Digital Commons Network^™

Establishing Cultivating Dialogic Feedback (Cdf): Enhancing Teacher Evaluation Through The Humanization Of Teachers, Adrian Michael Blumenthal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current practices in K-12 teacher evaluation look to mechanize the evaluation model, and effectuate better teaching by enforcing compliance to the evaluation model. This practice treats teachers as disseminators of instructional practice and thereby of information to students which dehumanizes teachers. The following research takes a different approach to understanding teacher evaluation by working away from fixing the evaluation model by replacing it with another model. Instead, the research examines the breadth of compliance culture, called performativity, and examines the relationship between teacher and evaluator. At the root of the research is discovering how the relationship between teacher and evaluator …

Recruiting, Retaining, And Culturally Sustaining Latine Teachers In A School District With A High Population Of Latine Students, Lisa Garcia Simms

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Latine students make up 52% of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) population, yet only 23% of its teaching force is Latine. This imbalance has real implications for student experience and opportunity. In 2024, DPS commissioned the La Raza Report, which detailed challenges faced by Latine students and educators and called for systemic improvements. The findings highlighted a clear need to strengthen recruitment, retention, and culturally sustaining support for Latine educators.

This improvement science project investigated how DPS might improve the experiences of Latine teachers—engaging educators across career stages, with a particular focus on supporting early-career Latine teachers —through identity-affirming mentorship …

Sensemaking Opportunities For Students Experiencing Difficulty: A Mixed Methods Study, Rachel Juergensen, Delinda Van Garderen

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

All students deserve to be engaged in high-quality science instruction that moves beyond memorization and recall of facts and offers opportunities for sensemaking. Science achievement is alarmingly low signifying there is a large percentage of students experiencing difficulty in science. The low science achievement may be symptomatic of gaps in opportunities for sensemaking within the science classroom. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, the current study explored the relationship between middle school science teacher beliefs and opportunities students experiencing difficulty in science had to participate in sensemaking discussions. Integrated findings from the study suggest that teachers’ beliefs influenced the …

Enhancing Student Engagement And Cognitive Development Through Game-Based Learning (Gbl), Kusuma Rani, Putri Dwi Lestari, Saenab Ka-Lupae

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Elementary school students are classified as playing-age children, they like to do activities while playing. This research aims to determine the influence of the Game-Based Learning (GBL) learning model on students' cognitive activities and abilities. This type of research is quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test and post-test design. The population of this study were Madrasah Ibtidaiyah students at Darussalam Seuksa School, Thepa, Southern Thailand. The research sample for grade 5 students was 28 students. Student activity is measured using an observation sheet with indicators measured using a 1-5 Likert scale. Cognitive abilities are measured by tests. The results of data analysis showed …

Analyzing The Necessities For Blended Learning In Higher Education: A Pathway To Flexible Learning, Faznah Faznah, Khaerudin Khaerudin, Indina Tarjiah

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Rapidly developing educational technology innovations require educational institutions to provide innovation in creating effective and efficient learning to achieve optimal educational goals. Blended learning is an alternative for institutions that still implement conventional learning to integrate technology into learning and overcome the problem of learning duration so that students can learn actively and flexibly. This study aims to collect information about student needs in designing a flexible blended learning model to optimize learning in learning media courses. Needs analysis is used to explore information about gaps, student needs, and the readiness of lecturers and institutions in creating a blended learning …

Students' Attitudes Towards Cooperative Learning In Offline And Online Language Cl, Muhammad Bayu Aji Putra Harianto, Suharyadi Suharyadi, Shinta Tresnadewi

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This research investigated the perspectives of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students on their experiences with group work (GW) in both online and offline environments. The results indicated that most students who participated in GW in both settings held a positive perception. Implementing a Collaborative Learning (CL) approach can enhance students’ self-confidence, motivation, engagement in a studentcentered environment, and sense of responsibility. However, some students reported negative experiences with online GW due to issues such as unstable internet connections, limited prior experience with GW, and unfamiliarity with relevant applications and software. Consequently, the findings of this study offer valuable …

Com 320 Facebook Group Survey, Melissa Smith

OUR Assignment Repository

This class research project involved a qualitative study looking at a private Facebook site that focuses on the city of Columbus and the surrounding area. The owner of the site gave permission for a survey to be conducted among the sites more than 17,000 members. The Qualtrics survey was live for two weeks, and then students analyzed the responses. The Communication theories discussed during the semester were chosen to compliment the social media research project. The research and findings were incorporated into the course curriculum, and students were responsible for writing and editing the methodology component of the research paper …

The Role Of Ai In Language Learning: Teachers' And Students' Experiences In Vocational High Schools, Cyntia Wahyu Khafidah, Ahmad Faruk

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in language learning in vocational high schools, focusing on the experiences of teachers and students. This study uses a qualitative approach with a case study method, where data are collected through observation and interviews. Vygotsky's constructivism theory is used as a basis for understanding how AI supports independent and interactive learning. The results show that AI improves students' speaking and listening skills through automated feedback and enables personalized learning. However, limited infrastructure and lack of training for teachers are major obstacles in implementing AI in the classroom. In addition, …

Designing Writers: A Self-Regulated Approach To Multimodal Composition In Teacher Preparation And Early Grades, Qi Si, Tracey S. Hodges, Vahid Mousavi

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Reading and writing in the 21st century have evolved from traditional text-based formats to multimodal literacy, integrating linguistic, visual, auditory, and spatial modes to enhance communication and comprehension. While multimodal reading has been widely studied, multimodal writing remains underexplored, despite its growing importance in K–12 education across disciplines. Multimodal composing demands advanced self-regulation as students navigate multiple digital tools and platforms. Self-regulated learning strategies, particularly the self-regulated strategy developmental model, offer a promising approach to support students in planning, monitoring, and revising multimodal compositions. However, a comprehensive framework linking self-regulation and multimodal composition is lacking. This article addresses this gap …

Use Of Ict In South African Schools And The Plight Of Marginalized Learners During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Chinegbonkpa Hope Nwakanma, Maryam Chinasa Adewunmi

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Given that information and communication technology is still a luxury for poor students, especially in developing countries like South Africa. It is crucial to examine the extent of the inequalities and social marginalisation learners face due to lack of access to ICT, as well as the impact on their learning. This study, therefore, explores the use of ICT in public schools by synthesising existing literature on its effect on the teaching and learning of socially and economically marginalised learners. Using the qualitative research approach involving document analysis and literature review, this study reveals that lack of resources, skills and the …

Assessing University Students’ Self-Reported Vocabulary Learning Strategy Use, Yirgalem Girma

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Learning vocabulary is certainly a vital component of language learning and without this integral component of language communication becomes hardly meaningful. Thus, students are expected to have rich vocabulary power that enables them to communicate successfully via listening, speaking, reading, and writing; it assists students in expressing a range of meanings in various communicative situations for various purposes. This demands students to learn vocabulary using diverse vocabulary learning strategies that assist them in learning (internalizing, storing, recalling, and using) words properly. However, several students barely manage vocabulary learning tasks and/or use appropriate and diverse vocabulary in English classes. Consequently, this …

Innovations In Developing Hots Ipas Essay Questions For Fifth Grade Elementary School Students, Adyatma Nugrahsanto Wicaksono, Siti Faizah

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The development of High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions in Science and Social Studies (IPAS) for fifth-grade elementary students is a crucial step toward improving education quality. These questions go beyond testing memory by fostering critical, analytical, and creative thinking skills aligned with modern educational demands. Employing the 3D model (Define, Design, Develop) the study systematically develops HOTS based questions tailored to learning objectives and student needs. The process integrates cognitive levels C4-C6 of Bloom's taxonomy, emphasizing analysis, evaluation, and creation to enhance higher-order thinking. Validation results show that these HOTS-based questions are "Highly Relevant," achieving scores of 92.86% for …

Teachers' Difficulty Factors In Implementing Differentiated Learning In Geography Subjects, Aulia Nindy Fadila Gastama

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The implementation of differentiated learning in geography subjects provides benefits for teachers and students. On the other hand, teachers still have difficulty implementing differentiated learning elements. This research aims to analyze the factors related to teacher difficulties in implementing differentiated learning in geography subjects. The research method used descriptive qualitative research with semi-structured interviews. The informants used were geography teachers of SMAN Malang City. Data analysis was conducted by 1) data reduction, 2) data presentation, and 3) conclusion drawing. The results showed that geography teachers in Malang City State Senior High School faced difficulties in implementing differentiated learning. In content …

Experiencing Race, Racism And Racialization In Transnational Contexts: Racial Literacies Of First-Year International Asian Students., Nasiba Norova

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This research focused on exploring the racial literacies of first-year international East Asian (EA) students, specifically examining their perceptions of and experiences with race, racism, and racialized groups in various social and educational contexts in both their home countries and the United States. The study used critical ethnography to examine the perspectives of EA international students and composition faculty. It involved multiple semi-structured interviews, journal entries, racial literacy autobiographies, site document analysis, and class observations to understand how students perceived exposure to race, racism, and racialized groups and how faculty viewed the importance of racial education for international students in …

Exploring The Connection Between Teaching Frameworks And Policies For Assessing Teaching, Barbara J. Bird, Beate Brunow, Eric Kyle, Shawn R. Simonson

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Most faculty policies aimed at faculty review or assessment of teaching do not include specific teaching criteria and standards but instead lean heavily on student evaluations and peer review of teaching. This approach provides no concrete path for using assessment in a feedback loop that enables teachers to improve teaching. Implementing teaching frameworks can improve feedback loops and assessment policies by providing specific criteria and standards. Developing teaching effectiveness frameworks and connecting them to teaching assessment policies can be a critical step in advancing institutional change initiatives focused on teaching effectiveness. This critical alignment enables sustainable and meaningful change. This …

Integrasi Accera Pare Bagi Kehidupan Masyarakat Parigi Dalam Membangun Solidaritas Peserta Didik, Inas Tahirah, I Komang Astina, Yuswanti Ariani Wirahayu

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Accera pare is a harvest party of the Parigi Village community which is held as a form of gratitude of the farmers for the gifts given by God for being given a smooth harvest. The purpose of this research is to explore the meaning of the accera pare ceremony for the people of Parigi Village and the integration of accera pare in building students' sense of solidarity. The research method used descriptive qualitative with ethnographic approach where the data were analyzed by domain analysis, taxonomy, components and cultural themes. Data sources were obtained through participant observation and in-depth interviews. The …

Increasing Implementation Of The Comfortable Cafeteria Program To Promote School-Age Children’S Mental Health And Well-Being, Reinecka Mondesir, Angela Labrie Blackwell Phd, Otr

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Every Moment Counts (EMC) is a positive mental health promotion initiative that offers several initiatives to create inclusive environments that support student participation and emotional well-being throughout the school day. Comfortable Cafeteria, part of EMC, fosters positive mealtime experiences supporting peer interaction, emotional regulation, and inclusion. Many SBOT practitioners lack the resources to implement Comfortable Cafeteria, despite its benefits. This capstone project addresses the need for practical tools to help school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) practitioners integrate the Comfortable Cafeteria program into daily practice. Using the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, the project developed and disseminated an interactive, evidence-based video …

Learning Labs As A Professional Development Model To Strengthen Special Education Literacy Instruction, Claire Krajkowski

Masters Projects

Special education teachers face unique challenges in delivering effective literacy instruction to students with disabilities, yet traditional professional development often remains disconnected from the realities of special education classrooms. These conventional models frequently lack opportunities for sustained collaboration, reflective practice, and the application of evidence-based strategies tailored to diverse learner needs. This project presents a comprehensive plan for designing and facilitating Learning Labs, a form of embedded professional development grounded in constructivist and sociocultural theories. The Learning Lab model emphasizes collaborative inquiry, pedagogically productive talk, and the analysis of authentic instructional artifacts to deepen teachers’ understanding of effective literacy instruction. …

Helping Bipoc, Women, And First-Generation Students Maximize The Value Of Unpaid Internships, Ted Thornhill, Nicole Torres, Christina Van Wingerden

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Internships and practicums are a required component of nearly all degree programs in human services and its subfields—and most are unpaid. These unpaid positions often have a disproportionate impact for BIPOC and first-generation students, especially women—many of whom are economically disadvantaged and must work to support themselves and sometimes their families. Increased student activism, non-profit campaigns, and journalistic accounts show student frustration over their unpaid labor. Despite the righteousness of these students’ cause, the reality is that the implementation of an equitable, robust, and sustainable nationwide system of paid internships, in the near-term, is politically impracticable. Given that most human …

Digital Transformation In Jamaica's Education Sector, Grace Willis

Capstone Collection

Digital transformation in Jamaica’s education sector, significantly spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, represented a seismic shift on this small Caribbean island I call home. This transformation was central to national education reform and involved multiple projects aimed at modernizing educational delivery, infrastructure, and the supporting ecosystem. This study explored the multifaceted implications of these initiatives through qualitative research conducted with ten key stakeholders, complemented by a review of publicly available materials. Interviewees included school administrators, Information Technology (IT) teachers, funding sponsors, representatives from national education bodies, and international development agencies engaged in domestic strategic efforts. Participants were recruited through cold …

Navigating Early Intervention: The Experiences And Impact Of A Parent Coaching Model On Immigrant And Refugee Families In Rural Massachusetts, Emily Pleasant

Capstone Collection

Early Intervention (EI) programs play a critical role in supporting the developmental needs of children from birth to age three. This study explores the experiences of immigrant and refugee families engaging with EI services in rural Massachusetts, focusing particularly on the implementation and effectiveness of parent coaching models. Utilizing a mixed methods design that incorporates both narrative and phenomenological approaches, the research examines how families from culturally diverse backgrounds perceive and engage with EI services. This study discusses what barriers or facilitators they encounter throughout their journeys with Early Intervention. Preliminary findings suggest challenges related to language, cultural differences in …

The Implementation Of A Pilot Program On Puberty And Menstruation Education For Adolescent Females And Youth Development Specialists For A Gender-Specific Community Organization: A Quality Improvement Project, Cassandra Tavares

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Background & Significance: Adolescent girls in the United States (U.S.) often lack adequate education and support regarding puberty and menstruation, despite the importance of this knowledge for healthy development (Schmitt et al., 2022). Only 21% of school systems serving ages 8–12 provide puberty education, and many educators feel unprepared to teach it (Schmitt et al., 2022). Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to equip youth development specialists (YDS) at a community organization with a structured curriculum and educational tools to confidently educate adolescent females (ages 8–13) on the physical, emotional, and social aspects of puberty and menstruation. Intervention: A four-day …

Empowering General Educators: Supporting Students With Learning Disabilities Through Inclusive Tier Two Practices, Megan Sparling

Masters Projects

Many general education teachers enter the profession with minimal training in how to effectively support students with learning disabilities, particularly those who require Tier Two interventions but do not qualify for special education services. This lack of preparation contributes to reduced instructional confidence, inconsistent intervention practices, and missed opportunities to support struggling learners. Grounded in Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, this capstone project addresses the urgent need for ongoing, practical professional development tailored to the realities of inclusive classrooms. The literature highlights the importance of sustained, collaborative, and contextually embedded …

Students Lack Effective Collaboration Skills, Robin E. Vanderwel

Masters Projects

It has been seen through field experience and through research that students lack the ability to effectively learn through collaboration. The research has shown that there tends to be a lack of authentic learning when using collaboration projects/activities because students do not possess the skills that are needed to collaborate effectively. The ability to collaborate needs to be explicitly taught through modeling and scaffolding. This project examines research on the importance of collaborative learning and the required skills that students need to be successful. The project used research to develop a professional development session that allows teachers to see the …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Development Of Four C Skills In Early Field Experiences Through Reflective Writing, Weihsuan Lo, Deborah Romero

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

This longitudinal trend research study (Creswell & Guetterman, 2019) investigates how pre-service teachers (PSTs) in a K-12 licensure program that includes a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) added endorsement develop the 4Cs (creative thinking, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration) through reflective writing during early field experiences. The study involved five PSTs who submitted three reflective journals during the 2020-2021 school year and nine PSTs who participated in an online virtual focus group. Compared to the 2019-2020 school year, where PSTs observed in-person classes, the shift to online learning in 2020-2021 resulted in maintained Analytic skills (M = 39.40) and increased …

Transgressive Body, Open Mind, And Perceptive Spirit For Nurturing Soul: A Reflection On Teaching To Transgress, Akie F. Wenk

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

In this reflection essay, I discuss my journey into the liberatory pedagogy bell hooks champions. As a foreign-born Japanese woman, who speaks English as her second language, being in the classroom itself can be seen as a transgressive act. Positioning myself as an educator who strives to creates an environment that is liberatory for me and my students, I discuss my specific experience and relationship to theories surrounding critical feminist pedagogy and how I practice these theories in my own classroom.

Trauma-Informed Practice In K-12 Education: How Training, Knowledge, And Skills Impact Teacher Self-Efficacy, Megan N. Aker

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma experience is a pervasive problem for Indiana students that may hinder their functioning within the educational environment. Difficulty in addressing the impact of trauma for students often makes educators feel ineffective and is a contributing factor in educators leaving the profession. Trauma-informed care is an evidence-based framework of practice that may be implemented to mitigate the impacts of trauma for students. Indiana legislation now mandates pre-service educators receive education in trauma-informed care, but there is limited research on the current state of in-service educator trauma-informed care knowledge and skills, as well as the impact on their self-efficacy as educators. …

Elizabeth Female Academy: A Historical Case Study Revealing Antebellum Mississippi's Role In Shaping The Southern Belle, Summer Cutrer Tierno

Dissertations

Historians and educational scholars have extensively examined the subject of women's education, resulting in a rich body of literature that traces its evolution over the centuries. Moreover, this body of work encompasses significant movements advocating for women's rights to education and the establishment of colleges specifically for women. Scholars have also analyzed the challenges women encounter in accessing educational opportunities, including societal norms, economic barriers, and institutional discrimination. Notable works highlight the contributions of key figures, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, who advocated for women's education in both historical and contemporary contexts. Overall, this comprehensive scholarship not only documents the advancement …

“We Are Not Robots”: Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Focus Group Talk About Problems Of Practice Around Literacy Instruction, Jacquelynn S. Popp, Carin Appleget, Tori Golden Hughes, Crystal Dail Rose, Christine Leighton, Kierstin M. Giunco, Poonam Arya, Xiufang Chen

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of elementary preservice teachers’ (PSTs’) problems of practice around literacy instruction and to explore how the PSTs framed/talked about such problems. The study comprised qualitative analysis of data collected from focus group interviews with 21 PSTs from five teacher education institutions across the United States. Analysis of the PSTs’ talk about problems of practice in the focus groups yielded three themes about the nature of their problems and how they defined and discussed strategies or solutions to problems. PSTs expressed concerns about (1) meeting the needs of students below expected …

August 2025 Cafe Newsletter, Center For Advancing Faculty Excellence

CAFE Faculty Newsletters

No abstract provided.