Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Family Literacy Playgroups On Early Childhood Development And Parent Efficacy In Hispanic Families: A Qualitative Phenomenological Case Study, Karen R. Loper

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This qualitative phenomenological case study is focused on the engagement of Hispanic children between 18 and 36 months of age and their parents in a family literacy program. Participation in a family literacy program was associated with changes in the cognitive, social, and emotional development of children, as well as the self-efficacy of their parents in parenting skills. Grounded in the social theories of Vygotsky, Bandura, and Bronfenbrenner, this study relates the importance of language acquisition, literacy skills, and self-efficacy to a community setting where conversation is encouraged and reading engagement is modeled. The Hispanic population is underrepresented in the …

Leadership Experiences Of African American Women Vice Principals, Shakisha Mccray

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the lived experiences of African American women vice principals, an underrepresented group in educational leadership. There is a need to address the gap in scholarly research that disproportionately focuses on principals and European ethnicity. This study includes the voices and counter-stories of five African American women vice principals. Using critical race theory and Black feminist thought as theoretical frameworks, the study examines how race and gender influence their leadership experiences. Data was collected through interviews and analyzed to identify key themes. The research questions focus on how these vice principals describe their roles and responsibilities and …

"Chatgpt Told Me To Say It": Ai Chatbots And Class Participation Apprehension In University Students, Daisuke Akiba

Publications and Research

The growing prevalence of AI chatbots in everyday life has prompted educators to explore their potential applications in promoting student success, including support for classroom engagement and communication. This exploratory study emerged from semester-long observations of class participation apprehensions in an introductory educational psychology course, examining how chatbots might scaffold students toward active and independent classroom contribution. Four students experiencing situational participation anxiety voluntarily participated in a pilot intervention using AI chatbots as virtual peer partners. Following comprehensive training in AI use and prompt design given to the entire class, participants employed systematic consultation frameworks for managing classroom discourse trepidations. …

Ai In Higher Education: Balancing Innovation And Ethical Challenges.Pdf, Takahiro Fujimoto, Nelson Zee Yang Wong, Siti Aishah Berhan

Jesselton Journal of Educators and Scholars

This study examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education, focusing on both its transformative potential and the challenges it introduces for teaching, learning, and institutional operations. As AI technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics become more prevalent, they offer opportunities to personalize learning, enhance administrative efficiency, and support student success. However, the adoption of AI also presents significant barriers, including technological limitations, faculty resistance, ethical concerns, and disparities in access among students and institutions. Using a qualitative research approach and thematic analysis, this research explores the perspectives of administrators, faculty, and students …

Boricua En La Luna: An Ethnographic Case Study On The Spatializations Of Puerto Ricans In New Mexico, Neritza Díaz Cruz

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This ethnographic case study investigates the spatializations of Puerto Ricans in New Mexico, a state where the community is small, dispersed, and often invisible. The purpose of this study is to examine how Puerto Rican identity is shaped, expressed, and contested across New Mexican spaces. Drawing from critical spatial theory, this study investigates how broader structures such as language ideologies become spatialized in the everyday lives of five Puerto Rican adults living in the Albuquerque area. Data was gathered through interviews, observations, and participatory mapping. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data with a focus on how lived, perceived, …

Catching Them Young! A Comparative Study Of Teacher Retention Among Beginning Teachers In Egypt And The United Arab Emirates, Maxwell Peprah Opoku, Ghadah Morshedi, Negmeldin Alsheikh, Bernadette M. Guirguis, Ashraf Mustafa, Enas Mohamed Abdullah, Fatima Alrashdi, Ahmed El-Laithy

All Works

It is widely reported that teachers in their first 5 years of entering the profession are highly likely to leave their teaching positions. There have been many discussions on how to keep beginning teachers in the profession, mainly in Western countries. However, no such discourse exists on teacher retention in non-Western contexts, such as Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to extend Western literature to the Middle Eastern context by investigating the retention of beginning teachers in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Four hundred and sixty-six novice teachers were evaluated using the Teacher Retention Scale, which was developed on the …

Integrating Digital Escape Room Design Into Teacher Education: Cultivating Instructional Creativity In Preservice Teachers, Gina L. Solano, Wen Wen

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

This action research documents how a teacher education program incorporates game-based learning to engage pre-service teachers (PSTs) in developing their instructional creativity. In this project, game-based learning goes beyond playing games; Instead, it allows PSTs to design their own game-a digital escape room created using a website with embedded clues, digital locks, and online challenges. This paper showcases an impressive level of creativity through the variety and complexity of PSTs’ clues, the creative graphics and layout of their websites, and their cleverly written scenarios and context for the game. Moreover, PSTs reflect on their design processes, considering the affordances and …

The Extent Of The Effectiveness Of Electronic Management In The Educational Process From The Point Of View Of Students Of Northern Border University, Tahani Al-Anazi

Al Jinan الجنان

The study aims to identify the conceptual framework of electronic management in contemporary educational thought, including the features of the educational process at the Northern Border University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to determine the definition of the reality of the educational process in the light of the use of electronic management. The researcher used the descriptive analytical approach in order to obtain specific results, using the data collection tool (questionnaire) for a stratified random sample of university students amounting to 1343 students. The study resulted in that students can use all activities electronically, with some weaknesses …

Visionarium, July 2025, Full Issue

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

No abstract provided.

Trustworthy Integration Of Ai In Online Learning: Supporting Student Agency And Inquiry Through Open Pedagogy, Paula Macdowell, Katrina Korchinski, Kristin Moskalyk, Khadijeh Ravan

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

Open pedagogy is a transformative educational approach that fosters innovative, inclusive, and sustainable instructional practices while addressing persistent challenges such as accessibility, equity, and the affordability of educational resources. This qualitative study explores how open pedagogy can develop AI literacy skills while supporting student agency and inquiry in online graduate education. The collaborative initiative involved two cohorts of graduate students (n = 39) who co-authored openly licensed textbooks: AI-Enhanced Instructional Design (ETAD 873, 2023) and Streamlined Instructional Design with AI (ETAD 873, 2024). A multi-phase data collection approach included analysis of student-authored chapters, structured peer review processes, and open-ended focus …

Painting With Ai: Enhancing Creativity And Understanding In The Arts Classroom, Erica Blum

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

In the context of contemporary art and design education, the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence has introduced profound shifts in both creative practice and pedagogical responsibility. Art and design professors now encounter students who approach AIdriven tools with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, often perceiving such technologies as antithetical to authentic artistic development or as expedient alternatives to disciplined practice. This article articulates an instructional approach that leverages Adobe Photoshop’s generative capabilities—specifically neural filters, generative fill, and the manipulation of alpha channels— to position artificial intelligence as a collaborative, rather than substitutive, element within digital art-making. The 2025 …

Bridging Tradition And Technology: Ai As A Catalyst For Heritage Preservation And Humanities Research, Kholoud Ghaith

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

It is an empirical study examining how AI can be the driving force for cultural heritage and humanities conservation. As the AI tools that digitize, analyze, and conserve cultural resources have become in recent years, they have led to digital transformations in machine learning, digital twinning, and natural language processing. These technologies answer the industry's most challenging problems, such as the loss of historical material, access restrictions to heritage sites, and the labor-intensive nature of traditional conservation techniques. In implementing AI in heritage, institutions can document more accurately, keep records predictively, and offer more interesting public experiences via rich digital …

Writing As Curation: Empowering Authorial Agency In Ai-Assisted Composition Through Style Prompting And Quotation Glosses, Daniel Plate

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

As artificial intelligence writing tools become increasingly prevalent in educational settings, students often report feeling alienated from AI-generated content, describing it as lacking their "authentic voice." This article presents a pedagogical approach that addresses this challenge by repositioning students as curators of their authorial identities rather than passive consumers of AI-generated text. Through a dual curation methodology combining quotation glosses with style prompting, students develop multiple authorial voices for different rhetorical situations while maintaining agency over their writing process. The approach builds on classical rhetorical traditions while leveraging contemporary AI capabilities, creating a framework where students collaborate with AI tools …

Ai-Powered Storytelling And Interactive Timelines For Arts And Humanities Education, Bhavya Raoulji

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has opened avenues for transformative teaching and learning experiences, particularly in the arts and humanities. This submission explores the development of two AI-driven classroom tools: Chabot and interactive timelines. These tools immerse students in storytelling and historical exploration, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Chabot simulates conversations with historical figures or cultural narrators, providing AI-generated responses enriched with contextual details and multimedia content. The interactive timeline offers dynamic visualizations of historical events, enhanced by AI-generated summaries, audio clips, and visual aids. These tools integrate project-based learning methodologies, promoting critical thinking, …

Enhancing Undergraduate Education Through Social Innovation Projects: The Experience Of A Young University In Singapore, Intan Azura Mokhtar, Yong Lim Foo

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this paper, social innovation is used as a catch-all phrase for projects and initiatives by higher education institutions (HEIs) related to community engagement, community-based learning, and service-learning. This paper explores the concept and application of social innovation in higher education, followed by a case study of implementing social innovation projects in a young, applied learning university in Singapore, a discussion of lessons learned, and plans for the near future in enhancing and strengthening its implementation.

Latine Students’ Stem Identity Development: Reflecting On Implicit Biases, Imposter Syndrome, Self-Efficacy, And Support Systems, Alyssa G. Cavazos, Valerie Leija, Javier Cavazos Vela

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

This study used an equity ethic framework and a STEM identity model to contextualize and understand Latine students’ perceptions of STEM identity development. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Latine undergraduate students who engaged in STEM coursework perceived their learning experiences and stories of resilience through an equity ethic framework. Data were collected through interviews with 19 Latine college students attending a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Findings revealed the following themes related to Latine students’ STEM identity development and lived experiences in STEM coursework: implicit biases, imposter syndrome, self-efficacy, and support system and resources. Findings highlight the need for …

An Action Research Study On Ai Video Vs. Written Feedback: Enhancing Undergraduate Academic Writing And Critical Thinking, Sandra Baroudi, Nida Mubeen, Suha Karaki

All Works

This action research explores how AI-assisted feedback formats influence students’ academic writing and critical thinking, a gap particularly relevant in the digital learning landscape. This study involved 40 undergraduate Emirati students divided into two groups, receiving either AI-generated video or written feedback across three assignments. Using a quantitative design, data were gathered using standardized critical thinking and academic writing skills rubrics. Additionally, students completed post-surveys to capture their perceptions, engagement levels and use of AI tools in the learning process. Results showed written feedback significantly improvemed critical thinking (M = 2.80, SD = 0.75) compared to video feedback (M = …

Third To Fifth-Grade Teachers’ Challenges When Teaching Reading Comprehension Skills To English Language Learners In Northern Virginia, Lorraine A. Wickham-Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Third to fifth-grade teachers in a Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary school faced challenges when teaching reading comprehension skills to English language learners (ELLs) which impacted ELLs’ performance on state-mandated tests. Framed by Cummins’s second language acquisition theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore third to fifth-grade teachers’ challenges in teaching reading comprehension skills to ELLs and their suggestions for improved training and resources in a Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary school. Two research questions addressed the teachers’ challenges and suggestions for improved training and resources. Semistructured interviews were used to collect qualitative data from nine, …

Stepping Up, Keeping On Track, And Pulling Your Own Weight: Collaborative Arts-Based Service-Learning Metaphors, Marcy Meyer

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this study, the author explores metaphors related to students’ experiences conducting collaborative arts-based ethnographic research in a U.S. nonprofit organization. A metaphor analysis of 25 students’ essays revealed they were most likely to frame their experiences with arts-based service learning as a journey or a sports contest. The author examines the extent to which students’ metaphors legitimize or delegitimize arts-based service learning, as well as the degree of novelty that characterizes these metaphors. She explores the implications of her findings for teaching and promoting arts-based service learning in the academy.

Exploring The Impact Of A Literacy-Based Service-Learning Project On Pre-Service Teachers, Shelly J. Landreth, Tara Wilson

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this study, we describe a teacher educator’s first experience implementing a service-learning project in a children’s literature course in which pre-service teachers helped provide read-alouds for the local public library’s summer reading program. We sought to examine the impact the project had on the seven participants. Data was collected through reflective journals and an end-of-course debrief. Four themes were identified in the data: Initial Feelings, Preparation and Planning, Lessons Learned, and Barriers and Challenges.

Du Rural Summit 2025: Full Conference Proceedings, 2025 Du Rural Summit

DU Rural Summit Conference Proceedings

Proceedings of the DU Rural Summit 2025, held June 27-27 in the Pueblo Convention Center. A gathering dedicated to addressing the unique opportunities and challenges facing rural schools and their communities.

The Heritage Conversation Partners Project: Virtual Cultural Heritage Exchange In An Anthropology Course, Michael J. Kimball, Karin L. Bates, Miranda Bermudez, Liner Emilce Solarte Chourio, Amanda Consol

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

We describe the structure, benefits, and challenges associated with a virtual cultural heritage exchange (VCHE) between undergraduate students in an applied anthropology class and a group of English language learners (ELL). Using qualitative data collection and analysis methods, the project aimed to teach anthropological methods and perspectives to the students while investigating three research questions: Will a VCHE (1) build social bonds and bridges, (2) improve English language acquisition, and (3) raise “heritage consciousness” (awareness and appreciation of, along with an associated sense of agency toward, cultural heritage) among participants? Results support the research questions and show the effectiveness of …

Algerian Viewers’ Attitudes Toward Taboo Language: A Case Study Of Mourad Oudia’S Humorous Youtube Content, Amaa Naib

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

The present research aims to investigate taboo language within an online setting. The study has two main objectives: (1) to identify the taboo language themes frequently used by Algerian comedian Mourad Oudia to create humorous content, based on Ljung's (2011) and Qanbar's (2011) classifications, and (2) to examine the impact of age and gender on Algerians' attitudes toward these themes. It focuses on exploring perceptions of taboo language across different generations in Algeria. The study employs a mixed-methods approach for data collection and analysis. To address the first research question, the initial step involved collecting primary data through content analysis. …

The Degree Of Awareness Of Public Secondary School Principals In The Directorate Of Qasaba Irbid Education Regarding The Principles Of Islamic Management From The Perspective Of Their Teachers, Abedelhakeem Hejazi

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

The study aimed to identify the level of awareness among teachers regarding the principles of Islamic management held by public secondary school principals in the Qasaba Irbid Education Directorate. The Directorate of Education in Irbid Qasaba, which has a total of 2,818 teachers, was the population. The study sample consisted of 256 male and female teachers selected through simple random sampling. The results indicated a medium level of awareness. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α = 0.05) in the teachers' perceptions of the principals' awareness of the principles of Islamic management due to variables …

Perceptions Of Secondary School Students In Mafraq Governorate Towards Distance Learning And Self-Learning In Light Of The Corona Pandemic, Rami Al-Mashaqbeh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study aimed to examine the perceptions of secondary school students in Mafraq Governorate towards distance learning and self-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, the researcher designed a questionnaire consisting of 30 items, the validity and reliability of which were confirmed. The questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 582 high school students in Mafraq Governorate. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach. The results indicated that the perceptions of secondary school students in Mafraq Governorate towards distance learning and self-learning during the pandemic were high. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences at the significance level (α = …

Leveraging Cultural Agility In K-12 Public Educational Organizations: A Phenomenological Study Of How Superintendents Coach Other Leaders, Curt Eichperger

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological analysis was to identify and describe how California K-12 public school superintendents use culturally agile task management competencies while coaching other leaders in their organization.Methodology: This phenomenological study identified and described the culturally agile task-management competencies that 12 California Central Coast Superintendents employ to navigate the complex and ever-evolving public educational landscape. Participants were purposively selected based on specific criteria. The researcher served as the primary instrument of data collection, conducting semi-structured interviews with participants. The data was analyzed and coded to identify themes and subsequent findings. Findings: This study identified eight key findings …

Addressing Instructional Capacity For English Learners Through Professional Development, Emily Howell, Lindsey W. Rowe, Mihaela Gazioglu, Nicole Ferguson-Sams, Victoria Pennington

Publications

Purpose – The purpose of this study was addressing the goal of the intervention to increase instructional capacity in a high-need district for English Learners (ELs).

Design/methodology/approach – This design-based research examined a cohort of K–12 general education classroom teachers and the impact of professional development (PD). The intervention had three essential elements: provide teachers with evidence-based practices of EL instruction in PD, assess self-efficacy for both EL students and teachers, and develop resources for EL caregivers based upon evidence-based practice and teacher feedback. This study reports the results focusing on the following research question: How does the intervention impact …

"Inspiring Empathy": A Descriptive Review Of A Musical Composition, Garo Saraydarian

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of college professors using an assessment approach, descriptive review, to assess undergraduate music compositions. College professors, and educators in general, often debate best practices around assessing student work. A literature review showed a debate amongst music educators over approaches to assessing student compositions, with rubrics being especially controversial. Descriptive review uses collective discussion and a series of non-judgmental exercises that aim for participants to become more intimate with a student and their work. As an assessment technique that had been used to look at student artwork, albeit at the elementary grade level, descriptive review has …

A Qualitative Study Utilizing The Design Thinking Process To Structure And Organize For Small Group Reading Instruction In Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade, Ashlee Utt

Dissertations

Having educated and knowledgeable classroom teachers in reading instruction is a key tool in changing the dynamics of the struggling readers in schools. Being able to lead reading instruction in both whole and small group ensures students are able to learn and build reading strategies and skills to be implemented during whole group and independent time, where text is utilized with grade-level expectations. Utilizing explicit small group instruction can have a positive effect on student achievement and success. Research has shown that “guided reading makes it possible for students to effectively process an appropriate text every day, expanding their reading …

What Before Means: Teaching The English Pluperfect, Max Miller, Joseph C. M. Davis

Publications and Research

This paper extends existing linguistic analyses of the English simple past tense (e.g., took) and pluperfect tense (e.g., had taken) by thoroughly examining communicative effects. It also proposes a pedagogical application. The analysis is based on authentic contextualized discourse (primarily a single published text). In distinction to the simple past, the pluperfect establishes a communicative link between a past time and an event before that time. In this way, the pluperfect makes conceptional connection (which could be termed "tethering") through temporal priority. The meaning of the pluperfect thus contributes to textual cohesion. The distinction made is communicative, not a matter …