Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Relationships Between Students’ Achievement Goals And Their Academic Achievement In An Oer-Based Course: A Person-Centered Approach, Hengtao Tang Ph.D., Yan Yang, Yu Bao

Faculty Publications

Open Educational Resources (OER) have emerged as a cost-effective alternative to traditional commercial textbooks in higher education, towards the goal of alleviating college students’ financial burden of educational expenses. However, mixed findings about the influences of the integration of OER on student learning are present. To address the gap, this study investigated whether student motivation in OER served as a latent factor that impacts their academic achievement in online asynchronous courses offered in public universities. Particularly, this study (N = 247) implemented an advanced person-centered approach—stepwise latent class analysis—to profile student achievement goals in an OER-based course and examined their …

Embodied Transcendence: Psychedelics And The Evolution Of Moral Abstraction, Emanuel Jas

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This paper explores the role of psychedelics in the context of evolutionary brain development and the conceptual capacity for moral realism. Drawing on theories from evolutionary anthropology, neuroscience, and moral philosophy, the first part provides a brief overview of human evolution and brain expansion. From here, recent empirical data from the neurosciences is assessed on the effect psychedelics have on the brain, along with speculations on the role of psychedelics in our hominoid evolutionary history—specifically, the capacity for phenomenologically rich, conscious, subjective experiences that are incredibly vivid and real. This imaginative capacity for transcendence and disembodiment could enable the realization …

Technology-Enabled College Access: A Field Study In Rural Mississippi Schools, Carol Cutler White, Tianlan Wei, Judith Meece

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

College choice and application processes are critical for postsecondary enrollment. This field study examines the potential utility of a technology-enabled college access (TECA) mobile app for supporting rural student postsecondary decisions. Through the TECA mobile app, participants can tour two- and four-year college campuses, view career videos, access detailed information about each institution (enrollment diversity, specialization, enrollment requirements, etc.), and connect with college advisors. The study used a theoretical framework and included 1,073 students attending seven rural high schools in Mississippi to evaluate the utility of TECA for increasing college knowledge, motivation, and preparation related to students’ choice and enrollment …

Exploring The Roles Of The Coach Developer: A Uscce White Paper, Christine Nash, Melissa Thompson, Sean Dahlin, Andrea Woodburn, Jeremy Elliott

Journal of Coach Development

Organizational white papers serve as a mechanism for strategic communication and to establish thought leadership, build credibility, and drive informed decision-making across stakeholder groups. It is the belief of the USCCE that the official launch of the Journal of Coach Development offers the appropriate outlet and timing to publish this official stance of the organization to explore the multiple roles of the coach developer. As the field continues to evolve, our shared understanding of the roles and responsibilities of those serving to support the growth and development of sport coaches will be essential. Further, as a critical focus of the …

Teachers Who Seriously Considered Leaving The Profession But Ultimately Chose To Stay, Greta G. Freeman

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

In an effort to provide information to help understand and slow the rapid turnover and decline of quality educational professionals and to aid in the quest to stock our classrooms with the very best teacher educators, this research examined public school teachers who at some point in their career seriously considered leaving the profession, but for one or more of the reasons described in this study, ultimately chose to stay. This phenomenological case study focused on a sample of twenty-five kindergarten through grade five teachers employed by one Western North Carolina school district. A series of written and oral responses …

Full Issue: Volume 1, 2008, 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.

Vigilante Justice: A Study On The Causes, Christina Tackett

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Caudill College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by Christina Tackett on March 13, 2026.

Exploring Rural Educator's Perceptions Of Educational Accountability Measures In Alabama, Steven Sims Ii

College of Education

This qualitative study will examine rural stakeholders' perceptions of the educational accountability measures implemented by the state of Alabama, including Alabama’s adoption of mandatory retention laws, specifically the Alabama Numeracy and Literacy Act, accountability tests such as the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP), the ACT, and the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS), as well as how these initiatives impact the process of identifying and labeling schools as failing. This research explores stakeholders' perceptions of the efficacy of these policies. Through semi-structured interviews with 21 educators (20 teachers and one principal) from rural Black Belt schools, the study aims to …

2026 March 11 - Undergraduate Curriculum Council Minutes, Undergraduate Curriculum Council, East Tennessee State University

Undergraduate Curriculum Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

From Courtrooms To Classrooms: Experiments In Survival, Justin Surdyka

Journal of Prison Education Research

The transformative powers of college-in-prison programs are known, but students get the grave of continued incarceration—even if we are fully rehabilitated. For the college-in-prison student who spends years in classes, degrees and parole denials are synonymous, especially for those of us who have committed violent off enses. We are educated but not redeemed in the eyes of the system. My classmates and I are the degrees behind the denials, the students behind the degrees, the prisoners behind the students, the human beings behind the prisoners who are the reason higher education in prison is praised for being transformative. Yet we …

How To Train Social Intervention Professionals In A Polarised World?, Bruno Michon

Journal of Social Care

This article examines the challenges of training social intervention professionals in an increasingly polarised society. Drawing on theoretical perspectives on political and affective polarisation, it explores how contemporary social divisions shape social work practice. The analysis includes findings from a five-year qualitative study on radicalisation prevention in France, highlighting tensions between security imperatives and the ethical foundations of social work. These tensions often generate mistrust and professional dilemmas for practitioners. The article argues that social work education must address polarisation directly. It proposes three key responses: reaffirming human rights as the ethical foundation of the profession, adopting professional stances that …

A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Study Of The Effect Of Dynamic Versus Static Visualization And Gender On Middle School Teachers' Mathematics Anxiety, Daniel Kobina Lindsay

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a significant difference in teachers' mathematics anxiety on the effect of instruction-based dynamic versus static visualization and gender among teachers in middle schools. This study is critical because it addresses policies and pedagogical practices that address mathematics anxiety among middle school teachers. The gender of teachers and the medium of instructional delivery play a crucial role in assessing these teachers' engagement and achievement in the United States educational system. The sample (n = 293) was composed of teachers, divided into groups based on their instruction method and …

Practices And Ethics In The Act Of Transmission In Social Work In A Disrupted Environment, Ana-Luana Deram, Ségolène Payan

Journal of Social Care

At the dawn of the 21st century, we are witnessing demographic, sociological, professional and institutional changes that accompany educational policies and transformations in social work training, giving rise to paradoxical demands sometimes being placed on educators. Like a beacon, adherence to an ethic of consideration in transmission through teaching, sharing and comprehension, nourish the reflection associated with the support of today's social work students.

En ce début de XXIème siècle nous sommes témoins des changements démographiques, sociologiques, professionnels et institutionnels qui accompagnent les politiques éducatives et les mutations de la formation en travail social, à l’origine des injonctions paradoxales parfois …

2026-03-10 University Graduate Committee - Course Proposal For Soc 631, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., University Graduate Committee.

Faculty Senate Records

Course proposal for SOC 631 Health Structures and Behavior submitted to the University Graduate Committee on February 6, 2026 and approved on March 10, 2026.

The Intervention Effects Of Self-Leadership And Motivation On The Second Language Motivation Mechanism In Tanzanian Form 5 Students: A Static-Group Study Using Structural Equation Modeling, Euna Kim Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, static-group study was to determine the effect of the intervention among high school newcomers in the English-medium instruction (EMI) context in Tanzania. Tanzanian adolescents have difficulty adapting to the transition to secondary school, as the language of instruction is not their native language. Four high schools in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania participated in the study, with 381 participants in the intervention group and 373 in the control group. The intervention group attended self-leadership training and second-language (L2) motivation workshops, while the control group did not. After the intervention, the two groups completed surveys using …

Redesigning Online Graduate Orientation To Foster Academic Resilience And Prevent Underperformance, Stella Michael-Makri, David E. Rodriguez

Journal of Academic Underperformance

Graduate students in fully online programs often begin their academic journey without adequate preparation for the emotional, structural, and cultural challenges of graduate-level work. For students who are first-generation, racially marginalized, international, or returning to education after time away, this lack of scaffolding can lead to early disengagement, underperformance, or attrition. Orientation, often treated as a checklist of logistical tasks, represents a missed opportunity for meaningful academic intervention. This manuscript proposes a five-module conceptual model for online graduate orientation designed to proactively support online graduate students in the domains of emotional regulation and academic identity, time management and executive functioning, …

Rupturing The Sport Management Classroom: Zine-Making For World-Making, Roc Rochon, Chen Chen

Sport Management Collection

The on-going COVID-19 pandemic (and the pandemic of capitalism, white supremacy, imperialism, and colonialism, etc.) calls for imaginative, relevant, and critical approaches in sport management education to address diverse, socially, and culturally dynamic students. Yet the bulk of existing educational resources remain rooted in reinforcing systems of domination and the structure of on-going settler colonialism (Chen & Mason, 2019; hooks, 1994). A major challenge in traditional approaches to “updating” the curriculum fall short in challenging the banking mode of education (Freire, 1970). Following Amis and Silk’s (2005) call for a “rupture” of the reproduction of the status quo within sport …

Gastrocritical Reading Questions: A Tool For Bridging The Interdisciplinary Gap Between Food Studies And Literary Studies, Anke Klitzing

Women+ in Early Career Research Symposium

Interdisciplinary work is increasingly valued in academia but carries intrinsic challenges, among them cross-disciplinary communication and jargon; disciplinary socialisation regarding the creation and transmission of knowledge; lack of a common foundation of knowledge or canon; lack of epistemological self-awareness; and the question of how to train scholars in the interdisciplinary space. Food Studies is an interdisciplinary field, examining food in society from various angles, including history, sociology, anthropology and folklore studies. Most scholars active in Food Studies have joined the field from their respective disciplines; however, there are also a small number of graduate programmes situated squarely in the interdisciplinary …

Teaching And Learning Math In Prison: A Systematic Review, Giulia De Rocco, Enrico Angelo Emili, Elisa Miragliotta, George Richard Paul Santi, Alessia Muratori

Journal of Prison Education Research

The paper presents the first results of a systematic review of the literature on mathematics teaching and learning in prison. The paper explores, through a systematic review based on the PRiSMA method, the state of the art on the mathematics teaching-learning in prisons, focusing on theoretical frameworks that identify good educational practices, the role of affective aspects, the focus on inclusiveness and accessibility. The study is part of the LeMP project, 'Learning Math in Prison', which aims at exploring the conditions of mathematics teaching-learning in a prison context.

Social Studies Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Professional Development To Support The Facilitation Of Controversial Conversations, Kristen Mast

Doctorate in Education

Funding and support for social studies instruction have dwindled in most public schools in the United States over the past two decades, leaving social studies teachers without high-quality curriculum materials and professional development opportunities. Without proper training, many social studies teachers are using ineffective instructional strategies and are not regularly utilizing best practices, including the facilitation of controversial conversations in the classroom. In a time when the political divide in the United States continues to increase, these skills can help strengthen American democracy in the long term. This study investigated professional development as a possible pathway to improve the facilitation …

Boundless Community: A Developing Disability Arts Movement, Sarah K. Benson, Khaldoun Hijazin, Alaa Qattam, Suha Khuffash

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

Over several years, individual organizations in Jordan have been focused on increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in the arts. Increasing inclusion can provide a powerful tool to create visibility, amplify marginalized voices and disrupt normative narratives. However, these isolated efforts had a limited impact until a cohesive effort borne by a burgeoning community of practice led to the first Amman Arts and Disability Summit. Bringing together youth, artists and gallery owners, the movement leaders are using models of social learning and communities of practice to create a more inclusive arts community. The movement stands on the precipice of …

Sparks Of Creative Agency In Arts Education: Flashpoints Of Social Injustice To Imagine Otherwise, Sarah Travis, Kendall Crabbe

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

This paper examines how experiences of social injustice can become sparks of creative agency in arts education and thus can lead collective forces towards social justice. Drawing from critical social theoretical perspectives on arts equity, creative agency, and transformational resistance, the authors engage flashpoint methodology to highlight pivotal moments documenting experiences from their respective research studies of youth arts education programs. These pivotal experiential moments—flashpoints—reveal insights into how disruptive and disorienting experiences of social injustice can spark creative agency and facilitate collective movement toward social justice.

Workforce Participation In Northeast Kentucky: A Qualitative Documentary Study, Timothy A. Gibbs

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 Timothy A. Gibbs on March 2, 2026.

The Need For Developing Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy Education, Dustin Cox

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Chronic pain presents a multifaceted challenge for healthcare providers, often impacting patients' physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Research indicates that individuals with chronic pain process pain through emotional and reward pathways in the brain, underscoring the need for integrative treatment approaches. Evidence supports the effectiveness of combining psychological interventions with physical rehabilitation to improve outcomes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy, has shown promise in addressing the psychological dimensions of chronic pain. However, physical therapists often lack formal training in ACT. This study protocol was designed to explore effective methods for educating physical therapists in ACT principles …

“It’S A Lot More To It Than Just Research”: Integrating Critical Data Literacy And Reasoning With Data Into A Stem Summer Camp, Marc T. Sager, Saki L. Milton, Candace Walkington

Publications

Purpose: This study explores how middle-grade girls from predominantly underrepresented and underserved racially and ethnically minoritized (UUREM) backgrounds developed critical data literacy (CDL) through participation in a week-long residential STEM camp. Given the increasing importance of data science education in a data-driven world, this research examines how informal learning environments can support CDL development among youth from historically marginalized groups.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study draws on qualitative interview data from eleven participants, and their group-produced artifacts to investigate how the camp experience supported engagement with data and the development of CDL. Interviews explored participants' experiences with data collection, organization, analysis, and …

Experience And Response To Disability Stigma In South Asian Communities, Sudha Krishnan

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This qualitative study explored the experiences of stigma and responses to stigmatization among 13 South Asian parents of children with extensive support needs (ESN). Existing research indicates that students with intellectual disabilities often experience negative emotions such as shame, powerlessness, and frustration due to their disability status. Cultural beliefs significantly influence the experiences of disabled children and their families, with stigma perceived and felt differently across cultural groups. Participants were interviewed about their family and cultural beliefs, perceptions of disability, and experiences with school collaborations and social stigma. Thematic analysis revealed that South Asian families with children with ESN faced …

Identifying Priorities To Guide Extension Water Quality Programming In Utah, Clare Entwistle, Sarah Erwin, Stephanie Vaughn

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension water quality faculty conducted a statewide water quality needs assessment to identify priority contaminants and resource gaps. The results found that elevated nutrient levels and sedimentation were the top concerns where additional resources would be beneficial. In addition, insufficient funding for improvements and low public engagement were identified as key challenges in addressing water quality issues. Results revealed current unmet needs with regional variation to inform Extension resource allocation and programming.

Community Engagement Newsletter, March 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

UNI's Day of Service - April 8, 2026
Service-Learning and Engaged Department Institutes
Inspire Conference
Certified Nonprofit Professional Credential
UNI Engaged Podcast

Take Flight With Languages, Paula Garrett-Rucks, Christiane Fäcke

Dimensions

T his article attempts to bridge language education fields from Europe and the United States by sharing language learning terms, concepts, and teaching and learning theories and practices across the Atlantic in response to the call for papers for the 2026 Dimensions special issue on Plurilingual Education. In order to situate the ways in which the instructional materials, resources, and practices for plurilingual language learning that are described by European contributing authors to the special issue might look across contexts, this article addresses both European and U.S. unique linguistic landscapes and social contexts, societal norms and expectations toward speaking more …

Religious Higher Education Institutions In Ukraine: The Evolution Of The Problem And The Collision Of The "Secular–Religious" Dichotomy, Serhii Kostiuchkov, Vadym Slyusar, Lesya Chervona, Mykola Slyusar

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to institutional, legislative, philosophical and communicative analysis of the activities of religious higher education institutions in modern Ukraine, taking into account political, social, legal, religious and communicative contexts. The authors examine the demand for religious education in modern Ukraine, which demonstrates high internal dynamics and promising prospects for the development of the domestic religious educational space. It is emphasised that the functioning of religious higher education institutions in Ukraine is regulated by the principle of constitutional separation of education from religion, while at the same time basic legal norms create specific conditions for the functioning of …