Digital Commons Network^™

¡Más Fuertes Y Resilientes! Strengthening Latino Occupational Resilience Through Career-Focused Support Services At Texas Hispanic Serving Institutions, Claudia Cochran-Miller

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Latinos face many threats to their occupational resilience. Occupational displacement is looming due to technological advances that threaten jobs where Latinos are overrepresented such as in manufacturing, retail, construction, agriculture, and food services. As technological advances, labor practices, and other factors disproportionately affect the Latino population, more will be seeking better employment opportunities and will turn to higher education. Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) are in position to significantly impact Latino occupational resilience. This correlational study examines the various career-focused support services offered by HSIs and how they relate to post-graduation outcomes for Latino graduates. Career-focused support services include alignment-driven career …

Borderlines Of Becoming: Transfronterizx College Students Navigating Surveillance, Hybridity And Belonging Along The Us-México Border, Aylin Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This narrative literature review examines the educational experiences of transfronterizx college students along the U.S.– México border, a population largely absent from higher education scholarship. Drawing on Borderlands Theory, Anzaldúa’s frameworks, and critical perspectives on neoliberalism and militarization, this thesis highlights the border as a site of both constraint and possibility. Structural violence, surveillance, and militarization intersect with linguistic, racial, and class hierarchies to shape students’ mobility, identities, and sense of belonging. At the same time, students mobilize hybrid identities, cultural wealth, and transborder networks to assert agency, cultivate belonging, and resist deficit narratives. It also identifies persistent gaps, particularly …

Exploring The Impact Of Stem Degree Attainment On Intragenerational Social Mobility Among Hispanic Students And Graduates In Two Texas-Mexico Border Universities, Pilar Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research employed a two-phase, sequential, explanatory, mixed-methods design to answer the research questions. The first research question examined how obtaining a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) higher education degree affects the socioeconomic advancement of current Hispanic students and alumni of the Louise Stokes Alliance for Minorities in Participation (LSAMP) within the context of two higher education institutions located along the Texas-Mexico border. The second research question explored the determinants shaping the professional pathways of Hispanic STEM students and graduates in the geographic vicinity of the Texas-Mexico border. For this study, STEM degrees refer to those recognized by the …

Exploring The Foundational Pillars Of The International Baccalaureate (Ib) Through Pre-Service Teacher Experiences During B.Ed. Practica, Cody Alderson, Mark Hirschkorn

Journal of Global Education and Research

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is experiencing rapid growth, resulting in demand for IB teachers in both public and independent schools. Since teaching IB requires specific knowledge of the language and pedagogy of the IB programmes, initial teacher education programs are well-positioned to prepare pre-service teachers to teach IB. This paper shares the results of a study conducted following the completion of an IB Educator Certificate by pre-service teachers attending a Canadian initial teacher education program, where their experiences during practica in mostly public IB schools were reflected upon and documented in relation to IB philosophy. Several themes were identified and …

Peer Mentoring And Teacher Collaboration: A Case Study Of Practices And Self-Efficacy In A Rural Title I School, Whitney Ensley

Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how peer mentoring influences teacher self-efficacy at a rural elementary school in southeastern Georgia. Using Bandura's self-efficacy theory and Wenger's communities of practice framework, the research investigated how teachers engage in mentoring relationships and how these practices contribute to professional growth.

Semi-structured interviews and reflection journals were conducted with ten elementary teachers representing diverse experience levels (1-21+ years) and grade levels. Findings revealed that meaningful peer mentoring occurred primarily through informal, trust-based relationships within grade-level teams rather than formal programs. Teachers engaged collaboratively in lesson planning, data analysis, and problem-solving.

Results demonstrated that peer mentoring …

Exploring Transformative Learning Experiences In Engineering Doctoral And Post-Doctoral Education: Developing Non-Technical Competencies For Early-Career Academic Roles, Ibukunoluwa Eunice Salami

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation explores the transformative learning experiences that early-career engineering faculty recounted from their doctoral and postdoctoral training and how these experiences shaped the development of non-technical competencies essential for academic success. Grounded in Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory (TLT) and the Competency-Based Professional Development Framework (CBPDF), the study examines how reflection and shifts in frames of reference supported competency growth and faculty readiness. A qualitative holistic single-case study design was employed. Data sources included semi-structured interviews with early-career engineering faculty and program learning objectives drawn from graduate handbooks. Data analysis was both deductive and inductive guided by Mezirow’s ten phases …

The Impact Of Career Development Education In Rural Communities: A Program Evaluation, Hayden S. Austin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of a regional career development education program using a post-test-only, exploratory descriptive design with middle and high school students from rural and urban school districts in West Central Texas. Students who participated in the Career and Education Outreach (CEO) program received four classroom sessions focused on labor market information, high-demand industries, employability skills, and career pathways. The purpose of this research was to explore whether students’ perceptions of the value of career development education differed based on geographic region, economic level, educational level, ethnic composition of the district, and the students’ own demographic characteristics. A …

A Model For Training Management System Implementation In Higher Education, David J. Rowe

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an era where innovation and adaptability are critical to institutional success, the practical training and development of employees in higher education organizations have become essential. This study examined stakeholders’ perceptions of cloud-based Training Management System (TMS) implementation within California Higher Education systems, including both the California Community College (CCC) and the California State University (CSU). Although a TMS offers substantial benefits for administering training programs, large systems face challenges due to uneven adoption across campuses, leading to inefficiencies, regulatory non-compliance, and hindered workforce development. This research identified and evaluated technology, organizational, and environmental critical success factors influencing TMS implementation …

Response To Intervention Implementation With Culturally Diverse Students, Alysia R. Chatman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study examined how elementary educators implement response to intervention (RTI) and multitiered systems of support with culturally and linguistically diverse students. Drawing on self-determination theory and culturally relevant pedagogy, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews with five participants, three classroom teachers, one interventionist, and one campus administrator from three Title I elementary schools in a large suburban Texas district. Transcripts were analyzed through thematic coding. Four themes emerged: (1) training and preparedness for RTI implementation, (2) administrator support and follow-through, (3) understanding and application of culturally responsive teaching, and (4) RTI meeting structure and process. Participants reported a …

Leading With All The Feels: Exploring The Perceptions Of Middle School Administrators' Implementation Of School-Wide Social-Emotional Learning Programming, Sabrina Smith Richardson

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

Middle school administrators have multiple responsibilities that range from ensuring the safety and security of staff and students to overseeing the curriculum and instructional foci of their buildings. At the same time, middle school students are experiencing the early stages of adolescence. Because it is a complex time for students to navigate, it creates anxiety, a decline in academic achievement and motivation, and peer and academic pressures (London, 2022; Schlund, 2021). Middle school students have social-emotional needs that are not typically met in secondary schools, which means programming is not typically a part of the instructional day. This study examined …

Reflections In The Mirror: An Examination Of Racially Congruent Mentoring Of Black Teacher Candidates In A Teacher Education Program, Mary Louise Gregory

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

The high demand for Black educators in K-12 schools across the United States has caused several teacher training programs to rethink how they prepare Black teacher candidates for the teaching workforce (Andrews et al., 2019; Blazar, 2024; Milner & Howard, 2004). Improving teacher candidate training, especially for Black teacher candidates can boost K-12 Black teacher representation. Literature on Black teacher candidate’s experiences while being mentored identifies several challenges that include issues with implicit bias, microaggressions, stereotyping and other occurrences of racial discrimination (Daly et al., 2024; Hampton et al., 2008; Kardos & Johnson-Moore, 2010; Rodriguez et al., 2020). The process …

Marginalized Pre-Service Teachers’ Digital Competence: An Exploration Of Epistemic Beliefs And Lived Experiences, Jerolyn Rose Brown

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

Amid growing calls for equity in teacher education, this dissertation investigates how digital competence and epistemological beliefs interact within the lived experiences of marginalized pre-service teachers (mPSTs), also referenced as teacher candidates, whose racial and ethnic identities often position them at the periphery of dominant educational narratives. Anchored in critical narrative inquiry (Pino Gavidia & Adu, 2022) and framed by the DigCompEdu digital competence model (Redecker & Punie, 2017), the study employs a multimethod approach, integrating quantitative data from the SELFIEforTEACHERS self-assessment tool (Economou, 2023) with qualitative insights drawn from in-depth narrative interviews. The participant cohort consists of 50 marginalized …

Exploring Hiring Managers’ Strategies For Recruiting Diverse Educators In A Southeastern State, Keisa K. Davis Ma

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the strategies applied by hiring managers within one state in the southeastern United States to recruit diverse teachers. The purpose of the study was to explore hiring managers’ experiences and knowledge of minority teacher recruitment. The primary research question for this study was: What strategies do hiring managers in the school district under study find most effective in overcoming barriers to recruiting minority educators, and how do they measure their success? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and thematic coding was used to arrive at emerging themes, patterns, and perceptions. The findings revealed that while hiring managers …

Middle Level English Learners’ Engagement With Digital Multimodal Resources And Each Other, Mark Stevens

Intersections: Critical Issues in Education

Students in schools who speak multiple languages need opportunities for multimodal learning. A study was conducted to observe how middle level English Learners used multimodal (text, audio, video, imagery) resources in a Language Arts - Social Studies class. The research question was: What patterns of engagement with content, and each other, were manifest by middle level ELs while using multimodal resources in a general education history class? Qualitative case study was used to observe student work and interaction, inspect work artifacts, and interview for opinions and motivations. To learn multimodally, students (a) used approaches (whole class, small group, partner) that …

Sustaining Momentum While Dissertating: The Journey Of Two Women Scholars, Tasha Egalite, Kristin L. Kew

Intersections: Critical Issues in Education

This paper is a narrative reflection on some reasons for earning a doctorate and writing a dissertation. We are two scholars interested in sustaining educational change and dedicated to better understanding and supporting the process and growth of students in doctoral programs. In our pláticas, we share and reflect on our own doctoral journeys, the critical issues we encountered, and the hoops we jumped through while completing our dissertations.

Knitting A Network Of Meaningful Partnership - Implementing An Operational Structure To Drive Success For All, Ronan T. Bree

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Guiding Growth Through Change: Developing A Staff Development Career Pathway In A Transforming University, Bridie Killoran

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Navigating Interdisciplinarity: A Holistic Reflection On Collaboration And Learning In An N-Tutorr Supported Hackathon, Elaine Edmonds

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Rethinking Sustainability In Business Education, Gabriela Gliga, Auguste Buliauskaite

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

"No Closed Door": How A Peer-Led Wellness Café Model Facilitated & Supported Staff-Student Partnerships, Sharon Ferguson, Aimee O. Byrne

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Invisible Witnesses: Unpacking The Interactions Of Student-Staff Partnerships Through Reflective Interview Summary Notes, Sarah Carroll, Olya Antropova

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Fairy Godmothers: Empowerment By Design, Magic In Unexpected Moments, Jessica Duffy, Aoife Kelliher, Caitriona Mcgrattan, Roisin Murray, Raquel Volpini Cox

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Introduction: Building A Student Empowerment And Partnership Programme Driving Innovation And Change Across The Technological Higher Education Sector In Ireland, Carina Ginty, Moira Maguire

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Bridging Worlds: Cultivating Cultural Intelligence For Transformative English Classrooms, Alvaro R. Larrea Salazar

Senior Honors Theses

This project explores the integration of the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) framework in the secondary English classroom to enhance inclusivity and classroom dynamics. It argues that by understanding and adapting to diverse cultural contexts, teachers can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment, improve teacher-student relationships, and facilitate more effective classroom management. Through a focus on lesson planning, discussion, and overall instruction, this thesis aims to show how CQ can enrich literature studies and foster cultural awareness among students. Drawing on existing research, it demonstrates that a high CQ in educators is linked to transformational leadership and positive student outcomes, ultimately …

An Auto-Criticism: Exploration Of Professional Development For Secondary Science Educators, Mellissa Ann Pfaff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This auto-criticism investigates the benefits of experiential professional development for science educators by examining the reflective journey of one teacher-researcher—me—through multiple immersive learning experiences. Using narrative journaling and qualitative analysis, this study captures the influence of these experiences on my identity, instructional design, and ability to create experiential learning opportunities for students.

Rather than approaching professional development as a checklist of strategies, this research seeks to illuminate how deeply engaged, hands-on learning can transform teaching from routine delivery to embodied practice. Thematic coding revealed shifts in curriculum planning, increased responsiveness to student inquiry, and renewed clarity around the purpose of …

Development Of Pack-Based Learning Outcome Tests For The Mechanical Engineering Education Study Program Of Teacher Professional Education, Dwi Agus Sudjimat, Darmawan Satyananda

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to develop a learning outcome test instrument based on Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (PACK) for students of the Teacher Professional Education Program (PPG) in the Mechanical Engineering Education Study Program (Pendidikan Teknik Mesin, PTM) at Universitas Negeri Malang. The background of this study is based on the need for an assessment that can measure the integration of content knowledge, pedagogy, and technology in accordance with the demands of the Industry 4.0 era. The test development method follows psychometric procedures, including planning, writing, and validating test items, field testing, analyzing test items, and finalizing the instrument. …

Building English Language Awareness In Pre-Service Content Teachers Across Thailand Through An Ai-Assisted Clil Approach, Thana Kruawong

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

No abstract provided.

Teacher Dexiotita And Student Literacy: Building A Literacy Ecosystem In Elementary Schools In East Kupang Sub-District, Kristina E. Noya Nahak, Lanny Isabela Dwisyahri Koroh

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The declining trend of Indonesian students' literacy competence has prompted researchers to examine how teachers' Dexiotita (competence) fosters literacy ecosystems within educational institutions. This inquiry also explores the relationship between students' Dexiotita (competence) literacy and teachers' Dexiotita (competence). A descriptive qualitative method, employing a case study approach, was utilized to examine phenomena in three schools located in the Kupang district of East Kupang sub-district. These schools were selected based on their representation of a diverse sample, with three schools each having a principal, 18 classroom teachers, and 225 students.The data collection process involved interviews, observations, and documentation, with the data …

Shared Voices: How Pk-16 Leaders Perceive School University Partnership Alignment With Caep Standards, Ann-Marie Hancock

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined PK–16 leaders’ perspectives regarding the alignment of an educator preparation provider (EPP) with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards 2 (Clinical Partnerships and Practice) and 5 (Quality Assurance System and Continuous Improvement). Data were collected through a researcher-designed survey and semi-structured interviews with principals, district administrators, and university leaders. Survey results provided descriptive insights into stakeholder perceptions, while interviews offered deeper contextual understanding of the strengths and challenges within school–university partnerships. Findings indicated that leaders valued residency programs and recruitment pipelines as key strengths, highlighting the mutual benefits of sustained clinical partnerships. …

Faith, Justice, And Language: Equipping Christian Teachers For Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogies, Grace Inae Blum

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This essay argues that Christian teacher educators must integrate linguistically sustaining pedagogies into teacher preparation as a faithful response to God’s call to justice, love, and hospitality. In classrooms shaped by increasing linguistic diversity, these practices move beyond accommodating multilingual learners to affirming and sustaining their linguistic and cultural identities. The essay begins by clarifying key concepts (Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Linguistically Responsive Teaching, and Translanguaging) and exploring their intersections with faith-based commitments. It then presents a theological rationale rooted in Scripture, emphasizing diversity as part of God’s design, justice as a biblical mandate, and love as a guiding ethic. Finally, …