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The Functionality Of Special Education Inclusion: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Perceptions Of Inclusion, Collaboration, And Co-Teaching, Steven Andre Madden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of educators utilizing inclusive collaborative teaching models within co-teaching environments to develop positive student academic experiences for students with disabilities and their peers without disabilities at various locations within the Long River School District (pseudonym) located in the Mid-South of the United States. The theory that guided this study was Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which underpins the postulation that a student can learn through the help of a more knowledgeable other with the aid of the zone of proximal development, which correlates to collaborative co-teaching as a mode …

Proceedings Of The Cuny Games Conference 11.0, Robert O. Duncan, Grace Axler-Diperte, Joe Bisz, Christina Boyle, Devorah Kletenik, Carolyn Stallard

Publications and Research

The CUNY Games Conference combines workshops, idea exchanges, interactive participant presentations, playtesting, and playing tabletop games into a one-day online event to promote and discuss game-based learning. The conference focuses on creative pedagogy, such as playful learning activities or games, that teachers can use in the classroom every day. The conference is online and features interactive presentations by attendees, informal idea exchange sessions, and workshops by the conference organizers.

Developing Transferable Skills Not Just Gpa: The Case Of A University Lab, Mopelola F. Adelakun

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Being a college student is much more than getting a diploma. It is a time to explore, make new friends, socialize, build knowledge, and start the development process for life after college. While students are highly encouraged to finish their college degree with a high-grade point average (GPA), it is important to also stay focused on the total education of a person. A key aspect of college education therefore is the development of employability and transferable skills. The literature noted that there is high rate of unemployment or underemployment among freshly graduated students. One of the ways to address this …

From Assistance To Impact: The Expanding Role Of Undergraduate Teaching Assistants In Higher Education, Erin Measom

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is presented in a three-article format. It explores the evolving role of undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs) in higher education, with a particular focus on how they facilitate interaction, engagement, and student success in online courses. As higher education institutions expand online learning and seek innovative ways to enhance student support, UTAs have emerged as key players in bridging the gap between students and instructors. The first article provides a scoping review of the literature on UTAs, tracing their historical evolution and examining their expanding role. While traditionally viewed as logistical or grading assistants, UTAs are increasingly taking on …

Using Microsoft Teams Class Notebook E-Portfolios As A Reflective Tool In Education For Sustainable Development Business Writing: Learners’ Perspectives, Mona Abdelfattah

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective

This study investigates the efficacy of Microsoft Teams Class Notebook ePortfolios as a reflective tool in business writing courses. This study addresses gaps in the literature regarding ePortfolio use in business writing courses in F2F classes, focusing on student perceptions, its impact on writing skills, the convenience of the MS Teams Class Notebook, and how it fosters critical thinking regarding their learning which is one of the important goals of Education for sustainable development (ESD).

Methods

The iterative cross-sectional study was conducted over 13 weeks at a private college in Oman with 60 undergraduate students in two business writing …

الكفايات التدريسية لدى طلبة قسم التربية البدنية خلال فترة التدريب الميداني بجامعة قطر, Ayat Alshaer

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال تحديد مستوى الكفايات التدريسية لدى طلبة قسم التربية البدنية خلال فترة التدريب الميداني، وتم استخدام المنهج الوصفي عن طريق الاستبانة كأداة لجمع المعلومات، حيث تشكلت عينة الدراسة من (52) طالباً وطالبة من المسجلين في مقرر التدريب الميداني خلال العام الدراسي 2023م في جامعة قطر. وتم خلال الدراسة تقييم مختلف الكفايات التدريسية بما في ذلك الكفايات المهنية وكفايات إدارة الفصل وكفايات التقييم. وأشارت النتائج إلى أن الطلاب يعتقدون أنهم يتمتعون بكفايات تدريسية عالية، بمتوسط حسابي بلغ (4.41) أما فيما يتعلق بالمجالات (كفايات إدارة الصف، الكفايات المهنية، كفايات التدريس للطالب المعلم بكلية التربية، وكفايات التقييم الصفي) فقد جاءت جميعها بدرجة …

Expansively Framing Mathematics And Computer Science Teaching With Digital Technology In Elementary Classrooms, Kimberly E. Beck, Jessica F. Shumway, Patrick Ocran, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

Expansive Framing (EF) is a theory and an instructional technique to facilitate connections between content and contexts. We employed EF as an approach to create a series of integrated mathematics and computer science (CS) lessons, using digital technology as a tool to leverage shared mathematical and computational ideas. We used deductive theoretical qualitative analysis of transcripts of classroom implementations to investigate how two fifth-grade teachers and one computer lab paraprofessional educator used EF during their teaching and what the EF approach looked like in practice. Findings suggested that educators engaged in EF principles when they were present in curricular materials, …

Methodological Memorandum For Michelle Llado-Wrzos' Phd Dissertation, Michelle Llado-Wrzos Ed.D., Cristo Leon Ph.D.

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

This methodological memorandum outlines the research approach for Michelle Llado-Wrzos' PhD dissertation, which explores the underrepresentation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Despite multiple efforts to reduce the gender disparity, female students remain significantly less likely to pursue STEM majors compared to their male peers. The research focuses on assessing the impact of extrinsic motivators—specifically financial incentives and exposure to female role models—on the STEM major choices of female high school students. By adopting a mixed-methods approach, this study thoroughly integrates quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to examine these motivators.

A quasi-experimental design will assess the …

Narrativas Y Convergencias Transdisciplinarias: Contribuciones Académicas Relevantes, Desafíos Y Horizonte Editorial, Cristo Leon Ph.D.

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

La Revista de Estudios sobre Juegos de Rol y STEAM (JRPSSTEAM) se ha consolidado como un espacio transdisciplinario, multilingüe y de acceso abierto que articula investigación, práctica y comunidad en torno a los juegos de rol. En esta editorial, se reflexiona sobre los aprendizajes y patrones emergentes de los tres volúmenes y cinco números publicados hasta la fecha, abordando tanto aciertos como áreas de mejora. Se ofrecen lineamientos prácticos para autores potenciales, destacando errores comunes, criterios de relevancia temática y aspectos que enriquecen la comunicación entre disciplinas. Además, se revaloriza el carácter abierto e inclusivo del JRPSSTEAM, que acoge desde …

Journal Of Roleplaying Studies And Steam (Jrpssteam) Vol. 4 [2025], Número 1 (Issue 1), Ivan Ávila González Phd, Cristo Leon, Romano Ponce-Díaz Phd, Diogo A. Camelo, Alfonso Rincón Vaquero, Edgar Ávila González, Daira Pando Tamayo, Michelle Llado-Wrzos, Leonid Moyzhes, Andrea A. Echeverría Barrios

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

La cultura es un diálogo constante con el pasado, el presente y el futuro. Todos nuestros objetos culturales son el resultado causal de las personas que estuvieron antes que nosotros, se actualizan en nuestro proceder en el presente y, les proyectamos al futuro con la esperanza de que aporten algo positivo a las generaciones que estarán delante de nosotros; de tal forma, este Volumen 4 [2025], número 1 (Issue 2) es el resultado directo de la labor de los editores fundadores Mauricio Rangel Jiménez, Miguel Angel Bastarrachea Magnani y todas aquellas personas que trabajaron antes que nosotros para que existiera …

History In Motion: Applying The Archival Collections Of Frank And Lillian Gilbreth’S Time And Motion Studies To Business Education, Annette Bochenek

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

No abstract provided.

Extended Abstract—Using Augmented Reality To Teach The History Of Classical Athens: A Presentation Of The Methodology And Preliminary Findings, Christopher Tripoulas, George Koutromanos

Publications and Research

In this extended abstract, the methodology for a study in progress regarding the design, development and evaluation of an Augmented Reality application for the teaching of the History of Classical Athens to students of Greek descent living abroad is presented. Following a review of the reasons necessitating the adoption of this technology for the teaching of History – and specifically relating to fifth-century B.C. Athens – the preliminary findings including a review of the literature and results of interviews with teachers, students, and parents are also shared. The detailed methodological framework of Design-Based Research guiding this study is detailed, as …

Collaboration Across The Silos: Consultation As A Means For Integrating Services For Twice-Exceptional Learners, Kimberly Bowers Yoshino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Twice-exceptional (2e) learners are underserved in American schools. As students who demonstrate both giftedness and disabilities, 2e learners maintain profiles that warrant tailored educational services across special and gifted education programs. Yet, these programs are considered institutionally mutually exclusive as legal mandates create de facto isolation — the antithesis of what is recommended for the students’ optimal development. School psychologists have been identified as professionals critically positioned to support 2e learners because of their specialized skill set, namely in consultation. However, little is known about their consultative practices with the educators who serve 2e learners or how they traverse school …

Foldit Education Mode, Brett Schulz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Foldit education mode is a puzzle campaign within the protein folding video game Foldit. Education mode, initially designed as a classroom supplement for undergraduate biochemistry courses, has been expanded to provide a more comprehensive learning tool to players without a background in biochemistry. The edited and added levels teach players about protein biochemistry through playing puzzles designed to convey information and gameplay mechanics. The new Foldit education mode campaign features 49 levels grouped into 11 categories. The campaign has 6 new levels designed specifically for education mode and 4 levels adapted from the traditional Foldit campaign for use within education …

Game-Based Learning As A Dynamic System: A Review Of The Literature, Meadow Mcgalliard

University Honors Theses

Game-based learning (GBL) in its development as a field has found itself at an ever-increasing complexity with regard to theories, design elements, and outcomes that define it. It's been long since proven that games produce learning and the ways in which this benefits educators and designers have broad applications, from direct game implementation to integrating GBL knowledge into non-game spaces. The density and complexity of design in GBL prove beneficial for learning opportunities, as the adaptability of design can create an almost infinite series of outcomes in a highly replicable manner. In this broad review, I attempt to display the …

Conceptualizing The Explanatory Fully Longitudinal Mixed Methods Case Study Design: A Demonstration With An Arithmetic Education Trial With Kindergarten Children, Menglong Cong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In employing longitudinal mixed methods designs, researchers have commonly used the fully longitudinal mixed methods design. This has occurred mostly in the health sciences but less in education. The current investigation proposes a novel longitudinal mixed methods research design, explanatory fully longitudinal mixed methods case study design. It demonstrates its potential for addressing research inquiries in educational research using the arithmetic learning trajectories datasets. This study is presented in three components. The first is a quantitative phase, selecting an exploratory case from a previous arithmetic learning trajectories study (Clements et al., 2021) for qualitative analyses based on maximizing the …

Phenomenological Inquiry: High School English Language Arts And Reading Professional Development Design And Delivery, Michelle Jestice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological inquiry aimed to understand the overall essence of public high school English language arts and reading professional development design and delivery from an inclusive, sociocultural, responsive theoretical lens. The lens extended previous scholarship, combining six educational concepts and theories to develop an ideological framework for high school English language arts and reading professional development design and delivery. They include Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory, Knowles’ (1978) andragogy, Shulman’s (2013) content-pedagogy-curricular contextualization, Hammond’s (2015) culturally responsive teaching, Bennett’s (1986) intercultural competencies, Smale-Jacobse and others’ (2019) and Tomlinson and others’ (2003) concepts of differentiation: referred to as SACReD. A central …

Infographic: Pisa Insights - Students' Mathematics Anxiety, Dominique Russell

Teacher infographics

Each cycle of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) includes a student questionnaire. One topic – mathematics anxiety – is characterised by feelings of tension, fear or apprehension when a person is faced with mathematics-related tasks. Today’s infographic provides useful prompts for teachers when considering their own students.

From Deficit To Asset: Developing An Equitable Early Warning System For Ninth Grade Success, Stephanie Mann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I explored the design and implementation of an asset-based Early Warning System (EWS) to support ninth-grade students at The Academy, a PK-12 charter school, during their critical high school transition. Using Practical Action Research, I addressed the question: How might a comprehensive EWS leverage student assets and systemic support to ensure success? Over one academic year, the study unfolded in two phases: Phase I employed qualitative methods—interviews, focus groups, and data reviews—to identify gaps, while Phase II developed an enhanced EWS, integrating map and street data for richer student profiles and staff collaboration. Findings underscore a human-powered EWS rooted in …

Elevating After-School: Addressing After-School Program Quality Through Improvement Design, Kate Marie Vincent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how Pathfinders After School, a national after-school provider can improve program quality amid rapid expansion. As enrollment has grown, program quality has declined, evidenced by decreasing net promoter scores (NPS), rising student behavior incidents, and terminated district partnerships. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (1979), this mixed-methods study uses improvement science methodology to test systemic interventions that empower key user groups and enhance program effectiveness. An improvement team, composed of crossfunctional organizational members, conducted root-cause analysis to identify primary drivers of after-school program quality. Core focus areas included staff training, student engagement, feedback mechanisms, and implementation fidelity. …

Cultivating Resilience In The Anthropocene: Evaluating A Gssw Ecological Justice Curriculum, Windy Selig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice evaluated the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) Ecological Justice Pathway to examine how resilience is conceptualized and cultivated within the curriculum. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm and guided by an ecological justice framework, this evaluation explored the pedagogical and curricular strategies designed to prepare social work students for the emotional, ethical, and professional demands of practicing in the Anthropocene—a time marked by ecological degradation, climate crisis, and compounding social inequities.

Through qualitative methods, including faculty interviews and curriculum document analysis, the evaluation identified both explicit and implicit components that foster student resilience. …

Exploring K-12 Educators Remaining In The Profession In Louisiana Public Schools: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Brittany Benoit

Student Theses and Dissertations

School systems across the United States and worldwide face significant challenges due to a shortage of qualified teachers. These conditions negatively affect student outcomes and place additional financial burdens on school systems. Teacher shortages often lead to larger class sizes and increased workloads for existing educators, further exacerbating the issue. Addressing teacher retention is crucial to improving educational quality and stability within school systems. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the experiences and perceptions of relationships that influenced K-12 Louisiana Public School educators to remain in the profession. Guided by Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, the research emphasized intrinsic factors that contributed to …

Closing The Learning Gaps: When Special Education Students Receive Grade Level Content Through Inclusionary Practices, Shaun Ross

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the academic outcomes of special education students receiving core instruction in an inclusionary model compared to those receiving their instruction in a resource classroom. The research problem addressed the achievement gap between the two instructional approaches and how they impact student academic performance. The findings are relevant to educators, school administrators, and policymakers looking to improve instructional strategies for students with disabilities. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study was to determine whether inclusionary based instructional practices led to higher academic achievement than the traditional pull-out model. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Positivism, the study …

Exploring The Elements Contributed By School-Level Administrators That Influence Teacher Retention, Summer Craddock

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages and high attrition rates challenge educational systems, impacting instructional quality, school culture, and student outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine how school-level administrators influenced teacher retention among K-5 public elementary teachers in a rural South Carolina school district. Guided by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, the research explored how administrators meet teachers’ needs and how fulfilling these needs motivates them to stay. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used, with semi-structured interviews conducted with eighteen certified K-5 teachers with at least five years of experience and actively employed in the district. The first research question examined teachers’ experiences …

Effectiveness Of Online Math Interventions On Middle School Student Math Achievement, Joshua Brandon Goodman

Student Theses and Dissertations

Tennessee middle school math students have come to a critical juncture in their mathematics education. State test scores have shown a decrease over several years due to an increase in the rigor of the content being taught, a shortage of teachers and teacher assistants, and other mitigating factors faced within public education. The need for alternative solutions to combat these issues came in the form of online math intervention programs. This study explored the effectiveness of two of those programs: Khan Academy and Study Island. A quantitative causal-comparative study was conducted to determine each program’s significance, as well as the …

Examining The Influence Of Departmentalization On Elementary Teachers' Efficacy In Teaching Mathematics: A Qualitative Case Study Of First Grade And Second-Grade Elementary Teachers, Juasita Sherelle Patterson

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine five elementary teachers’ perceptions of teaching mathematics within a departmentalized classroom organizational structure and its influence on their teacher efficacy in teaching mathematics at the elementary level, how teacher preparation programs have prepared elementary teachers to implement instruction in a departmentalized structure, and how they perceive their efficacy when teaching mathematics in a departmentalized classroom versus a self-contained classroom. This qualitative case study applied the theoretical framework of Frederick Taylor’s Scientific Management Theory and Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory to assess the impact of departmentalization on teachers' self-efficacy in mathematics …

College And Career Readiness Of Students With Autism In The Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, James Daniel Hobbs

Student Theses and Dissertations

Autism is a spectrum disorder involving individualized disabilities in social interactions, self-expression, and behavior control. Those diagnosed typically exhibit challenges in at least two of these areas. Many individuals with autism are identified through evaluations in public schools. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools must provide disabled students with a free and appropriate public education through special education. In Texas, autism is one of 13 disabilities that qualify a student for special education services. Once in special education, students receive an individualized education plan, which includes goals for life after high school. The Texas Education Agency tracks …

Evaluating The Impact Of Information Literacy Workshops On Student Success, Amanda Shannon, Aaron Skira, Ying Chen, Matt Shreffler

Roesch Library Faculty Publications

Objective – This study was designed to identify the impact of standalone information literacy tutorials on student success indicators. The study was conducted in two different phases to compare findings across different modalities and to identify whether online, asynchronous delivery of substantively similar content affected outcomes.

Methods – Using institutional records from a mid-sized, Midwestern public university, and attendance and completion data from student participation in asynchronous library workshops, the authors used propensity score matching to construct a control group that mirrored library workshop participants based on like characteristics. Statistical analyses were then conducted comparing the GPA, semester completion, and …

The Impact Of Supplemental Resources In Title I Schools On Student Achievement In High School Geometry, Jememia Black

Student Theses and Dissertations

Schools receive report card grades to inform the public about how the schools are performing and meeting the demands of their students. State mandated assessments factor into the report card grades for schools. When test scores are low, they negatively impact the report grades for schools. Therefore, there is a need to explore resources that could positively impact students’ test scores. The problem addressed in this study was that over 50% of the geometry students in Title I high schools within the district included in the study were not performing on grade level and demonstrating grade level understanding on state …

Examining Teacher Efficacy And Academic Achievement: A Qualitative Exploration Of Middle Schools In A Rural Louisiana School District, Kristin Carriere Percle

Student Theses and Dissertations

The achievement gap among disadvantaged student populations in Louisiana’s public schools highlights the critical need for equitable educational practices for all students to be successful. This qualitative case study explores the relationships between teacher efficacy and student achievement in two low-performing schools servicing grades sixth through eighth in a rural Louisiana school district. Using Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory as a framework, the study explores how teacher self-efficacy impacts instructional quality and student performance. Through semi-constructed interviews with six participants and document analysis of the Louisiana Department of Education’s Compass Observation Rubric and Value-Added Model (VAM) scores, the study collected …