Digital Commons Network^™

Reclaiming Instructional Leadership: Using Evidence-Based Tools And Conversations To Change Classroom Practice, Lyndsay Britt, Matthew Militello

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Instructional leadership is the most influential lever principals and supervisors have to improve teaching and learning, yet managerial demands often limit sustained classroom engagement. This qualitative participatory action research study explores how leaders can reclaim instructional leadership by embedding focused observation tools and instructional conversations into routine supervision without adding time burdens. 

Using Community Learning Exchange methodology, four teachers and a principal engaged in a 14-month community of practice at a rural Title I early college high school. Through three inquiry cycles, the study examined how evidence-based tools and data-informed dialogue shaped teaching and leadership practices.

Findings revealed two outcomes …

Becoming: Adult Learners In Graduate Education And The Pursuit Of A Meaningful Life, Tara Shollenberger

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Adult learners in graduate education represent a population defined by deliberate, purposeful choice. Unlike traditional-age students, these individuals advance within higher education while managing careers, families, and complex life responsibilities. This conceptual paper explores the espoused and enacted vision for a meaningful life held by adult learners in graduate education, with particular attention to doctoral students in professional education programs. Evidence is drawn from national enrollment and attrition data, relevant scholarship, and nearly two decades of direct practitioner observation. The paper argues that adult graduate learners are animated by a vision of becoming: a generational, relational, and deeply purposeful understanding …

The Little Book Of Gifts: Great Ideas For Teaching, Eugene Korsunskiy, Petra Bonfert-Taylor, Emme Burgin, Jentry Campbell, Solomon G. G. Diamond, Kendall R. Farnham, Mattias W. Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Gallivan, Katherine R. Hixon, Michael Kokko, Wesley Marrero, Vicki V. May, Erin N. Mayfield, Colin R. Meyer, Emily H. Monroe, Nina Montgomery, Kofi M. Odame, Laura E. Ray, Peter J. Robbie, Rafe H. Steinhauer, Douglas W. Van Citters, Vikrant S. Vaze

Dartmouth Scholarship

We borrowed the “GIFTs” acronym from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), whose annual conference includes sessions in which educators share quick, actionable ideas for new and exciting teaching practices that they’ve developed.

In this collection, we present over thirty Great Ideas For Teaching—collected from faculty and staff at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College—that can be used in diverse labs and classrooms.

The specific theme of the GIFTs in this volume is: accessibility & inclusion. The ideas in this collection are all aimed at making our course content more understandable, our …

Beyond The Pail: A Holistic Approach To Early Literacy Through Executive Functioning And Motor Develepment, Christie Vantilburg

Masters Projects

Traditional reading models, such as the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope, have historically isolated reading mechanics into word recognition and language comprehension silos. While foundational, these static frameworks overlook the vital cognitive role that active self-regulation and executive functions (EFs) play in text processing. As states like Michigan roll out statutory mandates under Public Act 146 requiring comprehensive educator training on dyslexia and its secondary behavioral impacts, a critical gap remains between higher-order cognitive science and daily classroom instruction. This project addresses this gap by translating contemporary developmental neuroscience and literacy frameworks into a practical, classroom-ready curriculum …

Broadening The Community Of Nudibranch Enthusiasts Through Multilingual Educational Programming To Increase Climate Advocacy Engagement, Richelle Li Tanner, Cintya Felix Mendivil, Ashley Lam, Lorena Muñoz, Micah Kim, Elena G. Morales Poot, Gabrielle Keeler-May

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Environmental literacy and advocacy for environmental protections are essential components of responsible stewardship. For coastal communities, stewardship requires knowledge of ocean processes and the biological communities living within these ecosystems. While many studies highlight difficulties in engaging American audiences in environmental concern and stewardship due to hyper-individualistic societal values, tidepooling is one recreational pathway to coastal community engagement that strengthens sense of place, and therefore, responsibility to protect natural resources. We sought to broaden the tidepooling community to include more diverse voices through a participatory science program with inland city-dwelling, multilingual, and non-English speaking adults. Using nudibranchs as an environmental …

More Than Just Blocks: Supporting Development Through Block Play In Early Childhood, Stephanie Szanter, Carrie L. Ota

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

Block play is much more than a classroom center; it is a place where children explore ideas, solve problems, communicate, and work together in meaningful ways. This article examines how block play supports children’s social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development through hands-on experiences that feel natural and engaging. Using classroom examples and current research, the article highlights how block play changes over time, how teachers can thoughtfully support and extend children’s thinking, and how simple adjustments to materials and setup can deepen learning. Rather than requiring elaborate activities, strong block play environments grow from careful observation, responsiveness, and an understanding …

When Children Cook: Food Experiences As Inquiry, Identity, And Learning, Marian S. Castillo, Carrie L. Ota

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

This article explores the transformative potential of integrating cooking experiences into early childhood classrooms, arguing that food preparation offers much more than a simple activity. By drawing on classroom narratives such as shared meal preparation and spontaneous scientific inquiry this piece illustrates how cooking serves as a catalyst for wonder, problem-solving, and collaboration. It highlights how food-based activities naturally bridge home and school environments, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural identity among young learners. Grounded in developmentally appropriate practice, this article examines the teacher’s role in facilitating these experiences, emphasizing the importance of responsive planning, observation, and valuing the …

More Than Storytime: Intentional Read-Alouds For Literacy Instruction And Formative Observation, Shelia Tate

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

Read-alouds have long been valued in early childhood classrooms for promoting engagement, enjoyment, and a love of reading. When intentionally planned, they can also reinforce foundational literacy skills and provide formative information about student understanding. This article examines how early childhood educators can move read-alouds beyond a familiar classroom routine by connecting them to specific literacy objectives and using student responses to guide subsequent instruction. The IPAQ process (Intentional Choice, Preplanning the Focus, Anticipating Misconceptions, and Questioning and Responses for Formative Observation) provides a practical framework for planning purposeful read-alouds. Classroom examples illustrate how teachers can use planned interactions and …

Getting A Special Education: Parents, Lawyers, And The Politics Of Disability In Postwar Pennsylvania, Emma Gabriel

Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal

This paper explores the relationship between white parent advocates in Pennsylvania and public interest lawyers, whose litigation efforts legitimized the construction of an implicitly white disabled class in the mid-twentieth century. This analysis sheds light on the ways in which school reform became a key element in the simultaneous construction and renegotiation of intellectual disability and race in the postwar era, and foregrounded the adoption of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975.

2026 Sc Teacher Exit Survey, Svetlana Dmitrieva, Brian Cartiff, Angela Starrett

Reports

Each year, SC TEACHER administers the SC Teacher Exit Survey to public PK–12 classroom teachers who are leaving teaching positions in their districts. The survey provides insight into departing teachers’ next steps, the factors that contributed to their decisions to leave, and the conditions that might encourage some educators to remain in or return to South Carolina public education.

This report summarizes results from the 2026 SC Teacher Exit Survey, focusing on teachers who left their positions at the end of the 2025–26 academic year. Findings are organized by exit type to distinguish different forms of teacher mobility, including teachers …

Pisa 2025: A First Look At Student And School Characteristics For Australia, Lisa De Bortoli, Catherine Underwood

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

This report presents a first overview of Australia’s PISA 2025 contextual results. It focuses on selected constructs related to 15-year-old students’ attitudes towards school and their experiences in the classroom and at school, including sense of belonging at school, disciplinary climate in science classes, perseverance, feeling safe at school, enjoyment of science, exposure to bullying, negative school climate, and time spent on digital devices by purpose. It also provides initial insights into equity in education in Australia from an international perspective, and Australian students’ self-reported effort. The report compares Australia’s results with those of other participating countries and economies, as …

Petualangan Ragam Hias Nusantara: Pengembangan Game Digital Berbasis Gimkit Dengan Pendekatan Digital Game-Based Learning, Venina Nabilla Nazwa, Iriaji Iriaji

Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts

Visual arts learning in Grade VIII at MTsN 1 Kota Malang has limited use of interactive digital media, indicating the need for a more interactive and exploratory learning medium. This study aimed to analyze learning needs, develop and evaluate the feasibility of a learning medium, and examine changes in students’ motivation and learning interest after its use. The study employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the 4D model: Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate. The developed product, “Petualangan Ragam Hias Nusantara,” was created using Gimkit Creative Mode with a Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) approach and map-based exploration. Expert …

Cultivating Collaboration In Biomolviz: Key Attributes For Building A Stem Educator Community Of Practice, Pamela S. Mertz, Charmita Burch, Roderico Acevedo, Josh T. Beckham, Didem Vardar-Ulu, Kristin M. Fox, Lauren A. Genova, Rachel M. Mitton-Fry, Swati Agrawal, Daniel R. Dries, Kristen Procko

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

BioMolViz is an educational community of practice (CoP) focused on creating resources to improve biomolecular visual literacy instruction and assessment. The community of life science instructors developed in three phases, beginning with a small Core Team that emerged from a conference session and established the domain of interest for the CoP. In-person workshops, supported by short-term funding, drove the initial expansion of the community and the development of shared activities in Phase 2. This CoP was sustained through intentional choices about how members interact, collaborate, and share work. As the community matured in Phase 3, it was supported by longer-term …

Simulasi Hidrolika Saluran Terbuka Berbasis Microsoft Excel Sebagai Sumber Belajar Pada Pendidikan Vokasi Teknik, Fahrur Rozi, Linda Winiasri, Ranatika Purwayudhaningsari, Siti Fatimah, Agus Triyono, Wiwid Suryono

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

This study aims to model and analyze a Microsoft Excel-based open-channel hydraulics simulation as a contextual learning resource for technical vocational education. A quantitative modeling approach was employed using Manning’s formula with five flow-depth scenarios ranging from 0.70 to 0.90 m, while the channel bottom width of 0.60 m, Manning’s roughness coefficient of 0.01, and channel slope of 0.015 were kept constant. The simulation was used to calculate the wetted area, wetted perimeter, hydraulic radius, flow velocity, and discharge for each scenario. The results showed that increasing flow depth systematically changed the hydraulic characteristics, with discharge increasing from 1.819 to …

Using Approximations Of Practice To Support Calculus Instructors’ Enactment Of Equitable Active Learning Teaching Practices, Kaitlyn Stephens Serbin, Karina Uhing

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We implemented a semester-long professional development workshop series to help Calculus I and II instructors implement active learning and equitable teaching practices. The workshops actively engaged instructors in approximations of practice (Grossman et al., 2009) in which they learned to enact various teaching practices like designing tasks; eliciting, noticing, and responding to evidence of student thinking; orchestrating class discussions; fostering inclusive social norms; and equitably managing student participation. After they participated in the workshops, we interviewed the instructors about their decisions to implement the teaching practices from the approximations of practice in their teaching. We analyzed the instructors’ resources, orientations, …

A Collaborative Autoethnography Of Southeast Asian American Women Doctoral Students Navigating Tensions And Building Resolve In The Academy, Jacqueline Mac, Varaxy Yi, Vanessa Na, Latana Thaviseth

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

This critical race collaborative autoethnography explores the experiences of Southeast Asian American (SEAA) women in doctoral programs in higher education. Using a feminist refugee Asian critical approach, findings illuminate tensions that SEAA women encountered during their educational experiences and how these women built resolve. Findings include being seen amidst the invisibilization of SEAA identities, an insistence on the value of their SEAA research agendas, and navigating the unsettled emotions during academic displacement.

Lessons Learned From An Experiential Learning Project In An “Exercise And Wellness For Special Populations” Course, Anita M. Gust

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Experiential learning (EL) is a vital pedagogical approach in higher education and is an integral part of exercise science; however, research on its effectiveness within the discipline is limited. The purpose of this study was to 1) determine if an experiential learning project designed for an “Exercise and Wellness for Special Populations” course was effective for achieving the learner outcomes, and 2) to identify what additional lessons, beyond the course learning outcomes, were learned from the experiential learning project. In this retrospective study, students’ written reflections using the DEAL (Describe, Evaluate, Articulate Learning) model served as data. A content analysis …

Dimensions Of Father-Love Absence As Predictors Of Psychological Well-Being: Evidence From University Students, Dody Hartanto, Mufied Fauziah, Zerlinda Aurora Saputri

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Psychological well-being is a crucial aspect of university students' development as young adults. Father-love absence is believed to be one of the factors influencing this well-being. This study aimed to analyze the role of father-love absence as a predictor of university students' psychological well-being and to identify the contribution of each aspect of father-love absence. A quantitative approach with a descriptive correlational design was employed. A total of 318 active university students were selected through simple random sampling and completed an online questionnaire. Father-love absence was measured using an adapted scale based on Xiang and Zhou's theory, encompassing four aspects: …

Ai-Supported Analysis Of Jury Deliberation Impact Factors, Jennifer Siciliani Phd

Generative AI Teaching Activities

Students conduct a controlled, two-run generative AI jury simulation to examine how a single socio-legal variable affects simulated jury deliberation. They compare and manually code the AI-generated outcomes against peer-reviewed human jury research to evaluate the model’s accuracy, limitations, and potential biases.

Harmonicthreads: A Formative Evaluation Of A Fabric-Based Digital Musical Instrument Toward Inclusive Music-Making, Ellie Nguyen, Franceli L. Cibrian

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Background:

Inclusive music-making requires instruments that support varied bodies, abilities, musical backgrounds, and forms of participation. Digital musical instruments provide diverse approaches to sound creation, and fabric-based interfaces offer an alternative interaction modality that may support participation for some users and contexts. Their tactile and deformable properties enable forms of interaction that differ from conventional rigid or screen-based controllers and may offer inclusive possibilities in particular settings.

Objective:

This paper presents HarmonicThreads as a formative interaction-design case of a fabric-based digital musical instrument. The prototype explores how tactile cues, fabric deformation, projected visual feedback, and assisted accompaniment can support low-barrier …

Uneven Surfaces, Chipped Plates And Hiding Spaces: Pedagogical Practices In The Nordic Outdoor Model Of Education, Karen Walker

Faculty Publications

This article shares insights from a professional study tour of Danish early childhood education programmes, examining how social pedagogical principles are embedded in outdoor learning environments. During June 2024, a group of early childhood teacher educators from the United States visited forest kindergartens, adventure playgrounds and natural playscapes in Denmark as participants in the Nordic Outdoor Model of Education study tour. Through guided visits and observations, we documented pedagogical practices that demonstrate the application of social pedagogy– particularly the integration of head, heart and hands in supporting children’s holistic development. This article connects observed practices to social pedagogical theory, highlighting …

Sensory Profile: Understanding Soothers And Stressors, Niki Elliott Ph.D.

Neuroinclusion

Sensory experiences shape how we move through the world: how we learn, focus, connect with others, and sustain energy across the day. For neurodiverse individuals in particular, sensory input is often central to how environments are experienced. Stress, fatigue, withdrawal, or overwhelm often emerge from a mismatch between a person’s sensory needs and the environments they are navigating, rather than from individual deficits or lack of effort. Lighting, noise, movement demands, unpredictability, clutter, and even well-intentioned routines can either support ease and participation or place additional strain on the nervous system. This Sensory Profile is designed to help individuals and …

Motivating Second-Order Differential Equation Models Beyond The Spring–Mass System, Katherine E. Rutherford, John C. Borger

CODEE Journal

Students in introductory differential equations courses often learn to associate specific equation types with familiar physical systems. While this approach supports procedural fluency, it can inhibit transfer learning: students recognize familiar forms rather than construct models from first principles. This paper presents a modeling-first instructional approach designed to help students recognize the shared structure of second-order differential equations across diverse contexts. Students derive governing equations from fundamental physical laws for multiple systems, including an Inductor, Resistor, and Capacitor (LRC) electrical circuit, a simple pendulum, and viscous pipe flow. Through guided comparison, students identify common components such as inertia, damping, restoring …

Precision Approaches Improve Community Health, Roger A. Rennekamp, David Buys

Journal of Extension

Recent advances in data science provide Extension practitioners with access to data sorted by zip code, census tract, or neighborhood. Such hyper-local data now allows Extension personnel to assess community needs and assets at a more granular level and focus their work on the people and communities of greatest need. In this article, we introduce an approach we refer to as precision public health. Using such a precision approach to community assessment and, ultimately, programming can save money, increase the likelihood of producing measurable results, and create more manageable workloads for county-based Extension personnel.

From Kitchen To Canon: Women And Culinary Recognition Executive Summary, Eulanda A. Sanders, Andra Harris

ICHRIE Research Reports

Despite women comprising a majority of the U.S. restaurant workforce, they remain significantly underrepresented in culinary leadership and elite recognition. Using an exploratory, descriptive design that draws on secondary data from the ACS, NRA, U.S. Census Bureau, and the James Beard Foundation, this study maps gender disparities across the culinary career pipeline. Women represent approximately 54% of the restaurant workforce but only 24.8% of chefs and head cooks, with a substantial gender wage gap persisting across the occupation (NRA, 2026; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024). Of 402 James Beard Award winners analyzed, 71.6% were male and 28.1% female. Disparities intensify at …

Impact And Utilization Of Asl Lab Spaces In University Settings, Nathan J. Dutra, Michele Vincent

Journal of Interpretation

American Sign Language (ASL) is a challenging yet rapidly growing language taught at both secondary and higher education levels. Despite its increasing popularity, there is limited literature on utilizing ASL labs as learning centers. This quantitative study examines the implementation of a new ASL lab at a large four-year university in California. It investigates the factors influencing participation, the motivations behind students' involvement, and their perceptions of the lab's effectiveness. Results indicate significant associations between course modality, instructor influence, and lab participation. The study suggests that ASL labs function as cultural and educational spaces that promote visibility of Deaf culture …

Impact Of Educational Strategies To Develop Professional Reasoning In Occupational Therapy Students And Therapists: A Systematic Review, Soledad Sánchez-Zamorano, María-Paz Ossandón-Pérez, Samanta Rolack-Jaramillo, Pedro Moruno-Miralles

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Professional reasoning (PR) in occupational therapy (OT) is a central theme in the health professions. Understanding how it is taught and which strategies demonstrate a measurable impact is fundamental to strengthening professional training. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence on the reported impact of different educational strategies for fostering PR development in OT students and practitioners. Methods: The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO. Databases and journals were searched, including studies published between 2014 and 2024. Eligible articles were quantitative or mixed-methods designs, and the risk of bias was assessed …

The Impact Of A Board Preparatory Platform On First-Time National Physical Therapy Examination Pass Rates, Shuying Lin, Melanie Lauderdale, Alyssa Bradford, Michael Brown, Kimberly Holt, Madelaine Palen, April Coward, Evan Warnick

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Performance on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a key indicator of academic quality in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs. Although commercial board preparation tools are widely available, evidence of their effectiveness remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of integrating TrueLearn (TL), a board-preparatory platform, into a DPT curriculum and to examine additional predictors of first-time success on NPTE. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 270 graduates from the University of Mississippi Medical Center DPT program (Classes of 2020–2025). Students in the Classes of 2024 and 2025 (n = 84) were exposed to TL, …

Balancing The Clinic And The Classroom: Perspectives Of Health Sciences Faculty On Clinical Practice Engagement, Derek B. Charles

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of faculty within a College of Health Sciences at a public university who engage in clinical practice. Specifically, it examined the perceived benefits, barriers, and institutional factors that influence faculty participation in clinical care alongside their academic responsibilities. Methods: An online survey was distributed via Qualtrics to full- and part-time faculty members across multiple departments in the College of Health Sciences. Data included Likert-scale responses evaluating perceptions of clinical engagement, as well as open-ended questions eliciting qualitative feedback. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and response data. Participants’ comments …

Use Of Simulation In Interprofessional Education In U.S. Physical Therapist Programs: A Multiple Case Study, Sarah Ross

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Interprofessional education (IPE) is a cornerstone of healthcare professional education, facilitating professions learning about and with each other. Simulation-based learning (SBL) is teaching and learning modality that is frequently used to incorporate IPE into curricula. Current research shows that physical therapist (PT) education programs are increasingly using SBL for IPE purposes. However, there is little research outlining how programs are using simulation.

Method: The data in this study were pulled from a larger qualitative study looking at how US PT programs use simulation because of the heavy emphasis on IPE. Three programs were selected from a pool of volunteers …