Digital Commons Network^™

Chinese Mandarin-Speaking Teachers' Voices In Chinese Dual Language Immersion Programs Responding To American Classroom Management Relationship Issues, Wu-Ting Chen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines Chinese Mandarin-speaking teachers' voices concerning classroom management (CM) in Chinese Dual-Language Immersion (DLI) classrooms in Utah, United States. Most Chinese-Mandarin-speaking teachers in Chinese DLI programs do not have a lot of experience in understanding American Western culture-style CM and therefore encounter new challenges in managing classroom behavior. Moreover, most American students, parents, teachers, and administrators do not understand the Chinese teachers' classroom expectations, nor do they realize that such behavioral expectations are a full part of learning the Chinese-Mandarin language and culture together. Using a sociocultural theoretical perspective and discourse analysis, this study provides descriptive evidence identifying …

Dyslexia And Proofreading: Examining Error Detection And Cognitive Compensation, Gillian Glasser

Theses and Dissertations

Little is currently known about how well dyslexic readers can recognize written errors in English as compared to typical readers. The current study asked adult monolingual English-speakers (97 typical and 81 dyslexic) to detect spelling errors in isolated words and single-sentence contexts. Outcomes and possible dyslexic compensatory mechanisms are discussed.

Natural Language Processing For Automated Sysml Diagram Generation, Joshua Andre Ontiveros

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the applications of natural language processing (NLP) techniques in model-based system engineering (MBSE) to help generate System Modeling Language (SysML) diagrams. MBSE is a method that aids in enhancing traditional engineering practices by modeling to help improve understanding and communication in systems development. SysML, one of the modeling languages for MBSE, helps represent a system's architecture, behavior, and information flow. Translating systems requirements and specifications into SysML models can be time-consuming and can lead to errors when created manually. Automating the creation of SysML diagrams from textual descriptions with the help of NLP techniques can aid in …

The Impact Of Upper-Elementary C3wp Resources On First Draft Student Writing Samples: A Study Of Lexical Cohesion, Semantic Overlap, Grammar And Mechanics, Lisa Fricke Gusewelle

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of the College, Career, and Community Writers Program (C3WP) on upper-elementary students' first draft writing quality, addressing the challenges teachers face in providing timely and effective feedback on extensive student writing, particularly in spelling, grammar, mechanics, and cohesion. The hypothesis posits that C3WP resources will improve students' writing by enhancing lexical cohesion and reducing surface-level errors. Four 6th-grade students with varying reading proficiency levels participated in two C3WP mini-units over a two-month period. First drafts were analyzed using the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Text Cohesion (TAACO) to measure semantic overlap and lexical cohesion, …

The Interconnectedness Of Indigenous Health: Local, National, And International Influences, Courtney Claussen

Theses and Dissertations

Indigenous Peoples have always understood the interconnectedness of health. There are many Indigenous-specific health determinants that positively or negatively impact prevalent health conditions. Each of the products in this three-part portfolio highlight health determinants that directly or indirectly contribute to the health of Indigenous Peoples. Key topics within each product include Cultural Protocol, culturally safe practices, food security and access, type 2 diabetes, and localized health approaches. The products also highlight the historical and current impacts of colonization on Indigenous health. Each product interconnects to consider the variable ways Indigenous-specific health determinants impact Indigenous populations. In the first product, I …

The Healing Of Stories: International Teachers’ Lived Experiences Of School Culture Using The Hourglass Model For Mindful Reflections, Vesna Radivojevic

Theses and Dissertations

School culture affects all facets of teaching and learning. Starting from individual international teachers’ perspectives and their accounts relating to school culture, new insights and perspectives on the problem of practice were gained. The research focused on answering the questions: What are teachers’ experiences of school culture in international schools? What are teachers’ perspectives on critical components in developing a positive school culture? What was helpful to teachers when experiencing the positive and negative aspects of a school culture? A qualitative narrative research methodology involved interviewing ten international teachers who taught in K-12 grade schools in Australia, Asia, the Middle …

Autohistorias In The Borderlands: A Narrative Inquiry, Gricelda Eufracio

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the lived experiences of immigrant teachers of/from the borderlands region through autohistorias. The borderlands region is rich in cultural traditions yet faces challenges in education related to cultural/linguistic mismatches with mainstream schooling. The purpose of this study is to examine how autohistorias can inform understanding of immigrant struggles in education and teaching/learning in the borderlands region called Aztláán. The research questions guiding this study are: 1) How can autohistorias inform understanding of the struggles faced by immigrant students within mainstream curriculum? 2) How do the researcher's and participants' autohistorias inform teaching and learning in Aztlán? The study …

Democratizing Social Studies Education: Testimonios Of Mexicana Youth In El Llano Grande De Aztlan, Cecile M. Caddel

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents the testimonios of Mexicana youth. Through a qualitative research design, this centered on the central question: How does testimonio in the social studies classroom serve as a decolonizing practice and how does this impact Mexicana students? and secondary question: How do Mexicana make meaning and reclaim identity using lived experiences as brown bodied women? As an individualized approach to social studies education, the testimonios give voice to the life and schooling experiences of Mexicana youth in El Llano Grande de Aztlán. As methodology, testimonio bears witness to bring about new theorizing. With intention, the theoretical frame, a …

Investigating The Relationships Among Explicit And Implicit Language Bias, Reading Motivation, And Reading Comprehension Among Bilingual College Students, Erika Vanessa Garza

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between language attitudes in reading motivation and reading comprehension in 243 voluntary English-Spanish bilingual college students. The current study focused on addressing two primary research questions: investigating the relationships between explicit and implicit language bias and reading motivation in English and Spanish and the relationships between explicit and implicit language bias and reading comprehension in English and Spanish. A multivariate multiple regression analysis revealed the dscore and Spanish Explicit Attitude to be significant on multiple outcome variables, English Explicit Attitude did not. Subsequent univariate analyses identified numerous individual effects that were statistically significant.

The Experiences And College Readiness Of Native American Students Who Participated In Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment And Transitioned To Higher Education, Krystal Marie Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study employed the Diverse Learning Environment Model to examine how dual credit/dual enrollment course participation by Native American students impacts their college readiness and transition to college. Literature shows that students who take dual credit/dual enrollment in high school are more likely to graduate from high school and transition to college and have less time to degree completion. Furthermore, dual credit/dual enrollment course participation also increases students’ college readiness and improve student’s self-efficacy. The guiding notion of this paper are the overwhelming benefits to students who participate in dual credit/dual enrollment coursework in high school and how …

The Effect Of Context Diversity In Virtual Reality Environments On Speech Motor Learning In A Person With Aphasia And Apraxia Of Speech, Shelby Keeler Holloway

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the effect of contextual diversity on speech motor learning in an individual with apraxia of speech (AOS) using virtual reality (VR). One 62-year-old participant with severe AOS participated in the study where he practiced monosyllabic CVC words in both consistent and diverse VR environments. Kinematic, acoustic, and perceptual data were collected and evaluated for evidence of learning. Kinematic data were collected using electromagnetic articulography where sensors were glued to the participant's upper lip, lower lip, tongue blade, and tongue tip and were tracked with high precision. In addition, acoustic and perceptual data were collected using a microphone …

Mathematical Concepts And Coding Theory In Kumārasambhavam Of Kālidāsa, Bhuvaneswari K

Theses and Dissertations

Kālidāsa, a renowned Sanskrit poet and playwright from ancient India, is known for his profound understanding and depiction of various aspects of human life, nature, and the universe in his works. While his writings primarily revolve around themes of love, romance, and human emotions, there are several instances where he incorporates mathematical concepts and astronomical references.

His meticulous usage of such abstractions and symbolism adds depth and richness to his poetry. These elements serve as tools to enhance the imagery and aesthetics of his literary works, reflecting the interplay between art and science in ancient Indian culture. These subtle allusions …

The Negative Impacts Of Parentification On Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Reilly Reid Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

While child abuse, maltreatment, and neglect are clear examples of the most maladaptive types of parent-child interactions (Borchet et al., 2022), there is considerable evidence for the damaging nature of parentification in terms of youth outcomes and parental/familial dysfunction. The research literature contains numerous studies related to parentification, but there is little research overtly demonstrating the systemic effects of parentification (Peris et al., 2008). It is imperative that researchers and clinicians learn more about the mechanisms involved in the parentification process. Therefore, this systematic review analyzed the research literature centered on both parentification and adolescent populations. This study assessed various …

Resisting Exploitation: A Study Of Karen Joyce Warren’S Ecofeminist Ethic In The Selected Indian Movies, Kogila S

Theses and Dissertations

According to Warren, “The exploitation of nature and animals is justified by feminising them; the exploitation of women is justified by naturalising them” (EPWP 27). Women and nature have the same right to live independently. They are not meant for exploitation. However, patriarchy has long exploited them.

The changes are happening only in the ratio, not in the act of controlling. This research aims to study the undervalued state of women and others in nature concerning Warren's eight features of ecofeminist ethic in Indian movies, namely Harish Ram L's Thumbaa (2019), Amit Masurkar’s Sherni (2021), and Rathindran Prasad R’s Boomika …

An Overview Of Contributing Frameworks To Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Sarai Clemente Soli

Theses and Dissertations

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) is a framework designed to help traditionally marginalized students. Other frameworks have previously tried to draw on culture to help students in similar ways. However, Paris (2012b) claimed that the word sustaining enclosed a meaning of maintaining and enhancing these students' language and cultural practices that no other frameworks did until that point. There is some confusion for educators and others about CSP since it is a newer framework and that there are many of these cultural frameworks analyzing similar concepts. Therefore, the purpose of this literature review was to examine these previous main frameworks that …

Imām Al-Baghawī (D. 516/1123): Tafsīr And Sunnism During The 11th-12th Centuries In Khurāsān, Nourhan Hassanein

Theses and Dissertations

A number of recent studies have focused on the intellectual trends and debates surrounding the formation of Sunnism in the 11-12th centuries. Academics have explored various currents within the intellectual and social context of Sunni Islam during the 11th-12th centuries. George Makdisi, Richard Bulliet, Jonathan Brown, Daphna Ephrat, Mohamed Eissa, and Ahmad Khan studied topics related to the educational system, the scholarly community, heresy and Sunni orthodoxy, legal studies, ḥadīth, and theology. However, the status of scholarship on works of tafsīr differs significantly. There are few studies concentrated on the classical period, such as works on the commentaries of al-Thaʿlabī …

Exploring The Effects Of Delayed Auditory Feedback On Speech Kinematics: A Comparative Analysis Of Monologue Speech And Tongue Twisters, Abbey Corinne Persons

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of delayed auditory feedback (DAF) on speech kinematics during tongue twisters and monologues. Participants were 20 adults (10 men, 10 women) aged 18-29 with typical speech and hearing abilities. A smartphone app provided DAF latencies of 50 ms, 100 ms, and 150 ms. Kinematic measures were made of peak speed, stroke distance, and hull area for the tongue front, jaw, and lower lip under typical and the three DAF conditions. Results indicated that DAF significantly reduced peak speed and stroke distance for all articulators during tongue twisters (p < .01), with the effect magnitude increasing with longer delays. No significant DAF effects were observed in monologues (p > .05). Sex differences were noted, with women …

Documentation Of Norm Negotiation In A Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Michelle R. Bagley

Theses and Dissertations

While previous mathematics education research has shown that norms can change in mathematics classrooms, little research has closely documented the struggles, concessions, and compromises involved in the negotiation process. Negotiating norms is a complex process entailing deliberate teacher moves intended to promote norms, often met with misunderstandings or resistance from students. This thesis documented the negotiation process that occurred when a teacher attempted to require conceptual explanations from students who had not previously been accustomed to doing so. I recorded six days of instruction in a 9th grade algebra unit, transcribed the class discussions, and inferred norms "at play" for …

Chilled Classrooms: Educator Identity And Responses To "Divisive Issues"-Related Challenges To Professionalism, Hannah Katherine Dixon Everett

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, the United States has seen a notable increase in controversy and legislation regarding "divisive" concepts and issues in education. These divisive issues include Critical Race Theory, Social Emotional Learning, book censorship, and other race and gender topics. Legislation and media coverage regarding these issues contributes to a larger trend of challenges to teacher professionalism. I build on recent literature exploring how educators experience divisive issues legislation, putting these experiences in conversation with educator identity formation and the development of a professional sense of self. I interviewed 18 secondary school teachers throughout Utah's Wasatch Front to explore (1) how teachers …

Examining School Belonging And Academic Resilience Among Biliterate And Multilingual High School Students, Keila Moreno Navarrete

Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of students in the United States identify as Hispanic or Latino/a. These students enter American classrooms from varying backgrounds with diverse talents. Many of these students are proficient in at least two languages. Unfortunately, Hispanic students are underrepresented in gifted and talented programs, nationwide. The present study contributes to the limited empirical research on talented, biliterate, Hispanic, first-generation, and second-generation immigrant students by investigating strength-based factors (i.e., academic resilience, biliteracy, and school belonging) using both quantitative and qualitative evidence. Quantitative data from 30 bilingual Hispanic high school students were collected through an online survey with items measuring …

The Role Of Language In Identity And Mediating Connection For Fijian College Students, Grace Taito Tora

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the role of language in constructing identity and promoting belonging for seventeen Fijian college students at one U.S. based university in the Pacific Rim. Focus group interviews were analyzed for how students described the role that language played in constructing student identity and mediating connection. Analysis was grounded in post-structural perspectives of identity alongside vā – the Oceanic notion that encompasses identity and belonging. Students described themes of native language proficiency in reinforcing kinship relationships and in participating in cultural traditions and practices. They also expressed other ways of maintaining vā without proficiency in their native languages. …

Constructing The Other: Unveiling The Exotic, Barbaric And Parodied Archetypes In Western Discourse, Alexandra Goitia Goitia

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis builds upon Edward Said’s seminal work, "Orientalism," to explore the complex dynamics of "Otherness" in Western thought across various contexts. Said’s theory elucidates how the West has historically constructed a distorted image of the East to justify colonial dominance, framing the East as a mere extension of Western fantasies and fears. This study expands Said’s framework by applying it to a diverse range of texts beyond the Muslim world, examining how Western narratives perpetuate the Exotic, Barbaric, and Parodied Other. The first part of the thesis juxtaposes Hernán Cortés’s "Cartas de relación" with Netflix’s "Marco Polo," illustrating how …

Sri Hayagriva Stotra An In Depth Analysis, Vasudevan V

Theses and Dissertations

ŚRĪ HAYAGRĪVA is a benevolent avatar of Śrī Mahāviṣnu. He is worshiped as the God of knowledge and wisdom. He is an eternal avatar of Śrī Mahāviṣnu and there have been many studies on him done in the past by eminent scholars all over the world. Swāmi Śrī Deśika is a Sri Vaiṣṇava Acharya who has written many philosophical as well as religious and poetical works in several languages including Sanskrit, Manipravālam, Tamil, and Prākṛt. Svāmi Vedānta Deśika received the grace of Śrī Hayagrīva and was blessed with knowledge and wisdom. He then composed ŚRĪ HAYAGRĪVA STOTRA with thirty-three stanzas …

Unveiling Trends, Terminology, And Teaching Competencies Of Blended Courses In Higher Education, Jennifer Lynn Ramsey

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation has been written in a three-article journal-ready format and centers on competencies for blended teaching in higher education. I use the PRISMA process and thematic coding to analyze 34 articles from 2002 to 2022, highlighting strategic combination, learner-centered approaches, and additional support. I also use the Google Search API and content analysis to suggest that blended, digital, and flexible may be post-secondary institutions' most frequently used terminology to describe contexts incorporating online and in-person components. I also gather qualitative data from interviews with faculty to highlight the context and nuances surrounding blended teaching competencies, including creative innovation, technology …

Students Speak: A Qualitative Examination Of The Intersection Of Identity And Sexual Violence In A University Setting, Danika M. Charles

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual violence remains a public health concern in the United States. Much of the research has focused on gender-binary individuals, despite the heightened vulnerability of Black, transgender, and nonbinary (BTN) individuals due to societal stigma and discrimination. Campus climate surveys have been recommended by the Obama Administration to address sexual violence, though they often underrepresent BTN students, failing to capture their unique experiences. This study aims to bridge this gap by focusing on the intersection of gender and racial identities, using an intersectional stigma framework to explore the prevalence and impact of sexual violence on BTN students and advocate for …

Neurocognitive Processes As Longitudinal Predictors Of Reading Fluency, Jody Samuels

Theses and Dissertations

Reading fluency involves a complex interaction of different cognitive skills and abilities that develop with instruction and practice and relies on the automaticity of many distinct reading skills (e.g., pacing, word recognition, expression, phonological awareness). Fluent reading frees cognitive resources, such as working memory, for more advanced components of reading including comprehension and synthesis (Kim & Wagner, 2015; Samuels, 2006). Though early identification of students with fluency challenges is critical for providing evidence-based intervention, most screeners assess skills that are dependent upon instruction (e.g., letter identification, sound-symbol correspondence), delaying opportunities for identification. The current study examines the utility for including …

Analyzing Teachers' Perceptions Of A Principal's Instructional Leadership Practices On A Dual Language Campus Using The Blase And Blase Reflective Growth Model, Selene Canales-Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

As the research base in support of dual language instruction become stronger and more widely recognized, dual language instruction program popularity has risen and the number of programs implemented across the United States has grown (Christian, 2018). Demand for qualified teachers and school administrators is high, but teacher supply has not risen commensurately (Kennedy, 2018b). Therefore, the problem lies in principals having to prepare and provide the necessary supports and professional development for bilingual teachers. The purpose of this research is to explore teachers' perceptions of the principal's instructional leadership practices using the theoretical framework of the Blase Reflective Growth …

Unquiet Quitting: The Lived Experiences Of Latinx Teacher Attrition In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Dolores Araujo Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition, a critical issue in education, has significant implications for the quality of instruction and student success. The Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, known for its substantial Latinx population, faces a concerning trend of high teacher turnover particularly among Latinx educators who leave teaching within their novice years. This inquiry provides a comprehensive examination of the factors contributing to teacher attrition in the region, with a specific focus on the experiences of Latinx teachers. Findings are organized into four thematic categories: "Traversing Organizational Terrain," elucidating the institutional dynamics shaping teachers' experiences; "Interweaving Bonds," highlighting the relational aspects within …

The Lipan Apache (Ndé) Tribe Of Texas Powwow: A Curriculum Of Culture(S) And Pedagogy Of Place, Ashley S. Leal

Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic study examines the Lipan Apache (Ndé) Tribe of Texas powwow as a curriculum of culture(s) and a pedagogy of place through which culture is preserved, performed, transmitted, and transformed. Integrating both emic (insider) and etic (outsider) perspectives, I combine personal experiences as a Lipan Apache tribal member and dancer with academic research. Kovach (2009) suggests that incorporating such experiences can unveil educational concepts and theories that might otherwise be overlooked. The theoretical framework combines Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) and Place-Based Education (PBE), emphasizing the strengths of cultural heritage and deeply embedded learning in the local community. Methodologies include …

They See Themselves In The Lesson: Leveraging Students’ Scientific And Cultural Insights Through The Cultural Biohealth Synergy Science Curriculum [Se Ven A Sí Mismos En La Lección: Aprovechando Los Conocimientos Científicos Y Culturales De Los Estudiantes A Través Del Currículo De Ciencias De Sinergia De Bio Salud Cultural], Miriam M. Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations

In response to the global crisis of type 2 diabetes prevalence, this dissertation investigated the impact of a culturally sustaining, health-centric science curriculum contextualized in type 2 diabetes. Using a case study methodology, it explored how the curriculum shaped math and science preservice teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions of science and how it can be taught and how prepared they felt to design and implement culturally sustaining, health-centric lessons. Four themes that emerged across both cases included: 1) connecting health, nutrition, everyday science, and culturally sustaining pedagogy through the CBSS curriculum, 2) connecting science to health and wellness concepts through the CBSS …