Digital Commons Network^™

Thomas Jefferson: Slavery, Education, And The Public Mind, Brendan Lenahan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Thomas Jefferson’s autobiography reveals his continual struggle against slavery and his frustration at the resistance of the “public mind” in Virginia, predominantly composed of slave-owning aristocrats. Despite vocal condemnations of slavery, attempts to translate his anti-slavery stance into formal documents faced significant resistance from the society he aimed to change. Even within the House of Burgess, Jefferson's support for a bill allowing individual slave owners to free their slaves was met with contempt. His draft of the Declaration of Independence, condemning the King for slavery, was revised by delegates, impeded by both northern financiers of the slave trade and southern …

Improving Teacher Retention Within Archdiocese Of Washington Schools, Denise M. Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of teacher retention for the Archdiocese of Washington Schools and to design training to address the problem. Specifically, this study solicited input from teachers to help define and or identify (1) the need for teacher retention, (2) what type of school environment they work in, and (3) how a school environment affects teacher retention. Individual teacher and focus group interviews were conducted, and a survey was utilized for data collection and analysis. The measurement instruments captured data on target teachers regarding school environment/climate and job retention, specifically, years in …

Chronic Absenteeism: Exploring Causes, Impacts, And Interventions In Education, Arlee M. Hoag

Masters Projects

Chronic absenteeism among students presents a significant challenge within the educational landscape, impacting academic performance and contributing to educational disparities. This research delves into the multifaceted issue of chronic absenteeism, aiming to identify its root causes, implications, and potential interventions. The study examines diverse factors influencing student attendance, including socioeconomic barriers, health conditions, transportation challenges, and their subsequent impact on academic achievement. Moreover, it explores the inequities prevalent in absenteeism, aiming to shed light on disparities among student populations.

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 7, Issue 2, Fall 2023

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Fall 2023 issue (Volume 7, Issue 2) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Fall 2023 issue presents research and guidance on topics related to educational adaptation. The first article by C. Farrell describes an adaptation of the interteaching method to the hybrid delivery method. The second article by C. C. Loose and R. Jagielo-Manion describes a study of modules on personalized learning to preservice teachers and its impact on their comfort level and preparation to implement personalized learning in their classrooms. The third article by B. …

The Effects Of Education On Influenza Vaccination Uptake, Jazzlyn Lawson

MSN Capstone Projects

Influenza is a viral illness that occurs internationally and peaks in prevalence during the months of October to May. There are several types of influenza viruses: Influenza A, B, C, and D (CDC, 2023). Vaccines are available in the United States as early as the start of the flu season to those who wish to receive it. The influenza virus types covered by the annual flu vaccine include Influenzas A and B types (CDC, 2023). The influenza vaccine is recommended by the CDC with the intent to limit the occurrence and spread of influenza each year. Symptoms of influenza consist …

Enhancing Antenatal Education In Pakistan: An Audit And Recommendations, Maliha Abbas, Shelina Bhamani, Yasmin Kanjani, Lumaan Sheikh

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: Antenatal Education equips parents with knowledge for safe maternal health and infant care. It also reduces fear and anxiety during childbirth. ANE curriculum can vary according to country and institute. It can include classes focusing on childbirth, pain relief techniques, mode of birth, parenting, breastfeeding, breathing techniques, etc. Although ANE is widely practiced in developed countries, there is no standard program in developing countries like Pakistan. This study aims to improve antenatal education at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan potentially proposing an upgraded curriculum as a national standards
Methods: This multiphase study used mix-method design was conducted …

Academic Outcomes Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: Awareness And Action, Tanner B. Howe

Masters Projects

Research has shown that the online learning implemented during the COVID-19-related school closures had impacts on academic outcomes among secondary students. As schools operate in proximity to this event, it is crucial to investigate and understand those academic outcomes. Research suggests that mathematics and reading/language courses displayed negative academic outcomes for the period of online learning. Through this investigation, stress was observed to have played a major role during this period for secondary students and may have also contributed to the academic outcomes observed. This project seeks to raise awareness of possible student educational needs by shining light on the …

The Radical Power Of Education—Brief, Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, Thoai Ngo

Gender, Education, Justice, and Equity (GEJE)

This research brief summarizes the findings of GEJE’s recent report on the impact of education across society.

The Role Of Leaders In Implementing Effective Leadership Strategies Towards The Educational Barriers Of Us-Based Refugee Students: A Qualitative Case Study Of Congolese Refugee Students, Faustin Busane

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This qualitative research study explored the experiences of three families of refugee school students, two school officials (a Superintendent and a Principal), three teachers, and one humanitarian agent all living in a Southeastern U.S. city. The results of the study revealed that the language barrier is the main academic challenge that refugee students encounter when they enroll in U.S. schools. The study also found that educators conceptualize their responsibilities toward refugee children by emphasizing the importance of high-quality teaching, and establishing through establishing strong relationships between parents, school officials, and exercising patience in the process. This study poses important implications …

The Radical Power Of Education, Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, Thoai Ngo

Gender, Education, Justice, and Equity (GEJE)

When education works, people thrive and societies flourish alongside economies. We have made real progress on primary enrollment on the global scale, with 90% of children enrolling in school. However, completion rates lag far behind—only 77% of children complete lower secondary school and 58% complete upper secondary. Those numbers decline sharply for those living in poverty, for girls, and for Indigenous communities, with 44% of adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) either dropping out of primary school or never attending at all.

Low educational attainment and illiteracy exclude children from the freedoms that come with learning and also …

Brain Dance And Brain Power: Impact Of Movement On Problem-Solving Skills For Exceptional Learners, Kristin Crain

Master's Theses

The goal of this research was to answer the question: Q1 In what ways do Brain Dance type movements impact problem-solving skills for exceptional learners? The research was completed within the public education setting with a group of volunteer participants including one cooperating teacher and six student participants identified as exceptional learners. The researcher focused on problem-solving skills including identifying a problem, showing work, implementing a solution, and identifying a solution. Research instruments were created based on these skills including a pretest, posttest, and teacher rubric. Student participants completed the pretest prior to being introduced to movement exercises. The researcher …

Pathways To Liberty: What Colonial, Antebellum, And Postbellum Education Can Teach Us About Today, Danielle Wingfield

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Education is a critical part of nation-building. More specifically, it can also be a powerful pathway to liberty and a tool for disseminating knowledge. However, historically it has been used to subjugate and censor vulnerable groups like women, socio-economically disadvantaged persons, as well as men of color. Therefore, to avoid subordinating members of such minoritized groups and suppressing uncomfortable historical facts, advocates must continually evaluate the purpose and method of education. Such persistent monitoring can provide a basis for constructive reform of public education in the United States. Such reform must also consider changing social conditions.

Presently, for example, public …

Filming A Hidden Resource: The Soil In The Seventh Art Narrative, Antonio Ganga, Ludmila Ribeiro Roder, Enzo Antônio Paganini, Arun Dilipkumar Jani, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira, Gian Franco Capra

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The general public often perceives soil as a hidden resource. In recent years, the film industry has shown an increasing awareness about the soil environment. Indeed, as public opinion about environmental problems has increased, soil as a natural resource has become more popular in public discourse, and, consequently, the film industry, partly because of its ability to showcase public concerns and mainstream opinion. This review aims to identify depictions of soil in films and the following consequences regarding their impact on society. We investigated movies containing different perspectives and aimed to understand: i) the role of the soil environment in …

The Use Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In Esol Classes, Beth A. O. Haddinger

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is organized into five distinct chapters addressing multiple aspects of learning and engagement as it relates to English Language Learners (ELLs) in the classroom. First, the problem of practice is identified and explored. We, as educators, must look closely at instructional and systemic issues, actionable elements, broader strategies of improvement, and leverage, which refers to the ability of a program to motivate students and to generate a sense of practical value in academics. The next aspect of this dissertation proposal reviews the existing research literature. This literature review focuses on the specific learning needs of ELL students. Specifically …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Nuclear Security Training And Education In Ghana, Michael Nii Sanka Ansah, Boris Stepanov Pavlovich, Paul Atta Amoah, David Okoh Kpeglo, Simon Adu, Bright Kwame Afornu

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Growing attention is being given to nuclear power across several African countries, including in Ghana. The world is depending on nuclear energy as a reliable and efficient means of energy generation. Ghana as a country is developing nuclear energy; thus, equal attention must be directed toward nuclear safety and security. Ghana is gradually developing interest in and is devoting substantial required resources to educating and training on nuclear security to meet the standards required by international bodies. Institutions such as the Nuclear Safety and Security Centre and the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission …

The Impact Of The Migrant Education Program On The Children Of Seasonal Farmworkers, Lorrie Lynn M. Sizemore

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

It has long been understood that the children of migrant workers are among the most vulnerable populations of students in the U.S. educational system. In response to this, the federal government created the Migrant Education Program in 1966 and in 1979 placed the program under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education. But is the program achieving its aim of providing equity to these children and young adults? Finding the answer to that research question is the purpose of this senior capstone, which is to examine the impact of the Migrant Education Program on children of seasonal farm workers. …

Determinants Of Wage And Employment Disparities For Tvet And High School Graduates, Sean Kirstin E. Benzon, Sabine Noelle Co Chan, Joshua Tristan Navarro Dita, Arianne Navarro Pastrana, Maria Fe Carmen Dabbay, Lawrence B. Dacuycuy, Gerardo L. Largoza

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was institutionalized by the Philippine government in order to fill in the gaps left by the higher education system in transitioning students to the formal workforce. However, recent studies suggest that TVET graduates have a difficult time gaining employment and wage increases because of skills supply and demand mismatches and the devaluation of TVET degrees. The mismatch is observed through the high unemployment rates of TVET graduates and various job availabilities that could not be filled up by these graduates due to the incompatibility of skills formation with job requirements which is evident in …

Support Families’ Increased Access To Dental Care, Carmen Barron

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Monterey County Oral Health Program is a program of the Monterey County Health Department housed under the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Unit. The Oral Health Program focuses on providing educational workshops to parents and classroom presentations to Kindergarten and first graders students. They provide services to schools that have a rate of 80% or higher of students enrolled in Free or Reduced-Price meals (FRPM). Studies show that minority students with low socioeconomic status (SES) have higher rates of untreated cavities in their primary teeth than non-Hispanic White students. The purpose of this project is to provide and educate …

Building Stronger Student-Teacher Relationships With Students Of Color, Diana Berlanga

Masters Projects

This project examines the racial disparity that exists among students of color and positive teacher-student relationships. Research shows that teacher bias influences teachers' perception of students of color. Teacher social identities play a role in how teachers build student-teacher relationships, which affects some students of color experience in school. For instance, students of color are less likely to experience academic recommendations and more likely to receive harsh discipline. However, research shows that teachers can improve their teacher bias by self-discovering their teacher’s social identity in the classroom. In addition, teachers could improve their interactions with students of color by exploring …

Psychological Effects Of Immigration: A Comprehensive Review Exploring Social Identity, Acculturation And The Effects Of Cultural Attitudes And Systemic Factors On The Well-Being Of Immigrants, Huda Abu Nasab

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Immigration is a life-altering experience that can greatly affect an individual's identity, sense of belongingness, and well-being. The United States is known as a nation of immigrants; however, many immigrants have faced challenges related to assimilation and the development of their social identities in a new society. For example, immigration challenges often include adapting to a new culture, learning a different language, and navigating unfamiliar healthcare and educational systems. There are many factors that influence how immigrants adjust in their host country, such as acculturation challenges, cultural attitudes towards immigrants, and the availability of essential resources. This literature review aims …

Prevalence Of Diabetes In Monterey County, Irenee Judith Flores-Morgado

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Aspire Health is a nonprofit organization that collaborates with community partners to improve the health and well-being for residents in Monterey County. In Monterey County, about 50% of the adult population is affected with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Aspire Health provides a free diabetes education module to students in Monterey County grade K-12, where they learn about diabetes and how to make healthier lifestyle choices. The project consisted of launching a texting feature that provided resources on diabetes. The purpose was to raise awareness and education about diabetes in Monterey County by providing local resources on diabetes with the …

Widening The Aperture: A Case Study Of Widening The Definition Of Evidence For Strategy, Jennifer James, Sandra Hilliard

The Foundation Review

The need to “widen the aperture” to consider different types and sources of evidence is paramount to sharpening grantmaking strategies that are in service of those we seek to serve. This article describes an underlying process of identifying and applying equity considerations in the evidence considered for strategy development in the context of a large, national foundation.

The aim was to develop a “common evidence base” — the core of which was a database library — and what was understood from the evidence was synthesized to bring together what was currently known, the edges of the foundation’s understanding, and emerging …

Efficacy Meets Inquiry: Impact Of Lesson Study And Reflective Inquiry On The Development Of Novice Teacher Self-Efficacy, Taylor B. Hering

All Dissertations

Novice teachers often struggle to meet the demands of an expansive workload in their first years in the classroom. As reality sets in, district, school, parent, and communal needs often diminish the excitement of their first classroom, thus leading to low rates of teacher efficacy and early-career burnout. This is an educational dilemma because teacher vacancies are rising in schools such as Mockingbird High, a southeastern school with high poverty rates and varying racial demographics. This study aimed to determine if Lewis and Hurd’s (2011) lesson study model, an instructional intervention, influences novice teacher efficacy during the transitional period from …

The Effects Of Adolescent Trauma, Mental Health Treatment, And Demographic Variables On Educational Outcome, Christopher Postema

Dissertations

Poor educational performance in adolescence can occur due to trauma, substance use, or other stressors. This study used conflict theory as a foundation, suggesting differences in educational outcomes can be attributed to systems perpetuating the current power structures that cause inequality in academic opportunities and performance. Trauma in adolescence can have adverse effects on educational outcomes and emotional stability. Research suggests that mental health therapy as well as a reduction in trauma symptoms can improve educational outcomes. Race, gender, substance use, socioeconomic status, and employment are important variables that could influence educational outcomes. Interaction terms were found in the literature …

Potential Interventions For Policy Support Targeting Justice Involved People With Mental Illness, Betel Alexis Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Many people hold the misconception that people with mental illness are dangerous. Consequently, people with mental illness are often feared. This stigma is reinforced by the overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the criminal legal system. However, many people with mental illness struggle with the legal system due to ineffective policies making it difficult to adequately identify and treat this population within the legal system. The current studies aimed to understand public support of correctional policy aimed at people with mental illness, examine attitudinal factors that may be associated with this support, and test potential interventions for decreasing stigma …

The Intersection Of Community Socioeconomic Factors With Gender On Outcomes After Thoracic Aortic Surgery, Ourania Preventza, Elizabeth Akpan-Smart, Katherine K. Simpson, Lorraine D. Cornwell, Hiruni Amarasekara, Susan Y. Green, Subhasis Chatterjee, Scott A. Lemaire, Joseph S. Coselli

School of Medicine Publications

Objective

We evaluated the relationship among community socioeconomic factors (poverty, income, and education), gender, and outcomes in patients who underwent ascending aortic, root, and arch surgery.

Methods

For 2634 consecutive patients, we associated patients' ZIP codes with community socioeconomic factors. The composite adverse outcome comprised death, persistent neurological injury, and renal failure necessitating dialysis at discharge. Multivariable analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival curveswere used. Men and women from the full cohort and from the elective patients were propensity matched.

Results

Median follow-up was 3.6 years (interquartile range, 1.2-9.3). Men lived in areas characterized by less poverty (P = …

The Intersection Of Community Socioeconomic Factors With Gender On Outcomes After Thoracic Aortic Surgery, Ourania Preventza, Elizabeth Akpan-Smart, Katherine K Simpson, Lorraine D Cornwell, Hiruni Amarasekara, Susan Y Green, Subhasis Chatterjee, Scott A Lemaire, Joseph S Coselli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: We evaluated the relationship among community socioeconomic factors (poverty, income, and education), gender, and outcomes in patients who underwent ascending aortic, root, and arch surgery.

Methods: For 2634 consecutive patients, we associated patients' ZIP codes with community socioeconomic factors. The composite adverse outcome comprised death, persistent neurological injury, and renal failure necessitating dialysis at discharge. Multivariable analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used. Men and women from the full cohort and from the elective patients were propensity matched.

Results: Median follow-up was 3.6 years (interquartile range, 1.2-9.3). Men lived in areas characterized by less poverty (P = .03), higher …

The 2023 Model Core Content Of Disaster Medicine, Bryan J Wexler, Carl Schultz, Paul D Biddinger, Gregory Ciottone, Angela Cornelius, Robert Fuller, Roxanna Lefort, Andrew Milsten, James Phillips, Ira Nemeth

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Disaster Medicine (DM) is the clinical specialty whose expertise includes the care and management of patients and populations outside conventional care protocols. While traditional standards of care assume the availability of adequate resources, DM practitioners operate in situations where resources are not adequate, necessitating a modification in practice. While prior academic efforts have succeeded in developing a list of core disaster competencies for emergency medicine residency programs, international fellowships, and affiliated health care providers, no official standardized curriculum or consensus has yet been published to date for DM fellowship programs based in the United States.

Study objective: The objective …

Immunoassay Urine Drug Testing Among Patients Receiving Opioids At A Safety-Net Palliative Medicine Clinic, John M Halphen, Joseph A Arthur, Soraira Pacheco, Linh M T Nguyen, Nikitha N Samy, Nathaniel R Wilson, Gregory Sattler, Shane E Wing, Rex A D Paulino, Christine Feng, Pulin Shah, Simbiat Olayiwola, Bradley Cannell, Supriyanka Addimulam, Riddhi Patel, David Hui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the use of immunoassay urine drug testing of cancer patients in palliative care clinics.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the frequency of immunoassay urine drug test (UDT) abnormalities and the factors associated with aberrancy at a safety-net hospital palliative medicine clinic.

METHODS: A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of consecutive eligible patients seen at the outpatient palliative medicine clinic in a resource-limited safety-net hospital system was conducted between 1 September 2015 and 31 December 2020. We collected longitudinal data on patient demographics, UDT findings, and potential predictors of aberrant results.

RESULTS: Of the 913 patients …

Affirming And Supporting Black Women’S Lactation Agency As Redress, Dorothy Couchman

San Diego Law Review

This Article opens with Truth baring her breasts for four reasons. First, for many women like Truth who survived enslavement, lactation was a specifically gendered and racialized site of atrocity. Under chattel slavery in the United States, enslaved women were prevented from breastfeeding their infants as needed, compelled to wean their children far too early at the demands of their enslavers, or made to wet-nurse their enslavers’ White children in place of their own. This lactational coercion was part of a larger atrocity of reproductive abuse perpetuated against enslaved women.

Second, as Truth notes, enslaved women’s children were harmed when …