Digital Commons Network^™

Filipino High School Teachers’ Use Of Technology To Teach Science Online, Bongbong Lalata Fernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Virtualizing Practical Science Education: A Sociological Analysis Of Undergraduate Teaching And Learning, Sina J. Fakoyede, Femi E. Babalola, Oluwatoyin T. Obateru, Oluwayemisi D. Akomolafe, Deborah O. Alabi, Stella K. Ekundayo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the perspectives of university teachers and students on integrating practical science teaching with virtual learning in a multicultural and diverse society, specifically within the context of southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving data collection from 100 university lecturers and 400 undergraduate students across 10 universities. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with lecturers and focus group discussions with students. Quantitative data were obtained via structured questionnaires, allowing for triangulation and comprehensive analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that certain lecturers showed preferential support influenced by students’ cultural backgrounds or academic behavior during …

Accesstem: How Small Colleges Can Open Stem Pathways For Local High School Students, Dina D. Isakov

Program in Community Action (PICA)

This paper reflects my experience developing ACCESStem as part of the Program in Community Action (PICA) center at Connecticut College. ACCESStem is a community-engaged research project designed to create hands-on, lab-based STEM workshops for local high school students in New London. ACCESStem was built on the premise that even small liberal arts colleges can hold a meaningful impact on helping diversify the science workforce. Over the course of three years, this project took shape through my relationships with STEM faculty on campus and relationships with staff at the Holleran Center for Community Action. This paper works to begin contextualizing the …

Meeting The Moment With Ai-Employer Informed Education, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence transforms aviation, aerospace, and autonomy-related sectors, higher education must adapt to meet evolving workforce demands. This session shares emerging findings from a nationwide study led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focused on employer perceptions of AI adoption, responsible use, and workforce preparedness in domains including uncrewed systems, space systems, robotics, and advanced air mobility. Based on a structured survey and follow-up interviews, the presentation explores how organizations are using AI tools, from generative platforms to enterprise systems, and defining effective and inappropriate use in operational contexts. Participants will gain insight into critical concerns (e.g., data privacy, compliance, security, …

Not Retirement, But A Rewiring And Fresh Perspectives Post-Dbs, Says Piyush Gupta [Interview With Business Times], Su Shyan Lee, Piyush Gupta

Oral History Collection

In an interview with The Business Times, SMU Chairman Piyush Gupta discussed topics ranging from meditation and conservation to the future of education. On his role at SMU, he emphasised his desire to help shape tertiary education and noted that the rise of AI makes it critical to rethink how we learn. Mr Gupta believes that in an AI-driven world, students must move beyond domain knowledge to focus on interpreting information, "connecting the dots," and engaging others with genuine empathy. He is supportive of a more experiential curriculum at SMU — one that focuses on regional exposure through internships and …

Breaking Ground: Educational Identity Formation Among First-Generation Students During The Transition To College, Carrie Sue Ingersoll-Wood

Dissertations - ALL

This mixed-methods research study examined the educational identity formation of first-generation college students during the transition into higher education through participation in a six-week summer bridge program. Drawing on Community Cultural Wealth and Self-Determination Theory, the study situated identity development at the intersection of institutional entrance, cultural capital, and motivation. Survey data from 135 participants were analyzed descriptively to examine patterns of identity signaling and motivational orientation. Qualitative interviews with a purposive subsample of participants were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods to examine meaning-making related to transition, autonomy, belonging, and academic self-concept. Autoethnographic excerpts and brief reflexive statements clarified …

Identity-Based Philanthropy In Higher Education: Investigating The Information Contexts Of Black Greek Letter Organization Collective Giving, Rachel Elizabeth Vassel

Dissertations - ALL

There is a need to increase philanthropic donations at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) to remain competitive and meet increasing operational costs. Diverse and underrepresented alumni of these institutions are a growing constituency of potential donors who are not always cultivated through the traditional fundraising pipeline and efforts. To address the need to increase institutional donations, it is incumbent upon advancement operations in higher education to consider incorporating identity and culturally based strategies as part of their cultivation efforts. Building upon identity-based philanthropy theories, particularly Drezner’s Philanthropic Mirroring Framework, I extend prior work in this space by examining the information contexts …

Spring Commencement, 2026, Marshall University

Marshall University Commencement

Program for the Commencement of Marshall University, Saturday, May 9, 2026 held at the Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, West Virginia.

Exploring The Stress Coping Strategies Of Indonesian Elementary School Teachers: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Anak Agung Gede Agung, I Ketut Gading, Basilius Redan Werang, Ni Luh Putu Agetania

The Qualitative Report

Teachers play a pivotal role in delivering quality education and shaping students’ future lives. The growing demands and responsibilities on teachers can lead to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, which threatens their well-being—a condition commonly referred to as work stress. Our study aimed to explore the strategies used by elementary school teachers in Bali Province to cope with work-related stress. This study adopts a qualitative research approach with elementary schools in Bali Province, Indonesia, serving as the research setting. A phenomenological research design was employed, involving 25 purposively selected teachers as participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed …

Evaluating Sources In The Age Of Ai And Misinformation: Practical Routines For Social Studies Classrooms, Viloshinee Murugan Ph.D

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

As students encounter information through search engines, social media, and AI-generated content, evaluating sources has become more complex and essential in social studies classrooms. Research shows that students struggle to judge credibility, trace claims to evidence, and recognize how context, authorship, and purpose shape information. This article argues that these challenges are not the result of student apathy or inability, but of limited opportunities to practice evaluative reasoning as a routine disciplinary habit. Drawing on scholarship in disciplinary literacy and civic reasoning, as well as nearly three decades of practitioner experience, the article presents practical instructional routines, sample mini-lessons, and …

Ai-Enhanced Digital Exhibits As Inquiry-Driven Civic Practice In The Great Lakes Region, Erik Kormos

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

This article presents a pedagogical framework for using AI-enhanced digital exhibits to support inquiry-based civic learning in the Great Lakes region. Students investigate meaningful community questions, use AI tools strategically for research and analysis, and create public-facing exhibits that develop civic reasoning and agency. The framework addresses grade-band applications (K–12) and emphasizes equity, ensuring all students, regardless of school funding, develop AI literacy and access authentic civic inquiry opportunities. The article articulates essential ethical considerations including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and teacher mediation, and provides a practical implementation framework for educators. Drawing on research in place-based education and inquiry learning, …

Examining The Learns Act And Its Effect On Teachers' Pursuit Of Advanced Degrees In Arkansas, Demetre Calhoun

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The focus of this study was to examine the relationship between the Arkansas LEARNS Act and public-school teachers’ choices on their intent to pursue an advanced degree. The results provide insight into the potential impact of changes to the salary structure and financial incentives for completion of an advanced degree and the implications for teachers, school districts, and higher education programs.

The results indicated that while salary considerations were significant factors for teachers in their thinking about advanced degree completion, professional goals and career plans for teachers were ultimately the guiding factors. This suggests that compensation reform will not sufficiently …

The Legacy Of Lead: Lead Exposure's Harmful Effects And Its Concentration In Poc Communities, Layla Sophronia Barber

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines the disproportionate burden of lead exposure carried by low income, POC communities. The systemic nature of this problem is a symptom of a longstanding legacy of environmental injustice in the United States. Decades of federal neglect are reflected in the higher statistics of lead exposure and poisoning in predominantly black communities. While it is understood that lead exposure poses a serious threat to physical health and early cognitive development, there is a discouraging lack of urgency to remove the toxin from non-wealthy communities. The material covered by this thesis aims to identify and correct the discriminatory social …

The Prospect Of F.E.W. Resources: How Food, Energy, And Waste Management Workforce Programs Address Global Equity And Sustainability, Quincy P. Biddle

Student Theses 2015-Present

As a global society, the issues affecting a specific city or country are no longer isolated; instead, they impact other places in myriad ways. Over the past few decades, environmental degradation and economic inequality, both within and between countries, have caused shortages of necessities like food and water, inadequate access to safe energy sources, and increased pollution, impacting people’s prosperity and the well-being of the planet. It is of global interest to remediate these issues for the betterment and progress of society, and thus, an approach to addressing these complications collectively and comprehensively is of utmost importance. This paper investigates …

Art Foundations In Student Digital Game Projects Within Online Learning, Isabelle John

Art 895 Research Papers

This qualitative study examined how traditional art foundations are reflected in student-created digital game projects developed within an online learning environment. As digital game-making becomes increasingly prevalent in art education, students engage in complex, visual decision-making that extends beyond technical execution. Through the analysis of student digital game artifacts, this study explored the presence of foundational art concepts, such as composition, color, spatial organization, visual hierarchy, and visual culture. Using a constructivist qualitative approach and visual artifact analysis, the study identified patterns in how art foundations were applied within online learning contexts.

Findings indicate that while art foundations were consistently …

Artistic Thinking In Stem Contexts: A Comparative Arts-Based Case Study Of Studio Habits Of Mind And Stem Thinking Frameworks, Annmarie Andersen

Art 895 Research Papers

STEM-aligned schools often include arts through STEAM initiatives, but it is unclear how artistic thinking actually complements or differs from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) thinking. Studio Thinking research identifies Studio Habits of Mind (SHoM) as ways students think and learn through artmaking many of which parallel STEM competencies (thinking practices) such as problem-solving, modeling, and iterative design (Hetland, et al., 2013; Laquea, 2024).

Using student artwork, sketches, and student reflections as primary evidence, this comparative arts-based case study compares how Studio Habits of Mind align with and diverge from STEM thinking frameworks. By comparing these forms of evidence, the …

Gendered Politics Of Pictures: How Images In A Pakistani English Textbook Homogenize Female Identities, Liaquat Ali Channa

The Qualitative Report

This qualitative multimodal analytical study draws upon Kress and van Leeuwen’s ideas about pictures and problematizes textbooks of English that supposedly teach only English in Pakistan. It aims to understand the identities of an adult female as shown in the images of an English textbook. It uses Foucault’s theories of discourse and discursive formation, and a Vygotskian sociocultural view of the development of consciousness. By following Braun and Clarke (2006, 2019), all the pictures of the My English Book 4 are first analyzed thematically. Later, O’Toole’s (1994) method of analyzing pictures is employed for a detailed examination of a representative …

Navigating Barriers: The Career Challenges Of Chinese Non-Stem Graduates In The U.S. Job Market, Dilin Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the career challenges faced by Chinese international graduates from non-STEM fields as they transition from U.S. higher education to the job market. While prior research has largely focused on STEM graduates who benefit from favorable visa policies and high labor demand, limited attention has been given to non-STEM students navigating structural, cultural, and social barriers to employment. Guided by the intellectual capital framework—which encompasses human, cultural, and social capital—this study examined how Chinese non-STEM graduates experience and respond to these barriers within the intersecting contexts of immigration policy, labor market expectations, and cultural adaptation.

Five …

Teacher Shortages In Arkansas Rural School Districts: Employed Teacher’S Perceptions Of The Impact On Their Effectiveness, Carloss Guess

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

ABSTRACT

TEACHER SHORTAGES IN ARKANSAS RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS: EMPLOYED TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE IMPACT

ON THEIR EFFECTIVENESS

Carloss Guess

Teacher shortages in rural school districts remain a persistent challenge that affects instructional quality, teacher workload, and professional sustainability. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how teachers in rural Arkansas perceive the impact of staffing shortages on their instructional roles, workload, and professional well-being. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 K–12 teachers representing elementary, middle, and high schools and across varying career stages. Interview transcripts were analyzed using an inductive qualitative approach and the constant …

Service-Learning In Adapted Physical Activity: Student Experiences With And Without Course Integration, Courtney Jost, Nicole Fiscella Nicole Fiscella, Roxanne Bahn-Bales, Tze-Hsuan Wang, Jennifer Beamer, Jennifer Taylor, Willie Chun Wai Leung

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Service-learning is widely used in adapted physical activity/education (APA/APE) courses to enhance student learning through community engagement. However, limited research has explored how the presence or absence of an APA/APE course influences students’ perceived learning, confidence, and engagement in inclusive physical activity settings. This quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study examined how course-enhanced and purely experiential models of a university-based APA service-learning program, PA PALS, shaped undergraduate students’ experiences. Students (N = 58) participated; 41.4% (n = 24) were concurrently enrolled in an APA/APE course (course-enhanced group), while 58.6% (n = 34) participated as volunteers (purely experiential group). A validated …

Linkedin Growth & Engagement Analysis, Dora Nguyen

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This report presents a data analysis of the LinkedIn marketing efforts of the Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (PEAAII) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The analysis examines follower growth trends, audience demographics, engagement patterns, and content performance between February and April 2026. Findings highlight significant organic growth driven primarily by AI Workshop Series and event-related content, along with increased visibility through reposts and audience engagement. The report also identifies opportunities to expand reach through consistent posting, collaborations, interactive AI content, and broader community engagement initiatives. Recommendations are provided to support continued audience growth and strengthen the Institute’s digital …

2026 Spring Order Of Exercises Commencement: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Spring 2026 Order of Exercises booklet published for the commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, 2026.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

Ready: Piloting An Inclusive Higher Education Program For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At The University Of Mississippi, Emily R. Davis

Honors Theses

The University of Mississippi is currently one of the few SEC schools that does not offer an inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs). An initiative to bring inclusive higher education to Ole Miss began as a passion project led by Honors College student Bailey Beaird and continued through 2024. Bailey worked diligently to research and design a model for implementing a four-year inclusive higher education program (IHEP). Ultimately, the decision was made by the administration to postpone advancement of a four-year program due to limited campus resources and concerns surrounding long-term sustainability. Instead, the …

Expertise First: Reflections On Informal Artificial Intelligence Mentoring In An Asynchronous Nursing Faculty Community, Anna Liza D. Villena Phd, Rn, Fnp-Bc

Journal of Online Mentoring

The integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education has arrived faster than the support structures designed to help faculty navigate it. This article reflects on one faculty member’s experience providing informal AI integration mentoring to nursing colleagues at Walden University, a fully asynchronous online graduate nursing program, where clinician-educators with deep disciplinary expertise often struggled to recognize that expertise as an asset in their interactions with AI tools.

Drawing on Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations theory, the article describes the mentoring approach that emerged from practice, the central insight that faculty are not failing to integrate AI because …

Belonging, Participation, And Student Success: Evaluating The Academic Impact Of The Biology Mentor Program At The University Of Mississippi, Cole B. Davidson

Honors Theses

This thesis examines whether students’ sense of belonging within the biology department and their participation in the University of Mississippi Biology Mentor Program are associated with success in introductory biology. The project used de-identified departmental survey data and program records collected across multiple semesters in the broader archive from fall 2020 through spring 2025. For the final analyses, course outcome records, mentor attendance records, and survey based belonging records were merged by student code and semester. After removing nonbinary outcome labels and retaining cases with usable belonging data, the analytic sample included 4,299 student-semester records. The primary outcome was a …

Clue In The Roman Style House: A Twist On The Classic Board Game Featuring A Fusion Of Ancient And Modern Roman Influences, Madelyn Junk

Honors Projects

Throughout time, games have been used to convey how society functions. They hint at societal structure, behavioral patterns, and roles of community members. Specifically, board games are excellent ways to teach players about attention to detail and how to synthesize information.

This unique and functional honors project finds its strength as a detail-oriented game that stresses the importance of critical thinking and deduction as it further rewards those skills through play and friendly competition. It combines art history, education, and graphic design disciplines to result in a creative output alongside a research paper. Its final product is a playable game …

Exploring The Skills Gap And Implications Of Science Technology Engineering And Mathematics Graduates And Professional Laboratory Staff, Indrajee Wewaliyadda

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The noticeable expansion of the biotech and research industries, fueled by increased funding due to the 2019 pandemic (Wallace et al., 2022), which increased the existing skills gap among fresh STEM graduates entering professional laboratories. This study aims to evaluate whether bachelor’s degree holders in biological sciences possess the necessary laboratory competencies to meet professional demands. Utilizing survey methods and Kolb’s experiential learning model (Kolb, 1984), the research examines the extent and implications of the skill deficiencies observed. The study helps to understand the gap in practical laboratory skills among new graduates. Further, results from this work will show the …

A Systems-Based Approach To Supporting Resident Scholarly Productivity:Building A High-Throughput Academic Pipeline In Emergency Medicine Residency Training Through Poster Development Apprenticeship, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Many residency programs require scholarly output; however, consistent and high-volume production of posters and publications can be challenging. Anecdotal evidence from a variety of programs suggests variability in outcomes across programs, often influenced by differences in mentorship, structure, and available scholarly infrastructure.

Objective: To describe a reproducible, systems-based model for generating high-volume resident scholarly output through alignment of expectations, culture, infrastructure, and faculty engagement.

Methods  and Conceptual Model: We outline a multi-domain framework derived from sustained programmatic experience, incorporating structural requirements, leadership alignment, cultural reinforcement, workflow standardization, and active faculty participation. The model is supported by practical tools including …

Sjsu Erfa Board Minutes, April 6, 2026, San Jose State University, Emeritus And Retired Faculty Association

SJSU ERFA Minutes

SJSU ERFA Executive Board Minutes
April 6, 2026

A Systems-Based Approach To Supporting Resident Scholarly Productivity: Building A High-Throughput Academic Pipeline In Emergency Medicine Residency Training Through Poster Development Apprenticeship, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna, Robin Lahr, James Lee, Swet Patel, Henry Schuitema

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Many residency programs require scholarly output; however, consistent and high volume production of posters and publications can be challenging. Anecdotal evidence from a variety of programs suggests variability in outcomes across programs, often influenced by differences in mentorship, structure, and available scholarly infrastructure. Objective: To describe a reproducible, systems-based model for generating high-volume resident scholarly output through alignment of expectations, culture, infrastructure, and faculty engagement. Methods and Conceptual Model: We outline a multi-domain framework derived from sustained programmatic experience, incorporating structural requirements, leadership alignment, cultural reinforcement, workflow standardization, and active faculty participation. The model is supported by practical tools …