Digital Commons Network^™

The Boys Like Action And The Girls Like Emotion: Teaching Social Studies In Single-Sex Classrooms, Timothy Lintner

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

The State of South Carolina has embraced single-sex education to a greater degree (and at a quicker pace) than any other state in the union. Yet, given this push for single-sex classrooms, there is scant research that specifically addresses what instructional practices “work best” when teaching boys and girls separately. This study focuses on the practices and perceptions of teaching social studies within select single-sex elementary classrooms.

No Kidding About "Kiddie Lit": The Importance Of Supporting Novice And Experienced Teachers In Using Children's Literature To Enhance Literacy, Engage Critical Thinking, And Encourage Equity, Linda Karges-Bone

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

The importance of preparing teacher candidates to use children's literature as a tool for encouraging literacy and providing equity in their future classrooms is a common thread in Teacher Preparation programs. However, the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of candidates in today's programs may be at odds with what university faculty and the demands of the classroom require. Candidates' own literacy and appreciation of children's literature demonstrates troubling inconsistencies that could impact their own and their future students' performances. This article examines the current situation and offers strategies for engaging candidates and classroom teachers in the pursuit of children's literature to …

Investigation Of Screening Instruments In K-5 Programs, Mary Steppling, Mihaela Sabo Sweeney

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This study compared two speech and language screening instruments (The SpeechEase and the South Carolina Curriculum Screener) to determine which screening protocol was more accurate in identifying preschoolers at risk for academic delays in elementary school. Ninety-six children were administered both of the screenings and received either a Pass or Fail score. The screening results were compared with the students' academic performance as recorded on subsequent report cards. Statistics were performed to evaluate correlations between the students' screening results and their academic performance. Statistical measures showed that both screening instruments have moderate ability to predict academic outcomes in kindergarten children. …

Perceptions Of Middle School Principals' Leader Behavior, Jennifer C. Etheridge, Edward P. Cox

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This study utilized Kouzes and Posner's Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) (2003) to measure perceptions of leadership behavior of South Carolina public middle school principals. Three data sets were analyzed: 1) self perceptions of principals' leadership behavior, 2) teachers' perceptions of their principals' leadership behavior, and 3) the congruence of principals' and teachers' perceptions of principals' leadership behavior. The thirty LPI statements were divided among five behavioral areas: 1) Model the Way, 2) Inspire a Shared Vision, 3) Challenge the Process, 4) Enable Others to Act, and 5) Encourage the Heart. Principals rated their leadership behaviors slightly more positively than their …

Perceptions Of Required Elementary Education Courses For Special Education Majors, Sharon Sanders, Paula Schubert

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

Approximately half of the students receiving special education services currently spend 80% of their time in the regular classroom, often with the special education teacher acting as a co-teacher. The use of inclusion to provide access to the general curriculum for these students challenges institutions of higher education to revisit the preparation of future teachers. In this article, results are presented from a survey administered to special education majors by two university instructors. The results of the survey indicated an apparent lack of understanding of the collaboration required between special education and general education teachers and the role of content …

The Pedagogical Implications Of School Choice Initiatives In South Carolina, A. Scott Henderson

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

School choice theory (SCT) is an important component of contemporary discussions about educational reform. For the past several years, South Carolina lawmakers have attempted to enact legislation based on SCT principles. These attempts, albeit unsuccessful, illustrate recurring concerns and suggest a need for teacher preparation programs to address more fully the pedagogical implications of school choice initiatives.

Full Issue: Volume 2, 2009, Christopher Burkett

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This file contains the full issue of TEJSC, including front matter, table of contents, editorial notes, and articles.

Understanding The Coach Learning Environment In Formal, Field-Based Settings: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Jody L. Langdon, Shayla Snow

Journal of Coach Development

Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), the purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to evaluate the psychometric properties of SDT-related measures in a sample of coach learners, and 2) to examine the relationships between need satisfaction and frustration, coach motivation, and engagement in training sessions.. A total of 796 coaches participated in the study, completing surveys measuring basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, coaching motivation, and engagement. Aside from confirming the validity and reliability of measures for use among coach learners, findings indicate that satisfaction of basic psychological needs positively correlated with intrinsic motivation and engagement, while frustration of these …

Language Development In Military-Affiliated Children: The Role Of Parental Absence, Jenna K. Walton

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Jenna K. Walton on March 23, 2026.

Disability, Inclusion And Language-In-Education Policy In The Global South: The Colombian Context, Rosa Dene David, Kimberley Brown

Applied Linguistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper calls for a shift related to English language-in-education policy and inclusive education initiatives in Colombia to ensure that English language learners with disabilities receive equitable and inclusive classroom instruction that is context-appropriate. We call for English language initiatives and policies to draw from theories and practices from both the Global South and the Global North in order to teach towards inclusive education. Trends in both English language teaching and inclusive education have drawn upon the Global North for solutions, which cannot be systemised to fit one international standard. Instead, using the Colombian context as an example, the present …

Making Sense Of The Body: Cognitive Science, Disability, And Embodiment, Cheyne L. Joslin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to analyze different methodological approaches in the philosophy of cognitive science, with the goal of determining their usefulness for explaining and understanding bodily awareness and skill-acquisition over time. The examples of skill-acquisition are limited to motor control, impaired by various kinds of disability—but then acquired over time, via technological or rehabilitative means. These phenomena of motor learning are then viewed through the lens of two competing theoretical approaches in cognitive science: neuromechanical cognitive science, and radical enactivist cognitive science.

The strengths of the neuromechanical framework are found in its historical pedigree, and in the …

Analyzing Methods To Support Students Left Behind In Colorado Primary/Secondary Schools, Grace Hudson

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

In the United States, there has been an increase of deportations, since 2024, of undocumented immigrants. This has disproportionally affected Mexicans and others from Latin American countries (Dreby 2012) due to them being the largest group of undocumented people in the United States. One effect of these deportations is an increase in children that are left in the United States while their parent(s) are in detention or have been deported. Some of these children are in mixed-status families, which means that the child has a different citizenship status than their parents or other members in their family, which allows for …

Bridging Professional Development Gaps In Pacrao Through Gamification, Chad Everett Saunders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which a gamified professional development platform can foster skill development, knowledge application, and engagement among members of the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO). Grounded in the principles of humanism (Rogers, 1969) and andragogy (Knowles, 1990), and operationalized through gamification (Kapp, 2012), this study evaluated whether game-based mechanics aligned with adult learners’ professional development needs within a geographically dispersed regional association. To address these constraints, a prototype gamified platform, PACRAO University, was developed to provide a flexible, self-paced, and contextually relevant learning environment. Using a quantitative, within-subjects repeated measures design, …

Problematizing The Critical Dimensions Of Whiteness With Educational Leaders, Lerita Yvette Cavness

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This action research examines whether and how whiteness is “weaponized” by a P-12 educational leader, the impact whiteness has on their identities, and whether engagement with Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS) will increase pro-equity behaviors. The research employs a layered mixed-methods approach, and a deductive analysis triangulation plan framed by the Critical Dimensions of Whiteness Model (CDWM). This N-of-1 case study included a four-phase intervention workshop series and one post interview. The findings identify how one educational leader engaged in the selfweaponization of whiteness. The findings identify that CWS supported by the CDWM is a disruptive but healing path to awareness …

Effectiveness Of Peace Education And Recommendations For Implementation In The Sultanate Of Oman's School Curriculum, Vision 2040, Mohamed Al Braiki

Dissertations and Theses

This study explores peace education as an institutional process within the Sultanate of Oman's K–12 education system. Currently, Oman Vision 2040 articulates commitments to social cohesion, global citizenship, and holistic development. Existing empirical research indicates constant challenges related to bullying, student well-being, emotional distress, and school-related harm. This study conceptualizes peace education as a structural and relational mechanism embedded within institutional routines, leadership practices, and conflict-management responses. Using a qualitative integrative review design, the study examines peer-reviewed research, policy documents, and institutional analyses relevant to Oman, the Gulf region, and broader peace education scholarship. The analysis is guided by theoretical …

Restricting Academic Dishonesty At A Japanese University, Joel Weinberg

Japanese Society and Culture

This research explores three approaches to handling academic dishonesty: punitive, preventive, and positive. First, the history of cheating and the punitive approach is briefly discussed. Next, research results of a preventive approach that was used at a Japanese university are given. During this research, three surveys were conducted to gauge students’ opinions about cheating, to account for the methods, and to measure the prevalence of cheating on post-reading quizzes. The survey results show that at least eleven types of cheating on post-reading quizzes were used and that non-cheating students were concerned about this issue. As a result of the surveys, …

Redefining Online Education: Integrating A Quality Assurance Rubric Process In A Community College Setting, Judy K. Howell

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education At Morehead State University by Judy K. Howell on Kentucky March 20, 2026.

Examining The Effects Of Success Coaching At West Kentucky Community And Technical College: A Quantitative Analysis Of Academic Performance, Retention, And Credential Completion, Sanci E. Teague

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Sanci E. Teague on March 20, 2026.

Una Student Organizations, Student Engagement Center, University Of North Alabama

Documents

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Science And The Transformation Of Human Understanding: Toward A Generative Framework Of Learning And Reality, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This essay argues that the development of science can be understood not as linear accumulation, but as a sequence of structural transformations in human understanding. Such a view aligns with a generative framework in which knowledge is not passively received or merely constructed, but emerges through dynamic interactions that reorganize cognitive and experiential structures. By situating this framework within the history of science, we can better understand both the nature of scientific progress and its indispensable role in human development.

The Synthesis Of Truth: Integrating Research-Based Science Education With The Restored Gospel At Brigham Young University, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

Modern science education identifies six core principles for student engagement: active participation, inquiry, cognitive challenge, social interaction, meaningful context, and balanced guidance. While these principles are validated by secular research (e.g., Piaget, Vygotsky, Kolb), their implementation at Brigham Young University (BYU) takes on a unique dimension through the lens of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. This paper argues that effective science education at BYU is not merely a pedagogical strategy but a spiritual imperative. By synthesizing scientific inquiry with divine revelation, learners transition from passive recipients of information to active agents of discovery, fulfilling the prophetic mandate to "seek …

“Makes Me Wanna Holler”: Psychological Safety In Program Development Under Anti-Dei Legislation, Derrick B. Johnson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This evocative autoethnographic study explores the professional and emotional experiences of a Black male higher education administrator who developed a college success program for Black male students at a mostly White institution in Northeast Florida. The research took place as new state laws against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were introduced, showing how these changes disrupt DEI efforts. By using narrative inquiry, the study emphasizes how laws, campus culture, and racial expectations directly affect the emotional intelligence and professional identity needed to support Black male student success.

By focusing on the author's personal experiences, this evocative autoethnography shows the emotional, …

Learning As Becoming: A Restored Gospel-Based Reinterpretation Of Scientific Discovery And Human Growth, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

For many educators of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, a persistent dissonance exists between the secular textbooks we utilize and the restored truths we cherish. Traditional science often presents the universe as a closed, material system where learning is merely the acquisition of data. However, as we align our academic pursuits with the light of the Restored Gospel, we discover that scientific inquiry is not independent of spiritual growth. Rather, it is a primary mechanism through which we experience a fundamental shift in our very nature—moving from "knowing" to "becoming."

Navigating Stem Integration: Instructional Strategies Employed By Teachers In High School Classrooms, Yousef Alrashdi, Paul Asunda

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

This study examined the instructional strategies used by high school STEM teachers to incorporate real-world problem solving in their classroom teaching. A qualitative approach was utilized, and data was collected through teacher interviews, classroom observations, and documents. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data, and the following themes emerged: (a) there is no single instructional strategy, but teachers adapt their strategies to the context, (b) the importance of preparation using various sources and building on student’s prior knowledge, (c) a focus on asking "why" questions as a priority, (d) the necessity of making group work tangible, (e) the use of …

Mokken Scale Analysis Of The Teacher Formative Assessment Practice Scale, Eric Asare

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

This study examined the nonparametric item response characteristics of the Teacher Formative Assessment Practice Scale (TFAPS) using Mokken scale analysis within its established two‑factor structure. The TFAPS includes a teacher‑directed subscale (items 1–6) and a student‑directed subscale (items 7–10), each intended to capture distinct dimensions of formative assessment practice. Weighted Loevinger scalability coefficients for polytomous items were computed to assess how well each subscale met the assumptions of the monotone homogeneity model. Results indicated that the teacher‑directed subscale had a scalability coefficient of H = 0.354 and Cronbach’s alpha of 0.721, suggesting weak but acceptable internal structure. In contrast, the …

Dating Among University Undergraduates Living With Disability In South-Western Nigeria, Usman A. Ojedokun, Bukunmi I. Oluborode, Lateef J. Adeyemo

The Journal of Social Encounters

In many university campuses in Nigeria, undergraduates living with disability are visible and functionally involved in academic, political, social, and religious activities. However, the social life of these students is hardly the focus of scholarly research. Therefore, this study explored dating behaviours among undergraduates of selected public universities in south-western Nigeria living with disability. The social disability model was employed as the conceptual framework. Data were elicited through in-depth interview and focus group discussion methods.  Findings showed that the choice of partners among undergraduates living with disability was guided by trust, communication, emotional safety, shared values, and acceptance of disability …

International College Athletes’ Perceptions Of Nil And Its Impact On Their Experiences: A Theory Of Capital Approach., Jessica K. Brougham, Rebecca M. Achen

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy altered the landscape of college sports and provided college athletes with new opportunities to monetize their talents and personal brands. However, while the NCAA stated that all athletes would be able to participate in NIL deals and be compensated for the use of their NIL, international college athletes (ICAs) soon discovered they were restricted from participation while located in the U.S., due to their student visa status. Through nine semi-structured interviews of current and former ICAs we identified themes related to Bourdieu’s theory of social capital and Bauder’s theory of citizenship capital that …

What’S Critical In Critical Media Literacy? Barriers And Good Practices In Adult Education, Stefanie Mayer, Stefanie Fridrik, Josef Mühlbauer, Brigitte Temel, Viktoria Eberhardt

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

While there is broad consensus regarding the social and educational need for CML, its actual didactic content and especially the meaning of ‘critical’ are far from clear. The article argues for a turn to educational practices. Findings are based on empirical research on adult education in Vienna (Austria) consisting mainly of interviews with expert-practitioners in the field of adult education and media and/or digital literacy. We confront academic definitions of the critical impetus of CML with an analysis of innovative projects, which were designed for accessibility and addressed learners facing high educational barriers. Our findings encourage a turn towards the …

Faith-Based School Leaders’ Strategies For Addressing Achievement Gaps Since The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jolene Culver

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that faith-based school leaders are challenged to support teachers to address student achievement gaps following the COVID-19 pandemic. Grounded in Bass’s transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate strategies veteran faith-based school leaders use to support teachers in addressing student achievement gaps in six Ohio districts that had a minimum of 50 students. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with one faith-based school leader from each of the six Ohio districts. Thematic coding yielded four themes encompassing the strategies that veteran faith-based school …

Master’S Students: Experiences, Transitions, And Needs In The College Of Education, Brandi L. Sanchez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explores the experiences, transitions, and needs of first-year master’s students in education. Guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Model, the study examines how students perceive shifts in academic rigor, workload, and the increased self-direction required in graduate education. The case study used three data collection methods: semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and observations that provided insights into the student perception of master’s students studying education’s experience, transition, and needs. Additionally, this case study enabled exploration of the research questions across six types of master’s programs within the College of Education. By focusing on the first year of graduate study, …