Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Barriers To Participation In Digital And Hybrid Education: A Grounded Meta-Analysis Of Higher Education And The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jarett Dello Buono

West Chester University Master’s Theses

This thesis project overlaps rhetorical approaches to digital communication with emerging data on higher education pedagogies in order to identify barriers to participation and engagement. A grounded theory meta-analysis is utilized to interpret data presented from literature published after the shift to emergency remote learning (ERL) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The data is presented thematically to deconstruct the infrastructural and pedagogical relationships that emerged from the literature on hybrid and remote pedagogies. This project identifies core categories and principles that aid in identifying future areas of inquiry for research on engagement as it relates to broader questions …

Midwifery Students' Experiences Of Learning To Be 'With Woman': A Scoping Review, Ashlee Guerin, Sadie Geraghty, Sheena Mcchlery, Mary Byrne

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Being ‘with woman’ is a fundamental concept deeply embedded within the midwifery profession and profoundly impacts maternal and infant wellbeing and outcomes. The clinical experiences of midwifery students shape their learning outcomes, future practice, and career aspirations. Understanding midwifery students' experiences of learning to be ‘with woman’ is vital in shaping and optimising learning strategies for providing midwifery students with positive and effective student-centred learning outcomes.

Objective: This scoping review aims to gain meaningful insight and understanding into the existing literature on midwifery students’ experiences of learning to be ‘with woman’.

Design: The scoping review was conducted according to …

Part 3: Does It Still Pay To Attend College In Virginia?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In 2022, more than 1 in 5 college graduates across the United States found themselves earning less than the national median income for high school graduates in the same graduating class year. In the same year, on average, 19.9% of graduates from four-year Virginia institutions of higher education earned less than the typical high school graduate 10 years after entry into college or university. In this chapter, we ask whether attending college is a ‘good deal’ for many Virginians.

Signaling Sexual Harassment, Emily Suski

Emory Law Journal

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate the right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Title IX stands as a potentially powerful statutory bulwark against further erosions of sex and gender equality rights. Title IX’s purpose is to protect against and eradicate sex discrimination of all forms, including sexual harassment, in education. Yet, it rarely fulfills this purpose. Although the Supreme Court has said that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination proscribed by Title IX, it has failed to define sexual harassment or provide more than the barest of guidance on how severe it …

Transforming 3rd-Grade Instruction: Six Practical Lesson Plans Framed Around Ai And Udl To Promote Inclusive Learning Spaces, Ailsa J. Gilbert

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This paper examines how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and artificial intelligence (AI) can be combined to support diverse learners in third-grade classrooms. The paper begins with a literature review, including sections on inclusive education, multicultural education, teacher burnout, and the current use of AI in educational settings. Building off of this foundation, readers are presented with six UDL-framed lesson plans designed for a hypothetical third-grade class of 25 students. Using children’s literature such as Charlotte’s Web, Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path, and Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, these lessons incorporate AI-generated accommodations from platforms …

"Ai's Pompous Vocabulary Sounds Like It's Trying To Impress Someone": Preservice Teachers' Respond To Ai Reviews Of Their Writing, Jennifer Kidd, Keri Parker, Samantha Myers

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This study examines pre-service teachers’ (PSTs’) responses to using AI to review their writing. As part of a class activity, PSTs prompted an AI-chatbot for feedback and revisions on a short essay based on a provided assignment rubric. Afterward, they reflected on the pros and cons of using AI in this way. While some PSTs initially encountered functionality issues, all were able to obtain feedback and the majority reported finding it useful. In general, the PSTs appreciated AI’s speed and expertise and the potential to customize feedback based on their needs. However, many were skeptical of AI’s evaluation of their …

Cervical Cancer Education & Prevention For Women In The Philippines, Kate Isabel Juanillo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Although cervical cancer is preventable, it continues to pose a significant health concern in the Philippines as evidenced by high cervical cancer diagnosis rates. The purpose of this quantitative study is to investigate low cervical cancer screening rates and the effectiveness of educational interventions in increasing awareness and screening rates. A literature review will examine topics such as low cervical cancer screening rates, cervical cancer screening methods, and barriers. This research proposal involves a quasi-experimental study that investigates education as an intervention for increasing cervical cancer awareness and cervical cancer screening rates. Fifty Filipino women will be randomly assigned to …

Promoting Equity And Addressing Concerns In Teaching And Learning With Artificial Intelligence, Jennifer Garcia Ramos, Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy

Faculty Publications

This perspective article focuses on the exploration and advocacy of approaches to be considered in designing equitable learning experiences for students’ use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and technology through the Universal Design for Learning Framework (UDL) exemplifying chemistry examples that can be applied to any course in STEM. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are causing disruptions within learning in higher education and is also casting a spotlight on systemic inequities particularly affecting minoritized groups broadly and in STEM fields. Particularly, the emergence of AI has focused on inequities toward minoritized students in academic and professional …

Enhancing Simulation Fidelity In Occupational Therapy Education: Considerations For Standardized Patient Training And Implementation, John V. Rider, Linda Frasier, Jessica Parkin

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The use of high-fidelity simulation and standardized patients (SPs) in occupational therapy (OT) education is expanding. However, the implementation of simulation varies across programs, leading to inconsistent outcomes and research limitations. Furthermore, details on SP use and training are lacking in OT literature. This article aims to provide OT educators with considerations for improving simulation fidelity by effectively using highly trained SPs. For example, recruiting SPs from diverse backgrounds is necessary to improve sociological fidelity, and proper training of SPs is required to ensure psychological fidelity. This article also emphasizes the need for standardized training for SPs and recommends following …

From Program To Practice: Purpose, Empowerment, And Persistence In Doctoral Education, Laura Beasley, Heather Biedermann, Davidson L. Blanchard, Danilo Lj. Bojic, Erin Carter, Matthew J. Flugum, Sadie Gunnink, Megan L. Hansen, Martha G. Haugerud, Elizabeth Herzog, Matthew G. Howard, James E. Hu Gammon, Yanmei Jiang, Jenna K. Ladd, Patrick W. Leeport, Katey R. Leverson, Regina Mustafa, Lindsey M. Reishus, Kelli Snyder, Ixchell L. Tolentino, Kari Vollrath, Stephanie Walker, A. Brooke Boulton, Joel J. Traver, Steven M. Baule

Education Doctorate Books

The book From Program to Practice: Purpose, Empowerment, and Persistence in Doctoral Education is a collection of graduate student writings from the 2022 summer Education Doctorate Residency at Winona State University.

"As practitioners in education and adjacent fields embark upon their journeys toward earning a doctorate, they soon realize the importance of this collection’s theme: the intersection of purpose, empowerment, and persistence (PEP). These concepts prove critical to a student’s success at all stages of the doctoral process, from program admission, to topic exploration, to graduation. The essays in this collection explore how students define, identify, and leverage “PEP” as …

Assessing Teachers’ Dispositions Towards Culturally Responsive Pedagogy In Northwest Arkansas High Schools, Rylie Ford

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) entails the use of cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and learning styles of ethnically and culturally diverse students to make instruction more relevant and effective for them. Furthermore, practices within this pedagogy are validating, inclusive, emancipatory, and ethical, and help diverse students succeed academically while maintaining their cultural identity. Numerous studies have indicated that using culturally responsive pedagogy increases student academic achievement, sense of self, and emotional well-being (Ladson-Billings, 1995a; Gay, 2018). Considering the varying degrees of cultural and linguistic diversity in Northwest Arkansas (NWA) schools and the lack of reported professional development relating to CRP, this …

Tolled Education: An Economic Markets And Goods Analysis Of Inefficiencies In American Public Education, Ethan Dilks

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

The goal of this Comment is to evaluate the failures of the current system of education within the United States via policy and economic market and goods analysis lenses; in doing so, it will establish that public education in the United States is a toll good, and the only way to properly fix the inefficiencies that result is to reduce excludability and convert the education into a public good. First, Part I will overview how we got here by describing relevant laws and history, the current state of federal case law, and the dire situation for many students throughout the …

The Education Prescription: Exploring The Potential Of Patient Education To Reduce Mental Health Issues In Hormonal Contraceptive Users, Maria Abraham

Nursing | Senior Theses

The many birth control options available impact a woman’s life, as hormonal contraceptives are commonly used but often misunderstood. These contraceptives, which contain progestin only, or estrogen and progestin combined, can come in various forms such as pills, implants, IUDs, injections, the vaginal ring, and skin patches. They offer benefits such as reduced menstrual cramps and ectopic pregnancy risk. However, they may lead to adverse side effects which can include increased blood pressure, nausea, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, and a higher risk of blood clots, with research indicating a potential link between oral contraceptive use and a decline in the user’s …

Addressing Disparity: A Waiting Room Intervention For Preeclampsia Prevention In African Americans, Morgan Semana

Nursing | Senior Theses

Maternal mortality is a pressing, global concern that particularly affects African American women in the United States. African American women face disproportionately a high maternal mortality rate (MMR), with rates more than double that of white women. Preeclampsia emerges as the leading cause of maternal mortality in African American women, driving the need for targeted interventions. To address this issue, a proposed research study aims to investigate the impact of a nurse-led, waiting room, preeclampsia and aspirin effectiveness educational intervention on the knowledge and preeclampsia rates among African American women. The study draws upon existing evidence that supports the use …

Enhancing Athletic Participation: Continuous Glucose Monitoring For Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Athletes, Danielle Santiago

Nursing | Senior Theses

The difficulties that children and teenagers with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) encounter are discussed in this thesis, with a focus on how fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) and actual hypoglycemia associated with this chronic illness affects their ability to engage in physical activities, especially organized sports. A common challenge for children diagnosed with T1DM is meeting the daily recommendation of 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity. The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate if participation in structured exercise (physical education classes and after-school sports) increases among school-aged children who wear continuous glucose monitors (CGM) when …

Older And Wiser? Relative Age And College Course Failure, P. Wesley Routon, Jay K. Walker

Economics Faculty Publications

A student's relative age in their schooling cohort has been shown related to several measures of academic and labor market success. Here, we focus on a singular outcome: the probability of college course failure. Even within a sample constrained to students with traditional academic progression and who completed their college degree program, we find evidence relatively younger students were more likely to fail courses. The estimated impact is larger for males, minorities, and those with less academic success before college. Statistical significance remains constant across the parental income distribution. Students within the sample represent over 600 colleges and universities across …

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.

Classrooms, Hallways, And Peleas: The Violence And The Education Of Latino Students, Pamela Margolis

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Latino children attend schools that are informed by violent, biased, and racist beliefs that make it difficult for them to attain educational success. Informed by Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) this qualitative study examined the narratives and lived experiences of bilingual Latino children and their families and the educational violence they were subjected to in schooling. The research team completed 8 semi structured family interviews equaling twenty-five people with 12 parents and 13 children. Children ranged in age from 8 to 17 years old. Methodologies included family interviews in which most of the parents’ interviews were conducted in Spanish and …

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 …

Investigating The Relationship Between Politics And Education, Alaina M. Winrow

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper looks into how politics plays a role in the public K-12 education system in the United States, specifically looking at the state of New Hampshire. Federal, state, and local governments provide important resources through funding to schools and create the laws that govern them. However, educational politics can be controversial at times. Within the past several years, there have been more tense school board meetings and divisive laws being passed or considered around the nation. Overall, the divisive political climate has influenced much of the discussion surrounding education and has created more stress for educators, administrators, school staff, …

Legislating Flexibility In The Post-Pandemic Workplace, Madeleine Gyory

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

Working parents and caregivers in the United States struggle to balance the dual demands of work and care. Many working caregivers need flexible work arrangements (FWAs)-changes to their hours, schedule, or location-to allow them to balance work and care. But access to flexibility remains out of reach for many workers and is least accessible to the most marginalized. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored this problem, as huge numbers of women dropped out of the workforce to care for family. While no federal or state law requires employers to grant FWAs to caregivers, several states and localities have passed "right to request" …

Conceptthread: Visualizing Threaded Concepts In Mooc Videos, Zhiguang Zhou, Li Ye, Lihong Cai, Lei Wang, Yigang Wang, Yongheng Wang, Wei Chen, Yong Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) platforms are becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Online learners need to watch the whole course video on MOOC platforms to learn the underlying new knowledge, which is often tedious and time-consuming due to the lack of a quick overview of the covered knowledge and their structures. In this paper, we propose ConceptThread , a visual analytics approach to effectively show the concepts and the relations among them to facilitate effective online learning. Specifically, given that the majority of MOOC videos contain slides, we first leverage video processing and speech analysis techniques, including shot recognition, …

The Narrative Journeys Of Women Of Color High-Level Educational Leaders, Alyda R. Mir

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Although their numbers are growing in the field of education, women of color are highly underrepresented in high-level leadership positions such as superintendent of schools. The purpose of this narrative research study was to explore the experiences, facilitators, and barriers of 20 women of color high-level educational leaders, including district superintendents and assistant/associate superintendents in California. Framed by the concepts of the Leadership Labyrinth, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality Theory, this study aimed to elevate the voices of a marginalized group of educators who earned high-level leadership positions in public educational organizations. This study shed light on the experiences, trajectories, …

Ocean Decade Manual For Non-Governmental Organizations, Teresa J. Kennedy, O. Dufourneaud, Maria Pamela Castillo, Samantha Deane, Johann Durand, Thalassia Giaccone, Somei Jonda, Tara Mascarenhas, Cretus Mtonga, Kathleen Ng, Sarah Palazot, Sourav Paul, Erik Ross Salazar, Raymunco Santisteban, Xu Shuwen, Alexandre Silva, Vivienne Solis Rivera, Hilligje Van’T Land, Yifan Zhou

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

The ocean is at the heart of countless activities and disciplines profoundly impacting the environment, economy, and well-being of billions of people around the world. Its health, today and tomorrow, depends on science-based approaches to marine conservation and restoration, adaptive governance, and effective management of ocean resources.

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) provides a transformative framework for identifying, generating, sharing, and using the critical ocean knowledge needed to sustainably manage the ocean by 2030 and beyond. Implemented by and for a wide range of stakeholders, the Ocean Decade promotes co-design, collaboration, and …

Climate And Cognitive Performance: Examining The Relationship Between Extreme Temperatures And Students’ Academic Achievement In The United States, Sophia Kestell

CMC Senior Theses

This study explores how exposure to high temperatures throughout the school year affects students' academic performance in the United States, focusing on third- and eighth-graders and economically disadvantaged students. This paper uses math and reading assessment data for students from the Standard Education Data Archive (SEDA) and temperature data from the PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State. Using a fixed-effects ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model specification, this analysis investigates the relationship between temperature threshold and academic achievement in 333 US counties from 2010 through 2019. Additionally, county air conditioning coverage data are used to explore the relationship between temperatures …

Mental Health Among Somali Women In The United States, Khadra M. Hussien

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study examined depression, stress, and anxiety and explored the complex factors that may influence Somali women’s psychological well-being. The study surveyed 53 subjects identified as Somali women aged 18 to 69 years old living in a major Metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest United States. Three research questions focused on investigating whether a depressed mood correlates with the severity of trauma, identifying what causes elevated anxiety, and assessing the significance of stress among Somali women. This research was critical to identify the mental health perceptions and the obstacles these women may have. The surveyed subjects reported severe depression mood, …

In The Eye Of The Storm: The Reality Of Deis In A Second Level School In Tallaght, Anita Doody

Doctoral

Education is a fundamental right of every child in Ireland and is firmly embedded in the Irish Constitution. It is often taken for granted that the right to education is an automatic endeavour, equitable to every student. Social perception is that of a seamless service, but the reality is a complex, dynamic system influenced by economic policy, demographics, and affluency/deprivation biases. In addition, events such as the 2007 financial crisis, and more recently the Covid 19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis mean there is a need for an effective process of acknowledging and managing deprivation in government policy making. Supporting the …

Student Perspectives On The Adequacy Of Mental Health Curriculum Within The College Of Health And Human Services At Unh, Brianna Lee Meyer

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study aims to understand the confidence students in future healthcare oriented majors feel in regards to treating or interacting with individuals with mental health conditions. It also aims to understand the effect of students' in-major education, outside-major education, and lived experience on this confidence level. Students within the College of Health and Human Services at UNH were the participants who completed a short Qualtrics survey online. The survey collected data from Likert scales and short-answer questions. The Likert scales were then analyzed with a regression and descriptive statistics, while the short-answer questions were analyzed with thematic analysis. The study …

Survey Of Pain Curriculum Among Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Programs In The United States, John V. Rider, Vicki Khau, Kristin A. Valdes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy practitioners address pain management across settings, populations, and the lifespan. Occupational therapy practitioners offer unique contributions to pain management through biopsychosocial approaches, targeting supported self-management and occupational engagement. Comprehensive pain education is necessary to prepare entry-level occupational therapy practitioners to address pain in practice, yet no standards exist in entry-level occupational therapy education. This survey describes the status of pain-related education in entry-level occupational therapy programs across the United States. A total of 41 entry-level occupational therapy programs completed the survey. Total instructional time for pain content was reported to be an average of 9.68 hours, ranging from …

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 …