Digital Commons Network^™

A Framework For Flourishing: Belonging, Confidence, And Connectedness In Academic Libraries, Kathleen Anne Langan

Dissertations

Academic libraries support students to be successful in their lives post-graduation by adopting more human-centered missions, visions, and measurable outcomes Support and success in this sense means developing programmatic outcomes that bolster the concepts of human flourishing – potential and purpose – that drive students toward happiness in their personal, professional, and civic lives. Students are more than learners, they are whole persons with social, emotional, and life-long goals that go beyond classroom learning, and academic performance. Currently, academic libraries rely heavily on measuring the value they add to institutions of higher education (IOHE) through library initiatives for academic support, …

Using Mindfulness Through Doodling In Interactive Notebooking To Increase Student Achievement, Michelle Brown

Dissertations

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which unfolded from 2019 to 2021, disrupted education systems worldwide, leading to significant learning loss and inequities. The shift to digital learning, necessitated by the pandemic, presented challenges such as learning loss and social-emotional impacts. This study investigates the incorporation of Social Emotional Learning(SEL), with mindfulness, into the school curriculum to address these challenges.

The focus of the study is on the implementation of Mindful Doodling as a component of SEL within an interactive notebook in a middle school science curriculum to enhance student achievement. The study aimed to analyze how different amounts of Mindful Doodling in …

Impact Of School Leaders’ Actions On Teachers And Their Practices, Dinara Metova

Dissertations

School leaders play a vital role in teachers' performance; while some leaders create an environment conducive to learning, collaboration, and achievement, others inadvertently contribute to teacher attrition and educational disparities. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of school leaders' actions on teachers and their practices. The context of this inquiry includes two stakeholder groups: 582 school leaders and 1,054 teachers from all 50 states who are members of Facebook Educator Groups. I implemented a mixed methods design by researching scholarly articles and using qualitative and quantitative survey data to find the most effective school leader practices …

A Critical Comparison Of Answering Behavior Threshold Determination Methods As An Indicator Of Engagement On The 2015 Pisa Science Items, Lauri Elizabeth Mackelburg-Davis

Dissertations

The validity of low-stakes achievement tests is questionable when disengaged answering (i.e., rapid-guessing and rapid-omitting) is present in even moderate amounts. Thus, identifying these disengaged test-takers is important so that statistical or behavior mediation practices can be put into place. The first step in identifying disengaged examinees is to determine the divide between the engaged examinees and those that are disengaged. Many methods for discriminating between disengaged from engaged answering behavior on computer generated assessments exist. Many methods require expertise in statistical methods, while others require little to no mathematics knowledge. However, these simpler methods are routinely used with little …

A Word Of Warning: Educational Activists And Public Instruction Conspiracy Theories, David Philip San Juan

Dissertations

By utilizing a qualitative approach of educational criticism and connoisseurship, the purpose of this study was to explore the intentions and motivations, processes and strategies, and implications and outcomes of educational activists that work to expose and/or debunk a public instruction conspiracy theory. Data were collected through the interviews and observations of four participants that were educational activists that had worked to expose and/or debunk a public instruction conspiracy theory. Their related literature and artifacts such as various online and traditional publications, social media posts, and audiovisual materials were also collected and transcribed. Data were analyzed with numerous rounds of …

Principals’ Leadership Of The Integration Of The Neurosequential Model In Education, Alison Grace Ostrom

Dissertations

The impact of childhood trauma on students in schools has become a relevant issue for today’s school leaders in the United States (Mendelson et al., 2015). The effects of trauma often interfere with students’ ability to learn and manage the demands of a school environment. Students are coming into schools with diverse academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs, which has led school leaders to adopt trauma-informed approaches and programs in schools (Rossen, 2020). There are many trauma-informed programs available to school principals, one of them being the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME). This particular approach connects trauma-informed practices to neurobiological principles …

Exploring The Relationship Among Clinical Judgment, Academic Resiliency, Student Predictors, And Exam Remediation In Prelicensure Nursing Students Preparing For Next Generation National Council Licensure Examination [For] Registered Nurses, James Franklin Oberlander

Dissertations

As the field of nursing becomes increasingly more complex, nursing students are psychologically challenged as they progress through a program of study, prepare for the licensure examination, and enter professional practice. Identifying factors that influence student outcomes is necessary for faculty to effectively guide students toward successful completion of nursing school and passing the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Along with academic and nonacademic demographic variables, the main objective of this exploratory, quantitative research study was to investigate the relationship between clinical judgement, academic resiliency, exam remediation, and NCLEX-RN first attempt pass rates. One hundred six senior, …

An Investigation Into What Contributes To High Rates Of Preschool Inclusion In Rural Kansas School Districts, Lena Mae Kisner

Dissertations

The inclusion of Kansas preschoolers with developmental delays in general early childhood environments has shown little growth over the past seven years. An initial examination of public data for federal fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020 showed inclusion rates in preschools in Kansas public school districts differed by special education administrative configuration (SEAC). Kansas uses three different types of SEACs (i.e., single district, special education cooperative, and interlocal). The special education cooperative (also known as cooperative) and interlocal SEACs had the lowest rates of inclusion in preschools and highest proportion of rural school districts. Despite the lower rates of inclusion …

Student Desire To Stay In A Program: The Influence Of Faculty Caring And Cultural Identification With Faculty, Elizabeth Ann Cunniff

Dissertations

The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021) stated nurses should reflect the characteristics of the people they serve to ensure individuals receive culturally competent and equitable health care. Over the next decade and beyond, the U.S. population will become more racially and ethnically diverse, but the nursing workforce has not kept pace with the changing demographics (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2023). To increase diversity among nurses, nursing schools need more diverse graduates from prelicensure nursing programs, but attrition is greater among students with diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds (Barbé et …

Perceptions Of Special Education Teachers On The Use Of Assistive Technology For Students With Learning Disabilities In Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Case Study, Abdullah Mohammed Alshehri

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an in-depth understanding of special education teachers’ perceptions and experiences using assistive technology (AT) to support students with learning disabilities (i.e., dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia) in public general education schools within the Abha educational district in Saudi Arabia. Interviews, among other data collection methods, were utilized in this extensive investigation to answer two research questions regarding the perceptions of Saudi special education teachers of students with learning disabilities of the usefulness of AT, and the challenges and barriers these teachers perceive as influencing their use of AT. The participants were seven …

An Analysis And Performance Guide Of Three New Works For Clarinet And Saxophone Duo, Aaron Patrick Burr

Dissertations

The clarinet and saxophone duo has become one of the standard chamber ensembles available to both instruments. However, there has been a lack of scholarship surrounding this ensemble and its music. This dissertation seeks to bring awareness to the duo and its music through providing an analysis and performance guide of three new works commissioned by Duo Velox. The first piece, Shots Fired by Caleb Westby is written for B-flat clarinet, tenor saxophone, and electronic playback. Shots Fired derives much of its thematic material from a post-tonal version of a theme from the Columbine Alma Mater by Frank Ticheli. The …

Investigating The Critical Literacy Practices Of Adult Learners: A Case Study Of Four Leveled Reading Courses At A Community College, Anna Fontaine

Dissertations

This study investigates the critical literacy practices of adult learners at a community college. Student participants were selected from four different leveled reading courses. In this study, four guiding questions were adopted from Klenner and Sandretto (2011): (1) How do students make personal connections to text?; (2) In what ways do students identify multiple points of view in the text?; (3) In what ways do students identify where people in the text and included or excluded from social situations?; (4) In what ways do students discuss the influences the text has had on their views of society? These four questions …

The Effects Of Mindfulness And Exercise On Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease: A Systematic Review, Collin Tyler Garner

Dissertations

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease affecting which affects motor control, emotional regulation, cognition, and sleep through degradation of dopaminergic neurons. As of 2019, PD affects approximately 8.5 million individuals worldwide, with prevalence estimated to increase to between 8.7 and 9.3 million by 2030. The primary therapeutic approach to PD management is pharmaceutical, relying on dopamine replacement therapy. However, recent research has identified promising complementary therapies such as exercise and mindfulness training.

This review was conducted to compile and present evidence related to the efficacy of exercise, mindfulness, and combined exercise and mindfulness protocols as complementary …

A Study Of Policies And Responses To Chronically Absent Students In Illinois High Schools In The Four Southern Most Regions Of The Illinois Associaiton Of School Administrators, Charles Shain Crank

Dissertations

No abstract

Maximising Captured Power And Battery Management For Heaving Wave Energy Converters, Omsalama Mubarak Mohamed

Dissertations

Sea waves are considered the most potent energy carriers among all sources of renewable energy. This research work is concerned with developingtechnologies to enhance performance and improve power capturing and conversion capabilities of a single heaving wave energy converter (WEC) actuated by a PMLG (Permanent Magnet Linear Generator). The objective of this dissertation is achieved by three techniques. The first one considers maximizing conversion between the mechanical and electrical powers. It is implemented by designing intrinsic resistance using a rapid procedure involving the mechanical and electrical models of the converter and considering its operating constraints. A robust PID (proportional – …

The Effect Of Maternal Obesity On The Regulation Of Gene Expression And Cell Fate During Embryonic Cortical Neurogenesis, Thilina Thejinda Alawathugoda

Dissertations

Neurodevelopmental disorders have their roots in multifaceted origins that manifest during the earliest stages of embryonic growth, often linked to sophisticated gene regulation dynamics. A perturbed metabolic environment, specifically owing to maternal obesity, can lead to dyslipidemia, subsequently threatening the optimal development of the embryonic central nervous system. Growing evidence suggests that such metabolic irregularities during pregnancy can alter neurogenesis pathways, thus predisposing the developing fetus to neurodevelopmental disorders. One of the primary avenues through which these disruptions may occur is through alterations in histone modifications resulting from fluctuations in the expression of histone modifying enzymes or the availability of …

Cross-Cultural Adaptation And Validation Of The Emirati Version Instrument That Assesses Cognition Problems Among The Uae Population: The Subjective Scale To Investigate Cognition - Emirates (Sstic-E), A Cross-Sectional Study, Fadwa Elgid Babikir

Dissertations

This dissertation focused on exploring the subjective complaints of cognition problems among the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population using a validated and adapted Arabic Emirati language version of a subjective scale that assesses cognition problems, -The Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition - Emirates (SSTIC-E). Cognitive complaints and lack of cognitive insights are not specific to schizophrenia. It could be related to depression, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer's. Hence, scales in this field can be very useful to assess and collect data for populations at risk of developing cognitive decline. The study aims to translate, adapt, and validate the SSTICS …

Examining Teachers’ Perceptions Of Preparedness To Teach In Low-Income Schools Upon Completing A Master Of Arts In Teaching Degree, Aisha Collins

Dissertations

Recent teacher shortages after the 2020 to 2022 COVID pandemic disruption of education systems have increased interest in Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) targeting teacher candidates who obtained earlier degrees in fields other than education. This mixed methods research project employed surveys and semi-structured interviews to examine perceptions of early career teachers who completed a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) preparation program in a midwestern U.S. urban, low-income setting. These MAT EPP program completers described their views of their preparation program, including the EPP’s perceived strengths and areas for improvement framed by Danielson’s four domains of teaching responsibility: Planning and …

New Teacher Induction Programs: Effective Support Through Mentoring Programs And Coaching Practices, Katrina Morris

Dissertations

With the current teacher shortage and the numerous reported accounts of new teachers feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and ill prepared, the United States is in a dangerous situation that could result in even more of a teacher shortage if leaders do not find a way to better support new teachers and decrease the teacher attrition rate in the nation’s schools. This study involved an analysis of first-year teachers’ experiences with the new teacher induction program in District A (a pseudonym). Participants of this study were new teachers to District A, both novice and experienced teachers new to the district; building administrators; …

The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Students In The School Setting: The Adaptations Needed For Tiered Supports, Eleni M. Gajewski

Dissertations

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on students in the school setting and identify necessary adaptations needed, particularly through a tiered system of support. The research aims for two primary objectives by employing a constructivist framework utilizing mixed methods for data collection. Firstly, it aims to provide districts with a foundation for understanding the social-emotional and academic consequences of the pandemic on students. Secondly, its purpose is to empower districts to leverage this comprehensive evaluation as a proactive approach to cater to the diverse needs of all students. This includes responding to the challenges posed …

Making Data Meaningful: Stakeholder Perceptions On Data Visualization And Data Management Practices Within A Multi-Tiered System Of Supports (Mtss), Domenick Saia

Dissertations

Data-driven decision-making and collaboration are core pillars of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS); however, timely and accessible data use, as well as data literacy and visualization literacy skills, are challenges school leaders and educators face related to implementing such frameworks. I hypothesized efficient data management systems and data visualization tools enable school teams to predict student learning outcomes, readily communicate, and better understand student data. The purpose of this study design was to highlight a need for more efficient data structures that allow school stakeholders to balance their roles within an MTSS framework more effectively. The context of this …

Bisexuality, Biphobia, And Its Effects On Sexual Identity, Religious Identity And Mental Health: Examining Clinical Implications, Diana Ramirez

Dissertations

Bisexuality is a sexual orientation, sometimes known as “bi,” that includes sexuality in which certain people are attracted to more than one sex and gender. Bisexuality differs from other sexual- and gender-nonconforming experiences (McInnis et al., 2022). According to Ross et al. (2018), bisexuality is frequently described as an invisible sexual orientation, and only in the last 20 years has research on biphobia and bisexuality increased (McInnis et al., 2022). Experiences unique to bisexuality include bisexual invisibility from a societal level (Dyar et al., 2015), bisexuals are more prone to experience sexual orientation instability (Bostwick et al., 2014), and bisexual …

Post-Pandemic Student Attendance, Becki Delloyd

Dissertations

Student attendance has been a national concern since the start of compulsory education in America; however, since the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance plummeted to never- before-seen attendance rates. Nationally, by the end of the 2021-2022 school year, nearly one in three students were absent 10% or more of the school year (Attendance Works, 2023). My 39-question survey conducted in two vastly different states between April and May of 2023 corroborated the national data and resulted in nearly one in three students being absent 10 or more school days in a year. Through my study, I explored parents’ perceptions of post-pandemic K–12 …

Self Portraits: How The Arts May Be The Key To Equitable And Authentic Engagement For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Student Populations, Betsy Sostak

Dissertations

As the linguistic and cultural diversity across America’s classrooms steadily increases, educators are searching for ways to meet the needs of their students. The linguistic and cultural resources our students bring are a tremendous asset, yet our country has not been able to fully realize the potential of a diverse population. While multilingual students are often perceived to lack background knowledge, connections to school, and linguistic resources, the arts have the capacity to increase engagement, connect to diverse cultural backgrounds, and transcend language barriers. In this study, I explore the ways in which educational equity may be achieved to a …

Chronic Stressors, Obesity Pathogenesis, And The Moderating Effect Of Internalized Weight Stigma; A Quantitative, Illinois Study, Karyn Byrne

Dissertations

The obesity epidemic is a ‘wicked’ problem with a complex web of determinants and outcomes. While generally higher for minoritized populations, prevalence rates manifest in surprising, nonlinear patterns. There is no consensus regarding treatment protocols or mitigation efforts, except that current efforts remain largely ineffective. Much research evidence that a profusion of determinants of health support obesity pathogenesis through various physiological processes and mechanisms, including the allostatic load, mitochondria functioning, the gut microbiome, and epigenetics. Intervening to support markers of the allostatic load (immunity, inflammation, and metabolic health) may provide a more effective treatment outcomes than traditional approaches, which tend …

The Impact Of Covid-19 Remote Schooling On Home And School Partnerships, Katharine Ellison

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic created significant disruptions to the conventional educational system, necessitating a widespread transition to emergency remote learning modalities by most educators and students. The primary objective of this inquiry was to gain valuable insight into the effects of the rapid innovation that occurred at home and at school throughout this period, with the aim of enhancing and guiding future home–school partnerships. The research questions were designed to explore the perceptions held by both elementary parents and elementary educators on how pandemic remote schooling affected home–school connection and family’s understanding of learning content and process. The study also involved …

Stressors, Academic Performance, And Learned Resourcefulness In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Anne-Marie Goff

Dissertations

Despite extensive research establishing that stress affects problem-solving ability and coping, and leads to decreased learning, academic performance, and retention in nursing students, a paucity of research explores specific factors that could enhance these learning processes and outcomes. This explanatory correlational study examines the mediating effect of learned resourcefulness, the ability to regulate emotions and cognitions, on the relationships of stressors—both personal and academic—to academic performance in baccalaureate nursing students. Gadzella's Student-life Stress Inventory (SSI) and Rosenbaum's Self-Control Scale (SCS), a measure of learned resourcefulness, were administered to 53 junior level baccalaureate nursing students (92.5% female; 84.9% Caucasian; 9.4% African-American …

Job Stress, Mentoring, Psychological Empowerment, And Job Satisfaction Among Nursing Faculty, Catherine Chung

Dissertations

The National League for Nursing (NLN) endorses mentoring throughout the nursing faculty career trajectory as the method to recruit nurses into academia and improve retention of nursing faculty within the academy (NLN, 2006). One way mentoring assists faculty is by easing socialization to the culture of the employing institution and decreasing faculty stress (Lewallen, Crane, Letvak, Jones, & Hu, 2003). Mentoring can also be a facilitating factor of an individual's psychological empowerment. Academia is an environment able to foster psychological empowerment, a state in which faculty may be self-directed, highly productive, confident, and find a meaningful connection to their work …

Factors Affecting Technology Integration For Teachers At K-12, Adult Education, And Higher Education Institutions Since Virtual Learning Due To Covid-19, Christina Thompson, Stephanie Collins, Lisa Hollins

Dissertations

This quantitative study investigates instructors' perceptions of the factors influencing technology integration in their instruction, spanning the years 2019-2023, encompassing the transition from virtual to in-person learning after COVID-19. It examines technology integration barriers and supports experienced by instructors in the Midwestern United States, namely Missouri, during this period. Additionally, it explores how the virtual learning experience during the pandemic has influenced instructors' self-perceptions of their digital competence. The study encompasses three education sectors: K-12, adult education, and higher education, providing a unique multi-sector perspective. By delving into the post-COVID-19 educational environment, this research aims to offer valuable insights. The …

From Doubt To Degree: The Retention Of African-American Mother-Scholars, Tamala Y. Stallings

Dissertations

According to college student demographic data, the majority of undergraduate students are nontraditional. However a smaller portion of educational resources are allocated to retain nontraditional college students in comparison to traditional college students. An even smaller portion of resources are allocated for the retention of sub- populations of nontraditional college students, such as Mother-Scholars. Therefore it is imperative for postsecondary institutions to understand the needs of sub-populations like Mother-Scholars and adequately apportion resources to increase their retention.

Upon matriculation, Mother-Scholars encounter systemic barriers within their institutions that impede their college persistence. Furthermore, because of their intersectionality, Mother-Scholars have college experiences …