Digital Commons Network^™

Using Fantasy Sports To Connect Process With Product In Adpr/Spmc 464/864 – Sports Media Relations And Promotion, Brian Petrotta

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The purpose of this portfolio is to analyze the relationship between assignments and desired learning outcomes in ADPR/SPMC 464/864 – Sports Media Relations and Promotion. ADPR/SPMC 464/864 Sports Media Relations and Promotion remains a challenging course to navigate but the process of developing this portfolio demonstrates that it has many strengths. The first of these strengths is the simple structure that centers the course around a fantasy football team (NFL in fall, EPL in spring). Most students were already familiar with fantasy sports and, in general, appreciated the inherent competition within this structure. Feedback from students’ year-end self-assessments from two …

Does The Value Last? Exploring The Longitudinal Value Of A Research Experience For Preservice Science Teachers, Elizabeth A. Leong

Dissertations

Little attention has been given to the preparation of secondary preservice science teachers (PST) to meet the vision for science teaching and learning outlined in A Framework for K-12 Science Education. Existing literature suggests PSTs would benefit from authentic engagement in scientific research. But research experiences for preservice science teachers or preRETs are rare (Krim et al., 2019). This longitudinal qualitative case study explores the value retained one year after participation in a preRET, which engages PSTs in scientific research and education-focused professional learning. This study utilizes the preRET Value Creation Model (preRET VCM) (Authors, 2024), which overlays the Value-Creation …

The Role Of Social Media In Higher Education For Recruitment And Retention And The Implications For Nursing Programs, Cari Granier, Jamie Gravois

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract:

Purpose: This review article assesses findings related to social media use in regards to student recruitment and retention for higher education institutions (HEIs) including schools of nursing. This review outlines the need for building a social media presence, creating engaging content for target audiences, available platforms, and posting times and frequency. Methods: A literature review was conducted with keywords including the following terms in combination with “social media and” higher education marketing, higher education recruitment, university marketing, university recruitment, college marketing, and college recruitment. Results: College applicants rely on social media when making decisions about …

Co-Creation Through Pushing Boundaries: Reflections On Working With Ba Events Management Students As Partners On A Final Year Module, Ewa Krolikowska, Pamela Zigomo, Jenny Hamblin, Joe Blomfield, Lauren Gater-Moray

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Co-Created Learning In Auditing Education: Transforming Case Studies Into Collaborative Learning Experiences, Jun Wang

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Ai Skills Development Through Industry-Academia Co-Creation, Opeoluwa Aiyenitaju, Tunde Mosaku

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Co-Creating Authentic Assessments For Undergraduate And Postgraduate Event Management Students: Developing Sustainable Communities And Enhancing Social Awareness, Karen Radcliffe, Janine Priest

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Beyond Tangible Outcomes: The Impact Of Staff-Student Partnerships In Conflict Management Training, Cecilia Ellis, Callie Lees, Mirta Momo Mochi, Gunita Maskalane

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence In Education To Drive Cross-Sector Innovation, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes educational practices, particularly in technical fields such as uncrewed systems, robotics, and aviation/ aerospace, its integration raises promise and complexity. This exploratory study features an investigation of the impact AI tools adoption has on instruction, curriculum support, and workforce preparation, with a focus on online learning environments. Drawing from pilot survey data across aviation and aerospace education stakeholders and hands-on evaluation of AI video production platforms, findings reveal diverse applications, perceived benefits, and critical concerns, including ethical, pedagogical, and institutional challenges. Additionally, the analysis explored how AI-enabled education intersects with broader industry and government innovation …

Benefits Of Informal Practical Experiences As A Central Teaching Method In A Literature Of Adolescents Course, Jillian Harpster

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio includes the course context and organizational format of a junior-level required course for pre-service secondary English teachers. Formatting and context information include teaching methods and course materials. As a central teaching method of the course, students are required to attend a practicum that is additional to their observational practicum (sophomore year) and their clinical practicum (senior year). In this way, the praxis of the coursework and the informal practicum serve as an intentional moment of praxis, while also scaffolding students towards their senior year practicum and beyond (student teaching, early career teaching). Ultimately, the argument of the portfolio …

A Seat At The Schoolhouse Table: Reimagining Education Through Afrofuturist And Womanist Theory, Natasha M. Capers

Student Theses

“A Seat at the Schoolhouse Table: Reimagining Education Through Afrofuturist and Womanist Theory” critically examines how curriculum, even when well-intentioned, can perpetuate harm by excluding the lived experiences of marginalized communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ students. Using a real middle school immigration assignment given to the author's son as a case study, this capstone deconstructs the structural biases embedded in curriculum design and proposes a radical reimagining through the liberatory lenses of Afrofuturism and Womanism. Blending scholarly inquiry, personal narrative, and community-based interviews, this project offers a restructured assignment that centers joy, identity, and speculative storytelling as tools for educational …

Understanding And Engaging In Equity Work: A Phenomenological Action Research Study Of Community College Esol Instructors, Emily E. Packer

Dissertations

Community colleges (CCs) are regarded as accessible and affordable pathways to higher education and financial mobility, offering significant potential to promote educational equity (Fink et al., 2023). These institutions enroll the largest number of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students in adult education; however, CC ESOL students face lower rates of degree completion and transfer compared to their non-ESOL peers (David & Kanno, 2021; Fink et al., 2023; Raufman et al., 2019). While research has examined factors contributing to low CC ESOL student persistence and interventions to improve overall CC student outcomes, research on specific efforts to support …

Liberatory Love: Exploring Educators’ Perspectives In Alternative Education, Kamala J. Mallipudi

Dissertations

Establishing an operational understanding of love is difficult. The struggle is magnified when attempting to create a shared vision of love across a group of educators. As Freire (1970/2005) and Darder (2011) affirmed, academic success is advanced when educators demonstrate love as part of their praxis. Continuation high schools represent a population of at-promise students who stand to gain much when their educators employ liberatory love practices. This study examined how educators’ perceptions about liberatory love are shifted or formed when they read, discuss, and reflect on the topic with their colleagues. This study drew on critical pedagogy and engaged …

Post Racial Reckoning: Montessori Instructors' Perspectives On Teaching Through An Antibias Antiracist Lens, Jasmine E. Williams

Dissertations

Prior to the racial reckoning of 2020, Montessori teacher education programs (MTEPs) have only narrowly focused on social justice education (Aronson et al., 2020; Bartolomè, 2004; Cook, 2015; Cross, 2005; D’Cruz, 2022; King, 1991). Although MTEPs began to respond differently post-reckoning, support for implementing practices like antibias antiracist (ABAR) instruction was often absent. This study sought to understand how the racial reckoning and efforts to include an ABAR lens impacted the teaching practices of instructors in MTEPs. While ABAR-related studies exist in general teacher education (Blanchard et al., 2018; Madkins & Nazar, 2022; Martinez-Alba, Herrera, & Hersi, 2022), few focus …

Becoming A Beloved Community: A Restorative Reckoning For A Radical Conversion To Transform Discourse In Higher Education, Latasha Tomay Varlack-Butler

Dissertations

This dissertation critically examines the misappropriation of Restorative Justice Discourse (RJD) within three predominantly white institutions (PWIs), analyzing 59 institutional documents through Critical Discourse Analysis, Relational Critical Discourse Analysis, and Rhetorical Criticism (Fairclough, 1995; Vaandering, 2021; van Dijk, 2008). Tribal Colleges and Universities and South African institutions have emerged as exemplars of authentic RJD, countering co-optation within PWIs. The findings demonstrate that RJD as applied in PWIs is framed in ways that attenuate its transformative potential, perpetuating color-evasiveness (Bonilla-Silva, 2017) and obscuring the intersectional experiences of Black, Indigenous, and disabled communities (Crenshaw, 1991; Million, 2009).

Grounded in decolonial praxis (Smith, …

Restricted Access: Structural Gatekeeping And The Black Student Experience In Accounting Education, Richard W. Hurt Iii

Dissertations

This study explores the experiences of Black accountants as they reflect on their memories of the pipeline to their profession and the affective dimensions of their educational experiences as accounting majors in college. Grounding into Unapologetic Black Inquiry (UBI), a framework rooted in critical race theory, this investigation integrates narrative inquiry as a tool to capture rich descriptions from participant interviews and written reflections. Furthermore, this descriptive qualitative study explores how the structures and values of accounting education are rooted in a form of professionalism that prioritizes technical proficiencies over cultural knowledge, thus ignoring community forms of assets related to …

Quest For Purpose In Education: An Autoethnographic Study Of A Chinese Student’S Cross- Cultural Journey Through Logotherapy And Culturally Relevant Leadership, Bingsheng Chen

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This autoethnography examines a Chinese student's search for meaning while transitioning between Chinese and U.S. academic systems, shaped by the interplay of cultural values, societal pressures, and personal agency. Guided by Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy and Culturally Relevant Leadership (CRL), the study uses reflexive narrative analysis to explore how this personal quest for purpose intersected with institutional structures and cultural contexts (e.g., St. John's College, University of New Mexico). Illuminating profound challenges—including cultural shock, systemic inequities, and the emotional toll of adaptation—the research reveals a transformative journey of navigating dissonance, reframing adversity, embracing a dual cultural identity, and ultimately finding meaning …

Leading Through Crisis: San Diego County Schools' Response To The Social Emotional Needs Of All Students, Johana Bielma

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented school closures, forcing administrators to take decisive action to radically change the educational system. The imperative to switch to remote learning transformed the dynamics of teaching and learning, leading to both immediate and long-term academic and social emotional consequences for all stakeholders. When schools reopened, administrators faced the challenge of reintegrating students into in-person learning while addressing the pandemic’s lasting effects on academics, mental health, and school safety. While academic regression was evident, the extent of students’ emotional struggles was less anticipated. Many students exhibited increased irritability and mental health issues such as depression …

Maybe It Really Is Those Damn Phones, Sarah F. Garvin

Honors Projects

Technology is an integral part of modern life and has extended into elementary classrooms where one-to-one device programs have become the norm. While technology can increase accessibility to education, its widespread integration in learning environments raises concerns about its long-term impact on students and teachers. This research critically examines gamified learning applications and technology use in elementary education, questioning whether they enhance learning, curiosity, and problem-solving skills. A qualitative methods approach was employed, using surveys and interviews conducted with educators in Seattle Public Schools to assess the effects of technology-driven instruction. The resulting data were analyzed through thematic analysis to …

Building Early Phonemic Awareness, Tessa K. Sutfin

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

Alphabet knowledge and phonemic awareness skills are strong predictors of later reading ability (Stanley and Finch, 2018). Therefore, phonemic awareness and letter-sound relationships are skills that Kindergarteners have a limited amount of time to master. As a result, educators must think critically about the strategies and forms of assessment implemented to ensure they are setting young readers up for lifelong success in reading. The purpose of my study was to determine if explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and letter-sound correspondence would increase student ability to isolate, segment, blend, and decode grade-level text. Strategies included kinesthetic movements of the hands and …

Teaching Engaging Grammar Instruction In The High School English Classroom, Emily A. Erlbacher

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

Grammar is a fundamental component in the content area of English Language Arts. Having a strong foundation in grammar is a critical stepping stone to writing clearly and communicating with success. Despite its importance, grammar is historically not the most engaging topic for high school students. My study, consisting of a seven week action plan involving the ninth graders in an English Language Arts classroom, sought to recognize this disengagement and work to combat it in order to improve students’ writing capabilities. More specifically, the purpose of my action research was to evaluate different grammar instructional strategies recommended in existing …

Decreasing Time To Antibiotics In Febrile Oncology Patients With Central Line In The Pediatric Emergency Department; A Quality Improvement Initiative, Abbigayle Carlson, Leslie Hueschen, Stephanie Clark, Christopher Kaberline, Joel Thompson

Research Days

Background: Oncology patients are at a high risk for sepsis, due to chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression and neutropenia as well as presence of a central venous catheter. Due to the high risk of sepsis, these patients require antibiotics within 60 minutes of Emergency Department (ED) arrival. During our baseline period, Sept 2022-May 2023, we only achieved this 38% of the time at Children’s Mercy ED.

Aim: By April 30th, 2024, we will increase the percentage of ED febrile oncology patients receiving antibiotics < 60 min of arrival from 36.6% to 80%, stratifying by race and ethnicity, to monitor for inequities.

Methods: Our outcome measures were the percentage of ED febrile oncology patients with antibiotics given < 60 min of arrival and the median time to antibiotic administration. Our process measures were the percentage of standard order-set usage and percentage of patients with critical information notes. Our balance measure was time from arrival to ED triage. We created a process map and fishbone diagram and identified several delays in antibiotics administration. We performed interventions with Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology. First, we implemented standing nursing orders to decrease the time spent waiting for a provider to order antibiotics (June 2024). Next, the outpatient oncology providers created a Critical Information Note, which directed prompt antibiotic administration prior to labs or consultation (August 2024). To engage physicians, we made this a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) project, with monthly review of run charts (Oct 2024). Next, we prioritized timely access of the patients’ central line, with a nursing script to communicate with families the importance of accessing their child’s central line as soon as possible (Oct 2024). We created a Central Line Note, identifying the type of central line and needle size required to access the line (March 2024).

Results: With the implementation of …

Beyond Lecturing: Christian Higher Education Faculty Perceptions Of Professional Development Expectations And Its Impact On Job Satisfaction, Andrea Lynn Smith, Diane S. Garber, Vhuthuhawe T. Madzinge, Folashade O. Odedina, Joshua E. Wilson, Daniel P. Yerrington

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This research study was conducted to ascertain possible connections between higher education faculty expectations of professional development and how these relate to their perceived job satisfaction. Several theories were used as the foundational framework, which included Bruner’s (1960) constructivist worldview theory, Herzberg’s (1966) two-factor theory, and Dockery’s (2012) faith learning integration. The research design for this qualitative study was a phenomenological hermeneutical study. The participants answered the two primary research questions: (a) What are the perceptions of Christian higher education faculty regarding professional development expectations? (b) How do Christian higher education faculty’s perceptions of professional development affect their job satisfaction? …

Beyond Lecturing: Revealing Faculty Perceptions Of Technology Expectations And Job Satisfaction In Christian Higher Education, Jerry L. Pitts, Charlene Geisler, Mark D. Granger, Jessica E. Kuehne, Roger W. Mackey, Erica D. Moore

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The purpose of this phenomenological study aimed to understand higher education faculty perceptions and job satisfaction related to technology integration expectations in a changing academic environment. This study asked two research questions: 1. What are the perceptions of Christian higher education faculty regarding technology expectations? 2. How do Christian higher education faculty’s perceptions of these technology expectations affect their job satisfaction? Six full-time residential faculty members participated in the study. The lived experiences of faculty were studied using individual interviews, focus groups, and journal entries. Data analysis revealed that faculty perceived that institutions have additional technological expectations that go beyond …

Beyond Lecturing: Christian Higher Education Faculty And Faculty Support Staff Perceptions Of Institutional And Committee Service Expectations And How These Affect Job Satisfaction, Andrew F. Milacci, Alisha Castaneda, Janet Brown, Alex Mason, Annik Miller, Christopher Sneeringer

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Job satisfaction among faculty members and faculty support staff in higher education is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including institutional and committee service expectations. This qualitative study gauged feedback from Christian higher education faculty members and faculty support staff regarding the institutional and committee service expected of them, as well as how their engagement with these expectations affects their job satisfaction. Using a hermeneutic-phenomenological schema, the researchers conducted in-person interviews, administered discussion board focus groups, and gathered reflective journal entries from a sample size of six participants at a large, faith-based university. During the analysis of the resultant …

A Time-Strapped Reality: Christian Faculty Perceptions On Research Expectations And Job Satisfaction, Hailey A. Manicone, Bruce K. Bell, Roger B. Bingham, Jacob T. Byrd, Kimberly S. Cashman, Sherri Ann Walker

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

There are many factors related to faculty perceptions of expectations and demands to conduct research that can significantly impact their job satisfaction. While much research has been done on the relationship between a faculty member’s ability to perform research and their job satisfaction, limited research on this relationship exists in the context of Christian higher education. To address this problem, this study asks the following questions: 1. What are the perceptions of Christian higher education faculty regarding research? 2. How do Christian higher education faculty’s perceptions of these research expectations affect their job satisfaction? Data were collected from six faculty …

Weary Yet Willing: Unveiling Faculty Perceptions Of Christian And Community Service Expectations And Their Impact On Job Satisfaction, Thomas W. Doss, Alexander Lagos Choquecahua, Jason Donahoo, Kjell Fenn, Diana J. Schwerha, Deidra M. Simspon, Amber L. Wilson

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This research investigates Christian higher education faculty perceptions of Christian and community service expectations and the impacts on job satisfaction. Six participants completed interviews, discussion boards, and a journal entry with specific questions related to Christian and community service expectations and how those expectations affect job satisfaction. A phenomenological methodology using rich textual data generated six themes: benefits, service types, balance, motivations, expectations, and resources related to job satisfaction. Results indicate that faculty believe that involvement in Christian and community service can yield personal benefit, improving job satisfaction. However, the uncertainty related to the expectations of such service may create …

Faith Learning Integration In Christian Higher Education And Faculty Job Satisfaction: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Brad Burgess, Grace Michele Baker, Jamaica Conner, Jonathan Giles, Rachel Joseph, Kevin Layell

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Faith learning integration (FLI) in Christian institutions of higher education contributes to job satisfaction (JS) for faculty. This study explores FLI and JS among interdisciplinary faculty in a Christian university in the Southeast US. Researchers used a hermeneutical phenomenological approach to collect data from six faculty from varying disciplines, using interviews, focus group discussions, and journaling. Manual coding was utilized to uncover three primary themes: (a) clear expectations for FLI; (b) challenges to implement FLI; and (c) faculty JS from FLI. Two subthemes emerged from the primary theme of clear expectations for FLI: standards set by the organization and classroom …

Enhancing Digital Accessibility For Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Learners- Innovative Strategies For Inclusive Education, Felicia Rutledge Ph.D.

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

This research-to-practice brief explores innovative strategies to enhance digital accessibility for Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH) learners, focusing on practical applications for inclusive K-12 education. Despite advances in digital learning, D/HH learners face unique barriers due to auditory-centered designs. Accessibility legislation such as the ADA, Section 504, and IDEA mandate educational inclusion for these learners. Key strategies include the integration of assistive technologies (e.g., captioning, ASL video interpretation), the application of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 3.0 guidelines, and adherence to WCAG 2.1 principles for accessible content design. The research-to-practice brief provides actionable insights for educators, administrators, and …

Enhancing Online And Blended Course Design Through Conversations And Observations: The Role Of Stakeholders, Chris Smith, Darlene Schaefer, Geetanjali Soni, Thomas Cooper, Meghan Mcgrath

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Online course enrollment for K-12 students has increased dramatically since the early 2000s. This has resulted in promising opportunities for students with disabilities but also requires careful consideration of accessibility in course design and instructional delivery. This mixed-methods study investigated how stakeholder feedback influences the design of blended courses at North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), a graduation pathway for students with disabilities requiring significant support. Data was collected through surveys of NCVPS online teachers and co-teachers, analysis of course history documents, and the NCVPS student registration system. Findings revealed that educators often modify course templates to accommodate diverse learning …