Digital Commons Network^™

Expanding Traditional Literacy Frameworks: A Multiliteracies Approach In Elementary Classrooms, Caroline Cuenca

Doctoral Dissertations

Teaching literacy in elementary schools can provide students with a rich, meaningful, and engaging learning experience. Furthermore, cultivating a culturally responsive approach to teaching and learning can promote feelings of acceptance and belonging in young children (Comber, 2018). However, elementary educators are feeling increased pressure to emphasize literacy instruction with a sole focus on foundational literacy skills, standardized curriculum, and accountability measures (Unadkat & Ochoa, 2026). Unfortunately, these instructional practices often limit students' opportunities to engage in creative, collaborative, multimodal, and meaningful learning (Unadkat & Cuenca, 2025). This mixed-methods study examined how a critical multiliteracies curriculum was implemented in a …

Ai Benefits In Education And Peer Recommendation: The Role Of Student Demographics, Haydar Cukurtepe, Musa Pinar, Faruk Guder, Aysegul Yayimli

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly expanded its use in higher education. This study investigates whether students are willing to recommend AI tools for academic purposes, given their growing use and recognized educational benefits. The specific objectives of the study are to: 1) Determine the extent to which students are likely to recommend the use of AI tools to other students for their coursework; 2) Examine whether this likelihood is correlated with perceived benefits and ethical concerns; 3) Identify whether perceived benefits and ethical concerns are significant predictors of students’ likelihood of recommending AI tools; and 4) Assess whether students’ likelihood …

Staying Power: A Case Study Of Teacher Retention In A Rural District, Amanda F. Mclellan, Amanda F. Mclellan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition continues to be a significant challenge in K-12 education, particularly in rural school districts where limited resources and geographic isolation can intensify staffing instability. While much research has focused on teacher attrition, little research examines why tenured teachers choose to remain in rural districts. The purpose of this qualitative, single-case study was to examine the experiences and insights of tenured teachers regarding their decision to continue teaching in a small, rural Texas school district. Guided by Mason and Matas’s fourcapital framework for teacher retention, this study examined how human, social, structural, and positive psychological capital influenced teachers’ decisions …

The Perceived Barriers Of A One-To-One Technology Implementation: A Post-Covid Case Study, Adam Howard Creasy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dominant, exploratory sequential case study aimed to identify stakeholder perceptions of technology within a one-to-one technology initiative and outline any possible barriers. The study examined the perceptions of teachers, parents, and administrators within a rural K-12 public school district in Pennsylvania. The study provided school district stakeholders with data they can use to improve existing and future initiatives by early intervention within areas of concern identified by the study. Data were collected using a two round approach which includes focus groups and targeted surveys utilizing research-backed electronic survey tools. The research questions addressed in the study were the …

Aiw26s: Machine Learning Of Structured Data, Moumita Saha

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This workshop introduces the fundamentals of machine learning for structured data, focusing on tabular datasets and real-world applications. Participants explore key concepts such as data types, data preprocessing, feature engineering, and supervised learning methods. The session covers commonly used models, including linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, and neural networks, along with evaluation metrics such as RMSE, accuracy, and confusion matrices. By the end of the workshop, participants will have gained a practical understanding of how to build, interpret, and evaluate machine learning models for structured data.

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The "Intervention Implementation Experience" With Department Chairs And Program Coordinators During A Performance Improvement, Courtney W. Schoolmaster

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Minimal research has been conducted on the experiences of department chairs and program coordinators with the implementation of performance improvement in learning outcome assessment. Focusing on a multidisciplinary college that offered associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates, located within the SACSCOC region, this transcendental phenomenology aims to understand the lived experiences of department chairs and program coordinators in a community college during the implementation/maintenance phases of a performance improvement initiative for the college’s program and general learning outcome assessment process.

This phenomenological study was conducted with eighteen department chairs and program coordinators, and two semi-structured interviews were conducted via Webex. …

Mathematics In Crisis: Predictors Of Achievement For Black And Latino High School Students Post-Covid-19, David Mikel Etheridge

Dissertations

This quantitative study examines systemic factors predicting math achievement for Black and Latino high school students in Chicagoland's 2025 graduating class, using public Illinois School Report Card data. It identifies teacher qualifications, chronic absenteeism, and school ratings as statistically significant predictors, confirming systemic inequities. The study advocates for structural policy reform, targeted teacher investment, and culturally responsive pedagogy to achieve equity and disrupt barriers for marginalized students.

The Impact Of Social-Emotional Learning On Student Academic Achievement And Outcomes, Tanya L. Fields

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of the Second Step social-emotional learning (SEL) program on student achievement and outcomes in Forest Elementary School District (FESD). Guided by Patton’s utilization-focused evaluation framework, the research addressed five questions: (1) How has Second Step implementation during SY23–24 and SY24–25 impacted behavioral referrals in K–5 students? (2) How has it influenced NWEA, ELA, and Math grades in SY23–24 and SY24–25? (3) To what extent do teachers and leaders feel prepared to implement SEL and the Second Step program? (4) How effective is the training and support provided by school leaders? and (5) What additional …

Beyond Interventions: District Design Of Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support As An Equity Framework To Address Inequitable Student Outcomes, Joyce Debrah

Dissertations

Although multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) is often examined through the lens of school-level intervention systems and the fidelity of tiered academic and behavioral supports, this study approached MTSS from a district leadership and systems design perspective. Rather than evaluating the implementation of specific interventions within individual schools, the study investigated how district-level leadership structures, governance practices, and implementation infrastructure shape the capacity to operationalize MTSS as a coherent framework for advancing equitable student outcomes across a portfolio of schools. By examining district systems, structures, and decision-making processes, the study positioned the district as the primary unit of change and …

The Leadership Lens: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Sensemaking Experiences Of School Leaders Implementing Virginia's New Standards Of Accreditation And Accountability, Paul M. Wilson Jr.

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This phenomenological study exposes the complex cognitive and organizational processes school leaders navigate as they translate high-stakes state mandates into localized action. By examining the implementation of Virginia’s revised Standards of Accreditation and Accountability (SOA), this study challenges the prevailing managerial paradigm that views policy implementation as a linear, mechanical execution of directives. Instead, grounded in sensemaking theory and SDT, this research conceptualizes implementation as a situated and interpretive act shaped by leaders’ prior experiences, beliefs, and psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Using a qualitative phenomenological design, data were collected through semi structured interviews with 12 school and …

The Role Of Autonomy And Motivation On Teacher Retention: A Mixed Methods Study, Jordan Overton

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Teacher retention remains a persistent concern in the United States, with nearly 13% of classrooms unfilled by licensed teachers. Grounded in self-determination theory and basic psychological needs theory, this mixed methods sequential explanatory study examined the relationship between teacher autonomy, motivation, and intentions to leave, while also exploring the contextual factors that shaped teachers’ perceptions of autonomy within their work environments.

In the quantitative phase, survey data were collected from 123 elementary and middle school teachers across three school divisions in Southeastern Virginia. Measures included teacher autonomy, work motivation, and intentions to leave one’s school or division and the teaching …

Perceptions Of The Community Eligibility Provision (Cep) Program, Angela H. Napier

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study examined how educators and families perceive and experience the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and its influence on student attendance, engagement, well-being, and school climate within one public school division. While prior research has established quantitative links between universal meal programs and academic outcomes, limited research has explored how stakeholders interpret and experience these effects in practice. Addressing this gap, this study employed a convergent mixed-methods design, integrating archival attendance data, surveys, and semi-structured interviews with principals, assistant principals, teachers and families. Quantitative findings revealed modest but inconsistent changes in absenteeism following the CEP implementation, while qualitative findings provided …

Women Leading In Higher Education: Exploring The Experiences Of Women Leaders In Student Affairs, Amelia Lindsay

Honors Theses

Student affairs is a field within higher education that works to support students’ out-of-classroom needs and provide them with a college experience that promotes holistic growth. This study examines the experiences of women leaders in student affairs at a mid-sized university in the southeastern United States and the opportunities and barriers they encountered in their pathways to their careers. Through in-depth, qualitative interviews, clear themes emerged regarding both facilitators of and challenges to their progression to leadership. Data show that their early life characteristics, self-perceptions, collegiate involvement, and mentorship were the largest catalysts in their career trajectories while the challenge …

Deferred Action Theory As A Framework For Adaptive Educational Procurement: Navigating Uncertainty And Digital Transformation In Education Systems, Herdiana Herdiana, B. Yuliarto Nugroho, Andreo Wahyudi Atmoko

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Public procurement constitutes a significant portion of national expenditure and directly affects economic growth, service delivery, and governance quality. In Indonesia, education sector procurement absorbs more than half of the allocated budget but remains vulnerable to inefficiencies, rigid procedures, and corruption risks. This study aims to conceptualize an adaptive framework for Public Procurement Business Process Management (PP-BPM) that addresses environmental uncertainty, digital transformation, and governance challenges. This conceptual study integrates Deferred Action Theory (DAT), Emergent Business Processes (EBP), and Business Process Management (BPM) to develop a multi-level framework for procurement. The analysis covers strategic, managerial, and operational dimensions, emphasizing deferment …

Reimagining Instructional Planning: Balancing Real-Life Experiences With Ai Instantaneity, Shaanii-Grace Robinson-Ritzdorf

Essays in Education

Instructional planning challenges teachers to balance creativity, time, and application of real-life experiences. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers rapid lesson ideas, personalized resources, and adaptive tools, yet uncritical use risks generic, disengaging instruction. This essay was based on the background study that examined elementary teachers’ integration of real-life experiences in science and math lessons in northwestern New Mexico through lesson plans, professional development materials, and interviews. Results revealed teacher-centered, procedural approaches with limited connection to students’ lived experiences, while personally designed lessons allowed greater flexibility for meaningful examples. Thoughtfully guided AI can bridge this gap, supporting scenario-based learning, differentiation, and student …

Empowering Educators With Generative Ai In Higher Education: Design Patterns For Visible Learning, Jeanne Charles

Essays in Education

A student submits a paper that reads smooth and confident. With generative AI, that polish no longer proves learning. Higher education now needs course designs that keep student thinking visible and assessable.

This literature review synthesizes 39 empirical studies (2024 through early 2026) on generative AI in higher education. It treats 22 learner-facing classroom studies as design cases and codes task type, permitted AI use, instructor guardrails, and measured outcomes. It uses the remaining studies to situate adoption, policy, and academic integrity risks.

Across the evidence, outcomes follow the design more than the tool. AI supports learning when it expands …

Perspective In Biomedical Sciences Field: Education And Career, Fitra Adi Prayogo, Mellyaning Oktaviani Sonya Kirana Sari, Isy Royhanaty, Poppy Fansisca Amelia, Heni Wijayanti, Ni Nyoman Maryaningtyas Adinatha, Dyah Wulandari, Anto Budiharjo

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Abstract

Background: The biomedical sciences represent a dynamic and multidisciplinary field pivotal to advancing human health through research, education, and innovation.

Objective(s): This review explores the evolving landscape of biomedical education and career pathways, driven by technological advancements, interdisciplinary integration, and global health demands.

Methods: We examine the distinctions between biomedical science, biomedicine, and biomedical engineering, highlighting their historical origins and contemporary roles. The education and career trajectories of biomedical laboratory scientists (BLS) are analysed, emphasising diverse competencies, core curricula, and the impact of regional policies on professional qualifications. Emerging trends and ethical/regulatory challenges are discussed.

Result(s): Key trends include …

Grade 8 Mathematics Teachers’ Perceptions Of Students’ Low Performance In A Northeast U.S. State, Jheneal Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through the study is that 82% of Grade 8 students score below proficiency on the end of year mathematics exam in a Northeast state. Grounded in Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Gay’s culturally responsive theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Grade 8 mathematics teachers’ perceptions of the factors contributing to students’ low performance and the resources needed to support student success. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 10 Grade 8 mathematics teachers were conducted. Through thematic analysis, the following four themes emerged: teachers were …

Emotional Intelligence Of Early College High School Juniors, Donna M. Besant

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Donna M. Besant on March 31, 2026.

Beyond The Pipeline: First-Generation College Students’ Community Cultural Wealth And Stem Degree Pathways, Douglas Havard, Zahra Gholami, Jue Wu, Danette Y. Martinez, A. J. Balatico, Lara Perez-Felkner

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines how first-generation college students (FGCS) and continuing-generation college students navigate STEM pathways by modeling four sequential milestones in the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09): high school graduation, college enrollment, STEM major selection, and STEM degree completion. Guided by Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth framework, we use survey-weighted sequential logistic regression to estimate stage-specific associations between academic preparation, psychosocial resources, and institutional context, conditional on prior attainment. Results reveal distinct generational patterns of STEM progression. For FGCS, rigorous high school mathematics preparation exerts a powerful influence on high school completion, while later-developing math self-efficacy and science identity …

Nevada Science Olympiad, Christian Ison

Community Engagement Expo Research Posters

Since 2022, the UNLV School of Integrated Health Sciences has partnered with the Clark County School District to engage and inspire Nevada students through innovative STEM education initiatives. This ongoing collaboration supports the development and hosting of competitive STEM tournaments at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, providing students with opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while fostering critical thinking, academic achievement, and future workforce development.

Tech Trekker, Erika Marti, Yania Avila

Community Engagement Expo Research Posters

We are a team of faculty and students in STEM fields who are dedicated to providing cutting-edge technology to teachers and students in Las Vegas and nearby communities.

Our Mission: Our primary mission is to increase student exposure to and engagement in modern science and engineering tools in order to encourage students into high-demand STEM fields.

What Is Alive? Students’ Conceptions Of The Traits That Unite Living Organisms, Jeremy L. Hsu, Meredith A. Dorner, Kate Hill

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Biology is the study of life, but students often hold misconceptions about what it means to be alive, with children often associating life with movement. These misconceptions can lead to biases in what students think is alive, with younger children often not thinking of plants as living given their lack of discernable movement. Despite this past work, there have been no prior studies that we are aware of that have examined how students in introductory biology conceptualize what it means to be alive. Here, we draw upon a fortuitous dataset collected from an in-class activity done on the first day …

A Systematic Review Of Mathematical Interpretations Of The Weton Marriage Tradition Within Islamic Cultural Contexts, Ratna Damayanti, Surya Sari Faradiba

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study is grounded in the limited integration of mathematics, culture, and religion within academic discussions of local traditions, particularly the weton marriage calculation practice. It aims to explore the mathematical concepts embedded in weton calculations and to analyse these practices from an Islamic law perspective within an interdisciplinary framework. The study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method following the six-stage PRISMA 2020 protocol, including the formulation of research questions, development of a search strategy, application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, study selection, quality assessment, and thematic synthesis. Data were collected from Google Scholar and Garuda using the keywords …

Ai Adoption In Research Administration At Emerging Research Institutions, Dylan Ruediger, Ruby Macdougall, Stefanie Brachfield, Douglas R. Dechow, Jonathan Parker, Jana Remy

Library Articles and Research

"With funding from the National Science Foundation’s GRANTED program (grant #2437518), Ithaka S+R, Chapman University, and Montclair State University organized two workshops to help research administrators consider how to leverage AI to build research capacity at ERIs. Our first workshop, held at Montclair State in September 2025, brought together 31 participants from 13 academic and medical institutions in the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania region. Our second workshop, hosted by Chapman University on December 5, 2025, included 32 participants from 13 colleges and universities in Southern California. The approximately 2,600 ERIs in the United States receive a disproportionately small amount of federal …

Improving Pre-Nursing Retention Through Structured Readiness Modules: Development Of The Pre-Nursing Information Hub, Amber M. Carter

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Amber M. Carter on March 30, 2026.

Bridging The Gap: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Relationships Between Student-Teacher Demographic Mismatch And Students’ Perceptions Of Fairness, Inclusion, And Achievement, Nicholas Nahrwold

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationships between student-teacher demographic mismatch and students’ perceptions of fairness, inclusion, and achievement. The purpose of this research was to determine how race, gender, and SES mismatch between students and teachers is related to their feelings of belonging and academic outcomes. A mixed-methods study was conducted involving a combination of survey data, student performance records, and student interviews. Results from the study indicated a relationship between student-teacher gender match and GPA, student-teacher racial match and GPA, and student-teacher racial match and attendance outcomes. Although not statistically significant, the data collected also highlighted trends between student-teacher SES …

Perspectives Of Elementary Teachers On The Challenges Of Implementing Reading Technology, Hajirah Abdullah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reading skills in elementary school students continue to decline despite the efforts of teachers and lawmakers. The problem addressed through this study was that although teachers at ABC Elementary School (pseudonym) had access to 30 different software/apps for technology literacy programs that could help improve student achievement on state assessments, district data showed that very few teachers were using the technology with students. The purpose of this qualitative project study was to explore the perspectives of elementary teachers on the challenges of implementing reading technology and ways to better support its use in classroom instruction at ABC Elementary School. The …

“Always Having To Dampen And Dilute My Essence In Order To Fit”: Intersectional Experiences Of Queer Scholars Of Color In Stem And Stem Education, Nuria Jaumot-Pascual, Lisette Torres-Gerald, Maria Ong

The Qualitative Report

This article examines the intersectional experiences of queer scholars of color in STEM and STEM education. Using arts-informed research methods, we conducted and analyzed five interviews and a focus group transcript that focused on the support and hurdles that five participants encountered and the strategies they utilized to navigate their work in STEM and STEM education. We identified that, against the backdrop of prevailing heteronormativity and normative whiteness in STEM, participants compartmentalized their STEM and social identities, felt compelled to negotiate the risks of coming out, and assumed the double burden and invisible work of students who were queer and/or …

Copyright Information

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Publication rights to works is granted to Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities, however, full copyright for works published in this journal is retained by the author(s). The author(s) may post their works online in an institutional repository, on their university departmental website, or on their own personal websites.