Digital Commons Network^™

Light & Faith: January 2025, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

Local Roots, Global Minds: Student Entrepreneurship Through Exploration And Community Connections, Madison Stracke, Becky Haddad, Matt Kreifels

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

What if students could see themselves not just as learners but as future business owners, community leaders, and innovators? That was the idea behind Local Roots, Global Minds, a hands-on semester project designed to connect students to their communities while helping them explore real-world career paths.

In a rural Nebraska high school, students weren’t just studying plant science. They were brainstorming business ideas, talking to local professionals, and thinking critically about their community needs, which in turn allowed them the opportunity to see how a future in their agricultural-based community could be accomplished.

Local Roots, Global Minds was a Work-Based …

(Art) Education In The Afterlife Of Massive Resistance: Constructing, Capturing, And Commodifying Racialized Disability In Virginia’S Student Assignment Practices, 1956-1966 And Present Day, Jenna E. Gabriel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores discursive functions of disability in pupil placement decisions in Massive Resistance Virginia, the relationship between disability and race that was constructed through these moves, and how these relationships surface in the reflections, perceptions, and pedagogy of a practicing art teacher, Nathan, who works at Arts High School (AHS), a Virginia specialty center high school. Under the umbrella of the Discourse Historical Approach, which relies on multiple, interdisciplinary data sources to explore how discourses evolve, I connect a robust archival analysis of historical data collected in the records of Virginia’s Pupil Placement Board (746 boxes, 1956-1966) with present-day …

Shifting The Paradigm: Empowering School Social Workers As Leaders In Family Engagement Policy And Practices In K-12 Education, Amber Onkst

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone examined the school social worker’s role in family engagement in K–12 education. It consists of three products that collectively review the current literature, conceptualize a gap in practice, and provide a tangible application to school social work in Kentucky. The first product, the systematic literature review, critically examines literature related to the school social worker’s role in family engagement policy and practices to inform an understanding of increasing engagement at the macro level. A narrative review was conducted to assess common themes. There was substantially limited research regarding this topic, showcasing a knowledge gap. The literature primarily revealed …

How Have Teacher Candidates Learned To Use Evidence? A Systematic Review Of Research, J. S. Beck, D. R. Riddle, J. J. Morgan, H. Whitesides, N. Brown

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

The purpose of the current manuscript was to provide a systematic review of the literature regarding how preservice teachers learn to use evidence to evaluate student learning. To that end, we operationalize the terms data literacy for teachers, data-driven decision making, and assessment literacy before outlining the methods of our systematic review. Our review produced 36 relevant articles situated within the United States. Based on these articles, we describe how teacher candidates learn to use data including relevant interventions and instructional methods. We also expand on the types of research methods used in these studies. We conclude with implications for …

Implementing A Z-Course Program At Fort Hays State University, Claire Nickerson

Library Faculty Publications

In 2018, the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) Open Educational Resource (OER) Committee proposed a Z-Course Program to track and incentivize the use of zero-cost course materials. It included a course-marking initiative, the implementation of a small cost-share fee to students to fund the program and incentivize departments to offer Z-courses, and a Z-Course Grant Program for faculty who wanted to convert their courses. The proposal was approved in 2020 and implemented beginning in 2021. Since then, the course-marking and fee implementation have been streamlined, and the committee is working on qualitative assessment.

Exploring The Development Of Students' Calling To The Work Of An Hod Practitioner In An Undergraduate Hod Degree Program, Neil Dana Rahbar-Daniels

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation project consisted of a multiple case qualitative study to explore indications of cross-influences between students’ experiences of learning takeaways as participants in one or more HOD undergraduate degree courses and accompanying experiences (if any) of perceiving and/or living a calling to work as HOD practitioners. This phenomenological inquiry involved four undergraduate students who had completed one or more HOD degree courses at Mid-Atlantic States University (MSU as a pseudonym) during a two-year period. Each participant attended a single interview of about 90 minutes in duration, responded to a short vocational calling survey as a guide for interview questioning, …

Student Perspectives Of The Value Of General Education In Professional Studies: Investigating A Law School In Bangladesh, Fahim Abid Abid, Mahbuba Kamal, Nisharga Nirjan

GHEA21 Open Educational Resources

Legal education in Bangladesh has undergone changes, but the integration of general education remains limited. Countries leading the global legal arena prioritize general education in their evolving education systems. However, stakeholders in Bangladeshi legal education have not advocated for significant curricular reforms, resulting in the absence of quality graduates. While some universities have implemented general education programmes, the lack of emphasis on student perspectives hinders progress. This research addresses this gap by investigating the value of undergraduate law students at BRAC University (a leading university in Bangladesh) on the general education curriculum. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a …

Thai Pre-Service And Early-Career Teachers' Professional Identity Formation, Duangkamon Winitkun

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Beginning teachers, including pre-service (PSTs) and early-career teachers (ECTs), face various types of challenges such as classroom management, instructional planning, building relationships with school stakeholders, adjusting to school culture, and limited resources (Kozikoglu, 2017). Many studies focus on these challenges as technical issues, neglecting the role of teacher identity in how educators experience and address these difficulties (e.g., Burden, 2020; Doyle, 1990; Hoy & Weinstein, 2013). Moreover, most teacher identity studies are predominantly conducted in Western contexts where sociocultural values and systemic constraints shape teachers’ professional roles differently from those in Eastern contexts. This three-manuscript dissertation investigates the identity formation …

Race Into The Future: Counselor Educators' Experiences Training With An Antiracist Pedagogy, Darita Rose Grays

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the role of counselor educators in incorporating an antiracist pedagogy to prepare counselors-in-training to work as culturally competent counselors with all clients, with emphasis on marginalized groups. The research examines the lived experiences of counselor educators, focusing on how their personal and professional journeys influence their approach to integrating antiracist teaching strategies in counselor education programs. It highlights the critical need to address and acknowledge racism within counselor training while emphasizing the importance of developing an antiracist identity among both educators and trainees. The study further explores the potential of antiracist pedagogy in fostering a more inclusive, …

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog, Morehead State University. Registrar's Office.

Morehead State Catalog Archive

2025-2026 undergraduate catalog for Morehead State University.

Exploring The Experiences Of Collegiate Black Female Student-Athletes From A Phenomenological Perspective, Deja L. Jackson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Collegiate Black female student-athletes at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) face a unique experience as they navigate the complex intersections of race, gender, and sports while striving for academic and athletic success. Their encounters with racism, discrimination, and marginalization remain largely underexplored. This research provides findings from a transcendental phenomenological study that examined the lived experiences of these athletes. The goal was to understand how racism, discrimination, and marginalization impact these student-athletes both individually and in context sport. Grounded in social constructivism and informed by Black Feminist Thought and Intersectionality Theory, the study involved semi-structured interviews with eight current and former …

The Physiology Of Exercise, Rosie Lanphere

Open Educational Resources

The Physiology of Exercise (3rd Edition) is an essential resource for upper-level undergraduates studying exercise science. Written by Rosie Lanphere, PhD, CSCS, this text provides a clear and comprehensive exploration of how the human body responds and adapts to physical activity.

Covering metabolism, energy expenditure, and the integrated roles of the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, muscular, and respiratory systems, this edition reflects the latest research and practical applications in the field.

Designed with students in mind, each chapter includes learning objectives, key terms, and scholarly questions to reinforce understanding. Whether preparing for a career in exercise science or professional certification, this …

The Struggle For Equity In Education: Affirmative Action And Systemic Change, Derek Truong

Tredway Library Prize for First-Year Research

Derek’s paper analyzed both the oppressive and liberating roles the education system holds within society. He grounded this research by examining this paradox within the case study of affirmative action, particularly alongside the experiences of Asian Americans and other historically marginalized perspectives. By examining educational theories, Derek argued that a critical analysis of affirmative action demystifies this paradox and exposes deeper systemic inequities in the education system. With a nuanced view of affirmative action based on theory, Derek concluded that systemic and pedagogical changes can occur with internal reforms, such as integrating a more inclusive curriculum that reflects a diverse …

Moral Identity And Its Relationship To Higher Education Mentoring And Community Service Engagement, Maria O. Rodriguez

Dissertations

Problem

A moral action is a result of the engagement of multiple psychological processes set in motion when an individual faces a moral conflict. Research suggests that an individual's moral reasoning and moral identity strongly influence the psychological processes that precede a moral action. Recent studies have shown that higher education positively influences students' moral reasoning; however, there is a lack of understanding as to the degree to which higher education can influence the moral identity of students.

Method

This study performed a quantitative cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between independent variables—mentoring experiences and community service engagement—and dependent variables—moral …

Religious Participation, Subjective Happiness, And Purpose In Life As Predictors Of Psychological Resilience Among College Students At A Faith-Based Institution In The United States, Elaine Powell Oliver

Dissertations

Problem

During the transition from adolescence to adulthood, also known as emerging adulthood, many college students experience psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, stress, and loneliness (Arnett & Tanner, 2009; DeRosier et al., 2013). For some students, their psychological distress will impact how they perform academically and whether they will persist in their academic goals (Hartley, 2012; Robbins et al., 2018). Many students lack the resilience needed to survive and thrive amid the challenges of college life (Lane, 2020; McLafferty et al., 2022; Watkins et al., 2012). -- Resilience is considered an essential psychological characteristic to assist students in navigating …

2025-2026 Craft Academy Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The 2025-2026 Craft Academy Student Handbook.

Educator Equity And Pedagogy: Multilingual Learners In Rural Schools, Marsha R. Martin Kerr

Doctor of Education

This sequential explanatory mixed-method design study aims to understand and identify educator experiences and beliefs and how they affect equitable pedagogy with multilingual learners(MLLs) in rural K-12 public schools today. The research questions the significance of equitable pedagogy, systems, and resistances instructing MLLs to create dialogue supporting educator self-awareness, critical thinking, and collaboration while supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultivating a positive school climate through multicultural education. The theoretical framework threads social learning theory through psychological mechanisms of observance and behavior from others, and social theory examines educational institutions through sociological perspectives and methodologies. These theories support teaching and learning …

2025 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

SoTL Commons Conference

2025 Conference Program

Creating A General Psychology Curriculum That Embeds Humane Education, Kristina Marie Pham

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Academic freedom is under attack in the United States, hindering the ability of educators to develop critical thinking skills in students to prepare them for their roles as participating members of a democracy. The inquiry that informed the curriculum development is as follows: How to embed Humane Education and Participatory Action Research into a General Psychology class? The theoretical framework of Humane Education was the basis for utilizing the principles of Participatory Action Research in the General Psychology curriculum co-created with rural community college students. The Backward Design Model was chosen because the curriculum was created using an existing General …

The Inequitable Access: Black And Latinx Students In Ap Courses, Jean C. Woolcock

Dissertations

This study posits that in American high schools, the preparation of Black and Latinx students, starting from the freshman year, can be effective in helping to increase their participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Structural inequities, in how schools are resourced, affect the ways in which Black and Latinx students are denied equal opportunities. On the contrary, members of their peers do obtain this kind of preparation. As a framework, Critical Race Theory (CRT) contends that race, the law, and power are deeply ingrained in maintaining established bastions of wealth and dominance. Gaps in opportunity and achievement spill over into …

Catholic School Teaching As Participation In The Common Good, John L. Beltramo

Journal of Catholic Education

Increasing rates of teacher attrition have exacerbated the shortage of teachers in regions of the United States. In response, some scholars have proposed initiatives that promote the professionalization of teaching, hoping to attract and retain new teachers through greater classroom autonomy and stronger professional development. Others have advocated for a vision of teaching as a vocation, through which teachers can find deeper meaning and thereby better tolerate challenging working conditions. While both conceptualizations of teaching hold compelling implications for the field, their lack of grounding in a broader conception of community ultimately limit the extent to which they can respond …

Setting The Stage For Success: Readiness And Connectedness As Antecedents Of Learning Continuance Intention In Online Learning, Yingqi Tang, Hungwei Tseng, Yu-Chun Kuo, Hsin-Te Yeh, Jianfang Liu

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Through a hierarchical multiple regression analysis, this study investigated how dimensions of online learning readiness and online connectedness influence students’ intentions to continue to take online courses. Data from 369 students who took at least one online course at a four-year public university showed that online learning readiness had a stronger relationship with continuance intention than online student connectedness, while online learning readiness had a significant correlation with online student connectedness. Online learning readiness and connectedness were indicators of online learning persistence. Factors such as age, computer/internet self-efficacy, self-directed learning, learner control, and facilitation influence students' intention to continue with …

The Impact Of International Baccalaureate (Ib) Courses: Experience And Outcome Differences For Full Ib Diploma Earners Vs. Non-Diploma Earners In An Urban School In The Us, Christopher Jennens, Nilufer Guler

Research, Publications & Creative Work

This study examines differences in educational experiences and outcomes for high school(HS) students who participated in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program and earned full diplomas compared to those who participated in the IB Diploma Program but did not earn the diploma. ACT scores, after-high school placement, and HS graduation rates of 256 participants were collected. 122 participants completed an online survey, and 12 participated in interviews. The results revealed that the educational outcomes and experiences for diploma and non-diploma earners were vastly similar. Diploma earners had significantly higher ACT scores, but their college entrance and other academic outcomes were …

Teacher Resilience In South Africa: The Self-Efficacy And Teacher Efficacy Of Pre-Service Teachers Preparing To Teach In A Challenged Context, Carine Jonker, Marien Alet Graham, Liesel Ebersöhn

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This publication addresses a gap in high-quality, quantitative studies on teacher resilience within the less-researched context of the Global South. Specifically, it examines the self-efficacy and teacher efficacy of three cohorts of final-year pre-service teachers in South Africa (N = 1,193). This article aimed to contribute evidence on teacher resilience from an under-researched African context and population. Despite contextual challenges, the pre-service teachers indicated high intrapersonal resilience-enabling pathways, with a statistically significant relationship between their self-efficacy and teacher efficacy. The authors propose an evidence-based framework of how high levels of self-efficacy and teacher efficacy may enable prospective teachers to teach …

Understanding The "Paradox" In Black-White Alcohol Outcomes: Examining High-Effort Coping And Health Behaviors With A Focus On Black Populations And College Students, Rachel Ayala Guzman, Abby L. Braitman

Psychology Faculty Publications

Despite experiencing more physical health disadvantages and psychosocial stressors, Black Americans consistently report better mental health outcomes compared to White Americans—a phenomenon commonly referred to as the Black-White health paradox. Alcohol research has identified another racial paradox suggesting Black Americans are at greater risk for alcohol-related problems despite drinking less than White Americans, which is known as the Black-White alcohol paradox. While both paradoxes are well-documented, few studies have examined their potential overlap or how insights from one might inform understanding of the other. Although the alcohol paradox is usually examined among older adults, it may be important to consider …

Life Is Just A Classroom: Student Perceptions Of Courses Incorporating Popular Culture, Virginia Clinton-Lisell

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Some faculty design and teach college courses that incorporate popular culture, presumably to engage and spark interest in students. The purpose of this study is to examine student perceptions of courses that incorporate popular culture. College students (N = 464) were randomly assigned to read a course description and learning objectives that incorporated popular culture in general, the specific popular cultural celebrity Taylor Swift, or no mention of popular culture (control). Incorporating popular culture generally or specific to Taylor Swift had no overall effects on topic interest in the course or likelihood to enroll. However, students with greater interest in …

1 Of 84 The Discursive Tactics Of Perpetuating White Normativity In Public Education: A Critical Policy Discourse Analysis Of Anti-Crt Policies Across 18 States, Alison Wilson, Alissa Blair, Jason L. Endacott, Christopher Giller, Christian Z. Goering

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

In recent years, state policies banning "divisive concepts" have proliferated as part of a coordinated effort to undermine racial justice by framing critical discussions of race as "indoctrination" and imposing ideological restrictions on curriculum and pedagogy. Using critical policy discourse analysis informed by a critical study of whiteness, this paper examines how 22 policy documents from 18 states operate discursively to shape the parameters of race-related discourse in public education. Our findings suggest that these policies employ three primary discursive maneuvers: (1) constructing false equivalencies that equate white discomfort with racial oppression, (2) appealing to "universal" values to obscure systemic …

The Effects Of Curriculum Changes On Teacher Instruction And Teacher Perceptions On How These Changes Impact Student Learning, Seon Sloley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Curriculum across North Carolina has seen many changes over the past few years. It is necessary for changes to take place in the curriculum, as an updated curriculum allows for success. Although teachers do not have a voice in these changes, changes are made to improve classroom instruction and adapt to the mission, vision, and goals of schools focusing on teaching and learning. A study on the effects of curricular changes on teacher instruction and teacher opinions on how these changes impact student learning in North Carolina was conducted with teachers from across North Carolina in elementary, middle, and high …

Strengthening The Flock: A Survey On Member Recruitment And Retention, Nannette V. Walston-Moore

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation examines the dynamics of membership at Bryant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (BCAMEZ), focusing on the significant issues of recruitment and retention that many religious organizations encounter. Utilizing appreciative inquiry as its theoretical lens, the study sought to identify methods for attracting new members while reinforcing connections with current members. Data were collected through an online survey and comprehensive interviews with existing members to reveal effective practices. The analysis indicates that although BCAMEZ effectively leverages social media and community service, there is a pressing need for more focused and inclusive engagement strategies. The findings underscore the importance …