Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Lung Cancer Screening Education On Knowledge And Screening Rates In A Kentucky Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Alexandra Isler

DNP Projects

Background: Lung cancer is a significant problem in Kentucky, which ranks fourth in the nation in adults who currently smoke. Early detection, through lung cancer screening, can prevent untimely deaths. Several barriers to screening exist including lack of knowledge and awareness among patients regarding lung cancer screening. By increasing knowledge, at risk patients can take the necessary steps to decrease incidence of late stage diagnoses.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate patients’ knowledge of lung cancer screening and referral and screening rates before and after one-on-one patient education.

Methods: This was a quality improvement project that used …

An Educational Intervention To Improve Neonatal Icu Nurses’ Breastfeeding Support Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Breastfeeding Rates At Discharge, Sarah Money

DNP Projects

Background: The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are known. It is recommended that all infants be exclusively breastfed until six months (Meek & Noble, 2022; North et al., 2021). Despite this, breastfeeding rates remain low, especially in medically fragile infants requiring care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (Rollins et al., 2016). Receipt of evidence-based breastfeeding support by healthcare providers has been shown to improve breastfeeding success; however, many healthcare providers report not being comfortable or knowledgeable enough to offer support consistently (Mulcahy et al., 2022; Rollins et al., 2016).

Purpose: This study aims …

Ai And English Language Teaching: Affordances And Challenges, Helen Crompton, Adam Edmett, Neenaz Ichaporia, Diane Burke

STEMPS Faculty Publications

English is one of the most used languages for jobs, markets, tourism, discourse and international connectivity. However, English learners face many challenges in gaining English language skills. Extant studies show that AI has affordances to support in English language teaching and learning ELT/L. This study answers the call to examine specific challenges and affordances for using AI in ELT/L. A systematic review method was used with PRISMA principles to identify 42 studies. Findings reveal the geographical locations of studies, learner ages and years of study. Grounded coding was then used to identify affordances of the use of AI in ELT/L …

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 …

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 …

Resilience, Adaptability, And Transformation: School Principal’S Response To Critical Events, Justine Jean Alberts

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

School principals face critical events as part of their professional roles. These critical events can profoundly impact their ability to lead, which is why this phenomenological study explored the central question, how do principals experience critical events that include perceived trauma? Using Moustakas’ (1994) process of transcendental phenomenological analysis, this research investigated the multifaceted emotional, professional, and personal responses of these educational leaders, revealing the complexities and consequences of their experiences. Semistructured interviews with fourteen current and former principals provided rich, in-depth qualitative data that captured the essence of their experiences. Findings indicated that principals often transition from their day-to-day …

Family Medicine Resident Scholarly Activity Infrastructure, Output, And Dissemination: A Cera Survey., Bryce A Ringwald, Michelle Taylor, Dean A Seehusen, Jennifer L Middleton

Medical Education Articles

PURPOSE: Meeting scholarly activity requirements continues to be a challenge in many family medicine (FM) residency programs. Studies comprehensively describing FM resident scholarship have been limited. We sought to identify institutional factors associated with increased scholarly output and meeting requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

OBJECTIVES: Our goals were to: (1) describe scholarly activity experiences among FM residents compared with ACGME requirements; (2) classify experiences by Boyer's domains of scholarship; and (3) associate experiences with residency program characteristics and scholarly activity infrastructure.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey. The survey questions were part of an omnibus …

Examining The Influence Of Secondary Math And Science Teacher Preparation Programs On Graduates' Instructional Quality And Persistence In Teaching, Danielle M. Rhemer, Will Rogers, Sherry Ann Southerland

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This quantitative, non-experimental study explored the relationship between the features of math and science teachers’ preparation programs and their graduates’ instructional rigor and persistence in teaching. Five math and science teacher preparation programs from across the United States were examined. Six sets of instructional tasks were collected from forty-six recent graduates of these programs to provide insights into novices’ instructional rigor, and employment data were collected for thirty-seven of these graduates three to eight years after graduation. Regardless of the program’s features, all teachers could design and implement instruction with moderate to high rigor. However, this ability was not the …

A Systematic Review Of Educational Online Peer-Review And Assessment Systems: Charting The Landscape, Dmytro Babik, Edward Gehringer, Jennifer Kidd, Kristine Sunday, David Tinapple, Steven Gilbert

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Over the past two decades, there has been an explosion of innovation in software tools that encapsulate and expand the capabilities of the widely used student peer assessment. While the affordances and pedagogical impacts of traditional in-person, "paper-and-pencil" peer assessment have been studied extensively and are relatively well understood, computerized (online) peer assessment introduced not only shifts in scalability and efficiency, but also entirely new capabilities and forms of social learning interactions, instructor leverage, and distributed cognition, that still need to be researched and systematized. Despite the ample research on traditional peer assessment and evidence of its efficacy, common vocabulary …

"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 …

Cultivating Change: School Leaders Implementing Dei Systems In K-12 Schools, Rosalyn Simone Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in K-12 education are essential to creating an educational environment where every student, staff member, and stakeholder brings unique perspectives, experiences, and skills. K-12 schools are embracing DEI systems as an expression of their diverse populations, cultivating a school culture that celebrates differences and develops an affinity for inclusion. Equity, as the foundation, guarantees all students equal access to opportunities and resources, regardless of their background. Inclusion goes beyond mere representation to make everyone feel appreciated, heard, and empowered. School leaders inspire the school community by fostering a collective vision and dedication to DEI. Establishing …

Macromolecular Gold: Navigating Biofuel Extractions In A High School Class, Claire Adrian-Tucci, Andrew Adrian, Sara Beam, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Extracting and creating biofuels from algae is an exciting area of development for renewable energy. There is a lack of protocols for high school students that feature lipid extraction from algae, largely due to the safety considerations and equipment used in industry. Biology standards include the chemistry and function of macromolecules, and biofuels are an engaging, authentic case study for high school students. This paper describes the development of an imperfect lipid extraction method that is safe for the high school classroom. Through the lab and related activities, students develop their understanding of the characteristics of macromolecules, practice developing their …

2024 Merc Annual Report, David Naff, Jesse Senechal, Paula L. Ogston-Nobile

MERC Publications

This is the annual report of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University for the 2023-2024 academic year. It includes vignettes depicting MERC activities in the past year that align with each of its five principles: research, relevance, rigor, multiple perspectives, and impact. It concludes with a discussion of MERC's commitment moving forward.

Exploring The Experiences Of Refugee Youth In Public Schools: An Ethical Phenomenological Inquiry, Hilary T. Stim

Theses and Dissertations

The study outlined in this dissertation focuses on the intersection between refugee youth between the ages of 13-18 and the United States public school, specifically the manner in which refugee youth experience institutionalized education. It utilizes ethical phenomenology as a means to amplify the voices of refugee students and to centralize the students' experiences, thoughts, and ideas related to education The study was framed by one research question that is addressed to the participants: “What is it like being a student in a public school?” Seven students took part in the study. Collaborative dialogues took place with the participants across …

Effects Of Exergaming On Health And Fitness Outcomes For Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis, Jordan Mauch

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

While research on VR gaming and Exergaming is in its infancy, both are interventions that have demonstrated positive results such as promoting physical activity participation and positive attitudes towards physical activity in children and adolescents. Exergaming has also been shown to be effective in increasing physical activity in children, and children with disabilities may find exergaming to be an enjoyable alternative to traditional physical activity due to increased accessibility and the focus on both gross and fine motor skills. In studies of VR and/or exergaming with participants with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder, researchers reported increases in motor function …

Practices To Recruit And Retain Teachers Of Color In Rural Minnesota Schools, Eric Hudspith

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study delves into the relationships between strategic recruitment and retention practices implemented by rural Minnesota school districts and the recruitment and retention rates of teachers of color within these districts. The research assesses whether districts implementing strategic recruitment practices demonstrate a higher proportion of teacher candidates of color and subsequent hiring rates compared to their peer districts. The study also investigates the relationships between strategic retention practices and the actual retention data observed in districts. Participants included administrators representing districts identified as rural that have a significant percentage of students of color. were selected based on predetermined criteria encompassing …

A Critical Phenomenological Study Of White Educators Who Engage In Antiracism, Maria-Renée D. Grigsby

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Racism is reflected in political, economic, and educational institutions throughout the United States. These institutionalized systems were successfully designed to have a chilling effect on any progress toward antiracist change. It impacts the achievement level of K-12 students of color in the public school system who make up the majority population in public schools nationwide. Yet, their teachers remain largely white. This is especially important in Minnesota, which ranks fiftieth in the country for graduation rates of Black and Latinx students. The method used for this study is critical phenomenology which is important when looking at the influences of race, …

Analyzing Science Classroom Design Ideas Of High School Students: Variations Amongst Lgbt-Identifying Students, Abraham A. Lewis

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The physical design of science classrooms is a leading factor in determining the uses of the classroom and the comfort and engagement of students in the classroom, and if a science classroom is designed with only the majority of students or the average student in mind, the classroom design may have a negative impact on the comfort, engagement, and perceptions of minority groups of students, such as queer students. The purpose of this research is to identify how a science classroom’s design impacts the perceptions, engagement, and comfort of queer students, and to use student suggestions to identify science classroom …

Exploring Belonging And Success In First Generation College Students With Disabilities, Cael Sinclair, Molly Taylor, Sharon Zumbrunn

UROP Posters

As colleges create initiatives to admit and accommodate marginalized students, the struggles of those marginalized students are becoming increasingly impactful and present. Research suggests that students’ sense of social belonging is often connected to student academic success (Connell & Wellborn 1991). However, marginalized students often experience a lower sense of belonging, particularly students who are the first in their families to go to college (Stebleton et al. 2014), and those who identify as disabled (Leake & Stodden 2014). The present study evaluated how the strengths and experiences of first-generation college students with disabilities impacted their belonging and academic success in …

Heritage Languages In The Irish Primary School Context: Teachers’ Views And Practice In The Area Of First Language Maintenance In Bilingual Pupils, Suzanne Mccarthy

Doctoral

This research set out to explore the reality for current Irish primary school teachers working with children who speak a language other than English or Irish in the home context. The study sought to investigate teachers’ views on bilingualism and heritage languages, to examine their practice and experiences around support for heritage language (HL) inclusion in the classroom, and to consider any potential differences in teachers’ views and practice depending on the age of the children they teach.

Paraprofessionals In A Special Education Setting: A Qualitative Exploration Of Their Perceptions, Chana S. Max, Keisha Mccoy-Dailey

The Qualitative Report

Paraprofessionals support teachers and students in the classroom. Their roles and responsibilities vary; however, their goal is always to improve student achievement. The purpose of the study was to fill a gap in the literature related to special education paraprofessionals’ perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs on the support and trainings they receive prior to and during their job as a paraprofessional for students in a special education setting. Generic qualitative methodology was used to capture the thoughts, experience, and perceptions of 42 paraprofessionals across the United States. Data collection included an eight-question online questionnaire. Results of the study revealed five patterns …

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" …

Instructional Leadership And Self-Efficacy: A Case Study About Elementary School Principals, Barbara J. Hall

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this applied dissertation was to develop a better understanding of how elementary principals in a large school district in the southeastern United States perceive their self- efficacy as instructional leaders and administrators. The pressures of high accountability play an impactful role in how principals view their roles and their ability to perform effectively.

This qualitative case study utilized interviews and Photovoice for data collection. Participants were six elementary school principals from the same southeastern school district. Participants were interviewed independently. A second, photo-elicited interview was conducted with each participant to discuss the significance of their photographs. A …

A Pilot Sexual Device Adaptation Project For Occupational Therapy Students: A Skills-Based Approach To Teaching Sexual Activity As An Adl Through Assistive Technology, Benjamin E. Canter, Zoe M. Loitz, Victoria E. Richardson, Tatiana B. Pontes, Leanna Katz, Kevin Berner, Pedro Htq Almeida

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite being categorized as an activity of daily living since the first edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, no Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards exist to provide guidance on teaching occupational therapy students about sexual activity as an activity of daily living (ADL). When discussed, sexual activity is usually taught via didactic lecture, but is a subject that would benefit from a skills-based approach to teaching. This pilot pedagogical exercise in a two-credit assistive technology class taught occupational therapy students to address the ADL of sexual activity with clients by having students adapt a sexual toy …

The Occupational Therapy Practitioner Experience And Practice Related To Upper Limb Loss Or Difference And Prosthetics, Amanda H. Sugar, Rebecca Ozelie, Kristi Turner

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite occupational therapy’s critical role on the rehabilitation team for individuals with upper limb loss or difference (ULL/D) and prosthetics, this population is not extensively covered in many occupational therapy (OT) program curricula. As such, many clinicians work with patients with ULL/D with little expertise or confidence for this complex population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the OT practitioner experience and practice related to ULL/D and prosthetics in their education and practice. Utilizing snowball sampling, 150 OT practitioners completed a 24-question survey, which assessed OT practitioners’ experience with ULL/D, the prosthetic education in their OT program, and …

Visualize Whole-Self Model - An Instructional Design For Occupational Therapy Education, Mark White, Mary Smith, Adebimpe Obembe, Kristin Haas

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Innovative teaching approaches are changing traditional approaches by using a variety of teaching and learning methods to allow learners to succeed. This paper describes a new instructional model for healthcare education based on the science of learning, educational theories, and best practices in lesson design. The Visualize Whole-Self (VW) Model was designed to provide a learning structure for faculty as they guide the instruction of students in health professions. From the beginning of the program, students visualize themselves as professionals while working with faculty to learn content. The Visualize Whole-Self Model requires students to continually assess their strengths and weaknesses …

Use Of Online Hybrid Supplemental Teaching In Field-Based Teacher Education Programs, Hank Bohanon, Wenjin Guo, Christopher Dickman

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

University faculty who implement field-based teacher education programs experience challenges providing instruction for clinical, site-embedded university-based students. These issues can include a lack of common times to meet with students, limited access to meeting space to provide direct instruction, and changes in the school schedule. A number of these barriers may be addressed by adding elements of online instruction to traditional in-person classes, making the course, in effect, a hybrid one. In this study, the researchers analyzed the perspectives of university-based, special education focused instructors and clinical partners on the barriers, needs, benefits, and content related to implementing hybrid instruction …

Success Factors Facilitating Care During Escalation (The Suffice Study), Jody Ede

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

BACKGROUND: In the United Kingdom, there continues to be preventable National Health Service (NHS) patient deaths. Contributory factors include inadequate recognition of deterioration, poor monitoring, or delayed escalation to a higher level of care. Strategies to improve care escalation, such as vital sign scoring systems and specialist teams who manage deterioration events, have shown variable impact on patient mortality. The need for greater care improvements has consistently been identified in NHS care reviews as well as patient stories. Furthermore, current research informing escalation improvements predominantly comes from examining failure to rescue events, neglecting what can be learned from rescue or …

Exploring The Links Between Unknowns, Uncertainty And Epistemological Understanding In A More Authentic Form Of School Science Investigation, Matthew Wharf

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This research explored the role a more ‘authentic’ science investigation had on the epistemological understanding of secondary school students. It reviewed the understanding of what is taught within the science curriculum in terms of epistemology and the Nature of Science (NOS) and what may be considered a more authentic activity that more closely aligns with the qualities of professional science, where new knowledge is being formed as compared to what could be seen as conventional science investigations, the repetition of classic experiments. Lessons of 3 different classes, at different schools and in different years were used. An investigation lesson from …

Athletic Trainer's Perceptions Of And Experiences With Professional Development Approaches For Enhancing Clinical Documentation, Sarah L. Nottingham, Tricia M. Kasamatsu, Julie M. Cavallario, Cailee E. Welch Bacon

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context

Little is known about how athletic trainers (ATs) learn clinical documentation, but previous studies have identified that ATs have a need for more educational resources specific to documentation.

Objective

To obtain ATs' perspectives on learning clinical documentation.

Design

Qualitative study.

Setting

Web-based audio interviews.

Patients or Other Participants

Twenty-nine ATs who completed 2 different continuing education (CE) clinical documentation modules. Participants averaged 36.2 ± 9.0 years of age and included 16 women and 13 men representing 21 US states and 8 clinical practice settings.

Data Collection and Analysis

Participants were recruited from a group of ATs who completed 1 …