Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Early Indicators For Success In An Associate Degree In Nursing Program, Joseph D. Moss

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Persistent nursing workforce shortages across the United States have increased the importance of Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs as primary entry points into the profession. Community colleges prepare a substantial portion of the nursing workforce; however, attrition within ADN programs limits the number of graduates entering practice. Understanding factors associated with academic performance and program completion is essential for strengthening nursing education pathways and supporting workforce development. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine early academic and sociodemographic factors associated with successful completion of an ADN program at a suburban community college.

Guided by Becker’s Human Capital …

Profiles Of Science Students’ Achievement Emotions: An Exploration Of Motivational Antecedents And Persistence Outcomes Over Time, Arianna White-Levatich

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This is a longitudinal study focused on the importance of students’ beliefs and emotions for their persistence in science majors. The primary goals of this study are threefold. First, to examine how undergraduate science students’ academic achievement emotions combine into profiles across two time points in the context of introductory Chemistry and Biology Courses. Second, to examine how students’ beliefs and perceptions of belonging relate to profile membership and to the likelihood that students will transition between profiles of emotions over time. Third, to evaluate how emotion profile membership and transition are related to students’ intentions to pursue science and …

Effects Of Cross-Language Instructional Design On Foreign Language Learners' Cognitive Load: Approaching The Redundancy Principle Of Multimedia Learning, Leonor Mendiola Adams

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Because conceptualizations of cognitive resources play a critical role in determining the effectiveness of instructional design (Greeno, 2011; Greeno et al., 1996; Mayer, 2011, 2019), this study explores the effects of cross-language instructional design on learners’ perceived intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load content corresponding to content complexity, instructional presentation demands, and depth of understanding and schema construction, respectively.

Grounded in the redundancy principle of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, this research further investigates whether the principle operates differently when learners’ native language is strategically incorporated into foreign language learning contexts. According to the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, …

Exploring The Way Up: Career Paths, Challenges, And Resilience Among Women Leaders In Higher Education, Angela M. Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women represent the majority of students and faculty in higher education students in higher education in the United States, yet they remain underrepresented in executive leadership positions. Women pursuing these roles encounter unique challenges, and institutions have increasingly recognized the value of mentoring and sponsoring women who aspire to leadership. Guided by Kumar’s CR8 resilience theory, this qualitative descriptive study explored how women leaders in higher education in the United States describe their career pathways to leadership, the challenges they encounter, and the impact of mentoring/sponsoring in developing their resilience for career progression. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 women …

How Can Learning Management Systems Positively Impact Student Engagement In Online Courses?, Jerald P. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The topic of this dissertation is learning management systems, specifically Canvas. Research has proven that student engagement is a strong factor in student achievement in both online and inperson courses. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a deficit in instructors’ ability to acquire and maintain student engagement in online courses. This study details why this problem exists and how instructors have successfully addressed it in higher-level online courses. The primary purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine how learning management systems, specifically Canvas, can increase student engagement in online courses in higher education. Qualitative research was the chosen paradigm for …

Steer For The Deep Waters Only: Exploring Student Value Creation Through Dialogue And Art, Amy Weatherford

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

With a focus on transformation within what educational philosopher and Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda termed the life-sized paradigm, this interpretive qualitative study drew heavily upon arts-based research practices to explore how dialogue with, through, and about art shaped student value creation and the development of global citizenship dispositions in an online graduate course. This study sought to address the need to explore curricular structures and pedagogical practices which center our humanity and cultivate epistemologies missed or minimized by traditional teaching methods. As this study focused on the activities of a particular class, purposeful sampling was used to recruit seven participants. …

See These Great Speakers And Their Programs At Annual Session!, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature highlights the speaker lineup and curriculum for the 2026 MDA Annual Session in Grand Rapids. The program offers diverse continuing education tracks for the entire dental team, including pediatric dentistry, oral pathology, risk management, and practice growth strategies. Notable speakers include clinical experts, legal professionals, and motivational keynotes. The document also explains the transition to a simplified registration system using one-day or full conference passes, allowing attendees more flexibility to choose sessions on-site without pre-registering for individual courses.

Building Argumentative Writing Skills In An Adult Esl Classroom, Cristina Lighthiser

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project addressed the challenge that adult English Language Learners (ELLs) faced in meeting the complex demands of argumentative writing in academic and professional settings, and was guided by the question, How can the design of an adult ESL curriculum support students in developing argumentative writing through scaffolded lessons on hortatory exposition? This research sought to address a gap in instructional supports for adult ESL students as they developed persuasive writing skills. The curriculum design explicitly focused on language features essential to hortatory exposition. The resulting unit was a six-lesson, twelve-hour curriculum for intermediate adult ESL students at a …

Evolving Approaches To Teaching Secondary English Language Arts In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence, Timothy Crepeau

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Centered on the question of how to foster academic integrity while maintaining accountability for AI-assisted plagiarism in secondary English language arts (ELA) education, this project responds to the growing reality that students can outsource core cognitive tasks—reading, analysis, and writing—to AI tools. Informed by key influences from neuroscience and educational research, particularly studies on neural plasticity, the reading brain, and cognitive offloading, the project draws on scholarship by Collins, Wolf, and contemporary AI-in-education theorists. These influences underscore the central premise that meaningful learning is not merely demonstrated through output, but developed through the neurological processes activated by sustained cognitive effort. …

Practices That Improve Critical Thinking Development In Secondary Classrooms, Brian Mueggenberg

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone examines how mathematics teachers can more intentionally develop students’ critical thinking skills through classroom instruction and how professional development can support that practice. The guiding question for the project was: How can secondary mathematics teachers intentionally design and implement instructional strategies that promote students’ critical thinking within the constraints of classroom instruction? A review of educational research identified a recurring problem with traditional instructional practices: direct instruction effectively supports procedural fluency, but often provides limited opportunities to develop higher-order thinking and conceptual fluency. Key influences on this project included research on thinking classrooms, productive struggle, and dialogic teaching. …

The Causes, Effects Of, And Solutions To A Nation-Wide Reading Comprehension Decline And Answers To The Question Of What Can Teachers Do About It?, Otto Harris

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to research the causes and effects of the reading comprehension decline in America. The research question: What is causing this decline, and how can we combat it? stemmed from personal interest in this topic and its relevancy in the school district I taught in. Research into this topic revealed factors such as texts lacking relevance to student lives, inaccurate comprehension measurement tools being used year after year, and the lifelong effects of lowered reading comprehension on adults’ lives after high school. In response to this need, a capstone project was developed that would provide …

The Impact Of Growth Mindset On Student Confidence And Performance In Mathematics, Micaela Büching

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many educators frequently hear their students claim they are simply not a “math person.” This common phrase reflects a fixed mindset that can strongly impact a student's academic journey. This capstone project addresses the research question: In what ways does a growth mindset framework impact student confidence, effort, and academic performance in mathematics? A comprehensive literature review revealed that while growth mindset is a powerful tool for equity, successful implementation requires a shift in teacher beliefs and the integration of growth-oriented pedagogical strategies into daily classroom practice. In response, a three-part professional development series was designed for K–5 educators, focusing …

Business Analytics (Assignment), Li Lu Ph.D.

School of Business

This assignment was developed by SUNY Geneseo Professor Li Lu during the spring 2026 semester.

Learning Objectives

• Gain Practical Proficiency: Use a generative AI tool to analyze a business scenario, generate insights, and formulate action plans.
• Critically Evaluate AI Output: Identify and critique the limitations, biases, and assumptions embedded in AI-generated content.
• Apply Ethical Reasoning: Assess business decisions through an ethical lens, identifying potential harms and ensuring recommendations are fair, transparent, and responsible.
• Synthesize and Communicate: Create a professional, evidence-based recommendation memo that integrates AI-generated insights with independent critical analysis and ethical considerations.

Etsu Today - Fall 2026, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Today [magazine]

At East Tennessee State University, the pursuit of knowledge has never been separated from the work of serving others. We study, create, and discover not for the sake of recognition, but for the patient in a rural clinic, the child in an Appalachian classroom, and the small town determined to build its future. That purpose runs through our laboratories and studios, libraries and clinics, and the many communities our faculty, students, and staff call home.

This past year, after months of listening across our campus and our region, a task force of faculty and staff completed a new five-year strategic …

Comparing Student Performance And Perceived Learning Between In-Person And Online Sections Of An Undergraduate Human Anatomy And Physiology Laboratory Course, Madeline M. Knox

Honors Thesis

Online laboratory courses are increasingly common in undergraduate science education, but their effectiveness relative to in-person laboratories remains unclear. This study compared students’ academic performance and perceived learning outcomes between online and in-person anatomy and physiology laboratory sections at the University of South Dakota. Final course grade distribution between the two modalities across three semesters (n = 158 in-person and n = 312 online) was analyzed, and student perceptions of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning were assessed using the CAP Perceived Learning Scale instrument in post-course surveys (n = 81 in-person and n = 37 online). Grade distributions …

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #69 Spring 2026

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

President's message, Dustin Loy

Undergraduate Scholarship Awards

2026 Chapter Officers and Committees

Faculty Awards

Membership info and dues form

Grad Student Scholarship

Award of Merit

NU Foundation Fund

New Initiates

Save the Date

In Memoriam:
Kara Daye Heideman (March 31, 1980-December 11, 2025)
L. Dale Van Vleck (June 11, 1933-December 23, 2025)
James (Jim) Eugene Specht (September 12, 1945-February 13, 2026)
Irvin Thomas Omtvedt (June 12, 1935-April 6, 2026)
Fayrene L. Hamouz (June 6, 1946-April 8, 2026)
Robert L. Raun (April 22, 1928-April 22, 2026)

Ursinus Magazine, Spring 2026, Gundolf Graml, Steve Thomas, Jennifer L. Post-Whisted, Brad Drexler, Alyssa Kratz

Ursinus Magazine, 1995–Present

Gundolf Graml, Ph.D., named 20th President • $1.99 million grant boosts STEM pipeline • $1.49 million grant fuels APEX innovation center • Esports comes to Ursinus • Experiential Learning Week • Ursinus / Rochester partner on 4+1 business pathway • Ursinus launches global learning program • Students win America250PA innovation challenge • Athletics: A generous gift and a milestone • Bear2Bear Impact Award for leadership and service • Lenape Symposium returns to Ursinus • Wall Street on Main Street • Tuition Promise for Montgomery County students • Wrestler wins two Puerto Rico national titles • Paying it forward: A Montgomery …

Exploring The U.S. Public Service Employees’ Experiences With Gamified Cybersecurity Awareness Training, Bisola Adepoju

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the U.S. public service employees' experiences with gamified cybersecurity awareness training. The primary research question guiding this inquiry was: How do U.S. public service employees make sense of their lived experiences with gamified cybersecurity awareness training? Two secondary questions examined what aspects of the training employees perceive as meaningful or disengaging, and how they interpret their motivation, engagement, and cybersecurity awareness during training. I chose an interpretive qualitative research design grounded in a constructivist paradigm and purposefully selected 11 U.S. public service employees who had participated in gamified cybersecurity awareness training. …

Effectiveness Of A Problem-Solving Framework That Incorporates Equitable Pedagogy, Three Reads Comprehension Strategy, Cra, And Schema-Based Instruction On Students’ Math Word Problem Solving Abilities, Amanda Julia Laborde

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a problem-solving framework that incorporated the Three Reads comprehension strategy, Concrete- Representational-Abstract instructional strategy, Schema-Based Instruction, as well as the implementation of equitable pedagogical practices. This mixed-methods action research study was guided by three research questions for which both qualitative and quantitative data had been collected. The first question focused on determining teacher or student strategies within the intervention course that would be a hinderance to the implementation of the prescribed intervention. The second question focused on the impact of the problem-solving framework. The third question focused on the …

Teaching The Teachers: A Responce To Legal Illiteracy In Education, Landon Lee Kekoa Fielder

Theses and Dissertations

This action research dissertation aimed to examine the impact of teachers’ knowledge of education law and their perceived understanding of how it impacts their daily functions. This mixed methods study was conducted using digital data collection methods and analysis. The findings of this study revealed an increase in legal literacy among both pre-service and in-service teachers. Quantitative findings indicated an improved understanding of key legal concepts amongst participants. Additionally, qualitative findings expressed a heightened awareness and clarity surrounding legal responsibility for teachers. Across both in-service and pre-service teacher participant groups, participants identified gaps in their understanding and recognized the value …

Supporting Stem Self-Efficacy Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy For Historically Underserved Black Female Students, Rajdeep Young

Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of Black women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields remains a persistent concern in education and the workforce. Research suggests that students’ beliefs about their ability to succeed in STEM, referred to here as STEM self-efficacy, may play a critical role in shaping STEM interest, persistence, and career pathways. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and informed by Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Intersectionality, this study examined the impact of a targeted intervention designed to support and strengthen STEM self-efficacy among Black middle school girls. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study investigated changes in participants’ STEM self-efficacy following …

Rethinking Career-Pathway-Based Programs In Career Technical Education Utilizing Improvement Science, Michael J. Parry

Theses and Dissertations

Career technical education (CTE) has traditionally been organized around distinct career pathways designed to develop deep technical expertise within a single occupational field. While this model has been effective in preparing students for entry- level employment, it increasingly limits students’ opportunities to develop transferable technical and professional skills that span multiple pathways—skills now essential in a dynamic, interdisciplinary workforce. This dissertation in practice examined how a career technical education system could redesign pathway-based programming to support cross-pathway skill development while preserving pathway-specific technical rigor.

Guided by improvement science, this improvement work was conducted at Grant Career Center (GCC), a rural …

The Implementation Of A Manufacturing Curriculum In Secondary Education, John Chieyung Kim Ii

Theses and Dissertations

American manufacturing cannot find workers. By 2030, 2.1 million positions will go unfilled, at a projected cost of one trillion dollars. Secondary schools are not solving this problem. At Ypsilanti Community High School, only 23.7% of graduates pursue postsecondary education. The rest enter the workforce without credentials or technical skills. No manufacturing curriculum existed at YCHS. This Dissertation in Practice built one.

The study used improvement science methodology. Two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles designed, tested, and refined a precision measurement curriculum aligned to NC3 industry certification standards. Thirty-three students participated across both cycles. Cycle 1 used a traditional theory-first sequence over ten …

Examination Of Metacognitive Strategies As An Intervention Supporting College Readiness For Students In Large Enrollment Introductory Biology Courses, Angela S. Mohrman

Theses and Dissertations

Students who meet traditional definitions of college readiness based on prior coursework, grades, and standardized test scores often continue to struggle in large-enrollment introductory STEM courses. These struggles are particularly evident in introductory biology, where high cognitive demands, rapid pacing, and content volume require learners to regulate their own studying in ways many students have never been taught. This action research study examined whether sustained, explicit instruction in metacognitive regulation—planning, monitoring, and evaluating learning—could support introductory biology students’ college readiness and learning of biology content.

Using a mixed-methods action research design, the study investigated a 15-week co-curricular metacognitive intervention taken …

Vocabulary Learning In High School Chemistry To Enhance Conceptual Understanding: An Action Research Case Study, David Thibodeau

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate application of the domain-specific language of chemistry is often a challenge for students. To address this problem of practice, an action research intervention was implemented in a suburban high school chemistry classroom. Integrated with the predict-observe-explain instructional sequence, students participated in a targeted vocabulary intervention designed to ground abstract chemistry terms in concrete laboratory-based learning experiences. In concretizing abstract terms, students had more access to challenging chemistry vocabulary, consistent with the principles of the dual coding theory of cognition. The study’s findings suggest growth in students’ conceptual understanding of chemistry topics and ability to accurately articulate explanations of chemistry …

Financial Incentives And Substitute Teacher Job Fill Rates, Anna Ruth Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Since the return to full-time, in-person instruction following COVID-related school closure, our district, Madison County Public Schools (MCPS), has struggled with a consistently low substitute teacher fill rate. MCPS is a small, rural district with a student population hovering around 1,560 students, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and just under 300 total staff members. The county borders and is within reasonable driving distance to several higher-paying districts. As a result, we struggle to cover daily teacher absences. While the national average for substitute fill-rates is 80 percent, our substitute fill-rate at times averages below 50 percent. Kraft et al.’s study of …

The Metacognitive Shift: Reshaping Student Attitudes And Adaptive Reasoning Through Error Analysis In Eighth-Grade Mathematics, Samantha Lynn Graves

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized an action research framework to address students’ lack of adaptive reasoning skills in a mathematics classroom in South Carolina. These students often focus on procedural fluency without understanding the reasoning behind the steps. Using a mixed methods design, this study examined the impact of implementing student- led error analysis as a metacognitive strategy on the adaptive reasoning skills and attitudes of 20 eighth-grade mathematics students. The study took place over 6 weeks at a Title I public charter school, and the intervention required students to identify, correct, and explain errors in various problem types, including fractions, applied …

Exploring The Impact Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy On Student Cultural Capital, Jessica Asten Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the intersection of cultural capital and culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) within the context of eighth-grade social studies education. Grounded in a theoretical framework of Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory, Ladson-Billings’ theory of culturally relevant pedagogy, and principles of critical curriculum theory, this research study investigated how elements of objectified and embodied cultural capital manifested in student participants and how those elements may have been influenced using culturally relevant instructional strategies. Within the context of a mixed methods design, a qualitative survey instrument was administered to students enrolled in South Carolina and United States history courses and sought to …

Instructional Practices, Belonging, And Self-Efficacy In Rural Inquiry-Based Classrooms: A Structural Equation Model Of Direct And Indirect Effects, Jennifer Nichol Harrist

Theses and Dissertations

Research on inquiry-based learning (IBL) has largely focused on student achievement outcomes, with less attention given to how classroom social dynamics influence students’ motivational beliefs, particularly within rural educational contexts. Rural schools often operate within smaller, close-knit communities where interpersonal relationships may shape students’ academic experiences in distinctive ways. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between instructional practices, belonging, and students’ academic self-efficacy in rural inquiry-based learning environments. Using self-efficacy theory and belonging frameworks, the study investigated whether students’ perceptions of teacher and peer belonging mediated the relationship between instructional practices and perceived academic competence.

Survey …

Soft Skills As The New Hard Skills In The Industry 5.0 Era, Miria Zangirolami Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

As technological advancement reshapes educational and professional landscapes, the human dimensions of teaching have become increasingly critical. This action research study examines the gap between the strong academic preparation of Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) pre-service teachers and their readiness to meet professional workplace expectations. Situated within the context of Industry 5.0, where human-centered skills are emphasized alongside digital competence, the study explores how soft skills, punctuality, digital etiquette, presentation skills, and professional attire, can be intentionally developed within teacher education. Guided by the strength model of self-control and achievement goal theory, a targeted workshop intervention was …