Digital Commons Network^™

Prekindergarten Teacher Experiences With Professional Development For Inclusive Practices, Clory D. Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers in inclusive prekindergarten (PK) settings often serve children with special learning needs without having had professional preparation or development (PD) for using inclusive practices. The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that many PK teachers have not received the PD they needed to promote inclusive practices to teach young children within inclusive early childhood classrooms. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore PK teachers’ perspectives on the PD they need to promote inclusive practices to teach all young children, including children with special learning needs, in inclusive early childhood classrooms. The conceptual framework used …

Review Of Gregory Jones-Katz’S Deconstruction: An American Institution, Barry Laga

Criticism

Jones-Katz helps us recontextualize what we thought we knew about the intellectual history of deconstruction in the United States. His desire to “illustrate how local traditions, distinctive networks, and curious personalities offered a dynamic place for culture to flourish and in turn be venerated and challenged” (297) is largely successful and engaging.

Interactions With New-To-Teacher Language Resources: Supporting Translingual Composing In A Multilingual Elementary Classroom, Lindsey W. Rowe

Publications

Educators should support multilingual students’ translingual writing. However, it can be challenging for teachers to support students’ composing in languages that teachers do not speak. Drawing on a community translanguaging lens, this paper explores this issue by asking: How did teachers talk about and interact with language resources that were new to them while supporting translingual writing in an English-medium classroom? Data were collected using ethnographic and practitioner research methods across 1 year in one second-grade writing workshop in the U.S. Students spoke Spanish, Korean, French, Tagalog, or English, and classroom teachers spoke English and Spanish. Data analysis first involved …

Nine New Gardner-Webb Faculty Members Welcomed At 2024 Faculty Assembly, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Gardner-Webb University welcomes new faculty members in the College of Education, College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. They were introduced at the Faculty Assembly today (Aug. 13).

Third-Grade Choctaw Students’ Perceptions Of An In-School Choctaw Language And Culture Program, Amy L. Pauls

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, Indigenous language loss is the result of colonization and deliberate eradication by government policies. Many tribal communities engage in activities to curb language shift, including language reclamation or revitalization to restore the vitality of Indigenous languages. Schools for Indigenous children, once the setting for the destruction of their Indigenous identity and language, have increasingly become the medium for language reclamation. Numerous school-based programs have effectively renewed language use, including those in the Hawaiian, Yup’ik, and Navajo language communities (Holm & Holm, 1995; Wilson & Kamanā, 2011; Wyman et al., 2010). Though school-based programs may increase students’ …

Unseeing The Seen: Jugha, Larra Myron Diboyan

Theses and Dissertations

The annihilation of the Armenian Medieval Cemetery of Jugha, located in the exclave Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic, in the current-day Republic of Azerbaijan, took place between 1998-2006. The systematic structural violence used by the Azerbaijani state, sponsored destruction of Indigenous Armenian cultural heritage, usurpation of sacred spaces, attempted rewriting of history, and reshaped the landscape, therefore distorting reality and memory. This research aims to scrutinize the tactics used by the Republic of Azerbaijan in their erasure of the Old Jugha cemetery and present how not only is this a case of structural violence but also one of landscape structural violence against …

Examining Barriers In Building Multicultural Competency Within School Psychology Faculty, Orlandria D. Beamon

Theses and Dissertations

The need for multicultural competency in school psychology is crucial for creating inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments. While research has often focused on graduate student perspectives, there's a notable gap regarding faculty members in school psychology programs. Ensuring that faculty are multiculturally competent is essential, and examining factors that influence their competency is imperative. This study explores multicultural competency from the perspectives of school psychology faculty, involving 75 participants who reflected on their interactions with diverse individuals and assessed their program climate regarding multicultural issues. Using the SPCMS-R and the MEI-R measures, the study analyzed the impact of program …

Attrition Rates In The Engineering Industry By Gender And Time, Josiane Kander

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated attrition rates of engineers in the industry. It used historical data to examine trends of attrition based on gender and time. It found that both gender and time were statistically significant in predicting whether an engineer would be working in the industry or not. Males with an engineering degree were 5.2 times more likely to work in the engineering industry than females with an engineering degree. Additionally, as engineers progress through the profession, they tend to leave it altogether more often than staying in the profession for their entire careers. Pivotal points where engineers leave the industry …

International Student-Athletes' Agency, Authorship, And Voice At U.S. Higher Education Institutions, Malia Nicole Schimminger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, case study research project is to explore international student-athletes’ experiences at U.S. higher education institutions, probing how well nonimmigrant visa holders are prepared for postgraduate success through their college experiences. Six collaborators engaged in photo elicitation interviews to provide insight into how they have navigated their international student identity and student-athlete identity. Collaborators each shared 10-15 media files representative of their experiences, and then they engaged in 90-minute interviews to talk about what their selections meant to them and why they were significant. The frameworks of agency, self-authorship, and voice were used to gauge how …

Foodways And Socioeconomic Complexities In Early Iron Age Of Bara, Old Oyo, Nigeria (Ca. 490 B.C. To A.D. 40), Racheal Bolakale Oyundoyin

Theses and Dissertations

The Early Iron Age period has been underexplored in the archaeology of West Africa, particularly Nigeria. Also, there is a lack of research and knowledge on organic residue analysis in Nigeria, particularly in the southwestern region of the country, despite the fact that other studies on archaeobotany and paleoenvironmental studies are well established. To address this gap, lipid analysis was conducted on 10 vessels from the Early Iron Age (490 B.C. to A.D. 40) site BSM6 in Bara, Old Oyo, Nigeria. The analysis revealed the plant and animal materials consumed by the Early Iron Age community. These findings provide vital …

Relationship Between Cultural Barriers, Adaptation Mechanisms, And Quality Of Life Among Congolese Refugees, Ndasi Zialo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Refugee cultural backgrounds are different from the primary culture in which they live. Cultural barriers have been identified as contributing factors to disparities in mental health services among refugees in the host country. They face racism, discrimination, and marginalization that impede their access to mental health services compared to the host populations. The Western model of mental health services was developed for the unique needs of the European refugees and could not always meet the needs of the non-European refugee populations. The lack of culturally specific mental health services creates disparities in mental health services that affect the quality of …

Improving Access To Care For Uninsured Patients In Texas Outpatient Clinics: Achieving Patient-Centered Care, Stephanie Ann Greenwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Uninsured patients encounter major barriers to accessing healthcare, leading to delayed or missed medical care, higher rates of chronic conditions, and increased financial and psychological stress. The purpose of this integrative review study was to examine the factors that affect Texas residents who lack insurance and require access to healthcare services in outpatient community clinics. The review question was used to explore strategies to improve access to healthcare and strengthen patient-centered care for uninsured patients in Texas outpatient health clinics. A thorough integrative review was completed using empirical and nonempirical literature published between 2019 and 2024. The results of the …

Hampering The Dogmatization Within The System By Building An Itinerant Practice In Bilingual Education And Dual-Language Programs, Jose Orozco, Michael Whitacre

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This paper focuses on dual-language programs and the transformation of implementation through the lens of Itinerant Curriculum Theory (ICT), curricularized language, and personal pedagogies, and how it impacts the way educators work within a dual-language program. The pedagogies of educator practices and influences included individuals with different ideologies, education, experience, distinct backgrounds, methods, and aspirations were part of the interactive mechanisms and educator practices that were analyzed. Thus, it concludes that the mindset and pedagogical approach affects the implementation of any program or model and shows how disparate agendas shape the program, its implementation, and the effect on the child.

Reflections On Justice: Empowering Ells Through Political Philosophy, J. Paul Marlowe

MITESOL Journal: An Online Publication of MITESOL

In today’s polarized political climate, language education that includes more critical thinking, develops argumentative skills, and fosters conflict resolution is vital to functioning democracies with increasingly diverse societies. To address this need, the popular Justice course taught by Harvard professor Michael Sandel was adapted for English language learners in the context of an English for Academic Purposes program at a Japanese university. The author describes the experience of adapting this course to the context including a discussion on why the topic is relevant, ideas for how materials can be adapted for English language learners in different settings, how to use …

Equity-Informed Social Media Covid-19 Risk Communication Strategies: A Scoping Review, Nedra Peter, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Catherine George, Anita Kothari

Publications

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating worldwide impact but most prominent was its effect on marginalised, underserved and equity-deserving populations. Social media arose as an important platform from which health organisations could rapidly disseminate information to equity-deserving populations about COVID-19 risks and events, provide instructions on how to mitigate those risks, motivate compliance with health directives, address false information, provide the opportunity for engagement and immediate feedback. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesise the academic and grey literature on equity-informed social media risk communication strategies developed during the pandemic. DESIGN: The review followed the Arksey and …

Bhasha: An Interactive Experience Learning Indian Languages, Charmy Patel

Theses

BHASHA is an interactive online platform that focuses on the linguistic diversity of India, specifically targeting languages from the Nagari (Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali) and Dravidian (Tamil) families. The name "BHASHA," meaning "language" in many Indian dialects, reflects the platform's inclusive approach to language learning. BHASHA addresses the challenge of learning complex scripts by offering an engaging experience that showcases the unique beauty and distinctiveness of Indian language typography, characters, type anatomy, and writing systems. By combining technology, design, and linguistics, the platform provides a user-centric solution for individuals and typographers interested in learning Indian languages by making these complex scripts …

Factors That Influence Elementary School Teachers Who Refer Students To Special, La' Trina Dudley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is an overrepresentation of African American students in special education classes; placing African Americans disproportionately in special education classes lowers their self-esteem and compromises their academic performance. This study aimed to increase understanding of the meaning-making processes elementary school general education teachers use to refer African American students for special education services. I used critical race theory (CRT) to support the study, which suggests that structural racism in schools harms African American students' self-esteem and academic achievement. Two research questions directed the study: What are the decision-making processes of elementary school teachers who refer African American students for special …

K To 8 Teachers’ Experiences Using Project-Based Learning, Coleen Morgan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem in this study was that despite encouragement from administrators, kindergarten through Grade 8 teachers struggled to use project-based learning (PBL) in a local school in the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS). Rooted in Kilpatrick’s progressive philosophy of education and Piaget’s theory of constructivism, this basic qualitative study focused on teachers’ experiences using PBL. Research questions in this study related to teachers’ experiences using PBL in private classrooms in kindergarten through Grade 8 and challenges that influence teacher use of PBL in private classrooms. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews with 10 teachers. Results of this …

Cultural Competence To Meet Students' Transcultural Learning Goals, Taijohnea Haywood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have noted that some primary grade teachers do not have the cultural competence to meet transcultural learning goals for primary grade students in diverse schools. This qualitative study explored perspectives of kindergarten through second grade teachers on their cultural competence to meet transcultural learning goals for primary-grade students in diverse schools. Mishra and Metha’s 21st century learning model and Vernon’s six principles of culturally competent practice were used as the framework for this study. This study addressed two research questions focusing on primary grade teachers’ perspectives of their cultural competence to meet the transcultural learning goals for their students …

Roots Of Turmoil: Exploring The Causes Behind Fano Force's Struggle Against Abiy Ahmed's Administration, Agenagn Dagnew Mr

Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies

The struggle between Abiy's administration and the Fano had led to other-round chaos and violence in the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia, after the conflict between the Tigray People Liberation Front’s (TPLF) and the federal government of Ethiopia took place from 2020 to 2022. In regard to this, the researcher explored the causes that resulted in Fano's struggle with Abiy Ahmed's administration. The research design was an exploratory case study. Document review, audio-visual sources, and a semi-structured interview were employed to look into the reasons for Fano Force's conflict with Abiy’s administration. The Oromo nationalist movement attacks on Amhara, the …

Maternal Mortality In American Indian And Alaska Native Women: It Is Time To Prevent The Preventable, Brynn Cusack

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: A concerning disparity exists between maternal mortality rates of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women and White women. Contributing factors include historical trauma, systemic inequities, inadequate funding, and deprioritization of the health of AIAN people.

Purpose: This literature review aims to address the research question: “Why were American Indian and Alaska Native women two times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than White women in the US during the period of 2017 through 2019?” The review explores historical context, current evidence, potential causes and interventions that can address AIAN maternal mortality.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was …

Coaching In Context Fidelity Measure: A Linguistic Validation To Hispano-America Spanish, Jorge L. Torres-Vélez, Otd, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction

Coaching in Context (CinC) is an emerging intervention approach used by occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs). A growing body of literature has found CinC to be effective when used by OTPs with various clients. The CinC approach was manualized by publishing a visual representation of the model and developing a fidelity measure. Both were written in English by North American English-speaking researchers. Recently, the CinC Fidelity Measure was translated into Spanish to be used by Spanish-speaking OTPs but there was a need to conduct a linguistic validation to avoid difficulties in implementation, due to poor comprehension, and avoid inaccurate, misinterpreted, …

Promoting A Truly Thriving L2 Writing Classroom For Bilingual And Multilingual Learners: A Review Of Losey And Shuck’S Plurilingual Pedagogies For Multilingual Writing Classrooms: Engaging The Rich Communicative Repertoires Of U.S. Students, Antonella Beatriz Dell'aquila

MITESOL Journal: An Online Publication of MITESOL

Book review of Plurilingual Pedagogies for Multilingual Writing Classrooms: Engaging the Rich Communicative Repertoires of U.S. Students by Kay M. Losey and Gail Shuck.

Implementing Policy To Increase Health Literacy In Falls Prevention: A Teach-Back And Show-Back Intervention, Yalanda M. Barner, Lollie Vaughan-Robinson, Jazmin Adjei

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Although falls are preventable, falls among older adults remain a public health concern. Research indicates that over one-third of persons over 65 fall. Approximately 3 million report to emergency rooms due to falls annually. Falls are attributed to health conditions such as cognitive impairment, poor eyesight, arthritis, and polypharmacy.

Purpose: This study adapted the Teach-Back/Show-Back method for older persons in adult daycare and faith-based settings to assess their understanding of falls prevention techniques. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors, prevention strategies, and policy recommendations of falls prevention among older adults.

Methods: A survey …

An Examination Of The Influences Of Critical Thinking Tasks On Mathematics Instruction: A Qualitative Study, Glen E. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to understand the mathematics critical thinking process for teachers in primary education in northern Virginia. The theory guiding this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory, which applies to critical thinking processes. The central research question will be: What are the experiences of primary mathematics teachers implementing critical thinking? This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study aims to determine the influences of critical thinking tasks on planning and instruction. Using qualified participants from northern Virginia, this study will collect data through interviews, a focus group, and document analysis. After data collection, the data will be …

Exploring The Role Of Innovation Across Social And Academic Integration For First-Generation Caribbean Undergraduate Persistence, Angelina Natasha Carvalhal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to understand how innovation across social and academic integration among first-generation Caribbean Undergraduates supports persistence at three public universities in the Northeast. The theory underpinning this study was Tinto’s dropout theory and theory of institutional departure. Tinto’s theory connected to this study of how supporting innovation through social and academic integration supports the persistence of first-generation Caribbean Undergraduates. The central research question guiding this study was: How has innovative academic content delivery affected the retention of first-generation Caribbean Undergraduates? Purposeful sampling was applied to interview students on-site, while random sampling was applied …

Abiding Presence, Abundant Provision: Water Imagery Within The Temple Motif, Mindy N. Ziegler

Masters Theses

This thesis highlights the richness of the New Testament Christological truths in the Fourth Gospel by tracing the connections John made to the Old Testament history and traditions. John wrote his Gospel account after nearly a lifetime of reflection on the Christ-event and its significance. What had been misunderstood while Jesus walked among his disciples had been illuminated by the Spirit through many years of reflection and study. The New Testament, including the Fourth Gospel, was not written in a vacuum, but drew on a rich and colorful history of Yahweh’s revelation to his people that spanned millennia. The Evangelist’s …

Technology-Based Music Instruction, Alfredo Bedolla

Masters Theses

Many beginning band and choir students lack proficiency in basic sight-reading skills. A significant learning curve exists between the late elementary and early middle school years regarding music reading competency. This study aims to ascertain the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of music notation apps such as Prodigies, Yousician, and Noteflight. The study will use a mixed-method approach. To obtain quantitative data, the study will use an experimental approach to test the effectiveness of digital notation apps on student learning by utilizing a survey. The working hypothesis is that digital notation apps will improve sight-reading skills by using the tools present in …

Teaching Reading Comprehension To English Language Learners In A System With A Low Proportion Of Language Minority Students, Chutikarn Cotham

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

This study investigated reading instruction for English language learners (ELLs) by examining teachers' experiences and perspectives on teaching ELL students reading comprehension in an educational system with a low proportion of language minority students. The study addressed the prevalent concern of reading comprehension difficulties among ELLs and the need to bridge the gap between research-based strategies and practices in public schools. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four educators actively engaged in teaching ELLs at the upper elementary through high school levels. Thematic analysis of the data revealed several themes that were sorted into four main categories: training, curriculum, experience, and …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Block Copolymer Based Nanoparticles For Sustained Release Of Therapeutics To Address Secondary Injury Events Upon Traumatic Brain Injury, Mohammad Naseem Khan

Theses & Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses a significant global health challenge, contributing to approximately 2.5 million emergency room visits annually worldwide, 56,000 fatalities, and over $60 billion in direct medical costs for palliative care and cognitive rehabilitation in the United States alone(Acosta et al., 2016). The complex pathophysiology of TBI involves a multifaceted combination of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier disruption (BBB), and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) damage. This research examines the development of a novel therapeutic system comprising dexamethasone-conjugated block co-polymeric nanoparticles loaded with olaparib, aiming to address multiple aspects of TBI pathology, particularly secondary injury (McConeghy et al., …