Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Student Perceptions Of Faculty Messages: The Moderating Role Of Internationalized Status And Gender, Geoffrey Luurs, Ismail Karabas, Brittany Wood

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Email is a tool used often for developing rapport between students and teachers. A professor’s email mistakes may affect the attributions students make about the professor’s competence and professionalism. This study used an experimental, between-subjects design to analyze the impact of professors’ typographical mistakes during initial email interactions and the moderating role of instructor demographics in those perceptions. The final sample consisted of 426 participants (64.6% female, 75.8% Caucasian) across eight universities representing five regions of the United States. The results of this study showed instructor’s email mistakes do lead to negative perceptions. Furthermore, it showed a professor’s internationalized status …

The Impact Of Long Covid On Language Proficiency Across Different School Levels In Hong Kong, Shebe S. Xu, Yixun Li, Wanyi Li, Catherine M. Capio, Winnie W.Y. Tso, Derwin K.C. Chan

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Long COVID, where symptoms persist after recovering from COVID-19, can affect cognitive functions like language. However, little is known about its impact on children’s language skills, especially across different school levels. This study investigated the impact of long COVID on language proficiency among 1244 children (Asian; 53.5% boys) from kindergartens (N = 408, Mage = 4.42 ± 1.26 years), primary schools (N = 547, Mage = 9.69 ± 1.96 years), and secondary schools (N = 289, Mage = 14.97 ± 1.85 years) in Hong Kong. Language proficiency was assessed using the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q), which measured speaking, …

2025- The Twenty-Ninth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 29th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 16-18, 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Motivation Generation: An Ai's Strength And Student Engagement In The Alternative-Setting Science Classroom, Matthew Scotkovsky

Graduate Research - College of Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that continues to become increasingly more prevalent, for better or worse, in the classroom. One such way that it has seen use in the classroom is in the generation of lesson plans by teachers who use AI-driven large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. To see if these LLMs are, or could be, a reliable way to craft lessons as the technology continues to improve, the purpose of this study is to determine if a correlation exists between the strength of these different LLMs (measured in “parameters”) and the levels …

Linguistic Inclusion And Identity: A Sociolinguistic Perspective On Lgbtq+ Language Use, Brian Kapustka

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This article explores how American English can subtly dehumanize and marginalize LGBTQ+ individuals through linguistic practices such as nominalization, objectification, misused indefinite articles, euphemistic slurs, and gendered expressions. Drawing on Safe Zone facilitation and sociolinguistic theory, the paper argues that constructions like “a lesbian” reduce identity to a category, while idioms like “that’s so gay” and gendered humor reinforce heteronormative and misogynistic ideologies. The analysis further examines how terms like “female” are nominalized and weaponized in ways that dehumanize women, revealing deep-seated linguistic asymmetries tied to power hierarchies. Building on original insight and expanding with work by Zola (1993), Cameron …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Co-Teaching—A Phenomenological Inquiry, Courtney Spann

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the phenomenon that is the congruence between secondary special and general education co-teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and actions that characterize how they experience co-teaching. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was used to explore co-teachers’ lived experiences through one-on-one interviews and classroom observations. Purposeful and convenient sampling yielded secondary general and special education teacher participants from one large, urban school district in the United States. The findings extend Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory, suggesting the presence of observational learning between educators in the co-taught classroom. Results also indicate an alignment between what co-teachers say, …

What Happens When Teachers Explore Choice In Low-Choice Educational Environments? A Holistic Case Study On Classroom Autonomy., Jamie Renee Millican Johnson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Scripted curricula are standard in most classroom environments to provide classroom equity and standard alignment for student success. While scripted curricula are used in classrooms, student achievement is stagnant. The purpose of this holistic case study is to examine how teachers who work within the constraints of a mandated curriculum plan find and enact ways to offer students choices. It will assess whether teachers observe a shift in students’ attitudes, engagement, and motivation as their teachers participate in such work. This study will explore the significance of choice through nine teachers' experiences in book study sessions on classroom choice and …

Teaching As Advocacy: Bridging The Gap Between World Language Classrooms And Community, Xinquan Liu, Guy Trainin, Chunmei Guan, Hangxin Yu

Research and Evaluation in Education, Technology, Art, and Design

World Language education in the United States faces significant challenges, including declining enrollments and diminished community support. This paper introduces Teaching as Advocacy as a proactive framework to address these issues, proposing a mindset that integrates advocacy seamlessly into teaching practices. By leveraging community engagement and emphasizing "Connection" and "Community," the framework extends classroom learning into real-world contexts. Strategies such as cross-disciplinary collaborations, service-learning projects, partnerships with ethnic communities, and strategic use of social media amplify the impact of language education, demonstrating its value through tangible outcomes. This paper offers practical examples to showcase how Teaching as Advocacy revitalizes World …

Impact Of Mindfulness On Teaching And Learning, Angie Buttjer

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Research has shown that mindfulness practices that enhance awareness and focus while regulating emotions benefit students' well-being and academic achievements. The research studies mindfulness practices' effects on third-grade classroom teaching and learning processes. The research study explores how the daily incorporation of mindfulness practices impacts student attention and self-management skills together with their academic outcomes while assessing the impact on teacher effectiveness and classroom environments. A mixed-methods approach combines quantitative data from academic assessments, behavioral observations, and qualitative insights from teacher journaling. The initial findings indicate that students who practice mindfulness show better focus and involvement in learning while displaying …

A School-University Research Practice Partnership: Why, How And What's Next, Stephanie Knight, Larry Featherstone

Presentations

This symposium will utilize three unique examples of collaborative research projects taking place under CERI to richly describe features of the partnership. Through the three papers, a summary presentation of features of the overall consortium, discussant comments, and brief Q&A with the presenters, we aim to highlight how CERI is encountering and addressing challenges common to RPPs as well as addressing some emergent and regional issues in innovative ways.

As an RPP, CERI is guided by three broad principles. (1) Mutuality - CERI was developed to benefit both the university and the large local urban school district. Problems of practice …

Edc 4200 Children’S Literature And Language Arts In Childhood Education Syllabus, Ivana Espinet

Open Educational Resources

This document is a syllabus for EDC 4200 Children’s Literature and Language Arts in Childhood Education.

The Effects Of Technology Use In The Classroom Relating To Student Achievement And Engagement, Tayler Nickell

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Technology has made vast improvements in recent years which in turn has trickled into the education system making classrooms switch from traditional learning to learning with the use of technology. Research has shown that there are both advantages and disadvantages to using technology in the classroom. This study aims to find the right balance for technology use with both students and teachers while focusing on student achievement and engagement during their school careers. The researcher read through various scholarly journal articles relating to the topic of the effects of technology on student achievement and engagement. Based on the research, a …

Preservice Teachers’ Experiences With Critical Self-Reflection As A Means For Identifying Resistances To Becoming Culturally Competent: A Phenomenological Study, Susan Elaine Huff

Dissertations

Preservice teacher programs have been charged with finding ways to make programming more multiculturally inclusive due to the student population in K-12 public schools across the United States becoming increasing racially, culturally, or ethnically more diverse each year. The majority of current educational research surrounding multicultural education, explores the limited diversity in teacher education programs, understanding the cultural competency of the current teachers, and investigating discrepancies within current classroom application. There is little research that considers how preservice teachers use critical self-reflection as a tool for working with diverse student populations during clinical work in their program. Therefore, the purpose …

Reading Between The Lines: Examining The Literacy Preparation And Classroom Realities Of Teachers Of Color, Dr. Cathy D. Kea, Fanica Young, Joy Banks, Annette Teasdell

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This study examines the importance of literacy preparation in educator preparation programs (EPPs). Specifically, the authors examine the need to merge literacy practices with culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies to increase reading outcomes for diverse students with disabilities. This article reports on a survey that was distributed to 18 dually prepared teachers of color to explore their collective literacy preparation experiences. The participants were graduates of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The findings indicate that regardless of the institution’s location, EPPs, including those at HBCUs, should be intentional about addressing topics related to diversity. For early career educators …

Pathways To Progress: Policy-Driven Innovation And Community Building In Early Childhood Integrated Education, Hallie Caddy, Rachael Flynn, Annie Insana, Cathy Eschete

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The presentation outlines Belmont University's efforts to transform early childhood education through an innovative integrated teacher preparation program and the development of a new preschool. It discusses the changing landscape of Tennessee’s early childhood education policies, including new licensure endorsements that blend early childhood and special education. Belmont aims to address challenges such as teacher shortages and accessibility while aligning with the university’s mission of serving diverse communities. Key strategies include understanding community needs, anchoring initiatives to the university’s mission, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and leveraging critical resources. The university is preparing to launch its integrated early childhood education program …

Shifting Educators' Perspectives & Instructional Practices From Misconception To Authentic Action For Equity, Alyssa Scherkenbach (Paulson)

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the impact of equity-based professional development (PD) on educators’ perceptions of equity and instructional practices over time. Utilizing a concurrent triangulation design, there was a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures to conduct the study. The use of survey data, qualitative reflections, and exit ticket responses collected throughout the school year, reveal a significant evolution in educators’ understanding of equity. Many educators initially viewed equity in terms of fairness and equality, but through sustained PD throughout the school year, their perspectives shifted toward a deeper recognition of the need for individualized student support and culturally responsive teaching. …

Outside Accessibility For All, A Look At Universal Design Within The Rugged Outdoors For Individuals With A Physical Disability, Emily Woll

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This land and its wild outdoor recreation spaces “were made for you and me” as the old Woody Guthrie song goes (Guthrie, 1944). When I find peace and joy in the rugged national parks, I would like to share it with all my friends, able bodied and not. It is for this reason I explore a thesis topic of accessibility within the rugged outdoors. Therefore my guiding thesis question was: How do our natural outdoor recreation spaces in the USA offer full accessibility for individuals with a physical disability? While completing the literature for this capstone thesis, several key influences …

Ells’ Voices: Their Experiences About Wida Access Testing And Ways To Support Them, Maricris Treuenfels

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the lived experiences of 15 English Language Learners (ELLs) in relation to the annual WIDA ACCESS assessment. Using a mixed-methods design, the research combined quantitative survey responses with qualitative interview data to gain a more complete understanding of how students perceived the test and the supports provided to them. Findings revealed that participants often experienced anxiety before the test, felt confident during the test, and became nervous afterward. They expressed a need for clearer instructions, more practice opportunities, and a preference for paper-based testing. The study also emphasized the importance of culturally responsive instruction, consistent preparation, and …

Sjsu Erfa News, Spring 2025, San Jose State University, Emeritus And Retired Faculty Association

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (ERFA) Newsletter

Volume 38, No 3

Investigating Child-Informed Considerations For Animated Picture Symbols Representing Emotion For Aac Use In Children With Asd, Hannah Kitsmiller

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Development of emotional competence is an important area of consideration when supporting individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Emotional competence includes skills related to identifying and communicating about one’s emotions. Individuals who use AAC may struggle to develop strong skills in emotional competence. One potential barrier to developing emotional competence may be access to symbols that facilitate understanding of the represented emotion. Emotions are abstract and challenging to represent in visual symbols. Additionally, evidence suggests individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have visual perceptual differences when viewing faces. Current emotion symbols are often depicted using isolated facial …

Everyday Storytelling: The Function, Meaning, And Impact Of College Student's Storytelling And Storylistening, Sophie K. Richards

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The current study investigated the stories that 102 college students heard and told through the course of a 1-day diary study with surveys administered at four timepoints. Investigated through the perspective of the small story framework (Bamberg & Georgakopoulou, 2008), everyday talk (Goldsmith & Baxter, 1996) and Communicated Narrative Sense-Making (CNSM) theory (Koenig Kellas, 2022), participants reported about the stories that they heard and told throughout their day, as well as completed self-report measures of well-being. The study aimed to understand the characteristics of everyday stories, the functions they serve, the meanings they hold, and their impact on well-being. Participants …

Spoken Melodies: A Black Languaging Ela Curriculum, Taylor Gray , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Challenges In Higher Education For Latino U.S - Born Children Of Undocumented Immigrants, Lupita Gomez Benitez

Senior Theses

Latino native-born children of undocumented immigrants in the United States occupy a unique position within American society. They are citizens by birth and therefore, entitled to all the rights of a regular citizen. However, society does not treat them as such due to their parents' legal status. This paper analyzes the barriers that these students face during the higher education process, specifically in South Carolina. The study uses a review of existing literature and qualitative interviews to uncover some of these challenges and why these students do not ask for help. The findings suggest that these students do have certain …

Student Inclusion In Least Restrictive Environment, Kelley Colling

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

When writing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), the least restrictive environment (LRE) is typically defined as the general education classroom. However, this may not be held for all students. This research explores how LRE placement impacts academic performance and social engagement among students with disabilities. Through quantitative data collection and a descriptive research design, the study questions the assumption that inclusive practices are always the best approach. The findings indicate a statistical correlation between the amount of time spent in general education and the frequency of behavioral issues among students with disabilities. Specifically, data show that students exhibited more behavioral problems …

Seed 1001 Critical Issues In Us Education, Roberto Martinez

Open Educational Resources

All levels of public education in the United States today have become the focus for often competing political, economic, social, and cultural visions of how and why we should educate the nation’s youth. This course offers students the opportunity to become knowledgeable about critical issues in American education and the controversies surrounding them, while considering the historical, political, sociological, and economic dimensions of each. Among the issues the course will address are a) the purpose of public education in a democracy; b) the private/public split in education, with a focus on home schooling, charters, parochial, and private K-20 schools; c) …

Deadtime In The Vale Of Soul-Making: Hermeneutics, Humanization, And Higher Education In Prison, Dale Michael Brown

Dissertations

This body of work examines higher education with and for justice-involved people from a descriptive, theoretical, and empirical perspective—pulling together multiple disciplines and employing different methodologies from the humanities and social sciences. The investigation is written from a philosophical perspective via educational foundations and a social science perspective via qualitative research, including an examination of carceral higher education’s connections to teaching and experiential learning. This approach reflects the interdisciplinary nature of both the author’s degree program and the topic itself, which (as a field of academic inquiry) is part theoretical and part empirical (both qualitative and quantitative). The papers in …

Meeting The Needs Of Children With Communication Disorders: A Collaborative Approach Between Classroom Teachers And Speech-Language Pathologists, Edwilda Henry

Theses & Dissertations

Approximately 912,000 students are enrolled in New York City public schools, with approximately 157,300 receiving special education services. According to the NYC Department of Education (2024), 96.9% of students with communication disorders spend at least 80% of their day in general education classrooms. This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of classroom teachers (CTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) regarding their collaborative practices. The study intended to look at the effectiveness and perspective of CTs and SLPs regarding their collaborative practices in public school settings, from elementary through high school, intending to improve educational outcomes for students …

Language And Literacy In Early Childhood Education: Hybrid Syllabus, Michele De Goeas-Malone

Open Educational Resources

Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education is a capstone course, which means it is a core course in the education degree that offers students nearing graduation the opportunity to integrate their learning to help them address issues in education related to the development of language and literacy from birth to 8 years of age. This course is also a writing intensive course. That means that you will be engaged in several high and low stakes writing activities throughout the semester.

This course is designed to promote your understanding of the importance of issues concerning language and literacy in early …

Linguistic Ideologies Of Foreign Assistant Language Teachers In Japan, Catherine Johnson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) in Japan are recruited globally to provide support in primary and secondary English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. Though there are several recruitment programs, this study examined ALTs who participated in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Specifically, this study addressed the research question: how do foreign assistant language teachers (ALTs) teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Japan develop a linguistic ideology? To provide context to this research question, the literature review covered prescriptivism and descriptivism as two ends of a spectrum of linguistic ideologies, speakerism and pedagogy of Global Englishes, pragmatic …

A Look At Improving Independent Reading: Introducing Concept Mapping Into Sustained Silent Reading To Improve Comprehension, Shawn Reagan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Reagan, S. (2025). A Look at Improving Independent Reading: Introducing Concept Mapping into Sustained Silent Reading to Improve Comprehension

This thesis explores how integrating concept mapping into a sustained silent reading (SSR) program affects middle school students’ reading comprehension. Motivated by personal experiences as a reader and educator, and shaped by literacy research and the Science of Reading movement, this study investigates strategies to increase student engagement and comprehension through intervention within independent reading programs. Conducted at a K–12 charter school in Minneapolis, the quasi-experimental study involved two sixth-grade English Language Arts classes over nine weeks. One class (experimental group) …