Digital Commons Network^™

English Literacy Rates Across The United States, Hailey Reisinger

Masters Theses

Literacy rates among students in the United States have been at an all-time low for the last several years. There have been many factors to this including but not limited to, the COVID-19 pandemic, technology, teacher shortages, and chronic absenteeism. This study looks into the literacy rate decline, the mentioned factors, and what is being done to improve the literacy proficiency among students across the country. This study also looks at what is specifically being done for school divisions across the Commonwealth of Virginia, focusing on one school in particular, Culpeper Middle School.

Disparities Among Medical Students Interested In Ophthalmology At Matriculation And Graduation, Saumya Copparam, Christine Xu, Manuela Herrera, Yunyi Ren, Sili Fan, Melody Y. Hou, Glenn Yiu

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose:

Ophthalmology is one of the least diverse specialties in the U.S., but disparities in medical student interest in the field are unknown. We aim to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with U.S. medical students’ interest in pursuing ophthalmology at matriculation and graduation.

Study Design:

Retrospective cross-sectional and cohort study of U.S. medical students who completed the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) or Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) survey between 2013 and 2022. We compared factors such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, parent income, and debt between students interested in ophthalmology versus other specialties …

(Re)Learning About Learning: Using Cases From Popular Media To Extend And Complicate Our Understandings Of What It Means To Learn And Teach, Kelli Bippert, Dennis Davis, Margaret Rose Hilburn, Jennifer D. Hooper, Deepti Kharod, Cinthia Rodriguez, Rebecca Stortz

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This article utilizes sociocultural and socio-constructivist learning theories to analyze incidents of learning, and by extension teaching, in six different popular media selections. The authors describe their shared theoretical framework and the nature of the original analyses, which were completed as part of a doctoral course assignment. Each of the six excerpts is then described and discussed employing unique theoretical perspectives. The use of popular culture as the context for examining learning and teaching provides a space untethered from traditional notions of schooling through which typically accepted assumptions about pedagogy are revealed, re-examined, and reframed.

Effect Of Virtual Reality Technology On Computer Science/Engineering Based Laboratories Education – A Case Study, Mariam A. Al Nuaimi

Theses

Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly popular and essential in education as institutions strive to incorporate technology in education. In Engineering and Computer Science, students face difficulties in comprehending many abstract complex concepts that are typically studied in Labs. This situation worsens with hardware failure and the lack of pedagogical tools. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the impact of VR environments on learning advanced and complex STEM concepts. We also explore the impact of different human-computer interaction (HCI) techniques including gamification on the learning experience of STEM students. To measure such impact, we developed a VR …

Ai And Data Science For Public Policy, Kenneth Benoit

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) and data science are reshaping public policy by enabling more data-driven, predictive, and responsive governance, while at the same time producing profound changes in knowledge production and education in the social and policy sciences. These advancements come with ethical and epistemological challenges surrounding issues of bias, transparency, privacy, and accountability. This special issue explores the opportunities and risks of integrating AI into public policy, offering theoretical frameworks and empirical analyses to help policymakers navigate these complexities. The contributions explore how AI can enhance decision-making in areas such as healthcare, justice, and public services, while emphasising the need …

Project Change The Curriculum: Addressing The Health Disparities In Education Of Children With Learning Disabilities, Sarah Yoon

Leadership Connection

This study created the Project Change the Curriculum (Project CC), which is an academic curriculum designed to provide the resources to children with learning disabilities from low SES. Our goal to find the ideal curriculum and to end the stigma around learning disabilities in minority communities.

Advanced Nursing Education: Critical Factors That Influence Diploma And Associate Degree Nurses To Advance, Rose L. Mcghie-Anderson

Leadership Connection

Session presented on Monday, September 19, 2016:

This grounded theory study sought to unearth the critical factors that motivate nurses to advance academically. The study aimed to gain an understanding of the social processes associated with the decision of diploma and associate degree nurses to advance their nursing education.

Ten Challenges And Opportunities In Computational Immuno-Oncology, Riyue Bao, Alan Hutson, Anant Madabhushi, Vanessa D Jonsson, Spencer R Rosario, Jill S Barnholtz-Sloan, Elana J Fertig, Himangi Marathe, Lyndsay Harris, Jennifer Altreuter, Qingrong Chen, James Dignam, Andrew J Gentles, Edgar Gonzalez-Kozlova, Sacha Gnjatic, Erika Kim, Mark Long, Martin Morgan, Eytan Ruppin, David Van Valen, Hong Zhang, Natalie Vokes, Daoud Meerzaman, Song Liu, Eliezer M Van Allen, Yi Xing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immuno-oncology has transformed the treatment of cancer, with several immunotherapies becoming the standard treatment across histologies. Despite these advancements, the majority of patients do not experience durable clinical benefits, highlighting the imperative for ongoing advancement in immuno-oncology. Computational immuno-oncology emerges as a forefront discipline that draws on biomedical data science and intersects with oncology, immunology, and clinical research, with the overarching goal to accelerate the development of effective and safe immuno-oncology treatments from the laboratory to the clinic. In this review, we outline 10 critical challenges and opportunities in computational immuno-oncology, emphasizing the importance of robust computational strategies and interdisciplinary …

The Peace Project: Creating Elementary School Peace Spaces And Places, Whitney Mcintyre Miller, Annmary S. Abdou, Cristie Suzukawa Clancy, Kelly Stephens

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: This pilot case study paper demonstrates how school programming can be aligned and enhanced to better create a climate of peace on an elementary school campus by utilizing an integral peace leadership lens. Working collectively as a Peace Leadership Advisory Group, the elementary school leadership team, and the university research team helped to align existing programming and explore and implement new programming to create a comprehensive plan for bringing peace ideas together at the elementary school level.

Methods: This pilot was a single case study that utilized Participatory Action Research. Data were collected through observation, survey, and interviews with …

Professional Development: A Mixed Methods Study Of Masters Of Public Health Alumni, Orna Baron-Epel, Yana Douvdevany, Dana Ivancovsky-Wajcman, Paul Barach, Osnat Bashkin, Katarzyna Czabanowska, Keren Dopelt, Nadav Davidovitch, Szczepan Jakubowski, Fiona Macleod, Maureen Malowany, Leah Okenwa-Emegwa, Maya Peled-Raz, Shira Zelber-Sagi

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: We examined the perceptions of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree graduates regarding their personal competencies, job performance and professional development using a mixed method, explanatory sequential design.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire of the Haifa School of Public Health alumni who graduated between 2005 and 2022 was disseminated to 849 graduates between March and June 2022, from which 127 responded (response rate: 14.90%). This was followed by 24 in-depth interviews with alumni from the same sample (conducted between November 2022 and March 2023).

RESULTS: The sample included 74.8% of females with a mean age of 40.7 years, …

The Attitudes, Perceptions, And Motivations Of Student-Athletes In Intermediate Algebra, Alexandra Green

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research delves into the attitudes, perceptions, and motivations of student-athletes enrolled in Intermediate Algebra courses. It focuses on the distinct challenges they encounter in juggling academic and athletic responsibilities at a southeastern university in the United States. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study gathered quantitative data through surveys to assess students' attitudes, perceptions, and motivations toward learning mathematics, as well as to determine the influence of their instructors on these factors. The qualitative segment provided deeper insights into their personal experiences, shedding light on their prior encounters with mathematics, their most memorable moments during the current course, and their …

Searching For The Path To A More Perfect Union. A Book Review Of Educating For Democracy, Tiffany Berman, Aaron Mccullough, Rabih Murr, David Adams

Democracy & Education

Educating for Democracy presents Walter Feinberg’s vision for the democratic aims of education. Feinberg argues that the evolutionary nature of democracy should be met with a citizenry capable of critical reflection. Education for democracy, then, entails the development of cognitive and affective habits that underpin this critical reflexivity. However, Educating for Democracy asserts that such education should be embedded across curricular areas and not limited solely to civics education. In this review of Educating for Democracy, we begin by providing a broad overview of Feinberg’s foundational arguments presented in the opening chapters. Next, we identify specific themes developed in these …

Enhancing Democracy Through P-20 School-University Partnerships In Teacher Education: Implications For Educational Leaders, Rebecca West Burns

Democracy & Education

The purpose of this paper is to share how schools and universities can partner intentionally through Professional Development Schools to enhance democracy by answering the questions: (1) What is it about Professional Development Schools, as robust school-university partnerships, that give voice to teachers to enhance democracy, particularly in a high-stakes accountability climate? and (2) How can schools and universities create robust partnerships to empower teachers’ voices in a high-stakes accountability climate? The paper argues that educational leaders in schools and universities must change their mindset and their practice to form partnerships in ways that rethink teacher preparation, induction, and professional …

Democratic Practices As Part Of Mathematical Modeling In Schools, Lisa Steffensen, Inger Elin Lilland, Shengtian Zhou

Democracy & Education

We focus on how democratic practices occur during the modeling activity “The Candy Bag of Dreams.” With democratic practices, we refer to approaches supporting inclusivity and active participation aimed at empowering students. We investigated one group of preservice teachers implementing an optimizing modeling activity during practicum in two fifth-grade classes, where students modeled their dream candy bags. Students engaged in mathematical modeling where mathematics was embedded in their social context, and they negotiated meanings and developed perspectives. Through this, they experienced lived democracy by actively engaging in and through democratic practices.

We found democratic practices such as students inviting peers …

Gender And Sexuality Awareness In Medical Education And Practice: Mixed Methods Study, Rola Khamisy-Farah, Eden Biras, Rabie Shehadeh, Ruba Tuma, Hisham Atwan, Anna Siri, Manlio Converti, Francesco Chirico, Łukasz Szarpak, Carlo Biz, Raymond Farah, Nicola Bragazzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The integration of gender and sexuality awareness in health care is increasingly recognized as vital for patient outcomes. Despite this, there is a notable lack of comprehensive data on the current state of physicians' training and perceptions in these areas, leading to a gap in targeted educational interventions and optimal health care delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The study's aim was to explore the experiences and perceptions of attending and resident physicians regarding the inclusion of gender and sexuality content in medical school curricula and professional practice in Israel.

METHODS: This cross-sectional survey targeted a diverse group of physicians across various specializations …

Does Restricting Access To Credit Affect Learning Outcomes? Evidence From A Regulatory Shock To Microfinance In India, Muneer Kalliyil, Soham Sahoo

Working Papers

This study examines how restricted access to microfinance by households affects children’s learning outcomes, utilizing a unique natural experiment that halted all microfinance operations in Andhra Pradesh (AP), India, in 2010. The analysis exploits quasi-random variation in district-level exposure to the shock in states other than AP, as the regulation affected lenders’ liquidity nationwide. Using difference in-differences and event study designs, we find a significant and persistent decline in children’s learning outcomes. The restoration of credit access does not fully reverse these effects, highlighting the long-term consequences of short-term financial disruptions. As plausible mechanisms, we find a shift in enrollment …

The State Of Gender And Education Needs In Kenya: The Missing Step Toward Gender Equity, Lina López-Lalinde, Meredith Kozak, Eva Ireri Muluve, Ruth Nanjekho Wafubwa, Erica Soler-Hampejsek

Gender Equality and Equity

The Kenya Gender and Education Roadmap is a series of four evidence briefs designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the gender and education landscape in Kenya. Drawing from a variety of key data sources, including the Population Council’s Evidence for Gender and Education Resource (EGER) Database, DHS and national-level datasets, and recent literature from East Africa the series provides data-driven insights into gender-related barriers to schooling, especially for girls. By combining needs assessments, current evidence, and practice-based research, the series sheds light on the alignments and gaps in Kenya’s efforts to achieve gender equity in education. This brief aims …

Trends In U.S. Smoking And Cessation: Insights From 2015-2022, Nhan Phan '26, Thinh Nguyen '26, Naima Shifa

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Our project focuses on analyzing trends in smoking and cessation rates among U.S. adults between 2015 and 2022, using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The goal of the study was to explore how key demographic factors such as age, gender, income, and education impact smoking behaviors and quitting efforts. By employing both descriptive statistics and logistic regression, we identified disparities in smoking prevalence and cessation rates across these demographic groups. The findings suggest that while smoking rates have generally declined, there remain significant differences in outcomes based on socio-demographic variables. This work provides insights that could …

“It’S Not A One-Person Show” E-Learning Course In Neuropalliative Care: A Qualitative Analysis Of Participants’ Educational Gains And Self-Reported Outcomes, Sarah K. Bublitz, Mara Lugassy, Roop Gursahani, Winnie Lau

Open Access archive

Objectives. Patients with progressive neurologic illness still lack access to quality palliative care services. Barriers to the comprehensive provision of neuropalliative care include gaps in palliative care education. To address this barrier, a novel international model of neuropalliative care education e-learning program was launched in 2022. Methods. This is a qualitative study on the self-reported learning outcomes and educational gains of participants of a neuropalliative care e-learning course. Results. Thematic analysis shows changes in the participants’ perceptions of neuropalliative care and several specific educational gains. After attending the course, participants recognized neuropalliative care as a multiprofessional and interdisciplinary effort requiring …

Gender Portrayal In A Nursing Textbook In Oman: Striving For Equality, Adnan Mohammed Bataineh, Ebrahim Douzandeh, Kashif Ali Sabiri

Journal of International Women's Studies

This paper aims to analyze gender representation in English for Nursing 1: Vocational English Course Book (Ros et al., 2012) used to teach English for Specific Purposes courses to nursing students at the University of Buraimi in Oman. Quantitative and qualitative content analyses were used to investigate the following categories: images, occupational roles, names, pronouns, and gender firstness. Study findings show that women, in general, are more visible than men in the following categories: images, gender firstness, terms of address, and names. Pronouns are the only category in which men outnumbered women. Although traditional gender norms in the workplace are …

Use And Awareness Of Open Educational Resources Of Students And Faculty Of Nrupathunga University: A Study, Jayamma Kv, Sathish P Mr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Open Educational Resources (OER) are digital texts, news media, and other types of resources publicly accessible under an open license, and they can be used for teaching, learning, evaluation, and research. OER is the term for information and products that are freely used, remixed, improved, and redistributed by anybody with the owner's permission under specific licenses. These are designed to be adjusted for regionally unique circumstances to reduce barriers to accessibility through efficient instruction. The creation and promotion of free educational resources are often motivated by providing a better and alternative educational perspective. Open educational resources are educational, research, and …

Qualitative Investigation Of School Experiences In Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Julia M Morales, Andrew D Wiese, Whitney S Shepherd, Gianna M Colombo, Selena Guo, Justin Qian, W Conor Rork, Hannah Cho, Kristin M Kostick-Quenet, Dianne Nguyen, Erin M Carter, Michelle L Fynan, Members Of The Bbdc, Chaya N Murali, Marie-Eve Robinson, Sophie C Schneider, Brendan Lee, V Reid Sutton, Eric A Storch

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic chronic condition leading to fragile bones and frequent bone fractures with wide-reaching health implications. Current literature suggests that children with chronic diseases face unique challenges at school, yet research regarding educational concerns among those with OI is limited. The present study involved qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 10 children with OI and 12 caregivers of a child with OI. Children and caregivers participated in the interviews individually; they were not dyads of participants. Half of the caregivers who participated had OI themselves. The interviews were coded, and six themes were identified: (1) …

Collaborative Co-Design: Transforming Traditional Professional Development, Cristo Leon, James Lipuma

STEM for Success Resources

Objective: The primary aim of this project was to develop the "Online Professional Learning Exchange" (OPLE), a platform designed to support blended learning and facilitate a shift towards a Community of Practice (CoP) model. By integrating face-to-face, blended, and fully online learning situations, this move was intended to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of professional development. Theoretical Framework: The project was grounded in theories of adult learning and community of practice. It utilized these frameworks to foster an environment where educators could collaboratively design and engage with learning materials. This approach aimed to promote sustained professional growth and mastery of …

Perceptions Of Pharmacy Students Towards The Transition To Online Communication In Learning: Lessons From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Wejdan Shroukh

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study aims to explore the experiences of pharmacy students at Middle East University (MEU) in the transition to online communication in pharmacy education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the academic year 2021/2022.The current study follows an inductive qualitative research design based on conducting semi-structured interviews with students. Thematic analysis of data was carried out, and the six phases of analysis described by Braun and Clarke were followed. Data analysis yielded the following themes: acceptance of the transition to online communication in pharmacy education, the perceived difficulty of online courses delivered during the pandemic, drawbacks of online communication in pharmacy …

A Platform For Integrating Internet Of Things, Machine Learning, And Big Data Practicum In Electrical Engineering Curricula, Nandana Jayachandran, Atef Abdrabou, Naod Yamane, Anwer Al-Dulaimi

All Works

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and machine learning (ML) has pioneered a transformation across several fields. Equipping electrical engineering students to remain abreast of the dynamic technological landscape is vital. This underscores the necessity for an educational tool that can be integrated into electrical engineering curricula to offer a practical way of learning the concepts and the integration of IoT, big data, and ML. Thus, this paper offers the IoT-Edu-ML-Stream open-source platform, a graphical user interface (GUI)-based emulation software tool to help electrical engineering students design and emulate IoT-based use cases with big data analytics. …

White Paper: Embracing Responsible Use Of Chatgpt In Education, Monica J. Weir

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper presents challenges and opportunities for integration of ChatGPT, an artificial general intelligence (AGI) model developed by Open AI, in education. Drawing parallels to prior technological innovations in education including handheld calculators, the author asserts that the primary solution lies in guiding students to develop skills for responsible use of available resources. While debates surrounding the use of ChatGPT and plagiarism, misinformation, and ethics are valid, this paper stresses the importance for open conversations and growth mindset. The proposed solution includes a responsible use policy for ChatGPT in the classroom, which emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, continuous feedback, ethical …

An Examination Of The Factors That Affect The Recruitment And Retention Of African American Male Teachers In Public Schools, Brandon M. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative explanatory case study is to explain the underrepresentation of African American male teachers in public school education in the state of Arkansas through the lens of the teacher diversity gap and organizational commitment. Participants included 10 African American male teachers who taught in grades K-12 in public schools. The primary source of data collection was completed through the use of semi structured interviews via Zoom. Findings indicated that school districts, educational agencies and the local government should collectively increase their efforts to successfully recruit African American males to the teaching profession. Specifically, the findings suggested …

Lateral Entry Secondary Career And Technical Education Teachers' Perception Of Teacher Self-Efficacy: A Phenomenological Study, Chunnisee T. Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe lateral entry career and technical education (CTE) teachers’ experiences with self-efficacy within a secondary school in the southcentral region of the United States. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, the study aimed to uncover the subjective experiences and perspectives of lateral entry CTE teachers as they navigated their teaching roles. The central research question addressed was: How did lateral entry CTE teachers describe experiences of self-efficacy development in a secondary school in the southcentral region of the United States? A sample of 10 lateral entry secondary CTE teachers who meet all …

Hip Hop Performing Arts Charter Schools: The Future Of Arts Education In Predominantly Non-White, Low Income, Underserved Rural Areas Of Louisiana, Anthony P. Shelton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Some still view arts education as a non-essential extracurricular activity despite its benefits. Even though the Every Student Succeeds Act acknowledges arts education is a healthy and well-rounded subject, local, district, and state administrators still control budget allocation and cuts, which generally affect arts education. There has also been a decline or lack of interest in traditional learning methods in the arts and core subjects. Alternative student learning forms have shown benefits in suburban, urban, and inner-city schools. Still, there is little information about these methods in predominantly non-white rural schools. Research using qualitative methods examines the potential effectiveness of …

The Qualitative Ethnographic Research Of The Relationship Related To Parental Involvement, Community Support, And School Administrative Substructure Amid To Inner-City Title-I High School Band Programs In Memphis, Tennessee, Thomas Akil Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative ethnographic research investigated the fundamental unsubstantiated relationship related to parental involvement, community support, and school administrative substructure amid two inner-city Title-I high school band programs. This qualitative research embraced an ethnographic process managed by anthropology and sociology approached framework geared to study cultural responses over some time based on similar analytical cultural statistics. This study depicts the socioeconomic domain of a high school band community, highlighting key factors that add to the success and decline of the inner-city and Title-I high school band programs. It was conducted within Memphis, TN, within the North Memphis region, outlining the Raleigh, …