Digital Commons Network^™

Gender Relations Within 18th And 19th Century Art And How It Affects A 21st Century Learner, Sophie Lima

Theses

This study constructs a curriculum unit comprising five lessons in feminist art history for middle school learners in 5th-8th grade. Drawing on theories and concepts from feminist art history, visual culture, and inquiry in art education, this curriculum aims to address the scarcity of age-appropriate materials in feminist art history. There is a need for curricular materials that help learners critically analyze issues of gender, identity, and power conveyed through visual culture. The curriculum encourages middle-grade students to engage with three approaches to art analysis: formalism, iconography, and feminism. The organized unit focuses on inquiry, interpretation, comparison, production, and evaluation. …

Grammar Expert: A University-Based Grammar Application To Support Grammar Learning And Writing Instruction, Ivy Chan, Yin Teng Chong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Technologies like web-based grammar applications have been integrated into classroom writing pedagogy to enhance students’ learning experiences. Drawing from qualitative findings from students’ interviews and reflection journals over one semester, this technology review focuses predominantly on university students’ perceptions towards an internally developed grammar application, Grammar Expert. Adopting the Technology Affordances and Constraints Theory (TACT) framework, the review identifies that GE’s affordances include promoting engagement in grammar learning, offering a flexible and encouraging environment, and ensuring real-world applicability, while its constraints involve aspects related to a limited user interface. Subsequently, the authors will present their pedagogical narrative on integrating this …

Sainik Vol 1 Issue 3, Sastra Deemed To Be University

SAINIK

No abstract provided.

From Proficiency To Pedagogy: A Mixed-Methods Study Of In-Service Teachers’ Tpack-Genai And The Mediating Role Of Pedagogical Knowledge, Laila Mohebi, Areej Elsayary

All Works

This study investigated in-service teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Generative Artificial Intelligence (TPACK-GenAI) and examined the factors influencing their integration of generative AI in classroom practice. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, data were collected from 325 in-service teachers across 26 countries, followed by in-depth interviews with seven teachers. Quantitative results revealed that Technological Knowledge (TK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) were significantly associated with teachers' overall TPACK-GenAI. Crucially, mediation analysis confirmed that Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) serves as the indirect association through which TK is related to overall TPACK-GenAI competence. Qualitative findings enriched this result, …

Twitteratura: Digital Social Reading And Active Reception Of Literary Texts In The Context Of Italian Contemporary Literature, Iuri Moscardi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores Digital Social Reading (DSR) as a novel mode of literary engagement, focusing on the Italian project Twitteratura, a series of social reading experiments conducted on Twitter (2012–2016) and later on the Betwyll app. The research situates Twitteratura within the intersection of Reader-Response Theory, Digital Humanities, Reception Studies, and Sociology of Literature, demonstrating how digital environments reshape the act of reading and interpretation. Through detailed analyses of four DSR projects centered on major twentieth-century Italian authors—Cesare Pavese, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Italo Calvino, and Natalia Ginzburg—this dissertation argues that Twitteratura provides a concrete, data-rich demonstration of Wolfgang Iser’s reader-response …

School Just Wasn't For Me: Investigating The Intersections Of Education, Incarceration, And Improvisation, Kelly L. Brady

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

New York City is the largest city in the United States and home to the nation's largest school system.  NYC public schools are also the country's most segregated, according to a 2021 report from the UCLA Civil Rights Project.  This qualitative, Arts-Based Research study follows the development and performance of an applied theater piece created by formerly incarcerated and court-involved youth exploring their early educational experiences before encountering the juvenile justice system. Using Disability/Critical Race Theory (DisCrit) and Critical Performance Ethnography this project investigates how structural systems of education and incarceration intersect to construct youth as "others," including special education, …

Implications Of Career Guidance On Career Choices And Professional Development: Stakeholders’ Perspectives From Selected Higher Educational Institutions In The Uae, Solomon Arulraj David, Laila Mohebi

All Works

Career choices and professional development are influenced by various factors, such as family dynamics, teacher guidance, career counselling, peer influence, continuous learning, and market trends. This study aims to explore the experiences and perspectives of both students and staff regarding the impact of career guidance on the career choices, professional development of undergraduate Emirati students in selected higher education institutions in the UAE. Twenty-three participants, purposefully chosen, were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the gathered data. The findings indicate relatively a positive understanding of staff and students regarding the heightened awareness of career choices …

Insights Of Pre-Service Teachers In The Uae On Ai-Infused K-12 Classrooms: Implications For Policy And Curricula In Teacher Education, Ayman Massouti, Nessrin Shaya, Sandra Baroudi

All Works

No abstract provided.

U.S. Men's Views About Women's And Men's Agency In The Abortion Decision-Making Process, Xiana Bueno, Lucretia Mena-Melendez, Brandon L. Crawford, Ronna C. Turner, Wen-Juo Lo, Kristen N. Jozkowski

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research examining men's public opinion on women's and men's roles in abortion is limited but increasingly important as access to abortion has shifted dramatically in the U.S. In this study, we examined U.S. men's views of women's and men's agency in abortion decision-making. We explored 72 in-depth interviews on abortion attitudes conducted with men in 2021 and identified three main narratives. First, most men indicated that abortion is exclusively a women's decision. Several men noted wanting men's opinions to at least be heard in the decision-making process, while still maintaining that women should be the decision-makers. We identified subtle nuances, …

From Campus To Community: The Role Of Higher Education In Strengthening Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems In Appalachia, Anne M. Montgomery

Dissertations

This study addresses a gap in understanding how small, rural liberal arts higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Appalachian College Association Entrepreneurial Alliance (ACAEA) support regional entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs), and how, if at all, those strategies vary across Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) county economic classifications. Using a qualitative multi-case design, the study examined 10 ACAEA institutions and drew on semi-structured interviews, site observations, institutional documents (including strategic plans), and ARC county-level economic data. The analysis produced five cross-case themes describing how these institutions support entrepreneurship: (a) strategic leadership and institutional culture, (b) experiential and embedded entrepreneurial education, (c) community-driven partnerships …

Evaluating Equity In 9th And 10th Grade Ela Instruction, Alana Brown

Dissertations

Persistent racial disparities in English Language Arts (ELA) achievement remain a critical challenge in secondary education, particularly for Black students. This mixed-methods study examined the reading proficiency gap between Black and White students in Grades 9 and 10 on the state under study’s reading assessment. The purpose was to identify effective instructional strategies, necessary resources, and implementation processes to reduce the gap and ensure sustainability. Findings indicated that culturally responsive instruction, targeted intervention, and data-informed instructional coaching improved student engagement and reading performance. However, inconsistent implementation and limited early literacy foundations remained significant barriers. Recommendations include strengthening professional learning communities, …

The Motherhood Contract: Mental Load, Moral Risk, And Gendered Care In Contemporary Parenting And Digital Culture, Stephanie J. Stallman

Dissertations

This dissertation examines childcare as a site of gender inequality shaped by cultural norms, structural barriers, and digital discourse. Despite increased awareness of shared parenting ideals, mothers predominantly bear the “mental load.” This study introduces the idea of a motherhood contract: implicit expectations that mothers are responsible for managing children’s needs. Two research questions guide this study. (1) What are parents’ experiences of managing the mental load of caregiving? How do they make sense of these experiences within the gendered and moral expectations shaping family life? (2) How are cultural ideas about childcare and parenting constructed, circulated, and reproduced through …

The Impact Of Reliable Backup Childcare Services On Work-Life Balance And Stress Levels Among Working Parents, Christiana Arhin

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between access to reliable backup childcare services, work-life balance, and stress levels among working parents. Building on Arhin’s (2025) research, this study seeks to address limitations in sample diversity and incorporate qualitative methods to gain deeper insight into these variables. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study will examine how access to backup childcare services influences work-life balance and stress levels, with a focus on capturing both quantitative trends and qualitative perspectives of working parents. By exploring these relationships, the study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role …

The School To Prison Pipeline From The Inside Out: Survivor Narraitves, Nina M. Koufalias

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of two Latino men who traversed the school-to-prison pipeline in the 1980s. The purpose of this study is to investigate how intersecting systems of racism, ableism, poverty, and exclusionary school practices shaped their educational trajectories and contributed to their incarceration. Three overarching research questions guide this inquiry: (1) What can be learned from the stories of two formerly incarcerated relatives that sheds light on how the school-to-prison pipeline is lived? (2) How do their narratives illustrate the impacts of exclusionary discipline policies, such as zero-tolerance, on educational opportunities and life outcomes? (3) How does …

The Impact Of Wicor Strategies On Academic Achievement In Secondary Classrooms, Neketa G. Watson

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR) instructional strategies on academic achievement and student learning in secondary schools. Conducted within a large, diverse school district, the study explored teacher and administrator perceptions of WICOR implementation and examined student achievement data across three secondary schools. Data were collected through Likert-scale surveys from 29 teachers and five administrators, semi-structured interviews with five administrators, and three years of extant state assessment data. Findings revealed strong positive perceptions of WICOR’s effectiveness in promoting student engagement, critical thinking, instructional consistency, and academic success. Participants also identified implementation challenges …

Leading With Emotional Intelligence: Strengthening Leadership Effectiveness In Early Childhood Education, Christy L. Martin

Dissertations

This study examined the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in leadership effectiveness within early childhood education settings. Leadership in these contexts involves navigating complex relationships, staff stress, and organizational demands, yet leadership preparation often emphasizes technical skills over emotional competencies. The study explored how EI influences leadership effectiveness and how reflective practices support leadership development. Guided by the question How does emotional intelligence impact leadership effectiveness?, the study used a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an EI Inventory of Practices self-assessment measuring four EI domains, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest emotionally intelligent …

The Perception Of Students Toward Post-Pandemic Online Graduate Programs At A Historically Black College & University (Hbcu) In The South, April Ivery

Dissertations

This study examined the perceptions of online graduate students regarding the accessibility and usefulness of support services (Online Academic Advising, Online Technical Support, Online Counseling Services, Online Library Resources, and Online Career Services) at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the southern United States. The study aimed to examine the attitudes of online students towards these support systems and to determine whether these attitudes played a role in their learning process. The primary research question was: What is the relationship between the accessibility of support systems and students' perceptions of those support systems in online graduate programs at …

The Impact Of Pedagogy Training On Self-Efficacy In Pre-Tenured Community College Faculty, Barbara Leach

Dissertations

Community college faculty are typically hired based on disciplinary expertise rather than formal preparation in teaching pedagogy. This mixed-methods study examined whether prior pedagogy training was associated with higher levels of teaching self-efficacy among pre-tenured faculty at Illinois community colleges. Guided by Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the study compared faculty with prior pedagogy training, including K–12 licensure or graduate coursework, with faculty who had no prior pedagogy training.

Quantitative data were collected using a modified version of the Teachers’ Sense of Self-Efficacy Scale, while qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Ten participants were divided equally between the two groups. …

20260601: Dr. John Deaver Drinko Academy Records, 1892-2020, John Deaver Drinko Academy

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of the John Deaver Drinko Academy at Marshall University from 1892-2020. Items were received in 2026 from Dr. Montserrat Miller, the Executive Director of the Drinko Academy from 2018-2026. Included in this collection are historic documents from her time as faculty but primarily from her time in the Drinko Academy and the departments earlier records. There are lots of photographs, honors college receptions, assorted media like VHS and DVDs regarding various events, among a host of other content from former Drinko Academy EDs. Please download the finding aid for a full list of …

Isolation And Self-Efficacy Among Texas Educators With Disabilities Post-Covid: A Narrative Inquiry, Paul M. Nimon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to explore the narratives of 10 current Texas public school educators with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, to understand how these narratives shaped their perceptions of burnout in relation to isolation and self-efficacy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific problem addressed the systemic, cultural, and interpersonal barriers that contribute to emotional exhaustion and professional marginalization for this population. The paradigm used was action research. The specific research methodology was a qualitative narrative inquiry. Data collection methods included 60-to-90-minute semistructured interviews conducted via Zoom and transcribed for …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: A Snapshot In Time Of Faculty Perspectives And Institutional Adaptation, Alexander Levine

Journalism

The purpose of this research is to examine where higher education currently stands in relation to artificial intelligence, how it arrived at this moment, and where the future may be heading. More specifically, this study seeks to document a snapshot in time of how faculty members, university administrators, and educators perceive the role of artificial intelligence in higher education and how they believe it may shape the academic landscape moving forward.

By examining how artificial intelligence currently influences teaching, learning, and institutional decision-making, this study aims to create a record of perspectives during a period of rapid technological change. As …

Set Lists For Conversations On Necropolitics, Antiblackness, And Colonialism, Noah Morton

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

In lieu of a traditional syllabus, the following setlist uses the form of an academic syllabus to unsettle ideas around knowledge production and includes six sets with multimodal resources (films, songs, articles) to engage conversations on necropolitics, antiblackness, and colonialism. The setlists come from engaging in genealogies of resistance and liberation and are attentive to recognizing (re – again | cogn – to know | ize – to make) and acknowledging various technologies of domination while witnessing anachoreographies, or spirits of refusal. Each setlist flows from a check-in song, continues to the main set of readings/videos/podcasts, and ends with an …

Dissertatin' While Black, T. Gertrude Jenkins

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

Dissertatin’ While Black (DWB) is a racial affinity space that employs a community-engaged approach to completing dissertation elements. More than a writing retreat, DWB centers holistic care, creating a site for mentorship, celebration, and the exchange of ideas. Rooted in BlackCrit (Dumas & ross, 2016) and Black Liberatory Educational Subversion (Jenkins, 2024), DWB emphasizes that participation in Black institutional third spaces can counter the isolation often experienced by Black doctoral students, especially at predominantly white institutions. Ultimately, DWB operates as a “homeplace” where Black doctoral students can feel seen, valued, and supported in their research (hooks, 1994). We believe that …

“Hip-Hop Permeates Everything I Do:” The Intersections Of Global Politics, Hip-Hop, And Education, Mecedes Lindsay

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This qualitative study examines how the absence of Critical Hip-Hop Pedagogy (CHHP) within academic institutions shapes students’ sense of belonging, motivation, and engagement by regulating which forms of cultural capital are deemed legitimate. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus groups with students, educators, scholars, and members of the hip-hop generation, this research adopts an interpretivist framework to center participants’ lived experiences within educational spaces. Informed by Freirean critical pedagogy and Yosso’s theory of community cultural wealth, the study situates schooling as a site where America’s soft power operates through curriculum design, disciplinary norms, and definitions of deviance. Findings reveal that …

Purposefully Black Interactional Systems: Disrupting Punitive School Discipline Models Through Banter, The Funk, And The Black Aesthetic, S. M. Wilson

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This empirical study seeks to understand the narratives of four Black men teachers and two Black women teachers about how they implement school discipline and classroom management in their K–12 contexts. This track draws on interdisciplinary perspectives from education, linguistic anthropology, and African American studies to understand how banter and ritual insults function as alternatives to traditional discipline. Phenomenology and thematic analysis of six semistructured interviews demonstrated Black teachers’ beliefs that outdated and punitive orientations should be challenged. These teachers enacted discipline through talk—particularly banter, ritual insults, and what I call “purposefully Black interactional systems,” which embed discipline within them, …

Remixing The Academy Through Backyard Spaces: The Making Of Black Educology, The Mixtape, Dre Carter, Eghosa Obaizamomwan-Hamilton

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

As Black academics, researchers, and educators, we navigate the twin topographies of the academy and the open territories of possibility. Connecting these realms, we construct “backyard project” spaces—semi-enclosed areas linking academic spaces and liberated spaces. We use our creation of the backyard as a locality wherein we challenge oppressive, antiquated academic systems and anti-Blackness without waiting for reform. For example, our collective project, the Black Educology Mixtape “Journal,” exemplifies this concept. This track discusses the “backyard” as an extension of both third and fugitive spaces and, through material culture and fugitivity as method, highlights the backyard as a site for …

Uplifting Black Pedagogical Rituals Of Purpose Through Portraits Of Toni Morrison’S Humanistic Education, Darion A. Wallace, Natalie Hibdon, Gabriela Lopez

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

No abstract provided.

So Great A Cloud Of Witnesses: A Critical Race Counterstory On Teacher Preparation And Repair, La Mont Terry

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

Selective liberal arts colleges (SLACs) are traditionally undergraduate institutions that focus on providing a broad education in the arts, sciences, and humanities rather than the professional training for the workforce typically available at other institutions of higher education. Despite their comprehensive curriculum, many SLACs have a decades-long commitment to teacher preparation as recognition of the connected nature of K–12 schooling and higher education. This track examines the closure of one such teacher preparation program at an urban liberal arts college and its impact on the faculty who taught in it. Using the critical race theory method of counterstorytelling, I position …

Kong Koch: An Autoethnography On Jieng Indigenous Wisdom And Ethos Of Leadership, Dau D. Jok

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

In this track, I argue that Jieng (Dinka) epistemology reshapes leadership by foregrounding restraint (achin te lui ye), emotional regulation (kong koch), and social harmony (wel tuc). These Indigenous approaches challenge dominant trait-based leadership models by exposing their limits in confronting social and contextual diversity. To illustrate these ideas, I draw on personal accounts and member checks with my grandmother (Aboba) to show how Jieng wisdom reframes concepts of leadership, disposition, and practice. Building on this, the track advances Afrocentric leadership literature by defining leadership as communal accountability. Furthermore, it stresses the urgent need for scholars and practitioners to engage …

From The Hood To The Pwi: A Self-Reflective Journey As Learner And Educator, Tatiana C. Height

Black Educology Mixtape "Journal"

This track explores the concept of organic sustainability within the context of Black educational experiences, drawing from my personal journey as student, scholar, mother, and educator. Using action research and autoethnography, I examine how anti-Black schooling shaped my academic trajectory across K–12 schools, predominantly white institutions, graduate studies, and faculty life. The narrative highlights tensions between education as a promise of liberation and its simultaneous perpetuation of systemic oppression. Strategies of resilience and resistance—such as ungrading, culturally relevant pedagogy, Apocalyptic Education, and unschooling—are positioned as tools to reimagine liberatory education. The work underscores the necessity of rejecting white supremacist norms …