Digital Commons Network^™

Is West Virginia A Haven For Disabled Workers? An Evolving Story, James V. Koch, Robert M. Mcnab

Economics Faculty Publications

With a particular focus on West Virginia, this study utilizes state-level monthly panel data over 13 years (2010-2022) to examine the determinants of the rates of application of individuals for Social Security Administration disabled worker income payments (SSDI) and the initial recommendations of those applications for approval by the states. Application rates are particularly sensitive to the educational attainment of state populations and approval rates to economic conditions. However, in contrast to media coverage and public perceptions, both the number of applications for SSDI and approval rates have been declining nationally and in West Virginia.

Nursing Education And Comfort Level In Caring For Patients With Eating Disorders, Jaylyn E. Jewell

Honors Theses and Capstones

Nurses are integral to providing care to patients with eating disorders, who often present to the generalized hospital setting related to physical complications from their disorder. Despite the vital role nurses play, a lack of education is cited. This project sought to assess knowledge on eating disorders of nurses at a local hospital through dissemination of a survey. A total of n=18 responses were gathered. Results supported the fact that many nurses have received inadequate education on eating disorders, and consequently have low knowledge and competency in the care of these patients. This project seeks to identify this lack of …

Learning Law In Elementary And High School: Innovating Civics Education For A More Empowered Citizenry, Ariel J. Liberman, Michael J. Broyde

Faculty Articles

A principal objective of the public school system in a democracy is to promote societal cohesion by way of preparing students for civic engagement. There exists a founding belief that a democratic nation ought to be composed of educated activists, run by innovators, and kept in check by involved citizens. For, indisputably, the democratic experiment—our values, our institutions—can only be upheld anew with each generation on the backs of critique, reinvention, and reinvigoration. But, as so many have mentioned when discussing the civics education paradigm, the increase in educational opportunities and the marked expansion of our school system has not …

Investigating Problem-Solving Skills Practices In An Inclusive Early Childhood School: A Case Of One Primary School In Koboko Municipality Uganda, Aziku Dan Silvanus

Master of Education

Inclusive education, aligned with the SDGs and the UNCRPD, advocates for quality education regardless of personal differences. The study adopts a broader definition that includes children from diverse backgrounds for inclusive education. Early childhood teachers play a crucial role in nurturing problem-solving skills. But challenges within inclusive settings, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the need for effective practices. Problem-solving skills are crucial throughout life, fostering the ability to independently address challenges. Nurturing these abilities in early childhood children is vital to navigate social issues. Moreso, limited research on problem-solving skills in inclusive education, in Uganda, necessitates an investigation into …

Peer-Assisted Learning In Miller Analogies Tasks, Preston S. Menke

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The present study aimed to investigate the role of peer-assisted learning (PAL) on individual performance using a relatively complex Miller Analogies Task (MAT). I found that low-ability learners benefitted from PAL. Furthermore, this may be explained by a significant trust mechanism indicating that learners who correctly identified trustworthy peers had greater performance. I did not find support for a significant difference between PAL and individual learning conditions. This study provides evidence for the role of scaffolding, where low-ability learners may benefit from identifying who to guide them when engaging in a social peer-learning task.

Building Technology Breaks Into Classroom Instruction To Reduce Media Multitasking And Increase Learning, Lisa Decicco

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The current study was designed to investigate the impact of media multitasking on learning outcomes in the classroom. The goal was to develop an instructional intervention that reduces the negative effects of media multitasking on learning outcomes by incorporating technology breaks into the instructional design. High school students in an all-girls school took part in three learning sessions, each with a different instructional strategy related to media multitasking in the classroom: Condition 1: Instruction as Usual; Condition 2: No access to technology; Condition 3: Technology Breaks. Students completed a pre and post-test knowledge-based assessment to measure their retention of the …

A Cultural Shift: Restorative Justice Relation On School Discipline And Educator Perception And Practices With Middle School Students, Hector Macias

CGU Theses & Dissertations

As restorative justice practices (RJP) in educational environments remain relatively novel, there has been limited research on its long-term effectiveness. In districts that allocated substantial resources to RJP, reports from personnel suggest a direct correlation between RJP implementation and a decrease in suspensions, diminished truancy rates, and an overall improvement in school climates. Nevertheless, further investigation is essential, particularly at the middle school level, to explore the link between RJP and institutionalized, non-punitive, relationship-centered approaches. This research extended the knowledge base of disciplinary practices, delving into the educators’ perceptions of RJP on fostering a school-wide restorative ideology.

Employing a convergent …

The Promise And Pitfalls Of Genai In Education, Helen Crompton

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Since ChatGPT was made available to the public, artificial intelligence (AI) has had accelerated growth in the field of education at an unprecedented rate. This study examined the misuses and limitations of ChatGPT and similar generative AI as well as the affordances of these tools for teaching and learning. Using PRISMA protocol, this thematic systematic review examined extant literature from November 2022 to June 2024. The findings reveal five misuses and limitations trends in the literature of cheating, inaccuracies, plagiarism, bias, and data privacy. Affordances highlighted six areas of content creation, personalization, engagement, student coaching and assistance, assessment, and task …

Improving Heart Health In African Americans Using A Cardiovascular Disease Bundle, Loretta N. Bennam

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant cause of mortality in the United States of America. Risk factors include abnormal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets. African American (AA) adults have higher mortality rates from CVD than other demographics. In Houston, Texas, age-adjusted death rates for CVD per 100,000 population by race in AAs were 111, 85.0 in Whites, 62.9 in Hispanics, and 49.5 in Asians. This project evaluated the impact of using a CVD bundle over an eight-week period on cholesterol medication adherence, physical activity, and heart disease knowledge and was titled Improving Heart Health in African …

We Shall Overcome: The Evolution Of Quotas In The Land Of The Free And The Home Of Samba, Stella Emery Santana

Seattle University Law Review

When were voices given to the voiceless? When will education be permitted to all? When will we need to protest no more? It’s the twenty-first century, and the fight for equity in higher education remains a challenge to peoples all over the world. While students in the United States must deal with the increase in loans, in Brazil, only around 20% of youth between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four have a higher education degree.

The primary objective of this Article is to conduct an in-depth comparative analysis of the development, implementation, and legal adjudication of educational quota systems within …

A Pandemic In The Educational Sphere: Collecting And Understanding Students' Responses To University Communication On Covid-19, Matthew R. Stapleton

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation addresses the lived experiences of Florida college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the communication that was provided to them through their university on the subject of the pandemic. This two-stage research process first involved the collection of survey responses on a variety of pandemic communication-centered topics from 39 university students from three universities (University of Central Florida, University of Florida, and University of South Florida). Second, a subsequent interview with 7 students provided qualitative information to further explicate themes and trends seen through data analysis.

Using health and technical communication alongside crisis communication analyses to understand what …

Meeting The Needs Of Diverse Esl Classrooms: A Team Approach To The Professional Development Of Educators, Alla Zareva, Silvana Watson

English Faculty Publications

The focus of this chapter is threefold: 1) To report on the effectiveness of a professional development program offered to elementary school educators to work effectively with diverse ELs; 2) to present the results from a pre-professional development survey which helped identify specific aspects of working with diverse ELs in immediate need of professional development; and 3) to discuss the wider implications of our findings and recommendations for teacher preparation programs. The chapter reports on three main areas of a year-long professional development training provided to teams of in-service elementary school teachers, school administrators, and other specialists (N=60) in the …

Increasing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Self-Efficacy In A Rural Primary Care Clinic Using Telehealth Education, Courtney Mccarty

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that causes a burden to people with the illness, to their families, and to the healthcare system worldwide. It is a preventable noncommunicable disease that causes significant economic global impacts, especially in areas of rurality and low socioeconomic status. Despite its prevalence in the United States, type 2 diabetes mellitus still poses increased rates of complications and mortality due to ineffective management, improper skills, and lack of knowledge to care for oneself. In addition, this population often lacks self-efficacy or the belief that they can manage and perform tasks to promote desired …

Computer-Based Simulation In Occupational Therapy Lecture Courses: A Program Evaluation Of Simulation Implementation, Lacy Wright, Lauren Foster, Lisa Mische Lawson

Translational Science in Occupation

The COVID-19 pandemic expedited the use of computer-based simulations in occupational therapy educational programs. Research supports computer-based simulations as an alternative to in-person clinical fieldwork experiences. However, a knowledge gap exists for the instructional design and implementation of computer-based simulations within occupational therapy lecture courses. In this program evaluation, faculty explored and implemented computer-based simulations in pediatric lecture courses, combining simulation best practices and varying instructional designs. Entry-level occupational therapy doctorate students shared their perspectives through a survey design quality improvement study. Student responses were gathered using the Simulation Evaluation Tool-Modified (SET-M) questionnaire and Student Feedback Survey to gather quantitative …

Computer Cravings In 20th Century Schools: From Creativity To Capitalism, Keely E. Amos

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the push for computers in education from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. During that time, computers were introduced into schools across America with big promises, in turn creating big dreams. Instead of the cognition, creativity, and collaboration that was envisioned with computers in the classroom, the shifting motivations regarding computers have exacerbated the datafication and standardization of our students (Cuban, 2001). The problems associated with the corporation of computers into the curriculum are widespread (Pinar et. al, 1995/2004). Following the methodology of Historiography, this paper provides a critical examination about what was promised, and by …

Music Education Within An Autism Support Classroom: Building Community And Educational Skills, Emma Lamberti

Honors Theses

The purpose of this action research study was to explore how music education might provide a sense of community, develop educational skills, and discuss general best practices for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a middle school autism support classroom. To examine community, educational skills, and best practices, this study completed two cycles of action research. The curriculum in Cycle 1 consisted of typical music lessons for a general music classroom. Interviews with teachers and students, video observations, and researcher reflections after each lesson were used to inform the development of Cycle 2. Cycle 2 retained the overall …

"Exceedingly Unpersuasive” - Discrimination, Transgender Students, And School Bathrooms, Mark Dorosin

Journal Publications

This Article is organized chronologically, in an effort to more effectively reflect the nearly identical fact patterns, timelines, and intersecting opinions of these cases. Part I provides the factual background of both cases. Part II summarizes the substantial preliminary litigation in Grimm; Part III examines the district court ruling in Adams; Part IV analyzes the summary judgment ruling in Grimm. Part V covers Adams’ first appellate ruling; Part VI discusses the Fourth Circuit’s ruling in Grimm three weeks later, and Part VII considers the aftermath of that decision. Parts VIII and IX explore the second panel ruling in Adams and …

A Structured Diabetes Continuous Glucose Monitor Education Program To Improve Patient Knowledge And Self-Efficacy, Krystal Abucevicz-Swick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction/background: Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a recommended method of glucose monitoring for patients living with diabetes who are on insulin or experience documented hypoglycemia. CGM is a tool that can improve patient management of diabetes but works best when paired with education to achieve the maximum therapeutic benefits.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was (1) to develop an evidence-based structured CGM education program toolkit for people with diabetes who are ordered CGM, (2) to implement the CGM education toolkit into the Diabetes Self-Management and Education Services (DSMES) program at the project site, (3) to improve patient knowledge about …

The Effects Of Technology-Enhanced Learning On Radiologic Sciences Student Engagement, Zack Gray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the multifaceted connection between technology-enhanced learning (TEL) and student engagement, with a specific emphasis on student perceptions, attitudes, and distractions associated with technology usage in the classroom. Recognizing the increasing prevalence of technology in educational settings, this study seeks to understand how students perceive technology in the learning environment and how these perceptions influence their attitudes toward its use. The research framework is anchored in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), providing a theoretical lens to assess the cognitive factors influencing student behavior.The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and observations to gather comprehensive insights into …

Improve Dysphagia Screening In Patients With Neurological Conditions Through Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Kendra Mcintosh

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: A macrosystem in Southern Massachusetts faces challenges in patients with neurological conditions recieveing a dysphagia screening prior to anything enter the patients mouth in the Emergency Room.

Local Problem: The educational gap identified in Registered Nurses regarding the frequency of screening being completed and the knowledge of the indications for a dysphagia screening.

Methods: Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act model, an educational intervention was implemented. An educational poster was displayed in the microsystem. Data was collected pre-and post-intervention through a survey to measure change.

Interventions: The educational poster was displayed in high-traffic areas of the microsystem. This educational poster included …

African American Adolescent Suicidality And Prevention From An Urban School Counselor Perspective, Shannon Franklin

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

African American adolescent suicidality has become more prevalent, and urban school counselors are positioned uniquely to intervene. This research studied the overarching societal factors in the sociocultural, economic, and political spheres that influence increased suicidality behaviors in African American adolescents from the perspective of urban school counselors. The focus of this research was to hear the lived experiences of urban school counselors regarding the impact of racial discrimination on African American adolescent suicidality. The two theoretical frameworks that were used to support this study are the world-systems analysis theory and critical race theory. This study took a qualitative phenomenological approach …

Teaching Children Programming Concepts Through Video Games, Kayla Musleh

Master's Projects

Children have a tendency to lose focus when they are presented with something that does not entertain them or tailor to their personal interests; such as studying [1], [3], [10]. The research performed for this project focuses on studying how much more children can comprehend and focus on learning educational material if they are learning through playing a video game rather than being taught information directly in a typical classroom manner. For this study I created a computer game designed to introduce educational subjects such as mathematics and programming concepts to the child playing the game. By completing the tasks …

An Exploration Of Misconceptions In Introductory Physics, Christopher Mattthew Wheatley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study of student misconceptions about physics concepts has long been an important area of inquiry in physics education research (PER). The research discussed in this dissertation builds upon the developments in PER by exploring the prevalence of consistently held undergraduate student misconceptions in introductory calculus-based physics. This thesis explores the nature of student misconceptions, mistakes, and naive answering patterns in both introductory undergraduate Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism by applying a network analytic technique called module analysis to student responses to different concept inventories from institutions of various levels of incoming physics preparation. Each study applying these methods also demonstrates …

Telehealth In Emergency Medicine Residency Training: A Model Curriculum, Laura Oh, Rahul Bhat, Michael J. Carr, Aditi U. Joshi, Bruce M. Lo, Ashley C. Rider, Lulu Wang, Michael C. Wadman, Samuel D. Luber

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

Emergency physicians are well-positioned to take a leadership role in telehealth, particularly in emerging categories such as triage, direct acute unscheduled care, and virtual observation. However, the growth of telehealth has outpaced curricular development in emergency medicine (EM) residency programs. This manuscript presents a model longitudinal telehealth curriculum, developed by the consensus of education experts, including representatives from the telehealth interest groups from EM's two primary specialty societies: the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. The curriculum describes overarching goals and components that may serve as a foundation for individual institutions seeking to train …

Predicting Graduate University Admission In Azerbaijan Using Multiple Regression, Günel Alasgarova

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Each year, Azerbaijani universities strive to attract the best candidates for graduate degrees within the academic hierarchy. Since 2005, one-third of undergraduates have been applying for master’s programs. The admission decisions primarily depend on the State Examination Center exam scores. This quantitative research mainly discusses the predictors of graduate university admission based on numerous factors using multiple linear regression. This study statistically measured four independent variables to predict university graduate admission scores in 2021 (GAS21). Significant differences were found between the average graduate admission scores of 2021 and those of 2020 (GAS20) and the percentage of students who scored >86%. …

The Effects Of Retirement Education, Priming And Presentation Order On Wealth Management Outcomes, Robert J. Glew

Open Access Dissertations

Over the past two decades the burden of funding one’s retirement income has been shifting from employers to employees. As a result, many employees have found themselves without the necessary replacement income at retirement and either continue to work or adjust their lifestyle to meet their income level. The scope of the problem has been described as a national concern. One potential solution is to provide individuals with retirement education to assist them when making retirement planning decisions. A significant amount of academic research has been conducted in this area, however, several recent meta-analyses have concluded mixed results about the …

Augmenting Back-Translation Decision Making With Latent Semantic Analysis: Predicting Expert Decisions With Semantic Similarity Scores From American Sign Language, Jared A. Embree

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focused on a novel improvement to the current method for adapting assessments into American Sign Language (ASL). Bilingual Deaf adults participated in back translations across the United States, and those back-translation decisions were assessed by human experts to judge similarity in meaning. Translations were compared to original text samples using two types of Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) models to compute semantic textual similarity (STS) scores, and to calculate weighted Youden Index (WYI) Scores. These scores were used to determine the ideal cutoff to be used when making judgments and compared to human expert decisions. The results revealed that …

What Black Teachers Have To Say About The Push To Remove Critical Race Theory In Schools, Tierra M. Tresvant

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Critical Race Theory (CRT) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in K-12 classrooms have been a contentious issue which has resulted in some U.S. states passing laws that prohibit these topics from being included in classrooms. Literature on critical race theory and the subsequent public policies have shown that professionals in the field of education are under informed about CRT and anti-CRT laws. This research paper explores the opinions of four black 6-12 educators on how DEI and CRT emerge in their classrooms, the implications anti-CRT laws would have on their classrooms, and how their careers would be impacted by …

Balancing Honest Assessment And Compassion For Learners Experiencing Burnout: A Workshop And Feedback Tool For Clinical Teachers, Gal Barak, Dana Foradori, H Barrett Fromme, Linessa Zuniga, Andrea Dean

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Burnout in medical trainees challenges their work effectiveness and impedes their ability to learn. Teachers in the clinical learning environment (CLE) are well situated to identify burnout and are often responsible for learner assessment.

METHODS: We developed a workshop to improve clinical teachers' identification and understanding of learner burnout while empowering them to provide constructive feedback and support. Building on best-practice feedback techniques and utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as a framework, we designed the GetINBurnOUT method to provide feedback and support for learners experiencing burnout. Applying Kern's six-step approach to curriculum development, we created and implemented a …

Further Development Of The Reflective Practice Questionnaire, Shane L. Rogers, Lon Van Winkle, Nicole Michels, Cherie Lucas, Hassan Ziada, Eduardo J. Da Silva, Amit Jotangia, Sebastian Gabrielsson, Silje Gustafsson, Lynn Priddis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This article provides an update of the Reflective Practice Questionnaire (RPQ). The original RPQ consisted of 40-items with 10-sub-scales. In this article, the RPQ is streamlined into a 10-item single reflective practice construct, and a 30-item extended version that includes additional sub-scales of confidence, uncertainty/ stress, and work satisfaction. Methods: A total of 501 university students filled out an online questionnaire that contained the original Reflective Practice Questionnaire, and two general measures of reflection: The Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, and the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire. Results: Based on factor analysis, the RPQ was streamlined into a brief 10-item version, and an …