Digital Commons Network^™

Assistant Principals’ Perspectives And Experiences Concerning Their Influence As Instructional Leaders On Student Achievement In Title I Schools, Courtney J. Charles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative descriptive study explored the perspectives and experiences of assistant principals in Title I schools in the context of their instructional leadership responsibilities. The study examined the relationship between assistant principals as instructional leaders in Title I schools and student achievement by addressing research questions related to curriculum implementation, data-driven decisions, school culture, instructional support, and professional development. Moreover, this study used purposeful sampling to select 13 assistant principals from Title I schools, and data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Marzano’s focused school leader evaluation model served as the framework for interview questions. …

Impact Of Instagram Flyers In Higher Education: Within Resident Assistant Program Attendance Marketing, Mary J. Mcdonald

Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays

This exploratory pilot study examines whether posting Instagram digital flyers affects Resident Assistant (RA) program attendance in the higher-education Housing and Residence Life (HRL) context. Instagram has emerged as a dominant channel of communication among Generation Z (1997-2012). As a result, higher education institutions have increasingly used social media to prompt student engagement and foster belonging, in hopes of strengthening retention. Using a quasi-experimental matched comparison design, attendance data from the 2024 academic year without Instagram flyers were compared to the 2025 academic year with Instagram flyers. The independent variable was the implementation of Instagram digital flyers, and the dependent …

Thriving In The Middle: The Role Of Mindfulness, Psychological Capital, And Supervisor Support For Assistant Principals, Susan Kim, Peter Williams, Mei Jiang, Teresa Farler

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study investigates the well-being of public-school assistant principals by examining how socio-cognitive mindfulness (SCM), psychological capital (PsyCap), tenure, and perceived supervisor support (PSS) contribute to their experience of thriving, a construct reflecting overall well-being.

Design/Methodology: This cross-sectional quantitative study explored the mediating role of PsyCap, PSS, and tenure in the relationship of SCM and thriving among public school assistant principals in Texas.

Findings: SCM, PsyCap, and PSS were all positively associated with holistic thriving. PsyCap fully mediated the relationship between SCM and thriving, but PSS did not mediate it. This study identified a portable resource-building route (SCM → …

Excellence In Onboarding: A Case Study Of Campus Leader Support For Early-Career Teachers, Kelsey Bowles, Peter E. Williams, Alicia Piechowiak

Faculty Publications

Purpose: It is critical in industries experiencing labor shortages and high attrition rates, as is the case for early-career teachers (ECTs) in Texas, to understand effective early-career supports and how they contribute to career persistence and effectiveness. This study examines the context-specific onboarding experiences of ECTs and the leadership practices they found valuable.

Design/Methodology: This qualitative, collective case study used a positive deviance approach to examine teacher onboarding experiences. Located in a high-needs, urban public-school campus with atypically low teacher turnover and high student academic achievement. We interviewed eight mid-career teachers about their early-career experiences of supervisor and organizational …

Security-Oriented Voice Authentication Using Machine Learning, Ifeoluwa Stella Elegbe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study develops and evaluates a machine learning and deep learning-based voice authentication system for secure identity verification. As traditional authentication methods such as passwords, PINs, and security tokens continue to face challenges, including identity theft, forgetting, and unauthorized access, voice biometrics offers a more secure, convenient, and user-friendly alternative, especially for remote, hands-free, and accessibility-focused applications. The study adopts a closed-set speaker identification framework, where the system determines the most likely speaker from a predefined group of enrolled users. A structured methodology is implemented, beginning with audio preprocessing and feature extraction. Key acoustic features, including Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs), …

Smu Launches Resilient Workforces Institute To Strengthen Singapore’S Workforce In The Age Of Ai, Singapore Management University

SMU Press Releases and News

Singapore Management University (SMU) announced the launch of the Resilient Workforces Institute (ResWORK), a new university-level research institute advancing workforce resilience and lifelong learning amid accelerating technological change. It is among the first institutes in Singapore and the region to jointly study adult-learning and the future of work through an integrated, interdisciplinary lens spanning economics, management, behavioural science and technology.

Strengthening Literacy Outcomes For Students With Severe Disabilities: The Impact Of Teacher Preparation, Evidence-Based Approaches, And Learning Environments, Kallie Casale

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review thesis examines factors influencing literacy instruction for students with severe disabilities, focusing on evidence-based approaches, educator training, and learning environments. The findings highlight that systematic instruction and specialized training, such as online modules, eCoaching, and practice-based feedback, significantly improve educator knowledge and student skill acquisition. The review demonstrates that comprehensive curricula, such as the Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB), yield greater gains in phonics and decoding than traditional sight-word approaches. The review of research also illustrates that inclusive settings promote academic progress through peer modeling and higher learning expectations than traditional self-contained environments. However, some educators prefer …

The Role Of Department Chairs In Supporting Student Learning Outcomes, Tommy C. Molden Jr

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine high school department chairs’ perceptions of their role in relation to teacher leadership in achieving student learning outcomes.  The study adds significant implications for department chair training in the context of teacher leadership and the achievement of student learning outcomes.  Further, the study extends the literature on the importance of department chairs’ perceptions of their proficiency for adapting to and institutionalizing the role as teacher leader to increase student achievement.  Additionally, the study identified training strategies and resources that enhance department chair competence in teacher leadership for student achievement of learning …

Exploring Microaggressions Experienced By Students Of Color In Occupational Therapy Programs: Fostering A Climate Of Belonging, Laurie Knis-Matthews Ph.D., Ot, Sara Frommer Otd, Otr/L, Jacquelyn Pierre Otd, Otr/L, Geena Santomo Otd, Otr/L, Corrine Pineda Msot, Otr/L, Jackeline Artiles Otd, Shaniqua Bradley Ph.D., Lcsw

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Microaggressions, which are subtle and often unintentional acts of bias, continue to shape the educational experiences of students from marginalized backgrounds, yet their nuanced nature makes them difficult to define and address. This phenomenological qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of occupational therapy graduate students of color regarding microaggressions within their academic programs. Using purposeful sampling, five occupational therapy graduate students from various United States institutions participated in individual, semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: It’s Hard to Describe a Microaggression without Using Examples and Explaining the Emotions Behind It; These Microaggressions Had Immediate and Long-Term Consequences on …

Assessing Supports And Barriers To Equitable Participation In Occupational Therapy Fieldwork For Students From Minoritized Backgrounds: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Kristin M. Nxumalo, Coalition Of Occupational Therapy Advocates For Diversity Cotad, Alexia Rebne, Janis Yue, Ryan Thomure, Ricardo D. Ramirez

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork experiences in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) education introduce students to novel environments that they must successfully navigate. When examining the experiences of OT and OTA students from minoritized backgrounds, it is critical to understand their fieldwork experiences so that fieldwork educators and partners can create inclusive, supportive environments that promote success for all students. Within this study, a needs assessment was conducted to explore factors that impacted the OT and OTA fieldwork experiences of students from minoritized backgrounds. Using a mixed methods design, a cross-sectional survey was completed by non-faculty OT practitioners (n=48), Academic Fieldwork …

Disability Accommodation Implementation Within Occupational Therapy Academia: A National Descriptive Survey On Knowledge, Training, And Attitudes, Nicole Pawek, Julie Olson Rand, Rebecca Ozelie, Hannah Y. Oldenburg

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs are accredited health professional programs that have, anecdotally, seen an increase in requested disability accommodations among students over the last decade. There is limited knowledge regarding faculty preparedness, available resources, and attitudes related to implementing accommodations in accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs located in the United States. Researchers aimed to describe faculty knowledge and experience with disability accommodation implementation, as well as identify available training and resources related to accommodation implementation and faculty attitudes toward the accommodation implementation process. Researchers used the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) …

Balancing Acts: Exploring Chronic Illness’ Impact On Achievement In Graduate Health Education, Olivia J. Fulton, Lizeth S. Iboy, Bonnie Decker

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Graduate students with chronic illness encounter barriers as they navigate graduate programs to achieve their personal goals. Chronic illnesses are often invisible, which makes it more challenging to navigate the educational system. This study aimed to understand participants’ ability to engage in their academic environment and how the severity of their symptoms related to their diagnosis impacted participation in lectures, laboratory activities, exams, and competencies. Nineteen participants completed the online survey with questions regarding demographics and perception of how their condition impacted their academic performance on their best days versus worst days. Three assessment tools were incorporated into the survey: …

Validity And Reliability Of The Professional Belonging Scale For Occupational Therapy Students Version 2, Sarah Corcoran Otd, Otr/L, Pooja Patel Drot, Otr/L, Izabela Dubiel Drot, Otr/L, Theresa Rhett-Davis Edd, Otr/L, Nancy Green Ms, Drot, Otr/L, Emily Pasqualetto Drot, Otr/L, Amanda Carter Drot, Otr/L

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

A strong sense of belonging supports student engagement, motivation, clinical competency, retention, and overall well-being; yet few tools specifically assess this construct in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs. To address this gap, Corcoran et al. (2025) developed the Professional Belonging Scale for Occupational Therapy Students (PBSOTSv1). The current study aimed to revise the PBSOTSv1 for clarity, inclusivity, and alignment with emerging theoretical frameworks and to evaluate the revised version (PBSOTSv2) for content validity and internal consistency reliability. Revisions involved expert cognitive interviews and Content Validity Index (CVI) ratings, guided by Allen et al.’s framework of belonging, …

From Classroom To Care: A Pilot Level I Fieldwork Experience Building Acute Care Self-Efficacy, Hannah Y. Oldenburg, Jennifer Bergstrom, Traci Kruse, Tamra Trenary, Corey Mcgee

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Level I fieldwork provides an opportunity for occupational therapy students to be exposed to the occupational therapy framework and process across various practice settings. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding introductory fieldwork experiences for occupational therapy students in complex medical settings, specifically acute care. Researchers implemented a seven-week Level I fieldwork experience at two Midwest trauma centers, utilizing a mixed-methods, two-cohort design with 12 students and 16 practitioners. The program featured a blended Level I fieldwork supervision model, combining faculty-led and traditional on-site supervision. Over the seven-week period, students showed significant improvement in their perceived self-efficacy regarding …

Generative Artificial Intelligence Application In Occupational Therapy Education, James Wersal, Justin Mason, Mary Shotwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a developing technology within Higher Education Institutions with substantial potential to transform teaching pedagogy, improve individualized learning experiences, and automate administrative functions. GenAI has the potential to bring significant enhancements by advancing adaptive learning interfaces, customized learning materials, and automate administrative support. Despite these benefits, ethical considerations, data privacy, and the risk of over-reliance should be considered prior to using GenAI. The authors highlight how GenAI is supported by adult learning theory and provide practical strategies for incorporating GenAI in the occupational therapy curricula and to support the faculty role. The impact of GenAI on …

Integrating Web-Gis And Inquiry Learning To Enhance Spatial Thinking In Geography Learning, Nyokro Mukti Wijaya, Meri Herlina, Sugeng Widodo, Suhendro Suhendro

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates the impact of integrating Web-GIS with Inquiry Learning on secondary school students’ spatial thinking skills. A 2×2 factorial experimental design was employed with 116 eleventh-grade students from SMA Negeri 13 Bandar Lampung, divided into four treatment groups: direct instruction with printed maps, direct instruction with Web-GIS, inquiry learning with printed maps, and inquiry learning with Web-GIS. The Spatial Thinking Ability Test (STAT), a widely validated international instrument, was used to measure outcomes. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA. The findings indicate that the learning media had a significant effect, with Web-GIS outperforming printed maps, whereas learning strategies …

Virtual Reality And Creativity In Visual Art Education: The Mediating Role Of Exploration Within A Project-Based Learning Framework, Lidan He, Shaharuddin Bin Md Salleh

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly integrated into creative education for immersive, interactive learning. While prior research confirms VR’s potential to enhance learning outcomes, its support for creativity remains underexplored. This study examines whether exploration mediates the relationship between VR use and creative performance within a project-based learning framework. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 80 second-year visual art students, who were allocated by intact sections to either a VR–PBL group or a traditional PBL group. Over four weeks, students completed an illustration-based design project. Creative performance was rated by experts, and exploratory behavior was measured using the Experiential Learning Survey, …

Developing A Serious Game-Based Platform To Support Programming Learning, Noven Indra Prasetya, Nia Saurina, Arief Ardiansyah

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Programming learning, especially among informatics students, faces significant challenges related to understanding concepts and syntax, as well as low engagement in programming courses. To address these issues, this research developed DolananCoding, a serious game-based learning platform specifically designed for C++ programming learning. The platform integrates a live coding feature, enabling students to write code directly, along with a leaderboard to motivate them through healthy competition. The immersive concept in DolananCoding is designed to provide an interactive and enjoyable learning experience, aiming to enhance students’ engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes in C++ programming. This research aims to test the effectiveness of …

Teacher-Guided Video Instruction For Dance Appreciation: A Design-Based Research Study, Cuiqing Meng, Tiantian Zhou

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Video is widely used in dance appreciation courses; however, unguided viewing often leads to passive observation rather than analytical understanding. Grounded in multimedia learning theory and instructional scaffolding, this study employed a Design-Based Research (DBR) approach to develop and evaluate a teacher-guided video instructional model in a dance appreciation course in a Chinese university. The DBR process involved iterative phases of design, implementation, analysis, and refinement within an authentic classroom context. A convenience sample of 23 undergraduate dance majors participated in the study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire consisting of Likert-scale items and open-ended responses. Quantitative data were …

Enhancing Academic Literacy Through Ai-Supported Writing Analytics In Multilingual Higher Education, Riki Nasrullah, Septia Rizqi Nur Abni

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study examines the longitudinal impact of AI-supported writing analytics on academic literacy in multilingual higher education. Using a quasi-experimental design over two semesters with 124 undergraduates, the treatment group employed a GPT-based analytics tool, while the control group relied on conventional feedback. Using a longitudinal quasi-experimental design and repeated-measures analyses, the study found significant group effects and significant Group × Time interactions, indicating that the treatment group achieved larger and more sustained gains in academic literacy. Process-oriented indicators and learning analytics further showed a shift from surface editing to global revision, accompanied by deeper metacognitive engagement.

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: How Educators’ Perception, Readiness, And Well-Being Shape Performance, Fatimah Pohan, Dicky Aprillo Siregar, Muhammad Bangun Siregar

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education, but its effectiveness depends on how educators perceive, adopt, and psychologically respond to the technology. This study examines the effects of educators’ perception of AI and AI adoption on self-reported educators’ performance through AI readiness and psychological well-being. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model, Readiness for Change Theory, and the Job Demands–Resources framework, the study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 121 educators at private higher education institutions in North Sumatra, Indonesia, using purposive sampling of active educators. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. …

Coding, Machine Learning, And Game Engines In Initial Teacher Training, Sara Redondo-Duarte, José Manuel Sáez-López

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study evaluated the integration of coding, visual block programming, game engines, and machine learning (ML) modeling in initial teacher education. The aim was to examine the feasibility of this instructional approach and its association with pre-service teachers’ computational knowledge and attitudes toward programming and artificial intelligence (AI). A one-group pretest-posttest design was implemented with 129 undergraduate students enrolled in Primary Education degree programs at two public universities in Spain. Knowledge of computational concepts was assessed with a 10-item test analyzed using a paired-samples Student’s t-test, while attitudes toward programming and ML were evaluated with two Likert scales analyzed using …

Investigation Of Dean’S Transformational Leadership Profiles And Digital Transformation Maturity In Guangxi Public Higher Vocational Colleges, Lili Ding, Jamilah Binti Ahmad, Yuqiang Luo

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Background: As China builds an innovation-driven economy, vocational education provides essential skilled workers for key industries, helping to elevate vocational colleges into crucial centers for talent development and social mobility. In this context, the dean’s transformational leadership may play an important role in supporting institutional digital transformation.

Research Question: How do deans’ transformational leadership domains predict institutional digital transformation maturity across leadership and pedagogy in vocational education?

Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design combined a faculty survey with semi-structured interviews. Valid survey responses from 30 faculty members were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression, followed by thematic analysis of …

Perceptions And Practices Of Incorporating Student-Centered Menu Items In School Meals, Kristi L. Lewis Phd, Rdn

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

Student-centered menu planning prioritizes learners’ preferences, nutritional needs, cultural relevance, and engagement in the development of school nutrition program offerings. Menus that reflect student preferences and incorporate student input are associated with increased meal participation and consumption. This study examined school nutrition professionals’ perceptions, best practices, and strategies for incorporating students’ voices into school-based menu planning and modification.

Using a participatory research approach, school nutrition professionals, administrators, United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service representatives, and State agency staff participated as expert panelists and survey respondents. A literature review and qualitative expert panel responses informed the development of …

Show Your Work: Assessment In The Age Of Ai, Kevin Yee, Laurie Uttich, Elizabeth Giltner, Anastasia Bojanowski

UCF Created OER Works

The fourth book from a team of college instructors who have been in the trenches of AI and higher education since the beginning, Show Your Work: Assessment in the Age of AI is a practical, discipline-spanning guide for educators who are ready to redesign their assignments for a world where AI is a given. Organized around three approaches—co-creating with AI, writing without it, and finding alternative AI-resistant assessments—this book offers more than 50 concrete strategies that faculty can mix, match, and adapt to their own courses and contexts. Whether you want to integrate AI as a learning tool, build assignments …

The Effects Of Parental Involvement On A Child’S Educational Success, Samson Ghirmai

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The accessibility of education has opened doors for children to pursue interests and be prepared for their transition into adulthood. Education is a resource that opens doors, but it has been found that there are gaps in achievement. This opens the conversation on possible solutions to reduce this gap. Schools have been developing new systems and strategies to increase parental involvement, determining this as a possible solution towards bridging the gap. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the solution towards the achievement gap is identifying strategies to get parents more involved in their child's education. Research determined …

Becoming Art Itself: A Study On The Generative Logic And Discursive Structure Of Disability Art Incubation Institutions, Gonghui Lu

MA Theses

This study employs “Becoming” as its core analytical concept to examine how disability art incubation institutions operate at the intersection of contemporary art history and social systems as mechanisms that continuously generate both art and subjectivity. Building on Deleuze’s philosophy of becoming and Guattari’s notion of the rhizome, the study constructs a generative model linking art, institutions, and discourse. Through comparative analysis of international cases, it discusses the shift in disability art from a representational logic to a generative logic, and the dynamic oscillation between deterritorialization and reterritorialization within institutional practices. The study argues that disability art should not be …

Audio-Visual Essay Assessment In Initial Teacher Education: An Exploration Of Pre-Service Teachers’ Experiences, Kristina Turner, Andrea Ng

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Assessment in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) plays an important role in shaping Pre-Service Teachers’ (PSTs) understanding of assessment in their future classroom practices. While research highlights the value of authentic and multimodal assessment in higher education, little is known about the use of audio-visual essay assessments within ITE. This qualitative interpretive study explored PSTs’ experiences of completing an audio-visual essay assessment in an Australian undergraduate ITE course. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 PSTs and analysed using an inductive qualitative thematic analysis informed by Saldaña’s two-cycle coding framework. Three themes were identified: initial apprehension and overcoming challenges, advantages …

Can We Talk? A Correspondence Study To Examine Responsiveness Of Physical Educators To Requests For A Phone Call From Parents Of Children With Disabilities, Sean Healy, Justin A. Haegele, Steven K. Holland

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (2004) mandates that parental input be considered when making educational decisions for children with disabilities, including in physical education. However, parents of children with disabilities often report suboptimal communication experiences with physical educators. The purpose of the current study was to examine if the initiation of a parent–physical educator relationship is influenced by whether students have a disability or not. An online message correspondence study methodology was used to detect potential disparities in the responsiveness of a sample of 320 physical educators to electronic message requests for a phone call to discuss physical …

Considerations For School Leadership In Leveraging School-Based Behavior Analysis For Systemic Improvement In Public Education, Virginia Public Schools Behavior Analyst Network, Kira Austin, Elizabeth Boynton, Amanda K. Cash, Meredith Eads, Daniel Irwin, Selena Layden, Daria K. Lorio-Barsten, Emily Muise, Nadine Pittman, Felicia Shelton, Indya Watts-Graves

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Public schools face significant challenges, including rising student behavioral needs, chronic absenteeism, and high rates of teacher burnout. These issues are interconnected with and inextricably linked to a need for effective, evidence-based behavioral supports. Educators frequently enter the field lacking the necessary skills and training to manage complex student behavior, often resulting in a reliance on punitive practices that exacerbate problems.

This paper proposes that the expertise of school-based behavior analysts (SBBAs), who are Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®) specializing in education, offers a powerful, underutilized solution. SBBAs are trained in applied behavior analysis (ABA), a data-driven science focused on …