Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

African American Male Dual Enrollment Graduates Perceptions Of The Transition To The 4-Year University, Kendra L. Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how African American men who earned an associate degree from dual enrollment programs in Texas perceive the transition to a 4-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The 4S model of Schlossberg’s transition theory was the conceptual framework that undergirded the study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 participants. The researcher collected and triangulated data using a questionnaire and semistructured interviews and analyzed it using six-step thematic analysis. Results revealed competence and confidence from dual enrollment program resulted in a smooth transition to college, participants’ African American male …

Staying Power: A Case Study Of Teacher Retention In A Rural District, Amanda F. Mclellan, Amanda F. Mclellan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition continues to be a significant challenge in K-12 education, particularly in rural school districts where limited resources and geographic isolation can intensify staffing instability. While much research has focused on teacher attrition, little research examines why tenured teachers choose to remain in rural districts. The purpose of this qualitative, single-case study was to examine the experiences and insights of tenured teachers regarding their decision to continue teaching in a small, rural Texas school district. Guided by Mason and Matas’s fourcapital framework for teacher retention, this study examined how human, social, structural, and positive psychological capital influenced teachers’ decisions …

Leading The Charge: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Exploring How Public Middle School Principals Perceive And Enact Their Role As Advocates For School-Based Mental Health, Tanya Irby Tucker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent mental health concerns have increased significantly during the middle school years, requiring school leaders to expand their role in supporting students’ social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Although schools are uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive mental health services, how public middle school principals perceive and enact their role as advocates for school-based mental health services remains underexplored. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how public middle school principals perceive and enact their role as advocates for school-based mental health services. Guided by social cognitive theory (SCT), this study examined how personal beliefs, behavioral practices, and environmental …

Influence Of Restorative Justice Practices On Student Behavior, Shawn N. Clemons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how teachers in culturally diverse suburban U.S. elementary schools perceive the implementation of restorative justice practices as an influence on student behavior. The researcher collected data through questionnaires and semistructured interviews of 14 elementary teachers currently employed in a suburban elementary school who actively use restorative justice with students. Findings from the study indicated the restorative justice practices contribute positively to school culture by prioritizing relationship building, structured conflict resolution, and inclusive practices. The findings from this study can be used with teachers, administrators, district support, and school board …

Secondary Dual Language And Immersion Content Teachers And Their Instructional Materials, Curtis Larsen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Secondary dual language and immersion (DLI) teachers who teach content courses, such as social studies or science, balance two central responsibilities: meeting content-area standards and supporting students’ language development (Cammarata & Tedick, 2012). Managing these responsibilities presents challenges when preparing and using instructional materials in languages other than English (Moate, 2014; Morton, 2013; Skinnari, 2020; Sun, 2017). While existing research shows that DLI teachers expend enormous energy seeking and preparing instructional materials for their content-area classes (Mathieu, 2022), little is known about the factors that guide this work or how well existing materials meet teachers’ needs. This dissertation sought to …

What Works In Martial Education: How The Experience Of Martial Educators Defines Living Muay Thai’S Place In An Evolving Martial Community, Justin Markus

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Martial education, particularly Muay Thai, rarely offers formal educator training, and what does exists is rarely backed by research. Educators frequently develop in isolation, within communities lacking evidence-based frameworks. Some practitioners may find their way to pedagogical knowledge, but most do not. Living Muay Thai (LMT) was founded in 2020 to address these gaps. This qualitative phenomenological study evaluated LMT’s impact on martial educators after its first five years (April 2020-July 2025) and identified 11 areas for future development. Seven Muay Thai educators participated in semi-structured interviews and a focus group. An emergent phenomenological analysis generated findings; a reflexive thematic …

Multilingual Learner Parent Involvement: Perspectives From Parents, Stella Sandager

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined multilingual learner (ML) parent perspectives on family engagement. The purpose of this study was to determine the opportunities and barriers for parents in order to increase family engagement at a suburban school in Minnesota. The ML population is growing, and understanding how to effectively engage with parents has become increasingly critical. Despite research demonstrating that parent and family engagement impacts student success, parent voices are missing in the research. This study adds to the literature by offering perspectives from parents. Qualitative interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were used to answer the research questions. Findings concluded that …

Bilingual Achievement, Identity, And Aspiration: Multilingual High School Students’ Lived Experiences Through The Bilingual Seal, Kristy O'Brien

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

O’Brien, K. (2026). Bilingual Achievement, Identity, and Aspiration: Multilingual High School Students’ Lived Experiences through the Bilingual Seal

In an educational landscape shaped by deficit-based perspectives on multilingual learners, asset-based policies such as the Minnesota Bilingual Seal offer an alternative approach for affirming students’ linguistic and cultural identities. This study examined this policy through the experiences of Latiné multilingual high school students. It amplified the voices of the students themselves through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, addressing a gap in multilingual learning and Bilingual Seal research, framed by the conceptual lens of critical consciousness and Latino Crit theory. The research questions are: …

Resilient Leadership: How Cultural Identity Fuels The Success Of Black Male Executives, Anthony Bass

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Culturally Anchored Strategic Navigation: The Role of Cultural Identity in the Success of African American Male Executives

This study examined the relationship between cultural identity and leadership success among African American male executives. Contextualized within leadership studies and urban education, the study sought to understand how cultural identity functions as a central and strategic asset in navigating executive leadership environments. Drawing on Social Identity Theory and informed by scholarship on leadership and resilience, this study attempts to deepen understanding of how identity shapes leadership practice, decision-making, and sustained success within predominantly White institutional contexts.

A qualitative research design grounded in …

Multilingual Learner Parent Involvement: Perspectives From Parents, Stella Sandager

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined multilingual learner (ML) parent perspectives on family engagement. The purpose of this study was to determine the opportunities and barriers for parents in order to increase family engagement at a suburban school in Minnesota. The ML population is growing, and understanding how to effectively engage with parents has become increasingly critical. Despite research demonstrating that parent and family engagement impacts student success, parent voices are missing in the research. This study adds to the literature by offering perspectives from parents. Qualitative interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were used to answer the research questions. Findings concluded that …

The Effects Of A Financial Literacy-Based Classroom Economy Model On Student Behavior, Engagement, And Financial Literacy, Liahna Sauter

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The Effects of a Financial Literacy-Based Classroom Economy Model on Student Behavior, Engagement, and Financial Literacy by Liahna Sauter employed a mixed methods research approach and used surveys, assessments, frequency charts, finance reports, and observations to learn more about the financial literacy-based classroom economy model. Different classroom economy models, namely token economies, are used widely across the educational sphere; though, financial literacy-based approaches do not have well-documented data surrounding their effectiveness. The financial literacy model aims to instruct students on real-world financial literacy concepts while simulating a real-world economy and incentivising positive behavior. Influenced by financial literacy-based classroom economy models …

April 2026 Ce Spotlight: Mate Training To Renew Dea Licenses Available Online, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This document details time-sensitive continuing education opportunities for Michigan dental professionals. It specifically highlights eight hours of online MATE training required for DEA license renewal, available through April 26. Presented by Tom Viola, the training covers the roles of opioid and non-opioid analgesics and the clinical implications of substance use. Furthermore, the document provides resources for members to track their state CE requirements and access on-demand webinars and radiography training through the MDA website to ensure compliance with licensure standards.

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Case Study On Principals’ Attitudes And Practices Toward The Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities, Charlene Marie Briggs

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Despite decades of federal legislation mandating inclusion, many schools still struggle to serve students with disabilities effectively, resulting in persistent achievement gaps and limited postsecondary success. Research consistently identifies principals’ attitudes and practices as the most influential factor in inclusive school success, yet existing studies have examined these elements in isolation rather than as interconnected parts of a school system. This hermeneutic phenomenological case study explored how ten Virginia elementary school principals understood and enacted their attitudes and leadership practices toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in their schools. The study used van Manen’s (2014) hermeneutic phenomenology to understand …

The Lived Experiences Of Master's Level Counselors In Professional Counseling Association Leadership, Catalina R. Kraft

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Leadership and advocacy are essential for all counselors (Lewis, 2022; McKibben, 2016; Paradise et al., 2010; Sweeney, 2022). However, within research and professional counseling associations, there appears to be a bias in which counselor educators are the expected, default leaders within the counseling profession (Burns, 2015; Kleist, 2018; Speciale & Goodrich, 2020). While counselor educators may have experience as counselors, they primarily work in academia, so their experiences do not authentically represent the needs of professional counselors. Counseling leaders need to represent and understand the people they serve: counselors. Therefore, this study sought to understand the lived experiences of master’s …

The Physiology Of The Work: Chronic Stress, Allostatic Load, And Faculty Wellness In Counselor Education, Ajayla S. Evins

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Counselor educators embody multifaceted professional roles across teaching, supervision, research, leadership, and service, exerting a profound influence on the formation of counselors and the ongoing development of the profession (CACREP, 2024; Calley & Hawley, 2008). While wellness is recognized as a core professional value in counseling (ACA, 2014), research has focused almost exclusively on emotional and psychological dimensions, leaving the physiological consequences of chronic stress largely underexplored (Bovee, 2024; Faheem et al., 2025; Lewis et al., 2022). In neighboring fields, such as public health and medicine, chronic stress has been linked to dysregulation in cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, immune inflammatory, and metabolic …

Assessing Shifts In Leadership Language: A Comparative Study Of The Aacc Competencies For Community College Leaders, Bethany A. Siehr

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Leadership competency frameworks are widely used in community colleges to guide hiring, professional development, and succession planning. However, little is known about how leadership expectations evolve within these frameworks over time or how revisions reflect shifts in what the field values as legitimate leadership preparation. This study examined longitudinal change in the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Competencies for Community College Leaders across four editions published in 2005, 2013, 2018, and 2022.

Using a structured comparative document analysis, the study applied an extraction grid, a modification classification framework, and the Semantic Aspect Scale to identify additions, deletions, augmentations, separations, …

A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Community College Presidential Job Announcements And The American Association Of Community Colleges Competencies For Community College Leaders, Leslie M. Boon

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Women are overrepresented as students and employees of community college, yet they are underrepresented in presidential leadership roles. Prior research has examined the career trajectories and experiences of women aspiring to community college presidencies; however, less research has examined how discourse shapes expectations of leadership. Because community colleges have been described as gendered, the language used to describe leadership competencies may reinforce gendered assumptions about effective leadership. The purpose of this study was to examine the discourse of community college presidential job announcements and the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Competencies for Community College Leaders (4th edition) to examine …

How Women Community College Department Chairs Experience Leadership Work, Stephanie L. Goldenberg

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Women remain underrepresented in higher-level administrative roles in community colleges, a disparity shaped by systemic barriers, limited mentoring, and inconsistent pathways into leadership. Department chairs occupy a critical midlevel position that influences faculty, students, and the implementation of institutional priorities, yet little is known about how women experience this role or how their pathways into leadership take shape. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how women community college department chairs experience leadership work and what experiences influence their entry into leadership roles. Guided by feminist standpoint theory and grounded in narrative inquiry methodology, this study centers the …

The Leadership Lens: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Sensemaking Experiences Of School Leaders Implementing Virginia's New Standards Of Accreditation And Accountability, Paul M. Wilson Jr.

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This phenomenological study exposes the complex cognitive and organizational processes school leaders navigate as they translate high-stakes state mandates into localized action. By examining the implementation of Virginia’s revised Standards of Accreditation and Accountability (SOA), this study challenges the prevailing managerial paradigm that views policy implementation as a linear, mechanical execution of directives. Instead, grounded in sensemaking theory and SDT, this research conceptualizes implementation as a situated and interpretive act shaped by leaders’ prior experiences, beliefs, and psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Using a qualitative phenomenological design, data were collected through semi structured interviews with 12 school and …

Education And Training In Water Operator Certification And Its Role In Water Utility System Performance, Heath A. Edelman

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Access to safe and reliable drinking water is a foundational component of public health and environmental protection. The United States drinking water sector is highly regulated and increasingly challenged by workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, and variability in operator training requirements across states. Despite the federal mandate for operator certification under the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of certification policies in improving regulatory compliance outcomes remains limited.

This study examined the relationship between operator certification policies and drinking water compliance outcomes under the Safe Drinking Water Act, with particular attention to differences across violation …

Considering Special Education Program Performance Analysis And Teacher And Student Involvement In Transition Planning: A Delphi Study To Prioritize Student Interests, Strengths, And Transition Assessment, Charles S. Thull

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Individualized education program (IEP) transition plans are required to be based on student interests and strengths, and use age-appropriate transition assessments, yet limited guidance exists on how to prioritize these elements. Despite decades of transition planning research and policy development, students with disabilities continue to experience poor postsecondary transition outcomes, special education teachers report limited readiness to support transition planning, university special education programs lack transition focused coursework, and transition plans are created for compliance and lack transition assessment information. Considering these concerns, this study used a modified Delphi method, informed by Human Performance Technology (HPT) and Ecological Systems Theory …

Exploring The Physical Education Experiences Of Blind And Visually Impaired Hispanic Multilingual Learners In Integrated Settings, Sheyla G. Martinez-Rivera

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Although students with visual impairments (VI) are increasingly placed in integrated physical education (PE) classes (U.S. Department of Education, 2023), the embodied experiences of those who also identify as multilingual learners (MLs) and as Hispanics remain largely unexplored. This retrospective qualitative study examined how these students experience integrated PE during their K-12 education, focusing on how language and disability identities shaped their participation. Participants included seven Hispanic students, all MLs, and identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as blind or visually impaired. At the time of the study, participants were between 18 and 33 years old and …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The "Intervention Implementation Experience" With Department Chairs And Program Coordinators During A Performance Improvement, Courtney W. Schoolmaster

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Minimal research has been conducted on the experiences of department chairs and program coordinators with the implementation of performance improvement in learning outcome assessment. Focusing on a multidisciplinary college that offered associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates, located within the SACSCOC region, this transcendental phenomenology aims to understand the lived experiences of department chairs and program coordinators in a community college during the implementation/maintenance phases of a performance improvement initiative for the college’s program and general learning outcome assessment process.

This phenomenological study was conducted with eighteen department chairs and program coordinators, and two semi-structured interviews were conducted via Webex. …

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, …

The Role Of Autonomy And Motivation On Teacher Retention: A Mixed Methods Study, Jordan Overton

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Teacher retention remains a persistent concern in the United States, with nearly 13% of classrooms unfilled by licensed teachers. Grounded in self-determination theory and basic psychological needs theory, this mixed methods sequential explanatory study examined the relationship between teacher autonomy, motivation, and intentions to leave, while also exploring the contextual factors that shaped teachers’ perceptions of autonomy within their work environments.

In the quantitative phase, survey data were collected from 123 elementary and middle school teachers across three school divisions in Southeastern Virginia. Measures included teacher autonomy, work motivation, and intentions to leave one’s school or division and the teaching …

Deferred Action Theory As A Framework For Adaptive Educational Procurement: Navigating Uncertainty And Digital Transformation In Education Systems, Herdiana Herdiana, B. Yuliarto Nugroho, Andreo Wahyudi Atmoko

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Public procurement constitutes a significant portion of national expenditure and directly affects economic growth, service delivery, and governance quality. In Indonesia, education sector procurement absorbs more than half of the allocated budget but remains vulnerable to inefficiencies, rigid procedures, and corruption risks. This study aims to conceptualize an adaptive framework for Public Procurement Business Process Management (PP-BPM) that addresses environmental uncertainty, digital transformation, and governance challenges. This conceptual study integrates Deferred Action Theory (DAT), Emergent Business Processes (EBP), and Business Process Management (BPM) to develop a multi-level framework for procurement. The analysis covers strategic, managerial, and operational dimensions, emphasizing deferment …

Reimagining Instructional Planning: Balancing Real-Life Experiences With Ai Instantaneity, Shaanii-Grace Robinson-Ritzdorf

Essays in Education

Instructional planning challenges teachers to balance creativity, time, and application of real-life experiences. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers rapid lesson ideas, personalized resources, and adaptive tools, yet uncritical use risks generic, disengaging instruction. This essay was based on the background study that examined elementary teachers’ integration of real-life experiences in science and math lessons in northwestern New Mexico through lesson plans, professional development materials, and interviews. Results revealed teacher-centered, procedural approaches with limited connection to students’ lived experiences, while personally designed lessons allowed greater flexibility for meaningful examples. Thoughtfully guided AI can bridge this gap, supporting scenario-based learning, differentiation, and student …

The Association Between School Teachers’ Competence, Autonomy, And Relatedness And Their Capabilities In Leading Change And Self-Leadership In Al Ain City Government School, Asma Saeed Khethail

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Education systems globally are experiencing ongoing reform due to globalization, rapid technological development, and increasing expectations for innovative and adaptable learning environments. Teachers are increasingly required to implement policy initiatives and be active leaders of change within schools. However, teachers’ ability to engage in change leadership and self-leadership is influenced by the psychological and relational conditions of their professional environments. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study investigates the association between teachers’ perceptions of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. It further examines how these perceptions relate to their capabilities in leading change and practicing self-leadership in government schools in Al Ain …

From Eccentric Force To Explosive Output: A Multidimensional Analysis Of Mechanical Efficiency, Neuromuscular Strategy, And Performance Prediction In National-Level Junior Badminton Athletes Undergoing Overload Training, Mariola Gepfert, Kinga Łosińska, Dariusz T. Skalski, Magdalena Prończuk, Izabella Socha, Alicja Markiel, Aleksandra Markowska, Adam Maszczyk, Artur Gołaś

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

This study aimed to investigate the neuromechanical pathways linking eccentric force production to explosive concentric output during countermovement jumps (CMJ) in national-level junior badminton athletes undergoing a specialized eccentric training program. Objective: 36 male athletes (age 16.5 ± 1.2 years) were quasi-randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n=18), which completed a 6-week supervised eccentric overload training in-volving flywheel squats and depth jumps thrice weekly, or a control group (CG; n=18), which maintained their habitual in-season training without additional interventions. Methods: Pre- and post-intervention assessments included CMJ performance measured on a force platform, with detailed analysis of kinetic and temporal …