Digital Commons Network^™

A Sign Of Connection, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Dordt Ed Students Far Exceed Iowa Average, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

A Record Built Around Others, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Defender Coaches Earn Peer Recognition, Andrea Dieleman

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Finding Community In The Gaming Guild, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Lessons Of The Body, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

A Family Legacy Lives On In The Mouw House, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Dordt's Mission Is For You Too, Kaysha Steiger

The Voice

No abstract provided.

From Sioux Center To Nyc, Jennifer Vermeer

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Residential Curriculum, Eric J. Tudor

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Finance Students Excel Beyond The Classroom, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Saying Goodbye To The Commons, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

What Dordt Taught Me, Sarah Moss, Malachi Myers

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Leaders Are Learners, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

The Many Dordt Ties To Deep Reading, Andrea Dieleman

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Answering The Call, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Pwatem: An Anthology Of Literature And Art (2026)

Pwatem (Poictesme), 2006-

Pwatem is an anthology of literature and art from undergraduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Pwatem publishes poetry, prose and art of all kinds from talented undergraduate students of all majors.

Retention Factors For College Students Who Have Experienced Trauma, Deborah Klinnert

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

College degree attainment has been shown to positively relate to overall life satisfaction, job opportunities, and income. There continue to be equity gaps between enrollment and degree completion for marginalized groups, including students of color, first-generation students, and students from low-income families. The impact of trauma on college completion is missing among existing student success literature. Based on existing retention factors for marginalized groups, including a student’s sense of belonging, resilience, and utilization of mental health services, this study sought to examine if the same factors impact retention for those students who have experienced trauma. The sample size was extremely …

"What Does It Mean If I Am Silent?”: Bipoc And Lgbtq+ Educators’ Narratives Of Identity, Responsibility, And Student Protection, Julie Nicole Von Stein

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This qualitative study examined how BIPOC and LGBTQ+ educators describe their experiences navigating curriculum restrictions and book bans in politically restrictive educational environments, their perceptions of administrator support, and how their identities uniquely shape their decisions about resistance and risk. Grounded in Scott’s theory of everyday resistance, the study explored the ways BIPOC and LGBTQ+ educators make decisions about resistance when curricular content connected to race, gender, sexuality, and marginalized identities is challenged or restricted. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with educators who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+, allowing participants to describe their experiences, decision-making processes, perceived risks, and …

Increasing Confidence Of Respiratory Therapy Students In Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Using Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice, Heather Ashley

Theses

Background: Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice (RCDP) simulation has emerged as an innovative approach to strengthening confidence among healthcare learners and professionals. Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, RCDP emphasizes structured repetition, immediate feedback, and skill refinement through cycles of performance, reflection, and reapplication.

Methods: Senior-level respiratory therapy students participated in either a traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) simulation or an RCDP CPR simulation as part of their scheduled coursework. After completing the simulation, students participated in a post‑simulation survey, and scores were compared between the two groups.

Results: Confidence was evident across both simulation methods, and students indicated increased self‑confidence following …

Grit And Inclusive Practice: A Phenomenological Study Of General Education Teachers In A Title I Elementary School, Andrea Martinez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe elementary general education teachers' perceptions of how the core principles of grit, as defined by Duckworth et al. (2007); passion, perseverance, resilience, goal commitment, and growth mindset, influence their ability to implement inclusive practices for students with disabilities in general education classrooms.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological design was used to explore the lived experiences of elementary general education teachers. Purposeful sampling was used to identify participants who met the study criteria. Eight elementary general education teachers employed at a Title I public elementary school in Kings County, California, participated …

The Art Of Crisis Leadership By Exemplary Naval Frontline Leaders, Broadus Brooks

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative, multiple-case study held significant importance because it aimed to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary naval frontline leaders to lead in crisis, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on the five critical tasks of strategic crisis leadership (sensemaking, decision making/coordination, meaning making, accounting, and learning), providing a unique insight into the experiences of these leaders during a crisis.Methodology: This qualitative, multiple-case study employed interviews to collect data from exemplary naval frontline leaders to identify and describe their leadership strategies during the unprecedented COVID-19 global health crisis.

Findings: Crisis leadership among U.S. naval frontline …

The Adolescent Development Of Small Business Owners’ Entrepreneurial Mindset, Fern Arredondo

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how small business owners in Southern California interpret experiences before age 20 that influenced the development of the eight domains of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Entrepreneurial Mindset Index (EMI). This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore how adult small business owners reflect upon and interpret experiences before age 20 that influenced the development of their entrepreneurial mindset. By examining the influence of pre-adulthood on these owners, the study aimed to deepen the understanding of how early experiences shape entrepreneurial mindsets and contribute to long-term entrepreneurial success. …

The Impact Of Vulnerability On Building Trust: A Qualitative Study Of Superintendents In Northern California, Jasmin Hasmukhlal Patel

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and explain how exemplary superintendents in Northern California practice vulnerability to build trust within their organizations, guided by Brené Brown’s framework of vulnerability-based leadership: Authenticity, courage over comfort, curiosity and learning, practicing empathy, and leading with heart. An additional purpose was to examine the challenges these leaders encounter when practicing vulnerability in complex public education contexts. This study addresses a gap in leadership research by providing empirical insight into how vulnerability functions as a trust-building practice at the highest level of K–12 educational leadership.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological design was …

Rewriting The Future: Examining The Influence Of Mentoring On Ged Graduates' Pursuit And Performance In Postsecondary Education, Shari Antoinette Crain

Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of GED graduates who were mentored while earning their GED and examined how those mentoring experiences contributed to their academic achievement in community college. Although increasing numbers of adult learners pursue postsecondary education through the GED pathway, many encounter barriers related to academic confidence, institutional navigation, and access to support systems. Limited research has examined how mentoring supports GED graduates during their transition into higher education.

Guided by the College Student Mentoring Scale developed by Nora and Crisp (2009), this study examined mentoring experiences across four domains: psychological and emotional support, degree and …

Principal Leader Behaviors That Create Meaning For Their Teachers To Reduce Stress And Burnout, Angelina Santana

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary high school principals use to create meaning for themselves and their teacher followers through relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration. In addition, the study aimed to determine the new teachers’ perceived degree of importance of the principal leader behaviors related to relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration to help create meaning.Methodology: The mixed methods convergent study design uses qualitative and quantitative means to collect and analyze data to understand how exemplary high school principals make meaning for their teacher followers. First, qualitative interviews …

Hidden Gems Of Clay County: “Snap + Say Something” Inquiry Protocol, David Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was to design an immersive, place‑based learning experience that helps preservice teachers engage with primary sources connected to the history and culture of Clay County, Minnesota. In collaboration with the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, preservice teachers visited the Hjemkomst Center and used autophotography to document artifacts, exhibits, and moments that helped them understand what makes Moorhead and the wider Clay County community a unique and meaningful place. Alongside their photographs, they wrote reflections explaining why each image captures an aspect of Clay County as a “special place.” This approach is intended …

4-H Stem Ambassador Impact Study: The Lasting Effects Of Informal Stem Service Learning Through 4-H Camp Instruction, Emma Hay Gardner

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Although short-term outcomes of service learning are widely documented, far less is known about how these experiences influence participants years after their service concludes. Research on STEM-focused service learning is especially limited. This mixed methods study examined the long-term impacts of a West Virginia University STEM Ambassador program, in which college students served as near-peer STEM educators during summer youth 4-H programs. This study explored the lasting effects on former participants across four domains identified in the Service Learning Benefit (SELEB) scale: practical skills, interpersonal skills, citizenship skills, and personal responsibility skills.

Survey data from former participants (n=75), follow up …

Vocational Education And Employment Outcomes For Individuals With Disabilities: Trends, Barriers, And Supported Employment Practices, Taylor John Peterson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines literature that focuses on vocational education and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. This paper includes current vocational practices, barriers to employment, and the effectiveness of supported employment for individuals with disabilities. The studies used for this thesis show that work-based learning, career and technical education (CTE), and instruction in employability skills positively affect students’ employment outcomes. There are also barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities. They include employer misconceptions, limited accommodations, and a lack of transition services. Individuals with disabilities who receive supported employment have a much greater chance of obtaining employment. The findings in …

Seeing Success Through Functional Vision: Screening, Education, And Intervention Within Mtss For Kindergarten Students, Falynne Marie Rzezuski

OTD Capstones

Visual skills are essential for participation in early academic tasks including reading, writing, classroom engagement, and learning. However, functional vision difficulties often go unrecognized in kindergarten students, potentially affecting their academic performance and ability to learn within educational settings. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and pilot a functional vision screening tool and program using a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework for kindergarten students. A literature review informed the development of the project, including the creation of the functional visual screening tool, integration within MTSS, Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions, and educational resources for educators …