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Full Issue - Excelsior, V17-1

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Playful Learning In Higher Education To Inspire Playful Learning In P-12 Classrooms, Norline Wild

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Playful learning has immense potential and relevance across all educational levels, from early childhood to university settings. However, play is often dismissed as an activity reserved only for young children and is ignored in higher education The purpose of this practitioner article is to share instructional strategies and insights in order to demonstrate the immense potential of play at the university level. The goal is not only to inspire teacher educators to be critical thinkers and to creatively interweave playful learning into their pedagogy but to provide concrete examples through modeling of how this can be done. Initially, a dedicated …

Invent A Kid Project: Fostering Creative Reflective Practice In Teacher Candidates, Karen Poland, Mary Ellen Bardsley, Paul Vermette

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

A primary goal of teacher education programs is to equip teacher candidates with the necessary skills to navigate the social and cultural realities and complexities of the classroom while seamlessly integrating theory and practice. As our classrooms become more socially, economically, and culturally diverse it is important for teachers to evolve into developmentally and culturally responsive individuals who can incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of each student. However, novice teachers often face challenges in meeting the individual needs of students due to their lack of experience, classroom management challenges, time constraints, the complexity of …

There Is Real Life Here: Centering The Body In Teaching And Learning, Ryan Ambuter

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Bodies have everything to do with teaching and learning, yet are often overlooked or diminished as sites of meaning-making in educational contexts. The goal of this article is to foreground the body in teaching and learning, and identify the transformative potential that embodied pedagogy opens up. Rooted in intersectional critical theory and frameworks, this article explores the importance of centering bodies in education, contextualizes the invisibility and silencing of bodies in education historically and today, and identifies the possibilities that a focus on bodies in education can offer. Action steps that teachers and teacher educators can apply to their practice …

A Phenomenological Study To Determine How Expert Avid Teachers Use Collaboration To Strengthen Student Metacognition And Student Self-Efficacy And Determine When It Occurs, Megan Hernandez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine how expert AVID teachers from the California Central Valley describe the use of collaboration to strengthen student metacognition and self-efficacy and how they describe the evidence that indicates metacognition and self-efficacy are occurring.

Methodology: Five Central California school districts were chosen to conduct the phenomenological study on expert AVID teachers. One to two AVID teachers from each of the five school districts were chosen in the study for eight participants. The expert AVID teachers were chosen for having at least five years of experience teaching AVID and being up to …

Southern Adventist University Commencement Program Winter 2024, Southern Adventist University

Commencement Programs

Program for Southern Adventist University Winter 2024 graduation. The commencement service took place on December 19, 2024 at 7 pm in Iles Physical Education Center.

"Does Anyone Believe Me"?: The Traumatization Of Domestic Violence Survivors In The Criminal Justice System, Olivia Depalma

Master of Arts in Human Services

Survivors of domestic violence are often subject to chronic trauma as well as a heightened risk of injuries and mental health problems and disorders. The intention of the author is to focus on how trauma impacts a survivor’s ability to maneuver and interact with the criminal justice system (CJS). Prior studies have shown how survivor’s behaviors, usually the result of trauma, can lead to misconceived notions and beliefs in court officials and those involved in the CJS. Survivors will often face judgment, doubt, and criticism in the CJS, and this can impact their willingness to come forward, report the abuse, …

Opportunities To Address Health Disparities In Suicidality For Sexual And Gender Minority Youth In Public Systems, Dana M. Prince, Kathleen Lewis, Peter S. Hovmand

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Reaching College Readiness: Barriers And Effective Interventions For Parents And Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Kailee Johnson

Counselor Education Capstones

Navigating the college application process can be a stressful time for students and their parents. The college application process can become an even more difficult time for students and parents from low-socioeconomic status (SES), as many colleges and universities often reflect the norms of middle to high incomes. This literature reviews research study findings that many parents and students from low SES experience in regard to their child’s future college education. Common barriers that are experienced by families from low SES regarding college are negative parental attitudes, a student’s lack of knowledge about the college process, and the financial burden …

Mundane And Magical: How Studio Ghibli Adapts Female Protagonists Toward Gendered Narrative Reconstruction, Lauren F. Frymire

Masters Theses

This paper explores the literary significance of film adaptations, specifically focusing on Studio Ghibli's adaptations of children's novels. Through examining the themes of self-discovery, transformation, and cultural representation in films like *Kiki's Delivery Service*, *Tales from Earthsea*, and *Howl's Moving Castle*, it discusses how Ghibli’s choice of young female protagonists connects with both their original audiences and broader cultural narratives. Drawing on Carl Jung’s theory of the unconscious, Linda Hutcheon's theory of adaptation, and Mariah Chiara Oltolini’s insights on mass media adaptations, the study argues that these films successfully preserve the "magic" of their source material while offering unique, culturally-infused …

Music Sight-Reading Systems In Secondary Choral Education, Savanna N. Hagerty

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to demonstrate the effects of various music reading systems in the context of secondary choral education by exploring the incorporation of the chosen system, determining the benefits of student’s musical understanding and performance because of that system, and defining how various music reading systems compare to one another. The data will be drawn from the survey of middle and high school chorus educators in the 14th District of the Georgia Music Educators Association. The importance of this study is that it will present the impact associated with specific sight-reading methods as they …

The Choir Effect: A Case Study On Adolescent Boys’ Academic Self-Confidence, Dedrick L. Guyton

Masters Theses

Realizing the cognitive and social benefits of choral participation in early adolescent boys may be critical in understanding their academic self-confidence. This qualitative research study examines large public school choral ensemble participation and the academic self-confidence of boys between the ages of twelve and fourteen. Previous studies on formal music education in children suggest that active music participation has academic and social benefits. However, research has not addressed the effects of early music exposure on adolescent boys who sing in a large public school choral ensemble. The research illustrates the experiences of approximately 20 twelve-to-fourteen-year-old male choral ensemble members within …

Beyond The Uncanny Valley: A Tradigital Strategy For Emotional Connection In 3d Animation, Alan Gregory Wyatt

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates Tradigital art - combining the aesthetics of traditional animation with the optimization of digital 3D animation. This cross-disciplinary study investigates how traditional artistry can still be preserved and enhanced in modern digital workflows without causing the emotional disconnect often found in the "Uncanny Valley" of contemporary 3D animation. This research, based on a literature review, case studies, and visual analyses, identifies elements of traditional 2D animation that can still enrich digital 3D animation without compromising the flow and optimization of the pipeline in many studios. Research shows that the utilization of both methods has the potential to …

Six-Month Follow-Up Comparing Ait And Eft In The Reduction Of Negative Emotions Associated With A Past Memory, Gregory Brown, Kavita Batra, Emily Dorin, Andrew Han, Arianna Palermini, Robert Sottile, Sherine Khanbijian

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

Statistics have shown that about sixty percent of individuals with psychiatric illness do not respond adequately to standard treatments, yet only 1% of research studies are focused on developing new therapeutic strategies for these patients (McIntyre et al., 2023). This study investigated the long-term efficacy of Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT) as compared to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), specifically evaluating the durability of the resolution of emotional distress tied to a single memory six months post-treatment. The study began with 72 participants: and 51 completed a follow-up survey, resulting in a response rate of 70.8%. The sample was predominantly female (65%), …

The Role Of Camaraderie In The Moods Of African American U.S. Military Veterans With Ptsd: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Virginia K. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the essence of the collective lived experiences of United States military veterans of African American ethnicity who were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the role that camaraderie plays in their moods. Veterans are a marginalized group who often feel they are rejected by society, but as Christians, we should be interested in human beings, promoting their well-being, and practicing psychology as an act of love. Guided by social identity theory and social justice theory, this study was aimed to gain understanding of how group memberships and social categorization …

Pepperbox - December 19, 2024, Student Newspaper Of Arcata High School

The Pepperbox

Volume 97, Number 2

[Previous publication listed as Number 2, this is suspected to be Number 3]

Eve And Her Feminist Descendants: The Power And Agency Of Serpentine Women In Art, Literature, And Popular Culture, Emma Sandra Shanley

Master’s Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Mental Health Education On Nigerian Immigrants In The United States, Paschal Chinedu Ukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is a general awareness of the importance of mental health, the role of mental health education in shaping the perceptions and attitudes of Nigerian immigrants in the United States remains understudied. This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand the impact of mental health education on the attitudes and beliefs of Nigerian immigrants in the United States. The theoretical foundation for this study was the health belief model, which posits that an individual’s beliefs about health, perceived risks, and perceived benefits play a significant role in their health behaviors. The central research question concerned how mental health education …

Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions About Strategies To Teach Reading Comprehension, Carol Judd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the challenges teachers faced in teaching reading comprehension to secondary students within the study school. Reading comprehension is a key skill for academic success, yet many students struggle to understand complex texts in subjects such as history, science, and mathematics. The purpose of this research is to assess how teachers perceive the integration of reading strategies in core content areas and the impact of professional development on their teaching practices. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was the social cognitive theory of self-efficacy, which suggests that teachers' beliefs in their abilities to implement effective strategies …

Parental Phubbing And Adolescent Social Anxiety, Julie Ann Bowman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how parents experience social anxiety in their children, of ages six to fourteen, in the presence of parental phubbing. The modified version of Moustakas’ modified version of Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen’s analysis method was used to gather and analyze data. Participant requirements included being at least 21 years of age, having a child between the ages of 6-14, own a cell phone with texting and internet capabilities, and speak English fluently. Fifteen participants were used, however, data saturation was found by the ninth participant. This study explored two research questions: How do parents …

Military Members Mental Health And Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Mediating Role Of Mental Toughness, Maureen Kenyon James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military members’ mental health has been in the spotlight for many years. Although Australia and the United States have strong, robust forces, exposure to this high-stress environments can take its toll. This study is important to keep our armed forces in top mental and physical health and look after them post-service. We need to know what can protect mental health and how to minimize the risks to health and well-being. The purpose of this study is to ask the question, “To what extent are Adverse childhood experiences related to military members' mental health status, and is this relationship mediated by …

Bridging The Governance Gap: Addressing Board Turnover And Team Building In Northern California Special Districts, Karin R. Freese

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The turnover of publicly elected or appointed board members in Northern California’s special districts poses a significant challenge to effective governance, impacting these local governments' strategic capabilities and mission accomplishment. Despite extensive research on governance, there is a notable gap concerning the effects of turnover and the role of formal training in building effective governance teams in special districts. This qualitative multiple-case study addresses this gap by investigating the governance dynamics following board turnover, focusing on the perspectives of both board members and general managers. Employing a flexible design, the study integrates interviews, document analysis, and archival data to examine …

Finding A Correlation Between Emotional Intelligence And Burnout In Music Teachers In Southeastern Pennsylvania, Richard Raymond Freda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite studies showing that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence report higher job satisfaction and happiness, relatively few studies have looked at the relationship between higher levels of emotional intelligence and lower levels of teacher burnout, especially among music teachers. With so many music teaching positions going unfilled and many music teachers leaving the profession, it was imperative to find a way to keep music teachers in the classroom. By making teachers aware of their emotional intelligence and how to understand their emotions, it is possible that more music teachers can be retained. In this quantitative study, music teachers …

Addressing A Lack Of Counseling Programs To Diminish The Psychological, Emotional, And Mental Impacts Of Church Closure Grief, Marcel Berrios

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Besides spiritual activities, the social activities that happen in church buildings are vital to the functioning of most communities; therefore, churches play a central role in the social fabric and social infrastructure of communities in ways not necessarily thought about until they are no longer around. The looming absence of this role or function of the church becomes the overarching focus to address when an announcement is made that a church is permanently closing. Lost in navigating the business and community aspects of a church closure is the congregation's metamorphic spiritual, emotional, and psychological journey. Subsequently, many church members are …

Post-Secondary Education Experiences Of Military-Connected Students: A Phenomenological Study, Craig J. Alia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the influence that lifelong stressors had on the lived experiences of adult military-connected students in U.S. post-secondary educational institutions. Military-connected students were defined as the adult children or step-children of military members who attended a minimum of four years in primary school while their parent was on active duty and attended both high school and post-secondary school while their parent(s) were either active duty or retired. The theory guiding this was Pearlin’s stress process, which explains the interaction among and between military-connected students’ (MCS’) stressors, stress mediators, and the resultant …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of The Utilization Of Peer Support Specialists In The Veterans Health Administration: A Case Study, Kevin R. Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of peer support specialists (PSS) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) regarding their effectiveness. The study focused on understanding how potential barriers affect the daily experiences shaping the role of PSS in providing services to veterans specifically relating to mental health, substance use disorder, housing, and primary care. Extant data have highlighted the need to bridge the gap in understanding the unique contributions and the clinical benefits of the effectiveness of the use of PSS in the VHA. One central research question guided this exploratory inquiry: How do …

Racial Reconciliation In Black And White: A Qualitative Study Of Live Mississippi Blues Music Communication, Christian Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research effort is to investigate a problem regarding communication between Black and White Mississippians in live Mississippi blues music settings. The central research question for this study is as follows: Can live Mississippi blues music communication be used as a tool to strengthen race relations between Black and White Mississippians? Few studies exist regarding this matter. Understanding this phenomenon is relevant because racial reconciliation is critical to the Magnolia State’s future success, and research has proven that music can unify individuals. To facilitate comprehension, a thorough literature review describes Mississippi’s racial challenges from the …

Accessing Cancer Care Through A Community Diagnostic Clinic, Joy Lynn Bartholomew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Access to diagnostic centers, innovative cancer research and best clinical practices is limited outside metropolitan areas and academic institutions. Cancer patients in rural communities are a marginalized population faced with unique barriers to high quality care from early detection through screening, streamlined diagnostics, and participation in clinical trials. One-stop clinics (OSC) in the community setting may lessen the diagnostic interval (DI), reduce the economic burden of unnecessary imagining or procedures, minimize sociodemographic discrepancies, and positively affect time to treatment and clinical trial participation. The first step is to better understand the community cancer population and their diagnostic journey. Next, an …

Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling For Bereavement, Wayne A. Benner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The topic of this action research is Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief and bereavement. The need for the research completed is for hospice chaplains to have a workable tool to use for grief and bereavement. The problem is that many hospice chaplains do not have a framework to use for counseling in grief. The action researcher worked on the thesis of if chaplains use Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief they will be more effective. The research was completed using Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling to counsel six participants in grief. Each participant completed a pre-counseling questionnaire and a post-counseling questionnaire to assess …

Succession Planning And Situational Leadership: The Perceptions And Experiences Of Pastors At Charismatic Bahamian Churches, Kedeisha Aleicia Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental-hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore and understand the succession planning experiences for pastors at charismatic churches in New Providence, Bahamas. The central phenomenon of succession planning is a complex, intentional, continuous, and systemic organizational process that seeks to identify, develop, appoint, and transfer authority to potential leaders (Barbu, 2024; Lacey, 2003; Rothwell, 2016). The guiding theory was Hersey and Blanchard Situational Leadership II (Sbeih & Jones, 2021). The theory’s primary styles were directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating, and they were integrated with succession planning to consider the charismatic nondenominational Bahamian pastoral experiences. The method of …