Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Visualization Type And Gender On Multimedia Learning Performance: An Experimental Study, Ziji Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The widespread availability of multimedia learning resources, driven by technological progress, presents both opportunities and challenges in education. While these resources, often designed with animations to aid learning, their effectiveness in learning across STEM and non-STEM fields remains controversial. Besides, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to understanding how individual learner characteristics such as gender and spatial ability influence effectiveness of multimedia learning.

This dissertation examined the impact of visualization type and gender on learning algorithms (STEM) and Chinese characters (non-STEM) after accounting for the effect of spatial ability, focusing on learning outcomes and cognitive load. The fact that males …

Policy Recommendations For Higher Education Institutions To Begin Advancing From Digital Transformation To Bifurcation, Noel Fitzpatrick, Paul Hayes, Jan Cornelius Schmidt, Ester Toribio-Roura, Ceri Almrott, Camila D’Bastiani, Dominik Gager, Gerald Gallagher, Paul Grimm, Alessandra Sannella, Stela Stoykova

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of School Closing Mandates On Student Performance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Study, Cody Ryan Ratliff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this embedded single case study was to describe the lack of student needs support during the COVID-19 pandemic for parents of middle school students at a county board of education in West Virginia. (Chiwona et al., 2020; Devereux et al., 2020; Dunn et al., 2020). The theory guiding this study was Abraham Maslow’s (1943) theory on the hierarchy of needs, which demonstrated an impact on student performance. This qualitative single-case study utilized an embedded approach. The central research question this study aimed to answer was to describe how a lack of necessary resources affected students during the …

Teacher Perspectives Of Supporting High School Students Who Are Sex Trafficked In Northeast Ohio: A Qualitative Study, Melanie Timco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the perspectives of supporting students who are actively sex trafficked for the teachers at high schools in Northeast Ohio. The theory guiding the study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it applies to the formation of teacher perspectives based on cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Teachers shared their perspective of supporting students who were actively sex trafficked in high school through hermeneutic phenomenology. I utilized criteria and snowball sampling of 12 high school teachers in Northeast Ohio. Open-ended surveys, interviews, and focus groups were conducted with teachers to render their …

The Indications Of The Need For Training For Biblical Worship Principles In Evangelical Churches In Texas, Carlos Benson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite numerous Evangelical churches in Texas, most churchgoers hold limited ideas about what defines worship. There is a shortage of biblically principled teaching in the Evangelical Church, particularly in the areas of First and God-honoring worship and its practices, including the Great Commission. This research primarily defines and explores the current state of worship in the Evangelical Church. This research examines how the original Adam and Eve beings, created to worship, have transformed into present-day worshipers. Today's worshipers include Sunday-only attendees, schedule-driven individuals, and spiritually drained souls, with a particular focus on those in Texas. This study will also provide …

A Study Of The Impact Of The Impostor Syndrome On Women Of Color In Leadership Roles In Predominantly White Institutions, Alecia M. Ho-Sang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the emotional, spiritual, and physical ramifications of impostor syndrome on women of color in leadership roles within predominantly white institutions using social cognitive theory. The impostor syndrome was coined in 1978 by psychologists Suzanne Inmes and Pauline Rose Clance (Clance & Imes, 1978, p. 241). It is the experience of individuals who, despite possessing the qualifications for esteemed positions, attribute their achievements to sheer luck. Benefitting from diverse social and organizational theories, including achievement goal theory and social identity theory, this study draws on social cognitive theory. It illustrates the multifaceted impact of environmental, behavioral, …

Storytelling Pedagogy To Promote Musical Expression Through Community Building In The High School Ensemble Class, Hector E. Ayerdiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite research on technical pedagogical techniques to improve musicianship in students, there are still some non-conventional pedagogical approaches that educators have not researched in detail. Among these is purposeful storytelling to develop community and vulnerability in students to enhance musical expression and technique. This study sought to understand the impact of the music teachers' use of storytelling on high school music ensemble students. It also investigated storytelling's usefulness in developing music skills and techniques in students by forming positive learning environments. Guided by narrative design, this qualitative research study looked at the phenomenon of storytelling in the high school music …

Changing Hearts And Minds: Educating Medical Students To Transform Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Organ Donation, Matilin G. Rigsby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The national organ shortage is exacerbated by physicians who, contrary to federal mandates, do not refer patients with organ donation potential in a timely fashion. Whereas United States medical school curricula widely omit organ donation-related topics, literature demonstrates that educating future physicians significantly improves those students’ ability to understand and positively perceive donation, influencing their willingness to refer donor candidates. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if an educational module among fourth-year medical students at Texas A&M University College of Medicine Dallas Campus affects those students’ perceived knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation. The researcher administered a …

The Need For Updated Curriculum, Krahseeva N. Hugmeyer-Walsh

Masters Projects

The modern world requires a workforce equipped with diverse, adaptable skills, yet many students remain unprepared due to outdated curriculum models that no longer align with current societal and professional demands. This project explores the growing disconnect between traditional educational systems and the skills needed in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world. Current curricula often emphasize theoretical knowledge over practical application, leaving students ill-equipped to navigate real-world challenges. This project also proposes the development of a modernized secondary-level curriculum unit that prioritizes critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, ethics, and technological literacy. The proposed unit is designed to reflect student interests, promote engagement, and …

Perceptions Of National Identity And Government Trust: The Effects Of Migrant Education Policies In Thailand, Kathryn Creglow

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study looks at how government policies that shape national identity influence people's trust in the federal government. Using Thailand as an example, it focuses on immigration policies and their effect on public trust, especially in a country with a strong sense of national identity. This research study specifically examines Thailand’s 2005 “Education for All” policy, which allowed immigrant children to attend public schools. This policy was seen by some as a challenge to national identity. The study investigates whether such policies impact how much people trust the government.

To measure this, the study compares changes in trust over for …

Implementation Outcomes Of A Patient Decision-Aid In A Diverse Population With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In 15 Us Rheumatology Clinics, Jasvinder A Singh, Larry R Hearld, Seth Eisen, W Winn Chatham, Sonali Narain, Narender Annapureddy, Diane L Kamen, Kimberly Trotter, Vikas Majithia, Cathy Lee Ching, Zineb Aouhab, Swamy Venuturupalli, Daniel J Wallace, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, Alfred Kim, Maureen Mcmahon, S Sam Lim, Kalpana Bhairavarasu, Alexa Meara, Kenneth Kalunian, T Mark Beasley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes during the implementation of a self-administered patient decision-aid (PtDA) for lupus.

Methods: We provided an effective computerized lupus PtDA in 15 rheumatology outpatient clinics 2019-2024 (including the COVID pandemic). We undertook Organizational Readiness to Implement Change Surveys (ORICs) and Team Learning and Psychological Safety Surveys (TLPSSs) at baseline. The primary study outcome objective measure, percent penetration/reach, was defined as the number of patients who viewed the lupus PtDA at the end of the study, divided by the total number of eligible patients (times 100). We used validated clinical …

The Establishment Of Jakarta International Schoolin Indonesia As A Reflection Of Globalisation Through Education, Brandon Cahyadhuha Rusdy, Linda Sunarti

International Review of Humanities Studies

"This article examines the establishment of Jakarta International School (JIS) within the context of the globalisation of Indonesia. Established in 1951 under the name International School of Djakarta by Antoinette Stepanek, an educator from the United States, it was the first school to provide an English-language education for the children of expatriates in Jakarta, Indonesia. The school underwent several name changes throughout its history. In 1965, the school was renamed to Joint Embassy School to reflect the support from a coalition of embassies, consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Yugoslavia. In 1978, the school was renamed again …

The Reluctant Heroes: How To Teach Younger Generations Every-Day Heroism Through Pedagogical Imagination, Jarema Drozdowicz

Heroism Science

This article explores the notion of pedagogical imagination in the context of its practical use in teaching young learners today. The idea of imagination is being presented through the lens of the existing concepts such as ethnographic, historical, and sociological imagination introduced in the social sciences and humanities by various authors. The educational setting of today’s digitalized reality is being understood here as a sociocultural sphere where different generations clash in their diverse abilities to learn and form specific skills that might help them to cope with difficult real life situations. The process of forming heroic behavior patterns is thus …

Using Simulation To Teach Students Transferable Skills For Paramedic Educators In A Prehospital Clinical Setting In Urban Georgia: A Phenomenology, George Antonio Rouse

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of using simulation to teach students transferable skills for paramedic educators in a prehospital clinical setting in urban Georgia. The theory guiding this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory as it supports the use of low and high-fidelity simulation to provide students with interactive and realistic learning experiences that are transformative in nature. The central research question guiding this study was: What is the lived experience of paramedic educators using simulation to teach students transferable skills? Data was collected via qualitative surveys, individual interviews, and focus groups …

Creative Processes In Visual Arts In Education: A Conceptual Framework, Enock Swanzy-Impraim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The diversity and uniqueness of individuals and the multifaceted nature of creativity necessitate new models in various domains. This study reviewed previous studies and models of the creative process and presented a combined model (Swanzy-Impraim panoramic creative process model) of the creative process applicable to the visual arts in education and other artist-expressive domains. It positions the creative process in seven phases: (1) immersion, (2) problem/task identification, (3) ideation, (4) production, (5) outcome, (6) evaluation, and (7) responses. This conceptual paper explores creativity as a concept and its significance in the artists’ expressive domain, reviews and maps creative process models, …

A Web Application For Generating Argument Maps For Essays Using Llms, Alexis R. Chalmers

Theses

Argumentative writing is a critical skill that strengthens students’ reasoning, communication, and analytical abilities. However, maintaining a clear and organized argument structure while writing can be challenging. Argument maps — visual diagrams which explicitly show an argument’s structure — have been shown to improve students’ writing, but are rarely used outside of the planning stage of an essay due to the time and effort required to create them. Automatically generating argument maps from student essays helps students to evaluate the structure of their argument as they write and makes identifying unsupported claims visible. To evaluate whether large language models (LLMs) …

From Novice To Expert: Preparing Your Peer Review, Diana M Proctor, Rachy Abraham, Shannon Esher Righi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Peer review is the process by which the quality of scholarly work is assessed prior to being published, presented, or funded. The consequences of flawed research entering the public domain in the "post-truth" era highlight the need to improve peer review quality, which we believe can be achieved by standardizing training. Here, we aim to enhance the quality of published literature by presenting a systematic guide to train new reviewers (and aid experienced ones) in the art of peer reviewing the rigor of scientific manuscripts.

Enhancing Art History Education With Ai: Accessibility, Engagement, And Skill Development, Analisa Soverns-Reed

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the art history classroom offers transformative opportunities for students through accessibility, engagement, and skill development. This paper explores how AI can democratize access to art history education by providing cost-effective tools that eliminate traditional barriers, such as expensive textbooks, inaccessible archives, or costly field trips. AI-powered platforms like visual recognition software and adaptive learning tools enable students to engage with material more deeply, allowing for personalized learning pathways and interactive explorations of art and its contexts. Beyond content delivery, incorporating AI fosters critical digital literacy, equipping students with the skills to navigate and …

An Action Research Study On Ai Video Vs. Written Feedback: Enhancing Undergraduate Academic Writing And Critical Thinking, Sandra Baroudi, Nida Mubeen, Suha Karaki

All Works

This action research explores how AI-assisted feedback formats influence students’ academic writing and critical thinking, a gap particularly relevant in the digital learning landscape. This study involved 40 undergraduate Emirati students divided into two groups, receiving either AI-generated video or written feedback across three assignments. Using a quantitative design, data were gathered using standardized critical thinking and academic writing skills rubrics. Additionally, students completed post-surveys to capture their perceptions, engagement levels and use of AI tools in the learning process. Results showed written feedback significantly improvemed critical thinking (M = 2.80, SD = 0.75) compared to video feedback (M = …

Du Rural Summit 2025: Full Conference Proceedings, 2025 Du Rural Summit

DU Rural Summit Conference Proceedings

Proceedings of the DU Rural Summit 2025, held June 27-27 in the Pueblo Convention Center. A gathering dedicated to addressing the unique opportunities and challenges facing rural schools and their communities.

Rams In Research: A Guided Journey Through The Mcnair Scholars Summer Program, Rajade M. Berry-James, Cindy Vigil

McNair Journal at VCU

This paper examines the significance of mentoring relationships in higher education, particularly for first-generation college students. Drawing on extensive literature, we highlight how effective mentorship enhances student success by fostering trust, belonging, and self-efficacy. The McNair Summer Research Program serves as a case study, featuring the collaboration between McNair Scholar Cindy Vigil and her mentor, Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James. This partnership focused on analyzing homicide rates in El Salvador, emphasizing key factors such as population, poverty, and government-negotiated truces. Through a comprehensive analysis of data from 1994 to 2019, Cindy refined existing research methodologies and gained valuable insights into the …

Teaching Pathographies Of Mental Illness, Nathan Carlin, Angela Gomez, Margarita Ortiz

Faculty and Staff Publications

This paper describes the content and evolution of a fourth-year course for medical students on teaching pathographies of mental illness. (It is a follow-up to Nathan Carlin's Pathographies of Mental Illness that appeared as an Element in the Bioethics and Neuroethics series published by Cambridge University Press.) The course originally centered on classic (and some contemporary) memoirs; however, responding to student evaluations, newer material now ensures more diversity, with material written by women and people of color, and describes the difference that can make.

Common Sources, Perceived Communication Efficacy And Sufficiency Of Cervical Cancer Information, Education And Communication Materials For Women With Hiv/Aids In Rural Kenya, Scholastic Musakali Adeli, Elkanah Orang'o, Violet Naanyu, Ann Mwangi, Peter Itsura, Barry Rosen, Patrick Loehrer

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the greatest cause of cancer-related death among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particularly high incidence and mortality rates in rural regions. In Kenya, Women with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer though screening rate remains low. Information, education and communication (IEC) materials play a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting screening, and supporting early detection and treatment; however, little is known about the accessibility, content, and perceived effectiveness of these materials from the perspective of WLHA.

Methods: The objective of this study was to determine the common sources, perceived communication efficacy …

Building Bilingual Education Programs In Japan: Insights From Administrators In Private And International Schools, Megan C. Roe

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of school administrators who lead bilingual programs in private and international schools in Japan. Through in-depth interviews with 11 administrators, the study examined how leaders navigate program design, curriculum choice, and program oversight in response to their community’s needs and stakeholder expectations. This research aimed to contribute to the limited literature on bilingual education within Japan’s unique cultural and educational context. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using a phenomenological approach to identify four emerging themes: Designing Responsive Bilingual Programs, Instructional Approaches that Support Bilingual Learners, Aligning Expectations and Operational Realities, …

Artificial Intelligence In Education, Sally Brown, Jill Woods, Mohamed Hefeida, Jennifer Sano-Franchini, Megan Vendemia, Erin Brock Carlson, Megan Leight, Gangqing Hu, Nicole Fuller

Artificial Intelligence Exhibit

This section explores the intersection of AI and education, including an overview of WVU's AI statement and submissions from WVU faculty, classes, students, and staff on AI related projects.

Developing A Curriculum Audit Tool For Justice, Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion In Occupational Therapy Education, Whitney M. Cranna, Sarah Mckinnon

Translational Science in Occupation

Background: The OT profession is calling for intentional pedagogy that builds future practitioners’ capacity for embodying justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JEDI) values; however, the interpretation and application of this mission remain subjective and nebulous. Developing a theory-driven audit tool may help standardize and clarify JEDI pedagogy needs to enhance OT preparation and practice.

Objective: Using a culturally responsive, justice-based theoretical lens, this paper describes the development of a JEDI Curriculum Audit Tool for a Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD) program.

Design: Quantitative systematic evaluation of curricular alignment with JEDI principles, including a 3-prong retroactive self-evaluation approach.

Setting: Curriculum …

A Quantitative Study Of The Relationship Between The Decision-Making Style Of School Principals And Their Faculty And Staffs’ Perception Of Their Leadership Effectiveness, Joshua D. Viola Phd

Leadership Studies

Decision-making has been studied and researched for centuries, as have the leadership qualities associated with it. In today’s complicated world, decision-making of organizational leaders is more scrutinized than ever, and this investigation will examine what the decision-making process looks like for principals in public schools (Evans & Semrau, 2015). Organizational leadership and organizational demographics are also compared to decision-making style. This study collected decision-making data from public school principals in Maine who work at schools with 50% or less free and reduced lunch as well as leadership effectiveness data from faculty and staff in those schools. An ANOVA was run …

Action Research To Explore The Use Of Augmented Reality To Support High School Students In Understanding And Creating Art Work In A Drawing Course, Alicia Joanne Cobler

Theses and Dissertations

High school students in Drawing 1 at a high school in South Carolina struggle to understand meaning or make personal connections to their own artwork. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the implementation of immersive reality technology, specifically augmented reality (AR), in art for high school Drawing 1 students to help them understand meaning in art and create their own meaningful artwork. Creating personally meaningful symbolic works of art is one of the first Visual Art National Core Standards (National Core Visual Art Standards, 2014). Creating meaning in artwork allows students to understand society, provide an opportunity …

Experiences Of Ba Sociology Students From A Philippine State University: Recruitment, Retention, And Future Aspirations, Mark Anthony M. Quintos, Minami O. Iwayama

Social Sciences and Development Review

Sociology as an undergraduate program in the Philippines has expanded significantly. A total of 49 higher educational institutions offer an undergraduate degree in Sociology; 20 of which are in Luzon and 8 are in Metro Manila. Despite this growth, Sociology departments face challenges in recruiting and retaining students amidst a competitive academic landscape. This study was conducted with students from a Philippine state university, exploring their motivations for enrolling, reasons for staying, perceived strengths and weaknesses of the program, and their post-graduation plans. The insights gained from this research could guide future improvements to Sociology programs to better meet the …

Gmos And Public Perception: College Students’ Opinions And Knowledge Of Genetic Engineering, Serene M. Cheng

RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be developed and implemented to address significant global challenges, including nutrient deficiencies, climate change, and crop disease. However, widespread opposition has prevented the success of GMOs. We believe this opposition is strongly connected to a lack of understanding about genetics in general, which has been reflected by previous studies.

In this study, we considered the relationship between GMO support and genetics knowledge by comparing results from a brief quiz and responses to prompts relating to GMOs. Using a survey of college students, we found that support for GMOs and general knowledge of genetics are positively …