Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Not An Afterthought: Addressing The Academic And Social Challenges That Create Barriers To Belonging For Transfer Students, Brooke Jankowsky

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the academic and social barriers to belonging for transfer students at four-year institutions, with particular attention to the University of Mississippi. The goal is to bring attention to the issues that surround transfer student populations in general by identifying some of the most pressing structural and interpersonal challenges that shape their experiences. A qualitative approach was used, drawing on existing literature, prior unpublished research at the community college level, and reflective analysis to explore themes such as transfer shock, creating and maintaining social networks, and gaps in institutional support. Findings suggest that transfer students often face a …

Narratives Of Cultural Wealth: Understanding What Works For Underrepresented Minority Students In Stem, Grace Long

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of underrepresented minority alumni from Galileo STEM High School who are pursuing STEM degrees at four-year universities. Guided by Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework, the study focused on what worked for underrepresented minority groups (UMG) in STEM. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to learn a) what factors contributed to their STEM development and identities, b) what forms of cultural wealth were leveraged in high school and in the first years of college to pursue and persist in STEM studies, and c) experiences from Galileo STEM High School that cultivated and affirmed …

Developing Narrative-Based Stem Learning Tool For K-6 Visually Impaired Students, Daniel Tsivkovski, Dylan Ravel, Jeffrey Kraskouskas, Brandon Foley, Maryam Etezad, Franceli Cibrian, Rajeev Joshi, Ariel Han

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research develops a free, accessible web application that enables K-6 students who are blind or visually impaired (BVI) to learn STEM concepts using refreshable braille displays. Currently, most online learning tools are not designed for BVI students, creating a significant educational barrier.

The application interfaces with commercial braille displays and uses narrative-based learning to make STEM content approachable and engaging. By presenting material as personalized interactive stories generated with the help of Artificial Intellligence (AI), students can connect with concepts while developing braille reading skills. The curriculum design prioritizes accessibility through the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) standards and …

Herbularyo (Folk Healer): An Herbal Medicine Card Game, Maryjane T. Magsino, Inah Marie Q. Rivera, Armando M. Guidote, Genejane M. Adarlo

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Herbularyo, a card game teaching about herbal plants (HPs), was created and evaluated as a viable educational card game based on Tuomisto and Aksela’s criteria. A quasi-experiment was performed on 81 Grade 8 students from a private high school and 50 Grade 11 from a public high school. Independent t-test revealed that the control group (CG) and experimental group (EG) (p=0.386), and EG1 (played ≤5) and EG2 (played >5) (p=0.681) are not comparable with each other. Paired t-test showed EG performed better (p=0.001) than CG (p=0.901) whereas ANCOVA showed that playing Herbularyo improved students’ information retention (p=0.006). EG1 and EG2 …

May 5, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Early Childhood Educators' Experiences Of Literacy Programs For Low-Income Preschool Students, Amy M. Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Socioeconomic Status, Motivations And Barriers To Higher Education, And The Academic Achievements Of Women Attending Postsecondary Institutions In The Freely Associated States, Laura Ann Mccormick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Meaning Of Physical Activity In The Context Of Health Sciences: A Concept Analysis, Martín G. Farinola

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical activity has been defined in numerous ways. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a concept analysis of the existing physical activity definitions in the health sciences literature to evaluate its conceptual precision and assess the need for a revised or novel concept better suited for this domain. The concept analysis was accomplished using tools derived from philosophical semantics. The analysis identified six definitions that explicitly state what physical activity is with sufficient clarity to allow for conceptual examination. The findings indicated that these definitions frequently merge the concept of physical activity with its contextual attributes. To address these semantic …

Intersectional Pathways To Power: Black Female Superintendents' Assets In Disrupting Racism And Advancing Educational Equity, Elizabeth Anne Dent Veal

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, culturally sensitive study elevated the voices of Black female superintendents in California’s PreK–12 public schools—voices historically marginalized in educational leadership discourse. Centering their lived experiences, the research investigated the challenges these leaders face in advancing equity, the unique assets they bring to their roles, and the ways their intersectional identities shape both their leadership and their navigation of systemic barriers. Four Black female superintendents, identified through purposeful sampling from a professional network, participated in short-answer surveys and in-depth, semistructured interviews. Guided by Yosso’s (2005) community cultural wealth (CCW) framework, the study explored: (a) the experiences of Black female …

Perceptions And Factors Influencing Middle School Teachers’ Use Of Gamification, Crystal D. Purvis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Challenging Stem Learning Spaces: The Paradigm Of Contemplative Traditions As The Bedrock Of Creativity And Healing, Raaghav Pandya, Christopher Emdin

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

As the post-pandemic classroom and pedagogy evolve to remedy oppressive norms, young people’s mental health and alienation has taken front stage (Rahmani & Zitouni, 2022). Traditional STEM learning spaces often teach inquiry as a linear, non-deviated approach to problems about self and nature (Hrisa & Psillos, 2022). Furthermore, because our classrooms often strip students and educators of their inherent creative abilities through constant assessments, improvement scales, and market-driven expectations, classrooms cease to become places of healing (Pandya, 2021). Eastern wisdom traditions and their associated philosophies provide a unique pedagogical lens that emphasizes a deep inquiry into self, empathy, and creativity …

Teachers As Wisdom Workers Of Love: A Radical Reconceptualization Of Teacher Education Centering Wholeness, Compassion, And Interbeing In A Fractured World, Yueyue Wang, Jing Lin, Maha Shoaib, Anna Lytkina

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Amid global crises and rising teacher burnout, current teacher education often prioritizes technical skills and standardized competencies while neglecting the inner life, relational presence, and spiritual vitality essential for sustaining educators. This article reconceptualizes teacher preparation by envisioning teachers as “wisdom workers of love” -- healers, guides, and community nurturers grounded in wholeness, compassion, and interbeing. Drawing from Daoism, Ubuntu, contemplative pedagogy, and Indigenous epistemologies, this study employs collaborative autoethnography as contemplative inquiry, weaving narratives from educators in China, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. Through mutual witnessing and collective reflection, we identify five interrelated dimensions for cultivating love-based education: …

Beyond Coping In High School: An Emergent Mindfulness Practice Towards Embodied Wisdom, Mel A.V. Voulgaris

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Mindfulness practice is trending in schools. Within secondary education, it is oftentimes introduced as meditation for present-moment awareness of the self to support academic concerns. However, mindfulness practice in its original conception is a holistic way of cultivating human well-being towards flourishing. It is a practice that aims for awareness to the entirety of human subjective and intersubjective experiencing as it is emerging. In doing so, mindfulness evolves from a coping tool into a rich contemplative practice. This paper will make the case that mindulness as a contemplative practice facilitates the cultivation of embodied wisdom and that such a practice …

An Exploration Of The Application Of Threshold Concepts In Sport Management, Debra Burke, Kadie Otto, Aj Grube, Charlie Parrish, Dan Grube

Global Sport Business Journal

Jan Meyer and Ray Land introduced the theory of threshold concepts to identify learning outcomes that represent a fundamental shift in the understanding of a subject which distinguishes how experts in the discipline internalize the discipline (Meyer & Land, 2006). They described the mastery of threshold concepts as being “akin to passing through a portal, opening up a new and previously inaccessible way of thinking about something” (Meyer & Land, 2006, p. 3). Threshold concepts as defined by Meyer and Land (2006) are characterized by these features:

• Transformative: Once understood, a threshold concept changes the way in which the student …

Exploring The Evolution Of Experienced Elementary Science Teachers' Identities In The Context Of Reform-Based Science, Andrea Woodring

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Andrea L. Woodring EXPLORING THE EVOLUTION OF ELEMENTARY SCIENCE TEACHERS’ IDENTITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF REFORM-BASED SCIENCE 2025-2026 Joanne Connor, Ed.D. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership This qualitative narrative inquiry examined how experienced elementary teachers narrated the development and evolution of their science teacher identities within the context of reform-based science education, particularly the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards. Guided by Identity Theory (Burke & Stets, 2022), narrative analysis (Polkinghorne, 1995), and narrative inquiry scholarship (Kim, 2016; McCormack, 2000), the study positioned teachers’ stories as the primary findings rather than as examples of theory. Five experienced …

The Brain And Becoming: Integrating Play And Performance-Based Learning In The Community College Classroom, Hannah M. Green

English

Instruction in the community college classroom is in need of a shift, according to neuroscientific, pedagogical, and demographic data. Primarily, students in today’s community college classrooms are instructed in the form of lectures (Nilson 106), but research has shown that game-based learning would be the way to enhance learning experiences for these adult learners. Game-based learning specifically takes form in student learning through games, interactive reading activities such as performance pedagogy, discussions, and small group work. While research shows that play-based learning at the community college level is neurologically beneficial for students, there is a gap in implementing play-based learning …

Florence Normal College Quarterly, Faculty Of Florence Normal College

Documents

Faculty Quarterly Journal of Florence Normal College, January 1911.

Florence Normal College Quarterly, Faculty Of Florence Normal College

Documents

Faculty Quarterly Journal of Florence Normal College, October 1910.

The Transformational Role Of Perceived Self-Efficacy In Combating Online Exam Anxiety, Ana Pereles, Carmen Romero-García

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective:This study investigates how university students’ perceived self-efficacy influences anxiety levels during online examinations, a pressing issue amplified by disruptions caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)–driven assessment concerns. The aim is to analyze the relationship between self-efficacy and online test anxiety, identifying effective strategies to mitigate its effects.

Method: A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was conducted. Searches in Scielo, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest Education, Google Scholar, and Dialnet databases included peer-reviewed articles in education, psychology, social sciences, and computer sciences, published …

Florence Normal College Quarterly, Faculty Of Florence Normal College

Documents

Faculty Quarterly Journal for Florence Normal College, October 1909.

*Press of The Florence Times*

Commencement 2026 (Program And Video), Illinois Wesleyan University

Commencement Ceremonies

No abstract provided.

Ai Institute Summer Camp Academic Preview Webinar: Curriculum, Research, And Outcomes, Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This webinar presents an academic preview of the AI Institute Summer Camp hosted by the Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The session introduces the program’s curriculum, structure, and student outcomes, providing insight into a hybrid learning model that combines faculty-led lectures, hands-on labs, and guided project development. The webinar highlights the program’s five-week structure, covering topics such as machine learning, neural networks, computer vision, speech and language processing, and generative AI. Participants learn how students engage in real-world AI applications, complete portfolio-ready projects, and develop research and presentation skills. This session is designed …

Ai Need Not Make One Slothful, Roy A. Kaelin Jr

Faculty Publications

As National Louis University seeks to plan and advance its way amid the potential perils and pitfalls of so-named artificial intelligence, one finds that with reasonable workflows and guard rails, the use of AI proposes both potential promise and prospect, to assist and augment the natural intelligence that students and teachers bring to the classroom, encouraging them to pursue STEM-related activities with the preparation and deployment of focused and directed AI-bots. This paper presents examples and a case study of that directed and focused approach, the incremental lessons learned to date, and a proposed path to advance worthwhile AI …

Enhancing Hope In Mathematics From An East African Perspective, Howard Omukami

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Udl In Secondary Classrooms: A Capstone Project, Livia J. Mortensen

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

In today’s classrooms, students come from various backgrounds and may benefit from a variety of instructional approaches to meet their unique learning needs. Regardless of the need to tailor instruction for students, traditional teaching methods continue in classrooms but often fail to accommodate all the needs of our students. Many students, including students with disabilities, may struggle to engage with the standard curriculum that does not provide sufficient flexibility in instruction to reach all types of learners (Smith, 2012). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework that seeks to address this specific issue by promoting inclusive teaching practices, …

Cleared For Takeoff, Sydney Steed

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Cleared for Takeoff is a podcast I created aimed at helping aviation students navigate the challenges of flight training and the aviation industry as a whole. Aviation is a unique field filled with new terminology, rigorous testing, as well as demanding training. This can often feel overwhelming to those just starting out. The goal of this podcast is to bring students together, give insight into different training paths, and share real stories from those who have experienced both success and setbacks. Throughout the podcast, I explore what separates students who excel from those who struggle, discuss the pros and cons …

Designing The Future: A Vr Campus Environment, Jasmine Talitha Banman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This capstone project details the development of the "USU Virtual Campus," a high-fidelity 3D replica of the Utah State University College of Engineering building. Grounded in constructionist learning, I designed a unique architectural model in the USU virtual campus and gained practical experience using a 3D modeling platform. The project documents a transition from 2D UX/UI theory to 3D environmental design, highlighting technical challenges. Moving from greyboxing to high-fidelity detailing-the project establishes a future-proof framework for building a digital replica. Ultimately, this virtual environment promotes accessibility by allowing students to engage with the USU community regardless of geographic or physical …

R Software Tutorials For Introductory Statistics Courses, Erica M. Hurst

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This project focused on creating online resources for using the statistical software package R in an introductory statistics course at Utah State University. The goal was to make R more accessible, user-friendly, and engaging for learners. To do this, existing written materials were moved to a new section of an online website called Stats Stuff. Then interactive features were added such as step-by-step video tutorials, real datasets, and an embedded coding tool. These resources have been in use for the past four years and have helped students build confidence and enhance their statistical learning experience.

Stream Education: How It Can Enrich The Expansion Of Social-Emotional Learning, Madalyn L. Menke

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research project investigates the implementation of a STREAM Education curriculum – integrating science, technology, reading/writing, engineering, arts/humanities, and mathematics, with a group of fourteen elementary-aged students. The study explores how the intentional inclusion of Reading and the Arts within a traditional STEM framework - guided by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning CASEL framework - can enrich students’ social-emotional wellbeing and engagement in learning. In partnership with SOAR Afterschool Care, an eight-week instructional project was implemented in which students were read What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada as a central text. The book …