with ten key stakeholders, complemented by a review of publicly available materials. Interviewees included school administrators, Information Technology (IT) teachers, funding sponsors, representatives from national education bodies, and international development agencies engaged in domestic strategic efforts. Participants were recruited through cold …

Navigating Early Intervention: The Experiences And Impact Of A Parent Coaching Model On Immigrant And Refugee Families In Rural Massachusetts, Emily Pleasant

Capstone Collection

Early Intervention (EI) programs play a critical role in supporting the developmental needs of children from birth to age three. This study explores the experiences of immigrant and refugee families engaging with EI services in rural Massachusetts, focusing particularly on the implementation and effectiveness of parent coaching models. Utilizing a mixed methods design that incorporates both narrative and phenomenological approaches, the research examines how families from culturally diverse backgrounds perceive and engage with EI services. This study discusses what barriers or facilitators they encounter throughout their journeys with Early Intervention. Preliminary findings suggest challenges related to language, cultural differences in …

The Influence Of Visualization Type And Gender On Multimedia Learning Performance: An Experimental Study, Ziji Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The widespread availability of multimedia learning resources, driven by technological progress, presents both opportunities and challenges in education. While these resources, often designed with animations to aid learning, their effectiveness in learning across STEM and non-STEM fields remains controversial. Besides, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to understanding how individual learner characteristics such as gender and spatial ability influence effectiveness of multimedia learning.

This dissertation examined the impact of visualization type and gender on learning algorithms (STEM) and Chinese characters (non-STEM) after accounting for the effect of spatial ability, focusing on learning outcomes and cognitive load. The fact that males …

Centering The Medical Student Perspective In A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of The Holistic Admissions Process At A Mission-Driven Institution, Brenda L. Liszka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods research explores the influence of a holistic admissions process on medical student enrollment at a mission-driven institution. The study quantitatively measured the impact of various admissions touchpoints on enrollment decisions and qualitatively investigated the experiences of students underrepresented in medicine based on their race or ethnicity, first-generation status, and medically underserved backgrounds. Individual interviews, guided by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, were used to understand participants' sense of belonging and esteem throughout the process. The findings inform an improvement agenda aimed at creating a responsive and inclusive admissions process that supports diverse student bodies and addresses national public health …

Under What Conditions? A University Pathway Program Evaluation, Michael Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As U.S. universities face a declining domestic applicant pool, commonly referred to as the “enrollment cliff,” international student recruitment provides a practical strategy for offsetting domestic enrollment shortfalls. One such strategy for increasing international student enrollment is through the establishment of university pathway programs that grant conditional admission to international applicants who fail to meet English language proficiency requirements but are otherwise academically admissible. As a baseline program evaluation, this study utilized a quantitative methods approach employing logistical regression analysis to determine if incoming standardized English language proficiency test scores, English as a Second Language (ESL) course GPA, and student …

Exploring The Role Of Accessibility In Enhancing User Experience: Trends, Challenges, And Opportunities Across Digital Platforms, Adiba Khan

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Accessibility was a fundamental aspect of enhancing user experience (UX) across digital platforms, ensuring equitable access to information and services for a diverse range of users, including individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. As digital products became increasingly central to education, commerce, and communication, the need for inclusive design grew. This study explored the intersection of accessibility and UX, with a specific focus on how accessibility-driven design improved usability, user satisfaction, engagement, and the overall quality of digital interactions. Grounded in Agile project management principles, the research examined how early integration of accessibility into the software development lifecycle …

Dramatism And Crossfit: The Guilt Redemption Cycle In The Wake Of Ðukič’S Death, Anasheh G. Oliven

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

After the death of elite Serbian athlete, Lazar Ðukič, at the 2024 CrossFit Games, CrossFit, LLC’s leadership was once again in the spotlight of another controversy. In the immediate aftermath, Chief Executive Officer, Don Faul, was responsible for navigating the complex crisis communication that was required. This study evaluates the language in Faul’s oratory and seeks to answer the questions: (1) what pentadic elements are incorporated in Faul’s communication, (2) what ratio prevails and (3) how do the linguistic choices offload the guilt and responsibility that the organization had to ensure athlete safety. In employing a critical linguistic analysis framework, …

When Quitting Isn't An Option: Learner Perceptions Of Persistence Factors In A Faith-Based Online Global English As An International Language Course, Heather Porter Ugege

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the perceptions of learners in an online, global, faith-based, English as an international language (EIL) course. The course is designed to help students with limited access to educational opportunities develop English skills and prepare for enrollment in an online university. Since its launch, course enrollment, retention, engagement, and completion metrics have shown significant gains year over year. However, the number of learners in the course who have met all course completion criteria is still limited. This inquiry aims to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing learner persistence from the perspectives of both course completers and …

From Assessment To Action: The Role Of Data In Shaping Tiered Literacy Instruction, Trisha J. Uebele

Masters Projects

Abstract

This project supports educators in identifying students’ literacy needs and implementing targeted, evidence-based interventions through a user-friendly, data-driven approach grounded in the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework and the Science of Reading. By enabling educators to input and analyze commonly available assessment data, the project aims to make data-informed instruction accessible even to those with limited training in data literacy. A digital tracking tool will monitor individual student progress across key reading domains (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension), allowing for the creation of flexible, skill-based instructional groups. The project includes an intervention guide with links to research-based activities …

A Study Of The Impact Of The Impostor Syndrome On Women Of Color In Leadership Roles In Predominantly White Institutions, Alecia M. Ho-Sang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the emotional, spiritual, and physical ramifications of impostor syndrome on women of color in leadership roles within predominantly white institutions using social cognitive theory. The impostor syndrome was coined in 1978 by psychologists Suzanne Inmes and Pauline Rose Clance (Clance & Imes, 1978, p. 241). It is the experience of individuals who, despite possessing the qualifications for esteemed positions, attribute their achievements to sheer luck. Benefitting from diverse social and organizational theories, including achievement goal theory and social identity theory, this study draws on social cognitive theory. It illustrates the multifaceted impact of environmental, behavioral, …

Teacher Perspectives Of Supporting High School Students Who Are Sex Trafficked In Northeast Ohio: A Qualitative Study, Melanie Timco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the perspectives of supporting students who are actively sex trafficked for the teachers at high schools in Northeast Ohio. The theory guiding the study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it applies to the formation of teacher perspectives based on cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Teachers shared their perspective of supporting students who were actively sex trafficked in high school through hermeneutic phenomenology. I utilized criteria and snowball sampling of 12 high school teachers in Northeast Ohio. Open-ended surveys, interviews, and focus groups were conducted with teachers to render their …

Catholic Mass Music And Spiritual Growth, Stephenie Dinah Mokriakow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Participation in music among Catholic grade school students is insufficient, despite research suggesting the importance of music at Catholic Mass. Student perspectives provide researchers with an understanding of music's connection to students' spiritual development. This qualitative experimental case study investigates fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade student perspectives of their spiritual development through worship music participation during the Mass. This experimental case study identifies perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning this group of students. This study focuses on students' social, emotional, and physical well-being throughout the study regarding the connection of music to spiritual development. Approximately thirty students participated in pre- …