Replacing Exams With Project-Based Assignments, Patrick Hiesl

Land-Grant Press — Teaching Section

This brief provides an example of project-based learning that was applied to the FOR 3410 – Wood Procurement Practices in the Forest Industry undergraduate course. After teaching this course for 4 years, it was determined that project-based learning aligned well with the learning outcomes and activities the students would encounter in their professional careers, resulting in better student engagement in the course and higher retention of the concepts.

Icare Compassionately: An Innovative Approach To Improving Nursing Education, Lori M. Brodie

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Historically, compassionate care has been briefly introduced in nursing education, without a sustained focus throughout nursing programs. Compassionate care models define the essential qualities needed to deliver meaningful care. Many of the traditional compassionate care models rely on high-level concepts that can be difficult to operationalize in academia. Further, current compassionate care models are typically limited to specific settings and are taught separately from other parts of the nursing curriculum. To address these concerns, a single purpose nursing college created and implemented the iCare Compassionately Model, which emphasizes both measurable behaviors and concepts related to compassion. As a result of …

Owning Difficult Outcomes: Navigating Medical Error Disclosure For Trainees In Accordance With Acgme Standards, Sara Andrabi, Anita Rohra, Kelly Keene, Alison Haddock, Daniela Ortiz

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

The American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandates that physicians promote patient safety and high-quality care, including training trainees in disclosing adverse events to patients and families. Despite its importance, many trainees lack formal preparation in error disclosure, leading to inconsistent practices. Structured training programs are essential to meet societal expectations and professional responsibilities.

Methods

A simulation-based curriculum was integrated into our annual "Difficult Communications" simulation day in response to feedback from residents. The curriculum employs standardized patients to create realistic error disclosure scenarios. Sessions include pre-briefing with faculty facilitators and standardized patients, simulated encounters, and structured debriefings. …

Building A Better Clinical Competency Committee: A Multi-Institutional Approach To Improving The Quality Of Resident Feedback Through Appreciative Inquiry, Nikita Khetan, Emma Omoruyi, Elizabeth Hanson

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires pediatric faculty to convene twice yearly as a Clinical Competency Committee (CCC) to review resident performance and provide feedback. Variability in review processes and limited feedback quality remain common challenges. Incorporating Appreciative Inquiry within a Deliberate Practice framework may enhance the quality of summative feedback provided to residents.

Methods

This project was conducted with pediatric residents and faculty during the 2019–20 academic year at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Health San Antonio (UTHSA) and during the 2021-22 academic year at The University of Texas Health Science Center …

Novel Strategies To Optimize Individual Performance On The In-Service Training Exam: A Case Series, Julie Zemaitis Decesare, Christina Deangelis, Ana I. Decesare, Elizabeth Teets

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Obstetrics and gynecology residents in the United States take the Council on Residency Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) in-service training exam on an annual basis. Performance on the exam is essential to assess any deficits in a resident’s knowledge as well as to evaluate the probability of passing the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) qualifying board exam. Given the substantial number of residents who experience performance issues during the exam, residency programs and individual learners benefit from the development of personalized learning plans to ensure trainee success. Test-taking anxiety is a big part of these performance …

Establishing Nurse Innovator Competencies: A Collaborative Initiative, Lori M. Brodie, Susan B. Patton, Dara Lanman, Ismail Dilek, Noah R. Zanville, Tracy A. Ortelli

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Rapid advancements in augmented and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping health care, necessitating a strategic approach to integrating innovation into nursing education and practice. This article details a collaborative initiative between academic and practice partners aimed at the initial steps towards establishing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for nurses to lead change through the creation of Nurse Innovator Competencies.

Methods

After an extensive review of literature, the team identified the absence of established Nurse Innovator Competencies. Through a collaborative and iterative process involving subject matter experts (SMEs) in both innovation and academia, key domains for the competencies, including …

Lost In The Fine Print: A Phenomenological Inquiry Of Adhd, Student Loans, And Scarcity, Gaurav R. Sinha, Lakshya Kadiyan, Leon Banks, Kannappa V. Shetty

Journal of Student Financial Aid

The primary objective of this phenomenological study was to explore the cognitive and affective challenges faced by individuals experiencing ADHD and their student loans, particularly through the lens of “scarcity theory”. We analyzed 250 posts (~86 pages/67,000 words) from an online community on Reddit, where individuals experiencing ADHD shared experiences related to student debt. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes in these posts. Four key themes emerged: (1) ADHD and baseline mental bandwidth, highlighting preexisting executive functioning challenges that limit cognitive and affective capacity; (2) demands of student loan debt, which intensify stress through complex repayment systems and …

From Pages To Practice: Course Design For Integrative And Connected Learning, Prutha Deshpande

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The poster provides resources for the design of courses to incorporate considerable reading, paired with purposeful activities and reflection questions that deepen understanding of key points of learning, support knowledge transfer, and encourage dialogue and connection.

Learning With Ai: A Structured Approach To Student-Ai Collaboration, April Ursula Fox

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education has created an urgent need for instructional models that move beyond tool use toward intentional, pedagogically grounded practice. This study presents a structured assignment design that positions AI as a scaffolded collaborator within undergraduate educational psychology courses. Across a multi-part, semester-long sequence, students engage in concept explanation, self-directed inquiry, AI-supported knowledge construction, and reflective documentation of their learning process. Findings from recurring student artifacts indicate progressive gains in conceptual understanding, integration of research sources, and transfer of knowledge to personally meaningful contexts. Students demonstrate increased capacity for self-regulated learning …

Evaluating The Benefits Of “Science Of Learning To Learn” In Foundational Undergraduate Biology Courses, Kathryn M. Rafferty, Jenifer Utz, Christy Strong, Matthew Bernacki

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Our objective was to foster increased retention of freshman student and subsequent progression into upper division coursework by incorporating learning skill development and motivational activities into the Introductory Biology courses (BIOL190/191). Enhancement of the introductory biology courses at UNLV has the potential to improve the educational experiences of thousands of students, since about 600 to 800 students enroll in the introductory biology courses each semester. We have previously developed a multimedia learning skill intervention called "The Science of Learning to Learn" which covers the importance of self-testing, spacing out and scheduling study sessions, and managing one's goals, habits, and learning …

Facilitating Freirean Pedagogy And Asset-Based Learning In An Asynchronous Environment In A Doctoral Public Health Course, Manoj Sharma, Liliana Davlos, Sharmistha Roy

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The Department of Social and Behavioral Health offers an asynchronous course, Advanced Applications of Social and Behavioral Theories (HED 762), to doctoral students in public health. In this course, commonly used behavior and social change theories are taught. One such theory is the Freirean theory of adult education, which emphasizes dialogue, critical conscientization, praxis, transformation, and critical consciousness. The instructor of this course uses a variety of methods to imbibe this pedagogy that comprise (a) the use of the fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to motivate students, (b) Freirean dialogue in the Canvas discussion forum with students …

The Importance Of Relational Teaching In Introductory Statistics, Nathan Matthew Slife

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

This poster presents relational teaching strategies for introductory statistics courses.

Greeting Death “Sitting Up:” How Children’S Literature Provides Modern Death Education, Reilly Kendrick

Honors Theses

Western culture places a lot of importance on legacy and friendship as important lessons to learn from death. However, children do not have as much experience with death due to changing cultural customs, and our society lacks a formal death education system that can promote these values and teach children how to respond to death in their lives. Literature, though, can fill this gap in children’s knowledge by teaching the basic physical components of death and philosophical understandings of death. These ideas are learned through vicarious reading, in which children experience the character’s emotions and reactions as they read. The …

Prevalence Of Low Energy (Lea) Risk In Division Iii Female Distance Athletes, Ciara Murphy

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Context 

Low energy availability (LEA) occurs when energy intake is insufficient to support normal physiological functions after exercise (Loucks, 2011). Prolonged LEA can negatively affect metabolic functions, reproductive health, and bone density, and contribute to the development of the female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) (Papageorgiou, 2017).

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of LEA among Division III female distance athletes.

Design

Cross-sectional study

Setting

Online questionnaire administered through Qualtrics

Participants 

A total of 12 Division III female distance athletes (ages 18-23).

Intervention

Anonymous, electronic questionnaire assessing symptoms associated with low …

Catalyzing Learner-Centered Ecosystems In Pennsylvania For A Future Of Human Thriving, Danielle S. Shylit

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

School-centric education has failed to produce equitable outcomes for Pennsylvania's learners. Declining student engagement, widening opportunity gaps, and the demoralization of educators and leaders escalate an urgent need to shift systems, mindsets, and praxis from a school-centric to a learner-centric paradigm. This action research dissertation elevates what is learned at individual, group, and system levels through disciplined inquiry with aligned district public education leaders in Pennsylvania willing to co-create learner-centered ecosystems with community stakeholders for a future of human thriving. Grounded in Education Reimagined's definition of Learner-Centered Ecosystems, and the theoretical frameworks of Bryk et al.'s Networked Improvement Communities and …

Examining The Psychometric Structure Of An Instrument To Measure Students’ Interests And Motivation In Science Learning: Factor Analysis And Measurement Invariance, Fuhui Tong, Shifang Tang, Zhuoying Wang, Beverly J. Irby

Faculty Publications

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and underlying factor structure) and measurement invariance of a researcher-developed instrument: Motivated Strategies for Science Learning (MSSL). Data were collected from 2765 fifth-grade students across [state withheld] school districts. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested satisfactory psychometric properties of MSSL. We further identified strong evidence to support configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across school location groups (i.e., rural and non-rural), confirming that the instrument can accurately capture the construct of science learning motivation among fifth-grade students from both rural and non-rural Texas schools. The study provides the …

The Digitalisation Of Administrative Processes And Institutional Agility In Sucs Cebu City: The Mediating Role Of Employee Digital Readiness, Leovigilda L. Bithay

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This study examines how the digitalisation of administrative processes influences institutional agility in SUCs in Cebu City, Philippines, and explicitly investigates employee digital readiness as a mediating capability that translates digital investments into organisational adaptability.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative predictive research design was employed using a structured survey administered to 300 administrative employees selected through purposive sampling. PLS-SEM was used to test direct and indirect relationships.

Research Findings: The digitalisation of administrative processes has a significant positive effect on institutional agility. Employee digital readiness partially mediates this relationship, indicating that technological modernisation alone yields limited gains in agility unless …

Research Remix: Teams, Tech, And Texts, Jaime Carbajal

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The pedagogical innovation that enhanced student learning in the Research Methodologies in Health Sciences course is described as Integrated Digital Collaborative Inquiry-Based Learning (IDCIBL). The IDCIBL approach leveraged digital tools (lecture videos, podcasts, recorded poster presentations, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms), integrated journal article analysis, utilized research-informed active learning, and included team-based learning activities. The combination of multiple innovative strategies into the IDCIBL model intentionally transforms the educational environment and optimizes the student learning experience, relating to the TLC priority area of teaching and assessments in the age of Gen AI.

Enhancing Assessment Tools For Foster Youth: A Phenomenological Approach To Preparing For Independent Living, Karen M. Armstead

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Abstract

Foster youth transitioning to independent living often face challenges that extend beyond technical life skills. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 former foster youth (ages 18–21) regarding readiness for independent living and the adequacy of preparation they received. Semi-structured interviews were guided by an 18-question instrument reflecting real-world transition domains commonly addressed by nonprofit independent living programs. Thematic analysis yielded three primary themes: (1) lack of preparation, (2) emotional strain and abandonment, and (3) life skills training. Findings indicate that readiness is multidimensional and shaped by practical preparation, emotional readiness, and relational support. For nonprofit …

Second April 2026 General Education Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney General Education Council

General Education Council

No abstract provided.

Empowering Mental Healthcare Providers Through A Breathing Exercises Educational Program To Enhance Stress Management And Resilience At An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Ophelia Osinachi Matthews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project involved enhancing stress management and resilience among mental healthcare providers by introducing diaphragmatic and box breathing techniques. The practice problem was the high prevalence of occupational stress and burnout among outpatient mental health providers, which has been linked with decreased job satisfaction, reduced patient care quality, and increased staff turnover. The purpose of this doctoral project was to design, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based educational program that was aimed at empowering providers with simple, accessible, and effective stress-reduction strategies. The guiding practice-focused question involved determining the impact and increases in knowledge regarding a breathing exercises educational …

Volume 12 Full Text, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Exploring Gender As An Analytical Framework In The 2018-2019 Revolution And Ongoing Civil War: The Role Of Gendered Violence And Sudanese Women's Resistance, Ami John

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper will interrogate the intersection of gender, war, and political upheaval within Sudan while focusing on the role of women in both the 2019 resistance and the ongoing conflict and revolution. By the end of 2018, mass protests had called for the ousting of Omar al-Bashir, the long-standing Sudanese president. This event set off a chain reaction which led to events that fueled the long-standing rivalry between the two militant groups that were active in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The tension caused by this rivalry created unforeseen circumstances for the local …

Front Matter And Table Of Contents, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Collegiate Experiences Of Genderqueer And Nonbinary Youth, Angela Clark-Taylor, Alexandra Kay Hicks, Heather Johnson

New York Journal of Student Affairs

This study explores the collegiate experiences of genderqueer and nonbinary students, frequently marginalized in higher education research. While scholarship on transgender students has expanded, it often centers on binary identities, thereby excluding those who identify outside the man-woman dichotomy. This research responds to that gap by asking: What are the experiences of nonbinary students in college? Drawing on in-depth interviews with six genderqueer and nonbinary undergraduate students, the study amplifies their voices to challenge dominant gender norms and essentialist narratives within academic spaces. Participants shared experiences of systemic erasure, invalidation, and microaggressions, as well as the resilience and strategies they …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Playwork: Five Years On, Pete King

International Journal of Playwork Practice

In 2020, at the start of the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom, a study was undertaken with 23 participants exploring the impact this may have on playwork and playwork practice.  That project started an 18-month longitudinal study between March 2020 and September 2022.  COVID-19 was five years ago, and this final study aimed to explore the current impact on playwork and playwork practice.  In total, 8 interviews were undertaken, and the results constructed 4 main themes regarding the continuing effects of COVID-19: 1) Community Engagement, 2) Emotional Regulation, 3) Outdoors, and 4) Health and Safety.  The findings …

Reducing Challenging Behavior Through Classroom Management Techniques In The Early Childhood Classroom, Mayra Moreno

Masters Projects

This literature-based project examines the impact of challenging behavior on student learning and evaluates the effectiveness of preventative classroom management strategies. Challenging behaviors include aggression, disruption and withdrawal, negatively affect the learning environment by decreasing student engagement, increasing teacher stress and burnout, and contributing to a less supportive classroom climate. Grounded in Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development and Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, this project emphasizes the importance of developmentally appropriate practices that support both cognitive and social-emotional growth. Included are preventative classroom management techniques aimed at reducing challenging behaviors. Key strategies include maintaining a 5:1 ratio of positive to …

Navigating Social Belonging: Live Experiences Of Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities In Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs, Brian Keys

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs have expanded access to higher education for students with intellectual disabilities (ID), yet access alone does not ensure meaningful inclusion or a sense of belonging. This study examined how students with ID experience and make meaning of social belonging within inclusive college environments. Grounded in disability studies and belongingness theory, the study focused on how students perceive belonging, navigate social relationships, and experience campus spaces in relation to inclusion and exclusion.

An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design was employed to explore the lived experiences of four young adults enrolled in a university-based IPSE program. Participants …

Exploring The Role Of Values And Ethics In Transformational Leadership And Their Impact On Teacher Wellbeing: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Brittany Nicole Evans Javier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact of values and ethics in transformational leadership on teacher wellbeing for teachers at a private Christian school. The transformational leadership theory proposes that leaders lead through inspiration, and this theory underpinned the study, as more recent research focused on specific aspects of transformational leadership and called for further research in the area of ethical leadership. The primary research question asked how values and ethics in transformational leadership impacted teacher wellbeing in a private Christian school in North Carolina. A transcendental phenomenological study was conducted, as a phenomenological qualitative study …

Sleep And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jennie Carlin

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and may negatively affect daytime behavior, emotional regulation, learning, and overall family well-being. This quantitative research proposal examines the relationship between sleep difficulties, behavioral functioning, and family experiences among children with ASD. The study will explore how behavioral and environmental sleep interventions may influence sleep quality and nighttime behaviors, how improved sleep may contribute to changes in daytime behavior, and how parents and caregivers perceive the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing sleep-focused interventions at home. A quantitative research design will be used to collect caregiver-reported data through the …