Digital Commons Network^™

Action Research To Explore The Use Of Augmented Reality To Support High School Students In Understanding And Creating Art Work In A Drawing Course, Alicia Joanne Cobler

Theses and Dissertations

High school students in Drawing 1 at a high school in South Carolina struggle to understand meaning or make personal connections to their own artwork. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the implementation of immersive reality technology, specifically augmented reality (AR), in art for high school Drawing 1 students to help them understand meaning in art and create their own meaningful artwork. Creating personally meaningful symbolic works of art is one of the first Visual Art National Core Standards (National Core Visual Art Standards, 2014). Creating meaning in artwork allows students to understand society, provide an opportunity …

Analyzing The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Achievement Gap: The State Of Education In Minnesota From A Superintendent's Perspective, Jillian Stockmo Chapman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education systems globally, nationally and in Minnesota. This created difficulties but also opportunities for innovation, especially for students most impacted by educational inequities. This dissertation investigates the impacts of the pandemic through three related research questions: (1) In what ways did COVID-19 impact Minnesota’s achievement gap? (2) How do superintendents describe the impact of COVID-19 on their districts and their districts’ disparities? And (3) What have been some of the most innovative opportunities districts’ have explored to recoup learning loss emerging from the COVID-19 crisis?

Using a qualitative research design that is grounded in a transformative …

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

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (ERFA) Newsletter

Volume 38, No 4

Exploring Teachers' Perceptions And Experiences In Adopting And Implementing High- Quality Instructional Materials At A Public Charter School In A Mid-Atlantic State, Marietta Maloy Williams

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This action research dissertation examines the perceptions and experiences of public charter school teachers in a Mid-Atlantic state regarding the adoption and implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). Using a mixed-methods approach, the study investigated the impact of HQIM on teaching practices and student outcomes. A survey, followed by focus groups, gathered both quantitative and qualitative data from a targeted population of K–8 teachers. Data analysis included thematic coding of focus group discussions. Findings reveal significant challenges in HQIM implementation, highlighting the need for enhanced professional development and ongoing instructional support. The study concludes with implications for practice and recommendations …

Extracting From The Extracurriculum: Using Extracurricular Composition Practices To Bring Purpose, Voice, And Engagement Back To The English Classroom, Grace N. Ellis

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores how principles and practices from extracurricular literacy spaces and the extracurriculum as a whole can inform and revitalize the secondary English classroom. In response to growing student disengagement, apathy, and disconnection, particularly within highly standardized and product-focused classrooms, this argument investigates how programs such as the Nebraska Writers Collective’s All Writes Reserved program and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Young Writer Camp model authentic engagement, identity exploration and development, and rhetorical agency through creative, student-centered writing practices. Drawing from composition theory, educational research, and experiential data from Nebraska-based writing initiatives, the thesis argues that incorporating choice, safe-risk taking, …

The Impact Of Instructional School Design: The 6–12 School Model As A Strategic Response To Increase Black Boys Self-Efficacy, Xavier E. Edwards

Education Doctoral

This dissertation investigated the impact of the 6–12 instructional school design on the self-efficacy of Black boys, utilizing the theoretical frameworks of Bandura's self-efficacy model and Yosso's community cultural wealth model. The research explored how this specialized school structure supports Black boys' academic achievement, aspirations, and resilience—addressing longstanding disparities in educational and social outcomes. Through qualitative interviews with Black male alumni of 6–12 school models, the study identified factors within the design that positively influence self-efficacy both within and beyond the classroom. Findings indicated that sustained relationships with supportive teachers, a keen sense of brotherhood among peers, and consistent engagement …

Perceptions Of An English Language Learner Program In A Florida Middle School, Kristifer M. Harden

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

A growing number of English Language Learners (ELLs) exists within the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore administrators' and teachers' perceptions of a school district’s ELL program and determine how those perceptions align with the ELL supports used in the classrooms of a small school district in Florida. The study intended to answer the question: How do the perceptions of an ELL program held by the administrators and teachers responsible for the implementation of the ELL program differ from one another and from the ELL supports being provided in classrooms? This qualitative case study was developed …

Sel Integration Into The Kindergarten Curriculum, Brooke Kingsley

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This inquiry-based research project investigates the effectiveness and efficiency of integrating social emotional learning (SEL) into the kindergarten curriculum. With a growing number of young learners entering school lacking foundational emotional regulation and social skills, the study examines how explicit SEL instruction can be embedded meaningfully into daily academic routines. The researcher used qualitative methods, including teacher surveys, reflective journaling, literature review, and analysis of classroom behavior artifacts from a rural Iowa school district. Six kindergarten teachers participated in the survey, providing insight into current SEL integration strategies, perceived effectiveness, and common barriers. Results showed that while all teachers integrate …

Crosssections, Summer 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Physics.

CrossSections

Contents:

A Message from the Department Head, Dr. Paul Shand --- 1
Department Happenings --- 3
Faculty Profile - Takeshi Yasuda --- 7
Student Profile - Brandon Schmidt --- 8
Student Research --- 9
Student Focus --- 10
Physics Education --- 13
Alumni Profile - Roger Burkhart --- 14
Alumni News - Sterling Hartman --- 16
New Physics --- 17

Aligning School Improvement – From Goal Setting To Classroom Application., Kate M. Cassada, Carol J. Stevens, Jamelle S. Wilson

Education Faculty Publications

By connecting district goal setting to school initiatives and classroom application, a Virginia school district makes accountability work.

Teaching Learning Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 1, Sastra Deemed To Be University

TLC Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Predictive Value Of Basc-3 Anxiety Scale And Working Memory Index Scores For Clinically Significant Test Anxiety: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Non-Classifiable Cases, Des'tiana S. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation will explore how test anxiety (TA) affects working memory (WM) and whether certain factors can help predict higher levels of test anxiety. Anxiety has been defined as a common experience that can show up in various forms—like general worry, social fears, panic attacks, and specific phobias (APA, 2022). It was described as often triggering our natural “fight-or-flight” response, which can impact our ability to focus, think clearly, and remember things. For students, test anxiety has been especially challenging, affecting how they perform in high-stakes academic settings. Using data from a university based psychological assessment center, this study will …

Evaluating The Predictive Value Of Basc-3 Anxiety Scale And Working Memory Index Scores For Clinically Significant Test Anxiety: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Non-Classifiable Cases, Des'tiana S. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation will explore how test anxiety (TA) affects working memory (WM) and whether certain factors can help predict higher levels of test anxiety. Anxiety has been defined as a common experience that can show up in various forms—like general worry, social fears, panic attacks, and specific phobias (APA, 2022). It was described as often triggering our natural “fight-or-flight” response, which can impact our ability to focus, think clearly, and remember things. For students, test anxiety has been especially challenging, affecting how they perform in high-stakes academic settings. Using data from a university based psychological assessment center, this study will …

The Relationships Between Expectancy-Value Beliefs, Communal Value Beliefs, Family Identity, And Academic Persistence Among First- And Continuing-Generation College Students, Douglas W. Snuffer

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

First-generation college students (students for whom neither parent has a 4-year college degree) have lower college graduation rates than their continuing-generation peers (Cahalan et al., 2021; Fry, 2021). First-generation students may experience barriers to higher education, leading to lower levels of academic achievement motivation for college. Two of these barriers may include 1) cultural mismatch (Stephens, Fryberg, et al., 2012) with colleges via communal value (a value set that emphasizes community and family over the self) and 2) a strong sense of family identity, which lends itself to perceived family obligations (Fuligni et al., 2007). To examine the relationships between …

Future-Proofing Careers: Unlocking The Potential Of Ai-Driven Digital Badges, Harika Rao

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This poster explores the transformative role of AI-driven digital badges and microcredentials in addressing the urgent need for adaptable, workforce-ready graduates in an era of rapid technological change. By offering personalized, stackable, and industry-aligned credentials, higher education institutions can empower learners with just-in-time skills that traditional degree programs often fail to provide. This poster highlights how AI can support granular competency assessment, flexible online delivery, and lifelong learning pathways, enabling students to showcase evidence of skill mastery in ways that are both affordable and scalable.

Emergent Bilingual Educators’ Viewpoint Of Biliteracy Spaces: Building Capacity For Language Preservation And Development, Maria A. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the perspectives of emergent bilingual (EB) educators regarding the value of learning two languages simultaneously for EBs at the elementary level in Texas. The problem examined was that EBs were losing their primary language while acquiring English. More EBs were entering bilingual programs with no language dominance or mixed language dominance, and researchers had explored this issue from various perspectives, including teacher language ideologies and assessment practices based on monolingual standards. This inductive qualitative case study aimed to identify what educators perceived as the benefits of bilingual education in primary classrooms where students learned two languages simultaneously. …

The Impact Of Students' Attendance On Their Academic Success: A Ypar Study, Quennella Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is a collaborative research approach that empowers students to examine issues affecting their lives and communities. This action research aimed to investigate the relationship between students’ attendance and academic success on middle school students, focusing specifically on eighth-grade students based on the theoretical framework of the critical race theory (CRT) in education and the self-determination theory (SDT). Three research questions were explored related to the impact of students’ attendance on their academic success: 1) What do students consider factors that lead to their poor attendance? 2) How do students feel they can be supported in …

Filling In The Gaps: Evaluating A Self-Regulated Learning Strategy For Middle School Students Using Action Research, Leslie Eller Southerland

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to evaluate the effects of a self-regulated learning innovation on middle school students’ self-regulated learning skills. One way to address problems such as student motivation, student engagement, and distracting behaviors in the classroom is to explicitly teach self-regulated learning skills such as goal setting, strategy use, self-monitoring, and systematic practice. Two research questions guided this study: (1) How and to what extent does a self-regulated learning innovation impact 7th and 8th grade students’ self-regulated learning skills (planning, self-monitoring, evaluation, reflection)? (2) In what ways do 7^th and 8^th grade students …

Using Fables To Enhance Social Emotional Learning, Eric Albers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question guiding this project is: How can we use fables to strengthen SEL connections with our students and families while enhancing the relationship between character development and life skills? The project addresses growing concerns about student anxiety, depression, and social disconnection while recognizing schools' expanding role in mental health. This work builds upon literature on home-school partnerships, bibliotherapy, and culturally responsive pedagogy, including research on fable comprehension, CASEL's SEL framework, and "funds of knowledge" that honor diverse cultural perspectives.The methodology involved developing a curriculum unit that integrates fables into the existing CharacterStrong SEL program through a Universal Design …

Promoting Environmental Literacy And Stewardship Through Interdisciplinary Teaching, Eric Wadnal

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Some of the most pressing issues the current generation is experiencing are related to the environment. Teachers, regardless of discipline, must be prepared to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to solve these issues. Environmental education (EE) is critical for promoting environmental literacy and stewardship. Therefore, this paper explores the research question: How can environmental education be applied to interdisciplinary learning that emphasizes community and builds meaningful connections to the local environment? The impact of connecting students to local environments and communities demonstrates the need for EE approaches that are contextually relevant, participatory, and interdisciplinary. To support …

Curriculum Promotion Of Students’ Stem Self-Efficacy, Rae Eisenreich

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

As the field of STEM grows and expands, it does the same within classrooms. Self-efficacy in students' STEM experiences and skill building can be promoted by educators. When students do have high STEM self-efficacy, they may be more likely to persevere through difficult tasks and remain optimistic during the learning process. This research is centered around the question: What are the five most critical components of STEM curriculum design that promote students' self-efficacy? After reading and researching, the five areas of criteria to help promote this became apparent: active and hands-on learning, inquiry-based with authentic problem-solving, self-identity and career awareness, …

Middle School Science Inquiry-Based Learning On A Budget, Rosalie Olander

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This curriculum project was based on the question, “How can science educators teach middle school students while promoting quality inquiry-based learning with a minimum budget?” It was inspired by budget constraints forcing teachers to spend personal funds ($500-$750 annually) on classroom supplies. Science teachers are particularly impacted due to specialized equipment needs, and quality inquiry-based learning is often sacrificed due to cost limitations. The curriculum created as part of this project was written with the framework of Pedaste et al.'s (2015) inquiry phases, the National Research Council's (2012) A Framework for K-12 Science Education, and Wiggins and McTighe's (2011) Understanding …

Beyond Language Barriers: Challenging The Equity And Validity Of English-Only Standardized Tests For English Language Learners, Courtney Pille

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

English Language Learners represent one of the fastest-growing student populations in American schools, yet they are required to take state standardized tests designed exclusively for native English speakers. This practice creates significant validity, reliability, and equity concerns–as research demonstrates that academic English proficiency takes 4-8 years to develop while students face annual testing requirements beginning in grade 3. This capstone uses a comprehensive literature review examining standardized testing practices, English language acquisition processes, and equity challenges to answer the research question: To what extent does administering English-only standardized tests to English Language Learners (ELLs) produce valid measurements of their academic …

Developing Growth Mindsets In The Math Classroom, James Logan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone seeks to answer the question, How can students develop growth mindsets while learning math? The research was inspired by the belief that learning mathematics could help students develop a growth mindset, which could have a positive impact on both their academic achievement and their overall well-being outside of school. A literature review was conducted focusing on the value of a growth mindset, specific strategies for its development, and the effects of a growth mindset on underrepresented populations. The research confirmed the importance of growth mindsets, identifying both academic and social-emotional benefits. Additionally, multiple strategies for developing growth mindsets …

The Integration Of Movement And Technology In Elementary Schools: Enhancing Student Learning, Emily Hillis

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of technology has increased within elementary classrooms. Research shows that there are many advantages and disadvantages to students having these technology tools during the school day. Movement-based learning has since taken a decline in elementary classrooms since the pandemic. Research suggests that movement is impactful to students retention, engagement, and mood. This encouraged the idea of How can educators combine technology and movement activities to enhance learning outcomes for elementary students? The literature review explores the different sides of technology and movement-based learning. It examines the advantages and disadvantages, challenges, and the impact that …

Incorporating Cooperative Learning And Active Listening Skills In Secondary-Level Science Classrooms, Kaveri Kamatgi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Middle school students are in a key stage of developing their social and emotional skills. Research emphasizes the importance of focusing on effective instructional strategies to support and enhance that development. In science classrooms, this means providing opportunities for cooperative learning and active listening skills, enabling students to interact and consider diverse perspectives while working in lab investigations, problem-based activities, or research projects. According to the NGSS framework for K-12 science education, students are expected to engage in scientific practices that foster scientific thinking skills. To support the development of these skills, this capstone project explored the question: How can …

Making More “Math People”: Increasing The Accessibility Of High-Level Math Classes Through Detracking, Aidan Clements

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

One of the most often maligned subjects, mathematics courses are typically strictly tracked by skill level. This project attempts to create more ‘math people’ by designing a curriculum to answer the question: How can differentiation, in-class grouping, and detracking be used to increase the accessibility of high-level math classes? Drawing from a personal narrative, this project reviews literature on the benefits and drawbacks of tracking systems, differentiation, student outcomes, and mathematical mindsets, drawing heavily on work by Jo Boaler (2022). The curriculum is designed with both Understanding by Design and Standards Based Grading framework, and also leverages the flipped classroom …

What Are The Most Effective Social-Emotional Behavioral Management Strategies For Creating A Culturally Affirming Classroom Environment?, Bill Cook

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Classroom management often emphasizes teacher control and a top-down approach. But what if we built a classroom culture with students, one rooted in relationships, identity, culture, and the social-emotional skills they need to succeed? This Capstone explores how integrating SEL into academic and classroom settings can shape classroom culture and transform our approach to management. It answers the question, What are the most effective social-emotional behavioral management strategies for creating a culturally affirming classroom environment? How can creating a binder of social-emotional strategies help teachers create a culturally affirming classroom? This project highlights the five core SEL competencies—self-awareness, self-management, social …

Centering Adult Basic Education Students As Learners And Creators With Class Websites, Kristy Cannon

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

An adult basic education (ABE) class website can integrate educational theories and technology to center students as learners and creators. This research explored educational theories that include andragogy, other adult-specific learning theories, heutagogy, constructivism, culturally relevant theories, and traditional teacher-centered learning models and methods. This project integrated those learning theories with the online modality of a tool-rich class website to promote digital literacy and center students as learners and creators actively participating in their own learning. The project is a Google Sites class website that can be used as a model or template for ABE teachers to copy, modify, and …

Combating Burnout: Science Curriculum That Decreases Teacher Workload, Christopher Yauch

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project produced five days of lesson plans, a document to help assess lessons, and a reminder list which all promote the successful adoption of inquiry-based learning (IBL) into a classroom. The adoption of IBL ideally functions to allow teachers to decrease the overall “workload” or amount of prep time needed to teach traditionally content-heavy courses by way of empowering students to become the center of the learning process. Current research indicates there are noted barriers to widespread IBL adoption, such as lack of administrative support, lack of appropriate teacher training, and commonplace reliance on traditional learning styles. When implemented …